Recorded September 10th at PodFest Berlin 2024. Released previously on the Megan’s Megacan feed. Apologies for the delayed release via our feed. It was due to a technically unavoidable issue.
“Recording live with Radio Spätkauf at Podfest Berlin 2024, Megan handed out free cans so that the audience wouldn’t have to get through the news sober — which, frankly, should be part of every media subscription service these days. Then Konrad gets weirdly pedantic about crime stats, Izzy explains why Germany is always losing the energy transition race, and Joel finds some good news about Berlin’s U-Bahn seat covers. And there’s more fascism in Germany obviously. BUT we have passing minstrels! Hey nonny nonny!” – Show notes via Konrad.
This episode edited by Konrad of Megan’s Megacan.
About Megan’s Megacan: It’s a German news podcast in English, because the German news is hard enough without it being all in German. Also involves canned cocktails. Not massive cans.
Public space in Berlin is used for private profit. Does that rob or enrich the citizens? From business-run toilets to footpath vehicles and food sales in parks, we share our space with commerce. Can we also use private spaces like empty malls as public property? Radio Spaetkauf partners with the Europäische Akademie Berlin to invite an intelligent panel of activists and politicians to discuss the good and bad uses of public space for commercial gain.
Sophie Menzel is a big fan of public toilets. She raises awareness of the need for more and better toilets in Berlin through the group Buschfunk Bündnis e.V., with the slogan “Fair peeing for all!” Sophie says the current privately-run toilet system isn’t good enough, and is especially failing people without penises. She wants to see more “missoirs” – feminized pissoirs (urninals). More at: https://buschfunk-buendnis.com/
Tuba Bozkurt is the Green party’s member for Gesundbrunnen in the Berlin parliament. She is the Green Faction’s spokesperson for industry, digital economy and anti-discrimination. Tuba says some commerce should be allowed in public space, but it has to be fair and accessible for all. https://tubabozkurt.de/
Tamara Lüdke represents Lichtenberg at Berlin’s Abgeordnetenhaus as a member of the SPD and is the party’s spokeswoman on the topics of animal welfare, consumer protection, club culture, drug policy and development policy. Tamara says the city wants to do more to keep footpaths clear of obstacles, and is considering new ways to make toilets in private businesses open to the public. https://www.tamara-luedke.de/
Roland Stimpel is the voice of pedestrians in Berlin. Through the association FUSS (Fachverband Fußverkehr Deutschland FUSS e.V.) he advocates for better footpaths, less vehicles, stricter control of shared scooters and bikes, and safer street crossings. He says the solutions already exist, but need to be better enforced through stricter fines for infringement. More at: https://www.fuss-ev.de/
Hosted at House of Color, a vibrant community initiative with passion for sports, music and cultural expression, currently at a pop-up space in Gneisenaustr. https://www.hoco.world
Recorded live, August 4, 2024 at the House of Color. Dan and Izzy are joined by special guest cohosts Drew Portnoy (aka Andrew Buckley) and Eman Khallouf. Headlines include updates from Görli, DIY bike lanes, fresh comedy at BER airport, the Cold War Museum and a medical miracle at the Charité. Interview with Greg Onwuegbuzie of Deschoolonize. Plus Joel returns with an update and talks about his tribute to Maisie.
In this special edition of Radio Spaetkauf, we’ve partnered with the Europäische Akademie Berlin to explore graffiti and street art. Recorded live in Grunewald, Dan is joined by guests Josefine Köhn-Haskins, Ryan Balmer, Júlia Mota Albuquerque and a handful of chirping birds to explore the significance of urban art in public spaces.
Josefine discusses the Berlin Street Art Map, a project which offers to guide us through significant sites and features artwork by friend of show Jim Avignon. Ryan shares insights on Berlin’s unique relationship with street art, shaped by its tumultuous history. Julia gives her perspective as a muralist working on commissioned pieces.
In this RSxEAB episode, we reflect on the influence of both punk and hip-hop culture. Why Berlin fostered a vibrant street art scene and how urban art evolves with the city’s socio-economic changes. We discuss the ongoing challenge of gender representation in street art, and efforts to promote gender balance. And to contend with commercialization vs. authentic expression; should street artists monetize their work or preserve its integrity?
Editing & Mastering: Kaleb Wentzel-Fisherrecordedvoices.com Written, Produced and Engineered by Daniel Stern: sterndaniel.com With kind support of the Federal Foreign Office and EU (CERV) under the project “Europe Behind the Headlines”
Zombies in the GDR. Deutschrap. Heavenly lakes. Joy despite cancer. Days before her death, Maisie Hitchcock and I talked for one last time. In a hospital room in London, she shared her favourite memories from her years in Berlin – and revealed a few untold surprises.
It’s not all tears, because Maisie could be so funny. Her depth of knowledge about architecture, German history, music and culture is astounding. This is just a sample of her best moments from more than a decade of co-hosting Radio Spaetkauf.
Make time for this. Take a walk. Listen until the end. Be prepared to laugh and cry. And maybe Maisie will convince you to change your life.
I’m Joel Dullroy, and here I join with long-time co-hosts Andrew Mason, Jöran Mandik and Daniel Stern to remember Maisie Hitchcock.
Thanks to our fellow Radio Spaetkauf collaborators Izzy Choksey, Matilde Keizer, Anne-Marie Harrison and Sebastian Filip. Thanks to Radio Spaetkauf listeners for sending in your favourite memories of Maisie.
More About Maisie
Maisie Hitchcock was the co-founder and co-host of Radio Spaetkauf. Hers was the first voice ever heard on the podcast, announcing it into existence in late 2011. She was also a writer, tour guide and gave classes on architecture and design. Maisie moved to Berlin in the early 2000s, drawn by an appreciation for the overlooked art and architecture of the GDR.
Maisie died from the effects of ovarian cancer on August 9, 2023, three years after her diagnosis. Her only initial symptoms were slight stomach bloating. She wanted others to know the signs of ovarian cancer, for which there is little research. She asked people to donate to charities funding research and awareness, including Ovarian Cancer Research (UK), Eierstockktrebs Stiftung (Germany), and Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (US).
