Decades From Home - A Podcast About Germany

On the show this week:Simon has been buying fish, but much to Nic’s surprise he doesn’t plan on eating them with some chips. We celebrate the birthday of one of the most famous spies in history as we discuss the life of Mata Hari and her exploits spying for Germany during WWI.Due to Nic’s life getting in the way, we’re bringing you some of our favourite segments from previous shows as we go back to episode 20 to hear our discussion on the increase in the wolf population of Germany and talk about the advantages and disadvantages of rewilding the German countryside. We then jump to episode 25’s discussion on Nic’s obsession with British pork pies and Simon introduces some of the harder products to find in a German shop and suggest possible alternatives to British favourites. Finally we finish on the question of whether David Hasselhoff was really the reason that the Berlin wall fell and why it is that so many non-Germans think he’s a Deutsch icon from episode 20.

On the show this week:We’re finally taking our first steps back into the land of the normal as Simon joins a large group of foodies for a tour of Nürnberg, while Nic ventures out to visit the Augsburg Plärrer. We discuss the anniversary of the lowering of the German voting age in 1970 and take some time to celebrate the life of everyone’s favourite Chancellor, Willy Brandt.We discuss the curious case of the “Peppa Effect” a supposed shifting of accents seen in US children due to overexposure to the cartoon Peppa Pig and ask if this is an example of British soft power in action. We question whether it’s true that “Everyone speaks English” in Germany and if it’s possible to live here without any German language skills and why the British are so bad at learning languages.Finally we look at how native English speakers differ between the UK and the US and why sometimes it’s better to not copy what the British or American English speakers are saying.

On the show this week:Simon kicks-off the show celebrating Jürgen Klinsmann’s birthday and reminisces about one of his favourite footballers of all time and we talk about how Germans see Britain and whether either of us feel embarrassed when we have to explain some of the extreme news stories coming out of our former home.We’re focusing on our adopted home this week, the mighty Freistaat Bayern. We talk the many differences between the 16 German states and why Bavaria could be compared to the English county of Yorkshire. We finish the show with a quick look at some of the best cities to visit in Bavaria.

On the show this week:Simon returns from his sick bed and joins Nic to talk about some exciting changes to the podcast, There’s also the small matter of a football game to discuss. Simon and Nic commiserate over England’s loss and take some time to talk about the wider impact of a successful tournament on English culture and politics. We also go back to episode 13 to hear about some curious German superstitions and why saying ‘Prost’ with a pint of beer isn’t as easy as you might think.

On the show this week:After 30 episodes and some hard work over the last few months, Simon deservedly has taken the week off. Without the stabilising influence of Simon, Nic could easily have gone off the rails, but luckily for us he decided on a clipshow instead.This week go back in time to hear conversations on a the connection between a fish and German music from episode 14, East Germany’s favourite car the Trabant from episode 15, Simon’s love of kebabs from Episode 19 and an interview with 40percentgerman.com guest contributor Dilini Algama on her experiences of German dating from episode 23.

On the show this week:Simon celebrates Sebastian Vettel’s birthday and explains why the F1 driver holds British humour in such high regard. Despite their best efforts, the lads we can’t avoid talking football especially with the England v Germany fixture taking up so much of this week’s news. Simon & Nic talk about terrible media takes, football rivalries and who to support once your favourite team exits the tournament.A new shop in Berlin proudly selling LSD to the masses attracts Simon’s attention and gives us a chance to talk about everyone’s favourite topic, sensible drug legislation! Finally we discuss traditional German health remedies and why going to a homoeopathic practitioners conference might be more fun than you think.

To celebrate the upcoming England v Germany game Nic & Simon discuss the upcoming fixture and what it means to them. They remember past meetings between the teams and try to predict who will win on Tuesday.

On the show this week:We’re talking two of our favorite topics this week football and beer, although the second of these is a little tricky for Simon as he recovers from partying with his neighbours. Nic explains why JFK is unfairly remembered in Germany for claiming to be doughnut and your hosts discuss marxist footballers and why a minority of English football fans are booing their own team.Simon questions a recent Greenpeace protest that almost ended in total disaster and asks Nic how much money the podcast could knock off the value of a major soft drinks company. Finally, we end the show by deep diving into the topic of German beer and choose their own top five German beers.

On the show this week: Nic comes down with a severe case of football fever and there ain’t no vaccine for that, the lads discuss the start of Euro 21 and the teams they plan on supporting. Simon tells Nic all about Dirk Nowitzki (the insurance salesman) in honour of the giant German’s birthday.Following on from last week, Simon and Nic talk discuss funny German words they’ve still not fully got to grips with and explain why having a childish sense of humour is useful when speaking German. A failure in translation brings an end to a court case in the UK, Simon asks why translating German seems so difficult for a British judge and questions whether technology is the only failing of the UK court system.Simon & Nic celebrate the return of German hero David Hasselhoff, the new official face of the vaccine roll out in Germany. Finally, Simon introduces us to the most rebellious musician in Switzerland, or at least the most rebellious Alpine horn player in Switzerland. 

On this weeks show:Simons & Nic are increasingly optimistic as lockdown restrictions being to ease, Nic celebrates the end of the mask mandate in Augsburg by going on a one man pub crawl, but is drinking on your own on a public holiday really all it’s cracked up to be? Despite two decades in Germany between them, your hosts still find some parts of Germany a little strange, even at home there are many things that can cause confusion. Simon bemoans the lack of mixer taps in British kitchens and toilets, while Nic explains why Germany is ready for the Zombie apocalypse.Simon introduces us to the world of Bernd das Brot, a depressed loaf of bread that has inexplicably become an award winning kids TV show character. Does a sad loaf of bread give us an insight into the Germany condition?To finish off the show, Simon & Nic look to a post-pandemic future and talk fests, Lederhosen and their favourite beer festival, the Erlangen Bergkirchweih.