Hier & There. The podcast of the Germanic-American Institute (GAI Podcast)

There is no easy way to "exit stage left", alas, we must.  Somewhat surprisingly, this is the final episode of the GAI's Podcast "Hier & There". First and foremost, I want to thank you, each individual listener, for coming along on the journey! Also, over the years, we've had the privilege to introduce numerous personalities and guests, and while my gratitude goes out to all who came onto the show as interviewees, I (Günther) want to, particularly, thank:  From the original trio, the grand dames: Claudia - the former Director of Language Services, for allowing my pitch for a podcast to come to life. Katrin - the GAI's (former) interim Director of Language Services, and our Podcast grammar guru. From the second trio, two spectacular ladies: Erin - our former Director of Communications, with personal insights and connections to guests we could have only dreamed of in years past. Audra - the former GAI's Communications Coordinator & research guru, for enhancing every episode. Ladies, it's been a privilege to work with you! Lastly, as the "host", I (Günther) want to thank you for staying with us for just shy of 100 episodes. Maybe there'll be a self-funded continuation under a different name, I am not sure yet. Please feel free to reach out to me: mjahnl@gmail.com, and I am looking forward to seeing you at Deutsche Tage or the St. Paul Oktoberfest. Until then,  Tschüs

In this episode, we are welcoming 4 students of the University of St. Thomas; revisiting the impressions, memories, and take-away from their project "Welcome to Amerika" - conversations with German Elders.

In this episode, Gunther provides a short summary of the most recent news headlines involving Germany's and Austria's responses to the invasion of Ukraine. In part two of this episode, the trio is back! Erin, Audra, and Günther answer your questions of "Favorite things". 

The Russian invasion of Ukraine rages on. We are in week 3 of a war between Goliath and David. In US media, most of the focus is on Russia and Ukraine and the position of the United States. Only some references may be found regarding the actions and involvement of the D-A-CH regions. We are providing a snapshot summary of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. --- In part 2, we are welcoming Jeana Anderson, Executive Director of the GAI. The "trio" cruises through some personal stories of learning German, grammar concepts, and more! Enjoy!

In this episode, we are tabling "This fortnight in history", summarizing the similarities of contemporary Russian and WWII German propaganda. The leading article for this episode came from the Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2022/02/24/hitler-czechoslovakia-sudeten-putin-ukraine/ Fact-checking links:  https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/02/23/fact-checking-putins-speech-ukraine/ https://www.dw.com/en/fact-check-do-vladimir-putins-justifications-for-going-to-war-against-ukraine-add-up/a-60917168 ------------------- In part 2 of this episode, we are "interviewing each other" through a round of Q&A. You'll get some personal stories and tips, tricks, and suggestions for places to visit and foods to enjoy.  ---

In this episode, Audra & Gunther take you on a journey through history, touching on the Holocaust and Mozart, among other significant events. For the interview, we're welcoming the GAI's Assistant Director of the Kinderstube, Emily. She's sharing with us how the Kinderstube faired during the pandemic and shares some incredible tips for parents who are spending a lot of time at home with their children these days. As always, we invite you to share your thoughts and feedback with us at podcast@gaimn.org  Enjoy this episode, The GAI Team

In this episode, Audra and Gunther introduce you to our new "format".  First, we're diving into the "fortnight of history". Then we'll welcome our resident political scientist, Katrin, to give us a bit more insight into the mechanics of the newly formed German government. ---- This fortnight in history: Birth of Walther Bothe (1891-1957) in Oranienburg, Germany. Bothe was a physics professor at the universities of Berlin, Giessen, and Heidelberg. He and Hans Geiger established the particle nature of electromagnetic radiation. He discovered the strange radiation given off by beryllium, which was later identified as neutron radiation. During WWII, he built Germany’s first cyclotron in 1943. In 1954 while a professor at the University of Heidelberg, he won the Nobel Prize for Physics for the development of a method of detecting subatomic particles. Death of Caroline Lucretia Herschel (1750-1848) in Hannover, Germany. Herschel was the sister of the astronomer Sir William Herschel. Some years after William had emigrated to England, he sent for her. Her early assignment was to keep house and to grind and polish mirrors for her brother. She soon began, however, to do much of the mathematical calculation of her brother’s work. After she had begun to do her own telescopic observations, she discovered three nebulae and eight comets. In 1798, she completed a catalog of 560 stars missing in the British Catalog. By 1822 she had completed a catalog of 2,500 nebulae and star clusters. She was given a gold medal by the British Astronomical Society. After her brother’s death, she returned to Germany and continued her work there. January 12, 1993 A German court in Berlin drops charges against Erich Honecker (related to shootings at the German-German border) with the justification that he was 80 years old and terminally ill. January 13, 1994 Erich Honecker leaves Germany for Chile. Honecker had been the leader of East Germany. After the reunification, there was the possibility of trying him for crimes against humanity, but due to his cancer, he was allowed to leave Germany. January 16, 1917 The German minister, Arthur Zimmermann, sends a telegram through the German ambassador in Washington to the German ambassador in Mexico, offering Mexico an alliance against the United States. He proposes that Mexico will be assisted in retaking Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. The telegram is intercepted and decoded by British intelligence and given to President Woodrow Wilson. The telegram becomes instrumental in forming American public opinion against Germany and for entering the war, as Wilson gives it to the press in March. (America will enter the war five weeks later.) --- German Politics; a conversation with Katrin.

Welcome to the first episode of 2022! In this episode, we welcome Dr. Kirsten Christensen, the executive director of the Twin Cities German Immersion School. You can find all about the school and how to register your child here: TCGIS.org Enjoy this episode, and please feel free to email us with feedback at podcast@gaimn.org

This is the final episode of 2021, and we invite you to join Minnesänger Director John Hoffacker leading German Christmas songs from the grand piano at the GAI Haus with a guest appearance by Colombian-American soprano Cristina Czaia. Recorded on December 16, 2021. You can also watch the video recording of this episode on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvWyrgGUbFI Hier & There will take a short break over the holidays, and we'll return to your favorite podcast player in January! :)  Until then, Frohe Weihnachten & ein gutes neues Jahr! 🧑‍🎄

In this episode, Audra and Gunther are talking with Claudia Clark, a US-Expat, presently living in Germany.  Claudia joined us via Zoom - we apologize for some inconsistent audio levels. Claudia also holds an M.A. in Labor Industrial Relations from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a Master's in U.S. History with an emphasis on women’s history from San Jose State University, and a Master of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Michigan with an emphasis in Community Organizing. Presently, living in Germany, Claudia is the national Get out the Vote (GOTV) coordinator for the Democrats Abroad Germany Chapter. In this role, Claudia is responsible for helping to secure American Democratic ex-pat voters living in Germany to cast their ballots from abroad. And in the long lineup of accomplishments, Claudia is also the author of “Dear Barack: The Extraordinary Partnership of Barack Obama and Angela Merkel” ###

In this episode, Audra and Gunther welcome Dr. Priscilla Layne. Dr. Layne is presently a professor at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Her academic background is in comparative literature of the University of Chicago, with a Master's degree and Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkley. Particularly interesting is Dr. Layne’s dissertation “Black Voices, German Rebels: Acts of masculinity in postwar German culture.” Dr. Layne also speaks German at almost native level. This episode covers culture, language, film, history, Critical Race Theory, and Dr. Layne’s upcoming book.

If you wondered what it's like to live in Germany, as an American, Ex-Pats Alex and Geoff can fill you in. In this episode, we’re talking about taxes, immigration and refugees, real estate, and dating. Living in Berlin, Geoff and Alex have inside knowledge, interesting perspectives, and also their own podcast - "Americans in Germany Drinking Whiskey" - or, AGDW. You can find their website with all relevant links here: https://www.agdwpodcast.com/ Enjoy the second of two episodes with Geoff and Alex. ###

If you wondered what it's like to live in Germany, as an American, Alex and Geoff can fill you in. Living in Berlin, they have inside knowledge, interesting perspectives, and also their own podcast - "Americans in Germany Drinking Whiskey" - or, AGDW. You can find their website with all relevant links here: https://www.agdwpodcast.com/ Enjoy the first of two episodes with Geoff and Alex. ###

In this episode, we welcome Katrin and Wim, discussing the outcome of the German election in September. If you would like to know more, there are various resources available, however, DW.com is commonly one of the better ones. Read more about the election here: https://www.dw.com/en/german-elections-2021/t-57208974 Also, we've mentioned it before, Storycast, our podcast where we narrate German stories, has been separated out into its own channel! Stay tuned for updates as we begin to publish future audio journeys on the Storycast channel! Enjoy this episode, please rate us in your favorite podcast player app, and if you have any feedback for us, please email us at podcast@gaimn.org

After 16 years, Chancellor Angela Merkel is stepping down, opening the race to various contenders. Who is in the lead, what do they stand for, and what's in store for the Germans? We have enlisted Katrin back to the podcast, who has many of the answers to our questions.  As the election happens in real-time as you are listening to this recording, here are some sources to follow the vote counts: For highly proficient German speakers: https://www.zdf.de/ English versions are found at https://www.dw.com/en/top-stories/s-9097 and https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-europe-58644812 We will follow up with Part 2 after the election has concurred, welcoming Wim back to the show, who will be able to chat with us about the "lay of the land" with boots on the ground. ###

Der Wanderbus is a digital learning environment, virtually taking you through Germany, highlighting aspects of culture, sustainability, and more. Nils Martin, of the Goethe Institute, which is Germany's cultural representation abroad, joins us to tell us all about the Wanderbus.  You can also find a printable pdf file of the Wanderbus here: https://www.goethe.de/resources/files/pdf196/wanderbus-digital-learning-package-by-the-goethe-institut.pptx1.pdf Please share your feedback, thoughts, and suggestions for future episodes with us at podcast@gaimn.org

Time is flying, and we're already starting with Season 4 of the Hier and There Podcast. We do have a few changes to announce, including the separation of Storycast from Hier and There. Storycast will be hosted on a separate channel.  More information about H&T in this very short welcome to Season 4! :) As always, we love your feedback; please connect with us at podcast@gaimn.org Enjoy this season!

This is likely one of the shortest episodes we've brought to you.  Nonetheless, it is worthy of your time, as we talk about the upcoming classes, events, and announce a short summer break. As always, please connect with us at podcast@gaimn.org and let us know what you think! We'll talk to you again in September. Until then, Happy Summer '21! ### Since 1957 The Germanic American Institute has been building cultural bridges between the American Midwest and German-speaking European countries. We cordially invite you on the inside, to join us as we share insights into German grammar, the German cultural experience, we’ll look at current topics, and we’ll let you know about all the events that we are involved in, and you can participate in. If you'd like us to answer any questions you may have about our content, history, grammar, etc. please email us at podcast@gaimn.org and we'll answer your question in the next episode. ###

Storycast: "Die anhänglichen Pantoffeln" If you'd like to read along, you can find the text to the story by clicking this Link This story comes from the shelf of Merkel's Erzählkabinett. As far as your German-speaking children are concerned - earmuffs are not needed, but prepare for some added depth to the meaning of Herrn Meiers adventures. If you have a German group to talk with, your interpretation of "Herr Meier" would make for a really fun conversation. :) Audience Participation: If you want us to include any stories in our Storycast series, please connect with us at podcast@gaimn.org ### Since 1957 The Germanic American Institute has been building cultural bridges between the American Midwest and German-speaking European countries. We cordially invite you on the inside, to join us as we share insights into German grammar, the German cultural experience, we’ll look at current topics, and we’ll let you know about all the events that we are involved in, and you can participate in. If you'd like us to answer any questions you may have about our content, history, grammar, etc. please email us at podcast@gaimn.org, and we'll answer your question in the next episode. ###

In this episode, we welcome the Consul General of Germany, Wolfgang Mössinger. He is located in Chicago, IL, representing Germany in the Midwestern states. We discuss international relations, the state of the economy, politics, and the long-lasting friendship between Germany and the United States. The Consulate’s website is at: https://www.germany.info/us-en/embassy-consulates/generalkonsulat3 Thank you to Consul General Wolfgang Mössinger, for taking an hour of his time to talk with us. ### Since 1957 The Germanic American Institute has been building cultural bridges between the American Midwest and German-speaking European countries. We cordially invite you on the inside, to join us as we share insights into German grammar, the German cultural experience, we’ll look at current topics, and we’ll let you know about all the events that we are involved in, and you can participate in. If you'd like us to answer any questions you may have about our content, history, grammar, etc. please email us at podcast@gaimn.org and we'll answer your question in the next episode. ###