Decades From Home - A Podcast About Germany

In the latest episode of the podcast, hosts Nic, Dili and Producer Simon embark on a lively discussion that starts with questions about German swimming pools. Venturing beyond the chlorine-scented chat, they delve into Dili's upbringing in Sri Lanka, shedding light on why her parents viewed learning to swim as a controversial decision. The conversation meanders to the realm of peculiar-smelling public pools, navigating crowded waters, and the eternal dilemma of avoiding the kids' pool for hygiene concerns. Transitioning to weightier topics, the hosts explore potential strategies to fix the German economy, and contrast their ideas with the 12 point plan of junior coalition partners the FDP. We weigh the repercussions of penalizing those on benefits to address budget deficits, pondering if alternative solutions might offer a more feasible path to financial stability. Wrapping up the episode, Dili shares insights from her visits to the local church, advocating for a flexible approach to Sunday service attendance.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 ChildrenÄrzte ohne GrenzenTheme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß

In the latest installment, co-host Nic bravely airs his grievances against asparagus and men in shorts, inadvertently sparking a feud with Producer Simon, a proud member of the shorts-wearing community. Amidst the playful banter, Dili gracefully steers the episode back on track by sharing heartwarming listener feedback, prompting reflections on past experiences in Germany. From reminiscing about our initial days in a new country to dissecting the unwritten rules of German household footwear, the trio offers possible advice to their past selves.As the episode unfolds, the podcast takes a humorous turn with a discussion on the unexpected TikTok debut of Chancellor Olaf Scholz, adding a contemporary twist to the show's signature mix of personal anecdotes and cultural insights. Tune in to the latest episode for a dose of laughter, camaraderie, and a dash of unexpected news from the world of German politics.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 ChildrenÄrzte ohne GrenzenTheme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß

In this week’s episode, Nic shares his ordeal of dealing with back pain after engaging in a traditional wood-chopping session with his German family, and begs his fellow hosts for potential remedies. Meanwhile, Dili opens up about the bittersweet reality of celebrating birthdays separated from loved ones, shedding light on the complexities of being away from family during special occasions.Your trio of hosts also delve into the phenomenon of Germany's far-right party, the AfD, making waves on TikTok and ask why of all the political parties to find success on social media, it had to be them.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 ChildrenÄrzte ohne GrenzenTheme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß

This week we’re joined by the one of our favourite people, and founder of the popular Twitter account @germany_iam, the lovely Kat for a discussion of Easter video games, brutalist church architecture, and why dressing up as Jesus is a bit cringe. After many months of tracking the topic of new cannabis laws in Germany, the 1st of April saw partial legalisation across the country. Will the arrival of legal weed bring society to its knees as some critics claim, or will a new era of home cultivation change public opinion?With the summer approaching, Producer Simon tells us about the ridiculous cost of tourism signs on the Autobahn, and Nic brings us a story about honest frozen food packaging. 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 ChildrenÄrzte ohne GrenzenTheme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß

This week we have Berlin tour guide extraordinaire Jonny Whitlam joining Nic & producer Simon for an Easter trip through the world of tour guiding in the German capital. We find out how Jonny first started taking tours, despite not enjoying history much at school, and gradually became one of the most popular guides in the city.We quiz Jonny on what makes a good tour group, the most visited spots, and why he doesn’t buy into Berliners’ nostalgia for the “good old days”. We also learn about the tourist traps to avoid and Jonny’s recommendation for the best place to visit.Finally, we take some time to discuss Jonny’s foray into podcasting with the release of his new show History Flakes - The Berlin History Podcast.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 ChildrenÄrzte ohne GrenzenTheme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß

After a few weeks away, Dili returns to the podcast and wastes no time by dropping bombs on her erstwhile co-host Nic. I think we can all agree he probably deserves it, which is why Producer Simon gets in on the act too. Having dealt out some much needed discipline, Dili shares her discovery of a new Mexican restaurant, and why sharing rice is the sign of a great friendship.St Patrick’s Day was last Sunday, which means Nic reports back from another adventure to Finnigan’s Irish Pub in Nürnberg to celebrate the pod’s favourite patron saint. We also discuss how Germany celebrates the Irish national holiday and why green beer is the sign something terrible might be going on. We also chat about Germany’s Euro 2024 football kit and Producer Simon brings us some worrying news about an invasive mosquito coming to 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 ChildrenÄrzte ohne GrenzenTheme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß

In our continuing attempts to collect all our favourite podcasters, we welcome the fantastic Nina Wooten of the Everyday Germany podcast to the show! Nina joins Producer Simon & Nic to discuss her ongoing move to the US. We talk about exchange trips to American high schools, living in Baltimore, and the benefits of seeing a totally different environment.With Nina planning her imminent move to Kansas, we look at the trials and tribulations of planning a move across continents, what to keep and what to throw away, and how many Tchibo products can safely be taken to the American midwest. We also find time for German stereotypes of Americans, growing up in Augsburg, and find out why Nürnberg is one of the best cities in Germany and one of the worst for Christmas markets. 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 ChildrenÄrzte ohne GrenzenTheme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß

With Dili taking the week off, it’s left to the lads to hold down the podcast fort, but it doesn’t take long for Producer Simon & Nic to start squabbling like unruly siblings. Wary of fully derailing the running order, your hosts pull themselves together to discuss when a host should offer their guest a nice drink, and whether things are different in Germany.Moving on from etiquette, we welcome the recent liberalisation of cannabis laws across the country. We explain how people will be able to buy weed, talk about why it isn’t quite legalisation, and how things may still be derailed in the Bundesrat. Following our recent discussion on Ukrainian refugees in Germany, we return to the topic to find out what exactly Poland has been doing differently. We finish on the topic of German drivers and why they may be better than Nic thinks. 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 ChildrenÄrzte ohne GrenzenTheme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß

With Dili away for the week we need a guest host, preferably someone with some experience with this podcast malarkey. Lucky for us, we have the perfect guest to fill in, it’s the wonderful Shaun Behrens of the Everyday Germany podcast! Shaun joins Producer Simon & Nic to discuss the benefits of being totally unprepared for life in Germany, the difficulties of finding a job, and why having a non-German on your staff can really help a company. Nic and Shaun also discover the many similarities between their lives, from living in the Bavarian countryside to dealing with kindergartens.Given Shaun’s wealth of podcast knowledge, we also take some time to discuss the various projects Shaun has worked on over the years, as well as his love of radio, and how the pandemic changed the podcast landscape.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 ChildrenÄrzte ohne GrenzenTheme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß

Things are decidedly zen this week, with good vibes spread by Nic after he sat in total silence for three hours. He’s not been on some transcendental meditation retreat however, but invigilating exams for the university’s Prüfungswoche. Perhaps it’s this peace of mind that leads to our first topic of the week: creating a ten point plan to fix Germany.Having created a clear path for Germany’s future success, your erstwhile hosts turn their attention to the creation of new political parties, and one in particular that seems ripe for ridicule. We discuss whether the splintering of the right and left wings of the political spectrum might have some advantages, and ask why we aren’t laughing at the more ridiculous aspects of German politics.To finish things off this week, Producer Simon takes a look at the current situation for Ukrainian refugees in Germany and how it compares with other countries. 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 ChildrenÄrzte ohne GrenzenTheme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß