Everyone Is Moving To Berlin

Berlin, a city known for its urban "roughness," surprises visitors with its captivating parks. These green havens offer a respite from the hustle and bustle, inviting moments of escape, peace, and unity. In this episode, Jae shares his personal connection to some of Berlin's favorite parks and the s...

In this episode, we share our personal experiences with therapy, offer guidance on recognizing when you might need therapy, and explain how to find an English-speaking therapist in Berlin. We also explain if and when therapy is covered by insurance in Germany, describe what a first consultation look...

Berliners love their lakes — especially in the summer. In this episode, Manuel recommends 7 lakes to check out when you're new to the city, explains what a "Strandbad" is, urges you to avoid the crowds and gives a primer nudist culture (FKK) in Germany.

It's been a year, and Jae is still looking for a permanent place to live. This episode is all about what he's learned in the process. Everyone who got an amazing place at a good price "just got lucky" — but you won't get lucky without being fast and prepared. We explore how to navigate ImmoScout, th...

Survival mode can be a necessary response when moving to a new city, but when does it become time to transition to thriving mode? In this episode, Jae reflects on his experiences of living in Berlin for over a year and the moment when he realized he had been in survival mode for too long. He shares ...

In this episode, 19-year-old Olivia shares what it's like being an au pair in Berlin. She explains how to find an au pair family, shares what her working hours and pay look like, and provides "top tips to make an au pair stay great". We also dive into cultural differences between Germany and the UK.

Berlin has sooo many libraries! In this episode, Manuel sums up the variety of resources offered by the VÖBB libraries, the Berlin State Library, and university libraries. You'll learn about the affordable library card and its benefits, including digital services and access to eBook, audio books and...

Lulu Johnson, author of "Dating in Berlin: Tales of Modern Love and Relationships", joins us to share her wild dating experiences in the city of "non-commitment". In her 8 years of Berlin dating, she's seen it all — even the proud smile of a convicted murderer. We discuss why dating in Berlin seems ...

Losing your passport (or getting it stolen) can be a very scary and daunting experience, especially if you’re not really sure what to do next. In this episode, we discuss what to do if you lose your passport while living in Berlin, including the specific process for reporting the loss or theft, obta...

Ricardo Ancona, a true film nerd and former theater owner, declares Berlin a movie lover's paradise. In this episode, he unveils the secrets of German cinema etiquette – from sweet popcorn, licorice and wine to hushed tones – and explains audio and subtitle choices. He also provides an overview of t...

Upon listener request, Manuel explores the ins and outs of using public transportation in Berlin. You'll learn about the various types of transportation available, such as the U-Bahn, S-Bahn, and trams, and how to find your route and buy tickets. You'll also hear about the different types of tickets...

Michel van Collenburg is a musician and photographer living in the Netherlands who, every year, finds his way back to Berlin for it’s creativity and inspiration. In this episode, we find out more about Michel’s journey and how he has made Berlin his “second home”. Michel offers insights into his cre...

In this episode, Jae reflects on his 10-month journey of moving from Texas to Berlin. It explores Jae’s feelings of homesickness, what he misses most about the US, what he appreciates about Berlin, and whether he plans on staying in Berlin long-term. Through personal anecdotes and insights, Jae shar...

Deborah's father was 16 when he fled Nazi Germany during a rescue effort of Jewish children known as the Kindertransport. He later raised a family in Australia and almost never spoke German anymore. Deborah and her siblings didn't consider claiming German citizenship until well into their adult live...

We're celebrating our first podcast-anniversary and starting a Discord Server. Join us to talk about all things Berlin! In this episode, we discuss the culture around anniversaries and birthdays in Germany — and how it compares to the US. Did you know that in Germany, you're the one supposed to give...

Boring, but kind of important: In this episode, Manuel explains which insurances are required by law in Germany, which ones are optional but important to have, and which ones you may pass on depending on your personal situation.

Manuel adopted a dog! We explain the process of fostering and/or adopting a dog in Berlin, how to know you're ready to be a dog owner, what you'll need to do once the dog is in your home, and what to keep in mind if you want to bring your pet to Germany.

In this episode, Jae explains the lessons and tips he would tell his past self if he was moving to Berlin again for the first time.

German New Year's Eve traditions, how the German "Happy New Year" is different before and after January 1, why parts of Berlin go crazy (!) on New Year's Eve and our 2023 resolutions.

Advent calendars, Christmas markets, packed trains and the "Christkind" — Manuel shares what you can expect if you're spending Christmas in Germany for the first time.

“Berlin is as cool as Brooklyn, but cheap.” This sentence inspired Jeremy to move to Berlin in 2014. While starting to learn German, he found that none of the existing language learning apps enabled him to speak the language, so he decided to start his own: Seedlang. In this episode, he shares how t...

In this episode Jae talks about his experiences being Black in Berlin and how it has affected him emotionally and mentally. In this raw, uncut episode which feels more like a diary entry, Jae opens up on how he feels about his life here as a person of color and some of the internal and external chal...

Rachel Stern from The Local joins us to talk about having kids and raising a family in Berlin, Germany's working culture, life as a journalist, cash vs. cards, learning German, and the best and worst aspects of being an expat.

In this short solo episode, Manuel shares how to avoid getting scammed when looking for an apartment in Berlin, and explains how teaching English can be a way to legally stay and work in the city.

Jae talks about his first trips in Germany outside of Berlin (they didn't go as smoothly as planned). We then methodically go through some of the other major cities and "Bundesländer" (federal states) and compare them to Berlin — while Jae can't help but draw comparisons to certain US states and cit...

Berlin is a special place, especially for artists. In this episode, Jae explains how Berlin's art scene was a big inspiration for him to come here and how the art scene might compare to some other cities he's previously lived in. He provides personal insight and recommendations for the different typ...

How does Berlin change you? We touch upon intercultural competence, Berlin's roughness, privilige, party life, safe spaces and boundaries while tackling this question.

In this solo-episode, Manuel explains how to register after you move into an apartment in Berlin and how to sign up for electricity, gas and internet contracts. Also: Reflections on the first 8 months of this show and some fun listener emails.

Sunlamps, thick clothes & hot water bags: How we prepare for the infamous Berlin winter — and how the general energy in the city changes during the dark months. Also: Our stances on Christmas and gifts.

In this solo episode, Jae provides an update on his mental health and how he has been managing since he’s been living here. He discusses the effects of burnout and a few strategies on how to compassionately encourage yourself as you go through some of your challenges.

Manuel is joined by Chris and Stephanie, both from the United States, each married to a German spouse. They share how easy/difficult it was for them to get their Aufenthaltsgenehmigung in Germany and how the visa application process compares to getting a Greecard in the U.S. We also discuss Berlin F...

Why grocery shopping in Germany is "like the Hunger Games" (Jae), which supermarkets you should know about, how much groceries will cost you each month, and how to order them online.

Astha moved to Berlin from India without ever having visited the city. After a few exciting first weeks, she was struck by migratory grief. In this episode, we talk with her about how to deal with loneliness and how to find friends in a new place.

Jack and Jae discuss what it's like being gay in Berlin. Topics include Berlin's party scene and sex culture, finding a gay doctor, dating, queer events and activities, and how to find other gay friends

Jae finally got his working visa — and work is what this episode is about. Whether you'll be working in the "gig economy", as a freelancer, or as a regular employee, here are some ways you could try to make money in Berlin.

Cari from Easy German joins us to describe the infamous Berlin mentality and ponder why Berliners often come across as cold or rude. We then try to establish the best method for learning German and share our favorite language learning tricks and resources.

We're back after a short hiatus to talk about one of the reasons we took a break: Mental health. Jae talks about a mental breakdown he experienced recently and we both share mental health resources available in Berlin and Germany.

Berlin is not as cheap as it used to be — but it's still one of the more affordable capital cities in Europe. In this episode, we go through all of the monthly expenses you should budget for if you plan to live in Berlin.

Most people's first contact with Berlin is through travel. In this episode we discuss how to experience the city like a local. We also share Couchsurfing stories, explain how to spot a tourist and encourage you to go out and meet strangers.

Jack is back on the show and joins us for lively (!) discussion on the best German bank account, which phone plan to choose and how to pick a "Fitnessstudio" (gym) in Berlin. We also cover the infamous Schufa, cheap meals in Berlin, burger places, milkshakes, bubble tea, prices for alcoholic drinks,...

Jae has arrived in Berlin! While his trip couldn't have gone any smoother, his first week in the city was quite a roller coaster ride: He found his apartment on day one, marvelled at German doors and the local recycling system, discovered Apfelschorle (and the price of tap water), bought a bike, cra...

Manuel's friend Jack has been cycling around Berlin every day since 2012 and joins us to explain everything you need to know about the topic: Why Berlin is best discovered by bike, how to buy a bike in the first place, which type of bicycle to get and why electric bikes are a little bit like horses.

Kreuzberg, Friedrichshain, Neukölln, Tempelhof, Schöneberg, Mitte, Wedding, Prenzlauer Berg, Pankow, Tiergarten & Charlottenburg — an overview of Berlin's most important districts.

Finding a place in Berlin will require a great deal of organization, optimism and endurance. We have some tips for you.

Why move to Berlin, which types of visas can get you here, what you should prepare before the move and how to get an appointment for the notorious Anmeldung.

40,001 people are moving to Berlin.