In our annual Pride episode, comedian and TLU alumni Jana Levitina joins our host Terry McDonald to discuss the role humour plays in activism. Jana has co-founded a FLINTA (female, lesbian, intersex, non-binary, trans, agender) comedy club in Estonia, and in this episode enlightens Terry on the importance of political humour, how is feminism relate…

The reconstruction of Ukraine is going to be one of the biggest international development projects in history. Many partners - governments, NGOs, and in the private sector - will have a role to play. As in the war itself, the US government will have a leading role in these efforts. As the development arm of the US government, USAid will likely be a…

In our annual Green Month episode, our host Terry McDonald speaks with Dr. Bianka Plüschke-Altof, a Senior researcher in Environmental Sociology at Tallinn University. They discuss Green Cities, whether or not Tallinn deserves this award, and Bianka's book Whose Green City? Contested Urban Green Spaces and Environmental Justice in Northern Europe. …

This week Georgians and those sympathetic to them protested outside the Georgian embassy in Tallinn. They did so in solidarity with the massive protests in Tbilisi - Georgia's capital - as the parliament tried to pass a Foreign Agent law that the protesters dubbed the "Russian Law", as Putin passed the same law on his path to authoritarianism. In t…

In this special episode, Prime Minister of Estonia Kaja Kallas joins our Host Terry McDonald live at the Tallinn University Symposium of International Relations. In a wide-ranging session, topics from the War in Ukraine, Globalization, Migration, Estonia's Priorities in World Affairs, and Small State Survival are discussed as the PM takes questions…

More than 40 000 deaths, and 100 000 injured - the earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria this month is a humanitarian catastrophe. In its aftermath, there lays not only destruction, but legacies of war, corruption, and crises-within-crises. In this special episode, Tallinn University Podcast team member Jana Levitina speaks with TLU Politics and Gov…

Christmas traditions in Estonia can be traced back many centuries ago, with the first ever documented Chrimstas tree being put on display in Europe found in Estonia over 600 years ago. However, modern Estonian winter holiday practices are recorded only from the 19th century due to the introduction of Christianity and the Baltic Germans. In this epi…

According to the data of the Social Insurance Board, as of December 31, 2021, Estonia had a total of 133,007 disabled people. Disabled people make up nearly 11% of Estonia’s total population. However, struggles with the legacies of the previous system - in which people with disabilities were hidden from society - remain. In this episode, host Terry…

The COP27 summit is grappling with how we can face the challenge of climate change in a way that is both effective and just. Tallinn University graduate Jyri Jäntti, a Climate Change Specialist for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) based at the Regional Collaboration Center (RCC) Kampala, is a delegate there. In thi…

With Iran being rocked by protests, the world has taken notice. From record-breaking online support, to women cutting off their hair, to human chains and solidarity marches, people all over the world have expressed solidarity with this women-led movement for freedom, including activists here in Estonia. In our first episode of the new season, host …

In our final episode of season two, host Terry McDonald is joined by Anette Mäletjärv, Cooperation Officer in the Estonian LGBT Association, to discuss the history of the LGBTQ+ movement in Estonia, where it started, and what it has achieved. Happy Pride Month!

From claims like "Made with recycled products" to pictures of a rainforest on the label, the image of environmentalism is everywhere in advertising today. Similarly, more consumers are trying to make environmentally conscious purchasing decisions than ever. To do so, though, they need to be able to know which products are actually produced in an en…

The arts have been essential to the survival of Estonian culture, through various occupations, up through the Singing Revolution, and in the revitalization of independence. Now, on Tallinn Music Week, our host Terry McDonald is joined by Shiftworks CEO and TMW Founder Helen Sildna to discuss the festival's history, and the meaning of the arts in ti…

Social Media and the rights and responsibilities that come with it shape so much of our world - politics, relationships, war and peace. How can we have democracy in a world where people are living in different information realities? Who gets to choose what is acceptable discourse? In a wide-ranging discussion, Dr. Mart Susi - founder of the Digital…

Hacking. Cybercrime. Cyberwarfare. It cuts to the heart of modern life, and the essential functions of modern society. Now, as one of the major players in cyberwarfare engages in total war, we need to understand the vulnerabilities we have to cyberattack, and how we can deal with them without sacrificing the connectivity we depend on as a global so…

Pandemics. Climate change. Refugee crises. The problems we face in the era of globalization run deep. Despite layers of governance and a plethora of expertise, there are modern problems that simply do not have simple solutions. These are known as Wicked Problems - and how we learn to adapt to and deal with them will shape the future of human societ…

With the invasion of Ukraine underway, we invited Dr. Matthew Crandall and Dr. Benjamin Klasche back on the podcast to speak with Terry about why Russia would do this, and what it means for the future of Europe, International Relations, and the world. We also discuss the events from each of an American, German, and Canadian perspective. This episod…

Half a world apart geographically, close partners in culture, economy, and security - in this episode we discuss the relationship between Canada and Estonia. Estonian Ambassador to Canada Toomas Lukk joins our host Terry McDonald to talk about the history of Estonians in Canada, how the Estonian diaspora maintains their identity, what NATO security…

The year 2021 saw an unprecedented surge in energy prices in Europe, with the retail price of electricity almost tripling in Estonia within a year. Why has this happened, and what does it say about the future of energy? Host Terry McDonald is joined by Dr. Mihkel Kangur, an Associate Professor of Sustainable Development at the School of Natural Sci…

Russian troops are amassed near the Ukrainian border, in an escalation of the crisis that has been building since the invasion of 2014. Just yesterday, Putin and Biden exchanged ultimatums regarding the consequences of any potential Russian military invasion of Ukraine, with the potential of a "complete breakdown" of the relationship between the US…

A border crisis by design on the edge of the European Union. Migrating people's desire for a better life being used as weapon to destabilize a political rival. Who are these people arriving on Europe's doorstep - who sent them, and why? Dr. Mari-Liis Jakobson, Associate Professor of Political Sociology at TLU's School of Governance, Law and Society…

Estonia is a world-leader in education. For example, in 2018 Estonian 15 year-olds had the highest scores in Europe in the OECD's PISA tests - the best standardized measurement of educational success available today. What is it about the Estonian education system that works so well? Are there lessons that other countries and educators should take f…

Major powers have been using Covid vaccines - and the desire other states have for access to them - to buy allies and enhance their global reputations. Russia, China, the USA, and the EU have all had different approaches and agendas when it comes to this vaccine diplomacy - and this has been a force in international relations and the global Covid r…

Do you know what bees mean to society, and what you can do to help them thrive? Dr. Liisa Puusepp of the Tallinn University Institute of Ecology joins us to talk about how bees made your breakfast, pollination corridors, and why she has 100 000 bees on the roof of Tallinn University. This episode is our contribution to TLU's Green Month initiative …

How did Estonia succeed in building a lasting democracy, while Belarus still fights for one? Our guests Dr. Leif Kalev (Professor of State and Citizenship Theory - TLU) and Belarusian Activist Irina Suursild discuss the divergent paths of their two nations since 1991. For those who want to help build democracy in Belarus - here are some links: http…

A conversation with former US Ambassador to Russia Prof. Michael McFaul. We discuss changes in US foreign policy in the region from Prof. McFaul's time in the Obama administration, through the Trump era, and what a Biden Presidency will mean for Estonia and the region as a whole. Plus, we reflect on Prof. McFaul's personal experiences in Estonia, R…

In our inaugural episode, we meet with the former President of Estonia, Toomas Hendrik Ilves, and discuss the role of Estonia in the wider world, along with some of his personal history and unique insights into Estonian politics - near and abroad. Hosted by Terry McDonald Facebook: @TLUPODCAST Instagram: @tlupodcast Twitter: PodcastTallinn…