Joining Lisa and Sasha in the Today Radio studios are the planners of Differdange's Fashion Week Luxembourg, sneaker savvy Today Radio presenter Steven Miller, and Laura da Silva – a fashion-forward nurse, tattoo artist and advocate for breast cancer support and awareness.

Starting with a review of the week’s global news with Sasha Kehoe, we discuss: 

US Election

Just one month away and Melania Trump has declared her support for a woman’s right to control her own body, including abortion.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/oct/02/melania-trump-memoir-defends-abortion-rights

JD Vance, Donald Trump’s pick for vice-president, has indicated he would support a national abortion ban

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/07/17/politics/kfile-jd-vance-abortion-comments/index.html

Pelicot Trial Rape Case in France

The horrific mass rape trial of 71 year old Gisèle Pelicot continues, creating debate about the culture of male domination in France and across borders

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20240927-french-rape-trial-sparks-timid-debate-about-masculinity

Teleworking no longer

Amazon now requires all employees to return to the office, sparking debate amongst many companies to rethink their working from home / office balance for maximum productivity  / employee satisfaction, especially when long commutes are a feature of working in Luxembourg for many.

Grand Duke Abdication

Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume will officially assume the role of Lieutenant Representative on 8 October, as appointed by his father the Grand Duke. 

In September Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa moved to their Fischbach residency allowing their son, Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume and his family to take over Berg Castle in Colmar-Berg.

https://today.rtl.lu/news/luxembourg/a/2207770.html

Real Art vs Posters

Scientists in the Netherlands using eye-tracking and MRI scans found an enormous difference between genuine works and posters. A neurological study revealed that real works of art in a museum stimulate the brain in a way that is 10 times stronger than looking at a poster. Commissioned by the Mauritshuis Museum in The Hague, home to Johannes Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring, the independent study used eye-tracking technology and MRI scans to record the brain activity of volunteers looking at genuine artworks and reproductions.

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2024/oct/03/real-art-in-museums-stimulates-brain-much-more-than-reprints-study-finds

Fashion Week Luxembourg 

Livia Smith, Communication Strategist for Luxembourg Fashion Week talks about its growth from the starting point six years ago,  with Fabiola Puga still at the helm. This year there will be twelve national and international designers. Luxembourg Fashion Week hopes to become part of the cultural fabric of the hospitality and economy of Luxembourg. Livia also talks about her own use of fashion to help create confidence for someone who is naturally shy.

Max Felten,  Chief Economist and City Manager of Differdange returns to talks about why Differdange will, once again, host Luxembourg Fashion Week. Natalia Wrona, in charge of the promotion for Differdange City Management, explains the three different locations this year, including one at the International School in Differdange, celebrating all children, with two autistic children taking to the catwalk.

AquaSud Differdange is another of the three locations for the Fashion Week, and Céline Moreira, their Communication Manager, explains the difficulty in using an aquatic setting for a fashion show! Céline also talks about the link to Pink October and how emphasising the beauty in diversity.

A theme throughout today’s discussion is the power of self-acceptance,  and promotion of a positive body image regardless of challenges.

Laura da Silva overcame breast cancer ten years ago. Now, she spends her time between nursing at CHL and running her own business as an image consultant and tattoo artist, helping other women who have gone through breast cancer. She travels around with a pink chair, which is a reminder to those who have dealt with cancer that there is a lot of waiting and sitting, for both the patient, but also for their friends and family.

https://www.instagram.com/luxembourgfashionweek

My colleague, Steven Miller, a presenter at Today Radio is renowned in the office for his sneaker collector. Steven started his collection at the age of 15, peaking at 550 in 2017. He talks about sneaker collecting as an alternative investment, where ‘sneakerheads’ of this world are happy to spend thousands on one pair. Steven also loves Japanese streetwear designers, specialising in  minimalist but thoughtful creations.

Collector of sneakers since age 15 (peaking at 550 pairs in 2017)

Completed a course in ‘Sneaker Essentials’ with the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York in 2020; covering everything from history and design to  manufacturing and retail

Favoured fashion subject is Japanese designers and streetwear

Advocate for pre-loved/owned clothing and the Japanese art of ‘Sa-shiko’ (mending/repair)

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Tune in to The Lisa Burke Show on Today Radio Saturdays at 11am, Sundays at noon, and Tuesdays at 11am.