The Germany Experience

Sarah Jane Scott is an American who has had success as a Schlager singer in Germany. But how does an English-speaking "Ausländer" become a Schlager star?Sarah Jane explains her path to Germany and her Schlager success, talks about what it’s like to be a Schlager singer, and about how she is currently evaluating her next steps. We go into the unhealthy record label/artist relationship, and talk about systemic misogyny and exploitation in the music industry.Sarah Jane Scott's Instagram: Sarah Jane ScottSarah Jane Scott's Wikipedia page (German): https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Jane_ScottSome Sarah Jane Scott songs we mentioned in the interview:Sarah Jane Scott - I Love You (I'll Tell You In a Song)Sarah Jane Scott - Was War Los Gestern Nacht?Heino, Sarah Jane Scott - Rockin' Around the Christmas TreeSarah Jane Scott's YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsgDkhwCUwy2Qiz2Dwbj4QgHeino: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HeinoSome big Schlager artists:Helene Fischer - Atemlos Durch Die NachtAndrea Berg - MosaikHoward Carpendale - Hello AgainRoland Kaiser - Kein ProblemUdo Jürgens - Griechischen WeinPeggy March: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peggy_MarchConnie Francis: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connie_FrancisUpskirting is only now illegal in Germany: https://www.dw.com/en/germany-makes-upskirting-a-punishable-crime/a-54037371The war on upskirting started last year: https://www.dw.com/en/the-war-on-upskirting-in-germany/a-50173870Links to more The Germany Experience episodes, my newsletter, and my social media: https://thegermanyexperience.de/subscribeJOIN THE THE GERMANY EXPERIENCE FACEBOOK GROUPSupport the showInstagram: the.germany.experienceOfficial podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.deYouTube channel: https://youtube.com/c/thegermanyexperienceContact me: [email protected] Intro Music by: Adrian Bran

Christy is a southern liberal who opened a coffee shop in Germany. Over a Pfälzer Weinschorle, she discusses how she tried to integrate herself the “right” 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 “I didn’t mean anything by it” kind of way. We also talk about her coffee shop. Find Christy on Instagram: ChristyTheExpat and ChristysCoffee.deDurian fruit causes evacuation of a post office: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/23/smelly-durian-fruit-evacuation-bavarian-post-officeLinks to more The Germany Experience episodes, my newsletter, and my social media: https://thegermanyexperience.de/subscribeJOIN THE THE GERMANY EXPERIENCE FACEBOOK GROUPSupport the showInstagram: the.germany.experienceOfficial podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.deYouTube channel: https://youtube.com/c/thegermanyexperienceContact me: [email protected] Intro Music by: Adrian Bran

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. Carmen also hosts two podcasts. She has an Italian one called Crucchi o Terroni siamo tutti Fannulloni, and a German one called Farbe der Nation. Farbe der Nation focuses on topics of identity, discrimination and racism in Germany. The list of German podcasts that discuss issues of race and discrimination:https://neleheise.de/2020/06/06/listening-in/?fbclid=IwAR0fbHLFzPEhA1GUGCoTY6TdeY0GlKyuKClxRQyfuLQxzHMsdP5vhtgs880Follow Carmen's podcasts on Instagram:Farbe der Nation Crucchi o Terroni siamo tutti FannulloniLinks to more The Germany Experience episodes, my newsletter, and my social media: https://thegermanyexperience.de/subscribeJOIN THE THE GERMANY EXPERIENCE FACEBOOK GROUPSupport the showInstagram: the.germany.experienceOfficial podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.deYouTube channel: https://youtube.com/c/thegermanyexperienceContact me: [email protected] Intro Music by: Adrian Bran

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/subscribeJOIN THE THE GERMANY EXPERIENCE FACEBOOK GROUPSupport the showInstagram: the.germany.experienceOfficial podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.deYouTube channel: https://youtube.com/c/thegermanyexperienceContact me: [email protected] Intro Music by: Adrian Bran

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. Follow Jessica on Instagram.The Trevor Noah video I mention: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4amCfVbA_cLinks to more The Germany Experience episodes, my newsletter, and my social media: thegermanyexperience.de/subscribeJOIN THE THE GERMANY EXPERIENCE FACEBOOK GROUPVisit the official The Germany Experience website.Support the showInstagram: the.germany.experienceOfficial podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.deYouTube channel: https://youtube.com/c/thegermanyexperienceContact me: [email protected] Intro Music by: Adrian Bran

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. Dwight's YouTube show: I, Skylab Follow Nina on Instagram. Follow Sisy the Hamster on Instagram. Links to more The Germany Experience episodes, my newsletter, and my social media: thegermanyexperience.de/subscribeJOIN THE THE GERMANY EXPERIENCE FACEBOOK GROUPVisit the official The Germany Experience website.Support the showInstagram: the.germany.experienceOfficial podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.deYouTube channel: https://youtube.com/c/thegermanyexperienceContact me: [email protected] Intro Music by: Adrian Bran

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. To see the postcard that Dana refers to in the interview about how German is not orderly, click here."You go me on the cookie!" is available in bookstores in Germany as well as online (also on Amazon) - as paperback and Ebook: https://www.randomhouse.de/Taschenbuch/You-go-me-on-the-cookie/Dana-Newman/Goldmann-TB/e536279.rhd Wanted Adventure YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/wantedadventure Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wantedadventure/ Website: https://www.dananewman.de/ Links to more The Germany Experience episodes, my newsletter, and my social media: thegermanyexperience.de/subscribeJOIN THE THE GERMANY EXPERIENCE FACEBOOK GROUPVisit the official The Germany Experience website.Support the showInstagram: the.germany.experienceOfficial podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.deYouTube channel: https://youtube.com/c/thegermanyexperienceContact me: [email protected] Intro Music by: Adrian Bran

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.Watch her videos: Montana Showalter's YouTube channelTwo of her videos we mention in the interview:"Who am I?" - A Personal Essay From My Exchange YearForced To Leave Germany (Statement Of Departure)Montana on Instagram: Montana.ShowalterThe exchange program Montana was on: CBYX CIEEThe festival in Passau that Montana mentioned: Passauer DultLinks to more The Germany Experience episodes, my newsletter, and my social media: thegermanyexperience.de/subscribeJOIN THE THE GERMANY EXPERIENCE FACEBOOK GROUPVisit the official The Germany Experience website. Support the showInstagram: the.germany.experienceOfficial podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.deYouTube channel: https://youtube.com/c/thegermanyexperienceContact me: [email protected] Intro Music by: Adrian Bran

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. Connect with Thomas on LinkedIn and Xing.Look at opportunities at InnoGames: https://www.innogames.com/career/Links to more The Germany Experience episodes, my newsletter, and my social media: thegermanyexperience.de/subscribeJOIN THE THE GERMANY EXPERIENCE FACEBOOK GROUPVisit the official The Germany Experience website.Support the showInstagram: the.germany.experienceOfficial podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.deYouTube channel: https://youtube.com/c/thegermanyexperienceContact me: [email protected] Intro Music by: Adrian Bran

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.Linda's blog: Travelteening Practical tips for traveling with teens: How to (Nearly) Master Traveling with TeensFollow Linda on Instagram and Facebook.Other notes:Hairdressers are open again: https://m.dw.com/en/germanys-hair-salons-set-to-open-for-business/a-53297699Thousands march in Stuttgart in protest with coronavirus measures: https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/corona-beschraenkungen-grossdemonstration-in-stuttgart-a-da9b207a-7018-4c9a-9219-b8930fce158dThe coronavirus post: https://thegermanyexperience.de/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/corona-freedom.jpgLinks to more The Germany Experience episodes, my newsletter, and my social media: thegermanyexperience.de/subscribeJOIN THE THE GERMANY EXPERIENCE FACEBOOK GROUPVisit the official The Germany Experience website.Support the showInstagram: the.germany.experienceOfficial podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.deYouTube channel: https://youtube.com/c/thegermanyexperienceContact me: [email protected] Intro Music by: Adrian Bran

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?But you'll be surprised at the movies that the Germans have flocked to see at the cinemas! In fact, think of the most famous German movie you know. I can almost guarantee that whatever movie you're thinking of is not in the top 10.Dominik, one of the hosts of the German podcast Ach!, joins me to discuss the list, to explain how the top 4 movies are all related, and to speculate about what the top 10 reveals about German culture. See the full list of movies on the Inside Kino site.Here are the notes from our discussion with links to the celebrities and movies we mentioned:Ach! podcast: https://das-a.ch/Otto Waalkes: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otto_WaalkesLoriot: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LoriotTop 10 domestic films: https://www.insidekino.com/DJahr/DAlltimeDeutsch50.htmSchulmädchen Report: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schulm%C3%A4dchen-ReportTil Schweiger: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Til_SchweigerHönig im Kopf: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head_Full_of_HoneyFack jü Göhte: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fack_ju_G%C3%B6hteDer Schuh des Manitu: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Der_Schuh_des_ManituThe Bullyparade: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BullyparadeKarl May: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_MayWinnetou movie: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apache_GoldThe second Winnetou movie: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treasure_of_the_Silver_LakeTraumschiff Surprise: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traumschiff_Surprise_%E2%80%93_Periode_1Other notes:My face mask giftÖffnungsdiskusisonorgien: https://www.br.de/nachrichten/deutschland-welt/oeffnungsdiskussionsorgien-das-spaltende-wort-der-kanzlerin,RwntippLinks to more The Germany Experience episodes, my newsletter, and my social media: thegermanyexperience.de/subscribeSupport the showInstagram: the.germany.experienceOfficial podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.deYouTube channel: https://youtube.com/c/thegermanyexperienceContact me: [email protected] Intro Music by: Adrian Bran

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.https://www.brew-wizard.com/Connect with Greg on Twitter: https://twitter.com/cainde9Links to more The Germany Experience episodes, my newsletter, and my social media: thegermanyexperience.de/subscribeJOIN THE THE GERMANY EXPERIENCE FACEBOOK GROUPVisit the official The Germany Experience website.Support the showInstagram: the.germany.experienceOfficial podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.deYouTube channel: https://youtube.com/c/thegermanyexperienceContact me: [email protected] Intro Music by: Adrian Bran

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. Connect with Greg on Twitter: https://twitter.com/cainde9Greg's brewing recipe site: https://www.brew-wizard.com/Other notes:Spargel (asparagus) drive-through in Brandenburg: https://twitter.com/rbb24/status/1249718683330633731?s=20My guest appearance on the Desi In Wonderland YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/7-fSWHmF3tELinks to more The Germany Experience episodes, my newsletter, and my social media: thegermanyexperience.de/subscribeJOIN THE THE GERMANY EXPERIENCE FACEBOOK GROUPVisit the official The Germany Experience website.Support the showInstagram: the.germany.experienceOfficial podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.deYouTube channel: https://youtube.com/c/thegermanyexperienceContact me: [email protected] Intro Music by: Adrian Bran

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.Interview recorded and edited by Daria Sukharchuk. Deenara's Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/snumriDaria also has her own podcast: Crafts and People Support the showInstagram: the.germany.experienceOfficial podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.deYouTube channel: https://youtube.com/c/thegermanyexperienceContact me: [email protected] Intro Music by: Adrian Bran

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. STEPH'S NOTES:Visit Steph's website for all her projects: stephfuccio.comSteph's Podcast Review Day initiative: #PodRevDayThe Geopats episode about Steph queuing outside the Ausländeramt at 1am: Episode 115If you're looking for other expat podcasts, here's Steph's curated list on Podchaster: Expat PodcastsOTHER NOTES:Portal for providing or getting services helpful to foreigners in Germany: My Help BuddyNicole of The Expat Cast's initiative to help foreigners understand local coronavirus news and announcements: Translation help during the coronavirus crisisLink to the review of my show on Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/the-germany-experience-859966/reviewsLinks to more The Germany Experience episodes, my newsletter, and my social media: thegermanyexperience.de/subscribeJOIN THE THE GERMANY EXPERIENCE FACEBOOK GROUPVisit the official The Germany Experience website.Support the showInstagram: the.germany.experienceOfficial podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.deYouTube channel: https://youtube.com/c/thegermanyexperienceContact me: [email protected] Intro Music by: Adrian Bran

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? Deenara, who is from Republic of Tatarstan in Russia, is a tech professional and poet living in Berlin. In an interview with journalist Daria Sukharchuk, she gives some insights into these questions and more as she describes her experiences dealing with depression after arriving in Germany. In the second part of the episode, we hear from Marita Helkimo, a Frankfurt-based therapist whose focus is immigrants living in Germany. Show NotesThe interview with Deenara was recorded and edited by Daria Sukharchuk, a journalist in Berlin. Connect with Daria on Twitter and Facebook. Deenara's Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/snumriThe antidepressant drug Deenara mentioned: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CitalopramThe health insurance Deenara is on: https://www.tk.de/Connect with Marita Helkimo:Find her on https://psychotherapy-in-frankfurt.de/ and http://www.psyshrink.com/Links to more The Germany Experience episodes, my newsletter, and my social media: thegermanyexperience.de/subscribeJOIN THE THE GERMANY EXPERIENCE FACEBOOK GROUPVisit the official The Germany Experience website.Support the showInstagram: the.germany.experienceOfficial podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.deYouTube channel: https://youtube.com/c/thegermanyexperienceContact me: [email protected] Intro Music by: Adrian Bran

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. We discuss her role as a TV anchor for OstWest TV, online critics, stalker problems, and stereotypes some people have about Russian women.Connect with Daria on Facebook. She is also on Twitter.Links to more The Germany Experience episodes, my newsletter, and my social media: thegermanyexperience.de/subscribeJOIN THE THE GERMANY EXPERIENCE FACEBOOK GROUPVisit the official The Germany Experience website. Support the showInstagram: the.germany.experienceOfficial podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.deYouTube channel: https://youtube.com/c/thegermanyexperienceContact me: [email protected] Intro Music by: Adrian Bran

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.We cover our personal situations, fake news, coping with the heaviness of a pandemic, how people should stay home, and just our general feelings about what is happening. Things are changing pretty fast right now, so this discussion was recorded just before Germany ordered a lot of institutions to shut down. Stay home and wash your hands! Find Nicole on Instagram and Twitter.Find Steph at https://www.stephfuccio.com/, on Instagram and on Twitter.Links to more The Germany Experience episodes, my newsletter, and my social media: thegermanyexperience.de/subscribeJOIN THE THE GERMANY EXPERIENCE FACEBOOK GROUPVisit the official The Germany Experience website.Support the showInstagram: the.germany.experienceOfficial podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.deYouTube channel: https://youtube.com/c/thegermanyexperienceContact me: [email protected] Intro Music by: Adrian Bran

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.She also discusses the importance of using meetups to learn German and meet people, the things she won't miss, why people have to give way to the right on the roads here in Germany, and...jousting.Natalie is Prattilicious (!!!) on Instagram and Eat With Your Belly on Facebook. Read her old blog posts on Eat With Your Belly.Coronavirus: Edeka has a survival pack and an ice cream dealer in Munich has a novel new flavor. Links to episodes, my newsletter, and my social media: thegermanyexperience.de/subscribeJOIN THE THE GERMANY EXPERIENCE FACEBOOK GROUPVisit the official The Germany Experience website. Support the showInstagram: the.germany.experienceOfficial podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.deYouTube channel: https://youtube.com/c/thegermanyexperienceContact me: [email protected] Intro Music by: Adrian Bran

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. Because she's got a fantastic command of both German and English, she has a lot of insights about being bilingual and about expressing one's self in different languages. In my chat with her, we discuss how it's possible to have different personalities in the different languages we speak, how German isn't as harsh as many people think it is, and how moving abroad influences our identity. Steph has also just launched a podcast based on her blog Transcontinental Overload: https://transcontinentaloverload.com/podcast/The blog post that we discuss in our chat: Multiple Languages - Multiple Personalities? Links to episodes, my newsletter, and my social media: thegermanyexperience.de/subscribeJOIN THE THE GERMANY EXPERIENCE FACEBOOK GROUPVisit the official The Germany Experience website.Support the showInstagram: the.germany.experienceOfficial podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.deYouTube channel: https://youtube.com/c/thegermanyexperienceContact me: [email protected] Intro Music by: Adrian Bran

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. By the time he decided to move back to Germany in his early 40s, he was still fluent in German and understood what made the Germans tick. He thought this would make integration easy, but in fact, it did not. Klaus discusses finding a job in Germany, photoshopping CV photos, losing a job, why you should avoid German sensationalist media, and experiencing loneliness. You can connect with Klaus on Twitter and LinkedIn.Give me a 5-star review to balance out the angry 1-star review: The Germany Experience on Apple PodcastsLinks to episodes, my newsletter, and my social media: thegermanyexperience.de/subscribeListen to my guest appearance on The Expat Experience podcast. JOIN THE THE GERMANY EXPERIENCE FACEBOOK GROUPVisit the official The Germany Experience website.Support the showInstagram: the.germany.experienceOfficial podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.deYouTube channel: https://youtube.com/c/thegermanyexperienceContact me: [email protected] Intro Music by: Adrian Bran

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). SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCASTSupport the showInstagram: the.germany.experienceOfficial podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.deYouTube channel: https://youtube.com/c/thegermanyexperienceContact me: [email protected] Intro Music by: Adrian Bran

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. We brush up on the origins of Carnival, we discuss some of the traditions around it, and Nina tells me of her memories of Carnival. Oh, and I rant about why I hate Carnival so much...You'll also probably want to stick around for Nina's Döner story...Here is Nina's Snow Queen outfit from her childhood. The article about Fasching we referenced: What is Fasching? An article from Deutsche Welle: The Historical Roots of Carnival in GermanySupport the showInstagram: the.germany.experienceOfficial podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.deYouTube channel: https://youtube.com/c/thegermanyexperienceContact me: [email protected] Intro Music by: Adrian Bran

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. The Elbphilharmonie building in Hamburg: https://www.elbphilharmonie.de/de/Find Amy on Instagram and Facebook. Visit her website: https://www.theexpatexperience.org/Vlad's Romanian expat podast: DiasporacastJOIN THE THE GERMANY EXPERIENCE FACEBOOK GROUPVisit the official The Germany Experience website.Support the showInstagram: the.germany.experienceOfficial podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.deYouTube channel: https://youtube.com/c/thegermanyexperienceContact me: [email protected] Intro Music by: Adrian Bran

(This is the podcast previously known as Expat Life Germany.In the first few years in Germany, things weren't always easy for Sindy from Hong Kong. As is the experience of many foreigners living abroad, she faced painful and difficult moments. And it was exactly these moments that drove her to not only adapt and learn the language, but also to thrive. Sindy's Blog: My Life In GermanyFind her on: FacebookTwitterInstagramJOIN THE THE GERMANY EXPERIENCE FACEBOOK GROUPVisit the official The Germany Experience website.Support the showInstagram: the.germany.experienceOfficial podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.deYouTube channel: https://youtube.com/c/thegermanyexperienceContact me: [email protected] Intro Music by: Adrian Bran

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.experienceOfficial podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.deYouTube channel: https://youtube.com/c/thegermanyexperienceContact me: [email protected] Intro Music by: Adrian Bran

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.The first movie I am covering is Loriot's Pappa Ante Portas. Loriot was a cartoonist, a sketch comedian, and a movie maker, and he was a giant in German comedy. Show notes:Dominik's history podcast (Deutsch): Ach? The 40 Percent German blog post: The German Society of Auto-CorrectionWikipedia entry for Loriot: LoriotWikipedia entry for the movie: Pappa Ante PortasA few of my favorite YouTube sketches from Loriot that I have seen: Sie Haben Da WasKosakenzipfel mit ZitronencremebällchenLoriot: Eheberatung, Paartherapie The movie on Netflix: Pappa Ante PortasHave you watched the movie? Let me know your thoughts on my Facebook group:JOIN THE EXPAT LIFE GERMANY FACEBOOK GROUPVisit the official Expat Life Germany website.Support the showInstagram: the.germany.experienceOfficial podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.deYouTube channel: https://youtube.com/c/thegermanyexperienceContact me: [email protected] Intro Music by: Adrian Bran

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.We also discuss a blog post that Audrey wrote called "Growing a Thicker Skin", and she opens up about fitting into German culture as a bubbly, open person. The app Audrey and Zach used while living apart: CoupleThe therapy service Audrey uses: BetterHelpWebsite for organizing meet-ups with people: https://www.meetup.com/Audrey's blog: https://www.a-broad.com/Zach's blog: https://zachsyearingermany.wordpress.com/JOIN THE EXPAT LIFE GERMANY FACEBOOK GROUPVisit the official Expat Life Germany website.Support the showInstagram: the.germany.experienceOfficial podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.deYouTube channel: https://youtube.com/c/thegermanyexperienceContact me: [email protected] Intro Music by: Adrian Bran

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.Discover all of Travis' podcasts and projects on the Podcastnik website and subscribe to the Podcastnik Productions YouTube channel. Follow Travis on Twitter.If you want to help Travis with his plan to make candy, donate to his GoFundMe campaign.Show notes:The podcast about Toby's trans-gender journey: What's In Your Pants podcast Past Access, a show about exploring tourist sites in a wheelchair Learning about German history through podcasts:The Eastern Border The History of WWII Cam and Ray’s Cold War PodcastAch! Podcast (in German)Podstock is a German podcasting festivalSupport the showInstagram: the.germany.experienceOfficial podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.deYouTube channel: https://youtube.com/c/thegermanyexperienceContact me: [email protected] Intro Music by: Adrian Bran

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. Together we raised 350 euros...140 euros went to Nicole's charity of choice, Women's Worth Inc., while 210 euros went to my chosen charity, Lebenshilfe in Bad Windsheim. I'll let you do the math (*cough* I won!) :)Thanks to everyone who donated, and thanks to Nicole for being such a great sport. Let's do it again in December 2020!Support the showInstagram: the.germany.experienceOfficial podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.deYouTube channel: https://youtube.com/c/thegermanyexperienceContact me: [email protected] Intro Music by: Adrian Bran

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.Luminaria: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LuminariaWherever you might be, and whether you celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas, something else, or nothing at all, may your holiday season be peaceful. Thanks for listening in 2019 and stay tuned for more guests and stories in 2020. JOIN THE FACEBOOK GROUPSupport the showInstagram: the.germany.experienceOfficial podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.deYouTube channel: https://youtube.com/c/thegermanyexperienceContact me: [email protected] Intro Music by: Adrian Bran

Donate to my cause in the expat podcasters charity challenge (aka #FEGEPADFO): Donate to Lebenshilfe Bad WindsheimGermany offers a lot of opportunities, but it's also known as a difficult country to integrate into. What happens when the German dream becomes a nightmare? My guest this week (who asked to remain anonymous) is from India, and he has experienced rude government officials, losing a job because he wasn't a native speaker, difficult neighbors, and even blatant racism. Because of these experiences, his views on Germany are not positive. In our interview, we discuss his experiences and opinions of the country and its people.Greta Thunberg's "feud" with Deutsche Bahn: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/dec/15/greta-thunberg-in-twitter-spat-with-german-rail-firmJoin the Expat Life Germany mailing list.Discuss your opinions on this episode in the Expat Life Germany Facebook group!Visit the official podcast website: Expat Life GermanySupport the showInstagram: the.germany.experienceOfficial podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.deYouTube channel: https://youtube.com/c/thegermanyexperienceContact me: [email protected] Intro Music by: Adrian Bran

Donate to my cause in the expat podcasters charity challenge (aka #FEGEPADFO): Donate to Lebenshilfe Bad WindsheimFor many people who are planning to come to Germany, the Freelance Visa might be the way to go. It allows you to provide freelance services in Germany, and you don't need an official job offer to get it. But how do you get it? And is it suitable for your goals?I am joined by the very knowledgeable James Meads of LiveWorkGermany.com, who explains what the German Freelance Visa is, who can get it, how to apply, and what you need to know about it. Live Work Germany is also offering an online Freelance Visa course. You can also find LiveWorkGermany on Facebook and YouTube.Join the Expat Life Germany mailing list.Discuss your opinions on this episode in the Expat Life Germany Facebook group!Visit the official podcast website: Expat Life GermanySupport the showInstagram: the.germany.experienceOfficial podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.deYouTube channel: https://youtube.com/c/thegermanyexperienceContact me: [email protected] Intro Music by: Adrian Bran

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.Also in this episode: Introducing FEGEPADFO (First Ever German Expat Podcast Advent Donation Face-Off), where I go up against my sworn rival, Nicole from The Expat Cast, in a battle to see who can raise the most money for charity. To see our selected charities and find out more information, go to the FEGEPADFO page. Discuss your opinions on this episode in the Expat Life Germany Facebook group!Visit the official podcast website: Expat Life GermanySupport the showInstagram: the.germany.experienceOfficial podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.deYouTube channel: https://youtube.com/c/thegermanyexperienceContact me: [email protected] Intro Music by: Adrian Bran

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. Subscribe to Liliana's YouTube channel: Lils AroundLiliana on social media: FacebookInstagramDiscuss your opinions on this episode in the Expat Life Germany Facebook group! Visit the official podcast website: Expat Life GermanySupport the showInstagram: the.germany.experienceOfficial podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.deYouTube channel: https://youtube.com/c/thegermanyexperienceContact me: [email protected] Intro Music by: Adrian Bran

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. He's also a handball player, and he had the chance to make German friends through his love of the sport.We also discuss learning languages, Bulgarian wedding dance traditions, and more.Majestic handball Rafael: https://www.instagram.com/p/BSvnfjflJgR0f4nq-mjwHYcNRVdXQFuVk7MqKA0/?igshid=uouuiaedbbd3World Index tweet: most dangerous countries Bulgarian wedding dance: https://youtu.be/Bv8BRPO-EyU?t=37Discuss your opinions on this episode in the Expat Life Germany Facebook group! Support the showInstagram: the.germany.experienceOfficial podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.deYouTube channel: https://youtube.com/c/thegermanyexperienceContact me: [email protected] Intro Music by: Adrian Bran

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.Discuss your opinions on these stereotypes in the Expat Life Germany Facebook group! And also: let us know of any we missed, or ones that might be common in your area of Germany.The cult British show that Germans watch every year on New Year's Eve: Dinner for OneFind Nicole:The Expat Cast podcastThe Expat Cast on InstagramMail Nicole: [email protected] Life Germany:Facebook page Facebook groupWebsiteInstagramTwitterSupport the showInstagram: the.germany.experienceOfficial podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.deYouTube channel: https://youtube.com/c/thegermanyexperienceContact me: [email protected] Intro Music by: Adrian Bran

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. To win a signed copy of "The God Queen", find the episode post on one of the Expat Life Germany social media channels and follow the instructions:Expat Life Germany Facebook (share the episode post and message the Expat Life Germany account to let me know)Expat Life Germany Instragram (tag a friend or friends on the episode post)Expat Life Germany Twitter (retweet the episode post) Doing the above will enter you into the draw to win the book. You can be entered once for each platform, so that means you can be entered a maximum of three times. I'll do the draw on 22 October and announce the winner on the show on 28 October. Find Mari: The Adventures of La Mari on YouTubeM.L Tishner blog (her writing site)Advetures of La Mari blog (her travel adventures)Mari on InstagramMari on TwitterSupport the showInstagram: the.germany.experienceOfficial podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.deYouTube channel: https://youtube.com/c/thegermanyexperienceContact me: [email protected] Intro Music by: Adrian Bran

Discuss this episode in the Expat Life Germany Facebook group! Vlad from Romania was tired of the political situation in Romania, and made the choice to move to Germany. But, unlike many Romanians who emigrate to western Europe, integration is easier for him since he's highly educated and already knows German. But is integration always a choice? We talk about why Romanians have a bad reputation in Germany and how Germany offers a better life for many eastern Europeans.We also look into the latest Internations Expat Insider Report and find that Germany is not in the Top 10 of the top expat destinations in 2019. Listen to my guest appearance on the Geopats podcast with Steph Fuccio: Geopats #66Visit expatlifegermany.de for more episodes and blog posts. Support the showInstagram: the.germany.experienceOfficial podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.deYouTube channel: https://youtube.com/c/thegermanyexperienceContact me: [email protected] Intro Music by: Adrian Bran

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.Michael has also founded a few companies, was once a professional bepop jazz guitarist (he played with jazz legend Joe Pass), and gets tattoos with famous basketball players. In our interview we discuss what 80s Germany was like, the differences to modern Germany, and how making mistakes in German can lead to trouble. Michael Silberman on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeldsilberman/Michael's current business venture: GoDcoin Support the showInstagram: the.germany.experienceOfficial podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.deYouTube channel: https://youtube.com/c/thegermanyexperienceContact me: [email protected] Intro Music by: Adrian Bran

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!In this episode, I talk to the organizers of the Wöhrder See parkrun in Nürnberg about the concept.The parkrun website: https://www.parkrun.com/The parkrun Germany website (in German): https://www.parkrun.com.de/The Wöhrder See parkrun website (in German): https://www.parkrun.com.de/woehrdersee/See the blog post and photos here: https://expatlifegermany.de/parkrun-germanyListen to my guest appearance on The Expat Cast: https://www.podbean.com/eu/pb-rx6y4-c004f8Support the showInstagram: the.germany.experienceOfficial podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.deYouTube channel: https://youtube.com/c/thegermanyexperienceContact me: [email protected] Intro Music by: Adrian Bran

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. He also reads out Apple Podcast reviews for the show, talks about some blog posts on the Expat Life Germany website (5 Cultural Things to Expect in a German Workplace and Germans Are Weird About Birthdays), and discusses the traditions around the first day of school in Germany.The Schultüte: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schult%C3%BCteExpatriate on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ExpatriateSteph Fuccio's article about Geopats: https://medium.com/@stephfuccio/geopat-not-expat-df5e229210b7Steph Fuccio's website: https://www.stephfuccio.com/The Settle In Berlin article: "Expat" or "Immigrant"?Shaun will be appearing on The Expat Cast this week! Visit Expat Life Germany for more episodes and blog posts.Support the showInstagram: the.germany.experienceOfficial podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.deYouTube channel: https://youtube.com/c/thegermanyexperienceContact me: [email protected] Intro Music by: Adrian Bran

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. Here is more Anna, and we go into detail about social media, how to help others by first taking care of yourself, and why she is not afraid to make connections with people who might be moving on in the future. Visit Anna's website: https://www.sunflowerux.com/Ask Anna questions in the Expat Life Germany Facebook group.Support the showInstagram: the.germany.experienceOfficial podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.deYouTube channel: https://youtube.com/c/thegermanyexperienceContact me: [email protected] Intro Music by: Adrian Bran

Anna Noakes Schulze from Canada presented a TEDx talk called “Living Abroad Teaches Us the Power of Connections”, 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. In this interview, she expands on the TEDx talk to reveal her wisdom and insights that describe the expat experience. She discusses the question of identity, learning German too fast, raising special needs children in Germany, and of course, the talk itself. Anna Noakes Schulz is in the Expat Life Germany Facebook group, so if you have questions about her TEDx talk or her interview on the podcast, you can ask her there!Anna’s Website: https://www.sunflowerux.com/Anna on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annanoakesschulze/The Chrome plugin Anna mentioned for managing your social media feed: Social FixerVisit my website: https://expatlifegermany.deMusic used in this episode: Until the End by Ryan Anderson; the theme song is “Devil In My Head” by 10 Cent Janes. Support the showInstagram: the.germany.experienceOfficial podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.deYouTube channel: https://youtube.com/c/thegermanyexperienceContact me: [email protected] Intro Music by: Adrian Bran

For all the links mentioned in the episode (there are a few!), go to the Finding and Getting a Job in Germany blog post.I go through some of the ins and outs of getting a job in Germany. To help me, I got Cheryl Howard of cherylhoward.com to discuss her experiences as a job seeker in Berlin (she's interviewed for dozens of jobs). Then Abi from IamExpat.de joins me to discuss what goes in a German Curriculum Vitae, as well as some general tips for writing the document. I also give you some advice from my own experiences looking for jobs in Germany. And I go through some questions and advice from listeners of the show. Follow me on Instagram and Twitter, and join the Facebook Group to discuss the episode. Visit expatlifegermany.de for other episodes. Music used in this episode: Until the End by Ryan Anderson, Laid Back Fuzz by Podington Bear, Daybreak by Chad Crouch, and the theme song is “Devil In My Head” by 10 Cent Janes. Support the showInstagram: the.germany.experienceOfficial podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.deYouTube channel: https://youtube.com/c/thegermanyexperienceContact me: [email protected] Intro Music by: Adrian Bran

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. Although Sarah is new in Berlin, she is by no means new to the expat way of life: she has lived in Syria, Canada, Dubai, Malaysia, Japan, and now, Germany. She discusses how her international background has made adapting to new cultures easier, and how she views her identity. She also gives her initial feelings on Berlin, Germany, Germans, and contrasts life here to life in Japan. Follow Sarah on Instagram: @slikko For the blog post about the episode: https://expatlifegermany.de/12Support the showInstagram: the.germany.experienceOfficial podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.deYouTube channel: https://youtube.com/c/thegermanyexperienceContact me: [email protected] Intro Music by: Adrian Bran

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 Developer’s 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.Tim's Website: https://www.timbourguignon.fr/Tim's Podcast (Software Developer's Journey): http://podcast.devjourney.info/Support the showInstagram: the.germany.experienceOfficial podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.deYouTube channel: https://youtube.com/c/thegermanyexperienceContact me: [email protected] Intro Music by: Adrian Bran

There are a lot of people—expats and Germans alike—who 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 Bürgeramt to the Bedroom" books I was giving away. Visit the episode blog: https://expatlifegermany.de/10Support the showInstagram: the.germany.experienceOfficial podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.deYouTube channel: https://youtube.com/c/thegermanyexperienceContact me: [email protected] Intro Music by: Adrian Bran

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.She also discusses her approach to her toddler's language learning, who is a child with an Australian mother and an Italian/German father, and who is growing up in German culture. Plus, Natalie has always needed to be creative, and that's something she needs to align with being a parent and living as an expat in a country where it might not be that easy to move into a creative career. Visit the official podcast page: expatlifegermany.deAnd listen to the show next week when the winners of the "From the Bürgeramt to the Bedroom" book will be announced! Support the showInstagram: the.germany.experienceOfficial podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.deYouTube channel: https://youtube.com/c/thegermanyexperienceContact me: [email protected] Intro Music by: Adrian Bran

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. Shannon talks about falling in love with the German way of life, making compromises for the greater good, and getting out of the expat bubble. Follow Shannon on Instagram: @churchbellsandbicyclesIf you're a woman and an expat living abroad, Shannon would love to hear from you! Visit the blog post for this episode: Ep.8: Shannon from USA - Church Bells and Bicycles Join the discussion in the podcast’s Facebook group! Support the showInstagram: the.germany.experienceOfficial podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.deYouTube channel: https://youtube.com/c/thegermanyexperienceContact me: [email protected] Intro Music by: Adrian Bran