PODCAST: New generation Catalans – Mixing cultures, making home

Raised in Catalonia to international parents, we meet young Catalan citizens who are forging their own identity and raising questions about what it means to be a local

A woman and two children hold hands on a Barcelona street
A woman and two children hold hands on a Barcelona street / Jordi Borràs
Catalan News

Catalan News | @catalannews | Barcelona

June 14, 2025 09:24 AM

June 14, 2025 09:44 AM

New generation Catalans are a growing demographic. They often navigate dual identities, balancing their family's cultural heritage with local traditions. This week on Filling the Sink we dedicate an episode to exploring the challenges faced by this significant collective.

Press play below to listen or subscribe on Apple Podcasts, YouTube or Spotify.

Zenia Hellgren, Doctor of Sociology and a Senior Researcher at Pompeu Fabra University, discusses what identity is and how young people with a migrant background may find it hard to achieve a true sense of belonging in any one place. 

Reporter Gigi Giulia talks to secondary school teacher Mariona Jorba Solsona about the importance of education in breaking down language barriers and creating an inclusive environment which nurtures hybrid identities. 

Plus, we meet two new generation Catalans to hear their stories, and host Beth Cohen analyzes Catalonia’s migration history and how it has shaped the current social reality.

This week, our Catalan phrase is "És tard i vol ploure" – "It's late and it wants to rain."

It's an expression that is used when time is running out or something is too late to fix. It can also be used as a way of saying goodbye or telling someone to hurry up.

Get in touch with the podcast team: fillingthesink@acn.cat

Listen to more episodes of Filling the Sink below or find out more here.

 

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