Mad in Germany

Oliver Moody: Russia, Germany's Security Blindspot & the Baltic Warning
Could Russia really strike Berlin? Times correspondent Oliver Moody reveals why Germany has catastrophically underestimated the threat from the East, how "Wandel durch Handel" became a strategic trap, and what the Baltic states can teach Europe about deterrence in the new era of great power conflict.

We explore:
⚡ Russia would target Berlin first — why a Baltic war wouldn't stay in the Baltics
⚡ Germany as NATO's weak link — the political shock war would bring to German society
⚡ "Wandel durch Handel" backfired — how transformation through trade transformed Germany instead
⚡ The Petersburg Dialogue deception — how Russia played German elites for decades
⚡ Nord Stream's strategic mistake — the new Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact
⚡ Merkel's profitable illusion — cheap Russian gas, Chinese exports, American security
⚡ Baltic lessons for Europe — what northeastern Europe knows that Berlin doesn't

"Germany thought they were building civil society ties to nudge Russia toward liberal democracy. They were absolutely played."

"There's still latent desire in German media to restart the gas flow and rebuild the relationship."

👉 Subscribe for fearless, independent conversations:    / @madingermany  
🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

#MadInGermany #OliverMoody #Russia #Germany #Geopolitics #NATO #BalticStates #NordStream #Ukraine #EuropeanSecurity #TheTimes #WandelDurchHandel #Putin #Merkel #ForeignPolicy #DefensePolicy

CREDITS

Mad in Germany
Host: James Jackson
Guest: Oliver Moody (Times Berlin Correspondent, Author of "Baltic: The Future of Europe")
Editor: Luardo Eduardo Gamero
Producer: Lya Cuellar
Thumbnail: Kern Mangan-Walker

🎥 Click to watch. Subscribe for new episodes.

❤️ Support Mad in Germany:
https://www.patreon.com/c/madingermanypod

TIMESTAMPS
00:00:00 Introduction — Oliver Moody on Germany's geopolitical blindspot
00:03:15 Would Russia attack the Baltics? — The real threat assessment
00:06:40 Germany as prime target — Why Berlin would be hit first
00:10:20 Germany's peace tradition — Soft on Russia politics and historical baggage
00:15:45 "Wandel durch Handel" — How transformation through trade backfired
00:22:30 The Petersburg Dialogue — Russia's strategic manipulation of German elites
00:28:15 Nord Stream pipelines — The new Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact
00:35:50 Merkel's profitable illusion — Cheap gas, Chinese markets, American protection
00:42:20 Germany's Russia problem — Elite capture and commercial self-interest
00:48:10 NATO's deterrence challenge — What war in Europe would really look like
00:55:30 Baltic lessons — What northeastern Europe can teach the West

ABOUT OLIVER MOODY
Oliver Moody is The Times' Berlin correspondent and author of "Baltic: The Future of Europe" (published in German as "Konflikt an der Ostsee"). His book examines geopolitics in northeastern Europe and what the West can learn from the Baltic states' approach to Russian aggression and deterrence strategy.
As a correspondent covering Germany and European security, Moody provides in-depth analysis of Germany's Russia policy, NATO dynamics, and the strategic challenges facing Europe in an era of renewed great power competition. His reporting combines on-the-ground journalism with deep geopolitical insight into one of the world's most volatile regions.
Note: This conversation was recorded in December 2024. While some specific geopolitical developments have occurred since then, the strategic analysis of Germany's position and European security dynamics remains highly relevant.

Thumbnail image is not AI generated.

Disclaimer:
The views and opinions expressed by the guest(s) on Mad in Germany are their own and do not reflect those of the producers or its licensees. The appearance of this programme on social media platforms does not imply endorsement. The producers disclaim any liability for damages arising from the use of the podcast and its recordings to the fullest extent permissible by law.
This video is intended for informational and educational purposes only and reflects the personal opinions of the guest and creators. The inclusion of public figures is based on publicly available information and does not imply wrongdoing.
The views in this video do not establish a professional relationship with viewers and do not constitute legal, professional, or personal advice. Viewer discretion is advised.

Mad in Germany - Tomer Dotan-Dreyfus: Childhood in Israel, Life in Germany

Berlin-based Israeli author Tomer Dotan-Dreyfus talks about his new book Keinheimisch. Kindheit in Israel, Leben in Deutschland, the impossibility of feeling indigenous after October 7, and about living in a country that believes in its own redemption as a completed project.

👉 Follow us on Instagram: @madingermanyod  
🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5CBmcHw...

CREDITS
Mad in Germany
Host: James Jackson
Guest: Tomer Dotan-Dreyfus
Editor: Luardo Eduardo Gamero
Producer: Lya Cuellar

🎥 Click to watch. Subscribe for new episodes.
❤️ Support Mad in Germany on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/madingermanypod

TIMESTAMPS
00:00:00 Introduction: Keinheimisch, the impossibility of feeling indigenous in Israel after October 7
00:01:45 Facing the past: Dealing with war crimes within family history
00:07:44 No Wiedergutmachung: The treatment of Holocaust survivors in Israel
00:14:01 Silent roots: Growing up in Israel
00:16:28 Undigenous: A theoretical twist to indigeneity
00:23:23 Diaspora: Fighting antisemitism here and everywhere
00:27:12 Jewish "Community" in Germany
00:31:46 Redemption: Are Germans good now?
00:41:33 Ordnung muss sein: Beating protesters in the name of law and order
00:43:35 Conversion in Germany: What DID you experience?
00:53:54 Erradicating antisemitism: Bad faith actors turn the conversation antisemitic
00:59:39 A teller of uncomfortable truths: Being a "controversial" writer in Germany

ABOUT TOMER DOTAN-DREYFUS
Tomer Dotan-Dreyfus grew up in Haifa, Israel, and has been living in Berlin as an author and translator since 2011. He writes regularly about Israel and Palestine as well as antisemitism in Germany. His articles appear in publications such as Süddeutsche Zeitung, taz, and Berliner Zeitung. His first novel, Birobidschan (Voland & Quist), was longlisted for the 2023 German Book Prize.

Disclaimer:
The views and opinions expressed by the guest(s) on Mad in Germany are their own and do not reflect those of the producers or its licensees. The appearance of this programme on social media platforms does not imply endorsement. 

The producers disclaim any liability for damages arising from the use of the podcast and its recordings to the fullest extent permissible by law.
This video is intended for informational and educational purposes only and reflects the personal opinions of the guest and creators. The inclusion of public figures is based on publicly available information and does not imply wrongdoing.

The views in this video do not establish a professional relationship with viewers and do not constitute legal, professional, or personal advice. Viewer discretion is advised.

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/madingermanypod

Mad in Germany - Norman Ohler: The Hidden Pharmaceutical History of the Third Reich

From the Führer's opioid addiction to Germany's methamphetamine-fueled Blitzkrieg, from CIA mind control experiments to a potential 2033 chancellor bid—bestselling author Norman Ohler reveals the hidden pharmaceutical history that shaped the 20th century and explains why he believes psychedelics hold the key to humanity's future.

We explore:
⚡ The Führer's substance cocktail — oxycodone, hormones, and the doctor who kept him high
⚡ Pervitin and the Blitzkrieg — how crystal meth powered German military victories
⚡ The toxic bond — a dictator and his doctor's codependent pharmaceutical nightmare
⚡ From German labs to MKUltra — how LSD became a weapon of war
⚡ Chancellor Ohler 2033? — why he's serious about running for office
⚡ The War on Substances — a Cold War relic that must end
⚡ Germany's right-wing surge — AfD, Merz, and echoes of Weimar
"The National Socialists were actually Germany's first anti-substance government. That was the propaganda. And that propaganda carried all the way through."
"Fascism hates the other because you have a problem with yourself."

👉 Follow us on Instagram: @madingermanypod

#MadInGermany #NormanOhler #Blitzed #Tripped #Germany #WWII #History #Psychedelics #GermanPolitics #AfD #HistoryBooks #Documentary #ThirdReich #MKUltra #ColdWar

CREDITS
Mad in Germany
Host: James Jackson
Guest: Norman Ohler
Editor: Luardo Eduardo Gamero
Producer: Lya Cuellar
Thumbnail: Luardo Eduardo Gamero

🎥 Click to watch. Subscribe for new episodes.
❤️ Support Mad in Germany:   / madingermanypod  

TIMESTAMPS
00:00:00 Introduction — How oxycodone kept the Führer charismatic
00:03:20 Blitzed — Rewriting Third Reich history through pharmaceuticals
00:08:16 The personal physician — Dr. Morell's experimental treatments
00:19:23 Pervitin — Germany's methamphetamine miracle weapon
00:22:01 The Blitzkrieg explained — tanks on crystal meth through France
00:34:03 Academic battles — Praise and criticism from historians
00:46:54 The fascist character — Psychology of fear and aggression
00:50:06 Norman Ohler for Chancellor 2033 — A serious announcement
01:00:22 Israel and Palestine — German responsibility to speak truth
01:08:15 The AfD surge — Germany's dangerous right-wing moment
01:15:50 Tripped — LSD, the Third Reich, and CIA mind control
01:26:30 Drug legalization — Why all substances should be legal

ABOUT NORMAN OHLER
Norman Ohler is a New York Times bestselling German author, novelist, screenwriter, and journalist. His groundbreaking book Blitzed: Substances in the Third Reich (published in over 30 languages) revolutionized our understanding of that period by exposing the regime's massive pharmaceutical use—from methamphetamine-fueled soldiers to the Führer's opioid dependency.
His follow-up, Tripped: Germany, the CIA, and the Dawn of the Psychedelic Age, traces how German LSD experiments influenced the CIA's MKUltra program and shaped modern policy. Ohler spent five years researching in German and American archives, uncovering the personal physician's notes and military distribution records. He also wrote The Bohemians about resistance in Berlin. A former writer-in-residence in Ramallah, Tel Aviv, and Jerusalem, Ohler conducted the last interview with Yasser Arafat. He lives in Berlin and plans to run for German Chancellor in 2033.

Disclaimer:
The views and opinions expressed by the guest(s) on Mad in Germany are their own and do not reflect those of the producers or its licensees. The appearance of this programme on social media platforms does not imply endorsement. 

The producers disclaim any liability for damages arising from the use of the podcast and its recordings to the fullest extent permissible by law.
This video is intended for informational and educational purposes only and reflects the personal opinions of the guest and creators. The inclusion of public figures is based on publicly available information and does not imply wrongdoing.

The views in this video do not establish a professional relationship with viewers and do not constitute legal, professional, or personal advice. Viewer discretion is advised.

Please support us at: https://www.patreon.com/madingermanypod?l=de

The German Left party have gone from strength to strength and look set to overtake the Greens nationally and even the SPD in the capital. But how did they achieve that and why are some people still not happy with their positions? Daniel Bax looks at these questions as well as the enfant terrible Sahra Wagenknecht’s conservative socialist party BSW

Please support us at: https://www.patreon.com/madingermanypod?l=de

In this conversation, journalist and author Waslat Hasrat-Nazimi talks about her new book Rausländer: Our Suitcases Are Packed, a bold and deeply personal examination of racism, exclusion, and belonging in today’s Germany. In Rausländer, Waslat Hasrat-Nazimi explores how life in Germany has become increasingly shaped by fear, alienation, and everyday racism for people with migration backgrounds. Drawing on her own experiences and conversations with activists, artists, and thinkers — including Enissa Amani, Tupoka Ogette, and Lamya Kaddor — she reveals how discrimination manifests not only in political rhetoric, but also in daily encounters, workplaces, and education. Published by Rowohlt in April 2025, Rausländer combines memoir, reportage, and social critique, confronting the dangerous normalization of exclusionary ideas, from “remigration” to “overforeignization.” It’s both a wake-up call and a hopeful appeal for a more inclusive, empathetic society.