The Germany Experience (Shaun Behrens)
Explore every episode of The Germany Experience
| Pub. Date | Title | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 09 Feb 2022 | How to be a good dinner guest in a German home (Nina from Germany) | 00:41:13 | |
Getting invited to a German's home for dinner is difficult enough, but if it happens, you're probably nearing the German's "inner circle". But how do you behave? What is good etiquette? Are there unwritten rules you need to know about? For foreigners, being a dinner guest in a German's home can feel like daunting minefield.  Visit the official podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.de  Contact me: info@thegermanyexperience.de Support the showInstagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 16 Feb 2022 | Visa struggles, escaping the pandemic on an organic farm, and being a musician in Germany (Laura Osburn from Canada) | 00:40:49 | |
Laura Osburn is a singer/songwriter from Canada who came to Germany in January 2020 to work on her album and play live shows â and both those plans have been derailed by COVID. We talk about her struggles to get a long-term visa for Germany, how she spent the beginning of the pandemic on an organic farm, and the difficulties she's faced with getting her album recorded.  Visit the official podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.de  Contact me: info@thegermanyexperience.de Support the showInstagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 23 Feb 2022 | Choosing a rural life, coming to Germany as a lawyer, and a giant tea cup (Rachel from South Africa) | 00:45:22 | |
It only took 106 episodes, but Shaun finally has a South African guest on the podcast! Rachel is a lawyer (also a first) who has only been in Germany for a few weeks. She discusses her first impressions of Germany, choosing between a corporate and a startup when she was looking for a job, and why she is leaning towards a more rural life in Germany. She also explains why winter jackets are such foreign things to people from the southern hemisphere and we marvel over her very large tea cup.
 Visit the official podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.de  Contact me: info@thegermanyexperience.de Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 02 Mar 2022 | Writing a Eurovision song, and traveling to the Arctic and Antarctic (Fadi from the UK) | 00:39:24 | |
Fadi Gaziri returns to the show to talk about writing a song for the Eurovision song contest. We talk about why we love the Eurovision song contest so much, what makes a good Eurovision song, and how countries select their entries. Listen to the end of the episode to hear Fadi's Eurovision song entry. Fadi's Website: http://fadigaziri.com/  Visit the official podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.de  Contact me: info@thegermanyexperience.de Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 06 Apr 2022 | Language barrier problems, and overcoming the challenges involved with reporting sexual assault (Mei Chi from Hong Kong) | 00:43:28 | |
When Mei Chi arrived in Germany, she faced several challenges caused by the language and cultural barrier. Not understanding German can result in some minor inconveniences that make funny stories later on, but other misunderstandings can be more serious. All this highlighted how important it is to have help at the right time, and Mei Chi started a platform called BookaLocal.  Visit the official podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.de  Contact me: info@thegermanyexperience.de Support the showInstagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 20 Apr 2022 | States of Liberation: gay rights and discrimination in Cold War Germany (Samuel Clowes Huneke) | 00:40:08 | |
It's conventional knowledge that West Germany was more liberal and progressive than East Germany. Then it stands to reason that West Germany was more accepting of gay rights. But was this really the case?  Visit the official podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.de  Contact me: info@thegermanyexperience.de Support the showInstagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 12 May 2022 | Using your own culture to integrate in Germany (Saehee from the USA) | 00:42:01 | |
When Saehee, a Korean American, first moved from the States to Germany, she struggled to adjust for many different reasons. This led to her feeling depressed and lonely. But that would all change once she started getting back to what she loves. Listen to the story of how Saehee was able to move herself beyond difficult times with the help of therapy, embracing her culture, and focusing on her love for cooking and food. I contributed to The Expat Cast episode about having children abroad: Deciding to Have Kids or Not When Living Abroad  Visit the official podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.de  Contact me: info@thegermanyexperience.de Support the showInstagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 17 May 2022 | Eurovision Song Contest 2022 recap, the importance of community, and redefining your identity (Beth from the USA) | 00:36:11 | |
Beth comes back on the podcast to discuss how she recently found herself post-pandemic in a world that had shrunk to just her job and her family. While this isn't a bad thing, Beth was lacking a feeling of community. She also discovered that she needs to redefine her identity now that she no longer does the activities that used to define her: volleyball and fencing. Beth also helps me recap the Eurovision Song Contest 2022.
 Visit the official podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.de  Contact me: info@thegermanyexperience.de Support the showInstagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 08 Jun 2022 | German traditions or superstitions? (Nina from Germany) | 00:29:55 | |
If you've ever wished a German "Happy birthday" before their actual birthday, you will no doubt have quickly learnt that it's just not done. It's just a tradition based on superstition, but many Germans abide by it. So, is it tradition, or actually superstition? Shaun has his opinion, and he talks with Nina, a German, about it. They also cover the "Eisheilige" belief that you shouldn't sow certain plants before middle of May, drinking traditions, and more.
 Visit the official podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.de  Contact me: info@thegermanyexperience.de Support the showInstagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 15 Jun 2022 | Helping families to meet like-minded families (Dzhangar from MatchFamilies) | 00:35:31 | |
During Dzhangar's first years in Germany, he noticed what many foreigners notice: how difficult it was for his family to meet other like-minded families. And making friends is crucial. It helps to make you feel more at home, and it gives you a support system for when you need help.  Visit the official podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.de  Contact me: info@thegermanyexperience.de Support the showInstagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 22 Jun 2022 | Lessons from changing jobs in Germany (Alexandrea from the USA) | 00:50:14 | |
Alexandrea from the USA (and former guest on the podcast) left her job in Hamburg for one in Frankfurt. However, she realized almost immediately that the new job was not a good fit. She left during her trial period and found her way to her current job in Berlin. After moving cities and jobs several times, Alex has learnt a few valuable lessons, and she joins me to share them. She has a list of what you should ask prospective employers, she gives some tips about what you should know about jobs in Germany, and she discusses why you need to have the courage to walk away from a job that is not a good fit. She also drops some airtight advice for working in a German workplace.
 Visit the official podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.de Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 29 Jun 2022 | Probezeit: The first six months in a German job (Lisa Janz, Job Coach Germany) | 00:41:11 | |
The first six months in a new job is important. In Germany, it is usually a trial period - or "Probezeit" - and it is a chance for you to get to know your team, company, and more. Lisa Janz, who runs Job Coach Germany, joins me to discuss what you should look out for, what you should be asking yourself and your employer, and other advice about the Probezeit. Lisa's past episodes: Lisa on The Germany Experience
 Visit the official podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.de  Contact me: info@thegermanyexperience.de Support the showInstagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 06 Jul 2022 | Q&A: Self-learning B2, dealing with language barrier frustrations, and is there foolproof advice for making friends in Germany? | 00:20:47 | |
You sent in some questions about life in Germany, and I try and answer them in this episode. Currently, tickets for the entire event are on sale, but soon day tickets will be available. If you want to buy tickets, contact me before you buy to get a 20% discount code: info@thegermanyexperience.de
 Visit the official podcast website: ht Support the showInstagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 20 Jul 2022 | The Berlin episode (recorded live @ PodFest Berlin 2022) | 01:08:43 | |
I've always felt a special connection to Berlin. But what is it like to live there? I am joined by three foreigners living in Berlin who discuss their stories, what they love about living in Berlin, and various other aspects of life in the city.Â
Some things we mentioned:Â
Recorded live at PodFest Berlin 2022 on July 16th, 2022.
 Visit the official podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.de  Contact me: info@thegermanyexperience.de Support the showInstagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 27 Jul 2022 | RERUN: Advice for foreigners in Germany, taken from two years of The Germany Experience | 00:33:50 | |
Original release: June 2, 2021
 Visit the official podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.de  Contact me: info@thegermanyexperience.de Support the showInstagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 03 Aug 2022 | RERUN: Ask a German - Bureaucracy, German pillows, standing in line, and recruitment through fruit | 00:56:18 | |
Original release: November 2nd, 2020
 Visit the official podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.de  Contact me: info@thegermanyexperience.de Support the showInstagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 10 Aug 2022 | RERUN: Antoinette Emily from New Zealand | 00:40:41 | |
Originally released November 23rd, 2020.
 Visit the official podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.de  Contact me: info@thegermanyexperience.de Support the showInstagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 17 Aug 2022 | RERUN: Q&A - Making long-term German friends, reverse parking, and origins of German idioms | 00:29:48 | |
Originally released March 8th, 2021
 Visit the official podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.de  Contact me: info@thegermanyexperience.de Support the showInstagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 24 Aug 2022 | RERUN: Wurst/arsch/schwein idioms, why âDer/Die/Dasâ is weird, and sitting down to pee in Germany (Ricardo from Brazil & Ivan from Bulgaria) | 00:52:41 | |
Originally released on October 19th, 2020.
 Visit the official podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.de  Contact me: info@thegermanyexperience.de Support the showInstagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 13 Sep 2022 | A German returning to Germany after a decade (Cathrin from Germany) | 00:50:05 | |
Cathrin, originally from Germany, has been living in the States for more than 10 years, but she recently made the decision to return. She discusses the reasons for wanting to come back, how she needs to say goodbye to her old life, and how she faces similar culture shocks to other foreigners moving to Germany. She also discusses customer service in Germany, German coffee, and what it's like looking for a job months in advance.
SIGN UP FOR THE WELCOME TO GERMANY SUMMIT 2022 HERE
 Visit the official podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.de  Contact me: info@thegermanyexperience.de Support the showInstagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 25 Sep 2022 | The Welcome To Germany Summit on 29th September 2022 | 00:19:47 | |
A group of experts (including me!) has come together to organize a free online event for everyone interested in moving to and living in Germany - expats, internationals, immigrants, repats...you name it.
 Contact me: info@thegermanyexperience.de Support the showInstagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 28 Sep 2022 | Recovering from a car accident while abroad (Sadaf from Pakistan) | 00:40:19 | |
Many foreigners do a lot of traveling around Europe while they are here. But have you ever considered what would happen if you had a medical emergency in another country? This happened to Sadaf, when she was involved in a car accident while she was in Milan. She discusses the ordeal, and then her recovery, starting from Italian hospitals and ending back in Germany. She also discusses how her university assisted her during her recovery.
SIGN UP FOR THE WELCOME TO GERMANY SUMMIT 2022 HERE
 Visit the official podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.de Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 05 Oct 2022 | Convincing a company to take a chance on you (Veronica from Mexico) | 00:48:34 | |
âI feel like a lot of people feel this - this feeling of Germany crushing your soul, like killing you from the inside.â This is how Veronica from Mexico describes her first years in Germany. One of the biggest reasons for this was that her academic qualification was not valid in Germany, causing her to feel that she wasn't valued for who she is. That all changed when Veronica fell in love with a German startup and made it her mission to convince them to hire her.
 Visit the official podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.de  Contact me: info@thegermanyexperience.de Support the showInstagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 12 Oct 2022 | Advice for adapting and integrating in Germany, from discussions with 100+ foreigners | 00:22:25 | |
At the end of September 2022, I gave a talk at the Welcome To Germany Summit. This is the rehearsal that I recorded a few days before. The topics that were covered:
Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 19 Oct 2022 | Hidden grief, loss of identity, and getting to know the German version of a loved one (Katie Rössler from the USA) | 00:48:28 | |
Katie Rössler, author of The New Face of Grief, comes on the podcast to discuss the role that hidden grief might play in the lives of foreigners in a new country. She also discusses the toll a move to a new country can take on a couple. And of course, she offers advice of how to navigate these difficult issues.
Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 19 May 2019 | The Germany Experience Trailer | 00:01:08 | |
The Germany Experience is a podcast about experiencing Germany through the eyes of outsiders - like immigrants, expats, tourists, and more. Here is a trailer to give you a taste of the kinds of conversations and stories you'll hear. Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 09 Nov 2022 | Using hypnosis to help foreigners in Germany (Suzanne Dinter from the UK) | 00:52:08 | |
Suzanne Dinter joins me this week to explain what hypnotherapy is, and how it can help foreigners adjust to life in Germany - among other issues. Suzanne is a Brit who has been living in Germany since 1994, and she specializes in helping overwhelmed international, high-achieving women feel calm, confident, and like themselves again after moving abroad. She does this quickly, effectively, and with long-lasting results using hypnosis. Get this free 12 minute audio by Suzanne to quickly and easily release worry & stress, feel grounded & calm, boost your confidence, and feel like you can handle whatever comes your way while living and working abroad: Â
Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 02 Dec 2022 | House hunting, finding day care, and handling rough starts (Wafeeqa from Saudi Arabia) | 00:48:02 | |
When Wafeeqa and her family moved to Germany, they thought things would be easier: her husband had a job, and his employer was arranging accommodation for them. Plus, they both had experience with learning languages, so they thought maybe German wouldn't be too much of a challenge. But as is so often the case, things didn't go according to plan...
Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 22 Dec 2022 | Getting ready to leave Germany (Nicole from The Expat Cast) | 00:47:30 | |
Nicole joins me this week to discuss some big changes in her life â she's leaving Germany. In this episode, she explains what's happening and why she's making the move.
Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 04 Jan 2023 | 4GEPADFO charity drive update, and when The Germany Experience will be back | 00:04:38 | |
Shaun gives an update on 4GEPADFO (spoiler: we made our 500⏠goal!). But you can still donate to this great cause (a hotline providing psychosocial support for Ukrainian children and youths: Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 28 May 2019 | My Expat Story | 00:17:52 | |
In the first episode of the Expat Life Germany podcast, Shaun Behrens introduces himself and tells his own expat story. He also discusses the recent EU elections and Germany's strange aversion to credit cards (which might now be changing). See the show notes for more information: https://expatlifegermany.de/1 Support the showInstagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 01 Mar 2023 | How German are you? (Nina from Germany) | 00:50:37 | |
The Germany Experience is back with a repost from Shaun's other podcast, Everyday Germany. Nina joins Shaun to see which one of them is more German.
Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 04 Jun 2019 | Dwight From Australia - Controlling the Transmission | 00:40:57 | |
Dwight Steven-Boniecki is an Australian transmission controller, writer, and film maker living in Cologne, Germany. He explains how he ended up in Germany and he shares his advice for expats (it has to do with dealing with the German authorities). He also has a tip for job seekers in Germany: request a straight vodka from the interviewers at the end. Plus: the world premier of a song Dwight co-wrote, called âWho Threw That Rockâ, which may or may not be the greatest song ever written. Shaun also rounds up some other topics that might be of interest to expats: there are proposals to increase the already-too-expensive Rundfunktbeitrag, the FIFA Womenâs World Cup starts soon, and E-Scooters may now utilize bicycle paths and streets. For detailed show notes, go to https://expatlifegermany.de/2 Join the discussion on the podcast Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/699697987116101/?source_id=318414185502643 Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 08 Mar 2023 | Life in Germany as a gay woman (Kim from the UK) | 00:43:01 | |
Kim from the UK explains what life is like in Germany for her as a gay woman. She also discusses the difficulties of finding a community in smaller cities and towns. Plus: Kim gives some advice! Connect with Kim:Â
Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 31 Mar 2023 | Financing property in Germany (with Kerstin Brunner) | 00:55:32 | |
Kerstin Brunner is a finance coach, and she comes on the podcast to discuss what goes into buying property in Germany. First we look at how to decide if purchasing a property is right for you. Then we consider the additional costs (notary fee, agent fee, etc.). And she walks us through all the steps, from deciding you want to buy through to getting the keys.
Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 08 Apr 2023 | The diversity trend, Misfit Models, and German bureaucracy when starting a company (Del from the UK) | 00:37:17 | |
Just do a Google search for Del Keens, and you will see that he's someone with a unique story. After moving to Germany, he started a character modeling agency called Misfit Models. He joins me as a guest in this episode to discuss why he came to Germany, how he faced German bureaucracy when he started Misfit Models, how he feels that the current diversity focus is a trend, and he talks about the impact Brexit has had on his life. Del Keens Bio:
Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 11 Jun 2019 | Noor From Pakistan - Don't Forget Your 'Gungs | 00:41:30 | |
Get the show notes on Expat Life Germany: Episode 3 Show Notes Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 21 May 2023 | Dating, toxic relationships, and making friends in Germany (Lulu from Ireland) | 00:35:55 | |
Dating can be a minefield at the best of times. But what happens when you move to a city like Berlin? Lulu Johnson discovered just this when she moved from Ireland to Berlin - and then wrote a book about it! It's called Dating in Berlin and covers her hilarious - and some not so hilarious - misadventures as a foreigner in the German dating scene. Lulu to discusses dating in Berlin, toxic relationships, making friends, and learning the German language.
Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 18 Jun 2019 | The Essential Book for New Expats in Germany | 00:41:23 | |
Click here for the full show notes Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 25 Jun 2019 | Don't Get Scammed + IamExpat.de Round-Up With Abi | 00:21:56 | |
Every month end, I'll take a look at some of the most interesting topics of the previous month. This time, Abi from IamExpat.de joins me with her pick of stories from June 2019. Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 01 Jul 2019 | BONUS: How Sarah Almost Got Scammed | 00:20:55 | |
In episode 5, I discussed potential scams aimed at expats. Well, Sarah is a new expat in Berlin who very nearly got caught by an apartment scam. In this bonus episode, she describes her story and explains just how one of these scams is run by the scammers. Support the showInstagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 01 Jul 2019 | Lori From USA - Teaching English, Learning Languages, and Raising Bilingual Children in Germany | 00:34:46 | |
Lori from USA has been teaching English in Germany for almost 40 years, so itâs not surprising that she has a thing or two to say about learning new languages. In fact, her language pedigree goes back to even before she moved to Germany, when she was a German high school teacher in the States. In this interview, Loriâs wisdom and wit shine through as she discusses how she got started teaching in Germany at a Volkshochschule, how speaking a language doesnât necessarily mean you understand the culture, the importance of good pronunciation when learning a second language, and raising children in a bilingual household. Iâd love to have Lori back on a future episode, so if you have questions related to language or culture, we can try benefit from Loriâs wisdom! Send them here: expatlifegermany@gmail.com If youâd like to be on the show yourself: https://expatlifegermany.de/be-on-the-show Support the showInstagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 09 Jul 2019 | Arvi From India - Founding a Startup in Germany | 00:33:35 | |
Arvi is from India and moved to Germany 5 years ago to complete his studies as an engineer. He did this, but instead of returning home, he moved to Berlin and founded a startup with two other entrepreneurs. His company, MyHelpBuddy, puts expats who need a service or who have a problem in contact with "buddies", who are expats or locals who are able to help. Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 16 Jul 2019 | Shannon from USA - Church Bells and Bicycles | 00:29:47 | |
Meet Shannon from the USA, whose family were expats in Germany from 2009 until 2013. When they returned to the States, they realized their hearts were still in Germany, and so they immediately started making plans to go back. Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 24 Jul 2019 | Natalie from Australia - From the Outback to Europe | 00:50:17 | |
When learning a new language, it takes a long time before you're able to express yourself and articulate your thoughts, and so it's easy to feel like you're coming across as dumb. This is just one of the topics that Natalie, a stay-at-home mum from Australia, discusses about her time in Germany. Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 29 Jul 2019 | The E-Scooterpocalypse & Feeling Dumb in Germany | 00:16:51 | |
There are a lot of peopleâexpats and Germans alikeâwho are not pleased about the e-scooter situation in big cities since it became legal for them to share bicycle paths and roads. E-scooter riders are apparently fast, reckless, and they just leave them parked anywhere and everywhere. But surely it can't be that bad? I decided to ask around in forums to get a feeling for the zeitgeist at the moment, and it turns out most people are, in fact, annoyed. Very annoyed. I also discuss how communicating in German with Germans can leave you feeling like they're not experiencing the real "you" (as well as maybe a little stupid). Plus: I announce the winners of the copies of "From the BĂŒrgeramt to the Bedroom" books I was giving away. Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 06 Aug 2019 | Tim From France - Not So Far From Home | 00:47:19 | |
Tim Bourguignon is a French citizen who moved to Germany to be with his wife. He describes himself as coming in four flavors: Agile Coach, Chief Learning Officer, Mentoring Advocate, and Public Speaker. He also hosts a podcast called Software Developerâs Journey. After bad experiences learning German in school, Tim picked up German again years later when he actually moved to the country. In our interview, we discuss how his learning was aided by his colleagues, the Volkshochschule (adult education centers in Germany), and...the Wise Guys. We also cover how he handles three languages at home, some advice for making friends (care of the Holstee manifesto), and keeping in touch with friends and family back home. Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 12 Aug 2019 | Through the Eyes of a Newly-Arrived Expat (Sarah From Syria, Canada, et al) | 00:38:01 | |
I first interviewed Sarah back in July for a bonus episode, because she'd almost been caught by a scam. We had such a great discussion that I wanted to have her back on the show, and here she is. Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 27 Aug 2019 | Finding and Getting a Job In Germany | 01:12:43 | |
For all the links mentioned in the episode (there are a few!), go to the Finding and Getting a Job in Germany blog post. Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 04 Sep 2019 | Living Abroad Teaches Us the Power of Connections (Anna from Canada) | 00:50:07 | |
Anna Noakes Schulze from Canada presented a TEDx talk called âLiving Abroad Teaches Us the Power of Connectionsâ, and in it she tells her own expat story to demonstrate how those that we make connections with shape our lives and who we are, even if we don't live near them. This will resonate with many expats, and so I invited her to come on the show. Anna on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annanoakesschulze/ The Chrome plugin Anna mentioned for managing your social media feed: Social Fixer Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 11 Sep 2019 | BONUS: Social Media and Expats, Charity Work as an Expat, and Friends Moving On | 00:12:57 | |
In the last episode, Anna Noakes Schulze dropped so many insights about expat life that I had to edit some of it out. Since it'd be a shame for it to go to waste, I decided to put it in a bonus episode. Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 15 Sep 2019 | Defining "Expat" | 00:26:37 | |
What exactly is an "expat"? Turns out this question is not as straight forward as Shaun used to think. He goes into some of the problems surrounding the terminology, and also defines his interpretation of it for the podcast. Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 22 Sep 2019 | parkrun Germany | 00:27:09 | |
The parkrun concept is simple: you turn up on a Saturday morning and you walk, jog, or run 5km. The best thing? It's free. Since it started in 2004, it has become a global phenomenon. And it's a great thing for expats, too: get out and exercise, and meet new people! Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 29 Sep 2019 | Article 116 (Michael from USA) | 00:31:30 | |
Michael Silberman lives in the USA, but Germany is certainly intertwined with his life over there. His parents left Nazi Germany (and were stripped of their German citizenship) to start a new life in the States, and this heritage led to a fascination with Germany. Michael spent some time in Murnau am Staffelsee and Augsburg back in the 80s, when he studied German at the Goethe Institute. More recently, he became a German when he got his dual citizenship through Article 116, which restores German citizenship to families of those who had their citizenship revoked during the Third Reich. Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 06 Oct 2019 | The "Why" Has to be Right (Vlad from Romania) | 00:37:52 | |
Discuss this episode in the Expat Life Germany Facebook group! Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 12 Oct 2019 | Being an English-Speaking Writer in Germany, Bringing a Pet to Germany, and "The God Queen" (Mari from USA) | 00:36:58 | |
Mari is a US expat living in Germany. She's also a writer and an avid pug fan. She discusses what it's like being an English-speaking writer in Germany, her book "The God Queen", and how to bring a dog from USA into Germany. The Adventures of La Mari on YouTube Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 20 Oct 2019 | Discussing German stereotypes with Nicole from The Expat Cast | 00:41:52 | |
Are Germans really efficient? Do they like order? Are they as punctual as everyone says they are? Nicole Palazzo, a US expat living in Germany and the host of The Expat Cast, helps me confirm or bust common stereotypes and cliches about Germans. Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 03 Nov 2019 | Being far from family when losing someone, making friends through team sports, and security in Germany (Rafael from Brazil) | 00:42:01 | |
One of my best friends in Germany, Rafael from Brazil, experienced loss when his father passed away, and talks about how he coped dealing with that being far from his family. Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 19 Nov 2019 | A Berliner, a Hamburger, a Neapolitan, and a world citizen (Liliana from Italy) | 00:42:33 | |
Liliana is from Naples, Italy, and has lived in Germany for 7 years. She recently got her citizenship, and discusses how that happened. We also cover her reason for choosing Germany, why she'd struggle to return to Italy, and she compares Hamburg and Berlin with Naples. Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 02 Dec 2019 | How Germany changed us (Jibran from Pakistan) | 00:41:20 | |
Jibran runs the Desi in Wonderland YouTube channel. He's originally from Pakistan and has been living in Germany for 5 years, so we decided to discuss how Germany has changed us. In the process, I learned a lot more than I expected about Pakistani culture. Find Jibran on Instagram and Facebook. Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 07 Dec 2019 | The German Freelance Visa (James from LiveWorkGermany.com) | 00:36:29 | |
Donate to my cause in the expat podcasters charity challenge (aka #FEGEPADFO): Donate to Lebenshilfe Bad Windsheim Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 15 Dec 2019 | Unhappy in Germany (S from India) | 00:53:14 | |
Donate to my cause in the expat podcasters charity challenge (aka #FEGEPADFO): Donate to Lebenshilfe Bad Windsheim Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 23 Dec 2019 | Missing holiday traditions from home, making new traditions, and fireworks on New Year's Eve | 00:23:15 | |
For foreigners living in Germany, the holidays are a time that we recreate traditions from our home countries, adopt German traditions, and start new ones. I take a look at how my Christmas experience in Germany has been, and compare it to my summer South African Christmases. Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 03 Jan 2020 | FEGEPADFO Charity Challenge - Final Wrap-Up | 00:02:14 | |
Nicole from The Expat Cast and I went head-to-head in December 2019 to see who could raise the most donations for our chosen charities. Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 04 Jan 2020 | Making German candy, learning German history, and growing up as a third culture kid in Bavaria (Travis J. Dow) | 01:01:32 | |
Travis J. Dow is a host of the History of Germany podcast (and several other podcasts, too). Originally from Oregon, USA, he spent his formative years in Bavaria, Germany. Later he moved to Prague, Czech Republic for 10 years, before moving back to USA. He's a third culture kid, history nerd, and has an affinity for Germany. I caught up with him in Hamburg to discuss his plan of learning how to make candy in Germany, as well as what it was like growing up as a third culture kid.
Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 12 Jan 2020 | SOFA status, growing a thicker skin, and tracking a stolen phone with the Polizei (Audrey & Zach from USA) | 00:59:12 | |
Audrey and Zach met while in the USA. When Zach, a cartographer, moved to Germany on a SOFA status (Status of Forces Agreement), they first attempted a long-distance relationship before Audrey joined him later in Germany. Take a listen to their story, which involves cuckoo clocks, a ride in the back of a German police car, and how to watch a TV show together on different continents. Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 20 Jan 2020 | Classic German movies: Loriot's Pappa Ante Portas | 00:24:34 | |
You can learn a lot about a culture by watching its movies, which is why I've decided to start watching some classic German movies. I'll discuss why the movie I have chosen is important to German culture, whether it's a good movie for learning German from, and whether or not it's worth your time.
Have you watched the movie? Let me know your thoughts on my Facebook group: Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 27 Jan 2020 | Announcement: Renaming the show to The Germany Experience from 1 February 2020 | 00:02:52 | |
The podcast will have a new name from 1 February 2020! Not much is going to change other than the name, so it'll still be the same show you subscribed to. Here's the announcement about why I'm renaming, and what the show will be focusing on in the future. Support the showInstagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 02 Feb 2020 | Motivated to adapt by painful social moments (Sindy from Hong Kong) | 00:39:34 | |
(This is the podcast previously known as Expat Life Germany. JOIN THE THE GERMANY EXPERIENCE FACEBOOK GROUP Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 09 Feb 2020 | A serial expat in Germany (Amy from Canada) | 00:42:52 | |
Amy is the host of The Expat Experience podcast. She has landed up in Germany after spending time in Vietnam and China, and in our interview she discusses how she's learning German, what it's like making German friends, and if she regards Germany as her final destination. Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 17 Feb 2020 | Carnival/Fasching in Germany: "pomp and splendor" (Nina from Germany) | 00:33:46 | |
It's the middle of Carnival (also known as Fasching or Fastnacht, depending on where in Germany you are). I am not a big fan of it, and so I got a real live German who IS a fan of it to come on the show and explain to me why she loves it. Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 21 Feb 2020 | A German experiences the AuslÀnderbehörde (Nina from Germany) | 00:11:51 | |
While recording the episode about Carnival in Germany, Nina told a story about the time she had to deal with the same office that foreigners know all too well: the Auslanderbehörde Amt (foreigner's office). Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 23 Feb 2020 | Moving after 40, sensationalist media, and loneliness in Germany (Klaus from Brazil) | 00:34:57 | |
Klaus was born in Brazil before spending the first 12 years of his life in Germany. After returning to Brazil, he remained in touch with the German language and the culture. Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 02 Mar 2020 | Finding yourself in a second language: language and identity (Steph from Germany) | 00:40:32 | |
Steph is from Bavaria, and moved to the UK when she was in her 20s before ending up in Austin, Texas. She learned to speak English at a native-speaker level, and found that it just suited her. Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 09 Mar 2020 | Leaving Germany after a decade (Natalie from the UK) | 00:38:42 | |
What is it that makes someone who has lived in Germany for over a decade decide that it's time to go back "home"? Natalie is originally from the UK, and is now making the decision to leave Germany after 11 years. She explains how she got to this point. Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 16 Mar 2020 | Coronavirus and COVID-19 in Germany (with Nicole from The Expat Cast and Steph from Geopats) | 00:41:38 | |
Since COVID-19 in Germany got "real" on Friday 13th March, I felt I had to discuss it. And who better than to discuss it with than two other podcasters: Nicole from The Expat Cast and Steph from Geopats. Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 23 Mar 2020 | Being a TV anchor, online weirdos, and stereotypes about Russian women (Daria from Russia) | 00:39:21 | |
Daria, originally from Moscow, Russia, is working as a freelance journalist in Germany. She helped me put an upcoming episode about mental health together, and I wanted to introduce her first. Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 30 Mar 2020 | Dealing with depression in Germany (Deenara from Russia) | 00:43:34 | |
How do you recognize that you are depressed? How do you seek out therapy and other help for depression in Germany? And what if you are from a culture that has a stigma towards mental health issues and therapy?
Connect with Marita Helkimo: Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 06 Apr 2020 | Some German idioms (Steph Fuccio from USA) | 00:36:28 | |
Steph Fuccio, host of the Geopats podcast, is new to Germany and to the German language. So as a new learner, I thought it would be fun to throw some German idioms at her and see if she could figure them out. If you're new to the German language (or even if you are not), it's fun to listen along and see if you can guess them, too.
OTHER NOTES:
Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 13 Apr 2020 | BONUS - Poetry in Berlin, feminism, and diversity (Deenara from Russia) | 00:16:30 | |
Deenara from Russia appeared in episode 38, about mental health in Germany. However, her original interview with Berlin-based journalist Daria Sukharchuk also included her talking about her time in Germany. Here is the rest of that interview. Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 21 Apr 2020 | From USA to Germany, California style (Greg from USA and Brigida from Germany) | 00:44:37 | |
When Greg and Brigida decided to move from California to Germany, they did it with just a small amount of money and two dogs. And they were met with adversity from almost the moment they arrived. This is their story of how they made their time in Germany work. We also talk about life with small kids, what it's like to move to another country when you suffer from anxiety, and German beer.
Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 23 Apr 2020 | Homebrewing beer (Greg & Brigida) | 00:12:16 | |
The guest in the previous episode, Greg, is a homebrewing enthusiast, and he talks about his adventures and misadventures brewing beer. He also discusses his website, Brew Wizard, that helps you create recipes and gives detailed instructions on how to brew beer. JOIN THE THE GERMANY EXPERIENCE FACEBOOK GROUP Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 28 Apr 2020 | German culture: The top 10 grossing German movies (Dominik from the Ach! podcast) | 00:36:53 | |
A good way to explore Germany's culture is through its movies. And what better way to do that than to look at the German movies that have had the most success in Germany?
Other notes:
Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 04 May 2020 | Traveling with teenagers, and interrupted travel plans (Linda from the USA) | 00:36:56 | |
Travelteening is a blog that gives travel advice for traveling with teens. The blogger behind it, Linda from the USA, joins me to discuss the value her family sees in traveling, their three-year-plan to give their children the chance to experience travel in Europe, some insights into traveling with teens, and how they're dealing with the loss of travel freedom that the coronavirus has caused.
Links to more The Germany Experience episodes, my newsletter, and my social media: thegermanyexperience.de/subscribe
Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 11 May 2020 | Learning German with apps, and working in the video games industry (Thomas from the UK) | 00:43:32 | |
Thomas Cartwright is originally from the UK, and landed up in Hamburg working for a video games developer called InnoGames. He explains why a company like InnoGames is a good fit for foreigners looking for opportunities in Germany. He also discusses his path to Germany, learning German through Memrise, and receiving angry letters from German neighbors.
Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 18 May 2020 | Seven months as an exchange student in Germany (Montana Showalter from the USA) | 00:38:15 | |
Montana Showalter was an American high school student who went on an exchange program to Germany (called CBYX). At around the same time, she started a YouTube channel intended to document her experiences in Germany. Little did she know that her channel was about to blow up. In our interview, Montana discusses the differences in culture between the US and Germany, how coronavirus cut her Germany stay short, how Germany changed her, and of course, her YouTube success.
Montana on Instagram: Montana.Showalter
Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 25 May 2020 | You go me on the cookie! (Dana Newman from Wanted Adventure) | 00:54:58 | |
Dana Newman from the Wanted Adventure YouTube channel joins me to discuss her book, "You go me on the cookie!". The book (written in German) describes Dana's adventures (and misadventures) learning German, and also highlights the quirks and beauty of the German language. It was written for German native speakers, but it is definitely relatable for anyone who has learnt German at any level. So I got Dana on the podcast to discuss her book, the German language, and her YouTube channel.  Wanted Adventure YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/wantedadventure Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wantedadventure/ Website: https://www.dananewman.de/ JOIN THE THE GERMANY EXPERIENCE FACEBOOK GROUP Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 30 May 2020 | One year anniversary live stream - recorded 29th May 2020 | 00:33:11 | |
Recorded from a Facebook live stream to celebrate one year of The Germany Experience podcast. I answer listener questions, list my top 5 highlights of having a podcast, and talk to previous guests on the show. JOIN THE THE GERMANY EXPERIENCE FACEBOOK GROUP Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 09 Jun 2020 | Broken systems, turning points, and racism in Germany (Jessica from Germany) | 00:33:55 | |
Jessica is a German African American who has lived in Germany since she was in kindergarten. She joins me for this episode to discuss the recent events that started with George Floyd, and the racism that she deals with on a regular basis here in Germany. Links to more The Germany Experience episodes, my newsletter, and my social media: thegermanyexperience.de/subscribe JOIN THE THE GERMANY EXPERIENCE FACEBOOK GROUP Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 15 Jun 2020 | The 5 phases of culture shock (Beth from the USA) | 00:43:47 | |
Beth from the USA moved to Germany to be with her husband, and she found that her adjustment period resembled the 5 stages of culture shock very closely. We talk about how she dealt with each stage, and where she is now on the curve. We also talk about how fencing is actually the perfect coronavirus sport. And, her cat makes an appearance. Read the blog post that we reference in the interview: The 5 phases of culture shock and how to go through smoothly Follow Beth on Instagram. Links to more The Germany Experience episodes, my newsletter, and my social media: thegermanyexperience.de/subscribe JOIN THE THE GERMANY EXPERIENCE FACEBOOK GROUP Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 22 Jun 2020 | Trilingualism, switching between languages, and Italian words adopted by German (Carmen from Italy) | 00:52:08 | |
Carmen is a trilingual Italian living in Munich, Germany. She speaks Italian, German and English fluently, and joins me to discuss her path to becoming trilingual, how she balances three languages, and the effects of learning multiple languages on her native language. We also talk about Italian words that German has adopted - and subsequently used in different ways to the original Italian meanings. JOIN THE THE GERMANY EXPERIENCE FACEBOOK GROUP Support the showInstagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 29 Jun 2020 | A southern liberal in Germany, running a coffee shop, and casual German racism (Christy from the USA) | 00:42:13 | |
Christy is a southern liberal who opened a coffee shop in Germany. Over a PfĂ€lzer Weinschorle, she discusses how she tried to integrate herself the ârightâ way, how Germany is not the best country for special needs children, not going back to the States for 10 years, and how Germans are racist in a âI didnât mean anything by itâ kind of way. We also talk about her coffee shop. Find Christy on Instagram: ChristyTheExpat and ChristysCoffee.de
Links to more The Germany Experience episodes, my newsletter, and my social media: https://thegermanyexperience.de/subscribe JOIN THE THE GERMANY EXPERIENCE FACEBOOK GROUP Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 06 Jul 2020 | Singing schlager music in Germany, and misogyny in the music industry (Sarah Jane Scott from the USA) | 00:51:52 | |
Sarah Jane Scott is an American who has had success as a Schlager singer in Germany. But how does an English-speaking "AuslÀnder" become a Schlager star? Links to more The Germany Experience episodes, my newsletter, and my social media: https://thegermanyexperience.de/subscribe JOIN THE THE GERMANY EXPERIENCE FACEBOOK GROUP Support the showInstagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 13 Jul 2020 | Just a diplomatic spouse (Alexandra from Romania) | 00:46:21 | |
Being the spouse of a diplomat comes with a very specific lifestyle: you move around a lot, you don't stay in a country for long, and you never know where you'll be moved to next. Links to more The Germany Experience episodes, my newsletter, and my social media: https://thegermanyexperience.de/ JOIN THE THE GERMANY EXPERIENCE FACEBOOK GROUP Support the showInstagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 20 Jul 2020 | Sandals and socks, making friends with Germans, and "selfishly" staying in Germany (Amy from the USA) | 00:41:26 | |
Amy always had a dream of living in Germany, and even happened to marry someone who felt the same way. So living here has kind of been a dream come true. And generally, Amy is really happy here -- she admits that she was "right" about wanting to live here. Links to more The Germany Experience episodes, my newsletter, and my social media: https://thegermanyexperience.de/ JOIN THE THE GERMANY EXPERIENCE FACEBOOK GROUP Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 27 Jul 2020 | African abroad (Tania from Kenya) | 00:46:13 | |
Tania was born in Kenya and has lived in five different African countries. After a short time in Thailand, sheâs landed up in Germany, and she feels like this is somewhere she can stay for a longer time. Some of the reasons for this include feeling safer in Germany than in Kenya, and having the safety net of social help that is available in Germany. And yet, despite her contentment in Germany, her heart still belongs to Kenya. Talking with Tania, itâs clear that Kenya is still very much a part of her identity. She explains how, in her early times in Germany, she realized that she was in danger of losing her own identity as she integrated into the culture, and that she looked for ways to stay true to her roots. One way she does this on a daily basis is by giving back to Africa as much as possible. She does it through several projects: Swahili Secrets is a travel service where you can book tours and safaris in Kenya. Unfortunately, COVID-19 has just about stopped tourism, and so Tania now sells African-inspired accessories on the site â and gives 20% of the sales back to the community in Kenya.
CITY STARLINGS' 10 PODCASTS YOU SHOULD BEÂ LISTENING TO IF YOU'RE AN EXPAT IN GERMANY Links to more The Germany Experience episodes, my newsletter, and my social media: https://thegermanyexperience.de/ JOIN THE THE GERMANY EXPERIENCE FACEBOOK GROUP Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 03 Aug 2020 | German culture: The top 10 selling musical artists in Germany (Craig from Scotland) | 00:47:04 | |
In order to better understand the music tastes of Germans, Craig from Scotland joins me to look at the top 10 selling musical artists in Germany. This includes German and international acts who have sold the most albums since the BVMI started certifying albums back in 1975. The bands and artists we discuss:Â
We also discuss Craig's path to Germany, and he gives us some of his own recommendations of German bands you should check out:Â Subscribe to Craig's podcast: Follow Craig on Instagram and Facebook. Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 12 Aug 2020 | An update on my hospital visit, and audio logs from my hospital room | 00:13:51 | |
I spent two nights in hospital recently, and during my stay, I recorded several audio logs about my experience. You can hear them in this bonus episode. Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 17 Aug 2020 | RERUN: Teaching English, Learning Languages, and Raising Bilingual Children in Germany (Lori from USA) | 00:33:41 | |
Originally released on July 2nd, 2019 (episode #6). In this interview, Loriâs wisdom and wit shine through as she discusses how she got started teaching in Germany at a Volkshochschule, how speaking a language doesnât necessarily mean you understand the culture, the importance of good pronunciation when learning a second language, and raising children in a bilingual household. JOIN THE THE GERMANY EXPERIENCE FACEBOOK GROUP Instagram: the.germany.experience | |||
| 24 Aug 2020 | RERUN: Discussing German stereotypes with Nicole from The Expat Cast | 00:39:58 | |
Originally released on October 20th, 2019 (episode #20). The Expat Cast podcast JOIN THE GERMANY EXPERIENCE FACEBOOK GROUP Visit the official The Germany Experience website. Mail me: info(at)thegermanyexperience.de Contact me on my website: https://www.thegermanyexperience.de/contact/https://www.thegermanyexperience.de/contact/ Support the showInstagram: the.germany.experience | |||
