A weekly English-speaking podcast about Spain
Spanish culture, progressive politics, and society*
*Sorry, No tapas bars or flamenco here
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New episodes every Monday.
To contribute or contact the podcast contact us via email: the.sobremesa.podcast@gmail.com or DM us on Twitter: @sobremesacast
Recent Posts
15-M, Ten Years On: In conversation with Cristina Flesher Fominaya on her recent book Democracy Reloaded: Inside Spain’s Political Laboratory from 15-M to Podemos
Events in America last week only remind us that democracy is fragile. Whilst the 90’s and the early 2000’s might seem like the ‘norm’, it was actually a bit of a red herring. We should try to remember that democracy has always been fragile and prone to crisis and threat. To use the worn-out WinstonContinue reading “15-M, Ten Years On: In conversation with Cristina Flesher Fominaya on her recent book Democracy Reloaded: Inside Spain’s Political Laboratory from 15-M to Podemos”
Brexit Special: One Remainer, One Leaver. Both Live in Spain
In this one-off special episode, I discuss brexit with two Brits that live in Spain. One voted leave and the other voted remain. Here is why. Richard Thompson lives in Sant Joan in Mallorca. He is a business owner and local town councillor with Assemblea per Sant Joan. We talk about voting remain and theContinue reading “Brexit Special: One Remainer, One Leaver. Both Live in Spain”
After The Fall: An Interview with Tobias Buck
Here I got to interview author and former Financial Times Spain correspondent Tobias Buck. After The Fall: Crisis, Recovery and the Making of a New Spain is Tobias’ book documenting the country’s political, societal and economic response to the 2008 financial crisis and the territorial crisis that followed. You can get a copy here andContinue reading “After The Fall: An Interview with Tobias Buck”
The History of Anarchism in Spain with Danny and Jim from the ABC Podcast
In this two-part episode, I spoke with Danny and Jim from the Anarchist Book Club Podcast. We go all the way from the meaning of anarchism and its founding in Spain to its current state today. I learnt loads talking with both the guys. Please make sure you take a listen to their podcast, TheContinue reading “The History of Anarchism in Spain with Danny and Jim from the ABC Podcast”
Spain’s new budget with EOGHAN GILMARTIN and TOMMY GREENE
“Spain’s Left Is Winning the Battle for Welfare — But Not the War on Neoliberalism” This is the name of Eoghan and Tommy’s new article available at jacobin.com. Here we discuss their take on Spain’s first budget since Rajoy. We discuss where Podemos is making gains and where the PSOE and EU are too. IContinue reading “Spain’s new budget with EOGHAN GILMARTIN and TOMMY GREENE”
A New Image of Spain?: a Podcast Crossover with Paul Burge from When in Spain
CROSSOVER TIME!! The Sobremesa Podcast has teamed up with the When in Spain podcast. Paul Burge has been running his podcast for the last 2 years and covers a whole range of things related to Spain. From pueblos to Hemmingway, it is all in there. Here I interviewed Paul about tourism and the image ofContinue reading “A New Image of Spain?: a Podcast Crossover with Paul Burge from When in Spain”
Left Populism in Spain and the USA with Jorge Tamames
In this episode of the Sobremesa podcast, I chat with journalist and political researcher Jorge Tamames about the history and current state of populism in the USA and Spain. Jorge’s book ‘For The People: Left Populism in Spain and the US’ concentrates on left wing populism in both countries. Here he explains the conditions thatContinue reading “Left Populism in Spain and the USA with Jorge Tamames”
The History of the Housing Crisis and the birth of the PAH movement with Sophie Gonick
This week the Sobremesa Podcast talks with Sophie Gonick from New York University about her up and coming book: Dispossession and Dissent. We talk about how she documented the birth of the Plataforma de Afectados por la Hipoteca (PAH) (Platform for People Affected by Mortgages), and she also explains the housing crisis that went withContinue reading “The History of the Housing Crisis and the birth of the PAH movement with Sophie Gonick”
Doctor, Doctor give me some news… 19/10/2020
In this episode of the Sobremesa Podcast, I talk to an old friend about an ongoing problem. Doctors in Spain are threatening to strike from the 28th of October over a new law passed by the government. This law is to help increase the number of staff. So, what is the problem? Find out hereContinue reading “Doctor, Doctor give me some news… 19/10/2020”
An Interview with Giles Tremlett: The International Brigades. Fascism, Freedom, and the Spanish Civil War.
An Interview with Giles Tremlett: The International Brigades. Fascism, Freedom, and the Spanish Civil War.
The Dina Case with Tommy Greene
This week saw the end of the political jousting between the central government and the Madrid regional government. This reached a climax on Friday with Madrid being under a state of alarm. Further court developments this week threaten to eat away at the coalition government’s sense of legitimacy. This forms part of a larger ongoingContinue reading “The Dina Case with Tommy Greene”
Back in Lockdown: Interviews with Sara Soto and Simon Hunter
Madrid has been placed in (partial) lockdown once again. In this episode I explore how this come about in two very different interviews. Firstly, I speak with Sara Soto, Secretary of the Young Socialists of Vallecas. Here we talk about the response to lockdown on the 18th September and the effects it has had overContinue reading “Back in Lockdown: Interviews with Sara Soto and Simon Hunter”
Pandemic Politics: an Interview with Eoghan Gilmartin
This week Eoghan Gilmartin joins me. As a political journalist based in Madrid, he has been covering the stories as they have unfolded. Here we talk about the more immediate stories of the day, such as the management of the virus in Madrid and the future for Spanish politics. Later, we then explore how thisContinue reading “Pandemic Politics: an Interview with Eoghan Gilmartin”
The New Democratic Memory Law: a Discussion with Tom Wardle
In 2007, the Spanish government passed the historical memory law to address issues from the country’s past. Since then the law has been starved of funding and criticised as not going far enough regarding victims’ rights.
The new coalition government has put forward a new law named the Democratic Memory. This law will look at exhumations of mass graves, education, prosecutions, the removal of honors and medals that go against democracy and the Valley of the Fallen.
Tom Wardle joined me to discuss the proposals.
Diada, The National Day of Catalonia: an Interview with Alícia Hernàndez Grande
In this special edition of Sobremesa, I interview researcher and Phd candidate Alícia Hernàndez Grande.
Here she explains the history behind the independence movement, and Diada, the national day of Catalonia. She also shares her observations from the 2017 referendum and where the Catalan identity comes from.
Regional Identity and the EU: an Interview with Professor Sandie Holguin (Part 2)
In this episode I interview Professor Sandie Holguin about the regional identities in Spain and how they interact with the national identity. We also discuss the EU and how it forms a part of the political scene in Spanish politics today.
The National Spanish Identity: an Interview with Professor Sandie Holguin
In this episode I interview cultural and intellectual historian Professor Sandie Holguin, where we talk about the historical construction of the national Spanish identity. She is also the author of Flamenco Nation: The Construction of the Spanish National Identity. You can get a copy of the book here or on Amazon. At the beginning ofContinue reading “The National Spanish Identity: an Interview with Professor Sandie Holguin”
Spain’s Memory Wars: an Interview with Tom Wardle
This week’s episode falls on the anniversary of Federico Garcia Lorca’s murder by the fascist forces during the Spanish Civil war. I took this opportunity to change the podcasts format this week to interview Tom Wardle, a researcher and historian who is currently completing his PhD on historical memory activism here in Spain. Take aContinue reading “Spain’s Memory Wars: an Interview with Tom Wardle”
Where is Juan Carlos?
Where is Juan Carlos? This is the question on everybody’s lips. In this episode I talk to Spanish Historian Tom Wardle about Juan Carlos the first and his role in the Spanish Transition. I also look at some previous referendums that have been held in Spain, and what the current state of affairs might meanContinue reading “Where is Juan Carlos?”
Covid, the King and I
No Confidence motions, jealous partners and a naughty King.
Welcome to Sobremesa!
Covid Comeback
Cases are up but so is testing, and each region is doing its own thing with track and trace, some better than others. Taking a look at the whole picture is worth it to get an idea of where the country stands, but treating it as one big problem is probably not the answer. What do you think the government will do next?
The EU Flashes the Cash
In this episode I look at how the historic deal came to be and how it might affect the politics in Spain. I also talk about the junior doctors strike and Fernando Simon going surfing? #Sobremesa
Regional Elections, a King and some Doctors
Sobremesa Podcast Episode 2: Regional Elections, a King and some Doctors
Who is Fernando Simón?
This week, I put out a tweet asking if would people be interested in this sort podcast? And someone said yes, but just don’t make another podcast. So, what I’d like people to do is tweet on the hashtag #SOBREMESA and then I will read out the tweets next week. I think someone that hasn’tContinue reading “Who is Fernando Simón?”
Ending the State Alarm and the Return of the Tourist
With the State of Alarm ending and tourists returning to Spain, there seems to be a feeling of worry in the air for some, and for others not so much. How do you feel?
Spanish Populism in a time of Crisis
Both Vox and Podemos continue to attack each other whilst the rest of Spain try to get on with life
The Spanish Government Hold on as the Political Landscape Shifts Post- Coronavirus
Protests and political dramas are a sign of what is to come for Spain post-Covid 19
When the Posh came to Protest
The latest spectacles to replace an everlasting stream chat shows on Spanish television are protests. These protests are taking place in one of Europe’s richest neighbourhoods. The Salamanca district in the centre of Madrid. Throughout the week various numbers of Spaniards have taken to the neighbourhood’s streets during the allotted exercise time, but they haveContinue reading “When the Posh came to Protest”
All Regions are equal, some are more equal than others.
Regional politics in a time of pandemic
Coronavirus: A Test For Europe
The European Union will not survive coronavirus unless it evolves. To do that it must break its own rules
Tales From Madrid: The Dos de Mayo Uprising
Find out why madrileños celebrate this day and how it forms part of the city’s rebellious nature.
Would somebody please think of the children?
Mayor of Barcelona demands “Free our children” as regional and ideological tensions in Spain rise with an extension of the coronavirus quarantine.
It isn’t Universal Basic Income, but Spain needs this
Spain is set to ramp up economic measures for the poorest in society to help battle against the pressures of coronavirus.
Will 8M be the end of Spain’s Coalition Government?
Will 8M be the end of Spain’s Coalition Government?
Public Health: Who are the workforce behind the management of Spain’s coronavirus crisis?- The Local
Origial post on the 6th April 2020 https://www.thelocal.es/20200406/public-health-who-are-the-workforce-behind-the-management-of-spains-coronavirus-crisis Photo: AFP As Covid-19 continues to make its way around the globe everyone on social media seems to have suddenly become a public health specialist. Admirable as this maybe, there are people who are experts in this field. Public health doctors are trained doctors that specialise in the investigationContinue reading “Public Health: Who are the workforce behind the management of Spain’s coronavirus crisis?- The Local”
The History of Spain and Covid-19: Rinse and Repeat
If not having a functioning government in 2019 wasn’t enough drama for the Spanish population, then the introduction of Covid-19 would make up for it. Spanish society has revolved around political crisis since the turn of the 20th century. Being a late bloomer when it comes to industrialisation and the growing of a middle class, SpainContinue reading “The History of Spain and Covid-19: Rinse and Repeat”
Lockdown diaries: Alan, writer & former psychiatric nurse (UK) — Naked Madrid
Originally published at http://www.nakedmadrid.com on March 25, 2020. It’s ok to be stressed, and it’s normal to be losing it. Most of us are. But we are doing it together. “It’s ok to be stressed, and it’s normal to be losing it. Most of us are. But we are doing it together,” says Alan, who used to beContinue reading “Lockdown diaries: Alan, writer & former psychiatric nurse (UK) — Naked Madrid”
Does Spain have a problem with racism?
Does Spain have a problem with racism?
Orwell in Barcelona
George Orwell went to Barcelona in December 1936 to fight fascism.
If you read Homage to Catalonia you may see the Ramblas very different.
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