The city of Leipzig is getting a new platform to make the voices of its residents heard. Mayor Burkhard Jung is launching his own podcast, 'Leipzig & Leute', in which he seeks to talk to people from the region once a month. The aim is to shed light on topics that move the city and its inhabitants.
In the first episode, Jung talks to the promising gymnast Jessica Schlegel. The 19-year-old, who trains at TuG Leipzig, recently won gold on the beam at the EnBW-DTB Cup. Schlegel is also the official ambassador for the International German Gymnastics Festival, which takes place in Leipzig from May 28 to June 1. Around 80,000 athletes are expected, and the gymnastics and European championships will also be taking place at the New Trade Fair Centre at the same time.
Mayor Jung emphasizes the importance of an open exchange beyond the headlines: "A podcast is also a first for me. I want to get into conversation with people who are moving Leipzig forward." With this format, he offers Leipzigers a new, in-depth platform. Jung also admits to having a soft spot for the podcast format: "After the first conversation, I can say: I'm in the mood for more."
The podcast series will be available on various platforms such as leipzig.de, Spotify and Apple Podcasts. In the upcoming June edition, the podcast will be dedicated to the renowned Bachfest. Artistic director Michael Maul is expected to attend as a guest.
With 'Leipzig & Leute', Jung is not only creating proximity and dialog with citizens, but also expanding the city's cultural offerings with an innovative medium. In the long term, this could strengthen the sense of community and promote the participation of residents.
