Talking Memories is a five-part podcast series recorded at the Jean Monnet House, as part of the Third School on European Memories.
Bringing together young voices from across Europe, the series explores how memory — both personal and collective — continues to shape the way we understand our past and engage with the present. Each episode features a rich dialogue on themes such as deportation, contested memory, fascism, exile, and mourning, offering fresh insights into the politics of remembrance and resistance across the continent.
Episodes will be released weekly throughout August, 2025 on YouTube and Spotify.
Episode Guide
Episode 1 – Irene & Darius
20th Century Deportations in Spain and Romania: Messages for Nowadays
A cross-border conversation on state violence and displacement. Irene discusses La Desbandá and the mass exile known as La Retirada; Darius shares insights into the Bărăgan deportations and their impact on Romanian families.
Episode 2 – Koitto & Francesca
Contested Memory Objects and Oppression in Finland and Italy
How do monuments, memorials, and silence communicate histories of oppression? A conversation on symbolic resistance and public memory.
Episode 3 – Irene & Matilda
Approaching Romania’s Recent Past
Engaging with post-authoritarian memory in Romania: challenges of narration, public silence, and the work of remembrance.
Episode 4 – Darío, Laia, Giovanni & Edoardo
A Conversation About Fascism and the Need to Fight Against It
A timely dialogue on the resurgence of fascist discourse in Europe and the collective responsibility to remember — and resist.
Episode 5 – Mirko, Claudia, Matilda & Irene
Learning from Personal Memorialization: A Conversation About Death and Mourning
How private experiences of grief and remembrance inform public memory practices and democratic engagement.
Credits and Acknowledgements
Concept, recording & editing: Fernanda Zanuzzi (EUROM) & Xesc Mainzer (JEF Europe)
Graphic design: Mirko & Fernanda
Sound & Music sourced from freesound.org:
- Background Inspirational (loop ver2) by AudioCoffee CC BY-NC 4.0
- Intro Sweep Down Fx by fordtoxic CC0
- Residential Ambience by newlocknew CC0
All episodes were recorded at the Jean Monnet House during the School on European Memories 2025.
The views expressed are those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect those of the supporting institutions.