x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

Letters from the Atlantic

Letters from the Atlantic

"Letters from the Atlantic" is a quirky and amusing weekly blog by author and international columnist, Barrie Mahoney, about an expat"s perspective of life from an island in the Atlantic Ocean. For more information, go to: www.barriemahoney.com

arts

All Episodes

4:23

Too Fat To Die

Letters from the Atlantic ·

2025/10/14

Authorities in Spain’s Valencia region are considering a ban on the cremation of bodies that are too fat, simply because the burning process generates too many toxic emissions. Well, I guess it is a fair point, but was not something that I had previously considered. Many of us will be aware of trying to reduce carbon emissions; for example, in the amount of flying that we may do when going on holiday or when using our cars, but have we seriously considered being too fat when we die?If you

en-gb

4:34

What's In a Name?

Letters from the Atlantic ·

2025/09/24

Now here’s an essential question to start the day. Are you sufficiently worthy to have an airport named after you, and presumably after you die? Alternatively, if you don’t consider that you meet these high specifications, do you know someone who does?If you enjoyed this article, take a look at my websites: http://barriemahoney.com and http://thecanaryislander.com or read my books, podcasts and blogs about living and working in Spain and the Canary Islands.Join me on Facebook:

en-gb

5:32

Unemployment Good, Employment Bad

Letters from the Atlantic ·

2025/07/14

I heard a UK economist on the radio this week complaining about high employment levels in the country. Apparently, high employment is bad for the economy, since it forces wage and salary levels upwards, which is bad for UK exports and the overall economy. Conversely, high unemployment level is preferable, according to this economist, since it creates “a competitive employment background”, which results in wage stability and even a reduction in production costs.© Barrie Mahoney 2025To find

en-gb

6:19

The Motor of the Atlantic

Letters from the Atlantic ·

2025/04/19

The trade winds have both a positive and negative impact upon everything in the Canary Islands. The shape of the volcanoes, climate, the guiding of sailing boats and the natural cycles that enrich the Atlantic Ocean are all affected by the trade winds, which many refer to as “the Motor of the Atlantic Ocean”. Mariners have used and relied upon them for centuries for reliable and swift sailing. Surprisingly, the trade winds may also have determined how churches were originally built in the

en-gb

3:08

Submarines and Drug Smuggling Grannies

Letters from the Atlantic ·

2024/08/23

All this puts into context the number of pensioners who have been caught smuggling drugs from the Canary Islands in recent months. Apparently, drug smugglers prefer to recruit elderly and disabled people to carry out their drug running operations, because no-one would suspect an elderly, innocent-looking granny of carrying drugs in her bra, or that smart looking elderly gentleman of carrying a supply in his colostomy bag! Maybe a submarine is the next logical step for the determined

en-gb

7:19

Fake News in the Canary Islands

Letters from the Atlantic ·

2024/08/20

It has been amusing to read comments about the islands’ weather in the press and social media over the last few days. Apparently, the Canary Islands have only just survived storm and tempest and all manner of tragedy. Flights have been cancelled, airports destroyed, cars and roads have been washed away and, basically all hell has broken loose on these ‘Paradise Islands’. According to the Mail, Sun and Express, life as we know it on these islands is about to come to an end. Hmm, really?©

en-gb

4:34

Documentoscopia

Letters from the Atlantic ·

2024/08/11

I really have no time for graffiti of any kind. I don’t care whether it has been daubed by that anonymous street artist or vandal, depending upon your view of life, going under the name of Banksy, or if it is Juan or Maria who feel the urge to scrawl their names in appalling handwriting on a newly painted wall. Admittedly, some graffiti can be extremely artistic, amusing, challenging, controversial, but please let us have it on spaces allocated for just that purpose.© Barrie Mahoney 2024To

en-gb

5:01

Chickpeas or Coco Pops for Breakfast?

Letters from the Atlantic ·

2024/04/24

I was interested to see that the thorny issue of chickpeas has featured quite heavily in the press recently. An article by a Spanish food blogger featured a picture of her son, alongside the claim that her son doesn’t know what a biscuit is, which led to an interesting spat. Apparently, the boy starts his day with a bowl of chickpeas rather than coco pops for breakfast...© Barrie Mahoney 2024To find out more about Barrie, his blogs, podcasts and books, go to: http://barriemahoney.com/

en-gb

5:16

Calima; Gone With the Wind

Letters from the Atlantic ·

2024/03/12

The Canary Islands are often regarded as having the “best climate in the world”, but we are not immune from the devastating effects of calimas. The intensity of heat on the islands increases respiratory problems and allergies, as well as general oral health. The tiny particles of dust generated irritates the mucous membranes, which can have serious implications for oral health. Often, as a result of taking antihistamines to control allergies, the immune system fills the hollows of our head

en-gb

5:13

Anyone for a Timple?

Letters from the Atlantic ·

2024/02/26

“How about a timple?” I was asked by an earnest assistant in one of the traditional music shops in Las Palmas. I had just called in for a replacement violin string, and was looking at the range of Canarian traditional stringed instruments for sale. I quickly realised that I was not being offered an early morning alcoholic drink, and that the young salesman, speaking in English, had discovered an amusing way to catch the attention of English-speaking visitors to the shop. I have only

en-gb

5:04

A Little More Than Amnesia

Letters from the Atlantic ·

2024/02/13

I guess most people have heard of Indonesia and maybe Polynesia, but what about Macaronesia and, indeed, Micronesia? How about visiting Macaronesia one day? No, this is not a new name for France invented by the ambitious President Macron, but a cluster of four archipelagos in the North Atlantic Ocean, just off the continents of Africa and Europe, which are formed by raised and exposed peaks of the ocean floor that peer out above the ocean’s surface. © Barrie Mahoney 2024To find out more

en-gb

5:44

What Are the British Well Known For?

Letters from the Atlantic ·

2024/02/05

The British used to be well known across the world for Shakespeare, Princess Diana and cricket. We like to be known for our infamous ‘stiff upper lips’, sense of fair play, tolerance and justice. Many, mostly older people, still like to revel in the days of Empire and the ‘enlightenment’ that it brought to the world, whilst conveniently forgetting the evils of slavery, repression and imposition of alien values upon people across the world. No doubt, we all have an image of what Britain and

en-gb

5:12

Wells are for Life and Not to Hide Corpses

Letters from the Atlantic ·

2024/01/27

Many people do not realise that the Spanish Civil War of 1936 actually began in the Canary Islands. Francisco Franco was General Commandant of the Canary Islands, who was based in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. It was here that Franco plotted his strategy, well away from the rest of Spain, before he headed to the Spanish Peninsular. It was under his watch that Spain became divided into two factions: ‘Republican’ and ‘Loyalists’. © Barrie Mahoney 2024To find out more about Barrie, his blogs,

en-gb

5:27

The Cold and Cruel Sea

Letters from the Atlantic ·

2023/12/08

It is true that less tourists return home alive than have set off for their holiday in the Canary Islands. This disturbing fact is not one that the tourist industry will thank me for highlighting, but it is time that the stark facts are raised once again and that holidaymakers are alerted to the potential risks of a holiday in the Canary Islands, and other popular tourist destinations.© Barrie Mahoney 2023Join me on Facebook: @barrie.mahoneyTo find out more about Barrie, his blogs, podcasts

en-gb

6:33

The Work-Life Balance

Letters from the Atlantic ·

2023/11/13

Getting the work-life balance right is not easy for many people, and for many juggling with earning enough to pay the rent or mortgage, food and other bills, there is often very little choice in the amount of free time available. Time to spend with families and friends is important, and I often admire the Spanish tradition of putting family life first whenever possible.© Barrie Mahoney 2023Join me on Facebook: @barrie.mahoneyTo find out more about Barrie, his blogs, podcasts and books, go

en-gb

8:16

Superstition

Letters from the Atlantic ·

2023/10/26

Here we go again, another Friday 13th. I really am fed up with reading what all the doom mongers have to say about the likelihood of disaster on this ‘unlucky’ day. It reminds me of an event a few weeks ago when a weird religious sect that takes the Book of Revelations literally, busily promoted the idea that the world was about to end on 21 September. How disappointed they must have been on 22 September. I just hope that they gave some serious thought to those unfortunate believers who

en-gb

4:37

The Stinky Tree

Letters from the Atlantic ·

2023/10/13

It is often fascinating to discover some of the remedies and answers to problems that can be found by looking at the past. If we look carefully, we often find answers to many present-day problems, and how our ancestors dealt with the inconveniences of life. I discovered this recently when looking at a tree on the small island of El Hierro...© Barrie Mahoney 2023Join me on Facebook: @barrie.mahoneyTo find out more about Barrie and his books, go to: http://barriemahoney.com/

en-gb

5:55

Living in Caves

Letters from the Atlantic ·

2023/10/05

“Top 20 Caves to Rent in the Canary Islands” screams one advertisement, followed by “Hundreds of Cave Homes to Buy in the Canary Islands” shouts another. Well, I guess it all makes good copy, but is living in a cave just another symptom of ‘reverse one-upmanship’, and something to brag about to colleagues at work? “Oh, I’m just off to the cave for the weekend.”© Barrie Mahoney 2023Join me on Facebook: @barrie.mahoneyTo find out more about Barrie and his books, go to:

en-gb

5:35

Life Is Too Short To Stuff a Mushroom

Letters from the Atlantic ·

2023/09/11

I often think of that throwaway and impatient comment by the author, Shirley Conran, that “life’s too short to stuff a mushroom”. It is a quote that often occurs to me when I am confused, bewildered or reach a dead end in an argument that I am having with myself. I had one of these ‘mushroom moments’ a few days ago.© Barrie Mahoney 2023Join me on Facebook: @barrie.mahoneyTo find out more about Barrie and his books, go to: http://barriemahoney.com/

en-gb

4:42

I’m Just Having a Tertulia

Letters from the Atlantic ·

2023/09/04

One of my favourite cafe bars is called ‘La Tertulia’. It is not a particularly grand establishment and is completely unlike any of those overpriced and often pretentious coffee shops that are springing up in city centres all over the UK. Our ‘Tertulia’ is a friendly and welcoming safe space where good coffee and delicious snacks are served at a fair price. Customers are welcome to stay for as long as they wish; it is an oasis of calm in a busy world.© Barrie Mahoney 2023Join me on

en-gb

86 results

Similar Podcasts

Start The Breakthrough Full Audiobook Now, Thriller Fans!

thebookvoice.com

Get Hooked On The Life-Enhancing Full Audiobook Experience!

thebookvoice.com

西四五条

主播郑捕头

Podcast Patapoe

0d0a

On Mic Podcast

Jordan Rich