Podcasts about Estonian

Located on the border with Russia, the Estonian city of Narva could be Russian President Vladimir Putin's ideal spot if he were to plan an invasion. Only a bridge separates the two countries. The population is divided: while some members of the town's Russian-speaking community are nostalgic for their Soviet-era past, others fear Moscow's war ambitions. In view of a potential attack, Estonian civilians are undergoing military training and preparing for all possible outcomes. Our France 2 colleagues report, with FRANCE 24's Lauren Bain.

April 2nd 2025 Yuriy reveals the grim reality of new Russian tactics involving high-altitude kamikaze drones and shares a heartwarming story about receiving a donated van from an Estonian supporter. This vehicle is set to become a crucial asset for his media and veteran rehabilitation unit amidst the ongoing conflict. You can email Yuriy, ask him questions or simply send him a message of support: fightingtherussianbeast@gmail.com    You can help Yuriy and his family by donating to his GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-yuriys-family   Yuriy's Podbean Patron sign-up to give once or regularly: https://patron.podbean.com/yuriy   Buy Yuriy a coffee here: https://bmc.link/yuriymat  Subscribe to his substack: https://yuriymatsarsky.substack.com/  ----more---- TRANSCRIPT: (Apple Podcasts & Podbean app users can enjoy accurate closed captions)      It is April 2nd.  Sorry for not recording anything for so long I was terribly exhausted and deeply overwhelmed by a flood of bad news- starting with Neil Young canceling his concert in Ukraine and ending with endless Russian shelling of our cities. They are using a new tactic now their kamikaze drones have started flying at very high altitudes before diving onto targets. This helps them evade air defense systems though it significantly reduces the accuracy. Not that they care about accuracy, they just hit residential areas, killing random people.  You know, when White House officials in Washington recently spoke about Putin supposedly being responsible and focused on peace in Kyiv, first responders, were pulling the bodies of a 5-year-old girl and her father from the rubble. That that's Russian's idea of peace. And it's like this almost every day. Endless terror. The weather is not helping either -cold and almost constant rain.  But there is also good news. I even say great news.  I now have a vehicle, a whole van that sits, eight people. It's not new, of course, it's 20 years old. But I got it for free. It was simply donated to me by an ordinary Estonian guy who decided to help the Ukrainian army. He started looking for someone who could use his van the most and found our unit, which works on media and veteran rehabilitation. I went to Lviv to pick it up and now, the van is with me. My comrades decided it would be best used for filming videos and recording podcasts- which is exactly what I do. I even dream of converting it into a mobile studio someday, but what will take time.  I keep saying this: our country would not have survived without outside help. My family would have likely lost several members, if not for foreigners who stepped in to help me. I tried to repay that kindness by making this podcast telling you what's really happening here and what we feel. And let's be honest, things are tough. Russians are killing people every day. The war has not become any less bloody, but we are holding on thanks to people like Kaarel from Estonia -and you. Thank you.

Welcome to a new type of episode of the Pursuit of Scrappiness podcast. A monthly analysis of topics we find relevant to highlight, discuss and share with you to help you become a scrappier and better version of yourself. We will be looking at events and developments in business, politics and technology from a European and particularly Baltic perspective.  On this episode we talk about:Baltic funding newsEnefit Green going privateHow Europe strikes back in space and rocket techHarry Stebbings' new VC initiativeTrade wars & AI wars1/3 Baltics' Biggest Fundraising Announcements  Walk15 secures €5M Series A at a €13M valuation, nearing 1 million users with its activity app.  Change Ventures invests €250K in Latvian energy startup EngyCell, leveraging old Tesla batteries for storage solutions.  Frankenberg Technologies raises €4M for defense tech, including mini-missiles to be tested in Ukraine.Estonian fintech Cino lands €3.5M seed funding for its card-linking payment-splitting app.  Lithuanian startup Commody raises €0.5M pre-seed for NFT-enabled collectible car ownership. Eesti Energia's €1B buyout of Enefit Green shakes up the Baltic stock exchange.2/3 Europe Strikes Back: Tech Scene Highlights  Harry Stebbings' 20VC launches a €10M fund targeting founders under 25, backed by top European tech names.  Revolut's valuation soars to $48B after a Schroder's stake revaluation, a 1000x return from its 2016 crowdfunding.Bolt acquires Danish taxi startup Vigo to enter Denmark's regulated ride-hailing market. Secondaries dominate 2024 exits (71%), offering liquidity to startup stakeholders.  EU set to fine Apple and Meta under the Digital Markets Act for competition and privacy violations.  German startup ISAR Aerospace tests a rocket in Norway, aiming to rival SpaceX with NATO backing.3/3 Global & U.S. Highlights  Alibaba invests $50B in an AI model for devices like iPhones and BMWs, intensifying the global AI race.  U.S. job-switching yields only a 4.8% wage increase vs. 4.6% for stayers, signaling a shift in career strategies.  OpenAI's $40B SoftBank investment hinges on its for-profit transition, challenged by Elon Musk's lawsuit.  XAI acquires X (Twitter) for $33B, integrating AI with social media amid a $80B valuation for XAI.  DOGE claims $130B in savings, dwarfed by a $500B rise in U.S. government spending, raising questions about impact.==If you liked this episode or simply want to support the work we do, buy us a coffee or two, or a hundred, with just a few clicks at: https://buymeacoffee.com/pursuitofscrappinessFind all episodes on >  https://www.pursuitofscrappiness.co/Watch select full-length episodes on our YouTube channel > https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP6ueaLnjS-CQfrMCm2EoTAConnect with us on Linkedin > https://www.linkedin.com/company/pursuit-of-scrappiness/===============Support the show

From 1986-1991, a “Singing Revolution” took place in the Baltic states, leading to their independence from the Soviet Union. This episode of Folk Files looks at the rich musical history that paved the way for the Singing Revolution to occur and provides an introduction to Estonian folk and choral music. (Apologies for any horrible Estonian pronunciation).Host: Olivia HardingSpecial thanks to: Cliff S., Ramona Holmes, and Aaron J. MortonCheck out Basic Folk: https://basicfolk.com/Musical excerpts:ARTIST: Singers at Laulupidu 2019WORK: Mu isamaa on minu armSOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTdOiCa0-4oARTIST: Tuule KannWORK: Estonian Folk Music Instrument: KANNELSOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lqpRd9kU_oARTIST: Timo Lige / Students from HiiumaaWORK: Kiigelaul (A Swinging Song)SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6x5QslTDXW4ARTIST: Written by L. Raudkepp, Composed by J. Aavik WORK: Hoia, jumal EestitSOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6O9D0ZN1kkIARTIST: Singers at Laulupidu 2019WORK: KoiSOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_cCvMuDLTgARTIST: Eteläsuomalaisen Osakunnan LaulajatWORK: Kangakudumise laulSOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izYbVvt-DPoARTIST: Singers at Laulupidu 2014WORK: Mis need ohjad meida hoidvadSOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHuaIz6ZK6sARTIST: Tartu Boys ChoirWORK: Mu isamaa on minu armSOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oX4yvG5ApUARTIST: Tartu Boys ChoirWORK: Veel kaitse Kalev oma lapsiSOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbdpHz4s7-4ARTIST: Ell TaburWORK: Lenda, lenda, lepalindSOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oSswM_7sBYARTIST: Tallinna KammerkoorWORK: Priiuse hommikulSOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ru-picL-OzoARTIST: Tallinna Meestelaulu SeltsWORK: Üks kindel linn ja varjupaikSOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B37doTWWFwkARTIST: Singers at Laulupidu 2019WORK: TuljakSOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2k2lsqm8JLkARTIST: Singers at Öölaulupidu 2008WORK: Ei ole üksi ükski maaSOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3BSN0P8-no

SummaryIn this conversation, the speakers discuss the training volume and experiences of an elite athlete, reflecting on the challenges and successes in their athletic careers. They explore the differences in junior and senior success rates in athletics, particularly in Finland, and the impact of military service on training. The conversation concludes with expectations for upcoming competitions and the hope for medals from both Finnish and Estonian athletes.takeawaysThe speaker trained 50 hours in one week during peak performance.Training volume was around 1000 hours per year, including skiing.Reflections on training with a sibling highlight competitive dynamics.The Finnish athletic system is evolving beyond traditional coaching methods.Military service impacts athletes' training and development.There is a notable gap between junior and senior championship success.The speaker expresses hope for Finnish and Estonian athletes in upcoming competitions.Personal health issues were not caused by high training loads.The importance of structured support for athletes is emphasized.The conversation highlights the significance of training philosophy in sports.

For review:1. US Airstrikes on Houthi Rebels Continue. The Houthis described American airstrikes targeting sites around the city of Saada, a Houthi stronghold, the Red Sea port city of Hodeida, and Marib province, home to oil and gas fields still under the control of allies to Yemen's exiled central government.2. IDF strikes over 100 white pickup trucks used by Hamas during the 07 October attack as well as propaganda ceremonies for the release of Israeli Hostages.3.  Iran Open to "Indirect Talks" with US.  “The way is open for indirect negotiations,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said, dismissing the prospect of direct talks “until there is a change in the other side's approach toward the Islamic republic.”4. From Riyadh: Monday's talks between the US and Russia lasted 12 hours. Russian news agencies said a joint statement would be released on Tuesday. Ukrainian and US delegations will meet on Tuesday for talks to follow Russia-US negotiations.5. Estonia to provide Ukraine with $108.4 million in assistance. The assistance will incorporate unmanned aerial and ground systems, watercraft, medical solutions, and related supply sources from Estonian industry partners. Tallinn has not revealed the timeline of the potential donation, quantities, or other specifics due to security reasons.6. Switzerland joins the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) Patriot Support Partnership (PATRIOT SP). The initiative aims to enhance security and improve the availability of spare parts for the country's Patriot ground-based air defense systems. Bern emphasized that the initiative aligns with its neutrality policy, with the option to withdraw from the partnership if any member country becomes involved in an international armed conflict. 7. Australia Receives First Delivery of 142 HIMARS Launchers. The first two of a planned 42 HIMARS launcher vehicles had already arrived from the US, the government said in a statement, describing the system as a “game changer” that would bolster security in Australia and the region.8. US Senate Confirms John Phelan as SECNAV.  

"The otherworldly voices and the haunting church bells drew me in…. I wished to be there, standing in the square on a cold Baltic night like a scene in a movie. Relying only on my imagination, as I have never visited the Baltic region, I was fascinated by these slightly atonal Estonian bells. How many times have they rung out across this square? How many folks have lived amongst them over the centuries? They clearly called out to me as they have done to many folks throughout the centuries.  "They became the initial inspiration for the piece. I matched the tone of the bells with a response on an old and very out-of-tune Persian Santoor. The recording seemed out of time and place and multitheistic, so i then added an organ drone to it. It felt like the history of the city came to life.  "As I also have ancestors who came from the region I am naturally quite curious about its culture and history. I hope that the sound of these bells and the resulting composition accessed some of the energy of the region and that it can in turn inspire others to explore Tallinn, Estonia and the Baltic region at large." Raekoja Square, Tallinn reimagined by Penelope Trappes ——————— This sound is part of the Sonic Heritage project, exploring the sounds of the world's most famous sights. Find out more and explore the whole project: https://www.citiesandmemory.com/heritage

"Samples of the original field recording were layered and looped using the wonderful ciat lonbarde, cocoquantus. A wooden, modular, duel 8 bit looper and multi oscillator synth. Voices, bells and passages of room ambiance all turned into drone symphonies, pushed pulled and layered. 3 brief snippets of open tuned guitar, re sampled and slowed fitting perfectly, creating the central drones and sonic responses to the human voice and glorious reverb heavy bell toll.  "I wanted to invoke the passage of time, fragility of sound and ritualistic elements of what we may now class as mundane. The sound of the bell from the street, the snatched moment of reverb drenched choir as we pass the door of the church (or press a key on our samplers). "The passage of time, how we use these sonically rich sites, how we connect and think about them as they age with us are fascinating. As are the layers of experience and the human response we stand as part of. The shared experience, conscious and unconscious reactions that occur as we stand as one with sonic heritage in the present, our shared past and the future." Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Tallinn reimagined by Andy Billington. ——————— This sound is part of the Sonic Heritage project, exploring the sounds of the world's most famous sights. Find out more and explore the whole project: https://www.citiesandmemory.com/heritage

In this episode, RBI director John Torpey speaks with Estonian parliamentarian and defense expert Kalev Stoicescu about the recent tensions between the United States and Ukraine following a contentious meeting between Presidents Trump and Zelensky. Stoicescu critiques Trump's transactional diplomacy, emphasizing the critical role of alliances such as NATO in maintaining international peace and stability. He stresses Europe's need to strengthen its defense capabilities independently, warning that Europe's security depends on sustained and unified support for Ukraine. Stoicescu proposes a structured peace agreement, underscoring the necessity of robust international guarantees for Ukraine's security. The conversation further explores Europe's shifting perspectives on military engagement in response to ongoing Russian aggression. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

In this episode, RBI director John Torpey speaks with Estonian parliamentarian and defense expert Kalev Stoicescu about the recent tensions between the United States and Ukraine following a contentious meeting between Presidents Trump and Zelensky. Stoicescu critiques Trump's transactional diplomacy, emphasizing the critical role of alliances such as NATO in maintaining international peace and stability. He stresses Europe's need to strengthen its defense capabilities independently, warning that Europe's security depends on sustained and unified support for Ukraine. Stoicescu proposes a structured peace agreement, underscoring the necessity of robust international guarantees for Ukraine's security. The conversation further explores Europe's shifting perspectives on military engagement in response to ongoing Russian aggression. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/world-affairs

In this episode, RBI director John Torpey speaks with Estonian parliamentarian and defense expert Kalev Stoicescu about the recent tensions between the United States and Ukraine following a contentious meeting between Presidents Trump and Zelensky. Stoicescu critiques Trump's transactional diplomacy, emphasizing the critical role of alliances such as NATO in maintaining international peace and stability. He stresses Europe's need to strengthen its defense capabilities independently, warning that Europe's security depends on sustained and unified support for Ukraine. Stoicescu proposes a structured peace agreement, underscoring the necessity of robust international guarantees for Ukraine's security. The conversation further explores Europe's shifting perspectives on military engagement in response to ongoing Russian aggression. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/eastern-european-studies

In this episode, RBI director John Torpey speaks with Estonian parliamentarian and defense expert Kalev Stoicescu about the recent tensions between the United States and Ukraine following a contentious meeting between Presidents Trump and Zelensky. Stoicescu critiques Trump's transactional diplomacy, emphasizing the critical role of alliances such as NATO in maintaining international peace and stability. He stresses Europe's need to strengthen its defense capabilities independently, warning that Europe's security depends on sustained and unified support for Ukraine. Stoicescu proposes a structured peace agreement, underscoring the necessity of robust international guarantees for Ukraine's security. The conversation further explores Europe's shifting perspectives on military engagement in response to ongoing Russian aggression. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, RBI director John Torpey speaks with Estonian parliamentarian and defense expert Kalev Stoicescu about the recent tensions between the United States and Ukraine following a contentious meeting between Presidents Trump and Zelensky. Stoicescu critiques Trump's transactional diplomacy, emphasizing the critical role of alliances such as NATO in maintaining international peace and stability. He stresses Europe's need to strengthen its defense capabilities independently, warning that Europe's security depends on sustained and unified support for Ukraine. Stoicescu proposes a structured peace agreement, underscoring the necessity of robust international guarantees for Ukraine's security. The conversation further explores Europe's shifting perspectives on military engagement in response to ongoing Russian aggression. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, RBI director John Torpey speaks with Estonian parliamentarian and defense expert Kalev Stoicescu about the recent tensions between the United States and Ukraine following a contentious meeting between Presidents Trump and Zelensky. Stoicescu critiques Trump's transactional diplomacy, emphasizing the critical role of alliances such as NATO in maintaining international peace and stability. He stresses Europe's need to strengthen its defense capabilities independently, warning that Europe's security depends on sustained and unified support for Ukraine. Stoicescu proposes a structured peace agreement, underscoring the necessity of robust international guarantees for Ukraine's security. The conversation further explores Europe's shifting perspectives on military engagement in response to ongoing Russian aggression. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Reece & Nate sit down with Levadia Tallinn Community ManagerWe discuss his early days a player, his role with Levadia, how Estonian football can improve, aspirations for the future and our QFQ

Michael Allen speaks with Arnold Sinisalu, former chief of Estonia's Internal Security Service, about Estonia's frontline role in countering Russian espionage and subversion. Arnold describes how Estonia tracks and disrupts Russian intelligence operations, from spy arrests to cyber defense. He also discusses Russia's evolving sabotage tactics across Europe and the ongoing battle against disinformation. 

We've all heard of telecommuting but how about teledriving? It is brand new, revolutionary technology that is coming to a road near you thanks to the Estonian company called Elmo. This episode I speak with founder and CEO of Elmo Enn Laansoo Jr from the floor of the Mobile World Conference taking place in Barcelona, Spain. All that and more on the Driving You Crazy Podcast.    Contact: https://www.denver7.com/traffic/driving-you-crazy 303-832-0217 or DrivingYouCrazyPodcast@Gmail.com Jayson: twitter.com/Denver7Traffic or www.facebook.com/JaysonLuberTrafficGuy  WhatsApp: https://wa.me/17204028248 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/denver7traffic   Elmo Remote: https://www.elmoremote.com/   Production Notes: Open music: jazzyfrenchy by Bensound Close music: Latché Swing by Hungaria

As the European Union's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas is the bloc's top diplomat. So when EU leaders gathered in Brussels this week to thrash out a new defence plan for Ukraine, Kallas was in the thick of things. Before taking up the EU role she was Prime Minister of Estonia, the nation's first female leader. She was born in 1977 in the Estonian capital Tallinn, then part of the Soviet Union, into a family bound up with her country's centuries-old struggle for independence. A Russia hawk and fierce critic of Putin, she is already on the Kremlin's wanted list. Mark Coles has been talking with her friends and political allies to understand how Kaja Kallas came to be called "Europe's Iron Lady". Production TeamProducers: Viv Jones, Chloe Scannapieco, Keiligh Baker, Hugh Sheehan Editor: Ben Mundy Sound: Neil Churchill Production Co-ordinators: Katie Morrison

Send us a textWas 1950s Dublin really a place of murder and intrigue? On today's show we travel to the Trinity Centre for Literary and Cultural Translation  in Dublin's Fenian Street to talk to novelist John Banville about his latest novel, The Drowned, the fourth in a series featuring Detective Inspector St John Strafford and the pathologist Quirke familiar to many from the Benjamin Black novels. And we talk to Estonian poet Doris Kareva who visited the Centre recently about her own poetry, translation, and Estonia. Brew up a big pot of coffee and join us for a lively show!This episode is supported by a Project Award from the Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaíon.Intro/outro music: Colm Mac Con Iomaire, ‘Thou Shalt Not Carry' from The Hare's Corner, 2008, with thanks to Colm for permission to use it. Logo designed by Freya Sirr.Reviews of The Drowned'Cold, compelling and seamlessly plotted, The Drowned also offers a fine portrait of that familiar and never likeable figure in Banville's fictions: the supercilious villain who has lost his moral compass.' ― Financial Times'A beautifully written and intriguing slowburn of a book, in which the various quandaries in the main characters' private lives are as absorbing as the central mystery'. ― Guardian'Brilliant . . . You need not have read the earlier novels to follow this one, but it will be a better read if you do . . . while various loose ends are left tantalisingly in the air, making it clear that a sequel will follow. It can't come too soon for this devoted fan. '― Irish Examiner'Richly atmospheric . . . It's a Dublin where you can smell the pubs, feel the drizzle, and taste the Bewley's coffee. [...]At the centre of it all is the strained relationship between Quirke and Strafford, a couple at odds who are right up there with Banville's greatest achievements.' ― Irish Independent'Tight-lipped humour thrums through the latest in the Booker winner's Strafford and Quirke crime series . . . The Drowned stands alone, too, suspenseful on its own terms . . . while it's ultimately evil, not good, that gives The Drowned its crackling denouement, the novel takes care to part on a more cheerful note - even if the logic of the series demands that Quirke can hardly be content for too long.' ― ObserverThe Drowned delivers an ultimately satisfying and immersive mystery in beautifully wrought prose. ― Irish Independent Books in BriefBravo! ― The TimesDoris Kareva is one of Estonia's leading poets. She was born in Tallinn in 1958, daughter of the composer Hillar Kareva, and published her first poems at the age of 14. In 1977 she entered the University of Tartu as an already acknowledged young poet. Due to her dissident connections she was expelled but graduated as a distance student in Romance and Germanic philology. She has worked for the cultural weekly Sirp (Sickle) and as the Secretary-General of the Estonian National Commission for UNESCO from 1992 to 2008, and is currently an editor for the literary journal Looming (Creation).Support the show

After Romania, one night in Rome.By FinalStand. Listen to the Podcast at Explicit Novels.When our ancestor committed the first murder, was it rage, or fear that drove them to the deed?(Evening near the Metropole, Roma, Italia)"I think you've done well," Riki congratulated me as she terminated her phone call. Word had come down that her replacement was on the way. Our profile had been updated back at State and they clearly wanted to bring in the 'real professionals'. There also had been a miscommunication. I was far too stressed to be reasonable now.Some undeserving smuck was about to be at the receiving end of my wrath for no better reason than I was at my limit of accepting any further alterations to my life. In hindsight, I was being totally irrational. At that moment in time, I didn't care whose day I was ruining. Sometimes I can be a jerk and an idiot at the same time.The US State Department apparently thought I couldn't dictate who was, or wasn't, a member of 'Unit L', we now had our own designation within Javiera's expanding task-force. The government had a random name generator for this shit and we got the letter 'L'. Maybe that device didn't think we were going to last long enough to matter. Anyway, I took the phone and hit redial. Riki gave me an 'I'm puzzled' look."Who am I talking to?" I inquired."Ms, who are you?" he demanded, since my caller ID said Riki and, unless I used my high, squeaky voice, I obviously sounded like a guy."I'm Cáel Nyilas. Who is this?" I replied."I'm Bill A. Miller, Director of the U.S. Diplomatic Security Service. What seems to be the problem, Mr. Nyilas?" He was rather uptight about the call-back."Since we are working together, why don't you call me Cáel?" I politely requested. "I'll call you Willy.""My name is Bill, but you can call me Director Miller," he corrected me. "The reason for your call is?""It is Willy, or Dick; your choice," I countered. "I don't call my boss 'Director' and I worship the ground she walks on. You are not even in her league. Also, I've had bad experiences with guys named Bill which are too painful to explain right now."That was true. One was friend taking a shower and leaving me alone with his mother. The other was early on in my career when I confused a girl named Bonnie with her real name 'Bill'. I was my own personal 'The Crying Game'. I didn't handle that episode well."Besides, I didn't call to discuss name-calling. I want to know how many agents work for you.""What does that have to do with anything?" he grumbled."You are quick with the questions while painfully bereft of answers," I snorted. "Don't make me Google this too.""Over two thousand," he stopped being a total ass. "Is there anything else I can tell you that Miss Martin should have been able to tell you?" Ooops, Back to being an ass."Riki's being physically restrained from taking her phone back by some of my educationally-challenged, illegal alien, unskilled labor force of questionable loyalty," I outrageously lied. It was an odious habit of mine that I'd cultivated vigorously over the past few weeks. "Two thousand humans, thanks. Is Riki's replacement a guy, or a girl? Wait, who cares? Just send their picture and I'll let you know where to send their replacement.""Are you threatening my people?" he simmered."No. That would make me an uncooperative and nefarious nuisance," I evaded. "Of course, when a person sticks their hand into a functioning garbage disposal, you don't blame the device. You blame the moron who stuck their hand in." From the perspective of our relationship, I was the garbage disposal."That definitely sounds like a threat," he responded. He was going to stick his hand in anyway."Your inability to comprehend the nuances possible with the English language is not why I called and not something I feel I can educate you about, given my current time constraints. Just have one of your insipid flunkies send me the picture. I need to purchase duct tape and an out-of-the-way storage space," I informed him."By the way, in the spirit of legal chicanery, could you tell me how long it will take for Riki Martin's name to come back up in the rotation? Let's figure 36 hours between each hot-shot leaving DC and their eventual inability to return phone calls," I wanted to make sure he knew I was taunting his pompous self. (Me being pompous and unhelpful didn't cross my mind at that moment.)"Let me make myself clear, Mr. Nyilas," he repeated. "Not only can you not dictate terms to the US government, you are not even the team's designated leader." I wasn't? Fuck him. I had tons of useless members of the Alphabet Mafia in front of my name, all loudly proclaiming my numerous accolades.Of everyone on the team, I had the most: NOHIO (Number One House Ishara Official), HCIESI-NDI, (Havenstone Commercial Investments Executive Services' Intern -- New Directive Initiative, I didn't make that one up, I swear), MEH (Magyarorszag es Erdely Hercege) and UHAUL (Unpaid Honcho Assigned to Unit L). I liked that last one, so that was how I was going to sign off on all my reports now."First off, I AM in charge, Willy. Without me, there is no Unit L. I quit, and then what? In case you missed it, I can't be drafted or threatened by you. If you think you can replace me, please do so right now and let me get back to my life -- you know, the thing that actually puts money in my pocket.Besides, I am not refusing to take anyone you see fit to put on MY team. I'm just not going to tell you where I'm going to take them to. I suspect they are adults and can find their way home, eventually, Willy.""Mr. Nyilas, you are an unbelievably fortunate amateur and novice intellectual in a situation that demands experience and professionalism. It is time for you to step back and let the people who know what they are doing take over. Just play your part and we'll make sure you get due credit for following orders and behaving," he unleashed his fair-smelling bile."I am following your orders; your procedures dictate that a member of the State Department will be on this team," I kept my calm. "As one of the people who actually has experience with this situation, I'm letting you know how things work in the field. Every person you send will be misplaced, thus you will have to send someone else. Alerting you to the need to stay on top of your job -- sending someone else -- sounds to me like common sense advice in this circumstance.""That is not going to happen, Nyilas. If something happens, " he got out."Willy, duct tape is plentiful and cheap. Kidnapping -- thus hostage keeping -- is virtually a religion in Southern Italy. And though I am already wired into the local criminal underground, I'm just not going to be able to help you, or them. I'll make up some implausible excuses as the need arises. So now you know the score. The next move is yours," I smiled."The next words out of your mouth had better be 'I'll behave', or the State Department will revoke your passport and have stern words with the Republic of Ireland over your diplomatic status," Willy warned me."I'll behave," I fibbed. Riki snatched the phone out of my hand."Sir -- Director Miller, I want you to know I had nothing to do with Mr. Nyilas' tirade," Riki apologized. "He stole my phone.""I did." and "oww!" I hollered in the background. "She ground her heel into my instep. the fiery little minx." I was propping up her excuse because I owed her for verbally taking a dump on her boss, the ass-heap back in Romania. Riki punched me."Ms. Martin, do we need to reconsider your employment, or can we rely on you to re-organize Unit L before Ms. McCauley (her replacement) arrives?" Willy lectured."Director Miller, ""Call him Big Willy," I whispered to her. "He loves that 'Big Willy' style."This time she hit me in the thigh. My ballistic vest had gotten in the way of her first hit, but she was a quick learner."How can you know a song from 1997, yet not know that Russia invaded Georgia in 2008?" Riki put her hand over the phone and hissed at me."Ah," Pamela teased. "Somebody is a Will Smith fan." Riki looked away.I wasn't sure what to make of the Will Smith -- Ricky Martin combo forming in my mind. Will was one of my manly icons. Hey, he was a stud, scored numerous hotties in his film career and married Jada Pinkett Smith. What's not to love? Growing up, I wanted to be like Will Smith. When/if I ever finished growing up, I wanted to be like George Clooney."Director Miller," Riki tried again. "He's lying. From my personal observations and with supporting personality profiles provided by other members of the task force, I can guarantee you that Mr. Nyilas is unreliable and untrustworthy. Sir, I've watched Romani males hide their wallets and their daughters when he walks by." Okay, wasn't that last bit a lie?"that last bit a lie?es hide their wallets and their daughters when he walks by. provided by other members However, unless she has been cross-trained as a waitress at a gang-affiliated nightclub, a day-care worker for the criminally insane, plus consistently wins at Texas hold 'em, she's going to be out of her element here.""No sir, but Mr. Nyilas likes me, I'm not sure why," she glared at me. I poked her in the boob to help clarify the matter. Riki slapped my hand. Virginia punched me in the shoulder. I decided to poke Virginia in her ballistic-covered breast, hoping she was jealous for the attention. I was wrong. They both hit me again.Had this been sexual harassment, they would have hated this job and despised me. Since this was me being my painfully childish self, well, I was still annoying, but also adorable. Put it this way: if a woman could not only pepper spray a man making cat-calls at her, and was even encouraged to do so, wouldn't that de-stress the situation?"Director Miller, I don't want to stay on this assignment, yet I'd be remiss if I didn't explain some of the numerous pitfalls of working with Unit L. Every one of them is comfortable being a walking arsenal. I'm on my way to have a ballistic vest tailored for me because I'm the only one in the unit without one. I have no doubt that any of them could kill me with their bare hands in less than 5 seconds if they so desired," she explained."You would think they would want a more effective combatant with them," Miller grew icy, suspecting duplicity on Riki's part -- moron. She looked at me over the phone."Sir, I think they like me because I know I don't belong in a firefight. They can count on me to cower behind cover while the bullets are flying. That allows the rest to kill unimpeded by having to keep an eye on me," she said.Pause."One of them did show me how to recognize and start various grenades. She said if I was ever the last one alive, it would give me 'options'."Pause."Ms. Martin, don't cancel your flight back to DC yet. I'm going to give Ms. Castello a call to see what her assessment of the situation is," Willy allowed. "Good-bye.""I can't believe I talked him into making me stay with you people," Riki moaned.Our little caravan was slowing to a stop outside the Metropole Hotel. It was Hana's choice for a Roman meeting location. A restaurant and a hotel room, all in one location. Rachel and Wiesława were ahead of us, checking things out. Hana had informed us that the Illuminati had two people watching her. This was going to be my last bit of time with Rachel for a while.(Meanwhile, Back At The Ranch, )Two new members of House Ishara were on their way to Rome. They'd be joined by two members of the House Guard of Andraste from Britain. The two Isharans were the first members of the House Guard of Ishara in over a thousand years. I didn't expect them to be the martial equals of Rachel, or Charlotte. Not yet. And anyway, that didn't matter. What mattered to me was that they'd volunteered for the task and Buffy felt they were the best we had.Another nomadic pack of House Hylonome Amazons had taken in the traumatized Zola. She had to stay in Romanian until the authorities finished up her part of the investigation. A mixed group from House Živa and Ishara (led by Helena) would handle security for Professor Loma, his family and the Lovasz sisters during their trip to New York.Aliz, his wife, was officially in House Ishara's custody. That was my best play at making sure she avoided summary justice for her 'betrayal' of House Hylonome. The whole group would be handed over to House Epona as soon as the Romanians cleared them for foreign travel. It helped my case that Aliz appreciated my warnings about the danger that both families were in from House Illuyankamunus.The occult nitpicking that allowed me to leverage this maneuver was accomplished by me doing yet another rarely done feat. In the name of Alkonyka Lovasz, House Ishara was sponsoring a new Amazon house. I could testify to the existence and matronage of the Goddess SzélAnya (without her permission), which was one of the stepping stones for acceptance.Vincent was going to stay in Germany for two days, then he was off to his home and daughters in Arlington Virginia, with a long convalescence and a rumored promotion. Mona and Tiger Lily were already on their way to New York as honor guard for Charlotte's body, courtesy of the US Air Force. The Amazons needed the USAF to do it because that was the only way we could get the Romanians to release her body.The Hylonome dead, they would be buried in a private plot after all the autopsies were done. I was absolutely sure the Hylonome would steal the bodies in due time and give them a 'proper' burial. Of the Mycenaeans, Red and one of his buddies still remained at large. Of Ajax's half-brother, Teucer, and the other previously wounded Greek warrior, there was no sign. Kwen and the other POWs remained in Romania to face a laundry list of charges. Her fate was unknown to me.My bodyguard was reduced, yet no one minded. The twin reasoning was that the Black Hand in Italy would provide some protection for me. The other was that I was in the birthplace of the Condottieri. Selena's sources strongly suspected that their HQ was close to Rome itself. I could have had more security by recruiting among the 'natives'.Various sources, some inside Italy, had suggested that the Carabinieri, Italy's military police force, had 'offered' to provide some protection. That was prompted by events surrounding my visits to Budapest  and  Mindszent, Hungary and the 'action' south of Miercurea Ciuc, Romania (no one wanted to call it a battle, even though the fight involved over 1000 Romanian Land Forces troops and half a squadron of the Romanian Air Force).My refusal of the offer caused a 'disruption'. This was a polite way of saying the Italians did not want me to enter their country. I wasn't being a jerk this time. Selena and Aunt Briana were both of the opinion that the Condo's recruited heavily from European military and paramilitary units -- particularly Western Europe. And that not all their 'new hires' had left active duty either.A peculiar circumstance then developed. The pretext for denying me entry was undercut by Hungary and Romania erasing me from their official investigation. I wasn't a threat (despite the burnt landscape and tombstones sprouting up in my wake.) Romania didn't want me to stay, Hungary decided they didn't want me back -- at the moment -- and the US/UK/Ireland were telling the Italians that I was a peach, or whatever implied that in diplomatic speech.There was a compromise finally reached by Riki and shadow forces that I couldn't put names to. I could come to Italy as long as my itinerary was relayed to Carabinieri. We could keep our side arms in holsters and our big guns as long as they weren't on our persons. I could go around without a Carabinieri bodyguard as long as I ignored them floating around me at a discreet distance. A liaison officer would meet me at the hotel to maintain the illusion that I was just a paranoid tourist.Delilah had to touch base with the British again, probably for the same reasons that the US wanted to replace Riki. While both Delilah and Chaz were military and seconded to MI-6, they weren't considered Intelligence Experts by the people at the helm. For that matter, they weren't even sure how Delilah had ended up at my side, killing multi-national terrorists in three separate countries inside of one month. That was very cinematic, not realistic. The idea of governments with shadow operatives 'sanctioning' people was not something that anyone in the 'know' wanted to talk about.Whether it was before the media, a US Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, the United States House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, or a UK Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Select Committee this wasn't what these Department Heads wanted to discuss. Less anyone forget, my Congress and my President didn't, umm, get along.In my favor, I was an orphan from New Hampshire, both my US Senators were women and I'd worked on their campaigns or dated some of their volunteers. It might do me some good to call Dr. Kimberly Geisler at Bolingbrook to see what she could do politically. All that could wait.(Finishing Up)Selena Jovanović had the first of our two dark blue Alfa Romeo 159s, the one that disgorged Rachel and Wiesława. She, Saku and Odette would circle the block in case there was any trouble. Pamela had the driver's seat in my car. No one wanted me or Odette to drive because we didn't understand urban Italian street etiquette. It was Virginia, me and Riki in the backseat with Chaz up front with Pamela.Rachel gave the preliminary order to disembark. That meant the lobby was partially clear -- there were armed types about that seemed to be either Carabinieri, or understandable private security. Rome wasn't as dangerous as Mexico City (kidnap-wise), but events in London, Budapest and the Hungarian and Romanian countryside were putting people on edge. And those with enough money could buy some emotional comfort in the form of armed private contractors.Chaz took his H and K UMP-45, stock folded, out of the bag at his feet and secured it inside the right-side of his jacket. Three spare clips went inside a harness on his left. It was dreamlike as Virginia and I went through a similar, less heavily armed process. For FBI Girl, it was a 'carry-on' with flash-bang, concussion and smoke grenades, plus a few extra clips/mags for everyone.For me, it was a tomahawk, a second Gloc-22 and a bullet for everyone in the hotel, if that became necessary. As the car came to a stop in front of the main doors, I worked my way over Riki so that I would be the second person to exit the car. Chaz would be the first. Virginia got out on her side. Pamela would stay at the wheel -- Riki had an appointment with a tailor to keep.I felt it then, that sympathetic spiritual harmony I was one-third of. I looked up into the 'clear' Rome night. There she was, Bellatrix, the Amazon star in the Constellation of Orion. According to the Egyptian Rite, the Weave of Fate was nearly invisible by day, but by night, you could make out its strands in the motion of the stars. That was not something Alal had ever truly mastered. Still,I had a new phone since the charred remains of my old one were in some evidence locker in Budapest by now. That didn't mean I wanted to use it. I was getting squirrely about people I didn't want finding me, finding me. Chaz was in the lead, I was in the middle and Virginia covered my back. Rachel caught sight of us, gave a quick nod, and then she and Wiesława went for the elevators.Rachel would want to check out Hana's room before I got there -- if I got there. I called Odette."Hey Babe," Odette beamed excitement my way. She was in Rome and we had a guaranteed 24 hour layover. For a girl who thought her great adventure in life was going to end up being a high school trip to Philadelphia to see the Liberty Bell, she was in Nirvana."Hey to you too, Odette. I need a favor," I began."Sure," she chirped."In five minutes from, right now make sure Sakuniyas comes to see me and Hana in the restaurant by herself," I requested. Odette hesitated, taking in her knowledge of 'Cáel-speak'."No problemo Jeffe," she answered. She knew I was in some undefined trouble. We both knew that her body language would convey that unease to Saku, which was what I needed. See, I had a plan. I tapped Chaz, slowing him and thus allowing Virginia to bunch up with us."Do either one of you remember the movie 

Monocle Radio highlights this week include a look at elections in Germany, the best of Estonian pop and an interview with the costume designer of Oscar-nominated film ‘Conclave’. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fernando Augusto Pacheco dances the day away while listening to the Estonian music charts, including the country’s extravagant entry for this year’s Eurovision.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

South African guitar virtuoso Derek Gripper plays music originally meant for the 21 stringed lute-harp, the kora, on his 6-string Segovia-styled guitar and does it so well that the world's leading guitarists and kora players keep wondering how one even does that. His original music is informed by kora masters Toumani Diabaté, Salif Keita, Estonian minimalist composer Arvo Part, Brazilian guitarist Egberto Gismonti and German Baroque innovator, J.S. Bach. Watch out, because he's about to collaborate with the Iraqi-American oud player and composer Rahim Alhaj. (Ed. note: just wait until the 11 or 13-strings of the oud and those maqams make it to the 6-string guitar in Gripper's hands!) For now, Gripper plays another unbelievable arrangement of a Malian kora song, as well as an original song informed by the cascading style of kora music, plus some of the second cello suite by J.S. Bach, in-studio. - Caryn HavlikSupplemental Reading: The Beauty of Everyday Things, In Search of Lost TimeSet list: 1. Alla L'a Ke 2. Moss on the Mountain 3. J.S. Bach: Prelude BWV 1008 (Second Cello Suite) BALLAKÉ SISSOKO AND DEREK GRIPPER by Ballaké Sissoko and Derek Gripper Everyday Things: Bach's Second Cello Suite BWV 1008 by Derek Gripper

Ilgtspējīga un zaļā domāšana auto nozarē nebūt nepaģērē pāreju no iekšdedzes dzinēju automašīnām uz elektriskajām. Kādi vēl ilgtspējīgāki risinājumi iespējami auto nozarē, skaidrojam raidījumā Kā labāk dzīvot. Analizē apdrošināšanas kompānijas "Balta" Transporta produktu un risku parakstīšanas pārvaldes vadītājs Kristaps Liecinieks, SIA "Transporent" vadītājs Arnis Jaudzems un "Estonian, Latvian & Lithuanian Environment" konsultante un Ilgtspējas institūta InCSR vides eksperte Jūlija Doktorova. Jūlija Doktorova norāda, ka "zaļā nākotne" privātā transporta lietošanā nozīmē, ka visiem ir pieeja savai automašīnai vai nomas mašīnai, nepieciešamības gadījumā var to izmantot, bet lielāko daļu laiku var iztikt bez tās. Tas nozīmē, ka visur var ērti, ātri un droši nokļūt ar kājām, ar mikromobilitātes rīkiem un sabiedrisko transportu. "Visi zinām, ka dažreiz bez mašīnas nevar iztikt, tādai iespējai jāpaliek, bet veselības, dabas aizsardzības un klimata vārdā to vajadzētu atlikt kā pēdējo iespēju," vērtē Jūlija Doktorova. Arnis Jaudzems mudina pārsēsties uz elektro auto, bet mazākais, ko cilvēks var izdarīt, ir izvēlēties mazāku mašīnu un tā ekonomēt degvielu.

Your Eurovision Queens are back and ready to dive into all things Eurovision and its time to see what 2025 has in store. In this preview episode Andy and Ryan once again immerse themselves in Eesti Laul, the Estonian national final, and are pleasantly surprised by the quality of this year's entries. Socials: Instagram: EurovisionQueens Email: EurovisionQueens@gmail.com Spotify playlist: shorturl.at/egvEP

What does it take to move past fear and embrace the unknown?  How do you find courage in the smallest moments of life?  What can you learn from others' courageous acts that can help you face our own challenges? In this episode of The Courage To Be™ Podcast, life and business coach Gina Gallaun shares her transformative journey from a secure job at a thriving Estonian startup to traveling the world interviewing women about courage.  From a woman in India rejecting an arranged marriage to a Brazilian woman redefining her dreams, Gina uncovers powerful stories of bravery. Gina reflects on the importance of listening to her intuition, setting boundaries, and making bold decisions—like quitting her job to write a book.  Tune in for insights on how to step into your courage, overcome fear, and live a life of intentional growth. • Find Gina Gallaun's offering at https://wavesandwords.org 20% off to her book when ordering through this website with the discount code "BE", like "The Courage To Be"! • Download your ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠FREE Think and Grow Rich PDF book⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, the book that has made millions of millionaires! Click here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/4fa6iXC⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ As a special bonus, I want to give you FREE access to my Manifesting Abundance course, (usually $997)! All you have to do is:  • Leave a review of this podcast.  • Email a screenshot of your review to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠help.thecouragetobe@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Simple as that!  If you'd love to watch the video version of our interviews, be sure to subscribe to the podcast's ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube channel.⁠⁠⁠⁠ - ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/3FhRW79⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you enjoyed this episode. We think you'll enjoy these other episodes: • 103: Surviving Survival: Powerful Lessons with Jessica Buchanan - https://youtu.be/19XIJKaCQgc CONNECT WITH TANIA: FACEBOOK - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tania Vasallo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YOUTUBE - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@thecouragetobe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ INSTAGRAM - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@thecouragetobepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TIKTOK - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@thecouragetobepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Listen to The Courage To Be - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://apple.co/3Vnk1TO⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ IN THIS EPISODE: 00:00 - Tania's Mission: Closing the Gender Gap

Suzy Krause's latest speculative fiction novel, I Think We've Been Here Before (Radiant Press, 2024) is a compulsively readable and cosy story. Marlen and Hilda Jorgensen's family has received two significant pieces of news: one, Marlen has been diagnosed with a terminal illness. Two, a cosmic blast is set to render humanity extinct within a matter of months. It seems the coming Christmas on their Saskatchewan farm will be their last. Preparing for the inevitable, they navigate the time they have left together. Marlen and Hilda have channeled their energy into improbably prophetic works of art. Hilda's elderly father receives a longed-for visitor from his past, her sister refuses to believe the world is ending, and her teenaged nephew is missing. All the while, her daughter struggles to find her way home from Berlin with the help of an oddly familiar stranger. For everyone, there's an unsettling feeling that this unprecedented reality is something they remember. About Suzy Krause: Suzy Krause is the bestselling author of Sorry I Missed You and Valencia and Valentine. She grew up on a little farm in rural Saskatchewan and now lives in Regina, where she writes novels inspired by crappy jobs, creepy houses, personal metaphorical apocalypses, and favorite songs. Her work has been translated into Russian and Estonian. About Hollay Ghadery: Hollay Ghadery is an Iranian-Canadian multi-genre writer living in Ontario on Anishinaabe land. She has her MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Guelph. Fuse, her memoir of mixed-race identity and mental health, was released by Guernica Editions in 2021 and won the 2023 Canadian Bookclub Award for Nonfiction/Memoir. Her collection of poetry, Rebellion Box was released by Radiant Press in 2023, and her collection of short fiction, Widow Fantasies, was released with Gordon Hill Press in fall 2024. Her debut novel, The Unraveling of Ou, is due out with Palimpsest Press in 2026, and her children's book, Being with the Birds, with Guernica Editions in 2027. Hollay is the host of the 105.5 FM Bookclub, as well as a co-host on HOWL on CIUT 89.5 FM. She is also a book publicist, the Regional Chair of the League of Canadian Poets and a co-chair of the League's BIPOC committee, as well as the Poet Laureate of Scugog Township. Learn more about Hollay at www.hollayghadery.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Suzy Krause's latest speculative fiction novel, I Think We've Been Here Before (Radiant Press, 2024) is a compulsively readable and cosy story. Marlen and Hilda Jorgensen's family has received two significant pieces of news: one, Marlen has been diagnosed with a terminal illness. Two, a cosmic blast is set to render humanity extinct within a matter of months. It seems the coming Christmas on their Saskatchewan farm will be their last. Preparing for the inevitable, they navigate the time they have left together. Marlen and Hilda have channeled their energy into improbably prophetic works of art. Hilda's elderly father receives a longed-for visitor from his past, her sister refuses to believe the world is ending, and her teenaged nephew is missing. All the while, her daughter struggles to find her way home from Berlin with the help of an oddly familiar stranger. For everyone, there's an unsettling feeling that this unprecedented reality is something they remember. About Suzy Krause: Suzy Krause is the bestselling author of Sorry I Missed You and Valencia and Valentine. She grew up on a little farm in rural Saskatchewan and now lives in Regina, where she writes novels inspired by crappy jobs, creepy houses, personal metaphorical apocalypses, and favorite songs. Her work has been translated into Russian and Estonian. About Hollay Ghadery: Hollay Ghadery is an Iranian-Canadian multi-genre writer living in Ontario on Anishinaabe land. She has her MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Guelph. Fuse, her memoir of mixed-race identity and mental health, was released by Guernica Editions in 2021 and won the 2023 Canadian Bookclub Award for Nonfiction/Memoir. Her collection of poetry, Rebellion Box was released by Radiant Press in 2023, and her collection of short fiction, Widow Fantasies, was released with Gordon Hill Press in fall 2024. Her debut novel, The Unraveling of Ou, is due out with Palimpsest Press in 2026, and her children's book, Being with the Birds, with Guernica Editions in 2027. Hollay is the host of the 105.5 FM Bookclub, as well as a co-host on HOWL on CIUT 89.5 FM. She is also a book publicist, the Regional Chair of the League of Canadian Poets and a co-chair of the League's BIPOC committee, as well as the Poet Laureate of Scugog Township. Learn more about Hollay at www.hollayghadery.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/science-fiction

Suzy Krause's latest speculative fiction novel, I Think We've Been Here Before (Radiant Press, 2024) is a compulsively readable and cosy story. Marlen and Hilda Jorgensen's family has received two significant pieces of news: one, Marlen has been diagnosed with a terminal illness. Two, a cosmic blast is set to render humanity extinct within a matter of months. It seems the coming Christmas on their Saskatchewan farm will be their last. Preparing for the inevitable, they navigate the time they have left together. Marlen and Hilda have channeled their energy into improbably prophetic works of art. Hilda's elderly father receives a longed-for visitor from his past, her sister refuses to believe the world is ending, and her teenaged nephew is missing. All the while, her daughter struggles to find her way home from Berlin with the help of an oddly familiar stranger. For everyone, there's an unsettling feeling that this unprecedented reality is something they remember. About Suzy Krause: Suzy Krause is the bestselling author of Sorry I Missed You and Valencia and Valentine. She grew up on a little farm in rural Saskatchewan and now lives in Regina, where she writes novels inspired by crappy jobs, creepy houses, personal metaphorical apocalypses, and favorite songs. Her work has been translated into Russian and Estonian. About Hollay Ghadery: Hollay Ghadery is an Iranian-Canadian multi-genre writer living in Ontario on Anishinaabe land. She has her MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Guelph. Fuse, her memoir of mixed-race identity and mental health, was released by Guernica Editions in 2021 and won the 2023 Canadian Bookclub Award for Nonfiction/Memoir. Her collection of poetry, Rebellion Box was released by Radiant Press in 2023, and her collection of short fiction, Widow Fantasies, was released with Gordon Hill Press in fall 2024. Her debut novel, The Unraveling of Ou, is due out with Palimpsest Press in 2026, and her children's book, Being with the Birds, with Guernica Editions in 2027. Hollay is the host of the 105.5 FM Bookclub, as well as a co-host on HOWL on CIUT 89.5 FM. She is also a book publicist, the Regional Chair of the League of Canadian Poets and a co-chair of the League's BIPOC committee, as well as the Poet Laureate of Scugog Township. Learn more about Hollay at www.hollayghadery.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/literature

Trust is everything. It's clear we're in a moment in time where people do not trust their governments. There is skepticism about the impact of big technology companies, concerns about new technologies like artificial intelligence, and fear about the future, including the future of our democratic institutions themselves. So we should be concerned about how complex, opaque, and often infuriating bureaucratic systems can further challenge citizens' faith in government and erode trust in those who are there to serve the public. Whether it is navigating complex tax filing rules, trying to access health care supports, or something a simple as getting a passport renewed, delays and failed service delivery experiences raise doubt in the minds of citizens as to government's ability to accomplish even basic tasks. So how can we rebuild this trust?On today's episode, the second of of our two-part deep dive into the Estonian digital modernization journey, we're talking to Andres Raieste, Senior Vice President of Public Sector (Global) at the Estonian-based digital transformation firm Nortal. Andres has over 15 years of experience in digital modernization and began his career in Estonia as a digital government expert. Since then he has been responsible for many high-impact, large-scale government transformation programs and reforms globally, as well as producing thought leadership and developing practices to help governments deliver better digital services to its citizens.Nortal recently released a report on trust, called "Formula for creating trust in digital government" which he talked about on stage at the FWD50 conference in Ottawa last month. So when we met up during his visit to Canada, we talked about why trust is important and how digital services can best create trust in society through small incremental improvements in services rather than focusing on flashy innovation. We even got into a discussion on the role of emerging technologies like blockchain and AI and how to get past the hype and focus on results.Watch on YouTubehttps://youtu.be/FzbyuwzRcrI?si=on3TMZHtfq8Wj00EChapters00:00 Introduction and the Importance of Trust in Government01:27 Rebuilding Trust: The Estonian Digital Transformation03:20 Interview with Andres Raieste07:46 The Role of Trust in Digital Government15:24 Tax Collection and Trust in Estonia23:18 Transparency and Data Ownership in Estonia27:45 Digital Public Infrastructure36:01 Blockchain and Cybersecurity in Estonia43:24 Personal Government48:59 Reducing Complexity in Government Services53:59 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Shopping in a Rimi supermarket in Tallinn, with Estonian announcements and promos, piped pop songs, and the sound of beeps as we check out our purchases at the end. What did we buy? You'll just have to guess. Recorded by Cities and Memory. 

I learned about a poet this week.  Warsan Shire.   She is a British writer, poet, editor, and teacher who was born to Somali parents in Kenya.  She migrated with her family to the United Kingdom at the age of one. According to Wikipedia, Shire has read her works in various artistic venues throughout the world, including in the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, North America, South Africa, and Kenya. Her poems have been published in various literary publications, and have been translated into a number of languages, including Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Swedish, Danish, and Estonian.   Her poetry was also featured prominently in Beyoncé's 2016 feature-length film Lemonade "For Women Who Are Difficult to Love," and again in Beyonce's 2020 musical film “Black Is King.”   Shire published her first full-length poetry collection, Bless the Daughter Raised by a Voice in Her Head: Poems, on 1 March 2022.   For me, her words can be dark, hard, heavy, provocative, surprising even.  Yet, her work conjures up that inner strength and grit that we sometimes forget that lies within. Keywords: Empowerment Feminism Union Togetherness Strength Resilience Support Create About The Host:   Dr. Shirley Madhere is a NYC-based plastic surgeon and Founder of Holistic Plastic Surgery.  This philosophy is based on a whole-body, mind, and spirit approach to beauty and incorporates wellness, integrative nutrition, functional aesthetics, and complementary medicine.   Dr. Madhere's approach to optimal outcomes in plastic surgery is through a lens of wellness, and is grounded in science and backed by ivy league medical study, research, and extensive surgical training.  View her menu of services at ElementsandGraces.com.  Consultations are available in-office, virtually, and online via Click-lift.com.   Coming soon: Dr. Madhere offers beauty on call services through Jet Set Beauty Rx, a mobile medical aesthetics unit delivering beauty in the privacy of your own home.  Reserve at JetSetBeautyRx.com.   About This Podcast:   As a creative outlet and means to broaden the perspective on the “spectrum of beauty,”  Dr. Madhere created Forever F.A.B., a podcast dedicated to Fashion, the Art of living well (i.e., wellness), and all things Beauty.  Visit ForeverFABpodcast.com for past and new episodes: https://www.foreverfabpodcast.com/ .    If you enjoy listening to the Forever F.A.B. podcast, get more audio and visuals with a membership through Patreon.  Choose the Gold, Platinum, or Diamond tier for premium added content, special co-hosts, lifestyle videos, branded merchandise, and private access to Dr. Shirley's Clubhouse by visiting patreon.com/ForeverFAB.   Catch the latest episode of the Forever F.A.B. podcast on Apple podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, iheartradio, Podbean, Amazon podcasts, and wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.  For past episodes featuring guest star interviews, beauty product reviews and innovations in plastic surgery, visit ForeverFABpodcast.com.   Call to Action:   Did you learn something today?  Did this episode make you feel something today?  Share positively on social what resonated with you most using one word and tag the FFAB Podcast.   If you liked this episode of the Fifteen Minutes of FAB on the Forever FAB podcast, please share it and subscribe to the feed. Listen to past episodes or check out who's coming up next on foreverfabpodcast.com.   Links: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warsan_Shire

Satellite Imagery Analysis: “What's going on in Putin's military bases behind the Estonian Border and how big a threat they really pose?” Satellite imagery analysis. What's going on in Putin's military bases behind the Estonian border and how big a threat they really pose us - Eesti Ekspress Holger Roonemaa, leads an investigative team at Delfi Estii Ekspres. His investigations have focused on money laundering and corruption, espionage and national security, and Russia's disinformation campaigns in the Baltic countries. Roonemaa's investigations have been published by, and he is also an editor of OCCRP, an acronym for The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, a global network of investigative journalists who expose crime and corruption; he has also been published in ICIJ, which stands for International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, The Daily Beast, Vsquare, BuzzFeed News, and Re:Baltica, among other outlets. He has been repeatedly awarded the Journalist of the Year title at Estonia's national journalism awards and won the National Investigative Journalism Award in 2021. Holger is currently studying and working as a Knight-Wallace Journalism Fellow at the University of Michigan. There, he is developing an investigative journalism hub designed to bridge resource gaps, make use of high-tech investigative methods, and bolster data-driven regional partnerships.

We've got a short little pod for you nerds this week, as we enjoy watching world records drop like flies over there in Budapest. Team America is off to a hot start with 10 total medals - 6 being gold - and a slew of WR's. Sonny is on deck in Budapest, so he's got great behind the scenes content and recaps being uploaded every day - check out Day 1's recap with Chad Le Clos. This morning on the show we've got the first Estonian woman to ever reach the final heat at the Olympics, Eneli Jefimova! She's seeded 5th tonight in the Women's 100 Breaststroke so keep an eye on her in the finale. Become a part of the⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sprint Revolution⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Get access to our growing collection of workouts, seminars, and exclusive content. New items added every month. ✓ 1 Month of Sprint Workouts (24 New Workouts Each Month) ✓ Online Educational Seminar ✓ Live Q & A with Brett Once a Month ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SWIMNERD:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Check out our new timing equipment! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠INTL SWIMMING HALL OF FAME:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Keep our sport's history alive by joining the 1 in 1000 Club! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to our YouTube Channel!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ #swimming #swimmer #swimcoach

It is a major step towards global digital integration, the one coming from Ukraine. The country recently launched its uResidency programme in September 2024. With that, the country aims to open up to international entrepreneurs who seek to establish and operate businesses in a vibrant digital economy. Without the need for physical presence – sound familiar?Don't call it an Estonian spin-off, though. Ukraine's uResidency has its own winning features on considerably decreasing bureaucracy, taxation, and benefitting from all the country's recent advancements in online services.Oleksandr Bornyakov, Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, and Andrii Piskun, Head of e-Services at e-Governance Academy in Ukraine, share insights on an initiative that welcomes the world into Ukraine's digital sphere.

Follow the digital government space long enough and you will hear about Estonia. Despite being a small country of 1.4 million people with an overall economy that by total size is only 101st in the world, it is a powerhouse in digital government services. In the most recent United Nations e-government ranking, Estonia ranks 2nd in the world, and has been in the top 10 for many years. So what is it about Estonia that has allowed it to leapfrog into being a global digital government leader? On this episode we're going to explore this question with those who have been on the front lines of Estonia's digital government revolution.We're speaking to Estonian Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs Liisa-Ly Pakosta who was recently appointed into that role in July of this year. She has an interesting mandate as both the digital government lead for Estonia as well as leading the Justice portfolio. We also spoke to Siim Sikkut, who was the CIO of the Estonian government between 2017 and 2022 and was one of those responsible for the development of Estonia's e-residency program in his prior role as an advisor on digital government to the Estonian Prime Minister.And we also heard from Ville Sirviö, CEO of the Nordic Institute for Interoperability Solutions, the non-profit that leads development of one of the core pieces of digital infrastructure in Estonia, the X-Road.You can also find the full, uncut interviews with Minister Pakosta, Siim, and Ville on our Let's Think Digital YouTube channel. This is the first of two episodes on the Estonia digital experience. Watch out for our next episode where we delve deep into the topic of trust as a key ingredient for modernizing government. Watch on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJ9Tl4c-uUoRelated LinksMinister of Justice and Digital Affairs Liisa-Ly PakostaDigital NationNordic Institute for Interoperability Solutions“There is no blockchain technology in X-Road”, blog post from NIISE-Estonia“How it all began? From Tiger Leap to digital society”, Education EstoniaChapters00:00 Welcome and introductions03:17 Liisa-Ly Pakosta and the Estonian experience07:25 Siim Sikkut and e-residency20:31 Ville Serviö and X-Road26:13 Getting past bureaucratic and political blockers37:25 Improving the foundations50:14 Conclusion

Episode 646: The black ice has arrived! All the mothers have joined the chat. Licking the salt cave walls. Chinese restaurant names. Family MAGA Thanksgiving. Getting stuck on a snowy road waiting for the snow scraper. How cold is your house? What is a space blanket? We learn a new Estonian word for fullman's butt.

Dr. Jordan B. Peterson sits down with philosopher, professor, and lecturer Dr. Stephen Hicks. They discuss their collaboration through the Peterson Academy, the case for philosophy on the practical level,the evolution of human thought across intellectual movements and waves, the notion that we see reality through a story, and the danger of getting the story wrong. Stephen Hicks' writings have been translated into twenty languages, including Portuguese, Spanish, German, Korean, Persian, Serbo-Croatian, Polish, Swedish, Hindi, Russian, Ukrainian, Cantonese, French, Hebrew, Estonian, Urdu, Turkish, and Arabic. He has published in academic journals such as “Business Ethics Quarterly,” “Teaching Philosophy,” and “Review of Metaphysics,” as well as other publications such as “The Wall Street Journal” and “Cato Unbound.” In 2010, he won his university's Excellence in Teaching Award. He was Professor of Philosophy at Rockford University, Illinois; has been Visiting Professor of Business Ethics at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.; Visiting Professor at Jagiellonian University, Poland; Visiting Fellow at the Social Philosophy & Policy Center in Bowling Green, Ohio; Visiting Fellow at Harris Manchester College at Oxford University in England; Senior Fellow at The Objectivist Center in New York; and Visiting Professor at the University of Kasimir the Great, Poland. He received his Bachelor's and Master's degrees from the University of Guelph, Canada, and his Ph.D. in philosophy from Indiana University, Bloomington, USA. This episode was filmed on November 15th, 2024  | Links | For Stephen Hicks: On Peterson Academy https://petersonacademy.com/ On X https://x.com/SRCHicks?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor Website https://www.stephenhicks.org/ 

Forgive me for rushing through this interview. We were under time pressure. But if you would like, send me a message encouraging me to interview Ege Riitsalu again in greater depth. In this episode, Ege Riitsalu shares her tragic personal story. It serves as an example of the power of radical forgiveness. Watch the Video of this podcast About radical forgiveness How do you get out of a rut and onto a ridge? Although my book, Hike Your Own Hike, offers ideas, it doesn't discuss radical forgiveness, which can lead to breakthroughs.  In my first TEDx Talk, I discussed "How Travel Transforms You." But what if the wanderlust doesn't quite do the trick?  Then, you take another type of journey, a mental one, to unlock deep-seated memories and beliefs.   Ege Riitsalu is an Estonian who used radical forgiveness to dislodge a mental roadblock. Since then, she's run workshops and offered one-on-one therapy to help others take this mental journey. Enjoy this two-part series discussing radical forgiveness and how to employ it. Part 2: How to forgive the man who murdered your dad Don't forget to listen to... Part 1: What is Radical Forgiveness and When Should You Use It? In this episode, Ege Riitsalu introduces you to the concept of radical forgiveness. What's below is taken from what Ege Riitsalu has written about radical forgiveness. It's good for those with: General dissatisfaction with life: stress, anxiety, meaninglessness, lack of purpose, low income, poor physical/mental health, etc. Constant criticism of self and others, feelings of shame and guilt. Painful emotions regarding life events that have taken place (divorce, betrayal, offense, claims about a partner, etc.). Repeated life patterns in personal and professional life (separations from life and business partners, dismissal from work, etc.). RADICAL FORGIVENESS IS A FIVE-STEP JOURNEY that results in freeing yourself from emotional burdens and transforming negative experiences into sources of personal growth and inner peace. This process allows for a deeper understanding and compassion for oneself and others. Sharing your story: You get the opportunity to express, discover, and map your experiences and the feeling of being a "victim" Feeling emotions and taking responsibility: You allow yourself to feel all emotions and focus on expressing them in a safe space and a restrained manner. Collapsing the story: When discovering your story, move toward understanding, compassion, and empathy to separate your interpretations, judgments, and expectations and deal with the facts. Emergence of a new story: After discovering and releasing negative emotions and recurring disturbing thoughts, you can understand their motives and eliminate the story of being a "victim." Integration: You integrate your entire experience holistically through various practices. Radical forgiveness will help you: Return to the joy of life and happiness that is so characteristic of you. Find inner peace, strength, and balance. Create more harmonious relationships with yourself and others. Get rid of repressed emotional reactions such as anger, guilt, resentment, shame, etc. Get out of victim mentality and behavior. To shake off feelings of unforgiveness towards yourself or someone else. To heal from emotional pain and the burden of the past.   Watch the Video Feedback Leave an anonymous voicemail on SpeakPipe.com/FTapon Or go to Wanderlearn.com, click on this episode, and write a comment. More info You can post comments, ask questions, and sign up for my newsletter at http://wanderlearn.com. If you like this podcast, subscribe and share!  On social media, my username is always FTapon. Connect with me on: Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram TikTok LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr My Patrons sponsored this show! Claim your monthly reward by becoming a patron at http://Patreon.com/FTapon Rewards start at just $2/month! Affiliate links Get 25% off when you sign up to Trusted Housesitters, a site that helps you find sitters or homes to sit in. Start your podcast with my company, Podbean, and get one month free! In the USA, I recommend trading crypto with Kraken.  Outside the USA, trade crypto with Binance and get 5% off your trading fees! For backpacking gear, buy from Gossamer Gear.

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Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/sturgill-simpsonYou might think alt-country veteran Sturgill Simpson would need no introduction by this point in his career, but this year, he set out to reintroduce himself to the world—as Johnny Blue Skies. That's the moniker he created for his new record, Passage du Desir, which was released in July on High Top Mountain. Simpson promised that the album was the first step in a new phase of his creative life; the next was the subsequent tour. Simpson, looking his Waylon Jennings best, met up with Premier Guitar's John Bohlinger before his headlining gig at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena. Sporting a new-to-him Gibson ES-335 and an army-camo jacket, he told Bohlinger he's not trying to be a star guitarist: “I'm trying to be a much less educated version of Bob Weir,” he grins. The star turn is for the Estonian guitarist Laur Joamets, who handles plenty of leads along with pedal steel. The guitar duo took us through their Blue Skies-era gear, featuring an array of Magnatone amplifiers, guitars old and new, and the simplest pedalboard you'll ever see on an arena stage.Shop Sturgill Simpson's Gear:Dunlop EP103 Echoplex - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/LX7gb0Fender Esquire - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/Y9XVBRFender Stratocaster - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/Py1vBYMagnatone Panoramic Stereo - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/y2jrVyMagnatone Varsity Reverb - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/yqRmvbMXR Booster - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/K0eZGyMXR Tap - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/7amJVdPeterson Stomp Classic - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/rQLdLjPeterson StroboStomp - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/rQLdLjSource Audio True Spring Reverb - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/mOg2vaT-Rex Replica - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/NkM3MqFull Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/sturgill-simpsonSubscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTubeWin Guitar Gear: https://bit.ly/GiveawaysPG Don't Miss a Rundown: http://bit.ly/RIgRundownENLMerch & Magazines: https://shop.premierguitar.comPG's Facebook: https://facebook.com/premierguitarPG's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/premierguitar/PG's Twitter: https://twitter.com/premierguitarPG's Threads: https://threads.net/@premierguitarPG's TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@premierguitar0:00 - Molly Tuttle & D'Addario0:15 - Sturgill Simpson Playing Intro0:55 - John Bohlinger Intro1:13 - Sturgill Simpson's 1962 Gibson ES-3354:13 - 1962 Gibson ES-335 Custom Wiring6:41 - Sturgill Simpson's 1956 Fender Esquire11:17 - Sturgill Simpson's Pedalboard13:09 - Sturgill Simpson's Magnatone Panoramic Stereo Combos16:09 - Rig Rundown & D'Addario16:34 - Laur Joamets' 1974 Fender Telecaster21:34 - Laur Joamets' Fano Guitars PX624:26 - Laur Joamets' Fender Stratocaster26:49 - Laur Joamets' Amps29:28 - Laur Joamets' Pedalboard34:39 - Laur Joamets' Pedal-Steel Guitar[Brought to you by D'Addario: https://ddar.io/wykyk-rr]© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2024#guitar #rigrundown #sturgillsimpson #guitarist #guitarplayer #telecaster #music

On this episode of The Danny Brown Show, Kill Tony regular Ari Matti stops by to talk about being a loner, speakeasies, and DMT vapes. The two answer questions about life after jail, marrying your bro for a visa, swinger's regret, and Russian mail-order brides. They also discuss drill rap, LSD, cheating, and sloppy joes. Other topics include: the band HIM, fentanyl, Estonian music, and sneaker condoms. Enjoy! Have a question for Danny? Hit us up at danny@thedannybrownshow.com The Danny Brown Show Ep. 129 https://xdannyxbrownx.com https://store.ymhstudios.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we sit down with Mike Davies, the chef at the helm of one of London's most celebrated gastropubs, The Camberwell Arms, to leaf through his new seasonal cookbook, ‘Cooking for People'. Then, Petri Burtsoff heads to a Luscher & Matiesen winery on the Estonian island of Muhu to taste some of the nation's unique tipples. Plus: Monocle's Monica Lillis is in Somerset to learn more about the hotel and country estate that's committed to the land and local culinary traditions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US election is approaching quickly with implications for America's allies in the world. Professors Margarita Šešelgyte (Vilnius University), Daunis Auers (University of Latvia), and Andres Kasekamp (University of Toronto) join a roundtable discussion on the impact that a Kamala Harris or Donald Trump presidency could have on the security and future outlook of the Baltic countries and broader Europe, and how people in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are feeling about the state of democracy in the US. This episode was recorded on September 25, 2024. TranscriptIndra Ekmanis: Thank you everyone for joining me in this discussion today. As we all know, the US presidential campaign has been rather unprecedented on many fronts this cycle. There's been the late change in the candidates at the top of the Democratic ticket from Joe Biden to Kamala Harris. And now we've had already multiple assassination attempts on the Republican candidate Donald Trump.And we know that whatever happens in November will certainly have effects on Americans, but it will also have reverberations around the world. And so I'm very glad to today be in discussion with you all about the potential impacts in the Baltic countries. But before we jump in, I'd like to ask you all to briefly introduce yourselves.Andres Kasekamp: I'm Andres Kasekamp. I'm the Professor of Estonian Studies at the University of Toronto. I used to be the Director of the Estonian Foreign Policy Institute in Tallinn and a Professor at the University of Toronto.Daunis Auers: Hi, I'm Daunis Auers, a professor at the University of Latvia and also the director of a new think tank Certus in Riga.Margarita Šešelgytė: Hello, I'm Margarita Šešelgytė, and I'm a professor of security studies, but also a director of the Institute of International Relations and Political Science at Vilnius University.IE: Well, thank you all. So, I'd like to start with what is perhaps top of mind when people are thinking about the impacts of the US elections on the Baltic countries, and that's security, NATO, and Russia's war in Ukraine.So if we start with NATO: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania marked two decades in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization this year. The alliance itself is now 75 years old, celebrating at its summit in Washington, D.C., hosted by president and at that point in time, still beleaguered Democratic candidate Joe Biden, where Biden underscored NATO unity. And during the summit, it was widely reported that the allies were working to “Trump proof” the Alliance as polls showed that Biden was slipping in the presidential race.Trump, of course, is remembered as deriding the Alliance, threatening to pull out entirely during his presidency. And at the same time, he is also somewhat credited with pushing member states to up their defense spending. With Biden out, of course, the calculus has perhaps changed a little bit.Vice President and now candidate Kamala Harris represents some measure of continuity with the Biden administration, though we know that her foreign policy experience is not necessarily as deep as Biden's. But a Harris presidency would be more compatible theoretically with the tradition of America as a stable leader in the transatlantic relationship.And obviously a strong NATO is critical to the security of the Baltic States. So, I wonder how you perceive the candidate stances on NATO and how they align with Baltic interests.AK: All right, briefly, Trump would be a disaster and Harris, indeed, would represent continuity with, with Biden. It goes back to the nature of the candidates, right, that Trump is a purely transactional individual, and doesn't seem to understand how NATO works.He's always said that the NATO countries owe the Americans money. It's not an organization where you pay a membership fee, so he simply doesn't get it. It is sort of partly true that European members who weren't doing enough spending on their own defense budgets, have been frightened into contributing more.Trump has something to do with it, but it has more to do with Russian aggression, in the region. So starting already in 2014 when Russia seized Crimea, European countries started increasing their spending. With the Harris presidency, it would be sort of more of the same, which is better than Trump, but it's certainly not as good as America could do, because Joe Biden has been failing Ukraine recently and placing these unreasonable restrictions on Ukraine's right to strike at Russian targets to defend itself.And hopefully Harris wouldn't continue that weak kneed policy.DA: I agree with what Andres has said, but I think it's quite interesting to look at the perspective also of Baltic Americans who after all will be voting in the election, unlike, I presume, the three of us—Margarita, Andres and I—who, as not being American citizens won't have a vote in the elections.And traditionally, there's been quite a lot of support for the Republican Party amongst the Baltic diasporas, because during the Cold War, the Republicans were seen as having the strongest backbone in defending Baltic interests. And much of this support actually carried over into the Trump era with a significant portion of Baltic Americans, especially from the older generation, still holding out support for Trump.And what I thought was interesting was that after Trump announced J.D. Vance as his vice-presidential candidate, the attitudes of many Baltic Americans actually changed because a lot of the affection for Trump is deeply personal, connected to his charismatic personality, the way he speaks, the way he does business, the way he calls back, sort of an ancient era of essentially a white America, from the 1950s.J.D. Vance doesn't have this affection. And when J.D. Vance was announced as the vice-presidential candidate, people were bringing out his notorious op-ed in the New York Times on April 12th, which was very defeatist in its nature, calling out various quotes that he had of not really caring who won in the war between Ukraine and Russia.And this was the moment that a number of Baltic Americans turned away from the Republicans and turned towards the Democrats. So, I would perhaps highlight the role of J.D. Vance in furthering support for the Democrats at least amongst the Baltic community in the United States.MS: I totally agree to what has been said already, but then I'd like to look from a more systemic perspective, and just to add to what has been said: We live in a very volatile security situation at the moment and this dynamism, security-wise, will not be changing pretty soon because there are some changes in the balance of power the rivalry between autocracies and democracies.So where do we stand as Baltic countries? We are small countries, and we have a major war in our region. And therefore, for us, it is essentially important to have our allies strong and to have our allies helping us. The United States is our main ally when it comes to security. Yes, we are members of NATO, but in terms of deterring Putin, one has to think about deterrence as a psychological concept.Putin is less afraid of NATO as overall organization than he is afraid of the United States of America. So having this in mind, the one who sits in Washington D.C. in the presidential position for us is essential as well. In Athena, we had already two elections this year, presidential and European Parliament elections, and the parliamentary elections are coming in October.But we're joking that the elections in the United States are more important than the elections in Lithuania and the change would be felt stronger of who comes to power in the United States.Interestingly enough, one of our media outlets just recently published a survey asking Lithuanians: Who would be a better president for Lithuania in the United States, Trump or, Harris? The majority of Lithuanians, 66 percent, said Harris and only 12 indicated that that could be Trump. So, for us, it's very important. It matters. We follow this election very, very closely.And I would say there are two points which are particularly important for Lithuania. Yes, NATO and US presence in the region. And we don't know what position Harris will take or if she will be more involved in the Pacific. But it's about stability. That's important.And another very important question, and it's very intertwined, is the war in Ukraine. And we already heard what Trump was saying about Ukraine, that when he becomes the president, he will seek for a certain deal. And for us Baltics, it's clear that no deal with Putin can be achieved at the moment, and it would be dangerous, and it would endanger our situation. So it's not acceptable.IE: You're actually running into kind of my next question here, which is exactly about Russia and Ukraine. And as we know, the Baltic states have been among the most ardent supporters of Ukraine following the full-scale invasion in 2022. Also, we know that the Baltic leadership has been quite hawkish warning about Russia for some time.And as you just mentioned, Donald Trump has refused to say that he wants Ukraine to end the war. He often talks about his rapport with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Harris, on the other hand, has called Putin a dictator who would, “eat Trump for lunch.” She has condemned the Russia's actions in Ukraine as crimes against humanity and underscored the US commitment.But as you also mentioned, there has been a slow roll of US advanced weaponry and providing the ability for Ukraine to hit targets deeper into Russia, something that is actually being talked about right now at the UN General Assembly.Could you say a little bit more on the candidates' stances on Ukraine and Russia and in the war more broadly, what that means for Baltic leaderships and Baltic publics?DA: I think that the presidential debate, which I think looks like being the only debate between the two candidates, pretty accurately sketched in the difference, between the candidates. President Trump very much was hooked into the Kremlin narrative.He said that he was for peace, which we understand here in Europe as meaning you are for Russia because you bought into the narrative. He even mentioned that the United States holds some responsibility for the war as opposed for it to be a decision made by Russia to invade a sovereign country.I think we quite clearly saw that one of the candidates is, despite the macho image, quite soft on Russia. And the other one is fixing more clearly with the governing elites in the Baltic States perspective on, the war on Ukraine. One thing we should mention, however, there is an undercurrent of support for Trump in the Baltic States.In, Latvia, there is a political party named Latvia First—where did they get that name from—which sits in the parliament in opposition and is clearly Trumpian. They managed to have one MEP (Member of European Parliament) elected to the European Parliament. And in one of the debates, he was asked a very technical question about how he would vote on a trade deal with certain countries.He said, “well, I would do whatever Trump does. If it's good enough for Trump, it's good enough for me.” And he pretty much attached this to any other form of foreign policy. Now, this is a minority party, but we should recognize that there is some support for the Trumpian position albeit not in a governing position in the Baltic states. I'll hand over to Andres now.AK: Well, the same applies for Estonia, where the major opposition party EKRE (Conservative People's Party) on the far right is very clearly Trumpian. There's also, more alarming in this case, a lot of the mainstream media, like Postimees and the foreign news desk of the national broadcaster seem to normalize Trump.They don't point out his really deviant and demented behavior but treat him like a normal candidate. So, I also feel that there are plenty of people in Estonia who think that Trump has some good ideas, or at least they're so angry at the woke folks, that they're willing to entertain Trump, not recognizing the great damage that Trump would do to the Transatlantic Alliance and how he would put NATO deterrence, its credibility, in question.And I think that's what Margarita was saying earlier, right? Deterrence is psychological. It's not only what we do, it's what Putin believes, right? If Putin believes that the United States is ready to defend us, then he will be deterred. And that's, that's the bottom line.And with Trump, that's the one thing that's been consistent. I mean, he flip-flops on everything, criticizes everything, but the one thing he's been consistent on, he's never said a bad word about Putin, which really is not just odd, but quite alarming.MS: Well, I just want to add on what has been said in terms of the differences between the Harris and Trump. We don't know exactly what the policies of Harris will be because we don't know her so well, but for us, the most important thing is the stability, because if Trump becomes US president, it's not only what he does, but what kind of messages he sends.Andrus was already mentioning the messages for Putin, what's happening in Putin's head, understanding what Trump's messaging is. But also for the world, we are more secure and stronger together in European Union, in NATO, as transatlantic family and community.If Trump comes to power, the world will become a more dangerous place, because there will be more rifts and disagreements between allies, and we will be seen as weaker as a transatlantic community, not only by Russia, but by China, by Iran, by North Korea. So, it is a very dangerous scenario for us small states, because we cannot change the system. The system affects us.DA: And in the event of a Trump victory, I think there would be a much greater focus from policymakers in the Baltic states on the diaspora community in the United States. The diaspora community played a very important role in the Baltic accession to NATO in the late 1990s, early 2000s. And clearly one thing that Trump does listen to is voters, supporters, and interest groups in Washington. And I think the role of JBANC (Joint Baltic American National Committee) and also the three national lobby groups of American Latvians, American Lithuanian, and Estonian Americans will simply grow in importance, hugely. We can expect them to have quite a lot of communication and cooperation with our foreign ministries and with our embassies, even more so than at the moment.IE: Yeah, that's a really fascinating point too, that the impact of the diaspora lobbying groups in the United States. You all are touching on something that I also wanted to get at, which is the impact of the US elections on European solidarity. You mentioned how Trump's America first agenda has also emboldened right wing politicians in Europe and the Baltics.He has a close relationship with Viktor Orban, the prime minister of Hungary. Who has also even spoken at CPAC, the Conservative Political Action Conference in the United States, but has been in some ways a thorn in the side of the European Union particularly around Russia.During his presidency, Donald Trump also often tried to bypass European institutions, kind of favoring a bilateral approach and personal appeals to national leaders. Harris presidency represents more of a stable transatlantic relationship, but there's also the concern that, as Margarita mentioned, that there's going to be a shift in attention to the Indo-Pacific. The People's Republic of China is seen kind of as this coming-up threat.So, some questions here. What is the situation of the European Union? How united or divided might the block be with either candidate? How is Europe thinking about retaining the focus of the United States as opposed to a shift to other global regions?Where do the Baltic states fit into that? Maybe we start from the Lithuanian perspective this time.MS: It's a very tough question. I think that when the war in Ukraine started, the European Union has surprised itself by its unity. And over the last three years, I think that this unity pertained, and we continue to be united.We sometimes disagree on how fast Europe has to be in providing certain aid for Ukraine. We sometimes disagree on how strict we have to be on punishing Putin in terms of sanctions, et cetera, et cetera. But in general, there is a consensus that we're sitting in the same boat, and this is a European war andI think that this is very important.Therefore, there is an appetite to continue supporting Ukraine until the end of the war, until the victory. But the problem is that there is this unity, which is very strong on the decision takers, decision-makers' level. But if you scratch the surface, you see that there are many different opinions.Businesses, communities, general society, different players do not share the general decision-makers' opinion, not in every country. States of the European Union are facing their own economic, political, and identity problems. And what makes me anxious is the tide of radical populism in certain European countries, and in particular in the biggest countries who matter a lot in the decision-making of the European Union.And maybe in the next two or three years, we won't be seeing those radicals overtaking the government. Well, let's hope fingers crossed that in Germany, the elections will not bring AfD (Alternative for Germany) to power. However, it reduces certain policies, international policies, foreign policies, to a minimal level rather than emboldening them.So there could be some steps back, which might be quite dangerous in these final stages of the war, or what we are seeing now, when at least Ukrainian side is trying to search for certain agreements. So, yes, there is a unity that also benefits the Baltic countries.European countries are listening to what we said more and Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, in her State of the Union speech, said we should have listened more to the Baltic countries. But I guess the appetite to listen to Baltic countries is shrinking a bit for the time and also when we propose certain solutions, they still seem very provocative and more provocative than some of the EU countries would like to take.AK: Let me just add that in American debate, when they talk about Europe, they talk about Europe as kind of lagging behind and being a slacker in support for Ukraine, which is absolutely false, right? The United States is obviously spending more in absolute terms than any other country in terms of military. But as a whole Europe is providing more altogether.And of course, we should really be looking at the contribution in terms of the percentages. And here, the three Baltic states, from the beginning, have been the leaders, along with some other countries like, like Denmark and Sweden, who have given a percentage of their defense budget to Ukraine, which is much greater than the percentage that the Americans are giving.Americans are actually being quite miserly, even though the sums sound huge. And of course, in the American case, the money, which in the US political debate seems that it's just being handed over to Ukraine, is actually going to American manufacturers. And a lot of the money is actually just nominal sums, which are old American armament, equipment, and ammunitions, which were destined to be written off. In any case they're given some monetary value.So, this is something that's really caught on in the narrative in the US: The Americans are paying so much, and the Europeans are doing so little, which is certainly not the case. When you look at the three Baltic states, which have been, continue to be in the lead, and that leads to what Margarita was highlighting.Our establishments, our political leadership in the Baltic States are very firm on Russia, but as a society, there's a cost to that. If we've all raised our defense spending, that means cuts in societal programs, and that leads to dissatisfaction and unrest.So, that's difficult for the governments to keep a check on.DA: Europe is changing. We see this in the European Parliament elections in 2024, that you have this growing support for political parties on the fringes, which we sometimes call as populists, and the support for the centrist mainstream parties, which we typically understand as the liberals, the center right, the Christian Democrats, or the European People's Party and the centrist socialists are declining.Now, they still make up a majority, and we see this in the European Commission as well. The European Commission, which is likely to be approved over the next couple of weeks under Ursula von der Leyen, is still a centrist European Commission, but Europe is changing. And I think it's quite interesting if we look at the Baltic States here.30 years ago, as the Baltic States were just beginning to build democracies and capitalistic systems after 50 years of Soviet occupation, they were quite crackpot, right? I was reading some newspaper articles from the early 1990s, and the one that stayed with me—it's a casual throwaway article written sometime in late 1992 about, oh by the way, 62 prisoners escaped to prison yesterday, and they haven't been caught yet.And the next day, it's not even on the front page of a newspaper, because there's some kind of mafia killing that's being reported on. And that's how things were 30 years ago. Today, the Baltic states are a sea of tranquility. We see that our political systems are actually far more stable, if you look at recent indicators, than the Nordic states.You look at the profile of our governments, the female prime ministers that we had in office in the summer, Europe's first, openly gay president. We have very progressive political systems, and it's Western Europe where democracy is declining in quality, where crackpot political parties are appearing, where you have extremely dodgy political leaders being elected to lead governments and extremely odd parties coming into governments or propping up minority governments.Europe is changing quite a lot, which is unfortunate for the Baltic States in a sense, because just as we have achieved a level of normality. Lithuania is achieving huge economic success as being the fastest growing economy in Europe in the 21st century, the rest of Europe is fraying.Fortunately, there's still a majority, let's say a mainstream majority, which favors support for Ukraine and whose policies broadly align with the very centrist and mainstream policies that all three Baltic governments have long been adopting. But things are changing and there is a risk that the longer the war possibly drags on in Ukraine, the more—I'm sure that opinion in the Baltic states won't change because this is such an existential issue for us—but elsewhere in Western Europe, we might see these radical populist forces rise even further and perhaps begin to fray away at the coalition, which is still broadly supportive of Ukraine. But it is being chipped away at almost monthly, I would say.IE: I want to put a pin in some of the things that you just touched on around the state of democracy, maybe we can turn back to that in a moment.Perhaps we can briefly turn to the impacts of either candidate on US trade policy and energy.MS: It's a global issue. And globally, it is important when it comes to the general situation in transatlantic community, the feeling of trust. But when it comes to Baltics, I don't that it has this direct link to what is important for us. I believe that neither decision-makers nor society are looking in particular what Trump or Harris are saying in terms of energy policy and trade.Okay, he [Trump] can increase tariffs for Latin products, but there are now so many going to the United States.DA: For the Baltic States, our biggest trading partners are our Western neighbors. In the case of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, are one and two. Then the Nordic countries, Poland, Germany, and so on.I took a look at the data for 2022, and the United States was Latvia's 11th biggest trading partner: small, single digits. Latvia for the United States was the 117th biggest trading partner. So, when it comes to economic relations, including also energy, it's not a critical relationship.Politically, the relationship is very, very important. But economically, when it comes to trade, it's marginal.AK: Well, let me just add that for the bilateral relationship, it's not important, but the tone that the US administration sets is not a good direction for the Baltic states. Trump initiated this protectionism, and Biden unfortunately has continued in that same vein.And we don't really know how Harris will continue Biden's legacy on that front. But in any case, the world has become more protectionist. And the three Baltic states have been amongst the biggest champions and beneficiaries of free trade, right? And for an open, globalized economy. This wave of protectionism, which Trump initiated, and Biden has continued in a general picture, is bad for the world and bad for the Baltic states.DA: There is an alternative view to that, Andres, which is that, because of the policies, the global value chains are becoming more compact, they're becoming more localized. And as the global value chains are, let's say, semi-returned to Europe, away from Asia, then the Baltic States together with Poland and other countries are expected to be the big beneficiaries of, say, manufacturing returning to Europe.I don't think it's such a black and white picture, but a collapsing global trade is necessarily bad for the Baltic States. It depends on the domestic policies which are adopted that can seize the opportunity in a sense.MS: And when it comes to energy, if the United States chooses to become the major player in the world in terms of energy supply, it could change and change in general, the picture of the world that we have.But that is a big question: the tracking issue, getting further away from the green plan or implementing this plan. There are advantages and disadvantages of either path.In order to stop climate change, I think fracking would be quite a bad decision because it's increasing dependency on this fuel. But when it comes to changing the power balance, that could be the way to end the war in Ukraine, pushing Russia to the corner, because the bulk of its budget comes from natural resources.This would add more competition: increasing the supply of energy resources in the world's market.IE: For a non-question, that actually was a quite interesting response.But to come back to the idea—Donna you were talking about people's feelings of democracy and the shift in the way that the Baltic states perhaps are perceiving or showing off their strength, in democracy—you all sort of mentioned attitudes on the ground.I'd like to explore that a little bit more. I mean, Margarita noted that people think of the American elections as potentially more consequential than the upcoming elections in Lithuania. Do you feel that on a day-to-day basis? Is it just in surveys or are people paying attention? Do they care?And how do they view the state of democracy in the United States, which I think is a big question on this side of the Atlantic.DA: Well, I think we clearly see that the media in Latvia, at least, are following this election much more closely than previous elections. Certainly, that's because of the nature of the election taking place at a time of war, not so far away from us.But it's also because of the candidates and especially Trump. I mean, Trump is news. He's magnetic. And there is a feeling about, “Wow, look at this guy.” Some people look at him in awe. I would say a majority look at him in confusion as to, as to why is it that he's so attractive to American voters.But certainly, the nature of the candidates, as well as the context of the election, is something which draws public attention. And we see a lot of newscasts, a lot of discussion shows, both on television and online portals, dedicated to the American elections more so than in previous years.AK: In fact, as soon as we finish recording this, I will have to go to an Estonian webcast to discuss the US election. So, indeed, there's plenty of interest and a realization that this matters to us in the Baltic states quite a bit, but that's been the case for previous US elections as well.Trump just adds this more of a circus atmosphere to it that was perhaps not present and a sort of polarizing view. But when you talked earlier about the impact of Trump on Europe, I can remember back to when Obama was elected, right?And the response in Europe was: Western Europeans loved him. Eastern Europeans were a little bit more skeptical, but even the Western Europeans who loved Obama were very disappointed by the man because he was focused on a pivot to Asia. And he didn't give the Europeans the deference and the time of day that his predecessors had.So that's already a shift that's been going on for quite some time and Biden has been the throwback to the way things were, but I think we can expect that Biden will be sort of the last real trans-Atlanticist American president.MS: Yeah, I just want to pick what Andras was mentioning in terms of the policies of the potential US leader, President Harris or President Trump, and the consequences for the Baltic countries. I think that this pivot to Asia is very consequential, and the consequences are increasing with time.And first of all, it was more economic and political, but now it's also related to defense. We've seen, one of the former advisors of Trump, Elbridge Colby, say that Taiwan and the security of Taiwan, would be a more important issue than the security of Europe or Eastern Europe and that he would advise Baltic countries to not stop at 3 percent spending from GDP, but continue spending more for defense and reaching perhaps 10 percent, which is a lot of money.And I don't think it's attainable in the near future. However, the US Pivot to Asia had an effect on Lithuanian policies. If your major ally pivots to Asia, you have to pivot there as well. I think that there is more Asia in Lithuania and there is more Lithuania in Asia in the Indo-Pacific at the moment.First of all, it started with the hosting of Taiwanese representation in Vilnius under the name of Taiwan, which became a major issue for China. A major argument with China ensued on economic, secondary sanctions that China was threatening with political ranting and a lot of other things.But then due to this disagreement, we discovered a lot of potential for cooperation in this area. At the moment, the economic relationships with Indo-Pacific countries are increasing quite speedily. And there are more of those countries, like South Korea and Japan, in Lithuania, both politically, but also economically.And we are also discussing our security corporation, particularly in the era of cyber security. I think that this is an important turn for Lithuania, probably for other Baltic countries to a less extent, but still, and this is also a certain security net for us. If there will be some more speedy pivot to Asia under the Trump presidency, we might also try to ask our friends in Taiwan to say some good words about Lithuania and our security to the ear of Trump, because Trump most likely will listen what Taiwanese are saying.IE: Well, you've kind of tackled the last question head on, which is what are the Baltic States doing to ensure their own futures? Regardless of who ends up in the White House in November. I want to open it up for any last words or thoughts on the subject.Any final conclusions that you'd like to share?DA: Well, I think a big development, possibly a positive outcome from the events in Ukraine, is the additional impetus for Baltic cooperation. Because Baltic cooperation really has lagged for the last 30 years. If we compare the way in which the Baltic states work with each other to our closest neighbors, the Nordics, we don't really cooperate. We've imitated some of the institutions of the North, but we haven't really enacted them. We haven't sort of like full-bloodedly, adopted them. But we can see that when it comes to defense, there are some very serious initiatives, which have moved ahead recently.I think procurement is one of the big areas where we see Latvia cooperating with Estonia, for example, in air defense systems, in buying training grenades. We also have a cooperation between Latvia and Lithuania on respirators. We have the Baltic defense line—although that seems to be being executed individually by each state—but it was still a common announcement with a common aim, and so on. It would be great if this was an impetus for even further Baltic cooperation, because there are many areas where we would benefit from cooperating with each other in a sort of Nordic style politically, economically, culturally, and so on.Because we are an extremely dynamic region of Europe, especially if we look at the Lithuanian economy, which is to an outsider, an amazing story. What's happened there over the last 20 years is a story to tell, and there is a common identity and common political structures which can be built upon, beginning with this enhanced military cooperation, but taking that to various political and economic levels as well.So that's one thing that I would end on attempting to be more positive.AK: I would just add and expand on Daunis, for the regional cooperation, of course, is much wider. It's a Nordic Baltic cooperation, which is the most intense and active at the moment. And the one good outcome of Putin's invasion of Ukraine has been Finland and Sweden joining NATO, which has given a real impetus to Nordic Baltic cooperation, which was already strong in all other fields.But now with defense cooperation also, we're all much closer together in the region and it's one of the most dynamic regions in the European Union.MS: I guess I'm obliged to step even further on the European level. I don't know how strong this political will and commitment in the European institutions and in some European countries will continue to be. I guess it will depend at the end of the day on the level of a threat—but we will not be living in a less threatening environment in the future—and the appetite to build strong defense industry and defense in Europe.That's a very, very important step forward. And if one thing is to come from the Ukrainian War, I would say that this would be a very, very important thing for the future of the European Union as the player in international politics.IE: Well, Professors Kasekamp, Šešelgytė, Auers. Thank you so much for your time for your commentary and we really appreciate you taking the time to speak on this subject. Thank you very much. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit fpribalticinitiative.substack.com

Europe is facing a critical challenge. When it comes to advanced technology innovation, labor productivity, and affordable energy, it's not keeping up with the U.S. and China. At least that's the take from Mario Draghi, former European Central Bank president, in his European Commission report last month titled, “The Future of European Competitiveness.” The last five years for the European Union have been tumultuous – from the pandemic to an energy crisis sparked by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, to the European Green Deal. How Europe moves forward in the face of these challenges will directly impact its short and long-term energy security, and the pace of its transition to clean energy. And it's all playing out against the backdrop of an ever-worsening climate crisis.  This week, host Jason Bordoff talks with Kadri Simson. Kadri has been the European Commissioner for Energy since 2019. Before that, she was the Estonian minister for economic affairs, and held various other positions in the Estonian government.  Kadri visited the Columbia campus during Climate Week in New York City. They discussed the impact of Russia's attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, Europe's progress in weaning itself off Russian gas, and member states' attitudes toward nuclear power, among other topics.

Ari Matti Mustonen, hilarious comedian currently evading Estonian authorities, joins the DTFH! You can learn more about Ari on his website, AriMatti.com! Original music by Aaron Michael Goldberg and Duncan Trussell. This episode is brought to you by: Squarespace - Use offer code: DUNCAN to save 10% on your first site. This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/duncan and get on your way to being your best self. True Classic - Visit TrueClassicTees.com/Duncan and SAVE up to 25% when you buy bundled packs!

As part of our coverage of Fantastic Fest, Mike spoke with writer/director Sander Maran and producer Jan Andresson about their film which has been 11 years in the making, Chainsaws Were Singing, an Estonian horror comedy musical.Find out more at the official website: https://chainsawsweresinging.com/ Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.

At Tuesday night's debate, Kamala Harris showed exactly how to stand up to a bully, forcing Trump to back down from a second debate. Watch our recent video on the debate and the dread many of us were feeling, in the show notes. Don't miss our next debate party in the Victory Chat on Patreon, where Tim Walz will take the stage against Kremlin shill and Thiel puppet JD Vance. Join us on October 1 at 9pm ET.  This week's bonus show includes the scandal of "Russians at War," a Western-funded Russian propaganda film that shamelessly leans on the Nuremberg Defense: “We were just following orders.” We also cover Republican pollster Frank Luntz's visible agony as he admits the debate cost Trump the election, who's actually the greatest danger to our pets, the MAGA/Kremlin nexus fueling anti-American terrorism, and Biden's latest effort to combat Kremlin disinformation ahead of the 2024 election. Plus, we feature insights from Michael Podhorzer, hailed by TIME magazine as a key architect of the movement that safeguarded the 2020 election. (The Gaslit Nation community also helped!) This week's bonus show, available to Truth-teller level subscribers ($5/month) and higher, includes his take on protecting the 2024 election. An excerpt is available for all. To hear the full episode, get all shows ad free, invites to exclusive events like our October 1st VP debate watch party in our Victory Group Chat, and more, subscribe at Patreon.com/Gaslit to support our independent journalism! Annual discounts available! Thank you to everyone who supports Gaslit Nation – we could not make our show without you!    Show Notes: VIDEO: Election Dread and New Events at Gaslit Nation https://www.patreon.com/posts/111991000   Statement by Award-winning Estonian filmmaker Anna Hints, a member of the European Film Academy: https://x.com/RitornellaNYC/status/1834441325631939042   Thread: Alejandra Caraballo, a well-known civil rights attorney and LGBTQ+ activist, has highlighted a range of foreign disinformation and harassment campaigns aimed at deepening divisions within the United States.  https://x.com/Esqueer_/status/1834615931152003295   Opening Clip: GOP Polster Frank Luntz: https://x.com/harris_wins/status/1834014050218393849   Opening Clip: Conservative Chris Wallace: https://x.com/harris_wins/status/1833701778874920970   Opening Clip: Brit Hume on Fox News Saying Kamala Harris Won the Debate: https://x.com/ALT_uscis/status/1833703048339669232   Democratic Strategist Simon Rosenberg on the GOP's Weaponized Polls: https://x.com/Acyn/status/1834411436413780445   The Kiffness x Donald Trump - Eating the Cats https://x.com/TheKiffness/status/1834585071875158502   They're Eating the Dogs, They're Eating the Cats – The Remix https://x.com/ArtCandee/status/1834294453369991367   Andrea's RomneyMobile Video with MoveOn.org: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0vaTJgdEt8  

John is joined by The Daily Show's Jordan Klepper to discuss the return of Jon Stewart to the show, the challenges of covering the RNC and DNC live, and his signature forays into the dark, savage, achingly comical heart of the MAGA-sphere at Donald Trump's rallies. The two pals—who worked together when John dragooned Jordan into guest hosting his Showtime series The Circus—also debate the merits of Chicago's iconic but disgusting local liqueur Malort (and even more iconic and appalling style of deep dish pizza), whether Klepper has a crush on former Estonian prime minister Kaja Kallas, and his resemblance to Gregor Samsa, the man-turned-cockroach protagonist in Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Peter Wilson explains Private Members Association, Allodia titles, Liberland and much more.   About my Guest: Ex Royal Navy gunner and armourer, turned professional fighter. Owned and ran own martial arts gym for about 30 years. Always been aware of something not being right in the world, went deep into it after losing over £1million of property in 1 week including own home. So been up and been down even living in a car for a while with his wife Janine and 4 dogs.   --------------------------------------------- If you're interested in solving your anxiety in 6 weeks - fully guaranteed  - and you want to learn more and have a free consultation with Daniel, go to https://www.danielpackard.com/ --- Help Support the show through my Business Partners :   Upgrade Your Brain    Unleash & Use Your Uniqueness   https://braingym.fitness/⁠    -------------------------- Awakening Podcast Social Media / Coaching My Other Podcasts    ⁠⁠⁠https://roycoughlan.com/⁠⁠   Health & Wellness Products   https://partnerco.world/   My Website https://partner.co/?custid=N6543249  ------------------ What we Discussed:   - The story behind his Tattoos (1 mins to 11 mins) - Is Tattoo Ink Dangerous (9:45 mins) - What is Liberland (11:30 mins to 18:20mins) - Fraudulent Polish Systems (18:30 mins) - Estonian e-residency (20 mins) - Making Donations in a Private Members Club (21 mins) - How does a PMA ( Private Members Association) work (24:45 mins) - The insanity of Lisences (28:30 mins) - Raw Milk and farms getting raided( 28:45 mins) - The Politicans can not give a logical reason to what they push (31:30 mins) - Pushing Processed Foods (33 mins) - Money is not Real (37 mins) - The atrocities in the Congo (39 mins) - Trying to know what is the Truth (41 mins) - How Safe Russia is (42 mins) - You will always get Corruption (44 mins) - Pushing other Pandemics (45 mins) - Wild Herd in the UK (47 mins to 53 mins) - People living to 100+ years (53 mins) - The trickery with words (54 mins) - Checkmate the Matrix Event (56 min) - The Education System ( 59 mins) - Breaking down the Family Unit (1hr 2:30 mins) - Using a Private Trust for your Property (1 hr 9:30 mins) - Avoiding Probate and inheritance tax (1hr 12:30 mins) - Allodial Title (1hr 14:20 mins) - Stop living in Fear with the Authorities (1 hr 18 mins) - Using GDPR in Supermarkets for Faciel Recognition ( 1hr 19 mins) - How to Stop the fraud and corruption ( 1hr 22 mins)   and more   How to Contact Peter:   https://www.claimyourstrawman.com/ https://www.checkmatethematrix.com/   https://linktr.ee/PeterWilsonReturnToDemocracy   ------------------------------ More about the Awakening Podcast: All Episodes can be found at www.awakeningpodcast.org   Help Support the show through my Business Partners :   Upgrade Your Brain    Unleash & Use Your Uniqueness   https://braingym.fitness/⁠    -------------------------- Awakening Podcast Social Media / Coaching My Other Podcasts    ⁠⁠⁠https://roycoughlan.com/⁠⁠   Health & Wellness Products   https://partnerco.world/   My Website https://partner.co/?custid=N6543249 Our Facebook Group can be found at https://www.facebook.com/royawakening