Top Podcasts from Europe That Americans Should Know

Dear, readers! Quick note up top. I am going to spotlight an audio thing I love and/or think you should know about at the top of each issue of EarBuds when we don't have a Title sponsor.This week: did you know that the Podcasting, Seriously Fund exists? Learn more about it.

- Arielle Nissenblatt, EarBuds founder

Podcasts from Europe

Curated by...

Marcus H (he/him)

Why did you choose this theme?Just like film before it, podcasting is a cross-cultural and increasingly global medium. Seeing the dominance of Hollywood, I thought this could be a great opportunity to share some of the fascinating audio projects that are coming out of Europe.I work for a Spain-based production company and am inspired by my company's experience of adapting our Spanish-language hit podcast, Blum, into English. I thought it would be fun to highlight podcasts that English-language speakers may not be aware of from Europe. We've recommended some English-language podcasts and some Spanish-language podcasts this week.

PODCAST PICKS:Click on the podcast art to listen 👂

The MessageArt history student Clara Torres disappears while working on her thesis about Ursula Blum, an avant-garde painter from the 20th century. Five years later, journalist Emma Clark decides to travel to Switzerland to continue Clara's investigation. She develops a podcast about the mysteries surrounding both women.

Can I Tell You a Secret?The BeginningGuardian journalist Sirin Kale takes us to a small town in the north of England to uncover how one man began a decade of cyberstalking. Similar to Blum, this podcast is about obsessions and the drive to understand them.

Unreal: A Critical History of Reality TVThe Social Experiment: Big Brother is Watching YouEarBuds curator Marcus admits that for a long time, he turned his nose up at reality TV, but this podcast helped him challenge his narrow-minded preconceptions. Marcus really likes how the hosts go deep into the ethical questions raised by the format whilst respecting the subjects that they are studying. There is no talking down to the genre, but they don’t hold back on their criticism either.

La Matemática de la Historia¿Loco o genio?En Español. A close friend of Salvador Dalí, Alexandre Deulofeu (1903-1978) used mathematics to read the future, predicting the reunification of Germany, the disintegration of the Soviet Union, and the defeat of the United States in Vietnam many years before they each happened. This delightfully produced podcast takes us through this unique thinker's life and shares his mental framework to help us predict the future as well. 

Misterio en la MoralejaSacrilegioEn Español. Section 35 of La Moraleja, located just outside of Madrid, is the richest postcode in Spain. During the May 2021 elections, far-left party Podemos received only one vote in this area. Journalist Eva Lamarca goes on a quest to find who that solitary voter is. Borrowing from true crime, this crossover format turns something seemingly banal into a thrilling investigation. It's also a chance to hear more unguarded interviews with some of the wealthiest people in Spain to understand how they really think

SPONSORS:

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COMMUNITY:

🎧The fifth season of the investigative podcast series Witnessed, titled Fade to Black, focuses on the bizarre story of screenwriter Gary Devore, whose mysterious disappearance in 1997 has become the source of many conspiracy theories, including that the CIA may have played a role in whatever happened to him.

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On the EarBuds Blog:

• Podcasts for Adoption Awareness Month

• Podcasts Exploring the Intersection of Pop Culture, Identity, & Social Change

PODCAST NEWS from Podnews:

• The new podcast Podcast Graveyard is fittingly looking at dead podcasts. 

• Spotify wants you to ensure that your show page is ready for Spotify Wrapped, with recommendations, links to your social media, and other tools to get the most out of it.

• The Independent Podcast Awards took place last week. We have a full list of the winners, including links to trailers and hosting details. 

SPOTLIGHT:

Making Peace VisibleOn Making Peace Visible, we speak with journalists and peacebuilders who help us understand the human side of conflicts and peace efforts around the world.From international negotiations in Colombia to gang violence disruptors in Chicago to women advocating for their rights in the midst of the Syrian civil war, these are the storytellers who are changing the narrative.

Advertise with usCurate a listSupport us on Patreon (we currently make $67/month, which almost covers the cost of Mailchimp!)

More on the Podcasting, Seriously Fund: LWC Studios launched the Fund to support independent BIPOC, Queer, and Trans audio producers in both submitting high-quality work to media/journalism awards and receiving further production education and training. You can get reimbursed for applying for podcast-related awards!

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