Maastricht Diplomat

In this episode of our Portrait Series, we sit down with Rebeca Arguedas, President of UFS and a prominent voice in sustainability in the facility management sector. Interviewed by Clara Ledoux, Rebeca walks us through her journey as a Latin-American woman in a field traditionally dominated by men and explores how intersectionality shapes our ideals and opportunities. Recorded on the 20.03.2025CreditsInterviewer: Clara Ledoux

As a Maastricht Diplomat alumni and journalism student, French-Lankan Jonathan Wijayaratne has a unique view on the world. In this episode they talk with Fin Gerke about their journey from European Studies to journalism, the state of journalism and media in Europe, and their roots living in many cultures and countries. Recorded on the 20.02.2025CreditsProducer and interviewer: Fin Gerke (@finenomenon)

Happy #UNDay 2024! Today marks the 79th anniversary of the United Nations—79 years of navigating global crises and challenges. One issue, however, stands out today: climate change. To commemorate this day, we interviewed Dr. Sanae Okamoto from UNU-MERIT—a COP veteran and former private sector mentor turned researcher. She shares her insights on the intersection of climate change and mental health. This podcast is a collaboration between The Maastricht Diplomat, UNSA Maastricht, UNU-MERIT, and the United Nations University. It is also the first episode in our new portrait series, where we will interview inspiring people from all walks of life and all over the world to bring you the best insight into their fascinating lives and opinions.

Bauhaus is one of the most influential art and design movements of these days. Walter Gropius, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, and Marcel Breuer are all prominent and common names – but what about Marianne Brandt, Lilly Reich, Gunta Stölzl, and many more? These women are mostly remembered as wives and assistants but not for their significant contributions to the Bauhaus movement. This episode by Lenja Charlotte Burmeister (@lenjacharlotte) will dive into the role of women at the Bauhaus school, especially highlighting their significant influence and position at the school and outlining the most important principles, beliefs, and history of the Bauhaus school.  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/maastricht-diplomat/message

We're back for season 2! Charelle and Brendan are excited to share that they are back for a new season of Understanding Europe with a three part series on Democracy Promotion in the EU. Go over and have a listen! Understanding Europe - https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/cerim --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/maastricht-diplomat/message

Are all South American countries the same? In the final episode of our podcast series “One Month Abroad” hosted by @lee.ann.l, Anthi and Sophia tell us about their intercultural experiences in Colombia and Uruguay. They highlight the vibrant culture of both countries, ranging from street vendors to dancing, but also talk about stereotypes commonly held about the South American continent. For more insights into living abroad for a month, check out episodes 1 and 2 of the series! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/maastricht-diplomat/message

In the second episode of our podcast series “One Month Abroad”, our host @lee.ann.l interviews Lotte and Lily who conducted field research in Cyprus and Mozambique. How does your positionality affect research and life abroad? How is a field study different from an Erasmus exchange? Check out this episode to learn the answers to such questions and discover our guest speakers' insights on intercultural experiences. Also, don't forget to keep an eye out for next week's episode! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/maastricht-diplomat/message

In the Maastricht Diplomat's new podcast series “One Month Abroad”, our host @lee.ann.l interviews five guest speakers who spent one month abroad for a field study. The three episodes discuss what it is like to live for one month in a different country and what challenges and joys are connected to intercultural experiences. In this first episode, our guests Sophia and Jakob talk about their experiences in Uruguay and Thailand. Stay tuned for the next two episodes, where the series will take you to Cyprus, Mozambique and Colombia! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/maastricht-diplomat/message

A trip to the hospital after a bike accident and moving to the Netherlands from the US. In this episode we explore the Dutch healthcare system from an EU and non-EU perspective, hear from the experiences of Fin and Sophie, and find out what you should know and do before you need to engage with the system.  If you want to know more, here you can find resources that might help you: General information about healthcare in Maastricht: https://mymaastricht.nl/health/  Information about compulsory insurance in the netherlands from Maastricht University: https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/support/during-your-studies/money-matters/compulsory-health-insurance  Get assistance from the international student helpdesk: https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/support/during-your-studies/international-students-while-maastricht/international-student-helpdesk  Wandering if you need to see a doctor? Check out https://moetiknaardedokter.nl/en/ Emergency on university grounds? Call 0031 433875566 Need acute help but your GP is closed? Call the GPs' emergency post at Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC+) https://www.mumc.nl/huisartsenspoedpost-maastricht-en-heuvelland Don't know how severe your symptoms are? Check at: https://moetiknaardedokter.nl/en/ More information on the EHIC: https://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1021&langId=en&intPageId=1747 Apply for a EHIC with Dutch health insurance: https://www.hetcak.nl/en/healthcare-abroad/ehic/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/maastricht-diplomat/message

The 10th and last episode of CERiM's Understanding Europe is out now! This time, Charelle and Brendan talk about the different episodes that have been published this year, discussing how they link and what threads are pulled throughout them all. So if you haven't yet had a chance to listen to this year's episodes this is the place to start! A TL;DR if you will. Secondary sources:  Understanding Europe: On Memory and Identity Understanding Europe: Open Strategic Autonomy? Marianne Hirsch on Postmemory Faces of Trade --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/maastricht-diplomat/message

In this episode, Brendan and Charelle sit down with Assem Dandashly and Gergana Noutcheva to discuss the legitimacy of the EU as an external democracy promoter in its southern and eastern neighbourhood while internally it is dealing with a rule of law crisis in member states such as Poland, Hungary, Austria. Has this internal crisis affected the way the EU is perceived? Has it hindered its legitimacy as an international player? Join them as they unpack these questions! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/maastricht-diplomat/message

Food on paintings and glued hands on the highway – you probably have heard of these kinds of protest during the past few months, when reports about the “Last Generation” protest movement went viral. Their protests continue and the opinions on them differ. In this episode, Chiara gives you a background about the origins of the “Last Generation” movement and their latest actions. Critiques will be discussed as well as if their protest actions contribute positively to raising awareness to the climate crisis. Link to sources: https://linktr.ee/lastgenerationep --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/maastricht-diplomat/message

Europe day! Europe day?  What does it even mean? In this episode Brendan and Charelle talk about the significance of Europe Day and the difficulties of forming a Common European Identity. In doing so they are joined by Dr. Aline Sierp, an expert in memory studies, who outlines what studying memory entails and the difficulties that are faced when trying to create a common European memory, and in the process a common European Identity. So if this intrigues you, give it a listen! Secondary  Sources: - Short explanations of key terms by leading memory scholars. - Memory Studies Association - The Memory Cloud - Sierp, Aline (2023). Europeanising Memory: The European Union's Politics of Memory. In Maria Mälksoo (Ed.) Handbook on the Politics of Memory. Edward Elgar Publishing - Sierp, Aline (2020). EU Memory Politics and Europe's Forgotten Colonial Past. Interventions, 22(6), 386-702 - Films: o Schindler's List, 1993 by Stefen Spielberg o Shoa, 1985, by Claude Lanzmann o Waltz with Bashir, 2008, by Ari Folman o The Act of Killing, 2012, by Joshua Oppenheimer --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/maastricht-diplomat/message

Asia's oldest democracy has had a long history of ethnic conflict and corruption at the highest levels of the state. In response to the harshest economic crisis their country has ever experienced, Lankans took to the street last year, launching a protest movement called ‘Aragalaya' (Sinhala for ‘struggle'). In a headline-grabbing turn of events, the protesters managed to oust the ruling Rajapaksa family, with the hope for system change. But one year later, the epilogue is bittersweet. In this last episode of the MD's series on Sri Lanka, Jonathan explores the political aspect of the crisis. They tell the story of the Aragalaya with the help of anecdotes from activist Father Rohan Silva, chairman of the Centre for Society and Religion; and they discuss what's next for Lankan democracy with Dr. Asanga Welikala, senior lecturer at the University of Edinburgh's School of Law.Link to sources: https://linktr.ee/lkpodcast3 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/maastricht-diplomat/message

Leen and Hadrian take a deep dive into the world and politics of the 2017 Academy Award nominee Call Me By Your Name (Dir. Luca Guadagnino). Starting from its refreshingly naturalistic cinematography, to exploring the controversies surrounding its plot, cast, and social/ethical responsibility. Everything all the way up to a profile of the most overlooked character in the film, passing through countless other cinematic examples, reflections, debates and experiences. Link to sources: Revisiting Call Me By Your Name. One of the greatest scenes ever animated. André Aciman: The Meaning and Message of 'Call Me By Your Name' Why Call Me By Your Name's Other Love Story Matters, Too. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/maastricht-diplomat/message

In today's episode Brendan and Charelle wrestle with the concept of strategic autonomy, also referred to as strategic sovereignty and possibly other names. You might have seen the term circulating online in light of Macron's recent visit to China. But what does it actually mean to be strategically autonomous? Join them as they talk to Dr. Sophie Vanhoonacker, an expert in European external relations, to unpack this concept.  Secondary  Sources: President Macron's Sorbonne speech, 2017 - in Text and Video Format. Trade policy review of the European Commission, 2021 Understanding Europe: Forged in Crisis Understanding Europe: Digital Sovereignty --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/maastricht-diplomat/message

What do a crystal piano owned by Miranda Kerr, a painting by Picasso and the Wolf of Wall Street have in common? They were all paid with money from Malaysian citizens. Of course, without them knowing. In this final episode of her series “Crooktocracy”, Chiara tells us the incredible and almost unbelievable story of the 1 Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), a state fund created by then Prime Minister Najib Razak. The scandal ended up squandering 4.5 billion dollars, an enormous amount of debt that will rest on Malaysians for the next 20 years. How did this happen? And who is to blame? Link to all mentioned sources: https://taplink.cc/crooktocracy1mdb --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/maastricht-diplomat/message

Starting from Canne's Grand Prix winner and Oscar-nominated “Close” (2022, Lukas Dhont), Hadrian and Leen will explore the general themes emerging from Dhont's sophomore feature, tying into the general themes of today's social climate. This film stole viewers' hearts because it centers on children, children facing problems all too mature for them. Sadly, this reflects our current reality today, one where politicians are using these young minds as scapegoats for their anti-LGBTQ legislation all over the world. This new form of discrimination, along with recent developments in politics, and how the film ties into all of this, will be the center of this episode's discussion. Link to sources: https://linktr.ee/mdpodcast --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/maastricht-diplomat/message

Last week, the French government passed a very controversial pensions reform, against the opinion of 70% of the French people and trade unions. They did so using article 49.3 of the Constitution, allowing them to skip a vote in Parliament. The French have been protesting against this reform and the way it was forced through, culminating on Thursday 23 March. Jonathan was on the scene in Paris with their friend Thalia and interviewed people from different backgrounds on their thoughts on the reform and the future of the 5th Republic. For a better understanding of French politics, you might be interested in Jonathan's episode from last year, "The Fifth Republic explained: the 2022 French elections". Link to sources: https://linktr.ee/mdfrenchprotest --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/maastricht-diplomat/message

"Europe will be forged in crisis, and will be the sum of the solutions adopted for those crises", these were the words of Jean Monnet. But what is a crisis, and how does Europe act when it is confronted by one? Join Brendan and Charelle as they have a conversation with two CERiM experts, Dr. Esther Versluis and Johan Adriaensen PhD, who will lead them through crisis management 101. Secondary  Sources: Game Over: The Inside Story of the Greek Crisis - by George Papaconstantinou. Alarums and Excursions: Improvising Politics on the European Stage - by Luuk van Middelaar. Regulating Crisis in the EU Course --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/maastricht-diplomat/message

In this second episode, Jonathan takes you on a sonic journey through the life of Lankans in the crisis. Last autumn, they visited their family there and recorded soundbites of how their relatives and people in Lanka are experiencing economic despair, painting a bittersweet picture of a people, albeit pessimistic, showing resilience through their love for music and their sense of humour. The chorus of the song “Obath Mamath” by Jagath Wickramasinghe, sung and played by Jonathan's cousins and brother, translates to this: “You and I, sitting in this world, why are we crying? You and I, instead of thinking of us as two, let's think of us as one Let's make tomorrow's world a healthy one for everyone Let's make tomorrow's world a healthy one for everyone” Link to sources: https://linktr.ee/lkpodcast --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/maastricht-diplomat/message

There are various different forms of government in the world: there's democracy, aristocracy, technocracy…and crooktocracy, the government of crooks. In this 2nd episode of Crooktocracy, we will fly all over the Atlantic with Chiara to look at a Latin American crooktocracy: Brazil. We will discover the groundbreaking impact of Car Wash. It's the story of how a small money laundering investigation, which started from a car wash station in Brasilia, led to the election of Jair Bolsonaro in 2018, Lula's reelection in 2022, and the assault on the Brazilian Congress in 2023. Car Wash raises many questions: does the noble intention of fighting corruption justify a dubious method of investigation? Is corruption acceptable if it aids in the adoption of policies that reduce poverty, benefit society as a whole, and would otherwise never have seen the light of day? Credits: Host: Chiara Wehlte Editor: Jonathan Wijararatne & Chiara Wehlte Audio Technician: Charelle Abdallah Link to all relevant sources: https://linktr.ee/crooktocracycarwash --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/maastricht-diplomat/message

In this episode Brendan and Charelle look at the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine one year after it started. Joined by Anna Herranz-Surrallés and Giselle Bosse, both Associate Professors at Maastricht University, they explore how the conflict has affected Ukraine and the EU. They also look at how the relationship between EU-Ukraine and EU-Russia have evolved since the beginning of the conflict, as well as the consequences of the EU's reaction, and the impact it had on the way the EU operates as a global actor. Secondary Sources: Dr. Giselle's recommendations: Putin vs The West (BBC Docu-series) Grey Bees, by Andrey Kurkov Giselle Bosse (2022) Values, rights, and changing interests: The EU's response to the war against Ukraine and the responsibility to protect Europeans. Contemporary Security Policy, 43:3, 531-546. Dr. Anna's recommendations: The Orphanage: A Novel by Serhiy Zhadan The Death of a Soldier Told by His Sister by Olesya Khromeychuk Rebuilding Ukraine: Principles and Policies, edited by Yuriy Gorodnichenko Ilona Sologoub Beatrice Weder di Mauro --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/maastricht-diplomat/message

New Projections for the global battery electric vehicle market go from 47 billion US Dollar in 2020 to 212 billion in 2030. The demand for these batteries will remain high. But the challenging aspect of the waste is not yet properly mentioned in a lot of discussions. Partly because the literature is very thin and there is not much data yet. Still this issue will become increasingly challenging especially in emerging nations which have a lot of this waste to manage. Matt and his Team tried to dig a little deeper into this issue and found angles to tackle this problem of waste management in Kenya. In this podcast we will have a discussion about what problem they face and what could be implemented to manage it properly. Hosts and producers: Dorian Müller Guest speaker: Matt van der Nest Editing: Dorian Müller Audio Technician: Charelle Abdallah --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/maastricht-diplomat/message

On this 4th of February 2023, Sri Lanka is celebrating 75 years of independence from the British Empire. But while the Sri Lankan government is spending millions of rupees on a military show, the island-nation is experiencing its worst economic crisis in history. This new series of podcasts present several perspectives on how Lankans are living through these uncertain times. In this first episode, join Simon as he discusses the roots of the crisis and Sri Lanka's attempts at getting support from the IMF with Dr. Thamil Ananthavinayagan from the University of Nottingham, and Jonathan as they speak with Saritha Irugalbandara on the mutual aid structure she launched to support people in need in Sri Lanka. Support the Lankan people here: https://linktr.ee/lankamaasi  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/maastricht-diplomat/message

In this episode Brendan and Charelle take a look at the changing global trade order, while also trying to understand what the World Trade Organisation (WTO) actually is. To this end, they are joined by Clara Weinhardt, Assistant Professor of International Relations at FASoS. Whose recent research explores this topic, specifically the strategies that Brazil, India, and China have adopted when responding to the pressure to change their trade privileges in the WTO by developed countries. If you want to learn more, have a listen! Secondary Sources: - Till Schöfer and Clara Weinhardt research on the divergent strategies of Brazil, India and China at the WTO - Faces of Trade Diplomacy --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/maastricht-diplomat/message

There are various different forms of government in the world: there's democracy. aristocracy, technocracy…and crooktocracy, the government of crooks. In Crooktocracy, her first series with the MD, Chiara tells us the stories of the biggest corruption scandals in the world and of how shedding a light on these crooktocracies, changed these countries, their image and their future forever. Join Chiara in her first episode about the biggest scandal in Italian history, Clean Hands. What was it exactly? Why was it so groundbreaking for Italians? And what did Silvio Berlusconi have to do with it? Find all sources here: https://bit.ly/m/crooktocracy-cleanhands --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/maastricht-diplomat/message

In this episode Leen explores the hype behind analogue and vintage products like paperback books, vinyls and analogue cameras. Why do we choose these options that contradict the rapid development of technology? And what implications does this have on the future of creative industries? Sources mentioned: - Rise in LP sales. - Why Vinyl Records and Other 'Old' Technologies Die Hard. - Demand For Vintage Items. - Screen Time during COVID-19. - The 40-year Itch. - 1st Wave of Digital Nostalgia. - --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/maastricht-diplomat/message

Digital Sovereignty is an elusive term which can be defined in various ways. In this episode, Brendan and Charelle sat down with Dr. Mariëlle Wijermars, an expert in the field, to discuss the term Digital Sovereignty and the wider ramifications the concept has on the world. Link to sources: Interview with EVP Commissioner Margrethe Vestager Secondary sources: Laura DeNardis (2014) The global war for internet governance Nothias, T. (2020). Access granted: Facebook's free basics in Africa. Media, Culture & Society, 42(3), 329-348. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/maastricht-diplomat/message

A major aspect of the climate transition in the EU has been the idea of a ‘Just Transition', but this leaves us questioning what that actually means. In this episode, Brendan and Charelle explore what the Just Transition means and how it is applied internally in the EU. With the help of CERiM experts Francesca Colli and Toon van Overbeke, they also explore the role of the Just Transition philosophy in the EU's policy, identifying COP27 as a major moment where the EU attempts to commit to transitional justice in shouldering the burden of dealing with the damages of climate change. Is the EU ambitious enough in these regards, or does it fail in communicating said ambition? Secondary sources as suggested by Francesca and Toon: - The Good Ancestor: How to Think Long-Term in a Short-Term World (Roman Krznaric) - Carbon Captured: How business and labour control climate politics (Matto Mildenberger) Sources mentioned throughout the episode: - Fit for 55 - European Green Deal - Building Capacities and Strategies of Trade Union Involvement in Shaping A Just Transition Towards a Sustainable and Decarbonised Industry - The EU's Just Transition: three challenges and how to overcome them - Council conclusions with EU negotiating strategy --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/maastricht-diplomat/message

Understanding Europe is a new podcast series produced by the Maastricht Diplomat, in collaboration with CERiM. Throughout the 10 episodes, Charelle and Brendan will interview experts from CERiM to dig deeper into the various research done on the EU, but also on Europe at large. The monthly podcast series aims to contextualize and unpack local dynamics within EU member states but also international dynamics between EU and its neighboring regions. In this pilot episode, All About CERiM, Brendan and Charelle interview the Co-director Dr. Giselle Bosse, Associate Professor in EU external relations at FASoS, to talk about the who, the how, the what, and the why of CERiM. Sources mentioned in the episode: 1- Youtube link to the Euro-Arab Conversation Lecture Series. 2- To register for the JM Lecture with EVP Margrether Vestager on the 8th of November, click here. 3- CERiM website 4- CERiM Instagram --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/maastricht-diplomat/message

In the third and final episode of Roo & Simon's series Abducted Art & Cultural Theft, they are joined by Neil Curtis the Head of Museums and Special Collections at the University of Aberdeen. Neil discusses his expertise and experience of the process to repatriate a Benin Bronzes back to its ancestral home in the Benin City, located in present day Nigeria as well as the importance of learning from our shared history and making connections. Neil also shares his thoughts on the treatment of human remains in museums and the controversial argument for museums to represent encyclopaedias of the world. Subscribe to our Youtube Channel for more MD related content Follow us on instagram @thediplomatunsa --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/maastricht-diplomat/message

In this episode, Victoria and Jane discuss Hollywoods perpetuation of the fear mongering propaganda against an already marginalised group… SHARKS. Together they outline current laws on the protection of marine biodiversity while simultaneously arguing over Victoria's rational fears of alligators. Subscribe to our Youtube Channel Follow us on Instagram @thediplomatunsa --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/maastricht-diplomat/message

Building on the themes of power and authority from previous episodes, Victoria and Lucrezia present the third episode in their series The Red Line. Together they discuss the potential factors which lead to persistent cases of sexual abuse within the Catholic Church, from hierarchy and access to the debate regarding the doctrine of strict clerical celibacy. Check out Lucrezia's article on the blue & yellow blog of the ECA Subscribe to our Youtube Channel for more MD related content Follow us on Instagram @thediplomatunsa --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/maastricht-diplomat/message

In the second episode of Roo & Simon's series Abducted Art & Cultural Theft, they are joined by police expert Leonie Bouwknegt to discuss her efforts to tackle art organised crime here in Limburg, as well as how these lucrative pieces of art are used as pawns in the illegal drug trade. Leonie discusses her operations to police the illicit trading of stolen cultural artefacts at TEFAF, the international art fair that happens here in Maastricht annually in June. Subscribe to our Youtube Channel for more MD related content Follow us on instagram @thediplomatunsa --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/maastricht-diplomat/message

In this episode, Jonathan reports live from France where the people are choosing a new President and new Members of Parliament. They are joined by Professor Bruno de Witte to give their take on how the French constitution works and discuss how the 2022 elections can reshape French politics. After five years of centrist rule, France is at a turning point: the far-right is stronger than ever, and the left is finally showing signs of unity. Make sure to subscribe to our Youtube Channel for more MD related content. Follow us on Instagram: @thediplomatunsa --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/maastricht-diplomat/message

In this special episode, guest hosts Alexander Safi and Ginevra Figini from the UNSA's Development Committee are joined by Dragomir Radoytsev, a policy officer at an EU energy organisation, to shed light on the UN's Sustainable Development Goal 7: affordable and clean energy. Together they discuss what the EU is currently doing to make the EU carbon neutral through the Green Deal, the role of energy in this transition, and what we can do as individuals to contribute to a cleaner future. Make sure to subscribe to our Youtube Channel for more MD related content. Our Instagram: @thediplomatunsa Follow the Development Committee on Instagram: @unsa.development --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/maastricht-diplomat/message

This is the second episode in Victoria & Lucrezia's series The Red Line. Together they discuss the institutional role of the Church from the international and European Union perspective. A distinction is made between the temporal state power exercised by the Vatican City and the spiritual sphere of influence enjoyed by the Holy See. This discussion forms part of a larger conversation revolving around the various sources of the Church's power and authority in order to later analyse the way such power and authority can be wielded in an abusive manner, ultimately leading to a staggering number of sexual abuse cases involving members of the Catholic clergy. Make sure to subscribe to our Youtube Channel for more MD related content. Check out our instagram: @thediplomatunsa --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/maastricht-diplomat/message

In this special episode Paula is joined by Professor Elissaveta Radulova, an Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science at Maastricht University, and Emili Stefanova, Head of Marketing at the UNSA, to discuss how and why their home country Bulgaria is currently experiencing a transformation process. By exploring their first-hand experiences, political insights and explanations, this podcast aims to make people outside of Bulgaria aware of the tremendous changes that have been happening in Bulgarian politics and society for more than two years now. Our instagram: @thediplomatunsa Subscribe to our Youtube Channel for more MD related content. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/maastricht-diplomat/message

In this episode Roo and Simon launch their new series “Abducted Art & Cultural Theft” where they will be interviewing experts to discuss the modern fight for the restitution of cultural artefacts and the illicit trafficking of looted objects. In their first episode they will be joined by Professor Donna Yates, an Associate Professor in the Department of Criminal Law and Criminology at Maastricht University to talk about her research on the global trade of trafficking culture. Together they unpack how these historical and cultural artefacts are effecting a web of organised crime that connects the theft at heritage sites to the elite market of stolen global art. Check out Donna's blog Subscribe to our Youtube channel Our instagram: @thediplomatunsa --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/maastricht-diplomat/message

In this episode Victoria and Lucrezia launch their new series “The Red Line,” a special project done in collaboration with the blue & yellow blog of the European Career Association (ECA). This series aims to better understand the red line of power and authority that runs beneath and perpetuates instances of abuse within the institution of the Catholic Church. In their first episode Victoria & Lucrezia dive into the temporal influence that the Church maintains through a system of hierarchical power over the congregation, despite the process of secularization occurring throughout the past centuries. Through discussion over the ways in which such power and authority can be wielded, they hope to come to a better understanding of how it can be abused. Our instagram: @thediplomatunsa Subscribe to our Youtube channel Check out Lucrezia's article in the blue & yellow --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/maastricht-diplomat/message

This is the third installment of Gloria and Charelle's series Don't Forget About Us. In this episode Gloria and Julia have a discussion with a couple of representatives from Collective Aid Calais in order to shed a light on the situation of people on the move in Calais. They discuss their reality enduring constant hardship and violation of their human rights. More on Collective Aid Calais: https://www.collectiveaidngo.org Instagram: @collectiveaidorg Volunteering: calaisvolunteers@collectiveaidngo.org Our Instagram: @TheDiplomatUNSA --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/maastricht-diplomat/message

This episode is the second in the series called Don't Forget About Us by Gloria and Charelle. Together with a representative from the NGO This is Lebanon, they shed a light on the plight of foreign domestic workers in Lebanon and the Arab world at large. Focusing on the structure of the Kafala system and how the Covid-19 crisis, Lebanon's economic woes, and the recent explosion of the Beirut harbour have worsened an already dire situation. Our Instagram is @thediplomatunsa More information on This is Lebanon can be found: https://thisislebanon.news/ Instagram: @thisislebanon961 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/maastricht-diplomat/message

In this episode Gloria and Charelle launch their new series called "don't forget about us", in their first episode they focus on the ongoing health crisis in Venezuela. To gain a deeper understanding they interview Cinzia De Santis the CEO and founder of Healing Venezuela, an NGO which aims to help Venezuelans through its various programs. Our Instagram: thediplomatunsa Healing Venezuela: www.healingvenezuela.org Instagram: healingvenezuela --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/maastricht-diplomat/message

In this live episode, the Editor in chief of the Maastricht Diplomat and the student politics correspondent join us to talk about the student politics debate hosted a couple of days prior. The elections start today 17th of May and end on the 20th. Go vote! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/maastricht-diplomat/message

Gender-based violence and femicide in Turkey have seen a massive rise over the last few years. The government's much-contested decision to leave the Istanbul Convention on the 20th of March 2021 has left the women of Turkey at the most vulnerable they have been in decades. Learn more about the mechanics at play behind this decision as well as the socio-cultural reasons behind the rise in violence against women in Turkey. @elajadeunal tells us all about it in this new article and today we wish to discuss her article at greater length. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/maastricht-diplomat/message

In this episode, the team jumps into the first of three episodes, where they discuss the realities of abortion and reproductive rights. This episode focuses on the legal and historical facts that have shaped abortion rights across Europe. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/maastricht-diplomat/message

Ahmad Rifai joins us today for our very first live recording @withloveradio. Ahmad is Syrian a graduate of FASoS, now in Leiden, and is a passionate storyteller. In this episode, he dissects the Arab Spring and brings the perspective of the everyday Arab caught up in a maelstrom of geopolitical turmoil. Songs: Ya Tair by Fairuz Arrabi al arabe by Mariem Hassan Mawtini by Aia Younan --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/maastricht-diplomat/message

This is the first collaborative episode with people outside the podcast team! Not only this but we are joined by two guests, who are representatives of different initiatives in the realm of fair fashion. Together with them and a member of the UNSA external affairs committee, we discuss what fair fashion is and what agency we and individuals have in working towards a world where fair fashion is the norm. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/maastricht-diplomat/message

The team take on the complex topic of social justice and discusses contemporary feminism. Drawing on the controversial legal debacle between Amber Heard and Johnny Depp, the team speaks to its affects on modern feminism. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/maastricht-diplomat/message

In this s special short episode, the team goes to the internet and seeks out funny dating stories from the past year. We discuss them and laugh about the ridiculous nonsense that happens to real people. While also, getting sidetracked and talking nonsense ourselves. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/maastricht-diplomat/message