The Common Room

In this episode, Claudia Lebiecka and Elina Leybold speak with Lea Haupt, a Master’s student in International Security at Sciences Po Paris, and Theodor Himmel, chairman of the student-led think tank EPIS. They share personal tips on securing internships and gaining early career experiences in the field of international relations and European politics.

Lea talks about her journey through internships at the German Bundestag, the Ministry of Defence, and embassies in Berlin and Washington, DC. Theodor highlights the value of student-led networks like EPIS for gaining real-world experience and connecting with experts. He also talks about how students often overlook opportunities in the private sector, such as consultancies, which can offer valuable experience and competitive pay.

Tune in to gain actual tips that can help you land your next internship.

If you want to get involved or learn more,check out the EPIS think tank: https://www.epis-thinktank.com/

This episode was recorded on the 19th of January 2026 in Barcelona.

In this episode, Claudia Lebiecka, Elina Leybold and Kristiaan van den Hoeven are talking about their volunteering experience in the Hague and discuss how the EU can better reconnect with its citizens through local community initiatives.

Tune in to hear what they've learned, the stories that inspired them, and why a single email can change everything.

This episode was recorded on the 20th of June 2025 on the Leiden University Campus.

In this episode, Greta Scott, Roeland Endtz and Aria Guevara have the honour of interviewing the leading analyst of the welfare state, Professor Gøsta Esping-Andersen and taking a tour of his vast body of work.

How did Esping-Andersen come up with the famous Three Worlds of Welfare Capitalism? What makes men take on more housework? Why are highly

This episode was recorded on the 9th of May 2023 on the Poblenou Campus of Pompeu Fabra University.

The image of Professor Esping-Andersen is taken from the European University Institute: https://www.flickr.com/photos/euiweb/27093804680/

In this episode, Greta Scott, Vivien Keenleyside, and Aria Guevara have an honest conversation about the environmental, ethical, and social implications of the fast fashion industry. 

This episode was recorded on the 20th January 2023 in the Radio Studio of Pompeu Fabra University.

Interesting links:

https://goodonyou.eco/

https://www.channel4.com/programmes/inside-the-shein-machine-untold

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFIosuhuDoA&t=1090s&ab_channel=MinaLe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JR3z8lq2cNM&list=PLd-vjjzSEuw_J9HzTyGp7LlA5L2h-C-qA&index=5&ab_channel=MinaLe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_l8ljRA85JU&ab_channel=Karolina%C5%BBebrowska

TCR is kicking the New Year off with an episode from Barcelona! Roeland Endtz, Greta Scott and Aria Guevara talk Twitter: is it necessary for democracy or will it be the downfall of Western society, how bad was it before it got its new owner, and is there anything worth salvaging from this social network gone rogue?

This episode was recorded on the 30th of November 2022 in the Radio Studio of Pompeu Fabra University.

Sources:

Bor, A., & Petersen, M. B. (2022). The psychology of online political hostility: A comprehensive, cross-national test of the mismatch hypothesis. American political science review, 116(1), 1-18.

Rasmussen, S. H. R., & Petersen, M. B. (2022). From Echo Chambers to Resonance Chambers: How Offline Political Events Enter and Are Amplified In Online Networks.

Rasmussen, S. H. R., Osmundsen, M., & Petersen, M. B. (2022). Political Resources and Online Political Hostility How and Why Hostility Is More Prevalent Among the Resourceful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAIP6fI0NAI&ab_channel=TED

In the last episode of the year, Jonah Zijlma, Vivien Keenleyside, Wander Waals and Greta Scott discuss the joys and challenges of learning languages.

This episode was recorded on the 21st of November in the Digital Lab at Leiden University.

In their second podcast episode, first-year students Jeroen Spieker, Marko Milikic, Lika Khutsiberidze, Alvaro Fernandez, and Viktoriia Kravchyk discuss the EU enlargement. They mainly focus on the long wait of the Western Balkans for accession and a fast-track candidate status (or potential) for the Associated Trio. They touch upon specific cases of Ukraine, Georgia and Montenegro and the challenges these countries face on the road to the EU. The podcast also discusses the EU’s readiness for the new members’ accession and the prospective benefits the Union can gain after enlargement.

This episode was recorded on the 14th of November 2022 at the recording studio of the Hollar Building of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University Prague.

To vote or not to vote, that is the question.

In their first podcast episode, first-year students Marko Milikic, Gabriel Capitolo, Max Tsao and Jeroen Spieker explore the importance of voting. From discussing the general importance of voting to the obstacles related to electoral participation, they also touch upon specific cases such as ethnic voting. A special emphasis is placed on young people in electoral campaigns, with a discussion on how to encourage more youngsters to vote. Also, alternative ways of political participation are explored.

This episode was recorded on the 21st of October 2022 at the recording studio of the Hollar Building of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University Prague.

TCR SEASON 4 IS HERE!

In this all-English episode, Vivien Keenleyside, Greta Scott, Holden Davis and Adèle Scott discuss a (perhaps unfairly) controversial diet, veganism. What are the ethics behind veganism, how does a plant-based diet affect your health, and is just going vegetarian enough to save the environment? Tune in to find out.

This episode was recorded on the 8th of September at the Digital Lab at Leiden University.

Useful links:

https://thevegancalculator.com/animal-slaughter/

https://www.landofhopeandglory.org/

https://www.netflix.com/watch/81014008?trackId=255824129&tctx=0%2C1%2CNAPA%40%40%7Cbb2287b8-199e-4f19-9f9d-090f09ec4398-573335478_titles%2F1%2F%2Fcowspiracy%2F0%2F0%2CNAPA%40%40%7Cbb2287b8-199e-4f19-9f9d-090f09ec4398-573335478_titles%2F1%2F%2Fcowspiracy%2F0%2F0%2Cunknown%2C%2Cbb2287b8-199e-4f19-9f9d-090f09ec4398-573335478%7C1%2CtitlesResults%2C81014008

https://www.netflix.com/watch/80033772?trackId=255824129&tctx=0%2C0%2CNAPA%40%40%7Cbb2287b8-199e-4f19-9f9d-090f09ec4398-573335478_titles%2F1%2F%2Fcowspiracy%2F0%2F0%2CNAPA%40%40%7Cbb2287b8-199e-4f19-9f9d-090f09ec4398-573335478_titles%2F1%2F%2Fcowspiracy%2F0%2F0%2Cunknown%2C%2Cbb2287b8-199e-4f19-9f9d-090f09ec4398-573335478%7C1%2CtitlesResults%2C80033772

Another semester, another blooper reel - find out what really goes on in The Common Room.