Berlin & Elsewhere

Chris Reiter, former Bloomberg editor and coauthor of Broken Republic, explains why Germany is facing an identity crisis, why the AfD is gaining support, and why many immigrants struggle to feel accepted in Germany.

Follow Chris Reiter:

Substack: https://substack.com/@chrishreiter

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrish_reiter/

Germany needs immigration to sustain its economy and pension system. Yet the political debate around foreigners is becoming increasingly hostile. What happened to the Germany that once represented stability, prosperity, and opportunity?

After more than 20 years living in Germany, Chris Reiter has witnessed the country's transformation firsthand. In this episode of Berlin & Elsewhere, we explore Germany's economic decline, the rise of the far right, the legacy of Angela Merkel, Friedrich Merz's approach to immigration, and the growing divide between East and West Germany.We also discuss Germany's Nazi past, national identity, the political firewall against the AfD (Brandmauer), and why a country that desperately needs skilled workers can struggle to make newcomers feel welcome.Chris shares a deeply personal perspective on belonging, including his family's connection to Nazi Germany and why, despite his German ancestry, he still doesn't feel fully accepted.

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Dr. Sanjana Tewari is an Indian sociologist, content creator and community builder living in Germany who has lived in five countries before making Berlin her home.

In this episode of Berlin & Elsewhere, we talk about what living in Berlin is really like as a foreigner, why the city can make you feel incredibly free and lonely at the same time, and what happens to your identity when you keep starting again in new countries.

Sanjana shares why she left Milan for Berlin with almost no plan, what living abroad changed about her relationship with India, and why she believes belonging is something you can choose for yourself.My guest:https://www.instagram.com/sanjanatewarii/

We discuss:

• Living in Berlin as a foreigner
• Dating in Berlin
• Loneliness and making friends in Berlin
• Indian identity while living abroad
• Freedom versus belonging
• Starting a new life in Germany
• Building a social network from zero
• Berlin nightlife and Berghain
• Relationships and rejection
• How living in different countries changes who you are

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Bryan Lee is a Korean-American comedian, content creator, and former marketing professional who left his corporate career behind to pursue comedy and filmmaking in Berlin. What started as a two-week trip to Germany turned into 11 years of living in Berlin — and a completely different life.

In this episode of Berlin & Elsewhere, Bryan Lee shares his unfiltered perspective on dating in Berlin, toxic dating culture, relationships, and why finding love in Germany can feel so difficult. We also explore why he left New York, what makes Berlin different, and the reality of starting over in a new country.

From working in marketing with Google and Gary Vee to betting his own money on a creative career, Bryan opens up about the freedom, financial uncertainty, and personal sacrifices behind following his ambitions.

Follow Bryan Lee on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bryaninheelee/
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In this episode, I sit down with Ole Tillman, former TV host turned strategist, leadership coach, and AI transformation expert, to explore an uncomfortable possibility: AI might make us dramatically more productive without giving us more free time.

Ole also shares his journey from television and coaching TEDx speakers to working with organizations on leadership, innovation, and AI. We explore how tools like ChatGPT, Claude, OpenClaw, and AI agents are changing the way we learn, research, build, and work.Follow Ole Tillman on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/oletillmann/

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📗 DOWNLOAD the Start a Business in Germany Guide → https://tally.so/r/68GlgO

Ricardo Brito is an entrepreneur, business strategist, and mentor helping internationals in Germany build profitable solo businesses. After moving to Germany without speaking German and recovering from burnout, he built a successful business from scratch. Today, he helps professionals transition from employee to entrepreneur by avoiding the costly mistakes that stop most people before they ever get their first client.

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More about Ricardo Brito:Web: https://www.ricardobrito.me/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ricardocopilotLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ribrito/

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM:https://www.instagram.com/berlinelsewhere

Book an appointment with Albert → https://landing.immvest-deutschland.de/register2-luardo

In this episode of the Berlin & Elsewhere Podcast, I sit down with Albert García, real estate investment consultant at Immvest Deutschland GmbH, to discuss how foreigners, expats, and professionals living in Germany can build long-term wealth through real estate investing.

🎙️ Guest: Albert García https://www.instagram.com/immvest_deutschland/

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https://www.instagram.com/berlinelsewhere

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Background music by HawkOne: https://soundcloud.com/hawkoner

Ryan Charnoky is an American comedian and content creator living in Munich, Germany. After originally coming to Germany as an exchange student, he ended up building an entirely new life in Europe — and along the way discovered that Germany was nothing like he expected.

🎤 Guest: Ryan Charnoky https://www.instagram.com/ryan_stands_up/

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Ari J. Cohen, a Berlin-based dating and relationship coach who helps men build healthier, more authentic connections. His work goes beyond pickup tactics—focusing instead on psychology, emotional awareness, and the deeper patterns that shape modern relationships.

Ari breaks down what’s really happening beneath the surface of Berlin’s dating scene, from the impact of modern culture to the hidden beliefs that sabotage your relationships. This isn’t surface-level advice, it’s a deep dive into how to actually build meaningful connections.

In this episode, we cover:

- Why dating in Berlin feels so difficult for internationals, and why everyone is struggling (not just men or women).

- The truth about masculinity, “nice guys,” and why modern dating advice is failing.

- How your internal beliefs and past experiences secretly shape your dating life (and how to fix it).

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VP at 26. Multiple burnouts. 10+ hour days. Olga Skipper went from leading at one of the biggest tech companies in Russia to resetting her entire life. Now she coaches C-level executives and tech founders on how to lead with emotions, avoid burnout, and find balance.

In this episode we talk about: burnout signs and symptoms, rapid success in tech, living between cultures, emotional leadership, career pivots, work-life balance, and how to rethink your life before it breaks you.

Find more about Olga Skipper:• https://www.linkedin.com/in/olgasteidlskipper/• https://olgaskipper.com/

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Why does Berlin — one of Europe’s most exciting cities — make so many people feel lonely?In this episode, I speak with Monika Jiang, a Berlin-based writer and community builder focused on modern loneliness. Together, we explore why so many expats and internationals living in Germany struggle with belonging — even when they’re surrounded by people.You can follow Monika`s project on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/monika.jiang

We talk about:

• Why big cities like Berlin can feel isolating
• The difference between being alone and feeling lonely
• The stigma around loneliness
• Growing up between cultures in Germany
• Finding belonging as the daughter of Chinese immigrants in Germany
• Why hyper-independence makes modern life harder
• Male loneliness and connection in Berlin
• Why loneliness isn’t a personal failure

If you’ve recently moved to Germany, are navigating expat life in Berlin, or have ever felt disconnected while living abroad, this conversation is for you.Berlin is known for its freedom, creativity, and international culture — but behind the vibrant nightlife and startup energy, many foreigners and Germans alike experience social isolation. We discuss why building real friendships in Germany can feel difficult, how cultural differences affect connection, and what it truly means to belong.

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