The Tallinn University Podcast

In our annual Pride episode, comedian and TLU alumni Jana Levitina joins our host Terry McDonald to discuss the role humour plays in activism. Jana has co-founded a FLINTA (female, lesbian, intersex, non-binary, trans, agender) comedy club in Estonia, and in this episode enlightens Terry on the importance of political humour, how is feminism related to LGBTQ+ rights, and the ongoing importance of Pride in 2023.

For more info on Baltic Pride:

https://www.balticpride.ee/

Jana is also an editor at Feministeerium:

https://feministeerium.ee/

Thank you for 3 great seasons - see you in season 4!

The reconstruction of Ukraine is going to be one of the biggest international development projects in history. Many partners - governments, NGOs, and in the private sector - will have a role to play. 

As in the war itself, the US government will have a leading role in these efforts. As the development arm of the US government, USAid will likely be at the helm. In this episode of the Tallinn University Podcast, Patrick J. Wilson - Senior Advisor on Ukraine Recovery and Reconstruction for USAid, joins our host Terry McDonald in a unique episode format. 

As Terry is a Lecturer of International Relations in Tallinn University, this conversation takes place in Terry’s Global Development course lecture. Mr. Wilson joined Terry’s class via Zoom from Washington, taking questions from Terry and then from the students of the class. 

In the conversation, they first discuss the lessons learned since the Marshall Plan and through 70 years of success and failure in global development projects. Then, the topic moves to the reconstruction of Ukraine - the hopes, the challenges, who should bear the cost and how they will pay it, and what a potential US administration change might mean for the effort. 

As this was a ‘live’  episode, the usual studio perfection audio quality is not quite there - nonetheless, the opportunity to have one of the architects of Ukraine’s reconstruction in conversation makes the episode a must-listen.

In our annual Green Month episode, our host Terry McDonald speaks with Dr. Bianka Plüschke-Altof,  a Senior researcher in Environmental Sociology at Tallinn University. They discuss Green Cities, whether or not Tallinn deserves this award, and Bianka's book Whose Green City? Contested Urban Green Spaces and Environmental Justice in Northern Europe.

You can purchase the book here, or check it out your local library. https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-04636-0

This week Georgians and those sympathetic to them protested outside the Georgian embassy in Tallinn. They did so in solidarity with the massive protests in Tbilisi - Georgia's capital - as the parliament tried to pass a Foreign Agent law that the protesters dubbed the "Russian Law", as Putin passed the same law on his path to authoritarianism. 

In this episode, our host Terry McDonald is joined by TLU Graduate and protest organizer Anano Iashvili, who tells us about the political situation in Georgia,  the ongoing Russian military occupation of Georgian territory, the backlash against the law, and what comes next as the government wavers in face of widespread resistance. We learn about Georgia's fate - living a proud independent identity while often caught between Russia and the West. 

This podcast is presented in conjunction with Estonian World magazine.  

In this special episode, Prime Minister of Estonia Kaja Kallas joins our Host Terry McDonald live at the Tallinn University Symposium of International Relations. In a wide-ranging session, topics from the War in Ukraine, Globalization, Migration, Estonia's Priorities in World Affairs,  and Small State Survival are discussed as the PM takes questions from Terry and the student audience. 

The Symposium was supported by the MIRNet project, which has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme. Please excuse any audio issues in the episode, as they can be attributed to the challenges of live recording of an unstructured event. For more information about our programs, visit www.tlu.ee 

More than 40 000 deaths, and 100 000 injured - the earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria this month is a humanitarian catastrophe. In its aftermath, there lays not only destruction, but legacies of war, corruption, and crises-within-crises. In this special episode, Tallinn University Podcast team member Jana Levitina speaks with TLU Politics and Governance student Selim Rahim, who is from Turkey, about how poor governance in the region magnifies the effects of natural disaster. 

If you wish to help the victims of the quake: 

https://www.icrc.org/en/donate/syria-emergency 

https://donation.ifrc.org/?campaign=f3cfd66a-0ba7-ed11-a2da-005056010028

https://help.unicef.org/turkiye-earthquakes-2023?country=EE&gclid=CjwKCAiA0cyfBhBREiwAAtStHFjpWgMPTLCYbkqwrK4xNgu-3BzwjRqzANWde5CIHQkWiH2duab8XxoCp24QAvD_BwE 

Christmas traditions in Estonia can be traced back many centuries ago, with the first ever documented Chrimstas tree being put on display in Europe found in Estonia over 600 years ago. However, modern Estonian winter holiday practices are recorded only from the 19th century due to the introduction of Christianity and the Baltic Germans. In this episode, TLU Alumni and Lecturer of Estonian culture and language Ele Arder, walks host Terry McDonald through the history of Christmas holiday traditions practiced in Estonia.

According to the data of the Social Insurance Board, as of December 31, 2021, Estonia had a total of 133,007 disabled people. Disabled people make up nearly 11% of Estonia’s total population. However, struggles with the legacies of the previous system - in which people with disabilities were hidden from society - remain.

In this episode, host Terry McDonald talks to Meelis Joost, Chairman, the Estonian Chamber of Disabled People, about the evolution of the rights of persons with disabilities over the years and the current state of disability accommodation and inclusivity, and to Paul-Markus Orav, a Master's student of Open Society Technologies at Tallinn University, about the disability awareness events that took place in November and their impact on the disability community in Estonia. We also talk about how the quality of life for disabled people in Estonia has improved over the years, how you can help people with disabilities, and how disabled people can get the support they need to feel included and safe.

The COP27 summit is grappling with how we can face the challenge of climate change in a way that is both effective and just. Tallinn University graduate Jyri Jäntti, a Climate Change Specialist for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) based at the Regional Collaboration Center (RCC) Kampala, is a delegate there. In this episode, he joins our host Terry McDonald to discuss the conference, its aims, shortfalls, and what it all means to the future of Estonia. 

Look for us on www.estonianworld.com 

For information about Tallinn University and our programs, check out www.tlu.ee 

In our final episode of season two, host Terry McDonald is joined by Anette Mäletjärv, Cooperation Officer in the Estonian LGBT Association, to discuss the history of the LGBTQ+ movement in Estonia, where it started, and what it has achieved. Happy Pride Month! 

From claims like "Made with recycled products" to pictures of a rainforest on the label, the image of environmentalism is everywhere in advertising today. Similarly, more consumers are trying to make environmentally conscious purchasing decisions than ever. To do so, though, they need to be able to know which products are actually produced in an environmentally-sustainable manner. Many products and events are advertised using 'green' themes while not actually using 'green' practises - in a process called "Greenwashing". In this episode, we have environmental policy expert Kadri Kalle join our host Terry McDonald to help us all learn the difference between environmentalism and environmental marketing.

This episode is our annual contribution to the Tallinn University Green Month initiative. To check out last year's, listen here: 

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5o1flCTXMakcW0v6q5E5vM 

The arts have been essential to the survival of Estonian culture, through various occupations, up through the Singing Revolution, and in the revitalization of independence. Now, on Tallinn Music Week, our host Terry McDonald is joined by Shiftworks CEO and TMW Founder Helen Sildna to discuss the festival's history, and the meaning of the arts in times of repression and war. Then, Monika Tomingas - Project Manager at the Estonian Folklore Council and Lecturer at the Baltic Film, Media, and Arts School at Tallinn University - joins us to talk about the history and meaning of the arts in Estonian culture - and if Estonian society is doing enough to encourage the artistic community. Happy TMW! 

Thanks to Kadri Voorand for permission to use a clip of her performance from TMW in the show. If you are interested in Tallinn Music Week - you can find more information here:
https://tmw.ee/ 

Social Media and the rights and responsibilities that come with it shape so much of our world - politics, relationships, war and peace.  How can we have democracy in a world where people are living in different information realities? Who gets to choose what is acceptable discourse? In a wide-ranging discussion, Dr. Mart Susi - founder of the Digital Human Rights Network and Professor of Human Rights Law at TLU - joins Terry to discuss how we shape the conversation that shapes so much of our reality. 

If you would like to hear more from Dr. Susi and other experts on this issue, please join the webinar “Media freedom and freedom of expression at times of military aggression” Tuesday 19th of March 11am at the link below. 

https://www.facebook.com/events/653911495902479

Hacking. Cybercrime. Cyberwarfare. It cuts to the heart of modern life, and the essential functions of modern society. Now, as one of the major players in cyberwarfare engages in total war, we need to understand the vulnerabilities we have to cyberattack, and how we can deal with them without sacrificing the connectivity we depend on as a global society. Catlyn Kirna, Lecturer of International Relations at TLU and Cyber Security Consultant with CGI Estonia, join our host Terry McDonald to talk about cyberwar, cybersecurity, how you can do your part for cyber defence, and how some hackers are like the Wet Bandits from Home Alone. 

This episode is brought to you as part of the 10th Annual Tallinn University Symposium of International Relations, which received funding from the European Regional Development Fund through the institutional package measure for R&D institutions and higher education institutions (ASTRA project TLU TEE of Tallinn University; University of Tartu’s ASTRA project PER ASPERA)) and is organized by Doctoral School in Economics and Innovation. 

Pandemics. Climate change. Refugee crises. The problems we face in the era of globalization run deep. Despite layers of governance and a plethora of expertise, there are modern problems that simply do not have simple solutions. These are known as Wicked Problems - and how we learn to adapt to and deal with them will shape the future of human society. Dr. Benjamin Klasche is an expert in Wicked Problems, and in this episode joins our host Terry McDonald to discuss how we survive the era of wicked problems. 

With the invasion of Ukraine underway, we invited Dr. Matthew Crandall and Dr. Benjamin Klasche back on the podcast to speak with Terry about why Russia would do this, and what it means for the future of Europe, International Relations, and the world. We also discuss the events from each of an American, German, and Canadian perspective. 

This episode was done live on Twitter Spaces - and we are releasing it here for those who may have missed it. 

Half a world apart geographically, close partners in culture, economy, and security - in this episode we discuss the relationship between Canada and Estonia.  Estonian Ambassador to Canada Toomas Lukk joins our host Terry McDonald to talk about the history of Estonians in Canada, how the Estonian diaspora maintains their identity, what NATO security partnerships mean to Estonia, and tells us his favourite Canadian band. O Canada! 

In the episode we reference a visa-free work arrangement for citizens of the two countries - if you want to know more, check out the links below: 

https://ottawa.mfa.ee/youth-mobility-agreement/ 

https://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/iec/eligibility.asp 

The year 2021 saw an unprecedented surge in energy prices in Europe, with the retail price of electricity almost tripling in Estonia within a year. Why has this happened, and what does it say about the future of energy? Host Terry McDonald is joined by Dr. Mihkel Kangur, an Associate Professor of Sustainable Development at the School of Natural Sciences and Health here at Tallinn University, to discuss Estonia's energy situation, the geo-politics of the issue, nuclear power, and if your electricity bill will be coming down anytime soon. 

Russian troops are amassed near the Ukrainian border, in an escalation of the crisis that has been building since the invasion of 2014. Just yesterday, Putin and Biden exchanged ultimatums regarding the consequences of any potential Russian military invasion of Ukraine, with the potential of a "complete breakdown" of the relationship between the US and Russia in the air. How did Ukraine become a flashpoint in international affairs? What does Russia seek to gain? Why is the US so concerned? What role does the EU and NATO play in the situation? What do Ukrainians want? In this episode, our host Terry McDonald is joined by Dr. Matthew Crandall, Professor of International Relations at Tallinn University, to talk about what is driving all these actors to the brink in Ukraine. 

A border crisis by design on the edge of the European Union. Migrating people's desire for a better life being used as weapon to destabilize a political rival. Who are these people arriving on Europe's doorstep - who sent them, and why? Dr. Mari-Liis Jakobson, Associate Professor of Political Sociology at TLU's School of Governance, Law and Society joins our host Terry McDonald to explain. 

If you want to know more about the issues in Belarus, check out episode 3 from last season, where we examine them in depth. https://open.spotify.com/episode/3fTI3MwL4CHEJ1t7rQx9ph 

Estonia is a world-leader in education. For example, in 2018 Estonian 15 year-olds had the highest scores in Europe in the OECD's PISA tests - the best standardized measurement of educational success available today. What is it about the Estonian education system that works so well? Are there lessons that other countries and educators should take from Estonia's experience? In this episode, we speak with Dr. Mati Heidmets from Tallinn University's Centre of Excellence in Educational Innovation to find out.

https://www.tlu.ee/en/hti/research/centre-excellence-educational-innovation

Major powers have been using Covid vaccines - and the desire other states have for access to them - to buy allies and enhance their global reputations. Russia, China, the USA, and the EU have all had different approaches and agendas when it comes to this vaccine diplomacy - and this has been a force in international relations and the global Covid response. In this episode, we discuss this phenomenon and its implications with Dr. Mika Aaltola. 

Dr. Aaltola is the Director of FIIA, a tenured professor of International Relations and European Union Affairs at Tallinn University, and holds the rank of docent at Tampere University. He has been a visiting fellow at Cambridge University, Sciences Po (CERI), and Johns Hopkins as well as a visiting professor at the University of Minnesota. His areas of expertise include the U.S. global role, dynamics of major power politics, democratic vulnerability, pandemic security, and Finnish foreign policy. His latest published monograph is Democratic Vulnerability and Autocratic Meddling – The ‘Thucydidean Brink’ in Regressive Geopolitical Competition (Palgrave-Macmillan, 2021).

Do you know what bees mean to society, and what you can do to help them thrive? Dr. Liisa Puusepp of the Tallinn University Institute of Ecology joins us to talk about how bees made your breakfast, pollination corridors, and why she has 100 000 bees on the roof of Tallinn University. 

This episode is our contribution to TLU's Green Month initiative - you can find other events here https://linktr.ee/GreenMonthTLU . 

How did Estonia succeed in building a lasting democracy, while Belarus still fights for one? Our guests Dr. Leif Kalev (Professor of State and Citizenship Theory - TLU) and Belarusian Activist Irina Suursild discuss the divergent paths of their two nations since 1991. 

For those who want to help build democracy in Belarus - here are some links:
https://bysol.org

valgevenemaja.ee

https://politzek.me

https://dissidentby.com

A conversation with former US Ambassador to Russia Prof. Michael McFaul. We discuss changes in US foreign policy in the region from Prof. McFaul's time in the Obama administration, through the Trump era, and what a Biden Presidency will mean for Estonia and the region as a whole. Plus, we reflect on Prof. McFaul's personal experiences in Estonia, Russia, and the USSR, and muse on the future of International Relations. Recorded at the Tallinn University Winter School of International Relations - 26 February 2021. 

In our inaugural episode, we meet with the former President of Estonia, Toomas Hendrik Ilves, and discuss the role of Estonia in the wider world, along with some of his personal history and unique insights into Estonian politics - near and abroad. Hosted by Terry McDonald
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