Brussels Unplugged!

I’m joined by Alberto Spatola, treasurer of Volt Europa, and Valentina Caracci, policy advisor in the European Parliament, for Brussels Unplugged!’s first-ever live recording at Volt Italy’s Scuola Politica in Brussels.

Can you think European and act local at the same time? We get into why they joined Volt, why it wasn’t the first party to try this (blame Erasmus), and whether Italy is ripe for it. We also talk about connecting the Union to the local level, checking our privilege as Italians abroad, breaking the EU’s democratic deficit, and what our grandchildren will see when they look at Europe.

And of course, we zoom out: where to play beach volleyball in Brussels, and the big question: are millennials still young?

Gilhean Slater is the Founder and Host of Wine & Politics, Brussels' invite-only real-talk on what's driving European and global politics. Before going solo, she worked in embassies, media, and the private sectors - what's transversal, and what isn't? Tune in to find out!

Sóler Cardenas has been covering Europe for 20+ LATAM countries, and LATAM for Italy. In this episode, we dive into the recent Colombian elections, take a look at what happened in Hungary, and compare how fear and polarisation, sometimes, manifest differently. Hungry for Colombian food? Check out her favourite spots in Brussels!

Sasan Mousavi is an Iranian-American professional storyteller and lecturer at KU Leuven. We the difference and overlap with being Persian, and the importance of storytelling in geopolitics. Of course, how he unplugs - do you know what geocaching is?

Fabio Bargiacchi founded the European Centre for Electoral Support and has been leading it for 15 years. He has been to 120+ countries (51 in Africa), supporting democracy in action. So, we chat about the differences between election support and observation; countering misinformation and the impact of AI; and the EU's flagship Global Gateway project. And of course, how he unplugs!

Luana Lo Piccolo is a seasoned AI expert who has advised global firms, consultancies, and the European Commission on the AI Act and its legislative ecosystem. So of course, we jump into tech, but also how she manages to work in Brussels from Barcelona. Finally, how she unplugs whilst on the road!

Kait Bolongaro has been covering politics around the globe - Europe, Asia, Africa, and more - and now manages MLex's Brussels editorial team. Join us as we chat about media freedom, the impact of AI on the industry, and the rise of non-traditional journalism. And finally, how she unplugs from it all.

Matteo Brizzi is a young European activist who, alongside working in the European Commission and his local town council, works tirelessly to bring Europe and its citizens closer. Join us, as we dive into his work and chat about ways to bring the Union closer to its people!

Michal Beneš started the alliance representing Czech influencers, creators, and online personalities who are facing increasing pressure from the Babiš government. We chat about this, as well as his time as speechwriter for the Foreign Minister during the Ukrainian war, the Brussels Effect in VDL II, working in Brussels versus Prague - and who has the best beer, the Czechs or the Belgians?

Andrea Bittnerova's a veteran of Brussels' event scene, having organised all sorts and scales at the Centre for European Policy Studies, and now, has decided to follow her family's footsteps into entrepreneurship. Furthermore, she has launched Living Brussels, the premier newsletter for lifestyle in Europe's capital. Join us as we unpack Brussels' event sphere, and discover new ways to unplug!