After Germany’s recent election, coalition talks are now underway to determine the composition of the next government and who will succeed Angela Merkel as chancellor. We speak to three experts about what the results tell us about German voters’ priorities – and dig into the history of the Greens, now one of the kingmakers in coalition negotiations.

Featuring Jasmin Riedl, professor of political science at Bundeswehr University Munich in Germany, Niko Switek, visiting professor for German studies at University of Washington in the US and Chantal Sullivan-Thomsett, PhD candidate in German and politics at the University of Leeds in the UK.

In our second story, we talk to Charles James Steward, PhD candidate at the Centre for Sport, Exercise and Life Sciences at Coventry University in the UK, on his research looking at the health benefits of saunas and hot baths, particularly after exercise. 

Plus, Lucía Caballero, environment and energy editor at The Conversation in Madrid gives us some of her recommended reading. 

The Conversation Weekly is produced by Mend Mariwany and Gemma Ware, with sound design by Eloise Stevens. Our theme music is by Neeta Sarl. You can sign up to The Conversation’s free daily email here. Full credits for this episode available here.

Further reading

• German election explained: why is it always so hard to form a government?, by Alim Baluch, University of Bath
• Germany election: Olaf Scholz’s social democrats come out on top but smaller parties hold the key to government, by Ed Turner, Aston University
• German election sees centre-left eke out a slim victory over Angela Merkel’s party, by James M. Skidmore, University of Waterloo
• Can’t face running? Have a hot bath or a sauna – research shows they offer some similar benefits, by Charles James Steward, Coventry University
• Why we continue to live near volcanoes despite the risk, by María Belén Benito Oterino , Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM) (in Spanish)
• Can cities continue to grow in an unlimited way?, by Juan Manuel Ros García , CEU San Pablo University (in Spanish)