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Episode 70: Guess Who's Back

Apr 16

Apr 16 Episode 70: Guess Who's Back

We’re bringing you something a bit different this week. We’ve been in our secret audio vaults and discovered some lost segments from previous episodes. What is Nic’s weird hobby and why is it more fun than you might think? Simon brings us the story of one German’s rubbish hobby, and why it might require most of us to build an extension on our homes. We finish the show with a look at the best football team names from Germany’s lower tiers and ask why calling your team Porndorf might lead to more than a few questions.

Episode 69: Wild Stallions

Apr 9

Apr 9 Episode 69: Wild Stallions

After celebrating being back in the UK last week, Nic’s found it slightly harder to leave than he thought. No matter, it’s episode 69 which gives us a chance to reminisce about Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure! After changes to the rules on gambling advertising in the UK, we take some time to discuss the murky world of gambling. It’s Simon’s Birthday, so we see out the show with some birthday chat. Why do German parents traumatise their children by throwing yoghurt, eggs and flour at them and what gift should you buy your favourite German?

Episode 68: Somebody Feed Nic

Apr 2

Apr 2 Episode 68: Somebody Feed Nic

After two long years, Nic is back in the UK! He’s been enjoying the chance to catch up with some of his favourite Geordie food, from steak bakes to stotties, we discuss a different kind of culinary adventure and how food culture is changing in the UK. We finish the show with a trip to Sheffield to experience a night at a German theme bar.

Episode 67: A Heady Musk

Mar 26

Mar 26 Episode 67: A Heady Musk

Despite Nic’s beer fuelled adventures on St. Patrick’s Day, it’s Simon that’s managed to get injured. We talk suspected broken toes and why ten pints of Guinness is more effective than a spa weekend or any juice cleanse. We turn our attention to some rotten employee relations in the UK, we return to Brandenberg for an update on the Tesla factory and we finish off this week with a look at changes being made to language learning in UK schools.

Episode 66: Viennese Whirl

Mar 19

Mar 19 Episode 66: Viennese Whirl

We cower in fear as the skies around Bavaria turn yellow, luckily for us it’s only a saharan sandstorm. Wonders of the natural world aside, Simon and Nic discuss returning to the garden after the winter break as Germany finally comes back to life with the arrival of spring. We respond to some listener’s questions, reminisce about our first meeting and try desperately to remember why on earth we started the podcast in the first place. We finish this week with a look at changes to the Bundesliga as Schalke 04 remove their Russian sponsors from their shirts.

Episode 65: Ski Chump

Mar 12

Mar 12 Episode 65: Ski Chump

Simon is almost fully recovered from his brush with the Rona, but he crawls from his sick bed to join Nic for a discussion on surprise beard compliments and why the Germans aren’t as thirsty as the British for a pat on the back. After a week off, we collect our thoughts on the current crisis in Ukraine and we take some time to discuss the numerous changes occurring in German politics and society at large. Finally, Nic’s experience in the mountains has led him to wonder if German ski culture is the worst of all the sub-cultures.

Episode 64: Support Ukraine

Mar 5

Mar 5 Episode 64: Support Ukraine

Simon is out with Covid, which leaves Nic to try and comprehend the massive changes happening in German politics since the invasion of Ukraine. Given the current situation, it didn’t feel right to record a wholly new podcast this week, so after a short intro and discussion on Ukraine, the invasion and Germany’s response, we’ve chosen some of our favourite segments from the last year to replay.

Episode 63: Berlin Calling

Feb 26

Feb 26 Episode 63: Berlin Calling

Nic and Simon discuss potential hangover cures and why the best must combine some weird ingredients. Following on from our chat with Abby Young-Powell last week, we bring you part 2 of our discussion as we focus on the differences between Berlin and Bavaria. Do all Berliners have to have blue hair, does Bavaria have techno, and which location is the best for new arrivals in Germany?

Episode 62: Steam Dream

Feb 19

Feb 19 Episode 62: Steam Dream

We have a very special guest this week, Journalist Abby Young-Powell joins us to discuss German sauna culture and why the British seem so reluctant to enjoy one of the most popular activities in Germany, the naked sauna. Of course, we’re not just talking about the health benefits of a good steam, Abby has worked for many years as a freelancer in Berlin and she brings her experience to the podcast as we discuss the highs and lows of freelancing in Germany.

Episode 61: Dicker Pulli an Mann

Feb 12

Feb 12 Episode 61: Dicker Pulli an Mann

Rejoice you lovers of kebabs, Simon’s getting a new kebab shop at the end of his street! While he plans for a future smothered in chili and garlic sauce, Nic wonders why takeaways are so rubbish in his area, Olaf Scholz surprises the world by wearing a slightly baggy jumper, we take a break from the comings and goings of German politics and lament the dumpster fire that is the British government and we finish by looking at the curious case of chickens in high-vis vests.

Episode 60: Kartoffelliebe

Feb 5

Feb 5 Episode 60: Kartoffelliebe

A discussion on condiments gives Simon a chance to introduce his new favourite segment, The Potato Quiz! Having moved to Bavaria for the beer, among other things, we’re slightly concerned by news of dropping beer consumption in Germany. Is the pandemic to blame? We discuss a Munich museum that’s investigating the origins of it’s Cameroonian art collection and we finish the show on the plight of the humble tattoo artist.

Episode 59: Unidentified Franken Objects

Jan 29

Jan 29 Episode 59: Unidentified Franken Objects

Nic has a strange experience while helping someone move house. While he kicks himself for not taking the opportunity to make more jokes about it at the time, Simon’s been playing the new internet sensation Wordle, even going as far as to try it in German! We talk about taking the opportunity to travel, discuss public holidays in the UK and Germany, why masks might make you more attractive and we finish on a the first recorded image of UFOs coming from Simon’s home town of Nürnberg.

Episode 58: Don't Call Me Soccer

Jan 22

Jan 22 Episode 58: Don't Call Me Soccer

Following a suggestion from a listener, we dedicate this week’s show to finding the perfect football team for a new arrival to Germany. Football can be a great way to meet new people, but which team should someone choose? Is it better to be a winner, a glorious loser or the ultimate football hipster? We review the many different teams from all corners of the country, why lower league teams might help you get to know the country and, most importantly, why you should never support Bayern Munich.

Ep 57: Hobbies and Bumshells

Jan 15

Jan 15 Ep 57: Hobbies and Bumshells

We’re talking hobbies this week. Nic takes us through the differences between Germany and Britain when it comes to choosing a hobby and Simon makes some suggestions for British hobbies that could be more popular here. We finish up on some worrying UK statistics from the NHS that outline the dangers of taking on new hobbies, while Simon celebrates some unconventional uses for military ordinance.

Ep 56: Meaty Wisemen

Jan 8

Jan 8 Ep 56: Meaty Wisemen

Well done, we’ve made it through the first week of 2022! We celebrate with some chat about three kings, public holidays and friends who bring the gift of beer. Nic wonders whether he’s old or if it’s only the pandemic that’s preventing him from clubbing, while Simon just wants to go to the pub with his mates. Thanks to a listener, Simon questions whether every kebab is really great while Nic talks about his German family’s reaction to a humble PBJ sandwich. To finish, we talk about government plans to improve the quality of food production.

Ep 55: Nicht mehr rutschen

Jan 1

Jan 1 Ep 55: Nicht mehr rutschen

With festivities coming to an end, we talk about leisure drinking during Christmas, New Year’s cocktails and accidental impoliteness. Simon discusses the importance of winning video games against relatives and Nic reflects on his cheese and stollen fuelled nightmares. We chat about plans for New Year’s Eve, fireworks bans, and New Year’s Resolutions. Finally, we finish the first pod of 2022 with a previously unheard conversation taken from our chat with Dr. Sandra Jansen, way back in episode 44.

Ep 54: Cheese Up Your Stollen

Dec 25

Dec 25 Ep 54: Cheese Up Your Stollen

It’s Christmas Day and we bring you tidings of beer world cups and how to celebrate Christmas when half your family are German and the other British. Is Christmas the 24th, the 25th or both? Can anyone celebrate back to back Christmases and hope to survive? We delve deeply into the importance of food to British festivities and why the typical Weihnachtsmenü can often leave a lot to be desired. We finish the celebrations with an important experiment as we answer one of the most challenging questions known to humanity: which cheese goes best with a nice piece of Stollen?

Episode 53: Festive Carnage

Dec 18

Dec 18 Episode 53: Festive Carnage

After disappointing news from the UK, Nic and Simon survey what remains of their Christmas plans, for Simon that means finally buying a Christmas tree, for Nic it’s navigating strange shops in search of decorations. Christmas maybe cancelled in the UK, but that doesn’t mean we have to miss out; Simon is here to help with his top plätzchen choices, while Nic happily accepts his new position as the Lord of Christmas (Long may he reign!). Nic explains why he’s now legitimately scared of German spiders and we finish with a German record amount of Christmas trees squeezed into one apartment.

Episode 52: 12 Months of Nonsense

Dec 11

Dec 11 Episode 52: 12 Months of Nonsense

We’re joined by Tom the Abroad American to talk konterbier, turkey hangovers and why the British should be celebrating Thanksgiving. Nic does some emergency baking, Simon enjoys his new snow shovel and Tom tells us what it’s like to go to university in Germany. We discuss why Germans don’t enjoy spicy food, Nic shares his dream of buying a sword, and we finish by looking at a recent report on Corona protests in the East of Germany.

Episode 51: Banter Amt

Dec 4

Dec 4 Episode 51: Banter Amt

We’ve finished sweeping up the confetti and recycling the champagne bottles from episode 50, so we turn our attentions to the future. For Nic that means cancelling Christmas and for Simon, buying a snow shovel. We talk the perfect weather for a crime drama and our recent appearance on The Expatcast. Simon takes us through the chaos of the recent Bayern Munich AGM, and we finish this week with a look at the new German government and their plans for the next four years.