Welcome to another issue of URSA, Europe’s audio magazine!

In this first section you’ll hear the latest news headlines from Europe, including updates on the Dutch Donald Trump’s victory in the country’s latest elections, the outcry against domestic violence in Italy, and new smoking bans in France.

You’ll also hear climate updates, including how the Dutch Donald Trump winning the elections poses a danger to climate efforts in Europe, the realities of Black Friday waste, toxic eggs in Paris and some inspiring news from the UK.

In the second section, you’ll hear two fantastic original pieces.

The first piece comes from Bear Radio School Alum Husna Chhoangalia and her brand new podcast I Didn’t See It, where she and her guest explore the Hijab ban in French Football and the inequality around secularism.

The second from And All That Jazz, a series by Kaodi Alum and Refuge Worldwide. In this episode, Kaodi shares the history of Jazz music in Germany and the musicians that defined the genre on both sides of the Berlin Wall.

The food section takes us to Christmas Markets! Jill, Julia and Will explore the Medieval Christmas Market at the RAW Gelande and share their favorite Christmassy treats (Hint: It’s all Glühwein).

Section 4 brings you the Culture Section where Jill explores Berlin’s underground. She speaks to Kay Heyne, Managing Director of the Berliner Unterwelten E.V., about his experiences leading tours under the city’s streets.

This is followed by a packed December event roundup with LOLA Magazine’s Alice O’Brien.

Finally, for our Artist Spotlight, Julia speaks with Anastasia Pilepchuk, a Russian artist living and creating in Berlin, about her inspiration, her ability to see shapes in sounds, the role that her ancestry plays in her work and more.

Our theme music is from Lucas Carey, with audio from Epidemic Sound. Cover art by Sian Amber Fletcher.

This episode is brought to you by Bear Radio.

If you’re a producer based in Europe and have an idea for an URSA story, we’d love to hear from you! We’re always accepting new pitches.

Support for this podcast comes from our Patreon - if you like URSA and all the incredible stories that come with it - then please consider supporting us at patreon.com/ursapodcast. The price you’d spend on a coffee would go to supporting us and our contributors each month.

Issue 24: December 2023

In this section we bring you two fantastic original pieces from Berlin-based producers. The first piece comes from Bear Radio School Alum Husna Chhoangalia and her brand new podcast I Didn’t See It, where she is joined by sports journalits Shireen Ahmed to explore the Hijab ban in French Football and the exclusivity of secularism.

The second piece comes from And All That Jazz, a series by Kaodi Alum and Refuge Worldwide. In this episode, Kaodi shares the history of Jazz music in Germany and the musicians that defined the genre on both sides of the Berlin Wall.

Our theme music is from Lucas Carey, with audio from Epidemic Sound. Cover art by Sian Amber Fletcher.

This episode is brought to you by Bear Radio.

If you’re a producer based in Europe and have an idea for an URSA story, we’d love to hear from you! We’re always accepting new pitches.

Support for this podcast comes from our Patreon - if you like URSA and all the incredible stories that come with it - then please consider supporting us at patreon.com/ursapodcast. The price you’d spend on a coffee would go to supporting us and our contributors each month.

Issue 24: December 2023

What’s more festive than a Christmas Market? Literally NOTHING.

In this episode, we’re talking all things Christmas Markets, from warm bevs to chestnuts, sausages and stews.

Will, Jill and Julia take themselves out for a cheery evening at the RAW Gelande Medieval Christma Market, where they stay warm by sipping Glühwein and watching a fantastic fireshow and axe throwing. But Glühwein isn’t the only treat on offer at Berlin’s dozens of Christmas markets - the team discuss their favorite snacks and sweets to try.

Christmas Markets mentioned in this episode:
Medieval Christmas Market
Lucia Christmas Market
Alt-Rixdorf Christmas Market
Grunau Train
Gendarmenmarkt (Bebelplatz) Christmas Market
LGBTQIA Winterdays at Nollendorfplatz
Charlottenburg Palace Christmas Market
Berliner Weihnachtszeit am Roten Rathaus

Our theme music is from Lucas Carey, with audio from Epidemic Sound. Cover art by Sian Amber Fletcher.

This episode is brought to you by Bear Radio.

If you’re a producer based in Europe and have an idea for an URSA story, we’d love to hear from you! We’re always accepting new pitches.

Support for this podcast comes from our Patreon - if you like URSA and all the incredible stories that come with it - then please consider supporting us at patreon.com/ursapodcast. The price you’d spend on a coffee would go to supporting us and our contributors each month.

Issue 24: December 2023

In the Culture section URSA we bring you arts and culture from the heart of Berlin!

Berlin’s history doesn’t stop at ground level. The city’s numerous bunkers, abandoned train stations and tunnel offer a deeper look into the stories that made Berlin what it is today. Jill speaks with Kay Hayne of the Berliner Unterwelten, E.V. about his 20 years with the foundation, leading tours and working with the city to renovate spaces for public visits. They discuss his favorite experiences underground and the mission of the foundation itself.

Next, we hear an enticing December event roundup curated by Alice O’Brien, including:
Jewish bund
Kojaque
Lekker presents
Christmas Markets
Suzanna Cianni

Our theme music is from Lucas Carey, with audio from Epidemic Sound. Cover art by Sian Amber Fletcher.

This episode is brought to you by Bear Radio.

If you’re a producer based in Europe and have an idea for an URSA story, we’d love to hear from you! We’re always accepting new pitches.

Support for this podcast comes from our Patreon - if you like URSA and all the incredible stories that come with it - then please consider supporting us at patreon.com/ursapodcast. The price you’d spend on a coffee would go to supporting us and our contributors each month.

Issue 24: December 2023

Anastasia Pilepchuk is a Berlin-based artist with Buryat roots. She creates many beautiful things, but it is her masks, or rather, facial adornments that have garnered the intrigue and appreciation from many, the world over. Julia Joubert speaks with Anastasia to find out more about her beaded, spiked, mirrored and laced creations, as the artist shares how her ancestry, life and love of nature birthed the works we see today.

Our theme music is from Lucas Carey, with audio from Epidemic Sound. Cover art by Sian Amber Fletcher.

This episode is brought to you by Bear Radio.

If you’re a producer based in Europe and have an idea for an URSA story, we’d love to hear from you! We’re always accepting new pitches.

Support for this podcast comes from our Patreon - if you like URSA and all the incredible stories that come with it - then please consider supporting us at patreon.com/ursapodcast. The price you’d spend on a coffee would go to supporting us and our contributors each month.

Welcome to another issue of URSA, Europe’s audio magazine!

In this first section you’ll hear the latest news headlines from Europe, including updates on the ongoing war in Gaza and Germany’s response. We also share audio from a recent Pro-Palestine demo we attended in Berlin.

You’ll also hear climate updates from outside of Europe, looking at armed violence and its impact on climate change.

In the second section, you’ll hear two fantastic original pieces.

The first piece comes from Asian Provocation, where producer and host Ayoto speaks to Professor Lara Sheehi and Professor Stephen Sheehi authors of the book Psychoanalysis Under Occupation.

The second from the team behind The Palestine Podcast, a series from the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign that showcases lectures, talks and interviews featuring leading experts and social justice activists active on the Palestine-Israel issue.

The food section takes us on an adventure to Berlin’s forests to forage for wild mushrooms. We then make a gorgeous baked mushroom cannelloni with our food correspondent, Will Maidment.

Section 4 brings you the Culture Section where Jill heads to the Wild Women Circus, the latest show from Berlin-based circus troupe, the Barbaren Barbies. She also sits down with the Barbaren Barbies’ clown extraordinaire, Nicole Ratjen, to learn more about the world of clowning, how the troupe came together, and what they’ve got planned next.

This is followed by a packed November event roundup with LOLA Magazine’s Alice O’Brien.

Finally, for our Artist Spotlight, Julia speaks with Kera, a Berlin-based muralist about his start in outdoor muraling, his connection to the locations he works in, his relationship to colour and much more.

Our theme music is from Lucas Carey, with audio from Epidemic Sound. Cover art by Sian Amber Fletcher.

This episode is brought to you by Bear Radio.

If you’re a producer based in Europe and have an idea for an URSA story, we’d love to hear from you! We’re always accepting new pitches.

Support for this podcast comes from our Patreon - if you like URSA and all the incredible stories that come with it - then please consider supporting us at patreon.com/ursapodcast. The price you’d spend on a coffee would go to supporting us and our contributors each month.

Issue 23: November 2023

In this section we bring you two fantastic original pieces.

The first piece comes from Asian Provocation, where producer and host Ayoto speaks to Professor Lara Sheehi and Professor Stephen Sheehi, authors of the book Psychoanalysis Under Occupation. Together they reflect on settler colonialism and violence, and the discourses of "normalization," "trauma," "resilience" around those affected.

The second piece comes from the team behind The Palestine Podcast, a series from the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign that showcases lectures, talks and interviews featuring leading experts and social justice activists active on the Palestine-Israel issue. In this segment, you will hear from Ronnie Kasrils from the series’ 40th episode on ‘Israeli Apartheid: Lessons from Jewish and South African Struggles.’ The conversation revolves around the effects of boycotting on changing public opinion and pressuring governments to stop policies of suppression.

This piece was shared with permission from the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign and Diensten en Onderzoek Centrum Palestina (DocP), BDS Netherlands, The Rights Forum and Palestine Link.

Our theme music is from Lucas Carey, with audio from Epidemic Sound. Cover art by Sian Amber Fletcher.

This episode is brought to you by Bear Radio.

If you’re a producer based in Europe and have an idea for an URSA story, we’d love to hear from you! We’re always accepting new pitches.

Support for this podcast comes from our Patreon - if you like URSA and all the incredible stories that come with it - then please consider supporting us at patreon.com/ursapodcast. The price you’d spend on a coffee would go to supporting us and our contributors each month.

Issue 23: November 2023

There is truly nothing quite like growing or foraging your own food! Replacing the supermarket frozen section with Berlin’s magical forests, Julia teams up with fungi enthusiast and foraging hobbyist, Hanna, to go mushroom hunting for their dinner.

Hanna shares her extensive knowledge on mushrooms in Brandenburg, advice for novice foragers, the do’s and don’t of ethical harvesting and much more.

Then stick around to listen in as Julia brings back her bounty to cook with Jill and our food correspondent Will Maidment.

Mushroom Advice in Berlin & Brandenburg:
In Berlin Brandenburg
DGfM
Botanischer Garten Berlin

Locations and Maps for further foraging in general:
Domäne Dahlem
Spargelhof Klaistow
Obstplantage Liniert
Neumann’s Hofladen Potsdam
Mundraub App

Our theme music is from Lucas Carey, with audio from Epidemic Sound. Cover art by Sian Amber Fletcher.

This episode is brought to you by Bear Radio.

If you’re a producer based in Europe and have an idea for an URSA story, we’d love to hear from you! We’re always accepting new pitches.

Support for this podcast comes from our Patreon - if you like URSA and all the incredible stories that come with it - then please consider supporting us at patreon.com/ursapodcast. The price you’d spend on a coffee would go to supporting us and our contributors each month.

Issue 23: November 2023

In the Culture section URSA we bring you arts and culture from the heart of Berlin!

The Barbaren Barbies is an all woman circus based in Berlin, and we headed to their most recent show, ‘The Wild Women Circus,’ at Zirkus Mond in October. Jill speaks with the troupe’s resident clown extraordinaire, Nicole Ratjen, about her love for clowning, performing, and working with the Barbaren Barbies.

Next, we hear an enticing September event roundup curated by Alice O’Brien, including:
Berlin science week
Dark Matter
RSO birthday party
ROMY
Yves Tumour
Energy drinks and bisexual lighting
Short film festival

Our theme music is from Lucas Carey, with audio from Epidemic Sound. Cover art by Sian Amber Fletcher.

This episode is brought to you by Bear Radio.

If you’re a producer based in Europe and have an idea for an URSA story, we’d love to hear from you! We’re always accepting new pitches.

Support for this podcast comes from our Patreon - if you like URSA and all the incredible stories that come with it - then please consider supporting us at patreon.com/ursapodcast. The price you’d spend on a coffee would go to supporting us and our contributors each month.

Issue 23: November 2023

Kera, aka Christian Hinz, a Berlin-based muralist, has been designing and painting beautiful facades for more than 23 years. Julia met with him at his studio in Berlin to discuss his start ingraffiti as a teenager, the influence of graphic design on his work, his distinguishable blue-grey-yellow colour palette, his favourite muraling experiences and more.

Check out Kera's work and upcomign exhibitions at his website and follow him on Instragram @kera.1

Our theme music is from Lucas Carey, with audio from Epidemic Sound. Cover art by Sian Amber Fletcher.

This episode is brought to you by Bear Radio.

If you’re a producer based in Europe and have an idea for an URSA story, we’d love to hear from you! We’re always accepting new pitches.

Support for this podcast comes from our Patreon - if you like URSA and all the incredible stories that come with it - then please consider supporting us at patreon.com/ursapodcast. The price you’d spend on a coffee would go to supporting us and our contributors each month.