The Germany Experience

Shaun Behrens

Dating, toxic relationships, and making friends in Germany (Lulu from Ireland)

2023-05-21 36 min

Dating can be a minefield at the best of times. But what happens when you move to a city like Berlin? Lulu Johnson discovered just this when she moved from I...

The diversity trend, Misfit Models, and German bureaucracy when starting a company (Del from the UK)

2023-04-08 37 min

Just do a Google search for Del Keens, and you will see that he's someone with a unique story. After moving to Germany, he started a character modeling agenc...

Financing property in Germany (with Kerstin Brunner)

2023-03-31 56 min

Kerstin Brunner is a finance coach, and she comes on the podcast to discuss what goes into buying property in Germany. First we look at how to decide if purc...

Life in Germany as a gay woman (Kim from the UK)

2023-03-08 43 min

Kim from the UK explains what life is like in Germany for her as a gay woman. She also discusses the difficulties of finding a community in smaller cities an...

How German are you? (Nina from Germany)

2023-03-01 51 min

The Germany Experience is back with a repost from Shaun's other podcast, Everyday Germany. Nina joins Shaun to see which one of them is more German.Subscribe...

4GEPADFO charity drive update, and when The Germany Experience will be back

2023-01-04 5 min

Shaun gives an update on 4GEPADFO (spoiler: we made our 500€ goal!). But you can still donate to this great cause (a hotline providing psychosocial support f...

Getting ready to leave Germany (Nicole from The Expat Cast)

2022-12-22 47 min

Nicole joins me this week to discuss some big changes in her life – she's leaving Germany. In this episode, she explains what's happening and why she's makin...

House hunting, finding day care, and handling rough starts (Wafeeqa from Saudi Arabia)

2022-12-02 48 min

When Wafeeqa and her family moved to Germany, they thought things would be easier: her husband had a job, and his employer was arranging accommodation for th...

Using hypnosis to help foreigners in Germany (Suzanne Dinter from the UK)

2022-11-09 52 min

Suzanne Dinter joins me this week to explain what hypnotherapy is, and how it can help foreigners adjust to life in Germany - among other issues. Suzanne is ...

Hidden grief, loss of identity, and getting to know the German version of a loved one (Katie Rössler from the USA)

2022-10-19 48 min

Katie Rössler, author of The New Face of Grief, comes on the podcast to discuss the role that hidden grief might play in the lives of foreigners in a new cou...

Advice for adapting and integrating in Germany, from discussions with 100+ foreigners

2022-10-12 22 min

At the end of September 2022, I gave a talk at the Welcome To Germany Summit. This is the rehearsal that I recorded a few days before. But mine was only one ...

Convincing a company to take a chance on you (Veronica from Mexico)

2022-10-05 49 min

“I feel like a lot of people feel this - this feeling of Germany crushing your soul, like killing you from the inside.” This is how Veronica from Mexico desc...

Recovering from a car accident while abroad (Sadaf from Pakistan)

2022-09-28 40 min

Many foreigners do a lot of traveling around Europe while they are here. But have you ever considered what would happen if you had a medical emergency in ano...

The Welcome To Germany Summit on 29th September 2022

2022-09-25 20 min

A group of experts (including me!) has come together to organize a free online event for everyone interested in moving to and living in Germany - expats, int...

A German returning to Germany after a decade (Cathrin from Germany)

2022-09-13 50 min

Cathrin, originally from Germany, has been living in the States for more than 10 years, but she recently made the decision to return. She discusses the reaso...

RERUN: Wurst/arsch/schwein idioms, why “Der/Die/Das” is weird, and sitting down to pee in Germany (Ricardo from Brazil & Ivan from Bulgaria)

2022-08-24 53 min

Originally released on October 19th, 2020.View the original show notes here.IF YOU ENJOY THIS PODCASTYou can support the show in various ways: BUY THE GERMAN...

RERUN: Q&A - Making long-term German friends, reverse parking, and origins of German idioms

2022-08-17 30 min

Originally released March 8th, 2021View the original show notes here.IF YOU ENJOY THIS PODCASTYou can support the show in various ways: BUY THE GERMANY EXPER...

RERUN: Antoinette Emily from New Zealand

2022-08-10 41 min

Originally released November 23rd, 2020.View the original show notes here.Antoinette's YouTube channel: Antoinette EmilyIF YOU ENJOY THIS PODCASTYou can supp...

RERUN: Ask a German - Bureaucracy, German pillows, standing in line, and recruitment through fruit

2022-08-03 56 min

Original release: November 2nd, 2020View the original show notes here.Featuring the hosts of the Ach podcast.IF YOU ENJOY THIS PODCASTYou can support the sho...

RERUN: Advice for foreigners in Germany, taken from two years of The Germany Experience

2022-07-27 34 min

Original release: June 2, 2021View the original show notes here.IF YOU ENJOY THIS PODCASTYou can support the show in various ways: BUY THE GERMANY EXPERIENCE...

The Berlin episode (recorded live @ PodFest Berlin 2022)

2022-07-20 69 min

I've always felt a special connection to Berlin. But what is it like to live there? I am joined by three foreigners living in Berlin who discuss their storie...

Q&A: Self-learning B2, dealing with language barrier frustrations, and is there foolproof advice for making friends in Germany?

2022-07-06 21 min

You sent in some questions about life in Germany, and I try and answer them in this episode.THE GERMANY EXPERIENCE AT PODFEST BERLINI will be recording a liv...

Probezeit: The first six months in a German job (Lisa Janz, Job Coach Germany)

2022-06-29 41 min

The first six months in a new job is important. In Germany, it is usually a trial period - or "Probezeit" - and it is a chance for you to get to know your te...

Lessons from changing jobs in Germany (Alexandrea from the USA)

2022-06-22 50 min

Alexandrea from the USA (and former guest on the podcast) left her job in Hamburg for one in Frankfurt. However, she realized almost immediately that the new...

Helping families to meet like-minded families (Dzhangar from MatchFamilies)

2022-06-15 36 min

During Dzhangar's first years in Germany, he noticed what many foreigners notice: how difficult it was for his family to meet other like-minded families. And...

German traditions or superstitions? (Nina from Germany)

2022-06-08 30 min

If you've ever wished a German "Happy birthday" before their actual birthday, you will no doubt have quickly learnt that it's just not done. It's just a trad...

Eurovision Song Contest 2022 recap, the importance of community, and redefining your identity (Beth from the USA)

2022-05-17 36 min

Beth comes back on the podcast to discuss how she recently found herself post-pandemic in a world that had shrunk to just her job and her family. While this ...

Using your own culture to integrate in Germany (Saehee from the USA)

2022-05-12 42 min

When Saehee, a Korean American, first moved from the States to Germany, she struggled to adjust for many different reasons.  This led to her feeling depresse...

States of Liberation: gay rights and discrimination in Cold War Germany (Samuel Clowes Huneke)

2022-04-20 40 min

It's conventional knowledge that West Germany was more liberal and progressive than East Germany. Then it stands to reason that West Germany was more accepti...

Language barrier problems, and overcoming the challenges involved with reporting sexual assault (Mei Chi from Hong Kong)

2022-04-06 43 min

When Mei Chi arrived in Germany, she faced several challenges caused by the language and cultural barrier. Not understanding German can result in some minor ...

Writing a Eurovision song, and traveling to the Arctic and Antarctic (Fadi from the UK)

2022-03-02 39 min

Fadi Gaziri returns to the show to talk about writing a song for the Eurovision song contest. We talk about why we love the Eurovision song contest so much, ...

Choosing a rural life, coming to Germany as a lawyer, and a giant tea cup (Rachel from South Africa)

2022-02-23 45 min

It only took 106 episodes, but Shaun finally has a South African guest on the podcast! Rachel is a lawyer (also a first) who has only been in Germany for a f...

Visa struggles, escaping the pandemic on an organic farm, and being a musician in Germany (Laura Osburn from Canada)

2022-02-16 41 min

Laura Osburn is a singer/songwriter from Canada who came to Germany in January 2020 to work on her album and play live shows – and both those plans have been...

How to be a good dinner guest in a German home (Nina from Germany)

2022-02-09 41 min

Getting invited to a German's home for dinner is difficult enough, but if it happens, you're probably nearing the German's "inner circle". But how do you beh...

Podcasts, why we love them, and how they help foreigners (Marina and Greta from Buongiorno Bitch)

2022-02-02 53 min

Marina is from Spain and Greta is from Italy, and together they host a podcast called Buongiorno Bitch. They join me to discuss our love for podcasts, and ho...

Charity challenge wrap-up, and when The Germany Experience will be back

2021-12-29 3 min

The 2021 charity challenge between Nicole of The Expat Cast and I is done, and we have a winner! We were able to raise a combined total of 1065€ for Kinderla...

2021 lows and highs and a charity challenge update with Nicole of the Expat Cast

2021-12-22 37 min

Recorded as an Instagram Live on 21 December 2021. Nicole of The Expat Cast joins me to discuss our low and high points of 2021, and to give an update on our...

Making German easier with “-chen” endings, a PhD as a job, and Germans take long to say goodbye (Jeanette from the USA)

2021-12-15 42 min

Jeanette from the USA moved to Germany to continue her studies, and ended up in a PhD program in Aachen. She discusses her experiences making friends while s...

Episode 100: Funny and memorable The Germany Experience moments

2021-12-08 31 min

DONATE in the ThrEGEPADFO CHARITY CHALLENGE!It's the 100th episode of The Germany Experience!  To celebrate, I take a look at just a few of the many memorabl...

The leaving Germany episode

2021-12-01 50 min

Not every Germany experience ends with permanent residency or German citizenship. For some, the plan was never to stay for longer than a few years, or things...

Anatomy of a German job interview (Lisa Janz from Job Coach Germany)

2021-11-24 47 min

What can you expect in a German job interview? What's expected of you? Lisa Janz, the woman behind Job Coach Germany, joins me to explain what the five phase...

Health insurance in Germany Q&A, with Techniker Krankenkasse

2021-11-17 23 min

You sent in your questions about health insurance in Germany, and this week a representative from Techniker Krankenkasse, Nina, is here to answer them.  You ...

"Was guckst du?": A 20 year love/hate relationship with Germany (Elizabeth from the USA)

2021-11-10 42 min

Elizabeth first spent time in Germany as a student, and she fell in love with the place. But, by the time her year was up, she was ready to return back home ...

The Expat Spouses Report - the results are in (Amaia from Expats & Spouses Monitor)

2021-11-03 24 min

How educated are expat spouses? How do they feel about life in Germany? What word would they use to describe Germany? A new study  by Expats & Spouses Mo...

Shopping habits, my German nemesis, problems with dialects, and more: Q&A episode

2021-10-27 34 min

From new shopping habits through to being scolded by Germans, here are the answers to the questions you asked about life in Germany!The Instagram users who a...

Working in tech in Germany (Yotzín from Mexico)

2021-10-20 45 min

What's it like working in tech in Germany? What do foreigners need to know about finding a tech job in Germany?  Yotzín, from Mexico, joins me to answer thes...

German culture: Der Struwwelpeter and other horrifying children's stories (Nina from Germany)

2021-10-06 29 min

After watching the Calvin & Habs duo do a reenactment of a German children's story called "Paulinchen", I decided to buy the collection of stories it app...

Foreigner friendships, moving back home, and “F**k it” moments (Beth & Amy from the USA)

2021-09-29 47 min

Both Beth and Amy have appeared on The Germany Experience before, and now they come back on together after having forged a friendship here in Germany. But, a...

RERUN: Seven months as an exchange student in Germany (Montana Showalter from the USA)

2021-09-02 37 min

//This episode was originally released on 18th May 2020//Montana Showalter was an American high school student who went on an exchange program to Germany (ca...

RERUN: You go me on the cookie! (Dana Newman from Wanted Adventure)

2021-08-25 52 min

//This interview originally aired on 25th May 2020//Dana Newman from the Wanted Adventure YouTube channel joins me to discuss her book, "You go me on the coo...

RERUN: Sandals and socks, making friends with Germans, and "selfishly" staying in Germany (Amy from the USA)

2021-08-18 40 min

//This episode originally aired on 20th July 2020//Original Show Notes: Amy always had a dream of living in Germany, and even happened to marry someone who f...

RERUN: Germany chose me (Sneha from India)

2021-08-11 46 min

//This episode was originally aired on 16th November 2020//Sneha from India moved to Germany in 2011. A professional Indian classical dancer, she was expecti...

The German dream, mental health as a content creator, and toxic positivity (Aspen from the USA)

2021-07-15 46 min

Aspen is originally from the USA and has been living in Germany for 7 years now. She runs the Aspen Abroad YouTube channel. She joins me to discuss the topic...

From a big city to a small German town, and freelancing in Germany (Lara from Slovenia)

2021-06-30 35 min

Lara is from Slovenia, and you might know her from her Instagram or TikTok channels, where she posts short, informative and funny videos about life in German...

From long distance relationship to locked down together (Kaleena from the USA and Jan from Germany)

2021-06-23 35 min

Kaleena is from the USA, and Jan is from Germany, and together they host the YouTube channel, Kaleena and Jan. Shortly after meeting each other, their relati...

Coping with depression in Germany, seeking help, and online therapy (Steffi from the UK)

2021-06-16 45 min

Steffi is from the UK, and she describes herself as an "unexpected expat". In fact, as someone who experiences anxiety and who is a planner, life in a foreig...

Apologizing in Germany, sauna surprises, and making friends: an expat's guide to living in Germany (Fadi Gaziri from the UK)

2021-06-09 53 min

Fadi Gaziri has written a book about life in Germany for foreigners called, "Ze Germans: An Expat's Guide to Living in Germany", and he joins me to discuss t...

Advice for foreigners in Germany, taken from two years of The Germany Experience

2021-06-02 36 min

The Germany Experience podcast is 2 years old and to celebrate, here is a compilation of some of the advice that guests have offered about everything from ma...

Three amazing women from German history (Jasmin from HerStory)

2021-05-26 69 min

Jasmin is the host of a podcast called Herstory, which tells the stories of strong women from history. Her podcast inspired this week's episode: a look back ...

Beer, digitization, security, and education: our preconceived notions of Europe (Lawin from the Philippines)

2021-05-19 43 min

Before you move to a foreign country, you inevitably have a picture of what it's like in your mind. Maybe you got it from TV and books, or perhaps you've met...

Planning a summer trip to the mountains (Ceri from the UK)

2021-05-12 41 min

If things in Germany continue easing up, vacation will again be possible this summer. A very popular tourist destination is the mountainous region of Bavaria...

Three key factors for making friends in Germany (Nadja from Germany)

2021-05-05 40 min

Nadja Todt was born and raised in Germany, but spent 11 years abroad. She describes herself as a global citizen, change-maker, international experience exper...

Feeling weighed down by the pandemic, and making the trip back home (Beth from the USA)

2021-04-21 68 min

How are foreigners in Germany feeling right now? Do they feel like they want to pack up and return to their home countries? And what is it like to make the t...

BONUS - My experiences searching for jobs and working in Germany (Lisa Janz interviews me)

2021-04-18 34 min

Lisa Janz, who is a job coach for internationals in Germany, recently interviewed me in a live Q&A on her Facebook page. This is the audio of that video....

What do you want from a job in Germany? (with Lisa Janz from Job Coach Germany)

2021-04-12 42 min

Lisa Janz is a career coach for international professionals in Germany. She joins me to discuss the big question of how to figure out what you want from a jo...

RERUN: Being far from family when losing someone, making friends through team sports, and security in Germany (Rafael from Brazil)

2021-04-06 41 min

Originally release on 3rd November, 2019 (episode #21)One of my best friends in Germany, Rafael from Brazil, experienced loss when his father passed away, an...

Finding an apartment in Germany: tips, advice, etiquette, and other things you need to know (Madalina from Relosophy)

2021-03-30 41 min

Madalina, originally from Romania, is a relocation agent who helps foreigners find accommodation in Munich. And as she says, if you can make it in Munich, yo...

Job search and working in Germany: expectations vs. reality, work contracts, and corporates vs. start-ups (Jana from Meetra)

2021-03-21 44 min

Many foreigners have a picture in their minds of what it will be like finding a job and working in Germany. For example, it seems that the perception is that...

Common things Germans say and do, and what they mean (Nina from Germany)

2021-03-15 46 min

The Germans have certain words, sayings, and gestures that they do very often, often without even thinking about it. And some of these things can be very con...

Making long-term German friends, reverse parking, and origins of German idioms (Q&A session)

2021-03-08 38 min

 I answer your questions about life in Germany, and also some personal questions. Plus, I read some insightful YouTube comments. This was recorded during a F...

Sparkling wine receptions, digitization, WG living, and coming to Germany on a scholarship (Alex from the USA)

2021-03-01 57 min

Alex is originally from Nebraska, USA, but is now living in Hamburg. She joins me with a glass of sparkling wine to discuss, among other things, her love for...

How German changes your identity (Geoff and Alex from Americans in Germany Drinking Whiskey)

2021-02-22 47 min

When you move to Germany, like with other countries, you might find yourself needing to re-invent yourself due to the language and the culture. For example: ...

The job application process in Germany: Misconceptions, insights and tips (Ivan from Bulgaria)

2021-02-15 61 min

What are common misconceptions that foreigners have about the job application process in Germany? What makes a good CV? What are assessment centers? We try t...

The gender expatriation gap, trailing spouses, and the expat skill pool in Germany (Amaia from Spain)

2021-02-08 38 min

Amaia, originally from Spain but now living in Düsseldorf, Germany, started the Expats and Spouses Monitor with Dr. Carlos Morales. Their goal: it is a resea...

Cost of living in Germany in 2021 (Jen from Simple Germany)

2021-02-01 86 min

What are the standard costs of living you can expect in Germany? Do you really need so much insurance in Germany? And why pay the Rundfunkbeitrag if you don'...

SEGEPADFO charity challenge wrap-up, and when The Germany Experience will be back

2020-12-28 7 min

The SEGEPADFO charity challenge, where I went up against Nicole of The Expat Cast to see who could raise the most money for  a project by Über den Tellerrand...

Learning assertiveness from Germans, and growing to love a city (Jenna from Canada)

2020-12-14 42 min

Jenna is from Canada who is living in Düsseldorf. She is the creator of Life in Duesseldorf, has just started the Life in Germany YouTube channel. We discuss...

Coming to Germany during a pandemic (Cassie from Australia)

2020-12-07 36 min

Cassie from Australia wanted to continue her music studies in Germany, and her plans were already underway when the pandemic struck. It put her plans on hold...

Singing soul in Germany, and BLM from a distance (Alicia from the USA)

2020-11-30 47 min

Alicia is a soul and blues singer currently living in Germany. She moved from Texas, USA to Germany complete her studies just over a year ago. I discuss with...

Antoinette Emily from New Zealand

2020-11-23 43 min

You probably know Antoinette Emily from her YouTube channel. Originally from New Zealand, she moved to Germany to be with her then-boyfriend (now-husband) ov...

"Germany chose me" (Sneha from India)

2020-11-16 51 min

Sneha from India moved to Germany in 2011. A professional Indian classical dancer, she was expecting something similar to New York, where people knew about t...

Teenagers' perspective: Life in Germany & traveling with family (Anna & Alex from the USA)

2020-11-09 41 min

Back in May 2020, I had Linda of the Travelteening blog on the podcast to talk about moving to Germany and traveling around with teenagers. Now, I have the t...

Ask a German: Bureaucracy, German pillows, standing in line, and recruitment through fruit (Dominik, Jürgen & Philipp from Ach?)

2020-11-02 57 min

You sent in your questions, and I put them to Germans to get the answers. It's Ask A German time!The three German guests are the always funny and entertainin...

Learning about "Mittagsruhe", integrating through a "Kinderladen", and the impact of Brexit (Fiona from the UK)

2020-10-26 60 min

Fiona and her husband are opera singers from the UK who moved to Germany for work. I first met her when she appeared on the episode about Parkrun in Germany,...

Wurst/arsch/schwein idioms, why “Der/Die/Das” is weird, and sitting down to pee in Germany (Ricardo from Brazil & Ivan from Bulgaria)

2020-10-19 56 min

Ricardo from Brazil and Ivan from Bulgaria are the people behind the Can You German? Instagram account. They met by chance in Germany, where they became frie...

Things to know before learning German (Elysse from Elysse Speaks)

2020-10-12 40 min

Elysse is the host of Elysse Speaks, a YouTube channel about her experiences learning multiple languages (including sign language). One of the languages she ...

The attraction of Munich, the versatility of “Doch!”, and environmentalism in Germany (Sarah from Canada)

2020-10-05 54 min

Sarah from Canada came to Munich 4 years ago to get her Masters degree. At first the plan was to stay two years (which at the time she felt was too long). Bu...

German youth words of 2020 (Nina from Germany)

2020-09-28 36 min

Every year, the Langenscheidt publishing house searches for the youth word of that year. It's happening again, and Nina from Germany (who previously appeared...

Germany and climate change (Patrick Niedermayer from Germany)

2020-09-21 56 min

For foreigners living in Germany, you might be thinking that you live in a country that is doing a lot to combat global warming. After all, Germany signed th...

BONUS - Recent German history, and escaping East Berlin by pretending to be a swan (Emma from the USA)

2020-09-18 8 min

In this outtake from my interview with Emma from the USA, we discuss recent German history, and how to win freedom by pretending to be a swan.Follow Emma on ...

Emma dances here (Emma from the USA)

2020-09-14 35 min

Emma is a dancer who moved from New York City to Berlin. Even though Berlin is a big city, she still has to adjust to the slower pace of life here. She also ...

Everything changes all the time: finding your place in Germany (Shaked from Israel)

2020-09-07 50 min

Shaked moved from Tel Aviv, Israel, to Germany to take the next step in her dance career: a move to dance management or production. But does she want to leav...

RERUN: Living abroad teaches us the power of connections (Anna from Canada)

2020-09-01 48 min

Originally released on September 4th, 2019 (episode #14).Anna Noakes Schulze from Canada presented a TEDx talk called “Living Abroad Teaches Us the Power of ...

RERUN: Discussing German stereotypes with Nicole from The Expat Cast

2020-08-24 40 min

Originally released on October 20th, 2019 (episode #20).Are Germans really efficient? Do they like order? Are they as punctual as everyone says they are? Nic...

RERUN: Teaching English, Learning Languages, and Raising Bilingual Children in Germany (Lori from USA)

2020-08-17 34 min

Originally released on July 2nd, 2019 (episode #6).Lori from USA has been teaching English in Germany for almost 40 years, so it’s not surprising that she ha...

An update on my hospital visit, and audio logs from my hospital room

2020-08-12 14 min

I spent two nights in hospital recently, and during my stay, I recorded several audio logs about my experience. You can hear them in this bonus episode.Since...

German culture: The top 10 selling musical artists in Germany (Craig from Scotland)

2020-08-03 47 min

In order to better understand the music tastes of Germans, Craig from Scotland joins me to look at the top 10 selling musical artists in Germany. This includ...

African abroad (Tania from Kenya)

2020-07-27 46 min

Tania was born in Kenya and has lived in five different African countries. After a short time in Thailand, she’s landed up in Germany, and she feels like thi...

Sandals and socks, making friends with Germans, and "selfishly" staying in Germany (Amy from the USA)

2020-07-20 41 min

Amy always had a dream of living in Germany, and even happened to marry someone who felt the same way. So living here has kind of been a dream come true. And...

Just a diplomatic spouse (Alexandra from Romania)

2020-07-13 46 min

Being the spouse of a diplomat comes with a very specific lifestyle: you move around a lot, you don't stay in a country for long, and you never know where yo...

Singing schlager music in Germany, and misogyny in the music industry (Sarah Jane Scott from the USA)

2020-07-06 52 min

Sarah Jane Scott is an American who has had success as a Schlager singer in Germany. But how does an English-speaking "Ausländer" become a Schlager star?Sara...

A southern liberal in Germany, running a coffee shop, and casual German racism (Christy from the USA)

2020-06-29 42 min

Christy is a southern liberal who opened a coffee shop in Germany. Over a Pfälzer Weinschorle, she discusses how she tried to integrate herself the “right” w...

Trilingualism, switching between languages, and Italian words adopted by German (Carmen from Italy)

2020-06-22 52 min

Carmen is a trilingual Italian living in Munich, Germany. She speaks Italian, German and English fluently, and joins me to discuss her path to becoming trili...

The 5 phases of culture shock (Beth from the USA)

2020-06-15 44 min

Beth from the USA moved to Germany to be with her husband, and she found that her adjustment period resembled the 5 stages of culture shock very closely. We ...

Broken systems, turning points, and racism in Germany (Jessica from Germany)

2020-06-09 34 min

Jessica is a German African American who has lived in Germany since she was in kindergarten. She joins me for this episode to discuss the recent events that ...

One year anniversary live stream - recorded 29th May 2020

2020-05-30 33 min

Recorded from a Facebook live stream to celebrate one year of The Germany Experience podcast. I answer listener questions, list my top 5 highlights of having...

You go me on the cookie! (Dana Newman from Wanted Adventure)

2020-05-25 55 min

Dana Newman from the Wanted Adventure YouTube channel joins me to discuss her book, "You go me on the cookie!". The book (written in German) describes Dana's...

Seven months as an exchange student in Germany (Montana Showalter from the USA)

2020-05-18 38 min

Montana Showalter was an American high school student who went on an exchange program to Germany (called CBYX). At around the same time, she started a YouTub...

Learning German with apps, and working in the video games industry (Thomas from the UK)

2020-05-11 44 min

Thomas Cartwright is originally from the UK, and landed up in Hamburg working for a video games developer called InnoGames. He explains why a company like In...

Traveling with teenagers, and interrupted travel plans (Linda from the USA)

2020-05-04 37 min

Travelteening is a blog that gives travel advice for traveling with teens. The blogger behind it, Linda from the USA, joins me to discuss the value her famil...

German culture: The top 10 grossing German movies (Dominik from the Ach! podcast)

2020-04-28 37 min

A good way to explore Germany's culture is through its movies. And what better way to do that than to look at the German movies that have had the most succes...

Homebrewing beer (Greg & Brigida)

2020-04-23 12 min

The guest in the previous episode, Greg, is a homebrewing enthusiast, and he talks about his adventures and misadventures brewing beer. He also discusses his...

From USA to Germany, California style (Greg from USA and Brigida from Germany)

2020-04-21 45 min

When Greg and Brigida decided to move from California to Germany, they did it with just a small amount of money and two dogs. And they were met with adversit...

BONUS - Poetry in Berlin, feminism, and diversity (Deenara from Russia)

2020-04-13 17 min

Deenara from Russia appeared in episode 38, about mental health in Germany. However, her original interview with Berlin-based journalist Daria Sukharchuk als...

Some German idioms (Steph Fuccio from USA)

2020-04-06 36 min

Steph Fuccio, host of the Geopats podcast, is new to Germany and to the German language. So as a new learner, I thought it would be fun to throw some German ...

Dealing with depression in Germany (Deenara from Russia)

2020-03-30 44 min

How do you recognize that you are depressed? How do you seek out therapy and other help for depression in Germany? And what if you are from a culture that ha...

Being a TV anchor, online weirdos, and stereotypes about Russian women (Daria from Russia)

2020-03-23 39 min

Daria, originally from Moscow, Russia, is working as a freelance journalist in Germany. She helped me put an upcoming episode about mental health together, a...

Coronavirus and COVID-19 in Germany (with Nicole from The Expat Cast and Steph from Geopats)

2020-03-16 42 min

Since COVID-19 in Germany got "real" on Friday 13th March, I felt I had to discuss it. And who better than to discuss it with than two other podcasters: Nico...

Leaving Germany after a decade (Natalie from the UK)

2020-03-09 39 min

What is it that makes someone who has lived in Germany for over a decade decide that it's time to go back "home"? Natalie is originally from the UK, and is n...

Finding yourself in a second language: language and identity (Steph from Germany)

2020-03-02 41 min

Steph is from Bavaria, and moved to the UK when she was in her 20s before ending up in Austin, Texas. She learned to speak English at a native-speaker level,...

Moving after 40, sensationalist media, and loneliness in Germany (Klaus from Brazil)

2020-02-23 35 min

Klaus was born in Brazil before spending the first 12 years of his life in Germany. After returning to Brazil, he remained in touch with the German language ...

A German experiences the Ausländerbehörde (Nina from Germany)

2020-02-21 12 min

While recording the episode about Carnival in Germany, Nina told a story about the time she had to deal with the same office that foreigners know all too wel...

Carnival/Fasching in Germany: "pomp and splendor" (Nina from Germany)

2020-02-17 34 min

It's the middle of Carnival (also known as Fasching or Fastnacht, depending on where in Germany you are). I am not a big fan of it, and so I got a real live ...

A serial expat in Germany (Amy from Canada)

2020-02-09 43 min

Amy is the host of The Expat Experience podcast. She has landed up in Germany after spending time in Vietnam and China, and in our interview she discusses ho...

Motivated to adapt by painful social moments (Sindy from Hong Kong)

2020-02-02 40 min

(This is the podcast previously known as Expat Life Germany.In the first few years in Germany, things weren't always easy for Sindy from Hong Kong. As is the...

Announcement: Renaming the show to The Germany Experience from 1 February 2020

2020-01-27 3 min

The podcast will have a new name from 1 February 2020! Not much is going to change other than the name, so it'll still be the same show you subscribed to. He...

Classic German movies: Loriot's Pappa Ante Portas

2020-01-20 25 min

You can learn a lot about a culture by watching its movies, which is why I've decided to start watching some classic German movies. I'll discuss why the movi...

SOFA status, growing a thicker skin, and tracking a stolen phone with the Polizei (Audrey & Zach from USA)

2020-01-12 59 min

Audrey and Zach met while in the USA. When Zach, a cartographer, moved to Germany on a SOFA status (Status of Forces Agreement), they first attempted a long-...

Making German candy, learning German history, and growing up as a third culture kid in Bavaria (Travis J. Dow)

2020-01-05 62 min

Travis J. Dow is a host of the History of Germany podcast (and several other podcasts, too). Originally from Oregon, USA, he spent his formative years in Bav...

FEGEPADFO Charity Challenge - Final Wrap-Up

2020-01-03 2 min

Nicole from The Expat Cast and I went head-to-head in December 2019 to see who could raise the most donations for our chosen charities. Together we raised 35...

Missing holiday traditions from home, making new traditions, and fireworks on New Year's Eve

2019-12-23 23 min

For foreigners living in Germany, the holidays are a time that we recreate traditions from our home countries, adopt German traditions, and start new ones. I...

Unhappy in Germany (S from India)

2019-12-16 53 min

Donate to my cause in the expat podcasters charity challenge (aka #FEGEPADFO): Donate to Lebenshilfe Bad WindsheimGermany offers a lot of opportunities, but ...

The German Freelance Visa (James from LiveWorkGermany.com)

2019-12-08 36 min

Donate to my cause in the expat podcasters charity challenge (aka #FEGEPADFO): Donate to Lebenshilfe Bad WindsheimFor many people who are planning to come to...

How Germany changed us (Jibran from Pakistan)

2019-12-02 41 min

Jibran runs the Desi in Wonderland YouTube channel. He's originally from Pakistan and has been living in Germany for 5 years, so we decided to discuss how Ge...

A Berliner, a Hamburger, a Neapolitan, and a world citizen (Liliana from Italy)

2019-11-19 43 min

Liliana is from Naples, Italy, and has lived in Germany for 7 years. She recently got her citizenship, and discusses how that happened. We also cover her rea...

Being far from family when losing someone, making friends through team sports, and security in Germany (Rafael from Brazil)

2019-11-03 42 min

One of my best friends in Germany, Rafael from Brazil, experienced loss when his father passed away, and talks about how he coped dealing with that being far...

Discussing German stereotypes with Nicole from The Expat Cast

2019-10-20 42 min

Are Germans really efficient? Do they like order? Are they as punctual as everyone says they are? Nicole Palazzo, a US expat living in Germany and the host o...

Being an English-Speaking Writer in Germany, Bringing a Pet to Germany, and "The God Queen" (Mari from USA)

2019-10-12 37 min

Mari is a US expat living in Germany. She's also a writer and an avid pug fan. She discusses what it's like being an English-speaking writer in Germany, her ...

The "Why" Has to be Right (Vlad from Romania)

2019-10-06 38 min

Discuss this episode in the Expat Life Germany Facebook group! Vlad from Romania was tired of the political situation in Romania, and made the choice to move...

Article 116 (Michael from USA)

2019-09-29 31 min

Michael Silberman lives in the USA, but Germany is certainly intertwined with his life over there. His parents left Nazi Germany (and were stripped of their ...

parkrun Germany

2019-09-22 27 min

The parkrun concept is simple: you turn up on a Saturday morning and you walk, jog, or run 5km. The best thing? It's free. Since it started in 2004, it has b...

Defining "Expat"

2019-09-15 27 min

What exactly is an "expat"? Turns out this question is not as straight forward as Shaun used to think. He goes into some of the problems surrounding the term...

BONUS: Social Media and Expats, Charity Work as an Expat, and Friends Moving On

2019-09-11 13 min

In the last episode, Anna Noakes Schulze dropped so many insights about expat life that I had to edit some of it out. Since it'd be a shame for it to go to w...

Living Abroad Teaches Us the Power of Connections (Anna from Canada)

2019-09-04 50 min

Anna Noakes Schulze from Canada presented a TEDx talk called “Living Abroad Teaches Us the Power of Connections”, and in it she tells her own expat story to ...

Finding and Getting a Job In Germany

2019-08-27 73 min

For all the links mentioned in the episode (there are a few!), go to the Finding and Getting a Job in Germany blog post.I go through some of the ins and outs...

Through the Eyes of a Newly-Arrived Expat (Sarah From Syria, Canada, et al)

2019-08-12 38 min

I first interviewed Sarah back in July for a bonus episode, because she'd almost been caught by a scam. We had such a great discussion that I wanted to have ...

Tim From France - Not So Far From Home

2019-08-07 47 min

Tim Bourguignon is a French citizen who moved to Germany to be with his wife. He describes himself as coming in four flavors: Agile Coach, Chief Learning Off...

The E-Scooterpocalypse & Feeling Dumb in Germany

2019-07-30 17 min

There are a lot of people—expats and Germans alike—who are not pleased about the e-scooter situation in big cities since it became legal for them to share bi...

Natalie from Australia - From the Outback to Europe

2019-07-24 50 min

When learning a new language, it takes a long time before you're able to express yourself and articulate your thoughts, and so it's easy to feel like you're ...

Shannon from USA - Church Bells and Bicycles

2019-07-16 30 min

Meet Shannon from the USA, whose family were expats in Germany from 2009 until 2013. When they returned to the States, they realized their hearts were still ...

Arvi From India - Founding a Startup in Germany

2019-07-09 34 min

Arvi is from India and moved to Germany 5 years ago to complete his studies as an engineer. He did this, but instead of returning home, he moved to Berlin an...

Lori From USA - Teaching English, Learning Languages, and Raising Bilingual Children in Germany

2019-07-02 35 min

Lori from USA has been teaching English in Germany for almost 40 years, so it’s not surprising that she has a thing or two to say about learning new language...

BONUS: How Sarah Almost Got Scammed

2019-07-01 21 min

In episode 5, I discussed potential scams aimed at expats. Well, Sarah is a new expat in Berlin who very nearly got caught by an apartment scam. In this bonu...

Don't Get Scammed + IamExpat.de Round-Up With Abi

2019-06-26 22 min

Every month end, I'll take a look at some of the most interesting topics of the previous month. This time, Abi from IamExpat.de joins me with her pick of sto...

The Essential Book for New Expats in Germany

2019-06-18 41 min

Click here for the full show notesBuy the book on Amazon: From the Bürgeramt to the BedroomFrom the Bürgeramt to the Bedroom is a book aimed at new expats in...

Noor From Pakistan - Don't Forget Your 'Gungs

2019-06-11 41 min

Get the show notes on Expat Life Germany: Episode 3 Show NotesNoor has been in Germany on a student visa for around two and a half years. In this episode, he...

Dwight From Australia - Controlling the Transmission

2019-06-05 41 min

Dwight Steven-Boniecki is an Australian transmission controller, writer, and film maker living in Cologne, Germany. He explains how he ended up in Germany an...

My Expat Story

2019-05-28 18 min

In the first episode of the Expat Life Germany podcast, Shaun Behrens introduces himself and tells his own expat story. He also discusses the recent EU elect...

The Germany Experience Trailer

2019-05-19 1 min

The Germany Experience is a podcast about experiencing Germany through the eyes of outsiders - like immigrants, expats, tourists, and more. Here is a trailer...