Welcome back to Mayhem & Masterplans, where Max, Simon, and Andreas are still figuring out if this podcast is a brilliant idea or just a very well-documented midlife crisis. Either way, episode one is here—and it’s got everything from technical meltdowns to global politics.

In this episode, we:

• Survived global tech mayhem – Internet outages, government shutdowns, and remote recording from three countries. If chaos had a podcast, this would be it.
• Checked in on Germany’s election aftermath – What happens when record voter turnout meets a political landscape in flux? We break down the results, the narratives, and why Friedrich Merz was grinning like a kid who found the last piece of cake.
• Talked about voting patterns and East-West divides – 35 years after unification, why do voters in eastern Germany still feel left behind? We explore the historical baggage, missed opportunities, and why throwing money at the problem never solves it all.
• Dove into the future of podcasting – With Netflix entering the podcast space, we debate whether this is the golden age of podcasts or the beginning of “scripted reality 2.0.” Plus, what makes a good recommendation engine—and why YouTube might quietly be winning that race.
• Debated leadership vs. management – Is Friedrich Merz actually a leader? Or just the guy who happened to be standing there when the music stopped? We reflect on what real leadership looks like—in politics, business, and beyond.
• Talked about what we’re watching – Max is craving epic historical movies (think Braveheart and The Patriot), Andreas wants smarter content recommendations, and Simon just wants to watch something without an existential crisis attached.
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As always, we wrapped it up with music recommendations, because every great podcast needs a soundtrack:

🎵 Find a Way – Kadinski (from Simon’s trusty Lofi Boombap Vibes 2025 playlist)

🎵 TMHC – Aether Realm (Andreas repping his shirt and his playlist)

🎵 Don’t You Miss – Redman (Max staying true to 90s hip hop roots)

Subscribe to Mayhem & Masterplans wherever you get your podcasts—and follow us on Instagram for behind-the-scenes chaos and bonus content:

https://www.instagram.com/mr.max.conrad/

https://www.instagram.com/simonkapell/

https://www.instagram.com/agebhard/

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