Studio Berlin

As 2019 comes to a close, it’s time to look back at the important news stories that we’ve covered on Studio Berlin.

Hosts Sumi Somaskanda, Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson and Erik Kirschbaum discuss some of the big news stories of 2019 that left a mark on Berlin.

This show was produced by Monika Müller-Kroll 

It is Christmas market season in Berlin, a favorite of residents and tourists alike. How safe are these markets three years after the attack at the Breitscheidplatz Christmas market?

Studio Berlin host Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson discusses the issue with Deborah Cole, correspondent for the news agency AFP, and city parliament member Marcel Luthe from the Free Democratic Party (FDP). We also hear from the Berlin Police Union spokesman, Benjamin Jendro.

This show was produced by Monika Müller-Kroll and Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson, with assistance from Benjamin Restle.

Germany’s homeless population has increased by more than 4% over the previous year. What’s the reason behind it and what can authorities do to address the issue?

Studio Berlin host Sumi Somaskanda takes a closer look at homelessness and poverty in Germany and Berlin. She is joined by Jutta Allmedinger, president of the WZB Berlin Social Science center and Wilhelm Nadolny from the Berliner Stadtmission, or Berlin City Mission.

This show was produced by Monika Müller-Kroll, with assistance from Nikki Motson and Caleb Larsen.

Could it be one of the most important conversations of the modern era? This week on Studio Berlin, host Noah Barkin delves into the details of Germany’s 5G debate. Why all the fuss about Chinese company Huawei and it’s role in supplying parts of Germany’s 5G infrastructure?

Does the decision against competitors like Nokia and Ericsson end chances for European tech excellence? Is the decision forcing Germany to decide between China and the US? Together with two of the leading experts on 5G in Berlin, guests Janka Oertel and Jan-Peter Kleinhans discuss why this decision could redefine digital autonomy for Europe.

This show was produced by Nikki Motson.

How have East and West Germany grown together 30 years after the Fall of the Berlin Wall? This week on Studio Berlin, host Erik Kirschbaum remembers the Fall of the Wall and discusses the making of a new Germany after 1989.

He is joined by Hope Harrison, Associate Professor of History and International Affairs at the George Washington University and author of the book, “After the Berlin Wall – Memory and the making of the New Germany. 1989 to the Present” as well as Günter Nooke, personal representative of the German Chancellor for Africa in the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development. Nooke started his political career as a civil rights activist in the GDR with Demokratischer Aufbruch, or Democratic Awakening.

This show was produced by Monika Müller-Kroll with assistance from Sylvia Cunningham, Benjamin Restle, and Colin Shea.

What was the soundtrack of the late ’80s, shortly before and after the fall of the Berlin Wall?

In this episode of Studio Berlin, host Erik Kirschbaum explores the power of music and how it captured the spirit of freedom and united people in East and West Germany. Erik is joined in studio by Jochen Staadt, leading researcher of the Forschungsverbund SED-Staat at the Freie Universität Berlin. We also hear from Jörg Stempel, worked for the GDR-owned Amiga music label and Tobias Rapp, author of “Lost and Sound: Berlin, Techno and the Easyjetset.”

This show was produced by Monika Müller-Kroll with assistance from Sylvia Cunningham, Ben Restle, and Colin Shea.

Migration to Europe is rising again. In September alone, more than 12,000 refugees arrived in Greece. 

This week on Studio Berlin: how is Europe tackling this challenge? And why can’t European countries seem to agree on a common approach to migration? Host Sumi Somaskanda talks with Emmanuelle Chaze, political correspondent at Deutsche Welle and NPR international correspondent Joanna Kakissis.

This show was produced by Monika Müller-Kroll with assistance from Colin Shea.

It’s election time in neighboring Poland this weekend. Polish voters will cast their ballots on Sunday for a new parliament.

Studio Berlin host Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson discusses the importance of the election and its impact on Europe with Wojciech Szymanski, correspondent for the Polish service of the Deutsche Welle network and Lucasz Pawlowski, managing editor of Kultura Liberalna.

This show was produced by Monika Müller-Kroll with assistance from Benjamin Restle and Nikki Motson.

Pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong described Hong Kong as the new Berlin – a ground zero for a new Cold War.

What does Germany make of Wong’s  comparison? And how do the Hong Kong protests influence Germany’s relationship with China? Join host Noah Barkin and his guests, American journalist Melissa Chan and Kristin Shi-Kupfer of the Mercator Institute for China Studies in Berlin.

This show was produced by Monika Müller-Kroll.

What can individuals and businesses do to help Germany reach its climate goals?

This week on Studio Berlin, host Nikki Motson discusses questions about energy efficiency with Martin Bornholdt from DENEFF, Laurenz Hermann from CO2 Online and Tim Kauermann founder of “Berlin Kann Mehr.”

This show was produced by Monika Müller-Kroll and Nikki Motson,  with assistance from Colin Shea.