112 - Keep Festive and Carry On

In our Christmas special, we defy the tragedy of the past week and continue just as normal! For more, head to http://thisweekingermany.de

The 9th of November marks the 27th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall and with it the end of the German Democratic Republic and the start of German reunification.But to understand what life was like behind the wall, how it felt to see all of that end and how life changed once it fell, Hardy Graupner gives us his first-hand account of that momentous day and the emotional roller coaster that ensued. Ranging from surprise and excitement to fear and disappointment, Hardy paints us a picture of life in the last days of the GDR.

With episode 110, we are 110% Berlin! We cover just about everything, ranging from the local elections that took place in Berlin recently, to the strange and tragic story about the local Berlin politician who was involved in a murder-suicide, and then to finish it off, we take you on a trip to one of Olcan's favourite streets in Berlin in Destination Germany!

With local elections taking place in certain states and the general election coming up next year, we take a look at the status of non-citizens living in Germany and their voting rights. Later in the show, Olcan takes us into the wilderness in this months Destination Germany.And of course this months news in brief!

In the aftermath of the tragic events in the south of Germany this month, we discuss the reactions to these stories and what common misconceptions have emerged as a result. Later on in the show we take a look at alternative medicine and its position within the German healthcare system. We then take you on a trip into East German history in this months Destination Germany.

Germany is reeling after Britain decides to leave the European Union. Now, Germany will be without a policy pal in the Union, and trade between the two could be impacted. We break down the Brexit fallout and analyse what it means for Germany. Also, on the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme, we ask the country's leading modern historian whether Germany is doing enough to remember World War One. Finally, we take a trip to the heartland of the world famous Bauhaus design movement: Dessau! All that, plus the rest of the week's news in brief! If you can, please consider donating the price of a beer (just €3.89) to keep this show going! http://thisweekingermany.de/beermoney

In this episode, we look at Germany's nuclear energy future. In 2011, Angela Merkel announced a plan to shut down all atomic power plants - making Germany the only country in the world to do so. But is this a populist policy brought about by hysteria and misinformation? And can green power really provide a viable alternative? Also on the show, a bloody stabbing on a train in Bavaria sparks worries over terrorist attacks on German soil. Just weeks later, a supposed plot to attack Dusseldorf with machine guns and explosives is uncovered. In our travel segment, we take a look at Cologne's magnificent cathedral. And finally, some big news about the future of this very podcast! Head over to http://thisweekingermany.de/beermoney to help us survive!

You may think if you own a home you can do what you want with it - not so in Berlin. If you'd like to rent out your home to holidaymakers you could face a hefty fine. We'll be finding out why. Obama was in town to reinforce German-American ties and encourage citizens here to support the transatlantic trade deal TTIP. Yet around 70 percent of Germans are against the deal. Rob is going underground to check out the bunkers of Berlin. Take a listen in our Destination Germany segment.

Dubbing is something English native speakers are very unfamiliar with back home. Imagine Brad Pitt moves his mouth but completely different sounds come out - and in German. Olcan Hiller delves into the world of dubbing and speaks to the people that make it happen. Sadly, terrorism is once again at the top of the news agenda. Can Germany actually do anything to prevent terrorism on its home soil? In the wake of the Brussels bombings, Helena Humphrey analyses the German response. Wouter "Walrus" Bernhardt joins us again to talk about his favourite destination in the country: Berlin's trendy district of Kreuzberg. But it's not all hipsters and fixed-gear bikes... which local monument does Wouter describe as "megalomaniacal"?All that, plus news in brief featuring the Flying Spaghetti Monster)!