Germany in Focus

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This week host Rachel Loxton is joined by journalists Paul Krantz and Tom Pugh. Our sound engineer is Paul O'Mahony.

Here are links to stories we talk about:

The state of Germany's job market and what to do if you lose your job:

• The major German companies cutting jobs at the end of 2026
• How long can skilled workers stay in Germany after losing their job?
• Four steps to take straight away if you lose your job in Germany
• Why launching a career is getting harder in Germany

Other opportunities:

• Why demand for career changers is rising sharply in Germany
• Which job sectors in Germany need the most skilled workers
• 'Get uncomfortable' - 5 expert tips for job hunting in Germany

German reaction to Democrats' success in the United States:

• German leaders react to the 'blue wave' after midterm elections

Germany set to get first ever female president:

• Bavaria's Aigner tipped to become Germany's first ever woman president

St Martin's Day and Karneval:

• What is St Martin's Day in Germany and how is it celebrated?
• Why does Germany's Karneval season start on 11.11 at 11am?

You can also view the episodes on YouTube, Spotify and Facebook.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join The Local Germany with our podcast listener offer

This week host Rachel Loxton is joined by journalists Paul Krantz and Tom Pugh. Our sound engineer is Paul O'Mahony.

Here are links to stories we talk about:

Breaking down what happened at nationwide youth protests:

• FACT CHECK: What really happened at Germany's Gen Z protests
• Politicians slam violence that followed Germany's 'Gen Z' demos
• German rioters loot shops as 'Gen Z' demos turn ugly

New fees on packages from outside the EU:

• German customers to pay €5 fee on small packages from outside EU
• German postage prices expected to increase by 20 percent next year

November events across Germany:

• What's on in Germany: The best events to brighten up November
• Where to celebrate Diwali in Germany
• IN PICTURES: 600 sheep led through Nuremberg's city centre

You can also view the episodes on YouTube, Spotify and Facebook.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join The Local Germany with our podcast listener offer

This week host Rachel Loxton is joined by journalists Paul Krantz and Tom Pugh. We also hear from investigative journalist Liam Kelly. Our sound engineer is Paul O'Mahony.

Here are links to the stories we talk about:

Inside the AfD email link:

• A 'Hitler Pilgrimage' and trips to Russia: What has the mass AfD data leak revealed?
• What we know so far about the Alternative for Germany email leak
• AfD confirms hack after 421,000 emails leaked online

Changes to German language tests:

• What do Germany's tougher language test rules mean for you
• 'Memorise grammar' - How foreigners in Germany passed the B1 language test for citizenship

Gen Z protests in German cities on October 31st:

• What to expect at Gen Z protests in Germany on October 31st
• Huge turnout expected at German Gen Z protests on Halloween

Halloween in Germany:

• 10 unmissable Halloween events in Germany
• Halloween vs All Saints Day - how to celebrate in Germany

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join The Local Germany with our podcast listener offer

This week host Rachel Loxton is joined by journalists Paul Krantz and Tom Pugh. Our sound engineer is Paul O'Mahony.

Here are links to the stories we talk about:

How Berlin's incoming left-wing coalition wants to tackle rising rents:

• How a left-wing coalition in Berlin would reshape housing and integration
• Why an unresolved housing referendum is shaping Berlin's election campaign
• What does Die Linke's election win mean for foreigners in Berlin?
• What you can learn from my 'failed' apartments search in Berlin
• Is your flat search in Berlin realistic?
• Where in Germany rental costs are rising fastest

Germany's health kick with incoming sugar tax, rising tobacco tax and a ban on drinking in stations:

• Germany’s sugar tax passed by cabinet after last-minute agreement
• Germany set to approve major hikes in tobacco tax
• What passengers should know about Deutsche Bahn's alcohol ban
• Early dinners and Sauerkraut - the German food and drink habits that foreigners are adopting

How has Germany changed over the years?

• How Germany's foreign residents say life has changed since they arrived

You can also view the episodes on YouTube, Spotify and Facebook.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Germany in Focus we look at how views on Israel and Palestine have changed in three years since the October 7th attacks, tenants' rights around heating as temperatures drop and the police hunt for a Puma near Munich.

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Here are links to stories we talk about:

The discourse in Germany about Israel-Palestine

• IN PICTURES - Thousands join pro-Palestinian march in Berlin
• Why is the Left Party in Berlin being accused of antisemitism?
• Why Germany is holding back from recognising Palestine as a state
• Germany urges top UN court to dismiss Gaza genocide case
• Germany says Israel 'increasingly in the minority' on Palestine issue

What are your rights for heating your home as temperatures drop

• When should I turn on the heating in my German flat?
• What tenants and landlords need to know about Germany’s heating meter deadline

A big cat sighting in Munich?

• Police search for puma near Munich airport
• Germany's wildest summer 'silly season' stories

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join The Local Germany with our podcast listener offer

You can also view the episodes on YouTube, Spotify and Facebook.

This week host Rachel Loxton is joined by journalists Paul Krantz and Tom Pugh. Our sound engineer is Paul O'Mahony.

Here are links to stories we talk about:

Rise of the far right in Germany and developments in Saxony-Anhalt:

• Germany's far right gains first ever parliament speaker
• 'We don’t accept this' - Inside the German legal team organising against the far-right
• Why the Alternative for Germany is considered a far-right extremist party
• German far right aims to lead Saxony-Anhalt government in December
• What happens next after the AfD's win in Saxony-Anhalt?
• 'Like a MAGA campaign' - why is the AfD so popular in Saxony-Anhalt?

Germany brings back fuel tax cut:

• How much will Germany's fuel tax cut save drivers?

Cost of Deutschlandticket to rise, along with other transport tickets:

• Germany's Deutschlandticket to cost €66.80 from 2027
• Where are public transport fares set to rise in Germany in 2027?

Getting into the autumn mood in Germany:

• How to prepare for autumn like a German
• The best places to go mushroom foraging in Germany
• 10 unmissable events in October 2026

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join The Local Germany with our podcast listener offer

In this episode, Rachel Loxton is joined by journalists Imogen Goodman and Paul Krantz. Our sound engineer is Rhys Edwards.

Here's the links to the stories we talk about:

Germany's budget plans: 

• Kindergeld and tax relief - how Germany's planned 2025 budget could affect you
• Will Germany introduce a tax rebate for foreign skilled workers?

Taylor Swift comes to Germany:

• What you need to know about Taylor Swift's Germany concerts

Tenants' rights:

• What can you get you evicted as a tenant in Germany 

Berlin named Germany's most expensive city:

• Which German cities are the most expensive for residents?

Summer in Germany:

• How to make the most of Germany's long summer days

 We hope you have a fabulous summer and see you in September!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join The Local Germany with our podcast listener offer

In this episode Rachel Loxton is joined by journalists Imogen Goodman and Sarah Magill. Our sound engineer is Rhys Edwards. Here are some links to the stories we talk about:

Germany's fraught political landscape and budget woes:

• What the shock defection of a Greens MP to the CDU tells us about German politics

Future of the €49 ticket amid ailing rail infrastructure in Germany:

• Why has German train punctuality got so bad?
• Where to expect disruption due to rail upgrades in Germany this year

Confusion over whether people naturalising as German have to affirm Israel's right to exist:

• Do new German citizens have to affirm Israel's right to exist?

Underrated German tourist spots:

• Five lesser-known German summer destinations to visit this year

July events across Germany:

• 11 unmissable events happening around Germany this July
• CSD in Germany: The Pride events you won't want to miss this summer

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join The Local Germany with our podcast listener offer

In this episode Rachel Loxton is joined by journalists Imogen Goodman and Paul Krantz. We also hear from Matt Bristow, a volunteer with British in Germany. Our sound engineer is Rhys Edwards. Here are some links to the stories we talk about:

Cannabis clubs:

• What to know about Germany's partial legalisation of cannabis

Proposals to improve rural transport:

• Can Germany solve its patchy rural transport connections?

Citizenship law changes:

• German conservatives vow to overturn dual citizenship law if elected 
• What would citizenship mean to foreigners in Germany?
• CHECKLIST - What do I need to apply for German citizenship?
• Foreigners in Germany celebrate as long-awaited dual citizenship law comes into force

Handling Germany's summer insects:

• How to deal with fruit flies and other critters plaguing your German flat

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join The Local Germany with our podcast listener offer

In this episode Rachel Loxton is joined by journalists Imogen Goodman and Sarah Magill. Our sound engineer is Rhys Edwards. Here are some links to the stories we talk about:

Euro 2024 fever: 

• IN PICTURES: Euro fans take over German cities for Euro 2024
• Where are the fan zones for Euro 2024 in Germany?
• Euro 2024 travel chaos raises questions about German efficiency 
• Are German police really advising fans to smoke cannabis?

German coalition government trouble: 

• German government in deadlock over 2025 budget
• What the EU elections say about the state of politics in Germany
• What do Germany's far-right gains in EU elections mean for foreigners?

Changes to the postal system:

• Post in Germany to arrive later after government passes reform

German citizenship to come into force next week:

• What are citizenship offices around Germany doing to prepare for new law?
• What do I need to apply for German citizenship under the new law?

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.