After three weeks of general calm, we welcome Nic back to the podcast, fresh from some serious holiday adventuring. Before we can get to that though, there’s some admin to cover, and an important question to ask: how come the podcast gets the best reviews when Nic is away? We probably all know, but better not to tell him…

We take some time to pick through the recent and rather depressing results from state elections in Sachsen & Thuringia, and ponder how to form a government from the disparate selection of political parties that have been elected.

On a less serious note, we finish the show on Nic’s time away, and find out whether eating lamb for every meal is a good idea, and find out what it’s like to be 300 meters away from Adele.

For those of you looking to support Ukraine or the many refugees fleeing the conflict, please take a look at these different charities and consider donating if you can.

Ukraine Crisis Media Centre - A list of different donation pages to help the Ukrainian military response.

Disaster Emergency Committee - Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal

Save the Children

Ärzte ohne Grenzen

Theme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß

Once again we're "Nic-less" this week (let's hope he still remembers how to pod when he does finally return!), leaving Dili and Kat to helm our way through another episode.

Thankfully, we have a great new guest to welcome the show, Berlin-based writer Jacinda Nandi! Jacinda first came to Berlin in 2000, spending only a year there, but returned in 2002 after completing her degree and has called Berlin home ever since.

Jacinta talks about the pre-Euro days when everything in Germany seemed so affordable, and how the British seem to forget that the UK is not that far away from Germany. As a mother of 2 bilingual sons, she explains that trying to do the right thing by speaking English with them can lead to some odd situations, especially in public spaces.

We compare various cultures' attitudes to swearing and ask Jacinta to share her experiences of the German health system as an immigrant.

For those of you looking to support Ukraine or the many refugees fleeing the conflict, please take a look at these different charities and consider donating if you can.

Ukraine Crisis Media Centre - A list of different donation pages to help the Ukrainian military response.

Disaster Emergency Committee - Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal

Save the Children

Ärzte ohne Grenzen

There’s a sense of sadness on this week’s podcast as Germany’s favourite football team, Scotland, have been eliminated from Euro 2024. In fairness, the Scottish fans have left their hosts with some lovely memories off the pitch, leading Dili to ponder whether the Scottish accent might be a cheat code for changing Germany’s cash based society.

One change that may be coming to Germany is reform for pharmacies. Dili brings us the details on what the German government is planning, how Apotheken are reacting, and why we might need a Zoom call to pick up some paracetamol.

We finish the show as Producer Simon returns to a continuing story on Ukrainian refugees in Germany, and why one German politician has suggested sending vulnerable people back to a warzone.

For those of you looking to support Ukraine or the many refugees currently fleeing the conflict, please take a look at these different charities and consider donating if you can.

Ukraine Crisis Media Centre - A list of different donation pages to help the Ukrainian military response.

Disaster Emergency Committee - Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal

Save the Children

Ärzte ohne Grenzen

Theme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß

We’re back from Bonn, but we still have some important things to discuss, namely how did all that Haribo taste. Simon might be putting off trying the cake flavoured Gummibärchen, but Nic has been glorying in the wide open spaces of novelty flavour country. Nic has also been to Bamberg recently, which gives us a chance to talk Rauchbier and whether one of Bavaria’s most famous cities is really “the Venice of Germany”.

Oktoberfest ended this week, and despite many expecting it to be the busiest for years, numbers were actually down, as were beer sales. More disturbingly were the numerous reports of inappropriate behaviour and sexual harassment directed towards women working in beer tents or stands throughout the Wiesn. We look at some of these reports and what it means for Bavaria’s most famous festival.

We travel back in time for the second part of our Bonn meetup, where Simon shares his experiences of being in Britain for the Queen’s funeral, the chaos enveloping the British government, and why Britain has such a problem talking about its history. We finish the show with Simon’s recollections of being thrown out the famous Heide Park Resort.

Oktoberfest Articles:
Die fremde Hand am Hintern

"Verschwinde, hau ab!", hat die Chefin mir nachgerufen

„Wenn es abends voll wird, dann ist es nur noch eklig“

„Ich habe zehn Tage gekellnert und 100 Euro draufgezahlt“

For those of you looking to support Ukraine or the many refugees currently fleeing the conflict, please take a look at these different charities and consider donating if you can:

Ukraine Crisis Media Centre - A list of different donation pages to help the Ukrainian military response.

Disaster Emergency Committee - Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal

Save the Children

Ärzte ohne Grenzen

Image Credit

Photo by Itai Aarons on Unsplash

Theme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß

After two weeks away from the pod, Simon is back in all his glory, but this isn’t the only thing we’re celebrating in this week’s episode. For the first time since we started the show, both Simon and Nic are in the same room for the first of two episodes recorded at our producer’s house in Bonn. Aside from being the home of our producer, there’s another good reason to be in Bonn: it’s the home of Haribo. We talk about the British equivalent of Germany’s favourite gummy sweets, our favourite Haribo choices, and we find out why Nic can’t eat a Chocolate Orange.

Simon talks about his adventures in the UK, and why taking the ferry is easily the most enjoyable way to visit our former island home. Sure, the “seasickness” wasn’t great, and the karaoke left a lot to be desired, but damn it there was a really nice dressing gown in the VIP cabin.

We finish the show by getting our dirty mitts on some bottles of Kölsch, which isn’t so much a beer as it is a way of life, and one of the many benefits of being north of the Weißwurstäquator.

Decades from Home - A podcast about Germany

For those of you looking to support Ukraine or the many refugees currently fleeing the conflict, please take a look at these different charities and consider donating if you can:

Ukraine Crisis Media Centre - A list of different donation pages to help the Ukrainian military response.

Disaster Emergency Committee - Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal

Save the Children

Ärzte ohne Grenzen

Image Credit

Photo by Meg Boulden on Unsplash

Theme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß

With Simon still galavanting around the UK, Nic enlists the help of listener favourite Dili Algama to steady the good ship Decades from Home. That being said, Nic might not have been fully prepared for the levels of German directness that Dili brings along with her.

We unpack our feelings the day after the Queen’s funeral, and wonder what five mile queues and enforced mourning mean for the UK. Thankfully we have more cheery topics to cover, such as the delights of moving house in Germany, why having a kitchen is not guaranteed, and how to avoid getting trapped in the seven circles of IKEA hell.

Dili discusses what it’s like to live in a small village in the east of Germany, why we often seek out the negatives of living here and whether we’re too German or not German enough.

For those of you looking to support Ukraine or the many refugees currently fleeing the conflict, please take a look at these different charities and consider donating if you can:

Ukraine Crisis Media Centre - A list of different donation pages to help the Ukrainian military response.

Disaster Emergency Committee - Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal

Save the Children

Ärzte ohne Grenzen

Image Credit

Photo by Corina Rainer on Unsplash

Theme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß

Simon is away on holiday in the UK this week, but the show must go on, even if half of the show is knee deep in sausage rolls and pints of warm beer. Luckily for Nic, we’ve been able to secure a fantastic guest as we welcome historian and journalist Katja Hoyer to talk about dealing with British greetings and how to correctly pronounce the word “scone”.

It’s rather lucky we have a historian with us after a week of deep historic importance. Nic and Katja discuss the death of Queen Elizabeth II and preparations for the funeral on Monday. Nic finds out what it’s been like in Britain since the news dropped, we talk about the meeting of “Ancient customs” and 21st century realities, and we wonder why Paddington Bear plays such a prominent role.

We didn’t just ask Katja on to talk about current events though. As the author of Blood and Iron: the Rise and Fall of the German Empire 1871 -1918, Katja is the perfect person to ask about how Germany was unified, the connecting lines from 1871 to modern day Germany, and why Bismarck doesn’t get much love, in Bayern at least.

For those of you looking to support Ukraine or the many refugees currently fleeing the conflict, please take a look at these different charities and consider donating if you can:

Ukraine Crisis Media Centre - A list of different donation pages to help the Ukrainian military response.

Disaster Emergency Committee - Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal

Save the Children

Ärzte ohne Grenzen

Image Credit

Photo by Craig Bradford on Unsplash

Theme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß

On the show this week

After four days back in Germany from adventures in the UK, Nic is feeling a bit weird. Thankfully, Simon is on hand to talk through the process of returning home from, well, home. One significant difference is how low-fi much of life in the south of Germany can be, but is that maybe a positive? Then again, not having to deal with British indirectness is certainly a positive about being back in Bavaria.

Speaking of Britain, there’s a new Prime Minister to discuss, and a new cabinet. We ponder what this all means for the UK and whether things will actually improve now that Boris Johnson has packed his bags and left 10 Downing Street (spoiler: probably not).

We celebrate a true German success story as a group of local butchers conquer the World Butchers' Challenge in Sacramento. What does it take to be the world’s best butcher? Sticking with interesting contests of skill, Simon introduces us all to the World Gravy Wrestling Championships in the UK, which leaves us with a serious question: which professional wrestler would be the best at fighting in a pool of delicious gravy? To finish we discuss 9th century punishments for angry bees in Worms and why Hartlepool isn’t a safe place for monkeys.

For those of you looking to support Ukraine or the many refugees currently fleeing the conflict, please take a look at these different charities and consider donating if you can:

Ukraine Crisis Media Centre - A list of different donation pages to help the Ukrainian military response.

Disaster Emergency Committee - Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal

Save the Children

Ärzte ohne Grenzen

Image Credit

Photo by Jordane Mathieu on Unsplash

Theme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß

Simon very much enjoys the summer camp feel to this week’s show as Nic commandeers his niece and nephew’s bunk bed for the record. The new environment blends nicely with Nic’s new sultry deep voice, a hard won benefit after a weekend spent living in the 17th century with the Sealed Knot. What’s it like to come face to face with a musket block and live to tell the tale?

Leaving the past behind, Simon and Nic talk about sharing food, Kamikaze Sandwiches, and why chicken wings are the most sensual of foods. We also wonder whether service stations in the UK are worse than in Germany and whether paying for the toilets is actually quite sensible.

With Nic getting ready to leave the UK after two week’s holidays, we talk about the many things people find weird about Britain. We discuss toilet carpeting, the dreaded two tap system and small houses.

For those of you looking to support Ukraine or the many refugees currently fleeing the conflict, please take a look at these different charities and consider donating if you can:

Ukraine Crisis Media Centre - A list of different donation pages to help the Ukrainian military response.

Disaster Emergency Committee - Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal

Save the Children

Ärzte ohne Grenzen

Image Credit

Anguskirk

Theme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß

Maybe we’re getting old, but usually when we talk about “getting pickled” it’s after a night on the sauce, but not this week. After receiving a delivery of vinegar, Simon’s taken to pickling anything he can get his hands on, but how do Germans feel about a pickled egg? Nic has more pressing concerns than Simon’s new hobby though; what do you do when you lose interest in a long German sentence? Is it normal to daydream while waiting for a verb to appear in German conversation and how can you train your brain to pay attention when someone uses an infinite number of commas?

New Year is still a good few months away, but Munich has been planning a party to remember…well, we say planning. The beginning of August saw the announcement of a Silvester Rammstein concert on the Theresienwiese, much to the surprise of everyone. However, this week it was cancelled after safety concerns and arguments over support for local arts and culture bubbled to the surface. What has been going on in Bavaria’s state capital?

We discuss the reappearance of 17th century Hunger Stones in many German rivers and finish with a discussion on the benefits of a plant-based diet.

For those of you looking to support Ukraine or the many refugees currently fleeing the conflict, please take a look at these different charities and consider donating if you can:

Ukraine Crisis Media Centre - A list of different donation pages to help the Ukrainian military response.

Disaster Emergency Committee - Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal

Save the Children

Ärzte ohne Grenzen

Image Credit

Photo by Andy Makely on Unsplash

Theme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß

After enjoying a surprise Augsburg only public holiday on Monday, Nic is feeling quite relaxed, a fact that only intensifies Simon’s jealousy at having missed out. Luckily for Simon, he didn’t have to suffer through FC Augsburg’s opening game of the season, a 4-0 loss to Freiburg. Nic was there, and he’s still not fully recovered. It’s not all negatives though, Simon got a new tattoo and possibly made a new friend along the way.

In Nürnberg, an over zealous father calls the police on his daughter, which leads us to ask: is it ever ok to snitch on your children? Equally worthy of discussion is the fact we learnt about this story from a police twitter account; should the police be reporting their cases via Twitter and if so, should they try to be funny?

To finish, we discuss Das Grüne Band, an 870-mile long nature reserve that runs along the former no-man’s-land between East and West Germany.

For those of you looking to support Ukraine or the many refugees currently fleeing the conflict, please take a look at these different charities and consider donating if you can:

Ukraine Crisis Media Centre - A list of different donation pages to help the Ukrainian military response.

Disaster Emergency Committee - Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal

Save the Children

Ärzte ohne Grenzen

Image Credit

Photo by Paulina Ponce on Unsplash

Theme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß

For some reason Simon and Nic are really happy this week, possibly it’s the sunny weather, but more likely it’s finally seeing an England football team win a major tournament. We share our stories of jubilation, tears and glorious lobbed goals from the final of the European Women's Championship.

After descending from cloud nine, we dive into a legal dispute between a woman and her insurance company who refuse to pay for her to get leg lengthening surgery, and discuss the some of the issues in the German health system. We celebrate the lucrative legal victory of an underdog Berlin tenant over their longtime landlord, and Nic confesses his fear of German numbers.

Finally, we learn of the demise of one of Germany’s favourite hobbies: finding a bargain. With many shops choosing to discontinue paper advertising, we ask whether the schnappenjager is an endangered species and why Germany should stop using the word porno in it’s headlines.

For those of you looking to support Ukraine or the many refugees currently fleeing the conflict, please take a look at these different charities and consider donating if you can:

Ukraine Crisis Media Centre - A list of different donation pages to help the Ukrainian military response.

Disaster Emergency Committee - Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal

Save the Children

Ärzte ohne Grenzen

Image Credit

Photo by Pixabay

Theme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß

Some listeners may have felt the podcast has been lacking our usual levels of decorative plate chat over the last few weeks. Thankfully Dili is back with us to rectify that oversight!

Just in time too, because we have a lot to catch up on the rather depressing results of the EU elections. Turning to more positive topics, we quiz Dili on what it's like being a non-football fan while Germany hosts a major football tournament.

We discuss how the international media is covering Euro 2024, and why many seem shocked and disappointed. We also get an excellent podcast recommendation from Producer Simon.

For those of you looking to support Ukraine or the many refugees currently fleeing the conflict, please take a look at these different charities and consider donating if you can.

Ukraine Crisis Media Centre - A list of different donation pages to help the Ukrainian military response.

Disaster Emergency Committee - Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal

Save the Children

Ärzte ohne Grenzen

Theme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß

The lads have been doing a bit of travelling around Germany this week. While Nic stuck to the safety of Bavaria, Simon went further afield, and on the way spotted some fellow Brits who’ve managed to avoid the traffic and make it to Germany. We talk about a recent funeral held in a forest and why that might be the most German of send offs, and we go over the recent travel chaos at various airports that’s certainly not the expected level of German organisation.

A kebab shop in Munich has recently laid claim to the title of most expensive kebab in the country, which gives us a chance to suggest our own luxury kebab recipes and how best to make a dessert kebab. All this kebab chat is hungry work, but clearly not as much as fighting in the UFC, where a young fighter wowed an recent press conference by eating two kebabs in under ten minutes.

We finish this week with a catch-up on German Comic Con, which may be smaller than its more famous American cousin, but might well be the most pleasant event of its kind in the world. We discuss German cosplayers, asking celebrities questions in a second language, and recommend some of the best graphic novels by German artists.

For those of you looking to support Ukraine or the many refugees currently fleeing the conflict, please take a look at these different charities and consider donating if you can:

Ukraine Crisis Media Centre - A list of different donation pages to help the Ukrainian military response.

Disaster Emergency Committee - Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal

Save the Children

Ärzte ohne Grenzen

Image Credit

Photo by Dev on Unsplash

Theme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß

After the highs of last week’s show, we resume normal service as we discuss having family come visit us in Germany, the complex dance of German and British politeness, and why it’s impossible to find an ice cream van when you need one. Although we can’t offer you a Mr. Whippy, Simon might be able to offer you something much better: the opportunity to win a trophy!

After avoiding the chaos of British politics for a few weeks, we turn our attention to Boris Johnson’s resignation and the resulting Conservative Party leadership contest. We discuss the remaining candidates and why choosing a PM in Britain is often like voting in an 18th century election. Sticking with the exciting world of British politics, we recap the visit of Labour’s Keir Starmer to Germany and why a video angered some on German Twitter.

Turning to the relatively tranquil world of German politics, the wedding of FDP leader Christian Linder was an opportunity for politicians to dust off their finery, and their private planes, to join the festivities on the island of Sylt. Is it OK for politicians to be flying around the country while the climate crisis ravages the country? To finish we look at a recent story from TikTok, where a young man attempted a very public 360 kilometer journey, but gave up after less than 24hrs.

For those of you looking to support Ukraine or the many refugees currently fleeing the conflict, please take a look at these different charities and consider donating if you can:

Ukraine Crisis Media Centre - A list of different donation pages to help the Ukrainian military response.

Disaster Emergency Committee - Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal

Save the Children

Ärzte ohne Grenzen

Image Credit

Photo by Kenny Eliason on Unsplash

Theme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß

Well listener, aren’t you in for a real treat! We’re joined by the the most incredible of special guests, the definitive English language voice of the Bundesliga, Derek Rae. Derek is ESPN’s lead commentator for the Bundesliga, the DFB Pokal, La Liga and the Deutsche Fußball Liga. He’s also, along with Lee Dixon & Stewart Robson, the commentator for hundreds of thousands of daily Fifa 22 games played across the world.

In a delightful conversation, Derek takes us through his childhood in Aberdeen where he discovered a love for the German language and culture, his first big break commentating on Scottish football, and how he managed to listen to German language radio without ever having to travel.

We learn what it’s like to record commentary for football games you can’t see, discuss why more British footballers should take the leap into the Bundesliga, and what aspects of German life and culture Derek would happily take with him if he could.

For those of you looking to support Ukraine or the many refugees currently fleeing the conflict, please take a look at these different charities and consider donating if you can:

Ukraine Crisis Media Centre - A list of different donation pages to help the Ukrainian military response.

Disaster Emergency Committee - Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal

Save the Children

Ärzte ohne Grenzen

Image Credit

Photo by 3DVisu on Unsplash

Theme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß

Simon returns after a week of avoiding a house full of Covid, and not a minute to soon either. Nic needs an answer to a burning question: why do Germans enjoy eating piping hot meals, even when it’s hotter than the mouth of hell outside? We try and find an answer to this puzzler, among many other important questions.

A recent proposal to make English an official bureaucratic language gets us thinking about how life might change if we didn’t have to worry about Der, Die, Das, when we speak to the tax office. Are the plans realistic? We look into a recent decision in a Frankfurt court to fine SUV drivers more than normal for breaking traffic laws, and we celebrate as a small boy from Oldenburg is rescued from a sewer after going missing for eight days.

Finally, we take a minor disagreement to the mat with our inaugural Schland Slam segment, as we argue whether Pineapple and ham is really worthy of being Germany’s third favourite pizza topping.

For those of you looking to support Ukraine or the many refugees currently fleeing the conflict, please take a look at these different charities and consider donating if you can:

Ukraine Crisis Media Centre - A list of different donation pages to help the Ukrainian military response.

Disaster Emergency Committee - Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal

Save the Children

Ärzte ohne Grenzen

Image Credit

Photo by Patrick Case

Theme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß

We are joined by two very special guests this week, Marty and Marcy, who join Nic for a special Pride episode to discuss their experiences of life in Germany. We talk about culture bubbles, the price of Vegemite, and the glory of American convenience food.

After a weekend of terrible news from the US, wevdiscuss the loss of established freedoms, and the threats to LGBTQ rights. We turn to Germany and question the perception of our adopted home as a bastion of liberalism, and whether there is a big difference between the north and south of the country.

Our guests share their experiences of moving to Germany, civil partnerships, and why a translator can be the best of guests when tying the knot. Finally, Marty teaches Nic some useful German terminology, while Marcy explains what it’s like to go to Christopher Street Day.

For those of you looking to support Ukraine or the many refugees currently fleeing the conflict, please take a look at these different charities and consider donating if you can:

Ukraine Crisis Media Centre - A list of different donation pages to help the Ukrainian military response.

Disaster Emergency Committee - Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal

Save the Children

Ärzte ohne Grenzen

Image Credit

Photo by Steve Johnson on Unsplash

Theme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß

After a weekend heatwave, Simon has discovered the joys of wild swimming, but only as long as all the boats stay out of his way. Nic, on the other hand, made the counterintuitive decision to watch some horse jumping to beat the heat. He doesn’t like horses or hot weather, so this one will take some explaining.

We tackle the myth of a modern Germany as we look at a celebrity businessman’s less than innovative idea for creating Germany’s Silicon Valley, we find out why German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had trouble getting his passport, and a genuinely life changing way for people to get prescription medication.

We turn our attention to the recent AfD conference in Riesa that collapsed in acrimony, and we finish on why Nic hates shorts, even when he’s wearing them.

Link mentioned in the show: Alice Weidel und die Nazizeitung

For those of you looking to support Ukraine or the many refugees currently fleeing the conflict, please take a look at these different charities and consider donating if you can:

Ukraine Crisis Media Centre - A list of different donation pages to help the Ukrainian military response.

Disaster Emergency Committee - Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal

Save the Children

Ärzte ohne Grenzen

Image Credit

Photo by Greg Rosenke on Unsplash

Theme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß

After a weekend of adventures up north in Hamburg, Nic returns with tales of Disney musicals, art oggoling, and riding on Mississippi Riverboats. Simon has a lot of questions, most importantly of all, how was the fish? Moving on from holidays, Nic quizzes Simon’s knowledge of German ice cream, while Simon returns the favour with some curious ice cream flavours. Anyone for fried chicken ice cream?

Always concerned with our listeners finances, Simon brings some serious economic news as we go through the newly released Oktoberfest beer price list. Which tent has the most expensive beer, who has the cheapest, and what about the Spezi? We look at where visitors can save a bit of money, and discuss why we should be thankful Oktoberfest isn’t in Britain.

We finish this week with a story of pissed up plans, millions of euros of fraud, and a non existent Covid test centre.

For those of you looking to support Ukraine or the many refugees currently fleeing the conflict, please take a look at these different charities and consider donating if you can:

Ukraine Crisis Media Centre - A list of different donation pages to help the Ukrainian military response.

Disaster Emergency Committee - Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal

Save the Children

Ärzte ohne Grenzen

Image Credit

Photo by Caroline Hernandez on Unsplash

Theme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß

Sadly Simon is out sick this week, but Nic battles on by inviting the listeners to join in on the conversation, pity he forgot to mic them up. Instead of wasting an hour of your time and his sanity, Nic and our lovely, shiny new producer have complied a themed clip-show for your listening enjoyment!

We go back to Christmas to revisit our brave experimentation with cheese and stollen, Simon loses his mind after learning from a listener that Hawaii Kebap exist, but he quickly recovers his composure to celebrate the arrival of a new kebab shop at then end of his street.

We engage in the fun and frolics of a potato quiz, learn about the horrors of Fish Finger Pizza, and ask why Germany seems to be so rubbish at takeaway food.

For those of you looking to support Ukraine or the many refugees currently fleeing the conflict, please take a look at these different charities and consider donating if you can:

Ukraine Crisis Media Centre - A list of different donation pages to help the Ukrainian military response.

Disaster Emergency Committee - Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal

Save the Children

Ärzte ohne Grenzen

Image Credit

Photo by Freddy G on Unsplash

Theme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß

Simon surprises us all by announcing he’s become a Lord in the UK. No one has any idea why, but he’s making demands we all use his new title. To celebrate this sudden elevation to the ranks of the aristocracy, Simon has been binge watching Downton Abbey. Between that and his new title, Nic is beginning to worry about his podcast pal.

Of course, there’s a reason for all this indulgent Britishness, it’s only the bloody Queen’s Platinum Jubilee! Granted Nic is a republican and Simon is monarchy agnostic, but surely a parade of pensioners on mobility scooters will liven up proceedings. We talk all things jubilee, ask what the hell is the point, and even find some time to talk about the perfect celebratory lunch (hint: it includes a trifle).

We also find some time to discuss the top 9 Brexit benefits that for some reason weren’t printed on the side of a bus, recent technological problems with credit cards in Germany, and we finish with a sneaky Boris Becker update.

For those of you looking to support Ukraine or the many refugees currently fleeing the conflict, please take a look at these different charities and consider donating if you can:

Ukraine Crisis Media Centre - A list of different donation pages to help the Ukrainian military response.

Disaster Emergency Committee - Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal

Save the Children

Ärzte ohne Grenzen

Image Credit

Bild von Jhoan Cordoba auf Pixabay

Theme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß

Things are heating up in the podcast cave, so much so that Simon has shaved his beard. Now looking more man than bearded beast, Simon discusses being reunited with his neck and why you should always be careful around a beard trimmer.

Luckily for Nic and everyone else in Nürnberg, Simon did keep his beard long enough to display it a the recent Punk in Drublic music festival. We talk about a wonderful sunny Saturday of punk music, beer and diffusing arguments at the bar.

The €9 train ticket has finally gone on sale, allowing Germans to travel the rails around the country for next to nothing. Nic wonders why Bayern always has to complain about nice things, while Simon is just happy to ditch his car. We finish on a similar theme by looking at where you should go to get the most out of all this public transport with some of the best rail journeys in Germany.

For those of you looking to support Ukraine or the many refugees currently fleeing the conflict, please take a look at these different charities and consider donating if you can:

Ukraine Crisis Media Centre - A list of different donation pages to help the Ukrainian military response.

Disaster Emergency Committee - Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal

Save the Children

Ärzte ohne Grenzen

Image Credit

Photo by Alexander Bagno on Unsplash

Theme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß

Euro 2024 has kicked off in style, and to celebrate the first football tournament in Germany since 2006 we have German football journalist Hendrik Buchheister on the pod this week! Hendrik writes for SPIEGEL, Sportschau, RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland, and Elf Freunde, among others, and brings his expert knowledge to discuss the possibility of another Sommermärchen.

We discuss the gloomy atmosphere surrounding the beginning of the tournament, and whether a successful tournament for Die Mannschaft might raise spirits across the country. We also find out what it’s like to cover a major tournament in Hendrik’s home country, the peril of late goals, and how to spot Germany players training from a kilometer away.

We also get a chance to discuss Hendrik’s fantastic book, We call it a Klassiker: Die Engländer, der Fußball und wir, which covers the storied rivalry between England and Germany.

For those of you looking to support Ukraine or the many refugees currently fleeing the conflict, please take a look at these different charities and consider donating if you can.

Ukraine Crisis Media Centre - A list of different donation pages to help the Ukrainian military response.

Disaster Emergency Committee - Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal

Save the Children

Ärzte ohne Grenzen

Theme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß

It wouldn’t be the podcast if we didn’t at some point talk about the weather. While Nic was enjoying the sun in a beer garden over the weekend, Simon was slightly concerned at the chunks of pollen that could be seen all over the place.

While the sun is out, it’s probably a good time to reflect on the end of the football season in Germany as we ponder the curious delight some German football fans get from invading the pitch after games across the country. Perhaps that’s not such a bad idea, after all, it’s far better than sitting as we learn from football legend Philipp Lahm that sitting might be as dangerous as smoking! We talk sitting, smoking and how best to approach geeting fit.

To finish off the show, we return to the almost weekly topic of struggling food companies, this time it’s one of Britain’s favourite dishes, the wonderful Fish and Chips, which is under threat from lack of suppliers and the cost of living crisis.

For those of you looking to support Ukraine or the many refugees currently fleeing the conflict, please take a look at these different charities and consider donating if you can:

Ukraine Crisis Media Centre - A list of different donation pages to help the Ukrainian military response.

Disaster Emergency Committee - Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal

Save the Children

Ärzte ohne Grenzen

Image Credit

Photo by Adrian Diaz-Sieckel on Unsplash

Theme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß

It’s been a weird week for British people as they watched the Queen’s Speech in the House of Lords, which for the first time in 59 years, didn’t actually include the Queen. Are we ready for a Elizabeth-less existence and will Prince Charles ever explain where he got all those shiny medals?

From British royalty to the nearest German equivalent, David Hasselhoff was in the news as he promoted a niederbayerisches Weinfest…for a price. We bemoan our missed opportunity to get our own personal message from the Knight Rider and wonder which other celebrities we could engage on our behalf.

Simon brings us a story from Braunschweig concerning the dangers of riding late night trams and we finish with our now beloved segment “Boris Becker Update”.

For those of you looking to support Ukraine or the many refugees currently fleeing the conflict, please take a look at these different charities and consider donating if you can:

Ukraine Crisis Media Centre - A list of different donation pages to help the Ukrainian military response.

Disaster Emergency Committee - Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal

Save the Children

Ärzte ohne Grenzen

Image Credit

Photo by Luca J on Unsplash

Theme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß

Nic’s dreams have finally come true as we finally rid ourselves of our placeholder theme tune and celebrate a very Bavarian collaboration with techno DJ Kloß mit Soß. With upbeat Blasmusik blaring in our ears, we turn our attention to the recent announcement that Oktoberfest will be returning in 2022 and ask whether Jürgen Klopp is Britain’s favorite German.

Having warmed up with some Bierfest chat, it would only seem sensible to actually discuss beer. Unfortunately, there isn’t a lot of good news from Germany’s favourite beverage as prices are set to be increased. We look at the reasons for rising prices and what impact that may have on the industry and consumers at large.

We make a disappointing visit to Simon’s favourite kebab shop and we finish with an update on Boris Becker’s legal woes.

For those of you looking to support Ukraine or the many refugees currently fleeing the conflict, please take a look at these different charities and consider donating if you can:

Ukraine Crisis Media Centre - A list of different donation pages to help the Ukrainian military response.

Disaster Emergency Committee - Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal

Save the Children

Ärzte ohne Grenzen

Image Credit

maria-anne via Pixabay

Theme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß

The world’s favourite cartoon super villan/saviour of the universe, Elon Musk, has dominated the news this week, at least in the English speaking media. We discuss why the German news has avoided focusing too heavily on Tesla’s “Technoking”?

Language learning has never been the UK’s strong point, after all, everyone speaks English. While true, it might be the case that they will no longer be speaking the Queen’s English as we investigate reports of a crisis in language learning sector as Germans look to other countries to get their grammar fix.

Der Spiegel recently reported in-depth on the rapid increase in obesity among British children. Is it all the fault of junk food or are we missing something. Finally, a fish restaurant has haddock enough of complaints about unruly kids and has decided that children have no plaice in their establishment. Are they right to ban families or are their rules a big load of Pollocks?

For those of you looking to support Ukraine or the many refugees currently fleeing the conflict, please take a look at these different charities and consider donating if you can:

Ukraine Crisis Media Centre - A list of different donation pages to help the Ukrainian military response.

Disaster Emergency Committee - Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal

Save the Children

Ärzte ohne Grenzen

Image Credit

Photo by karl muscat on Unsplash

Simon is sick of all the pleasant walks he’s been on, while Nic is worried he may be damned for all eternity after almost insulting a local nun. Not to worry though, we still have Easter chocolate to comfort us!

Speaking of Easter, we discuss some of the curious Easter traditions we witnessed over the weekend, such as runaway church bells, flaming wheels, and nicely decorated village fountains. We also find some time to celebrate one of the lesser known ethnic communities within Germany, the Sorbs.

To finish, Simon talks about one of his Heros, Boris Becker, a man lauded for his tennis skills, but not for his creative financial efforts.

For those of you looking to support Ukraine or the many refugees currently fleeing the conflict, please take a look at these different charities and consider donating if you can:

Ukraine Crisis Media Centre - A list of different donation pages to help the Ukrainian military response.

Disaster Emergency Committee - Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal

Save the Children

Ärzte ohne Grenzen

Image Credit

Photo by Xavier Teo on Unsplash

Finally we’re both recording from the same country as Nic escapes plague island, eventually. While he was stuck on a never ending journey home, Simon celebrated his birthday the only way he knew how, by replicating a famous British TV show.

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? Never one to be out done, 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.

For those of you looking to support Ukraine or the many refugees currently fleeing the conflict, please take a look at these different charities and consider donating if you can:

Ukraine Crisis Media Centre - A list of different donation pages to help the Ukrainian military response.

Disaster Emergency Committee - Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal

Save the Children

Ärzte ohne Grenzen

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 and get all gooey eyed about Keanu Reeves.

After changes to the rules on gambling advertising in the UK, we take some time to discuss the murky world of gambling. Are politicians doing enough to prevent massive gambling companies from taking advantage of addicts and is Germany doing any better when it comes to supporting those with gambling addiction?

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?

For those of you looking to support Ukraine or the many refugees currently fleeing the conflict, please take a look at these different charities and consider donating if you can:

Ukraine Crisis Media Centre - A list of different donation pages to help the Ukrainian military response.

Disaster Emergency Committee - Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal

Save the Children

Ärzte ohne Grenzen

Image Credit

Photo by Greenvalley Pictures on Unsplash

After two long years, Nic is back in the UK! While Nic was catching flights, Simon had a “holiday” in a local hotel, which allowed him to get the inside track on the mighty FC Nürnberg, but also meant he stayed in the old National Socialist parade ground. We talk crappy corner kicks, how Nürnberg deals with the past, and why English speakers need a WWII reference before talking about Germany.

Nic has 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.

For those of you looking to support Ukraine or the many refugees currently fleeing the conflict, please take a look at these different charities and consider donating if you can:

Ukraine Crisis Media Centre - A list of different donation pages to help the Ukrainian military response.

Disaster Emergency Committee - Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal

Save the Children

Ärzte ohne Grenzen

Image Credit

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 as ferry company P&O sack hundreds of staff over zoom and ask why it is that mass firing doesn’t seem to happen as often in Germany. We return to Brandenberg for an update on the Tesla factory in Grünheide as Elon Musk personally opens the doors to welcome, among others, Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

We finish off this week with a look at changes being made to language learning in UK schools as we wonder why it is that German students seem so much more adept at learning languages.

For those of you looking to support Ukraine or the many refugees currently fleeing the conflict, please take a look at these different charities and consider donating if you can:

Ukraine Crisis Media Centre - A list of different donation pages to help the Ukrainian military response.

Disaster Emergency Committee - Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal

Save the Children

Ärzte ohne Grenzen

Image Credit

Ready made

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. When he’s not gardening, Simon has been putting in a shift with a new video game, although Nic is far from convinced.

We respond to some listener’s questions. we reminisce about our first meeting and try desperately to remember why on earth we started the podcast in the first place. We also take a question from one of our many Austrian listeners and talk cultural connections with Bavaria.

We finish this week with a look at changes to the Bundesliga as Schalke 04 remove their Russian sponsors from their shirts.

For those of you looking to support Ukraine or the many refugees currently fleeing the conflict, please take a look at these different charities and consider donating if you can:

Ukraine Crisis Media Centre - A list of different donation pages to help the Ukrainian military response.

Disaster Emergency Committee - Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal

Save the Children

Ärzte ohne Grenzen

Image Credit

Photo by Leyre . on Unsplash

This week on the podcast, we're joined by guest co-host and Berlin tour guide extraordinaire Jonny Whitlam. With Euro 2024 on the horizon, Berlin is abuzz with preparations for the influx of football fans. From the excitement of a newly constructed fan zone to the appearance of pop-up Adidas stores, the city is fully embracing football fever.

In addition to the football excitement, we delve into a contentious poll by TV channel ARD that has sparked accusations of racism from the German national team.

Shifting away from the sporting world, we also address the significant flooding in southern Germany, highlighting the direct impact of climate change on communities. Despite these evident consequences, the issue of climate change is still being neglected by many.

For those of you looking to support Ukraine or the many refugees currently fleeing the conflict, please take a look at these different charities and consider donating if you can.

Ukraine Crisis Media Centre - A list of different donation pages to help the Ukrainian military response.

Disaster Emergency Committee - Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal

Save the Children

Ärzte ohne Grenzen

Theme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß

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. We also return to Simon’s ever growing kebab update corner,

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. We also look at the different approaches taken by the UK and Germany when it comes to accepting refugees.

Finally, Nic’s experience in the mountains has led him to wonder if German ski culture is the worst of all the sub-cultures. Are skiers the worst, are snowboarders cool, and what are the Currywurst like?

For those of you looking to support Ukraine or the many refugees currently fleeing the conflict, please take a look at these different charities and consider donating if you can:

Ukraine Crisis Media Centre - A list of different donation pages to help the Ukrainian military response.

Disaster Emergency Committee - Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal

Save the Children

Ärzte ohne Grenzen

Image Credit

Photo by William Moreland on Unsplash

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.

For those of you looking to support Ukraine or the many refugees currently fleeing the conflict, please take a look at these different charities and consider donating if you can:

Ukraine Crisis Media Centre - A list of different donation pages to help the Ukrainian military response.

Disaster Emergency Committee - Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal

Save the Children

Image Credit

Photo by Tina Hartung on Unsplash

Ärzte ohne Grenzen

Nic and Simon discuss potential hangover cures and why the best must combine some weird ingredients. With strange combinations in mind, we chat about plans to release a fish-finger pizza and what would make the best “German” pizza.

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?

To finish up the show, we ask Abby about the creative culture of Berlin and why it might be under threat from rising house prices and increasing gentrification of the capital.

Image Credit

Photo by Alan Hardman on Unsplash

On the show this week:

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. While Nic isn’t entirely convinced, Abby and Simon lead the charge for getting your sweat on!

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. Is it easier to work freelance in Berlin and how can someone get started?

Simon and Abby also discuss their experiences freelancing in different industries and how to avoid getting caught out by the byzantine German tax system.

Image Credit

Photo by Max Vakhtbovych from Pexels

On the show this week:

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 chilli and garlic sauce, Nic wonders why takeaways are so rubbish in his area, is it a Germany problem or just Bavaria?

Olaf Scholz surprises the world, not with any particular policy, but by wearing a slightly baggy jumper. While sections of the German media ponder the ramifications of his sartorial choices, we discuss the issues faced by women in politics and why late night press conferences on planes might be a change from the Merkel era.

We take a break from the comings and goings of German politics and lament the dumpster fire that is the British government and why having a liar in the highest position in the country might not be such a great idea. After recovering our composure, we finish by looking at the curious case of chickens in high-vis vests.

On the show this week:

Is mint sauce really a multipurpose condiment? Simons seems to think so, even if Nic is far from convinced. A discussion on condiments gives Simon a chance to introduce his new favourite segment, The Potato Quiz! Does Nic know the many types if British potato or is he correct in assuming there is only really three?

Having moves 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, are Germans really changing their drinking habits, and what has China got to do with saving German brewing?

We discuss a Munich museum that’s investigating the origins of it’s Cameroonian art collection and we ask why the British Museum seems so reluctant to return the many exhibits that come from the days of empire. We finish the show on the plight of the humble tattoo artist and discuss why recent laws passed by the EU are only making their lives harder.

Image Credit

Photo by James Discombe on Unsplash

On the show this week:

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, especially since we’ve spent so long in our homes over the last two years, but we ponder why some young Germans prefer to remain closer to home than adventuring out into the wide world.

We 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.

On the show this week:

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? 

We look at the various ways people choose their football teams and how we chose our own German football teams. Is it better to be a winner, a glorious loser or the ultimate football hipster? Simon discusses why the colour of the shirt can affect a person’s choice of team and Nic explains why choosing a local team can be an important metric.

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.

On the show this week:

With his mighty beard and deep voice, Simon’s worried he might be mistaken for a Yeti when clearing the snow, luckily he’s found a way to soften his image. Meanwhile, Nic would happily hire a yeti if they were any good at childcare, given the issues of finding a nursery for his daughter in Germany.

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.

On the show this week:

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 after his forced introduction to Hawaiian style kebab, while Nic talks about his German family’s reaction to a humble PBJ sandwich. We check in on the new German government and talk about the obvious fault lines in the new coalition that the German media seem so gleeful to exploit. Is the criticism really fair or is it just a case of a slow news week?

To finish, we talk about government plans to improve the quality of food production, how that may impact the price of the average shop and how this connects to a new law that protects millions of chickens from being destroyed.

Image Credit

Photo by Fiona Smallwood on Unsplash

We’re thrilled to have Kat, occasional guest co-host and founder of the @germany_iam Twitter account, joining us this week. We delve into the intriguing realms of British and German buffets, share anecdotes about spotting squirrels, and discuss the advantages of renting your home to visiting football fans.

Transitioning to a more serious note, we commemorate the 75th anniversary of Germany's Grundgesetz, the country's Basic Law and founding document of the Federal Republic. We delve into its relevance in 2024 and the challenges associated with amending it.

For those of you looking to support Ukraine or the many refugees currently fleeing the conflict, please take a look at these different charities and consider donating if you can.

Ukraine Crisis Media Centre - A list of different donation pages to help the Ukrainian military response.

Disaster Emergency Committee - Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal

Save the Children

Ärzte ohne Grenzen

Theme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß

On the show this week:

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 and why fireworks bans have some major upsides in Germany. Traditionally it’s the time of year for resolutions, but Nic would prefer not to make so many big life changes and instead wonders if there is a place for mediocre 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. Is the Geordie dialect dying out and what can Bavaria teach us about saving it? 

On the show this week:

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? Nic thinks he can, but one thing is for sure, if you bring a Raclette to his house, you’ll wish you hadn’t.

Since it’s Christmas, we take the chance to talk about one of our favourite things, yorkshire puddings. We also delve deeply into the importance of food to British festivities and why the typical Weihnachtsmenü can often leave a lot to be desired. Simon has a suggestion for what to do with leftovers and Nic takes some tips on working off his dinner from a famous British convict.

We finish the celebrations with an important experiment as we attempt to answer one of the most challenging questions known to humanity: which cheese goes best with a nice piece of Stollen?

On the show this week:

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!)

We discuss forced Christmas traditions, why mince pies are amazing and misunderstood lyrics to Christmas songs. Joshua Kimmich makes another appearance as we talk vaccines in football and Simon takes the opportunity to mention Schalke’s big win against his German hometown Nürnberg.

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.