Best Catalonia Podcasts (2024)

1
Books, roses and legends - Celebrating Sant Jordi in Catalonia 27:36

4h ago27:36

27:36

Sant Jordi or Saint George is the patron saint of Catalonia, and April 23 is the day when Catalans celebrate love, roses, romance, and also books. This week's episode is recorded from the bookshop Backstory in the heart of Barcelona. We explain what makes this day special and why people give each other roses and books. We learn about the legend of …

1
43. Instruments, Music & Emotions - Catalan for Beginners 28:07

2h ago28:07

28:07

Hola! This episode teaches you vocabulary for different instruments and how to say what you play or used to play. You will also learn some common emotions along with the verb 'to be' - 'estar' and put all of this together into sentences to practice the language! We hope you enjoy the episode. If you do we would love a rating/review wherever you are…

1
72 - Europe prepares for World War III 16:40

1h ago16:40

16:40

The European authorities are telling us to prepare for World War III. Is it time to start stockpiling guns and food? Donate to the cause here at https://expatmadrid.com/donate/ More on the web: https://expatmadrid.com/europe-prepares-for-world-war-iii/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/spain/message…

1
Shifting sands - Beneath Catalonia’s coastal changes 20:48

2h ago20:48

20:48

As the weather gets warmer, more and more people will want to go to the beach. But lately, some of the beaches in Catalonia have looked quite different. In some places, the beaches look like they have been swallowed by the sea. The reason for this is the recent storm Nelson, which hit the Catalan coast during this past Easter. Nelson caused an unpr…

1
71 - Barcelona's Disappearing Bus Route 19:19

7d ago19:19

19:19

Barcelona has recently had a bus route removed from Google Maps... you won't believe why. Also, how Google Maps has changed travel in the last couple of decades. Donate to the cause here: https://expatmadrid.com/donate More on the web at https://expatmadrid.com/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/spain/message…

1
70 - Why do Americans love Spain? 22:47

2d ago22:47

22:47

Why do Americans love living in Spain? From the laid-back lifestyle and the food, to the (lack of) guns and the politics, here's why people from the US are flocking to Spain in ever-increasing numbers. Donate here: https://expatmadrid.com/donate Much more about Madrid, Barcelona and Spain on the web: https://expatmadrid.com --- Send in a voice mess…

1
Off the runway: exploring sustainability and inclusivity at 080 Barcelona Fashion 20:16

6d ago20:16

20:16

Barcelona’s take on fashion week is the bi-annual event 080 Barcelona Fashion, which this season runs from April 9 to April 12. The event has been held at the Sant Pau Art Nouveau Site since 2013, and during the 33rd edition celebrated this week, a mix of 24 emerging designers and established brands presented their idea of what should be in vogue i…

1
69 - Spain's Golden Visa: is this the end? 18:55

13d ago18:55

18:55

Big news today! The Spanish government is suggesting that they might get rid of the Golden Visa scheme for real estate investors. Is it really going to happen? How will this affect Spain? What about other visa options for people who want to move here? All questions I answer here in this episode. Donate to the cause at https://expatmadrid.com/donate…

1
42. TV & Film - Què mires? Què no mires? Shows & Negative expressions - Catalan for Beginners 38:14

17d ago38:14

38:14

Welcome back! Another episode and this time we are learning about TV & film, including how to say what we watch/like to watch/favourite shows/films and also learning some negative structures to talk about what we don't watch! We hope you enjoy it and find it useful. If you do we hope you will consider rating/reviewing the show, becoming a Patron or…

1
Climbing Catalonia: Scaling new heights with indoor and outdoor bouldering 21:39

13d ago21:39

21:39

The number of indoor climbing gyms in Catalonia has multiplied by four in just ten years, making climbing a lifestyle phenomenon and another way of connecting with people. At the same time, the mountainous landscapes of Catalonia have become some of the most visited destinations for outdoor climbing. In this episode, Oriol Escudé Macià joins Lea Be…

1
Behind bars: from model prison to overcrowded agony – the story of La Model 22:39

20d ago22:39

22:39

This year marks the 120th anniversary of the opening of the notorious La Model prison, located in the Eixample district of Barcelona. The facility closed in 2017 and has since become a site for Catalan historic memory, open to the public. Behind its high beige walls lies the history of a prison that sought to be exemplary, but during the Franco dic…

1
68 - Madrid off the beaten path with Felicity Hughes 1:08:06

23d ago1:08:06

1:08:06

Felicity Hughes writes one of my favorite blogs about Madrid, about the history of places and things you don't find on normal tourist itineraries. She's also got a new book out, about Barrio de las Letras, and she's working on Lonely Planet's new Madrid guide (out in 2025). More about Madrid and Spain on my blog: https://expatmadrid.com/And on Feli…

1
41. Sport! Esport! How often do you play different sports? - Catalan for Beginners 29:37

1M ago29:37

29:37

Ei! Com anem? This episode is all about sports! You will learn vocabulary for 10 common sports, as well as be able to say how often you play them, give opinions and say which sport is your favourite. We hope you like the episode and find it useful. Feel free to get in touch with us with any questions or to chat to us. You can find our links below: …

1
Mobile-free zones: How a parent initiative led to the restriction of phones in Catalan schools 22:16

27d ago22:16

22:16

In January 2024, the Catalan government joined other European countries in the fight to regulate the use of mobile phones by young children. A new set of regulations restricting the use of mobile phones in Catalan primary or secondary schools starting from the 2024/2025 academic year saw the light of day. But the idea behind the regulations didn’t …

1
And the Oscar goes to... Catalonia's Hollywood adventure 24:02

1M ago24:02

24:02

Society of the Snow and Robot Dreams miss out on coveted Academy Awards, but plenty of fun is had along the way. In Los Angeles, Natàlia Segura catches up with the nominees – Barcelona filmmaker JA Bayona, director of Society of the Snow, Montse Ribé and David Martí, nominated in the Best Makeup and Hairstyling category for their work on the same f…

1
40. QUIZ! Can you talk about your routines and where you live? Review lesson - Catalan for Beginners 37:46

2M ago37:46

37:46

Time to put your knowledge to the test with another review lesson! This episode is a quiz for Alex and you listening to see how much you have remembered from episodes 36-39 - these involved talking about our daily routines and detailed about where you live. We covered a lot of grammar like reflexive verbs, possessive articles and pronouns and using…

1
10 women who changed Catalonia 22:42

1M ago22:42

22:42

March 8 is International Women's Day. To mark the occasion, Filling the Sink pays homage to ten women who changed Catalonia. Writer Caterina Albert (aka Victor Català), educator Francesca Bonnemaison, anarcho-syndicalist Teresa Claramunt, trans activist Silvia Reyes, flamenco dancer Carmen Amaya, operatic soprano Montserrat Caballé, singer and song…

1
67 - Education, Caso Koldo and Women's Day 2024 20:23

2M ago20:23

20:23

A few more random thoughts here, about formal vs informal education, a new corruption scandal in Spain known as Caso Koldo, and the (possibly underwhelming) celebrations for Women's Day 2024. More on the web: https://expatmadrid.com/education-koldo-women/ Donate to the cause, I'll probably spend it on coffee and sparkling water: https://expatmadrid…

1
66 - Walking tour of Catalonia 22:56

2M ago22:56

22:56

I just came back from a 105 kilometer walking tour of some nearby parts of Catalonia. Here's the story. More on the web: https://expatmadrid.com/walking-tour-catalonia/ Donate to the cause! I appreciate donations of any size, right here: https://expatmadrid.com/donate --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/spain/messag…

1
Op by Martin Kirby, March '24 3:51

2M ago3:51

3:51

Opinion Martin Kirby for Catalonia Today, March '24By Catalonia Today

1
Inside Mobile World Congress 2024 – AI, quantum tech, aviation innovation and Catalan startups 25:00

2M ago25:00

25:00

The world's biggest mobile technology fair is taking place in Barcelona once again, but Mobile World Congress goes way beyond phones. MWC 2024 showcases all kinds of emerging technology from tech giants such as Samsung, Google, Huawei and Microsoft, with artificial intelligence the buzzword on everyone's lips. Lorcan Doherty chats AI with Mobileum …

1
Opinion by Nail Stokes, March '24 3:05

2M ago3:05

3:05

Audio by Neil Stokes for Catalonia Today, March '24By Catalonia Today

1
Opinion by Barney Griffiths, March '24 4:21

2M ago4:21

4:21

barney Griffiths for Catalonia Today, March '24By Catalonia Today

1
39. Rooms in the house, Possessives & More adjectives! 34:49

2M ago34:49

34:49

Hola! This episode will teach you how to describe your home - from vocabulary on rooms of the house and descriptions, to learning about possessive adjectives/pronouns (they are the same in Catalan!) and recapping some key verbs. We hope you find it useful. If you want to make faster progress with your Catalan and support our project, you can consid…

1
Catalan farmers' protests: Why are they demonstrating? 15:06

2M ago15:06

15:06

All across Europe, farmers are protesting, stopping traffic with their tractors to sound the alarm on what many feel is the slow death of the agricultural sector. On February 6, Catalan farmers drove their tractors out of the fields, draped them with slogans such as “La nostra fi, la vostra fam”, or “Our end, your hunger” and marched slowly but det…

1
Catalan Wikipedia – community, knowledge, language and culture 24:34

2M ago24:34

24:34

Viquipèdia, the Catalan version of the free, collaborative online encyclopedia, is a real success story, with almost 750,000 articles and over 1,000 active editors. Wikipedians Xavier Dengra and Àlex Hinojo explain what drives them to volunteer their free time and contribute their knowledge to the project. Lea Beliaeva chats to Núria Ribas, preside…

1
Op Neil Stokes, Jan 24 3:20

2M ago3:20

3:20

Op Neil Stokes, Jan 24 by Catalonia TodayBy Catalonia Today

1
Opinion by Barney Griffiths 4:06

2M ago4:06

4:06

Barney Griffiths, feb '24By Catalonia Today

1
38. Describing your Region/Home - Catalan for Beginners 35:40

2M ago35:40

35:40

Hola! This episode goes into lots more detail in teaching you how to say where you live, learning some different geographical regions, as well as describing them with different adjectives and using a conditional tense to say where you would like to live! On t'agradaria viure? Where would you like to live? Let us know! Thank you as always for listen…

1
Record year – Barcelona's booming vinyl scene 25:02

3M ago25:02

25:02

Record stores and listening bars are popping up everywhere in Barcelona. Vinyl sales in Catalonia surpassed CD sales in 2023 for the first time since the 1980s. Why has this old, impractical way of listening to music gained popularity in a time when everyone can access whatever music they want on their phones? Lorcan Doherty joins Lea Beliaeva Band…

1
65 - Is Barcelona the new Austin? 20:40

2M ago20:40

20:40

On a recent episode of the Tim Ferriss podcast, Noah Kagan explained his theory that Barcelona is the new Austin. As someone who lives in Barcelona, of course I've got some thoughts about his reasons. More on the web: https://expatmadrid.com/barcelona-new-austin/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/spain/message…

1
Girona FC – the tiny Catalan football club making it big 24:11

3M ago24:11

24:11

Catalonia's number one football team has always been FC Barcelona, until now! Tiny Girona FC are making it big, battling it out at the top of La Liga in just their fourth season ever in Spain's top division. Cillian Shields joins Lorcan Doherty to chat about the players and manager making the miracles happen. Pepe Sierra, a Girona fanatic and presi…

1
64 - Pickpockets in Barcelona and Spain's petty crime problem 23:05

3M ago23:05

23:05

There are a lot of pickpockets in Barcelona – a city that's already got a reputation for being unsafe. Recently, the problem has escalated and the court system is on the verge of collapse. Here are a few tips for avoiding pickpockets in Spain, as well as some facts about petty crime of all kinds. More on the web https://expatmadrid.com/pickpockets-…

1
37. Daily Routine (Afternoon/Evening/Night) - Catalan for Beginners 25:45

3M ago25:45

25:45

Ei! Com va? This episode dives further into talking about our daily routines, outside of just the morning. You will learn how to talk in Catalan about what you normally do in the afternoons, evenings and nights. We hope you enjoy and find it useful! If you'd like to access bonus material, lesson notes and language summaries, as well as chat to us o…

1
Spotlight on education – Poor PISA results raise questions for Catalan schools 23:06

3M ago23:06

23:06

Filling the Sink turns the spotlight on education after Catalonia finished almost bottom of the class in Spain in the latest PISA international tests, sat by students around the world in reading, maths, and science. The results have raised questions for Catalan schools: what's behind the decline, and what can be done about it? Have changes in educa…

1
63 - Bitcoin in Barcelona and the Catalan Crypto Community 21:15

3M ago21:15

21:15

Hey hey! New episode today all about the Catalan Crypto Community, and how to use bitcoin in Barcelona. Is it even possible? I went and found out... More on the web: https://expatmadrid.com/bitcoin-barcelona/ Donate (fiat currency, please) to support the podcast at https://expatmadrid.com/donate --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spoti…

1
Censored, prohibited, vandalized - inside Barcelona’s Museum of Forbidden Art 21:10

3M ago21:10

21:10

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 an…

1
36. My Morning Routine (& Reflexive verbs!) - Catalan for Beginners 30:20

3M ago30:20

30:20

Hola! This episode will teach you how to talk about your morning routine in Catalan, and we delve a little bit into learning what are reflexive verbs and how are they used. We hope you enjoy. Feel free to get in touch with us on our socials linked below to chat to us or give us any feedback about the podcast. Fins aviat :) Support the Show. Patreon…

1
62 - Election Year and Quitting Twitter 12:21

3M ago12:21

12:21

A couple of random thoughts today, about the 2024 election and about quitting Twitter (or maybe I should call it X). Donate to the podcast here: https://expatmadrid.com/donate Links and more Spain stuff on the web: https://expatmadrid.com/election-year-quitting-twitter/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/spain/mess…

1
How Catalonia’s Roma community keeps the Romani language alive 18:16

3M ago18:16

18:16

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 an…

1
61 - Clot, Sant Martí and the future of Barcelona 16:11

3M ago16:11

16:11

A bit about the Clot neighborhood in Barcelona, where I've just moved. Clot is part of the Sant Martí district, and there's a lot happening up here. The future of Barcelona is in progress... https://expatmadrid.com/clot-neighborhood-barcelona/ Donate to the cause: expatmadrid.com/donate --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/po…

1
35. Bon any! Review of the last 4 lessons - Catalan for Beginners 30:57

4M ago30:57

30:57

Hola! Bon any nou! Happy New Year to you! We are so excited for another year of learning Catalan!! This lesson is a review of the last 4 lessons, so we recap months of the year, days of the week, along with other language such as asking to spell your name of recapping some of the holiday traditions that we learned about. If you are a Patron, we wou…

1
60 - Madrid as a tourist 20:23

4M ago20:23

20:23

I recently visited Madrid, and felt more like a tourist than one of the locals. Here are a few updates from Spain's "vibrant" capital city. More on the web: https://expatmadrid.com/madrid-as-a-tourist/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/spain/message

1
A look back at 2023 - elections, drought and celebrity break-ups 22:48

4M ago22:48

22:48

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 …

1
The Father of Catalan Modernism - How Lluís Domènech i Montaner started a movement 22:38

4M ago22:38

22:38

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…

1
34. Catalan Christmas Traditions and vocabulary! - Catalan for Beginners 32:52

4M ago32:52

32:52

Ei! This lesson is all about Christmas and the holidays. You will gain lots of cultural insights into Catalan traditions around the holidays while learning lots of useful Christmas/holiday vocabulary in Catalan along the way. We hope you enjoy! Please share it with anyone who you think might enjoy it too. Thank you to our latest Patron, KJ. If you …

1
Antoni Tàpies’ centenary - Avant garde art that makes you think 23:53

4M ago23:53

23:53

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 to…

1
59 - Russian Revolution 31:05

4M ago31:05

31:05

I recently finished listening to the Revolutions Podcast, which goes into great detail about the Russian Revolution. In this episode I talk about some of the things I learned. More on the web: https://expatmadrid.com/russian-revolution/ Donate to the cause here: https://expatmadrid.com/donate You can listen to Mike Duncan's "Revolutions" podcast on…

1
All you need is water – Catalonia confronts historic drought 20:25

5M ago20:25

20:25

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 h…

1
How Did Venezuela’s Oil Riches End up in Swiss Banks? 39:52

5M ago39:52

39:52

Repressed by Venezuela's government on one side. Muzzled by Swiss banking secrecy laws on the other. Yet against these odds, a team of reporters exposed how corrupt Venezuelan elites stashed stolen oil profits in Credit Suisse accounts. In this episode, Nick Wallis interviews OCCRP editor Nathan Jaccard and Armando.Info editor-in-chief Valentina La…

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Catalonia Podcasts

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