C²DH Innovating & Sharing History

Luxembourg Centre for Contemporary and Digital History (C²DH)

Ever wanted to explore contemporary and digital history in new and exciting ways?  "Innovating and sharing history" is the C²DH podcast that introduces you into playful experimentation with cutting-edge digital methods and tools for studying, interpretating, narrating and publishing contemporary history. In each episode, historians, data scientists, web developers and students will introduce you into the challenges of contemporary, public offering fresh perspectives and innovative approaches to sharing the past.  The C²DH, the Centre for Contemporary and Digital History at the University of Luxembourg, is at the forefront of designing and operating a global open-science platform for history in the digital age.  

  1. Barking: Telling the tale at the fairground

    08/12/2025

    Barking: Telling the tale at the fairground

    In this fifteen-minute conversation, host Véronique Faber speaks with Dr. Vanessa Toulmin, Professor at the University of Sheffield and founder of the National Fairground and Circus Archive, to explore the tradition of “barking” or “telling the tale” at the fairground. Coming from a show people family herself, Dr. Toulmin shares both historical insights and personal memories of this vocal performance used to attract visitors. She discusses how the practice has evolved through shifts in technology and music—highlighting how showmanship continues to adapt and embrace new developments. The episode concludes with a story about the Crazy Cinematograph, a traveling cinema at Luxembourg’s Schueberfouer.  This episode wouldn’t have come together without Dr. Vanessa Toulmin’s stories and reflections, Hanna Siemaszko’s podcast wisdom, and Isabelle Voegeli’s thoughtful facilitation at C²DH. Thanks also the MediaLab at the University of Luxembourg.  Publication on social media  This fifteen-minute oral history, produced by the Centre for Contemporary and Digital History (C²DH), features a conversation between Dr. Vanessa Toulmin, Professor at the University of Sheffield and founder of the National Fairground and Circus Archive, and host Véronique Faber, PhD student on the Popkult60 project  Together, they explore the tradition of “barking” or “telling the tale”—the vocal performance that invites visitors into the fairground experience. Drawing from historical research and personal memories as someone from a showpeople family, Dr. Toulmin reflects on how this practice continues to evolve through changing technologies and music. The episode closes with a story about the Crazy Cinematograph, a traveling cinema at Luxembourg’s Schueberfouer. 🎙️ With thanks to: Dr. Vanessa Toulmin for sharing her stories and insightsHanna Siemaszko for podcast expertise and supportIsabelle Voegeli for facilitating this podcast at C²DHMediaLab, University of LuxembourgThanks for listening! Follow us on Linkedin and on Instagram or find us on Facebook.

    16 min
  2. C²PhD: Zoé Konsbruck on Choices, Networking and Crafting a Unique PhD Journey

    02/26/2025

    C²PhD: Zoé Konsbruck on Choices, Networking and Crafting a Unique PhD Journey

    C²PhD -  the podcast series that looks at ('sees to') the doctoral researchers among the members of C²DH and explores the stories, ambitions, and ideas that have shaped and continue to shape their thesis journey at C²DH. Through short ten- to fifteen-minute conversations, you get a short glimpse of what doing a PhD at our research centre looks like In our third episode, we are joined by Zoé Konsbruck, a doctoral candidate working on the history of deindustrialisation in Luxembourg. Having pursued part of her undergrad studies in Luxembourg, she left for Munich, before returning to Luxembourg two years ago. While her research is Luxembourg-focused, as she looks into the impact of the steel crisis in towns throughout southwestern Luxembourg, her project is anything but local. From the onset, she took part in international networks of academics and historians such as the DEPOT and CONDE projects, before deciding to take things a step further and successfully applying for the Europaeum Scholars Programme, a two-year policy and leadership training course. Tune in as Zoé shares her insights on diversifying and shaping the PhD journey into your own, acquiring new skills and experiences, and what ice cream has to do with all of this. Host Joé Voncken, historian and himself a doctoral researcher at the centre currently in the fourth year of his thesis project, initially came up this podcast project as part of a DESCOM internship in Science Communication which took place over the course of summer and autumn of '24. Since then, the project has developed a life of its own, with a total of four episodes to come out on a monthly basis between December '24 and March '25, and more in the works. Thanks for listening! Follow us on Linkedin and on Instagram or find us on Facebook.

    15 min
  3. C²PhD: Nicolas Arendt on Comradery and a Refuge on the Danube: Navigating Luxembourg and Vienna

    01/15/2025

    C²PhD: Nicolas Arendt on Comradery and a Refuge on the Danube: Navigating Luxembourg and Vienna

    C²PhD -  the podcast series that looks at ('sees to') the doctoral researchers among the members of C²DH and explores the stories, ambitions, and ideas that have shaped and continue to shape their thesis journey at C²DH. Through short ten- to fifteen-minute conversations, you get a short glimpse of what doing a PhD at our research centre looks like. In our second episode, we are joined by Nicolas Arendt, a doctoral candidate navigating the unique challenges and opportunities of a cotutelle program at two universities. Since 2022, Nicolas has been splitting his time between Luxembourg University and Vienna University while working on the TransARB project. This transnational research project, funded by the Luxembourgish Fonds National de la Recherche, explores the transformation of the ARBED company since the 1970s. Tune in as Nicolas shares his insights into managing research across borders, balancing time between two institutions, and, of course, his pick for the best university restaurant. Host Joé Voncken, historian and himself a doctoral researcher at the centre currently in the fourth year of his thesis project, initially came up this podcast project as part of a DESCOM internship in Science Communication which took place over the course of summer and autumn of '24. Since then, the project has developed a life of its own, with a total of four episodes to come out on a monthly basis between December '24 and March '25, and more in the works. Discover how C²DH is redefining history with digital innovation, community engagement, and groundbreaking research: C²DH - Luxembourg Centre for Contemporary and Digital History Thanks for listening! Follow us on Linkedin and on Instagram or find us on Facebook.

    12 min
  4. C²PhD: Marianna Tavares on Teaching, Researchers' Identites, and Luxembourg's Buses

    11/12/2024

    C²PhD: Marianna Tavares on Teaching, Researchers' Identites, and Luxembourg's Buses

    C²PhD -  the podcast series that looks at ('sees to') the doctoral researchers among the members of C²DH and explores the stories, ambitions, and ideas that have shaped and continue to shape their thesis journey at C²DH. Through short ten- to fifteen-minute conversations, you get a short glimpse of what doing a PhD at our research centre looks like. For this very first episode, public historian and visiting researcher Marianna Tavares talks about the experiences she made her ten-month stay in Luxembourg. Marianna, who is currently pursuing a PhD focused on teacher's narratives in a quarter of her home city of Natal in Northeastern Brazil, speaks about her dual identity as a teacher and academic, her main takeaways of her stay abroad, and  –  perhaps most importantly  –  about her deep affection for Luxembourg's buses. Marianna also recently gave an interview in which she delves into further aspects of her research. Host Joé Voncken, historian and himself a doctoral researcher at the centre currently in the third year of his thesis project, initially came up this podcast project as part of a DESCOM internship in Science Communication which took place over the course of summer and autumn of '24. Since then, the project has developed a life of its own, with a total of four episodes to come out on a monthly basis between November '24 and February '25, and more in the works. Discover how C²DH is redefining history with digital innovation, community engagement, and groundbreaking research: C²DH - Luxembourg Centre for Contemporary and Digital History Thanks for listening! Follow us on Linkedin and on Instagram or find us on Facebook.

    15 min

About

Ever wanted to explore contemporary and digital history in new and exciting ways?  "Innovating and sharing history" is the C²DH podcast that introduces you into playful experimentation with cutting-edge digital methods and tools for studying, interpretating, narrating and publishing contemporary history. In each episode, historians, data scientists, web developers and students will introduce you into the challenges of contemporary, public offering fresh perspectives and innovative approaches to sharing the past.  The C²DH, the Centre for Contemporary and Digital History at the University of Luxembourg, is at the forefront of designing and operating a global open-science platform for history in the digital age.