Podcast · Business

The Germany Expat Business Show

by Eleanor Mayrhofer · English · Business

A podcast that shares knowledge, stories and inspiration for anyone starting, running or growing a business as a non-German in Germany.

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New episodes: Every two weeks
Typical length: 47 min
Latest: 8 Oct 2025
Language: English

Latest episode

8 Oct 2025 · 47 min

Helping Freelancers in Germany Fight Red Tape with Kathleen Parker

Like the show? Have a burning question? Send a text? From opera singer to bureaucracy expert, Kathleen Parker shares her unconventional story of building Red Tape Translation—a business she started by showing up at Berlin's immigration office at 7 AM and asking strangers if they needed help. In this episode, she breaks down the real costs of freelancing in Germany (hint: multiply your employee salary by 2.5-3x), explains why the Künstlersozialkasse is a game-changer for creative profess...

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

S5 · E42 · 17 Sep 2025 · 51 min
From Strategy Manager to Somatic Coach: Building Community in Munich
Like the show? Have a burning question? Send a text? Polish-born Paulina moved to Munich for love nearly eight years ago and ended up finding herself. After being laid off from her corporate data analyst role during the pandemic, she transformed into a somatic wellness coach who built a thriving membership business and retreat community through authentic connection rather than aggressive marketing. Paulina discusses transitioning from yoga teaching to emotional healing work, the challenges of...
S5 · E41 · 3 Sep 2025 · 48 min
From Licensed Therapist to International Relationship Strategist: Katie Rössler's Journey Building a Business in Germany
Like the show? Have a burning question? Send a text? When Katie Rustler moved to Munich in 2016, her therapy credentials weren't recognized - a crushing blow for any licensed professional. But instead of starting over in the German system, she got creative. Today, she runs a thriving online practice serving high-achieving international couples from Japan to Dubai, has written two books, appeared on 80+ podcasts, and built communities that have helped hundreds of expat women rebuild thei...
S5 · E40 · 20 Aug 2025 · 46 min
Building a 11,000+ Subscriber Newsletter Empire in Berlin with Igor Ranc
Like the show? Have a burning question? Send a text? From corporate burnout to 11,000+ newsletter subscribers – Igor Ranc built his Handpicked Berlin newsletter starting with just 20 friends. In this episode, he reveals why he ditched Substack for better business tools, how he's monetizing without paywalls in the German market, and why human curation beats AI every time. Plus: navigating German bureaucracy as a newsletter entrepreneur, the distribution problem that kills most star...
S5 · E39 · 6 Aug 2025 · 53 min
Building a Business in Berlin: Rachel Wright's Journey From Student Exchange to Event Design
Like the show? Have a burning question? Send a text? From student exchange to successful event business serving clients prominent Berlin clients like Lingoda, Moss, Hello Fresh and more. Rachel Wright's Berlin entrepreneurship story is one of persistence, smart pivots, and systematic growth. Originally planning just one semester in Germany, Rachel has spent 15+ years building a thriving event design company serving international tech scale-ups. She shares the real story behind navigating Germ...
S5 · E38 · 22 Jul 2025 · 41 min
From Nepal to Munich: Building Startups and Mastering LinkedIn in Germany
Like the show? Have a burning question? Send a text? What happens when you delete 3,500 LinkedIn connections and start over? Sanjeev Thapa, a three-time founder from Nepal, reveals the unexpected strategy that transformed his consulting business in Germany. From burning through €700,000 in 15 months by over-engineering a startup to discovering why German language skills matter more than a stellar resume, his journey is packed with hard-won lessons about building companies in one of Europe's ...
S5 · E37 · 10 Jul 2025 · 55 min
From Politics to Digital Marketing - Jordan Beck Wagner's German Business Journey
Like the show? Have a burning question? Send a text? Jordan Beck Wagner - American expat entrepreneur who built a successful digital marketing agency in Germany after transitioning from politics to marketing through travel blogging. Episode Highlights: The Unexpected Path to Germany Started with a rebellious high school decision: choosing German over SpanishLed to Germanic languages degree, study abroad, and eventually 12+ years in GermanyClassic expat story: "18 months" turned into a permane...
S4 · E36 · 16 May 2025 · 51 min
Freelancing in Munich as an Industrial Designer with Gray Dawdy
Like the show? Have a burning question? Send a text? In this episode of the Germany Expat Business Show, I caught up with a friend, and sort-of-former-colleague, Gray Dawdy. I met Gray while I was contracting at a service design agency, where he often enjoyed a friendly chat while making a coffee in the agency Teeküche and bonded over our mutual Californian backgrounds. Gray is an industrial designer and expat solopreneur who’s built a successful freelance career in Munich, Germany. He ...
S4 · E35 · 6 May 2025 · 39 min
From Syrian Refugee to Successful Co-founder with Tarek Abousamra of Co-Tasker
Like the show? Have a burning question? Send a text? In this episode I talk to Tarek Abousamra, an inspiring entrepreneur who journeyed from Syria to Germany. Tarek's story is one of resilience and determination, culminating in the founding of Co-Tasker, a platform that connects people with service providers for various tasks. Tarek fled Syria due to the war, eventually making a home in Germany. Despite starting from scratch, his entrepreneurial spirit led him to co-found Co-tasker, a p...
S3 · E34 · 19 Mar 2025 · 49 min
Raising Kids and Businesses in Munich with Gelyn Well
Like the show? Have a burning question? Send a text? Gelyn, a mom who moved to Germany at the height of the pandemic in 2020, found herself jobless and very pregnant. Inspired by her daughter (and probably a few hormones), she wrote her first children’s book, "Most of All, You Are Loved," a response to the pandemic, divisiveness, demonstrations, the Ukraine war, rising stories of bullying and increase in suicide rates amongst teens. She started asking herself "What can I do to protect my chil...
S3 · E33 · 5 Mar 2025 · 52 min
Launching an Alpine Yoga Business in Germany with Erin Wilson
Like the show? Have a burning question? Send a text? After a decade as a competitive gymnast in South Carolina, Erin found both excitement and uncertainty in shifting her focus. Her college years, filled with new opportunities and inspiring mentors, led her to discover a passion for yoga and fitness—not just as a student, but as a teacher. A six-month study abroad in Italy in 2014 also cemented her love for Europe. In 2015, Erin moved to Germany after graduating from Clemson University with ...
S3 · E32 · 26 Feb 2025 · 46 min
From Montreal to Frankfurt (and an E-Residency Hack) with Afshan Shamani
Like the show? Have a burning question? Send a text? Afshan Samani's journey from Iran to becoming the CEO and co-founder of PinoSell is a masterclass in resilience and innovation. After navigating cultural challenges and personal setbacks, including a broken engagement during her PhD in Canada, Afshan pivoted from academia to a dynamic career in tech and startups. Her relentless pursuit of new opportunities led her to Rocket Internet and eventually to the creation of PinoSell, a company insp...
S3 · E31 · 5 Feb 2025 · 43 min
Burning thoughts on career transition, solopreneurship and life in Germany with Ricardo Brito
Like the show? Have a burning question? Send a text? “The solopreneur journey really is a mirror that reflects your deepest beliefs, fears, doubts, and limitations. It's a process of growth that forces you to confront not only the external and practical challenges but also the internal ones—those that affect how you see yourself, the world around you, and how you make decisions.” — Roberto Brito, from his Substack Burning Thoughts post ‘Building a Business, Re-Building Yourself, I really enjo...
S3 · E30 · 30 Dec 2024 · 45 min
Insights and Advice on Entrepreneurship and Legal Solutions in Germany with Olivia Marcu-Iordanescu
Like the show? Have a burning question? Send a text? I became familiar with Olivia and her work through the WEM Facebook Group (Women Entrepreneurs in Munich). It was clear to me from the jump that she’s a go-getter. We had a coffee chat and then we actually met in person at the I Am Expat fair in Berlin in the summer of 2024. Olivia Marcu-Iordănescu is an attorney-at-law known for leading corporate projects for 15+ years. She is the founder of spotlegal.io, the legal solutions platform for s...
S3 · E29 · 11 Dec 2024 · 52 min
DanRam's Global journey to Emceeing Excellence in Germany
Like the show? Have a burning question? Send a text? I've been wowed by DanRam's LinkedIn profile for awhile, so I was delighted when he agreed to be a guest on the podcast last summer. DanRam travels the globe as an Event MC & Speaker at over 100 events a year. Hosting changemakers like President Barack Obama, billionaire founders Sir Richard Branson and Reid Hoffman, F1 champion Nico Rosberg, Grammy-winning artists and celebrities, he works on 4 continents from college campuses to parl...
S3 · E28 · 27 Nov 2024 · 54 min
Helping ausländer new moms in Germany with Gitanjali More
Like the show? Have a burning question? Send a text? Navigating German bureaucracy can be quite challenging, especially when you don’t speak German, are new to the processes and don’t know what support is available to you. If you’re a new parent in Germany, you’ve probably heard of Elternzeit, Elterngeld and Kindergeld and are totally overwhelmed by everything you need to take care of for your baby. And after Elternzeit, many mothers want to change jobs due to a shift in priorities or the nee...
S3 · E1 · 15 Nov 2024 · 5 min
Season 3 kick off and introducing The Germany List
Like the show? Have a burning question? Send a text? Hey everyone! Season 3 is FINALLY underway. Also, big announcement! I'm excited to introduce The Germany List. This came out of the need to connect and support the expat business community in Germany, this open directory is a centralized resource for international entrepreneurs, creators, and service providers. Together with my co-founder, Lindsey, we're publicly building a platform that aims to make finding and promoting Aus...
S2 · 22 Jul 2024 · 42 min
How to build a successful portable business and popular facebook groups with Lora McInturf
Like the show? Have a burning question? Send a text? Lora McInturf supports high-performing lawyers and business professionals primarily in law, IT, finance, accounting, and coaching. Lora's business is 100% virtual. She's worked with professionals and businesses around the world - from over 40 countries and counting. She is also a founder and co-leader of the following groundbreaking online networking communities: Lawyers Coaching Lawyers - International Network, Women Expat Lawyers and Law ...
S2 · E26 · 12 Jul 2024 · 46 min
Prost! Bringing More Beer Innovation to Germany with Higgins Ale Works
Like the show? Have a burning question? Send a text? Jen and her husband Paul Higgins are originally from NJ. A career opportunity for Paul brought them to Munich in 2003 and Jen kept her IT career on track so they stayed. In 2018 they founded a small craft beer brewery in the heart of Munich's brewing district, creating American styled ales. In 2022, they opened a taproom next door to the brewery and have enjoyed meeting locals, expats, craft beer fans and brewers from around the world. In o...
S2 · E25 · 1 Jul 2024 · 49 min
Leveraging Specialized Knowlege to Found an Enterprising Business in Renewables - Ira Ribeiro
Like the show? Have a burning question? Send a text? Thermodemand, founded by Irapua Santos Ribeiro, is a consultancy focused on sustainable energy solutions for industrial applications, particularly in solar and renewable process heat technologies. His company aims to help industrial clients reduce their carbon footprint and operational costs. Ira has started the business as a sole proprietorship, but plans to expand by forging strategic partnerships and delivering innovative, high-quality s...
S2 · E24 · 13 Jun 2024 · 50 min
Dedicated to make moving to Germany and finding work easier with Cheryl Howard
Like the show? Have a burning question? Send a text? A Canadian in Berlin for 10+ years, Cheryl has the unique experience of moving to Berlin – not once, but twice. During her time in Berlin, she's had five different visas and worked as both a freelancer and a permanent employee for numerous German companies. Her day jobs include working as a hiring manager, overseeing the recruitment of countless individuals, as well as a team coach helping people work better and find happiness in their care...
S2 · E23 · 27 May 2024 · 47 min
Winning Marketing Strategies for Detail-Oriented Germans with Mandy Borchardt
Like the show? Have a burning question? Send a text? Mandy Borchardt is a German marketing strategist and translator helping small non-German businesses to market their brand in Germany. In 2015 she went freelance full time as a translator for English and Spanish into German, working for translation agencies and direct clients. After a few years, she started to notice that most end clients need more than just marketing translations. They also need to understand their new target group and adap...
S2 · E22 · 13 May 2024 · 53 min
Building a Large and Loyal Audience with Jen + Yvonne of Simple Germany
Like the show? Have a burning question? Send a text? I stumbled across Jen and Yvonne of Simple Germany through their YouTube channel, and boy am I glad I did! Jen was born and raised in Guatemala and sought better quality of life due to LGBTQ+ rights and security concerns. Yvonne was raised in Germany but always wanted to explore the world and worked for many years on a cruise ship (side note: This is the second Germany Expat Business Show guest that worked on a cruise ship!) Jen and Yvonn...
S2 · E21 · 29 Apr 2024 · 33 min
Diversity, Children’s Products & E-commerce with Peter & May, Berlin Founders of Kidsimply
Like the show? Have a burning question? Send a text? In this episode I talk to May and Peter Kamya, the Berlin-based founders of Kidsimply. Peter is originally from the UK and May’s family immigrated to Germany from Thailand when she was five years old. Kidsimply is an online shop selling diverse and inclusive books and toys. Through the KidSimply brand, and inspired by raising their child, Peter and May want to celebrate cultural diversity, but most importantly send out a message to AL...
S2 · E20 · 16 Apr 2024 · 33 min
Growing up in Ukraine to Finding a Passion Filled Side-Hustle in Munich
Like the show? Have a burning question? Send a text? Tetyana Pirker came from Ukraine to Munich in 2002. She studied psychology in the university of Munich and afterwards she started a career at Accenture as IT SAP consultant. After many years SAP consulting he looked for a ‘soul business’. After the birth of her first child in 2017 she discovered her passion; photography. Tetyana works for both business customers but also she loves weddings. She has 2 kids, lives in the north of ...
S2 · E19 · 1 Apr 2024 · 6 min
Should You Start A Side Hustle in Germany?
Like the show? Have a burning question? Send a text? Time for another episode of The Germany Expat Business Show Mailbag! This time I’m sharing a question from Nutan Jaeger. Nutan is a trained architect turned writer who moved to Munich with her German husband. She was laid off from her job and has worked as a freelancer in Germany before but always stayed under the mini-job level and making enough to cover taxes and insurance. Her biggest challenge is figuring out how to start. Should she ex...
S2 · E18 · 18 Mar 2024 · 44 min
From NYC to Berlin and Crushing it in the Insurance Business with John Ismailoglu
Like the show? Have a burning question? Send a text? It was a thrill when John Ismailoglu cheerfully accepted my request for a podcast interview. He is hands down one of my favorite LinkedIn follows, posting about - of all things - Insurance! A fellow American born and raised in NYC, John is a ‘4th culture’ person with a family story that spans Turkey, Bulgaria, the U.S. and now Germany. With close to two decades in the dynamic realm of insurance, John has seen it all. John's story beg...
S2 · E17 · 5 Mar 2024 · 52 min
Mastering the Art of Leadership as a Munich Transplant with Gretchen Nemechek
Like the show? Have a burning question? Send a text? Leaving the warm beaches of California for Munich? Gretchen and her family did just that. The result is an inspiring story of her career evolution from a CMO in the B2B software industry to business founder and entrepreneur. In this conversation Gretchen and I talk about the whirlwind of relocation, unexpected career detours and the growth that comes with such a bold move. We also discuss: The decision and backstory on mo...
S2 · E16 · 19 Feb 2024 · 13 min
Mailbag: How Do I Get More Clients?
Like the show? Have a burning question? Send a text? A subscriber to my newsletter asks the eternal question: How do I get more clients? I share my response. Links mentioned in this episode: 4 Thrilling Things That Suddenly Happened When I Committed to a Niche How to Find Clients Online with Enjoyment and Ease How to Grow Your Business Online (newsletter) You can find this episode and all episodes as well as show notes for each at https://thegermanylist.de/the-germany-expat-business-show-po...
S2 · E15 · 5 Feb 2024 · 35 min
Giving Migrant Entrepreneurs a Boost in Germany's Tech Scene with Laila Zohaib
Like the show? Have a burning question? Send a text? Laila is a Startup Coach from Stuttgart, who wants to create a safe space for migrant founders in Germany through the community empowerment project ‘The Migrant Accelerator’. She loves to talk about lived allyship and inclusion for investors and corporates. She is also the host of The Migrant Accelerator Podcast. TMA sounds like a fun place to be, it’s full of founders from: Thailand, Uganda, Russia, Palestine, India, Ukraine, Pakistan and ...

About The Germany Expat Business Show

A podcast that shares knowledge, stories and inspiration for anyone starting, running or growing a business as a non-German in Germany.

The Germany Expat Business Show is a English business podcast from Eleanor Mayrhofer. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Eleanor Mayrhofer
Language: English
Category: Business
New episodes: Every two weeks
Typical length: 47 min
Latest episode: 8 Oct 2025
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1681739657

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