Stuart Garlick and Maris Hellrand talk to academic Keegan McBride, whose research has focused on Estonian e-governance. They discuss why the country's frequently lauded e-state and e-solutions have not been able to ease the impact of COVID-19 as hoped. Read Keegan McBride's article on the topic: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2021/03/11/image-of-digital-baltics-cracks-under-weight-of-pandemic/ Theme music by Kaiolyn: https://youtu.be/arD4tfzH3U0 ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arD4tfzH3U0 )

Stuart Garlick and Maris Hellrand discuss the new Estonian government, look at the prospects for cooperation in a Reform-Centre Party coalition, and examine the agenda for Kaja Kallas and her team. Theme music by Kaiolyn: https://youtu.be/arD4tfzH3U0 ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arD4tfzH3U0 )

Stuart Garlick and Maris Hellrand sort through the bin-fire that was 2020 for any traces of potential optimism to take forward to 2021, also discussing the Estonian response to the coronavirus second wave, the state of the opposition parties, and the possible marriage referendum. Theme music by Kaiolyn: https://youtu.be/arD4tfzH3U0 ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arD4tfzH3U0 )

Stuart Garlick and Maris Hellrand discuss Tallinn's recent unsuccessful bid to be European Green Capital, and the city's green credentials, with urban expert Pärtel-Peeter Pere, in the final episode of Season 1 of the podcast - Season 2 is coming soon. Theme music by Kaiolyn: https://youtu.be/arD4tfzH3U0 ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arD4tfzH3U0 )

Stuart Garlick and Maris Hellrand are joined by musician and songwriter Kadri Voorand, who discusses inspirational composer Veljo Tormis, who would have been 90 this year, and his importance to modern Estonia. Music: Veljo Tormis, 'Ära Löö Noorikut' - Viljandi Vibes Live Sessions, originally filmed for YouTube, performed by Estonian Voices in 2016. Used under licence courtesy of Maris Aljaste and Linda Liis Eek formerly of Viljandi Vibes.

Stuart Garlick and Maris Hellrand talk to Mike Collier, a journalist based in Latvia, about the country's coronavirus response, why it has a lower infection rate than Estonia or Lithuania, and the Baltic reaction to protests in Belarus. Theme music by Kaiolyn: https://youtu.be/arD4tfzH3U0 ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arD4tfzH3U0 )

Stuart Garlick and Maris Hellrand talk to climate activist Kertu Birgit Anton, as the three of them discuss what goes into a memorable and meaningful campaign in 2020 in the wake of protests in Belarus, and Michelle Obama's speech about campaigning to the Democratic National Convention. Theme music by Kaiolyn: https://youtu.be/arD4tfzH3U0 ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arD4tfzH3U0 )

Stuart Garlick and Maris Hellrand talk to Priit Tohver, E-services Development and Innovation Policy Adviser for the Ministry of Social Affairs, who among other tasks is one of the leads for the Estonian contact tracing app, Hoia, due to be released on 20 August on iOS and Android. The app has been slow in development, and they look into reasons for this. They also talk to SALTO 'Hack the Virus' Hackathon winner Sophie Wharrie, whose team developed a contact tracing app in the Estonian tech...

Stuart Garlick and Maris Hellrand talk to investigative journalist Holger Roonemaa, who broke the story that a lawyer hired by Estonia's Finance Minister Martin Helme to seek reparations for historical money laundering scandals had, himself, defended a company involved in money laundering. They discuss the fallout of this scandal, its long-term repercussions, and what is likely to happen next. Theme music by Kaiolyn: https://youtu.be/arD4tfzH3U0 ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arD4tfzH3U0 )

Stuart Garlick and Maris Hellrand talk to Dr. James Vaughan of Aberystwyth University. They discuss how Radio Free Europe helped Estonia and other Soviet-occupied countries regain their independence, Maris's recollections of working at the station under Toomas Hendrik Ilves, and the uncertain future for the United States Agency for Global Media under the Trump Administration. Recorded on 15 July 2020. Music and news clips: taken from original studio recordings of Radio Free Europe, provided...

Stuart Garlick and Maris Hellrand talk to Kristiina Raud, Communications Manager and board member for the Estonian LGBT Association. They discuss the challenges that may be faced by the LGBT+ community in Estonia in the near future, those faced by young trans people, and what it was like to celebrate Pride Month in a socially-distanced world. Recorded on 1 July 2020. Music: Theme music by Kaiolyn: https://youtu.be/arD4tfzH3U0 ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arD4tfzH3U0 )

Stuart Garlick and Maris Hellrand talk to musician Yasmyn about her experience of being an Estonian person of colour, and there is coverage from the Black Lives Matter protest in Tallinn on 10 June. Recorded 9-10 June 2020, published 11 June 2020. Contains some strong language. Music: Excerpt from Last Laugh ft. Moeazy from Illusions by Yasmyn, used under licence and with permission from the artist. https://open.spotify.com/track/6inICCNw4goRA7xGA4KqIk?si=nsQM5el0TFKzsAvWRqpyMw Theme music...