The Middle Ground
Welcome to the twelfth episode of The Middle Ground, a talk show and podcast not about politics, but about the people of Brussels. Brussels' cultural mix made Teun Janssen, the Parliamentary assistant, feel less Dutch and embrace the work-related chaos as a canvas for building up his peace. Focusing on defence and Ukraine files, Teun shares that one needs to be the first in the room, the smartest and the nicest, if the goal is to have your thoughts to be taken up in the higher discussions, despite our very small role. This frequently comes at the price of the ownership for your own ideas, and eventually “ego death”. In this episode, Teun explores common misconceptions about working in the European Parliament and offers his own “no-go” arguments to help avoid the disappointment that can come from choosing it as a career. He compares the popular TV show The Parliament with real-life politics and reveals what the series fails to capture. Drawing inspiration from Pieter Bruegel’s paintings, Teun also reflects on what doesn’t sit well in Europeans’ perception of security threats. Teun also speaks of self-deprecation as a way to not become arrogant in Brussels, choice of hobbies that helps to compensate for the lack of progress in work, and avoiding a risk of being doomed to date people from 'work' or from your bubble cause it's easier The episode is hosted by Valeriya Izhyk. You can find Teun on LinkedIn: https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa2NjRmVta0VYcko1Q1lXVVloRzdFWDZKei04d3xBQ3Jtc0ttS1NQMlJRLVA3eWRUVVQxT2dHTU9tUlZSOWY1Y0owM1V3OC1pOF9TX3BXY3hqd2FuRGVCc0JLMGxzNl9kbGRLYUhCWTRmcWloYnJxNXV0S2JEYlItS1ZGWmVfbnVYbUN3aFd1SnNYLThOMHpLdFUtTQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Fmarjorielibourel%2F&v=AxHh3BmCAqQhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/janssenteun/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/janssenteun/] 🔵 About The Middle Ground We’re Valeriya and Viktorya, two immigrant best friends who came to Brussels from Ukraine and Armenia. We bonded over war, visas, jobs, and endless receptions, and eventually built a home together – with a blue couch overlooking the Belgian capital and the heart of the EU. That couch has become the place where we laugh, vent, and try to make sense of this city we’ve learned to love. One night, we realised Brussels was missing exactly that: a cosy, human space for honest conversations. That’s how The Middle Ground was born: a mix between a talk show and a podcast for all the people of Brussels – not just those with titles and badges, but also those who keep the city alive with their work, love, stories, frustrations, victories, and humour. We want to show a Brussels where everyone belongs, and where you can build a beautiful, happy life even before you’ve “made it.” Every week, we invite someone onto the couch to talk about their journey, their lessons, and the truths we usually only share over coffee or beers. It’s funny, warm, sometimes cheeky, and always real. 👉 Join our community: We need you to make this project work. You are the soul of Brussels, your life and your stories keep this city alive. Subscribe, comment, share your thoughts, and let’s find our middle ground together.If you are interested in being a guest, please fill out this form, and we will get back to you: https://forms.gle/bNy9K7iFajXjx9qEA [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbHNtRDZMZnlKNGM2V1l6c2VJQzBSbDY2aG1yd3xBQ3Jtc0tubmlKSklpWjVrS1V0ZVRDVndaWURzLUlpcTBlN1N3VjNpc2ZjaWdIQjZqNnZDNlZ2WEhxVkVBanBneldRMkV0RFhSb1pobUJ5MVJTTjBHRnRPakFZQjllczYzVTl0TjNvRkpBaUJoNUJZY25jMjBGdw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fforms.gle%2FbNy9K7iFajXjx9qEA&v=yNQAebsv6Kw] 🌍 Follow us on Instagram [https://www.linkedin.com/company/themiddlegroundbxl/], YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@TheMiddleGroundBxl], LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/themiddlegroundbxl/], and TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@themiddlegroundbxl?_t=ZN-8zaj9csglLq&_r=1] 📧 Get in touch with us: themiddleground.bxl@gmail.com [themiddleground.bxl@gmail.com] 🔗 Connect with the producers and hosts: Valeriya Izhyk → Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/lera.izhyk/?hl=en] | LinkedIn [https://be.linkedin.com/in/valeriya-izhyk-3b158b76] Viktorya Muradyan → Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/viktoryamur/?hl=en] | LinkedIn [https://be.linkedin.com/in/viktoryamuradyan]
13 episodios
Comentarios
0Sé la primera persona en comentar
¡Regístrate ahora y únete a la comunidad de The Middle Ground!