Simonetti and Engelke are ending their podcast.
Fans are surprised by this news. Riccardo Simonetti and Anke Engelke announce the end of their joint podcast "Free Hugs" after 40 episodes. However, there's hope for a "reunion".
Entertainer Riccardo Simonetti and actress Anke Engelke are ending their podcast "Free Hugs". The 40th episode, "A Milestone and a Farewell", is officially the last, as Simonetti explained in an Instagram post.
"Bye Bye 'Free Hugs'. Those of you who listened to the latest episode this morning know that we've reached the 40th and final episode of our podcast," he wrote in the post today. Simonetti and Engelke want to thank "all the Hug fans for the support and love you've shown for this project that meant so much to all of us. Without you, 'Free Hugs' would never have become so personal and multifaceted!"
Engelke and Simonetti never thought they would speak so openly and personally in public, "especially because it really felt like a safe space," Simonetti gushed.
In the final episode, Anke Engelke also addresses all listeners: "We thank you for this beautiful time, for your trust, interest, and feedback. That was really beautiful. One door closes, and somewhere else, another door or window opens. There's always a reunion and a re-listening."
The end of "Free Hugs" comes as a surprise to fans. "What, it's over?", "No, you can't stop" or "Now Fridays have no meaning" are just some of the sad and disappointed comments under Simonetti's Instagram post.
Emotions without a filter
Riccardo Simonetti and actress Anke Engelke started the Spotify podcast "Quality Time with Riccardo and Anke" in February 2023. After a break, they returned in November 2023 with the Wondery podcast "Free Hugs", featuring a bonus episode on Amazon Music, under the motto "An embrace for the soul".
"If you spend quality time with your girlfriends, all emotions are played out, there's no filter, and you talk like you feel in that moment. That's what we want to do," Simonetti explained at the start in an interview with spot on news. "In a podcast, you can give many food for thought, make recommendations, and convey feelings."
The two met in 2022 on the ProSieben format "Who's Stealing My Show?", where they competed against Joko Winterscheidt in quiz rounds.
After sharing intimate conversations and emotions for over 40 episodes, Riccardo Simonetti and Anke Engelke decide to conclude their podcast "Free Hugs" on Spotify and Wondery. Despite the end of their current series, the duo expresses hope for a potential future reunion, promising a continuation of the heartfelt connection they've established with their listeners.
As fans process the news, some express their disappointment and longing for the weekly podcast, emphasizing that "Free Hugs" now feels like an integral part of their Fridays.
