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

In this first section you’ll hear the latest news headlines from Europe, including updates on the current protests in France, Italy’s ban on surrogacy, and how Turkey’s LGBTQI community is fighting against the country’s discriminatory policies.

You’ll also hear climate updates, including Finland’s creative method for encouraging textile recycling, France’s shutdown of the climate activist group Les Soulevements de la Terre, and how a London couple got solar power for their street.

In the second section, you’ll hear two fantastic original pieces. The first comes from Lucy Dearlove’s Lecker Podcast, in which she explores how the home kitchen has evolved to meet our changing needs. The second piece comes from Julia Joubert, about the wonderful memories of summers past and present.

The food section brings another adventure with foodie Will Maidment! This time we’re talking all things BBQ (or ‘grilling’). We speak with Lino Brandi, the owner of Lino’s BBQ in Wedding, Berlin, about his love for BBQ and his tips for grilling at home. We also have our own BBQ with friends and discuss why BBQ means so much to people the world over.

In the Arts & Culture section we visit Backhaus Projects in Neukölln. Jill speaks with Ash and Amaan, who run the event space, gallery and venue about how the project started and their plans for the future. This is followed by a packed June event roundup with LOLA Magazine’s Alice O’Brien.

For our Artist Spotlight, Julia speaks with Daniela Torres, an Ecuadorian artist, famed for her dick sculpting workshops. Julia heads to Daniela’s studio in Moabit, Berlin, to chat about her inspiration, art as therapy, her tackling of gender norms and the exciting exhibition she has coming up.

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.