The Social Economist

Euclid Network
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Euclid Network (EN) brings you The Social Economist - the podcast which burst the bubble of EU jargon and brings the developments in European social entrepreneurship to you. Confused by what the European Commission is doing? Don’t understand what all these policies mean? Not even sure what some of the words mean? Tune into The Social Economist as we talk to those working in the heart of the Brussels Bubble and other international institutions and listen into the latest developments in European social enterprise, what is happening, why it’s important and what it means for you.

  1. 12/10/2025

    Energy cooperatives: the solution to Europe's energy transition?

    The Social Economist Season 3 concludes with a third mini-series on the topic of energy! Europe’s energy transition and what it means for both businesses’ competitiveness and Europe’s strategic autonomy is more important than ever. Is this an area where the social economy and social enterprise business models perhaps have a competitive advantage? Join us for this three episode mini-series to hear more on this critical topic.  In this eighth and final episode of Season 3, our third mini-series concludes! Host Toby Gazeley from Euclid Network is joined by Chris Vrettos from REScoop to discuss their work supporting energy cooperatives and communities across Europe. REScoop is the European network for energy cooperatives and communities, representing a vital group of organisations from the social economy at a crucial time in Europe’s energy transition.  Chris and Toby delve into the ‘state of the art’ on Europe’s energy cooperatives and communities. Their conversation ranges from the practical questions about ‘how’ one starts or gets involved in an energy cooperative to the overarching European policy landscape and some recommendations for policy makers. Energy cooperatives - enabling local energy production, consumption and ownership - may be a key element of Europe’s energy transition that enables enterprises to be more competitive, citizens to be more resilient and to enable Europe’s energy independence. This conversation and the optimism it highlights for both a sustainable European energy future and the role of the social economy in enabling this as the perfect way to conclude season three of The Social Economist.  Instead of recommending a podcast, Chris recommended a book (perhaps next time we’ll consider a written interview for Chris). Nonetheless, he recommended How to Blow up a Pipeline - a very appropriate book relating to Europe’s energy transition. Toby, of course, couldn’t help but recommend another podcast: Dish, a feel good podcast where some familiar faces are interviewed over some tasty sounding meals.  Please do get in touch to toby@euclidnetwork.eu with questions and comments.  A special thanks to our producer Jan Kiszowara and the European Commission for making The Social Economist possible.  Our theme music is ‘another twelve’ by Mikel Patrick Avery at Music for Podcasts.

    30 min

  2. 12/03/2025

    Delivering impact through decommissioning and geothermal power

    The Social Economist Season 3 concludes with a third mini-series on the topic of energy! Europe’s energy transition and what it means for both businesses’ competitiveness and Europe’s strategic autonomy is more important than ever. Is this an area where the social economy and social enterprise business models perhaps have a competitive advantage? Join us for this three episode mini-series to hear more on this critical topic.  In this seventh episode of Season 3, our third mini-series continues! Host Toby Gazeley from Euclid Network is joined by Marc Nijmeijer from WellDecommissioned to discuss their work as an impact scaleup working in the energy transition. WellDecommissioned works in both the decommissioning of oil and gas fields as well as in the development of geothermal power, utilising software to reduce costs and increase impact.  Marc and Toby discuss the realities of what it looks like to found and scale an impact start-up working in the energy transition. They touch on the challenges presented in the energy sector at the moment as well as the opportunities Europe’s energy transition presents. They discuss several different elements of WellDecommissioned work ranging from their work internationally across the world to local projects in The Hague on geothermal power and the valuable support of EU funding.  Marc was kind enough to share a couple of podcast recommendations including Everything Energy from the International Energy Agency and The Daily (the New York Times) podcast. Toby, as always, jumped in with yet another recommendation: Trump 100. As we come to the end of this third season, and given all the wild current events stemming from US politics, we know these recommendations are ever more important!  Please do get in touch to toby@euclidnetwork.eu with questions and comments.  A special thanks to our producer Jan Kiszowara and the European Commission for making The Social Economist possible.  Our theme music is ‘another twelve’ by Mikel Patrick Avery at Music for Podcasts.

    36 min

  3. 11/26/2025

    DG ENER on Europe's energy transition

    The Social Economist Season 3 concludes with a third mini-series on the topic of energy! Europe’s energy transition and what it means for both businesses’ competitiveness and Europe’s strategic autonomy is more important than ever. Is this an area where the social economy and social enterprise business models perhaps have a competitive advantage? Join us for this three episode mini-series to hear more on this critical topic.  In this sixth episode of Season 3, our third mini-series kicks off! Host Toby Gazeley from Euclid Network is joined by Achille Hannoset from the European Commission’s DG ENER to discuss the overarching European energy policy landscape and its relationship to the social economy.  Achille and Toby discuss the changing narrative surrounding Europe’s energy transition - from an emphasis on sustainability towards a lever to enable competitiveness and affordability. They reflect on the opportunities European policies on energy have created for the social economy, explicitly supporting energy communities and cooperatives with knock-on societal benefits created through market liberalisation. This conversation comes at the perfect moment ahead of the Citizens Energy Package, something that social economy stakeholders should definitely keep an eye on.  Kicking-off this last mini-series in style, Achille was kind enough to recommend a number of podcasts including Nerdland and Philosophize This!. The crowning jewel was perhaps the recommendation of ‘How wind energy could power Earth … and 17 other planets’ with Dan Jorgensen on TED Talks Daily - a chance to get to know Europe’s Commissioner for energy a little better. Toby couldn’t resist recommending a podcast and shared an old favourite: Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard.  Please do get in touch to toby@euclidnetwork.eu with questions and comments.  A special thanks to our producer Jan Kiszowara and the European Commission for making The Social Economist possible.  Our theme music is ‘another twelve’ by Mikel Patrick Avery at Music for Podcasts.

    17 min

  4. 11/19/2025

    Banking biodiversity amid shift to defence

    The Social Economist Season 3 continues! We're continuing with our second mini-series where we're tackling one of the most present and challenging topics of the day for the social economy: defence. In Episode 5, host Toby Gazeley from Euclid Network is joined by Andrea Baranes from Banca Etica to discuss the long-standing position of ethical finance on defence investments and the implications of including defence in sustainable finance frameworks. Andrea and Toby examine the concerning trend of diluting sustainable finance definitions to include sectors like defence, fossil fuels, and nuclear energy. The conversation also explores the risks posed by the EU's shift toward competitiveness over sustainability, the importance of "banking biodiversity," and the challenges facing both ethical finance and the social economy in this changing policy landscape. Andrea was kind enough to recommend a website and information resource rather than a podcast: valori.it - a platform providing critical information on ethical finance, sustainable finance, and the social economy, primarily in Italian with some content in Spanish and English. Please do get in touch to toby@euclidnetwork.eu with questions and comments. A special thanks to our producer Jan Kiszowara and the European Commission for making The Social Economist possible. Our theme music is 'another twelve' by Mikel Patrick Avery at Music for Podcasts.

    27 min

  5. 11/12/2025

    Defence & the 'impact' economy

    The Social Economist Season 3 continues! We’re continuing with our second mini-series where we’re tackling one of the most present and challenging topics of the day for the social economy: defence. What does Europe’s new focus and prioritisation of defence spending mean for the social economy? Is it all bad news or could there be some benefits for social enterprises? We’re hearing from organisations across Europe about their views on the social economy’s relationship to defence. Join us as we get this conversation going among social economy stakeholders.  In this fourth episode of Season 3, our second mini-series kicks off! Host Toby Gazeley from Euclid Network is joined by Martin Luxemburg from the Unknown Group to discuss the potential contribution ‘impact’ enterprises can make in the area of defence. They reflect on the recent event on ‘Securing the Future’, held as a side event to the NATO Summit in The Hague in 2025 at Titaan - a central part of the impact campus that the Unknown Group is building in The Hague.  Martin and Toby discuss the wider implications for innovation and areas like ‘peace tech’ stemming from an increased focus on defence investments. They also note the potential knock-on benefits across society and the economy innovations in one particular field can have. Securing the Future will return in 2026, next time with even more hands-on opportunities for founders to showcase their innovative products in the defence sector.  As well as getting our discussion about the relationship between the social economy and defence started, Martin was also generous enough to recommend a podcast for our Dutch listeners: Alle Geschiedenis Ooit - Grote Namen (All History Ever - Big Names) - a history podcast looking at the lives of significant historical figures. Toby also jumped in with another history podcast, this one in English: Empire, with a particular recommendation for the episodes on ‘The Troubles’.  Please do get in touch to toby@euclidnetwork.eu with questions and comments.  A special thanks to our producer Jan Kiszowara and the European Commission for making The Social Economist possible.  Our theme music is ‘another twelve’ by Mikel Patrick Avery at Music for Podcasts.

    30 min

  6. 11/05/2025

    Impacting the impact economy: the Omnibus and trade wars

    The Social Economist Returns with Season 3! That’s right - we’re back and we’re delving into the hottest topics impacting the social economy in 2025. This season, we’ll be looking at the wider changing policy landscape influencing the social economy before exploring Europe’s energy transition and the new emphasis on European defence spending.  The Social Economist Season 3 continues! We’re back and we’re delving into the hottest topics impacting the social economy in 2025. This season, we’ll be looking at the wider changing policy landscape influencing the social economy before exploring Europe’s energy transition and the new emphasis on European defence spending.  In Episode 2, we delved into the challenges facing sustainable front runners posed by recent changes in European policy. In Episode 3, host Toby Gazeley from Euclid Network is joined by Malo Bourel from Mouvement Impact France to reflect on what these changes mean for social and impact enterprises.   Malo and Toby discuss changes to key policies like the Corporate Sustainability Reporting and Due Diligence Directives. Following the Business for a Better Tomorrow Coalition’s manifesto published leading up to the European elections in 2024, the European context can be seen to have changed dramatically. These changes have impacts for big businesses in Europe but so too for social enterprises with recent changes harming the most ambitious and sustainable impact enterprises. Recent trade disputes are also discussed, noting that even while these global negotiations may seem out of scope for individual enterprises, they will have a (negative) impact on the social economy as a whole.  Malo recommended a thought provoking podcast for our listeners (in French): Loins des yeux loin du care. Toby couldn’t be stopped from recommending a podcast and this time recommended The Crime Agents - for those interested in crime, justice and crime reporting in the UK in particular.  Please do get in touch to toby@euclidnetwork.eu with questions and comments.  A special thanks to our producer Jan Kiszowara and the European Commission for making The Social Economist possible.  Our theme music is ‘another twelve’ by Mikel Patrick Avery at Music for Podcasts.  Please do get in touch to toby@euclidnetwork.eu with questions and comments.  A special thanks to our producer Jan Kiszowara and the European Commission for making The Social Economist possible.  Our theme music is ‘another twelve’ by Mikel Patrick Avery at Music for Podcasts.

    31 min

  7. 10/29/2025

    Deregulation through simplification: sustainability under threat

    The Social Economist Season 3 continues! We’re back and we’re delving into the hottest topics impacting the social economy in 2025. This season, we’ll be looking at the wider changing policy landscape influencing the social economy before exploring Europe’s energy transition and the new emphasis on European defence spending.  In Episode 1, we reviewed the rapidly changing policy landscape that’s emerged since the European Parliament and USA’s Presidential elections in 2024. In Episode 2, host Toby Gazeley from Euclid Network is joined by Cornelius Müller from Sustainable Public Affairs to reflect on the challenges presented to sustainable front runners by the backtracking by the EU on policies promoting sustainability.  Cornelius and Toby discuss in detail the changes since 2024 reflecting on how sustainability has been put on the back foot by recent decisions such as the abandonment of the Green Claims Directive. They reflect on how simplification is being used to not so subtly deregulate Europe and take a step away from Europe’s previously ambitious industrial policies that had sustainability at their heart.  Cornelius was kind enough to recommend not a podcast but rather something to read. He recommended: The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson, a book looking at the future and focusing on the need to tackle climate change. Toby of course recommended a podcast rather than something to read, this time recommending Parenting Hell with Rob Beckett and Josh Widdicombe. Another non-news recommendation for some much needed light relief.  Please do get in touch to toby@euclidnetwork.eu with questions and comments.  A special thanks to our producer Jan Kiszowara and the European Commission for making The Social Economist possible.  Our theme music is ‘another twelve’ by Mikel Patrick Avery at Music for Podcasts.

    22 min

  8. 10/22/2025

    2025: a challenging year for the social economy

    The Social Economist Returns with Season 3! That’s right - we’re back and we’re delving into the hottest topics impacting the social economy in 2025. This season, we’ll be looking at the wider changing policy landscape influencing the social economy before exploring Europe’s energy transition and the new emphasis on European defence spending.  In Episode 1, host Toby Gazeley from Euclid Network is joined by Valentina Patetta from the European Federation of Ethical and Alternative Banks and Financiers (FEBEA) to reflect on the changes in policy landscape since the end of Season 2.  Valentina and Toby discuss the change in tone as well as policies since the European elections in 2024 and the knock on impact of the USA’s Presidential Election. They reflect on the new emphasis around competitiveness and simplification - perhaps code for de-regulation - as well as the changing position on the Commission when it comes to supporting the Social Economy.  Valentina was generous enough to recommend two news podcasts for our listeners. These were: Scanner by Italian journalist Valerio Nicolosi; and Al Jazeera’s News Updates podcast. Toby couldn’t help but recommend a podcast too, this time recommending Good Hang with Amy Poehler - something a little less news focused. Please do get in touch to toby@euclidnetwork.eu with questions and comments.  A special thanks to our producer Jan Kiszowara and the European Commission for making The Social Economist possible.  Our theme music is ‘another twelve’ by Mikel Patrick Avery at Music for Podcasts.

    33 min
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About

Euclid Network (EN) brings you The Social Economist - the podcast which burst the bubble of EU jargon and brings the developments in European social entrepreneurship to you. Confused by what the European Commission is doing? Don’t understand what all these policies mean? Not even sure what some of the words mean? Tune into The Social Economist as we talk to those working in the heart of the Brussels Bubble and other international institutions and listen into the latest developments in European social enterprise, what is happening, why it’s important and what it means for you.

Information

  • Creator
    Euclid Network
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2025
  • Episodes
    24
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Euclid Network
  • Show Website
    The Social Economist