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G+T Conversations
By Gwenda + TatjanaLeisure
G+T Conversations episodes
- 2.9 - G+T's Summer in Germany
Welcome back to season two of G+T Conversations! We are your hosts, Gwenda + Tatjana, and in this episode, we speak about our summer in Germany and what it's like to travel home as expats as well as some tips for you if you plan to visit Germany.
Follow G+T Conversations on Instagram @GTconversations and join the conversation.
G+T Catch-up:
- Mumbai is experiencing heavy rains during the monsoon.
- Tatjana started Hindi classes and enjoying it.
- Gwenda watched local football matches in Germany (FC Verden 04 vs Werder Bremen; FC Viktoria Berlin vs Turbine Potsdam)
Some of the things we mentioned in this episode:
As expats living abroad, travelling to Germany is not a typical holiday. It's a "mandatory" family visit.
- We spend a lot of our annual "holidays" going back to Germany to visit family and friends, connect with German culture and Zeitgeist, etc.
- Which in return means, we have less time and money to travel to new countries and explore new places.
- Tatjana's hometown is Berlin (capital of Germany) and Gwenda's hometown is Verden (population is around 30,000).
- Favorite things we like to do in Germany: go to the supermarket, cycling, people watching.
- Observation: Our societies have become more diverse despite the growth of right-wing extremism.
- Both Tatjana and Gwenda use a lot of public transport when in Germany (no need for a car).
- THE culture department store in Berlin Dussmann: https://www.kulturkaufhaus.de/en/start
- Tatjana bought ONLY 10 books in Germany.
- German Foods we love: Doener, (Beef) Hamburger, Broetchen and Cheese (German breakfast culture), bake goods, seasonal fruits/vegetables such as asparagus, berries, etc.
- Germany has different regions that are very diverse: mountains in South, beaches in North, cities - natures, castles, cars/Autobahn, etc.
- Germany Train Ticket - "Deutschlandticket" (1 months, all public transport and local trains in Germany - excluding fast trains such as ICE and IC) https://deutschlandticket.de/
- Sunday is a public holiday and ALL shops, supermarkets, etc are closed
- Restaurants: Many restaurants are closed on Monday (instead of Sunday), and many restaurants shut at 9 or 10pm in the evening.
- Drinking Water: No house water in restaurants - you have to pay for it. At home, you can drink tap water. Bottled water is with or without gas.
- Weather: Much more unpredictable than Indian weather. You may experience warm sunny weather and cold rainy weather on the same day.
Follow G+T Conversations on Instagram @GTconversations. You can also connect with us on our personal accounts @gwendaschobert and @craving_expat_life.
Tune in every other Friday for a new episode. * G+T Conversations is created using Spotify for Podcasters and Pixabay.
40 min - 2.8 - Mid-Year Goal Check-in
Welcome back to season two of G+T Conversations! We are your hosts, Gwenda + Tatjana, and in this episode, we speak about a mid-year check-in to review, modify and achieve your 2024 goals before the year ends.
Follow G+T Conversations on Instagram @GTconversations and join the conversation.
G+T Catch-up:
- Tatjana is back in Mumbai after her Germany trip.
- Gwenda is currently in Germany.
- We had a quick 1-hr meet in a coastal town in Germany with our parents as Tatjana was leaving and Gwenda was arriving (check out our social media for a photo).
Some of the things we mentioned in this episode:
If you haven't listen to our previous episode on goal setting (S1E9), we highly recommend to you listen to it before (or after) this episode: 10 tips for successful goal setting
HOW TO DO A MID-YEAR CHECK-IN:
- Mid-year check-in helps you to stay on track with your annual goals that you set for yourself in January
- Review your progress through habit trackers, monthly goal sessions, accountability partner, journals
- Modify your goals: reduce or increase the quantity, remove goals that are not relevant anymore, add new goals that
- Celebrate your progress: share your achievements with your friends, on social media, and/or with your accountability partner
- A mid-year check-in gives you a fresh energy and motivation to focus on your goals for the remaining 6 months of the year.
- Bonus Tip: Kick-off the second half of 2024 by taking a half day or full day to completely focus on working on your remaining goals.
Follow G+T Conversations on Instagram @GTconversations. You can also connect with us on our personal accounts @gwendaschobert and @craving_expat_life.
Tune in every other Friday for a new episode. * G+T Conversations is created using Spotify for Podcasters and Pixabay.
22 min - 2.7 - Podcasting: Beginners to Podmasters
Welcome back to season two of G+T Conversations! We are your hosts, Gwenda + Tatjana, and in this episode, we speak about the podmasters conclave and awards and share our tips with you on HOW TO PODCAST.
Follow G+T Conversations on Instagram @GTconversations and join the conversation.
G+T Catch-up:
- This podcast was recorded from India (Gwenda) and Germany (Tatjana).
- It's pretty cold in Germany -even though it's summer- and Tatjana explains The Onion Principal of Dressing.
- Germany is hosting the EURO 2024: https://www.uefa.com/euro2024/
Some of the things we mentioned in this episode:
- Podmasters Conclave and Awards 2024
- India is the third largest podcast industry in the world (after US and China).
- Only 12% of Indians (150 million users) currently listen to podcast = huge potential for growth in the industry.
- AI in Podcasting: from writing your episode titles to AI voices "hosting" your (non-fiction) podcast
- Audio vs Video Podcasting
Some podcasts we mentioned in this episode:
- The Corner Flag by Amogh Ranadive
- A Niche Thing by Aneesh Bhasin
- Shuddh Desi Gay by Yogi and Kabeer
HOW TO START A PODCAST:- Finalize your topic (what can you talk about for 30, 40, 50 episodes?) and format (co-host, guests, etc?)
- You can start with audio only and add video later
- Make sure you have enough time to start a podcast (from research and recording to editing, publishing and promoting)
- Decide the length of your episode (most podcasts with shorter episodes are more successful).
- Keep a regular publishing schedule (helps your listeners and the algorithm).
- Tech: you can start a podcast without expensive tech and simply use your phone/laptop.
- What we use for our podcast: Zoom (recording), Audacity (editing) and Spotify for Podcasters (publishing).
- Social Media: promote your podcast episodes, share teasers, interact with your listeners, etc.
Follow G+T Conversations on Instagram @GTconversations. You can also connect with us on our personal accounts @gwendaschobert and @craving_expat_life.
Tune in every other Friday for a new episode. * G+T Conversations is created using Spotify for Podcasters.
29 min - 2.6 - Startup Stories from a Female Entrepreneur
Welcome back to season two of G+T Conversations! We are your hosts, Gwenda + Tatjana, and in this episode, we speak about startups and entrepreneurship.
Follow G+T Conversations on Instagram @GTconversations and join the conversation.
G+T Catch-up:
- Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) won the IPL Championship 2024
- United Nations introduced the World Football Day on 25 May
- Gwenda reminds us to make time for friendships
Some of the things we mentioned in this episode:
- "You can always connect the dots looking backwards": From doing content writing on the side to pay the bills while working on a medical tech business idea to keeping that business idea on the side and becoming the Founder + CEO of a marketing agency
- India is way more entrepreneur friendly than Germany.
- GINSEP is a startup platform that helps Indian startups to succeed in Germany and vice versa.
- Network(ing) is essential as a Startup Founder.
- No company can achieve anything without talented and passionate employees.
- When you are building a company, 99% of the time you are working on your business rather than in your craft.
- The best (but most boring) investment into your business is to hire a fantastic CA (Chartered Accountant) to help you with all financial and compliance related tasks.
- Legal and financial compliances are especially important for any company that wants to raise funds and get investors on board.
- Processes and systems help you to grow and scale your business.
- Hire talent better than you: When starting out you hire people who can do anything, when scaling up you hire people who bring in expertise.
- Favorite thing about entrepreneurship: Creating Impact - for clients to grow their business, for employees through company culture, and overall impact our society by being an active corporate citizen
- Least favorite thing about entrepreneurship: endless to-do lists, there is always more to do, never feeling fully accomplished
- Biggest f*ck up: Not letting go of our office space right away when covid hit in 2020. We were bleeding money (almost 3 lakhs) by delaying the economically necessary decision due to being emotionally attached to the office.
- Some great entrepreneurs networks you can join: Networking Now India: https://www.networking-now.com/ and Leap Club: https://leap.club/
We would like to introduce you to the sponsor of today's episode: Mumbai based and female-led marketing agency Dreamers + Creators is your one-stop solution for all things marketing strategy, content, community building, and social media management.
For details, check out their Instagram or visit their website: www.dreamersandcreators.in
Follow G+T Conversations on Instagram @GTconversations. You can also connect with us on our personal accounts @gwendaschobert and @craving_expat_life.
Tune in every other Friday for a new episode.
* G+T Conversations is created using Spotify for Podcasters.
34 min - 2.5 - Motherhood + How NOT To Expect Anything When You Are Expecting
Welcome back to season two of G+T Conversations! We are your hosts, Gwenda + Tatjana, and in this episode, we speak about Motherhood + what NOT to expect when you are expecting.
Follow G+T Conversations on Instagram @GTconversations and join the conversation.
G+T Catch-up:
- Tatjana enjoyed a spa date with her husband while her mother-in-law is visiting and spend some time with the grandchild.
- Gwenda travelled to Kolkata to watch the ISL final and her favorite football club Mumbai City FC won the ISL Cup 2023-24. Check out her reel on Instagram.
- Monday, 20 May 2024, is Election Day in Mumbai and we urge everyone to caste their vote! Check out our recent episode about voter registration and political education with Chaitanya Prabhu.
Some of the things we mentioned in this episode:
- There is never a perfect time to have a child.
- Biggest cultural difference: bedtime for children.
- Biggest learnings: (1) nothing prepares you for motherhood/parenthood, (2) people change when they become parents, and (3) how women are defined (only) as mothers once they have a child.
- TOP 3 tips for mothers-to-be: (1) accept help, (2) don't forget yourself, (3) there is no such thing as a perfect parent - everyone is just trying to figure it out.
Follow G+T Conversations on Instagram @GTconversations. You can also connect with us on our personal accounts @gwendaschobert and @craving_expat_life.
Tune in every other Friday for a new episode.
* G+T Conversations is created using Spotify for Podcasters.
37 min - 2.4 - East + West Germany: What the Fall of the Berlin Wall Meant For Us
Welcome back to season two of G+T Conversations! We are your hosts, Gwenda + Tatjana, and in this episode, we speak about our memories of growing up in what used to be West (Gwenda) and East Germany (Tatjana).
Follow G+T Conversations on Instagram @GTconversations and join the conversation.
G+T Catch-up:
- Tatjana met Lubaina Bandukwala who wrote The Chowpatty Cooking Club.
- Gwenda was referring to episode 1.7 Football in India https://open.spotify.com/episode/48jkYN5oebQqLHc8O3DLv9?si=xdTIFS3cSkmzzQpBSW0E-w
- … and yes, Mumbai City FC won the ISL Cup 2024. Congratulations!
Some of the things we mentioned in this episode:
- For more information on life in East Germany, listen to: The Rest is History - 322: East Germany: Life Behind the Iron Curtain or read the book “Beyond the Wall: East Germany, 1949-1990” by Katja Hoyer
- Check out this YouTube video for just one story on the day the Berlin Wall fell.
Follow G+T Conversations on Instagram @GTconversations. You can also connect with us on our personal accounts @gwendaschobert and @craving_expat_life.
Tune in every other Friday for a new episode.
* G+T Conversations is created using Spotify for Podcasters.
27 min - 2.3 - Election Year 2024: India + Around the World
Welcome back to season two of G+T Conversations! We are your hosts, Gwenda + Tatjana, and in this episode, we speak about the Election Year 2024. Follow G+T Conversations on Instagram @GTconversations and join the conversation.
G+T Catch-up:
-The reel that Gwenda sent to Tatjana's husband and the photo he sent back.
-The bookstore Tatjana spent some of her birthday in was Faqir Chand And Sons.
-Grand Central Park in Thane is a Must-Visit: check out all the details here.
Our Guest on today's episode is Chaitanya Prabhu, Mumbai based lawyer and Founder of Mark Your Presence
Some of the things we mentioned in this episode:
-Mark Your Presence Website and Instagram
-Election Commission of India https://www.eci.gov.in/
-India's General Elections 2024 https://elections24.eci.gov.in/
-Voter Service Portal https://voters.eci.gov.in/
-Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) https://adrindia.org/ (non-partisan background information about political candidates and elections)
Follow G+T Conversations on Instagram @GTconversations. You can also connect with us on our personal accounts @gwendaschobert and @craving_expat_life.Tune in every other Friday for a new episode.
* G+T Conversations is created using Spotify for Podcasters.
29 min - 2.2 - Quest for Happiness: What We Can Learn From The World's Happiest Countries
Welcome back to season two of G+T Conversations! We are your hosts, Gwenda + Tatjana, and in this episode, we speak about happiness.
Follow G+T Conversations on Instagram @GTconversations and join the conversation.
Some of the things we mentioned in this episode:
-20 March is UN International Day of Happiness
-World Happiness Report 2024: https://worldhappiness.report/
-Bhutan's Gross National Happiness Index: learn more here-The State of Happiness 2024: https://www.semafor.com/article/03/18/2024/gallup-state-of-happiness
Country Rankings in Happiness Report 2024:
#1 Finland
#2 Denmark
#3 Iceland
#24 Germany
#126 India
Things that make Gwenda happy:
- Saying hello, thank you, etc to strangers
- watching sunset, playing football, etc
- Volunteering, doing something that goes beyond myself, doing something for society
- Deep connections with others
Things that make Tatjana happy:
- body: get enough sleep, working out, eating healthy
- mind: meditation and gratitude exercises
- soul: connection with people, spending time with daughter, calls with family in Germany, book club
Follow G+T Conversations on Instagram @GTconversations. You can also connect with us on our personal accounts @gwendaschobert and @craving_expat_life.Tune in every other Friday for a new episode.
* G+T Conversations is created using Spotify for Podcasters.
28 min - 2.1 - Season 2 + International Women's Day
Welcome back to the second season of G+T Conversations + happy International Women's Day! We are your hosts, Gwenda + Tatjana, and in this episode, we speak about our 2nd season of G+T Conversations + International Women's Day.
Follow G+T Conversations on Instagram @GTconversations and join the conversation.
Some of the things we mentioned in this episode:
Data sources:
https://www.un.org/en/observances/womens-day/background
Gwenda's inspiring women:
- Family: mom and maternal grandma
- Footballer: Megan Rapinoe, Gulafsha Ansari
- Business: Sarah Sham, Franzi von Hardenberg
- Politics and Social Impact: Verena Pausder
Tatjana's inspiring women:
- Family: mom and grandmas'
- Writers: Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte, Banana Yoshimoto, Alice Oseman
- The big names: Angela Merkel, Indra Nooyi, Sheryl Sandberg
Follow G+T Conversations on Instagram @GTconversations. You can also connect with us on our personal accounts @gwendaschobert and @craving_expat_life.Tune in every other Friday for a new episode.
* G+T Conversations is created using Spotify for Podcasters.
32 min - 1.12 - 2023: The Year That Was | G+T Conversations
Welcome to G+T Conversations, the ultimate global lifestyle podcast! We are your hosts, Gwenda + Tatjana, and in this episode, we speak about the year 2023.
Follow G+T Conversations on Instagram @GTconversations and join the conversation.
Some of the things we mentioned in this episode:
Favourites of the Week:
- Tatjana: Mother-daughter bonding while running errands and crafting Christmas
- Gwenda: Saving and scoring a penalty in the final of the Roots Premier League (and my team 'Your Happy Bears' won!)
Goal of the Week:
- Tatjana: The time between Christmas and New Years - family time
- Gwenda: Tie up lose ends of 2023 and set systems into place for 2024
Some of the things that happened in 2023:
- Football: Young Guns FC qualified for the WIFA State League (IWL qualifiers) - Gwenda still can't believe how fast her team is growing and what they have achieved in such a short time. Listen more here
- Books:
- Travelling: Tatjana travelled to Singapore. Gwenda did a few small trips in India.
- Podcast Launch: Yayyy!!! It wasn't even on our 2023 goal list but we are so excited we made it happened!
- Family: Living abroad, we tend to spent less time with our families quantity wise. So when we visit back home, it always feels special.
- AI: AI technology is more than just a trend and definitely here to stay. It creates many opportunities but is also vulnerable for misuse (European Union regulates AI with the EU Artificial Intelligence Act)
- Threads: The app launched in India in July and in Germany in December.
- India: Most populated country in the world since
- Men's Cricket World Cup in India
- Women's Football World Cup in Australia/New Zealand
- India's Moon Landing: 4th country to do so and with a low budget.
This was the last episode of season 1. Make sure to catch up on all the previous episodes if you haven't done so yet. We will be back with season 2 soon!
Follow G+T Conversations on Instagram @GTconversations. You can also connect with us on our personal accounts @gwendaschobert and @craving_expat_life.
Tune in every Friday for a new episode.
* G+T Conversations is created using Spotify for Podcasters.
39 min
About G+T Conversations
From the publisher's feed
Welcome to G+T Conversations, the ultimate global lifestyle podcast!
Tune in every Friday, as Gwenda + Tatjana (both in their thirties, both Germans and living in Mumbai) discuss everything from urban planning to feminism, from football to books, and from goal setting to the ups and downs of living abroad.
Follow https://www.instagram.com/gtconversations/ on Instagram and join the conversation.