Filling the Sink

catalannews
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Filling the Sink

Little by little the sink fills up... Every week the Catalan News team explores a different aspect of Catalonia, from news and politics, to society and culture. Whether you live in Catalonia and need some of the current issues explained, or you’re simply curious about what makes this place tick. Either way, Filling the Sink has got you covered. Don’t worry if you don’t know much about this corner of land nestled between the Pyrenees and the Mediterranean. As they say in Catalonia, ”de mica en mica, s’omple la pica” - little by little, the sink fills up. Filling the Sink is a podcast from Catalan News.

  1. 4D AGO

    City roots - Barcelona’s urban farming movement

    Urban farming is the practice of growing food in cities instead of in rural areas. In this week’s episode of Filling the Sink we investigate the legislation surrounding urban food production and find out how community gardening projects are benefitting residents in unexpected ways. Reporter Gigi Giulia visits two of the leading urban farms in Barcelona, ‘The Rooftop Garden’ and ‘L'Hort del Mercat,’ to understand how these initiatives work and meet some of the people involved. Ferran Urgell, from the Municipal Institute for People with Disabilities in Barcelona, explains the benefits that urban gardening can bring to city dwellers and particularly those suffering from intellectual disabilities and mental health issues. And Robert Strauss, an American living in Barcelona, takes us on a tour of his own thriving rooftop garden, which creatively uses all available space.  Leaving the city behind, we head to ‘La Rural de Collserola,’ a cooperative located just outside Barcelona in the Collserola natural park, dedicated to sustainable agriculture, to discover the differences between rural and urban farming and how these two practices can complement each other. Finally, host Beth Cohen examines the environmental impact of urban agriculture and questions the contamination risks involved. This week our Catalan phrase is “Qui té un hort, té un tresor,” which translates as “He who has a garden, has a treasure.” It is a positive expression for those who appreciate gardening and all the rewards it can bring.

    21 min

  2. APR 4

    Small villages, big challenges - A closer look at Catalonia's micropobles

    The term "micropobles" refers to small villages in Catalonia with fewer than 1,000 inhabitants. There are more than 480 micropobles in the territory, representing nearly one-third of all Catalan municipalities, yet they are home to only 2.5% of Catalonia’s population, many of whom are already over 65 years old. Gigi Giulia and Lorcan Doherty join host Beth Cohen to discuss the pros and cons of living in a micro village and analyze the socio-demographic profile of the residents. We meet Joan Solà, president of the Associació de Micropobles de Catalunya, who explains the importance of rural communities in preserving Catalan cultural heritage, language and traditions. Young architect Marta Solà explains her decision to return to her home town in an isolated area of Lleida to begin her professional life after studying in Barcelona. And we explore some of the government initiatives which are being implemented to protect remote villages from depopulation. Whatever challenges Catalonia’s micro villages may be facing, they continue to be unique places to reside for those who seek an alternative lifestyle far from the city.   This week our Catalan phrase is “Fotre el camp,” which is a rude expression commonly used to tell someone to go away or “get lost!” but can be translated as “go to the countryside.”

    26 min

  3. MAR 28

    Depression in focus – Causes, consequences and care

    Depression is a leading cause of ill health and disability worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. However the stigma surrounding depression often leads patients to suffer in silence, without adequate support from family, friends and healthcare professionals. On this week’s podcast we discuss what depression is, what the major causes are and how it can be treated. Lea Beliaeva Bander meets some patients who are suffering with depression, to get an insider’s perspective on what it is like to live with the disease. We talk to psychologist Dr. Gemma Parramon Puig, president of the Catalan Society of Psychiatry and Mental Health of the Catalan Medical Sciences Academy and psychiatrist at Vall d’Hebron Hospital in Barcelona. She analyzes the biological, social and cultural factors which can influence depression and reveals why women are more likely to get diagnosed with depression than men. Plus founder and director of Therapy in Barcelona Leigh Matthews explains how mental health issues affect the international community and we discuss where to find professional support in Catalonia. This week our Catalan phrase is “veure la llum al final del túnel,” to see the light at the end of the tunnel. For any of our listeners who are struggling with depression, or supporting someone who is, we encourage you to seek help.

    21 min

  4. MAR 21

    Global voices, local impact – How expats are shaping Barcelona

    Barcelona has a growing community of international residents, which for better or for worse is changing the face of the city. This week on Filling the Sink we find out who they are, why they chose this part of the world to start a new life and what impact they are having on the city. Lorcan Doherty sits down with host Beth Cohen to discuss the proliferation of expats in Barcelona. We meet Brian Rosa, researcher and university professor at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, who has done specific research on the topic and who explores some of the legal aspects. Toni Coll, from the Poblenou residents’ association, explains the difficulties caused by the influx of highly educated international citizens, especially in terms of housing and the gentrification of certain areas of the city. And Marta Gràcia, CEO of the co-working franchise Cloudworks, outlines the benefits that the international community bring to Barcelona, particularly from a business perspective.  This week, our Catalan phrase is "Val més un veí a la porta que un parent a Mallorca,” which translates as “A neighbor at the door is worth more than a relative in Mallorca” and emphasizes the importance of local communities. For expats, having connections locally can be more helpful than having the support of relatives who are far away.

    25 min

  5. MAR 13

    Pandemic perspectives - Five years of Covid-19 in Catalonia

    On March 14, 2020, Spain entered a state of alarm in the face of the coronavirus health crisis, placing the nation in lockdown and ordering the population to stay at home. Five years later, we look back on the pandemic and analyze the long term effects of Covid-19 in Catalonia, exploring the ongoing presence of the virus and talking to some of the patients and healthcare professionals involved. We meet Carmen Cabezas, who was public health secretary during the pandemic and who led the vaccination campaign. Host Beth Cohen discusses the evolution of the virus over the past five years and finds out how Catalonia is preparing to deal with possible future health crises. And current health secretary Esteve Fernández analyses the lessons learned and explains the importance of cooperation in effectively managing epidemics. For some patients, Covid-19 continues to take its toll. Reporter Cillian Shields meets some of the patients who are suffering from long Covid to find out how the virus has changed their lives. This week, our Catalan phrase is "Val més curar-se en salut" which is equivalent to the English saying “Prevention is better than cure.” It emphasizes the importance of taking care of your health and preventing problems before they arise.

    26 min

  6. MAR 7

    Tech tales - Women sparking change at MWC

    One of the UN's 17 goals for sustainable development is to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. To coincide with International Women’s Day on March 8, we dedicate an episode of Filling the Sink to female entrepreneurs, particularly those in traditionally male-dominated fields such as technology. Lea Beliaeva Bander visits the Mobile World Congress at the Fira de Barcelona to meet some of the businesswomen who have created startups in Catalonia. At the 4YFN pavilion, she talks to five female entrepreneurs to gain different perspectives on the challenges faced by women in business in technology. We meet Maja Završnik, CMO and co-founder of the educational platform SheAI, which helps women to learn how to use artificial intelligence in their businesses and to advance their careers. And host Beth Cohen analyses the statistics surrounding female startups in Catalonia and explores the importance of diversity in the business world. Our Catalan phrase of the week is ‘buscar una agulla en un paller’ - to look for a needle in a haystack. Which we felt like, when looking for female founders at the 2025 MWC in Barcelona.

    21 min

  7. FEB 28

    MareNostrum and quantum computing - bits, qubits and 314 petaflops

    Located at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center, MareNostrum 5 is part of a network of European supercomputers and is used to conduct research in fields such as biomedicine, geophysics, atmosphere, energy, society and economy, providing valuable data to the international scientific community. Gerard Escaich Folch visits the picturesque chapel Torre Girona, where the MareNostrum supercomputer is installed. There, he meets José María Cela Espín, the director of Computer Applications in Science and Engineering at the Barcelona Supercomputer Centre. His department uses the 314 petaflops of MareNostrum 5’s processing power to develop software to efficiently exploit super-computing capabilities through the simulations and modeling. A flop is the unit to define how powerful a computer is, and is based on the number of calculations per second it can make. A standard computer would take 46 years to perform what MareNostrum 5 can achieve in just one hour. Host Beth Cohen learns about the future of computing and we talk to Jan Nogué, a quantum engineer from Qilimanjaro Quantum Tech responsible for building the groundbreaking computer at BSC. We also discuss the cybersecurity risks associated with these new technologies and the measures that the BSC is taking to remain one step ahead of the hackers. This week’s Catalan phrase is ‘Aquí hi ha gat amagat!’ which translates literally as ‘There is a cat shut in here!’. It is used to express suspicion that there is more to something than meets the eye… Rather like the case of Schrödinger’s cat, which can be simultaneously alive and dead, or that of qubits, the unit of measurement used in quantum computing.

    26 min

  8. FEB 21

    The purchase of Casa Orsola - groundbreaking housing initiative or dangerous precedent?

    Casa Orsola was built in the early 20th century by Italian businessman Joan Orsola; it is a beautiful modernist apartment building, located in the Eixample district in central Barcelona. However, in recent years it has become a symbol of the housing crisis, as tenants have been priced out by real estate speculation. In an unprecedented move, Barcelona City Council and Hàbitat3 are planning to acquire the building in order to halt the eviction processes and convert the apartments into protected housing. Lea Beliaeva Bander returns to ‘Filling the Sink’ to report on this initiative which has sparked widespread criticism. We talk to Natalia Martínez, Director of Communication and Strategic Alliances at Hàbitat3, about social housing policies and their efficacy in resolving the housing crisis in the long term. Host Beth Cohen explores what the joint purchase of Casa Orsola would mean for the residents and how the project would function on a practical level. Plus we meet Carme Arcarazo, spokesperson from the Tenants’ Union, who analyses the motives behind the purchase and expresses her reservations about the acquisition of private property with public funds. This week’s Catalan phrase is ‘No hi ha pany que tanqui’ meaning ‘There is no lock that closes’. It is used to describe problems that have no easy solution, such as the housing situation in Barcelona.

    20 min
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    Ratings & Reviews

    4.9
    out of 5
    11 Ratings

    About

    Little by little the sink fills up... Every week the Catalan News team explores a different aspect of Catalonia, from news and politics, to society and culture. Whether you live in Catalonia and need some of the current issues explained, or you’re simply curious about what makes this place tick. Either way, Filling the Sink has got you covered. Don’t worry if you don’t know much about this corner of land nestled between the Pyrenees and the Mediterranean. As they say in Catalonia, ”de mica en mica, s’omple la pica” - little by little, the sink fills up. Filling the Sink is a podcast from Catalan News.

    Information

    • Creator
      catalannews
    • Years Active
      2020 - 2025
    • Episodes
      150
    • Rating
      Clean
    • Copyright
      © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
    • Show Website
      Filling the Sink

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