What do you do when you love podcasts, work in technology and have a desire to to make podcasting easier for more people to participate in? Mateusz Sójka instinct was to co-found the German Podcast Host and & Analytics Company, Podigee. That was 7 years ago and he has amassed a great deal of knowledge about the podcasting scene in Germany and Europe during this time. In this episode we tap into his podcasting knowledge, Spotify's role in the German podcasting scene and the possible future of podcasting. 

This is our first Podcasters roundup episode. The question was:
" What dream podcasting tool that does NOT exist do you want to exist?"

Eric started lifting weights 15 years ago and it is now an essential part of his life and the main topic of his and his girlfriend's podcast “Planet Powerlifting”. In their podcast they hope to make powerlifting more accessible to outsiders and shed light on as many aspects of the sport as possible. Along with the basics of their podcasting life in Berlin, Germany we cover unique aspects of the podcasting scene in Germany as a whole as well. 

​Time and time again I hear my global friends complain that it's hard to find podcasts that are NOT from the U.S. As an American Podcaster (an Expat Podcaster, but still) this is always a sticky conversation for me because although I listen to a mix of podcasts from around the world, the U.S. is home country. So, while I can use these podcasts to stay up to date on what is happening there, I understand that not everyone needs or wants as much audio content coming from there. In fact, part of why the Global Podcasting episodes on Geopats started was because of a desire to share info about non-U.S. Podcasters and podcasting experiences with you. There is so much out there in the world, in English, and our ear buds are craving to hear it. It sounds like Norman Chella has a similar goal as mine but with the Asian scene as his more specific focus. 

In this podcasting episode we chat with Heather Jonasson, a Texan who made the long journey to Sweden many years ago, about her podcast, Life In The Land Of The Ice And Snow. In this lighthearted podcast Heather and one of her Co-Hosts (Monica or Diego) join her to chat with other expats from around the world about the quirks, challenges and advantages of living in Sweden. In this episode we talk about her podcasting set up, the benefits of interviewing guests in person and of course, the essential why in starting her podcast.  

​David Humphreys and Melissa Joulwan are the hosts of Strong Sense of Place, a podcast and web site dedicated to literary travel and books with vivid settings. In each episode of their show, they explore one destination and talk about what makes that place different from everywhere else on earth. Then they recommend books set in that destination and talk to a special guest.

In this podcast show of the Geopats Podcast I am thrilled to share a conversation that I had recently with Emilie Steckenborn of the Bottled in China Podcast. Emilie has lived in China for over eight years as a wine educator and consultant for some of the biggest names in the industry. Currently Head of Education Asia at Treasury Wine Estates, she develops programs for front line staff across China, where her team trains hundreds of thousands of drink enthusiasts across Asia. She currently serves as China Eastern Airlines Official Wine Consultant for First and Business Class and has her own wine and food podcast called Bottled in China.

Have you ever seen someone light up over the mention of a name? This is what happens when  Heather Welch’s name is mentioned in the podcasting world. She doesn’t just spread peace and serenity via her off the grid and nature podcast, Sunshine and Powercuts, her existence and general character ARE these things. Add her technical prowess and organizational skills and you can start to see how she can put together the Sunshine Summit twice a year. In this episode we talk about her specific podcasting  experiences from rural New Zealand and how she complement’s her local podcasting community with the strong, illuminating one she has built online.  ​

“...they say that it gives them a perspective of Germany from outsiders eyes. That was a surprise for me.” Shaun, Host of Expat Life Germany

The Germany Experience Podcast (formerly known as the Expat Life Germany Podcast)  is one of those podcasts that you listen to as you are doing something else (for me I was cleaning the apartment) and then find yourself stopping, grabbing a drink and sitting down to listen. Why? Because the authentic, thinky conversations that Host Shaun has with his guests are so calm and intriguing that you want to give them your full attention. This is exactly why I had to reach out to Shaun and ask him to join us on this new Expat Podcasters show.

What do you do as an expat when your life goal is to collect and share experiences and information? You start a podcast! And that is exactly what American expat in Germany Nicole Palazzo did just after her first year in Freiburg, Germany. We recorded this mini episode on the new Podbean Live app, which was in Beta version. There were some technical issues but we pushed through and I think there is so much useful and interesting information in Nicole's audio story. In fact, she is going to come back and in the future and update us on her expat podcasting life and adventures. Hurrah. ​