Filling the Sink

Catalonia frequently faces forest fires, which threaten ecosystems, wildlife and communities. This situation has been aggravated in recent years by climate change, drought and human activity, and throughout the summer months fire risk is at its peak. On this week’s podcast we discover how firefighters and forest rangers use drones, AI and new technologies to prevent and control summer forest blazes. We meet David Borrell, head of the Bombers de la Generalitat, who explains how the fire brigade uses advanced tools for real-time monitoring and predictive analysis. Chief inspector Antoni Mur from the Agents Rurals explains the role of Catalonia’s forest rangers in maintaining natural areas in order to reduce fire risks. Plus reporter Oriol Escudé joins host Beth Cohen to look back over the history of wildfires in Catalonia and discuss what this summer may bring. This week, our Catalan phrase is “Qui juga amb foc, es crema” - “He who plays with fire, gets burned”. It’s a proverb that warns against taking risks or behaving recklessly.

Raised in Catalonia to international parents, new generation migrants are a growing demographic in Catalonia, however they often navigate dual identities, balancing their family’s cultural heritage with local traditions. This week on Filling the Sink we dedicate an episode to exploring the challenges faced by this significant collective. Zenia Hellgren, Doctor of Sociology a Senior Researcher at Pompeu Fabra University, discusses what identity is and how young people with a migrant background may find it hard to achieve a true sense of belonging in any one place. Reporter Gigi Giulia talks to secondary school teacher Mariona Jorba Solsona about the importance of education in breaking down language barriers and creating an inclusive environment which nurtures hybrid identities. Plus, we meet two new generation Catalans to hear their stories, and host Beth Cohen analyzes Catalonia’s migration history and how it has shaped the current social reality. This week, our Catalan phrase is “És tard i vol ploure” - “It’s late and it wants to rain”. It’s an expression that is used when time is running out or something is too late to fix. It can also be used as a way of saying goodbye or telling someone to hurry up.

Every summer, Catalonia hosts a wide range of music festivals, from large international events in Barcelona to smaller coastal concerts. On this week’s podcast, we offer a guide to what’s on and discuss Sonar+D, a technology festival at the forefront of musical innovation. Head of Catalan News Gerard Escaich Folch visits Primavera Sound to pick up some festival vibes, meet fans from around the world and find out what’s so special about Catalonia’s biggest summer music event. Reporter and festival fiend Cillian Shields sits down with host Beth Cohen to talk through the headline acts at festivals such as Sónar, Cruïlla and Vida, as well as highlighting the best of this summer’s concert program. Plus we take a deep dive into Sónar+D and meet the festival’s director as well as some of the researchers, musicians and performers who are exhibiting their work. Albert Barqueduran, otherwise known as albert.data, discusses his new project Synapticon and explains how new neurotechnologies could signify an end to mental privacy.  This week, our Catalan phrase is “Fer ballar el cap” - “To make someone’s head dance”, which means to get on someone’s nerves or annoy them, rather like the English expression “To make someone’s head spin”.

This year, Catalonia and Japan are strengthening their ties with a yearlong celebration, including Catalan Week in Japan, taking place from May 27 to June 1 at the Universal Expo in Osaka. This week on Filling the Sink we explore the relationship between both territories and visit the Expo to find out how Catalonia is promoting its culture. Head of Catalan News Gerard Escaich Folch joins host Beth Cohen to explore the concept of the Universal Exposition and its impact on the host cities, highlighting the monuments in Barcelona which are relics of the 1888 and 1929 Expos. We look back over the historical relationship between Catalonia and Japan, which dates back to the 16th century with a visit from Japanese Christian travelers Tensho Ken-oh Shisetsu dan to the Montserrat monastery. Our ACN correspondents in Osaka bring us all the details of the Expo activities, from pa amb tomàquet workshops to wine tasting, virtual reality tourist visits, videos on the history of Barça, a lesson on how to paint like Miró, and interactive architecture exhibits.  We hear from Michelin-star chefs Carme Ruscadella and Joan Roca, who are ambassadors to the event, and catch up with Yoshiaki Matsumoto, leader of a Catalan rumba group in Japan. We also hear from some Japanese citizens celebrating Catalan culture in Osaka. This week, our Catalan phrase is “Fer-ne cinc cèntims  - “To make five cents of it,” which means to briefly resume something, keeping it short and sweet.

According to the UN, birth rates have been declining globally since 1963, and Spain has the second-lowest fertility rate in the EU. Economic instability, difficulty in accessing housing, an inability to reconcile work and family life, and a lack of support have been pinpointed as deterring factors. We meet women from different backgrounds to hear their experiences of maternity and the challenges they have overcome. We also explore the emotional side, the importance of community and the loneliness that many mothers experience, and what is being done to address this in the form of community groups and associations.  From raising a child with disabilities to single mothers coping alone, diverse families overcoming stigma, international mothers searching for a community and grandparents who play a key role in childcare, there is no one way to raise a family. We discover the multiple realities of contemporary maternity and gain an insider’s perspective on one of life’s most universal roles.  Reporter Lea Beliaeva Bander joins host Beth Cohen to explore the legal framework for supporting mothers and discuss the realities of modern-day motherhood in Catalonia. This week, our Catalan phrase is “Mare només n'hi ha una” - “There is only one mother”. It's a traditional expression emphasizing the irreplaceable role of a mother, however, it overlooks adoptive, LGBTQI+, and non-traditional families, where children may have more than one mother, or no mother at all.

This week the 69th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest takes place in Basel, Switzerland. To celebrate, we look back over the history of the competition and explore Catalonia’s involvement, from Catalan language entries to the stories of Catalan artists who’ve graced the Eurovision stage. We interview Jordi Ramos, a journalist for the Catalan radio station, Rac1. He's an expert on Eurovision and the perfect person to explain, through Catalan eyes, what the song contest is all about. Reporter Gigi Giulia catches up with Alfred García, the famous singer from El Prat de Llobregat who represented Spain in Eurovision in 2018, performing the duet Tu Canción with his then-girlfriend Amaia Romero. He reflects on his Eurovision experience and how it marked a turning point in his career.  Plus, reporter Lorcan Doherty analyzes Catalonia’s push to become a member of the European Broadcasting Association and compete independently, and host Beth Cohen explores the importance of Eurovision for Catalonia’s LGBTQI+ community. This week, our Catalan phrase is “Cantar com els àngels" - “To sing like the angels”, a metaphor used to describe someone who sings exceptionally well, with a voice so beautiful and pure that it seems almost heavenly.

On May 8, 1945, the second world war came to end in Europe. 80 years on, we reflect on how Catalonia was affected by the conflict and highlight the remarkable story of Neus Català, an anti-fascist resistance fighter and holocaust survivor from Tarragona. Reporters Lea Beliaeva Bander and Cillian Shields join host Beth Cohen to discuss the effects of WWII in Catalonia and discover the story of a Catalan woman who dedicated her life to fighting fascism. We meet Ricard Ribera Llorens, president of the Fundació Neus Català, who recounts Neus Català’s journey from rural Catalonia to the concentration camps of Ravensbrück and Holleischen, to her later years dedicated to the historical memory of Nazi atrocities. Neus played a vital role in the anti-fascist struggle in the French resistance as a Republican exile, carrying messages, participating in the escape networks, providing food to guerrillas and giving the Nazi soldiers false information. Plus Dr. Alejandro Acosta, contemporary historian at the Universidad Carlos III in Madrid, analyzes the ongoing presence of fascist politics in contemporary society and the conditions which favor its’ expansion. This week, our Catalan phrase is a quote from Neus Català herself: “L’única mort que em preocupa és la mort de la memòria” - “The only death which worries me is the death of memory.” 

Pope Francis was known for his humility, compassion and emphasis on social justice. This week we’ll be dedicating an episode of Filling the Sink to the memory of this popular spiritual leader and exploring his relationship with Catalonia. Catalan News travels to the Vatican to attend the Pope’s funeral and meet some of the 250,000 mourners who have flocked to Rome to pay their last respects, including many Catalan youngsters who attended the Jubilee of Teenagers. We meet Míriam Díez Bosch, a journalist specializing in religion and founder director of the Blanquerna Observatory on Media, Religion and Culture in Barcelona, who analyzes the Pope’s relationship with Catalonia. Members of the Catalan church share their stories and discuss the decline in assistance and in religious marriages in recent decades. And reporter Gerard Escaich Folch joins host Beth Cohen to discuss the current religious panorama in Catalonia, including rapid secularization and the diversification of religious beliefs due to immigration. This week, our Catalan phrase is “Per l'amor de Déu!” - “For the love of God!”, which despite its reference to the divine is used in everyday conversation to express strong emotions.

On April 28, 2025, a massive blackout affected Spain, Portugal, Andorra, and parts of France, leaving over 50 million people without power for up to 12 hours. This week on Filling the Sink, we investigate the causes and find out how it affected people across Catalonia. Catalan News journalists Gerard Escaich Folch, Lorcan Doherty and Cillian Shields join host Beth Cohen to relive some of the darkest moments of Monday’s blackout. The outage halted trains, disrupted work for many, and cut telecommunications and internet services. We took to the streets of Barcelona to meet some affected people and find out how businesses and city infrastructures coped. At the time of publishing, the exact cause of the blackout has not yet been confirmed, however, the National Cybersecurity Institute (INCIBE) and the national police are still investigating. The main hypothesis is an operational failure of the Red Eléctrica power grid caused by instability in the system, possibly related to high reliance on renewable energy sources such as solar and wind as opposed to synchronous sources such as gas, nuclear, or hydroelectric energy. We analyze the government response and political fallout, as well as discuss how citizens should prepare for possible future events on this scale.  This week, our Catalan phrase is “Estar com un llum” - which translates as “to be like a light” and means to be unstable or even a bit crazy. It originates from the early days of electricity, when light bulbs used to flicker and fade rather than providing a constant glow.

Cillian Shields, a reporter at Catalan News, teams up with Peter Bush, a celebrated translator recognized for bridging Catalan literature with English readers. They explore the vibrant Sant Jordi celebration, highlighting its role as Catalonia's literary Valentine’s Day. The duo discusses the intricacies of translating iconic works and the cultural significance behind place names. They also delve into the evolving landscape of Catalan literature, celebrating emerging voices and sharing personal favorites, all while emphasizing the artistry of translation.