That's me
How did a chubby boy from the German countryside become a social media superstar?
What took him from a local bank counter to stages in Shanghai, Los Angeles, and Berlin?
MY JOURNEY
1988
Little Dragon Arrives
From day one, I was already something of a curiosity—I happened to be the heaviest baby in the entire hospital at the time. The chief physician even brought his students around to see this chubby little wonder!
2007
First Step on Chinese Soil
A small step for humanity, but a giant leap for me. On my very first trip to China, I never imagined it would one day become my second home.
2017
Hi, Nicole!
Apparently, someone in Shanghai thought it would be entertaining to have the 300-pound version of me interview Nicole Kidman during her visit—so that’s exactly what happened!
2018
The German President Calls
What do you do when the German president (or his team) calls? You definitely pick up! That’s exactly what happened to me in December 2018, when Frank-Walter Steinmeier invited me to join his first trip to China. I slipped into my suit and suddenly found myself immersed in high-stakes world politics—complete with a military honors reception and a state banquet served on gilded porcelain.
2019
My Writing Debut
I’ve always loved to read, and in 2019, my dream finally came true: a published book with my name on it. It even made it onto the German Spiegel bestseller list—although it just barely squeezed in at the bottom, and only for a week. But hey, it still counts!
2019
Germany’s Most Famous TV Show
I grew up without a television, but suddenly found myself invited to Germany’s most prestigious talk show—Markus Lanz. Life can be pretty surprising sometimes.
2020
10 Million Followers
An unbelievable milestone—since I started creating social media content, over 10 million people have chosen to hit the follow button. They must have found my videos entertaining, educational, and fun, and even now, that number still amazes me.
My friend and business partner, Damian Maib, and I decided to start a podcast after nearly a decade of entrepreneurship in China. We wanted to share what we’ve learned with the world. To date, CEOs, presidents, and founders have joined us, offering insights to almost 100,000 listeners.
2022
My Face Is
Everywhere In China
A German company invited me to be the ambassador for their trusty cleaning detergent. I agreed—and before I knew it, my face was splashed across subway stations and trains in Shanghai and Guangzhou. Talk about crazy!
2023
Pamela Reif Conquers China
She’s an international superstar, and like me, she’s German—plus she’s already wildly popular in China. My team and I invited her to visit, meet her fans face-to-face, and collaborate with local brands. It was a massive success!
2024
Bestseller Publication
Together with Damian, I published a German edition of the long-standing bestseller, The One Hour China Book by Lola Woetzel and Jeffrey Towson. It’s a must-read for anyone looking to understand how the Chinese economy operates.
2025
Stand-up Comedy Debut
I’ve always loved the stage and entertaining others, so trying stand-up comedy felt like a natural step. On my first attempt, though, not a single person laughed. Undeterred, I immersed myself in the art of comedy—and now I’m part of Shanghai’s most famous comedy club, Spicy Comedy.