
Households worldwide have spent decades watching game shows with bated breath. Now, in Germany, game show enthusiasts can enjoy the same rush by listening to the new Die Podcast Games (The Podcast Games), an exclusive Spotify Original podcast. The show is the first German-language podcast of its kind, but it's in experienced hands with well-known television host Jeannine Michaelsen. The weekly show's first episode is now available to stream, with new episodes premiering on Saturdays.
One of our core missions and values at Spotify Studios is innovation, explained Daniel Nikolaou, Content Development Lead at Spotify DACH and Die Podcast Games producer. As part of that, it is very important to us to move the conversation surrounding podcasts forward. One thing that we saw was missing in Germany was a full-fledged, entertaining, and well-produced game show. Die Podcast Games is a great example of how podcasts truly don't have any creative boundaries.
The game show pits eight celebrity contestants against one another to test their knowledge and quick thinking. Throughout the season, guests face off in three stages-a set of four preliminary rounds, two semifinals, and then the finale-to compete for the prize of 20,000 euros donated to the charity of their choice. Guests span the entertainment world and include artists Alli Neumann and Drangsal, as well as co-host of podcast Zum Scheitern Verurteilt Laura Larsson, television presenter Aminata Belli, model Stefanie Giesinger, YouTube star JokaH Tululu, content creator Papaplatte, and co-host of Spotify Original podcast Offline + Ehrlich and YouTube star Varion.
Alli Neumann
Jeannine Michaelsen
Aminata Belli
JokaH Tululu
Papaplatte
Laura Larsson
Leading up to recording, the producers took seriously the challenge of translating what is traditionally a television program into audio. Die Podcast Games team members tested and retested the show's games, carefully calibrating each segment to ensure the show struck the right balance between engaging quizzes that would invite listeners to participate and straightforward challenges that would not overwhelm the audience with lengthy instructions or overbearing sound effects. One priority, both producers noted, was allowing room for candid moments between contestants.
We are really proud of how well we have managed to maintain the excitement that a game show inherently holds without the usual multi-camera set up, added fellow show producer Gianluca Schappei, Creative Producer Podcasts at Spotify DACH. For too long, game shows have been a staple of just mainstream TV-they clearly work just as well (or even better) in audio form!
The secret ingredient to this show's recipe for game show success? Host Jeannine. Both producers credit her with taking the show to another level. For the Record spoke with the quizmaster to learn more about her experience helping bring this audio adventure to life.
You're making the pivot from hosting on TV to hosting over an audio format. What is your favorite aspect of the new format? It's the perfect fun, entertaining, tag-along quiz show with cool guests, games, and everything. And I can host it in sweats!
Were there any challenges or differences working in audio that surprised you? I can focus completely on the audio. That's the difference and challenge. My voice has to do the entire job. I love it.
Game shows have moments of suspense and intense drama. How did you make sure listeners experienced similar highs and lows? The contestants and I take them there. All the fun and games aside, it's still a competition-everybody wants to win. It gets serious. You can hear the tension. Plus, the sound design is awesome, and that does the trick as well.
Who are the first few guests listeners can expect on the show? Can you share any fun behind-the-scenes moments from recording that didn't make it onto the episodes? Well, there's Laura Larsson, Stefanie Giesinger, Drangsal, and Alli Neumann, to name just a few of them. They're all different, all awesome. And the behind-the-scenes fun is actually part of this podcast. We all deal with each other the same way on and off the record. Listen and you'll hear it.
What about Die Podcast Games are you most proud of? The whole package. I just love that show!
See how you match up to the first round of game show competitors. Stream Die Podcast Games, now.
Most recent headlines
11/12/2025
Dalet, a leading provider of cloud-native, end-to-end media workflow solutions, ...
28/11/2025
Nadia Fall attends the 2025 Sundance Film Festival premiere of Brides at the Egyptian Theatre on January 24, 2025, in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Donyale West/...
28/11/2025
It's easy to ignore those little red update available badges. But when it ...
28/11/2025
WASHINGTON Federal Communications Commission has released a tentative agenda for the December Open Commission Meeting scheduled for Thursday, December 18, 2025 ...
28/11/2025
The Professional Fighters League is looking to super-serve fans of mixed martial...
28/11/2025
Fubo has released in beta on select Roku devices a new feature that lets users display up to four simultaneous streams at once....
28/11/2025
The WNBA playoffs and Week 4 of the NFL regular season highlight the list of live sports events airing on television this weekend....
28/11/2025
The 32nd class of honorees to the B+C Hall of Fame took to the stage at New York's Ziegfeld Ballroom on September 26 for a gala induction event. Click below...
28/11/2025
We hold in our hands the very last Next Text for Next TV, the weekly back-and-fo...
28/11/2025
DirecTV said it made a deal with EchoStar to buy EchoStar's video businesses, including satellite-TV provider Dish TV and virtual MVPD Sling TV, for $1 plus...
28/11/2025
The Broadcasting+Cable Hall of Fame, the premier industry event paying tribute to the influencers, innovators and shining lights of broadcast, cable and streami...
28/11/2025
Friday 28 November 2025
Sky Sports x Slawn drop limited-edition football jersey...
28/11/2025
Rohde & Schwarz shows resilience in a challenging environment, revenue exceeds t...
28/11/2025
Unwrapped: The Toy Show Appeal - airing this Sunday on RT One and RT Player- s...
27/11/2025
LONDON Vizrt has added several AI-driven advanced features offering improved speed, intelligence and accuracy in the newest version of its media asset managemen...
27/11/2025
Prime Video has launched AI-powered video season recaps in a beta version for select English-language Prime Original series in the U.S., a move Amazon is callin...
27/11/2025
Back to All News
Netflix's Raat Akeli Hai: The Bansal Murders Marks a Grand...
27/11/2025
27 Nov 2025
GSMA brings M360 Eurasia 2026 to Samarkand in partnership with VEON...
27/11/2025
Tahar Rahim and Izuka Hoyle star in the gripping six-part Sky Original from Acad...
27/11/2025
Thursday 27 November 2025
Sky Arts Reveals the Nation's Greatest Basslines - and Queen Reign Supreme
The UK's most iconic basslines have been revealed...
27/11/2025
Back to All News
Stranger Things 5': Prepare for One Last Adventure With O...
27/11/2025
The media industry has a paradox at its core. It's an industry built on light, color and imagination, yet behind the scenes, it's powered by one of the ...
27/11/2025
Rating reflects rating progress across areas including policies, diversity & inclusion, health & safety and Net Zero leadership
Winchester, UK, 27 November 202...
27/11/2025
What are the industry standards for Retail Media? Kathryn explains that certification is based on the IAB Europe Retail Media Measurement Standards and the IAB ...
27/11/2025
World champion boxer and Irish sporting icon Katie Taylor will be in studio this...
27/11/2025
Roblox, one of the world's most popular online gaming platforms for primary ...
27/11/2025
Black Friday is leveling up. Get ready to score one of the biggest deals of the season - 50% off the first three months of a new GeForce NOW Ultimate membership...
26/11/2025
SVG Sit-Down: Prime Video EP Mike Muriano Previews Massive Black Friday Slate Fe...
26/11/2025
A cinematic snow sculpture at the 1995 Sundance Film Festival. Photo by Randall Michelson...
26/11/2025
Book podcasts are booming. On Spotify, you'll find everything from celebrity book clubs to deep dives with bestselling authors. And in markets where audiobo...
26/11/2025
Mumbai, November 24, 2025: In a first-of-its-kind initiative, JioStar, in collab...
26/11/2025
LONDON Factual content producer ITN Productions has launched a new low-latency IP gallery for news bulletins....
26/11/2025
MIAMI TelevisaUnivision said it struck a new multiyear distribution agreement with YouTube TV that includes distribution of TelevisaUnivision's U.S. network...
26/11/2025
OpenDrives, Inc., a leader in software-defined data storage and data services, today announced the launch of the Atlas Corporate Creative Solution. This new Atl...
26/11/2025
Disguise, the industry-leading company powering the world's biggest live performances, is partnering with pioneering LED wall manufacturer DVS to give atten...
26/11/2025
HighField AI, the pioneer in agentic and multimodal automation for broadcast and media production, today announced the expansion of its global channel partner n...
26/11/2025
As high-stakes Premier League fixtures approach and additional premium content launches, with MONO positioning themselves to dominate Thailand's sports stre...
26/11/2025
Hosting a wide variety of events from high-intensity NHL games to complex live music concerts and major entertainment productions, Montreal's 21,000 capacit...
26/11/2025
Vizrt, the leader in live production technology revolutionizing viewer engagement and experience, releases AI-driven advances focusing on speed, intelligence, a...
26/11/2025
ITN Productions, an award-winning factual content producer, today launched a new low-latency IP gallery for news bulletins. Responsible for delivering a leading...
26/11/2025
Ikegami reports ongoing advances throughout 2025 in developing and delivering coordinated television production solutions that maximize quality, versatility and...
26/11/2025
Following the Nov. 21 blackout of NBCUniversal channels on Fubo, the two sides have traded barbs about their inability to reach a new carriage deal....
26/11/2025
LONDON As TV sports rights become increasingly important for both broadcasters and streamers, Ampere Analysis predicts global investment in the genre will surpa...
26/11/2025
LOS ANGELES Vubiquity said it has achieved the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Media & Entertainment Competency as part of the AWS Partner Network (APN). This designa...
26/11/2025
WASHINGTON The Federal Communications Commission's Enforcement Bureau said it has entered into a consent decree with Comcast calling for the cable company t...
26/11/2025
Berklee Named to the Hollywood Reporters Top Music Schools List The publication highlights the college's screen scoring program, industry partnerships, and ...
26/11/2025
Back to All News
Animated Series Love Through a Prism' Casts New Light on ...
26/11/2025
Back to All News
NALIP Unveils Fifth Cohort of Director Incubator
Social Impact
26 November 2025
United States
Link copied to clipboard
The National Assoc...
26/11/2025
YouView Achieves Greenly Gold Certification for SustainabilityNov 26, 2025
YouView is proud to announce a Gold Certification award from Greenly for our perform...