Decades From Home - A Podcast About Germany

This week's show sees the return of co-host Dili and the reappearance of frequent guest, Kat. Good thing too, because Nic is away, enjoying a much deserved break from the podcast. We discuss house-moving, a distraction from the Paris Olympics and whether "Brat" is compatible with the essence of being German.

On this week’s show, journalist and Co-host of the BerlinsideOut podcast Aaron Gasch Burnett returns to the pod, and this time he’s come bearing gifts…well not quite gifts, but a promise to buy Nic & Producer Simon a cowboy hat next time he’s in Canada. Speaking of the land of maple syrup and mounties, Aaron tells us about his recent trip back to his homeland, and also why rodeo clowns are more important than you might expect.Of course, we didn’t invite Aaron on to only talk about his time in Lumberjack country, after all, he’s been at the forefront of reporting on Germany’s new dual citizenship law. We discuss what’s happened since the law passed, as well as some of the other reforms enacted by Germany’s traffic light coalition.We also learn about why Christopher Street Day in Berlin might be the party to end all parties, the legacy of Angela Merkel’s time as Chancellor, and why comparing British and German politics isn’t always helpful.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 are joined by Berlin based game developer Seb Downie-Blackwell! Seb is a partner and Head of Productions at Remote Control Productions, as well as Managing and Creative Director at It Matters Games. Outside of work, Seb was also been instrumental in organising public viewings of all the Scotland games at the Kulturbrauerei in Berlin.We discuss Seb’s successful efforts to gather his fellow Scottish brethren to celebrate and ultimately commiserate their football journey, and why not all Scotland fans are necessarily the same. We also find out how to get an invite to the British ambassador’s house in Berlin, if only to enjoy the cocktails.Given Seb’s chosen career, we also find out what it’s like to work in the German games industry, the growth of creative industries in Berlin, and why Germany is quietly becoming a centre of the video games industry.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 freelance reporter and broadcaster James Jackson. James is based in Berlin, and he covers a range of topics including news, business and culture in Germany and Central Eastern Europe for publications like the BBC, Sunday Times, Time Magazine and others.We discuss how a seemingly unimportant decision to study German at school led James to moving to Germany’s capital, and how once he’d arrived, he built up an impressive body of work over the last seven years. James tells us what it’s like to write stories in both English and German, and how culture impacts the editorial focus in the UK and Germany.We also find time to chat about some of James’ more controversial stories, what happens when journalists become the focus of social media backlash, while also finding time to talk about his new 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

This week we welcome the terrific Pip Roper to the show! When she’s not sharing captivating stories of Berlin's history on the History Flakes podcast, Pip leads tours on diverse subjects throughout Germany's capital. Join us as we delve into strategies for engaging disinterested school kids, the enduring allure of tanks in conversation, and curious British perspectives on Berlin. Of course, we also look at more serious topics, as Pip sheds some light on her reputation as the defender of the often misunderstood German sandwich, and, with her help, we finally settle our ongoing cake vs dessert debate.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

We’re shaking things up this week as Dili takes the reigns for the first time, with her first act as Queen of the podcast being to punish Nic for his many cake based transgressions on last week’s show. To support the new regime, we’ve invited linguist and former academic Sandra Jansen to the pod! Sandra leads seminars and helps support others who wish to leave German academia, and she takes us through the many troubles of Germany’s university system.We also manage to stuff a little bit of football into an already packed schedule, as Nic & Producer Simon give an update on Euro 2024, and we learn the surprising reason why Dili now seems to like watching Germany’s favourite sport.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 delve into those odd little bits of culture that are surprisingly popular in other countries, case in point, the unexpected popularity of British furniture in Germany. Nic, our resident Brit, finds himself bewildered by a furniture brand that has somehow slipped under his radar, proving that even the most mundane items can hold cultural significance abroad.Shifting our focus to the realm of desserts, Dili introduces the delectable Sticky Toffee Pudding from Britain, sparking a discussion on the best sweet treats Germany has to offer. As we compare Nachspeisen and question whether cake truly reigns supreme in German desserts.To wrap up the show, we have some updates on Euro 2024 before embarking on a controversial journey to transform the beloved Döner into a regional delicacy. 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

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 ChildrenÄrzte ohne GrenzenTheme 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 ChildrenÄrzte ohne GrenzenTheme 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 ChildrenÄrzte ohne GrenzenTheme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß