We are proud to announce the release of the Bridging Borders – Voices from Görlitz and Zgorzelec podcast created by participants of the In Between? 2025 summer school. Over the course of two weeks, young people from across Europe came together in Görlitz and Zgorzelec to explore the history, memory, and everyday life of the German-Polish borderlands.
The podcast grew out of their research, interviews, and reflections. It features voices of local residents, experts, and descendants who share their perspectives on borders, cooperation, and the challenges of living in a divided yet deeply connected region.
Among the stories featured are those of Hanna Ilnicka, who recalls building Polish-German women’s initiatives during the Cold War; the history of Stalag VIIIa, a World War Two prisoner-of-war camp where Olivier Messiaen composed his famous Quartet for the End of Time; Valérie Lher, granddaughter of a French POW, reflecting on memory and family history; and local guides and heritage workers who preserve and care for the unique landscape of the border region.
Bridging Borders: Voices from Görlitz and Zgorzelec is a portrait of a borderland shaped by history, memory, and cooperation, and an invitation to reflect on what borders mean in our own lives.
Listen to the podcast: