S1E1 - Beatsteaks and Beefy Arms

Berlin’s evolution from a gritty, affordable city in 2005 to a global metropolis serves as the backdrop for a personal narrative about the physical risks of high-energy subcultures. While the city’s landscape has shifted—transforming the Tempelhof airport into a public park and seeing the rise of the world-famous club Berghain—the local music scene remains a defining characteristic. Alex, a high school student at the time, attended a sold-out concert by the rock band Beatsteaks at Columbia Halle, where he participated in "pogoing," a form of high-impact jumping and pushing. Three days later, he discovered a severely swollen left arm, which a doctor diagnosed via ultrasound as a life-threatening blood clot, or thrombosis. Although medical professionals could not definitively pinpoint the cause, the incident highlights the unexpected medical side effects that can arise from the intense physical exertion and "rausch" (ecstasy) of live punk and rock performances.