Podcasts about Iberian

Os traemos un nuevo programa que se llena de novedades y de tentaciones de música en vivo, con el anuncio de próximos festivales y sabrosos encuentros musicales por el mundo adelante. Muchos de ellos tienen lugar en tierras ibéricas, como el Poborina Folk, en Aragón; La Mar de Músicas, en Cartagena; el Festival Med de Loulé, en el Algarve, y el FMM, Festival Músicas do Mundo de Sines. Volamos también al Ethno Port Poznań, en Polonia, y al estreno del WOMAD de Glasgow. Celebramos igualmente al ganador de este año del prestigioso Premio Loano per la Musica Tradizionale Italiana, del que los dos hacedores de Mundofonías somos jurados: Davide Ambrogio. Suenan músicas de mil matices venidas desde París, Londres, Occitania, Ecuador, Portugal, Palestina, Italia y Bruselas. We bring you a new programme filled with new releases and temptations of live music, along with announcements of upcoming festivals and delightful musical encounters around the world. Many of them take place in Iberian lands, such as Poborina Folk in Aragon, La Mar de Músicas in Cartagena, the Festival Med de Loulé in the Algarve and FMM – Festival Músicas do Mundo de Sines. We also fly to Ethno Port Poznań in Poland and to the debut edition of WOMAD Glasgow. We also celebrate this year's winner of the prestigious Premio Loano per la Musica Tradizionale Italiana, of whose jury we, the two creators of Mundofonías are members: Davide Ambrogio. Music of a thousand shades fills the air, arriving from Paris, London, Occitania, Ecuador, Portugal, Palestine, Italy and Brussels. – Tako Toki - Aksum - Un dimanche à Monaco – The Turbans - Zawi - The Turbans – La Fanfare des Goulamas - Tetriska - Festa 2 – Papaya Dada - Dónde venderán buen trago - Chicha radioactiva – A Cantadeira - Onde estão as cantadeiras - Tecelã – Le Trio Joubran - Masâr - Majâz – Breabach - The old collection - Fàs – Davide Ambrogio - III Sordi - Mater nullius – Elettro Mascarimirì - Ieu - Tradisco – 3'Ain - Zink - Unland – (The Turbans - Riders - The Turbans) Tako Toki

Alejandro Cabrera Muñoz, co-founder and CEO of Green Eagle Solutions, returns to discuss automating 70 GW of renewable assets and why operators are self-operating their fleets. Reach out to sales@greeneaglesolutions.com to learn more! Sign up now for Uptime Tech News, our weekly newsletter on all things wind technology. This episode is sponsored by Weather Guard Lightning Tech. Learn more about Weather Guard’s StrikeTape Wind Turbine LPS retrofit. Follow the show on YouTube, Linkedin and visit Weather Guard on the web. And subscribe to Rosemary’s “Engineering with Rosie” YouTube channel here. Have a question we can answer on the show? Email us! Welcome to Uptime Spotlight, shining light on wind energy’s brightest innovators. This is the progress powering tomorrow Allen Hall: Alejandro, welcome back to the program.  Alejandro Cabrera Muños: Thank you so much, Allen. It’s a pleasure to be here.  Allen Hall: Well, so last time we talked, you had so much happening at Green Eagle, and it is, uh, amazing to watch the progress there. You’ve been around for quite a while now. You started, what, in 2011 working on SCADA systems. Uh, uh, there’s been a lot of evolution since then. Walk me through, like, the process where you thought, “Hey, there’s a business here.”  Alejandro Cabrera Muños: Of course. Uh, we actually started officially back in 2012. It’s been a, quite a, of a long journey to, to get here. Uh, yeah, we started, uh, back, back then. We say it’s a whole new world, right? If we look backwards, like, almost 15 years. Makes me, makes me feel, like, extremely [00:01:00] old. Uh, but ne- nevertheless, um, yeah, back then we were trying to, to cover, like, a lot of issues that were based on OEM SCADAs, which by the way, we still are dealing with. But, but that, that was starting point. It was, um- It was, uh, based on understanding that the, the renewable energy industry is so complex. Every wind farm, every solar plant has different issues, different systems. Even, even the same models from the same manufacturer sometimes have complete different systems, which complicates everything. So it was very exciting to, to start our careers in a, in an industry where nothing is standard and where everyone is looking for something that is standard. So that’s, that’s where we fit in. Um, yeah, and in these years, we, we started basically creating the f- the foundations, uh, uh, on top of, uh, SCADA systems. [00:02:00] But as soon as we had that, those foundations, we realized that this sector is not gonna evolve, uh, it’s gonna cope up with the complexity, uh, of the technical complexity, market volatility, regulatory compliance. That’s not gonna be solved by just having more SCADAs. So we created a layer of automation in place, which is basically what we’ve been, um, evolving in the last 10 years now, um, with the, with the mindset and with the goal that every wind turbine should be running autonomously without having to have people behind it, uh, supervising and taking control of it. Allen Hall: Yeah, and that’s a great founding idea, but that has grown from an idea to you’re automating, what, 40 gigawatts of renewable assets right now?  Alejandro Cabrera Muños: Oh, we’re actually now connected to over 70 gigawatts.  Allen Hall: That’s amazing. Alejandro, that’s incredible.  Alejandro Cabrera Muños: And all of them are different.  Allen Hall: Sure. So that, that’s a combination– 70 gigawatts is a combination of wind and solar and anything else? Alejandro Cabrera Muños: Yes. [00:03:00] Well, actually, one of the, one of the main, um, needs that we try to cover from day one is to be able to connect to all, um, asset classes. So we understand that, um, the challenge of operating a large portfolio for our customers, um, can only be solved if we have the ability to connect to all type of asset classes. So we can have to connect to wind turbines, inverters, trackers, substations, um, energy meters, you name it. You– we have to connect to every single asset class, um, because what’s important is how you manage that data on top of that and how you react on the anomalies.  Allen Hall: Right. Because I think a lot of operators are now considering taking your model, the Green Eagle model of s-self-operating, but they need that help, they need that insight into the operation of a solar farm or a wind farm or, or any of those assets, renewable assets, ensure those inverter-driven assets. You’re, you’re seeing– I, I think we’re seeing the same thing, which is a lot of operators decide to [00:04:00] leave full service agreements globally, and what do you think is driving that now? Uh, is it a financial decision? Is it a performance decision, or is it both?  Alejandro Cabrera Muños: I think there are many factors, but I think the main driver is the financial aspects of it. I think when you, when you delegate the operations to a third-party, uh, entity They are gonna optimize their services to whatever service level agreement or availability they are committed to. And for that reason, you’re never gonna get– effectively, you’re never gonna get the extra mile. You’re never gonna get any extra from there. Um, and that’s okay when the market is– has great conditions and everything w- is going well. But we are seeing how in the last years we have, uh, a lot of market volatility, negative pricing. Everything is becoming more and more complex, so many projects are actually under stake financially. And I think that’s, um, that’s pressuring everyone to look for opportunities to squeeze their assets a little bit more or a little bit better, I would say.[00:05:00] Um, and part of that is to take operations in-house so you at least you have the opportunity to, to do, um, a better job, uh, let’s say.  Allen Hall: Yeah, and part of what we’re seeing is, at least in the United States and, and globally now, I think it’s, there’s more action globally than there has been on mergers and acquisitions. So an operator that has historically had a particular OEM in wind, you know, say it’s Vestas or Siemens or GE, whoever, Nordex, it could be any of them. Uh, when they acquire another competitor or another farm, they’re bringing in a f- a wind turbine they probably don’t know much about. And, and that’s a huge problem. And, and there’s not a lot of resources for them to grab hold of. Uh, that’s one of the marketplaces you’re trying to fill right now, right?  Alejandro Cabrera Muños: Of course. Uh, as I mentioned before, if something describes our sector is that nothing is standard, despite everyone is seeking standardization of everything, right? Uh, but nothing is standard for, [00:06:00] for– and that, that’s the reality. So the first thing when, when you have a portfolio and you are incorporating new assets into it, you need, um, a solution that is able to connect to all type of assets, right? Um, w-we call our solution a three-in-one solution because first of all, it acts as a second level SCADA, so you can connect everything there, uh, everything there, and you have access to all the data across all your assets. Then we have the SCADA automation layer, and then we have the data analysis layer on top of that. Okay. But let’s focus on the operations, which was, uh, your question, right? So you have a new bunch of assets. Sometimes you don’t have any documentation whatsoever, but these are Gamesas, Nordex, a bunch of them from different years. Um, the first thing that we provide is a second level SCADA, so you can connect to all of those. But We have, uh, something that we believe is very unique. So what we provide to our [00:07:00] customers is ability to automate all these assets autonomously. And what that gives you, it’s, um, set of data that can be analyzed, and we can learn from what’s working, what’s not working, beyond what the manufacturer’s gonna tell you to do, right? So we have thousands of General Electric turbines connected to our software, for instance. Um, we know what works, what doesn’t works, uh, what are the faults that can be resetted remotely, what are the ones that are not, what is the success ratio of those resets, ’cause that’s a metric that nobody else has unless you have automation in place. Uh, but we can actually understand, is it working? Is it not working? Is it creating fatigue for no reason to these turbines? So what– we have all this, this, uh, un- this knowledge and this, um, knowhow, uh, for all these models. Um- I believe one of the main, um, value that we provide to our customers is, is not only the, the solution itself, but it’s also the [00:08:00] ability to be somehow prescriptive. It’s, it’s not that we’re gonna know more about how to operate the assets than our customers, but, uh, we have a sense of what’s the benchmark, right? So I, I– And that benchmark is very, very useful for them as well.  Allen Hall: So th- that’s part of getting to scale, and 70 gigawatts is a, a lot of scale, where you have seen a number of turbines in different places operating in different environments and performing at different levels. That’s unique, right? That gives you insight into really what’s happening to a turbine or a solar asset globally and also locally. For a lot of operators that just happen to acquire or, or, or take on a- an older wind farm, uh, they tend to get stuck, right? They, they, they, they don’t tend to be able to, to find their way through those little nuances. That’s a huge financial impact to them eventually, right?  Alejandro Cabrera Muños: It is. And I, and I believe that for many years this was something that in a way got, um– [00:09:00] didn’t get a lot of visibility. I think people were not fully aware of how much revenue, how much production they were losing just because they were not operating their assets at the best capacity. Um, now we have the data to prove what, what better can look like. W- uh, we have data to prove that if you follow the OEM’s, uh, protocols, you may be creating fatigue for no reason. Um, and there are improv- there are ways to improve that thing. So I think it’s, um– We are, we are opening the door for a new, complete new way to operate your, your portfolio and get more benefit from it. Allen Hall: I think that’s a very interesting aspect of the sort of the structural aspects of how a, a wind turbine performs, and a lot of that is driven by software. And you, you realize if you’re paying close attention to the OEMs that some of the software updates are not necessarily performance enhancements. They’re more of protecting the turbine because they realize they may have a problem. So it may be a slight derate, it may be a, a different sort of power curve that happens. [00:10:00] But a lot of operators don’t really sense that that is happening up close because they’re not into the details of that. That’s where Green Eagle separates itself. You are into all those details. And do you have a lot of operators just reach out for help immediately saying, “Hey, I have this Siemens Gamesa or Gamesa wind farm,” think about an older wind farm, a Gamesa wind farm Help. Just please help. Uh, whatever you can do, just show us you can do it. Do you, do you start to run a little test campaign on that site, or do you, or do you go pull back from the 70 gigawatts and 15 years of history to, to show this is what you can do with that particular asset to, to get them involved in a thinking about the problem a little bit differently? Alejandro Cabrera Muños: Well, I wish, I wish it was that way. Um, but what, what– It, it was that transparent, but what happens is that we’re working with the largest, uh, some of the largest utilities and IPPs in the world. So what happens is that they, they will never come to us saying, [00:11:00] “We don’t know how to operate this turbine,” or, “We don’t have enough information.” Um, the way they ask for it is like, “Are you compatible with this?” And, “Do you know… Do you have some protocols? Do you know the standard protocols to run these turbines?” Um, and that’s the way we, we start the conversation, and then they, uh, they, they get confident that we can actually help them with that. We only know about how, how much or how little they know about a specific model once we start working with them. And it’s not all or nothing. I- Ev-Even the largest manufacturer, e-even the largest utilities, their portfolio is constantly evolving. They’re incorporating new sites almost every month. So there’s always one site that they don’t, they don’t have expertise in the, in the house, so it’s, it’s normal. Like, basically not many people have expertise in some of the models from old Nordex or Gamesas or you name it. It, it’s impossible basically to have to understand all models in the world. So I think we [00:12:00] have the, the data, the benchmarks, and experience, and on top of that, the of course, the, the tools, so you can actually operate better those, those assets.  Allen Hall: So the name of your system is called ARSOS, A-R-S-O-S, and for anybody listening to this podcast, you can just Google it, and it’s gonna take you to Green Eagle. What is that product? How would, how would you define or describe that product?  Alejandro Cabrera Muños: Well, ARSOS is a suite. Um, what– The way I like to think about it is a, is a three-in-one solution, right? So it’s first of all, it acts, it, it, it fits in between the SCADA world and the REMs, uh, the REMs, uh, solutions. Okay? And they’re complete different worlds even though you see dashboards and they look the same thing. But SCADAs must be, um, must be able to be installed on premises. They require OT enterprise cybersecurity level. They can be, they should be installed on air-gapped infrastructure, so no access to internet whatsoever. [00:13:00]Um, and that they tend to be extremely complex to configure and, and, uh, adapt to every, uh, every different site. So that’s one world. Um, on the other hand, we have the, the REM solutions that are like more like a SaaS platform, like a Power- it could be Power BI, it could be like the, the normal use cases that you need it. You need something, some tools to create the reports at the end of the month to understand the performance of your assets, right? So you have these two, two worlds. So what we are proposing here is a solution that has been built for the past 15 years, but it fits right in the middle. So it covers Almost everything that you need from a SCADA and second level SCADA solution. It puts automation in place, and then it also gives you all the data so you can consume it in the best way, uh, possible, which by the way, now with, uh, artificial intelligence, it’s incredible what you can do with it. So this is basically what we have built, um, right [00:14:00] now. And the main differentiation here is that since we are in the middle, we are trying to solve all this complexity from a SCADA world with a product that is already pre-configured. So you can basically connect to your sites in a completely easy way, um, doing clicks and not a lot of complexity because it’s already pre-made for your needs. Um, because of that, the time to market is extremely much, uh, faster compared to a SCADA solution, so you can have a solution in thing, in hours and not in months. It’s, it’s not a project anymore, right? Which is, which it sounds like normal when you, when you talk about applications, it sounds like a normal thing to do, that you have a, a system running in hours or minutes. But when you’re talking about SCADAs, that’s like sci- uh, sci-fiction, right? Um, that’s what we’re bringing to, into, onto the table. It’s, it’s, uh, something that you can connect to all your assets in a seamless way, painless, and, uh, and, uh, off the [00:15:00] shelf.  Allen Hall: Well, that’s a very interesting way of framing, uh, the product because, uh, you do see both ends of the spectrum here, where y- there’s a number of companies that are offering a c- completely SaaS product, which is a very pretty dashboard, and it still relies on a human to watch this dashboard and, and to make sense of it, and it provides some insight. And then you get to the other side, which is almost a completely mechanical system, where it’s just SCADA data and, and you’re just picking up data for datas, uh, to have, basically. So you, you f- you sort of find that middle ground. The, the, the amount of software and technology that it’s in that space, though, must be huge, and what is the effect of AI bring to you? Does that help you more with just on the, on the, on the model side or just the, the statistical analysis of all the data that you have access to now?  Alejandro Cabrera Muños: Let me make a, um, clarification. Because since, uh, we are, we are providing automation [00:16:00] in a world that is mission critical, right? So there’s no, a lot of, there’s no room for creativity or probabilistic approach. It all has to be the deterministic, right? Uh, so when we talk about automation, we’ve always been focused on deterministic automation, so rule-based, uh, automation, and that’s what we have implemented on top of the level of the SCADAs, right? So that’s, that’s the part where you know how to deal with an asset. You have the protocols. You want to understand how they work, but you want to have certainty of what happens if the turbine is on fault and the fault is related to the gearbox temperature and so on. So you wanna make sure that there’s a reset automatically executed only if the temperature of the gearbox is under X threshold. So this very deterministic approach. Uh, but we have, uh, something, um, very unique when we go on the, on the other side, when we go on the side of the REMs. Because we not only have the data of, of the assets, we [00:17:00] not only have statuses, performance, availability, uh, production. We also have the data of how these assets, assets have been operated, right? So we know how much fatigue they have received, how they’ve been operated, um, have they received curtailments or not? How many curtailments? What were the reasons? So we can actually have a 360, uh, degree of all the data, including all the control, not only how they’re performing, but also how we are operating those assets. And we believe that this is very unique because only if you have all these 360 data, then you can actually enhance what you have on top of that. And that is where AI come, comes in, right? So AI, AI is great in, um, helping our customers in doing root cause analysis, um, dealing with anomalies are not well, um, uh, procedure. Uh, there’s no course of action that is clear, that you don’t know. It’s, they’re not like too [00:18:00] frequent to, to have one. Uh, mixing different type of data. Like I mentioned before, you have, uh, market data, you have curtailments, you have, uh, commands to stop or start a turbine. You have a lot of information there, and you can put all together. Uh, also along with the CMMS information. Um- Lastly, they get– they can pull that together to do whatever they need, right? Uh, they can build with AI. You, you can now do your own dashboards. You can create your own APMs if you wanted to. Um, and I like to think about it, like, with these new tools that you can create disposable dashboards. And, uh, the concept is that it doesn’t matter how many different dashboards you have in an APM, but tomorrow you have a, a specific case. And I think it’s amazing that now with AI and the right, uh, data structure, you can now create a dashboard, and maybe it’s just for one use case, you know? And you just build it today, look at the data. You have [00:19:00] a, um, a case study, and that’s it. May– you never use it that again. The trick for being able to, to, to create this ecosystem where you analyze the data in a completely different way is that we have been working on how to structure the data so the AI is gonna be able to understand the data itself. So once that, that layer is structured in the right way, then you can actually create your own APMs or your own dashboards as you need to.  Allen Hall: That’s fascinating. So instead of just thinking of a turbine or a, a solar field as a asset where you’re trying to maximize performance necessarily, you’re looking at it from the marketplace, the, the, uh, the shutdowns, all the, the things that are contr- overriding the performance and trying to optimize performance in this market environment, which may be very turbulent, and I think for a lot of wind operators is very turbulent, uh, at, at the minute just [00:20:00] because of the nature of the electricity grid. So you’re, you’re then thinking about Having an AI tool to help you do investigative work on the particulars, not just the global data set of how this turbine globally operates, but the specifics, that’s fascinating because that allows you then to treat each turbine as its own separate power plant, in a sense, but also to, to think about lifetime issues and how to maintain that piece of equipment in a much more efficient way. That’s remarkable.  Alejandro Cabrera Muños: And you have the– With AI, you also have the capabilities to automate all these type of analysis. So once you have a specific, uh, case to be analyzed, then you can automate that case to be analyzed in a daily basis, in a weekly basis. But that’s, uh, that, that’s, uh, that’s, uh, the world that we are moving to. Allen Hall: So a lot of what’s happening at Green Eagle at the moment is being automated and, and making it easy for, for customers to get [00:21:00]onboarded to the RSO system. What does that look like today? Uh, how do, how do I get onboarded? I have an asset of I got 1,000 turbines and a couple of solar fields. What does it look like to get me started in the RSO system with Green Eagle? Alejandro Cabrera Muños: Well, if you’re using our cloud, it’s, it’s gonna be a process of If you have a, a portfolio of 500 gigawatts, you can connect to our, to our cloud in a matter of like one month to two months So that’s something that you can do by yourself. So, um, you can create the assets, you can create the connectivity. The connectivity is done through IP filtering or VPN tunnels. All that is from the, from the dashboards, from, from the cloud. Um, then you can, based on the model directory, you can choose which is the, the assets that you want to connect to and through what channels, whether you have Modbus, OPC, and so on. Um, but that’s a- as complex as, as it gets. Really? It’s n- it’s not easy either, because [00:22:00] you need to understand what is a Modbus, what is a OPC, but that’s what it is. It, it’s not a matter of, like, installing something on site and doing tons of, uh, complex, uh, um, configurations. You don’t need, uh, SCADA engineers to be, like, building these dashboards tailor-made for your sites and, and all that is, is something from the past in o- in our opinion. Allen Hall: So you’re not on the telephone, or you’re not on a, a online chat with the Green Eagle team, because it’s, it’s, it’s– you’ve, you’ve done enough capacity now that you’ve automated this.  Alejandro Cabrera Muños: You don’t have to.  Allen Hall: That’s amazing, because I think that’s the first worry for any operator that is gonna make that leap saying, “Hey, I need a little bit of help with this wind farm or this solar site,” is that, “Oh, I gotta be on the phone. I gotta– There’s a lot of im- of onboarding that has to happen,” and you’ve eliminated that.  Alejandro Cabrera Muños: Well, first, w- I, I totally understand this hesitation. Um, many of our customers are living in, in the, in the SCADA world, right? Uh, and which w- it was probably once a pain [00:23:00] to be configured to begin with, and I think half the sector is traumatized by these processes. So I, I tot- I totally understand that that pain is, is still there, right? I understand that. But what we’re trying to do is to, to move forward and say like, “Yeah, that, that’s gone. That was the past. Now we have a different way to do it.” And if you have, uh, either new assets that you need to connect or you even consider, like, moving to something more modern, something with more capabilities, something that comes with automation in place, uh, well, we have a solution that is painless. Allen Hall: Can I discuss, or can we go back and forth about the, the use of inverter-based resources, the solar and the wind sites, in terms of the, the move from grid following to grid forming and stabilizing the grid? I think there’s gonna be a lot of changes in the way that we operate these assets over the next year. Mostly, uh, I see action in the United States from the Iberian blackout about a year ago. They’re changing the thought process of how they want to run the grid so that the wind [00:24:00] and solar can keep the grid operating. Is– Are you involved in, are you involved in that aspect of how you operate those assets and how those inverters perform and, and configuring them to, to do more of the, of the grid forming and keeping the grid stable? Alejandro Cabrera Muños: I believe, to be honest, this is more related to power plant controllers and hybrid plants. So we have, we have made several projects with, um- With a mix, uh, of, uh, wind, solar, um, and storage. And wh- but what we’re doing here, uh, to be completely honest, we are not involved in the power plant controllers. Uh, we believe that that’s an electrical device and has, uh, uh, particularities that are out of us- our scope. But what we do is to, again, we connect to all asset classes, right? So we also w- connect to the PPCs, and we can monitor the PPC, the performance of the PPC, and we integrate that into everything else, right? So [00:25:00] that’s, for us, that’s another asset that we are connecting to, and that it make– it completes the view of, um, of sites that are now, like, almost like mini portfolios at, at the same place, right? ‘Cause you have, uh, different technologies, service stations. You have so many things that you need to orchestrate as well. So we’re, we’re w- moving into, into that area as well, uh, f- with the same concepts.  Allen Hall: B- so in a, in a sense, you’re able to monitor the health or status of the grid. Because you’re connected to so many of these assets, you have a pretty good understanding of how the grid is doing at any particular moment then. Alejandro Cabrera Muños: That’s right, yeah, especially in, in Spain, of course, ’cause we’re connected to, um, over 25 gigawatts at the, uh, at, in Spain, so.  Allen Hall: Alejandro, that’s amazing.  Alejandro Cabrera Muños: Over 25 gigawatts at the, uh, at, in Spain. So, so that’s s- it’s almost a third of the, of the installed capacity in Spain.  Allen Hall: Is there a movement in Spain to, to use technology like yours [00:26:00] to better monitor, regulate, control the, uh, wind and solar assets so- such that they stay engaged when, when the, the grid starts to, to vary a little bit? Has anybody asked you to, to be involved with that? Because it seems like you’re the right– you’re in the right place at the right time.  Alejandro Cabrera Muños: The challenge of all these grid codes, uh, in, in most of cases is just that There are tons of curtailments that are coming from many different reasons, technical restrictions, market, uh, dispatch, um, other type of compliance. Um, the, the first challenge is to just execute on them, right? So they’re coming, you need to apply on the, on the sites. Um, that was the first, the first phase. But now that we have so many gigawatts connected, and that we’re also participating in balance mechanis- balance mechanisms and ancillary services, what we are seeing is that depending on how your assets perform and how quickly they are in regulating, um, you are gonna [00:27:00] have penalties or more, uh, profitability in the participation of the markets. So that’s, that’s extremely important as well ’cause it’s, it’s quite difficult to, to measure. But we have all the– Since everything is automated, you can always track, and you can statistically understand which of the sites are performing better or worse, in what cases, and therefore you have opportunities to improve the regulation and get more revenue from it. Allen Hall: Okay. So Green Eagle then is, because of the scale that it has at the minute, can look at the grid and is involved in, in the, the grid requirements, so to speak, of, of, uh, curtailments and what assets are operating when, and also the voltage control aspects and frequency control, which is the other part of it. You, because you’re, because you have so many assets in Spain and globally, you, it’s amazing the number of assets you have. You, you then can actually, one, see health of the grid, two, [00:28:00] provide insights to operators on what that looks like. I mean, real time you could, you can do that. And then are, are, are the regulators then coming to, to you asking advice on how these assets should perform? Because it does seem like you would be a tremendous resource on how the grid is actually doing on a larger scale from a renewables standpoint.  Alejandro Cabrera Muños: Yeah. Well, fortunately, the, the regulator has its own also, uh, system, so it’s, uh, redundant, right? So as far as we, we are working to, to have, uh, the best system in the world, but, but it will be a lot of, uh, responsibility for us to just have the whole grid depending on us. That would be a lot of weight. Uh, but in a, in a way, in, in a, in a way, it already depends on us, uh, effectively. So, so the pressure is, is there. We have, we have talked to them, um, since we have so many customers, um, in the, in the– at this level, uh, we have to be very quick in implementing new grid codes and new [00:29:00] regulatory, uh, compliance issues and, and so on. So that’s, that’s, um… It’s a challenge, but at the same time, it’s, it’s very exciting that we are always ahead in, in this regard.  Allen Hall: Right. If, if I was an operator and I had Green Eagle as one of my, uh, helpers in a sense, uh, assistants in a sense, that helps with the, the grid code i-in terms of, one, understanding it, and two, being able to implement the changes that are coming down all the time. You have a resource there that understands it from a larger perspective because you see it from multiple operators in multiple places trying to do the same thing. That’s a huge advantage instead of you trying to na-navigate or try to understand all those grid code changes and why they’re happening and what it means to you and how do you operate your assets. So you can provide a little bit of guidance there for the operators.  Alejandro Cabrera Muños: Of, of course. Um, uh, the main, the main value proposition that we can have here for anyone that wants to participate or be part of the Spanish market is that we already have all this figured out. So if you wanna start from the scratch [00:30:00] with, uh, with a SCADA, industrial SCADA, well, let’s, let’s go with, let’s go with that. You’re gonna be probably traumatized in the future, right? Uh, but with us you have an off-the-shelf product that is already compliance. It, uh, h- we have already set, uh, the system certified by the TSO in Spain. So we have already gone through this process so many times, and it’s off the shelf, so you don’t have to worry about any of this. And on top of that, you have the Peace of mind that if tomorrow there’s gonna be a, a, a new change in the, in the, in a new grid code, well, which most likely is gonna happen, um, soon, uh, we have to, we have to do it. Because we have already, uh, a lot of customers that, that, that need it. So for us, it’s actually also, uh, strategic to, to be ahead and be fast in implementing these grid codes. Allen Hall: That’s amazing. That’s such a huge resource for Spain and the rest of the world. Yeah, that’s amazing. Well, I, I know people who are listening to this podcast right now are thinking, “Okay, I haven’t heard of Green [00:31:00]Eagle, but now I’m interested, and I need to f- find out more.” How do they contact you? Where do they go first? What’s the best first step?  Alejandro Cabrera Muños: Well, they can connect, uh, directly to me through LinkedIn, or they can just write to sales@greeneaglesolutions.com.  Allen Hall: Great, yeah, and Alejandro’s available on LinkedIn, so you can f- find him there. And we’ll put his contact information in the show notes to, so you have quick access. Alejandro, you gotta come back more often because the, the things that you’re doing with Green Eagle are amazing, and, uh, the, the scale is incredible. Congratulations on that. Uh, and, and I, I, I need you to come back and tell us what the next generation looks like because I know when you guys get ahold of AI and start thinking through some of these real challenging problems, Green Eagle will have solutions. So you’re welcome back anytime.  Alejandro Cabrera Muños: Super exciting to come back, uh, when you invite me. Thank you so [00:32:00] much.

Europe's power systems are facing a new reality.As heatwaves become more frequent and intense, electricity networks are coming under growing pressure. Rising cooling demand, aging infrastructure and the rapid expansion of renewable energy are all changing how grids operate during periods of extreme weather.The recent Iberian blackout also highlighted how important resilience, flexibility and interconnection have become in maintaining system security.So is Europe's electricity system ready for a hotter future?In this episode of Plugged In, Richard speaks with Julia Demirdag, Germany Correspondent at Montel News, Guy Nicholson from Statkraft, and Paweł Czyżak from Ember about how heatwaves are reshaping Europe's power sector.Together they explore why grids are increasingly becoming the critical point of vulnerability, what lessons can be learned from the Iberian blackout, and how batteries, storage and smarter system design could help future-proof Europe's electricity networks.#PluggedInPodcast #MontelNews #EnergyTransition #PowerMarkets #GridResilience #Heatwaves #EnergySecurity #BatteryStorage #ElectricityMarkets #Renewables #EnergyPolicy #NetZeroHost: Richard Sverrisson – Editor-in-Chief, Montel NewsGuests:Julia Demirdag – Germany Correspondent, Montel NewsGuy Nicholson – Head of Zero Carbon Grid Solutions, StatkraftDr Paweł Czyżak – Europe Programme Director, EmberEditor: Alexandra CarlonProducer: Alexandra Carlon

As Pope Pope Leo XIV prepares for his visit to Valencia, one of Spain's greatest religious mysteries is once again back in the spotlight: the search for the true Holy Grail. And surprisingly, Spain has not one… but two famous chalices, both believed by some historians and believers to be the authentic cup used by Jesus during the Last Supper.The best known contender is kept inside Valencia Cathedral. Known as the Holy Chalice of Valencia, this small dark red agate cup has a story worthy of a Hollywood movie. Tradition says Saint Peter took it from Jerusalem to Rome, where early Christians protected it during periods of persecution. Later, during the Muslim invasion of the Iberian Peninsula in the 8th century, the relic was secretly moved across northern Spain, hidden in monasteries deep in the Pyrenees before eventually arriving in Valencia in the 1400s.What makes this grail especially fascinating is that several Popes, including Saint John Paul II and Benedict XVI, have actually used it during Mass. While the Vatican has never officially confirmed it as the authentic Holy Grail, historians agree that parts of the cup date back to the time of Christ.But Valencia is not alone. In the city of León, inside the ancient Basílica de San Isidoro, another chalice challenges Valencia 's claim. Known as the Chalice of Doña Urraca, researchers created worldwide headlines after suggesting it may also have travelled from Jerusalem through Egypt before reaching medieval Spain through royal alliances and Christian kingdoms.Faith, history, politics, and legend all collide in these mysterious cups. Whether authentic or not, Spain has become one of the world's most unexpected guardians of one of Christianity's greatest legends.For Jorge: Small Group Tours in Spain & PortugalWebsite: https://travelingwithjorge.com/Small group tours Spain, cultural tours Spain and Portugal, authentic travel experiences, guided tours for mature travelers, food and wine tours Iberian Peninsula.If you're dreaming about discovering Spain and Portugal beyond the typical tourist routes, Jorge designs small group cultural tours that combine history, local gastronomy, wine experiences, and meaningful human connections. His journeys are crafted for curious travelers who value authenticity, comfort, and depth over rushed itineraries. Explore upcoming departures, detailed itineraries, and insider travel insights at TravelingWithJorge.com Your trusted source for unforgettable small group tours in Spain and Portugal.For Fran: Cultural & Gastronomic Tours in Spain & PortugalWebsite: https://travelingsteps.es/Spain cultural tours, Portugal walking tours, food and wine travel Spain, Camino experiences, senior-friendly tours Spain, immersive Iberian travel.Looking for a deeper way to experience Spain and Portugal? Fran at Traveling Steps curates immersive cultural tours that blend history, gastronomy, local traditions, and relaxed walking experiences designed especially for thoughtful, experience-driven travelers. From Mediterranean islands to the Portuguese Camino, each itinerary is built around authentic encounters and meaningful storytelling. Discover upcoming tours, travel guides, and insider advice at TravelingSteps.es and start planning your next unforgettable journey through Spain and Portugal.For Pamplona Fiesta – San Fermín Balcony RentalsWebsite: https://www.pamplonafiesta.com/Planning to experience the legendary Running of the Bulls in Pamplona? Secure one of the best balcony views in the city with PamplonaFiesta.com Our premium San Fermín balcony rentals offer safe, exclusive, and unforgettable vantage points overlooking the famous Encierro route. Whether it's your first visit or a return to the thrill of San Fermín 2026, we provide trusted, centrally located balconies for the ultimate Pamplona experience. Explore availability and book early at PamplonaFiesta.com to guarantee your place above the action.

As Pope Pope Leo XIV prepares for his visit to Valencia, one of Spain's greatest religious mysteries is once again back in the spotlight: the search for the true Holy Grail. And surprisingly, Spain has not one… but two famous chalices, both believed by some historians and believers to be the authentic cup used by Jesus during the Last Supper.The best known contender is kept inside Valencia Cathedral. Known as the Holy Chalice of Valencia, this small dark red agate cup has a story worthy of a Hollywood movie. Tradition says Saint Peter took it from Jerusalem to Rome, where early Christians protected it during periods of persecution. Later, during the Muslim invasion of the Iberian Peninsula in the 8th century, the relic was secretly moved across northern Spain, hidden in monasteries deep in the Pyrenees before eventually arriving in Valencia in the 1400s.What makes this grail especially fascinating is that several Popes, including Saint John Paul II and Benedict XVI, have actually used it during Mass. While the Vatican has never officially confirmed it as the authentic Holy Grail, historians agree that parts of the cup date back to the time of Christ.But Valencia is not alone. In the city of León, inside the ancient Basílica de San Isidoro, another chalice challenges Valencia 's claim. Known as the Chalice of Doña Urraca, researchers created worldwide headlines after suggesting it may also have travelled from Jerusalem through Egypt before reaching medieval Spain through royal alliances and Christian kingdoms.Faith, history, politics, and legend all collide in these mysterious cups. Whether authentic or not, Spain has become one of the world's most unexpected guardians of one of Christianity's greatest legends.For Jorge: Small Group Tours in Spain & PortugalWebsite: https://travelingwithjorge.com/Small group tours Spain, cultural tours Spain and Portugal, authentic travel experiences, guided tours for mature travelers, food and wine tours Iberian Peninsula.If you're dreaming about discovering Spain and Portugal beyond the typical tourist routes, Jorge designs small group cultural tours that combine history, local gastronomy, wine experiences, and meaningful human connections. His journeys are crafted for curious travelers who value authenticity, comfort, and depth over rushed itineraries. Explore upcoming departures, detailed itineraries, and insider travel insights at TravelingWithJorge.com Your trusted source for unforgettable small group tours in Spain and Portugal.For Fran: Cultural & Gastronomic Tours in Spain & PortugalWebsite: https://travelingsteps.es/Spain cultural tours, Portugal walking tours, food and wine travel Spain, Camino experiences, senior-friendly tours Spain, immersive Iberian travel.Looking for a deeper way to experience Spain and Portugal? Fran at Traveling Steps curates immersive cultural tours that blend history, gastronomy, local traditions, and relaxed walking experiences designed especially for thoughtful, experience-driven travelers. From Mediterranean islands to the Portuguese Camino, each itinerary is built around authentic encounters and meaningful storytelling. Discover upcoming tours, travel guides, and insider advice at TravelingSteps.es and start planning your next unforgettable journey through Spain and Portugal.For Pamplona Fiesta – San Fermín Balcony RentalsWebsite: https://www.pamplonafiesta.com/Planning to experience the legendary Running of the Bulls in Pamplona? Secure one of the best balcony views in the city with PamplonaFiesta.com Our premium San Fermín balcony rentals offer safe, exclusive, and unforgettable vantage points overlooking the famous Encierro route. Whether it's your first visit or a return to the thrill of San Fermín 2026, we provide trusted, centrally located balconies for the ultimate Pamplona experience. Explore availability and book early at PamplonaFiesta.com to guarantee your place above the action.

Map key power needs, build backup power in tiers, and run a 24-hour drill to prepare for a long power grid failure. The post Power Grid Failure Lessons From the Iberian Blackout appeared first on Mind4Survival.

Herman Bennett talks about his book, African Kings and Black Slaves Sovereignty and Dispossession in the Early Modern Atlantic. It is an examination of how early modern African-European encounters offer a rethinking of these exchanges as being solely about the slave trade and racial difference. By asking how Europeans and Africans thought about sovereignty, polities, […]

Ken tells Charley about trying to see one of the world's coolest cats, in Spain after his recent tours there. Check out this movie of the Little Bustard display: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUbg-wOsvZAPlease check out the website of our sponsor Tropical Birding: https://www.tropicalbirding.com/If you wish to support this podcast, please visit our Patreon page: https://patreon.com/naturallyadventurous?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link ​Support the Podcast While You Travel​Planning a trip? If you book your hotels, flights, or rentals through the following links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It's an easy way to help us keep the show running!

Bordeaux: The Food Capital of Southwest France You Need to Know is the latest episode of Fabulously Delicious — and it makes the case that this UNESCO World Heritage city is one of the most extraordinary and most underrated food destinations in all of France. Most people arrive in Bordeaux for the wine. This episode is about everything else — the lamprey, the canelé, the Aquitaine caviar, the markets, the chefs and the two thousand years of trade and cultural collision that made this port city on the Garonne one of the great eating cities of Europe.The first half covers the full history of Bordeaux — from the Celtic tribe who first settled on the crescent of the Garonne around 300 BC, through three centuries of English rule following Eleanor of Aquitaine's marriage to Henry Plantagenet in 1152, to the eighteenth century golden age that built the Grand-Théâtre, the Place de la Bourse and one of the most beautiful waterfronts in Europe. We cover what makes Bordeaux cuisine unlike anything else in France — a cuisine built at the crossroads of Atlantic, Mediterranean and Iberian influences, shaped by what arrived at the docks and what grew in the surrounding countryside.The second half goes deep into three of the most extraordinary food products Bordeaux has given the world — the canelé, born from the leftover egg yolks of the wine trade; lamprey à la bordelaise, the true à la bordelaise dish that most visitors never discover; and Aquitaine caviar, the only PGI protected caviar in the world, farmed in the rivers of the Gironde. We also cover the remarkable figures Bordeaux has given to French gastronomy — from Adolphe Dugléré, who served the Dinner of the Three Emperors in 1867, to Raymond Oliver, Philippe Etchebest and Hélène Darroze.Support the showMy book Paris: A Fabulous Food Guide to the World's Most Delicious City is your ultimate companion. This is a new 2026 update for the book and you'll find hand-picked recommendations for the best boulangeries, patisseries, wine bars, cafés, and restaurants that truly capture the flavor of Paris. You can order it online at andrewpriorfabulously.com For those who want to take things further, why not come cook with me here in Montmorillon, in the heart of France's Vienne region? Combine hands-on French cooking classes with exploring charming markets, tasting regional specialties, and soaking up the slow, beautiful pace of French countryside life. Find all the details at andrewpriorfabulously.comYou can help keep the show thriving by becoming a paid subscriber on substack where you'll also get fabulous extra content. Every contribution makes a huge difference. Join here at Substack , Merci beaucoup!Newsletter Youtube Instagram Facebook Website #frenchfood #bordeaux #bordeauxfood

Repasamos los tres discos favoritos de Mundofonías de mayo del 2026, con Claire Vine, desde el País de Gales, el recopilatorio “Aman aman: Greek-Anatolian laments”, y el dúo franco-iraní Hamraaz. Continuamos mirando hacia el Mediterráneo oriental y más al este, con aires afganos, del Próximo Oriente y griegos en conexión suiza, neoyorquina y barcelonesa, para terminar precisamente por tierras ibéricas, entre aires flamencos y raíces cántabras. We review the three favourite albums of Mundofonías for May 2026, with Claire Vine from Wales, the compilation “Aman Aman: Greek-Anatolian Laments”, and the French-Iranian duo Hamraaz. We continue looking towards the eastern Mediterranean and further eastwards, with Afghan, Middle Eastern and Greek flavours in Swiss, New York and Barcelona connections, to end precisely in Iberian lands, between flamenco airs and Cantabrian roots. Favoritos de mayo May favorites – Claire Vine - Thirty years from now - We carve our path – Giorgios Lazaridis - Manes tzivaeri - Aman aman: Greek-Anatolian laments [V.A.] – Hamraaz - Chupan - Abar kuh Orientes e Iberia Orients and Iberia – Sareban - Dar aghoosh-e mawj - Echoes in the weave – Baklava Express - Sabába - Sabába – Stella Papalamprou - Protanixin - Protanixin [single] – Raúl Cantizano & Sebastián Cruz - A las estrellas se lo pido (seguiriyas) - Inmediato – Ana Brenes - Mientras camino - Nacimiento – Juan Saiz - Los zapatos rotos y los puerros de voto - Tañedor – (Raúl Cantizano & Sebastián Cruz - Te debo cinco duros (rumbas) - Inmediato)

Spain has approximately 42GW of utility-scale solar and 50GW when rooftop is included, yet less than 100MW of grid-connected battery storage. In February, solar capture rates hit €1.30 per megawatt hour, a fraction of the €30–35/MWh needed for a solar project to break even. So why hasn't battery storage followed the solar boom and could it be the key to rescuing solar revenues?Pablo Martinez Serrano, Iberia Industry Lead at Modo Energy, joins Ed Porter to break down why Spain's energy market defies easy assumptions, and what the Iberian blackout changed.They cover:- Why Spain's hydro fleet masked the need for batteries for years, and why that's no longer enough as solar saturation bites.- Why solar developers are earning less and less for every unit of power they generate and what that means for the projects still in the pipeline.- The co-location thesis: why existing solar asset owners are turning to BESS to fix their generation profile and unlock ancillary service revenue- What actually caused the Iberian blackout: voltage instability, cascading disconnections, and why the TSO had already flagged the risk- Spain's new voltage control market: how it works, why priority of dispatch may be more valuable than the reactive service payment itselfWant to model battery revenue stacks in Spain or track Iberian power market dynamics? Ko, Modo Energy's AI analyst, is built for exactly these questions. Free sign up: https://help.modo.energy/en/articles/13335470-ko-your-ai-analyst?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast_apps&utm_id=pablo_martinez⏱ CHAPTERS00:00:00 Introduction00:00:50 What everyone gets wrong about Spain00:01:54 Spain's generation mix: solar, wind, hydro, gas and nuclear00:04:43 Seasonal demand dynamics and why spring is the problem00:06:03 Solar capture price collapse: €42 to below €30/MWh00:08:19 PPA contracts, negative prices and the solar momentum problem00:11:52 The co-location pivot: why developers are turning to storage00:13:58 Why Spain has less than 100MW of batteries vs GB's 6GW00:15:33 Where the money is coming from: two types of investor00:17:11 The Iberian blackout: what went wrong and why00:20:04 How Spain is rebuilding grid stability after the blackout00:21:04 Spain's new voltage control market and what it pays00:24:43 Grid forming inverters and the future of ancillary services00:26:38 Contrarian take: Spain hasn't actually decoupled from gas00:29:15 The three phases of displacing thermal generators00:30:39 Closing remarksYou can watch or listen to new episodes every Tuesday. Transmission is a Modo Energy production. Your host is Ed Porter - Director EMEA & APAC at Modo Energy.

Spain has approximately 42GW of utility-scale solar and 50GW when rooftop is included, yet less than 100MW of grid-connected battery storage. In February, solar capture rates hit €1.30 per megawatt hour, a fraction of the €30–35/MWh needed for a solar project to break even. So why hasn't battery storage followed the solar boom and could it be the key to rescuing solar revenues?Pablo Martinez Serrano, Iberia Industry Lead at Modo Energy, joins Ed Porter to break down why Spain's energy market defies easy assumptions, and what the Iberian blackout changed.They cover:- Why Spain's hydro fleet masked the need for batteries for years, and why that's no longer enough as solar saturation bites.- Why solar developers are earning less and less for every unit of power they generate and what that means for the projects still in the pipeline.- The co-location thesis: why existing solar asset owners are turning to BESS to fix their generation profile and unlock ancillary service revenue- What actually caused the Iberian blackout: voltage instability, cascading disconnections, and why the TSO had already flagged the risk- Spain's new voltage control market: how it works, why priority of dispatch may be more valuable than the reactive service payment itselfWant to model battery revenue stacks in Spain or track Iberian power market dynamics? Ko, Modo Energy's AI analyst, is built for exactly these questions. Free sign up: https://help.modo.energy/en/articles/13335470-ko-your-ai-analyst?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast_apps&utm_id=pablo_martinez⏱ CHAPTERS00:00:00 Introduction00:00:50 What everyone gets wrong about Spain00:01:54 Spain's generation mix: solar, wind, hydro, gas and nuclear00:04:43 Seasonal demand dynamics and why spring is the problem00:06:03 Solar capture price collapse: €42 to below €30/MWh00:08:19 PPA contracts, negative prices and the solar momentum problem00:11:52 The co-location pivot: why developers are turning to storage00:13:58 Why Spain has less than 100MW of batteries vs GB's 6GW00:15:33 Where the money is coming from: two types of investor00:17:11 The Iberian blackout: what went wrong and why00:20:04 How Spain is rebuilding grid stability after the blackout00:21:04 Spain's new voltage control market and what it pays00:24:43 Grid forming inverters and the future of ancillary services00:26:38 Contrarian take: Spain hasn't actually decoupled from gas00:29:15 The three phases of displacing thermal generators00:30:39 Closing remarksYou can watch or listen to new episodes every Tuesday. Transmission is a Modo Energy production. Your host is Ed Porter - Director EMEA & APAC at Modo Energy.

US wind PPA prices climb to $79.40/MWh as the IRA sunsets. Plus GE Vernova ordered to stay at Vineyard Wind, lessons from Spain’s blackout, and data centers straining the US grid. Sign up now for Uptime Tech News, our weekly newsletter on all things wind technology. This episode is sponsored by Weather Guard Lightning Tech. Learn more about Weather Guard’s StrikeTape Wind Turbine LPS retrofit. Follow the show on YouTube, Linkedin and visit Weather Guard on the web. And subscribe to Rosemary’s “Engineering with Rosie” YouTube channel here. Have a question we can answer on the show? Email us! The Uptime Wind Energy Podcast brought to you by Strike Tape protecting thousands of wind turbines from lightning damage worldwide. Visit strike tape.com and now your hosts. Allen Hall: Welcome to the Uptime Wind Energy Podcast. I’m your host, Allen Hall here with Nikki Briggs, who is in North Carolina this week, and Yolanda Padron who is back from the exciting wedding and weekend in Mexico. Welcome back, Yolanda.  Yolanda Padron: Thank you. Excited to be here,  Allen Hall: uh, this week there’s a, there’s a lot going on and we’re gonna touch upon some of it. Uh, Rosemary is over in China this week and Matthew is actually at Wind Europe in Madrid. And so this is gonna be an American focused episode mostly, but it’s gonna have global implications. One of the key items is PPA prices in the United States and with the on sunsetting of the [00:01:00] IRA Bills, uh, tax credits, and the whole infrastructure there with the one big beautiful bill when it crushed the IRA bill. PPA Prices needed to come up well. That’s happening, right? So developers, uh, can’t live without some money to compensate for the roughly 26, 26 7 20 $7 in PPA prices that were compensated by the tax credits. But, uh, when purchase price agreements have hit the highest level since they begin tracking it at Wood Mac. The average wind PPA now stands at $79 and 40 cents per megawatt hour up 24% from just one year ago now, Yolanda, you and I were talking before we started recording today about how low some of those PPA prices were two years ago, three years ago. Some of them were almost single digits.  Yolanda Padron: Yeah, yeah. Some of them were pretty low. I [00:02:00] remember 16, $19 EPA prices and then a couple years ago we were looking at those and thinking, oh no, I can’t believe we, we kept those prices and they’re so low and everything’s changed so much, and the prices grown so much, and that was two years ago and now it’s, it’s, it’s, it’s almost four times as much as, as what we had originally thought, which is. Not super great for those older projects,  Allen Hall: obviously, uh, when they, if they do repower, the extent they’re gonna have to renegotiate the PPAs. Right. The, the landscape has changed quite a bit. So the, the question really is now are they gonna be able to renegotiate new PPAs when the existing PPA hopefully ends? You can’t, you can’t run turbines for free and will they repower. Or will they just try to extend the lifetime? I think it’s a lot of operators trying to figure that out right now. And that’s in light of installations. So Whim Mac also says that US wind installations are [00:03:00] on track to nearly double in 2026, uh, building towards 48 gigawatts of new capacity through 2030, which all makes sense, right? That the, the. Uh, everybody’s trying to get all their assets in the ground so they, they qualify for the, the tax credits. So there’s a big push. So 2026 and 2027 are gonna be pretty busy years. Uh, but the, the negotiations are still going on and we’re talking to operators. Nikki and I have been talking to operators this past week or the last couple of weeks, honestly. There is all kinds of negotiations going on for turbines right now and who can get turbines? Can they get ’em in time? Can they get ’em planted fast enough? Nikki, it is causing a lot of operators to spend a great deal of time doing planning that they otherwise wouldn’t have been working on two years ago. Nikki Briggs: Definitely. I mean, it seems kind of weird to me because it’s like a weird spot. It’s like, um, you know, we want more power and we need to do all these projects, [00:04:00] but then. The permitting process is just like a brick wall or something, you know? Um, like it just takes them so much more to get through, um, and get it moving. Allen Hall: Well, I, I think if you have an existing site, you’re gonna repower it. I mean, that’s probably the easiest thing to do if, if you can pull it off. The, the question is how big of a turbine are you gonna purchase? A lot of those turbines that are gonna get repowered are probably 1.5. To two megawatt machines. They’re going to move up to five or six megawatt machines, generally speaking. So they’re reducing the amount of turbines that are gonna be on site. But the, the amount of power that’s delivered usually is about the same, maybe a little bit more. Which, which, which strives the, which drives the, the equation of, Hey, what’s everybody gonna do in the next couple of years with the data centers. Having listened to the GE Renova financial report for Q1 that just came out as we’re earlier today. GE is trying to sell gas turbines like there’s no tomorrow. However, the weird thing about it was that they were [00:05:00] very nervous about locking in firm orders that a lot of the deposits they had for like 2029 or moving into 2030. So they had a, a discussion about GE Renova building gas turbines. They could do about 20 gigawatts a year, but they had like a 10 gigawatt hole. In 20 29, 20 30 of orders because the data centers are realizing, like to get a contractor to put a hole in the ground so you can put a data center in is taking more time than they thought. It’s not Silicon Valley where you can just type some software. And Yolanda, you’re kind of in the middle of this right now, being in Austin, Texas. Is the, the drive for data centers and the drive for power, what it was six months ago, is that landscape changed? Has everybody come back to reality? Like building physical projects takes time. Yolanda Padron: I think people are starting to get, get back to reality from the little bit that, that I’ve been, that. I privy to, uh, I do think that you mentioned the GE renova and [00:06:00] just kind of all the changes and everything. And I know in the past we’ve talked about, um, the fact that, you know, a lot of blade manufacturers have changed hands for wind and a lot of things are uncertain in general. Um, I think right now with the boom of people trying to repower and doing everything as quickly as possible and as safely as possible, it’s really important that everybody should. Try to get as much documentation on everything as possible, not just to, to protect yourselves, right? I mean, if there’s some sort of, I mean, you’re, you’re, you’re checking that the foundation on your turbine is perfect still, um, doing all the civil engineering studies that you need to do and making sure that, that everything’s fine, um, for, for the long term, right? If you’re not, you’re not planning on repowering again in five years. Um. But just to track everything. There’s so much movement right now and so much uncertainty that at the very least, so you know, what you’re dealing with, if and when you have an issue, [00:07:00] you know, five years down the line, like, oh, this is what happened and this is why, this is who I need to talk to, or this is how I’m going to solve this. Or, you know, it’s not a new problem. Um, because it’s just, there’s just so many, so many factors changing. All at once that it’s, it’s a little bit, it’s a little bit daunting for everyone in this space. I don’t know if you guys feel the same way.  Nikki Briggs: I have a separate question, um, which is, you know about these PPA pricing, if it’s going up, it continues to go up. Is the old adage about like green energy is the, is is the cheapest? Is that like out of the wind now? I mean, that’s not even. You can’t even apply that.  Allen Hall: No, I think renewable energy, solar and wind are the lowest cost, fastest way to get power onto the grid. The, the, the question is, uh, will state and federal governments prohibit it? Because if you’re talking about the gas turbines, [00:08:00] which is not cheap, and you’re talking maybe the earliest is 20 30, 20 32. Uh, as when you be able to, to get something scale there. What else did there that you’re gonna build? Nuclear. Nuclear GE iss. Talking about nuclear small modular reactors again today. And they got a project going up in Canada, it sounded like that’s not vast either. So if you’re talking about speed and deployment, solar’s quick, right? You can just put ’em up and you can get wind turbines up pretty fast too. But anything that’s uh, gas turbine or god forbid, we start burning oil again to make electricity. Uh, I, I just don’t see it. This has implications obviously over in Europe too, right? So Wind Europe is this week, and it’s in Madrid, of course. And the Vesta, CEO, Henrik Anderson’s, uh, told the audience over in Europe that, uh, hey, there’s a lot of choices to be made [00:09:00] here the next couple of years, and it’s more important now than ever, uh, to. Think about renewables with the problems in the ous, straight of ous, sending prices higher. Does Europe want to be connected to a petroleum future? I think Europe has been struggling with that since obviously the Ukraine war started. So the, the problems in Iran are just gonna double down on that. The EU Energy Commissioner, uh, Dan Jorgenson, uh, called it out. Earlier this week and said it’s, this is not an energy crisis, it’s a fossil fuel crisis. So if we don’t have to rely on fossil fuel so much, then the energy crisis will hopefully come down in Europe. Uh, but one of the weird things about what’s happening and where Europe is, although Vestas and the EU energy Minister Commissioner are talking about fossil fuels and moving to electricity into more renewables, when [00:10:00] Europe is talking about, uh. Unfettered media posts that are, that there’s misinformation happening and, and how they’re going to deal with misinformation. That’s not their, to me it’s not their problem. Misinformation is not slowing down projects you, you have to deal with. Uh, obviously people are gonna oppose power plants, Tesla facilities, whatever’s going on in their neighborhood. The, there’s gonna be opposition to it. You have to learn how to deal with it. And I, I’m always shocked when, when a, a large organization, be it American Clean Power or, or Wind Europe or one of the many others, or complaining about misinformation, they’re in their information business. They need to be doing more work, laying the groundwork locally to deal with some of these issues. But it does feel like. Yolanda have seen this up close, uh, where there’s been sort of local disputes about, particularly wind, uh, that you, you need a little bit of help, right? [00:11:00] You can’t rely on the, the operator, owner operator to provide all the ammunition to, to, to fight off. Uh, you know, the, the generic Facebook posts about wind turbines killing birds or whatever they’re gonna post. Is, is there a, a, a future here where a a, a Wind Europe does a, an American clean power for that matter, do a better job of communicating why you would wanna have renewable energy in your backyard?  Yolanda Padron: I think we just all need to just agree in general about what our approach is here. Right? Because we, I know there’s, we’ve talked about companies that really, really wanna do, you know, if, if you can. Produce X amount of money by creating wind power, then you’re, I’m gonna charge you X minus one. Right? Like, I’m gonna maximize my profits as much as possible. Um, and then there’s other people who are just really, really trying to, [00:12:00] to do with, deal with what they can. You know, they, you have 25-year-old projects that have been going on forever and ever. No one’s manufacturing them anymore. And people are still finding solutions to keep those alive. And then there’s, I know we talked about, I think it was Japan that was doing that really crazy work with these smaller turbines that, I mean, they already know what the issues with those turbines are. So just, just removing a lot of the factors going into something very experimental for, you know. We could all talk about the greater good, which is making sure that renewable energy is something that’s financially accessible. Right. I, I know we have a friend who’s been talking about it for a really long time and he said, you know, it shouldn’t be a thing of this is the right thing to do, should be a thing. This is the most cost effective thing to do, and I think he’s right. I think we should all just really try [00:13:00] to make sure that we work together. To make it the most cost effective way of producing energy, um, of solving all the problems that we can and not just, I mean, we can focus about competition later, right? If we really, really want to.  Allen Hall: Let’s talk about the, the power demand for a minute. So, a number of states in the US have prohibited data centers altogether. I think the number I saw last was like 30 states have prohibited. Data centers main being the most recent one that I recall, where they just prohibited ’em in the state. That has to do with electricity prices. That the concern is if I have a couple of gigawatts being devoted to any, you know, uh, ai, Facebook, Google, uh, x, ai, any of those that my electricity rates are gonna go up and, and a lot of the states are putting blockades in essentially to prevent that from happening. That changes the landscape dramatically, right? [00:14:00] Where now, uh, if they were gonna put renewable energy in, in advance of ai, those projects are gonna die, obviously. Is there, is there a, a place where data centers, ai, electricity demand being increased, is met with renewables and some logic? Will that ever come to a place where everybody will be happy? Yolanda Padron: I mean, I think it can, in that case, I guess when Europe is correct in saying, you know, we need to stop the misinformation spread, right? But it’s also, I think it’s, it’s, it’s like one of those things where it’s like, it’s such a small part of the equation to make sure that the people who don’t exactly have a lot to do with the decisions that are being made. Legally, um, are on the same page. I think it’s more of, you know, the people who [00:15:00] are making these decisions need to come to an agreement on what’s, what’s best and what’s fiscally responsible for the area.  Allen Hall: Would you wanna turn away? I, I think the thing about AI data centers and the issues that’s driving it, it’s once you have a AI data center up and running, there’s hardly anybody working there, so it doesn’t create jobs. A lot of times they don’t even have lights. Right? Why do you need lights? The computers don’t need lights. They’re just gonna sit there and run that. If it was bringing jobs, I think everybody would think differently about data centers. But because data centers don’t bring jobs, except in the power generation side, there’s not a big incentive for states to allow them. So I don’t see how this works. Right. At some point, somebody somewhere is gonna figure it out. That I’m gonna have to have a lot of excess electricity. Maybe it’s Norway and it has to be pretty cold again, Norway or Sweden, where I could put data centers and it, it may not even happen in the us. Is that what we’re, is [00:16:00] that what we’re gonna see? Nikki Briggs: I don’t know what we’re gonna see, but I’ve, I’ve heard that, um, aren’t they putting data centers in the, in the water now too underwater and like in the ocean and there’s talk about putting data centers in space and, you know, all kinds of things to, to find these different environments. But I think, um, with the. Increased demand and power that it’s gonna be all these data centers are gonna be taking. And as, um, we know AI is very exponential, right? So it’s, it’s growing exponentially in the use and, um, the adoption of it and the models are getting stronger and so it’s consuming a lot more energy, right? And so I feel like the switch back around to sustainability as, as, uh, like a core need of. Of the Earth is gonna have to, it’s gonna have to come back around for sustainability. I mean, because you can’t, you can’t just keep doing that.  Allen Hall: I think the thing is, in, in Europe, they [00:17:00] obviously are interested in having some AI data centers, and that will be the, the growth plan of course, because they want to be able to compete with the rest of the world. So Europe will be in this mode of we need to create more electricity. But they want, at the same time, decouple from the Middle East and maybe even from the United States in terms of using, uh, petroleum based products to, to power their grid. I think that’s, that’s inevitable. So they’re gonna have to make a huge change in Europe. We’re, we’re looking at massive changes in the US who knows about China right now. Uh, what they’re planning to do besides pour money into everything, all the above strategy is what China seems to be doing. Does that then. If, especially, let’s just talk about the GE and over thing. So, Yolanda, I think this touches your point, which is GE and over win business is really not healthy. They lost about 300 plus million dollars in the first quarter, EBITDA wise, uh, compared to, uh, roughly a [00:18:00] year ago. It was like a hundred million dollars they lost. So the, the continued pain at GE Renova Wind. Uh, is maybe, which I thought was gonna flatline, it seems to be getting worse. All of a sudden. They think it’s gonna be better in the second half of the year. And maybe that’s true. Hopefully it is. But if you’re, if you’re talking about putting on more data centers, more electricity demand, just ’cause of population growth and your wind companies maybe besides vestus or not doing that well. Do we get there? Does, can we, can we do this? Can we actually turn this corner, make that turn, get onto, uh, more electricity, be able to compete against the world in AI and everything else, electricity wise. Is this gonna happen or is everybody gonna. Take a five year pause while they figure it out.  Yolanda Padron: I just think that everybody’s just kind of running with their shoes untied, right? Like we’re all trying to race.  Allen Hall: They’re running with scissors and the shoes untied.  Yolanda Padron: Yeah, it is like it. I mean, eventually someone’s gonna have to [00:19:00] pause or trip  Allen Hall: because you always wonder how serious some of these data center projects are because you hear the names like who? Uh, and the one that always gets me is, no, no offense to Stanford University, but. Lately, I’m hearing a lot of Stanford University graduates that are planning some massive power generation source of some sun type and just go, okay, no. Can we stop? Can we stop for a minute? No. Having a master’s degree from Stanford doesn’t know. You probably don’t know how to build a data center. Sorry. And you probably don’t know how to do distributed energy. You don’t. It’s just those are complicated and industrial things that take a lot of money and time and resources, so, no. So the, the reality of what is. Real that will be built, that’s gonna come due. I think there’s a lot of projects that were theoretical and grand and, uh, six months ago even are going to go kapoof, like pets.com. In 2001, it’s gonna be the same thing.  Nikki Briggs: You’re dating yourself, Alan.  Allen Hall: There was a time when. [00:20:00] When everybody was gonna be, be a internet billionaire, and one of ’em was pets.com, right? So pets.com was this pet store thing, and, and it was, they had a great URL of course, but as soon as, you know, there was any e you know, the, the, the, the, uh, planes hit the towers in New York City, poof, that thing was gone and they could sustain the, the economics of, um. The US at the moment, and when I think of Austin, I think all the tech bros are in Austin. Like you drive around Austin, you just see it. There’s a lot of smart people on the ground trying to do these grandiose things. Electricity generation is a hundred and twenty five, a hundred forty years old. That is an industrial process that is really hard to break into and you can’t AI your way into creating data centers. Does somebody realize that? And was the GE talk today? I’m gonna be the GE talk today, Yolanda, on the gas turbines. Obviously [00:21:00] they wanna take as many orders as they can or get place placeholder deposits in one of the GEs competitors is not even taking orders past 2030 ’cause they don’t think they’re real if they were real. I think everybody taking orders and I think they’re, they’re seeing the quality of that individual walking in the door trying to place, place that deposit and realize. They don’t know how to work EPC.  Yolanda Padron: Have you seen, I know there’s, there’s been a lot of like memes right now about how the use of electricity in AI and data centers and it’s like, you know, we’ve increased exponentially, so we will continue increasing exponentially until the end of time. Allen Hall: Till the world explodes.  Yolanda Padron: Yeah, exactly. And it’s like, I don’t think, I mean, to your point, like I, is it real like it. It could, it was sort of, um, it did grow a lot and it’s continuing to grow a lot. I just don’t know that it’s gonna be something where like everybody has a data center in their backyard, or everyone’s connected to a data center within a mile. You [00:22:00] know,  Allen Hall: I think you’re a hundred percent right about that. So the realism is hitting the market, right? So as PPA prices increase and the realities of construction projects hits everybody, this is gonna slow down. Quite a bit.  Yolanda Padron: I’m curious to see how long that’ll be before we overshoot it for the PPA prices. Allen Hall: Oh, you think, okay. That’s a, that’s a really good point because I, I was wondering that today, I’ve been telling people for two years now, as soon as they, uh, the tax credits sunset that PPA prices necessarily have to go up, they just have to go up the, the, the offshore wind PPA prices, were in the $150, uh, megawatt hour. Ballpark, uh, for a couple of projects off the coast in New York. I don’t know what they are in Europe at the minute. I, I should go look. I do actually do know. I should go back and look though. But the onshore prices are obviously much less, right? If you’re in the $80 per megawatt hour, although it does seem high, it is relatively [00:23:00] low compared to everything else you’re gonna be able to do. What, what are the choices you’re gonna do? What other, what other choices can you make?  Yolanda Padron: What kind of structure are you gonna. Work with is if you’re increasing, increasing, increasing, and then eventually we’re gonna hit a plateau eventually, or like an almost plateau. But I highly doubt everyone’s gonna be able to forecast exactly when that is without overshooting it. Allen Hall: Yeah. I guess the question is how much is the overshoot. Is it a hundred dollars? Is it $120? Is it $150?  Nikki Briggs: I have a question though, because are these AI data centers, are they meant to be running completely on wind power?  Allen Hall: They in theory can’t. Right?  Nikki Briggs: They need power 24 7. So  Yolanda Padron: yeah, they need to have some sort of backup thing, so maybe even backup in the grid or something if it’s not something directly hitting it. A lot of projects are like co-located, so you might have wind and battery or wind solar battery or something. All together,  Allen Hall: the XAI effort in Memphis, right? There’s, it is gas turbines, a bunch of gas turbines they’ve bought from [00:24:00] all over, but it has a pretty good best backup to provide stability to that. I think you’d have to do that, right?  Nikki Briggs: You’d have to have a a, a failover plan or something. Yeah.  Allen Hall: Having watched the internet and at different times of day, there’s nothing happening between like us time midnight and 6:00 AM. There is zero going on, and I always think does 24 7 AI data center need is so not gonna happen because when people are, if, if the data center is providing roughly national, or say it’s Europe, there’s, there’s, people are awake as a certain time of day and then they’re not. Right? So unless your data center’s gonna feed China, which it won’t, and Europe at the same time, or the US and Europe, it’s still, there’s just blocks of time where the. You just don’t need a lot of power. You just don’t need it. So the 24 7 demand, I think is not real  Nikki Briggs: well, but they have to keep them cool. And you [00:25:00] know, I mean there’s like the environment inside of the data center has to be a certain, uh. Uh, specification, I guess. Right? One question that I, that I had come up here on the side, Alan, had you heard about the, uh, CEO from Vestas talking about the need for an energy union?  Allen Hall: Yes, but this is not the first time it’s come up, uh, to, to try to, to gather everybody together. Ideally, if you’re thinking about the eu. Working together, and rarely does that happen, but if it were to happen, Vestas would be a huge winner in that. So would Siemens esa Honestly, the, the weird thing about all what’s happening in Madrid and at, when Europe at the moment is that sizzle’s back and they’re talking about doing projects in Europe and uh, I think a Donny is also talking about doing projects in Europe or providing turbines, right? So there’s. [00:26:00] Once Ming Yang was rejected in Scotland, which I thought was inevitable, I’ve always thought that the second place to go to get turbines that would compete with Avesta and Siemens is in India, and I do, because it’s an English speaking country, it does break down a lot of barriers. That’s for sure. And because obviously it was a, a, a British colony for a long time, there’s the relationship there. That would be it. It, I think something that makes, makes sense. So Vestus, who would obviously be the winner of all the offshore and maybe even some of the onshore projects in the UK may have competition. So although Vestas may be hoping for more of a energy block, which. Uh, could work, honestly. It could work and you could see a lot of wind and solar and batteries and hydro in, in Europe and obviously France with nuclear. I think [00:27:00] India has a really good shot at penetrating that market that would change the dynamics quite a bit. That would put pressure on Vestas to lower prices, no doubt. And so the, the, the dream scenario of Vestas is the only. OM standing in this huge demand market, which is all local to them. Uh, that may not actually turn out there. There could be some really rough patches here. If, uh, the so salons, a Donnies of the world, they can produce a five megawatt, six megawatt turbine. God knows if they could make a a 15 megawatt offshore turbine, that would put a tremendous amount of pressure on Vestus. Tremendous, and that would be harder to stop. I think from a a UK standpoint, very interesting times. Vestus is well suited to, to gain market share and is rapidly in the United States and a number of other countries, Australia being another, and Europe, but woo. Huh. The dream scenario never works out like you think it [00:28:00] will. It never does. As wind energy professionals, staying informed is crucial, and let’s face it difficult. That’s why the Uptime podcast recommends PES Wind Magazine. PES Wind offers a diverse range of in-depth articles and expert insights that dive into the most pressing issues facing our energy future. Whether you’re an industry veteran or a new. Wind, PES Wind has the high quality content you need. Don’t miss out. Visit PES wind.com today. So there’s been more information come out about the, this Iberian blackout that happened about a year ago. And as the, the details are, uh, published and everybody has a chance to review them, uh, one, one person to check out is, um. Howard Pinrose at Motor Dock and his chaos in Caffeine podcast, which happens on the weekends because he provides some good summaries about some of the latest news from the Iberian Peninsula and the reports that are being published. [00:29:00] The Iberian blackout and the role of renewables is very interesting. The, the problem that they had was, uh. Instability. So it, the grid was just generally unstable and they had a transformer fail and that just cascaded where, uh, they were disconnected from the rest of Europe. So the Liberian peninsula was just automatically disconnected and that happened relatively quickly. One of the things that could have supported the grid, and I think you’re gonna see changes happening, and Howard Pinrose was just in Washington DC with American clean power pushing for this, which is. As Yolanda knows, solar and wind have sort of two moats. They can follow the grid and produce power and just kind of follow along. Or better yet, they can form the grid and support the grid and be a resource when things get wobbly on the grid. And Spain learn that lesson really [00:30:00] well about a year ago, and I think we’re gonna find that all those solar panels that disconnected and because you’re in a following mode, protect mode. If they had had ’em in a, a more, uh, command role into managing the grid, that maybe the Iberian peninsula may not have blacked out. Maybe parts of it had because they lost a transformer, but there may be a role for renewables in terms of grid stability. Doesn’t that seem odd? Because the story and the mis, maybe the misinformation that’s happening around the world is, well, if the wind turbine isn’t turning, it can’t help monitor the grid. It actually can, same thing for solar. Those inverters that sit on the grid are actually thinking and working and reacting. So they can actually provide a lot more, uh, stability to the grid than maybe be some other resources at, at a lot less cost. Is there a scenario where we start changing the rules about wind and solar where we, instead of them playing dumb, that they become smart [00:31:00] and provide more stability? Yolanda Padron: Well, it happens a lot I think in Texas, right? We have, like you, you dispatch wind when you need it and you dispatch solar when you need it. And there’s a whole, I mean, the whole market. Behind the scenes that it’s for people a lot smarter than I am. But, uh, but yeah, I mean, you, you get, like, you’ll see sometimes wind turbines that are pitched slightly so they won’t generate electricity when it’s not needed, or they’re just free flowing when, I mean, it’s, it’s not necessarily to produce a lot of electricity or, you know, sometimes you’ll say, oh, you know what, I need this much. Energy from you at this moment, and so Sure. Switch. I mean, it’s, it’s literally a click of a computer. You turn it on, make sure the, that it’s dispatching energy, and then once you need it to be cut off, it’s cut off. Especially if it’s a co-located site, it’s a lot easier to make sure that you are [00:32:00] actually giving all the energy that you need to give in any given moment. Allen Hall: Because a grid reacts very quickly when things go wrong in the grid. It happens in seconds, and the only thing they can respond in seconds. Is renewables, inverter based resources. That’s the only thing you can respond. You can’t spool up a synchronous condenser to stabilize your grid in a couple of seconds. You may need a couple of hours typically to get that going. Isn’t this where we’re going? It because of the digital age and everything is on off so fast. If I had a data center that, you know, it collapses pulling a gigawatt, man, you need to be react almost instantaneously to that. The only thing that can do it today if they chose to do it is wind, solar, and battery. That’s it. In the digital age,  Yolanda Padron: I think it’s great. There was this one time, uh, a few years ago where, um, uh, a, a buddy who’s, who was a, a traitor for, you know, the, the, uh, energy markets in the [00:33:00] states. Um, he, he saw what was happening and he knew that he could. You know, he was controlling like wind, solar, and, and battery. And it was a co-located solar and battery site. And so he let them dispatch the solar for a bit and then he held off on the battery. And then the moment that he dispatched it was like he. Within like five minutes, it was $3,000. Something crazy like that. ’cause it was just like the mo, like he was just, everybody was amazed. Just the moment that he was like, amazing. Just like, well this is, this is why you do what, what you do. You know? Um, but yeah. Yeah, it’s, I mean, it’s a really, it’s a really interesting, interesting, for anybody that wants to read up on it. Like the, the market for that is really, really interesting.  Nikki Briggs: It does sound really interesting and like, I’ve been thinking a little bit about, um. The, the role of wind and, and you know, in Colorado we have a lot of high wind and then we have this [00:34:00] wildfire danger as well because of the drought. And so what happens when it gets really, really windy is they turn off the power ’cause they don’t wanna start a fire, a wildfire. So, um, so you know, here you want the wind so that you can generate the power, but then you can’t give it. So how do you store that and how do you, you know, like how do you manage that, you know? It’s a, it’s a tricky situation.  Yolanda Padron: Yeah. That’s where they’re co-locating. I think a lot of sites, there’s a lot of, I know there’s a wind farm in Arizona that’s really huge and they have a, a whole, they have a certain perimeter around it where they just really make sure that there’s nothing that can spread there. Like it’s, it’s just. Kind of barren land, so in case there is a wildfire or anything, ’cause it’s in a very dry area. Um, nothing will really happen to that in theory, you know, that has all the systems for the battery.  Nikki Briggs: What if the, what if the electric transmission lines are what, you know, causes the fire [00:35:00] because of the wind? The wind is causing those to break or to fall down. The poles fall down and then they cause a spark. And then they cause a fire. That’s what happened in Colorado a long time ago, a couple years ago.  Allen Hall: Same thing in California.  Nikki Briggs: So in order to protect from that, there’s like, it’s super windy. So they turn off the power. Allen Hall: Does it make it right? Right. Well this, this comes back to the infrastructure of the United States and how old that it is, and if you pay attention as you drive across the US you’ll realize that some of the. Towers and some of the infrastructure that you see on the side of the road. Dang, you’re a hundred years old and it doesn’t get replaced. It was never meant to be replaced. Or maybe they thought we were gonna be living on Mars in a hundred years, but basically it’s the same. Technology. It’s a wire on a kind of suspended up there in the air, and the wind moves around and it’ll burn and it wears out. It just wears out, right? Eventually you’ll just wear through that stuff, and we’re seeing that [00:36:00] across the United States. You’re seeing it in Europe, you see it in Spain, in other places where the infrastructure has just has a lot of age on it until we decide to do something new and refurbish it, like we refurbish the roads all the time. Uh, we’re gonna have trouble. We just are gonna have trouble in the states.  Yolanda Padron: Alan, as an electrical engineer, I do have a question. So would the forecasted generation needed by all these data centers and stuff, like with our current system, would we be okay with that? Or what kind of changes would we need to make just as a country in general?  Allen Hall: I think the problem with. A large data center as you’re seeing some of them being built on the east coast right now is one, trying to keep them up and running. Two, the infrastructure that are feeding and it’s old, right? So the transformers and all that. The things that don’t move, that are just planted on a concrete pad [00:37:00] that’s seem like they, they would never age, age, had fail. Eventually. So when you put a big demand on existing infrastructure that’s kind of powering old light bulbs and um, motors and things that are old and that have very well-known patterns, and you start putting these, uh, basically big digital power sinks that go up and down in in power usage. The grid can’t take that. It just won’t be able to take it at scale. It’ll take it for a while and we’ll figure out a way because electrical engineers tend to be pretty sy um, at how to make miracles out of, uh, uh, uh, of questionable things. That’s how we, how we do that, that’s why we get paid so much. But the, the, the problem is, is that at some point it’s gonna break, right? And, and the, the electrical grid in the US and the people that support that. Internally, I think we’re getting a little bit worried about it [00:38:00] and trying to figure out what we can do to keep the grid up and running. It’s a huge problem, huge problem, because when the grid was built back in the late 18 hundreds, early 19 hundreds, there were a lot less people, and somehow we managed to get to about 350 million people. All with the mobile phones and big screen TVs, and now electric vehicles and laptops, and blahdy, blahdy, blah. How this thing is still running is a miracle. It really is it. It obviously is Yolanda Padron: delamination and bottom line. Failures and blades are  Allen Hall: difficult problems to detect early. These hidden issues can cost you millions in repairs and lost energy production. C-I-C-N-D-T are specialists to detect these critical flaws before they become expensive burdens. Their non-destructive test technology penetrates deep into the label materials. To find voids and cracks. Traditional inspections completely. Miss [00:39:00] C-I-C-N-D-T Maps. Every critical defect delivers actionable reports and provides support to get your blades back in service. So visit cic ndt.com because catching blade problems early will save you millions. So G Renova was ordered by the courts just recently to stay at Vineyard Wind. Vineyard. Wind had. Filed a complaint that, um, GE was gonna leave the site, uh, off the coast of Massachusetts at the end of April. That obviously caused some concern with vineyard winds, so they went to court, sort of bypass the arbitration process. According GE went straight to court to get an injunction to prevent GE from moving on. Well, they have that injunction now, and GE has to stay on at least for about the next 60 days. If I read this right. Then there’s gonna be more court proceedings. GE is trying to get it back into arbitration where they can do some negotiation, but it’s all about big, big dollars.[00:40:00] The one thing that came out with Scott Straza, uh, Q1 discussion, which was uh, a phone call today, had to do with the completion of GE Ver Nova’s offshore wind projects, and when they could be complete. That includes sort of the doer bank projects in the uk, which I think are gonna wrap up sometime in 2027 to try to get those finished and vineyard wind, which they said was gonna be finished at the end of April. So from a GE Renova standpoint, I think they’re considering vineyard wind to be done at the end of the month and that’s gonna be their position. It was very odd. To hear the CEO of GE Renova talk about something that’s in litigation. ’cause usually that doesn’t happen. But if the company position is, Hey, we’re leaving at the end of April, we’ll see you a vineyard wind. That’s a problem. And let me explain a little bit of the details of this. GE Renova is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, not that far away from vineyard wind, which [00:41:00] is also based in Massachusetts. So you have this corporate entity, which just. Opened an office in Cambridge. It’s really swanky place, not very far from where MIT and Harvard and all the, the elite universities are just outside of Boston. And then you have this vineyard wind project, which is important to the state of Massachusetts where they need that power to happen and they need it to be sustained and needed to run properly inside the state of Massachusetts. There must be huge discussions about this in the state government. Massive discussions about how these two entities have to work together for the next 20 years, and they are really at each other’s throats. That’s not the way you wanna start an offshore project. And Yolanda, you’ve been around some of these offshore projects. Is it always this tense between the OEM and the operator? Is, is this where all these projects end in some sort of disagreement and [00:42:00] separation?  Yolanda Padron: No, I think, I mean, from my experience. There’s usually someone at some point, and it’s usually, I think, I mean the. The owner, but you’ll stop and say, okay, I need to work with this person. I need to work with this company for the next X amount of years. I need to make sure that they give me the proper documentation once I need it. I need to make sure that they’re doing things in good faith. You know, I mean, if I can’t, it’s not like the technicians have like a camera strapped onto them to, so you can monitor every single blade repair, right? Like you need to make sure that they’re doing things right. Um, and not just patching things up because. Because they’re mad at you. Uh, so, so, no, I think it’s, it’s a little bit crazy to me that no one’s yielding as much. Allen Hall: I think GEs position is we’re gonna give vineyard all the manuals and the equipment would be up and running. You can find somebody to run it. You, you, you think that’s possible On a brand new turbine that [00:43:00] is only one other places on the planet that’s being run, which is over in the uk. Are you gonna be able to find people if GE walks off? Yolanda Padron: I mean, even if you can find people, once GE walks off, it’s like you, you need to be able to train your technicians. You know, like all of these, all of these projects are you, you need to have them in constant supervision. You need to make sure that everything’s working smoothly and you can’t just afford, I don’t know if we’re being really optimistic, like a month of no one touching those turbines. That’s crazy. Like anybody in the wind world is even onshore. Could you imagine if we just walked off a site and just let the wind turbines just be for a month? Like that’s, I mean, I don’t know, I, I’m not super, super well versed in exactly what they’re getting, but are they getting any sort of, at least like technical support? Allen Hall: I don’t think so. No. Yeah,  Yolanda Padron: no rock system, no. Nothing.  Allen Hall: If it all works out like GE wants it to, [00:44:00] no. You get the manuals. You get a, a, a nice, uh. Card in the mail saying Thank you for your business. And that’s it. It, that’s, I think that’s where it’s going.  Nikki Briggs: Doesn’t seem like a good way to, like, doesn’t seem like they’re stand standing behind their product or what they sold. Um, I mean, and it seems like there would be some downstream ramifications for other, other companies that want to buy ge.  Allen Hall: They don’t wanna be in that business. I, I think that’s one of the discussion points that never comes up when the quarterly calls is. Is GE gonna remain in the wind business? Because I think the answer to it is maybe how could a lot, I mean, you said on the financial side of some of these, uh, wind farms and paid attention to the details. If you were losing a billion dollars a year, how long would you be in that business?  Yolanda Padron: I mean, not very long. I think you’d have to change things to make it work. Um, yeah. I mean, I don’t know. I think, [00:45:00] I think it’s one of those things where they’re trying to. Find exactly where they fit into this business, if they still fit in at all. Uh, I really hope they don’t fully back out because of everyone that’s in operations that has GE products out there that’s really gonna need that support. Uh, I think especially for a vineyard’s sake, at the very least that they’ve are doing, that vineyard is doing a better job than a lot of the operators I know at making sure that. Everything you need within operations has been asked for since development and construction. Um, I’m not super, super optimistic about that. Just because like everyone has so many things to do that you don’t like if you’re in development, you don’t always have time to think about. Oh yeah, I really hope they give me the repair manuals in case there’s a lightning strike on the blade at R 20. You know, like it’s just, um, so it’s just. It’s, [00:46:00] it’s just gonna, it’s gonna be a very interesting case study. Whatever they end up doing, I think it’s gonna be something that will be worth following a bit more closely. We’ve seen, there’s been projects where, you know, day one, the OEM just backs off, but that was at least. They knew that, you know, the, the owner knew it two years in advance, and so they tried to get as many people as possible. There were to, to get on those turbines. There were of course mishaps and stuff, um, and it was more of a financial than an engineering decision. Um, but when the decision was made, people knew about it and people had time to act. I mean, people having a week to find, I. Someone to, to, to take care of every single aspect of their site is a little bit insane. Especially, I mean, [00:47:00]with the history of veneer, right? Like, come on, they had a, they had a blade break,  Allen Hall: right? There’s gotta be a lot of questions about the durability. There has to be Right. Even if, even if GEs figured it out, and I think they probably have, and then they’ve put a, a lot of money and time into resolving the issue. You still have to wonder. Is it right? And if you’re vineyard, I think that’s one of the questions is, is it right and could we operate it by ourselves without needing a lot of handholding from ge? Or paying GE more money than we already agreed to, which is probably what’s likely to happen, right? That GE iss gonna ask for more money if they can break the contract legally and renegotiate, that would be a smart move. I think they will try to do it. It’s unfortunate and it causes a lot of grief for a lot of people, but I think GE probably needs to renegotiate and probably Vineyard wants to renegotiate it too ’cause they both feel disgruntled at this point. Yolanda Padron: Yeah, and I think it’s really interesting ’cause we focus a lot on vineyard and just the [00:48:00] way that the OEM and the owner operated with each other just because it gets, it’s so close to such an important part of the country that gets so much PR all the time. It’s just, it kind of sets the mood for a lot of things that go on. So it’s, I mean, it’s not that we’re just picking a lot of vineyards, it’s just really, it’s a really important site just in general from where it is, right? It’s not like it’s in the middle of nowhere. It’s a very important place that gets a lot of attention  Allen Hall: that writes up another episode or the Uptime Wind Energy Podcasts. If today’s discussion sparked any questions or ideas, we’d love to hear from you. Reach out to us on LinkedIn and don’t forget to subscribe. So if you never miss an episode, if you found any value in today’s conversation, I mean any value, please leave us a review. And those reviews, we actually. Take and use to help create the next episode. So send us your notes, send us your comments. Send us what you would like us to discuss. Because the wind energy marketplace and [00:49:00] development are changing so rapidly, it sometimes it’s, it’s faster than we can keep up with. So please send us your ideas. Uh, and anytime you have a chance, please like and subscribe because it really helps other wind energy professionals discover the show. So for Nikki and Yolanda, I’m Alan Hall, and we’ll see you here next week on the Uptime Wind Energy Podcast.

Fluent Fiction - Spanish: Chasing Shadows: A Park Ranger's Dance with the Iberian Lynx Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/es/episode/2026-04-23-22-34-01-es Story Transcript:Es: En la espesa selva de la Sierra de Guadarrama, un mar de verdes desbordaba por todas partes.En: In the dense jungle of the Sierra de Guadarrama, a sea of greens overflowed everywhere.Es: Los pinos altos susurraban con el viento, y la primavera llenaba el aire con el aroma fresco y dulzón de las flores recién abiertas.En: The tall pines whispered with the wind, and spring filled the air with the fresh and sweet scent of freshly opened flowers.Es: Entre este paisaje, una figura se movía con paso decidido.En: Among this landscape, a figure moved with determined steps.Es: Era Luz, una experimentada guardabosques que conocía estos caminos como la palma de su mano.En: It was Luz, an experienced park ranger who knew these trails like the back of her hand.Es: El día había comenzado despejado, con la promesa de una jornada perfecta para la observación de la fauna.En: The day had begun clear, with the promise of a perfect day for wildlife observation.Es: Luz tenía un objetivo claro en mente: capturar el raro lince ibérico con su cámara.En: Luz had a clear objective in mind: to capture the rare Iberian lynx with her camera.Es: Nunca lo había visto en sus años de trabajo, pero la ilusión de documentarlo la mantenía motivada.En: She had never seen it in her years of work, but the excitement of documenting it kept her motivated.Es: A medida que avanzaba, una nube oscura se asomaba en el horizonte.En: As she advanced, a dark cloud loomed on the horizon.Es: Javier y María, sus compañeros de patrulla, habían decidido quedarse en el puesto de vigilancia, seguros de que la tormenta empeoraría.En: Javier and María, her patrol companions, had decided to stay at the watchtower, convinced that the storm would worsen.Es: Pero Luz sentía algo especial en el aire, como si ese día fuese el día, y decidió seguir.En: But Luz felt something special in the air, as if that day was the day, and decided to continue.Es: El bosque estaba lleno de vida.En: The forest was full of life.Es: Pájaros cantaban y pequeños animales correteaban por el suelo cubierto de hojarasca.En: Birds sang, and small animals scurried over the leaf-covered ground.Es: Cada paso acercaba a Luz a su anhelado encuentro.En: Every step brought Luz closer to her longed-for encounter.Es: Su cámara colgaba al frente, lista para capturar lo inesperado.En: Her camera hung at the front, ready to capture the unexpected.Es: De repente, se detuvo.En: Suddenly, she stopped.Es: Un movimiento en el rabillo del ojo.En: A movement in the corner of her eye.Es: Un lince, elegante y majestuoso, en el borde de un risco, observaba el valle.En: A lynx, elegant and majestic, on the edge of a cliff, watching the valley.Es: El corazón de Luz latía rápido.En: Luz's heart beat fast.Es: La tormenta comenzaba a rugir sobre ella, con relámpagos que cruzaban el cielo amenazantes.En: The storm began to roar above her, with lightning threateningly crossing the sky.Es: Con las manos temblorosas, levantó la cámara y sostuvo el aliento.En: With trembling hands, she raised the camera and held her breath.Es: En ese instante, el lince giró la cabeza hacia ella, como sabiendo que era el centro de atención.En: In that instant, the lynx turned its head towards her, as if knowing it was the center of attention.Es: Luz apretó el disparador de la cámara.En: Luz pressed the camera's shutter.Es: Un trueno resonó en el aire, y el lince, en un salto ágil, desapareció entre los árboles.En: A thunder echoed in the air, and the lynx, in an agile leap, disappeared among the trees.Es: La lluvia comenzó a caer, y Luz, empapada, sonrió.En: The rain began to fall, and Luz, drenched, smiled.Es: Había logrado su objetivo.En: She had achieved her goal.Es: Volvió al puesto de vigilancia, cada paso en el barro era un recordatorio de su aventura.En: She returned to the watchtower, each step in the mud a reminder of her adventure.Es: Al llegar, enseñó la foto a Javier y María, la imagen era nítida y perfecta.En: Upon arrival, she showed the photo to Javier and María; the image was sharp and perfect.Es: Luz, a pesar del frío y la humedad, sintió un calor en el corazón.En: Luz, despite the cold and humidity, felt warmth in her heart.Es: Había enfrentado la tormenta, había seguido su instinto, y ahora tenía un testimonio valioso de un tesoro natural.En: She had faced the storm, she had followed her instinct, and now she had a valuable testament of a natural treasure.Es: En ese rincón del bosque, con el sonido de la lluvia como música de fondo, Luz comprendió el verdadero significado de estar en armonía con la naturaleza: aprender a esperar lo inesperado y celebrar cada pequeño milagro.En: In that corner of the forest, with the sound of rain as background music, Luz understood the true meaning of being in harmony with nature: to learn to expect the unexpected and celebrate every little miracle. Vocabulary Words:the jungle: la selvathe scent: el aromathe spring: la primaverathe landscape: el paisajethe park ranger: el/la guardabosquesthe objective: el objetivothe lynx: el lincethe trail: el caminothe storm: la tormentathe watchtower: el puesto de vigilanciathe forest: el bosquethe bird: el pájarothe leaf litter: la hojarascathe valley: el vallethe thunder: el truenothe rain: la lluviathe mud: el barrothe adventure: la aventurathe testament: el testimoniothe miracle: el milagroto scurry: corretearmajestic: majestuoso/ato roar: rugirto disappear: desaparecertrembling: tembloroso/adrenched: empapado/asharp: nítido/ato capture: capturarto threaten: amenazarto achieve: lograr

This week on Sinica: Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez wrapped up his fourth visit to China in as many years last week, and this one may be the most consequential yet. It comes at a moment when Spain has emerged, almost improbably, as the most outspoken voice in Europe challenging the direction of American foreign policy — closing its airspace to U.S. military aircraft involved in the war in Iran, denying Washington the use of the Rota and Morón bases, recognizing Palestine, and getting expelled from the U.S.-led Gaza Coordination Center for its "anti-Israel obsession." Against that backdrop, Sánchez delivered a remarkable speech at Tsinghua University — a speech I wrote about in detail on the Sinica Substack (PM Pedro Sánchez's Tsinghua Speech: A Masterclass in Diplomatic Rhetoric) — defending multilateralism, calling the EU-China trade deficit unsustainable, and naming China "a country rebuilding its greatness."To help make sense of it, I'm joined by Mario Esteban Rodríguez, full professor at the Autonomous University of Madrid, director of its Center for East Asian Studies, and senior fellow at the Elcano Royal Institute. Mario is the scholar most frequently quoted in Spanish and European media coverage of Spain-China relations, and the author most recently of China's Vertical Multilateralism and the Global South (Routledge, 2026). We discuss whether Sánchez is running an updated Merkel playbook or something qualitatively new, how much of the pivot is really about Trump, the sectoral politics of EVs and Iberian pork, the Chery plant in Barcelona, Spain's role as a gateway to Latin America, and whether Madrid is now a trailblazer for a broader European — and transatlantic — reorientation toward Beijing.06:33 — Sánchez's China strategy: pragmatism, consistency, and political capital08:35 — Domestic politics: the PSOE–PP consensus, Vox, and the regional contradiction12:40 — Merkel's playbook vs. Sánchez's: COVID, Ukraine, and the macroeconomic imbalance15:55 — The Tsinghua speech: Matteo Ricci, multipolarity, and the human rights omission28:17 — The Trump factor: Iran, Gaza, and the limits of overestimating the American effect35:48 — Trade, EV tariffs, pork, and Chinese investment in Spain (the Chery plant in Barcelona)47:04 — Agricultural constituencies and the paradox of Vox voters who benefit from China trade49:01 — Spain's influence in Brussels and the conditions for other member states to follow53:09 — Spain as gateway to Latin America, and the wider European (and Canadian) turn to BeijingPaying it Forward: The European Think-Tank Network on China (ETNC) — a network providing country-specific insights on EU member states' approaches to China, including the granular differences and nuances that non-European analysts often miss.RecommendationsMario Esteban: A trip, rather than a book — New Zealand, which he's visiting this summer with his family to mark the 25th anniversary of the release of The Fellowship of the Ring. A nod to his love of Tolkien and tabletop role-playing games (conducted, he is careful to note, in his own basement — not his parents').Kaiser Kuo: CONG — a new large-format magazine published out of Hong Kong (the title is pronounced Kong, though its ambiguous Pinyin-like spelling invites a second reading), now preparing its third issue. Beautifully produced on glossy and textured paper, with broad coverage of the art, culture, and design scene across East and Southeast Asia. Check it out online here: https://www.serakai.studio/congSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hola Chicos! Welcome back to Spanish Loops! Today we talk about one of the most beautiful and honestly, unique traditions in Spain: Sant Jordi in Catalonia.So… who is Saint George? Picture this: a brave knight, a terrifying dragon, and a princessabout to meet her fate. According to the Catalan version of the legend, Saint George slays the dragon and from the dragon's blood, a red rose blooms, which he gives to the princess. And just like that… a symbol of love is born.Fast forward a few centuries, and that legend transforms into something magical.Every April 23rd, Catalonia celebrates Sant Jordi, its patron saint, with streets filled with books and roses everywhere. Think of it as a mix between Valentine's Day and World Book Day, but with way more soul. Traditionally, men gave women roses, and women gave men books, but today, everyone gives bothto everyone. It's about love, culture, and connection.Now here's where it gets even more interesting: the book tradition didn't come from the legend, it was added much later. In 1929, a literary initiative in Barcelona promoted reading, eventually aligning with April 23rd, the symbolic date linkedto literary giants like Cervantes and Shakespeare.So, what you have today is a perfect fusion: Love from the legend and Culture from literature.And trust us, if you've ever walked through Barcelona on that day, it's unforgettable.By the way, Jorge has already captured this magic in a special video on his YouTube channel during a Sant Jordi celebration; the name of his channel is Traveling with Jorge in YouTube. Don't miss it… it brings everything we're talking about to life.Because Sant Jordi isn't just a tradition… it's a feeling.For Jorge: Small Group Tours in Spain & PortugalWebsite: https://travelingwithjorge.com/Small group tours Spain, cultural tours Spain and Portugal, authentic travel experiences, guided tours for mature travelers, food and wine tours Iberian Peninsula.If you're dreaming about discovering Spain and Portugal beyond the typical tourist routes, Jorge designs small group cultural tours that combine history, local gastronomy, wine experiences, and meaningful human connections. His journeys are crafted for curious travelers who value authenticity, comfort, and depth over rushed itineraries. Explore upcoming departures, detailed itineraries, and insider travel insights at TravelingWithJorge.com Your trusted source for unforgettable small group tours in Spain and Portugal.For Fran: Cultural & Gastronomic Tours in Spain & PortugalWebsite: https://travelingsteps.es/Spain cultural tours, Portugal walking tours, food and wine travel Spain, Camino experiences, senior-friendly tours Spain, immersive Iberian travel.Looking for a deeper way to experience Spain and Portugal? Fran at Traveling Steps curates immersive cultural tours that blend history, gastronomy, local traditions, and relaxed walking experiences designed especially for thoughtful, experience-driven travelers. From Mediterranean islands to the Portuguese Camino, each itinerary is built around authentic encounters and meaningful storytelling. Discover upcoming tours, travel guides, and insider advice at TravelingSteps.es and start planning your next unforgettable journey through Spain and Portugal.For Pamplona Fiesta – San Fermín Balcony RentalsWebsite: https://www.pamplonafiesta.com/San Fermín balcony rental, best balcony Running of the Bulls, Pamplona bull run views, VIP balcony San Fermín 2026, safe viewing Encierro Pamplona.Planning to experience the legendary Running of the Bulls in Pamplona? Secure one of the best balcony views in the city with PamplonaFiesta.com Our premium San Fermín balcony rentals offer safe, exclusive, and unforgettable vantage points overlooking the famous Encierro route.Explore availability and book early at PamplonaFiesta.com to guarantee your place above the action.

Hola Chicos! Welcome back to Spanish Loops! Today we talk about one of the most beautiful and honestly, unique traditions in Spain: Sant Jordi in Catalonia.So… who is Saint George? Picture this: a brave knight, a terrifying dragon, and a princessabout to meet her fate. According to the Catalan version of the legend, Saint George slays the dragon and from the dragon's blood, a red rose blooms, which he gives to the princess. And just like that… a symbol of love is born.Fast forward a few centuries, and that legend transforms into something magical.Every April 23rd, Catalonia celebrates Sant Jordi, its patron saint, with streets filled with books and roses everywhere. Think of it as a mix between Valentine's Day and World Book Day, but with way more soul. Traditionally, men gave women roses, and women gave men books, but today, everyone gives bothto everyone. It's about love, culture, and connection.Now here's where it gets even more interesting: the book tradition didn't come from the legend, it was added much later. In 1929, a literary initiative in Barcelona promoted reading, eventually aligning with April 23rd, the symbolic date linkedto literary giants like Cervantes and Shakespeare.So, what you have today is a perfect fusion: Love from the legend and Culture from literature.And trust us, if you've ever walked through Barcelona on that day, it's unforgettable.By the way, Jorge has already captured this magic in a special video on his YouTube channel during a Sant Jordi celebration; the name of his channel is Traveling with Jorge in YouTube. Don't miss it… it brings everything we're talking about to life.Because Sant Jordi isn't just a tradition… it's a feeling.For Jorge: Small Group Tours in Spain & PortugalWebsite: https://travelingwithjorge.com/Small group tours Spain, cultural tours Spain and Portugal, authentic travel experiences, guided tours for mature travelers, food and wine tours Iberian Peninsula.If you're dreaming about discovering Spain and Portugal beyond the typical tourist routes, Jorge designs small group cultural tours that combine history, local gastronomy, wine experiences, and meaningful human connections. His journeys are crafted for curious travelers who value authenticity, comfort, and depth over rushed itineraries. Explore upcoming departures, detailed itineraries, and insider travel insights at TravelingWithJorge.com Your trusted source for unforgettable small group tours in Spain and Portugal.For Fran: Cultural & Gastronomic Tours in Spain & PortugalWebsite: https://travelingsteps.es/Spain cultural tours, Portugal walking tours, food and wine travel Spain, Camino experiences, senior-friendly tours Spain, immersive Iberian travel.Looking for a deeper way to experience Spain and Portugal? Fran at Traveling Steps curates immersive cultural tours that blend history, gastronomy, local traditions, and relaxed walking experiences designed especially for thoughtful, experience-driven travelers. From Mediterranean islands to the Portuguese Camino, each itinerary is built around authentic encounters and meaningful storytelling. Discover upcoming tours, travel guides, and insider advice at TravelingSteps.es and start planning your next unforgettable journey through Spain and Portugal.For Pamplona Fiesta – San Fermín Balcony RentalsWebsite: https://www.pamplonafiesta.com/San Fermín balcony rental, best balcony Running of the Bulls, Pamplona bull run views, VIP balcony San Fermín 2026, safe viewing Encierro Pamplona.Planning to experience the legendary Running of the Bulls in Pamplona? Secure one of the best balcony views in the city with PamplonaFiesta.com Our premium San Fermín balcony rentals offer safe, exclusive, and unforgettable vantage points overlooking the famous Encierro route.Explore availability and book early at PamplonaFiesta.com to guarantee your place above the action.

On this week's episode, AtlasEdge CEO Tesh Durvasula joins Madeline Sherratt to unpack the company's European growth strategy and shifting data centre landscape.Tesh highlights Lisbon as a key hub in AtlasEdge's Iberian expansion, citing strong connectivity, renewable energy, and rising demand. He also explains the rationale behind the sale of nine edge data centres, as the company refocuses on larger, scalable campuses targeting hyperscalers and major enterprises.The discussion explores growth beyond traditional FLAP-D markets, with Germany and Austria emerging as core regions, and why less saturated cities offer faster access to power and permits.Tesh also dives into the impact of AI on infrastructure demand, the push toward localised data processing, and the key challenges facing developers - from supply chain delays to power constraints and capital discipline.NPM is a leading data, intelligence & events company providing business development-led coverage of the US & European power, storage & data centre markets for the development, finance, M&A and corporate community. Download our mobile app.

Growing up with a "normal" Midwestern upbringing, Mark never felt different or disconnected from his family. However, after his father's death, a quest to explore his Portuguese heritage through a DNA test led to the staggering discovery that he was 100% Iberian and had zero Polish blood. Now, he shares his journey of navigating this new reality, confronting a mother whose memories are fading, and connecting with a biological family he never knew existed.Mark can be reached via email markthenpe@gmail.comResources Mentioned:Right to Know Severance Magazine DNA Surprises with Alexis HourseltNPE Stories PatreonNPE Stories facebook pagehttps://www.facebook.com/NPEstories

Welcome back to Spanish Loops. This week, we take on a subject that is as uncomfortable as it is essential: slavery. Not just the version most people immediately associate with the Atlantic world, but a deeper, broader reality that stretches across civilizations and centuries.Slavery has existed since the earliest organized societies. In places like Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, and Ancient Rome, enslaved people were part of the economic and social fabric, building empires, serving elites, and sustaining entire systems of power. Across the Islamic world, including Al-Andalus, slavery also played a significant role, often tied to war, trade, and cultural exchange.But as always, here on Spanish Loops, we zoom in on Spain. The story becomes even more complex when we reach the turning point marked by Portugal reaching East and conquering territories in Africa, and Christopher Columbus's first voyage. From that moment, Spain became another player in a global network that would redefine slavery forever... The transatlantic slave trade.Alongside powers like Portugal, France and United Kingdom, Spain helped shape a system that forcibly moved millions of Africans to the Americas. Enslaved labor fuelled economies, built cities, and left scars that are still visible today. Yet within this harsh reality, there were also stories of resilience and transformation, individuals who rose from enslavement to become influential figures in society, challenging the very systems that bound them.This episode doesn't shy away from the human cost. It explores the moral contradictions, the economic motivations, and the cultural legacies that still echo in modern Spain and beyond. Because understanding slavery isn't just about looking back, it's about recognizing how history shapes identity, inequality, and memory today.Learn, reflect, and question what you thought you knew. In this episode will take you on a journey across time, continents, and perspectives. This is not just history. This is a conversation we still need to have.For Jorge: Small Group Tours in Spain & PortugalWebsite: https://travelingwithjorge.wordpress.com/Small group tours Spain, cultural tours Spain and Portugal, authentic travel experiences, guided tours for mature travelers, food and wine tours Iberian Peninsula.If you're dreaming about discovering Spain and Portugal beyond the typical tourist routes, Jorge designs small group cultural tours that combine history, local gastronomy, wine experiences, and meaningful human connections. His journeys are crafted for curious travelers who value authenticity, comfort, and depth over rushed itineraries. Explore upcoming departures, detailed itineraries, and insider travel insights at TravelingWithJorge.com Your trusted source for unforgettable small group tours in Spain and Portugal.For Fran: Cultural & Gastronomic Tours in Spain & PortugalWebsite: https://travelingsteps.es/Spain cultural tours, Portugal walking tours, food and wine travel Spain, Camino experiences, senior-friendly tours Spain, immersive Iberian travel.Looking for a deeper way to experience Spain and Portugal? Fran at Traveling Steps curates immersive cultural tours that blend history, gastronomy, local traditions, and relaxed walking experiences designed especially for thoughtful, experience-driven travelers. From Mediterranean islands to the Portuguese Camino, each itinerary is built around authentic encounters and meaningful storytelling. Discover upcoming tours, travel guides, and insider advice at TravelingSteps.es and start planning your next unforgettable journey through Spain and Portugal.For Pamplona Fiesta – San Fermín Balcony RentalsWebsite: https://www.pamplonafiesta.com/San Fermín balcony rental, best balcony Running of the Bulls, Pamplona bull run views, VIP balcony San Fermín 2026, safe viewing Encierro Pamplona.

Atravesamos todos los climas musicales del planeta, andándonos por las ramas y raíces de todas las músicas. Es un viaje que nos lleva por Finlandia, Irlanda, Inglaterra, Flandes, Colombia, Cuba y Brasil, con conexiones francesas e ibéricas, hecho a base de rutilantes estrenos discográficos. We move through all the musical climates of the planet, wandering along the branches and roots of all kinds of music. It's a journey that takes us through Finland, Ireland, England, Flanders, Colombia, Cuba and Brazil, with French and Iberian connections, built on a series of dazzling new releases. – Polenta - Polka quarantine - Matkaaja – Jenni Venäläinen - Happo - Nordic notes #200 [V.A.] – Seán McKeon - The Salamanca / Trim the velvet - Salamanca – Agent Starling - Meet me at the souk - Surrealista.enigma.musica – Warmoes - Orlando - De binnenbuiten – G Combo - Transilvania express - De la rama a la raíz – Anamaría Oramas - Flor de limón - Ramas lejanas – Revolución Guapachosa - Caballa - Guachafita – Pixvae - Y no he visto na - De lado a lado – Mansfarroll - Guajira y konkoba - África sí – Rua das Pretas - Capoeira é minha escola - Povo brasileiro – (Revolución Guapachosa - El lobo - Guachafita) Mansfarroll (Fred Boutleux)

Hola Chicos, welcome back to Spanish Loops. This week, we're stepping inside one of the most structured, fascinating systems in the world: the hierarchy of the Catholic Church. You've seen the titles: Pope, bishop, priest, but what do they actually mean? And more importantly… Why is it all organized this way?Let's break it down, simple and clear.At the very top, you have the Pope. Think of him as the spiritual leader of over a billion Catholics worldwide. But this isn't just about authority, it's about unity. The role exists to keep the Church connected, consistent, and guided under one vision.Then comes the bishops. These are the ones in charge of entire regions, called dioceses. They're like the bridge between the global Church and local communities. Their job? Oversight, teaching...Below them, priests. These are the people you actually see every week celebrating Mass, guiding communities, being present in everyday life. They're the closest link between the Church and the people.And yes, there are more layers... Archbishops, Cardinals..., but here's the key idea: this structure isn't random. It's been shaped over centuries to maintain order, preserve tradition, and allow the Church to function on a global scale without losing its local connection.So why this hierarchy? Because when an institution spans continents, cultures, and centuries, structure becomes essential. It's not just about power: it's about responsibility, continuity, and identity.By the end of this episode, you won't just know who's who. You'll understand why it all works the way it does.Let's Loop in.For Jorge: Small Group Tours in Spain & PortugalWebsite: https://travelingwithjorge.wordpress.com/Small group tours Spain, cultural tours Spain and Portugal, authentic travel experiences, guided tours for mature travelers, food and wine tours Iberian Peninsula.If you're dreaming about discovering Spain and Portugal beyond the typical tourist routes, Jorge designs small group cultural tours that combine history, local gastronomy, wine experiences, and meaningful human connections. His journeys are crafted for curious travelers who value authenticity, comfort, and depth over rushed itineraries. Explore upcoming departures, detailed itineraries, and insider travel insights at TravelingWithJorge.com Your trusted source for unforgettable small group tours in Spain and Portugal.For Fran: Cultural & Gastronomic Tours in Spain & PortugalWebsite: https://travelingsteps.es/Spain cultural tours, Portugal walking tours, food and wine travel Spain, Camino experiences, senior-friendly tours Spain, immersive Iberian travel.Looking for a deeper way to experience Spain and Portugal? Fran at Traveling Steps curates immersive cultural tours that blend history, gastronomy, local traditions, and relaxed walking experiences designed especially for thoughtful, experience-driven travelers. From Mediterranean islands to the Portuguese Camino, each itinerary is built around authentic encounters and meaningful storytelling. Discover upcoming tours, travel guides, and insider advice at TravelingSteps.es and start planning your next unforgettable journey through Spain and Portugal.For PamplonaFiesta – San Fermín Balcony RentalsWebsite: https://www.pamplonafiesta.com/San Fermín balcony rental, best balcony Running of the Bulls, Pamplona bull run views, VIP balcony San Fermin 2026, safe viewing Encierro Pamplona.Planning to experience the legendary Running of the Bulls in Pamplona? Secure one of the best balcony views in the city with PamplonaFiesta.com Our premium San Fermín balcony rentals offer safe, exclusive, and unforgettable vantage points overlooking the famous Encierro route. Whether it's your first visit or a return to the thrill of San Fermín 2026, we provide trusted, centrally located balconies for the ultimate Pamplona experience. Explore availability and book early at PamplonaFiesta.com to guarantee your place above the action.

Barcelona is famous for its modern life, stunning architecture, and Mediterranean energy, but its story began more than two thousand years ago.In this episode of Spanish Loops, we travel back to the origins of the city when the Romans founded Barcino, a small but strategic colony on the northeastern coast of the Iberian Peninsula. Long before Barcelona became a global destination, this Roman settlement grew under the shadow of Tarraco, the powerful capital of Roman Hispania.But the story of the region begins even earlier. Greek traders, Iberian tribes, and Mediterranean merchants were already shaping the culture and economy of this coastline before Rome arrived.Together we explore how the Romans designed the city, why they chose this location, and how their influence transformed the area forever. From the ancient Roman streets beneath today's Gothic Quarter to the hidden remains of temples, walls, and aqueducts, the foundations of Barcelona are still visible today.Join us on Spanish Loops as we uncover the ancient origins of Barcelona and the Roman legacy that still defines the city more than two millennia later.Because every great city has a beginning.And Barcelona began with Rome.

While the world watches the Academy Awards, Spanish Loops revisits the extraordinary story of Sara Montiel, the very first Spanish woman to achieve major success in Hollywood.Born in La Mancha and first discovered after winning a local radio singing contest, Sara Montiel built her early career in Mexico before marrying acclaimed Hollywood director Anthony Mann and entering the American film industry during its golden era.At a time when Spain was under the dictatorship of Francisco Franco, Montiel became a symbol of glamour, independence, and female empowerment. Her return to Spain challenged conservative norms through cinema, music, public image, and personal freedom.In this episode, Fran and I explore:Sara Montiel's Hollywood breakthrough; Her Mexican cinema years; Her marriage and influence in the U.S. industry, Her controversial love life and adoptions, Her legacy as a pioneer for Spanish actors abroad, and some personal anecdotes. A story of ambition, fame, controversy, feminism, and resilience, long before globalization made international stardom common.1 For Jorge: Small Group Tours in Spain & PortugalWebsite: https://travelingwithjorge.wordpress.com/Small group tours Spain, cultural tours Spain and Portugal, authentic travel experiences, guided tours for mature travelers, food and wine tours Iberian Peninsula.If you're dreaming about discovering Spain and Portugal beyond the typical tourist routes, Jorge designs small group cultural tours that combine history, local gastronomy, wine experiences, and meaningful human connections. His journeys are crafted for curious travelers who value authenticity, comfort, and depth over rushed itineraries. Explore upcoming departures, detailed itineraries, and insider travel insights at TravelingWithJorge.com Your trusted source for unforgettable small group tours in Spain and Portugal. 2 For Fran: Cultural & Gastronomic Tours in Spain & PortugalWebsite: https://travelingsteps.es/Spain cultural tours, Portugal walking tours, food and wine travel Spain, Camino experiences, senior-friendly tours Spain, immersive Iberian travel.Looking for a deeper way to experience Spain and Portugal? Fran at Traveling Steps curates immersive cultural tours that blend history, gastronomy, local traditions, and relaxed walking experiences designed especially for thoughtful, experience-driven travelers. From Mediterranean islands to the Portuguese Camino, each itinerary is built around authentic encounters and meaningful storytelling. Discover upcoming tours, travel guides, and insider advice at TravelingSteps.es and start planning your next unforgettable journey through Spain and Portugal. 3 For PamplonaFiesta – San Fermín Balcony RentalsWebsite: https://www.pamplonafiesta.com/San Fermín balcony rental, best balcony Running of the Bulls, Pamplona bull run views, VIP balcony San Fermin 2026, safe viewing Encierro Pamplona.Planning to experience the legendary Running of the Bulls in Pamplona? Secure one of the best balcony views in the city with PamplonaFiesta.com Our premium San Fermín balcony rentals offer safe, exclusive, and unforgettable vantage points overlooking the famous Encierro route. Whether it's your first visit or a return to the thrill of San Fermín 2026, we provide trusted, centrally located balconies for the ultimate Pamplona experience. Explore availability and book early at PamplonaFiesta.com to guarantee your place above the action.

Ralph welcomes sociologist and historian Behrooz Ghamari-Tabrizi to discuss the United States' war of aggression on Iran.Behrooz Ghamari-Tabrizi is an Iranian-born American historian and sociologist. He is a Research Fellow at the Center for Place, Culture, and Politics at the CUNY Graduate Center. He was the Chair of the Department of Near Eastern Studies and Director of the Sharmin and Bijan Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Iran and Persian Gulf Studies at Princeton University. He is the author of four books on different aspects and historical context of the Iranian revolution of 1979 and its aftermath.The only countries that I see that are in constant violation of international law is the United States and Israel. And frankly, I am speechless, although I'm speaking, but I am speechless—in what universe can this war be justified as self-defense? You listened to Secretary Rubio's speech in Munich where he laments 400 years of colonial rule being lost to this international law and laws of fighting wars because they want to go back to the way things were in the 18th and 19th century. This is a naked expansionist, extortionist administration here, and that's the only reason they have launched this war, and there is absolutely no justification for it.Behrooz Ghamari-TabriziFor years and years, the Israelis have been assassinating Iranian scientists. They were sabotaging Iranian industries. And actually, the Iranian government showed tremendous restraint in responding to these Israeli provocations because they didn't want to create the situation in which we find ourselves today. But then at the end of the day, calling Iran the aggressor here I think is a total ignorance of history and the context in which this war has started.Behrooz Ghamari-TabriziAll these things are not to suggest that the Iranian government in any form or shape is a democratic and just state. But the question here is about the sovereignty of the Iranian state. And the only inheritance of the revolution that has been kept throughout these forty-odd years was the question of sovereignty. Because that was one of the demands of the revolution. The question of social justice was thrown out of the window after the revolution. The question of civil liberties was thrown out of the window after the revolution. The only thing that is left is Iranian sovereignty. And according to every single intelligence study, what Iranians do outside their borders is a defensive posture. Iran does not have an expansionist agenda.Behrooz Ghamari-TabriziNews 3/6/26* Last week, Bill and Hillary Clinton testified before the House Oversight Committee on their respective relationships with financier and sexual predator, Jeffrey Epstein. Hillary Clinton, in a deposition described as contentious, maintained that she had virtually zero connections with Epstein, stating at one point “I am so tired of answering that question,” per PBS. Former President Bill Clinton meanwhile, tried to downplay his relationship with Epstein, describing it as “cordial,” and claiming that he had come to an arrangement with Epstein where the financier provided his private jet for humanitarian trips in exchange for Clinton discussing politics and economics with him. The committee pressed Clinton on this point, noting that Epstein visited the White House numerous times during Clinton's presidency and that there are photos of the two men shaking hands. Clinton told lawmakers he “did not recall those interactions.” These answers leave much to be desired.* Meanwhile, another Epstein associate occupies the Oval Office today – Donald Trump – and on February 26th the Wall Street Journal reported that the Department of Justice, under the stewardship of Attorney General Pam Bondi, has been withholding interviews with a woman who accused President Donald Trump of sexual assault back in the 1980s. As the Journal writes, the suppression of this interview “raises new questions about the Justice Department's handling of the Epstein files release and the pages that have been kept private.” The Journal adds that “Trump officials initially opposed the release of the files and then fumbled their response, including inconsistent redactions that exposed dozens of Epstein victims and initially kept some prominent men's names hidden.” However, on March 5th, POLITICO reported that the FBI has now published a trio of FBI interviews with the woman who accused the president of sexually assaulting her in collusion with Jeffrey Epstein. Trump and his allies categorically deny any wrongdoing on the part of the president, with White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt calling the allegations “completely baseless…backed by zero credible evidence, from a sadly disturbed woman who has an extensive criminal history.” This story also highlights what is sure to be the next flashpoint in this saga: on Wednesday, a House committee voted to subpoena Attorney General Pam Bondi to testify about her handling of the Epstein files.* Turning to media news, last week we covered how Paramount-Skydance, led by the Ellison family and backed by the Trump administration, outmaneuvered Netflix to close a deal acquiring Warner Bros. Discovery – including CNN. Throughout this process, many have raised the alarm that if the Ellisons were to get their hands on CNN, they would turn it over to their ideological attack dog, Bari Weiss, as they did with CBS News. Variety is now echoing those concerns, reporting that “It's expected that Weiss will have a big role in steering CNN.” Just what exactly this role will be remains to be seen, but given her tenure as editor-in-chief of CBS News, there is much cause for concern.* In related news, Variety reports Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav has filed to sell 4,004,149 shares – over $114 million worth of stock – in the company following the announcement of the sale to Paramount, including Paramount's eye-popping offer of $31 per share. Zaslav retains additional stock and options which he could cash out as the deal moves forward. Curiously, even as the Trump administration backed the Paramount buyout over the Netflix deal, the president himself continues to bank on the fiscal stability of the streaming giant, with the Hollywood Reporter documenting that Trump bought between $600,000 and $1.25 million worth of Netflix debt in January, adding to the $500,000 to $1 million in Netflix bonds that he purchased in December. This story notes that while the Netflix-Warner deal fell through, Netflix walked away with a $2.8 billion “break-up fee,” and an investment grade credit rating, unlike both WBD and Paramount.* Looking at domestic politics, this week primaries were held in Texas and North Carolina which yielded the nomination of James Talarico in Texas, beating out Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett for the Democratic nod, and the razor thin victory of incumbent Valerie Foushee over her progressive challenger Nida Allam in the Durham-Chapel Hill region. But many more primary battles lay ahead, perhaps the most interesting of which is unfolding in Maine, where the Bernie Sanders-backed veteran-turned-oysterman Graham Platner is duking it out with Chuck Schumer's preferred candidate, outgoing Governor Janet Mills. Platner, despite damaging stories, has continued to draw massive crowds and enjoys a huge polling advantage. Last week, Platner's allies, led by United Autoworkers President Shawn Fain, staged a sort of intervention with Schumer, with Fain lambasting the “shortcomings” in Democratic leaders' approach to the 2026 midterms, “particularly their failure to adequately listen to working-class voters.” Michael Monahan, a high-level official in the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, also sent a letter to the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee strongly urging the DSCC to “refrain from intervening further in [the Maine] primary.” A mid-February independent poll found Platner with a 38-point lead over Mills among likely Democratic primary voters, yet the party continues to back Mills to the hilt. This from NBC.* Our remaining stories this week concern foreign affairs. First, in South Africa, it seems the forces of the Left are looking to pool their support by entering into a political alliance. According to TimesLIVE, a prominent South African online newspaper, the country's largest standalone Left party, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has convened with the South African Communist Party (SACP) to discuss such an electoral pact. The SACP has long participated in a tripartite alliance with the African National Congress party (ANC), which has ruled South Africa since the end of Apartheid, but recently announced they would contest elections independently. The EFF and SACP emphasized that their priorities align on the “deep crises confronting South Africa: de-industrialisation, austerity-driven fiscal consolidation, collapsing energy security, mass unemployment, and extreme poverty.”* In another major political realignment, the Green Party of England and Wales is surging as the Labour Party, under the centrist leadership of Prime Minister Keir Starmer, continues to lose ground to the Nigel Farage-led far right party, Reform UK. The rise of the Green Party has been bubbling for some time, as progressive voters feel betrayed by Labour and the momentum behind Jeremy Corbyn's “Your Party” has fizzled, but the first major test occurred recently in the Labour stronghold riding of Groton and Denton in Greater Manchester. According to the BBC, this marks the first ever win for the Greens in a by-election, with 34-year-old plumber Hannah Spencer becoming the party's first ever MP in northern England. Reform ran second, with Labour dropping by 25% into third place. Moreover, Zeteo reports the Greens have leapfrogged ahead of Labour in national polling, second only to Reform and has become the single most popular party among voters under 50. For the past five months, the Greens have been led by self-described “eco-populist” Zack Polanski, and have espoused policies including giving councils the power to control rents, extending free school meals to all children, and imposing a new ‘wealth tax' on assets above £10m.* In Congress, Representative Ro Khanna has introduced the West Bank Human Rights Resolution to Condemn Israeli Settlement Expansion. This resolution is described as utilizing far more specific language to condemn “Israeli settler violence and referencing potential sanctions tools while also calling for a review of US policies that may indirectly subsidise settlement activity,” per the Middle East Eye. In part, this resolution is a response to the Israeli government's February 8th approval of “sweeping changes to land registration and civil control in Areas A and B of the West Bank, which Palestinians say breach the Oslo Accords and advance de facto annexation.” This resolution was drafted in conjunction with Cameron Kasky, the survivor of the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting who has become a leading activist on rights for Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. In a statement upon the introduction of this resolution, Kasky wrote “this is a necessary measure for Democrats and Republicans to unite behind the upholding of international law. Democrats and Republicans can agree that U.S. taxpayer money being used to subsidize the violation of international law is an outrage.”* Our final two stories concern the U.S. attacks on Iran. First, a bizarre sequence of conflicting claims between the U.S. and Spain have left many observers puzzled. First, on March 3rd, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez addressed the Iberian nation, saying “Very often great wars start with a chain of events spiralling out of control due to miscalculations, technical failures, and unforeseen circumstances. Therefore, we must learn from history and cannot play Russian roulette with the fate of millions.” Sánchez warned of “repeating the mistakes of the past,” and drew a comparison with the invasion of Iraq, concluding his government's position is “No to war,” per CNBC. More pointedly, the Spanish government prevented two jointly operated bases in its territory from being used in the strikes on Iran. Trump responded on the 4th by vowing to cut off all trade with Madrid, saying “Spain has been terrible…We don't want anything to do with Spain.” Then, on March 5th, Karoline Leavitt told the press that “With respect to Spain, I think they heard the president's message yesterday loud and clear, and it's my understanding, over the past several hours, they've agreed to cooperate with the U.S. military.” Yet, the Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares immediately responded that “The Spanish government's position on the war in the Middle East ... and the use of our bases has not changed at all.” This also from CNBC. Trump's threat to cut off trade with Spain would be difficult to follow through on, given that the 27 nations in the European Union negotiate trade agreements collectively,* Finally, far from assuaging concerns about the attacks on Iran leading to blowback, the Hill reports that, when asked during a phone call with Time magazine about whether Americans should be worried about a potential strike on the homeland, Trump replied, “I guess.” Trump went on to say “We think about it all the time. We plan for it. But yeah…we expect some things…some people will die. When you go to war, some people will die.” Stunningly, despite Trump openly declaring that we are at war with Iran sans congressional authorization and even casually admitting Americans could be killed on home soil, the feckless Congress has voted down War Powers resolutions in the House and Senate. In the upper house, the bill introduced by Democratic Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia, failed 47-53, with Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky crossing party lines to support it while Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania crossed party lines to vote nay, per the AP. A similar measure in the House, introduced by Reps. Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie – the duo behind the Epstein Files Transparency Act and other war powers resolutions including on Venezuela – failed by a vote of 212-219. In addition to Massie, Republican Rep. Warren Davison of Ohio voted in favor of the resolution, while four House Democrats voted nay, per Axios. Again the question is presented to us, if this won't shock Congress to action, what will?This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe

Welcome back everyone to another panel session. In light of all the stories of extreme weather and emergencies around the Iberian peninsula and other parts of Europe in the past months, we're going to take a closer look at the realities on the ground for our farmers. These storms and floods are becoming more and more common and frequent, and though we've talked in the past about the need to adapt to an increasingly erratic climate, these points of catastrophe are an essential part of the conversation. In this session we'll hear from three farmers in Iberia and their experiences of enduring the constant storms and service interruptions of the past months. We'll also explore how they are recovering from the disasters, how they plan to mitigate these events in the future, as well as a longer term view towards adaptation in the face of increasing frequency of events like this. In order to get a deeper sense of the impacts and challenges brought by the storms, flooding and erosion that our panelists experienced on their farms, I encouraged them to share pictures and videos of their land in the aftermath. Obviously these images can't be conveyed over audio, so if you want to see what we were looking at in the introductions, you can see the video version of the panel session on the Climate Farmer's YouTube channel or through the links in the resources page on our website at ClimateFarmers.org. So with all that out of the way, let's jump into this month's session.

At PDAC 2026, Ian Wagner speaks with Jason Mercier of Pan Global Resources about advancing its copper and tin discoveries in Spain. The company outlined its 36-million-tonne maiden resource, plans to drill 10,000 meters in 2026, and its strategy to grow toward a 100-million-tonne standalone operation.

Wolves and other apex predators play a critical role in their ecosystems,, but they are often feared and vilified by humans. Katie Stacey explores this tension in her book No Paradise with Wolves. The book follows the journey of Katie and her partner as they restore their farm in Northern Spain, while simultaneously learning about and advocating for protection of the local environment, specifically the Iberian wolf. Katie shares insights from years of conservation storytelling and her lived experiences. Her story is an inspiring example of how humans can coexist with other species, even the "big, bag wolf." Resources discussed in this episode:No Paradise with Wolves bookWild FincaWild Finca InstagramThe Wild ShiftHow Wolves Change RiversRebecca HoskinsWilding bookBraiding Sweetgrass bookThe Wildlife TrustsRSPBHave an idea for an episode? You can email host Jennifer Hetzel at sustainablygeeky@gmail.com.Like the show? Support us at Buy Me a Coffee, and rate/review us wherever you listen. You can also find us on Facebook, X and Instagram.Listen and subscribe to the show on iTunes, Spotify, Pandora, Amazon Music, Audible, and YouTube.

Written by Professor Santiago Fouz-Hernández (Durham University), The Films of Bigas Luna (Manchester UP, 2025) is the first comprehensive English-language study of the complete filmography of Spanish filmmaker Bigas Luna, spanning from Tatuaje (1976) to DiDi Hollywood (2010).Engaging with theoretical frameworks such as haptic cinema, erotic cinema, auteur theory, and studies of gender, sexuality, and national identity, the book situates close readings of Bigas Luna's films within broader discussions of production and marketing. Fouz Hernández draws on extensive archival research―including original screenplays, press materials, and interviews with industry professionals―while engaging with previous scholarship in multiple languages.Structured into five thematic chapters, the book explores key concerns in Bigas Luna's work, including genre, gender representation, Iberian and Mediterranean identities, and meta-cinematic narratives. It can be read as a cohesive study of his oeuvre or as a reference for specific films. The interview is hosted by Dr Fiona Noble, Lecturer in Spanish and Latin American Studies at the University of Stirling, Scotland, and the author of Subversive Spanish Cinema: The Politics of Performance (Bloomsbury, 2020). 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

Written by Professor Santiago Fouz-Hernández (Durham University), The Films of Bigas Luna (Manchester UP, 2025) is the first comprehensive English-language study of the complete filmography of Spanish filmmaker Bigas Luna, spanning from Tatuaje (1976) to DiDi Hollywood (2010).Engaging with theoretical frameworks such as haptic cinema, erotic cinema, auteur theory, and studies of gender, sexuality, and national identity, the book situates close readings of Bigas Luna's films within broader discussions of production and marketing. Fouz Hernández draws on extensive archival research―including original screenplays, press materials, and interviews with industry professionals―while engaging with previous scholarship in multiple languages.Structured into five thematic chapters, the book explores key concerns in Bigas Luna's work, including genre, gender representation, Iberian and Mediterranean identities, and meta-cinematic narratives. It can be read as a cohesive study of his oeuvre or as a reference for specific films. The interview is hosted by Dr Fiona Noble, Lecturer in Spanish and Latin American Studies at the University of Stirling, Scotland, and the author of Subversive Spanish Cinema: The Politics of Performance (Bloomsbury, 2020). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/film

Written by Professor Santiago Fouz-Hernández (Durham University), The Films of Bigas Luna (Manchester UP, 2025) is the first comprehensive English-language study of the complete filmography of Spanish filmmaker Bigas Luna, spanning from Tatuaje (1976) to DiDi Hollywood (2010).Engaging with theoretical frameworks such as haptic cinema, erotic cinema, auteur theory, and studies of gender, sexuality, and national identity, the book situates close readings of Bigas Luna's films within broader discussions of production and marketing. Fouz Hernández draws on extensive archival research―including original screenplays, press materials, and interviews with industry professionals―while engaging with previous scholarship in multiple languages.Structured into five thematic chapters, the book explores key concerns in Bigas Luna's work, including genre, gender representation, Iberian and Mediterranean identities, and meta-cinematic narratives. It can be read as a cohesive study of his oeuvre or as a reference for specific films. The interview is hosted by Dr Fiona Noble, Lecturer in Spanish and Latin American Studies at the University of Stirling, Scotland, and the author of Subversive Spanish Cinema: The Politics of Performance (Bloomsbury, 2020). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Written by Professor Santiago Fouz-Hernández (Durham University), The Films of Bigas Luna (Manchester UP, 2025) is the first comprehensive English-language study of the complete filmography of Spanish filmmaker Bigas Luna, spanning from Tatuaje (1976) to DiDi Hollywood (2010).Engaging with theoretical frameworks such as haptic cinema, erotic cinema, auteur theory, and studies of gender, sexuality, and national identity, the book situates close readings of Bigas Luna's films within broader discussions of production and marketing. Fouz Hernández draws on extensive archival research―including original screenplays, press materials, and interviews with industry professionals―while engaging with previous scholarship in multiple languages.Structured into five thematic chapters, the book explores key concerns in Bigas Luna's work, including genre, gender representation, Iberian and Mediterranean identities, and meta-cinematic narratives. It can be read as a cohesive study of his oeuvre or as a reference for specific films. The interview is hosted by Dr Fiona Noble, Lecturer in Spanish and Latin American Studies at the University of Stirling, Scotland, and the author of Subversive Spanish Cinema: The Politics of Performance (Bloomsbury, 2020). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/popular-culture

Welcome back to the EUVC Podcast, where we bring you the people and perspectives shaping European venture.In this pitch episode, Andreas Munk Holm sits down with Pedro Ribeiro Santos, Partner at Armilar, to walk LPs through the story, strategy, and succession plan behind Armilar Fund IV — the firm's new pan-European early-stage fund.Armilar is one of Europe's longest-standing independent tech VCs and Portugal's original venture firm. Born inside a bank 25 years ago, spun out almost a decade ago, and now a multi-generational partnership, the firm has backed some of Portugal's most important tech companies and quietly built a track record of dragons (fund-returners), not just unicorns.Fund IV doubles down on what the team knows best: early-stage, tech-intensive companies across data, digitalization, and connectivity, with a strong focus on Portugal & Spain and selective investments across the rest of Europe.ShareHere's what's covered:01:17 | What is “Armilar”?02:30 | Origins & Spinout 03:40 | Why being based in Portugal with almost no local ecosystem 04:50 | From US to Europe, Then Back Home 07:22 | Fund IV in a Nutshell 09:44 | Geography & LP Backbone11:41 | Track Record, DPI & Dragons 13:51 | Selected Portfolio & Staying Power 16:19 | Team & Generational Design 21:38 | Iberia's State of Play (Portugal & Spain) 27:45 | Golden Visa & LP Angle 29:29 | Closing & What LPs Should Care About

Dragones en el páramo galáctico Dragons on the galactic moor Músicas tan variopintas como el mundo nos sorprenden en esta edición de Mundofonías, hablándonos de dragones, lágrimas, perlas, ramas, páramos, sopas, aperitivos, voces, huellas, casamientos y descasamientos. Suena música con aires de Armenia, Albania, Alemania, los Balcanes, los países nórdicos y los ibéricos, Argentina, Perú y Colombia, a partir de muy recientes ediciones discográficas que nos ofrecen mil tratamientos a partir de la música de raíz, desde rudas guitarras a los ecos de las voces indígenas. Music as diverse as the world itself surprises us in this edition of Mundofonías, speaking of dragons, tears, pearls, branches, moors, soups, appetisers, voices, footprints, weddings and unweddings. We hear music with flavours of Armenia, Albania, Germany, the Balkans, the Nordic and the Iberian countries, Argentina, Peru and Colombia, drawn from very recent record releases that offer a thousand different approaches to root music, from raw guitars to the echoes of indigenous voices. - Victoria Alexanyan - Yerangi - Vishap - Hersi Matmuja & Jacopo Conoci - Dada - Lum - Borsch4Breakfast - Borsch auf dem Gelben Wagen - Appetizer - Maria Kalaniemi & Pekko Käppi - Maanitus - Tåreportens pärla - Trio Mio - Ping syndrome - Dansant - Gangar - BomBom [+ Synnøve Brøndbo Plassen, Martin Steinum Brun, Karl Seglem] - BomBom [single] - El Naán - A la rama - Versos del páramo negro - Magalí Sare - Sirviñaco - Descasada, vol. 1 - Ranil y su Conjunto Tropical - Galaxia tropical - Galaxia tropical - Yeison Landero - Época de oro - Landero vive - Yaki Kandru - Canto de amor wayana / Río negro / Edanaka - Voces huellas 📸 El Naán

Spain is not a single story. It's a living archive of human history. And it's written in our DNA.In this episode of Spanish Loops, Fran and I explore Spanish heritage and the extraordinary mix of cultures that shaped the people of the Iberian Peninsula. This land has never been the edge of Europe; it has always been a crossroads. For thousands of years, civilizations passed through, settled, mixed, and moved on leaving behind genetic, cultural, and historical fingerprints that still define Spain today.Celts, Romans, Phoenicians, Visigoths, Sephardic Jews, North African populations, and centuries of Islamic presence all contributed to what we now call Iberian ancestry. In this conversation, we explore how migration, coexistence, conflict, and exchange shaped Spanish identity not just in monuments or traditions, but deep inside our genes.Fran shares his own DNA results. Jorge shares his. Together, we go beyond percentages and colourful maps to explain what ancestry tests really mean and what they don't. Because there is no such thing as “pure” Spanish blood. (Almost)What exists instead is one of the most complex and fascinating genetic mosaics in Europe.This episode connects history, genetics, and modern Spanish culture to answer questions many people ask but few explore deeply.Why does Spain feel so layered?Why do traditions, food, accents, and attitudes change from region to region?Why does Spain sit culturally between Europe, Africa, and the Mediterranean world?Understanding Iberian DNA heritage helps us understand modern Spain, its diversity, its contradictions, and its richness. It also reminds us that identity is not about borders or labels, but about movement, adaptation, and shared humanity.If you're curious about ancestry, fascinated by human migration, or looking to understand Spain beyond clichés, this episode of Spanish Loops will change how you see the past and how you see yourself.Listen now and discover how history still lives inside us.

Dedicamos la primera parte del programa al repaso de los tres discos favoritos de Mundofonías de febrero del 2026, que nos traen los músicos malienses Neba Solo & Benego Diakité, el francés migratorio Jocelyn Mienniel y los italianos del Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino. Continuamos en Italia, con un homenaje al músico y profesional de otros ámbitos de la música Erasmo Treglia, para desembocar en la crónica del festival Sur Jahan, en Bengala Occidental, en la India, escuchando músicas ibéricas, bengalíes, letonas y danesas que sonaron por allí. We devote the first part of the programme to a review of Mundofonías’ three favourite albums of February 2026, brought to us by the Malian musicians Neba Solo & Benego Diakité, the French migratory artist Jocelyn Mienniel and the Italian group Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino. We continue in Italy with a tribute to the musician and professional in other areas of music Erasmo Treglia, before moving on to a chronicle of the Sur Jahan festival in West Bengal, in India, listening to Iberian, Bengali, Latvian and Danish music that was played there. Favoritos de febrero February favorites - Neba Solo & Benego Diakité - Kodonaw - A djinn and a hunter went walking - Jocelyn Mienniel - Mina zuki - Les instruments migrateurs - Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino - A mmera a Lecce - Il mito Erasmo Treglia y Sur Jahan Erasmo Treglia and Sur Jahan - Acquaragia Drom - Tammuriata del camafro - Mister Romanò - Vigüela - La tía Pitita (peretas) - We - Girish Mandal - Ami jar ghare bas kori - Baul vol. 1: a compilation of Baul songs [V.A.] - Saucējas - Prūjom juoīt, prūjom juoīt - Trīci, munu ustabeni! - Svøbsk - Den langfingrede - Sorgenfri - Zafir - Citywalk-women's talk - Klang i natten Crónica: Report: - Sur Jahan (IN) In memoriam: - Erasmo Treglia

Send us a textWhat if a theme park felt like one sweeping coastline, where every turn on the path opened to another country across the water? We set our sights on the Mediterranean and build a Disney-style destination that blends living folklore, IP favorites, and seaside hospitality—sparked by the bright kick of a limoncello mule.We start with two complementary master plans. One, Solaria Kingdom, assembles five distinct lands—Italy, Greece, Iberia, Arabia and Persia, plus a Star Wars nod to Tunisia—around lagoons and layered sightlines. The other shapes a horseshoe park on Valencia's coast with a rotating marble-and-gold wishing star as the icon, visible from every land and designed to harmonize with Greek temples and Spanish bell towers. Both approaches favor connected views: castles and stars that “translate” architecturally from different vantage points, giving each land its own face while preserving a unified world.IP comes to life through culture-forward design. Star Wars: Villains of Mos Eisley embraces Tatooine's cinematic roots with a sandcrawler shop, a build-your-own remote pod racer, and a Boonta Eve race that pits four vehicles side by side on a desert track. Italy's Porto Fantasia pairs Pinocchio with Luca in a Vespa ride through a bustling port town, all horns, laundry lines, and festival banners. Greece rises to a peak with a Mount Olympus coaster diving in and out over the sea and a waterfront of tavernas serving fish, gyros, pastries, and strong coffee. Wish anchors the emotional center: a Rosas castle with live Storytellers Hall productions and an interactive Wish Station where guests send their wishes skyward and return later for a keepsake moment.We round out the shoreline with an Iberian fishing village animated by marionettes and street performers, a respectful split of Persian and Arabian spaces—including jewel gardens and shaded water features—and the Valencia Grand Prix, a Cars 2 racing district with family-speed thrills and pit-lane eats. A low-rise Stella Marina hotel sits right on the edge with a private gate and boat access, making arrival feel like part of the story.Ready to stroll the bay, ride a Vespa past café tables, and chase a pod racer across the dunes? Press play, share with a friend who loves park design, and tell us which land you'd visit first. If this tour sparks ideas, leave a review, subscribe for more creative builds, and send us your wish for the next land we should design.

Patricia Caicedo is a soprano, musicologist, and physician. Her work redefines the canon of classical vocal music by centering Latin American and Iberian art song. She has authored sixteen books, including the landmark "The Latin American Art Song: Sounds of the Imagined Nations" and "We Are What We Listen To: The Impact of Music on Individual and Social Health." As a performer, Caicedo has established herself as one of the leading interpreters of Iberian and Latin American art song. She talks about her background and the repertoire she aims to elevate in the world of music. Caicedo was artist-in-residence at the UO's School of Music and Dance January 20-22, 2026. She shared her expertise in Latin American and Iberian vocal music with lectures, performances, and a masterclass.

The guys cover a creepy topic about a prominent paranormal legend rooted in Iberian folklore—particularly in the regions of Galicia in Spain and Asturias, as well as parts of northern Portugal and Castile and León…Santa Compaña!!! https://followthecamino.com/en/blog/santa-compana-a-procession-of-souls/ https://monster.fandom.com/wiki/Santa_Compa%C3%B1a https://search.brave.com/search?q=figa%20hand%20signal https://search.brave.com/search?q=santa+compana+paranormal&summary=1&conversation=ba51bcd402f6c8092b07c9 https://m.youtube.com/shorts/FBlWgVgjL8Y

“….and today we're talking about a tiny, little farmer. But more on that later.” (Messor Ibericus) Measure Up Welcome to the beloved Measure Up segment. The official listener's favorite part of the show! The part of the show when we present the animal's size and dimension in relatable terms through a quiz that's fun for […]

Rabbi Professor Shomo Pereira discussed his book "Monuments of Paper and Parchment: Hebrew Printing in Portugal in the Late 15th Century." He explained that while Portugal lacks physical Jewish monuments due to natural disasters, earthquakes, and persecution, the book highlights the country's rich Jewish history through its manuscript and printing heritage of the late 15th century. He explained how Hebrew printing in Portugal was a vibrant force, contributing to the spread of knowledge and influencing printing practices in the Ottoman Empire. Pereira also detailed the contributions of Rabbi Abraham Zakuto, a Jewish scientist and astronomer who developed crucial navigational tools and was recognized for his work by having a crater on the moon named after him. Pereira discussed his book on Iberian Jewish history, emphasizing contributions to scholarship, mathematics, astronomy, and poetry during the late 1400s, when many Spanish Jews fled to Portugal. He explained his goal is to highlight these accomplishments to build bridges with non-Jewish communities and enrich Iberian history, while acknowledging the context of persecution. Pereira clarified that during this period, most Jews in Portugal were Spanish, and he uses "Iberian Jews" to reflect this diversity. Pereira emphasized the unique characteristic of Iberian commentators, who often included personal experiences in their writings, contrasting this with the more detached approach of commentators like Rashi. Pereira explained the complexity of uncovering colophons in historical Jewish texts, noting that simple colophons provide basic information about the work's completion, printer, sponsor, and date, while more sophisticated ones use cryptic biblical references that modern AI cannot translate. He discussed the challenges in interpreting colophons from historical Jewish texts, particularly those printed in 1494 and 1498 in Spain and Portugal. He explained that the dates and years in these colophons are often confused due to the use of astrological and astronomical coincidences. Rabbi Shlomo Pereira emphasized that history is about how we perceive and learn from the past, rather than just focusing on the past itself. This bilingual book on Hebrew printing in Portugal, highlighting its significance in Jewish and Iberian history is published by Chabad Portugal Press in 2025, and is available on Amazon and other platforms. 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

Rabbi Professor Shomo Pereira discussed his book "Monuments of Paper and Parchment: Hebrew Printing in Portugal in the Late 15th Century." He explained that while Portugal lacks physical Jewish monuments due to natural disasters, earthquakes, and persecution, the book highlights the country's rich Jewish history through its manuscript and printing heritage of the late 15th century. He explained how Hebrew printing in Portugal was a vibrant force, contributing to the spread of knowledge and influencing printing practices in the Ottoman Empire. Pereira also detailed the contributions of Rabbi Abraham Zakuto, a Jewish scientist and astronomer who developed crucial navigational tools and was recognized for his work by having a crater on the moon named after him. Pereira discussed his book on Iberian Jewish history, emphasizing contributions to scholarship, mathematics, astronomy, and poetry during the late 1400s, when many Spanish Jews fled to Portugal. He explained his goal is to highlight these accomplishments to build bridges with non-Jewish communities and enrich Iberian history, while acknowledging the context of persecution. Pereira clarified that during this period, most Jews in Portugal were Spanish, and he uses "Iberian Jews" to reflect this diversity. Pereira emphasized the unique characteristic of Iberian commentators, who often included personal experiences in their writings, contrasting this with the more detached approach of commentators like Rashi. Pereira explained the complexity of uncovering colophons in historical Jewish texts, noting that simple colophons provide basic information about the work's completion, printer, sponsor, and date, while more sophisticated ones use cryptic biblical references that modern AI cannot translate. He discussed the challenges in interpreting colophons from historical Jewish texts, particularly those printed in 1494 and 1498 in Spain and Portugal. He explained that the dates and years in these colophons are often confused due to the use of astrological and astronomical coincidences. Rabbi Shlomo Pereira emphasized that history is about how we perceive and learn from the past, rather than just focusing on the past itself. This bilingual book on Hebrew printing in Portugal, highlighting its significance in Jewish and Iberian history is published by Chabad Portugal Press in 2025, and is available on Amazon and other platforms. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/jewish-studies

It's our annual Solstice celebration with Bernie Taylor, and he brings the mythic presents as always! Long before the conquests of Iberia, animistic peoples founded their mythology in the landscapes, weather, and night skies, as well as in the animals living among them. Learn about the surviving myths of indigenous Iberians from the anthropological record. Basque mythology is a hidden political-religious third rail in Spain. The rest of the world will not have seen the full narrative until this presentation. More on Bernie: https://beforeorion.com/ Get his book: https://amzn.to/49lUYHT Get The Occult Elvis: https://amzn.to/4jnTjE4 Virtual Alexandria Academy: https://thegodabovegod.com/virtual-alexandria-academy/ Gnostic Tarot Readings: https://thegodabovegod.com/gnostic-tarot-reading/ The Gnostic Tarot: https://www.makeplayingcards.com/sell/synkrasis Homepage: https://thegodabovegod.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/aeonbyte AB Prime: https://thegodabovegod.com/members/subscription-levels/ Voice Over services: https://thegodabovegod.com/voice-talent/ Support with donation: https://buy.stripe.com/00g16Q8RK8D93mw288 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A prolific poet, Jami, is the embodiment of the photo-Ottoman Bengal-to-Balkans cosmopolitan Sufi intellectual. Jami was born in 1414 near the border of modern day Iran and Afghanistan during the tail end of the era of the shadow Abbasid caliphs before the Ottoman claim to the Caliphate. He worked for the local Timurid court. And at the end of his life, Islamic rule ended in the Iberian peninsula and a sea voyager called Columbus set out to find a better route to India. He appears to come from a scholarly Sunni family and had a specific interest in the teachings of Ibn Arabi. What more do we know about his life? His works are many and some appear influenced by Nizami whom we covered in episode 62. Tell us about them. What translations and secondary resources would you recommend on Jami? And finally let's end with a sample and translation.    Further reading Jami by Hamid Algar The Persian Mystics: Jami by F. Hadland Davis  Yusuf and Zulaikha: A Poem by Jami by Ralph T.H. Griffith   Ali Hammoud: https://alihammoud7.substack.com/    We are sponsored by IHRC bookshop. Listeners get a 15% discount on all purchases. Visit IHRC bookshop at shop.ihrc.org and use discount code AHP15 at checkout. Terms and conditions apply. Contact IHRC bookshop for details. 

With the rise to power of King Alfonso IV of Aragon in 1327, most of the kings ruling in the Iberian peninsula were named Alfonso.

In this episode, we spoke with the team behind Apple TV's new show Born to be Wild. Lucy van Beek (Executive Producer, Tealfeather Productions Founder and Creative Director), Alex Williamson (Executive Producer, Offspring Films Co-founder and Creative Director), Isla Robertson (Executive Producer), and Tom Payne (Showrunner) talk about the documentary. We chat about what it's like to film over the years to follow the journeys of these incredible people and animals. ABOUT "Born to be Wild" Filmed over several years across three continents, the six-part documentary series follows six endangered young animals as they grow up in our world but are destined to return to theirs. From their earliest days through their journey to life in the wild, the series highlights the challenges, triumphs, and resilience that define their survival, both for the animals and the extraordinary people working to raise and protect them. "Born to be Wild," narrated by SAG Award winner Hugh Bonneville ("Paddington," "Downton Abbey," "The Secret Lives of Animals") premieres worldwide on Friday, December 19, on Apple TV. As each animal finds its place in the world after being orphaned or born through conservation programs—from an elephant calf and two young cheetahs, to a ring-tailed lemur pup, a moon bear cub, Iberian lynx kittens, and rescued African penguins—"Born to be Wild" offers an intimate and emotional look at the pow  

This is the no-talking version. Vote for your favorite songs!: www.abora-recordings.com/vote/ This is our monthly episode featuring vocal trance, and we have 5 exclusive world premieres! All episode info & links: www.abora-recordings.com/uponly-613 TIMED TRACKLIST: 1. [0:00:00]: Iberian, Poetry Maiden - Hideaway (Intro Mix) [Your Melodies] 2. [0:06:05]: Luigi Lusini & Starchaser feat. Molly Bancroft - All I Want (Ultimate Remix) [The Clubbers / Infrasonic Pure] 3. [0:11:11]: Ana Criado, Alan Morris & La Antonia - In The Twilight [Amsterdam Trance Records] 4. [0:14:54]: UPLIFTING CLASSIC: Andy Blueman - Sea Tides [Abora Skies] 5. [0:21:13]: Derek Palmer & Alaera - Your Real Way [Emergent Skies] 6. [0:26:01]: Miyuki & Jennifer Rene - Our Song [Subculture] 7. [0:30:50]: BiXX, Stargazers & Sarah Russell - A River Runs Through Me [Amsterdam Trance Records] 8. [0:34:36]: The Trance Ensemble & Northern Project - Celestial [Abora] 9. [0:38:54]: BREAKDOWN OF THE WEEK: LTN & Christina Novelli - I'd Go Back (Dave Neven Remix) [AVA] 10. [0:43:59]: Roman Messer feat. Romy Wave - Leave You Now [Suanda] 11. [0:48:04]: Oren - Dreamfields (Spark7 Remix) [Abora] 12. [0:53:57]: ReOrder & Ghost Etiquette - Summer City Nights [Reverie Sounds] 13. [0:58:29]: Phillip J feat. Kim Casandra - Imaginary Friend [Amsterdam Trance Records] 14. [1:04:34]: PRE-RELEASE PICK: tranzLift - Time [Abora Skies] [WORLD PREMIERE] 15. [1:09:26]: Last Soldier, Farnoodex & Cris Von X - To The Other Side [Amsterdam Trance Records] 16. [1:14:14]: Chris Element - Rise Up [FSOE] 17. [1:20:10]: NyTiGen & Trance Reserve - Ecstasy [2Rock] 18. [1:23:09]: Betibwe - Hypnotic [Sounds of the Stars] [WORLD PREMIERE] 19. [1:26:37]: Petereese & Jodie Poye - Bed Of Roses (Artena Remix) [Aerodynamica] 20. [1:30:58]: EFEMGIE - All I Need [Sundance] [WORLD PREMIERE] 21. [1:35:52]: Frank Dueffel & FAWZY - Tenderness [Narratology] [WORLD PREMIERE] 22. [1:40:25]: Dan Stone, EGGSTA - Burn [FSOE] 23. [1:45:17]: Kohta Imafuku & Sou Enomoto - White Sail [Synchronized Melodies] [WORLD PREMIERE] 24. [1:49:00]: Adam Taylor & Jessica Lawrence - Grace [Ablazing] 25. [1:53:24]: DJ T.H. - Leonie (Torsten Stenzel Remix) [AVA White] 26. [1:57:35]: CHILLOUT SEND-OFF: NoMosk & Tiff Lacey - The Promise (Andrew Riqueza Remix) [Suanda Chillout]

This week we talk about OxyContin, opium, and the British East India Company.We also discuss isotonitazene, fentanyl, and Perdue.Recommended Book: The Thinking Machine by Stephen WittTranscriptOpioids have been used as painkillers by humans since at least the Neolithic period; there's evidence that people living in the Iberian and Italian Peninsulas kept opium poppy seeds with them, and there's even more evidence that the Ancient Greeks were big fans of opium, using it to treat pain and as a sleep aid.Opium was the only available opioid for most of human history, and it was almost always considered to be a net-positive, despite its downsides. It was incorporated into a mixture called laudanum, which was a blend of opium and alcohol, in the 17th century, and that helped it spread globally as Europeans spread globally, though it was also in use locally, elsewhere, especially in regions where the opium poppy grew naturally.In India, for instance, opium was grown and often used for its painkilling properties, but when the British East India Company took over, they decided to double-down on the substance as a product they could monopolize and grow into a globe-spanning enterprise.They went to great lengths to expand production and prevent the rise of potential competitors, in India and elsewhere, and they created new markets for opium in China by forcing the product onto Chinese markets, initially via smuggling, and then eventually, after fighting a series of wars focused on whether or not the British should be allowed to sell opium on the Chinese market, the British defeated the Chinese. And among other severely unbalanced new treaties, including the ceding of the Kowloon peninsula to the British as part of Hong Kong, which they controlled as a trading port, and the legalization of Christians coming into the country, proselytizing, and owning property, the Chinese were forced to accept the opium trade. This led to generations of addicts, even more so than before, when opium was available only illicitly, and it became a major bone of contention between the two countries, and informed China's relationship with the world in general, especially other Europeans and the US, moving forward.A little bit later, in the early 1800s, a German pharmacist was able to isolate a substance called morphine from opium. He published a paper on this process in 1817, and in addition to this being the first alkaloid, the first organic compound of this kind to be isolated from a medicinal plant, which was a milestone in the development of modern drug discovery, it also marked the arrival of a new seeming wonder drug, that could ease pain, but also help control cold-related symptoms like coughing and gut issues, like diarrhea. Like many such substances back in the day, it was also often used to treat women who were demonstrating ‘nervous character,' which was code for ‘behaving in ways men didn't like or understand.'Initially, it was thought that, unlike with opium, morphine wasn't addictive. And this thinking was premised on the novel application method often used for morphine, the hypermedia needle, which arrived a half-century after that early 1800s isolation of morphine from opium, but which became a major driver of the new drug's success and utility. Such drugs, derived scientifically rather than just processing a plant, could be administered at specific, controllable doses. So surely, it was thought, this would alleviate those pesky addictive symptoms that many people experienced when using opioids in a more natural, less science-y way.That, of course, turned out not to be the case. But it didn't stop the progression of this drug type, and the further development of more derivations of it, including powerful synthetic opioids, which first hit the scene in the mid-20th century.What I'd like to talk about today is the recent wave of opioid addictions, especially but not exclusively in the US, and the newest concern in this space, which is massively more powerful than anything that's come before.—As I mentioned, there have been surges in opioid use, latent and externally forced, throughout modern human history.The Chinese saw an intense wave of opioid addiction after the British forced opium onto their markets, to the point that there was a commonly held belief that the British were trying to overthrow and enslave the Chinese by weighing them down with so many addicts who were incapable of doing much of anything; which, while not backed by the documentation we have from the era—it seems like they were just chasing profits—is not impossible, given what the Brits were up to around the world at that point in history.That said, there was a huge influx in opioid use in the late-1980s, when a US-based company called Purdue Pharma began producing and pushing a time-released opioid medication, which really hit the big-time in 1995, when they released a version of the drug called OxyContin.OxyContin flooded the market, in part because it promised to help prevent addiction and accidental overdose, and in part because Purdue was just really, really good at marketing it; among other questionable and outright illegal things it did as part of that marketing push, it gave kickbacks to doctors who prescribed it, and some doctors did so, a lot, even when patients didn't need it, or were clearly becoming addicted.By the early 2000s, Purdue, and the Sackler family that owned the company, was spending hundreds of millions of dollars a year to push this drug, and they were making billions a year in sales.Eventually the nature of Purdue's efforts came to light, there were a bunch of trials and other legal hearings, some investigative journalists exposed Purdue's foreknowledge of their drug's flaws, and there was a big government investigation and some major lawsuits that caused the collapse of the company in 2019—though they rebranded in 2021, becoming Knoa Pharma.All of which is interesting because much like the forced legalization of opium on Chinese markets led to their opioid crisis a long time ago, the arrival of this incredibly, artificially popular drug on the US market led to the US's opioid crisis.The current bogeyman in the world of opioids—and I say current because this is a fast-moving space, with new, increasingly powerful or in some cases just a lot cheaper drugs arriving on the scene all the time—is fentanyl, which is a synthetic opioid that's about 30-50 times more potent than heroin, and about 100 times as potent as morphine. It has been traditionally used in the treatment of cancer patients and as a sedative, and because of how powerful it is, a very small amount serves to achieve the desired, painkilling effect.But just like other opioids, its administration can lead to addiction, people who use it can become dependent and need more and more of it to get the same effects, and people who have too much of it can experience adverse effects, including, eventually, death.This drug has been in use since the 1960s, but illicit use of fentanyl began back in the mid-1970s, initially as its own thing, but eventually to be mixed in with other drugs, like heroin, especially low-quality versions of those drugs, because a very small amount of fentanyl can have an incredibly large and potent effect, making those other drugs seem higher quality than they are.That utility is also this drug's major issue, though: it's so potent that a small amount of it can kill, and even people with high opioid tolerances can see those tolerances pushed up and up and up until they eventually take a too-large, killing dose.There have been numerous efforts to control the flow of fentanyl into the US, and beginning in the mid-20-teens, there were high-profile seizures of the illicitly produced stuff around the country. As of mid-2025, China seems to be the primary source of most illicit fentanyl around the world, the drug precursor produced in China, shipped to Mexico where it's finalized and made ready for market, and then smuggled into the US.There have been efforts to shut down this supply chain, including recent tariffs put on Chinese goods, ostensibly, in part at least, to get China to handle those precursor suppliers.Even if that effort eventually bears fruit, though, India seems to have recently become an alternative source of those precursors for Mexican drug cartels, and for several years they've been creating new markets for their output in other countries, like Nigeria, Indonesia, and the Netherlands, as well.Amidst all that, a new synthetic drug, which is 40-times as potent as fentanyl, is starting to arrive in the US, Europe, and Australia, and has already been blamed for thousands of deaths—and it's thought that that number might be a significant undercount, because of how difficult it can be to attribute cause with these sorts of drugs.Nitazenes were originally synthesized back in the 1950s in Austria, and they were never sold as painkillers because they were known, from the get-go, to be too addictive, and to have a bad tradeoff ratio: a little bit of benefit, but a high likelihood of respiratory depression, which is a common cause of death for opioid addicts, or those who accidentally overdose on an opioid.One nitazene, called isotonitazene, first showed up on US drug enforcement agency radars back in 2019, when a shipment was intercepted in the Midwest. Other agencies noted the same across the US and Europe in subsequent years, and this class of drugs has now become widespread in these areas, and in Australia.It's thought that nitazenes might be seeing a surge in popularity with illicit drugmakers because their potency can be amped up so far, way, way higher than even fentanyl, and because their effects are similar in many ways to heroin.They can also use them they way they use fentanyl, a tiny bit blended into lower-quality versions of other drugs, like cocaine, which can save money while also getting their customers, who may not know what they're buying, hooked, faster. For context, a fifth of a grain of nitazene salt can be enough to kill a person, so it doesn't take much, less than that, if they want to keep their customers alive, to achieve the high they're looking for. A little bit goes a long, long way.This class of drugs is also difficult to detect, which might be part of the appeal for drug makers, right now. Tests that detect morphine, heroin, and fentanyl do not detect natazines, and the precursors for this type of drug, and the drugs themselves, are less likely to be closely watched, or even legally controlled at the levels of more popular opioids, which is also likely appealing to groups looking to get around existing clampdown efforts.Right now, drug agencies are in the process of updating their enforcement and detection infrastructure, and word is slowly getting out about nitazenes and the risk they potentially pose. But it took years for sluggish government agencies to start working on the issue of fentanyl, which still hasn't been handled, so it's anyone's guess as to when and if the influx of nitazenes will be addressed on scale.Show Noteshttps://www.wired.com/story/a-new-type-of-opioid-is-killing-people-in-the-us-europe-and-australia/https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF02161116https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(24)00024-0/fulltexthttps://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/nov/03/nitazenes-synthetic-opioid-drug-500-times-stronger-than-heroin-fatalhttps://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-03280-5https://theconversation.com/10-times-stronger-than-fentanyl-nitazenes-are-the-latest-deadly-development-in-the-synthetic-opioid-crisis-265882https://www.cato.org/blog/fentanyl-nitazenes-why-drug-war-keeps-making-danger-worsehttps://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/fentanyl-and-us-opioid-epidemichttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purdue_Pharmahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxycodonehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fentanylhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitazeneshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opioidhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_opioid_epidemichttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opioid_epidemic This is a public episode. 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News items read by Laura Kennedy include: New study increases map of Roman empire's roads by over 100,000 kilometers (details) (details) Very early stone tool technology lasting 300,000 years in Kenya (details) (details) 3,000-year-old Maya site built as map of universe (details) (details) Ice Age human activity discovered in Iberian highlands (details) (details)

INTRO (00:24): Kathleen opens the show drinking a Champagne Velvet Premium Pilsner from Upland Brewing Company. She reviews her quick trip to NYC, debating Fantasy Football strategies with Kelly Clarkson and drinking martinis with friends at the King Cole Bar.    TOUR NEWS: See Kathleen live on her “Day Drinking Tour.”   COURT NEWS (24:12): Kathleen shares news announcing that Chappell Roan is inducting Cyndi Lauper into the Rock & Roll HOF, Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham are back on speaking terms, and Dolly Parton's Songteller hotel has started taking reservations for 2026.    TASTING MENU (1:22): Kathleen samples Chick-Fil-A Waffle Potato Chips, Crunchmaster Ranch Rice Crackers, and Cabot Creamery Sharp Cheddar Popcorn.    UPDATES (31:45): Kathleen shares updates on Prince Andrew's removal from Royal life, Meta's Reality Labs posts an astronomical loss, Elon Musk's Boring Company breaks ground in Nashville without government approval, and the expedition to locate Amelia Earhart's plane is halted.   HOLY SHIT THEY FOUND IT (45:00): Kathleen reveals that an extremely rare white Iberian lynx has been photographed in Spain.    FRONT PAGE PUB NEWS (46:20): Kathleen shares articles on Billie Eilish telling billionaires to be more philanthropic, Utah's governor signed into law a new controversial coffee bill, the NFL announced that Sting will headline an intimate “Super Bowl LX Studio 60” concert, Barcelona bans Airbnb, Mormon women are getting an upgrade in their sacred undergarments, mysterious blue dogs are spotted roaming near the Chernobyl site, and the former child actor who appeared in JAWS as a boy is named the police chief of the same Martha's Vineyard town where the move was shot.    SAINT OF THE WEEK (1:11:11): Kathleen reads about Saint Bernadette, patron saint of the sick, the poor, and families.    WHAT ARE WE WATCHING (19:00): Kathleen recommends watching “The Road” on Paramount +, and “John Wayne Gacy: The Devil In Disguise” on Peacock.    FEEL GOOD STORY (1:09:55): Kathleen shares a story about a 105-year old Irish woman who has revealed her secret to long life is staying single, drinking daily, and never giving up on gambling.