All episodes

Week 10: Women’s Stories, Historical Milestones and Shaping The Future

Week 10: Women’s Stories, Historical Milestones and Shaping The Future

35m 54s

In honor of International Women’s Day—but not just because of it—we’re creating space for seven incredible women to share their personal stories. From navigating motherhood to breaking into male-dominated fields, chasing dreams, and shaping the future—this episode is filled with powerful perspectives, raw experiences, and inspiring insights. These women remind us why it's so important to speak up, be heard, and create change. We’ll also dive into a history segment, exploring the women’s movement in Germany, including milestones like the right to vote and key moments that have shaped the journey toward equality.

Week 09: Multilingual Homes, Carnival and Red Lights

Week 09: Multilingual Homes, Carnival and Red Lights

30m 55s

In this week’s episode of Plus Forty Nine, we sit down with Amelia and Tarek, the founders of Co-Tasker, a platform connecting people in need of quick and reliable help with skilled professionals looking for flexible work opportunities — or maybe even someone to stand in line at Berghain for them. We’ll talk about what brought them to Berlin and how they built a community-driven service that makes life easier for expats and locals alike. Additionally, in our Ask a German segment, we once again dive into some cultural curiosities, for instance why Germans always wait for the green light,...

Week 08: Foreign Doctors, Wahl-O-Mat and Herzhaft

Week 08: Foreign Doctors, Wahl-O-Mat and Herzhaft

28m 45s

In this week’s episode of Plus Forty Nine, we’ve officially arrived at election week. To help you make sense of the vote, we’re diving into the Wahl-O-Mat, an online tool that matches your views with party platforms. Joining us is Giorgi, co-founder of Loyi, a gamified loyalty platform working with brands like Deutsche Telekom and BMW. We’ll talk about customer loyalty in a digital world, the challenges of building a business in Germany, and Giorgi’s personal experience as an expat. Having lived here for over 13 years—and even married a German—he’s got plenty to share about navigating life in Germany,...

Week 07: Vision Lab, Après-Ski and Sauna Culture

Week 07: Vision Lab, Après-Ski and Sauna Culture

18m 59s

In this episode of Plus Forty Nine, we explore key political and economic developments in Germany, including a new law extending maternity leave to women who experience miscarriage and the sharp decline in Tesla sales. We also dive into German winter culture, uncovering the tradition of après-ski—where skiing meets partying.
Our guest, Ben Wilkins from Earlybird, shares insights on supporting migrant entrepreneurs through Vision Lab. Finally, in Ask a German, we explain why Germans embrace nudity in saunas.

Week 06: Stricter immigration Laws, German Election System and HonestDog

Week 06: Stricter immigration Laws, German Election System and HonestDog

28m 44s

Today, we’re talking with Sufyan, an entrepreneur from Pakistan now living in Berlin and the founder of HonestDog, a platform designed to help you find your ideal dog while connecting directly with verified breeders and shelters. He shares the story behind his project and what it takes to be a responsible pet parent—especially when it comes to dogs. With the federal elections approaching in February, we also take a look at recent developments in the Bundestag regarding migration and their potential consequences. Additionally, in this week's culture segment, we break down how the German election system works.

Week 05: Work Culture, Internal Communication and ChatGPT

Week 05: Work Culture, Internal Communication and ChatGPT

35m 2s

In today’s episode of Plus Forty Nine, we sit down with internal communication specialist Monique to explore the fascinating intersection of internal communications and AI. Monique, author of Internal Communication in the Age of Artificial Intelligence, brings her expertise to discuss how AI is transforming the way we connect, collaborate, and communicate in the workplace.
We’ll debate the impact of AI on learning a second language, examining its potential to reshape traditional methods and enhance language acquisition efforts.
As always, we’ll also bring you the latest news from Berlin and beyond, along with an insightful dive into German work culture.

Week 04: Sick Leave Rates, Ice Bathing and Pünktlichkeit

Week 04: Sick Leave Rates, Ice Bathing and Pünktlichkeit

28m 7s

Ever had the urge to jump into ice-cold water? If not, today’s interview might just inspire you to take the plunge! Join us as we chat with Philipp Brügge from Ice Dippers, who shares insights about their weekly ice bathing events held at various locations across Berlin. Our host Sigrid even braved the icy waters herself and interviewed some of the other participants to learn about their experiences and the benefits of this practice. As always, you can also look forward to the latest news and insights into German culture, this time presented by Jen and Yvonne from Simple Germany.

Week 03: Digitalization, Böllern and Entrepreneurship

Week 03: Digitalization, Böllern and Entrepreneurship

25m 58s

In today’s episode, we sit down with Leo Kaveh, who has been living and working in Germany for six years. He is now trying himself as an entrepreneur, aiming to create his own language learning model. We’ll delve into his experiences working in Germany and the challenges he’s faced. Additionally, we’ll recap some of this week’s highlights and take a closer look at the German term “Böllern,” exploring why it still holds such significance in German culture.

Week 02: LEGO Ramps, Dinner for One and Mexican Wines

Week 02: LEGO Ramps, Dinner for One and Mexican Wines

26m 18s

In today’s episode we are talking with entrepreneur Fernanda Suárez. Originally from Mexico, Fernanda founded her business Uvas de Mexico, allowing her to blend her roots with her new life in Germany. We’ll discuss her journey of adapting to a new culture and how she found love with a German husband. In our news segment, we’ll highlight some positive stories from this week, and in “Ask a German,” we’ll uncover the German obsession with eating sweet dishes as proper meals.

Week 51: Wichteln, Mangos and US elections

Week 51: Wichteln, Mangos and US elections

27m 54s

Today we are sitting down with Eden from the podcast “common ground Berlin.“ Originally from the US, Eden brings a unique perspective as we delve into the aftermath of the recent US elections. Today, roughly one month post-election, we'll explore how Germans and Americans living in Germany perceive the election results and their implications.
In our culture segment, we'll uncover the traditions behind "Wichteln" and share some tips on how to find the perfect gift for "Schrottwichteln." Plus, we'll wrap up with this week's news highlights, keeping you informed on the latest happenings.