All episodes

Week 26: Grillen, Globalization and Duvets

Week 26: Grillen, Globalization and Duvets

33m 2s

In this episode of Xpat Berlin, we’re stepping into summer with a full lineup of stories, questions, and conversations. This week we are getting a bit philosophical with Tuğba, who joins us for a reflective, wide-ranging chat about identity, belonging, and how to stay grounded in a world that rarely slows down. We also take a look at what’s new in Germany this week—from Potsdam’s plan to diversify its public sector to the federal education minister’s push for a smartphone ban in schools. In our culture segment, we head to the grill—because what’s a German summer without Bratwurst and Stockbrot?...

Week 25: Emigration, Quiz Obsession and Motherhood

Week 25: Emigration, Quiz Obsession and Motherhood

29m 45s

In this week’s episode of Plus Forty Nine, we sit down with Zeyu, co-founder of Little Dreamers, an app developed during countless sleepless nights to help families decode baby sleep patterns and finally get some rest. She shares what it’s like to raise a child — and a startup — in Germany, and how she learned to embrace a more relaxed approach to parenting, inspired by the German rhythm. We’re also catching you up on this week’s headlines: how the health sector is betting on AI and robotics in the Baltic region, why so many migrants are rethinking their future...

Week 24: Border Policy, Jubiläum and CVs

Week 24: Border Policy, Jubiläum and CVs

41m 2s

In today’s special Jubiläum episode of Plus Forty Nine, we’re celebrating 50 episodes of bringing you news, culture, and tips for life in Germany. Whether you’ve been here from day one or just found us recently: thanks for being part of the ride! This week, we’re joined by Rouven and David from Berlin Partner to talk all things jobs. From decoding German CV expectations to understanding how headhunters operate and what Berlin companies really look for, they share honest advice to help you navigate the local job market more smoothly. Plus, in our cultural segment, we look at a very...

Week 23: Migration Policy, Eurovision and Schwäbisch

Week 23: Migration Policy, Eurovision and Schwäbisch

28m 54s

This week on Plus Forty Nine, we’re looking at the future — from Berlin’s bid to host the 2036 Olympics to how artificial intelligence is reshaping the way we use energy. Our guest is Asheka from iMTED, a Stuttgart-based founder and mother developing a smart AI assistant that helps buildings reduce electricity waste. She joins us to talk about the real challenges of being a migrant entrepreneur in Germany, balancing business with family life, and what most people get wrong about AI. It’s an inspiring conversation about tech, tenacity, and building something that matters.

Week 22: Healthcare Reforms, Relatable and Ice Cream

Week 22: Healthcare Reforms, Relatable and Ice Cream

28m 23s

In this episode of Plus Forty Nine, we’re diving into the art of navigating conflict. Our guests, Kate and Tapas from Relatable, share how their own experiences as a couple inspired them to create an app that helps people move through tension with more calm and clarity. From the stress of future planning to the small stuff like household chores, we talk about what it really takes to fight fair and stay connected. Plus, we’ll catch you up on some of the top stories from Germany this week and dig into one of the country’s more surprising habits: eating ice...

Week 21: Migrant Founders Monitor, Christi Himmelfahrt and Immersive

Week 21: Migrant Founders Monitor, Christi Himmelfahrt and Immersive

31m 19s

This week on Plus Forty Nine, we sit down with Eduardo Roldán, co-founder of Immersive. We dive into how this smart new platform is making German learning a little less painful and a lot more practical. Additionally Edu shares his own journey of navigating Berlin life as an expat, from dealing with the Finanzamt to building a tool that helps others feel more at home. We’re also unpacking some of the week’s biggest headlines, plus, with Christi Himmelfahrt around the corner, we take a look at how this religious holiday became Germany’s unofficial men’s day out (aka Vatertag). And in...

Week 20: Friedrich Merz, Tasteit and Splitting the Bill

Week 20: Friedrich Merz, Tasteit and Splitting the Bill

29m 33s

Big shoes are being filled this week, both in the Vatican and in Berlin. With a new pope and Germany’s newly appointed chancellor Friedrich Merz making headlines, we’re taking the moment to explore what it actually means to lead a country. From Konrad Adenauer to Angela Merkel, we take a quick tour through the history of Germany’s chancellors and what the job really demands. We’ll also sit down with Giorgi from Giorgia, the founder of Tasteit, the anti-dating app powered by food. He shares how his platform is flipping the script on traditional dating culture by helping people connect through...

Week 19: Coalition Agreement, Spargelzeit and Faxing Machines

Week 19: Coalition Agreement, Spargelzeit and Faxing Machines

33m 42s

This week we have a really fun interview with two Berlin institutions: Andrew and Maurice from 20%. In our conversation, we explore everything German, from why technology still seems to meet resistance in Germany, including the continued use of fax machines, to possibly seeing your boss naked in the sauna. We’ll also catch you up on the latest political news, including updates on the new coalition agreement and speed limit changes across Berlin. And in our cultural segment, we dive into Germany’s beloved asparagus season: Why is Spargel such a national obsession and what exactly does an asparagus queen do?

Week 18: Tanz in den Mai, Frauenalia and German Humor

Week 18: Tanz in den Mai, Frauenalia and German Humor

30m 20s

This week on Plus Forty Nine, we sit down with Begoña de la Marta from Frauenalia — an initiative championing diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunities across Germany’s economy and society. Originally from Spain, Begoña shares her experiences navigating the German job market, the meaning of the word „sachlich“, and why your accent should be seen as a strength, not a flaw.
We’ll also take you through some of this week’s biggest news stories, from political shifts to cultural trends that impact expats across Germany. Plus, since April is wrapping up, we dive into one of Germany’s most festive spring traditions:...

Week 17: Housing Market, Bauernregeln and GermanPedia

Week 17: Housing Market, Bauernregeln and GermanPedia

27m 45s

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.