According to the UN, birth rates have been declining globally since 1963, and Spain has the second-lowest fertility rate in the EU. Economic instability, difficulty in accessing housing, an inability to reconcile work and family life, and a lack of support have been pinpointed as deterring factors.

We meet women from different backgrounds to hear their experiences of maternity and the challenges they have overcome. We also explore the emotional side, the importance of community and the loneliness that many mothers experience, and what is being done to address this in the form of community groups and associations.

From raising a child with disabilities to single mothers coping alone, diverse families overcoming stigma, international mothers searching for a community and grandparents who play a key role in childcare, there is no one way to raise a family. We discover the multiple realities of contemporary maternity and gain an insider’s perspective on one of life’s most universal roles.

Reporter Lea Beliaeva Bander joins host Beth Cohen to explore the legal framework for supporting mothers and discuss the realities of modern-day motherhood in Catalonia.

This week, our Catalan phrase is “Mare només n'hi ha una” - “There is only one mother”. It's a traditional expression emphasizing the irreplaceable role of a mother, however, it overlooks adoptive, LGBTQI+, and non-traditional families, where children may have more than one mother, or no mother at all.

This week the 69th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest takes place in Basel, Switzerland. To celebrate, we look back over the history of the competition and explore Catalonia’s involvement, from Catalan language entries to the stories of Catalan artists who’ve graced the Eurovision stage.

We interview Jordi Ramos, a journalist for the Catalan radio station, Rac1. He's an expert on Eurovision and the perfect person to explain, through Catalan eyes, what the song contest is all about.

Reporter Gigi Giulia catches up with Alfred García, the famous singer from El Prat de Llobregat who represented Spain in Eurovision in 2018, performing the duet Tu Canción with his then-girlfriend Amaia Romero. He reflects on his Eurovision experience and how it marked a turning point in his career.

Plus, reporter Lorcan Doherty analyzes Catalonia’s push to become a member of the European Broadcasting Association and compete independently, and host Beth Cohen explores the importance of Eurovision for Catalonia’s LGBTQI+ community.

This week, our Catalan phrase is “Cantar com els àngels" - “To sing like the angels”, a metaphor used to describe someone who sings exceptionally well, with a voice so beautiful and pure that it seems almost heavenly.

On May 8, 1945, the second world war came to end in Europe. 80 years on, we reflect on how Catalonia was affected by the conflict and highlight the remarkable story of Neus Català, an anti-fascist resistance fighter and holocaust survivor from Tarragona.

Reporters Lea Beliaeva Bander and Cillian Shields join host Beth Cohen to discuss the effects of WWII in Catalonia and discover the story of a Catalan woman who dedicated her life to fighting fascism.

We meet Ricard Ribera Llorens, president of the Fundació Neus Català, who recounts Neus Català’s journey from rural Catalonia to the concentration camps of Ravensbrück and Holleischen, to her later years dedicated to the historical memory of Nazi atrocities. Neus played a vital role in the anti-fascist struggle in the French resistance as a Republican exile, carrying messages, participating in the escape networks, providing food to guerrillas and giving the Nazi soldiers false information. Plus Dr. Alejandro Acosta, contemporary historian at the Universidad Carlos III in Madrid, analyzes the ongoing presence of fascist politics in contemporary society and the conditions which favor its’ expansion.

This week, our Catalan phrase is a quote from Neus Català herself: “L’única mort que em preocupa és la mort de la memòria” - “The only death which worries me is the death of memory.”

Pope Francis was known for his humility, compassion and emphasis on social justice. This week we’ll be dedicating an episode of Filling the Sink to the memory of this popular spiritual leader and exploring his relationship with Catalonia.

Catalan News travels to the Vatican to attend the Pope’s funeral and meet some of the 250,000 mourners who have flocked to Rome to pay their last respects, including many Catalan youngsters who attended the Jubilee of Teenagers.

We meet Míriam Díez Bosch, a journalist specializing in religion and founder director of the Blanquerna Observatory on Media, Religion and Culture in Barcelona, who analyzes the Pope’s relationship with Catalonia.

Members of the Catalan church share their stories and discuss the decline in assistance and in religious marriages in recent decades. And reporter Gerard Escaich Folch joins host Beth Cohen to discuss the current religious panorama in Catalonia, including rapid secularization and the diversification of religious beliefs due to immigration.

This week, our Catalan phrase is “Per l'amor de Déu!” - “For the love of God!”, which despite its reference to the divine is used in everyday conversation to express strong emotions.

On April 28, 2025, a massive blackout affected Spain, Portugal, Andorra, and parts of France, leaving over 50 million people without power for up to 12 hours. This week on Filling the Sink, we investigate the causes and find out how it affected people across Catalonia.

Catalan News journalists Gerard Escaich Folch, Lorcan Doherty and Cillian Shields join host Beth Cohen to relive some of the darkest moments of Monday’s blackout. The outage halted trains, disrupted work for many, and cut telecommunications and internet services. We took to the streets of Barcelona to meet some affected people and find out how businesses and city infrastructures coped.

At the time of publishing, the exact cause of the blackout has not yet been confirmed, however, the National Cybersecurity Institute (INCIBE) and the national police are still investigating. The main hypothesis is an operational failure of the Red Eléctrica power grid caused by instability in the system, possibly related to high reliance on renewable energy sources such as solar and wind as opposed to synchronous sources such as gas, nuclear, or hydroelectric energy. We analyze the government response and political fallout, as well as discuss how citizens should prepare for possible future events on this scale.

This week, our Catalan phrase is “Estar com un llum” - which translates as “to be like a light” and means to be unstable or even a bit crazy. It originates from the early days of electricity, when light bulbs used to flicker and fade rather than providing a constant glow.

Sant Jordi is a Catalan cultural celebration held on April 23. It’s Catalonia's Valentine’s Day and it served as the inspiration for World Book Day. Couples, friends, and families give each other gifts of roses and books, commemorating the legendary slaying of the dragon by Sant Jordi - Saint George, in English. In this week’s podcast, we delve into Catalan literature and analyze its translation into English.

Host Beth Cohen sits down with reporter Cillian Shields to discuss the origins of the Sant Jordi celebration and its evolution over time. Cillian meets Peter Bush and Laura McGloughlin, two of the most notable contemporary Catalan-to-English translators, who reflect on what it means to translate a novel and explain their approach to the task. Both review some of their most iconic translations, including the works of Josep Pla, Emili Teixidor, Toni Hill, and Bel Olid, while discussing current trends and emerging voices in Catalan literature. Cillian and Beth wrap up by sharing some of their favorite reads by Catalan authors and exchanging book recommendations for this year’s Sant Jordi.

This week, our Catalan phrase is “Un llibre és com un jardí que es porta a la butxaca,” a proverb of Arabic origin that translates as “A book is like a garden carried in your pocket.” Just like a garden, books are full of life and beautiful details - but small enough to keep with you wherever you go.

At Easter time, bakery windows across Catalonia are filled with the most spectacular chocolate sculptures. These “Mones de Pasqua” are traditionally given to children by their godparents on Easter Monday, a festive day known as "Dilluns de Pasqua" in Catalonia.

Originally simple sweet breads topped with hard-boiled eggs, modern versions have evolved into elaborate chocolate creations, often shaped like animals, cartoon characters, or famous landmarks. The tradition symbolizes the end of Lent and is a joyful family celebration.

To find out more about mones, reporters Gigi Giulia and Lorcan Doherty visit Natcha patisserie in Barcelona. Manager Marta Massagué explains the culinary history of mones and reveals this year’s Easter chocolate trends, including Spiderman, Goku and Barça-themed football mones. Host Beth Cohen explores the history of chocolate and analyzes the recent rise in cocoa prices. Plus, world chocolate master Lluc Crusellas gives us a tour of Eukarya, his workshop and chocolate brand based in Vic, and we indulge in a tasting session of some of the best Easter eggs in Catalonia.

This week our Catalan phrase is “Pensar en la mona de Pasqua”, which means to think about your Easter cake and is used to describe someone who's distracted, absent-minded, or daydreaming.

Urban farming is the practice of growing food in cities instead of in rural areas. In this week’s episode of Filling the Sink we investigate the legislation surrounding urban food production and find out how community gardening projects are benefitting residents in unexpected ways.

Reporter Gigi Giulia visits two of the leading urban farms in Barcelona, ‘The Rooftop Garden’ and ‘L'Hort del Mercat,’ to understand how these initiatives work and meet some of the people involved. Ferran Urgell, from the Municipal Institute for People with Disabilities in Barcelona, explains the benefits that urban gardening can bring to city dwellers and particularly those suffering from intellectual disabilities and mental health issues. And Robert Strauss, an American living in Barcelona, takes us on a tour of his own thriving rooftop garden, which creatively uses all available space.

Leaving the city behind, we head to ‘La Rural de Collserola,’ a cooperative located just outside Barcelona in the Collserola natural park, dedicated to sustainable agriculture, to discover the differences between rural and urban farming and how these two practices can complement each other. Finally, host Beth Cohen examines the environmental impact of urban agriculture and questions the contamination risks involved.

This week our Catalan phrase is “Qui té un hort, té un tresor,” which translates as “He who has a garden, has a treasure.” It is a positive expression for those who appreciate gardening and all the rewards it can bring.