Why is a Nazi resistance fighter big in Brazil and unheard of in Germany? How did an African American bass-baritone artist become a national hero in the former GDR? Does Onkel Toms Huette refer to a German man and his cabins or the protagonist of a controversial American 19th-century novel? Senior Producer Dina Elsayed explores the fascinating stories behind Berlin’s unusual street names in this special Common Ground collaboration with the Goethe Institute for The Big Ponder series.

Featuring guests:

Blogger and author Beata Gontarczyk-Krampe;
Musicologist and historian Kira Thurman;
Saxophonist and sound experimentalist Matana Roberts;
Literary and cultural historian Todd Carmody;
Artist Tatiana Heide;
Filmmaker Thais Nepomuceno.

This show was produced by Dina Elsayed and Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson.

Frederic Chopin’s Prelude Opus 28, No. 9 was performed by Paul Cantrell. Also featured are "Brazil" by Serge Quadrado, "Woke up this Morning" by Till Paradiso and All is Written by Matana Roberts from their album Coin Coin: Chapter Three.

And from Blue Dot Studios, we heard Nine Count, Minister Creek, Vulcan Street and Ervira.

Note on the correct pronunciation of Matana Roberts' first name: equal emphasis should be given to all three syllables.

Street Names

Common Ground Berlin