Common Ground Berlin

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Happy New Year and what's next for Common Ground Berlin!

The elusive “Führerschein” – Why drivers from abroad have a hard time getting a license in Germany.

Jen Palacios of Simple Germany in Dusseldorf and Matthias Roth of Asphalt-Profis in Berlin join host Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson in an informative and humorous conversation about the woes of getting a driver’s license in the land of Autobahns. Produced by Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson and Eden Brockman

Sprechen Sie Deutsch? And should you, if you live and work in Germany?

Host Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson explores whether people who move to Germany actually need to learn German with Steffen Sottung , managing director of international affairs at the Federal Employment Agency in Nuremberg; Britta Schneider , professor of language use and migration at Europa-Universität Viadrina in Frankfurt (Oder), and Patric Prager , a consultant in Cologne helping immigrants integrate into the German labor market. Produced by Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson and Eden Brockman....

What happens to us now? Part II: How the outcome of the U.S. election affects transatlantic relations and the German government crisis.

Host Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson talks with Berlin Chapter President Constance Chucholowski of Democrats Abroad and Research Director Jeremy Shapiro of the European Council on Foreign relations about the aftermath of one of the most tumultuous elections in U.S. history, including in Germany, the EU and Ukraine. The live discussion, recorded on Dec. 2 via Zoom featured an audience from both sides of the Atlantic from FAWCO, an international network of independent volunteer clubs and associations in 28...

What happens to us now? How the outcome of the U.S. election will affect women and democracy.

Host Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson talks with Senior Fellow Rachel Tausendfreund of the German Council on Foreign Relations and Berlin Chapter President Constance Chucholowski of Democrats Abroad about the aftermath of one of the most tumultuous elections in U.S. history. This episode was recorded live in Berlin at the FAWCO Region 5 meeting on “Women in Democracy.” Produced by Eden Brockman and Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson....

Germany’s Culture of Remembrance – Is it enough?

Since World War II, Germans have struggled with how best to deal with their history. But even with a formal government policy of “Never Again,” anti-Semitism is on the rise in Germany and other atrocities aren’t always acknowledged. Guest host Eden Brockman speaks with historian and City College of New York professor Dirk Moses , author of German Intellectuals and the Nazi Past about the changing nature of Germany’s “Erinnerungskultur” and how it shapes its collective memory and national identit...

Leaving the nest? The challenges of Berlin’s housing crisis for young people.

Berlin was recently declared by the Mercer Cost of Living Survey to be the most expensive city to live in Germany. Berlin also has a chronic housing shortage. So how are young people starting out navigating the crisis in the German capital? Join host Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson and her guests: Hypofriend CFO Christian Mulder , Messe Berlin event production assistant Bernadeta Lygnugaryte and Sebastian Sheath of Las Aguas Productions to hear their experiences, prognosis and tips. Produced by Eden Broc...

United or Divided? An “East-West” conversation with a best-selling author and award-winning producer about Germany, 34 years after reunification.

Germany became one country again in 1990. But just how unified is it really? And who is fanning the lingering divisions between eastern and western Germans? Host Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson talks again with Katja Hoyer , a journalist and historian who is the author of the bestseller, “Beyond the Wall,” and with award-winning producer Joerg Winger , co-creator of the hit series “Deutschland 83” and “Sam: A Saxon,” among others. Their edited conversation was recorded on Oct. 10, 2024. Produced by Eden ...

Missed opportunity or an opportunity not to be missed? Germany’s new visa or "Chancenkarte" and how to make the most of it.

Germany’s new Chancenkarte, or Opportunity Card, is supposed to make it easier for skilled foreign workers to find a foothold in the German job market. But how does it work and are there pitfalls? Host Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson talks to employment-related immigration lawyer Csilla Rostas; Yvonne Koppen , co-creator of Simple Germany, which helps clients navigate Germany’s complex bureaucracy, and Chancenkarte applicant Ben Currey. Produced by Eden Brockman and Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson....

From Currywurst to Seitan Schnitzel: Is Germany Going Vegan?

Guest hosts Eden Brockman and Nour Trabelsi talk about Germany’s not-so-easy shift to veganism with Lia Carlucci from Food Campus Berlin and Jens Tuider from ProVeg. Join us to find out what’s cooking in German kitchens! Produced by Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson and Eden Brockman

Live At PodFest 2024: “Stammtisch: A Scintillating Look At The News.” Vol. 4

Is it time for immigrants to leave Germany? Or should they instead go out for a non-alcoholic beer? Host Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson joins The Local Germany’s Rachel Loxton , Comedian Josh Telson , and POLITICO Berlin Playbook's Rixa Fürsen , for a deep and humorous dive into German regional elections and more at our fourth annual Stammtisch . This episode was recorded live at House of Color on Sept. 7, 2024, and was produced by Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson and Eden Brockman....

Berlin Techno brought down the Wall – Can its renewed recognition boost Berlin’s clubs?

The heartbeat of the German capital city’s nightlife and a symbol of its post-reunification identity after a decade-long campaign is now officially recognized by the German National Registry of Intangible Cultural Heritage. But what does this recognition for Berlin Techno really mean? Guest host Eden Brockman speaks with Lutz Leichsenring , co-founder of VibeLab and executive board member of Clubcommission Berlin, and Detroit-born, Berlin-based DJ and multidisciplinary artist Alan Oldham . Host ...

Attend a taping of our show during PodFest Berlin 2024 at House of Color in Berlin!

Fading Hopes of the Forgotten

Women’s and girls’ freedoms and opportunities have eroded at an alarming rate in Afghanistan since the Taliban seized power there three years ago. But there is little agreement internationally or even among Afghans on how to reverse that trend. Intense ethnic and ideological divisions between Afghan women activists in the diaspora aren’t helping. Host Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson speaks to former Afghan education minister Rangina Hamidi and Human Rights Watch’s Heather Barr . This episode was made pos...

Beyond the Briefing with DW's Rina Goldenberg

Will Germany’s federal budget end up in court? Can Germany deliver on its global military commitments? And what's happening with German beer? It may be summer, but the news is hopping with Common Ground Berlin host Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson and Berlin Briefing’s Rina Goldenberg bringing you the latest on German politics and society. Produced by Eden Brockman.

What's the sexual health of Germany?

Eighty years after the sexual liberation movement began, many people are still uncomfortable talking about sexually transmitted diseases and infections. But in our explicit and provocative episode commemorating the late Dr. Ruth, you will learn what’s going on with STDs and STIs in Berlin and beyond, along with tips on protecting your sexual health. Host Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson and Audio and Visual Editor Eden Brockman speak to: Dr. Martin Viehweger of ViRo Praxis in Berlin Lou Zucker of Pro Fami...

Will Germany’s new Self-Determination Act deliver?

It’s Pride Month in Germany and we are discussing the new Self-Determination Act, or “Selbstbestimmungsgesetz,” which will soon make it easier for transgender, intersex and non-binary teens and adults to legally change their names and gender. The new act, which takes effect in part on Aug. 1 and in full, on Nov. 1, will replace a costly, red-tape-laden law that’s been in effect for more than 40 years. It also amends a 2018 law that only allows intersex people to legally identify as a third, non-...

Moving to Germany? Here’s what you need to know.

You’ve decided to become an “expat” and live in Germany. But how do you navigate the bureaucracy and German culture? Can an English-speaker even make it here? What are some ways to ease the transition? Host Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson gets the answers to those key questions and more from fellow immigrants and experts Jenna Davis of Life in Germany , Sigrid Arteage of Surviving in Berlin , Bastien Allibert of Settle in Berlin and Nicolas Bouliane of All About Berlin. We also answer questions from our ...

Finding the Way Part III: Keep on dancing!

The funny and emotional conclusion as host Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson and her journalist husband Erik Nelson walk from Portugal to Spain on their first-ever Camino. Hear about the “arrow” debacle, spiders and singing nuns! And whether they actually make it to Santiago de Compostela. Featuring Casa Alternativo “albergue” host and Camino veteran Dries Nuitten ; Camino veteran, author and co-founder of the Facebook group “Senior Travelers on the Camino” Brian John Skillen , and Camino newbies from Vanc...

Finding The Way, Part II: The thrill of the Camino and the agony of the feet.

Host Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson and her journalist husband, Erik, begin their Portuguese Camino from Porto to Santiago de Compostela, Spain and quickly learn the meaning of “The Camino provides!” Join them on their challenging, rewarding and even funny adventure, and hear from the experts: Author and “Senior Travelers on the Camino’ Facebook group co-founder Anne Pedersen ; German political scientist and Camino veteran Joerg Steinert ; Stingy Nomads’ Alya Akhmetgareeva and Lithuanian influencer, Eva...

Finding The Way, Part I: The Camino de Santiago and why it’s hard to resist.

Have you ever done a Camino? Or wanted to do a Camino? Or wonder what a Camino even is? Learn from the experts, including authors Brian John Skillen and Anne Pedersen (pen name Lele Beutel ) who started the popular Facebook group “Senior Travelers on the Camino,” political scientist and Pilgerwahnsinn.de creator Joerg Steinert; Stingy Nomads ’ Alya Akhmetgareeva , and our host, Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson, who plans with her husband to walk from Portugal to Spain on the adventure of a lifetime they f...

Bye-bye, Berlin – Are artists and others in creative fields that gave the city its post-Cold War identity leaving?

Berlin has been referred to as a “creative utopia,” where the arts and cultural scene exploded after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Nowadays, the city’s draw as an artist hub is fading and its spaces are being displaced, thanks to skyrocketing real estate prices and limited space, among other things. But does this mean Berlin’s artists are leaving? And how are Berliners in creative fields coping with the changes to what then German mayor Klaus Wowereit our “poor but sexy” city? Host Soraya Sarhadd...

Berlin Blues - Navigating mental health care in the German capital and beyond.

Berlin is ranked as one of the three unhappiest states in Germany. What role does a shortage of therapy play? And is there a way to get around that shortage if you need help? Guest host Eden Brockman explores the accessibility and quality of mental health care in Berlin and across Germany with Jöran Mandik , host of Get Help Berlin, and Berlin-based psychologist Irene Joubert . Also featuring Gus Gaston , an American living in Cologne, and Diana Martsynkovska , a Ukrainian living in Berlin, who ...

Out of Work – What to do about rising unemployment in Berlin and Germany.

The number of people who are out of work in Germany increased by more than expected in February 2024 to more than 2.7 million as the slowdown in Europe’s largest economy bears down on the labor market. That translates to the highest jobless rate across Germany since 2021, with Berlin being one of two German cities where it’s the worst. But is there actually a shortage of jobs? And what can people do to find employment in these tough times? Our team speaks with Enzo Weber , head of research at th...

Update on getting dual citizenship in Germany – What works and what doesn’t

Host Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson and senior producer Dina Elsayed untangle the landmark reform to Germany’s citizenship law with guests: Jan Schneider, deputy managing director of The Expert Council on Integration and Migration and head of its research unit; Gökçe Yurdakul, Georg Simmel Professor of Diversity and Social Conflict at Humboldt University in Berlin and director of the Berlin Institute of Migration and Integration Research. We also hear from Aiyona Hayman , an American in Duesseldorf, abo...

A U.S. election the world is anxiously watching – Part One: What role do voters abroad play?

Host Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson discusses the role of overseas voting in the 2024 U.S. primaries and why you should care, even if you aren’t a U.S. citizen, with guests: Constance Chucholowski, chairman of the Berlin chapter of Democrats Abroad; Jeremy Shapiro, research director of the European Council on Foreign Relations, Gary Schmitt, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.

Whither Ukraine – If Western support wanes, will Russia win? And what does this mean for Berlin and Germany?

It’s been two years since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a war that is not going well for Kyiv at the moment. The war has killed and wounded a half million people and sent millions of Ukrainians fleeing to the West. Some 60,000 of them live here in Berlin. Host Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson and Senior Producer Dina Elsayed update you on what’s happening in Ukraine and what it means to us here in Germany and the West with guests: Ukrainian journalist Katerina Malofeyeva in Kyiv; Nico ...

A BER report card – Is Berlin’s airport the one to use or one to avoid?

Everyone has an opinion of BER, and many of them aren't kind: Passengers recently ranked it 19th of 20 airports in Germany, which suggests it still isn’t the airport of our dreams. In this episode, host Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson spoke on Feb. 6, 2024 with urban planner Dieter Faulenbach da Costa , who first helped plan BER and later often criticized it. We also hear about the latest improvements in the works from BER spokesman Jan-Peter Haack, plus comments from passengers and our new segment – Gei...

Being Franz Kafka, Part Two: How the iconic author who was sensitive to sound affects today’s music.

When we think of Franz Kafka, it’s usually about his books and short stories. But Kafka Band founder and Czech author Jaroslav Rudiš and world renowned Irish composer Gerald Barry say the noise-averse author influences today’s music, too. Host Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson and Senior Producer Dina Elsayed bring you their interviews that are part of the “Zeitgeister on Air” project, our joint collaboration with Goethe Institut. Produced by Dina Elsayed and Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson....

Being Franz Kafka, Part One: How the unconventional author affects life today.

Join host Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson and senior producer Dina Elsayed who interview TV personality and Kafka sleuth Kathi Diamant, in San Diego; National Library of Israel archivist Stefan Litt in Jerusalem , and figurative abstract artist Marianne Kolb in Sacramento on how Franz Kafka changed their lives and why the iconic author who died 100 years ago is still so relevant today. The interviews are part of the “Zeitgeister on Air” project, our joint collaboration with Goethe Institut. Produced by D...