Welcome to 2025 from RTL Today here in Luxembourg! As the new year dawns with blue skies and crisp temperatures, we welcome listeners from around the world.

On today’s episode of The Lisa Burke Show, we’re taking a glimpse into the year ahead. What does 2025 hold for geopolitics, technology, culture, and beyond? Joining us is Sasha Kehoe, our seasoned daily news host, adept at finding the most interesting stories, and Sam Steen also jumps onto the show!

Geopolitical Shifts

The political landscape of 2025 promises dramatic shifts, with the inauguration of the 47th U.S. President, Donald Trump, in January. Domestically, his administration is an unknown quantity, but he is likely to pursue pardons for the January 6th rioters amongst other possible promises in his election campaign. Internationally, we anticipate he will alter U.S.-China relations, remove the US from some climate organisations, and Trump has already been a possible catalyst for the ceasefire in Gaza.

What will happen in 2025 for Ukraine and the Middle East? Notably, there’s cautious optimism about a time of rebuild and reconciliation after a ceasefire in Gaza and Israel, alongside predictions of a peace deal in Ukraine by May, aligning with the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s World War II victory.

Europe, meanwhile, faces rising populist movements. Germany may see Friedrich Merz steering the nation to the right, while Austria’s Freedom Party forms a far-right government, the first since World War II. France continues to grapple with political gridlock, and tensions simmer in the Balkans, Moldova, and Nagorno-Karabakh. However, there are bright spots, such as Bulgaria’s adoption of the euro and Romania’s upcoming presidential election.

Technological Breakthroughs

2025 is officially the UN’s Year of Quantum Science and Technology, heralding advancements in AI, robotics, and space exploration. Companies are pouring over $1 trillion into data centers to harness AI’s potential, though adoption rates remain tentative. Tesla’s humanoid robots are expected to debut in factories, with predictions of increasingly autonomous machines capable of household chores like tidying and loading dishwashers.

Eastern Europe continues to lead in cybersecurity and dual-use technologies, while China drives a global clean tech boom with solar panels, batteries, and electric vehicles. Luxembourg’s space sector stands out, with the University of Luxembourg having launched its first satellite, POQUITO, on January 14. Luxembourg also ranks third globally in space investments as a percentage of GDP, trailing only the U.S. and Russia.

Cultural Highlights and Luxembourg

The Luxembourg Song Contest heads to Basel, Switzerland, with semi-finals scheduled for May 13 and 15, and the Grand Finale on May 17.

Closer to home, Luxembourg is implementing significant social and economic changes. These include higher wages through indexation, increased energy allowances, and tax reforms to attract foreign talent and support single parents.

On the mobility front, tram services will extend to Findel Airport, with WiFi available on board. Educational policies also see changes, such as a ban on mobile phones in primary schools and a doubling of university tuition fees. These initiatives aim to strike a balance between modern convenience and societal well-being.

Environmental and Health Trends

Environmental challenges persist, with California facing wildfires, the Amazon experiencing drought, and Spain battling floods. Scientists warn 2024 was the hottest year on record, setting a worrying precedent for 2025. Yet, there’s hope in health innovations, such as expanded malaria vaccine rollouts and efforts to eliminate cervical cancer through HPV vaccination.

The Oxford Dictionary’s Word of the Year, “Brain Rot,” underscores the mental toll of extended screen time. Encouraging movement remains vital, as demographics shift in the U.S., where deaths now outpace births, affecting economic growth.

Looking Ahead

As we navigate this year of change and innovation, The Lisa Burke Show invites you to stay engaged, curious, and hopeful. Watch us on RTL Play, listen on Apple or Spotify, and write to Lisa on LinkedIn. Here’s to embracing the unpredictability of 2025 together!

The launch of Girls in SciTech in Luxembourg last week is a movement aimed at empowering girls to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths.

The Girls in SciTech campagin, coordinated by Professor Serge Haan, brought together high school students, university alumni, industry professionals, and political leaders, all united to tackle the gender imbalance in STEM fields. How can we encourage more young female minds to take up the ‘hard’ sciences rather than just the ‘soft’ sciences (life sciences, medicine, biological sciences etc.)? Indeed one can even question the words attributed to the sciences here. 

The State of Women in STEM: A Statistical Snapshot

Despite incremental progress, women remain underrepresented in STEM, particularly in senior roles. According to Eurostat, 41% of all scientists and engineers in the European Union were women in 2022. The figures are consistently lower for maths, physics, computer science and engineering, varying from country to country. 

Philippe Hiligsmann, Vice-Rector for Academic and Student Affairs at the University of Luxembourg, underscored the importance of the campaign: “This is more than an event; it is a movement to change things by motivating and inspiring girls to pursue a career in science.” 

A Powerful Group of Role Models

The event featured a panel of inspiring women from diverse STEM backgrounds, who shared their own personal journeys and ideas:

- Hania Tayara, Programme Leader at Native Scientists

- Marie-Alix Dalle, Environmental Engineer at ArcelorMittal

- Prof. Serge Haan, Full Professor in Biological Chemistry, University of Luxembourg

- Laurence Lampecco, Analyst Developer at POST Luxembourg

- Prof. Skerdilajda Zanaj, Full Professor in Economics, University of Luxembourg

- Marie-Louise Uwizeye, Chargée d’études at Administration de la gestion de l’eau

- Monika Zlopasa, Investment Fund Risk Manager at UBS Luxembourg

Stéphanie Obertin, Minister for Research and Higher Education in Luxembourg, captured the essence of the event’s message when she said, “It’s about transforming our society by empowering women in STEM fields. The unique perspectives and ideas they bring to the field enhance problem-solving and spark innovation.”

The Challenges: What’s Holding Girls Back?

The panelists identified several key barriers that contribute to the gender gap:

Stereotypes and Gender Roles: 

From an early age, girls are exposed to stereotypes that suggest STEM is not for them. Many girls are told, either overtly or subtly, that they are not as good at math or science as boys. These messages, often reinforced by parents, peers, and teachers, can impact their self-confidence and limit their aspirations. As Prof. Skerdilajda Zanaj pointed out, “It’s not that girls don’t like science, it’s that they are taught to believe it’s not for them.”

Lack of Role Models: 

The absence of female role models in STEM fields further discourages girls from pursuing these paths. Research shows that girls are more likely to enter STEM fields if they see women succeeding in them. “For every 10 Google queries asking, ‘Is my daughter gifted?’ there are 25 asking, ‘Is my son gifted?’” said Marie-Alix Dalle, an alumna of the University of Luxembourg and an Environmental Engineer at ArcelorMittal. The lack of female role models in leadership positions can make it harder for girls to imagine themselves succeeding in science.

Parental Biases: 

Parents often unconsciously reinforce gendered expectations. Research has shown that girls are less likely to be encouraged to pursue STEM subjects, particularly in math and technology. This parental influence can have long-term effects on girls' academic choices and self-perception.

Workplace and Family Balance: 

Women in STEM often face the additional challenge of balancing their careers with family life. Marie-Louise Uwizeye, an engineer and mother of three, shared her experience of working in engineering while raising children: “If you really want to do it, you can. I am a mother of three children, I have a PhD, and I am working full-time. Don’t excuse yourself—this is your right.” Despite the challenges, she emphasized that women can thrive in STEM, even as mothers.

Breaking the Barriers: Solutions and Strategies

To address these barriers, the panelists discussed various strategies that can help increase the number of girls in STEM, especially in leadership positions:

Increased Representation of Women in Senior Roles: 

One of the critical points raised during the discussion was the importance of seeing women in senior positions within STEM fields. Not only do these role models inspire the next generation, but they also demonstrate that leadership in STEM is achievable for women. “We need to increase the representation of women in science at senior levels to show young girls that it’s possible to rise to the top,” said Hania Tayara. Studies show that having female mentors or professors increases the likelihood that girls will continue to pursue STEM studies and careers.

Changing Course Content: 

Many panelists emphasized the importance of making STEM content more relevant to girls. As Marie-Alix Dalle put it, “Enough talk about cars!” In order to engage more girls, science education must reflect a broader range of interests and real-world applications. “Science should resonate with girls as well,” she added, advocating for curricula that connect STEM to real-world issues like climate change, healthcare, and technology.

Mentorship and Support Networks: 

Several initiatives are already in place in Luxembourg to support girls in STEM. For example, mentorship programs, such as those offered by Native Scientists and the University of Luxembourg, help guide girls through the uncertainties they may face when applying to university or entering STEM fields. Laurence Lampecco, an analyst developer at POST Luxembourg, shared her personal experience of mentorship and the crucial role it played in her journey: “Having someone who believes in you makes all the difference.”

Challenging Societal Norms: 

Finally, the discussion underscored the importance of challenging the societal norms that dictate what careers are “appropriate” for men and women. By showcasing the success stories of women in STEM, through media and other platforms, we can shift perceptions and inspire young girls to see these fields as viable career paths.

As Monika Zlopasa, a Risk Manager at UBS Luxembourg, pointed out, “We miss out on complementary skills and points of view when we don’t have women in STEM. It’s not just about representation—it’s about making work better, more innovative, and more inclusive.”

Moving Forward: A Collective Effort

The Girls in SciTech event marked an important milestone in the effort to close the gender gap in STEM. But as the panelists emphasized, real change requires a collective effort from all sectors of society. From parents and teachers to industry leaders and policymakers, everyone has a role to play in creating a more inclusive environment for girls in STEM.

Yuriko Backes, Luxembourg’s Minister for Gender Equality and Diversity, stated, “When young girls see women excelling in STEM fields, it serves as an inspiration. It shows them that they too can achieve success in these areas.” By continuing to promote mentorship, support networks, and initiatives like Girls in SciTech, we can ensure that the next generation of STEM leaders includes a balanced representation of both women and men.

In the end, the journey towards gender equality in STEM is just beginning. With sustained commitment, collaboration, and advocacy, we can create a world where girls in science are not the exception—but the norm.

From the youth uprising of Bangladesh in summer of 2024 which overthrew the Awami-led government, a new nation is beginning to sprout. Watch and listen to the interview on RTL Today.

Bangladesh doesn't hit international headlines so often unless it's for cyclone reasons. It's been quiet and slightly hidden from global news discussion. Why was that?

Well last summer, the youth of Bangladesh ensured their desires for their country was heard.

During July and August 2024, the youth of Bangladesh rose up against the Awami League-led government of Bangladesh, with nearly a thousand young people killed.

Sheikh Hasina was the longest serving Prime minister, and is the daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the first president of Bangladesh. Her regime was known to be authoritarian and she’s now in self-imposed exile since the uprising. 

In October 2024, a team of ten students and three teachers from various Luxembourg high schools, who had been corresponding with Friendship secondary schools in Bangladesh for over a year, went to meet the young people and learn about some of the challenges of Bangladesh. 

On my show this week, Aysha Siddiqua Tithi and Mir Mahbubur Rahman (Snigdho) talk about their experience, losses and the future they hope for. 

Mir Snigdho, 25, is the twin brother of Mir Mugdho, who was shot dea by police whilst trying to supply water to demonstrators. His twin brother Snigdho now heads up the July Shaheed Smrity Foundation, to help the victims of the violence of July-August 2024.

Mir Mahbubur Rahman (Snigdho), has a background in law and a passion for social impact and the “transformative power of collective action”.

Aysha Siddiqua Tithi, 22, is a 3rd year university student who was at the forefront of the July protests and accompanied Professor Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate (2006) and current Chief Advisor of the Interim Government of Bangladesh, to the United Nations General Assembly last September.  Tithi is Project Director at WOOW (Work for Orientation and Organizing the World), and currently a third-year Computer Science student at BRAC University. 

Snigdho encompasses the passion these young people have in turning the weight of history into something positive for Bangladesh:

“The Quota Movement of 2024 was a moment of sacrifice and resilience. The Movement is deeply personal to me because I lost my own (identical twin) brother during this struggle. His sacrifice has been a profound source of inspiration, driving me to work tirelessly toward building a better future for those who have faced similar losses. This tragedy has given me a strong sense of purpose, motivating me to ensure that every sacrifice is honoured and that no one is left behind in our collective fight for justice and equality.

“Witnessing the struggles of my family and  of those who fought for equality and justice has inspired me to dedicate myself to ensuring their voices are not forgotten. Through the foundation, I work to provide financial assistance, healthcare, and emotional support to the martyrs and injured, keeping alive the spirit of hope and solidarity that emerged from the movement. This experiences has profoundly shaped my vision for a stronger Bangladesh. I won't let my brother's death be in vain.

“I see Bangladesh 2.0 as a land of opportunity, innovation, and inclusion—a nation where the dreams of all citizens are supported and valued. With the right blend of education, leadership, and global collaboration, I believe we can overcome systemic challenges and create a brighter future. My goal is to be part of this transformation, using the skills and knowledge I acquire to contribute meaningfully to the country's development”

What a year 2024 has been. It's had it all. Highs and loves and lows, elections and entertainment.

With my colleagues Sasha Kehoe and Vanessa Phelan, we take a look at some of the biggest news stories of 2024. 

It was a year of elections, but also of countries coming undone through continuous wars or overthrowing of regimes (Syria and Bangladesh).

Paris hosted the Olympics and added breakdancing as one of its choices. 

We can't go without mentioning Taylor Swift and the Eras Tour. Then there was the mispronounced names including Kamala Harris, Chappell Roan, Zendaya, Barry Keoghan.

Bringing it back to Luxembourg, we had the Caritas embezzlement scandal, increased defence spending (along with much of Europe), and the idea of conscription was floated. Eurovision mania hit Luxembourg for the first time in 31 years and the new crop of talent is lining up for next year's show. 

What were your highlights or lowlights? Get in touch and let us know what stories touched you the most in 2024.

As we approach the holiday season, where so much emphasis is put on families being together, I wanted to touch on the taboo topic of parental estrangement.

“Dirty Grief” is the phrase Stephanie Peirolo coined to describe that messy landscape of grief when a parent you are estranged from dies. 

Stephanie and Eugene S. Robinson are seasoned storytellers through the spoken and written word, along with music in the case of Eugene.

I first came across Stephanie when I heard her talk about her son’s death on The Moth. One might think that this is what she would want to talk about. But no. It is the story of her estrangement from her mother, and more recently, the unexpectedly messy grief she is currently walking through after her mother died. 

Eugene has his own story of estrangement from his father, and has also written about this in "Father: the Final Installment".

With such familial bonds, when they are frayed or fractured, others often want it to be ‘fixed’ as there is still hope whilst people are alive. There may be judgement from others who perceive you as not trying hard enough to either accept how the parent shows up or just accepting some behaviours which may never change. 

"We are meaning making beings, we need story and ritual to carry grief”

Stephanie and Eugene both honestly share their experiences, and the ripple effect such dynamics have on other family or partner relationships. Stephanie suggests not to rush that line from ‘grief to grace’ and to lean into chosen family. She believes there is a deep sense of knowing what is right inside oneself. 

My Guests

Stephanie Peirolo spent years working in advertising and is now a board-certified executive coach. She is a writer and storyteller whose work on The Moth has been featured on NPR and in the best-selling book All These Wonders. Her new book The Saint and the Drunk - A Guide to Making the Big Decisions In Your Life will be published in the spring.

Eugene S. Robinson, an author whose work has appeared in the New York Times, the LA Times, GQ, and Vice, spent time “in the trenches” at Adobe, Apple, Intel, Nikon. His books include A Walk Across Dirty Water and Straight Into Murderers Row, a memoir and Fight: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Ass Kicking But Were Afraid You'd Get Your Ass Kicked for Asking. He is the lead singer for the band BUÑUEL, touring soon through Europe.

You can listen to Eugene and Stephanie on their podcast The Bad Boss Brief.

Eugene's newsletter is Look What You Made Me Do

Stephanie's is The Consigliera Papers

Find them on Instagram @speirolo and @mrsleep3

https://consigliera.substack.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WebsjShV0ZA

https://eugenesrobinson.substack.com/p/father-the-final-installment

http://www.upperhand.biz

https://badbossbrief.com

Have you ever looked for a mentor or thought about becoming one? This week’s show explores the benefits on both sides.

Mentorship can help shape careers, foster inclusivity, and make a workplace less lonely by developing stronger connections across teams and experiences. Whether through formal programs or informal connections, mentorship creates opportunities, and nurtures growth on both sides.

My guests are:

- Sonata Louvigny

- Patricia Souza

- Inês Crisóstomo

- Sylvia Rohde-Liebenau

National Mentoring Day on 27 Oct was inaugurated at the Houses of Parliament in London, led by Chelsey Baker. In December 2023 the Official Journal of the EU published the Opinion of the European Committee of the Regions entitled “Mentoring: A Powerful and Meaningful Tool for the Europe of Tomorrow." (links below) 




During this conversation we discuss how to find a mentor, build a trusting environment for effective listening and communication and setting outcome expectations.

Two way Street

Mentorship can also be effective for mentors themselves, to develop stronger bonds and ideas within their organisation and learn how to ask good questions of oneself along with the other.

Inês Crisóstomo encourages people to reach out to someone you might admire professionally and ask for an ‘information interview’ with them for about 15 minutes.

“You are not alone”

Mentoring can be viewed as a learning conversation: learning about oneself; creating space for reflection and supporting action planning. It also helps to equalise opportunities, to create frameworks that support professional development. Informal networks often serve men more than women for example.

With over a decade in Science Management, Inês supports scientists to thrive in an ever-evolving research landscape. She coordinates the Mentoring Program sponsored by the Gender Equality Group at the University of Luxembourg and works as a mentor and coach. Her own background is a Ph.D. in Biology from ITQB-UNL (Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier ITQB NOVA, Lisboa), with research conducted at the Rockefeller University in New York, USA. She has worked at iMM (Lisboa, Portugal) and in the Vienna BioCenter (Austria).

Inês knows how important mentorship can be in a research environment and is accredited by the MCAA (Marie Curie Alumni Association), EMCC, EMCC Luxembourg (European Mentoring and Coaching Council), and the CARE network (Career Advisors Supporting Researchers in Europe), fostering collaborations and knowledge sharing within global communities.

Patricia Souza is the co-founder of WeSTEM+ (Women in Excel STEM) and a Leadership Development and Inclusion Consultant focused on creating more inclusive and equitable business environments. She is also the co-chair the Membership Stream for the NextGen chapter of Lead Network and a board member of the BeLux Chapter.

Patricia believes in empowerment through guidance, and a build-up of confidence and leadership through a good mentor. However, she also states that mentorship is a two-way relationship with a ripple effect to the circles of influence for both participants.

“It’s about building a relationship that can change the trajectory of their life.”

Sylvia Rohde-Liebenau is a leadership expert who worked in HR for many years, where she became involved with mentoring. Sylvia created the first ever mentoring programme at the European Investment Bank and later, together with Rita Knott, the Youth Mentoring Programme in Luxembourg. Today she works as an executive coach to leaders on all levels, with a focus on leadership presence, resilience, communication and impact.

For organisations, Sylvia believes mentor programmes are fantastic (and cheap) L&D tools that cover several purposes, in particular:

1) fostering a cohesive organisational culture

2) passing organisation specific knowledge to newcomers and younger professionals,

3) creating networks

4) fostering a learning environment

Mentors give back AND about learn about themselves.

Mentees: “You get as much as you put in (it’s not a free lunch)”

Keys to successful mentoring include building trust and openness at the start; clear agreements and engagement from both sides; basic coaching skills for mentors.

Sonata Louvigny is an EU project and program management leader, coach and mentor. Her starting point in mentoring was experiencing the negative impacts of mismanaged mentoring within her team. Sonata's master's thesis was on managing the mentoring process and to help various organisations develop effective mentoring programs aligned with their goals. She is a member of professional mentoring associations such as IMA and EMCC (European Mentoring and Coaching Council). She worked with EMCC Luxembourg, where her role was to oversee the accreditation process for coaches and mentors.

Sonata warns that a mentor could be in a position of authority over the mentee, which is more common in traditional mentoring but not in developmental mentoring, and therefore professional guidelines are really important.

Through her work she believes that mentoring is not just a hobby but requires specific competencies and skills. Effective mentors should be aware of the professional standards, continuously develop their capabilities, and, if they wish, seek accreditation to ensure they provide high-quality, impactful mentoring.

How to find a mentor

My guests suggest:

- Identify people that inspire you.

- Reach out to them

- Join groups

- Find peers

- Take advantage of organisations that create mentorship programs (workplace, non-profit organisations, educational institutions, professional associations, government initiatives, and community organizations, among others).

Links:

Mentorship Platforms for anyone, for example:

https://nationalmentoringday.org/history/timeline

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52023IR1537


https://www.linkedin.com/in/sylvia-rohde-liebenau-phd-b51b0328/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/patriciasouza11/

http://we-stem.org/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonata-kucin/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/inescrisostomo/

https://www.linkedin.com/school/university-of-luxembourg/

University of Luxembourg (@uni.lu" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.mentoring-club.com/

https://nationalmentoringday.org/history/timeline

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52023IR1537


https://www.linkedin.com/in/sylvia-rohde-liebenau-phd-b51b0328/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/patriciasouza11/

http://we-stem.org/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonata-kucin/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/inescrisostomo/

https://www.linkedin.com/school/university-of-luxembourg/

University of Luxembourg (@uni.lu) • Instagram photos and videos

From a reflection of the COP29 results & what we can do, to Office Hours and a rousing invite to sing Christmas Carols in Echternach next weekend.

On this week’s show we talk to Andrew Ferrone about the latest COP29 results from Baku with Tessa Moeller.

We also have Adam Petersen to tell us about his new show, Office Hours, on Today Radio.

And Jeff Hemmen is inviting us all to either sing, play or come to watch the ‘Big Christmas Wind Orchestra & Choir’ who will perform in Echternach on 15th December.

My guests are:

- Dr. Andrew Ferrone, Deputy Director for Climate and Sustainable Development, IPCC Head of Delegation Co-Coordinator of EU Negotiation team on science issues at United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

- Tessa Moeller, upcoming Ph.D. student and contributing author to the last IPCC report

- Dr. Adam Petersen, presenter of Office Hours on Today Radio

- Jeff Hemmen, Organiser of the Big Christmas Wind Orchestra & Choir

COP29

Andrew Ferrone & Tessa Moeller are not pessimistic about our climate future and work hard to bring their research to both policy makers and the general public.

Andrew Ferrone is a seasoned attendee of the COP events and shares his insight of the latest one, where the key message was the adoption of a climate finance commitment aimed at supporting the Global South. He has not lost hope and can see that combined efforts in all domains, across all countries could, will, and already does make a difference.

If you want to make a calculable difference yourself go to Carbon Nerd from the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology. They have examples of how an individual can reduce their carbon footprint.

Make research more actionable

Tessa’s work focusses on ‘overshoot’, the likely move above the 1.5°C Paris Agreement’s temperature target and its potential consequences for global mean sea level rise.

The higher the temperature peaks, the longer the overshoot, the greater the risk of crossing irreversible thresholds in the ice sheets, which in turn, locks in faster and more substantial long-term sea level rise.

You can read more about Tessa’s work in her recent publication in Nature Communications article (summarized here ). Tessa’s broader aim in the climate conversation is to make research more actionable. 

By complete coincidence, Adam Petersen used to run oil rigs in Baku for BP, amongst other places. He talks about the brilliant science which also takes place on the rigs in order to minimise emissions and how fossil fuel scientists are a deep part of this transition conversation.

Office Hours

Adam Petersen’s ‘business’ show is more about understanding the business world around us here in Luxembourg, and in connection to the world around us. You can find his show, Office Hours, on RTL Play.

The Big Christmas Wind Orchestra & Choir

Jeff Hemmen fell in love with carol singing whilst studying in the UK, and so he brought it back to Luxembourg.

Next weekend, everyone is invited to sign up and sing or play traditional carols in the beautiful and oldest city of Luxembourg, Echternach. This is an open invitation to all to enjoy a Christmas moment with the beautiful Christmas market, and you’ll even be rewarded with a free Glüvin for your efforts. It is important you sign up for numbers however.

He also talks about the wonderful work done by shareaction.org

Listen to the show

Tune in to The Lisa Burke Show on Today Radio Saturdays at 11am, Sundays at noon, and Tuesdays at 11am. Please do subscribe to the podcast on Apple or Spotify, rate and review!

You can get in touch with Lisa on LinkedIN or via her website.

LINKS:

https://unfccc.int/news/cop29-un-climate-conference-agrees-to-triple-finance-to-developing-countries-protecting-lives-and

https://carbonnerd.list.lu

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-49863-0

https://play.rtl.lu/shows/en/office-hours/episodes

https://www.bigchristmaswindorchestra.lu/

https://www.lisatoniburke.com

LUNEX legends undertake the Laponie Trophy to raise money for the Red Cross’s programme to support families with trauma through nature activities.

Imagine the drudgery of a one hour commute each way to work: France to Luxembourg and back again, to do an office job for the Red Cross Luxembourg. This was Sonia Barjonnet a few years ago. She wanted to do more for her employer, the Luxembourg Red Cross, rather than ‘just’ an office job. Sonia wanted a challenge, and with a random google search for ‘Adventure Travel’ she happened upon the Laponie Trophy. Her reasons:

“Because I don't like the cold, I've never been to Lapland; because I'm not sporty, I've never run a marathon; for all of these reasons, I signed up, a bit by chance, for the Laponie Trophy in 2024 in aid of the LRC.”

This three day event in January, with temperatures hovering around -30 degrees Celsius, takes place in Lapland and requires proper preparation. The first day is a walk / run with rackets for about 10-15km; the second day is an orientation race; the final day involves a Nordic ski 4 x 800m relay race and then an obstacle course. It’s not for the faint of heart.

On top of hard training, Sonia had to start using social media to communicate and ask for sponsorship. 

LUNEX LEGENDS

Dr. Kim Buchholtz, born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa, is Assistant Professor in musculoskeletal physiotherapy, chair of the exam board and programme leader for the Bachelor in Physiotherapy here at LUNEX in Luxembourg. 

“The hill that I am willing to die on is that we should (almost) all be doing more physical activity than we do for our mental and physical health… it’s more powerful than medication in preventing disease.”

Her motto is ‘Lift as you rise’ - use one’s privilege and opportunity to provide spaces and mentoring for those less experienced, less privileged and less supported than us to have the same or better opportunities in life than we have had.

Kim believes that young adults should be able to see themselves in their role models, and therefore wants to show her current and former students, and patients, that “even a  geriatric millennial with low cold tolerance can trek through the snow at -30 degrees for a good cause!”. 

Dr. Buchholtz was recognised in 2018 as one of the Mail and Guardian’s 200 Young South Africans in the Health category.

Dr Johanna Johannsson Ingvarsdottir is a senior lecturer and research fellow in the Department of Health at LUNEX.

Similar to Sonia, Johanna had a bucket list of activities she wanted to pursue. One was to visit Lapland, another was to complete a sports challenge. The Laponie Trophy combines both. 

Johanna believes “It doesn’t matter how slow you go, so long as you don’t stop!”

Jessie Tembo is the LUNEX Legends Social Media Manager & student.  Sophia Harith is a Research Fellow at LUNEX, lecturer and Programme Leader for Bachelor in International Sports Management, plus a reserve on the team. They would all like to you follow them and their training on social media, but more importantly sponsor them on their GoFundMe page:

https://www.helloasso.com/associations/lunexlegends/collectes/lunexlegends-lapony-trophy

https://gofund.me/bef3798b

Or here:

https://www.helloasso.com/associations/lunexlegends/collectes/lunexlegends-lapony-trophy

Instagram: @lunex.legends

LUNEX www.lunex.lu

Croix Rouge Luxembourg

Kim and Johanna have also decided to support the Luxembourg Red Cross, but more specifically their Service d’Accompagnement et de Transition (SAT) who organise outdoor activities for children or families at risk of social isolation, or who have just moved here as immigrants. This is led by Melodie Neves.

As of today, there are approximately 89 children ranging from 4 to 12 years in age, coming from Turkey, Chile, Colombia, Afghanistan, Syria, Somalia, Venezuela, Kosovo, Angola, Ukraine, Zimbabwe, Peru, Eritrea, Gabon and Oman. 

Melodie’s team built the ‘First welcome’ centre for those arriving in Luxembourg fleeing war zones. It is the first point of social contact for these children and their families, when they land in a strange country, entirely aligned with the mission of the Luxembourg Red Cross: to improve the living conditions of vulnerable people.

SAT helps children with trauma slowly and gently integrate, learn Luxembourg’s languages and culture through building trusting relationships.

“Komm mat an d’Natur” was created to offer children and families with trauma the chance to reintegrate with educational activities in nature that strengthen their well-being and develop their social skills. The aim is to combat social isolation and build self-confidence.

https://www.raid-feminin.com/sahara-trophy/laponie-trophy-raid/

Croix-Rouge luxembourgeoise (@croixrougelu" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://200youngsouthafricans.co.za/kim-buchholtz-2018/

Dr Johanna Johannsson Ingvarsdottir is a senior lecturer and research fellow in the Department of Health at LUNEX.

Similar to Sonia, Johanna had a bucket list of activities she wanted to pursue. One was to visit Lapland, another was to complete a sports challenge. The Laponie Trophy combines both. 

Johanna believes “It doesn’t matter how slow you go, so long as you don’t stop!”

Jessie Tembo is the LUNEX Legends Social Media Manager & student.  Sophia Harith is a Research Fellow at LUNEX, lecturer and Programme Leader for Bachelor in International Sports Management, plus a reserve on the team. They would all like to you follow them and their training on social media, but more importantly sponsor them on their GoFundMe page:

https://www.helloasso.com/associations/lunexlegends/collectes/lunexlegends-lapony-trophy

https://gofund.me/bef3798b

Or here:

https://www.helloasso.com/associations/lunexlegends/collectes/lunexlegends-lapony-trophy

Instagram: @lunex.legends

LUNEX www.lunex.lu

Croix Rouge Luxembourg

Kim and Johanna have also decided to support the Luxembourg Red Cross, but more specifically their Service d’Accompagnement et de Transition (SAT) who organise outdoor activities for children or families at risk of social isolation, or who have just moved here as immigrants. This is led by Melodie Neves.

As of today, there are approximately 89 children ranging from 4 to 12 years in age, coming from Turkey, Chile, Colombia, Afghanistan, Syria, Somalia, Venezuela, Kosovo, Angola, Ukraine, Zimbabwe, Peru, Eritrea, Gabon and Oman. 

Melodie’s team built the ‘First welcome’ centre for those arriving in Luxembourg fleeing war zones. It is the first point of social contact for these children and their families, when they land in a strange country, entirely aligned with the mission of the Luxembourg Red Cross: to improve the living conditions of vulnerable people.

SAT helps children with trauma slowly and gently integrate, learn Luxembourg’s languages and culture through building trusting relationships.

“Komm mat an d’Natur” was created to offer children and families with trauma the chance to reintegrate with educational activities in nature that strengthen their well-being and develop their social skills. The aim is to combat social isolation and build self-confidence.

https://www.raid-feminin.com/sahara-trophy/laponie-trophy-raid/

Croix-Rouge luxembourgeoise (@croixrougelu)

https://www.croix-rouge.lu/fr/service/structures-daccueil-et-deducation-integree/

https://www.croix-rouge.lu/en/

Financial advisors can be quite intimidating, especially if we feel we’re starting ‘too late’, or we don’t have ‘enough’ money. Dr. Sophie Jablonski and Minna Schmidt are on a mission to break that stigma and encourage more people to talk about money matters in a healthy way.

On The Lisa Burke Show this week, Sasha Kehoe starts off by giving us a reflection of the week's news. 

Flourishing Financially in mid-life.

Dr. Sophie Jablonski and Minna Schmidt set up Flourish Financially to help empower people both mentally and financially, the two being highly combined.  Their main community are midlife women who fall into the statistical bracket of being behind men in building wealth. The gender wealth gap across all countries has been averaged as about 77%: that’s to say for every €100 earned by a man, a woman earns €77. There are many reasons for this including taking time out to raise a family, returning part-time and sickness.  Women are also less likely to talk about money, often end up dependent on others, especially in older years, despite also living longer on average.

For many people, it’s midlife, that crunch-point of perhaps raising a family plus parents who might need more help, to heavy workloads, plus possibly divorce, where one contemplates the purpose of having a buffer in life; a financial blanket to ease the inevitable moments of hard times. This duo want to encourage anyone, whatever stage of life you are in, to take control of your own financial health.

Unquestionably, more money means more freedom: freedom of choice; freedom to find the best healthcare for aging parents; freedom to leave a bad marriage.  Sophie and Minna hope to inspire and create a community who is more aware of their own financial options, without feeling shame or fear, whatever the starting point; at whatever age.  Sophie is particularly clear that positive psychology is linked to a flourishing mindset, and when this part is ‘right’ the rest can follow.

How is your Financial Health?

Sophie and Minna have developed a Financial Flourishing Scale - a reflective tool to help people understand where they stand on their financial health journey— thriving, languishing or surviving. Using evidence-based insights from positive psychology and financial resilience research, it’s a great starting point for building financial well-being.

Access the tool for free here: Financial Flourishing Scale https://flourishfinancially.org

The PROVIDERS celebrate their 25th anniversary at Den Atelier

The Providers started out 25 years ago in a garage in Kehlen with three teenagers. It’s now grown to a 10-piece band and old members will join them to perform at their sold-out show at Den Atelier on Saturday.

However, there are two tickets left. In this show, Pit Mass talks about The Providers and mentioned how many people will be on stage for this show.

Write into [email protected] with your answer after listening to the show!

Website of Minna: https://www.minnaschmidt.com

Website of Sophie: https://drsophiecoaching.com

LinkedIn of Minna: https://www.linkedin.com/in/minnaschmidt/

LinkedIn of Sophie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-sophie-jablonski/

Instagram of Minna: https://www.instagram.com/minnaschmidt/

Problems with traceability of the EU's Covid Recovery Fund is one of the issues Tony Murphy discusses, with concern, on this show.

Irishman Tony Murphy is at the helm of the EU financial watchdog, as President of the European Court of Auditors.

The European Court of Auditors is one of the seven EU institutions and it’s based in Luxembourg. With nearly 1000 staff members, their role is to scrutinise the way in which EU money is spent; make it transparent, traceable and accountable. Plus, does the use of the money ultimately serve the EU citizen?

And so, one part of the job is to follow the money trail, the other is to ensure the performance or use aligns with the EU’s broader strategic priorities.

2024 has been a year of major reports, most prominently the Draghi report on EU competitiveness and the Letta report focussed more on the single market. Letta also emphasises the need for much stricter control on state aid for those most in need. Both highlight the challenges facing the EU in terms of being a global player, competitiveness, the internal market and industrial policy.

‘Sustainable’ Debt versus ‘necessary investment’ is something that auditors have to consider and advise on, when thinking about the future of the EU and kicking the problem down the line, for future generations to pay for.

Tony Murphy talks passionately on the EU’s COVID recovery funds which are a huge problem in terms of following the money - it is not transparent and not easy for  the auditors to see whether the money is or was actually used in the right manner as designed

https://www.eca.europa.eu/en/news/NEWS2024_04_NEWSLETTER_03?mtm_campaign=NewsletterAnalytics&mtm_kwd=RelatedNews&mtm_source=Newsletter-2024-4-2&mtm_content=https://www.eca.europa.eu/en/news/NEWS2024_04_NEWSLETTER_03

They ECA examine revenue and spending in every area of the EU’s work from growth and jobs to environmental policy and climate action.

https://www.eca.europa.eu/en/what-we-do

They undertake ‘performance audit’ reports which digs into whether EU action and funding is efficient and effective - does it deliver results for citizens. Naturally there are also the ‘compliance’ and financial audits to see if rules are being complied with.

  https://www.eca.europa.eu/en/search-publications#k=#l=1033

ECA governance and structure https://www.eca.europa.eu/en/governance

 

ECA’s activity report for 2023 (2024) – this gives a good brief overview of our role and work https://www.eca.europa.eu/en/news/NEWS-AAR-2023

 

Just published (yesterday): ECA plan of audits for next year and afterwards: https://www.eca.europa.eu/en/news/NEWS-WP-2025