Over Here, Over There: International Politics & Culture Podcast

'Life is too short to learn German', said Oscar Wilde. And even for a native German speaker, it does have its challenges. Over Here, Over There podcast co-host Claudia Koestler takes you through the quirky nuances and daunting tongue-twisters that give credence to Wilde's perspective. Still, it can be rather amusing to hear a German word that is as long as a football pitch or another that captures the tone and feeling that only the preciseness that the German language can do. Enjoy (Genießen)!

Here are some of the German words that Claudia mentions that are particularly challenging for non-native and, in some cases, native speakers alike.

Ulpe(germanised Icelandic for jacket)
Zwanzig (which means twenty)
Brötchen (bread roll)
Schleswig Holstein (a federal state in Germany)
Quietscheente (rubber duck, Squeaky duck)
Quietscheentchen (its diminutive form)
Streichholzschächtelchen (little matchbox, but literally translated as draw wood along a little box)
Warmduscher (literally "warm or hot showerer"; figuratively, it refers to those who don't want to extend themselves beyond their comfort zone; also, 'wimp')
Schattenparker (similar to Warmduscher, literally 'Shadow Parker')
Weichei (similar to Warmduscher, literally 'soft egg')
Hüftgold (meaning hip gold. A word to describe excess fat in the hip area.
Verschlimmbesserung (an intended improvement that only make things worse)
Bundesausbildungsförderungsgesetz (Federal Training Assistance Act)
Personenkraftwagenhaftpflichtversicherung: (passenger car liability insurance)
Grundstücksverkehrsgenehmigungszuständigkeitsübertragungsverordnung (real estate transfer authorization ordinance)
Nahrungsmittelunverträglichkeit (food intolerance)
Fremdschämen (a feeling of embarrassment for another person)
Auspuffrohr (exhaust pipe)
Donaudampfschifffahrtselektrizitätenhauptbetriebswerkbauunterbeamtengesellschaft (Danube steamship electricity main works construction sub-civil servant company)
Eichhörnchen (squirrel)
Oachkatzlschwoaf (Bavarian dialect version of a specific part of the squirrel recently voted the most unpronounceable word in the world, which translates to tail of a squirrel)

English words that Claudia and other Germans find hard to pronounce (and English speakers to spell!):
Spontaneity
Phenomenon
Worcester
Worcestershire (as in the England county and sauce)

'There's no place like home', said Dorothy in one of the most famous final lines in cinematic history in The Wizard of Oz. The concept of home has intrigued writers, scholars, travelers, artists, soldiers, students, and every human being who has ever walked the planet.  So it has with Claudia as she prepares to leave a place she has called home for twenty-seven years and start anew somewhere else. She explores the uniqueness of the German meaning of Heimat, which its closest equivalent in English is 'homeland'. Claudia doesn't break out into 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow', but you will want to listen to how she explores the usage of Heimat over time in Germany and asks listeners to think of the visceral and poignant nature of its meaning in their language and to humanity.

Our special guest has risen from relative obscurity over the past three years to be recognised by fans across a crowded New York City street. Such is the worldwide popularity of the TV show The Great British Bake-off, which he won in 2021, under stiff competition, and now is climbing the name recognition ladder, which – who knows? – may lead him to be a household name like ‘Gordon' Ramsey, ‘Jamie’ Oliver, or one of his GBB predecessors ‘Nadiya’ Hussain. I’m speaking about, of course, Giuseppe, Giuseppe Dell’Anno. If you watched the series, you may have gleaned that he is a man of many talents, which we’ll discuss, of course, but we’ll be concentrating mostly on his skills as a top-notch baker and his mastery of, and passion for, Italian cuisine and culture. And as we can attest, Giuseppe is also one of the nicest people one can meet. Avanti!

In this episode, Claudia Koestler considers the 'Over Here, Over There' aspects of politeness and kindness in Germany relative to her experiences abroad. She provides three anecdotes that highlight the friendliness, or lack thereof, and unfeeling directness that make her wistfully remember how it was done 'over there'.  An interesting perspective from a frequent international traveler about her countrymen and women. 

Bavaria's Sundays are slower than the rest of Germany and many other countries. Most public and private organizations are closed, which has its plusses and minuses. It's a matter of personal choice, Claudia says, but - spoiler alert! - for those wanting to get things done, she likes how Sundays are managed elsewhere. 

OHOT will be bringing more episodes in different formats with international and celebrity guests. Exciting and engaging topics that our audiences have told us they want to hear about. So stay tuned, spread the word, and don't forget to subscribe!

In a world of increasingly scarce resources, it's important to understand and maximize one of the most important of them all: food. In this engaging and informative episode, we speak with German TV presenter, broadcaster, and science journalist Dirk Steffens, who with his filmmaker, director, science journalist, and biologist wife Sabine, work together to help save the planet by advocating smarter and more effective consumption and production of food. 

Dirk Steffens  is best known for his work in the field of nature and
science documentaries. He has hosted and contributed to various television programs, particularly those related to environmental conservation, wildlife and natural history. We hope he won ́t mind us saying it, but you can think of him as the German David Attenborough. One of Steffens` most notable roles is as a presenter of the popular German documentary series "Terra X", which covers a wide range of topics related to science and the natural world. 

Now Dirk and Sabine have a new project on the go, Geo Films, that is set
to reach new dimensions. In films, books, and social media, they dedicate
themselves to the big issues to raise awareness of how we can tackle
environmental problems and protect our planet. But they do so not by
depressing us with the negative aspects of food consumption and production. They have traveled the world and found truly positive, unique, and unexpected ideas and solutions that enable us to do so without restrictions or limitations. The solutions the two found are not only surprisingly easy for everyone to take on and protect the environment, but also save you time and money, too. 

Listen in to find out how you and the rest of the world can benefit from their important work. 

In the 'Over Here, Over There' podcast, we discuss our differences across borders and divides and how we can learn from them. In this episode, we hear two different perspectives from Germany and the United States regarding the most influential figure in US foreign policy since World War II. The recent passing of former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger stopped many people of a certain generation in their tracks. Kissinger dominated US foreign policy during some of the most difficult times of the Cold War. His consummate statecraft, boundless energy, and prodigious talents and intelligence were greatly admired. However, his use of power politics during the Vietnam War and support for authoritarian regimes earned him many critics, despite winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 1973. Claudia Koestler, Senior Editor at the Süddeutsche Zeitung, discusses with political and current affairs commentator Dan Harris, Kissinger's legacy from fleeing Nazi Germany in 1938 to his long career and life in the US.

In her recent point of view episode about the recent German elections, Claudia Koestler, Senior Editor at the Süddeutsche Zeitung, Germany's leading national daily, comments on the significant rise of right-wing parties. Is there any hope of stemming this rising tide? Claudia does her best not to despair when politicians and voters go wrong.

Over Here, Over There podcast host Dan Harris discusses with BBC Radio Kent's Steve Ladner the election of a new Speaker of the House, (R-LA) Michael Johnson. 

'Finally, the nightmare in the US House of Representatives is finally different' (as opposed to over), so says late-night host Stephen Colbert. After three weeks of paralysis, the new House Speaker, second in line to the Presidency, is Representative Michael Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana. Not well known even by colleagues in Congress, many of whom had to Google him to learn more, Mr. Johnson talked cordially in the spirit of bipartisanship towards the Democrats in his acceptance speech. His quiet history tells otherwise, however. As a MAGA loyalist, he was one of the chief architects of the GOP's campaign to decertify the 2020 U.S. presidential election in the House of Representatives. With severe challenges both at home and abroad, how he will use the powerful Speaker's gavel, only time will tell. Have a listen.

Amidst the turmoil following Hamas's brutal attack on Israel, President Joe Biden traveled to Israel to show US support for its close ally and try to reduce tensions amongst the warring factions. BBC Radio Kent host Steve Ladner speaks with Dan Harris, international political commentator and co-host of the 'Over Here, Over There' podcast to determine whether Biden's peace-making efforts achieved their goals.