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.

Antje von Dewitz has been at the helm of the Vaude company since 2009. She’s on a mission to make it Europe's most sustainable outdoor equipment brand. On Talking Germany the cultural/business studies graduate and mother-of-four explains why profits and sustainability to not have to me mutually exclusive, and how she manages to get home early twice a week despite her busy schedule. Antje von Dewitz was born in 1972, the second of third daughters to company founder Albrecht von Dewitz. She...

Antje von Dewitz has been at the helm of the Vaude company since 2009. She’s on a mission to make it Europe's most sustainable outdoor equipment brand. On Talking Germany the cultural/business studies graduate and mother-of-four explains why profits and sustainability to not have to me mutually exclusive, and how she manages to get home early twice a week despite her busy schedule. Antje von Dewitz was born in 1972, the second of third daughters to company founder Albrecht von Dewitz. She...

Sascha Lobo is a kind of classroom spokesman for the German blogosphere. Sascha Lobo was born in Berlin to a German mother and Argentian father. He is now 37, and is still studying social and business communications at the Berlin University of the Arts. In 2000 he founded an advertising agency specializing in web-based firms. His company was, however, among those to go broke after the dot.com bubble burst. Since then he has re-emerged as a freelance journalist and copywriter. He is also...

Sascha Lobo is a kind of classroom spokesman for the German blogosphere. Sascha Lobo was born in Berlin to a German mother and Argentian father. He is now 37, and is still studying social and business communications at the Berlin University of the Arts. In 2000 he founded an advertising agency specializing in web-based firms. His company was, however, among those to go broke after the dot.com bubble burst. Since then he has re-emerged as a freelance journalist and copywriter. He is also...

Johannes Ebert has served as secretary general of the Goethe Institute since March, 2011. He first started with the Goethe Institute in 1991 after completing his studies of political science and Islamic studies. He's been called a "pragmatic visionary", and on Talking Germany, he tells us about his plans for keeping interest in the German language alive and growing worldwide. Johannes Ebert was born in Ulm in 1963. His parents ran a chain of three drug stores. He grew up the eldest of three...

Johannes Ebert has served as secretary general of the Goethe Institute since March, 2011. He first started with the Goethe Institute in 1991 after completing his studies of political science and Islamic studies. He's been called a "pragmatic visionary", and on Talking Germany, he tells us about his plans for keeping interest in the German language alive and growing worldwide. Johannes Ebert was born in Ulm in 1963. His parents ran a chain of three drug stores. He grew up the eldest of three...

Dergin Tokmak caught polio as a very young boy. The disease could not slow him down forever, though. His crutches are an integral part of his acrobatic performances. Joining the Cirque du Soleil propelled him to global stardom. As he says himself: "I may not be able to walk, but I have at least learned to fly a bit". Dergin Tokmak hopes to inspire people and to show them that anyone can be creative - regardless of their physical limitations. Dergin was just 8 months old when his parents took...

Dergin Tokmak caught polio as a very young boy. The disease could not slow him down forever, though. His crutches are an integral part of his acrobatic performances. Joining the Cirque du Soleil propelled him to global stardom. As he says himself: "I may not be able to walk, but I have at least learned to fly a bit". Dergin Tokmak hopes to inspire people and to show them that anyone can be creative - regardless of their physical limitations. Dergin was just 8 months old when his parents took...

Writer Utz Claassen has a reputation for being a tough corporate reformer, but also an eloquent speaker and lateral thinker who defies categorization. On Talking Germany the former executive discusses his new book about uncomfortable truths in the business world, and explains why it’s good to swim against the current. We also talk to him about his political ambitions and the soccer industry. Utz Claassen was born in 1963 in Hanover. After skipping two grades and getting top marks in high...

Writer Utz Claassen has a reputation for being a tough corporate reformer, but also an eloquent speaker and lateral thinker who defies categorization. On Talking Germany the former executive discusses his new book about uncomfortable truths in the business world, and explains why it’s good to swim against the current. We also talk to him about his political ambitions and the soccer industry. Utz Claassen was born in 1963 in Hanover. After skipping two grades and getting top marks in high...

Matthias Politycki is often called the "world traveler” among German literati. Whether as a low-budget backpacker or as the on-board author of a luxury cruise line, his journeys have taken him far and wide. And they’ve brought him many unusual experiences, which he’s drawn upon in his works. His latest novel takes place in the Uzbek city of Samarkand. On this edition of Talking Germany, he speaks with us about faith, fanaticism and the finer things in life. Matthias Politycki recalls his...

Matthias Politycki is often called the "world traveler” among German literati. Whether as a low-budget backpacker or as the on-board author of a luxury cruise line, his journeys have taken him far and wide. And they’ve brought him many unusual experiences, which he’s drawn upon in his works. His latest novel takes place in the Uzbek city of Samarkand. On this edition of Talking Germany, he speaks with us about faith, fanaticism and the finer things in life. Matthias Politycki recalls his...

In his work and in his private life, Rolf Sachs moves between the provincial and the cosmopolitan with ease. As the son of legendary bon vivant Gunter Sachs, he's always felt at home on the wider stage. More recently, though, he embarked on an artistic exploration of German mentality and culture. On this edition of Talking Germany, he speaks with us about identity, ideals and idyllic fantasies. Artist and designer Rolf Sachs is the son of a German father and a French mother. He grew up in...

In his work and in his private life, Rolf Sachs moves between the provincial and the cosmopolitan with ease. As the son of legendary bon vivant Gunter Sachs, he's always felt at home on the wider stage. More recently, though, he embarked on an artistic exploration of German mentality and culture. On this edition of Talking Germany, he speaks with us about identity, ideals and idyllic fantasies. Artist and designer Rolf Sachs is the son of a German father and a French mother. He grew up in...

Curiosity is a car-sized robotic rover exploring Mars as part of NASA's Mars Science Laboratory mission. Also part of the mission is German radiation expert Günther Reitz. On Talking Germany, he talks about the challenges of outer space. 64-year-old Günther Reitz is an expert on cosmic rays. After working on NASA'sApollo program, he joined the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Cologne in 1975 and still runs its Radiation Biology Unit. His latest project is NASA's Mars rover, Curiosity. A...

Curiosity is a car-sized robotic rover exploring Mars as part of NASA's Mars Science Laboratory mission. Also part of the mission is German radiation expert Günther Reitz. On Talking Germany, he talks about the challenges of outer space. 64-year-old Günther Reitz is an expert on cosmic rays. After working on NASA'sApollo program, he joined the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Cologne in 1975 and still runs its Radiation Biology Unit. His latest project is NASA's Mars rover, Curiosity. A...

Internet activists Anke and Daniel Domscheit-Berg campaign for greater social and political transparency and against state surveillance. The couple come from very different backgrounds and are now both members of the Pirate Party. She's a former manager and he's the former spokesman of Wikileaks and co-founder of openleaks. Anke and Daniel Domscheit-Berg are this week's guests on Talking Germany. Born in 1968 in Premnitz in communist East Germany, Anke Domscheit-Berg grew up in a...

Internet activists Anke and Daniel Domscheit-Berg campaign for greater social and political transparency and against state surveillance. The couple come from very different backgrounds and are now both members of the Pirate Party. She's a former manager and he's the former spokesman of Wikileaks and co-founder of openleaks. Anke and Daniel Domscheit-Berg are this week's guests on Talking Germany. Born in 1968 in Premnitz in communist East Germany, Anke Domscheit-Berg grew up in a...

It is sometimes said only believe in statistics that you have doctored yourself. That's a motto that Walter Krämer, Professor for economic and social statistics, would certainly sign up to as well. Another one of his hobby horses is making sure that the German language doesn't become irrecognizable through too many anglicisms. Krämer is also a passionate fan of Bundesliga soccer club Dortmund, so there's no shortage of things to discuss on Talking Germany. Walter Krämer can use figures to...

It is sometimes said only believe in statistics that you have doctored yourself. That's a motto that Walter Krämer, Professor for economic and social statistics, would certainly sign up to as well. Another one of his hobby horses is making sure that the German language doesn't become irrecognizable through too many anglicisms. Krämer is also a passionate fan of Bundesliga soccer club Dortmund, so there's no shortage of things to discuss on Talking Germany. Walter Krämer can use figures to...

Manfred Spitzer is one of the best-known brain researchers in Germany. His recent book "Digital Dementia" unleashed a heated debate about the adverse effects of Internet use. On ‘Talking Germany’ Manfred Spitzer discusses why too much screen time is dumbing down society; why he doesn’t watch TV and why it’s worth keeping the brain active as we get older. Manfred Spitzer was born in Darmstadt in 1958. He studied medicine, philosophy and psychology in Freiburg, paying his way by performing as...

Manfred Spitzer is one of the best-known brain researchers in Germany. His recent book "Digital Dementia" unleashed a heated debate about the adverse effects of Internet use. On ‘Talking Germany’ Manfred Spitzer discusses why too much screen time is dumbing down society; why he doesn’t watch TV and why it’s worth keeping the brain active as we get older. Manfred Spitzer was born in Darmstadt in 1958. He studied medicine, philosophy and psychology in Freiburg, paying his way by performing as...

Christiane zu Salm has already managed many media enterprises. Her career took her from music broadcaster MTV Central Europe to the board of Hubert Burda Media. In 2008, she withdrew from the media business and trained as a palliative care provider. She has written a book about her experiences that has attracted a lot of attention. She talks about it on Talking Germany. For a long time, Christiane zu Salm was considered a high-flyer in the German media sector. She was a successful and...

Christiane zu Salm has already managed many media enterprises. Her career took her from music broadcaster MTV Central Europe to the board of Hubert Burda Media. In 2008, she withdrew from the media business and trained as a palliative care provider. She has written a book about her experiences that has attracted a lot of attention. She talks about it on Talking Germany. For a long time, Christiane zu Salm was considered a high-flyer in the German media sector. She was a successful and...