Welcome to another issue of URSA, Europe’s audio magazine!

In this first section you’ll hear the latest news headlines from Europe, including the rise of far right extremism in Germany, the potential rise of fentanyl on European soil, and a Spanish town’s investigation into AI-generated NSFW images of local girls.

You’ll also hear climate updates, including a story about six young people from Portugal bringing 32 countries to trial at a hearing before the European Court of Human Rights, the effects of pesticide bannings on the price of sugar, some extra sugar facts you didn’t ask for, and solar panels being installed in one of the darkest places in the world.

In the second section, you’ll hear two fantastic original pieces.

The first piece comes from the team at Quid Pro Euro, by Felix Trench and Zack Fortais-Gomm. Quid Pro Euro is a fiction comedy podcast about Europe, and the series explores how people in the 90’s predicted the EU would look like in the 21st century - and how wrong they were.

The second piece comes from What’s The Mate?, the longest running Bear Radio original podcast that features some of Berlin’s most brilliant improv comedians.

Section 4 brings you the Culture Section where Jill explores the famed Pergamon Museum of Berlin before it closes again for up to 14 years.

This is followed by a packed September event roundup with LOLA Magazine’s Alice O’Brien.
Finally, for our Artist Spotlight, Julia speaks with Lisa Bender, a Berlin based artist and tattooist about her inspiration, her friends as canvases, juggling careers and more.

Our theme music is from Lucas Carey, with audio from Epidemic Sound. Cover art by Sian Amber Fletcher.

This episode is brought to you by Bear Radio.

If you’re a producer based in Europe and have an idea for an URSA story, we’d love to hear from you! We’re always accepting new pitches.

Support for this podcast comes from our Patreon - if you like URSA and all the incredible stories that come with it - then please consider supporting us at patreon.com/ursapodcast. The price you’d spend on a coffee would go to supporting us and our contributors each month.