Podcasts
Denmark’s EU Presidency 2025: Conversation with Danish Ambassador to Ireland - CATALYZE Ep 6
Episode: 6
Description: Ambassador Lars Thuesen, Denmark’s Ambassador to Ireland, joins Dr Niels Kirst to discuss Denmark’s 2025 Presidency of the Council of the European Union. They explore Copenhagen’s priorities under the motto “A strong Europe in a changing world,” addressing enlargement, Ukraine, hybrid threats, and Europe’s long-term resilience in an age of overlapping crises. The conversation also reflects on the shared experiences of smaller EU Member States — Denmark and Ireland — as bridges in European politics.
Host: Dr. Niels Kirst
Date: 26th November 2025
The European Convention on Human Rights: Reform, Reality and Myths - CATALYZE Ep 5
Episode: 5
Description: Since Reykjavik summit in 2023, debate around European Convention on Human Rights has re-emerged at the centre of European politics. In this episode, Dr. Andrew Forde explains what the Convention actually does, who is calling for reform, and how migration has become the flashpoint in this debate. We discuss what is truly at stake for governments and citizens if the system begins to fracture - and challenge some of the myths that continue to shape public perceptions of the ECHR.
Host: Charlie Halford
Date: 10th November 2025
The European Convention on Human Rights: Reform, Reality and Myths - CATALYZE Ep 5
Europe's Digital Frontier: Free Speech & Regulation - CATALYZE Ep 4
Episode: 4
Description: In this episode, Berin Szoka, a PhD researcher at Dublin City University and President of TechFreedom in Washington DC, joins Dr. Ian Cooper to unpack how Europe and United States differ on digital governance, platform regulation and politics of free speech in the age of AI.
Host: Dr. Ian Cooper
Date: 8th October 2025
Europe's Migration Dilemma - CATALYZE Ep 3
Episode: 3
Description: In this episode, Pedro Sanz Diaz, a PhD researcher at Dublin City University joins us to explore how the EU manages migration amid global displacement and whether Europe can craft policies that are oth lawful and humane. We discuss so called "migration crisis", the balance of powers between the EU and its member states, and the complex frameworks that shape Europe's borders from Schengen Area to the Dublin regulation. Drawing on lessons from Ukraine's refugee response, Pedro reflects on where EU migration policy is heading and what a more humane approach could look like.
Host: Dr. Ian Cooper
Date: 23rd October 2025
Differentiation After Brexit: Europe's Evolving Neighbourhood - CATALYZE Ep 2
Episode: 2
Description: In this episode, Jasmine Faudone, PhD researcher at Dublin City University, joins us to unpack how Brexit reshaped EU's ties with its closest neighbours - and what "external differentiated integration" tells us about the Europe's future.
Host: Dr. Ian Cooper
Date: 22nd October 2025
Trade, Trump and the EU's Global Balancing Act - CATALYZE Ep 1
Episode: 1
Description: In this episode, we explore how the European Union is responding to new trade challenges in an increasingly unpredictable world. Assistant Professor of Economic Law at Dublin City University, Dr. Niall Moran joins us to unpack the EU's power over trade, assessment of the implications of the 'Turnberry Agreement' with the United States, and consider how Europe can defend its interests in a shifting global trading system, from Washington to WTO.
Host: Dr. Ian Cooper
Date: 23rd October 2025