In this episode, our host Luca sat down with Bogdan Bratis, founder of SasPod, a podcast production company working with brands across Europe and beyond, for the final chapter of our European Digital Sovereignty series.

Bogdan takes us through his own unconventional path, from finding early fame on X Factor Romania at just seventeen, to moving to the UK and rebuilding himself from scratch, to eventually turning his audio and music production skills into a media business built for the global stage. We talk about what it really takes to build a sustainable media company in Europe today, from navigating taxes and remote team structures to staying resilient in an industry being reshaped by AI. Bogdan shares the results of his own research into fully AI-generated podcasts, why he believes the human voice and human connection remain nearly impossible to replace, and where AI genuinely earns its place as an assistant rather than a substitute in podcast production.

Bogdan also reflects on why countries like Germany have quietly become podcasting powerhouses in Europe, and closes with honest, hard-won advice for young Europeans looking to start a business, a podcast, or any creative project of their own.

Host of the episode: ⁠⁠Luca P. De Cristofaro⁠

Guest: Bogdan Bratis, SasPod

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In this episode, our host Luca sat down with Andrea de Marsi, co-founder of PodSEO, to unpack how European entrepreneurs are learning to crack the podcast algorithm. Andrea takes us through why he started PodSEO and why search optimization has gone from a nice-to-have to a genuinely non-negotiable part of any podcaster's strategy, especially compared to just five years ago. We talk about the challenge of building one SEO strategy that actually works across platforms as different as Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube, and how strong discoverability translates directly into sponsorships and revenue. Andrea also gives us a quick consultancy moment, weighing in on whether European-focused podcasts like ours face unique discoverability challenges compared to shows built around US or global topics, and points out the most common mistake established podcasters make that leaves them exposed to smaller, sharper competitors.

The conversation widens out from there into the bigger European picture, from what the EU could do to make it easier for a startup in one member state to sell across all twenty seven, to whether being a European B2B tech company shapes the way you solve problems for a global market, and whether Europe has what it takes to lead in niche digital spaces rather than simply follow the US and Asian giants.

Host of the episode: ⁠⁠Luca P. De Cristofaro⁠

Guest: Andrea de' Marsi, PodSEO

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In this episode, our host Luca sat down with Christos Floros, founder of Monnett, an algorithm-free social network built entirely in Europe. Christos walks us through his unusual path from architecture to politics to building a social platform, and why he sees digital spaces as the next frontier for someone who has spent his life designing places for people to connect.

We talk about why he chose to build Monnett in Luxembourg instead of Silicon Valley, why the platform deliberately rejects AI, predictive algorithms, and ad-based revenue, and how a simple, chronological, membership-funded model can still compete in 2026. Christos gets candid about the real challenges of raising capital as a European founder, the addictive design behind big tech platforms, and why he believes cognitive warfare through social media is a threat recognized even by NATO.

Host of the episode: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Luca P. De Cristofaro⁠⁠⁠

Guest: Christos Floros, Monnett CEO&Founder

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In this episode of United Citizens of Europe, our host Luca sat down with Damian Boeselager, Member of the European Parliament and co-founder of Volt Europa, for a deep dive into the future of Europe's digital sovereignty. Damian walks us through what it would actually take for the EU to free itself from technological dependence on the United States, from building sovereign cloud infrastructure to his own work pushing forward the digital euro.

We talk about why Europe keeps falling behind in AI and social media innovation, what needs to change in access to venture capital and talent, and how the recent debates around the AI Act and the digital omnibus are reshaping the balance between fundamental rights and competitiveness. Damian also shares a personal take on which digital skill he thinks should be considered essential for anyone entering today's labor market, and reflects on the human transformation that will come alongside the AI revolution.

A grounded and fact-based conversation about what it will take for Europe to compete on its own terms in the digital age.

Host of the episode: ⁠⁠⁠Luca P. De Cristofaro⁠⁠

Guest: MEP Damian Boeselager

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For the main Pride Month episode, our podcast host Luca sits down with Priscilla, drag queen, activist, and host of Drag Race Italia, for an open and wide-ranging conversation about what it means to be queer in Europe today.

From her many years on stage to her Dragtivism Tour, Priscilla has built a political practice out of performance. In this episode, she reflects on why drag has always been more than entertainment, how living in Greece and South Africa shaped her understanding of equality across borders, and why she chooses to bring her energy to small-city Prides over major events.

Luca and Priscilla go deep on the real fault lines threatening LGBTQI+ solidarity right now: the rise of LGB without the T movements, gay conservatism, and the corporate retreat from Pride sponsorships after years of rainbow-washing. They also discuss Palestine, the limits of EU institutions in protecting queer rights, and what genuine intersectionality looks like in daily life.

A candid, politically grounded conversation about visibility, responsibility, and why silence always benefits those who want to take our rights away.

Host of the episode: ⁠⁠Luca P. De Cristofaro⁠

Guest: Priscilla - Mariano Gallo

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In this Pride Month episode, Luca sits down with scholar and LGBTQI advocate Alessandro Marcia to unpack the current landscape of LGBTQI+ rights across Europe.

Alessandro breaks down why the European Commission's new LGBTQI+ Equality Strategy 2026–2030 represents a step back from its bolder 2020 predecessor, what the over one million signatures on the European Citizens' Initiative against conversion practices actually achieved, and how anti-LGBTQI+ legislation has spread from isolated cases in Hungary and Poland to a growing trend across the Union.

They also explore the "LGB without the T" movement and why Alessandro sees internal division as one of the most dangerous threats to LGBTQI+ rights today, the power of financial conditionality as an EU tool (with its limits) and why the fall of Orbán and the repeal of Hungary's censorship law offer real reasons for hope.

Tune in to understand the complex intersections of European policy, human dignity, and what it takes to build a truly inclusive Europe for everyone.

Host of the episode: ⁠Luca P. De Cristofaro

Guest: Alessandro Marcia

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To start Pride Month, Luca sits down with Isha, a 21-year-old Portuguese-Indian communications expert and aspiring humanitarian worker, to explore gender identity, feminism, and their deep connection to Pride Month.

The conversation dives into how a simple childhood passion for playing football sparked Isha's awareness of old-fashioned gender standards and cultural stigmas within her community. Isha shares the story behind "Gen Fusion," the Spotify podcast she hosts alongside her mother, where they use literature like Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's to dismantle extreme stigmas around feminism and bridge generational gaps. Together, they analyze how feminist struggles have evolved from the revolutionary, systemic fights for education and financial independence in past generations to today's focus on identity, self-reflection, and inclusive safe spaces.

The discussion also tackles the vital lens of intersectionality for brown and minority women in a European context, the power and dangers of political storytelling in the TikTok era, and the essential conversations families need to have about reshaping traditional household roles.

Tune in to discover why creating dialogue across generations offers a powerful beacon of hope for the future of global gender equality.

Host of the episode: ⁠Luca P. De Cristofaro

Guest: Ishaa Laximidas

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How can Europe move toward a human-centered migration management system?

In this episode, human rights expert Clara Zaffino explores the shifting landscape of EU migration policy and the role of social media advocacy in modern humanitarian efforts. We also touch on the impact of AI and biometric tools on border management, the role of Frontex and the legal concerns surrounding the outsourcing of border responsibilities to third countries. Clara explains how bottom-up policy development can transform the future of migration in Italy and across Europe and why we need a federalist approach when it comes to migration policies.

Host of the episode: ⁠Luca P. De Cristofaro

Guest: Clara Zaffino

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What does it mean to build a life across continents, and what happens when you finally decide to return?

In this episode, we sit down with digital storyteller Enrico Beyond Borders to unpack his 8-year journey living abroad. From his first steps as a European Solidarity Corps volunteer in Lithuania to speaking at the European Commission, and from working holidays in Australia to launching a freelance career in Lisbon, Enrico shares the raw, inspiring reality of a life in motion.

Tune in as we discuss the power of youth mobility, the impact of digital storytelling, and the ultimate question: where is "home" after nearly a decade on the road? Whether you are dreaming of leaving or navigating the reverse culture shock of coming back, this episode is for you.

Host of the episode: ⁠Luca P. De Cristofaro

Guest: Enrico Armenia

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In this episode of the United Citizens of Europe podcast, Luca sits down with Alonso de Llanes, Director of the Laudato Si’ Action Platform at the Vatican's Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.

Alonso shares his journey from practicing law to leading a global initiative that translates Pope Francis’s 2015 encyclical into concrete institutional change. We explore how the platform bridges the gap between theology and governance by working with dioceses, schools, and religious congregations to influence land-use and financial decisions. Alonso explains why the ecological crisis is fundamentally a human issue and how the Church provides a "moral compass" to navigate the challenges of energy poverty and climate anxiety.

Tune in to learn about the interfaith effort toward stewardship and get ready for Laudato Si’ Week, which begins tomorrow. Discover how you can move from narrative to participation by selecting actions that help creation heal.

#LaudatoSi #FaithInAction #Sustainability #UCoE #ClimateHope

Host of the episode: ⁠Luca P. De Cristofaro

Guest: Alonso de Llanes

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