Podcasts by Radio GDR - East Germany Podcast

Special Announcement - new website (radiogdrpodcast.com) and season 4 is coming! from 2023-10-14T13:07

Hello everyone! Season 4 is coming! We also have a new domain this season - radiogdrpodcast.com. Please do visit us soon to tell us your GDR story! I'l...

Attila The Stockbroker from 2023-07-17T16:06

In this episode John Paul Kleiner (GDR Objectified blog) speaks with A...

Taking Stock with Victor Grossman, Part II: Why The GDR Failed from 2023-04-08T15:09

In 1952, a 24-year old American soldier defected to the Eastern Bloc in order to avoid a US Army disciplinary hearing and what he feared would be draconian punishment for his involvement in soci...

Berliners: Vesper Stamper's tale of twins divided by the Berlin Wall and thoughts on viewing the Cold War through historical fiction from 2023-03-05T13:41

I am truly honored to be joined today by author and illustrator Vesper Stamper who in 2022 published Berliners, a historical fiction...

Why The GDR Fascinates Me: Kris Hinz's Reflections on his Father's Time in the GDR and the Country's Legacy Today from 2023-01-15T15:58

Hello everyone, and welcome to yet another incredible episode of Radio GDR. We are on episode 3 of 3 of our listener interviews to ...

Why The GDR Fascinates Me: Fred Esposito on His Love for Radio GDR and Why Preserving History is Important from 2022-12-08T02:21

We are interviewing some of our most special listeners this season in gratitude for your amazing contributions to make season 3 of t...

Why The GDR Fascinates Me: Neese Family Adventures in Radebeul, Leipzig and Dresden from 2022-11-23T17:47

I have said this often, but I am so grateful to you all for your continued loyalty to the podcast th...

Ralph Hänel, Part III - Opening the Memory Box: Ralph's Corner GDR Museum from 2022-10-23T09:25

Hello, everyone, and welcome to our third installment of our interview with Ralph Hanel, Kung Fu Master, former Stasi prisoner and ...

Ralph Hänel, Part II - "Can I borrow your baby?", Stasi Handcuffs and the Book of Poison from 2022-09-29T00:17

Welcome to another incredible episode of Radio GDR. Judging by your extremely positive reaction, you...

Ralph Hänel, Part I - My Father and the Stasi Lawyer from 2022-09-13T01:23:49

Hello, everyone, and welcome to another episode of Radio GDR. This is your host Steve Minegar, and the next three episodes will truly be a humbling and eye opening experience for all of us. On t...

Artists Take on The State! Experimental Art in Late East Germany, with Sara Blaylock from 2022-08-22T01:28:03

Did you know East German artists used their Stasi files as artwork after the fall of the Berlin wall...

The Things They've Seen - Reflections on WWII and the Cold War by German Eyewitnesses, with Daniel Burghard from 2022-08-04T01:43:39

I often speak about what a privilege it is to preserve the stories of the past, many of which are di...

Overlooked No More - Female Directors in East Germany's DEFA Films from 2022-07-13T01:48:05

There is no shortage of recent articles regarding the too long overlooked subject of female directors. While many of these articles are specific to the women directing films today (Patty Jenkins...

Gay Spies and LGBT Activism in East Germany, with Samuel Clowes Huneke from 2022-06-28T23:40:48

Gay spies and espionage….absolutely one of the most incredible topics you can study about the GDR. On today's episode of Radio GDR, we...

¡Venceremos! Chilean Bands and Socialist Solidarity at East Germany's Festival of Political Songs, with Jesse Freedman from 2022-06-16T01:43:42

Venceremos! We will overcome! This one word defined the socialist political movement of Salvador Allende's presidency in Chile and, after the military coup of 1973, rolled off the tongu...

Ned Richardson-Little on The Human Rights Dictatorship - Socialism, Global Solidarity and Revolution in East Germany from 2022-06-02T00:17:55

From an outside perspective, it would seem that human rights would be an idea that the East German regime would have had great difficulty reconciling itself with. However, in this episode of the po...

"A House Divided Cannot Stand" - Designing Chapman University's Berlin Wall Monument at Liberty Plaza with Richard Turner from 2022-05-18T22:23:23

This episode seeks to answer a burning question - what does an artist do with a piece of the Berlin Wall? In our last episode, we i...

"Historical Memory" - How Dr. Jim Doti Brought the Berlin Wall to Chapman University from 2022-05-07T21:32:56

There are many pieces of the Berlin Wall on display all around the world. How did universities, museums and other places secure the...

Capitalism vs. Communism - Jeff Myers' "Crash Course" on Life in East Germany from 2022-04-29T01:09:05

We Radio GDR hosts all agree on this simple truth - our favorite interviews are of you the listeners a...

Taking Stock with Victor Grossman: The GDR's Achievements - Part I from 2022-04-12T23:25:09

In 1952, a 24-year old American soldier defected to the Eastern Bloc in order to avoid a US Army disciplinary hearing and what he feared would be draconian punishm...

No Man's Land: Michael Califra's Crossings in Divided Berlin from 2022-03-29T00:04:52

In our first interview of season 3, we speak with Michael Califra, author of "No Man's Land," one of...

Season 3 - The Gang is Back Together Again! from 2022-03-17T01:06:22

Welcome to Radio GDR Season 3! Join Steve Minegar, Shane Whaley, Anke Holst and John Paul Kleiner as we talk about what we’ve been up to, what we’re learning and w...

Season 3 Special Announcement (45) from 2022-02-16T12:42:01

Radio GDR co-hosts, Steve and Shane share news of the upcoming Season 3 and how you can help us!

A Strange Exchange: Brown University Students on the Loose in East Germany from 2022-01-06T17:13:04

In this episode of Radio GDR our host John Paul Kleiner (gdrobjectified.wordpress.com) interviews Debby Pattiz about the unusual semester she...

The Grey Men: Pursuing the Stasi into the Present with Ralph Hope from 2021-07-29T20:24:01

What do you do with a hundred thousand idle spies? By 1990 the Berlin Wall had fallen and the East German state security service folded.

For forty years, they had amassed more than ...

Punk Rock, Revolution, and the Fall of the Berlin Wall - with Tim Mohr from 2021-06-27T13:48:39

Thanks to Tim Mohr for taking time to speak with John Paul Kleiner (GDR Objectified blog) and Prof. Ed Larkey (University of Maryland - Baltimore County) about his book Burning Down the Haus: Pu...

Borderland Museum Eichsfeld - Touring the Inner German Border with Patrick Hoffmann from 2021-06-11T18:48:12

In this episode of Radio GDR - the East Germany podcast, we are joined by Patrick Hoffmann, assistant director, pedagogue and historian at Borderland Museum Eichsfeld, one of the more than 20 mu...

Lives of East Germans - The "Authentic Spirit" of Adelheid Wedel (40) from 2021-05-31T13:36:52

From being raised by a World War 2 veteran who spent time in a Soviet prison camp to having of view of the Berlin Wall from her apartment to meeting westerners like Celeste and her family who sh...

More Ghosts of East Berlin - Celeste Barber's Fulbright Adventure in the GDR (39) from 2021-05-20T01:58:40

This episode of Radio GDR, the East Germany podcast, lives up to Paul Harvey's famous expression, "and now you know the rest of the story."

In episode 24, Shane Whaley interviewed E...

East German Football - The Turning Season: DDR-Oberliga Revisited with Michael Wagg (38) from 2021-05-09T17:57:49

A conversation with author Michael Wagg.  In The Turning Season, he goes in search of hidden histories and footballing ghosts from before the fall of the Berlin Wall. He revisits the 14 clubs th...

Bowling for Communism: Urban Ingenuity at the End of East Germany (36) from 2021-05-02T13:28:03

John Paul Kleiner chats with the author of Bowling for Communism: Urban Ingenuity at the End of East Germany. Andrew Demshuk.

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The Red Woodstock - Politics and Pop Music in East Germany Part 3 from 2021-04-15T20:54:03

John Paul Kleiner and Dr Ed Larkey return to Radio GDR/The East Germany Podcast for part 3 in our series on East German Pop Music.

In 1971, East German leader Ulbricht is out  and i...

East Germany, Chile and DEFA’s “Hidden Films” with Dr. Claudia Sandberg (34) from 2021-04-07T01:16:10

In this episode of Radio GDR East Germany podcast, Steve Minegar speaks with Dr. Claudia Sandberg. a film scholar and filmmaker at the University of Melbourne in Australia and a colleague of Kat...

Interview with Helge Heidemayer, Director, Berlin-Hohenschönhausen Memorial - Ep 37 from 2021-03-19T21:27:10

On today's episode of the East Germany Podcast, GDR Objectified's John Paul Kleiner and Shane Whaley chat with the Herr Helge Heidemayer, director of the Hohenschönhausen Memorial in Berlin.
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Politics and Pop Music in East Germany Part 2 (33) from 2021-03-10T19:13:39

In this episode, our hosts return to look at the broad theme of pop and politics in East Germany. 'So we're looking at ways that East German authorities, the party, the free German youth organiz...

Why Communist East Germany's Interflug was an airline like no other with Sebastian Schmitz from 2021-02-11T22:21:14

Today we chat with the author of Interflug - East Germany's airline, Sebastian Schmitz. This is the first book published in English about Interflug. Don't worry though, you do not need to be an ...

East Germany in Mozambique: Private Photographs of a Forgotten Time with Dr. Katrin Bahr from 2021-01-19T16:27:42

On this episode of Radio GDR the East Germany Podcast, Steve Minegar explores the lives of East Germans who, in the name of international solidarity and cooperation with fellow socialist countri...

Visiting Family Behind the Iron Curtain - Journeys to Görlitz, East Germany with Bill Blosen (30) from 2020-12-13T21:17

I have always wondered what small-town life was like outside of Berlin in the GDR. In this episode of Radio GDR, Bill Blosen and I sit down to talk about his experiences traveling to Görlitz, a ...

My review of the new Amazon Explore Virtual Experience Tour - The infamous Berlin Wall: stories of the Death Strip and a divided city (29) from 2020-12-08T18:39:07

East Germany Podcast Host Shane Whaley's Amazon Explore review of The infamous Berlin Wall: stories of the Death Strip and a divided city tour.

Shane works in the tours and activity...

My brother spied on us for the Stasi and how I survived life in an East German Prison (28) from 2020-11-13T17:37:29

In this episode, you will hear how Peter Keup's life was made a misery following his family's application for an exit visa. Peter discusses how his life was never to be the same again.
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A Journey Through the history of Rock and Pop Music of East Germany from 2020-10-22T23:28:47

In this episode of the East Germany Podcast - Radio GDR we go on a journey of Rock and Pop Music of East Germany.

Our good friend John-Paul Kleiner (GDR Objectified) is in the East ...

A Beginners Guide to East German Movies and DEFA. (126) from 2020-10-10T21:42:37

This episode is dedicated to our friend Neil Tooley who sadly passed away last week.   In this episode of we explore the world of East German movies and DEFA, the st...

Why I am Fascinated by East Germany and East German Fashion (25) from 2020-10-02T21:17:43

In this episode of the East Germany Podcast we ask Christine the podcaster behind the East German Fashion History Podcast , why she is fascinated with East Germany and East German Fashion.

East Germany through the eyes of a 10 year old American boy (24) from 2020-09-12T12:54:36

In 1988, a reluctant 10 year old American boy, Eric Friedman moved to East Berlin. His father Frank was granted a Fulbright grant to lecture at Humboldt University. Eric shares his experiences l...

Why I Am Fascinated by East Germany With Anthony Russell (23) from 2020-08-28T21:14:46

In this episode of the East Germany Podcast, Shane Whaley is joined by Anthony Russell. Anthony shares with us what fascinates him about East Germany. Anthony was so fascinated by the GDR that h...

Cold War Conversations Podcast Co-Host - Why I am Fascinated by the GDR. from 2020-08-13T19:48:25

In this episode of the East Germany Podcast, Shane Whaley is joined by Cold War Conversations Podcast Co-Host James Chilcott.

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East Germany and Chile with Steve Minegar (21) from 2020-08-01T01:13:56

In this episode of the Radio GDR Podcast, host Shane Whaley kicks off season 2 of the East Germany podcast chatting with listener Steve Minegar about the relationship between East Germany and Ch...

A quick update from Radio GDR - East Germany Podcast from 2020-05-25T18:09

Radio GDR Co-host Shane explains why there have been no episodes of late and why you should not unsubscribe because more episodes are coming your way in the near future.

Collecting East German Stamps (DDR) - The DDR Collectors Series from 2020-03-29T20:18:32

In this episode of the Radio GDR Podcast, Jordan Heyburn talks about his passion for collecting East German stamps. He also shares tips on how you can get started with your very own DDR Stamp co...

A Teachers Guide to East Germany with Prof. Jeffrey Byford from 2020-02-22T19:18:37

Interview with the author of: Behind the Iron Curtain: A Teacher’s Guide to East Germany. Jeffrey discusses teaching Cold War activities through an East German perspective.

Topics i...

The Story Behind the Checkpoint Charlie Virtual Reality Tour - Timeride (18) from 2020-02-16T16:43:41

On today's podcast, I bring you a conversation with Julian Herbig, who is the PR and Communications Manager at Timeride.de Julian tells us more about the experience itself as well as the story b...

East Germany Podcast listeners on why they are fascinated by the DDR. Report from the Berlin MeetUp (17) from 2020-02-02T15:25:16

A Fly On the Wall Report from the Radio GDR Berlin Meetup. Listen in as we chat with listeners of the Radio GDR podcast in Berlin for our Radio GDR Meetup. They share with us why they are intere...

The Team They Love to Hate. Life as a Dynamo Berlin Supporter (16) from 2020-01-16T00:56:55

On this episode of Radio GDR, the podcast about East Germany, we talk to Steve Winkler about his life supporting the team they love to hate - Dynamo Berlin.

My Father Was An East German Spy. (15) from 2019-12-27T19:46:31

On Episode 15 of the Radio GDR Podcast, former Radio Berlin International employee Steve Winkler talks to us about life growing up with parents who worked for the GDR Diplomatic Service.
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Crossing into East Berlin through Checkpoint Charlie with Virtual Reality. Field Report (14) from 2019-11-26T18:33:25

On Episode 14 of the Radio GDR Podcast, the world's only English language podcast about East Germany, host Shane Whaley gives you the low down on a new Berlin attraction TimeRide Berlin that all...

Working at Radio Berlin International 1988-90 with Steve Winkler (13) from 2019-11-20T18:56:24

On Episode 13 of the Radio GDR Podcast, the world's only English language podcast about East Germany, host Shane Whaley interviews Steve Winkler who worked at East Germany's Radio Berlin Interna...

They Divided the Sky - Christa Wolf - Episode 12 from 2019-10-11T22:31:46

On Episode 12 of the Radio GDR Podcast, GDR Objectified's John Paul Kleiner interviews Professor Luise von Flutow who translated the East German novel 'They Divided The Sky' by Christa Wolf into...

“Open Memory Box” 400+ Hours of GDR Home Movies Go Online from 2019-09-23T10:00

After six years of work, we interview the producers behind Open Memory Box which encompasses 415 hours of home movies that 150 families made in East Germany between 1947 and 1990, the collection...

38 Things I learned about East Germany from reading Burning Down The Haus. (10) from 2019-09-08T15:52:27

Radio GDR host Shane Whaley shares 38 Things I learned about East Germany from reading Burning Down The Haus by Tim Mohr.

I thoroughly Burning Down The Haus and you do not have to b...

Born in the GDR with Dr Hester Vaizey (9) from 2019-07-21T15:36:32

On this episode of the Radio GDR East Germany podcast, Host Shane Whaley brings you a conversation with Dr. Hester Vaize...

East German football - The People's Game: Football, State and Society in East Germany (8) from 2019-06-18T19:46:50

On this episode of the Radio GDR podcast, hosts  Shane Whaley and  GDR Objectified's John Paul Kleiner talk East German football with author Alan McDougall. There are not many English language b...

What happened to football in East Germany after reunification? (7) from 2019-05-05T17:55:41

On this episode of the Radio GDR East Germany podcast host Shane Whaley talks with GDR Objectified's John Paul Kleiner about a bizarre football game that took place at FC Stahl Brandenburg in '9...

Hohenschonhausen - The Dark Side of the GDR (6) from 2019-04-23T20:06:25

On this episode of the Radio GDR East Germany podcast Shane records his thoughts following a guided tour of the Hohenschonhausen Stasi Prison in East Berlin and questions whether he wants to con...

Interview with the DDR Museum in Berlin - Gordon von Godin from 2019-03-15T17:22:33

DDR Museum Director Gordon Von Godin joins  Shane Whaley on the Radio GDR Podcast. They talk about the mission of the GDR Museum, as well as the importance of remembering the history of East Ger...

Why East Germany is still fascinating to GDR Objectified's John Paul Kleiner (4) from 2019-02-15T23:38:42

Radio GDR, the podcast all about East Germany caught up with the man behind the epic GDR Objectified - probably one of the best websites about East Germany in english on the net today.
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Wende Museum - The Chief Curator talks to Radio GDR from 2019-01-13T21:52:21

On this episode of Radio GDR, we talk to Joes Segal Chief Curator of the Wende Museum in LA. He shares more with us about the mission of the cold war art museum as well as how they pick which of...

From Us to Me - with Director Ellin Hare from 2018-12-21T02:23:57

On this episode of the Radio GDR podcast, Ellin Hare talks to us about her documentary about everyday life in East Germany titled 'From Us to Me.' 

They become the only British film...

DDR Museum Director- Gordon von Godin Interview from 2018-12-09T19:51:21

DDR Museum Director Gordon Von Godin joins Anke Ho...

What is Radio GDR all about? from 2018-11-21T18:10:11

Life in the former East Germany holds an ongoing fascination for a lot of people. Join us as we learn more about the former East Germany. 

Radio German Democratic Republic is a blog and p...