S. Garlick talks to singer-songwriter Ingrid Lukas about her new album, 'Elumeloodia'. Ingrid discusses her creative process, plus the meaning behind the pastoral, progressive new tracks.

• Music: 'Strong, Bold and Brave', 'Dignity', 'Analogue Connections', and 'Minu Tänu' by Ingrid Lukas, used under licence from the artist, courtesy of Ronin Rhythm Records.
• Listen to more on Spotify

S. Garlick and Maris Hellrand discuss the scandal involving former Riigikogu member Johanna Maria Lehtme and her charity, Slava Ukraini, plus the obstruction tactics by opposition parties that threatens the new government's agenda.

Recorded on 20 May 2023.

• DONATE to Ukrainian refugees: https://www.pagulasabi.ee/en/help-ukraine
• Song: Diamond Eyes - Father [NCS Release]; music provided by NoCopyrightSounds; free Download / Stream: http://ncs.io/iFather Watch: http://youtu.be/5NTvXKUXEX4

In this first edition of a new series by Questonia, S. Garlick talks to jazz pianist Britta Virves about the inspirations behind new debut solo album, 'Juniper'. Britta explains how the album channels her experiences growing up on Saaremaa, the largest island in Estonia, and playing with legendary jazz musicians in Sweden.

• Music: 'Downton', 'Saaremaa', and 'Interlude' by Britta Virves, used under licence from the artist, courtesy of Heartcore Records.
• Listen to more on Spotify
• Learn more about Britta

S. Garlick and Maris Hellrand analyse the coalition programme for the new government, and the tax rises announced, plus ministerial appointments, and the arrest of pro-Kremlin politician Aivo Peterson.

Recorded on 14 April 2023.

• Song: Diamond Eyes - Father [NCS Release]; music provided by NoCopyrightSounds; free Download / Stream: http://ncs.io/iFather Watch: http://youtu.be/5NTvXKUXEX4

It looks, as of the time of publication, as though the new Estonian government may indeed back marriage equality, having seemed against it initially, in a stunning about-turn.

S. Garlick talks to Vootele Päi, a Political Adviser to Social Democrat leader and outgoing Interior Minister Lauri Läänemets. Päi had set out the reasons why he felt Kaja Kallas's Reform Party wouldn't adopt marriage equality in the new governing coalition in an incendiary social media post, which was later reproduced by Estonian media.

Here, he explains what he feels has changed, and why, to inspire this apparent u-turn. Recorded on 6 April 2023.

• Read Vootele Päi's post here (in Estonian, link to Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/vootele.pai/posts/pfbid02BNmTMozAiWaXYpdZ2rBoejhFRzGGd9omrRipXZyXakjtg6N6rcYu6y7x4ePz8ov3l
• Song: Diamond Eyes - Father [NCS Release]; music provided by NoCopyrightSounds; free Download / Stream: http://ncs.io/iFather Watch: http://youtu.be/5NTvXKUXEX4

In this special interview, S. Garlick talks to Estonian e-Voting and cybersecurity expert Karoliina Ainge, who used to work on those matters for the Estonian Government, and now advises countries all over the world as part of Independent Diplomat. Karoliina explains why e-voting works, and how Estonia became the centre of NATO's cybersecurity efforts.

• Song: Diamond Eyes - Father [NCS Release]; music provided by NoCopyrightSounds; free Download / Stream: http://ncs.io/iFather Watch: http://youtu.be/5NTvXKUXEX4

S. Garlick and Maris Hellrand analyse the Estonian 2023 Riigikogu (parliamentary) election results, which saw Kaja Kallas and the Reform Party hold onto power, in a new liberal coalition. What does it mean for Estonia, for Ukraine, and for the far-right EKRE, who were left disappointed? Will Estonia get energy security and LGBT rights?

• Song: Diamond Eyes - Father [NCS Release]; music provided by NoCopyrightSounds; free Download / Stream: http://ncs.io/iFather Watch: http://youtu.be/5NTvXKUXEX4

S. Garlick and Maris Hellrand talk to YouTuber Artjom Dmitrijev ('Dufftie') about how a younger member of the Russian minority feels about being Estonian. They also talk about Yana Toom memes, government gesture politics, and why so many Russian-speakers in Estonia are still neutral or even pro-Putin when it comes to the war in Ukraine.

• Song: Diamond Eyes - Father [NCS Release]; music provided by NoCopyrightSounds; free Download / Stream: http://ncs.io/iFather Watch: http://youtu.be/5NTvXKUXEX4

S. Garlick and Maris Hellrand discuss the latest governing coalition in Estonia and its problems and challenges, plus how the moving of the Narva Tank was both a necessary step and something which highlighted tensions within Estonia. Recorded on Wednesday 7 September 2022.

• Subscribe to Questonia on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/questonia
• Song: Diamond Eyes - Father [NCS Release]; music provided by NoCopyrightSounds; free Download / Stream: http://ncs.io/iFather Watch: http://youtu.be/5NTvXKUXEX4
• Ilmar Raag opinion piece (in Estonian): https://www.err.ee/1608705547/ilmar-raag-kas-riik-voib-inimestele-nende-vaateid-ette-kirjutada

Stuart Garlick and Maris Hellrand talk to Anette Mäletjärv, one of the organisers of Tartu Pride 2022 and an activist for the Estonian LGBT Association. They talk about the changes needed in Estonian law and politics for equal rights to become a reality. Maris and Stuart also discuss the coalition government negotiations. Recorded on Monday 27 June 2022.

• Subscribe to Questonia on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/questonia
• Song: Diamond Eyes - Father [NCS Release]; music provided by NoCopyrightSounds; free Download / Stream: http://ncs.io/iFather Watch: http://youtu.be/5NTvXKUXEX4
• Estonian LGBT Association: https://www.lgbt.ee/
• Ida Raadio: https://idaidaida.net/

Stuart Garlick and Maris Hellrand talk to Siim Kuresoo of the Estonian Fund for Nature about the growing deforestation problem in the country. The hosts also discuss in-depth what could happen now the government has collapsed. Recorded on Monday 6 June 2022.

• For an extended version of this episode, subscribe to Questonia on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/questonia
• Song: Diamond Eyes - Father [NCS Release]; music provided by NoCopyrightSounds; free Download / Stream: http://ncs.io/iFather Watch: http://youtu.be/5NTvXKUXEX4
• Estonian Fund for Nature in English: https://elfond.ee/elf-en
• Koos Loodus in English: https://koosloodus.ee/in-english/

Stuart Garlick and Maris Hellrand talk again to Eesti Ekspress journalist Holger Roonemaa. Two of Holger's colleagues were recently fined for publishing a story suggesting that managers in Estonia's largest bank were being investigated for money-laundering. The court ruling that led to the fines has serious implications for journalism's ability to express truth about power.

This comes in the same month that Estonia was named the country with the fourth-freest press of those surveyed by Reporters Without Borders.

Notes

• The methodology behind the 2022 World Press Freedom Index
• Song: Diamond Eyes - Father [NCS Release]; music provided by NoCopyrightSounds; free Download/Stream: http://ncs.io/iFather Watch: http://youtu.be/5NTvXKUXEX4

Stuart Garlick and Maris Hellrand talk to academic Keegan McBride, whose research has focused on Estonian e-governance. They discuss why the country's frequently lauded e-state and e-solutions have not been able to ease the impact of COVID-19 as hoped.

Read Keegan McBride's article on the topic: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2021/03/11/image-of-digital-baltics-cracks-under-weight-of-pandemic/

Theme music by Kaiolyn: https://youtu.be/arD4tfzH3U0

Stuart Garlick and Maris Hellrand discuss the new Estonian government, look at the prospects for cooperation in a Reform-Centre Party coalition, and examine the agenda for Kaja Kallas and her team.

Theme music by Kaiolyn: https://youtu.be/arD4tfzH3U0

Stuart Garlick and Maris Hellrand sort through the bin-fire that was 2020 for any traces of potential optimism to take forward to 2021, also discussing the Estonian response to the coronavirus second wave, the state of the opposition parties, and the possible marriage referendum.

Theme music by Kaiolyn: https://youtu.be/arD4tfzH3U0

Stuart Garlick and Maris Hellrand discuss Tallinn's recent unsuccessful bid to be European Green Capital, and the city's green credentials, with urban expert Pärtel-Peeter Pere, in the final episode of Season 1 of the podcast - Season 2 is coming soon.

Theme music by Kaiolyn: https://youtu.be/arD4tfzH3U0

Stuart Garlick and Maris Hellrand are joined by musician and songwriter Kadri Voorand, who discusses inspirational composer Veljo Tormis, who would have been 90 this year, and his importance to modern Estonia.

Music: Veljo Tormis, 'Ära Löö Noorikut' - Viljandi Vibes Live Sessions, originally filmed for YouTube, performed by Estonian Voices in 2016. Used under licence courtesy of Maris Aljaste and Linda Liis Eek formerly of Viljandi Vibes.

Stuart Garlick and Maris Hellrand talk to Mike Collier, a journalist based in Latvia, about the country's coronavirus response, why it has a lower infection rate than Estonia or Lithuania, and the Baltic reaction to protests in Belarus.

Theme music by Kaiolyn: https://youtu.be/arD4tfzH3U0

Stuart Garlick and Maris Hellrand talk to climate activist Kertu Birgit Anton, as the three of them discuss what goes into a memorable and meaningful campaign in 2020 in the wake of protests in Belarus, and Michelle Obama's speech about campaigning to the Democratic National Convention.

Theme music by Kaiolyn: https://youtu.be/arD4tfzH3U0

Stuart Garlick and Maris Hellrand talk to Priit Tohver, E-services Development and Innovation Policy Adviser for the Ministry of Social Affairs, who among other tasks is one of the leads for the Estonian contact tracing app, Hoia, due to be released on 20 August on iOS and Android. The app has been slow in development, and they look into reasons for this.

They also talk to SALTO 'Hack the Virus' Hackathon winner Sophie Wharrie, whose team developed a contact tracing app in the Estonian tech event, but whose experience was not used by the government in spite of an offer allegedly being made by her team. She discusses the need for reliable contact tracing in all countries. Sophie's Medium article: https://medium.com/the-innovation/beyond-the-contact-tracing-app-fd6930a4c934

Theme music by Kaiolyn: https://youtu.be/arD4tfzH3U0