You’ve heard about it, but do you really know it? In 3 minutes, we help you understand the true meaning behind the trends, concepts and acronyms that are making headlines. After listening, you will really know for sure.
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Click here to subscribe. Jewels are everywhere. We admire them in the windows of master jewelers, and in the collections of the world's greatest museums. Young lovers, movie stars, and heads of state each have their treasures: objects of desire, fascinating ornaments, or symbols of power. But every piece of jewelry also holds its secrets. Secrets of fabrication… but also… relationships. Stories of love and separation. Myth and curses. Moments of glory or downfalls. The height of an empire or ...
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Welcome to Europod & Sphera • News, your essential source for daily and monthly podcasts that bring you closer to the heart of Europe. From the latest political shifts to the cultural dynamics and challenges shaping the European Union, we offer insightful, compelling content to keep you informed and engaged. Stay up-to-date with Long Story Short, our daily podcast offering concise analysis of key European developments, and Europe Talks Back, a monthly podcast diving deeper into the voices, s ...
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What is ecological debt? Why am I experiencing déjà vu? How do you get better results with ChatGPT?... Do you love learning new things? Do You Really Know is a Bababam Originals podcast which brings you answers to all your questions in under 3 minutes,... even the questions you didn’t know you had! You can tune in and listen to new episodes every d…
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Merz’s coalition government ends 3-year citizenship path
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4:39Germany’s new coalition government, made up of the conservative CDU/CSU alliance and the center-left Social Democrats, is planning to hit the brakes on a reform introduced in 2023: the 3-year fast track to citizenship for well-integrated immigrants. But what does all this actually mean for the people who’ve been waiting years to become citizens, or…
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AI is everywhere—from helping us write emails to planning our meals. But while it may feel invisible, it comes with a real environmental cost. According to a 2024 Ifop-Talan survey, 70% of young adults use AI every day—without realizing how much energy and water it consumes. A 2024 study by researcher Shaolei Ren found that generating a short 100-w…
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Think back to the story of Peter Pan, and more specifically the character of Wendy Darling, Peter’s friend who accompanies him to Neverland. She’s the eldest and most mature of the Darling siblings, and acts as a mother figure to Peter too. You could definitely describe her as caring, nurturing, responsible and self-sacrificing. Well those may soun…
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I’m sure you can imagine a few scenarios in which you might have resisted the need to pee in the past. It may have been due to the toilets being unclean or closed. Sometimes, a little more privacy would be appreciated, especially at work, for example. There are a number of factors which influence the number of times we pee over the course of a day.…
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Europe and NATO talk Ukraine peacekeeping, without peace
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4:55As the war in Ukraine grinds on, Europe’s defence ministers have gathered in Brussels to discuss the possible deployment of international peacekeeping troops, despite there being no actual peace agreement in sight. In this episode of Long Story Short, we unpacks the latest meeting of the so-called “coalition of the willing”, led by France and the U…
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S09E03 - Art Deco⏐Josephine Baker’s secret bracelet
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15:13Can jewelry be used as an instrument in liberation or a tool in the struggle for freedom? It is the early 20th century. The world is abuzz with countless battles: those that tear nations apart, but also those for women’s rights. It is in this tumultuous context that the Art Deco movement emerges. The jewelry pieces born from this artistic movement …
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Is period underwear really better for the environment?
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4:40Period underwear came out in 2013 but has increased in popularity, largely as they claim to be better for the environment and easy to use. However, in January 2023 Thinx, a leading US manufacturer of period underwear who branded themself as a sustainable alternative to single-use menstrual products has just settled a lawsuit regarding the presence …
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"Here’s my yoga instructor’s number”, "You must try this detox juice", "Download this diet app right now!". Have you ever heard people give this kind of ‘friendly advice’ to others in the past. Perhaps people have said things like that to you, with a little too much insistence for your liking. These days, there’s a certain demand for people to purs…
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A recent scientific brief from the World Health Organisation, explained that anxiety and depression had increased by 25% worldwide over the first year of the Covid 19 pandemic. The massive rise was mostly down to social isolation and multiple stress factors like fear of infection and financial worries. It’s important to know that we can actually co…
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The EU’s Frontex investigates Greece over migrant rights violations
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5:03The European Union’s border protection agency, Frontex, announced this week that it's investigating a dozen serious allegations of human rights violations by Greece when it comes to handling irregular immigration. The latest addition to the long list of violations is the investigation carried by Solomon, Swiss investigative outlet Republik, and the…
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“Time and tide waits for no one”, the old saying goes, but it’s fair to say that some people are affected by symptoms of ageing earlier than others. And the latest study to come out of the University of Rotterdam suggests that there may be a link between how old we look, and how likely we are to develop certain age-related conditions. The team of r…
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When Donald Trump returned to the White House in 2025, one of his priorities was to roll back progressive policies from the Biden administration. Among the main targets were scientific projects—many of which now risk losing funding if they include certain terms related to social or environmental issues. According to The Washington Post, an internal…
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If you like to take a short nap during the day you might be doing your brain a favor. According to a study published in the journal Sleep Health in June of 2023, people who have a genetic predisposition to napping regularly have larger brain volumes than those who don’t. This suggests that napping may protect against brain shrinkage, which occurs f…
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The EU is ready to hit US exports with 25% retaliatory tariffs
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5:19The European Union is gearing up to respond to the United States in a long-standing trade dispute over steel and aluminium. With a 25% retaliatory tariff on a wide range of American goods back on the table, tensions between the two transatlantic partners are rising once again. But what is behind the EU’s move, why some member states are urging caut…
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An often cited estimate suggests that children smile an average of 400 times per day, while when we reach adulthood that figure drops to just 50 times, even for the happiest of us. For most adults, it’s more like 20 times. Now of course most of the time we smile involuntarily in response to something bringing us joy or making us laugh. But it’s als…
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In recent years, gluten-free diets have become more and more popular. No doubt you’ve seen “Free From” aisles in your local supermarket, and you can also get gluten-free items in health food shops or online. Some people have no choice but to adopt such a diet, because they have coeliac disease, a lifelong autoimmune condition which causes their bod…
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Today, we're going to talk about a condition that affects millions of people around the world, but is rarely discussed openly. It's called shy bladder syndrome, or paruresis, and it's a type of social anxiety disorder that makes it difficult or impossible to pee in public restrooms or with people nearby. This happens when people are psychologically…
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Why Spain's housing crisis is a European one
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5:18This weekend, the streets of Spain turned to an orange and green “no” due to mass protests over housing. Tens of thousands of people across 40 cities took to the streets demanding what should be pretty basic in 2025, affordable housing. But what action is the government taking to solve the housing crisis and why is this more than just a Spanish pro…
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Does the Mediterranean diet lower risks of dementia?
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4:04According to new research a mediterranean diet could lower the risk of dementia by a quarter regardless of a person's genetic risk. “The findings from this large population-based study underscore the long-term brain health benefits of consuming a Mediterranean diet, which is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats," said Joint le…
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Faecal transplant, also known as faecal microbiota transplantation or FMT, is the transfer of stool from a healthy donor to a patient with a disease. The idea is to restore the balance of bacteria in the gut, which can be disrupted by factors such as antibiotics, diet, or infection but it could potentially help with a range of problems from irritab…
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You’ve no doubt heard that certain foods can increase desire, or even improve sexual performance. Oysters, ginger, chocolate and strawberries are just a few examples of foods that supposedly have that magical effect. They’re labelled aphrodisiacs, a word which comes from the name of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love. There are very few scientifi…
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How does the "Scully Effect" raise young women's interest in science fields?
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4:18The musical film The Little Mermaid was released in cinemas on 24 May 2023. This movie highlights the importance of representations in the media. This effect has a name: the Scully Effect. The combination made for an unprecedented representation of women on TV at the time, with audiences far more accustomed to seeing scientists played by white men.…
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What is sex surrogacy, the controversial sex therapy?
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4:42It may be a little taboo to talk about it, but there are a lot of people out there who, for a variety of reasons, don’t have as much sex as they would like, or arguably need. And there’s actually a form of therapy out there which is specifically designed to help people become more comfortable with sex and intimacy. The idea of sex surrogacy started…
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What is eatertainment, the "next-level" dining experience?
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4:10The term is a bit of a mouthful in more ways than one, but eatertainment has been growing rapidly in recent years. Of course, it’s the contraction of “eat” and “entertainment”, and refers to when eating out is more than just a meal; it has a unique entertainment aspect too. A cinema that allows visitors to enjoy a meal during a film showing, or an …
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What is brain tapping, the viral technique for improving sleep quality?
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4:42According to a 2022 study by Direct Line life insurance, 71% of British adults fail to get the recommended 7 to 9 hours sleep per night. Many people struggle with getting to sleep, and if you use Tiktok, you may well have seen clips of people talking about methods for overcoming that problem. Brain tapping, as found on TikTok, actually combines two…
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Are blue eyes really more sensitive to light?
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4:44The idea that light-colored eyes are generally more fragile is pretty widespread. They’re less resistant to sunlight and require more protection. According to Medical News Today, it’s estimated that around 8-10% of people in the world have blue eyes. When our eyes are open, rays of light pass through the pupil, the black opening in the center of th…
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Trump and JD Vance back Le Pen: ‘This isn’t democracy’
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4:50Marine Le Pen, the leader of France’s far-right National Rally, is now, we could say, a convicted criminal. And her allies across the Atlantic, US Vice President JD Vance and president Donald Trump are not holding back, talking about witch hunts and a minor offense. But why are they supporting Le Pen and what is the reaction from France’s far right…
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Are fresh vegetables better for you than frozen ones?
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4:08We often assume that fresh is best, but the reality is more complicated. It all depends on how vegetables are stored, how long they’ve been in transit, and even how they’re cooked. While fresh vegetables are packed with nutrients right after harvest, they can lose a significant amount of vitamins and minerals by the time they reach your plate. Acco…
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What's the best position for going to the toilet?
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4:59The question asked in the title of today’s episode might seem a little strange. After all, we all sit the same way on the toilet, right? Straight up with our knees at a 90-degree angle. But in fact that might not be the best for our digestive system. Stomach doctors, also known as gastroenterologists, suggest that this position can actually make it…
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Why are some people constantly sexually aroused?
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5:01The condition we’re going to talk about today is pretty rare. It affects around 1% of women, but it can really disrupt the lives of those who suffer from it. Persistent genital arousal disorder, or PGAD for short, was officially identified by the medical community back in 2001, when Sandra Leiblum and Sharon Nathan published an article about it in …
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Trump slams EU with 20% tariff, retaliation plans set in motion
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5:11Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” just delivered a pretty nasty blow to the global trading system. The United States has decided to impose a 10 percent minimum tariff on all imports coming into the country. The EU, and other top trading partners like China, Japan, and Vietnam, got hit with even higher rates. What kind of economic fallout can we expec…
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The word nomophobia means a fear of being without our smartphone, and it’s affecting more and more people with each passing year. Back in 2021, a phone addiction study by researchers from King’s College London found that 38.9% of young people qualified as smartphone addicts. Many admitted being unable to control their usage and that it got in the w…
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S09E02 - Art Deco⏐Raymond Templier, a passion for speed
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14:23Movie stars have always worn jewelry. In the 1920s, the Art Deco style gradually took over red carpets and film reels. Worn by some of the greatest actresses of the day, from Louise Brooks to Brigitte Helm, Art-Deco jewelry was the epitome of modern beauty. Raymond Templier, one of the leading jewelry-makers of that time, seized this opportunity to…
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Why am I getting bags and circles under my eyes?
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4:24Nobody likes getting up in the morning and looking in the mirror to find dreary bags and circles under their eyes. It can make you look tired and lower your self-confidence as you head to work, feeling like a zombie. But it’s more than just an aesthetic issue. More often than not, it’s an indication of poor health habits, and sometimes a sign of un…
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Have you ever found yourself laughing at a completely inappropriate moment? If so, you know just how embarrassing it can be. And it gets even worse when you make eye contact with someone else and they start laughing too. It then becomes twice as hard to stop. Much like a strong flu, a powerful and genuine laugh can quickly spread to an entire group…
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Orbán welcomes Netanyahu, defying ICC arrest warrant
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5:17Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to visit Budapest tonight in his very first trip to a European country since the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants against him and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over war crimes committed in Gaza. But Netanyahu will not be detained in Viktor Orban’s Hungary and the ICC not…
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The brain plays a central role in desire, arousal, and sexual pleasure, but we don’t always realize just how much it influences our sex lives. While hormones and physical attraction are important, it’s the brain that processes emotions, triggers pleasure, and coordinates physical responses. According to neuroscientists, every part of the brain is i…
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When our skin is cut or damaged, the body immediately starts its healing process to close the wound and limit any risk of infection. It’s a wonderful and fascinating process, but nevertheless scars still remain on the skin afterwards. They can be unsightly and visible too, depending on their location, leading to self-consciousness. There are severa…
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How can you improve your memory and recall skills?
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4:04Memory is the ability to store and retrieve information, and recall is the process of accessing that information when needed. Both are essential for learning, problem-solving, and decision-making, but they can also decline with age, stress, or illness. But there are ways to naturally boost your memory and recall skills. How can I focus my attention…
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EPP’s NGO transparency funding review fails by a single vote
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5:13On Monday evening, the European People’s Party EPP tried and failed to push for a review of how the European Commission funds certain climate NGOs. The text voted by the MEP’s in Strasbourg argues that the Commission is basically paying NGOs to lobby for the Green Deal. Or,simply put, hiring cheerleaders for its own policies. But what is the underl…
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What is the placebo effect and how does it work?
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4:14The placebo effect is a phenomenon in which a person's symptoms or well-being improve after receiving a fake treatment that has no specific or intrinsic effect on their condition. For example, a person may feel less pain after taking a sugar pill that they believe is a painkiller, or they may feel more energetic after receiving an injection of sali…
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What are 3 sex tips to give your relationship a boost?
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3:43You might or might not be surprised to learn that warm weather naturally enhances the libido. According to a 2022 survey by the Kinsey Institute, 60% of Americans report that spring is the season when they most want to get under the duvet with their partner. It all comes down to hormones. Light and warmth naturally stimulates our serotonin producti…
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When it comes to getting clean, some people prefer chilling in the bath for a good half an hour or more, while others like how quick and practical it is having a shower. Let’s consider the two choices from a health perspective. It's pretty common knowledge that taking a bath isn't very eco-friendly, in terms of water consumption. Of course there ar…
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Le Pen found guilty: A big bang moment for French politics?
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5:12The latest news says that Marine Le Pen and eight other MEPs have been found guilty of embezzling EU funds by a Paris court. This isn’t just a slap on the wrist, it’s a political earthquake. The presiding judge, Bénédicte de Perthuis, warned from the start that the judgment would be lengthy, packed with explanations for the decision taken. And yet,…
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How can I stop micro-awakenings from disrupting my sleep?
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4:42According to a Direct Line Group study from 2022, over 70% of UK adults don’t get the recommended 7-9 hours of sleep per night. Nighttime micro-awakenings are a common contributing problem. For many of us, they happen four to six times per night without us even noticing. And they usually just mark the end of a sleep cycle. But they’re more common i…
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What are the best ways of beating procrastination?
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4:38Do you ever feel like you’re always in a rush, constantly getting things done at the latest possible time? It could be paying a bill, cleaning our home or even recording a podcast! Well you’re certainly not alone in that respect. According to Deacon Joseph Ferrari, who specialises in the area, 20% of us are chronic procrastinators. And a 2020 surve…
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How do you react when a piece of food you’re eating falls to the floor? Some people would throw it away in disgust, while others would still eat it, perhaps after rinsing it under water or blowing on it. Of course, there’s those that abide by the five second rule. That’s the popular belief that suggests any food is still fit for consumption as long…
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The latest edition of the annual World Happiness Report has been released, offering a fascinating insight into global well-being. Compiled by the Gallup World Poll in collaboration with the University of Oxford and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, the report analyzes data from over 140 countries to determine where people are happie…
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Discover "Long Story Short", Europod’s new daily podcast
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2:01What’s shaping Europe today? How does it impact your life? And what’s the bigger picture? Long Story Short is Europod’s new daily podcast, cutting through the noise to bring you the facts, the context, and why it all matters in just 5 minutes. Tune in Monday to Friday for sharp, no-nonsense breakdowns of the news that’s shaping Europe. Perfect for …
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