Decades From Home - A Podcast About Germany

Well, here we are then, the end. After 250 episodes and almost 5 years of podcasts, the curtains close on the old Decades from Home stage. Before we wistfully turn to an empty podcast studio before turning off the lights, we take a look back at the show, discuss our favourite guests, and who came up with the best episode title.Thank you to all of the listeners, guests, contributors, and co-hosts who’s been part of the last five years, you’ve been class, and we love you!Theme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß

It’s never too early to start the festive cheer, and with Christmas biscuits hitting the shelves, Simon’s pleased for early Plätzchen. We take a tour the slightly odd world of the local Freibad with Nic, and we discuss the retirement of a one man bottle capping factory, and we finish by looking at water theft as a neighbours call police to settle whether rain water can really belong to anyone.

We’ve discussed the topic of integration on the podcast more than a few times over the five years of the show, but how integrated do your hosts feel now that we’re bringing things to a close. Simon asks the important questions to find our how Germany we’ve all become: do we have any cash to hand, do we know how to recycle a pizza box, and can we handle the shops being closed on Sunday?We also discuss handling those scary compound nouns, the ethics of crossing the street on the red light, and what footwear choices should be combined with staring out the window at your neighbours. Theme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß

It may not feel like a year, but apparently it’s time once again for Germany to go full crazy for Jugendwort des Jahres 2025!!! We look at the runners and riders, discuss the pernicious influence of English, and learn far more about the word “Goonen” than anyone ever needed to know.From words to actions, we discuss the world of tattooing to end the show. We ask Simon about his changing views on tattoos as he’s got older, whether he ever considered a face tattoo, and we discuss the curious case of a forced tattooing of a swear word and a new ruling by the Bundesgerichtshof on how to deal with the perpetrators. Theme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß

As summer continues to cut a rug through to August, we talk tourist sites, and three in particular: Neuschwanstein, Herrenchiemsee and Linderhof. Why these three? For the simple reason that they are the three newest German UNESCO World Heritage sites. Are they worthy entrants, and what does this have to do with the Great Wall of China? We find out.Summer also means school holidays, but it wouldn’t be German school holidays without a little bit of complaining. What’s boiling people’s blood? The most obvious of German annoyances, Bavaria. Yes, Bavaria, who along with their southern neighbours Baden-Württemberg, are refusing to move their summer holidays with their fellow Bundesländer. We question the Bavarian belligerence, but wonder if they might have a point after all.We finish off with another listener question…well sort of…not directly, but it does give Nic and Producer Simon a chance to have their favourite argument: Tanks vs Castles!!!!Theme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß

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

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

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

This is a podcast about Germany, so you might assume some of that fabled Germanic organisation might have rubbed off on us. Well…sort of, but all the organisation in the world can’t prevent the confusion over Producer Simons recording schedule.A little uncertainty isn’t the worst way to get the podcast started, but what does seem to be a sure fire hit are the prices at an exciting new Dönerladen in Bochum. Sure, the Döner might be €3.99, but what is the real cost of this supposed “Volksdöner”?We finish things off this week by questioning the general honesty of ourselves, Germans, and pretty much anyone who’s ever decided to buy some ancient marble while on holiday in Greece. Theme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß

No one’s entirely sure how, but Producer Simon has managed to wrangle himself a holiday. Though he’d hoped for sunnier climes, the discovery that he could spend a week in Fürth visiting a Rundfunkmuseum does cause some second thoughts. While Producer considers his options, Nic & Simon concern themselves with a mysterious wooden phallus that appeared outside a local business in Munich. Who carved the giant wooden penis, and why does it look like a similar one that appeared and suddenly disappeared in Schwabmünchen?We may never solve that particular mystery, but perhaps we might be able to explain a recent survey suggesting Germans have fallen out of love with their beloved Spargel? Is Asparagus going out of fashion, and why is this clearly the fault of Gen Z?Theme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß

Nothing can stop this podcast, aside from a few technical glitches, and maybe some seriously surprising weather conditions. All it takes is one hot day in Germany, and your British hosts quickly wilt. Regardless, no matter how warm it gets, Nic won’t be following Simon’s corduroy shorts recommendation.The sudden warm weather does remind us that summer will soon be here, as does the end of the football season, but not before Simon explains the curious story behind the name of VfL Bochum. Having tracked the twists and turns of German politics from February’s election, the shocking results, the weeks of coalition negotiations, through to this week’s final confirmation vote for the new Chancellor Friedrich Merz, you might think things were finally getting back to normal…of course, you’d be totally wrong.Theme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß

With all the Easter eggs collected, and chocolate wrappers still littering the floor, Nic & Simon discuss their respective Easter weekends. While Simon has been merrily learning about the Sorbain community of Germany and their Easter traditions, Nic has been in the UK discovering a very odd, and very illegal new delivery service.With Easter behind us, we can fully focus on the important things, like whether Germany will finally have a functioning government. With the coalition agreement signed, we look at some of the finer points, how they may impact Germany, and where the fault lines might be found within the CDU & SPD coalition partners.We also find a little bit of time to share some suprious rumours about the real origin of Germany’s humble Gummistiefel. Theme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß

Once again, Germany is preparing to celebrate the world’s worst vegetable as Spargelzeit begins in earnest across the 16 Bundesländer, and two thirds of the podcast are delighted to see it’s return. What does 2025 have in store for Spargel lovers, and where will Simon get his regular Spargeleis? The current international economic turmoil caused by US government tarifs leads us back to the question of boycotting US products, which is really only one of many problems Simon seems to be facing on his weekly shop, the other being his fellow early bird customers.Perhaps what we all need is a bit of luck, but it seems all the luck is going elsewhere at the moment, as we discuss an especially fortunate young 8-year-old child who discovered €15,000 while digging a hole at their Kindergarten. With money in the air, we finish with some suggestions for new designs as the EU updates the Eurozone’s bank notes.Theme tune courtesy of Kloß mit SoßThe current international economic turmoil caused by US government tarifs leads us back to the question of boycotting US products, which is really only one of many problems Simon seems to be facing on his weekly shop, the other being his fellow early bird customers.Perhaps what we all need is a bit of luck, but it seems all the luck is going elsewhere at the moment, as we discuss an especially fortunate young 8-year-old child who discovered €15,000 while digging a hole at their Kindergarten. With money in the air, we finish things off with some suggestions for designs as the EU looks to update the Eurozone’s bank notes.Theme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß