PlusFortyNine Podcast

This week on Plus Forty Nine, we sit down with Ankit, the founder of Germanpedia — your go-to guide for navigating life in Germany. Originally from India, Ankit shares his insights on everything from health insurance and sick leave to German workplace culture and the art of saying “no” to your boss. We also take a closer look at Berlin’s housing market, dive into Germany’s latest military service debates and explore the charming world of Bauernregeln, old farmers' weather sayings that still pop up every spring.

While the Easter Bunny may be busy with hiding eggs this week, we’re cracking open something far more political: Germany’s brand-new coalition agreement. In this episode of Plus Forty Nine, we speak with political adviser Peter-Alberto Behrens about what the new government plans could mean for migrants in Germany, from citizenship and asylum policies to labor market access and integration efforts. With his bicultural background and deep policy experience, Peter-Alberto breaks down what’s changing and how the new agreement could shape immigration and integration in the years to come.
In our culture segment, we take a lighter look at how...

With spring in full swing and Frühlingsgefühle in the air, we’re diving into the highs and lows of single life in Germany. Our guest this week is Alysia, a Canadian who’s called Berlin home for over 20 years. She’s the founder of ALTO Matchmaking and a professional matchmaker with a passion for bringing the right people together – across languages, backgrounds, and love languages. We chat about her journey, what matchmaking actually looks like today, and how intercultural dating adds an extra layer of complexity to relationships in Germany. She also shares some real-world advice for anyone looking to up...

Week 14: Coalition Negotiations, Frühlingsgefühle and Dating

On this episode of Plus Forty Nine, we’re joined by Eleanor from The Germany List, who’s the co-founding The Germany List, a platform showcasing Ausländer-owned businesses. She’s been living in Germany since the days of the D-Mark and has experienced it all, from getting yelled at in Aldi to yelling back to the bikers in town! Eleanor takes us through her journey from arriving in Munich in 1999 with a dial-up connection and a vague plan to building a thriving career in digital marketing.
We’ll also take a look at what’s been happening...