Lisa Burke Show

RTL Today

A place for conversation that spans life in Luxembourg and beyond. Each week an international guest list will reflect on the week’s news, plus a whole host of other topics: politics to pollination; education to entrepreneurship; science to singing. Luxembourg sits in the beating heart of Europe and its diverse population provides a global perspective on a number of world issues.

  1. 8 AUG

    The Longevity Equation, 08/08/2025

    Physical movement + mental stimulation combined, plus food, sleep and motivation. I know you’re all busy and might only read the first paragraph so I’ll summarise what I can from the interview here, but of course, please do listen / watch the interview as you’ll get so much more from the conversation between my guests.  The core takeaways from our experts for boosting both lifespan and healthspan: - Challenge your brain: Aim for tasks you succeed at 70 - 80% of the time. - Move with purpose of thought: Combine high-intensity bursts with cognitive challenges. - Food: Favour a Mediterranean-style diet rich in plants, healthy fats, and quality protein. - Sleep: Aim for 7 - 9 hours nightly, prioritising quality as much as quantity. - Stay motivated: Choose activities you actually enjoy; consistency is key. It’s one thing to live a long life. It’s another to live it well: physically sharp, mentally agile, and emotionally engaged. This week on The Lisa Burke Show, my guests are three leaders in neuroscience, nutrition, and biohacking who share the latest, evidence-based ways to extend your health span. Professor Thorben Hülsdünker is a performance neuroscientist and sport neurophysiologist at LUNEX. His research bridges the gap between how the brain and body adapt to training, with practical insights for everyone from elite athletes to ‘normal’ adults looking to stay sharp. Myriam Jacobs, a sports and clinical dietitian, now works full-time with the Luxembourg Institute for High Performance in Sport. With a career spanning hospital work in diabetes and obesity to elite sports nutrition, she knows what fuels what is needed for each individual body and at what time of day. Manlio Lo Giudice is a mechanical engineer turned human potential coach, trainer, biohacker, and co-founder of MobiGym: Luxembourg’s first longevity fitness studio. He’s hosted longevity meetups around the globe, spoken with pioneers like Bryan Johnson and Aubrey de Grey, and tested countless self-optimisation strategies on himself. Professor Hülsdünker starts by reminding us that, evolutionarily, our brains weren’t designed to last beyond 50. That’s why natural cognitive decline is so common in later life, but not inevitable. Just as we strengthen muscles, we can train the brain. Thorben does not like most of the “brain training” apps as they rarely translate into real-life benefits. He believes in a blend of movement and mental challenges. That’s why ball sports, dance, or running whilst solving mental puzzles are best to produce the growth factors that keep neurons thriving. Sleep is another silent superpower. Beyond memory consolidation, deep sleep clears away toxins that can accelerate dementia risk. Shift workers and those with irregular schedules face added challenges, making sleep quality crucial to their health. From the kitchen, Myriam made the case for the Mediterranean way of eating which is not a diet but a lifestyle rich in plants, nuts, olive oil, fish, and limited red meat. On wine, the advice is still moving. Protein does matter, but so does the timing of its intake. As we age we should spread it across the day for optimal absorption. Manlio brought the biohacker’s perspective, drawing on the Pareto Principle: 80% of the benefits often come from 20% of our actions. He suggests to focus on the minimum effective dose of exercise to trigger adaptation, avoid chronic stress, and use short, sharp challenges to strengthen both brain and body. Fasting, done wisely, can act as a beneficial stressor, stimulating cellular ‘clean-up’ processes like autophagy, but should be tailored to individual needs and lifestyles. When it comes to the whole array of technological devices we can use or wear, Professor Hülsdünker suggests that even if they’re not accurate, they might be able to show trends. The whole industry around longevity and all of the apps available to us to track, monitor alter are there if this aids your motivation, but motivation is another large part of what we need it order to develop habits. If you can find a way to physically move whilst using your brain, and eat ‘well’ for your body and its needs, do this with a supportive social circle… then you’re on your way to living a good and long life. https://www.linkedin.com/in/thorbenhuelsduenker/ https://lunex.lu/ https://lihps.lu/what-we-offer/sports-nutrition/ https://lihps.lu/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/manlio-lo-giudice-a8b7773/

    57 min

  2. 31 JUL

    Horseback archery is difficult, Nadine does it without her sight, 31/07/2025

    The Thrilling World of horseback archery combines trust and precision as Nico Thielen and blind rider Nadine Schumacher share their dynamic, niche sport. Horseback archery isn't your typical weekend sport. Imagine galloping at 50 km/h, letting go of the reins, holding onto your horse with just your legs and swiftly releasing arrows at a moving target. Now imagine doing this with no sight. Nico Thielen, a horseback archery coach based in Luxembourg, knows precisely how exhilarating and demanding this ancient martial art can be. Having competed internationally, from Hungary to Jordan, Nico champions this revitalised discipline that requires profound trust between rider and horse. Yet Nico’s most remarkable coaching challenge is Nadine Schumacher, who became blind two years ago due to complications from Type 1 Diabetes, exacerbated by severe and chronic stress. Despite this life-altering event, she is determined not to let blindness define her limitations. Nadine's journey into horseback archery began through a friend’s introduction to Nico and his fiancée, Sarah Elmquist, who embraced the unique challenge of trying to teach someone who cannot see. Both certified coaches trained in Hungary, they adapted their training methods ingeniously. Nadine shoots by the rhythmic sound of a metronome placed on targets, proving sight is not the only means of achieving pinpoint accuracy. The synergy between horse and rider is profound, especially given that horses, highly sensitive prey animals, mirror human emotions. For Nadine, whose connection to horses was already strong from years as a riding therapist, horseback archery became a natural extension of her understanding of non-verbal communication. Nico highlights the emotional intelligence required in horseback archery, emphasising harmony rather than dominance. "Horses prefer a softer, more intuitive energy," he notes, pointing out why women often excel in equestrian sports. He also shares a fascinating insight about herd dynamics: it’s typically the oldest female horse leading through wisdom and experience, a concept he humorously suggests humans might adopt in leadership roles. Both Nico and Nadine stress the therapeutic aspect of their sport. For Nadine, horseback archery represents a remarkable physical and mental challenge, providing immense satisfaction with every arrow hitting its mark. Her resilience serves as an inspiring testament that obstacles, even blindness, can become gateways to extraordinary achievements.  You can also hear the perspective of Nadine's son, Sam, in this show who came to accompany his mother.  You can find both Nico, his finacée Sarah and Nadine competing in the Limpach Open Horseback Archery Festival this weekend.  More information can be found here: Find Nico on instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/bow.rider/ And Nadine here: https://www.instagram.com/souls_in_balance_hobscheid/ Join D'Arc Angels here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/224446304261833/

    57 min

  3. 26 JUL

    From harassment to healing: Horses, resilience, and empathy, 26/07/2025

    Trauma in rural France; leadership through equine coaching: Isabelle Constantini and Christine Hansen share how horses, an innate willingness to try new things and adapt has built resilience and reinvention. Isabelle Constantini’s life has taken her from Parisian theatre stages to the rugged countryside of the South of France. A former actress, film director and casting director, Isabelle also competed in amateur equestrian championships. However, she had always harboured a dream to live in the south of France in nature with her beloved horses. And so she did it. This bold move to rural France with her 10-year-old daughter changed everything. Seeking a simpler life in nature, Isabelle instead faced harassment from hunters, which cost her her prized horse’s career, and bullying from some neighbours which ultimately forced her to move. One method of overcoming the pain endured was writing. Isabelle, through introspection, and an abiding commitment to non-violence wrote a novel about self-discovery and endurance. "Empathy," she said, "is one of the few things left to us as humans." It’s a theme she now champions, alongside energy healing, vegetarianism, and a life led by connection to the natural world. “Where leaders learn from the herd” Joining Isabelle in studio was Christine Hansen, who came to horse riding at the age of 38. A former teacher turned coach and entrepreneur, Christine now offers corporate leadership training through equine-assisted learning. This course is co-owned and co-run by Anne Ludovicy who owns Centre Équestre Kehlen, where the course takes place. At the heart of her approach lies one truth: horses don’t lie. As prey animals, their survival depends on reading body language and energy. "They are honest, intuitive mirrors," Christine explained, "and they’ll react to your presence, not your title.” The result is a powerful feedback loop that can transform leadership styles, challenge self-perceptions, and foster authentic communication. And you don’t have to be able to ride a horse; in fact, most participants rarely mount a horse at all. Instead, they engage in grounded observation, interaction and reflection. “The smallest pony can change the way you see yourself,” she said. Both women emphasised the profound healing horses can offer. For Isabelle, they’ve been a spiritual anchor through life’s upheavals. For Christine, they are tools for insight, calm, and self-regulation, even helping to teach breathing and mindset shifts in moments of high stress.

    1h 6m

  4. 18 JUL

    Honorary Consuls visit Luxembourg – delegation from Arizona, 18/07/2025

    Paul Binsfeld, Honorary Consul of Luxembourg to Arizona and New Mexico, escorted an Arizona delegation to Luxembourg. Paul Binsfeld, Honorary Consul of Luxembourg to Arizona and New Mexico since 2021, reached out to me after listening to the show with Geoff Thompson about the Luxembourg diaspora in America. Paul has been in Luxembourg for over a week now, as part of the 128-strong delegation of Honorary Consuls to Luxembourg from around the world. They were met by Minister Bettel, Prime Minister Frieden, The Chamber of Commerce and Foreign Ministry, and rounded off the day with a reception at Colmar-Berg Castle with Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume. Since then the itinerary has been packed, coupled with meetings for a group of high-level Arizona space and business delegates to  explore new potential partnerships. Brett Mecum is a distinguished government relations professional and space policy expert.  He was appointed by the Arizona Speaker of the House to the Arizona Space Commission in 2024, and was instrumental in passing the Arizona House Bill 2254, and securing $1.5 million for the Space Analog Moon and Mars Mission at Biosphere 2.  Currently, Breet is a 2025 Bertelsmann Foundation Fellow, focusing on the Geopolitics of Space. Elizabeth Christensen is Vice President of Business Development, BlackStar Orbital and is in Luxembourg to form strategic European partnerships to develop new markets for BlackStar's reusable space systems. They view Europe as an important market to work with, and Luxembourg is an obvious hub. The delegation also reflected on the shared values between Luxembourg and Arizona: both regions are shaping the future of defence, commercial space and regulatory frameworks. Luxembourg’s model of entrepreneurial diplomacy and strategic openness has created a clear signal to all consuls that Luxembourg is open for business and partnerships. https://play.rtl.lu/shows/en/in-conversation-with-lisa-burke/episodes/n/2312858 https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulbinsfeld/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-christensen-2rd/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/brettmecum/

    1h 2m

  5. 10 JUL

    Housing: Can Luxembourg keep pace with its people?, 10/07/2025

    Minister Meisch outlines his plan, alongside Professor Lindsay Flynn discussing house-driven inequality and Martin Stoz highlighting his estate agency’s community initiatives. Housing is one of the most emotionally charged, personally impactful, and politically complex issues in Luxembourg today.  In today's show, my guests are: - Minister Claude Meisch, who holds the portfolios for Housing and Spatial Planning; and Education, Children and Youth, talks about the way in which he sees the picture to be tackeld and his ideas for doing so. - Professor Lindsay Flynn, Associate Professor of Political Science and Public Policy at the University of Luxembourg, examines the causes and consequences of housing-driven inequality in Europe and North America. - Martin Stoz, a real estate and social entrepreneur, whose estate agency gives away one third of its commission to a charity of the seller's choice.  Minister Meisch: Build Faster, Smarter, Fairer Minister Meisch outlines a housing landscape shaped by rapid economic growth, population expansion, and a growing disconnect between incomes and housing prices. “We want to be a country where every family finds an affordable home,” he says, but current waiting lists have over 5,500 families are on the public housing waiting list, and many more have simply given up trying. To tackle this, the government is pushing through 40 new measures to simplify building procedures, accelerate planning, and prioritise affordable housing, particularly near transport hubs and employment zones. Spatial planning also must include schooling, healthcare, green spaces, and de-centralisation, away from just Luxembourg city and Esch, to include projects such as the Nordstad, to develop Ettelbrück and Diekirch as northern urban centres. Define Affordable: A Moving Target Prof. Lindsay Flynn draws a sharp distinction between policy definitions of affordable housing and people’s lived realities. “When people say ‘affordable’, they mean affordable for them – not a statistical bracket,” she notes. Her research, funded by the FNR’s PROPEL project, focuses on the ripple effects of housing inequality – particularly among young people and renters. Unlike many EU countries, Luxembourg offers both rental and ownership options under the affordable label. However, whether these are truly accessible depends on income, mortgage access, and policy eligibility – highlighting the mismatch between public definitions and private experience. Renting Realities: What Tenants Are Up Against Prof. Flynn’s team recently led a landmark study for Mieterschutz Luxembourg, delving into tenant experiences in the private rental market. The findings included mould and landlords commonly ignoring repair requests. Even when tenants have legal rights, many lack the time, money, or confidence, especially in a foreign language, to enforce them. One practical solution she proposes is to download a letter template to support tenants in communicating formally with landlords. But “many fear retaliation. They don’t want to make a fuss.” Youth Extended: The Hidden Costs of Inaccessibility Young people are increasingly stuck at home longer, delaying not only homeownership but life itself: settling down with a partner, starting families, building a financial base. Flynn warns that the housing crisis is “not just about shelter. It’s shaping our demographics, our birth rates, and our economic futures.” Her transatlantic studies show striking similarities between Europe and North America: housing costs directly correlate with smaller families and fewer life milestones. “It’s not always delay,” she says. “Sometimes, it’s trade-off. Life choices are being forgone because of rent.” Immigration, Inclusion & Infrastructure Luxembourg can’t cap immigration under EU law. So instead, it must anticipate growth. That means not only more homes, but more schools, including three new international public schools planned by 2028, and better integration. “Only one-third of children in Luxembourg speak Luxembourgish or German at home,”  notes Minister Meisch. Flexibility in education, housing, and planning is essential for cohesion. Can Design Save the City? What about the aesthetics of housing? Minister Meisch admits not all new developments are beautiful, and that’s a problem. While individual communes control architectural regulations, the Ministry of the Interior is working on harmonising rules. Public developers like the Fonds du Logement are increasingly showcasing that affordability and design don’t have to be mutually exclusive. A Human-Centred Real Estate Model Finally, Martin Stoz of Together Immo offers a fresh take: a for-profit real estate agency that donates a third of every commission to a charity of the seller’s choice. “I wanted my work to have meaning,” he explains. Stoz hopes to build a model of conscious capitalism in a sector often criticised for its contribution to inequality. Do write to tell us about your housing experiences in Luxembourg. https://www.uni.lu/fhse-en/people/lindsay-flynn/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nordstad https://together-immo.lu/ https://snhbm.lu/ https://fondsdulogement.lu/fr

    56 min

  6. 4 JUL

    Citizen politics – how to get involved and why it matters, 04/07/2025

    Clara Moraru and Ivan Leal Martins are actively involved in creating political dialogue for all and remind us that democracy grows stronger when more people participate. Real democracy starts with us: our concerns, our friends and family, and more globally our concerns for the world we are in and will leave behind. Politics and law-making creates the scaffold of our society. Whether you’re a long-time Luxembourg resident, a recent arrival, a young voter, or simply someone who wants to make a difference, this episode should help guide to becoming politically empowered. Clara Moraru, founder of Politics for All, and Ivan Leal Martins from Wecitizens join me in studio to share how we can all help shape society by participating, speaking up, and even running for office. Why Local Politics Matter — Even If You Can’t Vote “You pay taxes. Your children go to school here. You contribute to society — so why wouldn’t you be involved in politics?” Clara asks passionately. Her organisation, Politics for All, is demystifying the political system in Luxembourg for residents who may feel excluded, especially foreign nationals. “We have to make people aware that not voting doesn’t mean you don’t have a voice. You can participate in public consultations. You can go to communal council meetings. You can be present and active in the local debate.” Youth Participation Ivan Leal Martins, European Project Manager at Wecitizens, is leading efforts to connect youth with democratic action. “Sometimes people say young people are not interested in politics. That’s not true. They are political, they just express it differently.” He adds: “They protest. They care about the environment. What we’re trying to do is help them connect that energy with the political structures that can amplify their voice.” With projects like MEP4aDay and EU Talks & Bites, Ivan is facilitating moments where students meet policymakers, simulate legislative roles, and realise the European Parliament is not a distant monolith but a platform they can influence. “We want young people to feel like they belong to Europe,” Ivan says. “That they are part of something bigger and that their voice matters not only in the classroom but in the European Union.” Politics Without Borders: Luxembourg & Wallonia  This summer marks the start of a 16-month cross-border project: Demystifying Local Politics, connecting communities in Luxembourg and Wallonia. With support from the EU, the initiative will feature civic education workshops, local government engagement, and the production of Voices of Diversity, a media project giving the spotlight to foreign residents who have stepped into public life. More Accessible Politics Throughout the episode, both guests highlighted the need for simpler, more transparent civic education and to bring opportunities that are freely available into school life. The goal of both Clara and Ivan is clear - remove psychological and linguistic barriers that discourage participation and create a more inclusive political culture, especially for minorities, youth, and foreign nationals. How you can get involved: Sign up for events, workshops, and Parliament visits Run as a local candidate — even if you weren’t born in Luxembourg Use your platforms to highlight underrepresented voices Subscribe to newsletters at Politics for All or Wecitizens Explore EU opportunities via the European Youth Portal https://www.politicsforall.lu/ https://youth.europa.eu/home_en https://www.wecitizens-lu.org/

    1h 26m

  7. 27 JUN

    Vicki Hansen: Putting peace back in the headlines, 27/06/2025

    From planting forests to refugee kitchens, Vicki Hansen reveals the stories of awardees from the 13th Luxembourg Peace Prize. Vicki Hansen is President of the Schengen Peace Foundation, a Luxembourg-based nonprofit dedicated to global peace-building through its two main initiatives: the World Peace Forum and the Luxembourg Peace. Today heralds the 13th Luxembourg Peace Prize, and the awardees come from all over the world. This is a story of hope and people with tremendous purpose and passion, despite so much our our world feeling fractured today. “Peace isn’t just the absence of war—it’s a culture, a choice, a way of life.” The foundation’s origin rests with two men who realised they were the first generation not to pass on war stories. What if peace could become the new inheritance? The sad thought is that this might not be the case for our children today, which is why, I think, this conversation matters even more. Outstanding Award for Peace Tony Rinaudo is an Australian agronomist regenerating deserts through his concept of farmer-managed natural regeneration (FMNR). Tony lived in Niger Republic in the 1980s when he worked on this technique, and now it flourishes across 26 countries. Outstanding Peace Journalism Gloria Laker is a fearless journalist from Uganda. She’s trained over 700 others to report in highly sensitive conflict zones. “Peace journalism is the art of choosing healing over harm,” she says. Outstanding Peace Process Dror Rubin and Ghardir Hani are an Israeli-Palestinian duo using interfaith dialogue to heal generations of division. Dror says “Trust will be built upon introduction, we were not forced to live next to each other, we were chosen to be neighbours in the holy land- not one on top of the other but next to one another.” Outstanding Peace Support Chiche! is a restaurant chain in Luxembourg run entirely by refugees, proving that inclusion can dignified. Food, says Vicki, is a universal language for peace. Their motto is ‘inclusion is delicious’! Outstanding Peace Activism Jennifer Teege, a German New York Times bestselling author was adopted but discovered that her grandfather was a Nazi commandant. She turned personal shock and trauma into a life of reconciliation. Her mantra is that “Peace starts in our heads.” Outstanding Peace Activism The World Central Kitchen is another story led to the connection through food and the grace a good meal bestows on all sides. This phenomenon, the WCF, is led by Michelin starred chef José Andrés. His team serve 500 million meals across war zones and disasters. “Everyone deserves a hot meal served with dignity,” Through it all, Vicki’s voice is steady, hopeful, fierce. “We can’t outsource peace, we must be that fourth leg at the table.” This is a reference to the prize’s sculpture—three legs of a chair with the invitation to join the conversation and be part of the solution. Peace isn’t a dream—it’s a decision. And it’s ours to make.

    35 min

  8. 14 JUN

    Luxembourg in the Heart of America – a story of heritage and cultural identity, 14/06/2025

    Geoff Thompson’s documentary, Luxembourg in America, shows the continued and important connections between American ancestors from the wave of Luxembourg immigrants to the U.S. Midwest After a round-up of the ever evolving and heavy news of our times, with Sasha Kehoe, my guest this week is Geoff Thompson. Geoff is known for many things in Luxembourg, but most recently has turned his hands and brain to documentary making. Mid-19th century exodus In the mid-19th century, due to Napoleonic law here in Luxembourg which meant equal sharing of inheritance, once sustainable farms became unsustainable when divided between large numbers of children. And so, some shares were sold to siblings and that money was used to pay for the voyage to the ‘free world’. Geoff Thompson’s documentary Luxembourg in America visits their descendants in places like Wisconsin, Illinois, and Iowa, and sees the heritage that is both celebrated and remaining. A Personal Exploration of Heritage Geoff Thompson, who is also President of the British & Irish Film Festival Luxembourg, shared his motivation: “It started with a simple curiosity – how had these Luxembourg communities preserved so much of their identity? What I found was an entire parallel Luxembourg, alive and well in small towns across the Midwest.” From townships like Dacada and Belgium in Wisconsin to the Luxembourg American Cultural Society (LACS) housed in a traditional stone home, the film uncovers an "island of Luxembourgish culture" preserved across oceans and generations. Thompson brings the audience along to the annual “Luxembourg under the Stars” summer festival, where Bofferding beer flows, Träipen (blood sausage) contests are held, and Moselle wine is imported and enjoyed. Midwestern Roots, European Branches The importance of maintaining and exploring one’s heritage is deeply evident in this documentary, underscoring our internal need to know where we come from. By deepening our roots on this earth, we seem to feel more connected to our time and place in history. This documentary shows the shared journeys of these Luxembourg-Americans back to Luxembourg for visits, and vice versa, where Luxembourg officials visit the American diaspora. Notably, it is when some of the American Luxembourgers find family connections still alive here in Luxembourg that the magic deepens. The roots grow stronger and that ancestral bond over time is secured today. For Luxembourg nationals and many of us who live in Luxembourg, coming from other countries, this film highlights our own movements and distance from our own roots. It provokes conversation and reflection on multiculturalism, belonging, and identity. Half of Luxembourg’s current population is of foreign background. Yet, just like the Luxembourg-Americans abroad, the modern Grand Duchy is also navigating what it means to preserve culture in a globally connected society. We often think of emigration as loss, and indeed one third of the population of Luxembourg was lost at the time, but it grew in another part of the world, maintaining what culture there was. This cultural identity is most evident in food, the passing down of recipes, the religion and of course the language. You can watch the documentary here: https://m.imdb.com/title/tt33996768/

    47 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.9
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

A place for conversation that spans life in Luxembourg and beyond. Each week an international guest list will reflect on the week’s news, plus a whole host of other topics: politics to pollination; education to entrepreneurship; science to singing. Luxembourg sits in the beating heart of Europe and its diverse population provides a global perspective on a number of world issues.

Information

  • Channel
    RTL Today
  • Creator
    RTL - Lisa Burke
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2025
  • Episodes
    99
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © CLT-UFA S.A.
  • Show Website
    Lisa Burke Show

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