Studio Berlin (2019-2020)
Studio Berlin was a weekly 30-minute talk show, examining issues that affect our lives in Germany’s capital. It premiered on the English-language radio station KCRW Berlin 104.1 FM in 2019, and I was named an official co-host in 2020.
Below you’ll find links to some of my favorite episodes.
How has the pandemic changed Berlin gastronomy, and who are the people protesting COVID-19 measures?
This episode aired on May 20, 2020.
Restaurants and cafes are back open in Berlin, but how has the pandemic changed the experience of dining out? And protests against coronavirus-related restrictions, so-called “hygiene demonstrations,” are gaining attention across the country. Who are these protesters and what are they asking for?
Who will succeed Angela Merkel?
This episode aired on Nov. 11, 2020.
Angela Merkel is the second-longest serving chancellor in modern German history. Recent polls show that German confidence in her is high, but the chancellor has made it clear she will not seek a fifth term in next year’s election. What were Merkel’s accomplishments and missteps over the past 15 years? And who is her possible successor?
Germany vs. COVID-19 Round 2: Can we avoid another lockdown?
This episode aired on Oct. 21, 2020.
As novel coronavirus cases skyrocket across Germany and Europe, we talk about what we’ve learned since the start of the pandemic. How can we best stop its spread, what are the new treatments and is a lockdown imminent or even wise?
Back to school amid the pandemic – how is Berlin keeping students and teachers safe?
This episode aired on Aug. 12, 2020.
Berlin schools reopened this week amid fears of a second COVID-19 wave, with about 370,000 students returning to the classroom. What measures are in place to minimize the risk of coronavirus outbreaks, and how are students, teachers and parents adapting to the “new normal”?
Curse or blessing? Long-delayed Berlin airport will open amid a pandemic, nearly a decade later than originally planned?
This episode aired on Oct. 28, 2020.
Mismanagement, corruption charges, dubious design plans and a series of technical mishaps led to delay after delay since the first scheduled opening of the Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) in 2011. So ahead of the much-beleaguered airport’s official “takeoff” on Oct. 31, we’re hearing from people who have been following and a part of this story since the beginning.
Can Europe reform its asylum and migration policies?
This episode aired on Sept. 23, 2020.
Chancellor Angela Merkel’s governing coalition agreed to take in 1,500 additional refugees from Greece — mostly families with children — a decision hotly debated by the opposition in the German Bundestag, as well as civil society. Some critics say the number’s not nearly enough, while others say it’s time for other EU member states to step up.
Should the word ‘Rasse’ (or ‘race’) be removed from Germany’s constitution?
This episode aired on July 15, 2020.
In the wake of nationwide and international protests against racism, Germany’s Green Party wants to change Article 3 of the nation’s Basic Law by removing “Rasse” – in English, “race” – from the text. Proponents of removing the word say it’s linked to Nazi ideology and this change is long overdue. Others say this move is too hasty and would actually harm people of color.
How much should Germany rely on contact tracing apps in the fight to contain the COVID-19 pandemic?
This episode aired on April 29, 2020.
Developers worldwide are working on contact tracing apps that track the spread of the coronavirus through Bluetooth technology – that means, if you’ve come into contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19, you’ll be notified. But how much do these apps actually help, and how much privacy do users have to give up?
What would you do with an extra 1,200 euros per month with no strings attached?
This episode aired on Sept. 2, 2020.
The debate over unconditional basic income is not a new one, but it has gotten more attention in the wake of the COVID-19 health crisis. A new long-term study on how society would change if people were to receive a basic income is underway in Germany. The pilot project will involve 120 participants who receive a basic income over the course of three years and hundreds more in a control group who do not.
Lockdowns, travel bans, cancellations - what's being done to contain COVID-19?
This episode aired on March 14, 2020.
The COVID-19 pandemic is rapidly changing our lives. This week, we look at where we are in this health crisis and what measures are being taken to slow down the spread of the coronavirus.
Faith leaders on celebrating a Holy month during lockdown and the mental health ramifications of the pandemic
This episode aired on April 8, 2020.
This April is a holy month for Christians, Jews and Muslims that would normally be one in which families and friends gather and people get together to pray. But how can the faithful observe their respective holidays given the COVID-19 pandemic? Also, what toll are the bans, closures and increasing isolation taking mentally on all of us?
A closer look at Germany's abortion law
This episode aired on Feb. 1, 2020.
It’s been almost a year since the German parliament voted to amend Paragraph 219a, regarding the advertisement of abortion services, in the country’s criminal code. What does this look like in practice, and what are abortion rights activists and opponents calling for in 2020?