PlusFortyNine Podcast

This week on Plus Forty Nine we’re diving into migration, education, and everything in between. We look at Germany’s push to attract more students from Chile to Saxony, and reflect on ten years after Merkel’s “Wir schaffen das” — where refugees stand in the labor market today. Our guest is Daniele, founder of Product Lab, who opens up about the highs and lows of entrepreneurship in Germany, his experience on LinkedIn, and why sport clubs might be the key to meeting new friends in Germany. In our culture segment, we explore Germany’s delightfully quirky tradition of Strawberry and Cucumber Queens....

This week on Plus Forty Nine, we’re diving into green living in the city. Our guest, Sophie from EasyBeeBerlin, joins us to share her expertise on transforming balconies, terraces, and small gardens into vibrant oases. From finding plants that fit your lifestyle to keeping them happy through the winter—and busting a few plant myths along the way—Sophie shows how anyone can bring more nature into their home, no matter the size of the space. In the news, we cover a new study questioning Germany’s “welcome classes” for refugee children, ongoing debates over reforming the eight-hour workday, and fresh data highlighting...

This week on Plus Forty Nine, we unpack Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt’s controversial plan to extend border controls and what it means for migration in Germany. Plus, a new Berlin law speeding up the recognition of foreign qualifications is set to make life easier for many expats. With summer back, we dive into the uniquely German picnic culture–from waterproof blankets to perfectly portioned snacks. Our guest is Susa, founder of the app ZenZen, which supports pregnant women with gestational diabetes. She shares her journey as a single mom and entrepreneur, and the challenge of starting over after uprooting her life....

This week on Plus Forty Nine, we’re kicking off August with a full lineup—rainy skies and all. In the news, we take a closer look at Germany’s education system, where PISA chief Andreas Schleicher warns that schools are failing migrant children and calls for better early language support and smarter funding structures. Meanwhile, the EU is rolling out its new digital border entry system, and Poland has announced an extension of its controls at the German border. In our culture segment, we’re decoding teen slang with the Top 10 contenders for Jugendwort des Jahres 2025. From “lowkey” to “tuff,” what...