Nine episodes, nine cities, nine stories – Tourismus Marketing GmbH Baden-Württemberg presents a new podcast format for the "Cities of the South."
With its new podcast "Kultur? Echt jetzt!" (Culture? Really!), Tourismus Marketing GmbH Baden-Württemberg is putting the spotlight on the cultural diversity of the state. In nine episodes, actress and presenter Thelma Buabeng talks to outstanding cultural figures from Baden-Baden, Freiburg, Heidelberg, Heilbronn, Karlsruhe, Mannheim, Pforzheim, Stuttgart, and Ulm.
The podcast was created as part of the "Das ist echt – wenn du da bist" (It's real – when you're there) campaign and was recorded in October 2025 at the historic Schiesshaus in Heilbronn. The episodes will be available on all popular streaming platforms starting in December 2025.
The range of interviewees reflects the cultural diversity of the state: Alev Seker, main presenter of the ARD business magazine "Plusminus" and a native of Heilbronn, talks about her journey from secondary school to ARD. Rainer Kern, founder and director of the internationally renowned Enjoy Jazz Festival, recounts 25 years of festival history and the healing power of music.
Markus Beisel, alias Céline Bouvier, artistic director of the Rhein-Neckar Theater in Mannheim and drag performer, discusses the significance of live culture in the digital age. Fashion designers Abarna Kugathasan and Claudia Walter from Kitschy Couture talk about how they conquered Berlin Fashion Week from Pforzheim and dress pop star Nina Chuba.
Other guests include Max Ruhbaum (actor and comedian, Baden-Baden), Ariane Müller from the award-winning cabaret duo "Suchtpotenzial" (Ulm), the theater duo Vanessa Valk and Jens Burde, who work on innovative projects on German colonial history (Freiburg), Sara Dahme, founder of the legendary Stuttgart "Kultur Kiosk" and cultural policy spokesperson for the SPD in the local council, and media artist Jonas Denzel, who lights up Karlsruhe's facades with his Beambike.
Thelma Buabeng is one of the most versatile artists in the German media landscape. The actress, presenter, and activist is known for her roles in award-winning productions such as "Berlin Alexanderplatz" and "Borga." Since 2024, she has played the lead role in the ZDF crime series "Die Polizistin" and co-hosts the SWR talk show "Five Souls" with Hadnet Tesfai and Natasha Kimberly. With the founding of the "Black Womxn Matter" community, she is committed to strengthening Afro-German female perspectives in the media and society.
The "Cities of the South" include Baden-Baden, Freiburg, Heidelberg, Heilbronn, Karlsruhe, Mannheim, Pforzheim, Stuttgart, and Ulm. As a marketing cooperation, they jointly present the cultural diversity of Baden-Württemberg. The campaign is supported by Tourismus Marketing GmbH Baden-Württemberg in cooperation with the nine cities and highlights the cultural appeal of the state.
The nine podcast episodes are available on Spotify ( https://open.spotify.com/show/0oiXr5av67YhwOZC1bU4g7?si=7Zyj1dnBSvaI3GRQTmpDmw), among other platforms.
Accompanying video clips and behind-the-scenes material are also available on the social media channels
of the cities of the south.
Instagram: www.instagram.com/visit.sueden.cities
Facebook: www.facebook.com/visit.sueden.cities
https://www.visit-bw.com/de/staedte/staedte-des-suedens
Press contact:
Eric Golub
Supporting agency ViewYork Media
Email: eric@viewyork.de
Phone: 016276514712
Further information: www.visit-bw.com | www.städtedessüdens.de