Welcome to the fifth episode of The Middle Ground, a new talk show and podcast, not on politics, but on the people of Brussels.
Few people dig deeper into the corridors of power in Brussels than Lise Witteman. Convinced that democracy cannot exist without transparency, she left The Hague in 2018 to expose the hidden forces shaping European politics. From setting up Follow the Money’s Brussels desk, co-founding the Schuman Show, to writing the book Who’s Watching Brussels?, Lise has made it her mission to uncover what others would rather keep in the shadows.
In this episode, Lise talks about doing investigative journalism in the second biggest lobbying capital in the world. She tells about her journey of moving to Brussels, her process of writing and uncovering stories, and whether Brussels has a culture of accountability.
Lise also shares her thoughts on motherhood, finding a supportive community of women when going back to work after a maternity leave, and how she keeps all the secrets she knows about powerful people in Brussels and beyond.
The episode is hosted by Viktorya Muradyan.
Check out Follow The Money’s EU desk work on their website: www.ftm.eu
You can but Lise’s book ‘Who's Watching Brussels?’ here.
You can also connect with Lise on Instragram with @lise.in.brussels and or on LinkedIn.
🔵 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 eventually built a home together – 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 we’ve learned 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 mix between a talk show and a podcast for all the people of Brussels – 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 you’ve “made it.”
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 project 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.
If you are interested in being a guest, please fill out this form, and we will get back to you.
🌍 Follow us on Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, and TikTok
📧 Get in touch with us: themiddleground.bxl@gmail.com
🔗 Connect with the producers and hosts:
Valeriya Izhyk → Instagram | LinkedIn
Viktorya Muradyan → Instagram | LinkedIn