Memorializing her tenure: Eulogy for the departed radio host of Spätkauf
In a poignant tribute to Maisie Hitchcock, co-founder and longtime host of the Berlin-based podcast Radio Spätkauf, the show released an episode titled Maisie's Voice this summer. The two-hour-long portrait, filled with personal reflections and profound insights, serves as both a celebration of Hitchcock's life and a personal eulogy for Joel Dullroy, who now considers himself a part-time Berliner.
Maisie Hitchcock, who passed away from ovarian cancer in August 2023 at the age of 47, moved to Berlin in 2005 and quickly became an integral part of the city's cultural scene. Her impact on Radio Spätkauf and Berlin's current affairs podcast scene is reflected in the ongoing legacy of the show, which continues to engage deeply with Berlin's cultural and political issues.
Maisie's Voice provides a profoundly eloquent portrait of Hitchcock's approaching death. The recording, made in a London hospital where Hitchcock had gone for treatment, captures her decision to stop treatment for her cancer and her final thoughts on life, death, and her passion for Berlin.
Joel Dullroy, a fellow Berliner, traveled from Berlin to London to record the conversation with Hitchcock. In the episode, Dullroy describes his role as getting out of the way to let Hitchcock tell as much as possible. The result is a deeply intimate, expansively philosophical, funny, informative, and entertaining tribute that encapsulates Hitchcock's spirit and the ethos she helped establish at Radio Spätkauf.
Hitchcock's passions, including East German architecture, Berlin's lakes, German music, and specific tastes and smells, significantly influenced Radio Spätkauf. Her early defence of Deutschrap, a genre often maligned in Germany, also played a role in shaping the show's content and tone.
Radio Spätkauf is known for its incisive discussions on Berlin’s current affairs, engaging with topics like urban development, culture, social issues, and subcultures. For example, the podcast collaborates with institutions like the Europäische Akademie Berlin to explore challenges faced by independent artists and subcultures in Berlin, showing its role as a platform for preserving and discussing city culture in depth.
Hitchcock's influence extended beyond Radio Spätkauf, inspiring Dullroy to pursue his dreams, including becoming a roving video journalist and spending more time in Australia. Her honesty about her cancer diagnosis on Radio Spätkauf, aiming to alert others to the subtle symptoms of ovarian cancer, also serves as a testament to her commitment to cultural dialogue and social awareness up to her final days.
In conversations shortly before her death, Hitchcock shared personal reflections on joy despite cancer, indicating her unwavering passion for cultural dialogue. Her last words to Joel Dullroy were "Give me a good eulogy, Joel!", a challenge that Dullroy met with this touching tribute episode.
Maisie's Voice is a poignant reminder of the impact one person can have on a community and a testament to the enduring power of podcasting as a medium for personal and cultural expression.
The poignant tribute episode, Maisie's Voice, not only showcases Maisie Hitchcock's passion for Berlin's culture, but also delves into her views on life, death, and social issues, making it a compelling mix of entertainment, pop-culture, and social-media discussions. Joel Dullroy, inspired by Maisie's spirit, has used this podcast to express his thoughts on Maisie's influence, extending beyond books and radio to encompass social media and Berlin's cultural landscape.
