Week 47 of Plus Forty Nine takes us to Berlin with Andrew and Maurice, the two minds behind 20 Percent Berlin – a newsletter and podcast that translates the city’s news, quirks, and politics for the 20% of residents without a German passport (and the many more who feel that way).

In this episode, we dive into how 20 Percent Berlin emerged from a pandemic layoff and became a lifeline for anyone who needs Berlin’s news in English to feel included. We get into the idea of German burnout – the deep fear of change, the “no experiments” mindset, and why something as small as a platform change on a train can send people into panic mode. We also unpack Germany’s complicated relationship with technology, from faxes and EC cards to cash-only signs and Datenschutz anxieties that seem rooted in a fear of repeating history.