The Berlin dance mecca Berghain is known for its eight-hour line and inscrutable door policy. PJ Vogt, host of the podcast "Search Engine," joins us to crack the code. It has to do with Cold War rivalries, German tax law, and one very talented bouncer.
Yesterday
694. Does Democracy Really Need Elections?
Stephen Dubner recently served on a criminal jury. Twelve strangers — selected randomly and barely paid — took the job seriously. Afterward, he wondered: why can’t our politics work that way? A growing movement, inspired by Athenian democracy, says it can. SOURCES:Terry Bouricius ... Show More
1h 4m
Oct 30
693. What’s Our Job as Humans Anymore?
It may just be being human. Stephen Dubner interviews A.I. performer Tilly Norwood to find out if we are as replaceable as we fear. (Part two of a two-part series.) SOURCES:Sean Astin, actor, president of SAG-AFTRA.Kevin Kelly, co-founder of Wired.Ethan Mollick, associate profess ... Show More
57m 32s
Jun 2024
Why didn’t Chris and Dan get into Berghain? (Part 2)
We travel to Germany to trace techno's history from Detroit to Berlin. The story of how, after the Wall fell, Berlin exorcised its brutal past with a very strange, decade-long party. A mission that takes us all the way to the gates of Berghain. Music Credits: Original composition ... Show More
1h 10m
Jun 2023
The History of the World's Greatest Nightclubs | Official Trailer
“The History of the World’s Greatest Nightclubs.” From London Audio, iHeartRadio, and executive producer Paris Hilton. Hosted by Ultra Naté, is a 12-part podcast exploring how different clubs around the world revolutionized the way we party. How they ushered in the birth of new g ... Show More
2m 55s
Sep 2023
Episode 222: From KitKat to Berghain, Inside Berlin’s Sex Clubs
<p>What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think about the city of Berlin, Germany? There’s a good chance that you pictured a kinky nightclub. It’s estimated that as many as 1 in 3 visitors to Berlin goes specifically for these clubs. In today’s show, we’re going to ex ... Show More
34m 13s
Jan 2025
CLASSIC: Secret Rooms, Secret Societies and an Unexpected Guest
When the guys get together to trace the story of secret societies, they aren't expecting a surprise guest to crash their podcast, revealing first-hand experience with some the most elite, secretive organizations in the United States. Wait. How did John Hodgman get in here?They do ... Show More
34m 45s
Aug 2023
Berghain - Berlin, Germany
After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, a new counter-culture emerged as the city came together to form a new identity. That cultural shift inspired the birth of Berghain, an iconic but ultra-private techno hotspot and sex club. Berghain ushered in a new era of hedonism, exces ... Show More
36m 7s
Aug 2023
Berghain - Berlin, Germany
After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, a new counter-culture emerged as the city came together to form a new identity. That cultural shift inspired the birth of Berghain, an iconic but ultra-private techno hotspot and sex club. Berghain ushered in a new era of hedonism, exces ... Show More
36m 7s