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Delayland – Germany and the Missing Magic

DW 24 Folgen Dez 18, 2025

Delayland explores the gap between Germany's international reputation and its everyday reality. The podcast travels through a country once hailed as an economic miracle, looking at how its famed efficiency and automotive industry have faltered. It also considers what lessons Germany might take from other nations to find its way back on track. The show aims to challenge and dismantle common stereotypes about Germany.

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E5 - Migration: The Power of Optimism Dez 18, 2025 36:38 Despite the problems we discussed in Delayland, people from many countries want to live and work in Germany. From nurses to IT specialists, skilled workers are needed, but bureaucracy is slowing things down. Write to: Delayland@dw.com

E4 – What the Fax?!? Dez 11, 2025 38:05 Waiting in line forever at city hall to register a new address – that’s how we roll in Germany. Accessing public services online is the exception, not the rule. In fact, sending a fax might speed things up (if you can believe that). But it's not as if people don't want to change. And we've found two countries that could teach us how to go digital. Write to: Delayland@dw.com

E3 – Bricks and Bureaucracy Dez 4, 2025 37:28 Big construction projects take surprisingly long to complete in Germany. It can take a decade or longer to build an airport, a train station, or a concert hall — skyrocketing costs included. What happened to the country’s love of planning and efficiency? Now, a neighboring country that's not famous for timely execution is showing Germany how it’s done. Write to: Delayland@dw.com

E2 – German Cars: Stuck in a Jam Nov 27, 2025 41:11 For years, German car manufacturers were convinced they built the world’s best automobiles — and the world was happy to buy from them. Then, nothing. Until a country that once was Germany’s pupil in car design sped ahead. How can Germany get back in the race?

E1 - The Train Dilemma: To be or not to be on time Nov 27, 2025 34:13 If you think Germans are punctual and efficient, think again. Germany's national train system is so run down that most passengers are happy if they arrive at all. How did one of the world's most reliable train operators become an international joke? Can anyone help Germany to get back on track? New episodes every Thursday

Introducing: Delayland – Germany and the Missing Magic Nov 20, 2025 02:22 Once dubbed an "economic miracle”, things don't run like they used to in Germany. This new DW original podcast endeavors to find out how Germany lost its magic and who’s got it now? Traveling beyond Germany — to India, France, Switzerland, and Denmark — the show explores how others are getting things right, and what Europe's former Wunderkind might learn from them. Wherever you get podcasts.

DW Berlin Briefing: A new podcast by the crew behind 'Merkel's Last Dance' Jan 17, 2025 37:36 Berlin Briefing is a new podcast by the crew behind ‘Merkel’s last Dance’. It is a video podcast where we dive deep into how Germany is navigating major geopolitical challenges - from Trump's second presidency to Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine and Europe’s shift to the right. Once a week we give you an essential Berlin briefing on what’s coming next and why it matters. here's our latest episode.

Introducing: Don't Drink the Milk Okt 18, 2023 01:30 We wanted to share a new DW podcast we thought you might like. Don't Drink the Milk traces the unexpected backstories of things we all think we know well. From passports to beer, zip codes to witches, discover how these things made their way around the world – by force, by chance or by choice. No need to pack your bags. Just subscribe to Don't Drink the Milk, wherever you listen to podcasts.

Merkel's Last Dance: The legacy interview (final episode) Nov 11, 2021 32:31 Outgoing chancellor Angela Merkel really is going to step off that dance floor soon. What better way to end a podcast dedicated to her last dance, i.e.her last year in office, than with a rare exclusive interview? DW's Max Hofmann waltzed the German chancellor through the interview and has the backstory for us in this final episode of "Merkel's last dance."

Merkel's Last Dance: Germany under Olaf Scholz – What the world can expect from Merkel's likely successor? (E14) Okt 19, 2021 50:41 China, the transatlantic relationship, the future of the EU - foreign policy didn't play a large role in Germany's election campaign. But there are huge issues for the next government to address. As Olaf Scholz works to establish a new coalition, we ask his party's foreign policy spokesman what the world can expect from a Germany under Scholz's leadership.

Merkel's Last Dance: How green will the next German government be? (E13) Okt 5, 2021 30:05 The Greens will likely play a central role in a future government coalition. September’s elections have elevated them to new levels of political power. The current rounds of exploratory and coalition talks will determine just how green Germany will go from here. DW’s Nina Haase and Guilia Saudelli team up with chief political editor Michaela Küfner to unpack the Greens’ governing potential.

Merkel's Last Dance: What's next after Germany's election? The kingmakers' moment (E12) Sep 30, 2021 53:41 The beginning of the end of the Merkel era is here. A narrow win for the SPD under Olaf Scholz has left Merkel's camp damaged, and given unprecedented leverage to the "kingmakers," the neoliberal FDP and Greens, in the search for a new coalition. In the latest edition of Merkel's Last Dance we catch up on the state of play and speak to potential FDP Foreign Minister, Alexander Graf Lambsdorff.

Merkel's Last Dance: What kept Merkel from being a climate chancellor? (E11) Sep 10, 2021 35:35 Compared to other world leaders, Merkel is seen as the one leading the charge in the global effort to combat climate change. But, says Claudia Kemfert, she’s also had a number of disappointing moves, like extending the use of nuclear power, siding with the car lobby, and not exiting coal sooner.

Merkel's Last Dance: Why is Germany behind on tech? (E10) Jul 14, 2021 42:48 Europe’s richest country is lagging behind the US and China in technology - and Angela Merkel knows it. But how much is the chancellor herself to blame? In this episode, Merkel’s top digital advisor talks to DW’s chief technology correspondent Janosch Delcker about Big Tech, digital deficits exposed by the pandemic, and what reforms are needed to get Germany out of this mess.

Merkel's Last Dance: George W. Bush reflects on Merkel (E09) Jul 14, 2021 28:18 America's 43rd President invited DW's Washington bureau chief Ines Pohl to his family's summer house in Maine. He doesn't give many interviews any more. But he made an exception to talk about "his friend" Angela Merkel - and about a shoulder massage that made headlines at the time.

Merkel's Last Dance: The Merkel Method (E08) Jun 3, 2021 42:05 How does she do it? How has the German Chancellor managed to stay on top for 15+ years? What does "Merkeling through" mean? Find out from somebody who has served as minister under Angela Merkel, working closely with her, but also campaigning against her.

Merkel's Last Dance: Is Angela Merkel a feminist? (E07) Apr 30, 2021 40:38 Angela Merkel's political career has been marked by many "firsts." But: in her 15 years as German chancellor, what has she done for the equality of the sexes and for moving gender fairness forward? We talk to the woman who publicly posed the question: 'Are you a feminist, Ms. Merkel?' Miriam Meckel did not only find Merkel's reaction surprising, she also tells us where Merkel disappointed her.

Merkel's Last Dance: Is COVID-19 breaking Angela Merkel's political toolbox? (E06) Mär 5, 2021 41:27 Angela Merkel has gone from Europe's leadership champion in the COVID fight to lagging behind on vaccines and testing. In this episode, podcast series "Merkel’s Last Dance" explores whether her legacy may be rewritten.

Merkel's Last Dance: Did Merkel fail on China? (E05) Feb 18, 2021 39:03 As China and the US slip deeper into geopolitical confrontation, Angela Merkel's approach to Beijing is being questioned as never before. In this episode, Merkel's Last Dance explores a complex legacy.

Merkel's Last Dance: How value-driven is Angela Merkel? (E04) Jan 6, 2021 42:00 In this episode, Margot Kässmann tells host Michaela Küfner about an important piece of advice she received from the German Chancellor, when Kässmann became the first woman Leader of Germany's Protestant Church. The Covid-19 pandemic puts Merkel's religious roots on display, says Kässmann. But which values drive Merkel? And does she always stand by her principles? Margot Kässmann doesn't think so.

Merkel's Last Dance: Does Angela Merkel love the US? (E03) Dez 22, 2020 48:08 Wolfgang Ischinger was German Ambassador to the US when Angela Merkel made her first visit to the White House as Chancellor back in 2006 - to meet with then-president George W. Bush. He talks to Max Hofmann about a special moment during that first meeting, as well as about the ups and downs in Merkel’s relationship with ‘her’ three US presidents so far – and about what love’s gotta do with it.

Merkel's Last Dance: How much of the east is still a part of Merkel? (E02) Nov 5, 2020 23:58 Angela Merkel has always made a point of not drawing attention to her East German heritage. But how much does it still shape the chancellor? In this episode, find out how a panel discussion on suicide and a shopping trip to buy oysters can help us answer the question.

Merkel's Last Dance: Merkel's Europe – all power, no vision? (E01) Sep 24, 2020 40:44 Has Angela Merkel held the EU together or has she pushed it towards the breaking point? Hear what Yanis Varoufakis has to say in our first podcast episode.

Merkel's Last Dance Sep 9, 2020 01:18 The era of Angela Merkel is coming to an end. The actions, and inaction, by Germany's chancellor have reshaped Europe for years. Our hosts follow her moves over her last months in office — possibly the toughest yet.