In this episode of Eurospeak, BJ dives into the stories behind two iconic New Year’s songs: Auld Lang Syne and the Radetzky March. Discover the history, meaning, and unique vibes of these pieces—one reflective and nostalgic, the other upbeat and full of energy. Tune in to explore how these tunes shape New Year’s traditions worldwide and decide which one fits your midnight celebration best!

This episode is supported by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union.

In this holiday episode, BJ explores the European origins of iconic toys like Barbie, LEGO, Hot Wheels, and the Labubu. Discover how these classics were inspired by European traditions and myths, shaping playtime for generations. Perfect for toy lovers and holiday gift hunters!

This episode is supported by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union.

For our first episode of 2024, we are strapping on shinguards, putting on our kit, and launching ourselves into the world of football, or to use its full name, association football! BJ is joined by Professor Joan Ricart Angulo from the Universitat Pompeu Fabra to discuss the how the sport's consumption around the world, its connections with politics, and tips for first time football spectators.

On this episode, BJ explores the origins of some famous Christmas traditions, including the Christmas tree, markets, and carols. During the episode, you'll run into some familiar names from European history, like Queen Victoria, Martin Luther, and Charles Dickens. 

No Copyright Music by OlexandrMusic

On this episode, BJ explores the thrilling and maybe surprising history of Halloween. In it, he discusses how very old Celtic customs and Christian traditions have impacted the annual event in which we dress up in costumes, carve pumpkins, decorate our homes, and tell scary stories about haunted places.

Music Courtesy of Darren Curtis

On this episode, BJ is joined by Jorge Luengo, Associate Professor of History at the Pompeu Fabra University in Spain, to discuss Spanish Constitutionalism. During the episode, they examine how societies in India, China, and the Philippines were shaped by

On this episode, we’re busting out the ODM gear, preparing our thunder spears, and zip lining into the world of Shingeki no Kyojin, or to use its English name, Attack on Titan. The bestselling manga by Hajime Isayama was adapted as an animated series in 2013. Its global reach is massive, and this year, it was reported to be the fourth most popular television series in the world. The story depicts a near extinct human race that is under siege by thoughtless man-eating giants, called titans. On this episode, BJ and his guest discuss how German influences can be found in the anime series. 

This episode's topic is about the lore of League of Legends. Launched in 2009, the game is one of the top titles in the genre called multiplayer online battle arena, MOBA for short. Produced by Riot Games, League of Legends revolutionized the economics of video games being one of the first major free-to-play games in history. Although it costs nothing to play, the game’s publishers are able to make money through the sale of in-game character customizations. BJ and his guest will explore the European references embedded in the game and its lore.

On this episode, we’ll be turning our attention to history, but not the way we’ve done so in the past. This isn’t the kind of thing you’ll be reading about in high school textbooks. Instead, today’s subject is alternate history as we discuss The King’s Man, a movie released in 2021 starring Ralph Fiennes, Gemma Arterton, and Rhys Ifans.

On this episode, BJ and his guest take you to the fantasy world of Teyvat, where gamers from all around the world play an online open world RPG known as Genshin Impact. Developed by miHoYo, a Chinese video game company, it was released in 2020 around the time of the pandemic. The story centers around the Traveler, who is on a quest to locate their twin who they got separated from at the beginning of the game. While exploring the world, players can visit the seven major nations. Among them are Mondstadt and Snezhnaya, which they discuss as having European influences.