KCRW Berlin: Common Ground

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“Common Ground” is a 30-minute weekly show from KCRW Berlin. The show, hosted by former NPR international correspondent Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson, aims to bring people together on sensitive issues, existential questions and flashpoints to find mutual understanding, compromise and solutions.

KCRW Berlin


    • Dec 29, 2024 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 31m AVG DURATION
    • 148 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from KCRW Berlin: Common Ground

    The future of Common Ground Berlin

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 29, 2024 0:56


    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.

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2024 30:02


    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?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2024 44:08


    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.

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2024 41:41


    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 countries and the American Women's Club in Berlin.Produced by Eden Brockman and Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson. 

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

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 24, 2024 31:28


    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?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 3, 2024 28:30


    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 identity.  Produced by Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson and Eden Brockman

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

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 20, 2024 29:56


    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 Brockman and Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson

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

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 13, 2024 31:50


    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 Brockman and Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson

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

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 6, 2024 28:50


    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?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 22, 2024 32:59


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2024 42:22


    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?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 2, 2024 29:39


    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 Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson interviews Marlen Meissner, head of the “Heritage, Nature, and Society” department at Germany's UNESCO branch.Produced by Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson and Eden Brockman.Music: “Techno My EchoOo” by KidNNasty and “Reflecting Pool” by Mr Smith, both courtesy of Free Music Archive (CC BY-SA).

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

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2024 0:43


    Fading Hopes of the Forgotten

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 18, 2024 47:04


    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 possible by Jutta von Falkenhausen and was produced and edited by Eden Brockman and Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson. Music: “Reflecting Pool” by Mr Smith, courtesy of Free Music Archive (CC BY)

    Beyond the Briefing with DW's Rina Goldenberg

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 11, 2024 20:08


    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?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 28, 2024 41:14


    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 BerlinLou Zucker of Pro FamiliaChristopher Clay of Checkpoint BLN in BerlinProduced by Eden Brockman. 

    Will Germany's new Self-Determination Act deliver?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 14, 2024 40:07


    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-binary gender.Host Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson delves into the pros and cons of the new act with Finn Ballard and Malkina Vargas in Berlin, Miltos Pavlou of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, and Lasst Uns Sprechen.Produced by Eden Brockman

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

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 16, 2024 36:06


    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 fans on social media!Produced by Eden Brockman

    Finding the Way Part III: Keep on dancing!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 2, 2024 31:17


    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 Vancouver, Hayley Biller and Josh Klaasen.Music:  “End of the Road” and “All for Nothing” by Anthem of Rain; “Irrational-Rain” by Koi-Discovery;  “Melancholy Serenade” by Universfield; “Walking on water” by TRG Banks; “Fixation” by Jangwa. (Source: FMA) Produced by Axel Scheele and Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson

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

    Play Episode Listen Later May 26, 2024 25:07


    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 Voveris, who we meet on the Camino with her 2-year-old daughter, Amelia!Music by:  “Sunny walk” by Pawel Feszczuk, “El Camino del Alce” by Silva de Alegria, “Emotional Sad Atmosphere with Piano and Violin” by Universfield and “Journey” by Atch. (Source: FMA)Produced by Axel Scheele and Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson

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

    Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2024 23:06


    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 first first learned about from a Martin Sheen movie.Music:  “Even More Floating” by Triple5 Here, “Fixation” by Jangwa, and “Journey” by Atch. (Source: FMA)This episode was produced by Axel Scheele and Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson

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

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 21, 2024 31:28


    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 Sarhaddi Nelson and Eden Brockman talk to:BBK Studio Commissioner Julia BrodaufVisual Artist Ulf SaupeThe Berliner Art Editor Duncan Ballantyne-WayMusic: “The last ones” by Jahzzar and “modum” by Kai Engel  (Source: FMA)  This episode was produced by Axel Scheele and Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson

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

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2024 32:04


    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 share their personal experiences navigating the mental health care system in Germany.Music:  “Remedy for Melancholy” by Kai Engel and “Emotional Sad Atmosphere with Piano and Violin” by Universfield. (Source: FMA) This episode was produced by Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson, Axel Scheele and Eden Brockman. 

    Episode 107: Out of Work – What to do about rising unemployment in Berlin and Germany.

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2024 26:03


    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 the Institute for Employment Research in Nuremberg and Dieter Dohmen, founder and director of the Research Institute for the Economics of Education and Social Affairs. Hosted and produced by Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson.

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

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2024 37:25


    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, about her plans under the new law. 

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

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2024 33:40


    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?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2024 39:45


    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 Lange, Senior Fellow of the Zeitenwende Initiative at the Munich Security Conference;Kseniia Gatskova, a senior researcher at the Institute for Employment Research who investigates the labor market and social integration of refugees in Germany, and her colleague Silvia Schwanhäuser, a researcher at the Institute for Employment Research. 

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

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2024 31:00


    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 – Geil or not so Geil!Produced by Dina Elsayed.

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

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2024 33:16


    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.

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2024 58:17


    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 Dina Elsayed and Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson

    Our 100th Episode

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2024 30:21


    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 Livio Amato.“Latin” by Crowander“Lemoncholy” by Tea K Pea"Nine Count" by Blue Dot Studios.Produced by Axel Scheele

    How do young Germans view the United States? A look at the shifting attitudes and whether student exchange programs can help.

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2023 49:19


    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 episode is brought to you by Checkpoint Charlie Foundation and was produced by Axel Scheele.

    Celebrating 100 years of radio in Germany – The Finale: Mary Louise Kelly and Kamal Nasir Hamyar

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2023 39:15


    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

    No Place to Call Home, Volume II – The latest on Berlin's affordable housing crisis.

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2023 28:46


    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.

    Israel's war in Gaza – Could the United States and Germany have stopped it?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2023 44:17


    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 Hanno Hauenstein in Berlin.Recorded on Oct. 31, 2023.Produced by Dina Elsayed. 

    Live at Podfest Berlin: "Stammtisch: A Scintillating Look at the News." Vol. 3

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2023 50:25


    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. 

    Why is reunified Germany still divided, 33 years later? A conversation with bestselling author Katja Hoyer and hit miniseries producer Joerg Winger.

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2023 38:30


    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.  

    Celebrating 100 years of radio in Germany – Part II: Anna Winger, Rik de Lisle and Lulu Garcia-Navarro.

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2023 48:39


    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 Lulu Garcia-Navarro. 

    Germany's “Energiewende” – A path to transformation or tribulation?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2023 32:40


    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 Common Ground Berlin and Rachel Tausendfreund of the German Marshall Fund interview Sven Egenter, editor in chief and executive director of Clean Energy wire in Berlin and Max Gruenig, senior policy advisor in Washington, D.C., focusing on US-EU climate diplomacy for independent climate change think E3G.Dina Elsayed produced this episode.

    Celebrating 100 years of radio in Germany – Part I: Steve Inskeep, Keri Jones and John Masuku.

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2023 44:57


    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 by Dina Elsayed.

    Germany's Beer Wars: Is it time to bid “Auf Wiedersehen” to the purity law?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2023 30:36


    #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 to pubs in Berlin and the original German brewery, located outside #Munich and still run by monks!

    Will AI end democracy? Part Two – Germany and Europe

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2023 35:29


    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 Photography Awards winner Boris Eldsagen who refused his prize for his AI-generated entry and Hertie School professor of ethics and technology Joanna Bryson. 

    Will AI end democracy? Part One – The United States.

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2023 27:40


    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. This episode is the first of a two-part series on AI on both sides of the Atlantic.Produced by Dina Elsayed.

    Comeback or coincidence? What a resurgent Alternative for Germany means for the country.

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 30, 2023 28:02


    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 Fund's Sudha David-Wilp, and others about the reasons and implications of a resurgent AfD.Also featuring students from the Magdeburg-Stendal University of Applied Sciences. This episode was produced by Dina Elsayed.

    Episode 86: Germany's new national security strategy – Groundbreaking or status quo?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2023 28:24


    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 German Marshall Fund's geostrategy team in Paris.Produced by Dina Elsayed.

    An iconic speech that changed the world – Does John F. Kennedy's “ich bin ein Berliner” still matter?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2023 39:11


    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 “Transatlantic Takeaway” and a senior fellow with the German Marshall Fund's geostrategy team, specializing in U.S.-German relations, the European Union.Rick Allen, a Robert F. Kennedy biographer and media and technology executive who has been a speechwriter, fundraiser, and campaign manager for a host of U.S. presidential and Senate candidates. He also served as a Deputy Assistant to President Clinton and helped create AmeriCorps. We also hear from students and graduates from around Berlin!This episode was produced by Dina Elsayed

    A German duel over dual citizenship – Are decades-old barriers to “Einbuergerung” coming to an end?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 18, 2023 30:27


    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 FocusZeynep Yanasmayan, head of the migration department at the German Centre for Integration and Migration ResearchJulie Schaefer, German immigration lawyer based in DusseldorfProduced by Dina Elsayed.

    Comeback kid or has been? The future of startups in Berlin.

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 4, 2023 33:30


    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.Produced by Dina Elsayed. 

    Zan, Zendegi, Azadi – Will the Iranian uprising that's electrified the world succeed?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2023 37:33


    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. 

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