Filling the Sink

Filling the Sink

Little by little the sink fills up… Filling the Sink is a podcast in English on all things Catalan. 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.

Episodes

June 30, 2025 21 mins

A year after it came into effect, the amnesty law related to Catalonia’s independence push has been upheld by the Spanish Constitutional Court. Whilst the pardon of over 300 activists and officials has eased tensions, the cases of many high-profile leaders are unresolved and its long-term impact remains unclear.

Head of Catalan News Gerard Escaich Folch joins host Beth Cohen to discuss this controversial...

Mark as Played

The Sixena murals are late 12th to early 13th-century Romanesque wall paintings from the Monastery of Santa María de Sixena in Aragon. They were moved to Barcelona during the Spanish Civil War for preservation and are currently on display at the National Art Museum of Catalonia in Barcelona. On this week’s podcast, we explore the ongoing debate over their place of exhibition, which highlights deeper regional and cultural tensions i...

Mark as Played

Catalonia frequently faces forest fires, which threaten ecosystems, wildlife and communities. This situation has been aggravated in recent years by climate change, drought and human activity, and throughout the summer months fire risk is at its peak. On this week’s podcast we discover how firefighters and forest rangers use drones, AI and new technologies to prevent and control summer forest blazes.

We meet David Borrell, head of t...

Mark as Played

Raised in Catalonia to international parents, new generation migrants are a growing demographic in Catalonia, however they often navigate dual identities, balancing their family’s cultural heritage with local traditions. This week on Filling the Sink we dedicate an episode to exploring the challenges faced by this significant collective.

Zenia Hellgren, Doctor of Sociology a Senior Researcher at Pompeu F...

Mark as Played

Every summer, Catalonia hosts a wide range of music festivals, from large international events in Barcelona to smaller coastal concerts. On this week’s podcast, we offer a guide to what’s on and discuss Sonar+D, a technology festival at the forefront of musical innovation.

Head of Catalan News Gerard Escaich Folch visits Primavera Sound to pick up some festival vibes, meet fans from around the world and ...

Mark as Played

This year, Catalonia and Japan are strengthening their ties with a yearlong celebration, including Catalan Week in Japan, taking place from May 27 to June 1 at the Universal Expo in Osaka. This week on Filling the Sink we explore the relationship between both territories and visit the Expo to find out how Catalonia is promoting its culture.

Head of Catalan News Gerard Escaich Folch joins host Beth Cohen to explore the...

Mark as Played

According to the UN, birth rates have been declining globally since 1963, and Spain has the second-lowest fertility rate in the EU. Economic instability, difficulty in accessing housing, an inability to reconcile work and family life, and a lack of support have been pinpointed as deterring factors.

We meet women from different backgrounds to hear their experiences of maternity and the challenges they have overcome. We also explore ...

Mark as Played

This week the 69th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest takes place in Basel, Switzerland. To celebrate, we look back over the history of the competition and explore Catalonia’s involvement, from Catalan language entries to the stories of Catalan artists who’ve graced the Eurovision stage.

We interview Jordi Ramos, a journalist for the Catalan radio station, Rac1. He's an expert on Eurovision and the perfect person ...

Mark as Played

On May 8, 1945, the second world war came to end in Europe. 80 years on, we reflect on how Catalonia was affected by the conflict and highlight the remarkable story of Neus Català, an anti-fascist resistance fighter and holocaust survivor from Tarragona.

Reporters Lea Beliaeva Bander and Cillian Shields join host Beth Cohen to discuss the effects of WWII in Catalonia and discover the story of a Catalan w...

Mark as Played

Pope Francis was known for his humility, compassion and emphasis on social justice. This week we’ll be dedicating an episode of Filling the Sink to the memory of this popular spiritual leader and exploring his relationship with Catalonia.

Catalan News travels to the Vatican to attend the Pope’s funeral and meet some of the 250,000 mourners who have flocked to Rome to pay their last respects, including ma...

Mark as Played

On April 28, 2025, a massive blackout affected Spain, Portugal, Andorra, and parts of France, leaving over 50 million people without power for up to 12 hours. This week on Filling the Sink, we investigate the causes and find out how it affected people across Catalonia.

Catalan News journalists Gerard Escaich Folch, Lorcan Doherty and Cillian Shields join host Beth Cohen to relive some of the darkest mome...

Mark as Played

Sant Jordi is a Catalan cultural celebration held on April 23. It’s Catalonia's Valentine’s Day and it served as the inspiration for World Book Day. Couples, friends, and families give each other gifts of roses and books, commemorating the legendary slaying of the dragon by Sant Jordi - Saint George, in English. In this week’s podcast, we delve into Catalan literature and analyze its translation into English.

Host Bet...

Mark as Played

At Easter time, bakery windows across Catalonia are filled with the most spectacular chocolate sculptures. These “Mones de Pasqua” are traditionally given to children by their godparents on Easter Monday, a festive day known as "Dilluns de Pasqua" in Catalonia.

Originally simple sweet breads topped with hard-boiled eggs, modern versions have evolved into elaborate chocolate creations, often shaped like a...

Mark as Played

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 t...

Mark as Played

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 ...

Mark as Played

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...

Mark as Played

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, res...

Mark as Played

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 C...

Mark as Played

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...

Mark as Played

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....

Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    Welcome to Bookmarked by Reese’s Book Club — the podcast where great stories, bold women, and irresistible conversations collide! Hosted by award-winning journalist Danielle Robay, each week new episodes balance thoughtful literary insight with the fervor of buzzy book trends, pop culture and more. Bookmarked brings together celebrities, tastemakers, influencers and authors from Reese's Book Club and beyond to share stories that transcend the page. Pull up a chair. You’re not just listening — you’re part of the conversation.

    Dateline NBC

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

    Stuff You Should Know

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    The Breakfast Club

    The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy And Charlamagne Tha God!

    Crime Junkie

    Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.