Decades From Home - A Podcast About Germany

Living in Germany as long as we have, you sometimes forget how German things can be. As Nic finds out, all it takes is a quick reminder, or the mere mention of David Hasselhoff. On the other hand, Simon is perfectly aware he’s in Germany as he talks about his Flohmarkt victories, which of course include a lovely beer krug. From glassware to baskets, Simon introduces the newest retail dating concept as a branch of supermarket chain EDEKA play matchmaker with their customers. Can you meet the love of your life in the yoghurt section, or is that more of a fruit & veg kind of hook-uo? Finally, we finish on the miraculous story of a German backpackers survival after getting lost in the Australian outback for 11 nights. How did she manage it, and is it comparable to Nic getting lost in woods? Theme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß [https://fortypercentgerman.squarespace.com/decades-from-home/2024/12/5/Klo%C3%9F%20mit%20So%C3%9F]

For good or for ill, Germany has reputation for steely seriousness, but if we’ve learned anything living here for as long as we have, it’s that reputation means nothing. Honestly, how serious can any country be if they don’t even make escaping from prison illegal? Luckily, Simon’s on hand to explain why jailbreaks are only human. A few weeks ago we learned of attempts to bring Volksdöner back to Germany in the form of a €3.99 kebap, but apparently some didn’t get the memo. A “24 carat gold “Dubai Döner” has gone on sale, much to our disgust. We discuss why putting gold in food is a terrible idea, and wonder if kebaps are bigger and better if you eat in rather than takeaway. Finally, we bring proceedings to a close by finding out Germany’s safest cities, and which are your hosts favourite cities in Germany. A few weeks ago we learned of attempts to bring a truly Volksdöner back to Germany in the form of a €3.99 kebap, but apparently some didn’t get the memo. A “24 carat gold “Dubai Döner” has gone on sale, much to our disgust. We discuss why putting gold in food is a terrible idea, and wonder if kebaps are bigger and better if you eat in rather than takeaway. Finally, we bring proceedings to a close by finding out Germany’s safest cities, and which are your hosts favourite cities in Germany.

It might feel like stating the obvious, but it’s been fairly warm this week in Germany, which means a little more of the weird and wonderful than usual. In this case, the wonderful came in the form of a Dorffest, and the weird was large amounts of Greek condiments on offer, much to Simon’s annoyance. The primo weather wasn’t just great for dorffests, it was also Christopher Street Day. With pride events happening across the country, it seemed an odd time for Bundestag President Julia Klöckner to decide not to allow a Rainbow flag to fly atop the Reichstag. Was the decision all about political neutrality as Klöckner claims or for other more performative reasons? We finish off proceedings with some tattoos, not on us, but on the Bayern Munich team mates of English footballer Georgia Stanway who volunteered themselves to be the canvas for Stanway before she heads off to Euro 2025 in Switzerland. We talk about tattoo choices, and the kick-off of a summer of football. Theme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß [https://fortypercentgerman.squarespace.com/decades-from-home/2024/12/5/Klo%C3%9F%20mit%20So%C3%9F]

This is usually a podcast about Germany, but after a trip to Strasbourg, Nic’s a hare’s breadth from trying to turn this podcast all French with his general love of one of Europe’s most delightful destinations. Was it the architecture, the boulangeries, or the sexy gargoyles? Whatever it was, we find out. While Nic was out of town, Simon found himself enjoying more German pursuits, or at least more German TV in the form of the Rosins Restaurants, a Kitchen Nightmares inspired look at some of the more terrible places to eat across the country. We finish things off with some flora and fauna, well, more fauna as a story about moose hiding in the forests of New Zealand leads us to wonder whether Germany has any hidden beasts lurking out there. Theme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß [https://fortypercentgerman.squarespace.com/decades-from-home/2024/12/5/Klo%C3%9F%20mit%20So%C3%9F]

Known for his formidable producing powers, the aptly named Producer Simon is also something of a travel expert, or at least he’s gone on holiday a lot recently. It does mean he has some interesting stories to tell though, especially what it was like travelling through Europe in an electric car. We can’t all save the world like Producer Simon, but we can answer listener questions, or at least Nic & Simon can at least. Last week it was “Mahlzeit” this week it’s “Feierabend” as we try to explain one of the best words in the German language. To finish things off, we discuss why berets and the Bundestag don’t mix well, and ponder whether “ACAB” or “Eat the Rich” are serious statements to make in the seat of German government. Theme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß [https://fortypercentgerman.squarespace.com/decades-from-home/2024/12/5/Klo%C3%9F%20mit%20So%C3%9F]