"How did a guy from Heidelberg end up in the hills of L.A.? I got lucky", says Paul Ripke, who moved to California with his family four years ago. He works as a visual storyteller, photographer, fashion designer and influencer – a creator of the digital age with over half a million followers on Instagram alone.

In episode 8 of the Wunderbar Together podcast, Paul discusses his journey from djing for GIs in his hometown in Southwestern Germany to being thrust into the global spotlight with the German Nationalmannschaft winning the FIFA World Cup in Brazil to working with Formula 1 superstar Lewis Hamilton – and always staying true to creating whatever he likes best. "Following your followers is stupid. Don't create for the audience. Create for yourself."

Follow Paul Ripke on Instagram @paulripke. Check out his fashion label PARI and his German podcast with Joko Winterscheidt, AWFNR.

This episode of the Wunderbar Together podcast is hosted by Felix Zeltner and Oliver Nermerich and produced by Peter Tooke. It is inspired and supported by Wunderbar Together 2018/19, the Year of German-American Friendship. Find out all about it at wunderbartogether.org.