Being Berlin

Being Berlin

Being Berlin is the podcast about Berliners. Hosted by Mak Matan and produced by Avisar Lev.

Episodes

May 29, 2023 77 mins
Kim McArthur is a former lawyer who joins us in studio to talk about Apolitical Foundation, the fascinating organization she works for. Apolitical Foundation takes the unique approach of investing in training for politicians with the desire to make them better leaders and representatives for their constituents.
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Stuart Braun is a writer and Berlin resident who released his book, City of Exiles, in 2015. It's now been re-released and he joins us in the studio to talk about the inspiration for the book and why he believes Berlin is always a city in flux. You can find Stuart online at instagram.com/cityofexiles. Being Berlin is brought to you by Bands and hosted by Mak Matan. To learn more, visit ⁠bandsberlin.com⁠.  Follow Being Berlin at...

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As the Berlin bureau chief for The Guardian newspaper and an accomplished author and journalist, Philip Oltermann is no stranger to the city's complex and multifaceted history. In his latest book, The Stasi Poetry Circle, Philip dives deep into one particularly fascinating aspect of the city's past - a creative writing group that was made up of soldiers and members of the secret police during the Cold War. Being Berlin is b...

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We chatted with Australian born expat Chelsea about her experience navigating corporate life, and impact entrepreneurship as a woman of colour her in Berlin. Chelsea, the founder of SEED SPACE — a wellness community empowering inclusive healing practices for black, indigenous and women of colour — shares with us her observations on cultural appropriation and the cooption of ancient wellness practices in predominantly white spaces l...

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February 26, 2023 91 mins
As Black History Month draws to a close, we're happy to have Anthony Baggette join us for a discussion about the Black experience in Berlin. Anthony is a jazz poet and basketball coach who's lived in Berlin for over four decades. He's a wealth of knowledge when it comes to Black life in Germany and Europe, and he's fully committed to living unapologetically Black. In this conversation, we talk about his fight for Black liberation a...
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February 13, 2023 74 mins
Anne Chang didn't have to move to Berlin to become a DJ. She was already a successful one who booked regular gigs in New York City and beyond. What started out as a fun Berlin getaway unexpectedly turned into love  — both for the city and for her soon-to-be German partner. The new relationship meant frequent trips across the Atlantic and the decision to settle in Berlin at some point in the near future. Anne joined us in the studio...
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Avisar Lev, the co-creator of Being Berlin, is this week's guest. Avisar is a human rights lawyer turned entrepreneur who founded Bands, a rock band program that brings hobbyist musicians together. Avisar has lived in Berlin for over a decade and this wide ranging conversation was a true delight for us. This is the chance for you to get to know the other half of Being Berlin. We talk about our ambivalence toward political street ar...
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January 29, 2023 82 mins
Mariëtte Rissenbeek is a Dutch film producer and longtime resident (and lover) of Berlin. She's also the Executive Director of the Berlin International Film Festival, which is more commonly known as the Berlinale. Mariëtte is the first woman to ever hold the position and was appointed to it in 2019. The Covid-19 pandemic was a heavy cloud over the last two festivals and this year will hopefully usher in a return to "normalcy". Mari...
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Valerie Renay is a French actress, musician, and DJ who's called Berlin home for many years. She's exceptionally thoughtful about her art and life, and is fearless when it comes to not closely following society's orders or fitting into the expectations of women. Before she went on to release her very first solo album in her 50s, Valerie was a member in Noblesse Oblige, an electronic duo who put out four albums together. You can fin...
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Marina Ekroos is our guest this week on Being Berlin. She's a photographer and co-founder of Frameright, a startup looking to bring a solution to the unpredictable nature of sharing images online. Marina grew increasingly frustrated with how difficult it was to properly display photos on the web and do so while telling an image's full story. She sits down with us to discuss the startup's story as well as her own path to becoming an...

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Yuval Halpern joins us in the studio for this week's episode of Being Berlin. Yuval is a composer and musical director at the Neukölln Oper. He's also the co-founder of Sistanagila, an Israeli-Iranian band that uses the power of music to bring together its members and inspire the public. Yuval and I discuss his musical journey, his inspirations, and what composing is all about. You can find Yuval on Instagram at instagram.com/uviva...
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December 4, 2022 68 mins
On this week's episode of Being Berlin, we're joined by Tobbi Björnsson, an actor and singer who's called Berlin home for 20 years. We have a conversation about the life of a new parent, why travel feels so overrated, and what exactly is going on with the heating in Mak's mom's house, to name a few things. Being Berlin is brought to you by Bands and hosted by Mak Matan. To learn more, visit bandsberlin.com.  Follow Being Berlin at ...
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James Cook joins us in the studio for this week's episode of Being Berlin. Growing up in Luton, England, James felt the weight of being in the shadow of London and was eager to make his mark in music. He was a founding member of Nemo, a band that would go on to become a cult fave with far reaching influence. James shares his story with us and discusses how everything fell into place when he decided to be the master of his own desti...
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November 20, 2022 68 mins
Asger Doenst, the co-founder of Photoautomat Berlin, joins us in the studio for a discussion about the origin story of  Berlin's famous vintage photo booths. We also talk about the realities of dating in the digital age and the dreaded Berlin Winter. You can find Asger at instagram.com/asgerberlin. Being Berlin is brought to you by Bands and hosted by Mak Matan. To learn more, visit bandsberlin.com.  Follow Being Berlin at instagra...
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This week's episode features Leen Ekman, an artist and former tour guide from the UK. Leen is a treasure trove of knowledge when it comes to Berlin and its history and art scene. She and I discuss so much in this episode, such as how to contribute to the city, the evolution of the city, and the fear of saying the wrong thing. Leen is also a tattoo artist and can be found at instagram.com/leenorama. Being Berlin is brought to you by...
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Will McKinney-Raphelt sits down with us for this week's episode of Being Berlin. Will made the move to Berlin from New York City in 2020 and works as a senior product manager for Sony Music Entertainment. He's also Black, queer, and more than ready to talk about the rigidity of the German music scene when it comes to real representation. We also touch on the Black immigrant experience in Berlin and why "expat" is a complicated term...
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In this episode, we have a lovely conversation with John-H. Karsten, a TV writer and musician with a lot on his plate. We talk about the balancing act needed for his work and personal life, the changing landscape of German television, and what success means to him. You can find John at instagram.com/jonvanmono. Being Berlin is brought to you by Bands and hosted by Mak Matan. To learn more, visit bandsberlin.com.  Follow Being Berli...
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Being Berlin's first guest is Luna Cavari, a jazz singer and activist from Iran. We discuss what it's like moving to Berlin and the struggles — and joys — such a huge life decision entails. We also talk about the current uprising and uncertainty in Iran sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini.  You can find Luna at instagram.com/luna_cavari and Sistanagila at instagram.com/sistanagila. Being Berlin is brought to you by Bands and hosted...
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