Podcast  A Grain of Power

Would you fight for a piece of bread?

As the war in Ukraine marks its third year, "Grain de Pouvoir" takes you on a journey through six episodes. From the heart of Ukraine, through Romania, Italy, and Brussels, all the way to the markets of Egypt, this documentary podcast reveals how essential commodities like seeds, wheat, and bread have become weapons of power, playing a crucial role in both the North and the South. Discover how these resources shape conflicts, nourish nations, and influence global alliances.

Grain de Pouvoir — A six-episode documentary series produced by Europod and Outriders as part of the WePod project, funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

All episodes

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    Episode 6: Who controls the grain?

    In the last episode of A Grain of Power, we cast a light on the functioning of the market of grain and wheat at the global level. Until now, this series has focused on the responsibilities of nations and supranational institutions, but in this sixth episode, we focus on the power of private companies and, also, financial markets.

    Through 6 episodes, A Grain of Power is a documentary podcast that takes you on a journey from the heart of Ukraine to the markets of Egypt, passing through Romania, Italy, and Brussels. It explores how an essential commodity – seeds, wheat, bread – has become a weapon of power, playing a crucial role both in the North and the South.

    Discover how these resources nourish nations, provoke conflicts, and reshape alliances.

    And you? Would you be willing to fight for a piece of bread?

    2025-05-22 - 23:47

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    Episode 5: The governance - Bruxelles

    After analysing the impact of the lack of grain and wheat on the global South, in the 5th episode of A Grain of Power, we look at the impact an abundance of the same can have on economies. In 2024, farmers’ movements across Europe took the streets of their capitals and Brussels. To some, it looked like the Kremlin had been able to spur these protests through its geopolitics of grain. What was that really the case? And, more globally, what role does the EU play in wheat trade?


    Through 6 episodes, A Grain of Power is a documentary podcast that takes you on a journey from the heart of Ukraine to the markets of Egypt, passing through Romania, Italy, and Brussels. It explores how an essential commodity – seeds, wheat, bread – has become a weapon of power, playing a crucial role both in the North and the South. Discover how these resources nourish nations, provoke conflicts, and reshape alliances

    And you? Would you be willing to fight for a piece of bread?

    2025-05-14 - 27:19

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    Episode 4: The void - Cairo, Egypt

    With the fourth episode of A Grain of Power, the reportage trip which started in Ukraine and passed along the Western coast of the Black Sea reaches its final destination. In the Egyptian town of Mansoura and the capital city Cairo, bread maker Zainab and restaurant owner Kamal share their views on the importance of bread in their society. The episode analyses the impact of the shortage of wheat due to the war in Ukraine on the Egyptian economy. But by moving back to Europe, the episode also tackles the effect that an abundance of imported grain can have on economies.


    Through 6 episodes, A Grain of Power is a documentary podcast that takes you on a journey from the heart of Ukraine to the markets of Egypt, passing through Romania, Italy, and Brussels. It explores how an essential commodity – seeds, wheat, bread – has become a weapon of power, playing a crucial role both in the North and the South. Discover how these resources nourish nations, provoke conflicts, and reshape alliances

    And you? Would you be willing to fight for a piece of bread?

    2025-05-08 - 26:19

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    Episode 3: The ports - The Black Sea

    In the third episode of A Grain of Power, the team of reporters behind this documentary travels from Odessa, in Ukraine, towards Istanbul, in Turkey, passing through Constanza, in Romania. The trip sheds light on the impact of the war on Ukraine on the transport infrastructure of grain from Europe to the global South.

    Through 6 episodes, A Grain of Power is a documentary podcast that takes you on a journey from the heart of Ukraine to the markets of Egypt, passing through Romania, Italy, and Brussels. It explores how an essential commodity – seeds, wheat, bread – has become a weapon of power, playing a crucial role both in the North and the South. Discover how these resources nourish nations, provoke conflicts, and reshape alliances.

    And you? Would you be willing to fight for a piece of bread?

    2025-05-01 - 31:48

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    Episode 2: The fields- Mykolaiv, Ukraine

    The second episode of A Grain of Power brings you to Ukraine. More specifically, we get to know the story of farmers in the Southwestern region of Mykolaiv, where families have suffered the destruction of their fields of wheat through bombs and mines. We also discuss the history of the weaponisation of grain through the voice of historian and professor Steven Kaplan.

    Through 6 episodes, A Grain of Power is a documentary podcast that takes you on a journey from the heart of Ukraine to the markets of Egypt, passing through Romania, Italy, and Brussels. It explores how an essential commodity – seeds, wheat, bread – has become a weapon of power, playing a crucial role both in the North and the South. Discover how these resources nourish nations, provoke conflicts, and reshape alliances


    And you? Would you be willing to fight for a piece of bread?

     

    2025-04-24 - 24:43

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    Episode 1: The bakery - Trevignano, Italy

    The first episode of A Grain of Power starts in Trevignano, near Rome, Italy. It starts with the story of Culetti, a small modern bakery led by Mirko Magnano, who discusses the philosophy behind the business. More than 2000 kilometres away, Zainab describes the visceral relationship between Egyptian people and bread, as well as the challenges the local population encounters to access this essential good. How and why are the stories of Mirko and Zainab connected?

    Through 6 episodes,  A Grain of Power is a documentary podcast that takes you on a journey from the heart of Ukraine to the markets of Egypt, passing through Romania, Italy, and Brussels. It explores how an essential commodity – seeds, wheat, bread – has become a weapon of power, playing a crucial role both in the North and the South. Discover how these resources nourish nations, provoke conflicts, and reshape alliances

    And you? Would you be willing to fight for a piece of bread?

    2025-04-17 - 24:43

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    A Grain of Power: trailer

    Through six episodes, A Grain of Power is a documentary podcast that takes you on a journey from the heart of Ukraine to the markets of Egypt, passing through Romania, Italy, and Brussels. It explores how an essential commodity – seeds, wheat, bread – has become a weapon of power, playing a crucial role both in the North and the South. Discover how these resources nourish nations, provoke conflicts, and reshape alliances.


    And you? Would you be willing to fight for a piece of bread?

    A Grain of Power is a six-episode documentary series produced by Europod and Outriders, as part of the WePod project, funded by the European Union.


     

    2025-04-10 - 3:27