Reeltime Diplomacy

In this episode of Reeltime Diplomacy, a Talking Foreign Affairs with Adil Cader initiative, host Chloe Morrison speaks with Nickie Karousis, a Schumann Trainee at the European Parliament in Brussels working in the Media Intelligence Unit within the Directorate-General for Communication.Nickie holds a Bachelor’s in International Relations and an Erasmus Mundus Master’s in European Studies that took her across five countries in two years. During this time, she gained experience in policy research, media monitoring, communications, and freelance work while building an international career.She discusses her path from university to the European Parliament, explaining key entry routes into EU institutions such as traineeships, contract roles, and EPSO competitions. Nickie also shares practical advice on navigating applications, gaining relevant experience, and using diverse opportunities to stand out in competitive international careers.Connect with NickieInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/nickie.karousisLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickie-karousis/Substack: https://substack.com/@nickiekarousisCreative portfolio: https://nickiekarousis.my.canva.site/EU traineeships, careers & opportunitiesEuropean Parliament Traineeships (Schuman Traineeships): https://www.europarl.europa.eu/at-your-service/en/work-with-us/traineeshipsEU Careers Portal (official traineeships & entry roles): https://eu-careers.europa.eu/en/job-opportunities/traineeshipsEPSO Competitions & EU career exam information:https://eutraining.eu/content/epso-competitions-2026-full-list-eu-opportunities-and-exam-tipsRecommended readingThe Mountain is You by Brianna Wiest

Giulia Tariello is one of the most popular voices in youth diplomacy, the former EU Youth Delegate to the UN and now a policy officer known for her viral posts about what it is really like to be young inside the UN.In this episode, host Nada Hamza sits down with Giulia to hear the honest truth behind the glamour, what it takes to succeed, and what helped her stand out online.She explains how she went from a small UN association in Italy to being selected as the EU Youth Delegate to the UN, the times she felt out of place, and the moments she saw her voice carry real weight.Giulia also breaks down the hidden work behind diplomacy and how youth ideas make it into actual UN documents. It may not look exciting from the outside, but this is the work that drives real change.For listeners looking for clear and practical steps on entering global affairs with the help of social media, this episode offers a strong roadmap.

How do you go straight from graduation, to speaking at the G20, The World Food Forum and working at the UN?In this episode, host Nada Hamza is joined by Chiara Zucchi, a former G20 delegate and now a humanitarian officer who has worked with the UN, FAO and Red Cross.At 26, Chiara has already built global experience across Switzerland, Indonesia, New York, and now East Africa, gaining in a few years what many spend a full career chasing.They unpack why Model UN felt hollow, how a G20 role changed everything, and the real barriers young people face from visas to unpaid work and tips to overcome them.