URSA is a monthly audio storytelling magazine, created and edited by our brilliant team of international journalists. Produced in the gritty capital of Berlin, each installment features food and culture experts who will give you the lowdown on what’s hot and happening in the city. Using this cultural hub as our core we expand to the greater European continent and feature news and remarkable editorials that will inspire intrigue and connect us to each other.
Our constellation of URSA stories brings Berlin to Europe and Europe to Berlin.
Issue 24 European News & Climate Updates: Dutch Donald Trump and Fighting Black Friday
Welcome to another issue of URSA, Europe’s audio magazine!
In this first section you’ll hear the latest news headlines from Europe, including updates on the Dutch Donald Trump’s victory in the country’s latest elections, the outcry against domestic violence in Italy, and new smoking bans in France.
You’ll also hear climate updates, including how the Dutch Donald Trump winning the elections poses a danger to climate efforts in Europe, the realities of Black Friday waste, toxic eggs in Paris and some inspiring news from the UK.
In the second section, you’ll hear two fantastic original pieces.
The first piece comes from Bear Radio School Alum Husna Chhoangalia (https://www.instagram.com/husna_chhoangalia/) and her brand new podcast I Didn’t See It (https://www.instagram.com/ididntseeitpodcast/), where she and her guest explore the Hijab ban in French Football and the inequality around secularism.
The second from And All That Jazz (https://refugeworldwide.com/radio/and-all-that-jazz-kaodi-10-feb-2023), a series by Kaodi Alum (https://refugeworldwide.com/artists/kaodi) and Refuge Worldwide (https://refugeworldwide.com/). In this episode, Kaodi shares the history of Jazz music in Germany and the musicians that defined the genre on both sides of the Berlin Wall.
The food section takes us to Christmas Markets! Jill, Julia and Will explore the Medieval Christmas Market at the RAW Gelande and share their favorite Christmassy treats (Hint: It’s all Glühwein).
Section 4 brings you the Culture Section where Jill explores Berlin’s underground. She speaks to Kay Heyne, Managing Director of the Berliner Unterwelten E.V., (https://www.berliner-unterwelten.de/index.html) about his experiences leading tours under the city’s streets.
This is followed by a packed December event roundup with LOLA Magazine (https://lolamag.de/)’s Alice O’Brien (https://lolamag.de/member/alice-obrien/).
Finally, for our Artist Spotlight, Julia speaks with Anastasia Pilepchuk, a Russian artist living and creating in Berlin, about her inspiration, her ability to see shapes in sounds, the role that her ancestry plays in her work and more.
Our theme music is from Lucas Carey (https://lucas-carey.com/), with audio from Epidemic Sound (https://www.epidemicsound.com/campaign/ambassador-sign-up/?mbsy_source=abf6663d-071c-4001-a779-3b8f6bed530d&campaignid=34793&mbsy=bearradio&utm_source=ambassador&utm_medium=affiliate&_us=Affiliate&utm_campaign=bearradio&_usx=bearradio). Cover art by Sian Amber Fletcher.
This episode is brought to you by Bear Radio.
If you’re a producer based in Europe and have an idea for an URSA story, we’d love to hear from you! We’re always accepting new pitches.
Support for this podcast comes from our Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/ursapodcast) - if you like URSA and all the incredible stories that come with it - then please consider supporting us at patreon.com/ursapodcast. The price you’d spend on a coffee would go to supporting us and our contributors each month.
5 Dec 2023
Features: The Hijab Ban in French Football & A History of Jazz
Issue 24: December 2023
In this section we bring you two fantastic original pieces from Berlin-based producers. The first piece comes from Bear Radio School Alum Husna Chhoangalia and her brand new podcast I Didn’t See It (https://open.spotify.com/show/02VPDofbOrHr8yp0gAJLIn?si=f2b94fefe5634509), where she is joined by sports journalits Shireen Ahmed (https://www.instagram.com/footybedsheets) to explore the Hijab ban in French Football and the exclusivity of secularism.
The second piece comes from And All That Jazz (https://refugeworldwide.com/radio/and-all-that-jazz-kaodi-10-feb-2023), a series by Kaodi Alum (https://refugeworldwide.com/artists/kaodi) and Refuge Worldwide (https://refugeworldwide.com/). In this episode, Kaodi shares the history of Jazz music in Germany and the musicians that defined the genre on both sides of the Berlin Wall.
Our theme music is from Lucas Carey (https://lucas-carey.com/), with audio from Epidemic Sound (https://www.epidemicsound.com/campaign/ambassador-sign-up/?mbsy_source=abf6663d-071c-4001-a779-3b8f6bed530d&campaignid=34793&mbsy=bearradio&utm_source=ambassador&utm_medium=affiliate&_us=Affiliate&utm_campaign=bearradio&_usx=bearradio). Cover art by Sian Amber Fletcher.
This episode is brought to you by Bear Radio.
If you’re a producer based in Europe and have an idea for an URSA story, we’d love to hear from you! We’re always accepting new pitches.
Support for this podcast comes from our Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/ursapodcast) - if you like URSA and all the incredible stories that come with it - then please consider supporting us at patreon.com/ursapodcast. The price you’d spend on a coffee would go to supporting us and our contributors each month.
5 Dec 2023
Food: Festive Eats and The Ideal Stollen
Issue 24: December 2023
What’s more festive than a Christmas Market? Literally NOTHING.
In this episode, we’re talking all things Christmas Markets, from warm bevs to chestnuts, sausages and stews.
Will, Jill and Julia take themselves out for a cheery evening at the RAW Gelande Medieval Christma Market, where they stay warm by sipping Glühwein and watching a fantastic fireshow and axe throwing. But Glühwein isn’t the only treat on offer at Berlin’s dozens of Christmas markets - the team discuss their favorite snacks and sweets to try.
Christmas Markets mentioned in this episode:
Medieval Christmas Market (https://www.berlin.de/en/christmas-markets/5983209-3230598-medieval-christmas-market-at-the-raw-com.en.html)
Lucia Christmas Market (https://www.berlin.de/en/christmas-markets/3240367-3230598-lucia-christmas-market-at-kulturbrauerei.en.html)
Alt-Rixdorf Christmas Market (https://www.berlin.de/en/christmas-markets/3240343-3230598-christmas-market-altrixdorf-in-neukoelln.en.html)
Grunau Train (https://www.exberliner.com/english-news-berlin/christmas-train-weihnachtszuege-back-after-15-years/)
Gendarmenmarkt (Bebelplatz) (https://www.berlin.de/en/christmas-markets/3235772-3230598-christmas-market-at-gendarmenmarkt.en.html)Christmas Market (https://www.berlin.de/en/christmas-markets/3235772-3230598-christmas-market-at-gendarmenmarkt.en.html)
LGBTQIA Winterdays at Nollendorfplatz (https://www.berlin.de/en/christmas-markets/5948422-3230598-christmas-avenue.en.html)
Charlottenburg Palace Christmas Market (https://www.berlin.de/en/christmas-markets/3240314-3230598-christmas-market-charlottenburg-palace.en.html)
Berliner Weihnachtszeit am Roten Rathaus (https://www.berlinerweihnachtszeit.de/)
Our theme music is from Lucas Carey (https://lucas-carey.com/), with audio from Epidemic Sound (https://www.epidemicsound.com/campaign/ambassador-sign-up/?mbsy_source=abf6663d-071c-4001-a779-3b8f6bed530d&campaignid=34793&mbsy=bearradio&utm_source=ambassador&utm_medium=affiliate&_us=Affiliate&utm_campaign=bearradio&_usx=bearradio). Cover art by Sian Amber Fletcher.
This episode is brought to you by Bear Radio.
If you’re a producer based in Europe and have an idea for an URSA story, we’d love to hear from you! We’re always accepting new pitches.
Support for this podcast comes from our Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/ursapodcast) - if you like URSA and all the incredible stories that come with it - then please consider supporting us at patreon.com/ursapodcast. The price you’d spend on a coffee would go to supporting us and our contributors each month.
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