For this month, URSA visits Italy where we learn about the country’s new (and uber Fascist) Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, her love of Lord of The Rings, and what her leadership means for the country and continent. In good news, we hear about the climate crisis reparations from Denmark, advert prohibitions in the Netherlands and hydrogen powered student housing in Spain.

Our first feature story comes from a Bear Radio School alumna - Militsa Tekelieva - where she explores the Memorial House of the Bulgarian Communist Party and shares the work of the Buzludzha Project and their dedication to preserve the monument. Find more of there work here: www.buzludzha-project.com.

Then, we share a segment from the podcast Life of Bi. In this episode of Life of Bi. Ell & Mary explore how to honour your inner Hot Girl when you're in a long-term relationship. They ask: 'can you be bisexual and monogamous?' and come across the answer in an online magazine. Find more from Ell and Mary on @hotterproject on Instagram.

As always, we’re joined by our foodie, Jane Silver of Exberliner, who tells us all about the concept restaurant that has taken over Berlin, and your instagram feed, a top tip on the only place to find a superbly unique Turkish street food and where to find the best Baklava in the city.

Then we speak to Jonny Tiernan of LOLA Magazine about a series of photographic exhibitions: Queerness in Photography, the returning Festival of Lights, various club nights, a Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy inspired festival and more!

We close out the episode with a piece from local musician and composer, Andreas Miranda.

Our theme music is from Lucas Carey, with audio from Epidemic Sound. Cover art by Sian Amber Fletcher.

This episode is brought to you by Bear Radio. Special thanks to our featured producers Militsa Tekelieva, Ell Potter and Mary Higgins. Thanks also to our Food & Culture correspondents, Jane Silver of Exberliner and Jonny Tiernan of LOLA.

If you’re a producer based in Europe and have an idea for an URSA story, we’d love to hear from you! We’re always accepting new pitches.

Support for this podcast comes from our Patreon - if you like URSA and all the incredible stories that come with it - then please consider supporting us at patreon.com/ursapodcast. The price you’d spend on a flat white in Kreuzberg would go to supporting us and our contributors each month, for the hard work that goes into bringing you this show.