Host's passing lamented: Radio Spätkauf mourns its deceased on-air personality
Maisie Hitchcock, a prominent figure in Berlin's podcast scene, passed away in August 2023 at the age of 47, following a battle with ovarian cancer. Known for her co-founding and longtime hosting of Radio Spätkauf, a Berlin news show and cultural podcast platform, Hitchcock's impact on the city's media landscape was significant.
The two-hour-long episode titled Maisie's Voice, released this summer, offers a deeply intimate and expansive portrait of Hitchcock's life and thoughts. Recorded in her hospital room in London, the episode features Hitchcock discussing her decision to stop treatment and her feelings about her impending death, as well as her passions for East German architecture, Berlin's lakes, and German music. Joel Dullroy, one of the hosts of Radio Spätkauf, traveled from Berlin to be present for the recording.
Dullroy spent nearly a year stitching together the episode, filling in gaps with archive material and their last hospital conversation. The last 30 minutes of Maisie's Voice is a profoundly eloquent portrait of Hitchcock's approaching death. In her final words to Dullroy, she asked for a "good eulogy, Joel!"
Hitchcock's contributions to Radio Spätkauf were marked by her voice and perspectives that shaped the program's explorations of cultural, social, and urban topics in Berlin. Interviews featuring her touched on themes such as navigating personal challenges, cultural institutions in Berlin, and the evolving urban landscape. The show she appeared on often blended local news, cultural critiques, and interviews with artists and activists, creating a platform influential to Berlin’s podcast ecosystem.
Before her move to Berlin in 2005, Hitchcock was a native of England. After being diagnosed with cancer during the 2020 lockdown, she moved back to England for treatment. Despite her illness, Hitchcock occasionally returned to Berlin and Radio Spätkauf to talk about her cancer diagnosis, in hopes of alerting others to the subtle symptoms of ovarian cancer.
Joel Dullroy, inspired by Hitchcock's approach to pursuing dreams, has expressed his goal to become a roving video journalist and spend more time in Australia. Hitchcock's passions, such as East German architecture, Berlin's lakes, and German music, often shaped the aural aesthetic of Radio Spätkauf. She was deeply knowledgeable about German music, including "Kraut-rocky-type synthy noodlings" and Deutschrap.
In memory of Maisie Hitchcock, Radio Spätkauf released a tribute episode, a poignant and moving testament to a life well-lived and a legacy that continues to inspire.
Books that revolve around German music or architecture, particularly East German, may find Maisie Hitchcock's experiences intriguing, given her deep knowledge and passion for these subjects. The entertainment industry can also draw inspiration from Hitchcock's life journey, her courage in the face of adversity, and her impact on Berlin's podcast scene.
