Put on your shoes and tie your laces: we're heading back into the city. The second season of the podcast Stadswandelingen has been launched. While strolling through the streets, host and editor-in-chief Nadia Mentzel (alumnus of Erasmus University Rotterdam) discusses with EUR scientists and engaged locals of Rotterdam what's happening in the city. Stadswandelingen is a podcast by Erasmus Verbindt, a student initiative that connects Erasmus University Rotterdam and Rotterdam society.
“That Rotterdam is the first city where the enlightenment took shape during the late seventeenth century is something that I, and I think many others with me, did not know,” says Mentzel. The host kicks off the new season with historian Marianne Klerk. While walking along Plein 1940 and the former Museum Rotterdam, the researcher explains how the stories of the city's history are dominated by the post-war, reconstruction narrative.
The city stroll ends at the gallery and heritage lab Dig It Up, one of the few Rotterdam heritage institutions collecting untold stories, or ‘new heritage’, with the only criterion being: Rotterdam. Besides Rotterdam as the first enlightenment city, narratives about the 'gerse women' and the early advocates of the Black Lives Matter movement in the 80s/90s are some examples. Mentzel: "With this episode, we try to offer a different perspective on Rotterdam's history."
The podcast Stadswandelingen
In Stadswandelingen, Mentzel interviews academics from Erasmus University Rotterdam and experts by experience, artists, or other involved city residents about Rotterdam issues. The podcast distinguishes itself through the city walks; Mentzel goes out into the streets with the guests and follows routes relevant to the topic under discussion. The sounds of the city and music provide a pleasant and vibrant listening experience. “We try to give listeners the feeling that they are discovering Rotterdam, in a different manner than they are used to.”
According to Nadia, the city is rich in experiences that are part of the story of Rotterdam. By interweaving these with academic perspectives, she hopes to unravel societal issues in an accessible way and disseminate knowledge to a broad audience. Although many topics also concern residents of other large cities, the target audience is initially the people of Rotterdam: “The walking tour, first-hand Rotterdam experiences, and knowledge coming from our university give Stadswandelingen a truly Rotterdam character.”
Motivated EUR students from different faculties (all residents of the city) form the editorial team, which means they prepare the interviews and edit the podcast episodes under the guidance of the editor-in-chief. The editors get an extra behind-the-scenes insight by joining the city walks during the recording days of ‘their’ episode. “Who also walks along is student and sound engineer Ivar Berkman, whom we trained internally”, Nadia says.
The new season
“The episodes are little audio documentaries”, Mentzel says. The first season covered themes such as gentrification, drug crime, and sustainability. The second season sets itself apart from the first by focusing on issues relevant to the younger generation, such as the second episode about an alternative approach to 'success'. Neuroscientist Eveline Crone and youngster Mohamed Guled show that success is not solely about money, status, and achieving high grades. In front of youth hubs, riding the subway, and walking through the neighborhood where Mohamed grew up, the guests talk about how to truly become the best version of oneself.
Another theme is juvenile delinquency. “Anyone who has followed the headlines in recent years couldn't have missed the stabbing incidents involving young people”, says Mentzel. She meets with criminologist Robby Roks. “What is striking is that the coverage of weapon possession and violence can reinforce the feeling of unsafety among young people. And that's worrisome”. Expert by experience Reggery Gravenbeek talks about the influence of social media, but emphasizes the structural problems, such as poverty and lack of perspective.
“We also enter into conversations with Professor of Youth and Child Psychiatry Manon Hillegers and former police officer Eric van Dommelen.”. Eric symbolizes the older generation of Rotterdammers who did not talk much about mental health compared to nowadays. However, more than half of young adults currently experience mental health complaints. “A good reason to ask Manon how young people, as well as older adults, can deal with stress.”
In conversation with street doctors
Another discovery that has stuck with Mentzel is the fact that Rotterdam falls short in providing access to healthcare for homeless people. Conversations with street doctors and a firsthand experience offer harrowing but important insights, according to Mentzel. “This is one of those episodes in which we hope to make people think, including policymakers who are responsible for supporting homeless people or those at risk of becoming homeless.”
In the previous season, each episode ended with the voicemail of Mayor Aboutaleb, in which the guests had left a message. In the final episode of that season, the mayor unexpectedly put on his shoes as well to join the city stroll and answer the guests' questions. “In season two, we're taking a different approach”, says Mentzel. “Expect a thought-provoking and surprising ending to each episode, starring former city poet Derek Otte! So make sure you listen till the very last seconds of our episodes”
- More information
Read more via www.eur.nl/stadswandelingen
Listen to Stadswandelingen via Spotify, Apple Podcasts or NRC!