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Delayland – Germany and the Missing Magic

DW

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Delayland is a podcast about the difference between the international image of Germany and the reality. Once called an "economic miracle", we take you on a tour through this country famous for efficiency and its automotive industry, showing you all the things that don’t work like they used to. Along the way, we ask what Germany can learn from other countries to get back on track. Come along for the ride – and be prepared to kiss your German stereotypes goodbye.

Recent Episodes

SEP 23, 2026
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Why would someone risk their life for a country that's not their own? From LA Times Studios, DW, and Futuro Studios, this is a show about the thousands of Latin American soldiers who are fighting in Ukraine, for Ukraine.
4 MIN
DEC 18, 2025
E5 - Migration: The Power of Optimism
Despite the problems we discussed in Delayland, people from many countries want to live and work in Germany. From nurses to IT specialists, skilled workers are needed, but bureaucracy is slowing things down. Write to: [email protected]
36 MIN
DEC 11, 2025
E4 – What the Fax?!?
Waiting in line forever at city hall to register a new address – that’s how we roll in Germany. Accessing public services online is the exception, not the rule. In fact, sending a fax might speed things up (if you can believe that). But it's not as if people don't want to change. And we've found two countries that could teach us how to go digital. Write to: [email protected]
38 MIN
DEC 4, 2025
E3 – Bricks and Bureaucracy
Big construction projects take surprisingly long to complete in Germany. It can take a decade or longer to build an airport, a train station, or a concert hall — skyrocketing costs included. What happened to the country’s love of planning and efficiency? Now, a neighboring country that's not famous for timely execution is showing Germany how it’s done. Write to: [email protected]
37 MIN
NOV 27, 2025
E2 – German Cars: Stuck in a Jam
For years, German car manufacturers were convinced they built the world’s best automobiles — and the world was happy to buy from them. Then, nothing. Until a country that once was Germany’s pupil in car design sped ahead. How can Germany get back in the race?
41 MIN