Podcast Summary: Hoy por Hoy | La gastrulación y la peste porcina, nueva amiga alegre: Verónica Sánchez, reseña de 'Valor sentimental' y 'Golpes', y cocina marinera vegetal

SER Podcast – Hoy por Hoy Magazine
Date: December 4, 2025
Host: Àngels Barceló, José Luis Sastre (Radio Barcelona), Javier Ocaña, Jaime García Cantero, Nuño Domínguez, Luis Alegre, and guests

Main Theme

This episode weaves together diverse topics blending science, technology, society, culture, film criticism, and culinary innovation. It opens with the unmasking of public health risks around the swine fever, dives into developments in developmental biology ("gastrulación"), investigates the digital world's grip on youth and society, and moves on to rich cultural moments with actress Verónica Sánchez joining the "Amigos Alegres" club, in-depth cinematic reviews, and practical culinary creativity for marine flavors without fish.

1. Science & Tech: Swine Fever, AI, and Gastrulación

(00:32–12:39)

Swine Fever Crisis & Its Implications

• Swine Fever in Spain:
  • Nuño Domínguez highlights the seriousness, stating,

    "Es un virus con una mortalidad del cien por cien... si entra en una granja es prácticamente imparable."
    (02:26–03:43)

  • Not transmissible to humans, but economically disastrous for the pork industry.
  • Control efforts commended: Generalitat, UME, and Army acting quickly.

    "Se pidió ayuda a la UME en el minuto uno... un ejemplo de reacción rápida ante algo obviamente preocupante." (04:14–04:24)

2026 Technology Trends & Geopolitics

• Jaime García Cantero shares insights from the Observatorio Retina:
  • AI continues to dominate, but focus shifts to applied rather than generative AI.
  • Geopolitics: US (Trump’s impact) and China are critical risks.
  • Local "tech patriotism" (geopatriotism) on the rise.
  • Infrastructure as destiny:

    "El futuro...pasa por construir infraestructuras cada vez más potentes y más poderosas" (data centers, energy demands). (06:24–07:00)

  • Discussion on "enshittification"—how platforms are designed to become toxic by design, not by accident.

Developmental Biology — "Gastrulación"

• What is Gastrulación?
  • Nuño:

    "Ni el día que naces, ni el día que te casas, ni el día que te mueres es más importante que el día que gastrulas." (08:36–09:50)

  • Describes it as the decisive embryonic moment when a ball of cells becomes a structured being—origins of body plan, organs, and individuality.
  • Recent breakthrough: Scientists model gastrulación in primate (macaque) embryos up to 25 days, with crucial contribution from Spanish scientist Alfonso Martínez Arias.
  • Importance for understanding malformations and potentially improving fertility and early diagnostics.

2. Digital Society: Networks, Regulation, and Word of the Year

(13:00–21:54)

Social Networks and Minors

• Australia bans social media usage for those under 16, setting a global precedent for regulation (“El mundo está mirando a Australia…” — Jaime).
• Technological solutions for age verification exist but balancing privacy remains a challenge.
• Platforms like Meta announce tools for parental control, but skepticism remains about real industry intent.

Space Light Pollution & Starlink

• Nuño Domínguez discusses the growing issue of satellite constellations (e.g., Starlink) polluting the night sky and affecting telescopic observations:

  “...el 96 % de sus imágenes estarían afectadas por la luz que despiden estos satélites.” (17:01–19:07)

  • Musk promises solutions but has yet to act; potential implications for future astronomical missions.

Word of the Year: "Ragebait"

• Oxford’s word of the year: generating rage online for engagement.
• Polish parallels:

  “Dice mucho sobre el momento en el que estamos como sociedad y esta necesidad de odiar que parece que algunos nos están imponiendo." — Jaime (20:11–21:07)

• Technologies and emotional manipulation as social mirror.

3. Culture & Conversation: Verónica Sánchez, Cine, Memorable Moments

(22:54–36:43)

Verónica Sánchez – New “Amiga Alegre”

• Warm, candid interview on career, resilience, and friendship with Luis Alegre.
• Sánchez shares insecurities as an actress, her literary refuge, and memorable professional leaps (e.g., being cast in 'Al sur de Granada' and then, thanks to Antonio Resines, joining 'Los Serrano'):

  “...me dijo ‘te he propuesto para el casting de una serie... Si la cagas, es culpa tuya’...” (28:44–29:52)

• Anecdotes: Surprise cinema nights with Felipe and Letizia, and impromptu dinners with Lenny Kravitz:

  “Desde entonces en mi familia ya le tienen miedo a Luis Alegre.” — Verónica Sánchez
  (33:15–33:35)

• Her reverence for figures like Fernando Fernán Gómez, love of Café Gijón, and the ongoing uncertainty and pressure of the acting profession.

4. Film Criticism: “Valor sentimental” & “Golpes”

With Javier Ocaña
(42:34–55:55)

“Valor sentimental” by Joachim Trier

• Explored as one of the best European films of the year—rich in family dynamics, artistic ambition, memory, and emotional depth:

  “...retrata la familia, las relaciones, el impacto de la infancia, el desequilibrio emocional y sentimental...” — Ocaña
  (46:44–47:59)

• Linkage to Bergman, Chekhov, Ibsen, Woody Allen, and a nod to Allen’s “Otra mujer” in narrative style.
• Outstanding performances by Renate Reinsve, Stellan Skarsgård, Elle Fanning.
• “Huele a Oscars o al menos a nominaciones.” (49:59–50:13)
• Slight critique: narrative device echoes other famous films, but otherwise “una película completísima”.

“Golpes” by Rafael Cobos

• A nuanced crime film about two brothers on opposite sides of the law, set in Spain’s transition years:

  “Es una especie de cine kinky con más profundidad psicológica…” — Ocaña. (53:51–54:48)

• Praise for direction, casting (Luis Tosar, Jesús Carroza), and the blending of poetic, narrative, and ‘mundano’.
• Evokes “la derrota física de los perdedores de esa España de la transición, pero también sobre su victoria quizá moral”.

Classic Review: “Círculo rojo” (Jean-Pierre Melville)

• French noir classic focused more on atmosphere, honor among thieves, and stylistic ambiguity than action.
• Ocaña warns:

  “No tiene un ritmo vertiginoso... pero es una película fascinante.” (58:05–58:35)

5. Culinary Section: Cooking Marine Flavors Without Fish

Feat. Ainhoa Irregoitia
(59:27–76:22)

Cooking the Sea – For the Fish-Allergic & Curious

• Inspired by Fernando Neira’s fish allergy, Ainhoa explores marine flavors with seaweeds and plant-based ingredients.
• Sample recipe: Risotto de plancton con berberechos (Risotto with marine plankton and cockles), or vegetarian version with lechuga de mar (sea lettuce):

  “...el sabor marino también vive en las algas, las plantas salinas, en las ortiguillas…” (60:54+)

• Japanese, Korean, and Mediterranean traditions employ wakame, kombu, nori, codium (oyster leaf), and even ortiguillas (anemone) for umami and authentic marine notes.
• Pro tips: Tostado de algas nori, adding white miso for depth, and experimenting with algal sweets.
• Final take:

  “En todos estos lugares el objetivo no es evitar el pescado, sino aprovechar la riqueza vegetal del mar, que es lo interesante.” (74:49–75:00)

6. Memorable Quotes & Unforgettable Moments

“El futuro...pasa por construir infraestructuras cada vez más potentes y más poderosas.”

• Jaime García Cantero (06:31)

“Ni el día que naces, ni el día que te casas, ni el día que te mueres es más importante que el día que gastrulas.”

• Nuño Domínguez (08:36)

“Dice mucho sobre el momento en el que estamos como sociedad y esta necesidad de odiar que parece que algunos nos están imponiendo."

• Jaime García Cantero on "ragebait" (20:11)

“Desde entonces en mi familia ya le tienen miedo a Luis Alegre.”

• Verónica Sánchez (33:35)

“No tiene un ritmo vertiginoso, tiene poco diálogo, sin apenas música... pero es una película fascinante.”

• Javier Ocaña on “Círculo rojo” (58:05)

7. Humorous and Light Moments

• Office "sports": From launching chairs with humans inside to “baloncesto con pelotas de papel” between programs.

  “Cogíamos a Sergio, a mí, a cualquiera. Empujábamos fuertemente a ver si llegaba al despacho de Francino.” (81:06)

• Luis Alegre’s legendary, unpredictable invitations—cinema nights with royalty, concerts and dinners with Lenny Kravitz.

8. Timestamps Guide to Key Segments

• 00:32–04:24: Peste Porcina Africana in Spain – Crisis and response
• 04:53–07:50: 2026 Tech Trends, Geopolitics, and “Infrastructure is destiny”
• 08:36–12:39: Gastrulación — Developmental enigma and breakthrough in research
• 13:00–16:42: Social media and underage regulations (Australia as example)
• 17:01–19:21: Starlink/SpaceX Satellite light pollution
• 20:06–21:54: Oxford’s Word of the Year (“ragebait”)
• 22:54–36:43: “Amigos Alegres”: Verónica Sánchez interview & anecdotes
• 42:34–55:55: Film reviews – “Valor sentimental”, “Golpes”, “Círculo rojo”
• 59:27–76:22: Cooking section — Plant-based marine cuisine tips
• 81:04–85:34: Office games and playful banter

Tone and Language

The episode blends analytical, informative discussion (science/tech), warm humor and personality-driven conversation (Verónica Sánchez, office banter), with insightful, passionate cultural criticism (film reviews), maintaining a characteristic lightness and inquisitive Spanish radio spirit throughout.

Suitable for Listeners Who:

• Want a panoramic, accessible update on science, tech, and social debates
• Enjoy rich, personal cultural segments and interviews
• Appreciate detailed film and culinary recommendations
• Relish a tone that's both deeply knowledgeable and distinctly human