Share

cover art for Crafts and hobbies bring Europeans back to themselves and each other

Europod • News

Crafts and hobbies bring Europeans back to themselves and each other

Season 1, Ep. 11

Across Europe, a quiet movement is taking shape. From knitting circles in Helsinki to pottery workshops in Brussels, people are rediscovering the simple, grounding act of making things by hand. What began for many as a way to fill the long days of lockdown has grown into something deeper, a form of self-care, a social bond, and even a small act of resistance against the relentless pace of modern life.

In this episode of Europe Talks Back, we explore how creative practices such as ceramics, weaving and painting are reshaping wellbeing and community across the continent. We speak with Brussels-based designer and ceramicist Anna Tou, whose workshops offer people a chance to step away from their screens, slow down, and reconnect not just with clay, but with themselves.

Together, they reflect on the tactile joy of creation, the patience that crafting demands, and the way art and tradition continue to bring people together in an increasingly digital world.


Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.

Production: By Europod, in co production with Sphera Network.

Follow us on:


More episodes

View all episodes

  • 48. Is the EU Commission unable to protect the rule of law in the 27 Member states?

    05:10||Season 2, Ep. 48
    Respect for the rule of law in the EU is seriously eroding. This is what a report compiling data from 40 organisations across the continent has found. Member States are simply not implementing the recommendations made each year by the European Commission. Is the EU reaching its limits in maintaining the rule of law?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram
  • Will the EU ban conversion practices for LGBTQ people?

    05:38|
    Only eight European countries have banned conversion practices. These so-called therapies often lead to PTSD, but they can go as far as driving young people to suicide.This is why more than 1 million citizens are asking the EU to ban these practices. Is the EU willin to do so?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram
  • Where does the EU stand on the embargo imposed on Cuba?

    04:55|
    Total blackout, shortages of food and fuel, lack of medication… The situation in Cuba is worsening day by day. According to the United Nations, the country has been pushed to the point of imminent humanitarian "collapse." What are the reactions of Europeans?Production : Europod in co-production with the Sphera Network.This episode is based on videos shot by Samuele Maccolini for VD News and on a story written by Antigone Panta-Harva for Popaganda and is co-written with Hélène Pillon from Médianes.Follow us on:LinkedIn • Instagram
  • 45. Can we, Europeans, actually reduce our gas consumption?

    04:27||Season 2, Ep. 45
    European households are suffering high energy bills. As long as the war in the Middle East drags on, options to reduce this burden remain limited.One major reason? Europeans are highly dependent on gas. Can the EU actually cut its gas consumption?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram
  • 44. Italy’s referendum: Is Giorgia Meloni slowly losing her grip on power?

    05:16||Season 2, Ep. 44
    Giorgia Meloni has just suffered her first major defeat. On Monday, she lost the judicial referendum she had called. A defeat that will not lead to her resignation, she declared.But could this first setback weaken her both in Italy and internationally?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram
  • 43. What happened with the Ukraine-Russia peace negociations?

    04:24||Season 2, Ep. 43
    Peace talks between Ukraine and Russia are constantly being delayed. That’s what Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated last week. As his country begins to run out of missiles and financial support, can Zelensky still hope to get out of this war with dignity?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram
  • 42. Municipal elections in France: the rise of a firewall against far-left parties

    05:05||Season 2, Ep. 42
    In France, a campaign to demonize the far left is underway. During the municipal elections, different left-wing parties joined forces to defeat the right and the far right. The right has labeled most of these alliances as "shameful deals," because they include La France insoumise (LFI), or France Unbowed. Is this the beginning of a real firewall against leftist parties? Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram
  • 41. Will the EU carbon market pay the price of the energy crisis?

    05:26||Season 2, Ep. 41
    The EU is looking for answers to the energy crisis. Several EU member states are proposing to revise how the carbon market works, so that it weighs less on prices. But could this actually make a difference?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram
  • 40. Will the EU keep its promise on the financial support to Ukraine?

    04:56||Season 2, Ep. 40
    Ukraine will soon run out of money. Four years into the war, the country faces a serious funding issue. The EU has promised a 90 billion euros loan, but it is currently blocked by Hungary. Will the rest of the EU manage to convince Viktor Orban to lift its veto?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedIn• Instagram