The Social Economist Season 3 continues! We're continuing with our second mini-series where we're tackling one of the most present and challenging topics of the day for the social economy: defence.

In Episode 5, host Toby Gazeley from Euclid Network is joined by Andrea Baranes from Banca Etica to discuss the long-standing position of ethical finance on defence investments and the implications of including defence in sustainable finance frameworks.

Andrea and Toby examine the concerning trend of diluting sustainable finance definitions to include sectors like defence, fossil fuels, and nuclear energy. The conversation also explores the risks posed by the EU's shift toward competitiveness over sustainability, the importance of "banking biodiversity," and the challenges facing both ethical finance and the social economy in this changing policy landscape.

Andrea was kind enough to recommend a website and information resource rather than a podcast: valori.it - a platform providing critical information on ethical finance, sustainable finance, and the social economy, primarily in Italian with some content in Spanish and English.

Please do get in touch to [email protected] with questions and comments.

A special thanks to our producer Jan Kiszowara and the European Commission for making The Social Economist possible.

Our theme music is 'another twelve' by Mikel Patrick Avery at Music for Podcasts.

The Social Economist Season 3 continues! We’re continuing with our second mini-series where we’re tackling one of the most present and challenging topics of the day for the social economy: defence. What does Europe’s new focus and prioritisation of defence spending mean for the social economy? Is it all bad news or could there be some benefits for social enterprises? We’re hearing from organisations across Europe about their views on the social economy’s relationship to defence. Join us as we get this conversation going among social economy stakeholders. 

In this fourth episode of Season 3, our second mini-series kicks off! Host Toby Gazeley from Euclid Network is joined by Martin Luxemburg from the Unknown Group to discuss the potential contribution ‘impact’ enterprises can make in the area of defence. They reflect on the recent event on ‘Securing the Future’, held as a side event to the NATO Summit in The Hague in 2025 at Titaan - a central part of the impact campus that the Unknown Group is building in The Hague. 

Martin and Toby discuss the wider implications for innovation and areas like ‘peace tech’ stemming from an increased focus on defence investments. They also note the potential knock-on benefits across society and the economy innovations in one particular field can have. Securing the Future will return in 2026, next time with even more hands-on opportunities for founders to showcase their innovative products in the defence sector. 

As well as getting our discussion about the relationship between the social economy and defence started, Martin was also generous enough to recommend a podcast for our Dutch listeners: Alle Geschiedenis Ooit - Grote Namen (All History Ever - Big Names) - a history podcast looking at the lives of significant historical figures. Toby also jumped in with another history podcast, this one in English: Empire, with a particular recommendation for the episodes on ‘The Troubles’. 

Please do get in touch to [email protected] with questions and comments. 

A special thanks to our producer Jan Kiszowara and the European Commission for making The Social Economist possible. 

Our theme music is ‘another twelve’ by Mikel Patrick Avery at Music for Podcasts.

The Social Economist Returns with Season 3! That’s right - we’re back and we’re delving into the hottest topics impacting the social economy in 2025. This season, we’ll be looking at the wider changing policy landscape influencing the social economy before exploring Europe’s energy transition and the new emphasis on European defence spending. 

The Social Economist Season 3 continues! We’re back and we’re delving into the hottest topics impacting the social economy in 2025. This season, we’ll be looking at the wider changing policy landscape influencing the social economy before exploring Europe’s energy transition and the new emphasis on European defence spending. 

In Episode 2, we delved into the challenges facing sustainable front runners posed by recent changes in European policy. In Episode 3, host Toby Gazeley from Euclid Network is joined by Malo Bourel from Mouvement Impact France to reflect on what these changes mean for social and impact enterprises.  

Malo and Toby discuss changes to key policies like the Corporate Sustainability Reporting and Due Diligence Directives. Following the Business for a Better Tomorrow Coalition’s manifesto published leading up to the European elections in 2024, the European context can be seen to have changed dramatically. These changes have impacts for big businesses in Europe but so too for social enterprises with recent changes harming the most ambitious and sustainable impact enterprises. Recent trade disputes are also discussed, noting that even while these global negotiations may seem out of scope for individual enterprises, they will have a (negative) impact on the social economy as a whole. 

Malo recommended a thought provoking podcast for our listeners (in French): Loins des yeux loin du care. Toby couldn’t be stopped from recommending a podcast and this time recommended The Crime Agents - for those interested in crime, justice and crime reporting in the UK in particular. 

Please do get in touch to [email protected] with questions and comments. 

A special thanks to our producer Jan Kiszowara and the European Commission for making The Social Economist possible. 

Our theme music is ‘another twelve’ by Mikel Patrick Avery at Music for Podcasts. 

Please do get in touch to [email protected] with questions and comments. 

A special thanks to our producer Jan Kiszowara and the European Commission for making The Social Economist possible. 

Our theme music is ‘another twelve’ by Mikel Patrick Avery at Music for Podcasts.

The Social Economist Season 3 continues! We’re back and we’re delving into the hottest topics impacting the social economy in 2025. This season, we’ll be looking at the wider changing policy landscape influencing the social economy before exploring Europe’s energy transition and the new emphasis on European defence spending. 

In Episode 1, we reviewed the rapidly changing policy landscape that’s emerged since the European Parliament and USA’s Presidential elections in 2024. In Episode 2, host Toby Gazeley from Euclid Network is joined by Cornelius Müller from Sustainable Public Affairs to reflect on the challenges presented to sustainable front runners by the backtracking by the EU on policies promoting sustainability. 

Cornelius and Toby discuss in detail the changes since 2024 reflecting on how sustainability has been put on the back foot by recent decisions such as the abandonment of the Green Claims Directive. They reflect on how simplification is being used to not so subtly deregulate Europe and take a step away from Europe’s previously ambitious industrial policies that had sustainability at their heart. 

Cornelius was kind enough to recommend not a podcast but rather something to read. He recommended: The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson, a book looking at the future and focusing on the need to tackle climate change. Toby of course recommended a podcast rather than something to read, this time recommending Parenting Hell with Rob Beckett and Josh Widdicombe. Another non-news recommendation for some much needed light relief. 

Please do get in touch to [email protected] with questions and comments. 

A special thanks to our producer Jan Kiszowara and the European Commission for making The Social Economist possible. 

Our theme music is ‘another twelve’ by Mikel Patrick Avery at Music for Podcasts.

The Social Economist Returns with Season 3! That’s right - we’re back and we’re delving into the hottest topics impacting the social economy in 2025. This season, we’ll be looking at the wider changing policy landscape influencing the social economy before exploring Europe’s energy transition and the new emphasis on European defence spending. 

In Episode 1, host Toby Gazeley from Euclid Network is joined by Valentina Patetta from the European Federation of Ethical and Alternative Banks and Financiers (FEBEA) to reflect on the changes in policy landscape since the end of Season 2. 

Valentina and Toby discuss the change in tone as well as policies since the European elections in 2024 and the knock on impact of the USA’s Presidential Election. They reflect on the new emphasis around competitiveness and simplification - perhaps code for de-regulation - as well as the changing position on the Commission when it comes to supporting the Social Economy. 

Valentina was generous enough to recommend two news podcasts for our listeners. These were: Scanner by Italian journalist Valerio Nicolosi; and Al Jazeera’s News Updates podcast. Toby couldn’t help but recommend a podcast too, this time recommending Good Hang with Amy Poehler - something a little less news focused.

Please do get in touch to [email protected] with questions and comments. 

A special thanks to our producer Jan Kiszowara and the European Commission for making The Social Economist possible. 

Our theme music is ‘another twelve’ by Mikel Patrick Avery at Music for Podcasts.

In this ninth and final episode of Season 2 of The Social Economist, our third mini-series concludes! We’re excited to be talking about the topic of social procurement and the work of SEUK who’ve been working in this area for many years. This concludes a deep-dive into this important area which offers a great number of opportunities for both social enterprises but also conventional firms and corporate buyers. 

In this third episode of this mini-series, host Toby Gazeley from ⁠⁠Euclid Network⁠⁠ is joined by Andy Daly from⁠ SEUK to hear about how their focus on social procurement developed, what it involves and their ambitions for the future. 

Toby and Andy cover many of the key areas in procurement. Andy highlighted the importance of supply chains in impacting a company’s ESG footprint and the opportunity that engaging in social procurement offers in going beyond a ‘do no harm’ principle towards having positive social impact. Procurement happens regardless and spending money at social enterprises therefore represents an opportunity for a win-win for companies and society. Andy also highlighted the importance of policy developments such as the Social Value Act for helping to also drive forward an interest in social procurement. The Buy Social Corporate Challenge was another area mentioned by Andy. This is a programme which has been running since 2016 and has the ambitious goal of seeing 1 Billion GBP spent as social enterprises through corporate procurement. 

Andy was happy to share a fun recommendation of a podcast to check out. This was Song Exploder, a podcast breaking down songs with members of the band which made them. Toby also shared yet another politics related podcast - we can see a theme - which was Page 94, the Private Eye Podcast. This is one of the more lighthearted politics podcasts he likes to listen to.

Please do get in touch with any questions or feedback at ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠

A special thanks to Jan Kiszowara at Euclid Network who produces this podcast and the European Commission for making this all possible. 

Our theme music is 'another twelve' by Mikel Patrick Avery at Music for Podcasts.

In this eighth episode of Season 2 of The Social Economist, our third mini-series continues! We’re excited to be talking about the topic of social procurement - specifically about what can be done to put social procurement into practice in the context of a local government. 

In this second episode of this mini-series, host Toby Gazeley from ⁠⁠Euclid Network⁠⁠ is joined by Rein Douma from⁠ the Municipality of The Hague in the Netherlands to understand how social enterprises are being engaged through procurement. 

Toby and Rein cover many of the key areas, discussing the various dimensions of social procurement as well as the potential for social procurement to provide work integration opportunities in a local context. Rein highlighted the importance of collaboration between different departments in local authorities, understanding the trade-offs in prioritising different outcomes. Rein also noted the importance of building the capacity of social enterprises and the need to look well into the future to prepare the ecosystem and procurement opportunities in tandem to ensure maximum impact. 

Social Return in the Netherlands was also highlighted as a significant policy as well as various Acts on public procurement, such as Procurement Act 2.82. Rein also highlighted the benefit of local networks of social entrepreneurs for supporting the roll-out of social procurement. In this case, this is Social Club Den Haag. 

Rein was happy to share two sports podcasts for our listeners, a new type of recommendation for us! These were Bureau Sport, a Dutch Language Podcast coming out every Monday morning. He also recommended That Peter Crouch Podcast, one which Toby was also excited to try out. Toby also shared, as always, a political podcast recommendation: Politico’s Powerplay podcast.

Please do get in touch with any questions or feedback at ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠

A special thanks to Jan Kiszowara at Euclid Network who produces this podcast and the European Commission for making this all possible. 

Our theme music is 'another twelve' by Mikel Patrick Avery at Music for Podcasts.

In this seventh episode of Season 2 of The Social Economist, our third mini-series begins! We’re excited to be talking about the topic of social procurement - something discussed a great deal at the moment as a big opportunity for social enterprises. What does it mean, who does it involve and what are the opportunities social procurement could bring? These are all topics delved into in this third and last mini-series of season 2.  

In this first episode of this mini-series, host Toby Gazeley from ⁠⁠Euclid Network⁠⁠ is joined by Hina West from⁠ People and Planet First verification, part of the Social Enterprise World Forum, to discuss the transformative potential of procuring more from social enterprise. 

Toby and Hina cover many of the key areas of work related to social procurement, highlighting the importance of verification schemes for facilitating the identification of social enterprises and the value of working with a cross-border approach. 

Hina was happy to share a highly relevant podcast recommendation from her community: My Green Future, a podcast about the skyrocketing demand for people with green skills and the increase in employment in sustainability. Toby also shared a one of his favourite UK politics podcasts, Politics at Jack and Sam’s. 

Please do get in touch with any questions or feedback at ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠

A special thanks to Jan Kiszowara at Euclid Network who produces this podcast and the European Commission for making this all possible. 

Our theme music is 'another twelve' by Mikel Patrick Avery at Music for Podcasts.

In this sixth episode of Season 2 of The Social Economist, our second mini-series concludes! After hearing about the European ⁠Council Recommendation to improve social economy framework conditions and how Germany has been making progress in the development and implementation of their new strategy, in this episode we were delighted to hear from Scotland’s experience. Since 2016, Scotland - both from public authorities and ecosystem stakeholders - has been working to support social enterprises through the implementation of a 10 year strategy. As EU Member States start to develop or reflect on their policies to support social enterprises, perhaps looking to Scotland could provide some inspiration of guidance.  

In this third episode of this mini-series, host Toby Gazeley from ⁠⁠Euclid Network⁠⁠ is joined by Martin Avila, CEO of Community Enterprise in Scotland. Toby and Martin delve into the Scottish strategy, understanding its history and some of its key areas of focus. Martin highlighted the importance of the consistent political support for social enterprises in Scotland over more than the last decade as well as some of the challenges they’ve experienced. Martin also highlighted some of the topics of the upcoming review of the 10 year strategy and what this should look like post-2026. Even though Scotland has a lot of experience in designing tailored policies for social enterprises, the discussions around integrated vs sectoral approaches or where social enterprises should sit within government structures are reminiscent of countries all around Europe. 

Martin recommended perhaps the best podcast available at the moment: our very own The Social Economist, although he did seem to forget the name at one point. Toby was happy to share an additional recommendation for those looking to broaden their podcast listening: The D-Con Chamber. 

Please do get in touch with any questions or feedback at ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠.

A special thanks to Jan Kiszowara at Euclid Network who produces this podcast and the European Commission for making this all possible. 

Our theme music is 'another twelve' by Mikel Patrick Avery at Music for Podcasts.

In this fifth episode of Season 2 of The Social Economist, our second mini-series continues! Following on from our focus on the European ⁠Council Recommendation to improve social economy framework conditions, we’re excited to be taking a closer look at the exciting strategy adopted in Germany in 2022. This interview was however recorded before the recent political changes in Germany leading to an early election in 2025. 

In this second episode of this mini-series, host Toby Gazeley from ⁠⁠Euclid Network⁠⁠ is joined by Jessamine Davis from⁠ the Social Entrepreneurship Network of Germany (SEND.ev) to understand how the new national strategy has been developed, what has led to its adoption and what it should mean for social enterprises. 

Toby and Jess cover many of the key areas in the German strategy. Jess highlighted the importance of the German Social Enterprise Monitor (DSEM), part of the European Social Enterprise Monitor project (ESEM), for raising awareness and understanding of social enterprise as well as establishing an agreed definition for social enterprise. Jess also highlighted the importance of champions within the government for supporting social entrepreneurship as well as several key support measures including opening new investment opportunities for social enterprises, developing a platform for social innovation and opening up procurement opportunities. 

Jess was happy to share three diverse recommendations for podcasts to check out. This included a German language podcast, Lage der Nation, as well as two in English: Oh God, What Now?; and The Blindboy Podcast. Toby also shared a light hearted recommendation (again), Enemy in Paris, as well as a current events podcast: the Political Fourcast.  

Please do get in touch with any questions or feedback at ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠

A special thanks to Jan Kiszowara at Euclid Network who produces this podcast and the European Commission for making this all possible. 

Our theme music is 'another twelve' by Mikel Patrick Avery at Music for Podcasts.