Common Ground Berlin

DERAILED – The tribulations of European train travel.

In our last episode of 2022, we tackle a topic that is timely, namely rail travel! Except these days, traveling by train in Europe is anything but timely. Host Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson explores what’s behind the chaos with Hidden Europe Magazine co-founder Nicky Gardner , author of Europe by Rail: the Definitive Guide, and communications professor and blogger Jon Worth . His grassroots “Cross Border Rail Project” featured in The New York Times lays bare the shortfalls of European rail travel. Prod...

The war in Ukraine – What’s next?

In this first anniversary episode of Transatlantic Takeaway, a Common Ground Berlin and German Marshall Fund of the United States collaboration, hosts Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson and Rachel Tausendfreund talk about the sweeping 10-month-long war Russia is waging in Ukraine and its impact on Europe and the United States with GMF Guido Goldman Distinguished Scholar for Geostrategy Thomas Kleine-Brockhoff and Michal Baranowski , senior fellow of the GMF office in Warsaw. Is there an end in sight for the...

A German Conundrum: Dual Citizenship

Host Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson and her guests debate a much anticipated change to an outdated German law that would allow Americans and other non-EU nationals who live in Germany to keep their original citizenship if they choose to become Germans. But will the updated law lessen the hurdles to German citizenship? This week’s guests are: Immigration lawyer Julie Schaefer , whose practice is in Dusseldorf; 20 Percent Berlin co-founder Andrew Bulkeley Business and international relations journalist Ek...

UN Climate Action Summit 2022 – A venue for meaningful change or empty pledges?

Scores of nations are attending the 27th annual COP in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm-el Sheikh. Host Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson explores what the international gathering will deliver and whether climate diplomacy is enough to keep the planet from the point of no return, especially when leaders of some of the biggest polluters skip such summits. Her guests: Andrzej Ancygier, Senior Energy and Climate Policy Analyst with Climate Analytics; Lutz Weischer, Head of Policy, Berlin of Germanwatch e.V.;...

U.S. Midterm Elections 2022 – The end of American democracy?

Although a record turnout is expected on Nov. 8th, opinion surveys show many Americans no longer trust U.S. elections nor their government. Many Republican voters still embrace the “Big Lie” that President Trump had the 2020 election stolen from him. So what does the growing mistrust, President Joe Biden’s low ratings and the worst inflation in four decades mean for the midterm elections and American democracy in general? In this episode of Transatlantic Takeaway by Common Ground Berlin and the ...

Live in Amsterdam: The Far-Right Playbook

In Common Ground Berlin’s international debut at Podcastfestival 2022 , host Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson and Mick ter Reehorst of Are We Europe broke delve into why the far right is thriving and what role the media and internet play in their propaganda with guests: Nina Horaczek , Viennese journalist whose work on far right movements was shortlisted for the 2019 European Press Prize; Bharath Ganesh , University of Groningen professor specializing in new media and political communication. This show wa...

Inflation forecast in Europe and how to combat it.

An insightful talk on Twitter Spaces about the current state of inflation in Europe and what the future holds for people and businesses, especially in Berlin. Featuring Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson and guests James Kantero of EU Scream podcast, Bloomberg tech reporter Aggi Cantril and Ted Knudsen, who co-hosts the podcast Spassbremse . This show was produced by Dina Elsayed.

Wilkommen, Maz Jobrani! An Iranian-American comedian does Deutschland.

In this special episode of Common Ground Berlin, host Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson interviews her favorite comedian ahead of his debut in Germany in September. They talk about performing in Europe and what his mom thinks of his comedy; his deep love of politics, and growing up Iranian in the United States. If there’s something you don’t know about Maz Jobrani, the answer might be in this episode! To catch one of his shows in Germany, look for tickets here. This show was produced by Soraya Sarhaddi Nel...

Sea Change or Empty Promises? An update on Germany’s “Zeitenwende.”

In this episode of Transatlantic Takeaway, host Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson examines whether plans announced six months ago by Chancellor Olaf Scholz to revolutionize Germany’s defense strategy are actually happening and if Ukraine can still count on Germany to stand against Russia. Her guests are Sudha David-Wilp, GMF Senior Transatlantic Fellow and deputy director of the Berlin office and Anna Sauerbrey, foreign editor of the weekly Die Zeit and a contributor to the New York Times op-ed section. Th...

No Place to Call Home – An update on Berlin’s housing crisis

“Poor, but sexy” Berlin was famous for its cheap rents, but these days, the capital city is the second most expensive in Germany and among the 50 priciest in the world. Host Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson explores Berlin’s residential crisis brought on by a shortage of housing and inflation and what cities in Europe may offer a solution with guests: Barbara Steenbergen, head of the EU liaison office of the International Union of Tenants; Wibke Werner, deputy manager of the Berlin Tenants’ Union; Kalle K...

Money with No Strings Attached – Is “Grundeinkommen” a good idea for Germany?

Times are hard, but is money provided unconditionally by the government the best way to ease the burden? Pilots in three federal states are planned soon to test the feasibility of a universal basic income in Germany and host Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson talks about that and the German plan to overhaul social and unemployment benefits with guests: Alexandra Borchardt , veteran journalist and media consultant. Jürgen Schupp, Senior Research Fellow at the German Institute for Economic Research. Laura Brä...

American Football in Germany – Touchdown or Fumble?

Fussball may be king in Germany, but Deutschland is also said to be the biggest market outside of North America for a different football game – the American kind! It’s why the NFL decided to launch its new season in Munich this year, where the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will play the Seattle Seahawks. Common Ground Berlin’s Dina Elsayed takes you into the competitive world of American football in Deutschland, where the NFL, a European league and a German league battle it out for status and fans. This ...

Common Ground Berlin Stammtisch, Vol. 2: A Scintillating Look at the News.

How are Germans responding to inflation? Do cheap transit tickets make up for it? And what should we make of President Joe Biden’s handshake diplomacy in the Middle East? Host Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson asks her guests to weigh in on these and other issues at Podfest Berlin 2022 . Joining her for a chat and libation are: Agence France-Presse Correspondent Deborah Cole , Comedian Carmen Chraim and Podfest Berlin Founder Daniel Stern . Plus a special appearance by YouTube sensation and comedian Daniel...

Mobility Blues in 2022: How war and politics affect the way we get around

In this “Transatlantic Takeaway” episode, hosts Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson and Rachel Tausendfreund debate the growing problems with plane, train, car and bike travel in Germany and beyond and government attempts to fix them. Their guests: Dirk von Schneidemesser of Changing Cities, an initiative specializing in democratic sustainability transformation. Katja Diehl, host of the podcast: “She Drives Mobility” and author of “Autokorrektur – Mobilität für eine lebenswerte Welt.” (Autocorrect: Mobility ...

Smooth Sailing or Rocky Road? How U.S.-German relations are faring amid the global upheaval

It’s been 18 months since Donald Trump left office, but with one global crisis after another, the relationship between the United States and Germany has not had time to rebound. But does it matter? Is Germany squandering an opportunity to set its own international agenda? Host Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson discusses the state of German-U.S. relations in these precarious times with: Jeremy Shapiro , research director at the European Council on Foreign Relations and a former advisor to the State Departme...

From Crime to Choice and Back – The Transatlantic Experience with Abortions

Any day now, the Supreme Court of the United States will almost certainly overturn the landmark ruling known as Roe v. Wade. That will make it harder – if not impossible – for women to get abortions in dozens of states. But in Germany, the new government is headed in the opposite direction, trying (to a point) to ease access for women to abortion services. Host Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson talks about these impending, monumental changes and how they are linked with guests: Constance Chucholowski , a p...

Exit, Ukraine?

In this “Transatlantic Takeaway” episode, hosts Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson and Rachel Tausendfreund delve into scenarios to end Russian President Vladmir Putin’s war on Ukraine and how the conflict is changing the global order. Their guests are: Michal Baranowski, senior fellow and director of the GMF office in Warsaw . Gesine Dornblueth , co-author of “Ruhmlose Helden,” a book on a plane crash that changed German-Russian relations. She is a former Moscow correspondent for Deutschlandradio. Liana Fi...

The Angst about Denglisch

Handy. Public Viewing. Home Office. Boostern – It’s hard sometimes to tell German from English. But is the incorporation of English into German a bad thing? Host Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson discusses the impact of the resulting hybrid called Denglish with Anatol Stefanowitsch, an English linguistics professor at the Free University of Berlin and Oliver Baer of the Verein Deutsche Sprache or German Language Society. This show was produced by Dina Elsayed.

Why Germany loves Winnetou -- An Obsession with Indigenous peoples in the United States

In this special episode, guest host Abigail Megginson examines the widespread use of American Indian imagery in German culture since the 18th century. But is it flattery or racism? Her guests are Renae Watchman, co-author of “Indianthusiasm,” which examines indigenous people’s responses to the German obsession with American Indians, and Florian Schleburg, chair of the Karl May Gesellschaft, a group dedicated to the prolific German author who fueled that obsession. This show was produced by Abiga...

To Weed or not to Weed – Germany’s plan to legalize cannabis

On April 20 – a date associated with marijuana – we hosted a spirited debate on Twitter Space about Germany’s controversial proposal to make personal cannabis use legal for adults. Host Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson moderated the talk with Steffen Geyer , legalization activist and longtime head of the annual “Hanfparade” or hemp parade in Berlin; Joa Helms , CEO of Green House Amsterdam coffee shops and Kevin Sabet , former White House Office of National Drug Control Policy advisor and founder of Smart...

The Digital Markets and Digital Services Acts: What do they mean for Big Tech and you?

In this “Transatlantic Takeaway” episode, hosts Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson and Rachel Tausendfreund dissect sweeping new EU digital laws and their impact on large tech companies, start-ups and users with guests: Constance Chucholowski , founder and managing director at Candid Public Affairs; Travis Todd , co-founder of Silicon Allee; and Julia Trehu , program manager and Fellow with the German Marshall Fund’s Digital Innovation and Democracy Initiative. This show was produced by Dina Elsayed....

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The new surge: How Ukrainian and other refugees are faring in Germany and the EU

The Russian war in Ukraine has led to millions of Ukrainians fleeing, many of them to the West. How are Germany and its neighbors handling the new refugee surge? And what does it mean for others escaping war, terrorism and persecution who come to the EU? Host Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson discusses the crisis with Wiebke Judith , legal policy advisor for the refugee group, Pro-Asyl; Julia Chenusha , deputy chairwoman of the Blue-Yellow Cross German-Ukrainian Association; and Sami Sharifi , an Afghan la...

A Woman’s Touch? Female Correspondents and How They Change the Way We Look at War.

Host Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson, NPR’s Eleanor Beardsley and Joanna Kakissis, and Ukrainian journalist Katerina Malofeyeva discuss their experiences reporting on the Russian war in Ukraine and how women journalists redefine the way conflicts are covered. Recorded on Twitter Spaces on March 22, 2022. This show was produced by Dina Elsayed and Stefano Montali.

Join our first ever live conversation on Twitter Spaces on Tuesday, March 22.

Host Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson @sorayanelson will be talking with fellow war correspondents Eleanor Beardsley @ElBeardsley, Joanna Kakissis @joannakakissis and Katya Malofeyeva @KatyaMalofeyeva on Twitter about our experiences reporting on the Russian war in Ukraine and how women journalists are reshaping the way combat is covered. Join this important conversation on Twitter by following @cgberilnpodcast and tune in at 9 p.m. Central European on March 22nd. You can also hear highlights of our conve...

A German about-face – Is the “Zeitenwende” sustainable?

A watershed speech by Chancellor Olaf Scholz in late February that cast off Germany’s long-standing, military-averse policies is lauded by NATO and the United States. But can Germany enhance its armed forces quickly enough to protect Europe against Russia? And what does this sea change mean for a proposed European army? Host Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson explores the new German tack and its ramifications with Rachel Tausendfreund, editorial director for the German Marshall Fund and co-host of Transatla...

Is it finally over? An update on the COVID-19 pandemic

Host Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson talks about the future of vaccines, social restrictions and Vladmir Putin’s impact on the pandemic with Korinna Hennig, science editor and co-host of German public broadcaster NDR’s weekly podcast “The Coronavirus Update” and molecular Kai Kupferschmidt in Berlin who writes for the magazine, Science. This show was produced by Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson and Abigail Megginson.

Feast or Famine? The turbulent start of 2022 and its impact on the economy

Blame it on Omicron, Vladimir Putin and Europe’s biggest war in decades, but the global economy is in a weaker position this year than anyone expected. So what exactly is the impact the pandemic and Ukraine crisis are having on businesses and consumers in Germany and the United States? And are key economic players doing enough to keep it from getting worse? On the day Putin invaded Ukraine, hosts Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson and Rachel Tausendfreund talked with Jacob Kirkegaard, Senior Fellow in the B...

The Young and Restless – A new generation of German MPs take charge

Chancellor Angela Merkel defined politics in Germany for a generation and with her gone, younger German politicians have a rare opportunity to reshape the governance of their country and address key topics facing it. This episode features excerpts of a virtual town hall Common Ground co-hosted with our partner, the German Marshall Fund of the United States. Host Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson talks with young German parliament members about their plans for the future and the pressing issues for their ge...

Forging Ahead? Or Hanging by a Thread?

Afghanistan’s former education minister, a female activist who climbs mountains and a German foundation director dissect the Taliban’s impact on the Central Asian country on the semi-anniversary of its return to power. Host Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson speaks with guests: Ellinor Zeino, Southwest Asia regional program director at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. Rangina Hamidi, Afghanistan’s former education minister and professor of practice at Arizona State University’s Thunderbird School of Global M...