Whistleblowing Now and Then | The Ecosystem Behind the Courage: Teaser
17 February 2026
Whistleblowing is often portrayed as the solitary act of a courageous individual standing up against wrongdoing. This narrative, while compelling, oversimplifies the reality of whistleblowing, which is deeply embedded in a broader ecosystem. This ecosystem includes a network of actors - national authorities, civil society organizations, lawyers, trade unions, and academics - each with a distinct yet interconnected role. These actors collectively shape the whistleblowing environment, either facilitating or hindering whistleblowers’ efforts to speak up.
In the third season of “Whistleblowing Now and Then”, titled “The Ecosystem Behind the Courage”, hosts Vigjilenca Abazi and Anna Myers delve into the complexities of this ecosystem. Our focus is on unpacking the roles and interactions of these key actors within the EU Whistleblower Directive and more broadly. We aim to understand how each actor contributes to or detracts from the effectiveness of whistleblowing as a tool for accountability and transparency. By raising critical questions about the responsibilities and challenges each actor faces, we aim to articulate the collective responsibility we all share in supporting those who dare to speak out.
Now in its third season, “Whistleblowing Now and Then” is a podcast exploring the most important issues of the day for whistleblowing, featuring interviews with experts, whistleblowers, and advocates. It is a joint project of the Whistleblowing International Network and the European Whistleblowing Institute.
Dr Vigjilenca Abazi is the Executive Director of the European Whistleblowing Institute (EWI). To learn more about EWI, visit the website: https://www.ewi.legal/.
Anna Myers is the Executive Director of the Whistleblowing International Network (WIN). To learn more about WIN, visit the website: https://whistleblowingnetwork.org/Home
The third season of “Whistleblowing Now and Then” is part of Project BRIGHT (101143234), co-funded by the European Commission.
Project BRIGHT 101143232 is co-funded by the European Commission. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the granting authority. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
