Germany in Focus

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In this episode, host Rachel Loxton is joined by panelists Aaron Burnett and James Jackson. Our sound engineer is Rhys Edwards.

Here are links to some of the stories we discuss:

German citizenship debate held in the Bundestag:

• What are the next steps for Germany's long-awaited dual citizenship law?
• Should you apply for citizenship before or after the new law comes in?

What you should know about your rights if your flight or train is delayed or cancelled in Germany:

• Thousands of passengers stranded as Munich airport closes due to freezing rain
• What are your rights in Germany if your flight is cancelled?
• How to get compensation for a delayed or cancelled train in Germany

German students’ performance on subjects like maths and reading falls significantly:

• German school pupils plummet to 'lowest score ever' in international rankings

Germany's budget crisis:

• What happens if Germany can't decide on a budget in 2024?

What is Weihnachtsgeld and how do you get it?

• What employees in Germany need to know about Weihnachtsgeld

What we can expect from 2024:

• What you need to know about money and tax changes in 2024
• German government to loosen up cannabis legalisation law

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In this episode of the Germany in Focus podcast, host Rachel Loxton is joined by panelists Aaron Burnett and Imogen goodman. Our sound engineer is Rhys Edwards.

Here are links to some of the stories we discuss:

Christmas markets and Advent traditions in Germany:

• What's the history behind Germany's beloved Christmas markets?
• German word of the day - der Adventkrantz

Germany's growing budget crisis:

• Schuldenbremse - What is Germany's debt brake and how does it affect residents?
• How deep does the German fear of debt go?

New cannabis draft law and timeline: 

• German government to loosen up cannabis legalisation law

Preparing for winter weather:

The fines drivers in Germany need to know about in winter

Problems at Stuttgart immigration office: 

• How German immigration office delays hurt lives of foreign workers
• 'They treat us like trash': Problems at Stuttgart immigration office persist
• Are Germany's immigration offices making foreigners feel unwelcome?

Events happening in December:

• 10 unmissable events happening in Germany in December
• The best events happening in Berlin this December

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In this episode of the Germany in Focus podcast, host Rachel Loxton is joined by panelists Imogen Goodman and James Jackson Our sound engineer is Rhys Edwards.

We talk about why Germany’s love affair with the fax machine may be coming to an end. 

• How Germany is ending its 40 year love affair with the fax machine 

Germany's Interior Ministry has been holding a conference on Islam this week - we look at why it's been controversial

• What is Germany's Islam conference and why is it controversial?

After the dual citizenship law was put on pause, we give you the latest update and how it’s changing. 

• How Germany wants to toughen up dual citizenship law around anti-Semitism

The German government has been worried about billions of missing euros from the budget after a court ruling involving the debt brake - we explain what the debt brake is and how possible changes could affect you. Since we recorded, the German government has indicated it will take on more debt this year.

• Germany to seek debt rule suspension for 2023
• Germany delays 2024 budget decision after court blow

A new survey ranks Hamburg and Berlin as two of the worst cities for foreigners. Are they that bad?

• Why are Hamburg and Berlin ranked as two of the worst cities for foreigners?

Finally, we discuss some food culture shocks that The Local Germany readers have had and we share ours.

• Germany's biggest food culture shocks for foreigners 

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In the latest episode of the Germany in Focus podcast, host Rachel Loxton is joined by panelists Rachel Stern and Aaron Burnett. Our sound engineer is Rhys Edwards.

We chat about American football's popularity in Germany and Rachel Loxton's trip to Frankfurt to see an NFL game. 

• Millions of fans: How Germany fell in love with American football

We get into the latest strikes in Germany and how they might affect you. 

• How will Germany's public service strikes affect you?
• Is Germany set for more train strikes in the weeks ahead?

We talk about how long Germans typically live and why life expectancy is falling. 

• In which parts of Germany do people live the longest?

After a group of hikers were questioned by police, we discuss border checks in Germany and heightened tensions following the outbreak of the Middle East war. 

• Why are German police carrying out checks on hikers at the borders?

Since we recorded our podcast, it emerged that the opposition Christian Democrats have a submitted a bill for discussion that would see foreigners lose their citizenship rights if they are found to be anti-Semitic. 

• Could Germany strip citizenship rights from foreigners over anti-Semitism?

Under Germany’s new immigration law, family reunification rules are being eased - but only for future skilled workers. We hear from a Local reader who wants to bring an ageing parent to Germany. 

• Why is Germany only easing family reunification rules for future skilled workers?

Finally, we talk about the most surprising taxes in Germany. 

• What is Germany's lucrative dog tax and how much do you have to pay?

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In this episode of the Germany in Focus podcast, host Rachel Loxton is joined by panelists Rachel Stern and Imogen Goodman. Our sound engineer is Rhys Edwards.

We start off by hearing about some Diwali events happening in Germany. 

• Where to celebrate Diwali 2023 in Germany

We dig into why the debate in the Bundestag on Germany's new citizenship law has been delayed and why the topic of integration is being talked about again. We also hear from guest Hakan Demir, a Social Democrat MP working on the reforms. 

• What's next for Germany's landmark citizenship reforms?
• Why has Germany's citizenship debate reform been delayed?

German states and Chancellor Olaf Scholz have drawn up measures to change Germany’s rules on asylum seekers. We chat about what the new rules are and why Germany is toughening its stance.

• Germany to toughen asylum rules as migrant influx surges

The future of the €49 ticket is safe - at least for now. We talk about the latest agreement on the travel pass. 

• Will Germany's €49 ticket be continued?

Finally, we’ll talk about things that have confused us about renting a flat in Germany and how we dealt with them.

• Six confusing things about renting a flat in Germany

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In this episode of the Germany in Focus podcast, host Rachel Loxton is joined by panelists Imogen Goodman and Aaron Burnett. Our sound engineer is Rhys Edwards.

We talk about what to expect from energy costs this winter in Germany and what’s happening with inflation. 

• What will happen to gas and electricity prices this winter in Germany?
• How high will heating bills be this winter in Germany?
• What has caused inflation in Germany to slow to 3.8 percent?

We get into why controversial German politician Sahra Wagenknecht is starting her own political party and how it could shake up politics.

• German populist left leader launches a new political party

After the terror attacks by Hamas on Israel and the subsequent bombardment of the Gaza strip by Israeli forces, we talk about the German reaction and hear the views of German freelance journalist Hanno Hauenstein who has reported on what’s been unfolding on the ground in Germany.

Since we recorded this episode, the German government has issued a ban on Hamas activities and organisations linked to the group.

• Could your political views bar you from becoming a German citizen?
• Vice Chancellor calls for end of anti-Semitism in Germany in viral video

Finally, we talk about some things to do in Germany to brighten up this November. 

• 10 unmissable events in Germany this November

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In this episode, host Rachel Loxton is joined by The Local Germany journalists Imogen Goodman and Aaron Burnett. Our sound engineer is Rhys Edwards.

We hear some analysis from political commentator Brian Melican on the state elections in Hesse and Bavaria. 

• 'Disastrous results': Germany in shock after state elections
• Why did the AfD do so well in Bavaria and Hesse?

We hear from Berlin-based immigration lawyer Sven Hasse who talks about what we can expect from the German government's skilled worker immigration law reforms. We then move onto a discussion about it in the studio.

• German Bundestag passes sweeping immigration reform bill 
• How foreigners will be able to bring their families to Germany under new skilled worker law
• 8 things to know about Germany's new skilled worker immigration law

The Germany in Focus team are taking a two week break from the podcast and will return in the first week of November. Make sure to hit follow wherever you get your podcasts so you get updates on our latest episodes.

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In this episode, host Rachel Loxton is joined by The Local Germany journalists Imogen Goodman and Aaron Burnett. Our sound engineer is Rhys Edwards.

We talk about the funding row threatening the future of the €49 transport ticket.

• Why the future of Germany's €49 ticket is up in the air
• What are the rules of Berlin's new €29 travel pass?

With the Bavarian state elections coming up on October 8th, we profile the southern state and explain the politics. 

• What's at stake for international residents in Bavaria's elections?
• OPINION - Oktoberfest revelry reveals the political storm brewing in Bavaria

The Euros are coming to Germany next year so we talk about how to get tickets. 

• How to get tickets for Euro 2024 in Germany

Why are so many people attracted to come to Berlin both in the past and present? We hear from author John Kampfner who’s written a book about the German capital called In Search of Berlin: The Story of a Reinvented City.

Lastly, we talk about some false friends that German and English speakers find tricky.

• The 10 false friends German and English speakers keep muddling up

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In this episode, host Rachel Loxton is joined by The Local Germany journalists Rachel Stern and Sarah Magill. Our sound engineer is Rhys Edwards.

We start by talking about our highlights from the first year of Germany in Focus. We launched the podcast one year ago. Thank you to all our listeners who have joined us on this journey!

We get into how German politicians are trying to solve the issue of a lack of affordable housing to buy and rent. 

• What is Germany doing to solve its housing crisis?

A new ranking gives us an idea of where German universities stand globally so we talk about that and what it’s like to study in Germany as an international student.

• A guide to the top 10 German universities in 2023

Two German states - Bavaria and Hesse - are going to the polls soon. In this episode we profile the state of Hesse where Frankfurt is and what we can expect from the election. 

• What could the Hesse election mean for international residents?

Germany will mark 33 years of reunification on October 3rd. But what divisions still remain? We talk about a new study and hear from Katharina Ponschab, an assistant researcher at the Stiftung Berliner Mauer. Here is the link to the East Side Gallery exhibition that Katharina talks about during the interview. 

• 33 years on: Are east and west Germany growing apart?

Lastly, we talk about some events on Tag der Deutschen Einheit (Day of German Unity), and in October. Here's a link to the pub quiz and panel discussion that Sarah talks about.

• 8 unmissable events in Germany this October

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In the latest episode of our Germany in Focus podcast, host Rachel Loxton is joined by panelists Rachel Stern and Imogen Goodman. Our sound engineer is Rhys Edwards.

We start off by talking about a new night train service between Berlin and Paris and some more train news. 

• Berlin-Paris night train to return after nine years 
• The best night trains running through Germany
• What to know about the new planned cross-border rail services between Germany and Austria

As we are going into autumn, we discuss what the advice is for getting another Covid vaccination.

• Who should get a Covid jab this autumn?

Chancellor Olaf Scholz is encouraging people to apply to become German - we look into why and talk about the government’s plans to become more immigrant and digital friendly.

• Chancellor Scholz encourages foreigners to apply for German citizenship 
• Germany unveils new plan to become more immigrant and digital friendly

We’ll hear the second part of our interview with beer expert Christina Schönberger, a brewing engineer at BarthHaas, who tells us how beer habits are changing and shares her German beer recommendations.

Choosing health insurance can be really tricky, so we’ll dig into a reader question on whether private or public health insurance in Germany is best.

• Could it soon get harder to get private health insurance in Germany?
• German health insurance contributions to rise in 2024

Lastly we’ll talk about what we’re looking forward to this autumn.

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