De Balie Podcast

With the global rise of the far-right, women’s rights are increasingly under threat. French author Lauren Bastide remains hopeful: feminism can save the world, but only as a revolutionary project that seeks to improve society at all levels, for everyone.Together with migrants and people from the LGBTQ+-community, women are among the first to suffer when a society takes an autocratic turn. Abortion rights in the United States are being undermined; in Hungary, women are encouraged through tax incentives to have more children – policy measures expressing the autocratic conviction that a woman’s primary roles are those of mother and wife.How can feminism oppose these tendencies? And what should feminism look like? French author and journalist Lauren Bastide argues that feminism should not be about corporate slogans and individual success stories, but rather be grounded in global solidarity. In this programme, we’ll explore how feminist values can build new alliances across borders. What solutions does feminism ro

De ochtendkrant openslaan of om stipt acht uur het nieuws aanzetten? Dat is voor jongeren verleden tijd. Het grootste deel van de jongeren vindt hun nieuws online. Vaak bij alternatieve media als instagramkanaal als CestMocro. Een uitdaging voor journalistieke organisaties. Hoe bereik je een generatie die het traditionele nieuws de rug toekeert? In samenwerking met UNESCO organiseert De Balie een gesprek over de nieuwshouding van de jongeren. Want wat zijn de gevaren? En hoe zorgen journalistieke organisaties ervoor dat de jongeren niet afhaken? Deze avond gaan we in gesprek met zowel de jongeren als de nieuwsorganisatie. Wat werkt er wel en wat werkt er niet?Programmamaker Sylvia Vegter gaat in gesprek met Aelaf Mohammed (Lid Unesco Jongerencommissie), Tobya Monté (Lid Unesco Jongerencommissie), Edmund Lauf (Senior onderzoeker Commissariaat voor de Media), Bruce Mutsvairo (Hoogleraar Media, Politics & Global South Universiteit Utrecht), Kelly van Hal (Adjunct-hoofdredacteur regionale dagbladen Media

‘You can kill the messenger, but not the message’ is the slogan of news platform Forbidden Stories. We speak with founder Laurent Richard about the opportunities and challenges technology brings when working in the danger zone.107 journalists were killed during their work last year. Very often because of their work. With his organisation Forbidden Stories, French journalist Laurent Richard completes the news stories of journalists who were murdered. Under the slogan ‘you can kill the messenger, but not the message’, Forbidden Stories published about forced labour in Turkmenistan, captagon trafficking in Syria and deforestation in Cambodia.Before Forbidden Stories, Richard was involved with the Pentagon Papers, a project that published millions of documents that exposed offshore financial constructions.Technology helps Richard in his investigative journalism, but comes with its own dangers. How do you communicate safely with your sources? How do you verify your facts online? And how do you

Nieuwe woonwijken die niet aangesloten kunnen worden op het stroomnet, bedrijven die met honderden op de wachtlijst staan, huishoudens die in het donker komen te zitten. Netbeheerders waarschuwen dat vanaf volgend jaar het stroomnet overbelast raakt en de vraag niet meer aankan. Hoe heeft het zover kunnen komen? En hoeveel tijd hebben we nog voor de oplossingen?We onderzoeken de knelpunten rondom netcongestie. We wekken steeds meer groene stroom op, maar de infrastructuur om die stroom van a naar b te vervoeren schiet ernstig tekort. Terwijl de vraag naar stroom alleen maar zal groeien. Bij wie ligt de sleutel voor de oplossing? Netbeheerders, de overheid, bedrijven of toch wijzelf, de consumenten? Hoeveel zin heeft het om op piekmomenten je wasmachine even niet te laten draaien?In gesprek met Frank Westhoek (Manager Klant & Congestie bij TenneT), Oemar Kanhai (Manager Directie Toezicht Energie bij Autoriteit Consument & Markt (ACM)), Bart van der Laan (Programmamanager Flexibel energie

What if giving up isn’t a failure, but a form of resistance? Arnon Grunberg meets the British writer and psychoanalyst Adam Phillips. Together they talk about letting go of control, ambition and certainty.Determination is often lauded as a virtue. But determined to do what? Adam Phillips and Arnon Grunberg explore how stepping away from expectations can bring freedom. In a world that prizes success and perseverance, can letting go open the door to new forms of autonomy and creativity — and, with it, challenge power?About: Adam Philips (1954) is a renowned psychoanalyst and essayist. He is the author of numerous books, including Missing Out: In Praise of the Unlived Life, On Wanting to Change, and Attention Seeking. His works are known for bringing psychoanalysis into conversations about literature, art, and everyday life. In his latest book, On Giving Up, Phillips continues to explore the intricacies of human emotion and self-awareness.Arnon Grunberg meets is a series of conversations

What role does art play in times of war? Is it a tool of resistance, a witness to destruction, or a space for imagining the future? War transforms the conditions of making, sharing, and experiencing art. It forces new responsibilities onto artists but also opens unexpected freedoms. In the midst of destruction, creative work becomes a form of survival, memory, and resistance.Throughout history, war has shaped and been shaped by art. In moments of violence and turmoil, artists confront devastation, mourn loss, challenge dominant narratives, and preserve fragments of threatened cultures. Their work raises urgent questions – can art intervene in the course of war? Does it document reality or create its own truths? And how does conflict alter the very language and purpose of artistic creation?This conversation will bring together artists from different cultural backgrounds sharing their experiences and perspectives.About the speakersTetyana Ogarkova (1979) is a Ukrainian writer, journalist, and essayist whos

Crimea has been a starting point of the Russian war against Ukraine. By dissecting the tumultuous history of Crimea, Cambridge-scholar Rory Finnin argues why returning Crimea to Ukrainian controle is the only path to a sustainable peace.The Russian war against Ukraine began in 2014 with the appearance of mysterious ‘little green men’ – masked, unmarked soldiers – who suddenly took over Crimea. Now, the Americans seem willing to simply give up Crimea in negotiations with Russia. But history shows us that a Russian Crimea has no future. The idea of a ‘Russian Crimea’ is a colonial phantasm enforced by decades of suppression and ethnic cleansing of the Crimean Tatars.Renowned British scholar Rory Finnin, expert on Ukrainian history, shows how a peace deal that makes Crimea Russian territory would lay the foundation for a future of further military escalation from the Kremlin. To understand why that is, we need to understand the history, culture and geography of the contested peninsula. Together with Alim Aliev,&

How to live through the age of collapse? Science writer and broadcaster Gaia Vince (Nomad Century, Adventures in the Anthropocene) explores how the climate crisis is uprooting us and reshaping our planet—fueling migration, food insecurity, and conflict over land and resources. Together with political scientist and writer Kiza Magendane.As the planet warms and swathes of land become uninhabitable, as fertile land disappears, food systems falter, millions are forced to move. In this era of cascading ecological and social shifts, Vince argues for radical rethinking: of how we grow food, how we share space, and how we treat people on the move.In Nomad Century, Vince argues that migration is not the crisis itself – but a rational, necessary response to it. She connects environmental collapse with the weaponization of essential resources, warning that without coordinated action, scarcity could deepen global divisions. In an era of rising authoritarianism, Europe’s apathy and hardened borders risk becoming tool

How are the tech oligarchs shaping our democracies? In conversation with former EU-parliament member Marietje Schaake and journalist Ece Temelkuran.In his farewell speech, President Biden warned of a ‘tech-industrial complex’ and an ‘oligarchy of extreme wealth’ threatening democracy. His successor highlighted this very point by placing tech oligarchs like Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Tim Cook in the front row during his inauguration speech.Once celebrated as visionary enterprises driving progress and innovation, tech companies have become questionable forces in our democracies. From data privacy scandals to monopolistic practices and spreading misinformation on a wide scale, Big Tech has undermined public trust while molding the very fabric of our democracies.Together with former EU-parliament member Marietje Schaake, author of The Tech Coup, and journalist Ece Temelkuran, author of How to Lose a Country, we investigate the position of tech companies in our democracies. How are the tec

Pulitzer prize-winning author Anne Applebaum and Ukrainian philosopher Volodymyr Yermolenko engage in conversation about Ukraine’s past, present and future. With an introduction from Ukrainian writer Andrey Kurkov.‘The bad guys are winning’, Anne Applebaum wrote in an essay in The Atlantic in 2021. If the twentieth century was about the rise of liberal democracy, the twentieth-first sofar has been about the opposite. The fight for democracy is nowhere as pressing as in Ukraine. Anne Applebaum and Ukrainian philosopher and writer Volodymyr Yermolenko discuss Ukraine’s ongoing struggle for freedom, and the stakes for the future – not just for Ukraine, but also for democracy in Europe. About the speakers:Anne Applebaum (1964) is a historian and writer specializing in Eastern European and Soviet history. She has written several award-winning books, including Gulag: A History, which won the Pulitzer Prize, and her latest Autocracy, Inc. The Dictators Who Want to Run the World. Applebaum is

Brainwash Festival x De Balie x TivoliVredenburg - Historian, journalist, and Pulitzer Prize winner Anne Applebaum dissects modern dictatorship. What threat do the growing autocracies pose?When thinking of a dictator, one often imagines a malicious villain – someone we know from an action movie. Historian, journalist, and Pulitzer Prize winner Anne Applebaum challenges this image. In her latest book Autocracy, Inc., she describes how autocratic regimes are intertwined in intricate, international networks with the primary goal of self-enrichment. Autocrats are doing more business with each other than ever before, protecting each other and working together to destabilize the democratic order. What threat do these modern dictatorial networks pose?About the collaboration: This Brainwash Special with Anne Applebaum is a collaboration between De Balie, TivoliVredenburg, and Brainwash Festival, and is part of the Forum on European Culture 2025 in Amsterdam.About Anne Applebaum: Anne Applebaum (1964) i

How does movement, across borders and social class, shape one’s sense of belonging? A conversation with writers Tash Aw and Radna Fabias about social change, generational gaps and the legacy of colonialism.In his new book The South, Aw explores the radical political and societal changes that swept through Asia in the 1990s, as seen through the eyes of a Malaysian family. He delves into themes such as class, economic instability, and the search for (queer) identity. Aw captures the painful transformation of post-colonial societies, marked by the tension between tradition and modernity, and the conflict between personal desire and collective duty. How do cultural expectations shape the journey toward personal identity in a rapidly changing society?Tash Aw (1971) is a writer and essayist. He grew up in Malaysia, left for England in his teens to study law and is currently lives in Paris. He is the author of six books, including The Harmony Silk Factory (2005) and Five Star Billionaire (20

Een meerderheid van de Nederlanders – 58 procent – vindt dat we de plicht hebben om ‘echte vluchtelingen’ op te vangen. Maar die stemmen klinken minder luid in een gepolariseerd debat. Hoe ben je solidair, wanneer de politiek het laat afweten?Wereldwijd escaleren oorlogen steeds verder – zoals in Soedan, Gaza en de Democratische Republiek Congo – waardoor mensen gedwongen worden op de vlucht te slaan, als dat al lukt. Door ondermijning van de internationale rechtsorde lijken vrede en rechtvaardigheid verder uit zicht te raken, en wereldwijd bezuinigen overheden op internationale ontwikkelingsorganisaties. Dit alles zorgt ervoor dat er de komende jaren alleen maar meer vluchtelingen komen. Toch wordt het moeilijker, in plaats van makkelijker om asiel aan te vragen in Nederland en andere westerse landen.Wat moet er gebeuren nu de politieke steun voor humanitaire hulp wegvalt? En wat betekent het om solidair te zijn met mensen op de vlucht in een tijd van politieke verharding?In dit programma onderzoeken we

Nadia de Vries groeide op in dorpen in de IJmond en keek vanuit haar kinderkamer uit op de torens van de hoogovens. Deze dorpen en haar bewoners vormen het decor van haar nieuwe roman Overgave op commando. Programmamaker Katarina Schul gaat in gesprek met De Vries. Wat kenmerkt haar als schrijver? Wie zijn de personen waar ze over schrijft? En hoe ontworstel je je van de klassenverschillen?Nadia de Vries (Heemskerk 1991) is schrijver, dichter en cultuurwetenschapper. Haar debuutroman De bakvis (2022) stond op de longlist van de Libris Literatuur Prijs en de Boekenbon Literatuurprijs. Eerder schreef ze het autobiografische Kleinzeer (2019) en Engelstalige poëziebundels. In 2020 werd ze door NRC uitgroepen tot een van literaire talenten van dat jaar. In datzelfde jaar promoveerde ze aan de Universiteit van Amsterdam als cultuurwetenschapper.In deze wekelijkse talkshow van De Balie interviewen programmamakers de makers die hen inspireren. Van cabaretiers tot schrijvers en

Jewher Ilham advocates for the end of Uyghur forced labour, carried out in camps like the one where her father is detained. How to encourage governments, companies and individuals to be aware of the origin of their products? With human rights activist Jewher Ilham, Political secretary of Dutch Uyghur Human Rights Foundation (DUHRF) Ahmedjan Kasim, journalist with Follow the Money Yara van Heugten and researcher for SOMO David Ollivier de Leth.‘Did my imprisoned father, cousin or uncle make this shirt?’ This is a question Jewher Ilham often asks herself when holding a piece of clothing. Jewher Ilham saw her father for the last time on 2 February 2013 at Beijing International Airport. Right before they would take a flight to the United States. Ilham Tohti was arrested in 2014 and has since been sentenced to life in prison. Jewher hasn’t heard of her father since 2017 and doesn’t even know if he is still alive.Almost one fifth of all cotton comes from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, often handpicked

Meet Trajall Harrell, an American groundbreaking choreographer, and this year’s Holland Festival associate artist. By combining and adapting postmodern dance, voguing, the Japanese dance-theatre form butoh, runaway fashion and visuals arts, Harrell has created a one-of-a-kind oeuvre over the last 20 years. Looking at sources of inspiration and his own work, moderator Maarten van Hinte will speak with Trajall Harrell about pushing the boundaries of modern dance traditions, taking risks as a renowned artist, and building new connections with your audience."I always try and apply to my work something that Toni Morrison once said: If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it." - Trajal HarellTrajall Harrell (Douglas, Georgia, 1973) is one of the major contemporary choreographer interntionally. With universal human emotions and themes like interconnection, tragedy, tenderness and vulnerability, Harrell’s pieces often move audiences on a deeply perso

Stijgend water blijkt niet alleen een bedreiging, maar ook een kans voor landschappelijke vernieuwing. Boeren kunnen bondgenoten worden in het herstel van de natuur. Vergrijzing biedt ruimte biedt voor een nieuwe manier van samen leven en samen wonen.Van wijk tot waterkering, van Culemborg tot Holwerd, van dijk tot veld, van akker tot huis: wat krijgen de pioniers voor elkaar? En waar komen we uit als we van hen leren? Welk nieuw land doemt er vanavond voor onze ogen op? We ontmoeten journalist en geograaf Floor Milikowski, filosoof en historicus Philipp Blom, oprichter van Agricycling Pieter van der Valk, wethouder van Culemborg Monica Wichger, Projectleider Maaspark Ooijen Wanssum Keesjan van den Herik en Architect en directeur van Zijdekwartier Architecten Ianthe Mantingh. Met moderator Kees Foekema.In haar nieuwste boek De contouren van een nieuw land gaat Floor Milikowski op zoek naar de verhalen van vernieuwers die afwijken van de gebaande paden en met lef een richting inslaan. Wat blijkt? Het

Maurits de Bruijn ontvangt een uitnodiging van een ngo om af te reizen naar Israël en Palestina. Hij aarzelt – ooit nam hij zich voor nooit meer voet op Israëlische bodem te zetten. Toch besluit hij de confrontatie aan te gaan, vastberaden om de werkelijkheid van dichtbij te ervaren in plaats van via schermen, zoals sinds 7 oktober 2023 het geval is geweest.Wat betekent het voor hem, als Joodse man, om terug te keren naar Israël en daarover te schrijven? Wat ontdekt hij over zijn eigen geschiedenis, en hoe verhoudt hij zich tot het verleden van zijn Joodse grootouders, die in Sobibor werden vermoord? Geweten borduurt voor op De Bruijns eerdere boek Ook mijn Holocaust (2020), en stelt de vraag: hoe schrijf je over iets dat zo allesomvattend is, en hoe breng je het terug tot menselijke proporties?Maurits de Bruijn (1984) is redacteur bij kunsttijdschrift Mister Motley en maakte samen met Randy Vermeulen de podcast En niemand bleef onaangeraakt. Eerder schreef hij ond

Throughout the world, migration has become the issue on which elections are decided. Why? And what does that tell us about ourselves? With Hiroshi Motomura, Matthew Longo, Wafa Al Ali, Nanda Oudejans en Martijn Stronks.While the EU continually breaks human rights to stop migrants from reaching Europe, the US is plunging itself into a constitutional crisis over a wrongfully deported migrant that is now detained in a Salvadorian prison.Migration is such a loaded subject, that it is difficult to see what an ethical migration policy could and should actually look like. Tonight, we discuss migration and migration policy, national borders and nationalist politics, and the toxic stranglehold they have on each other.About the speakers:Hiroshi Motomura is world renowned migration scholar, working at the UCLA School of Law. In his new book Borders and belonging, he offers a nuanced take on the very complex issue of migration. Starting with the national border as a concept, Motomura asks fundamental quest

Amidst the profound social change and political turmoil of post-war Japan, a bold generation of avant-garde artists and photographers emerged in the 1960s, forever transforming the global art landscape. Japanese Avant-Garde Pioneers' director Amélie Ravalec attended the Dutch premiere at De Balie in Amsterdam to talk about the film with our cinema curator Stefan Malešević. Watch the film screening of Japanese Avant-Garde Pioneers until June 23, exclusively at De Balie.The 1960s era in Japan was a time of profound social change, political unrest and student protests. The turbulent times of the postwar era inspired an artistic explosion in Japan, with the emergence of a revolutionary scene of avant-garde artists who pioneered many disciplines: experimental and erotic photography, “Angura” theatre and underground street performances, apocalyptic Butoh dance, surreal illustrations and seminal graphic design.A new aesthetic of photography was born: “Are, Bure, Boke” (rough, dark and out of focus), pioneered by Mor