Welcome to the third episode of The Middle Ground, a new talk show and podcast, not on politics, but on the people of Brussels.
Our guest this week is Francesco Cappelletti. Born and raised on a picturesque farm in Tuscany, he found his second home in Brussels. Trained as a classical violinist, he transitioned to the world of international relations and politics in Brussels.
In this conversation, we dive into what it feels like to teach the younger generation nowadays, and how it took him only 1000 euros to run a campaign for European elections. Francesco opens up about the complicated surgery he underwent and how his dog, Dante, helped me go through it with more optimism and love than ever.
The episode is hosted by Valeriya Izhyk.
šµ About The Middle Ground
Weāre 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 ā 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 weāve learned to love. One night, we realised Brussels was missing exactly that: a cosy, human space for honest conversations.
Thatās how The Middle Ground was born: a mix between a talk show and a podcast for all the people of Brussels ā 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 youāve āmade it.ā
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. Itās funny, warm, sometimes cheeky, and always real.
š 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 letās find our middle ground together.
If you are interested in being a guest, please fill out ā this formā , and we will get back to you.
š Follow us on ā ā Instagramā ā , ā ā YouTubeā ā , ā ā LinkedInā ā , and ā ā TikTokā ā
š§ Get in touch with us: ā ā themiddleground.bxl@gmail.comā ā
š Connect with the producers and hosts:
Valeriya Izhyk ā ā ā Instagramā ā | ā ā LinkedInā ā
Viktorya Muradyan ā ā ā Instagramā ā | ā ā LinkedInā