Fresh from recording one of the season’s final episodes, Petersen revealed that the latest instalment dives headfirst into one of the country’s most hotly debated issues: the rental market.
In a city where systems can feel opaque, Office Hours continues to do something quietly radical: ask simple questions, and give the answers room to breathe.
Featuring local real estate agents, the discussion skipped the warm-up and went straight to the difficult questions.
The episode addresses uncomfortable realities, including the slowdown in residential construction. Luxembourg is currently building fewer homes than it was in 2010, and significantly fewer than before the pandemic, despite continued population growth.
Unless building catches up, Petersen notes, pressure on renters will only intensify.
For Petersen, passionate guests are both a gift and a challenge. Heated discussions make for compelling listening, but they also demand careful editing.
“I enjoy those conversations more, but they’re harder to edit...there’s just so much good material.” Still, he sees that as a worthwhile trade-off. The aim is always clarity, not confrontation.
The current season of Office Hours reflects Petersen’s wide-ranging interests. Episodes already released explore topics such as Luxembourg’s Book of the Year, the Automobile Club, craft beer brewing with Tottenhopfen, and the city’s graffiti and street art scene.
Another standout episode breaks down the fund industry, a subject Petersen admits he initially approached with hesitation.
Rather than reinforcing stereotypes, the episode offers a practical, beginner-friendly look at how the industry actually works, proving that even finance can be engaging when explained well.
At its heart, Office Hours is about demystifying Luxembourg. Petersen is driven by a desire to separate fact from assumption, whether it’s misconceptions about business, culture, or creative industries.
“So many things get repeated until they sound true. I just want to know what’s really going on.” That mindset shapes every episode, replacing speculation with informed conversation.
Looking ahead, Petersen is already planning future episodes focused on the film industry, Luxembourg’s growing space sector, and the charity landscape, including how major organisations operate behind the scenes.
Office Hours is available on RTL Play, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms, with new episodes released every Friday. The show also airs on radio Sundays at 5pm.
Listeners with ideas for future topics or guests can contact Petersen via LinkedIn or email, reinforcing the show’s open-door approach.
