Host Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson and Senior Producer Dina Elsayed share key moments, personal insights and a look ahead as Common Ground Berlin kicks off its 2024 season. Featuring German Comedian Christian Schulte-Loh; Iranian-American Comedian and Actor Maz Jobrani; Renae Watchman, who is an indigenous studies professor and co-author of “Indianthusiam,” and the late US Ambassador to Germany John Kornblum, among others. Music: “A Thought” and “Gentle Chase” by Podington Bear. “Rodolfo’s Death” by Li...
Jan 22, 2024•30 min•Ep. 100
Dec 22, 2023•1 min
What Gen-Zers think of the United States is definitely not how their parents and grandparents view Germany’s important ally. So can student exchange programs help improve transatlantic relations? Host Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson and Senior Producer Dina Elsayed talk with the German Marshall Fund’s Gesine Weber and Niklas Ebert, as well as Knut Moeller of AJA, a Berlin-based, umbrella organization for long-term youth exchange programs in Germany, and with Christian Andersch of YFU – Germany. This epis...
Dec 17, 2023•49 min•Ep. 99
Host Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson interviews NPR icon and All Things Considered co-host Mary Louise Kelly as well as Kamal Nasir Hamyar , an Afghan journalist who was part of an on-air project the Germans helped create to ease Afghan mistrust of the West after the Taliban were ousted from power in Afghanistan in 2001. Produced by Dina Elsayed
Nov 20, 2023•39 min•Ep. 98
Rents in “poor, but sexy” Berlin continue to skyrocket as the inventory of apartments remains low. But buying a home may not be the answer, either. Host Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson explores whether the German capital’s housing crisis can be solved with Wibke Werner, director of the Berlin Tenants’ Association and Konstantin Kholodilin, senior researcher and housing expert at the German Institute for Economic Research in Berlin. Produced by Dina Elsayed.
Nov 12, 2023•29 min•Ep. 97
Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson of Common Ground Berlin and Rachel Tausenfreund of the German Marshall Fund of the United States host a powerful and international conversation about the invasion of Gaza and its consequences with guests: Menachem Klein, a political scientist in Jerusalem and former advisor to the Israel-PLO final status talks. Palestinian-American journalist Hebh Jamal in Mannheim. Senior Policy Fellow Hugh Lovatt of the European Council on Foreign Affairs in London. German journalist Han...
Nov 06, 2023•44 min•Ep. 96
Host Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson and her guests, AFP correspondent Deborah Cole and Comedian Josh Telson tackle a variety of topics including Berlin and U.S. political follies, climate protests and rising costs of beer. This episode was recorded live at Noisy Rooms on Oct. 14, 2023 and produced by Dina Elsayed.
Oct 22, 2023•50 min•Ep. 95
It was a time of jubilation when East and West Germany became one country again in 1990, with Berlin as its capital. But the honeymoon quickly wore off and to this day, divisions fester. Host Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson talks with journalist and historian Katja Hoyer, author of Beyond the Wall , and award-winning producer Joerg Winger , co-creator of Deutschland 83 and Sam: A Saxon, about why Germans are still at odds. This episode was produced by Dina Elsayed....
Oct 16, 2023•39 min•Ep. 94
This is the second of three episodes by Common Ground Berlin and Goethe Institute commemorating a century of German radio by bringing you stories from influential and interesting broadcasters worldwide who have had a lasting effect on radio. Senior Producer Dina Elsayed walks down the nostalgic memory lane and discovers how to keep the passion for radio alive with Emmy-and-Peabody winning screenwriter Anna Winger (Deutschland 83, Transatlantic) , ‘Der Alte Ami’ Rik de Lisle, and audio journalist...
Oct 08, 2023•49 min•Ep. 93
The German Bundestag passed a controversial measure in September to reduce emissions from heated buildings, which accounts for an estimated 15 percent of Germany’s carbon dioxide output. But will this and other strategies of the German government to transform energy production and consumption help Germany reach its climate goals? In this latest Transatlantic Takeaway episode recorded as world leaders discuss climate change at the UN General Assembly in New York, hosts Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson of C...
Sep 25, 2023•33 min•Ep. 92
The first of three episodes by Common Ground Berlin and Goethe Institute commemorating a century of German radio by bringing you stories from influential and interesting broadcasters worldwide who have had a lasting effect on radio. Host Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson delves into the triumphs, challenges and childhoods of American radio icon Steve Inskeep of NPR, U.K. community radio expert Keri Jones and John Masuku of Zimbabwe, who is UNESCO’s campaign coordinator for World Radio Day in 2023. Produced...
Sep 17, 2023•45 min•Ep. 91
#Beer is a staple of German culture and in partnership with the Checkpoint Charlie Foundation, host Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson and senior producer Dina Elsayed explore the debate over the restrictive “#Reinheitsgebot” or purity law that beers in Germany are expected to abide by versus popular #craft beers by brewers eager to try new things. Adding to tensions is that brewers in Germany are struggling with declining consumption and rising costs. Join our team for this exciting episode that takes us t...
Sep 10, 2023•31 min•Ep. 90
The government of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz recently announced plans to protect the public from AI misuse in the foreseeable future, but critics complain the time for action is now, especially when political actors like the far-right Alternative for Germany are using artificial intelligence to spread hatred and misinformation. Host Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson and senior producer Dina Elsayed delve into the sometimes shady world of AI in Germany and Europe with artist and controversial Sony World ...
Sep 04, 2023•35 min•Ep. 89
Artificial Intelligence is proving to be a useful tool to Republican frontrunner and former president Donald Trump. But the Biden administration and Congress are struggling to regulate AI technology, a catch-up game similar to the one they’ve had with social media. Host Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson went to San Francisco to talk to Common Sense Media CEO Jim Steyer about what steps are needed when it comes to AI. Steyer met with President Biden to discuss those steps earlier this summer at an AI summit...
Aug 28, 2023•28 min•Ep. 88
German polls suggest that if elections were held today, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) would garner more votes than most of the country’s mainstream parties, including those in the governing coalition. That has some politicians rethinking their “firewall” against the populist faction and whether it makes sense to partner with the AfD on local issues. Host Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson talks to Politico Europe Senior Politics Reporter in Germany Hans von der Burchard, the German Marshall Fu...
Jul 30, 2023•28 min•Ep. 87
Jul 25, 2023•57 sec
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his cabinet recently unveiled their country’s long-awaited national security strategy, the first since World War II. Co-hosts Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson and Rachel Tausendfreund explore whether this strategy is groundbreaking as its proponents claim and the impact on Germany’s allies and enemies. This week’s guests are Michal Baranowski , senior fellow and managing director of the German Marshall Fund East, based in Warsaw, and Gesine Weber , a fellow with the Germa...
Jul 02, 2023•28 min•Ep. 86
Host Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson hosts a special “town hall” in collaboration with the Checkpoint Charlie Foundation to commemorate the 60th anniversary of a speech that lasted less than 10 minutes and shook the world. Joining her in the studio and via Zoom to discuss why the speech still matters were: Johanna Ruediger, head of social media strategy at Deutsche Welle, the German network that provides journalistic and cultural content in 32 languages around the globe. Rachel Tausendfreund, co-host of ...
Jun 25, 2023•39 min•Ep. 85
Millions of immigrants living in Germany should find it easier to become German citizens as the Bundestag prepares to vote on the long-awaited measure overhauling “Einbuergerung.” But as it turns out, the legal change to Germany’s citizenship law is only half the battle. Host Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson explores the draft law and its obstacles with guests: Rachel Loxton , editor at The Local Europe and host of its podcast, Germany in Focus Zeynep Yanasmayan , head of the migration department at the G...
Jun 18, 2023•30 min•Ep. 84
The German capital has long been a startup capital in Europe. But the global financial shakeup and supply chain disruptions hit Berlin’s startup scene hard. This year, with the market more or less expected to stabilize and supply chain problems easing, can Berlin’s startup scene make a comeback? Host Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson talks to Lukas Breitenbach , head of corporate communications at Berlin Partner and Aggi Cantrill , a tech reporter for Bloomberg News who covers Berlin’s startup scene. Produ...
Jun 04, 2023•34 min•Ep. 83
A conversation with Farnaz Fassihi of the New York Times and Azadeh Moshiri of the BBC News about the consequences of the “women, life, freedom” protests that exploded after Jina Masha Amini’s death and whether they can lead to lasting change. Dina Elsayed produced this episode.
May 21, 2023•38 min•Ep. 82
In this episode of “Transatlantic Takeaway,” hosts Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson and Rachel Tausendfreund delve into how Germany is fodder for the GOP’s campaign strategy for the 2024 elections with guests Majda Ruge, Senior Policy Fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations and Sudha David-Wilp, Senior Transatlantic Fellow at the German Marshall Fund and director of its Berlin office. Dina Elsayed produced this episode.
May 14, 2023•38 min•Ep. 81
What do host Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson and the Emmy-winning Anna Winger have in common? Find out the answer to that and many more questions in this episode about the Berlin-based creator of the Netflix blockbusters “Transatlantic” and “Unorthodox.” You’ll also hear about the stories behind the series and its colorful characters, including Dagobert the dog! (Recorded on April 18, 2023). The episode is produced by Dina Elsayed The “Transatlantic” music is by Mike Ladd...
Apr 30, 2023•33 min•Ep. 80
Excerpts from our recent live show at the Selina Hotel Mitte in central Berlin. Joining host Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson on stage was Heinrich Stroessenreuther, who helped draft dozens of bicycle referendums across Germany and founded Changing Cities, German Zero and more recently KlimaUnion, a grassroots movement within the CDU and CSU parties seeking Germany’s transformation into the first climate-neutral industrial nation; Oliver Walker , a contemporary artist with exhibitions and residences in 11...
Apr 25, 2023•55 min•Ep. 79
Berlin’s new mayor is widely expected to be conservative Kai Wegner. He would be the first Christian Democrat to hold the post in two decades and the center-left Social Democrats (SPD), who would be junior partners in Wegner’s government, vow that they and the CDU will get a lot done. But is that even possible? And can this new government regain the trust of Berlin voters? Host Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson discusses with moderator Alfonso Pantisano of the SPD Landesverband and political scientist Viol...
Apr 09, 2023•38 min•Ep. 78
Last month before the Bundestag, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hammered home the need for a defense-capable Europe. His speech marked the anniversary of his groundbreaking pledge to deliver a “Zeitenwende,” or sea change, ending Germany’s long-standing, military-averse policies. But have Scholz and his government delivered? And what impact is it having on the Russian war in Ukraine? Hosts Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson and Rachel Tausendfreund discuss with the German Marshall Fund’s Guido Goldman Distin...
Apr 02, 2023•42 min•Ep. 77
Germany’s colonial history isn’t something many Germans like to talk about – Some argue they weren’t as “bad” as other European colonialists or that focusing on German colonialism draws attention away from the horrors perpetrated by the Nazis during World War II. But critics of German silence over its colonial past argue those narratives ignore the impact Germany had on the places it colonized and perpetuate German racist attitudes to this day. Host Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson and Senior Producer Din...
Feb 28, 2023•52 min•Ep. 76
Some 10 million non-citizens living in Germany are unable to vote. In Berlin, the number is even higher – 1 of every 5 residents. The voting exclusion in Germany extends to local issues, even though all residents – regardless of citizenship – are subject to the same taxes, fees and laws. Is it time to allow the growing number of non-citizens in Germany a say at the ballot box? Or would that spark a German identity crisis? Host Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson talks to: Berta Del Ben, of Democracy for All,...
Feb 12, 2023•39 min•Ep. 75
Led by a prince, a judge and a retired paratrooper, the plot was as bizarre as it was chilling – Kill Chancellor Olaf Scholz and overthrow Germany’s government. So was the plot foiled during a counter-terrorism sweep last December a fringe one? Or is it the tip of an extremist iceberg that threatens Germany? Host Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson talks with Der Spiegel National Security Reporter Fidelius Schmid ; Maximilian Ruf of the Violence Prevention Network, who is a research fellow at the Center for ...
Jan 30, 2023•36 min•Ep. 74
In this first Transatlantic Takeaway with co-hosts Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson and Rachel Tausendfreund, German Marshall Fund senior fellow Daniel Hegedus and GMF Paris office director Martin Quencez delve into what we can expect in 2023, including from EU relations with the U.S. and with Russia; from the war in Ukraine, and from the world’s likely next nuclear power, Iran.
Jan 16, 2023•40 min•Ep. 73
