It would be actually criminal not to do at least one episode this season that looks at the songs from 2025, and since I don't want to end up getting locked away, I am happy to deliver!

For this final episode of Eurovisionism Season 2, I am joined by Kyriakos Tsinivits and Yolanda Vu- two massive Eurovision fans with some hot takes that you will either love or despise.

Theme Song: Max Dary

Outro Song: JOJ BOUK

Or: Spainio and UKette.

After their second and third place finishes in 2022, the perception of The UK and Spain at Eurovision changed from disappointment to excitement. With just two songs, these countries had turned their fortunes around and were expected to make a return to the top of the leaderboard- somewhere neither had been in decades.

But in the years after Chanel and Sam Ryder took to the stage, no Spanish or British entries have managed to come close to replicating those outstanding results. Fans have been left wondering, in the words of Remember Monday, "what the hell just happened?" After all, Spain and the UK have two of the biggest economies and music industries of participating Eurovision countries. They should be untouchable!

To get to the bottom of this, Gabe Milne (ESC Gabe) and Luis Mesa (Euromovidas) join me on this final regular episode of the season. Both are Eurovision fans and journalists who have seen what their country is capable of on the Eurovision stage and are left wondering why that quality is not sent every single year! We discuss what it meant for them to see their flags at the top of the scoreboard, and how they see a way out for two of the biggest Eurovision countries.

Theme Song: Max Dary

Outro Song: JOJ BOUK

Georgia is one of many countries to have never won Eurovision. On its own, that is not an interesting fact at all. But when you consider that at the same time they have more Junior Eurovision titles to their name than anybody else, things become a little less simple. If Georgia is able to bring back trophy after trophy (after trophy, after trophy. They've won four times) then why can't they replicate that success in the "adult" competition?

To uncover this mystery I am joined by Junior Eurovision expert Craig Land (of Aussievision) and Iru- winner of Junior Eurovision in 2011 and contestant at regular Eurovision in 2023! I also had the joy of getting help from my friends Nathan Roach and Molly Brookman to really bring this story to life.

Theme Song: Max Dary

Outro Song: JOJ BOUK

Every Eurovision fan remembers the song that first drew them into the contest. Maybe for you it was ABBA with Waterloo. Or Loreen with Euphoria. Mine was Aarzemnieki with Cake To Bake. And in this episode of Eurovisionism, I get to speak to the man responsible for writing it!

In 2014, Jöran Steinhauer and his bandmates took to the Eurovision stage representing Latvia. Twelve years earlier, this little Baltic country won their only Eurovision trophy, which set the streets of Riga alight. History beckoned as this plucky young band with their cheery song attempted to secure another victory for their country. But after their three minutes were up, Latvia was again missing from the list of qualifying countries. Since then, it's been much the same for following Latvian participants. Aside from a handful of solid results, Latvia has been largely unsuccessful at Eurovision.

Or have they?

Join me over the next twenty minutes as I examine what it means to have success at Eurovision, and how a German man came to represent a country that most Europeans might struggle to point out on a map.

Thank you to Jöran for speaking to me for this episode, it was exceptionally cool to learn all about the person who wrote my favourite Eurovision song!

And thank you also to the members of the Sydney Latvian Society in Strathfield who invited me to visit during one of their dance group rehearsals. They are doing a fantastic job of keeping the Latvian spirit alive and well on the other side of the world to their home country!

And finally, thank you to my friend Alex who is always happy to be my go-to European for this podcast (and in life generally).

Theme Song: Max Dary

Outro Song: JOJ BOUK

In Moldova's relatively short time at Eurovision, they have basically done it all. From the dizzying heights of a bronze medal finish to the dark days of three straight non-qualifications, this country has always been one to watch. But this year, for the first time since 2005, there will be no Moldova in Eurovision.

So what happened? How did things get so bad? And will we see them back in the contest ever again?

To find out, I spoke to the band responsible for Moldova's best ever Eurovision result and arguably the most recognisable Eurovision meme- SunStroke Project! Yes, Epic Sax Guy is on this podcast!

I'm also joined by Liv Webster from Aussievision- one of the biggest Eurovision fan sites (and podcast) in the world!

Special thanks to Lana, SunStroke Project's manager, and Lachlan Woods (president of OGAE Australia) who helped me to organise the interview with Sergei and Sergey.

I am painfully aware of the mistake at the beginning of the episode in which I say that Moldova's first Eurovision entry was in 2007 when in fact it was two years earlier in 2005! I hope you can look past this and not let it ruin the very immersive experience, as there are no other errors in any of the episodes of Eurovisionism!

Theme Song: Max Dary

Outro Song: JOJ BOUK

Eurovisionism is back for 2025, and now that we are all across how the contest actually works, it's time to have a look at some of the stories of the past few years. And sure, we could explore the winners, or the fan favourites, but in my opinion, there are far better stories to tell. The stories of the songs that missed out on most of the glory and support from fans, that might have flown under the radar but are no less deserving of our attention now!

In Season 2 of Eurovisionism, we are going to meet musicians, journalists, and fans from the countries that didn't win Eurovision- whether they came a close second or dead last.

It all starts this week, so stay tuned!

Music by JOJ BOUK.

The days, weeks, even months after Eurovision can feel a little hollow (Hello Dons) for many fans. Having spent so long focussing on nothing but this contest, to have it just end is not a pleasant experience! But what about the artists who have spent such huge amounts of their careers preparing for this show? What do they do with themselves after Eurovision? I am joined by TEYA (Austria, 2023) to learn about what her experience at Eurovision was like and how artists can use the contest to their advantage.

Theme Song: Max Dary

Outro Song: JOJ BOUK.

If the EBU had a catchphrase, it might be something along the lines of "Eurovision is not political". Every year they insist that politics should not be involved in the song contest, that it's all about the performers and the music. But is that really true? Or are politics everywhere in Eurovision? And how do these politics (or maybe the lack of them) impact the way that Israel's participation has been handled this year? I spoke with Associate Professor Jess Carniel to find out.

Correction: Morocco has recognised Israel as a country since 2020.

Theme Song: Max Dary

Outro Song: JOJ BOUK

The big question coming up to the Grand Final of Eurovision in any year is "Who is going to win"? And depending on who you ask, you might get some very different answers. I decided to ask the President of OGAE Australia and Eurovision expert, Lachlan Woods (and not just because we have the same name)!

Lachlan and I (also Lachlan) spoke about our favourite songs from this year's contest and made some guesses as to who we think might take home the trophy.

There are a few spoilers in this episode about various songs so if you want to go in to the Semi Finals (or Grand Final) blind then this is your warning.

Theme Song: Max Dary

Outro Song: JOJ BOUK

In the process of making this podcast I have gotten to speak to a lot of very cool and very nice people. One of those people is Alessandra Mele, who represented Norway at Eurovision in 2023. I really enjoyed her song, Queen of Kings, so it was quite cool to go from watching her on the TV last May to speaking to her myself (even if it was over Zoom). I asked her about what her time at Eurovision was like, what she is doing now, and how she ended up taking part in a flash mob earlier this year.

This is the first of a few bonus episodes that will be coming out in the days leading up to Eurovision, so stay tuned for more.

Theme Song: Max Dary

Outro Song: JOJ BOUK