Radicals who fought for democracy - and made the world a better place

In this episode, Ola travels to Belgrade, the capital of Serbia — to meet Dekadenca, a drag performer whose work blurs the lines between art, politics, and identity. With a theatrical background and love of all things cabaret, Decadenza is a larger-than-life character who performs acting, painting and singing. Today, you’ll hear about how Dekadenca was created, how Yugoslav heritage shapes today’s queer art scene in Belgrade, and how political, or not, drag can be. This podcast is created by the European Association for the Education of Adults. A special thanks to Decadenza for sharing your time with us! Interview carried out by Aleksandra (Ola) Kozyra, narrated by Charlotte Ede. Co-funded by the European Union.

In this episode, Ola travels to Manchester in the North of England to The People’s History Museum, where she speaks with Dr Bob Dinn. We’ll meet key figures who changed the course of history: Emmeline Pankhurst, who led the suffragette movement for women’s right to vote; Thomas Paine, whose revolutionary writings inspired both American and French democracy; and Keir Hardie, a Scottish coal miner turned politician who helped found the Labour Party to fight for the rights of working people. This podcast is created by the European Association for the Education of Adults. Interview carried out by Aleksandra (Ola) Kozyra, narrated by Charlotte Ede. Co-funded by the European Union.

In this episode, Ola travels to Ljubljana to explore the Metelkova autonomous cultural space. Originally constructed as Austro-Hungarian military barracks in the late 19th century, the site has since been reshaped by the interventions of both prominent and emerging contemporary Slovenian artists. True to its open and experimental spirit, Metelkova remains a space of continuous transformation. Metelkova is a living example of how learning can be self-directed, community-driven, and rooted in real-world experimentation. It pulses with creativity, contradiction, and the echoes of a complex past. Whether you’re attending a workshop, engaging in a late-night debate, or simply observing how a grassroots cultural space survives and thrives, Metelkova reminds us that some of the most meaningful learning happens where structure ends—and imagination begins. This podcast is created by the European Association for the Education of Adults. Interview carried out by Aleksandra (Ola) Kozyra, narrated by Charlotte Ede. Co-funded by the European Union.

Our final webinar explored the role of policy and research in driving transformative learning and sustainable change. Expert speakers from the green movement and adult education organisations discussed how policy and research initiatives can support and amplify the impact of transformative learning practices. Moderator: Davide Muraro, European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA) Speakers: Ana Margarida Esteves, CEI-Iscte Centre for International Studies, Portugal Simone Schirru, RREUSE – international network for social enterprises active in the circular economy, Belgium Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.

We explored the inspiring work of grassroots initiatives actively contributing to the green transition. We heard from representatives of these initiatives, learning how they involve citizens in their activities and what are their successes and challenges. We discussed the informal learning experiences the grassroots initiatives are facilitating, and what adult education organisations could learn from them. Moderator: Laura Kaestele, ECOLISE, European Network for Community-Led Initiatives on Climate Change and Sustainability Speakers: Jonne Nurmela, Dodo, Finland, Mara Angelidou, InCommOn, Greece Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.

In this session, we delved into innovative educational practices for promoting green transition. Our invited three speakers shared their expertise, while the moderator guided the discussion on how these practices can be implemented in adult education. Moderator: Aleksandra Kozyra, European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA) Speakers: Agnieszka Borek, NGO Trainers’ Association (sTOP), Poland Chris Evans, Himalayan Permaculture Centre, UK Grigoris Protsonis , A.S.T.O, Greece Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.

[REUPLOAD] “The future belongs to all of us,” says Maarten Okkersen at the Museon Omniversum in the Hague. As we take a break from the current season, we revisit an older episode in which we talk about how museums can help make sense of the changing world and encourage agency and empathy. We also discuss what interactivity really means, and why sometimes it’s useful to lose the technology. In the meantime, we visit the museum’s One Planet exhibition, where we find out what our phones are made of and try to save the coral reef.

[REUPLOAD] What if you could design and build your community space - no matter your background or skills? We take a break from our current season and revisit our older episode in which we meet with Maria Glionna, an architect, educator and learner, who tells us about participatory architecture as a practice of empowerment. We also discuss learning as a way of connecting to your own body, emotions and nature, and Maria’s personal and professional journey: from Italy through the UK to Belgium, and from traditional to community-based architecture. While talking, we visit a community centre in Brussels, where we take a look into Maria’s workshop and learn how to make a house out of clay (and glitter).

Could tango take over your life? Boris Maidanik, a tango teacher, tells us about his experience of learning to dance tango in his hometown - Buenos Aires, and what it's like when the whole room stops to a rhythm of a dance. He also shares what migration across different European countries has brought him, and why tango isn't about learning the steps. We also speak to Ana, a tango learner who reflects on why learning to dance can help you bury an image of yourself - or to reconfirm who you are. In the meantime, we visit a tango practice in Belgrade.

How many mothers does it take to raise a child? And what does polymaternalism actually mean? In this episode, we take a look at a winter school course on Feminism and Motherhood at the University of Antwerp. We talk to learners of the course, both of whom are researchers in the fields of motherhood as well as the organiser of the course. We delve into defining the term of polymaternalism and how becoming a mother is a process of learning and discovery. Check out the episode to hear more from Professor Ariadna Ayala Rubio, Dr Gemma McKenzie and Joke Struyf.