Being Berlin: Recent Episodes
Mak Matan
In a heartfelt (and largely unedited) conversation, Avisar talks to Mak about the ramifications of the attacks on October 7th in his personal life as an Israeli living in Berlin. Antisemitism, Islamophobia, both sidesism, and the pain of feeling alone in a time you want to be supported are all on the table. Reach out to us on Instagram if there's any feedback you'd like to share. Being Berlin is created and produced by Avisar Lev and Mak Matan.
It's a new season of Being Berlin and we've got a whole new logo to go along with it. Our first guest is none other than Avisar, who is now also the co-host of the podcast. Avisar and I catch up and talk about his suddenly thriving love life...that sadly came with a cost. Follow Being Berlin at instagram.com/beingberlinpod.
Kim McArthur joins us to talk about the fascinating organization, Apolitical Foundation, which works to provide politicians the training they need to best represent their constituents.
Stuart Braun is a writer and Berlin resident who released his book, City of Exiles, in 2015. It's now been re-released and he joins us in the studio to talk about the inspiration for the book and why he believes Berlin is always a city in flux. You can find Stuart online at instagram.com/cityofexiles. Being Berlin is brought to you by Bands and hosted by Mak Matan. To learn more, visit bandsberlin.com. Follow Being Berlin at instagram.com/beingberlinpod. Created and produced by Avisar Lev and Mak Matan. Music by Omri Abramov.
As the Berlin bureau chief for The Guardian newspaper and an accomplished author and journalist, Philip Oltermann is no stranger to the city's complex and multifaceted history. In his latest book, The Stasi Poetry Circle, Philip dives deep into one particularly fascinating aspect of the city's past - a creative writing group that was made up of soldiers and members of the secret police during the Cold War. In this conversation, he shares some of the most intriguing details and stories from his book, shedding light on the lives and perspectives of the individuals who made up this unconventional group. Throughout our chat, we explore Berlin and the GDR's complex history, providing a fascinating look at a crucial period in the city's past.
We chatted with Australian born expat Chelsea about her experience navigating corporate life, and impact entrepreneurship as a woman of colour her in Berlin. Chelsea, the founder of SEED SPACE — a wellness community empowering inclusive healing practices for black, indigenous and women of colour — shares with us her observations on cultural appropriation and the cooption of ancient wellness practices in predominantly white spaces like Germany. Her work with SEED SPACE aims to cultivate more inclusive environments for ancestral healing, and supports women to disrupt and heal intergenerational cycles. You can find more on Instagram at instagram.com/SEED___SPACE. Being Berlin is brought to you by Bands and hosted by Mak Matan. To learn more, visit bandsberlin.com. Follow Being Berlin at instagram.com/beingberlinpod. Created and produced by Avisar Lev and Mak Matan. Music by Omri Abramov.
Camille S. is back in the studio and there have been a few shakeups in her life. She's newly single and back on the dating scene in Berlin, which many Berliners find to be an anxiety-inducing place. We talk about the end of her relationship and the start of this new single chapter in her life. You can find Camille on Instagram at instagram.com/camillejoon. Being Berlin is brought to you by Bands and hosted by Mak Matan. To learn more, visit bandsberlin.com. Follow Being Berlin at instagram.com/beingberlinpod. Created and produced by Avisar Lev and Mak Matan. Music by Omri Abramov.
After a year of changes, Mia Chowdhry has made the decision to leave Berlin for London. In this episode, we discuss what led up to the move and what Berlin has meant to her. We also talk about being a newlywed, being the only minority in Berlin spaces, and turning to comedy to deal with trauma. You can find Mia on Instagram at instgram.com/miachowdhry. Being Berlin is brought to you by Bands and hosted by Mak Matan. To learn more, visit bandsberlin.com. Follow Being Berlin at instagram.com/beingberlinpod. Created and produced by Avisar Lev and Mak Matan. Music by Omri Abramov.
As Black History Month draws to a close, we're happy to have Anthony Baggette join us for a discussion about the Black experience in Berlin. Anthony is a jazz poet and basketball coach who's lived in Berlin for over four decades. He's a wealth of knowledge when it comes to Black life in Germany and Europe, and he's fully committed to living unapologetically Black. In this conversation, we talk about his fight for Black liberation and his adventures (and misadventures) in the city. The discussion was long and educational, and sadly had to be shortened. Being Berlin is brought to you by Bands and hosted by Mak Matan. To learn more, visit bandsberlin.com. Follow Being Berlin at instagram.com/beingberlinpod. Created and produced by Avisar Lev and Mak Matan. Music by Omri Abramov.
Anne Chang didn't have to move to Berlin to become a DJ. She was already a successful one who booked regular gigs in New York City and beyond. What started out as a fun Berlin getaway unexpectedly turned into love — both for the city and for her soon-to-be German partner. The new relationship meant frequent trips across the Atlantic and the decision to settle in Berlin at some point in the near future. Anne joined us in the studio to talk about living between two cities, the U.S. vs Europe, and our culture’s tragic (and never ending) quest to become hotter and richer. You can find Anne at instagram.com/chopstixmami. Being Berlin is brought to you by Bands and hosted by Mak Matan. To learn more, visit bandsberlin.com. Follow Being Berlin at instagram.com/beingberlinpod. Created and produced by Avisar Lev and Mak Matan. Music by Omri Abramov.
Avisar Lev, the co-creator of Being Berlin, is this week's guest. Avisar is a human rights lawyer turned entrepreneur who founded Bands, a rock band program that brings hobbyist musicians together. Avisar has lived in Berlin for over a decade and this wide ranging conversation was a true delight for us. This is the chance for you to get to know the other half of Being Berlin. We talk about our ambivalence toward political street art, a new podcast milestone, and Avisar's journey to becoming a German citizen. Being Berlin is brought to you by Bands and hosted by Mak Matan. To learn more, visit bandsberlin.com. Follow Being Berlin at instagram.com/beingberlinpod. Created and produced by Avisar Lev and Mak Matan. Music by Omri Abramov.
Mariëtte Rissenbeek is a Dutch film producer and longtime resident (and lover) of Berlin. She's also the Executive Director of the Berlin International Film Festival, which is more commonly known as the Berlinale. Mariëtte is the first woman to ever hold the position and was appointed to it in 2019. The Covid-19 pandemic was a heavy cloud over the last two festivals and this year will hopefully usher in a return to "normalcy". Mariëtte speaks to us about her career, the world of German cinema, and the magic of running one of the world's most important film events. Being Berlin is brought to you by Bands and hosted by Mak Matan. To learn more, visit bandsberlin.com. Follow Being Berlin at instagram.com/beingberlinpod. Created and produced by Avisar Lev and Mak Matan. Music by Omri Abramov.
Valerie Renay is a French actress, musician, and DJ who's called Berlin home for many years. She's exceptionally thoughtful about her art and life, and is fearless when it comes to not closely following society's orders or fitting into the expectations of women. Before she went on to release her very first solo album in her 50s, Valerie was a member in Noblesse Oblige, an electronic duo who put out four albums together. You can find Valerie at instagram.com/val_renay. Being Berlin is brought to you by Bands and hosted by Mak Matan. To learn more, visit bandsberlin.com. Follow Being Berlin at instagram.com/beingberlinpod. Created and produced by Avisar Lev and Mak Matan. Music by Omri Abramov.
Marina Ekroos is our guest this week on Being Berlin. She's a photographer and co-founder of Frameright, a startup looking to bring a solution to the unpredictable nature of sharing images online. Marina grew increasingly frustrated with how difficult it was to properly display photos on the web and do so while telling an image's full story. She sits down with us to discuss the startup's story as well as her own path to becoming an entrepreneur. You can find marina at instagram.com/marinaekroos and learn more about Frameright at frameright.io. Being Berlin is brought to you by Bands and hosted by Mak Matan. To learn more, visit bandsberlin.com. Follow Being Berlin at instagram.com/beingberlinpod. Created and produced by Avisar Lev and Mak Matan. Music by Omri Abramov.
Camille joins us in the studio for this week's episode of Being Berlin. Camille is a Parisian who found her way to Berlin in 2021 after a long process of ruminating on a move to the city, abandoning the idea, and then taking the plunge after all. In this episode, we discuss the trials and tribulations of immigrating and just how hard it can be to make friends in the city. Being Berlin is brought to you by Bands and hosted by Mak Matan. To learn more, visit bandsberlin.com. Follow Being Berlin at instagram.com/beingberlinpod. Created and produced by Avisar Lev and Mak Matan. Music by Omri Abramov.
Yuval Halpern joins us in the studio for this week's episode of Being Berlin. Yuval is a composer and musical director at the Neukölln Oper. He's also the co-founder of Sistanagila, an Israeli-Iranian band that uses the power of music to bring together its members and inspire the public. Yuval and I discuss his musical journey, his inspirations, and what composing is all about. You can find Yuval on Instagram at instagram.com/uvivalamusica. You can also find his band at instagram.com/sistanagila. Being Berlin is brought to you by Bands and hosted by Mak Matan. To learn more, visit bandsberlin.com. Follow Being Berlin at instagram.com/beingberlinpod. Created and produced by Avisar Lev and Mak Matan. Music by Omri Abramov.
On this week's episode of Being Berlin, we're joined by Tobbi Björnsson, an actor and singer who's called Berlin home for 20 years. We have a conversation about the life of a new parent, why travel feels so overrated, and what exactly is going on with the heating in Mak's mom's house, to name a few things. Being Berlin is brought to you by Bands and hosted by Mak Matan. To learn more, visit bandsberlin.com. Follow Being Berlin at instagram.com/beingberlinpod. Created and produced by Avisar Lev and Mak Matan. Music by Omri Abramov.
James Cook joins us in the studio for this week's episode of Being Berlin. Growing up in Luton, England, James felt the weight of being in the shadow of London and was eager to make his mark in music. He was a founding member of Nemo, a band that would go on to become a cult fave with far reaching influence. James shares his story with us and discusses how everything fell into place when he decided to be the master of his own destiny. You can find James at jamescookmusic.com and instagram.com/jamescook.music. Being Berlin is brought to you by Bands and hosted by Mak Matan. To learn more, visit bandsberlin.com. Follow Being Berlin at instagram.com/beingberlinpod. Created and produced by Avisar Lev and Mak Matan. Music by Omri Abramov.
Asger Doenst, the co-founder of Photoautomat Berlin, joins us in the studio for a discussion about the origin story of Berlin's famous vintage photo booths. We also talk about the realities of dating in the digital age and the dreaded Berlin Winter. You can find Asger at instagram.com/asgerberlin. Being Berlin is brought to you by Bands and hosted by Mak Matan. To learn more, visit bandsberlin.com. Follow Being Berlin at instagram.com/beingberlinpod. Created and produced by Avisar Lev and Mak Matan. Music by Omri Abramov.
This week's episode features Leen Ekman, an artist and former tour guide from the UK. Leen is a treasure trove of knowledge when it comes to Berlin and its history and art scene. She and I discuss so much in this episode, such as how to contribute to the city, the evolution of the city, and the fear of saying the wrong thing. Leen is also a tattoo artist and can be found at instagram.com/leenorama. Being Berlin is brought to you by Bands and hosted by Mak Matan. To learn more, visit bandsberlin.com. Follow Being Berlin at instagram.com/beingberlinpod. Created and produced by Avisar Lev and Mak Matan. Music by Omri Abramov.
Will Mckinney-Raphelt sits down with for this week's episode of Being Berlin. Will made the move to Berlin from New York City in 2020 and works as a senior product manager for Sony Music Entertainment. He's also Black, queer, and more than ready to talk about the rigidity of the German music scene when it comes to real representation. We also touch on the Black immigrant experience in Berlin and why "expat" is a complicated term. You can find Will at instagram.com/willmatictheone. Being Berlin is brought to you by Bands and hosted by Mak Matan. To learn more, visit bandsberlin.com. Follow Being Berlin at instagram.com/beingberlinpod. Created and produced by Avisar Lev and Mak Matan. Music by Omri Abramov.
In this episode, we have a lovely conversation with John-H. Karsten, a TV writer and musician with a lot on his plate. We talk about the balancing act needed for his work and personal life, the changing landscape of German television, and what success means to him. You can find John at instagram.com/jonvanmono. Being Berlin is brought to you by Bands and hosted by Mak Matan. To learn more, visit bandsberlin.com. Follow Being Berlin at instagram.com/beingberlinpod. Created and produced by Avisar Lev and Mak Matan. Music by Omri Abramov.
Being Berlin's first guest is Luna Cavari, a jazz singer and activist from Iran. We discuss what it's like moving to Berlin and the struggles — and joys — such a huge life decision entails. We also talk about the current uprising and uncertainty in Iran sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini. You can find Luna at instagram.com/luna_cavari and Sistanagila at instagram.com/sistanagila. Being Berlin is brought to you by Bands and hosted by Mak Matan. To learn more, visit bandsberlin.com. Follow Being Berlin at instagram.com/@beingberlinpod. Created and produced by Avisar Lev and Mak Matan. Music by Omri Abramov.