Filling the Sink

20 years of the euro

Exactly 20 years ago, euro coins and banknotes came into circulation, on January 1, 2002. Guifré Jordan and Gerard Escaich Folch join Lorcan Doherty to take a look back at the switch over from pesetas, remember them? We hear the opinions of Pedro Aznar from Esade Business School and Xavier Ferrer from the Catalan Economists' Association on whether the euro has been good for Catalonia. Shoppers in Barcelona tell us what they remember about the old currency. This week's Catalan phrase is 'la pela és la pela', it means 'money talks' or 'business is business'; 'la pela' is a nickname for the peseta but the phrase is still used today. 

Catalonia‘s flourishing craft beer scene

Catalonia may be known for its cava but it's actually home to over 100 craft beer breweries making over 1000 different craft beers. Guifré Jordan and Cillian Shields join Lorcan Doherty to take a look at the industry, which is going from strength to strength while still keeping its sense of close-knit community. We take a tour of the Cervesa del Montseny brewery – one of Catalonia's leading producers of artisanal beer – and sample the atmosphere at Barcelona Beer Festival, back for the first time since before the pandemic. Instead of a Catalan phrase, we've got a set of words to help you order just the right amount of your favorite craft beer – quinto, canya, canyeta, mitjana and gerra. 

Sagrada Família – one step closer towards its (tricky) completion

The Sagrada Família is an icon of Barcelona. Tourists flock to Gaudí's basilica in their millions every year, but not everyone in Barcelona is so enamored with it. In the week that a new 12-point star crowning the tower of the Virgin Mary was lit up for the first time, Cillian Shields and Gerard Escaich Folch join Lorcan Doherty to chat about the building's history and architecture, as well as the controversies it has generated. Tour guide Onno Schoemaker explains the symbolism wrapped up in this 'bible of stone'. Salvador Barroso of People Affected by the Construction of the Sagrada Família relays his fears that the church's expansion plans could see him lose his home. This week's Catalan phrase is 'ser de bona fusta', literally 'to be of good wood'. It means to be a strong, healthy person. 

Sixth wave – Covid certificate FAQs, travel rules, Omicron and Xmas forecast

Dr Magda Campins – chair of Catalonia's Covid-19 Scientific Advisory Committee and head of Preventive Medicine and Epidemiology at Vall d'Hebron Hospital in Barcelona – on the Omicron variant, booster shots and why Christmas office parties should be avoided. Lorcan Doherty, Cristina Tomàs White and Guifré Jordan discuss the profile of a sixth wave patient, the latest travel rules, and FAQs from residents and tourists on the use of Covid certificates in cafes, bars and restaurants. This week's Catalan phrase is 'cada dos per tres'. It means something that happens very frequently.

Catalan language under threat? – school and streaming woes

Catalan is a vibrant, living language with 10 million speakers and a history stretching back to the Middle Ages, but statistics show a decline in use and language activists say it needs more protection, not least in classrooms and on online streaming platforms.
Guifré Jordan and Gerard Escaich Folch join Lorcan Doherty to discuss recent developments affecting the language, including a Supreme Court ruling on Catalan-medium education.
Elin Haf Gruffydd Jones, president of the European Language Equality Network, and Òscar Escuder, president of Plataforma per la Llengua (Platform for the Language), give their views on the social, political and technological challenges.
This week's Catalan phrase is 'clar i català', or 'clear and Catalan'. It means to say something frankly and concisely. 

Barcelona Zoo – research or recreation, conservation or captivity?

Founded in 1892, Barcelona Zoo is part of the fabric of the city. But what should its role be in the 21st century? The zoo's director, Antoni Alarcón, and zookeeper Núria Moreno Gutiérrez, argue that zoos are essential for protecting biodiversity, but animal rights activist Rosi Carro of the ZooXXI group says that more changes are urgently needed. Norbert Bilbeny, ethics professor at the University of Barcelona gives his view of how the relationship between humans and animals should be. Cristina Tomàs White and Gerard Escaich Folch join Lorcan Doherty to discuss the past, present and future of the zoo. This week's Catalan phrase is 'a pas de tortuga', literally 'at a turtle's pace', it's used to describe something that moves very slowly! 

Four-day week and working from home – the post-Covid future of work?

The Covid-19 pandemic completely changed the world of work. Working from home became the norm for many, but is it here to stay? And has the time come for an even bigger change: after 100 years of Monday to Friday, is it time for a four-day working week? Guifré Jordan and Aina Martí join Lorcan Doherty to discuss the future of work, including a report on Desigual, where employees recently voted for a four-day work week. Xavier Güell, Managing Director of CBRE Barcelona, explains how offices are changing. This week's Catalan phrase is 'a empentes i rodolons', literally something like 'by pushes and rolls', it's means to achieve something after overcoming obstacles or difficulties. 

Anime, manga, sushi and sake – Japanese culture in Catalonia

Anime dubbed in Catalan, massive manga conventions, sushi restaurants on every other street, and even a couple of sake breweries: there's no doubt that Japanese culture has a big influence on contemporary Catalan life. Cillian Shields visits Manga Barcelona, a celebration of the world of Japanese comics and animation attended by over 122,000 people. Marc Pérez from the El Racó del Manga podcast gives his thoughts on why Catalans are so enamored with the land of the rising sun. Guifré Jordan explains to Lorcan Doherty how his generation was the first to grow up watching anime in Catalan. This week's Catalan phrase is 'cap de suro ', literally 'cork head', it's a common insult in Catalan dubbing of Japanese anime for someone who appears to be not very intelligent!

Pros and cons of living in Catalonia – international community has its say

The Mediterranean climate, good food, beaches, not to mention excellent health care and public transport: what’s not to like about living in Catalonia? Well, how about high rents, low salaries, and hellish bureaucracy? Those are some of the issues highlighted by Filling the Sink listeners, Catalan News readers and attendees at Barcelona International Community Day, who tell us the good, the bad, and the funny side of moving to Catalonia from abroad. Cristina Tomàs White and Cillian Shields join Lorcan Doherty. This week's Catalan phrase is 'donar carbassa', literally 'to give pumpkin' it means to get rejected or turned down. 

Europe‘s energy crisis – what‘s behind your soaring electricity bills?

All-time records for wholesale electricity prices have been broken 19 times over the past few months, causing bills to soar for many consumers and businesses. Cristina Tomàs White and Guifré Jordan join Lorcan Doherty to discuss the causes and the consequences of the energy crisis affecting Europe. Ana García from the Economists Association of Catalonia explains the reasons behind the price hikes and how long we can expect them to continue. Maria Campuzano from the Alliance Against Energy Poverty talks about how Catalan law should protect the most vulnerable, while Marc from Vic shares his struggle to make ends meet. Plus we look at the different types of contracts available in Spain and the marginal pricing model used to determine the price of electricity. This week's Catalan phrase is 'estar com un llum', literally 'to be like a light', it means 'to be crazy'.  

Covid-19 – the endgame? Measures eased and nightclubs open again

This is a good news podcast! With almost three quarters of the population fully vaccinated and less than 100 people in ICU – down from nearly 600 at the beginning of August – almost all of Catalonia's Covid-19 restrictions have been lifted. Capacity limits are no longer in place in most settings, restaurants are back to pre-pandemic opening hours and nightclubs are back. Cristina Tomàs White and Cillian Shields join Lorcan Doherty to discuss the latest coronavirus figures and measures, and there's a trip to Razzmatazz, one of Barcelona's biggest clubs, as it reopens for the first time in 19 months. The Catalan phrase this week is 'tenir la festa en pau'. Literally meaning 'to have the party in peace', it's used, for example, to urge people to calm down and move on during an argument.  

Four years in exile – Puigdemont and the other Catalan pro-independence leaders

The arrest of former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont on the Italian island of Sardinia in September was the latest twist in the four-year saga of the exiled Catalan pro-independence leaders. In this podcast Puigdemont's lawyer, Gonzalo Boye, explains why he's certain that Spain's extradition attempts will not be successful. Cristina Tomàs White and Cillian Shields look back on the key moments from the past four years of legal wrangling. Guifré Jordan joins Lorcan Doherty to discuss the drama and intrigue of covering one of Europe's biggest political stories and they look ahead to what could happen next, with Catalonia demanding an amnesty but Spain firmly ruling one out. This week's Catalan phrase is 'pixar fora de test' or 'to piss outside the pot'. It means to say something inappropriate.