Podcasts - SWI swissinfo.ch

Clare O'Dea speaks to victims of historic abuse and neglect in Switzerland's inadequate care system of the 1920s to 1970s and takes a closer look at the social and economic pressures at play.  After years of campaigning by survivors, Swiss society now recognises that children in the past care system were badly let down. The Swiss government has finally agreed to pay state compensation to victims. Foster families and carers in institutions have been portrayed as villains exploiting "slave children" but the reality is more complex.  PLACEHOLDER

Shocked watchmakers, delighted cross-border shoppers and the potential of virtual currencies such as Bitcoin – the highs and lows of the surging Swiss franc. PLACEHOLDER

Innovative toilets save water and recycle human waste, while animated turds urge Indians to hit the can. PLACEHOLDER

Zurich's famous shopping street, Bahnhofstrasse, has its 150th anniversary in 2015. Big-name, luxury brands have become increasingly dominant, but a few family-run businesses remain – we go behind the doors of one of them. We also pay a visit to a US exhibition of a Swiss artist's work, who illustrated daily life for 19th Century immigrants. PLACEHOLDER

As the final film in The Hobbit trilogy hits cinemas, swissinfo.ch meets John Howe, one of two illustrators who created the images and artwork that turned J.R.R.Tolkien's books into big-screen hits. PLACEHOLDER

Today, local disasters – tornadoes, tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions – are global as well. Internationally, among scientists and governments, there is a move toward multidisciplinary cooperation in the management of risk.     PLACEHOLDER

How has Swiss pop music evolved over the past 60 years? Musician and writer Sam Mumenthaler picks his highlights. Orbital's Paul Hartnoll describes Yello as an inspiration. Musician Reverend Beat-Man talks about his label Voodoo Records. Critic Ane Hebeisen looks to the future.  

Alpine glaciers and Arctic ice sheets melt – making new mountain lakes and drowning island dwellers. Also, scuba divers discover the delights of Switzerland’s winter waters. PLACEHOLDER

Here's what it takes to be "Samichlaus" - Switzerland's St Nick - and his sidekick "Schmutzli" during the weeks leading up to St Nicholas Day. PLACEHOLDER

As the population grows older, individuals and families are returning to the concept of community. PLACEHOLDER

From joining the ranks of the Swiss Guard only to start an unusual culinary project, to learning how to repair musical instruments by hand, finding your calling in life is no easy task, but carving out a niche for yourself can pay dividends for your future prospects and happiness, as the young people in this week’s podcast found out. PLACEHOLDER

Zurich celebrates its annual fashion days, while Mode Suisse champions Swiss designers all year round. swissinfo’s Susan Misicka chats with insiders about the state of the local fashion industry. PLACEHOLDER

Two Swiss films shed light on Switzerland – from inside Oscar-winning artist H. R. Giger’s home where the shutters are permanently closed, to inside a Swiss ballot box collecting votes to automatically deport foreigners who commit crimes.  PLACEHOLDER

Two Swiss films shed light on Switzerland – from inside Oscar-winning artist H. R. Giger’s home where the shutters are permanently closed, to inside a Swiss ballot box collecting votes to automatically deport foreigners who commit crimes.  PLACEHOLDER

Spies, smugglers and a forever changed population – a look inside neutral Switzerland during the two World Wars, which started 75 and 100 years ago. PLACEHOLDER