In a Nutshell

What challenges is Dutch democracy facing? Does democracy need a re-invention? And why does representative democracy reappear, even when we try to leave it behind?

In this very last episode of In a Nutshell, Jara and her guest, Kristof Jacobs, gather in the studio to assess the state of Dutch democracy.

Kristof is an associate professor of empirical political science. And in his research, he investigates the challenges facing modern democracies, their consequences, and the responses they trigger.

Want to dive deeper into this topic? Follow Kristof’s advice and pick up “The Death of Expertise” by Tom Nichols today.

Finally, thank you for listening to In a Nutshell over the past three years—it’s been a pleasure.

Edit: Jara Majerus

Cover: Antonia Leise

Thousands of children in the Netherlands have been conceived as donor children over the past few decades – and some of them through fraudulent practices. One of them is the Radboud historian Adriejan van Veen.

In today’s episode, the first of a two-part-series, Antonia talks with Adriejan about why some doctors used fraudulent practices – for example by using their own sperm – to conceive children. And which historical frameworks made those practices possible in the first place.

Adriejan van Veen is a political historian at the Faculty of Arts. In 2025, he received a NWO XS grant to study the history of insemination fraud and other abuses by fertility doctors between the 1970s and 2004.

Would you like to learn more about the topic of insemination fraud? Then follow Adriejan’s recommendations and watch the documentaries „Het zaad van Karbaat“ (VPRO, in Dutch) and „The Man with 1000 Kids“ (Netflix, in English). You can also listen to the podcast „De Kwak Kwaakt“, in which Adriejan talks about his research and own experience being a donor child that was conceived through a fraudulent practice in Dutch.

This episode is part of a two-part series. Make sure to also check out the first episode.

Edit: Jara Majerus

Cover: Antonia Leise

Thousands of children in the Netherlands have been conceived as donor children over the past few decades – and some of them through fraudulent practices. One of them is the Radboud historian Adriejan van Veen.

In today’s episode, the first of a two-part-series, Antonia talks with Adriejan about why some doctors used fraudulent practices – for example by using their own sperm – to conceive children. And which historical frameworks made those practices possible in the first place.

Adriejan van Veen is a political historian at the Faculty of Arts. In 2025, he received a NWO XS grant to study the history of insemination fraud and other abuses by fertility doctors between the 1970s and 2004.

Would you like to learn more about the topic of insemination fraud? Then follow Adriejan’s recommendations and watch the documentaries „Het zaad van Karbaat“ (VPRO, in Dutch) and „The Man with 1000 Kids“ (Netflix, in English). You can also listen to the podcast „De Kwak Kwaakt“, in which Adriejan talks about his research and own experience being a donor child that was conceived through a fraudulent practice in Dutch.

This episode is part of a two-part series. The second part will be released on the 19th of May.

Edit: Jara Majerus

Cover: Antonia Leise

Why do young people want to read more than they actually do? Why does it sometimes require bravery to admit that one is a reader? And what makes reading literature so important for our development?

In the 7th episode of In a Nutshell, Jara and her guest Jeroen Dera find answers to these questions. Together, they uncover the perks and pitfalls of BookTok, examine the connection between open-mindedness and reading, and investigate what keeps young people from reading.

Jeroen is an associate professor of Dutch literature. In his research, he focuses on the reading culture of young people and on the role literature plays in education.

Do you want to know more about this topic? Make sure to follow Jeroen’s recommendations and read “The Reading Lives of Teens”, edited by Chin Ee Loh, and “De lezende mens”, by Adriaan van der Weel and Ruud Hisgen.

Edit: Jara Majerus

Cover: Antonia Leise

Why is producing more food not a solution to global hunger? What needs to happen for our food systems to become more sustainable? And what role does property play in all of this?

In the new episode of In a Nutshell, host Jara explores food and the land on which it grows. Together with her guest, Adam Calo, she learns about growing populations, the myth of feeding the world, and soil as an underlying problem.

Adam is an assistant professor of Environmental Governance and Politics. In his research, he examines how our land governance hinders our transition to a more sustainable, ecologically resilient, and just food system.

Do you want to know more about food and sustainable food systems? Make sure to follow Adam’s recommendations and read the book Beginning to End Hunger by M. Jahi Chappell, listen to Adam’s very own podcast called Landscapes, or watch the documentary Food Chains directed by Sanjay Rawal.

Edit: Jara Majerus

Cover: Antonia Leise

How was the AIDS epidemic translated into theatre plays? Why is the way we talk about illness important? And what does Susan Sontag have to do with all of that

In this episode of In a Nutshell, Antonia and guest Dirk Visser take a look at the way theatre can – and has – tackled heavy topics like AIDS. And why it matters how a story is being told.

Dirk Visser has conducted his PhD at the Faculty of Arts research investigates the theatrical response to the AIDS crisis in Britain and America, focusing particularly on those plays that did not enter the canon of English or American drama. His intend is thereby to restore those plays as part within the cultural memory of the AIDS epidemic.

This episode is part of a two-part series on politics and theatre. Also tune in for the first episode, which explores the topic of political theatre in general.

Edit: Jara MajerusCover: Antonia Leise

How political is theatre? What do plays have to do with Brexit? And how has theatre shaped (and commented on) political developments in the past?

In this episode of In a Nutshell, Antonia and guest Ruud van den Beuken explore how political topics can be explored in theatre – and ask the question whether theatre is always the best way to address certain political issues, especially when it comes to class in Britain.

Ruud van den Beuken is an assistant professor at the Faculty of Arts. His own theatre research has started with a course on Samuel Beckett and Irish theatre, which was also the topic of his PhD research. Amongst other things, Ruud is researching Brexit theatre, national identity formation (also through theatre) and postcolonial cultural memory.

Would you like to learn more about the politics of theatre? Then follow Ruud’s advise and watch some theatre plays yourself. Including Sadettin Kirmiziyuz's Citzen K, available on the NPO streaming service.

This episode is part of a two-part series on politics and theatre. Also tune in for the second episode, which explores AIDS theatre.

Edit: Jara Majerus

Cover: Antonia Leise

Why should kids not choose where they sit in a classroom? How does where we sit affect our relationships and chances of success, both socially and academically?

In the third episode of In a Nutshell, host Jara explores seating plans, distance, and proximity. Together with her guest, Yvonne van den Berg, she investigates why it matters where we sit and how we use distance to communicate our feelings.

Yvonne is an assistant professor of developmental psychology. In her research, she investigates how proximity influences our social relationships, with a particular focus on the role that physical proximity plays in classroom social dynamics.

Would you like to learn more about the importance of physical proximity? Make sure to follow Yvonne’s recommendations and read Relationships 5.0 by Elyakim Kislev, or check out the experiment mentioned by Yvonne on YouTube.  

Edit: Jara Majerus

Cover: Antonia Leise

Can we predict the future? How is identity shaped by the past? And how can history help with making sense of our present?

Edit: Jara Majerus

Cover: Antonia Leise

Can we overcome capitalism? What alternatives to communism exist? And what keeps us from imagining new economies?

In the first episode of In a Nutshell’s third season, we delve into the challenges of capitalism. Together with this week’s guest, Querine Kommandeur, we discuss whether it is possible to exit capitalism and learn why it matters how we talk about economics.

Querine is a PhD candidate at Radboud University. In her research, she focuses on alternative economic discourses. With her work, she aims to better understand how these discourses emerge and develop, and how they can lead totransformations.

Do you want to delve deeper into alternative economics? Make sure to follow Querine’s recommendations and listen to the podcasts “Economics for Rebels” by Dr. Köves Alexandra, “Leven na de groei” by Just Enough, or “Ecosofie” by MarnixKluiters.

And if you want to stick your nose into some books, check out “Doughnut Ecomics” by Kate Raworth, “Mission Economy” by Mariana Mazzucato, and “Less Is More: How Degrowth Will Save the World” by Jason Hickel.

Edit: Jara Majerus

Cover: Antonia Leise