Problems with traceability of the EU's Covid Recovery Fund is one of the issues Tony Murphy discusses, with concern, on this show. Irishman Tony Murphy is at the helm of the EU financial watchdog, as President of the European Court of Auditors. The European Court of Auditors is one of the seven EU institutions and it’s based in Luxembourg. With nearly 1000 staff members, their role is to scrutinise the way in which EU money is spent; make it transparent, traceable and accountable. Plus, does the...
Nov 16, 2024•1 hr 6 min
Today we discuss the whole energy life cycle of a home and how, perhaps in the future, we should consider a ‘carbon-wallet’ for our lives, which includes where we live and its own carbon costs. "Build nothing, build less, build efficiently, build with less impact" Architects have to think of many things. Resource-efficient designs will help reduce the need for new construction and demolition. In a world facing resource scarcity, the way in which materials are sourced and buildings are constructe...
Nov 09, 2024•56 min
Coping with blindness, then paralysis, to showing us that we can achieve more than we thought possible. Blindness Mark Pollock started losing his sight from childhood, culminating in blindness just before his finals at Trinity College Dublin in 1998. Mark’s blindness is tied to the date of the Good Friday Agreement being signed on 10 April 1998 in Northern Ireland. He speaks of the uncertain years of autopilot after this diagnosis, the five stages of grief and the sense of being left behind as h...
Nov 02, 2024•1 hr 7 min
Colleagues Vanessa Phelan and Sarah Tapp join Lisa to discuss a bookshop book and more besides. The first shocking fact about this month‘s Book Club is that we found a communal date after one try. For three working women, with children and other jobs, this is rather remarkable. We start our discussions by talking about Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-Reum. And, as always, there is a conversation full of books to follow. Tune in to The Lisa Burke Show on Today Radio Saturdays at 1...
Oct 25, 2024
Lisa discusses the significance of the "minority vote," swing states, and other topics that will impact the U.S. elections coming up in November. Dr. Carolyn Jefferson-Jenkins, Retired Ambassador Dr. Carlo Krieger, and U.S. Diplomat Meghan Dean share their thoughts on this week's show. Dr. Carolyn Jefferson-Jenkins observed the importance of having the right to vote in childhood, watching her Grandmother pick cotton in the morning and teach school in the afternoon so that people could learn how ...
Oct 12, 2024
Joining Lisa and Sasha in the Today Radio studios are the planners of Differdange's Fashion Week Luxembourg, sneaker savvy Today Radio presenter Steven Miller, and Laura da Silva – a fashion-forward nurse, tattoo artist and advocate for breast cancer support and awareness. Starting with a review of the week’s global news with Sasha Kehoe, we discuss: US Election Just one month away and Melania Trump has declared her support for a woman’s right to control her own body, including abortion. https:/...
Oct 05, 2024•56 min
Thoughts of a massage with four hands (two people) and 8–9 litres of oil sounds like utter bliss to me. And more, from Ayurveda Parkschlösschen. Our roundup of the week’s news, with Sasha Kehoe, covers: - Pope Francis’s visit to Luxembourg on such a wet Thursday and the much-noted coffee-shop visit - Upcoming Austrian elections with a potential real far-right win - Former Prime Minister and President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker addressing the ongoing rumours of his alleged alc...
Sep 28, 2024•1 hr 12 min
Career planning, as a student or an adult; plus the upcoming Science Slam in Luxembourg. Arnit Dey has two more years of High School left before he and his cohort of global students have to decide what to study, where to go and what to do with the first part of the rest of their adult lives. Arnit himself was born in the UAE to an Indian family and now lives in Luxembourg. He feels that the upcoming decisions need to be spoken about more at this important juncture in life, which conflates educat...
Sep 13, 2024•55 min
Lisa, Sarah, and Vanessa gather in the Today Radio studio for Book Club's third instalment, sharing their very favourite summer reads - and they'd love to know yours! This week's show is a deep chat on the books we've loved this summer. I'm joined by my colleagues Sarah Tapp and Vanessa Phelan. Here are some of the books we talk about: When the Coffee gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi Ann Patchett - all of her books! It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover Do let us know what books you enjoy and if the...
Sep 07, 2024•59 min
British Ambassador Thomas opens up about her life - describing an unusual path towards a successful career in diplomacy, from early struggles with sexual harassment to her recent battle with thyroid cancer. Fleur Thomas was appointed Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg on 21 April 2021. Fleur Thomas's journey is a testament to resilience, determination, and the power of diversity. Starting her career as a chartered surveyor, she faced sexual harassment from senior colleague...
Aug 31, 2024•42 min
From one News Director to another – after 32 years of news journalism, Guy Weber hands over to Luc Marteling, the new News Director of RTL. Guy Weber started his career in radio. After a brief stint in PR for the steel works, he returned to RTL Television in June 1994 as a journalist. In 2017, he became Editor-In-Chief of the television division and then News Director. He retired in June of this year. Luc Marteling has returned to RTL where he worked from 2008 to 2019. He left to become Director...
Aug 23, 2024•58 min
The ‘Harmony Across Borders’ international choral competition is now open for entry, a tremendous opportunity for amateur choirs to perform female composers’ work in Cambridge and Ely in July 2026. Anyone who knows me knows that I love music, and that I’ve been singing in choirs most of my life. When I move country, one of the first things I research are choirs. They’re an instant ‘in’ to a community, who share a universal passion for music making and making of music as a shared experience beyon...
Aug 17, 2024•24 min
Facing the end of life, often away from family if we are ex-pats, means we lean on others for support. Omega 90 is one such place, and through this conversation we discuss end of life preparation for ourselves and our loved ones. My guests this week are: - Claire Jordan, who cared for a friend to the end, with the support of Omega house - Nancy Burg, a volunteer at Omega 90 - Maurizio Cortesi, psychologist and volunteer - Fabian Weiser, Finance and Administrative Director at Omega 90 Palliative ...
Aug 04, 2024•54 min
Rotary Hearts fundraise for childhood cancer and youth mental health issues. Rotary Hearts fundraise for childhood cancer and youth mental health issues. My guests this week are: Anne Goeres, Director Luxembourg Foundation for Children with cancer, Fondatioun Kriibskrank Kanner Vinciane Grevesse – Governor-Elect of Rotary Club's District 2160 for 2024-2025 Anastasia Vanden Berghe - President of Rotary Club Luxembourg Hearts for 2024-2025 Pol Bertems - Project Manager at Arcus asbl. Rotary Club A...
Jul 27, 2024•55 min
Tom Weber was diagnosed as an adult with autism. We discuss his story, the resources available for people with autism in Luxembourg — along with information for the caregivers who support loved ones with autism. My guests this week are: - Tom Weber, English - German translator, and published author - Sabine Angelsen, Director CTSA, Centre pour enfants et jeunes présentant un trouble du spectre de l’autisme - Anne Wagner, CTSA - psychologist - Nathalie Oberweis, Head of Learning & Development...
Jul 20, 2024•1 hr 4 min
In part II of our Olympics special, we meet more of the Olympic entourage supporting Luxembourg's athletes in Paris this summer, plus more sport experts. - Raymond Conzemius - Chef de mission of Team Lëtzebuerg for the Olympic Games in Paris 2024, Technical Sports Director at COSL - Christophe Ley - Associate Professor of Applied Statistics at the University of Luxembourg - Aude Aguilaniu - Physiotherapist, ex elite athlete (Ski Cross) - Max Englaro - Strength & Conditioning, & Rehab Coa...
Jul 13, 2024•1 hr 22 min
"Working Hard is a Talent in itself" says Laurent Carol, Deputy Technical Director of the Luxembourg Olympic and Sport Committee, and former Olympic swimmer. In the first of two shows on the Olympics, my guests this week are: - Laurent Carnol - Deputy Technical Director, Luxembourg Olympic and Sport Committee; Comité Olympique et Sportif Luxembourgeois (COSL), former Olympic swimmer - Dr Yves Dominicy - Sport Statistician - Loïc Hoscheit - ALAD Director - anti-doping agency Luxembour - Marie Mul...
Jul 06, 2024•59 min
Steve Killelea, founder of the Institute of Economics and Peace, talks about this year's Global Peace Index. On this week’s episode is the Australian entrepreneur Steve Killelea, founder of the Institute of Economics and Peace (IEP), and the first recipient of Luxembourg’s Outstanding Technology for Peace award in 2016. Steve gave the keynote speech on this year's Global Peace Index at the Luxembourg Peace Prize in MUDAM in June. Steve created the software company IR in 1988 which went on to be ...
Jul 05, 2024•36 min
Three phenomenal women in space share their stories with us this weekend, in honour of Asteroid Day — a UN-recognised initiative raising awareness about the potential impacts, and opportunities, of these marvels of astronomy. Asteroid Day takes place on 30 June, the anniversary of the Tunguska event in 1908 where a meteor destroyed a landmass of about 2,150 km2 (a little smaller than the landmass of Luxembourg) of forest in Siberia, Russia. Asteroid Day was co-founded in 2014 by physicist Stephe...
Jun 29, 2024•57 min
Anyone living in Luxembourg will have seen the Nation Branding ‘Let's Make it Happen’, but where did this come from, and what does it stand for? My guests this week are Béryl Koltz - Head of Luxembourg Brand Image Promotion Sarah Pitt - Luxembourg for Tourism Lena Mårtensson - Luxinnovation Hélène Jacuszin - Research Luxembourg Catherine Decker - Ministry of Culture, KulturLX & UNESCO Kamel Amroune - Co-Founder of Nexus2050, CEO of The Dots Cécilia Zunt Radot - Director of LËT'Z Arles - Luxe...
Jun 22, 2024•59 min
Proactive wellbeing from school to adulthood – you're at your best when you work with your character strengths. Frederika Roberts, known as "The Happiness Speaker", brings the science of wellbeing to life through applied positive psychology. Her background as a teacher served to launch her work into whole school wellbeing, for both students and teachers. The idea is to work with character strengths for wellbeing. Her method helps children (and adults) learn the vocabulary necessary to discover o...
Jun 15, 2024•58 min
Still slightly taboo in the workplace, and still often unrecognised by medical professionals, perimenopause is a long and difficult stage of life for many women. Lisa and Sasha are joined in the Today Radio studio by a dream team of guests to discuss this long-overdue topic — including a menopause coach, a preventative health entrepreneur, a medical and health management specialist in menopause, as well as a sexologist and perimenopause specialist. Perimenopause and menopause are stages of a wom...
Jun 08, 2024•1 hr 23 min
For next week's World Environment Day, Lisa's guests discuss the state of the climate today, myriad climate policy boards, and the inclusion of the youth voice. There is an incredible array of resources and opportunities for young people in Luxembourg on the subject and countless organisations working together on the issue — but is it enough? We have all noticed how wet this spring has been. Conversation in my circles have noted the long-term predictions of climate change on our weather patterns...
Jun 01, 2024•56 min
Prof. Marginson from Oxford University visited Luxembourg this week and spoke with Lisa at length on a variety of topics around education and geopolitics. Sasha Kehoe kicks off the show with the weekly reflection of global news stories. Prof. Marginson joins us with his own perspectives having lived in the U.K. for the last decade, but also having visited New Caledonia, French territory, which is relatively close to his homeland of Australia (closer than France anyhow). Simon Marginson is Profes...
May 26, 2024•1 hr 24 min
The Echternach Hopping Procession, on the UNESCO Intangible World Heritage list, celebrates the life of St. Willibrord. On today's show, Lisa is joined by guests from Ireland, the UK and Luxembourg — to discuss the life of St. Willibrord via his links with these three countries. The Echternach Hopping Procession, on the UNESCO Intangible World Heritage list, celebrates the life of St. Willibrord. On today's show, Lisa is joined by guests from Ireland, the UK and Luxembourg — to discuss the life ...
May 25, 2024•1 hr 7 min
Join us as we jump into another discussion about books and culture, with Vanessa Phelan, Sarah Tapp and Sasha Kehoe. Hello and welcome to book show #2 with Vanessa Phelan and Sarah Tapp. This week Sasha Kehoe also joins us and we begin with a reflection of some of the news stories of the week. As we move to books, I start with a little quiz of words relating to books and book lovers. Are you a ‘librocubicularist’ for instance? (Someone who loves to read in bed). Now onto books with my ‘book boso...
May 18, 2024•1 hr 28 min
Europe is aging, sagging in its efficiency, falling behind. How can we fix this? Philippe-Emmanuel Partsch comes from a long line of Law Professors, who were forced to move country due to the changing political climate of Europe through the last century. He was raised knowing the fragility of Europe, alongside its potential. Philippe-Emmanuel is a lawyer who has served at the European Court of Justice, private practice now at Arendt, university teaching and research. With over thirty years of wo...
May 10, 2024•1 hr 22 min
Europe for Europe – a wonderful opportunity for 18–23-year-olds to discover the EU together. Ahead of Europe Day on 9 May, and the upcoming European elections, 6-9 June, my shows this week and next will have a distinctly European flavour. To start with, Sasha is back with a chat about recent world news. Anne Calteux, Representative of the EU Commission to Luxembourg, is entering a very busy period of work, sharing her passion and knowledge for the European Union. Anne is effectively the Commissi...
May 03, 2024•58 min
This week, 1 May, marks 20 years of the rapid expansion of the EU with the accession of many former Soviet satellite states. Dr. Laima Andrikiené reflects on her role in the history of Lithuania's transformation and its current geopolitical challenges within the EU. While a well renowned Lithuanian choir are coming to Luxembourg. 20 years ago, the European Union grew bigger as, on 1 May 2004, the citizens of Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia...
May 03, 2024•1 hr 13 min
From soft diplomacy to block voting, Luxembourg's last entrant in 1993 to Tali, this show is full of Eurovision fun & folklore before the big day in May! Eurovision! We’re almost there! Eurovision 2024 will take place in Malmö, Sweden, on 11 May with semi-finals on 7 and 9 May. It is the third time that Malmö has hosted the Eurovision Song Contest following 1992 and 2013 editions, and the seventh for Sweden. It’s happening in Sweden of course because of Loreen’s win in Liverpool in 2023. Tal...
Apr 19, 2024•1 hr 22 min
