Claus Hipp is a familiar face in Germany, not least because he personally appears in the commercials for his baby food company. On Talking Germany he'll be talking about jars of cereal, organic farming and good manners. Claus Hipp took over the company founded by his father Georg in 1932 at a young age. His father died when he was 29 and he and his brothers Georg and Paulus took the helm. With a law degree under his belt as well as an apprenticeship with the painter Heinrich Kroop, Claus...

Claus Hipp is a familiar face in Germany, not least because he personally appears in the commercials for his baby food company. On Talking Germany he'll be talking about jars of cereal, organic farming and good manners. Claus Hipp took over the company founded by his father Georg in 1932 at a young age. His father died when he was 29 and he and his brothers Georg and Paulus took the helm. With a law degree under his belt as well as an apprenticeship with the painter Heinrich Kroop, Claus...

Alexandra Kalle discovered her olfactory talent in her late twenties and gave up her career as a marketing expert. Today she works for a fragrance company that makes the world famous brand 4711 Original Eau de Cologne. On Talking Germany, Alexandra Kalle speaks about her sensory relationship to her work. Alexandra Kalle was born in 1970 in Paderborn. After graduating from high school, she studied languages and business administration. At a job interview in the marketing department of a...

Alexandra Kalle discovered her olfactory talent in her late twenties and gave up her career as a marketing expert. Today she works for a fragrance company that makes the world famous brand 4711 Original Eau de Cologne. On Talking Germany, Alexandra Kalle speaks about her sensory relationship to her work. Alexandra Kalle was born in 1970 in Paderborn. After graduating from high school, she studied languages and business administration. At a job interview in the marketing department of a...

Amir Kabbani is one of Germany's best dirt bikers. On hazardous circuits he jumps over earth mounds and other obstacles on his mountain bike, and catapults down steep slopes and ramps. Amir Kabbani is 24 and grew up in Boppard on the Rhine. He practices in the forests around the wine-growing town. On Talking Germany he talks about renown and risks in his extreme sport. Amir Kabbani, whose mother is German and father Syrian, discovered mountain biking when he was 13. Just four years later he...

Amir Kabbani is one of Germany's best dirt bikers. On hazardous circuits he jumps over earth mounds and other obstacles on his mountain bike, and catapults down steep slopes and ramps. Amir Kabbani is 24 and grew up in Boppard on the Rhine. He practices in the forests around the wine-growing town. On Talking Germany he talks about renown and risks in his extreme sport. Amir Kabbani, whose mother is German and father Syrian, discovered mountain biking when he was 13. Just four years later he...

Constanze Kurz is spokesperson for the Chaos Computer Club. On Talking Germany, the IT expert discusses how robotics are changing our lives and why she encrypts all her digital communication. Constanze Kurz was born in East Berlin in 1974. Her interest in technology was sparked by her father's work as an engineer and the education she acquired at vocational college. With relatives who worked in the church, her family was also of interest to the dreaded secret police. After finishing...

Constanze Kurz is spokesperson for the Chaos Computer Club. On Talking Germany, the IT expert discusses how robotics are changing our lives and why she encrypts all her digital communication. Constanze Kurz was born in East Berlin in 1974. Her interest in technology was sparked by her father's work as an engineer and the education she acquired at vocational college. With relatives who worked in the church, her family was also of interest to the dreaded secret police. After finishing...

Walter Möbius spent decades as head doctor at the Johanniter Hospital in Bonn. One of his patients was former Chancellor Helmut Kohl, who became a good friend. Now 77, he's retired but still a keen photographer. On Talking Germany, he talks about the lessons he learned from his years in the medical profession. Born in Bonn in 1937, Walter Möbius studied medicine and traveled the world as an ameteur photographer and rock climber. From 1978 to 2002, during most of which time Bonn served as the...

Walter Möbius spent decades as head doctor at the Johanniter Hospital in Bonn. One of his patients was former Chancellor Helmut Kohl, who became a good friend. Now 77, he's retired but still a keen photographer. On Talking Germany, he talks about the lessons he learned from his years in the medical profession. Born in Bonn in 1937, Walter Möbius studied medicine and traveled the world as an ameteur photographer and rock climber. From 1978 to 2002, during most of which time Bonn served as the...

Johannes Kneifel was a neo-Nazi who was convicted of assault and battery resulting in death. Now, 32 Kneifel says he found God when he was in prison. Today, he has become a pastor and say that everyone deserves a second chance. Join "Talking Germany," for when Kneifel relates the events that caused his conversion from a batterer to a Baptist Minister. Johannes Kneifel was born on July 6, 1982 in the central German town of Celle and grew up in Eschede in Lower Saxony. His father was nearly...

Johannes Kneifel was a neo-Nazi who was convicted of assault and battery resulting in death. Now, 32 Kneifel says he found God when he was in prison. Today, he has become a pastor and say that everyone deserves a second chance. Join "Talking Germany," for when Kneifel relates the events that caused his conversion from a batterer to a Baptist Minister. Johannes Kneifel was born on July 6, 1982 in the central German town of Celle and grew up in Eschede in Lower Saxony. His father was nearly...

As a journalist Carolin Emcke pushes things to the limit. She often trades in her usual blazer for a bullet-proof vest to report from war zones and crisis areas the world over. She also writes about existential questions in her reports, books and essays. On Talking Germany, we speak to Carolin Emcke about life and death, tolerance and teamwork. Carolin Emcke likes being a witness, observing with out fear and an analytical mind. For 14 years now, she has been travelling to parts of the world...

As a journalist Carolin Emcke pushes things to the limit. She often trades in her usual blazer for a bullet-proof vest to report from war zones and crisis areas the world over. She also writes about existential questions in her reports, books and essays. On Talking Germany, we speak to Carolin Emcke about life and death, tolerance and teamwork. Carolin Emcke likes being a witness, observing with out fear and an analytical mind. For 14 years now, she has been travelling to parts of the world...

Jens Weidner is familiar with aggressive behavior. As a criminologist, he was a therapist to violent adolescents; as a career coach, he advises people who are too nice at work. On “Talking Germany,” Jens Weidner talks about rage, recidivists and rambling on mud flats. Jens Weidner is Professor for Educational Science and Criminology at the Hamburg School for Applied Sciences, where he has lived and worked since 1995. He's occupied himself with the question of how to harness aggression for...

Jens Weidner is familiar with aggressive behavior. As a criminologist, he was a therapist to violent adolescents; as a career coach, he advises people who are too nice at work. On “Talking Germany,” Jens Weidner talks about rage, recidivists and rambling on mud flats. Jens Weidner is Professor for Educational Science and Criminology at the Hamburg School for Applied Sciences, where he has lived and worked since 1995. He's occupied himself with the question of how to harness aggression for...

Angelika Taschen and her former husband produced books for millions at Taschen art books publishers. In fact, originally she wanted to become a ballerina. On Talking Germany, the art historian talks about why she felt the need to found a new publishing company after separating from her husband, despite a crisis in publishing. She also tells us what makes Berlin style distinctive. According to her own information, Angelika Taschen was conceived in a book shop. She was born in 1959 in the...

Angelika Taschen and her former husband produced books for millions at Taschen art books publishers. In fact, originally she wanted to become a ballerina. On Talking Germany, the art historian talks about why she felt the need to found a new publishing company after separating from her husband, despite a crisis in publishing. She also tells us what makes Berlin style distinctive. According to her own information, Angelika Taschen was conceived in a book shop. She was born in 1959 in the...

Martin Hoffmann has been general manager of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra since 2010. Before that, the fifty-four-year-old was managing director at the commercial broadcaster Sat.1 and CEO of a television production company. On "Talking Germany,” we chat with former lawyer Martin Hoffmann about the watersheds in his life; why classical music isn’t right for commercial television; and how he’s getting young audiences interested in the Philharmonic. Martin Hoffmann was born in 1959 in...

Martin Hoffmann has been general manager of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra since 2010. Before that, the fifty-four-year-old was managing director at the commercial broadcaster Sat.1 and CEO of a television production company. On "Talking Germany,” we chat with former lawyer Martin Hoffmann about the watersheds in his life; why classical music isn’t right for commercial television; and how he’s getting young audiences interested in the Philharmonic. Martin Hoffmann was born in 1959 in...

16 years ago, Katja de Bragança founded "Ohrenkuss," a magazine made entirely by people with Down's syndrome. For that, the 55-year-old biologist was awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. On Talking Germany, Katja de Bragança speaks about her German-Indian roots, her youth in Goa, and the writing styles of people with Down's syndrome. The idea for the magazine "Ohrenkuss," which translates literally as "Ear Kiss," came to Katja de Bragança at a conference. There a...

16 years ago, Katja de Bragança founded "Ohrenkuss," a magazine made entirely by people with Down's syndrome. For that, the 55-year-old biologist was awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. On Talking Germany, Katja de Bragança speaks about her German-Indian roots, her youth in Goa, and the writing styles of people with Down's syndrome. The idea for the magazine "Ohrenkuss," which translates literally as "Ear Kiss," came to Katja de Bragança at a conference. There a...

Dieter Overath founded the non-profit organization TransFair in 1992. The organization supports fair trade with developing counties and awards the Fair Trade seal in Germany. The organization's founder says Germany is still a developing country when it comes to fair trade. On Talking Germany, Dieter Overath talks about his ideas on how to get Germans to abandon their "greed is good" mentalility. Dieter Overath was born in Cologne in 1954. His father was a postman. After leaving school he...

Dieter Overath founded the non-profit organization TransFair in 1992. The organization supports fair trade with developing counties and awards the Fair Trade seal in Germany. The organization's founder says Germany is still a developing country when it comes to fair trade. On Talking Germany, Dieter Overath talks about his ideas on how to get Germans to abandon their "greed is good" mentalility. Dieter Overath was born in Cologne in 1954. His father was a postman. After leaving school he...

Nico Hofmann ranks among Germany’s most successful film producers, and is known for his obsession with German history. His production company, teamworx, has produced more than 300 films to date. Born in the southwestern city of Heidelberg, Hofman’s elaborate television series have been broadcast in countries all over the world. In Talking Germany, Nico Hofmann speaks with us about his fascination with German history.