Podcasts StudioStar

#1 Belgium - de Hoge Rielen, Destelheide en Hanenbos

We are 6 young people who came together in the youth centres De Hoge Rielen and Destelheide in Belgium to make a 'Dinner Table' podcast about freedom of expression. Here, we discuss topics that one would have while eating dinner with family or friends. During an appetizer, main course and dessert, we talk about the concept of 'the male gaze', dress codes in highschool and cultural expression in art museums.

"Where do artists draw the line between the ability to express themselves and the fear of being judged or cancelled by society?"

#2 Finland - Marttinen Youth Centre

In this episode, we, young volunteers from the Marttinen Youth Centre in Finland, talk about how social media affects the right to freedom of expression and how it creates a lack of 'critical thinking'. We also dive deeper into the different implementations of freedom of expression in various European countries, such as Ireland, Finland, Austria and Spain.

"We have been criticizing freedom of speech in these last minutes but we are kinda privileged to even express our feelings and our opinion because in some countries in this world this isn’t even possible."

#3 Romania - FITT Timisoara Youth Centre

We, youngsters from the FITT Timisoara Youth Centre, Romania, discuss the importance of raising your voice during national elections, politicized news and social media, the difference between civic and social education, and finding a balance within freedom of expression.

“If I would have an opinion that was different, ‘modern’, I would have been silenced. It is weird, it’s different, it’s modern, you should only talk about traditional things. (…) I can never feel safe or have the freedom to speak my opinion, my modern opinion, with them because I would be silenced or judged, or you know.”

#4 Luxembourg - Centre CinqFontaines, SNJ Luxembourg

"Freedom does not fall from the sky"

Youngsters from Centre CinqFontaines, SNJ Luxembourg talk about multicultural upbringings, the possibility of a utopia, nurturing our rights in society outside of the legal system, an educational revival and giving women a voice.

#5 Ireland - Kerry Diocesan Youth Service

We, young people from KDYS, Ireland, inteview youngsters about their definition of the human right 'freedom of expression'. Afterwards, we talk to Kevin Raye, founder of Inside-Out Therapy, about the impact of disability or neurodivergence on social perception and limits to expression. We end on a discussion about the educational importance of this human right.

#6 Slovenia - Brežice Youth Centre

We are young volunteers from the Mladinski center Brežice, Slovenia. In this episode we analyse the limitations of expression within the political context of different nationalities.

“In the past it has been a hard time because we were under the Soviet occupation and we had to completely disregard the language, and everything had to be in Russian, the schools, music, poetry, movies, everything. I can’t even imagine how hard that must have been for the people living then.”

#7 Greece - Education and Innovation Youth Center of Florina, Active Youths

We, youngsters from the Education and Innovation Youth Center of Florina, Greece, talk about our childhood and expression, the anonimity of the internet, and the legal consequences of hate speech.

"Freedom of Expression is essential, but has to be valued against respect en diversity of opinions."

#8 Portugal - IPDJ Lisbon Youth Center

We talk from the IPDJ Lisbon Youth Center in Portugal, about LGBTQ rights, state regulation, education and giving young people a voice in an effective way against discrimination and hate speech.

“It struck me the way that things were not so long ago. Portugal is now free of oppression, at least in the sense that who is governing us is not fascist or anything, but it’s not that long ago that freedom of speech was at risk, just non-existent actually. And to be confronted with the threat of those times coming back is really scary.”

#9 Portugal - Braga Youth Centre

In the Braga Youth Center, Portugal, we interview various youngsters and youthworkers about their perception on freedom of expression. We dive deeper into cultural norms and stereotypes, self-censorship, and the relevance of protests

“In Portugal i dont think im oppressed, but if i censor myself it's because i’m not ready or informed enough yet to fight against that situation”

#10 Bulgaria - Plovdiv Youth Center

We, young people from the Plovdiv Youth Center, Bulgaria focus in this episode on the Bulgarian dynamic between national media and political affiliation, Elon Musk and privatized social media restricting opinions, and the difference between free expression and hate speech.

“Because having and sharing our different opinions, human development is kind of dependent on this kind of exchange of different opinions, cause when everyone is thinking the same, how are we going to evolve and to progress if we agree with everything?”