European Glimpse Podcast

In this conversation, Alice and Olga discuss the profound impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on Olga's life and her subsequent activism. Olga shares her initial shock and the emotional turmoil she experienced, as well as her determination to take action. They explore the formation of community support in Berlin and Portugal, the challenges of confronting Russian propaganda, and the importance of cultural activism. Olga reflects on her experiences at the Russian House in Berlin and her visits to Ukraine, emphasizing the resilience and vibrant life of Ukrainians despite the ongoing war.

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Takeaways

The initial shock of the invasion was overwhelming for many.Community support played a crucial role in coping with the invasion.Activism can be a powerful response to feelings of helplessness.Cultural events can help bridge understanding and support for Ukraine.The Russian House in Berlin symbolizes ongoing propaganda efforts.Olga's activism evolved from personal expression to organized efforts.The Ukrainian community in Berlin is diverse and passionate.Portugal's response to Ukrainian refugees has been largely supportive.Technological advancements are seen as key to Ukraine's defense.Hope persists through community solidarity and cultural resilience.

In this conversation, Moa Petersén, an associate professor of digital cultures at Lund University, discusses the implications of Sweden's transition to a cashless society. She explores the digital imperative driving this change, the current state of cash and digital payments, and the impact on vulnerable groups, particularly the elderly and economically disadvantaged. The conversation highlights the constructed incompetence faced by those excluded from the digital system and the stigma associated with cash usage. Petersén emphasizes the need for inclusivity in digitalization and the importance of considering the voices of marginalized communities in shaping future policies.

Takeaways

Sweden's goal is to be the best in digitalization, not explicitly cashless.

The digital imperative is deeply rooted in Swedish culture and identity.

For many, the cashless system works well, but it excludes vulnerable groups.

Elderly and economically disadvantaged individuals face significant barriers in a cashless society.

Time is a crucial resource in navigating the digital landscape.

Constructed incompetence arises when society changes faster than individuals can adapt.

Public awareness of cash dependency issues is low among the general population.

Stigmatization of cash users reflects a broader distrust in society.

Immigrants may struggle more with digital inclusion due to language barriers.

Future discussions on digitalization must prioritize inclusivity and social good.

More research by Moa:

Halldenius, L., & Petersén, M. (2024). Kontanternas värde: Fattigdom och utanförskap i Sveriges digitalaekonomi . Lund Human Rights Reports and Working Papers; Nr 2. Lund University. https://lucris.lub.lu.se/ws/portalfiles/portal/200870612/Kontanternas_v_rde_LHRRWP_2_2024.pdf

Halldenius, L. & Petersén, M. (2024). Sweden is a nearly cashless society - here's how it affects people who are left out, The Conversation https://theconversation.com/sweden-is-a-nearly-cashless-society-heres-how-it-affects-people-who-are-left-out-216586

Petersén, M. (2023). Body descriptions in biohacking and their overlaps and origins. DigitCult - Scientific Journal On Digital Cultures, 8(1), 7-24.  https://digitcult.lim.di.unimi.it/index.php/dc/article/view/220

Petersén, M. (2023). Jerry N. Uelsmann. Eighth Day Wonder. Kehrer Verlag https://www.kehrerverlag.com/en/moa-petersen-eight-day-wonder-jerry-n-uelsmann

This conversation explores the Be Manly movement in Croatia, its roots in Catholicism, and the broader context of masculinist movements globally. Anamaria discusses the historical significance of Catholicism in Croatian identity, the influence of global trends on local movements, and the role of media in shaping public perception. The conversation also touches on the counter movements advocating for women's rights and the implications of these developments for Croatian society and politics.

Takeaways

The Be Manly movement is rooted in Catholic traditions.

Catholicism plays a significant role in Croatian identity.

The movement reflects a global trend of masculinist movements.

Media coverage of the movement varies significantly by political alignment.

Public perception of the movement is largely negative, with 75% opposing it.

Counter protests are organized by feminist and LGBTQ+ groups.

The Catholic Church has not publicly commented on the movement.

Media sensationalism affects public trust in journalism.

The birth rate decline is linked to economic factors, not solely cultural shifts.

The normalization of the Be Manly movement raises concerns about future societal changes.

Sources:

Hanžek, Anamaria. 2025. “Mainstreaming Conservative Ideas Through Media Coverage: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Croatian Online Media Reporting on the ‘Be Manly’ Men’s Rights Movement”. Politikon: The IAPSS Journal of Political Science 59 (1). Online:63-87. https://doi.org/10.22151/politikon.12025.3.

Nicholas Zalewski (2023): Let’s Tune In To The EU’s Periphery: “Be Manly” Catholic Mens Group Divides Croatian Society - The New Global Order

Welcome to European Glimpse! In this first episode, I will share why I believe it is important to talk about Europe!

Here’s the transcript:

What does it truly mean to be European? For me, that question is deeply woven into the fabric of my own family history, particularly through the lives of my two grandmothers. In this first episode of European Glimpse, I'll share how their very different worlds shaped my understanding of the continent and how it, frankly, inspired me to create this podcast.

My grandmother on my father's side was a tall, eastern German woman with blue eyes and pink cheeks. She was born in 1937, many of her childhood memories were about war.

The sounds of bombs falling on her homestead key of Magdeburg. The smell of ash. The sticky and hot air as people were huddling together in basements to stay safe. She rarely spoke of those horrors. But I'll never forget that one time when I was

But I'll never forget that one time, when I was about seven, at a family gathering. She simply looked at me and then said, when I was your age, I ran through fire. Then, just as quickly, she looked away and changed the subject. That single sentence has always stayed with me, a glimpse into a childhood so utterly alien to mine.

My grandmother's family had experienced two world wars which Germany lost. Later she saw how the Berlin Wall was built, separating families and friends.

In her new home state in eastern Germany, the German Democratic Republic, school children and adults alike were taught that the West was the enemy.

My grandmother learned Russian when she was young, both in school and on the streets. She shared stories about young Russian soldiers collecting the watches German women were wearing. Uri uri, they said, mispronouncing the German word for watch. Uo.

Many years later she saw the collapse of the socialist system and Germany finally being reunited again. For some people this meant freedom, but for others it meant loss.

I don't think my grandmother ever felt like she was a European.

On the other side of my family, my maternal grandmother experienced a vastly different life. She was born in 1945 in a small village without proper plumbing in Bulgaria, close to the Greek border. In her family, the elders were sharing stories about that time when the Ottomans were in control of the area

and how the most beautiful woman in town was subjected to what is now Turkey. Since those days people had started to feel increasingly patriotic, yet politics seemed kind of irrelevant. Everyone in the village was a farmer, and taking care of the crops and animals was the most important task. After World War II, people found out that the monarchy in Bulgaria had collapsed,

and quickly learned about the new ideas for the economic and social order under the name of socialism.

When she was young, my maternal grandmother never learned about the political killings that took place during her childhood.

but you did experience the expansion of education and the industrialization of that period.

She received a professional training, started the family early and worked for decades. If you don't work, you can't eat. I remember her repeating the old communist saying.

The socialist values in Bulgaria have withered away as the country has introduced the market economy, joined the European Union, and lost roughly a third of its population to migration and a plummeting birth rate. The children are all in the West, my grandmother and her friends say. I don't believe that she sees herself as European, but I shall ask her the next time I get the chance.

My life is very different. I very much identify as European. Partly because of this mixed background I've just described and because I grew up between the values of both Eastern and Western Europe. I grew up in Germany.

Another part is that I had the privilege to travel the continent. I remember one of the pivotal moments of my life was when I got a scholarship as I was studying in university. This meant I could spend a semester in Madrid. I fell in love with the city and its beautiful architecture and lively neighborhoods. I met people from all over the continent and realized that we had quite a bit in common.

We wore the same clothing from big international brands, we liked the same music artists, and we watched the same Disney cartoons as we were growing up. However, I was particularly struck by the stories, questions, and even jokes surrounding World War II when I was in this international community, even though we were all born roughly half a century after the war ended. Later,

I had the chance to study as well in Poland and Denmark, one year respectively. Even though the mentalities of both nations are very, very different, I always found ways to connect with the locals. Interestingly, World War II was something people would bring up. There must be something about those international communities where World War II is just defined as a pivotal moment that everybody has to talk about.

Those experiences made me realize that Europe can only be understood against the backdrop of its own past. And frankly, European nations, their identities and stories mirror the interwoven history of the continent.

To me, Europe is about experiences, different traditions, values, and personal stories of the many different people who live here. But I definitely feel I don't know what is going on in other countries. When I scroll through social media or the news, the timeline is full of world news, including stories about Chinese trade or US politics.

It seems to me that I'm more likely to come across stories and trends taking place in the US than on what is currently happening in Austria, Greece or Sweden. But I think it's important for us Europeans to look at our own situation right now.

I'm not saying that we should ignore the influence of other countries or that it's bad in any way. But our geographic location has a big effect on our culture, our politics, our economy. So does our history. Even when I read stories about Europe, as rarely as they appear, it as well seems to me that a lot of them are rather negative. And I've gotten tired to see memes about Europe becoming the world's museum.

This observation or this meme doesn't correspond at all with my own reality.

European Glimpse, this podcast, is my very own way of finding out what people are talking about in other countries, what types of problems they observe, and what they are creating in their very own spaces. And now, I want to hear from you. Whether you're a student, a professional, a journalist, a scholar, or simply somebody who's sensitive to the cultural differences in the continent. Send me your thoughts, your stories.

I would like to talk to you and record a podcast episode. And you can reach out to me just by mailing me at europeanglimpse at gmail.com.

Thank you for being here and listening to this very first short episode of European Glimpse. My name is Alice and I'm really excited to share more stories and insights in the upcoming episodes. Until then, take care and keep your eyes on Europe.