Designing the Sound of the City – with Grant L. Waters (Tranquil City)

EEA’s Noise Pollution Report 2025 – Why Europe Must Act Now

Download the EEA's report here: https://tinyurl.com/noisereport2025 In this episode of Fighting Noise, host Julien speaks with Dr. Eulalia Peris, senior expert at the European Environment Agency (EEA) and lead author of the EEA’s June 2025 report on environmental noise pollution in Europe. The EEA’s latest data reveals that over 100 million Europeans are exposed to harmful transport noise, contributing to more than 1.3 million lost healthy life years every year. Yet noise remains one of the most underestimated public health risks in Europe. Eulalia explains why current EU thresholds are outdated, how noise silently impacts cardiovascular health, and what role data transparency, source control, and political will must play in future regulations. The episode explores the Environmental Noise Directive (END), the Zero Pollution Action Plan, and why each €1 invested in noise reduction delivers €10 in social benefit. A rare and important perspective from inside Europe’s environmental data institution — and a must-listen for policymakers, innovators, and citizens pushing for a healthier sonic future.

Designing the Sound of the City – with Grant L. Waters (Tranquil City)

🎙️ Description In this episode of Fighting Noise, host Julien speaks with Grant L. Waters, acoustic consultant and co-founder of Tranquil City, about rethinking how cities should sound — not just reducing noise, but designing urban soundscapes that enhance wellbeing. They discuss the creation of an acoustic alert system for London’s iconic electric buses, the balance between audibility and comfort, and how greenery and natural sounds can psychologically reshape how we perceive noise. Grant also explores how urban design can embrace sound as a factor of resilience, identity, and inclusivity. This episode invites you to hear the city differently.

Controlling Sound with Metamaterials – Luca d’Alessandro (Phononic Vibes)

In this episode of Fighting Noise, host Julien welcomes Luca d’Alessandro, CEO and co-founder of Phononic Vibes—a deeptech startup transforming the way we tackle noise and vibration through metamaterials. We explore: • what metamaterials really are (hint: it’s not just marketing), • how Phononic Vibes grew from lab to 10M€+ revenue in a hardware space, • why working with giants like Deutsche Bahn helped—but didn’t define—their path, • and how acoustic innovation can finally scale, even without regulation pushing it. Luca shares insights on team building, business models, break-even moments, and why educating the market still matters more than crushing competitors. If you ever wondered whether sound can be designed, this episode is for you.

Incidents acoustiques : le risque caché des communications tel ou visio - avec Hubert Chartin (Wavetel)

Dans cet épisode, Julien échange avec Hubert Chartin, fondateur de Wavetel, sur un sujet encore trop méconnu : les incidents acoustiques dans les communications numériques. Ce sont des pics sonores brefs mais puissants, souvent imperceptibles, qui peuvent causer fatigue auditive, inconfort ou troubles plus durables, en particulier pour les professionnels exposés : agents de centre d’appels, télétravailleurs sur Teams, etc. Hubert explique comment ces événements se produisent, pourquoi ils passent inaperçus dans les audits classiques, et comment l’IA permet de les détecter et les prévenir à grande échelle. Il partage aussi son retour d’expérience terrain, les réponses techniques (WatchGuard), et l’enjeu de sensibilisation dans un monde où “le son est devenu un flux invisible”.

Is this the most sustainable Acoustic Absorber ever made?

In this episode of Fighting Noise, host Julien interviews Helge Schritt, co-founder and CEO of MycoLutions, a Hamburg-based startup growing sustainable acoustic panels from mycelium and agricultural waste. They discuss why noise pollution matters, the unique properties of mycelium as a sound-absorbing material, and the challenges of bringing circular, toxin-free products to market. Helge explains how MycoLutions targets offices and restaurants, their ambitions to scale production, and the startup’s mission to improve indoor air quality while reducing noise. He also shares insights on funding hurdles, market timing, and the potential for mycelium in thermal insulation.