Filling the Sink

The Museum of Forbidden Art is the first of its kind in the world, displaying art pieces that were censored or banned at some point in history and in various different countries. Whether the reason was political, social or religious, these works have now found a new home in Barcelona. In this episode, we’ll hear from the people behind the museum and look back at the history of censorship under Francisco Franco's dictatorship. The Catalan phrase of the week is: "Caure la cara de vergonya," which translates to "Shame on you." Presented by Lucía Benavides with Lea Beliaeva and Oriol Escudé.

Romani is the main language of the Roma community, and one of the biggest minority languages in Europe - estimated to be spoken by millions of people. But because the Roma people have been persecuted for centuries, their language and culture have suffered tremendously. In this episode, we're going to talk about the origins of the Romani language and where it stands today. We're also going to hear from two Roma activists, who are spreading awareness about their history, culture and language. The phrase of the week is in Romani: "Ma krisaren i pustik Katar o ucharni," which translates to "Don't judge a book by its cover." Presented by Lucía Benavides with Lea Beliaeva.

Reporter Lorcan Doherty joins Lucía Benavides to take a look back at this year's top Catalan news. There were local and national elections, a new amnesty law for Catalan pro-independence leaders, the ongoing drought that's left reservoirs at 18 percent full. And there were also big-name celebrity break-ups and cultural heritage celebrations across the territory.  The Catalan phrase of the week is: "Fer campana," which translates literally to "Do a bell," and is used when referring to skipping school or work.

Architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner is best known for designing Barcelona’s famous Palau de la Música Catalana and the Sant Pau Hospital, both of which are UNESCO World Heritage sites. But he was also a renowned professor, with big-name students like Antoni Gaudí, and a key figure in Catalan politics. This week marks a hundred years since his death on December 27, 1923. The Catalan phrase of the week is: "Alt com un Sant Pau," which translates literally to "Tall like Saint Paul," and is used when referring to a very tall person. Presented by Lucía Benavides with Lea Beliaeva. 

This week marks 100 years since the birth of one of Catalonia's most renowned artists of the 20th century: Antoni Tàpies. He's best known for his abstract art and avant-garde works, which experimented with materials such as wood, marble dust, chairs and socks. In this episode, we’ll hear from museum curators on why Tàpies’ work is still relevant today and get an intimate look into the artist’s home life from Tàpies’ very own son. The Catalan quote of the week was said by Antoni Tàpies in 1990: "My illusion is to have something to transmit. If I can't change the world, at least I want to change the way people look at it." Presented by Lucía Benavides with Cillian Shields.

Catalonia is experiencing the worst drought on record, with reservoirs as low as 18 percent and local governments preparing for drastic measures – such as shipping in fresh water. And this is due, in large part, to climate change. For years, the territory has been getting hotter and drier weather, leading to drained reservoirs, wildfires and lost harvests. In this episode, we’ll talk to an environmental organization about what more should be done and to a farmer’s union on how the agriculture industry is affected. The Catalan phrase of the week is: "El peix que es mossega la cua," which translates literally to "The fish that bites its own tail," and is used when talking about a vicious cycle. Presented by Lucía Benavides with Lea Beliaeva and Oriol Escudé.

Catalonia has the most Michelin stars in all of Spain - with a whopping 70 in all. The last three stars were added just this week, at a gala held in Barcelona to announce the restaurants that would be included in the 2024 Michelin Guide to Spain. One of them is a Barcelona joint, Disfrutar, that was given its third star – the highest achievement in the guide’s ranking. In this episode, we’ll talk about Catalonia’s world-renowned cuisine and visit a restaurant in Igualada, Somiatruites, that has a Green Michelin star for its focus on sustainability. The Catalan phrase of the week is: "Descobrir la sopa d’all," which translates literally to "Discover garlic soup," and is used when someone claims to do something new but is actually recycling an old idea. Presented by Lucía Benavides with Lorcan Doherty.

These days, going grocery shopping is making more of a dent in our wallets than usual. The cost of many basic food products – including olive oil, milk and eggs – has risen more than thirty percent in just two years. That’s due to several factors; among them, the ongoing inflation across much of Europe. But shoppers aren’t the only ones affected by price increases – farmers are just as fazed. In this episode, we’ll hear from the Catalan Farmers Union and talk to Barcelona residents about how they’ve changed their shopping habits. The Catalan phrase of the week is: "Mitja figa, mig raïm," which translates literally to "half fig, half grape," and is used when someone is undecided. Presented by Lucía Benavides with Oriol Escudé and Lea Beliaeva.

Socialist leader Pedro Sánchez was sworn in as prime minister on Friday, bringing an end to a four-month long saga of inconclusive results from the July elections. The new coalition government with left-wing Sumar was made possible by the support of smaller parties like Catalan pro-independence Esquerra Republicana and Junts, securing Sánchez a total of 179 votes in the 350-member chamber. But the re-election comes with a controversial amnesty deal that would benefit those involved in the Catalan pro-independence push of the last decade, including exiled political leaders. The Catalan phrase of the week is: "Tarda d’hora," which means “sooner or later.” Presented by Lucía Benavides with Gerard Escaich Folch.

Catalonia has reached a new population record of 8 million residents. The growth has come quicker than ever before - jumping by 1 million inhabitants in just 17 years. And that’s despite having some of the lowest fertility rates in the world. So, how does the math add up? Well, there are two main factors at play: people are living longer and there are more foreign-born residents. In this episode, we’ll get reactions from a range of people on the street and talk to Albert Esteve, director of the Center for Demographic Studies. The Catalan phrase of the week is: "Entre poc i massa," which translates literally to "between a little and too much," and is used when someone exaggerates. Presented by Lucía Benavides with Lorcan Doherty, Oriol Escudé and Guifré Jordan.