The Sobremesa Podcast is about modern-day Spanish society, politics and history, without the stereotypes. Please donate at to make the podcast sustainable: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/thesobremey
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We’re from the government; we’re here to help you! It’s true, ask the millions of people across the country who have been touched by government services that gave them a ride to the supermarket, or got them a library book, or built them a house, or gave them a new suit for a job interview. Because all of those services are provided by your government every day in every state, county, and town, it’s all because Good Government provides good services and creates good projects for Americans. Th ...
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Great Weather, Great Beaches, and Good Neighbors with San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria
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Mayor Todd Gloria presides over one of the best places in the USA, best if you like near perfect warm weather year ‘round. With Mexico as a neighbor Mayor Todd has a practical and personal relationship with the immigration and border issue. He deals with it every day, and he says what you might hear and see on TV is not often reality. Listen to him…
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Spain's Thrilling Victory at the Euros!! And What It Says about Spanish Society.
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This week Eoghan is joined by journalist Richard Fitzpatrick to discuss Spain’s incredible victory at the European Championships in Germany. Energised by its two daredevil wingers, Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams, Spain won all seven matches at the tournament, while playing wonderful attacking, flowing football. Yet if Yamal and Williams offered the…
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A tough start in Oakland for Mayor Sheng Thao
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Oakland has always been in the shadow of it’s across the bay neighbor, San Francisco, but a new mayor is working on changing that and improving how the city operates and is perceived. Crime and homelessness are problems, but Mayor Sheng Thao is working on that. Just listen. GoodGovernmentShow.com Thanks to our sponsors: Ourco How to Really Run a Ci…
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Protests and Palmas: A Social History of Flamenco
56:40
56:40
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Matthew Machin-Autenrieth, an Ethnomusicologist from the University of Aberdeen, joins Alan to discuss the world famous dance from Spain. They discuss the origins of the musical genre, the different components of the songs, the regional and national politics that have shaped how flamenco is seen over the world and how it has been used as a form of …
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The Reluctant Politician Promotes Good Government
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50:53
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Shawn Milnes didn’t start out wanting to be in government and while he served as a county commissioner, he still can be a government critic, just like how he started out. Thinking he could do better, he ran for office, won an election but now serves Northern Utah on a commission that represents government to the business community. He says his back…
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Housing, Hockey, & Leadership with Mary Jo McGuire
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44:07
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Hockey player Mary Jo McGuire is also the county commissioner in Ramsey Co, Minnesota. She is also the current president of the National Association of Counties. In the meantime, she champions affordable housing, loves to dine at local ethnic restaurants and for fun cross country skis. Busy lady. Listen to how she manages it all. Thanks to our spon…
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Spectral Spain: Post-Franco Gothic Fiction with Heidi Backes
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Heidi Backes joins Alan to discuss the haunted houses, silent spaces and traumatic memories often seen in post-Franco gothic fiction, such as in Carlos Ruiz Zafón's international bestseller The Shadow of the Wind.' Her new book Spectral Spain looks at how Gothic literature has become a leading genre in contemporary Spain - one capable of confrontin…
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Spain's European Elections with Laura Seoane and Tim Syme
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Alan is joined by the podcast's new co-host Laura Seoane, together they talk with political philosopher Tim Syme about the results of the European election, Yolanda Diaz's resignation, the breakthrough of Se Acabó la Fiesta (SALF) and what a rightward shift means for the European Union. If you enjoy what we produce then please give us a review on y…
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Apples, Wine and Winston Churchill with Yakima County Commissioner Amanda McKinney
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37:29
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Yakima Washington County Commissioner Amanda McKinney is a force, she is and she talks and more important she listens. And, being from Washington, she knows her apples and wine, so listen to how you can get the best from Washington in your pie. Thanks to our sponsors: National Association of Counties (NACo) Kutztown University Ourco Executive Produ…
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Online Politics in Spain: From 15M to the Fachosfera
1:11:02
1:11:02
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This week Eoghan talks to researcher and sociologist Iago Moreno about the evolution of online politics in Spain from the techno-optimist vision of the 15M movement in 2011, with its promise of networked democracy, to the rise of the contemporary fachosfera - the far-right and reactionary online eco-system. Iago also talks about the emergence of a …
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Craft consciousness: Workers organisation in Early Modern Barcelona
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48:43
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This week Catherine talks to historian Brendan Von Briesen about how the organisation of skilled labour in medieval and early modern Barcelona, in the form of journeyman's guilds, can be seen as the foundation of the city's later labour and trade union movement.If you enjoy what we produce then please give us a review on your preferred podcast plat…
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From the Hills, Good Government in Tuolumne County with Jaron Brandon
26:15
26:15
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Jaron Brandon is Tuolumne County (CA) Supervisor. Housing is an issue that got him involved in politics back in his home county. He has continued to work to create affordable housing and sees housing as an issue that effects almost every other aspect of life. Listen to how he is hoping to improve conditions. Executive Producers: David Martin, David…
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Catalan Election Special: Historic losses for the Independence Movement
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55:13
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This week Eoghan is joined by historian Andrew Dowling to discuss yesterday's historic Catalan election, which saw a definitive end to the decade long push for independence known as the procés. For the first time since 2012, the pro-independence parties failed to secure a majority of seats in the new parliament. As the Socialists secured historic g…
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The Mothman Lives in West Virginia, check the red eyes...
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34:42
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Something Weird in Mason County, WV Stop into Mason County and see the Mothman, ok maybe not the real Mothman, but his eight-foot high statue. It’s in downtown Point Pleasant, WV and it’s a local legend and it’s weird, as County Commissioner Rick Handley explains. Ok it’s not Rosewell UFO crash site, weird, but it’s part of the local color of Mason…
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Why Rosalia is Not Your Friend - with Anita Fuentes
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46:17
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This week Alan is joined by culture critic and researcher Anita Fuentes to discuss Spanish celebrities and politics. Should celebrities use their platforms to stand up for injustices like the genocide in Palestine and a recent revival in the Spanish MeToo movement? Furthermore, Rosalia is often claimed to have a progressive image, but is she? From …
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After announcing last Wednesday that he was considering stepping down as Spanish prime minister, Pedro Sánchez revealed this morning he was staying in the job so to fight for "the democratic renewal" of the country. In a move straight out of his favourite TV series Baron Noir, he has orchestrated another theatrical gesture or 'golpe de efecto' so a…
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Meet Fred Davis of Tucker County, West Virginia. His campaign strategy involved lottery tickets and beer. He’s a real character on government and he’s a real as they come. So what makes him good, he listens… just listen. Thanks to our sponsors: National Association of Counties (NACo) Kutztown University Ourco Executive Producers: David Martin, Davi…
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Basque Election Special - Historic Gains for EH Bildu and the Independentist Left
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This week Eoghan is joined by journalist Ben Wray to discuss last night's Basque elections, which saw historic gains for pro-independentist left EH Bildu - with the new Basque parliament being the most nationalist in 40 years. But Ben argues that this does not mean that independence is any closer but in fact the results reinforces Pedro Sanchez's c…
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Taxes are FUN, Just ask the IRS (A Conversation with IRS Program Analyst Kristen Deazeley)
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48:34
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Paying taxes sucks. We all know that. But the IRS doesn’t see it that way. In truth, the IRS expects us all to pay our taxes, but they really only want us to pay what we owe, no more, no less. And the IRS really will help you pay the correct amount. Kristien Deazeley of the IRS explains. GoodGovernmentShow.com IRS.gov/help Thanks to our sponsors: N…
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Forged in Spain: British Volunteers and the Spanish Civil War
1:09:35
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This week Eoghan and new co-host Catherine Howley talk to Richard Baxell about his new book 'Forged in Spain' which vividly recounts the lives of the extraordinary men and women who left their families and friends across Britain to risk their lives in the Spanish Civil War. Richard is a historian and former Research Fellow at the London School of E…
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Don’t lock ‘em up, heal them up... Jim Cavanaugh is a county commissioner in Douglas County, Nebraska. Out in Omaha his passion project is making sure people who need mental health assistance aren’t just tossed in jail. He says not only does it not get them the care they need, but it simply costs more. So listen to his solutions and where to get a …
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Paul Preston Interview: Britain's Betrayal of the Spanish Republic
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This week's guest is Paul Preston, one of the foremost historians of the Spanish Civil War. Eoghan talked to Paul about his new book 'Perfidious Albion', which is out today from Clapton Press and which turns the spotlight on Britain’s crucial but often overlooked involvement in the war. Preston argues that the country's policy of non-intervention w…
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Manny Ruiz is the American dream. His parents came to American for a better life for their 11 children. A first generation American, Manny is now a Santa Fe County Arizona county commissioner. He sees a lot of things right at the border, but he also sees where and how things can and should improve. Listen to someone living their entire life at the …
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Eoghan is joined by Christopher James Evans to discuss his new book 'Los Leones: The Unique Story of Athletic Club Bilbao', which is out this month. It looks at Athletic's century long history and the development of its Basque-only footballing philosphy, which makes it stand out as a unique among the great clubs in world football. Please consider s…
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Portugal Turns Right in General Election
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Yesterday's Portuguese general election saw a surge in support for the far-right Chega party, which tripled its vote share from six to eighteen percent while the governing Socialist Party saw a steep fall in support. To analyse the results, Eoghan is joined by journalist Joana Ramiro - whose work has appeared in The New Statesman, The Guardian and …
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David Stout is a county commissioner in El Paso, Texas. The only crisis he sees at his border is a humanitarian crisis. Every day he deals with migrant issues and regularly visits his migrant processing center and talks with migrants and hears their stories. It’s an eye-opening conversation with someone on the front lines of the immigration situati…
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This week on Sobremesa podcast we are discussing this month’s 85th anniversary of La Retirada, which saw 500,000 people flee Catalunya and into France as Franco's fascist forces occupied Barcelona. Eoghan speaks to graduate war historian and podcast host Uma Arruga i López about La Retirada and and the experience of Spanish Republicans as exiles in…
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Franco's Poet and El Desencanto with Aaron Shulman
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43:09
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Aaron Shulman joins Alan to discuss his book The Age of Disenchantments: The Epic Story of Spain's Most Notorious Literary Family and the Long Shadow of the Spanish Civil War. Here he explores Spain's chaotic 20th century via the lense of the larger-than-fiction Panero family. They discuss the cult classic documentary El desencanto (1976), which po…
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The Many Lives of al-Andalus with Eric Calderwood
1:17:52
1:17:52
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Eric Calderwood, Associate Professor of Comparative and World Literature at the University of Illinois, joins Alan to discuss his new book On Earth or in Poems: The Many Lives of al-Andalus (Harvard University Press). They talk about how various groups such as feminists, Palestinians and directors making Ramadan soap-operas are all turning to the m…
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The Op-Ed Novel - El País and Contemporary Spanish Literature
1:17:53
1:17:53
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This week Eoghan is joined by Bécquer Seguín to talk about his new book 'The Op-Ed Novel'. The book examines how many of Spain's most renowned writers over the last thirty years have combined novel writing with publishing regular op-ed columns in El País. As Almudena Grandes, Javier Cercas, Antonio Muñoz Molina, Fernando Aramburu and Javier Marías …
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Tommy Calvert is a Bexar County Texas Commissioner. And he doesn’t just stand out because he’s tall. He stands out because he gets things done. Not just in his home of San Antonio, Texas, but as you will hear around the world. GoodGovernmentShow.com Bexar.org Thanks to our sponsors: National Association of Counties (NACo) Kutztown University Ourco …
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Spanish Politics: The Year in Review 2023
1:20:05
1:20:05
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2023 was the year of Pedro Sánchez living dangerously - from July's surprise snap election to his wager on a Catalan amnesty law so as to secure a further term in office. Alan and Eoghan are joined by Professor Joe Haslam from IE business school to discuss the year's events. The Podcast has grown so much in 2023 and we have released 25 episodes on …
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Crisis Management in Buffalo with Mark Polencarz
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First a racist shooting left 10 dead. Then a once a century blizzard left 31 dead. Through it all Erie County New York executive Mark Polencarz managed the county through two tragic crises. Hear how he did it. GoodGovernmentShow.com SonomaCounty.CA.gov Thanks to our sponsors: National Association of Counties (NACo) Kutztown University Ourco Executi…
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2023 has been another great year for Spanish cinema. Eoghan sits down with Anita Fuentes to discuss some of the best films coming out of Spain over the last 12 months, including: 20.000 especies de abejas, As bestas, Matria and Las chicas están bien. Anita also recommends Spanish series La Mesías.The Podcast has grown so much in 2023 and we have re…
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James Gore talks Wine and Wildfires in Sonoma California
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28:48
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When you talk to a county supervisor from Sonoma County, California, you have to start the conversation with wine, and we do. We also talk about wildfires and fire resiliency. Join the conversation. GoodGovernmentShow.com SonomaCounty.CA.gov Thanks to our sponsors: National Association of Counties (NACo) Kutztown University Ourco Executive Producer…
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A Tribute to First Lady Rosalynn Carter from Commissioner Larry Johnson
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30:44
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Former President Jimmy Carter with his wife, Rosalynn created a program in Atlanta to help area underserved communities. Before he was DeKalb County Commissioner, Larry Johnson had the former First Lady as his advisor in the program. She continues to inspire him today, just listen. GoodGovernmentShow.com CoutyofBerks.com Thanks to our sponsors: Nat…
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Spain's New Progressive Coalition Government!!!
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After weeks of tension, uncertainty and violent protests, Spain has a new progressive coalition government as prime minister Pedro Sanchez won an investiture vote today in the Spanish parliament. Eoghan sat down with Sumar MP Txema Guijarro a few hours after the vote to discuss the events of recent weeks, the Catalan amnesty deal and where the coun…
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Why the Spanish Catholic Church gets away with clergy sex abuse with Miguel Hurtado
44:00
44:00
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Miguel Hurtado is a human rights activist and clergy sex abuse survivor. He sits down with Alan to discuss the recent report from the Spanish government that estimates 440,000 people in the country have been victims of sexual abuse by the Catholic church. They discuss the methodology and content of the report and later the reaction. They also discu…
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In today's episode Eoghan is joined by historian Andrew Dowling to discuss the ongoing efforts to form a government in Spain, with negotiations currently centred on the possibility of a sweeping amnesty law for the Catalan independence movement. Pro-independence Junts' pragmatic turn since September suggests a confidence and suppy deal can reached …
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The Playboy King: Juan Carlos and the Spanish Royal Family with James Badcock
1:44:25
1:44:25
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Freelance journalist James Badcock has reported on the numerous scandals of Juan Carlos closely over the years from dodgy dealings to his mistresses. He has even interviewed Juan Carlos's ex-lover Corinna. James joins Alan to discuss Leonor's recent elevation to heiress, Felipe's battles and, of course, the playboy king himself. This is the sordid …
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(Green) Gentrification and Touristification in Barcelona with Carlos Delclós
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38:16
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Carlos Delclós is a Professor of Sociology at the Autonomous University of Barcelona. He joins Alan to clarify what gentrification is and is not, what different types of gentrification there are and how they have had an effect on Spain's biggest city and tourist destination Barcelona.
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Planes, Trains, and No Voter Fraud with Berks County, PA Commissioner Christian Leinbach
1:06:25
1:06:25
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Trains, planes and criminals, that’s what the conversation with Berks County PA Commissioner Christian Leinbach is about. Christian Leinbach is working on reviving a railroad line to connect his county to Philadelphia. He is also working on the local airport and trying to bring in service to his city. And we check in on a program that successfully …
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County commissioner Matt Meyer is running for Governor!
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51:21
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Matt Meyer is the county executive for New Castle County, Delaware. He has four words for delivering good government to his citizens, Honesty, transparency, efficiency and inclusivity. Listen to how he explains that. GoodGovernmentShow.com Thanks to our sponsors: National Association of Counties (NACo) Kutztown University Ourco Executive Producers:…
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Charlie Dent, the Republican Party and the Future of Politics
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44:30
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Charlie Dent left Congress because he was critical of the direction both his Republican Party and Congress was taking. Listen as he explains how Congress works and the direction it’s taking. And hear how he is actually helping to improve government from the outside. GoodGovernmentShow.com Thanks to our sponsors: National Association of Counties (NA…
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Lisbon: Housing, Digital Nomads and Sandwiches with Joana Ramiro
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59:36
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Joana Ramiro joins Alan to discuss the changing cityscape of Lisbon and Porto. As a Portuguese journalist living in the UK, Joana was shocked when she went back to her home city for 6 months during the first COVID-19 lockdown. Following several articles on the changes taking place, specifically regarding housing, Joana sits down with Alan to explor…
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Craig Buerstatte on how Commerce helps American business
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47:19
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Some in politics have called for the elimination of the Department of Commerce. As Craig Buerstatte, the deputy assistant secretary for regional affairs for the The Economic Development Administration explains, that would be a mistake. His group has one mission, to support communities, cities, towns, rural areas and their efforts to improve their b…
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Kevin Shutty on protecting the Puget Sound
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31:18
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Kevin Shutty is setting off a bit of a national seafood fight. He claims his Puget Sound shellfish are the best in the nation. Take that Maryland and New England. As a Mason County Commissioner on Puget Sound in Washington, clean water and the sea are vital to his county. Listen to the work he does to keep the fish healthy. GoodGovernmentShow.com T…
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The Rubiales Case: Spain's World Cup Winners against the Patriarchy
29:27
29:27
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This week Eoghan is joined by independent journalist Leah Pattem to discuss the fallout from Spanish Football Federation chief Luis Rubiales' alleged sexual assault of Jenni Hermoso at the World Cup final and why most international coverage is ignoring a crucial player in this story: Spain's powerful feminist movement.…
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Tammy Tincher talks about environmental issues in WV
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34:22
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Going back to hear about West Virginia always makes for a good conversation. With some good planning and luck, tourism might be a boon for Greenbriar County and the state. Join me and my conversation with County Commission President Tammy Tincher. GoodGovernmentShow.com Thanks to our sponsors: National Association of Counties (NACo) Kutztown Univer…
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Revisiting Al-Andalus with Mahmoud Hosny Roshdy
55:37
55:37
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Mahmoud Roshdy joins Alan to discuss an alternative way of teaching and looking at the history of Arabic Spain. With 8oo years of history, this new approach makes for interesting listening when compared to the average history class. Alan and Eoghan also discuss the Women's World Cup and what is happening politically after the elections. Photo by Ma…
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