The Europeans | European news, politics and culture

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The Europeans is a fresh and entertaining weekly podcast about European politics and culture, recorded each week between Paris and Amsterdam with fascinating guests joining from across Europe. This multiple award-winning podcast fills you in on the major European politics stories and other European news of the week, as well as fun and quirky nuggets that have been missed by most media outlets. Hosted by Katy Lee, a journalist based in Paris, and Dominic Kraemer, an opera singer in Amsterdam, The Europeans covers everything from elections and climate policy to the best new European films and TV shows. We also produce investigative podcasts about everything from the European farming lobby to oat milk. Yes, oat milk. Katy and Dominic are old friends, and the warmth and intimacy of their conversations will soon make you feel like you’ve known them a long time too. They approach topics with a light and humorous tone that makes The Europeans stand out from other European news podcasts, while remaining journalistically rigorous and meticulously fact-checked. The Europeans has been recommended by The New York Times, The Guardian, Buzzfeed, The Financial Times, and many other outlets. Katy Lee, a British-French reporter, has written for major outlets including The Guardian, Politico Europe, Agence France-Presse (AFP), Foreign Policy and The New Statesman for more than a decade, covering French and European politics and more recently, climate change. Dominic Kraemer, a British-German opera singer, performs across Europe when he is not co-hosting The Europeans, with roles recently at the Staatsoper in Berlin, the Dutch National Opera and the Münchener Biennale. The Europeans’ team is completed by producers Katz Laszlo in Amsterdam and Wojciech Oleksiak in Warsaw. You’ll hear them joining Katy and Dominic from time to time, particularly during investigative episodes like ‘The Oatly Chronicles’ and ‘The Big-Agri Bully Boys’. The Europeans’ breezy, informal approach to covering European news has won awards such as a Covering Climate Now award for an episode about the Swiss women who sued their government at the European Court of Human Rights demanding more climate action; Germany’s prestigious CIVIS Media Prize for ‘Mohamed’, an episode that explores the everyday life of a young undocumented man in Amsterdam; and best LGBTQIA+ short at the MiraBan UK Film Awards for ‘Josh and Franco’, the coming-of-age story of a father and son, both gay. Our guests have included everyone from major figures in European politics such as Alexander Stubb, now the President of Finland, and Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, to star chefs Asma Khan and Christian Puglisi, celebrated illustrator Christoph Niemann, and environmentalist George Monbiot. Since launching in 2017, we’ve talked about everything from elections in France, Italy and many more countries besides, to the politics of halloumi cheese in Cyprus, to why Donald Trump is so hard for TV interpreters to translate. We pride ourselves on covering European politics, European news and European culture from a pan-European perspective. You’ll often hear stories on The Europeans from parts of the continent that don’t usually receive enough attention from major international media outlets, especially Central, Eastern and Southern Europe. You might enjoy The Europeans if you also enjoy one of these other podcasts: The News Agents, On the Media, Today in Focus, Inside Europe, The Journal, EU Confidential, The Daily, The Globalist, Reasons to be Cheerful, The Media Show, Power Play, and The New Statesman. Whether you’re already a European news nerd, or simply someone who’d like to be better informed about what’s happening across Europe, The Europeans is the podcast for you. Support us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/europeanspodcast

Episode List

The great European air conditioning debate

Jul 30th, 2026 4:00 AM

It’s not even August yet, and it’s been a long, hot summer. As temperatures climb and France and Spain fight to keep wildfires contained, we’re devoting the whole of this week’s episode to one of 2026’s most contentious debates: should Europe be using more air conditioning? With help from three experts, we’re picking apart the pros and cons of artificial cooling technology – and grappling with a handful of guilty feelings along the way.You can learn more about the wondrous upsides and significant costs of air conditioning from our guests: Eva Horn, a professor of cultural history at the University of Vienna; Diána Ürge-Vorsatz, a professor at Central European University and Vice Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change; and Blanca Paniello Castillo, researcher at the Barcelona Institute for Global Health.Other resources for this episode:Eva Horn’s essay in Avery Review, “Air Conditioning: Taming the Climate as a Dream of Civilization”Eva’s book Klima: Eine Wahrnehmungsgeschichte“Europeans should learn to love the air-conditioner” – Stanley Pignal, The Economist, 18 June 2026“Energy demand and decarbonization in 2025 and beyond” – Diana Ürge-Vorsatz and Felix Creutzig, Nature, 20 January 2026“Air Conditioning Has Reduced Mortality Due to High Temperatures in Spain by One Third” (PDF) – The Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), 2023Redditer paints his Parisian roof whiteWant more of that sunny, summery vibe in your weekly news diet? Don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter, Good Week Bad Week!BE A PART OF THE EUROPEANS’ FUTURE: In case you missed it, we’ve made some changes to our Patreon memberships and are giving members new perks for supporting our work. Visit ⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/europeanspodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ to take a look at what’s on offer. You can also, as always, make a donation via our website. Massive thanks to everyone who’s joined us already – you really do make this show possible ❤️Unsung: Cleaners is a documentary podcast bringing together the voices of cleaners across Europe, telling their stories in their own words. From invisible labour and night shifts to dignity and organising for change, the five-part series explores the human stories behind one of the world’s most essential – and most overlooked – jobs: cleaning. In the first episode, Hayat Elhore, a cleaner at the European Parliament in Brussels, shares what it’s like to clean a building that symbolises democracy – while often being treated as invisible. She pulls back the curtain on a typical day in the life of a cleaner.Co-hosts: Katy Lee and Dominic KraemerSenior producer: Katy LeeProducers: Morgan Childs, Dominic KraemerAudio editing: Morgan ChildsMixing and mastering: Wojciech Oleksiak and Monika ProbaMusic: Jim Barne, Mariska Martina and Blue Dot SessionsThe Europeans is proudly produced using Europe’s own Hindenburg.YouTube | Bluesky | Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Mastodon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Substack | hello@europeanspodcast.com

The Europeans' 2026 Summer Playlist

Jul 23rd, 2026 4:00 AM

Last month, we asked you for your favourite sunny, summery songs from across the European continent – and boy, did you deliver! This week we’re taking a break from the news to talk about some of the incredible music you introduced us to, by artists from Sweden to Serbia. GET IN ON THE FUN: We’re mixing things up over on Patreon and giving members new perks for supporting our work. Visit ⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/europeanspodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ to take a look at all the benefits. You can also, as always, make a donation via our website. A huge thank you to our supporters for making independent European journalism possible – we hope you’re as excited about what’s next as we are.Unsung: Cleaners is a documentary podcast bringing together the voices of cleaners across Europe, telling their stories in their own words. From invisible labour and night shifts to dignity and organising for change, the five-part series explores the human stories behind one of the world’s most essential – and most overlooked – jobs: cleaning. In the first episode, Hayat Elhore, a cleaner at the European Parliament in Brussels, shares what it’s like to clean a building that symbolises democracy – while often being treated as invisible. She pulls back the curtain on a typical day in the life of a cleaner.A huge thank you to the artists who made this week’s episode possible (and who’ve put a skip in our step over the past few weeks). Songs mentioned in this episode:“Caramello” by Rocco Hunt, Elettra Lamborghini, Lola IndigoCopyright 2022 Epic, Sony Music Entertainment Italy S.p.A. Qobuz | Spotify | YouTube“Volio BiH” by Dubioza KolektivCopyright 2012 EMDC Qobuz | Spotify | YouTube“Bean Udaí Thall” by HuartanCopyright 2024 Sliocht na Sí Records Qobuz | Spotify | YouTube“Jag kommer” by Veronica Maggio Copyright 2011 Universal Music ABQobuz | Spotify | YouTube“Amorgos” by Leonidas BalafasCopyright 2021 Leonidas BalafasSpotify | YouTube“Liūdna!” by Free FingaCopyright 2026 Free Finga and MB ŽiauruSpotify | YouTube“Dansjes Verplicht” by WoezelsCopyright 2019 Woezels Spotify | YouTube“Blond” by JaldaCopyright 2026 Universal Music ABQobuz | Spotify | YouTube“Lan Y Môr” by AdwaithCopyright 2020 Libertino RecordsQobuz | Spotify | YouTube“Je pense à vous” by Pierre de MaereCopyright 2026 Wagram Music/Cinq7, Wagram PublishingQobuz | Spotify | YouTube“Odi Dođi” by DJ Kovi & MC Mikri Maus Copyright 2017 Prti Bee GeeQobuz | Spotify | YouTube “Elukoor/Choir of Life” by Mari KalkunCopyright 2020 Aigu Om RecordsQobuz | Spotify | YouTube“Onomkeerbaar” by Eefje de VisserCopyright 2025 Sony Music Entertainment Netherlands B.V.Qobuz | Spotify | YouTube“Nemám zájem” by Něco NěcoCopyright 2025 DivnostiQobuz | Spotify | YouTube“Am Herz Vorbei” by Tristan BruschCopyright 2023 Four Music/Tautorat TonträgerQobuz | Spotify | YouTubeHEAR EVEN MORE SUMMERY EUROPEAN MUSIC: We’ve created playlists with all of our picks and yours. Listen in via your streaming service of choice below.The Europeans’ Summer Playlist ShortlistQobuz | Spotify | Apple | TidalListener Picks: The Europeans’ Summer PlaylistQobuz | Spotify | Apple | TidalYou can also find more of our favourites in our newsletter, Good Week Bad Week.Co-hosts: Dominic Kraemer, Katy Lee, Wojciech Oleksiak, Morgan ChildsAudio editing: Morgan Childs Producers: Morgan Childs, Dominic Kraemer, Katy Lee, Wojciech Oleksiak Mixing and mastering: Wojciech OleksiakMusic: Jim Barne and Mariska MartinaThe Europeans is proudly produced using Europe’s own Hindenburg.YouTube | Bluesky | Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Mastodon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Substack | hello@europeanspodcast.com

Did Jared Kushner get scammed over his Albanian resort?

Jul 16th, 2026 4:00 AM

It was a Bad Week for Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, and you’re either the sort of person who is now rubbing their hands together cartoon-villain style, or… you’re probably not listening to this podcast. Construction is well underway for Kushner’s $4 billion Albanian holiday resort, but – in true Trumpian you-can’t-make-this-#$@!%-up fashion – it turns out the deeds for the land might be fake. There are *so many* zany details of this story, and we’re unpacking them all whilst having a little giggle at Kushner’s expense. Also in this episode: Have you ever wondered why you tend to drift to the left as you walk? Us neither, but it turns out: that westward wander is actually a natural human trait. We chat with researchers Iñaki Echeverría-Huarte and Claudio Feliciani about their offbeat discovery, which caught our attention when it appeared in the New York Times last month.PATREON SHAKE-UP: Visit ⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/europeanspodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ to take a look at the exciting changes to what we’re offering our supporters, from a new private podcast feed to one-on-one meetings with Katy and Dominic. We also welcome donations via our website, which come with all the same benefits except for access to our community chat. A huge thank you to our supporters for making our independent journalism possible – and we’re thrilled that you’re becoming an even bigger part of what we do.This week’s Inspiration Station recommendations are the little-known sporting event Le Tour de France and the novel ‘Glorious Exploits’ by Ferdia Lennon.Our friends at the European Cultural Foundation have generously given us five copies of their beautiful magazine, Common Ground, for our listeners. Email us at hello@europeanspodcast.com with MAGAZINE GIVEAWAY in the subject line to be in with a chance of getting your hands on one. And if you don’t need to spruce up your coffee table, you can also read it online here.Unsung: Cleaners is a documentary podcast bringing together the voices of cleaners across Europe, telling their stories in their own words. From invisible labour and night shifts to dignity and organising for change, the five-part series explores the human stories behind one of the world’s most essential – and most overlooked – jobs: cleaning. In the first episode, Hayat Elhore, a cleaner at the European Parliament in Brussels, shares what it’s like to clean a building that symbolises democracy – while often being treated as invisible. She pulls back the curtain on a typical day in the life of a cleaner.Resources for this episode:“Businessman who sold land for Kushner resort in Albania suspected of faking the deeds” – Reuters, 11 July 2026“Slap on the SPF and join the Flamingo Revolution” – Good Week Bad Week, 5 June 202618,300 young people leave Albania in one year, the highest decline in Europe” – Euronews Albania, 4 February 2026An Autocrat’s Guide to Destroying Local Media, our 2023 mini-series on press freedom in Central and Eastern Europe“Individual locomotor bias drives counterclockwise motion in pedestrian crowds” – Nature, 10 June 2026“Nearly Everyone, Everywhere, Veers Left When Walking” – New York Times, 10 June 2026Our delightful interview with European rail expert Jon Worth“The first EU pilot project for new cross-border services: from Praha to København with direct trains” – Railvolution, 26 June 2026This podcast was brought to you in cooperation with Euranet Plus, the leading radio network for EU news.Co-hosts: Katy Lee and Wojciech OleksiakAudio editing: Monika Proba, Wojciech Oleksiak, and Morgan ChildsSenior producer: Katy LeeProducers: Morgan Childs, Dominic Kraemer, Wojciech OleksiakMixing and mastering: Wojciech OleksiakMusic: Jim Barne and Mariska MartinaThe Europeans is proudly produced using Europe’s own Hindenburg.YouTube | Bluesky | Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Mastodon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Substack | hello@europeanspodcast.com

The Frankenchicken is coming to a village near you

Jul 2nd, 2026 4:31 AM

This week, we’re asking some tough questions. Is the EU friends with the Taliban now? Is your 100% cotton shirt actually made of cotton? And, our favourite, “Why Did the Frankenchicken Cross the Road?” We’re taking on a few challenging topics this week, but the Funny Lady from Luxembourg is back in the co-hosting chair, so you know to expect a fair share of laughs, too. (Listen to the end to hear her impression of a Luxembourgish whale.)Our guest this week is none other than longtime Europeans producer Wojciech Oleksiak, whose yearslong investigative report “Why Did the Frankenchicken Cross the Road?” captured our attention and tugged on our heartstrings when it was published in April. Wojciech tells us about the massive megafarms that produce 14 million birds for slaughter each year(!) and the price that the rural community of Koden, Poland, has to pay to satisfy European appetites.This week’s Inspiration Station recommendations are DJ Baguette, the phallic arum plant at the botanical garden at the University of Ghent, and Follow the Money’s podcast episode “Europe’s second-hand clothing crisis”.Resources for this episode:“EU faces fierce criticism over plans to host Taliban in Brussels” – The Guardian, 23 June 2026“OLAF helps prevent illegal dumping of thousands of tonnes of textile waste” – European Anti-Fraud Office, 25 June 2026“Like Humans, Mediterranean Sperm Whales Have Their Own Dialects” – Yale Environment 360, 24 June 2026This podcast was brought to you in cooperation with Euranet Plus, the leading radio network for EU news. But it’s contributions from listeners that truly make it all possible — we could not continue to make the show without you! If you like what we do, you can chip in to help us cover our production costs at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/europeanspodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (in many different currencies), or you can gift a donation to a superfan. You can also donate via our website if you prefer. And finally: we'd also love it if you could tell two friends about this podcast. We think two feels like a reasonable number.Co-hosts: Dominic Kraemer and Nina LamparskiAudio editing: Morgan Childs and Monika ProbaProducers: Morgan Childs, Katy Lee, Dominic Kraemer, Wojciech OleksiakMixing and mastering: Wojciech OleksiakMusic: Jim Barne and Mariska MartinaThe Europeans is proudly produced using Europe’s own Hindenburg.YouTube | Bluesky | Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Mastodon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Substack | hello@europeanspodcast.com

Why is Putin using African trolls against Europe?

Jun 25th, 2026 4:00 AM

We’ve talked a lot about pro-Kremlin internet trolls, who have worked to destabilise the democratic functioning of countries all across Europe. Turns out, there are even more of them than you might imagine – and they’re operating from places you might not expect. This week we chat with award-winning investigative reporter Philip Obaji Jr. about how Russia has been using African nations as launchpads to help sow chaos across Europe. Philip is an incredibly brave journalist working under exceedingly challenging conditions, and his insights on this growing problem are chilling. Also on the podcast this week: a heartening turnout at Kyiv Pride, and news about nuclear proliferation that we have definite mixed feelings about.You can follow Philip's work on Instagram, Bluesky, LinkedIn and X, and contribute to his fundraiser here.This week’s Inspiration Station picks are these cheeky counter-Trump European football jerseys and the pan-European queer choir festival Various Voices, which we learned about thanks to listener Davide.WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE BOUNCY SUMMER BOP? Contribute to our Summer Playlist! We’re looking for sunny, summery songs from across the continent, especially from lesser-known artists that sing in less widely spoken languages. Send your picks to hello@europeanspodcast.com or @europeanspodcast on Instagram/Mastodon.Resources for this episode:“Thousands gather for Kyiv's largest Pride march since start of full-scale war” – Kyiv Independent, 21 June 2026“‘We are modern people’: Zelensky calls for open talk on LGBTQ+ rights in Ukraine” – Pink News, 12 June 2026“Discrimination in the European Union” (PDF) – Eurobarometer, 2023Rainbow Map 2026 – ILGA-Europe’s national ranking of LGBTI human rights laws and policies“Trans people in Ukraine: transition process, legislations, healthcare, and social attitudes” – Seymour Nezoriy, 11 November 2024“What is Russia up to in Africa?”, our conversation with Beverly Ochieng last year“Forests Now Cover Over a Third of Italy, Overtaking Farmland for the First Time Since the Middle Ages” – The Italian Times, 10 June 2026This podcast was brought to you in cooperation with Euranet Plus, the leading radio network for EU news. But it’s contributions from listeners that truly make it all possible—we could not continue to make the show without you! If you like what we do, you can chip in to help us cover our production costs at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/europeanspodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (in many different currencies), or you can gift a donation to a superfan. You can also donate via our website if you prefer. And finally: we'd also love it if you could tell two friends about this podcast. We think two feels like a reasonable number.Co-hosts: Dominic Kraemer and Katy LeeAudio editing: Morgan Childs and Monika ProbaSenior producer: Katy LeeProducers: Morgan Childs, Dominic Kraemer, Katy Lee, Wojciech OleksiakMixing and mastering: Wojciech OleksiakMusic: Jim Barne and Mariska MartinaWith special thanks this week to longtime Europeans producer Katz LaszloThe Europeans is proudly produced using Europe’s own Hindenburg.YouTube | Bluesky | Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Mastodon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Substack | hello@europeanspodcast.com

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