Join The Local with our podcast listener offer In this episode of the Germany in Focus podcast, host Rachel Loxton is joined by panelists Imogen Goodman and Aaron Burnett. Our sound engineer is Rhys Edwards. We talk about what to expect from energy costs this winter in Germany and what’s happening with inflation.  What will happen to gas and electricity prices this winter in Germany?How high will heating bills be this winter in Germany?What has caused inflation in Germany to slow to 3.8...

Join The Local with our podcast listener offer In this episode, host Rachel Loxton is joined by The Local Germany journalists Imogen Goodman and Aaron Burnett. Our sound engineer is Rhys Edwards. We hear some analysis from political commentator Brian Melican on the state elections in Hesse and Bavaria.  'Disastrous results': Germany in shock after state electionsWhy did the AfD do so well in Bavaria and Hesse?We hear from Berlin-based immigration lawyer Sven Hasse who talks about what we can...

Join The Local with our podcast listener offer In this episode, host Rachel Loxton is joined by The Local Germany journalists Imogen Goodman and Aaron Burnett. Our sound engineer is Rhys Edwards. We talk about the funding row threatening the future of the €49 transport ticket. Why the future of Germany's €49 ticket is up in the airWhat are the rules of Berlin's new €29 travel pass?With the Bavarian state elections coming up on October 8th, we profile the southern state and explain the...

Join The Local with our podcast listener offer In this episode, host Rachel Loxton is joined by The Local Germany journalists Rachel Stern and Sarah Magill. Our sound engineer is Rhys Edwards. We start by talking about our highlights from the first year of Germany in Focus. We launched the podcast one year ago. Thank you to all our listeners who have joined us on this journey! We get into how German politicians are trying to solve the issue of a lack of affordable housing to buy and...

JOIN THE LOCAL: Podcast listener offer In the latest episode of our Germany in Focus podcast, host Rachel Loxton is joined by panelists Rachel Stern and Imogen Goodman. Our sound engineer is Rhys Edwards. We start off by talking about a new night train service between Berlin and Paris and some more train news.  Berlin-Paris night train to return after nine years The best night trains running through GermanyWhat to know about the new planned cross-border rail services between Germany and...

JOIN THE LOCAL: Podcast listener offer On the latest episode of our Germany in Focus podcast, host Rachel Loxton is joined by panelists Rachel Stern and Sarah Magill. Our sound engineer is Rhys Edwards. We start off by taking about a new service for registering your car online in Germany, and Sarah tells us why it's a bureaucratic nightmare. How using Germany's new car online registration service turned into a bureaucratic nightmareHow to register your car in Germany online from September...

You can sign up to become a member of The Local Germany here. In the first epsiode of the new season of our Germany in Focus podcast, host Rachel Loxton is joined by panelists Imogen Goodman and Aaron Burnett. Our sound engineer is Rhys Edwards. We start off by recapping on the weirdest story of the summer involving escaped wildlife in Berlin.  How did a wild boar sighting in Berlin turn into a two-day lion hunt?We talk about the developments on immigration and citizenship laws. German...

In the last episode of the season of our Germany in Focus podcast, host Rachel Loxton is joined by panelists Rachel Stern and Aaron Burnett. Our sound engineer is Rhys Edwards. We start off by having a chat about German summer traditions. Your tips for making the most of German lakesWe then discuss a few changes happening in July in Germany that you should get familiar with, as well as give an overview of where the dual citizenship and immigration reforms are at. Everything that changes in...

In the latest episode of our Germany in Focus podcast, host Rachel Loxton is joined by panelists Imogen Goodman and Rachel Stern. Our sound engineer is Rhys Edwards. We talk about Germany's plans to bring back getting sick notes over the phone from the doctor, plus we get into the culture of taking time off when you're ill.  Germany looks to bring back sick notes by telephoneWhat we could all learn from the German attitude to sicknessWith the immigration reform being voted on by MPs in the...

In the latest episode of our Germany in Focus podcast, host Rachel Loxton is joined by panelists Imogen Goodman and Aaron Burnett. Our sound engineer is Rhys Edwards. We talk about a NATO drill happening in Germany and how it will affect people.  What you need to know about NATO's German-led defence drillCould a NATO air defence drill spell chaos for travellers in Germany this summer?We get into why Germany's Health Minister is putting together a heatwave plan and how the climate crisis is...

In the latest episode of our Germany in Focus podcast, host Rachel Loxton is joined by panelists Sarah Magill andAaron Burnett. Our sound engineer is Rhys Edwards. This week we talk about allegations of sexual misconduct involving the band Rammstein.  German band Rammstein hit by sex abuse scandalWho are Rammstein and why are they so big in Germany?Pride month has started so we talk about the history of LGBTQ rights in Germany and where to celebrate CSD. From persecution to pride: The history...

In the latest episode of our Germany in Focus podcast, host Rachel Loxton is joined by panelists Rachel Sternand Imogen Goodman. Our sound engineer is Rhys Edwards. This week we talk about the German love of visiting lakes in summer.  Living in Germany: Making the most of culture and lake lifeWe discuss a new European night train service that’s just launched. How travelling by train between Berlin and the UK has got easierThe number of German citizenship applications has increased...

In the latest episode of our Germany in Focus podcast, host Rachel Loxton is joined by panelists Aaron Burnett and Imogen Goodman. Our sound engineer is Rhys Edwards. We discuss: A culture pass birthday present for 18-year-olds in Germany. What to know about Germany's youth culture passThe thorny nature of neighbour disputes and why smoking on your balcony could land you in court in Germany's (or in someone's bad books). Can you get in trouble for smoking on your balcony in Germany? The...

In the latest episode of our Germany in Focus podcast, host Rachel Loxton is joined by panelists Aaron Burnett and Rachel Stern. Our sound engineer is Rhys Edwards. We discuss|: Hot weather coming up, public holidays and why June is a great month in Germany. Summer to arrive early in Germany with temperatures up to 30CWhat's going on with German transport strikes? Deutsche Bahn to resume talks with Germany's largest rail unionCould Deutsche Bahn still see more rail disruption after cancelled...

In this episode host Rachel Loxton is joined by The Local Germany journalists Imogen Goodman and Aaron Burnett. Our sound engineer is Rhys Edwards. We start off by talking about supermarkets in Bavaria embracing small talk to help combat loneliness.   German supermarkets fight loneliness with slower checkouts for chattingWe break down the details about Germany’s planned cannabis clubs and what people will be allowed to do and not do.  How Germany's future cannabis clubs could workWith the...

In the first episode of our latest season, host Rachel Loxton is joined by The Local Germany journalists Imogen Goodman and Aaron Burnett. Our sound engineer is Rhys Edwards. We start off by having a chat about a court case involving a company in Frankfurt who tried to get a rent reduction because they were bothered by their landlord sunbathing naked. Naked landlord not a reason for rent reduction, court rules How to get a rent reduction for problems in your German flat We talk about...

In the latest episode, host Rachel Loxton is joined by The Local Germany journalists Imogen Goodman and Rachel Stern. Our sound engineer is Rhys Edwards. We start off by having a chat about the German government's new watered-down cannabis legalisation plan. Since we recorded the podcast, more details have emerged which you can find in this story: What you need to know about Germany's plans to legalise cannabisWe talk about Germany's exit from nuclear power and the history behind it. How...

Become a member of The Local In the second part of our episode on immigration law reforms, host Rachel Loxton talks to Jan Dannenbring, the head of the department of labour law at the German Confederation for Skilled Crafts, and Green member of the Bundestag, Misbah Khan, who is a rapporteur on the law changes.  Our guests discuss the skilled worker shortage, how Germany could attract more talent from abroad and when the law changes could come into force.  Our sound engineer is Rhys...

In the latest episode, host Rachel Loxton is joined by The Local Germany journalists Imogen Goodman and Aaron Burnett. We start off by talking about some German Easter traditions, from egg painting to bonfires.  How to celebrate Easter 2023 in GermanyWe talk about the possibility of strikes over the long weekend, other disruption to travel and what we can expect after Easter from strikes Everything you need to know about Easter weekend travel in GermanyWhat are the chances of unlimited...

In the latest episode, host Rachel Loxton is joined by The Local Germany journalists Sarah Magill and Aaron Burnett. We start off by talking about some important changes happening in Germany in April, including updates on the €49 ticket and why people will likely see more money leftover in their wage slip after tax. The German tax changes coming into effect in AprilEverything that changes in Germany in April 2023With Britain's King Charles III making his first foreign visit as monarch to...

In the latest episode, host Rachel Loxton is joined by The Local Germany journalists Rachel Stern and Aaron Burnett. We start off by discussing what a 'megastrike' in Germany could look like. Since we recorded the podcast, unions have announced a nationwide transport strike on Monday March 27th.  German unions call major nationwide major transport strike on MondayWe also talk about whether people can get a paid day off if they can't get to work or find childcare due to industrial...

In the latest episode, host Rachel Loxton is joined by The Local Germany journalists Imogen Goodman and Aaron Burnett. We start off by talking about gun laws in Germany after a shooting in Hamburg.  German minister wants crackdown on gun laws after shootingWe talk about why anyone - regardless of their gender - can now swim topless in Berlin's swimming pools, and we get into German nudity culture.  The laws around going topless in GermanyWith the German citizenship reform set to be debated in...

In the latest episode, host Rachel Loxton is joined by The Local Germany journalists Imogen Goodman and Aaron Burnett. We start off by talking about some key changes to know about this month in Germany, from youth travel tickets and train track upgrades to energy price caps. Everything that changes in Germany in 2023Then we have a little chat about Germany's mild winter weather, and what it all means.  Current winter in Germany '2.7C too warm'With more strikes planned across the country, we...

In the latest episode, host Rachel Loxton is joined by The Local Germany editor Rachel Stern and journalist Sarah Magill as well as political analyst Jessica Berlin. We start by talking about how Germany celebrated carnival this year and the significance of the culture across different regions.  Politics takes centre stage in Rosenmontag parades throughout GermanyWe move onto a story about the increasing number of people taking driving tests in Germany - and the proportion of people who fail....

In the latest episode, host Rachel Loxton is joined by The Local Germany editor Rachel Stern and journalist Aaron Burnett, as well as jobs expert Chris Pyak and dating and relationships expert Sami Wunder.  We kick things off by talking about the strikes hitting Germany and how they are affecting daily life, whether travel, post or childcare.  What travellers need to know about the German airport strikes on Friday Next we talk about the significance of the Currywurst as well as how much...