Happy Podcast with Pascal Hausberger

I sat down with my hilarious friend and stand-up comedian, Kourosh Mohebian, to talk about his life and the experience of growing up in Iran. We started with a surprising dive into the history of his namesake, Cyrus the Great, and the context of his upbringing, where he had to pretend to be religious outside his home. Kourosh shared some wild stories about getting access to entertainment through swapping obscene CDs and watching German cartoons , the weird realities of dating (including car-based flirting) , and the intense challenges of immigrating to Germany for his PhD. It was an incredibly funny and insightful look into life behind the scenes in a restricted society.

In this episode (episode 6), I catch up with one of my closest buddies and former co-host of the "Kimchi Curry" podcast, Ali Hasnain. We reminisce about the chaotic and exciting week in Berlin in 2019 where we kicked off our joint comedy journey. Ali shares hilarious—and cringe-worthy—memories, including the time I thought he was the nicest host ever for researching open mics for me (turns out he wanted to perform too!). We also dive into Ali’s incredible background, from his Indian and Pakistani heritage to his experience as a 10-year-old being evacuated from Indonesia during a political overthrow. Finally, we geek out over our shared love for WWE and how great the current storylines are.

I was delighted to welcome my fellow Berlin comedian, Sandy Jones, onto the podcast to talk about his journey. It took him almost a decade to finally start stand-up, and we discussed how he overcame the 'resistance' to pursue his passion. We dove deep into his artistry with wordplay and puns , and the challenges of moving around the world as a kid—from Indonesia to Texas. Finally, we celebrated our mutual, passionate fandom for WWE wrestling, covering everything from WrestleMania to the Royal Rumble.

In this episode (#4 of Happy Podcast) I talk with stand-up comedian Abi Mohanty, who is based in Berlin and originally from near Calcutta, India. The conversation delves into the darker side of comedy, starting immediately with the recent online hate and real threats Abi received after posting a joke. Abi reflects on the "tragedy plus time" rule for comedy, the difficulty of being an unafraid comedian, and the risks of performing.

In this episode, I sit down with my comedy partner and close friend Simon Gonzales, who is a Swedish/Spanish comedy legend in Berlin’s stand-up comedy scene.We talk about:- The most awkward stage intro ever (after a minute of silence 😳)- Losing €700 on our first tour date and what we learned from it- The behind-the-scenes of running shows in Berlin’s comedy scene- Cultural mashups between Sweden, Spain, and Germany- Simon’s upcoming comedy documentary projectIt’s a mix of laughs, storytelling, and life lessons 😊

In this episode, Berlin-based comedian William Engelhard joins me for a deep dive into his many lives — from studying law and working as a poker dealer in a casino (where he witnessed a €1 million slot machine glitch 😳), to running one of the largest comedy Discord servers, and walking 100km without sleep, just for the sake of it.We also talk about:- Performing stand-up in both German and English- Comedy classes vs. “just doing it”- Having a stalker because of a Discord ban- What William learned from Lenny Bruce and why he contacted his daughter- The mental game of poker, comedy, and long walksThis one’s full of wild stories, laughs, and a surprising amount of stoic philosophy.

In this hilarious and heartfelt episode, I sit down with Berlin-based comedian Richie Schäfer — a former model, world traveler, and now one of Germany’s funniest rising comics. We dive into everything from bombing on stage to spiritual awakenings, from German vs. English comedy to Richie's wild days working in Korea and Australia.Richie shares stories of his time performing in front of tough crowds, the struggle between confidence and self-doubt, and how he's using self improvement to improve in comedy. Expect deep laughs, honest reflections, and some "questionable" World War jokes.🎙 Topics include:Finding your comedic flow (and what kills it)Why German audiences laugh differentlyThe shadow side of being “too nice”Spirituality, psychedelics, and Joe Rogan’s influenceLife lessons from heartbreaks, hangovers, and hustleThe art of starting before you’re readyIf you love comedy, self-growth, or just want to hear two good friends roast each other while getting philosophical — this one’s for you.