Category: Podcasts

Berlin’s Industrial Snowstorm

Berlin still has an estimated 3000 unexploded WWII bombs under the surface. One of them was discovered this week between Neukölln and Treptow, causing the evacuation of 2600 residents.

The city also has a lot of people in jail for not paying their public transport fines. In fact, almost 10 percent of the city’s 4100 inmates are there for dodging train fares. Now the new justice senator, Dirk Behrend from the Greens, plans to roll back the policy of jailing so-called “Schwarzfahrer”. He wants to let them do community service instead.

Michael Müller has been sworn in as Berlin’s mayor for a second term as head of the R2G coalition. But it hasn’t been the best week for the returning mayor. His top aide, Björn Böhning from the SPD, is being investigated for alleged corruption. The controversy is about a report written by the consulting company McKinsey into the city’s refugee situation in 2015. McKinsey originally said this would be done pro bono. But later Mr. Böhning authorized a payment of €237,000 to the consultants, one of whom was a former SPD party secretary. The mayor is supporting Mr. Böhning. The investigation continues.

Residents of Neukölln and Wedding awoke this week to the first snow of the season. Meteorologists said the fine layer of white snow actually came from the city’s fossil fuel-fired power plants. Steam from the plants crystalized in the cold foggy air and fell to earth. They’re calling it “Industrieschnee.”

Our next live show is on Sunday December 18 at the Comedy Cafe Berlin. Come along!

This episode of Radio Spaetkauf was presented by Jöran Mandik and Daniel Stern, and was brought to you by RadioEins, Berlin’s public broadcaster.

Don’t Eat The Swans

Berlin’s bird flu outbreak keeps getting worse. Now residents near the central waterways are being told to keep their pets inside – even cats.

The petition to keep Tegel Airport airport has progressed to the next phase. The supporters could trigger a referendum if they collect enough signatures by March.

Radio Spaetkauf’s next live show is on Sunday December 18, 6pm, at the Comedy Cafe Berlin.

This short update was presented by Maisie Hitchcock and Daniel Stern, and is brought to you by radioeins, Berlin’s public broadcaster.

Thanks Berlin! 5th Anniversary Special

While the rest of the world votes for crazy leaders and dumb ideas, Berlin’s new coalition has just announced an amazing social program that makes this city even better. On this special 5th anniversary recording of Radio Spaetkauf, we remind ourselves why we came to Berlin, and why we plan to stay.

There’s plenty to talk about in the new red-red-green (R2G) coalition agreement, including more social housing, less automobiles and better bicycle infrastructure, but sadly no maglev to the airport.

How will Berlin pay for it all? Our special guest Konrad Werner defends the government’s plan to take on more debt to upgrade schools and hire more public servants.
Also, we welcome Craig Schuftan, who together with his band Ducks! and musician Ray Mann created Radio Spaetkauf’s new jingle.

Radio Spaetkauf is hosted by Joel Dullroy, Maisie Hitchcock, Jöran Mandik and Daniel Stern.

New Radio Spaetkauf series for RadioEins

Radio Spaetkauf RadioEins Berlin Podcast

Radio Spaetkauf is thrilled to announce the launch of a new podcast series produced together with RadioEins, Berlin’s public broadcaster. Every two weeks we’ll release a short snappy update of local Berlin news headlines. The shows will be released on the RadioEins website and iTunes channels, as well as our own feeds.

The short updates will be fast, entertaining and informative, with a mix of news headlines and our own observations. They are recorded in the RadioEins studio inside Kino Babylon in Mitte, which has great sound quality (and a fantastic green screen backdrop).

In addition, we’ll still be presenting our monthly hour-long live show, recorded at the Comedy Cafe Berlin in Neukölln. The full-length episodes will feature a full cast of hosts and guests with in-depth discussions about local Berlin news.

RadioEins is Berlin’s main public radio station, presenting a mix of current affairs, music, news and entertainment on the FM frequency 95.8, as well as online. RadioEins is part of the RBB (Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg) network.

The partnership with RadioEins comes is perfectly timed. November 2016 marks Radio Spaetkauf’s fifth anniversary. The show is now presented by a cast including Joel Dullroy, Maisie Hitchcock, Daniel Stern and Jöran Mandik.

On this first episode for RadioEins, Joel and Dan talk about how Berlin’s new “red-red-green” coalition between the SPD, Die Grünen and Die Linke plan to change the city. Their coalition talks include closing Unter den Linden to most vehicle traffic, and building several new tram lines across the city. The incoming coalition also plans to end the crackdown on marijuana in Görlitzer Park, and perhaps even introduce legal medical weed apothekes.

This first RadioEins Radio Spaetkauf short features a brand new set of jingles created by Berlin electronic duo Ducks!, made up of Lani Bagley and Craig Schuftan. You’ll be hearing more of their sounds across future episodes.

To hear more local news, and to help us celebrate both our partnership with RadioEins and our 5th anniversary, come along to the next live recording of the hour-long Radio Spaetkauf monthly show on Sunday November 20, 6pm, at the Comedy Cafe Berlin on Weserstraße, Neukölln.

Here’s the first show…

RS Update Oct 29: No one’s in charge

Berlin still has no official governing coalition, as the SPD, Die Linke and Die Grünen drag on their negotiations.

Public transport ticket prices for 2017 have been announced, and they’re going up again, despite the BVG pulling in a record profit.

Come along to Radio Spaetkauf’s next live show on November 20 at Comedy Cafe Berlin.

And stay tuned for a very special new project. Radio Spaetkauf is teaming up with RadioEins to produce a bi-monthly short news update!