June 12th, 2025: Interview with Composer Scott Brickman and Local Election Results
Joe breaks down the biggest takeaways from the muniicpal elections that happened Saturday as well as the aftermath before interviewing composer and professor of music and education Scott Brickman about his experiences reconnecting with his Latvian roots in a big way over the past few years. Theme song "Mēs esam ārzemnieki" by Aarzemnieki, used with permission Middle song courtesy of Ausma Apsīte Closing theme song: Think Tank by Audionautix audionautix.com Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: bit.ly/_think-tank Music promoted by Audio Library youtu.be/mbV9t1Z0rA8 Cheesy harp sound effect courtesty of the freesound community via pixabay.com
13 Juni 1h 11min
May 6th, 2025: Interview with Artist Katrīna Tračuma, Old Town Banditry, Traffic Towards Tallinn, and Jelgava's Market Nightmare Nearly Over
Latvia Weekly is back in a new format, with Joe covering some main happenings of the week and then interviewing Jelgava artist Katrīna Tračuma about the opening of her solo exhibition in Jelgava "Zemnieki. Zeme. Nieki. Zemieši. Zemgale." or "Farmers. Earth. Nothings. Zemgale. Earthlings." Theme song "Mēs esam ārzemnieki" by Aarzemnieki, used with permission Middle song courtesy of Ausma Apsīte Closing theme song: Think Tank by Audionautix audionautix.com Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: bit.ly/_think-tank Music promoted by Audio Library youtu.be/mbV9t1Z0rA8
7 Maj 56min
LW #233: Budget Pain, Drug Busts, and News from October 5th - 16th, 2024
As Latvia's coalition forces compromise on a budget, law enforcement crack down on one of the largest drug producing operations in Latvian history. Otto and Joe discuss these and other stories such as a smartphone ban, the announcement of candidates for the upcoming Riga city council election, and important trip to Moldova, and more!
18 Okt 20241h 7min
LW #232: One Year for Siliņa, Drone Disconnect, and News from September 4th-19th, 2024
As the Siliņa government celebrates its one year anniversary, Otto joins Joe from Budapest to discuss major issues such as fallout after an explosive-packed Russian drone landed in Rēzekne, bad news for Latvia's health sector, major updates to the Rail Baltic implementation plan, post-flood repairs, and more! Theme song "Mēs esam ārzemnieki" by Aarzemnieki, used with permission Closing theme song: Think Tank by Audionautix audionautix.com Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: bit.ly/_think-tank Music promoted by Audio Library youtu.be/mbV9t1Z0rA8 Image: Gatis Rozenfelds, Valsts kanceleja https://www.flickr.com/photos/valstskanceleja/54001945739/ Used with Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic
21 Sep 202449min
LW #231: School Days, Poetry Days,and News from August 30th - September 3rd, 2024
As Otto and Joe begin the new year of studies, they sit down to discuss a number of stories related to education, Air Baltic's financial trouble, the upcoming Riga City Council election, Paralympic success, and more!
3 Sep 202447min
LW #230: Revenge of the Mosquitos, Farewell Kariņš, and News from August 20-29, 2024
As Latvia suffers from an unusual amount of "odi," Otto and Joe discuss major stories such as growing criticism of the tax reform and budget formation process, former Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš's surprise decision to step away from politics, steps forward and back for the Rail Baltic project, a costly scam, and much more! Theme song "Mēs esam ārzemnieki" by Aarzemnieki, used with permission Closing theme song: Think Tank by Audionautix audionautix.com Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: bit.ly/_think-tank Music promoted by Audio Library youtu.be/mbV9t1Z0rA8
29 Aug 20241h 14min
LW #229: Flood Damage Fallout, Stranded in Spain, and News from August 7-15, 2024
As the high costs of rebuilding after devastating floods in southern Latvia become increasingly clear, Otto and Joe discuss the implications as well as other major stories such as a tour group of Latvian youth stranded in Spain, parliament's investigation into Rail Baltica's troubles, changes to gambling and tax laws, Latvian drones to Ukraine, and much more! Theme song "Mēs esam ārzemnieki" by Aarzemnieki, used with permission Closing theme song: Think Tank by Audionautix audionautix.com Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: bit.ly/_think-tank Music promoted by Audio Library youtu.be/mbV9t1Z0rA8
15 Aug 202449min
LW #228: Zemgale Soaked and News from July 22nd - August 1st, 2024
As Latvia's top athletes compete in the Olympics, much of the country continues cleaning up after a historic storm that left much of southern Latvia drenched and littered with fallen trees. Otto and Joe discuss these major stories along with a few others including data from the first month of civil partnerships, a bizarre escape across the Eastern border, modern trams at long last to Ķengarags, and much more! Photo credit: Gatis Rozenfelds, Valsts kanceleja. Used with a Creative Commons ATTRIBUTION-NONCOMMERCIAL-NODERIVS 2.0 GENERIC license. https://www.flickr.com/photos/valstskanceleja/53891146929/in/photostream/ Theme song "Mēs esam ārzemnieki" by Aarzemnieki, used with permission Closing theme song: Think Tank by Audionautix audionautix.com Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: bit.ly/_think-tank Music promoted by Audio Library youtu.be/mbV9t1Z0rA8 Photo: Gatis Rozenfelds, Valsts kanceleja, used with a Creative Commons License https://www.flickr.com/photos/valstskanceleja/53891146929/
2 Aug 20241h 2min
