Asparagus, lesbian family rights and Viktor Orbán’s latest power plays: like all good meals, this podcast episode is perfectly balanced. German food writer Ursula Heinzelmann joins us to explain the ‘Spargelzeit’ phenomenon that sees foodies going nutty for asparagus at this time of year. We’re also taking a look at LGBTQ rights in Italy and unpacking the Hungarian government’s plans to ‘starve and strangle’ civil society. Can Orbán be stopped?

You can find out more about Ursula’s work on her website and follow her on Instagram here.

Thanks for listening. If you have any spare cash this week, please consider donating to Hungarian civil society groups and independent media outlets before the planned passing of the ‘starve and strangle’ law in mid-June. UNITED for Intercultural Action, the NGO run by our former guest Philip Pollák, would be extremely grateful for your donations; you can also donate to any of the organisations on this list of Hungarian NGOs (get in touch if you have ideas of organisations to add to this list).

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This podcast was brought to you in cooperation with Euranet Plus, the leading radio network for EU news.

This week's Inspiration Station recommendations: Rita Payés’ Tiny Desk Concert and CMAT.

Other resources for this episode:

The Convention on the Rights of the Child - United Nations, November 20, 1989

Sentenza 68/2025 (Italy’s constitutional court ruling on lesbian couples and IVF) - Corte Constituzionale - May 22, 2025

‘A Threat to the Core: Why the New Hungarian Transparency Bill is an Attack on the Foundations of the European Union’ - Verfassungsblog, May 21, 2025

00:46 The Europeans: Pouring asparagus straight into your ears

02:49 Good Week: Lesbian mothers in Italy

12:47 Bad Week: Hungary's 'starve and strangle' law

37:10 Interview: Ursula Heinzelmann on the magic of Spargelzeit

49:58 The Inspiration Station: Rita Payés and CMAT

54:10 Happy Ending: Portugal's clever teen media strategy