Welcome to the very first episode of The Middle Ground, Brussels’ new talk show and podcast, not on politics, but on the people of Brussels.
Our first guest on the blue couch this week is Julius Fintelmann, a 23-year-old journalist and co-founder of The European Correspondent. Once destined to be an opera singer, Julius traded a career in culture to study law and build a truly European journalism with a pan-European newsroom, bold storytelling, and yes… a now-famous collection of turtlenecks.
In this conversation, we dive into what it takes to build a media startup from scratch, the lessons classical music can teach journalism, what it feels like to be labelled a national security threat in Türkiye, and why Brussels, with all its quirks, contradictions, and guilty pleasures, is the perfect place to call home. Julius also opens up about burnout, resilience, and the toll of chasing a dream in your early twenties.
🔵 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 built a home together, with a blue couch overlooking Brussels. That couch has become the heart of our lives, a place where we laughed, vented, and tried to make sense of this city we learnt 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 unique mix of a talk show and podcast for ALL the people of Brussels, not just the ones with titles and badges, but also the ones who keep the city alive with their work, love, stories, frustrations, victories, and humour. We want to show a Brussels where everyone belongs, where you can build a beautiful and happy life, even before achieving your dreams.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 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.
🌍 Follow us on Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, and TikTok
📧 Get in touch with us: themiddleground.bxl@gmail.com
🔗 Connect with the producers and hosts: