Listen Again - to World Radio Switzerland

On this morning's Breakfast Show, Tara Kerpelman Puig from the Geneva Writers’ Group (GWG) talks to WRS' Katt Cullen about the organisation’s mission to support and connect English-language writers in the Geneva area - and beyond.

A highlight of the year is the Literary Prize, which celebrates outstanding work in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Tara came in to share some of the submission highlights as well as the winners of the prize. Their works can be read here. 

Some winners and featured writers will be doing a reading of their work at the Maison Internationale des Associations in Pâquis this Saturday at 12:30, following the GWG's Annual General Meeting. It's open to all. 

To learn more about upcoming workshops, writing opportunities, and how to enter next year’s Literary Prize, visit https://genevawritersgroup.wildapricot.org/

In this podcast, Victoria Newbury, Head of Middle School at Geneva English School, discusses the school’s personalised approach to education.

She highlights how the curriculum balances academic rigor with flexibility, allowing students to explore subjects at their own pace and according to their interests. Teachers use formative assessments and collaborative planning to tailor instruction, fostering student engagement and independence. Victoria emphasises the importance of meeting students where they are to support both academic success and personal growth.

Book a visit or find out more at ges.ch

More schools across Switzerland are introducing mobile phone bans during the school day - including the Collège du Léman (CdL), which implemented a no-phone policy for middle school students (ages 11–14) last August, and will soon expand the rule to secondary students in the next school year.

On the Breakfast Show this morning, we're joined by Dr. Betsy Harvey, Principal of the Middle School at CdL, and Grade 8 student Sofia, to discuss how the policy is working in practice. Sofia explains what the policy looks like day-to-day, how students reacted at first, and how her experience has shaped her perspective. Dr. Harvey shares why the school introduced the ban, leading by example, and what they hope to build on going forward.

Together, they reflect on balancing connection and focus, and what advice they’d give other schools, students, and anyone looking to reduce screen-time. 

Their next open house event will be held on 21 May. Register now at cdl.ch.

This morning, Angus Macdonald and Jennie Klein from GEDS joined Katt Cullen on the WRS Breakfast Show to talk about their performance of Pygmalion - this week. 

They shared insights into the wit and social critique of Shaw’s classic, the challenges of mastering accents, and what makes this production unique. 

Catch their take on Dr Henry Higgins and Eliza Dolittle live on stage this week in Coppet.

Tickets available now at geds.ch

On the WRS Breakfast Show, Katt Cullen speaks with Swiss-American author Kim Hays about Splintered Justice, the fourth novel in her Polizei Bern crime series.

Set in Bern and rich with social insight, the story sees detectives Giuliana Linder and Renzo Donatelli return to investigate two unsettling cases; one involving assisted dying, the other linked to war trauma and a long-closed refugee case.

Hays’ books often explore deeply Swiss themes: Pesticide (2022) tackles organic farming in the Seeland, Sons and Brothers (2023) delves into the legacy of the Verdingkinder system - child labour on Bernese farms, and A Fondness for Truth (2024) examines homophobia, immigration and mandatory military service.

Splintered Justice is available in Swiss bookstores and online.

A Bern launch event will take place on Monday 19 May at Orell Füssli’s Stauffacher branch.

Kim Hays, author of 'Splintered Justice'

Cecilia Campeas from the Ville de Carouge joined us on the WRS Breakfast Show to share the exciting highlights of this year’s Printemps Carougeois.

The vibrant cultural festival promises a rich and diverse program including a short-film competition that showcases emerging talent, hands-on creative workshops for all ages, and an array of live performances - all on this year's theme of 'travel'.

Visitors can enjoy dynamic dance shows, mesmerising circus acts, and captivating art exhibits throughout the city.

With something for everyone, Printemps Carougeois is a celebration of artistic expression and community spirit. Don’t miss this unforgettable cultural experience!

Ron Banks runs through the events the American International Club has coming up in May - and gives a little information about the club. You can see all the details on the website - www.amclub.ch

Looking for fun, toddler-friendly outings around Geneva and Vaud?

In this interview with Tamara from kids-zone.ch, we share our top five activities for kids under 5 - from local toy libraries and softplay centres to mini steam trains and dino adventures.

Whether you need indoor options for rainy days or outdoor thrills for sunny weekends, we've got you covered. Perfect for parents with little explorers!

Geneva-based author PJ Murphy’s book 'Six Steps to Salvation' is a sharp, darkly comic tale following disgraced entrepreneur Trent Argent.

After some shady dealings with charities in England come to light, Trent finds himself homeless in Geneva and living under the Pont Butin with a group of unpaid interns. Trent vows to redeem himself by aiding nonprofits, but when a hidden stash of jewels surfaces, old temptations threaten his path to redemption.

With biting satire and poignant moments, PJ Murphy explores greed, morality, and second chances. This is a smart, entertaining novel that balances absurdity with heartfelt questions about change and integrity.

'Six Steps to Salvation' is available online and at Payot in Geneva. It is also available on Amazon.fr (in neighbouring France). 

CineGlobe 2025, taking place at CERN from 14-18 May, will offer a vibrant blend of science-inspired cinema, immersive technology, and creative expression under the theme “Interwoven.” The festival will showcase 58 short films; 31 fiction and 27 documentary, selected from over 900 international submissions.

Audiences will experience a diverse lineup of virtual reality (VR), mixed reality (MR), and augmented reality (AR) installations.

Alex Brown from the CinéGobe team explains more on the WRS Breakfast Show...