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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.

Episode 50: Pony Express

Nov 27

Nov 27 Episode 50: Pony Express

Crack out the champagne, put on your best set of headphones and come join us for episode 50! We’re joined by two, yes two, guests as Dilli and Sandra return to discuss new jobs and moving to a different German state. To celebrate 50 episodes, we answer 50 quick fire questions. Why is Simon disgusted with Nic’s movie choices? Where would Sandra go if she could travel back in time? How is Dilli’s dream home also a zombie proof fortress? All these answers and more on the Decades from Home 50th extravaganza!

Ep 49: Roasted & Toasted

Nov 20

Nov 20 Ep 49: Roasted & Toasted

Simon has broken the seal and cooked his first roast dinner of the year and Nic is desperate for the details. To accompany the food mood music, Nic is preparing for his annual favourite meal in Germany, although he’s not exactly sure how it’s made. We dive into the deep waters of German football to ask why Bundesliga tickets are so much cheaper than tickets for the premier league and we see out the show with a quick discussion on the possibility of cannabis legalisation in Germany.

Episode 48: Reality Schmeality

Nov 13

Nov 13 Episode 48: Reality Schmeality

We’re joined by Marty, the honourable husband on Twitter, to talk positive experiences of German bureaucracy, Berlin’s creaking infrastructure and why Bavarian villages are being gentrified. We have an update on the winner of Jugendwort des Jahres 2021 and we return to the topic of German reality TV.

Episode 47: Christmas is Canning

Nov 6

Nov 6 Episode 47: Christmas is Canning

Nic discovers his admiration for Germany’s only actor Matthias Schweighöfer, we discuss the return of Christmas markets, Christmas dinner in a can coming to British consumers this year, why are many people in Britain and Germany choosing to switch jobs, and we finish on the opening of the German Bundestag and look at the new intake of German politicians.

Decades From Home - Episode 46

Oct 30

Oct 30 Decades From Home - Episode 46

After a barrage of ridiculous headlines from our former home, we finally crack and decide talk about what the hell is going on in Britain. Is Germany really more sane or does it just feel like that by comparison? We discuss why Germans might want to avoid a beach holiday in Britain for the foreseeable future, why British government communication feels dystopian and a new initiative to solve the truck driver shortage.