Durada: 21 min

As Christmas time approaches and 2024 draws to a close, we'll be dedicating an episode of Filling the Sink to an annual review, summarizing some of this year's most important news and taking a look at what is on the cards for Catalonia in 2025. Host Beth Cohen sits down with Catalan News journalist Lorcan Doherty to look back over the major stories of 2024 and discuss the best and the worst of this year's news. We have seen extreme weather events, including a drought, heat waves and a DANA which raised questions about Catalonia's vulnerability in the face of climate change. On a political level, there have been two elections, an amnesty law, a new president and the surprise return of Carles Puigdemont in August. There have also been protests about rising rent prices and mass tourism, leading to protesters spraying water guns at holiday-makers in Barcelona. This week's Catalan phrase is "Anys i panys" - "Years and locks" - which refers to the passage of time.

Durada: 26 min

Catalan is currently spoken by more than 10 million people in four different countries: Spain, Andorra, France and Italy. This week on "Filling the sink" we reveal what it's like to learn Catalan as a foreign language, find out who is studying it and why and discover the importance of our national language. Catalan News journalist Cillian Shields talks to Catalan teacher, language influencer, and content creator Júlia Riera, about the success of her educational channel, @dailycatalan. Host Beth Cohen discusses the popularity of the free Catalan classes for beginners run by the CPNL. And we meet Gerhard Kirsten, a mathematician from South Africa who has documented his progress learning Catalan on social media. This week's Catalan phrase is "Qui no té feina el gat pentina", the equivalent to the English phrase "Idle hands are the devil's playthings". So if you're looking for something to do this weekend, tune in to "Filling the sink" and learn some Catalan with us!

Durada: 23 min

On October 29, an isolated upper-level depression affected Spain, causing heavy rain and floods. One month on, we discuss the tragedy, explore whether Catalonia is prepared for this kind of meteorological phenomenon and question why these slow-moving storm systems are becoming increasingly frequent. Catalan News journalist Oriol Escudé talks to scientists and climate change experts David Pino and Davide Faranda, who explain the climatological conditions of the Spanish Mediterranean basin and how human activity is affecting the intensity of storms. To discover how Catalonia handles extreme weather events, we visit the Protecció Civil control and crisis centers and meet the Deputy Director of Operations, Imma Solé. This week's Catalan phrase is "Qui sembra vents, recull tempestats" - in English, "He who sows winds, reaps storms". It can perhaps serve as a warning that, if we continue to mistreat the planet and climate change advances, we can expect more storms like this in future.

Durada: 25 min

This Saturday November 23 the Tenant's Union accompanied by dozens of housing activism organizations have organized a protest in Barcelona to demand a significant reduction in rents. We discuss the housing crisis, analyze the reasons behind rising prices and find out how tenants are fighting back. Catalan News journalist Cillian Shields talks to tenants about the difficulties of renting in Barcelona and host Beth Cohen investigates the rent cap law. We interview some of the key figures involved in Saturday's protest to clarify what the protest hopes to achieve, while experts question the viability of a rent strike. This week's Catalan phrase is "Començar la casa per la teulada" - to start the house with the roof. It means to do things in the wrong order and is the equivalent of the English saying "To put the cart before the horse."

Durada: 25 min

Everyone loves a good breakfast, and in this week's episode of Filling the Sink we talk about the boom of brunch bars in Barcelona and find out how local cuisine is fighting back. Catalan News journalist Oriol Escudé visits Billy Brunch, one of the most famous brunch chains in the city. Owner Billy Thorens shares the secrets to his success and we chat to some of the customers to find out what's so great about brunch. Host Beth Cohen investigates the 'esmorzar de forquilla' - Catalonia's own traditional morning meal - and finds out how it has been making a comeback and "declaring war on brunch". We have breakfast with Albert Molins, a journalist from La Vanguardia and founder of EsmorzApp, an app which enables users to find restaurants serving the traditional hearty Catalan breakfasts in their area. This week's Catalan phrase is "menjar amb els ulls" - to eat with your eyes - when something looks so good that you just have to eat it.

Durada: 23 min

November 9 is the tenth anniversary of the 2014 Catalan self-determination vote and to mark the occasion we'll be looking at the independence push over the last few years. Catalan News Agency journalist Guifré Jordan gives us an overview of the events leading up to the 2014 self-determination vote, the unofficial referendums between 2009 and 2011 and the protests which took place in Barcelona. We listen to some of the Catalan citizens who went to the polls and journalist and head of Catalan News Gerard Escaich Folch introduces some of the key pro-independence leaders, such as Artur Mas and David Fernàndez. We also explore the reactions of the Spanish government and host Beth Cohen draws parallels with other national and international situations. This week's Catalan phrase is "Fer mans i mànigues", which means to make that extra effort and do everything possible to achieve your goal. It's an inspirational phrase to round off this week's podcast on Catalan independence.

Durada: 23 min

Despite its popularity as a recreational drug, cannabis has also been used throughout history to relieve pain and aid relaxation. Beth Cohen and Emma Monròs investigate the uses of this controversial plant in contemporary medicine, discovering its effects, benefits, and contraindications. Emma talks to doctor Magí Farré to find out how cannabis-derived pharmaceuticals are currently administered and how changes in the law could benefit sufferers of certain conditions such as chronic pain and cancer. To find out more about legal cannabis cultivation, we visit Canamedics in Manresa, the first company in Catalonia with an official license to grow medicinal cannabis. Owner and co-founder Luis Comas talks to us about this groundbreaking enterprise. This week's Catalan phrase is "Que bé s'està, quan s'està bé", used to express gratitude and recognize your good fortune when things are going well. It's a perfect feel-good phrase to end this podcast about health and well-being on a high!

Durada: 20 min

As All Saints Day approaches on November 1, many Catalan families will be visiting the graves of their loved ones, taking flowers and paying their respects to the dead. Beth Cohen and Emma Monrós dive into the history of two of Barcelona's most iconic cemeteries, Poblenou and Montjuïc. Emma talks to Adrià Terol, cultural manager of the cemeteries in Barcelona, about the history of funeral rituals in the city. We admire the sculptures in Montjuïc cemetery, such as the famous Petó de la Mort (Kiss of Death), and visit the Museum of Funeral Carriages to see some of the historic vehicles there. Beth finds out how locals celebrate at this time of year and we brainstorm some ideas of spooky things to see and do in and around Barcelona for Halloween. This week's Catalan phrase is "Assemblar-se com un ou a una castanya" - to be as similar as an egg and a chestnut. It's a perfect phrase to use as la Castanyada approaches!

Durada: 23 min

October 19th is the World Health Organization's International Day Against Breast Cancer. In 2022, more than 2 million people worldwide were diagnosed with the illness, while the number of diagnoses here in Catalonia last year was around 5,400. On the 200th episode of Filling the Sink, Oriol Escudé Macià joins Lea Beliaeva Bander to talk about some of the realities and myths surrounding breast cancer and who is at risk of getting it. We hear personal stories from breast cancer survivors Mònica Roldán, Grindel Darwich and Anna Bacardit, as well as from campaigners Alba Martínez and Aurora Fernàndez. We highlight the importance of early detection and discuss both private and public healthcare options and hear from oncologists about their biggest challenges. This week's Catalan phrase is "de mica en mica s'ompla la pica", which literally translates to "little by little the sink fills up," and is the phrase behind the name of the podcast, and means "one step at a time."

Durada: 20 min

SEAT is known as one of the largest companies in Catalonia and one of the biggest car manufacturers in Europe, selling over half a million cars in 2023 alone. The classic SEAT 600 was more than just a car - it was the model that democratized driving in Spain and served as a symbol of a rapidly industrializing country in the mid-20th century. On October 18, 1971, in the final decade of the Franco dictatorship, a pivotal moment in the workers' rights movement occurred when SEAT workers staged a strike at the factory in Barcelona to protest the unjust firing of their colleagues. It soon turned deadly with the killing of worker Antonio Ruiz Villalba, and numerous injuries. Cillian Shields joins Lea Beliaeva Bander to discuss what led up to the strike, and we hear first-hand accounts from Pedro López, who was one of the strike organizers, and Carles Vallejo, one of the dismissed workers. This week's Catalan phrase is "fer historia" which means "to make history."

Durada: 18 min

Last Saturday, around 5,000 people gathered for the 11th edition of the Barcelona International Community Day at the Maritime Museum, just off the famous La Rambla boulevard. The annual event was packed with talks, workshops, and networking activities to help newcomers to settle in and get tips on how to enjoy the Catalan capital. Lorcan Doherty and Gerard Escaich Folch from the Catalan News came prepared with a Catalonia trivia quiz and asked readers about what their expectations were when they made the big move, and how these compared with the reality once they were here. Gerard sits down with host Lea Beliaeva Bander to catch up on all that went down during the event. This week's Catalan phrase is "Benvinguts, passeu, passeu" - in English "Welcome, come in, come in", which is part of the chorus of the Catalan singer-songwriter Jaume Sisa's popular song "Qualsevol nit pot sortir el sol".

Durada: 22 min

This summer, the Catalan Socialists agreed to a deal with the pro-independence Esquerra Republicana to create a new financing model in Catalonia, to be implemented in 2026. The deal would give Catalonia more economic independence and create what some call a "fairer" system. Other, more critical voices have called it "poison for the welfare state". But what exactly does this new model entail and how does it differ from the current tax system? Lorcan Doherty and Lea Beliaeva Bander break down everything you need to know about the fiscal model, from what the changes will mean for Catalonia and Spain to how Spanish and Catalan politicians have reacted. Núria Bosch and Maite Vilalta, the co-directors of the Fiscal Federalism Observatory at the Barcelona Institute of Economics explain how the new Catalan model compares to federal tax systems in other countries. The Catalan phrase of the week is "la clau de la caixa," which means "the key to the safe".

Durada: 21 min

'El 47' is the latest Catalan movie that tells the story of Barcelona. Set in the late 1970s in the neighborhood of Torre Baró, it centers around Manolo Vital, who came to Barcelona from Extremadura in the 1950s. He and others bought small plots of land and started building their homes from the ground up, with no support from local Barcelona authorities. The residents lacked basic services such as electricity, running water, paved roads, schools, and buses. But one day, Manolo Vital took matters into his own hands. Emma Monrós Rosell joins Lea Beliaeva Bander to talk about the story behind the movie. We catch up with Marcel Barrena, the director of 'El 47', and actors Eduard Fernández, Zoe Bonafonte, and Carlos Cuevas. We also visit Torre Baró and hear from José Antonio Martínez and José Antonio Romero, who explain some of the current challenges facing the neighborhood. The Catalan phrase of the week is "fer més voltes que un rellotge," similar to "To work around the clock".

Durada: 23 min

This week marks the official back-to-school week in Catalonia, where 1.3 million Catalans have started or returned to classrooms, noisy school yards, and the routine of heavy backpacks and homework. While most Catalan students attend public schools, a growing number are enrolled in private institutions, particularly international schools. Catalonia is home to nearly fifty international schools, three of which are in the top ten of Forbes' 2024 list of the 100 best schools in Spain. Oriol Escudé Macià joins Lea Beliaeva Bander, to explore the world of international schools - from tuition fees and languages taught to the student body they attract. We talk to postdoctoral researcher Andrea Sunyol and education consultant and founder of My Barcelona School, Anya van der Drift. The Catalan phrase is "posar-se les piles," which literally translates to "put in the batteries", and means to get more active or energetic, sometimes after a long vacation, much like the English phrase "get to work"

Durada: 23 min

It's September - a time for returning to work, school or starting something new. This is also the case in Catalan politics, as Salvador Illa has been sworn in as the new president of the Catalan government. For the first time since 2010, the Socialist Party is in power, but more importantly, the leadership now rests with a party that opposes Catalan independence. Although the Socialists won the most seats and votes in May's snap election, they fell short of an absolute majority, forcing them to seek support from other parties, which they did after months of political wrangling. Gerard Escaich Folch joins Lea Beliava Bander to unpack the challenges facing the new socialist government and its road to the presidency. We will also explore the future of the pro-independence movement and answer the question: Are we witnessing a paradigm shift in Catalan politics? This week's Catalan phrase is "Quan una porta es tanca, una altra s'obre," in English "When one door closes, another one opens".

Durada: 17 min

Modernism is one of the most important art movements in Catalonia, one that played a crucial role in shaping the cultural identity of Catalonia at the turn of the 20th century, while drawing clear inspiration from parallel artistic trends throughout Europe. Catalan painters Ramon Casas and Santiago Rusiñol were responsible for bringing the movement from Paris to Catalonia, but a few women, namely Lluïsa Vidal, also made their mark on modernism in Catalonia. Emma Monrós Rosell joins Lea Beliaeva Bander to delve into this significant art movement, exploring some of its defining characteristics and motifs, as well as some of its most influential artists. We hear from art historian Elina Norandi, who sheds light on the notable absence of women in this movement, and we share some recommendations for contemporary female Catalan artists to watch. This week's Catalan phrase is "Una flor no fa estiu, ni dues primavera," which transaltes as "One swallow does not make a summer."