As regular listeners know, we’re all about the positivity on this here podcast. OK, maybe not Nic, but Simon’s usually fairly positive…or maybe it’s just that he talks about Döner more than the woes Germany’s faced over the last few months.Thankfully for us, our guests this week, Chris Reiter & Will Wilkes, didn’t follow Simon’s example. Instead they confront the problems facing Germany in their excellent book Broken Republik: The Inside Story of Germany’s Descent into Crisis. Chris is a senior editor at Bloomberg News in Berlin, while Will is the automotive and industrial correspondent for Bloomberg News in Frankfurt. Broken Republik was released by Bloomsbury on 6th March. The German edition, Totally Kaputt?, was published by Piper Verlag on 27th Feb.

There’s a lot of good vibes flying around the podcast this week. Producer Simon is quietly delighted with New Zealand’s sporting endeavours, but the real positivity comes in the form of Simon’s story on a Hanoi based Instagrammer who’s memeing themselves to a solid German education.All that positivity puts us in good stead given we do have to quickly look at the bin fire that is politics. We find out if Germany has a government, wonder why pollsters seem unable to take a holiday, and follow up on the changing advice for Germans travelling to the US. In further troubling news for German tourists, we find out why one young visitor to the UK is regretting their trip to London.With all that on the menu, it does make sense to finish things off on a lighter note, so about a quick quiz or two on food? Luckily we have just the thing as Nic and Simon test each other’s love for German food.Theme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß

After a good few weeks of hard podcasting work, it’s time for a holiday, but not just any holiday. No, we need something special, something specific, something…Geordie. Luckily we have someone to guide us as Nic tells Simon all about his Geordie German adventure.In Munich, Nic catches a Sam Fender gig and learns something about the different types of British people who seem to live in Bavaria’s first city, and he returns to the capital to witness some true football history from the comfort of a bar stool in the cellar of an Irish pub.Speaking of Irish Pubs, St Patrick’s Day is our final adventure of this week’s podcast, featuring hangovers, terrible jokes, and a long afternoon in the fine city of Nürnberg.Theme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß

There’s a beautiful bit of symmetry this week as we begin where we left off last week on topic of kebabs, although these ones have nothing to do with football legend Lukas Podolski. No, these kebabs are in a more British variation, as we discuss and award winning kebab pie in the UK, and why Australia seems to have cornered the market in German pies.From pies, we turn to the topic of cups and cupboards as we find out why questioning someone’s mug storage is a major insult in Germany, and why an ill judged remark during the recent election has seen one German politician receive as many as 5,000 mugs and cups in protest.We finish things off by looking at the story of two German tourists who have recently been detained on the Mexico/US border after being refused entry in the USA, highlighting the institutionalised cruelty of border control in America. Theme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß

Finally free from covering the Federal Election, we head into less controversial waters this week, by asking which is the correct term: Karneval or Fasching? Thankfully Simon has the perfect compromise, although it might take some time for “Happy German Time” to catch on. No matter, there’s plenty of other pre-Lent celebrations to cover, including the satirical Rosenmontagswagen in Düsseldorf.Having carefully skirted politics, we take a look at some weird goings on in Munich, where it seems paying for parking might also include inadvertently signing up for a gym membership. We find out why, and discover why Simon is deeply scared of joining his local Fitness Studio.From keeping in shape, we shift in the opposite direction as we look at the many and varied health concerns at the Kebab chain of German footballing legend Lukas Podolski. Should we expect kebab shops to be totally clean, should you really house random mice in the kitchen, and most importantly, how much is Podoloski charging for a Döner?Theme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß

If there’s one thing we’re all about on this here podcast, it’s fulfilling dreams. Ok, maybe seeing Bayern Munich isn’t exactly fulfilling a dream, but Simon did see Harry Kane in the flesh, and that’s got to be worth something. We discuss catching a footballer’s attention, matchday atmosphere, and when it’s OK to leave a game early.Leaving seems to be a bit of theme this week, as we finally reach the end of the Federal election campaign. Though we could blame the winter weather, there’s been more than enough gloom hanging over last Sunday’s vote, and though some consider the result a success for the moderates, it’s not so clear cut.We break down the election results for all the major parties, and try to make sense of the many stories coming out since polling ended; who gained, who lost, and what the hell does Rambo Zambo mean anyway?Theme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß

The hosts kick off with a hilarious recount of fire safety training, showcasing the competitive spirit of parents and kids. They dive into the social implications of schnitzel choices and debate if chicken is the worst meat. Excitement builds for Sam Fender's concert in Munich, while nostalgia envelopes discussions about Newcastle United's 1995-96 players. Political discourse takes a turn, tackling electoral disenfranchisement in Germany, alongside reflections on the challenges of maintaining democratic values amidst rising extremism.

It’s bloody typical, isn’t it? You wait around for Germany’s most expensive property to go on the market and then two come along at once! Following last week’s oligarch owned villa on the Tegernsee going for an eye watering €25 million, this week we learn Berlin has a property going for significantly more. We discuss how many en suites are too many, and why Brad Pitt is to blame for all this.From the opaque world of German real estate, we liven things up by dunking our heads in the ice cold water of German politics. The election is still a week away, and we discuss the massive anti far-right protest in Munich, and whether it’s impacting the polls. We also look at the release of the famous Wahl-O-Mat platform.We finish things off with fiery debate on Krapfen. What filling means you’re a class traitor, how many are too many, and why can’t we call them doughnuts?Theme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß

It’s not often that a bit of random doom scrolling leads to a nice chat, but thanks to Simon’s algorithm, a forgotten Werner Herzog clip gives us our first topic of the week. We discuss the work of one of Germany’s greatest directors, and somehow manage to avoid doing any impressions of him.Having reached the heights of German arthouse cinema, we plumb the depths of Germany’s real estate market. On the banks of the beautiful Tegernsee in Bavaria, the most expensive house in Germany went on sale to a limited market of billionaires. We discuss the murky details of wealth, power, and influence.We finish on the small German town that’s found a new way to inject millions into local infrastructure projects by using the funds of the busiest speed camera in the country.

The gloomy end of January brightens with a celebratory Bundesliga win. Football fandom intertwines with political discussions, addressing far-right extremism and public protests sparked by recent events. A mysterious suitcase filled with €42,000 adds a humorous twist to the conversation. Reflections on the legacy of the Nazi era and critiques of modern cultural perceptions create a rich tapestry of thought, while the echoes of lost belongings bring laughter to this engaging narrative.