The Round Room

The Round Room at Emerson College
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The Round Room aims to present digestible, international news for the average college student. By reporting on context-based current events, we hope to make news more accessible and understandable for you.

  1. MAR 2

    2026 Winter Olympics Recap

    In this episode of The Round Room, we examine how politics have overshadowed the 2026 Winter Olympics—from protests in Milan over the reported presence of U.S. ICE agents, to American athletes speaking out against immigration policies, and the disqualification of a Ukrainian athlete over a war memorial helmet. The episode explores the growing tension between athletic competition and political expression on the global stage. We would love to thank our writing team, who put together the script for this episode: Audrey Collison, Valeria Guerrero, and Nathan Igoe. And, of course, we'd love to thank our sound editor Colten Gottlob. To keep up with podcast updates, please follow @theroundroompod on Instagram. Sources: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5y29xzjdzvo https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/2/6/anti-ice-protesters-rally-in-milan-ahead-of-olympics-opening https://www.nbcnews.com/world/italy/ice-role-winter-olympics-prompts-fury-italy-rcna256087 https://www.nbcnews.com/sports/olympics/winter-olympics-2026-athletes-protest-ice-trump-minneapolis-shooting-rcna256219 ​​https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-criticizes-olympic-skier-hunter-hess-rcna258083 https://www.npr.org/2026/02/09/nx-s1-5706017/as-us-olympians-call-for-tolerance-and-lgbtq-rights-some-face-trump-attacks-and-online-hate https://www.nbcnews.com/sports/olympics/live-blog/2026-winter-olympics-live-updates-rcna256602 https://www.axios.com/2026/02/06/olympics-2026-winter-games-trump-ice-protest https://www.npr.org/2026/02/19/nx-s1-5719335/alysa-liu-figure-skating-gold-olympics https://www.nbcnews.com/sports/olympics/ukraine-vladyslav-heraskevych-disqualified-winter-olympics-helmet-war-rcna258696 https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2026/2/12/ukraines-heraskevych-disqualified-from-olympics-skeleton-over-helmet https://www.nbcnews.com/world/ukraine/ukraine-boycott-winter-paralympics-russians-competing-flag-belarus-rcna259525

    13 min

  2. FEB 20

    States Without Borders - Part 2

    What makes a nation — and what happens when a nation doesn’t have a state of its own? In this episode of The Round Room, we explore communities like the Basques, Kashmiris, and Kurds who share a common identity, language, and history but lack full sovereignty. We break down nationalism, autonomy, and self-determination to understand how history, borders, and power shape global politics today, all in a clear, bite-sized format. We would love to thank our writing team, who put together the script for this episode: Audrey Collison, Valeria Guerrero, and Nathan Igoe. And, of course, we'd love to thank our sound editor Colten Gottlob. To keep up with podcast updates, please follow @theroundroompod on Instagram. Sources: Basque Country https://aboutbasquecountry.eus/en/2021/09/08/the-anticolonialism-of-sabino-arana-the-founder-of-basque-nationalism-video/  https://www.buber.net/Basque/History/arana.php  https://pantheon.world/profile/person/Sabino_Arana  https://www.euronews.com/culture/2022/12/08/european-minority-languages-is-basque-the-most-unique-language-in-europe  https://www.britannica.com/topic/Basque  https://aboutbasquecountry.eus/en/2021/09/08/the-anticolonialism-of-sabino-arana-the-founder-of-basque-nationalism-video/  https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20170719-the-mysterious-origins-of-europes-oldest-language  https://www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/bombing-of-guernica/  https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2012/04/25/inenglish/1335366383_825388.html  Kurdistan https://www.britannica.com/place/Kurdistan https://www.britannica.com/topic/Kurd https://www.britannica.com/place/Turkey/The-Kurdish-conflict https://www.britannica.com/summary/Kurdistan https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/kurdish-pkk-dissolves-after-decades-struggle-with-turkey-news-agency-close-2025-05-12/ https://www.aljazeera.com/tag/kurds/ https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/11/06/advancing-human-rights-justice-and-democracy-for-kurds-and-all-other-communities-in Kashmir https://internationalviewpoint.org/Kashmir-India-Pakistan-on-the-history-and-internationalist-stakes-of-a-state-of https://beltwaygrid.org/the-kashmir-conflict-historical-roots-and-current-challenges/? https://www.britannica.com/place/Kashmir-region-Indian-subcontinent? https://newsofkashmir.com/index.php/2026/01/31/kashmir/? Kashmir-geography-people-and-heritage https://theindosphere.com/history/kashmir-origins-history-invasion/?

    14 min

  3. FEB 2

    States Without Borders

    In this episode of The Round Room, we examine stateless nations and what independence movements reveal about identity, sovereignty, and power in global politics. Through case studies on Catalonia, Scotland, and Quebec, we explore how history, culture, and political conflict shape demands for self-determination, from Catalonia’s independence push and Scotland’s post-Brexit debates to Quebec’s language-based movement and Indigenous perspectives. We would love to thank our writing team who put together the script for this episode: Audrey Collison, Valeria Guerrero, and Nathan Igoe. And, of course, we'd love to thank our sound editor Colten Gottlob. To keep up with podcast updates, please follow @theroundroompod on Instagram. Sources: Catalonia: https://www.britannica.com/place/Catalonia https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-41584864 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-29478415 Scotland https://www.thoughtco.com/scotland-is-not-an-independent-country-1435433   https://www.open.edu/openlearn/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=68996§ion=1  https://www.nowscotland.scot/why_independence  https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/rp14-50/  Quebec https://www.believeinscotland.org/why-quebecs-independence-dream-went-wrong-lessons-for-scotland

    13 min

  4. 11/07/2025

    Sudan Conflict

    In this episode of The Round Room, we unpack the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Sudan. What began as a local conflict has escalated into a global one, with countries supplying troops and weapons to both sides. Caught in the middle are the people of Sudan, who are facing dwindling support as international actors scale back critical aid programs. We would love to thank our writing team who put together the script for this episode: Iselin Bratz, Audrey Collison, and Briana Cordon . And, of course, we'd love to thank our sound editor Colten Gottlob. To keep up with podcast updates, please follow @theroundroompod on Instagram. Sources: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wB4UHYZPTScbMox4xEDs-SPwmxmeLRKmMR_iERBVaug/edit?usp=sharing

    25 min

  5. 10/24/2025

    Student Protest In Asia

    In this episode of the Round Room we go over seas and explore several student protests occurring in Asia. Join us as we explore fights against corruption and political elitism, while also seeing the powerful role social media plays in protest and revolution in the 21st century. From Nepal to the Philippines there is something we can all learn from the efforts of these protesters. We would love to thank our writing team who put together the script for this episode: Iselin Bratz, Audrey Collison, Nathan Igoe and Briana Cordon . And, of course, we'd love to thank our sound editor Colten Gottlob. To keep up with podcast updates, please follow @theroundroompod on Instagram. Sources: https://www.boston25news.com/news/local/massachusetts-lawmakers-base-pay-just-tip-legislative-salary-iceberg/ZWVID6NMWFEKXAT3XSZYZV74OM/ https://www.senate.gov/senators/SenateSalariesSince1789.htm https://www.ssa.gov/oact/cola/AWI.html https://www.crisisgroup.org/asia-pacific/nepal/nepal-picks-pieces-after-protests-topple-government https://thediplomat.com/2025/09/nepals-gen-z-force-prime-minister-oli-to-resign/ https://time.com/7315492/nepal-gen-z-protests-social-media-nepo-kids-corruption-explainer/ https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/podcasts/in-solidarity-podcast/sri-lanka-bangladesh-nepal-south-asia-spring-in-solidarity-podcast-roman-gautam/ https://www.himalmag.com/politics/nepal-gen-z-uprising-oli-resignation https://www.independent.co.uk/asia/south-asia/nepal-bangladesh-sri-lanka-protests-corruption-gen-z-b2831771.html https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/sep/16/colombo-kathmandu-youth-movements-nepal-toppling-entrenched-elites https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn4ljv39em7o https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/sep/21/protests-philippines-corruption-state-flood https://time.com/7319164/philippines-flood-control-projects-corruption/ https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/09/23/timor-leste-gen-z-protests-regional-trend/ https://edition.cnn.com/2025/09/01/asia/indonesia-protests-explainer-intl-hnk https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/sep/02/indonesia-protests-explained-start-how-has-the-government-responded https://thediplomat.com/2025/09/seablings-the-new-southeast-asian-transnational-solidarity-campaign/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/unitegroupnepal/posts/4340678822835790/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xG_dg3cLAD0 https://www.realinstitutoelcano.org/en/analyses/nepal-elects-its-first-female-prime-minister-on-discord-what-it-reveals-about-social-media-and-democracy/ https://www.aljazeera.com/where/nepal/ https://openthemagazine.com/feature/tanuja-pandey-poster-girl-of-nepals-gen-z-protests-seeks-justice-for-fallen-comrades

    25 min

  6. 04/27/2025

    Global Student Protests

    In this episode of the Round Room we explore historical efforts of student protests all across the globe. Join us as we go back in time to Mexico in the 1960s and the Movimiento Estudiantil, China in the 80s and the Tianemen Square protests, Iran in 2022 and the Woman, Life, Freedom Movement, and Kenya's current student movements starting on June 18th of last year. We would love to thank our writing team who put together the script for this episode: Styx Hatch, Audrey Collison, Ivan Andarza, and Sadie Scholl. And, of course, we'd love to thank our sound editors Colten Gottlob, and Nik Vyshinskiy To keep up with podcast updates, please follow @theroundroompod on Instagram. Sources: https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/jun/29/kenyas-youth-driven-protest-movement-at-crossroads-as-it-considers-future https://apnews.com/article/kenya-protests-finance-bill-4f3389c9728a4db5c1cd5a91407a4c44 https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/aug/06/no-jobs-no-trust-young-africans-economic-struggles-fuel-protests-kenya-nigeria-uganda https://www.jstor.org/stable/20050041?seq=4  https://www.britannica.com/event/Tiananmen-Square-incident  https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2008/10/no-truth-no-justice-40-years-after-mexico-city-massacre-20081002/ https://www.npr.org/2018/10/02/653779935/whats-changed-in-mexico-since-the-1968-student-protests https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB10/nsaebb10.htm https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/10/2/mexico-the-tlatelolco-massacre-50-years-on https://memoricamexico.gob.mx/es/memorica/Temas?ctId=7d88a1e7-5937-4990-98ea-691fae0362f6&cId=MDcwZGI2MjgtY2I3MC00MzY2LTk3ODctZWI5YWMxNTg4MmQ5&cd=false https://nvdatabase.swarthmore.edu/content/mexican-students-protest-greater-democracy-1968 https://www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/tlatelolco-massacre/ https://oxfordre.com/latinamericanhistory/display/10.1093/acrefore/9780199366439.001.0001/acrefore-9780199366439-e-828#:~:text=It%20was%20in%20this%20context,those%20 responsible%20for%20the%20 repression%2C https://web.archive.org/web/20221002231449/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/24/world/middleeast/iran-protests-raisi-khamenei-hijab.html  https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-protest-clerics-turbans/32126147.html https://web.archive.org/web/20221206043742/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2022/12/05/1200-university-students-poisoned-night-planned-anti-regime/ https://www.globalstudentforum.org/the-mahsa-revolution-and-student-protests-in-iran/ https://web.archive.org/web/20221020041242/https://theconversation.com/not-powerless-victims-how-young-iranian-women-have-long-led-a-quiet-revolution-192188https://time.com/6220554/students-iran-protests/https://iranhumanrights.org/2022/10/sharif-students-violently-attacked-arrested-by-security-forces-as-protests-in-iran-spread/

    23 min

  7. 04/20/2025

    4B and Other Women's Movements Around the World

    In this episode of the Round Room, we examine the evolving landscape of women's rights movements in the 21st century. We explore how transgender women are facing increasing violence and discrimination worldwide spotlighted by international incidents in China, Iran, and Afghanistan. We also explore global feminist responses, including South Korea’s radical 4B movement, mass women’s strikes across Europe and Latin America, and the urgent fight for reproductive rights. Join us as we trace how these movements challenge dominant norms, push back against gender based oppression, and reimagine what it means to be a woman today. We would love to thank our writing team who put together the script for this episode: Styx Hatch, Audrey Collison, Iselin Bratz, Ivan Andarza, Mathew Olaince, and Sadie Scholl . And, of course, we'd love to thank our sound editors Colten Gottlob, and Nik Vyshinskiy To keep up with podcast updates, please follow @theroundroompod on Instagram. Sources: https://theconversation.com/a-woman-is-not-a-baby-making-machine-a-brief-history-of-south-koreas-4b-movement-and-why-its-making-waves-in-america-243355  https://www.npr.org/2024/11/08/nx-s1-5182888/4b-movement-trump-south-korea https://www.hrw.org/topic/womens-rights/reproductive-rightshttps://www.pih.org/article/global-gag-rule-impact https://reproductiverights.org/european-commission-commitment-sexual-reproductive-health-rights-roadmap/https://reproductiverights.org/maps/worlds-abortion-laws/ https://thesecuritydistillery.org/all-articles/south-koreas-4b-movement-how-patriarchy-undermines-demographic-security https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/nov/15/4b-south-korea-feminist-movement-donald-trump-election-backlash https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/09/us/4b-movement-trump-south-korea-wellness-cec/index.html https://harbingersmagazine.com/articles/from-south-korea-to-the-us-why-the-4b-movement-is-taking-over-by-ashley-solace/ https://www.service95.com/4b-movement-explainer https://www.iar-gwu.org/blog/iar-web/south-koreas-4bhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2017/03/08/one-reason-women-strike-it-gets-results/ https://apnews.com/article/iceland-women-strike-equal-pay-970669466116a2b1a5673a8737089d46 https://wams.nyhistory.org/growth-and-turmoil/feminism-and-the-backlash/women-strike-for-equality/ https://actionnetwork.org/groups/international-womens-strike-us

    15 min

  8. 04/12/2025

    Georgian Protest

    In this episode of the Round Room, we explore the rising political unrest in Georgia, a former Soviet republic at the crossroads of Europe and Asia. We unpack the recent consolidation of power by the ruling Georgian Dream Party, the controversial election of far-right president Mikheil Kavelashvili, and the government's authoritarian turn including media crackdowns, protest bans, and a postponed bid for European Union membership. As tensions mount, student-led protests are sweeping the country, demanding democracy, freedom of expression, and a return to Georgia’s pro-European path. Join us as we examine the parallels to Russian influence, the impact on Georgia’s civil society, and the growing urgency of international attention. We would love to thank our writing team who put together the script for this episode: Styx Hatch, Audrey Collison, Iselin Bratz, Ivan Andarza, Mathew Olaince, and Sadie Scholl . And, of course, we'd love to thank our sound editors Colten Gottlob, and Nik Vyshinskiy To keep up with podcast updates, please follow @theroundroompod on Instagram. Sources: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/georgias-new-president-is-inaugurated-complicating-countrys-path-to-joining-eu  https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/12/3/georgia-protests-whats-behind-them-and-whats-next  ​​ https://therecord.media/georgian-authorities-raid-homes-disinformation-researchers-electionhttps://oc-media.org/georgian-police-raid-homes-of-three-activists-detaining-one/ https://enlargement.ec.europa.eu/european-neighbourhood-policy/countries-region/georgia_en https://www.dw.com/en/georgias-path-to-the-eu-looms-large-in-2024-election/a-70590398 https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/15/europe/georgia-protests-authoritarianism-fears-intl-cmd/index.html https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ukrainealert/the-2008-russo-georgian-war-putins-green-light/ https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/12/3/georgia-protests-whats-behind-them-and-whats-next https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/02/georgia-opposition-leaders-arrested-anti-government-protest https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/03/26/georgia-drop-repressive-foreign-agents-bill https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/3/17/georgia-court-hands-ex-president-saakashvili-further-4-5-years-in-prison https://www.thenewfederalist.eu/georgian-students-at-the-front-line-three-months-of-struggle-for-europe?lang=fr https://neweasterneurope.eu/2025/03/24/history-rhymes-intellectual-resistance-and-state-repression-in-georgia/

    9 min
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About

The Round Room aims to present digestible, international news for the average college student. By reporting on context-based current events, we hope to make news more accessible and understandable for you.

Information

  • Creator
    The Round Room at Emerson College
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    37
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The Round Room at Emerson College
  • Show Website
    The Round Room