The pandemic has changed the way we think about living, working and travelling. This week, I speak with mobility expert and co-author of recently published book, "Curbing Traffic: the human case for fewer cars in our lives", Melissa Bruntlett. We talk about how more bicycles are just part of the solution to quieter, greener, more inclusive cities and what Dutch urban planning can teach us about how to do this. 

Stork Talks Lite is a new power-packed 10 minute show that provides our listeners with news, views and the best of the city's cultural and hospitality events. This week, we ask how cycling in the city can be made safer for children and those who are not accustomed to the Dutch cycling culture. We also hear more about the long awaited-opening of the Amare theatre and what you can look forward to on Prinsjesdag including the Prince's hat fair and more!    

What does the recent environmental ruling against the Royal Dutch Shell company mean for big business everywhere and will a global minimum tax really stop tax evasion by multinationals? Stork Talks discusses these and other key questions relating to the changing landscape of corporate responsibility with Joseph Wilder Ramsing, Senior Researcher at the Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations (SOMO). 

Intro music provided by: Artlist.io

As the European Football Championships get into full swing, the uncomfortable relationship between homosexuality and professional sports is again in the spotlight. The passing of recent anti-LGBT legislation by Hungary has fuelled the debate further and caused a strong push-back across Europe. Sports, particularly at the highest levels, have traditionally been associated with binary notions of gender. This week Stork Talks to Editor in Chief of the Gay Krant (newspaper), Rick van der Made, about how society needs to re-think traditional narratives about gender and how such a re-think might play out on sports fields around the world.   

Intro music provided by: Artlist.io

Living through a global pandemic has affected all of us in very many different ways. This week, Stork Talks asks how the Arts can help us make sense of this extraordinary experience. We speak with Taiwanese artist in residence in Eindhoven, Pei-Ying Lin, and comedian, painter and sculptor, Michel Van der Sanden from Rotterdam about how their work brings fresh perspectives on viruses, facemasks and many other aspects of pandemic life. We also talk about how audiences are responding - both on and offline to a brave new post-corona world.  

Intro music provided by: Artlist.io

Iranian elections will take place later this month. The size of the country together with its nuclear ambitions have made it a growing source of concern both in the Middle East and the wider world more generally. What do elections in Iran mean for those living there but also for the ongoing negotiations about its nuclear programme? What is the best approach to take with the Islamic regime in power in Iran? Stork Talks this week to Iranian civil society activist, now based here in the Netherlands, Somaye Dehban. 

Intro music provided by: Artlist.io

This week Stork Talks the ancient art of cider making with founder and owner of Cider Cider, Wouter Bijl. Based in Rotterdam, Wouter imports ciders from all over the world including France and the US. He tells us a little about the many and varied forms of ciders and cider making and why cider has yet to find its rightful place alongside beer here in the Netherlands. Cider rules! 

Intro music provided by: Artlist.io

Has the Dutch response to corona been irresponsible and amoral? So says grassroots organisation, Containment Nu, an open collective begun last year by Dutch citizens concerned about the government's decision to pursue herd immunity rather than containment of the virus. Michael Blok and Vicky van der Togt of Containment Nu, tell us why the failure of the government to change their approach in spite of mounting scientific evidence against it and the apparent complicity of the mainstream Dutch media in failing to flag this up, has resulted in thousands of unnecessary corona-related deaths and infections, here in the Netherlands.  

 Intro music provided by: Artlist.io