My absolute highlight of our now complete 250 episodes: Derek Rae @raecomm.bsky.social gracing us with an unforgettable moment of audio brilliance. Thanks to all our guests and all our listeners for supporting us for 250 episodes. It's been great. That's all, folks. Tschüsseldorf.

It’s the end of an era, or at least it’s the end of this podcast. After 250 episodes, Nic, Simon, and Producer Simon have reached their final episode. No, I’m not crying…you’re crying… Find out more on Ep 249, coming Saturday morning!

Today is your last chance to submit a voice message for inclusion in our last episode of "Decades from Home", episode 250, which will be published this coming Saturday. Link to our email can be found in bio.

Last call if you want to be part of the final Decades from Home episode.

As we approach the finish line, we focus much of the episode on buffet strategy, but still have time to hear about Nic's recent trip to the UK.... which triggers a biscuit-related rant from Simon. Ep 249: "Vorletzte Haltestelle". Out now!

For our penultimate episode we have a listener email to pore over. We also outline strategies for maximising a hotel buffet. Finally Nic tells us about a dream pub lunch and we ponder who sends out the worst tourists, Britain or Germany? Ep 249: "Vorletzte Haltestelle". Out now!

Counting down to the release of our last episode.... If you'd like to send us a voice message for inclusion in our last episode, please send us your voice message by 23 September.

There’s nothing like a language to cause confusion, as Producer Simon discovers when he gets on the wrong side of a farmer. How do you say “get off my land!” in German? We find out! Find out more on Ep 247, coming Saturday morning!

Quark - the cure-all for everything, right? RIGHT!?? Find out more on episode 247: "Farmer Drama". Out now.

Did adiletten and white socks for the first time this month. Felt integrated. Felt good. What other signs are there?

How integrated do your hosts feel? Simon asks the important questions to find out how German 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? Find out more on Ep 246: The Sprudelwasser Express. Out now!

The contents of your wallet can tell someone exactly how German a person is, or at least that’s what Simon believes anyway. He puts Nic and Producer Simon through their paces to find out how integrated we all really are! Find out more on Ep 246, coming Saturday morning!

Into the final few episodes now... 250 will the final one. A strong innings. Audio submissions for the final episode to [email protected] - great chance to contribute to the finale.

This week we discuss Jugendwort des Jahres 2025 and the pernicious influence of English. We also look at the world of tattooing and ask Simon about his changing views on tattoos. Find out more on Ep 244: "Goon Squad". Out now!

How do you deal with fans? We’re not exactly experts, but Nic met one once…Simon did not meet our fan, and he’s still regretting it all these years later! Find out more on Ep 245, coming Saturday morning!

It’s time once again for Jugendwort des Jahres!!! We discuss the contenders, and learn far more about the word “Goonen” than anyone ever needed to know. Find out more on Ep 244, coming Saturday morning!

Simon shares his list of best/worst German names for hairdressers, but how much should we be paying for a haircut, and how much do you tip for the best haircut you've ever had? Find out more on Ep 243: Handybitch, Out Now!

German UNESCO World Heritage sites.... Bavarian belligerence over school holidays.... The greatest debate of all time.... Sounds like we covered everything this week. Episodw 242: "Tanks vs Castles". Out now!

We talk tourist sites this week, 3 in particular that are the newest German UNESCO World Heritage sites. We question Bavarian belligerence over school holidays, and finish on a debate that has baffled the world’s greatest minds. Find out more on Ep 242: "Tanks vs Castles". Out now!

This is a podcast about Germany, but sometimes it's nice to stretch our legs to another topic, like the Great Wall of China...which you can't see from space...but the peaches are nice. Find out more on Ep 242, coming Saturday morning!

Beer tents, Schlager and the cleanest public toilets ever seen = Nic's recipe for a perfect summer. Oh, and a Lionesses victory at the Euros. Find out more on Ep 241: Porzellan Prince. Out now!

What constitutes a weekend festival? We have no idea, but Nic reckons he might have been to one when his village closed the main street, built a stage, and Schlager singers started warbling. It's not Glastonbury, but it was certainly...something... Find out more on Ep 241, coming Saturday morning!

Nic has a perfect recipe for summer; beer tents, schlager, and the cleanest public toilets ever seen. We discuss the exciting new UK/German friendship treaty, and we finish on a chaotic TV interview with the Far-right AfD. Find out more on Ep 2241: Porzellan Prince, Out Now!

My dream came true. 🥂🤩 Die Jungs von @decadesfromhome.bsky.social haben meine Anfrage aufgegriffen und sehr unterhaltsam über die Bezeichnung „Mahlzeit!“ geplaudert. Thanks, guys! 👋🏻

This week we begin with Spurs' win in the Europa League.... a month ago.... We also have a listener question concerning the curious German word “Mahlzeit!”. Find out more on Ep 235: Audere est facere, out now!

For months we've been trying to get Bavarian-based English footballer Harry Kane to come on the podcast. With nothing really working, we've got a new plan: heckle him from the stands in the nicest way possible. Find out more on Ep 235, coming Saturday morning!

What's the difference between the rudest and nicest parts of Germany? Well, according to our in-depth research, roughly 17 kms. Find out more on Ep 234, coming Saturday morning!

There’s Döner for €3.99 to discuss, and we have a few questions about the honesty of ourselves, Germans, and anyone who’s ever decided to buy some ancient marble while on holiday in Greece. Find out more on Episode 234: "Viva Volksdöner", out now!

What’s the difference between a kiwi, a kiwi, and a kiwi fruit? Obviously we have to ask our resident New Zealander for an explanation, although for some of us, the truth just isn’t as satisfying as they may want. Find out more on Episode 234: Viva Volksdöner, out now!

We had to discuss Eurovision, right? Luckily we had a guest reporter filing copy for us. New Chancellor of Germany Friedrich Merz claims he knows how to fix the German economy, and we finish with the 10th Anniversary of the Frauenquote. Episode 233 out now!

Ich bequatsche ja nicht nur selber‘n Podcast, sondern höre auch gerne welche. Einer meiner Lieblings-Podcasts ist @decadesfromhome.bsky.social … interessante und kurzweilige Perspektiven auf 🇩🇪 und uns Eingeborene von Expats aus 🇬🇧🇳🇿, die schon lange hier leben und wissen, wovon sie sprechen. 😎

Simon brings in a special Eurovision guest reporter as we discuss politics, Pride flags, and Celine Dion. Freshly minted (sort of) Chancellor of Germany Friedrich Merz reckons he knows how to fix the German economy, and we finish with the 10th Anniversary of the Frauenquote. Episode 233 out now!

As much as we try to keep on top of things, sometimes we miss certain topics. Take Eurovision. In fairness, we know next to nothing about it, but luckily we know a man who does... Find out more on Ep 233, coming Saturday morning!

What's the worst thing that could be delivered to your door in the middle of the night? I'm sure there's plenty of things, but I bet a giant wooden phallus is on that list. Find out more on Episode 232: Beerenverbände Ultras, Out Now!

People often ask us where they should visit when they come to Germany, and we're honest, we always say the Rundfunkmuseum in Fürth. Producer Simon swears by it. Find out on Ep 232, coming Saturday at 9am!

Producer Simon considers visiting the Rundfunkmuseum in Fürth, while Nic & Simon wonder why a mysterious wooden phallus has appeared in a Munich street. They then try to explain a survey suggesting Germans have fallen out of love with Spargel. Episode 232: Beerenverbände Ultras, Out Now!

Oh when the Spurs....

It's been two years of the Deutschlandticket, and we take a trip down memory road to the early days of cheap regional rail travel and summer of packed trains and sweaty mask wearing. Find out more on Ep 231: RudeGebiet, Out Now!

This week, Simon sees a terrifying omen on his way to the Bäckerei, England’s rose Harry Kane wins the Bundesliga, we find out if Munich is really the most unfriendly city…for expats, and finish with the anniversary of the Deutschlandticket. Ep 231: RudeGebiet, Out Now!

An entire podcast of only Simon singing for 30 whole minutes? Don't threaten us with a good time, but what could possibly make our erstwhile co-host so giddy? Find out on Ep 231, coming Saturday at 9am!

Having tracked the twists & turns of German politics from February’s election through to this week’s confirmation vote for Chancellor, you might think things were finally getting back to normal…of course, you’d be wrong. Find out more on Ep 230: Liebesübungen, Out Now!

It's not clear what season it is in Germany at the moment. One day it's Winter, the next Summer, with a little Spring chucked in for good measure. This makes it tricky to choose what to wear, though Simon has his own recommendations. Find out more on Ep 230, coming Saturday!

Germany has a new government, which means it’s time for former Chancellor Olaf Scholz to exit the stage, but not before a goodbye in the form of a military tattoo, some fiery torches, and a brass band playing his favorite songs. Find out more on Ep 230: Liebesübungen, Out Now!

For the Guardian, @willwilkes.bsky.social and I wrote about the challenges Friedrich Merz will face as Germany's next chancellor. Our adopted country needs him to be successful and that means uniting the people, but his instincts have been to divide. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

This week we learn how not to transit through an airport and the significance of orange chocolate ice cream. We get some supermarket nostalgia, learn what the hell “Snackification” means, and enjoy a cold pint of Schadenfreude. Find out more on Ep 229, Out Now!

Is there a clearer indicator of climbing the social ladder than where a person shops? Simon seems to think so, and Nic's in the firing line as we discuss supermarket nostalgia. Find out more on Ep 229, coming Saturday morning!

After a trip to the UK over Easter, Nic returns with more questions than answers, one being: how come it seems to be easier to buy cannabis in the UK illegally than it is to buy weed in Germany legally? Find out more on Ep 228, Out Now!

As our listeners know by now, we're all about accurate reporting on the podcast...well some of us are when they're not spreading spurious rumours about the origin of the humble Gummistiefel. Find out more on Ep 228, coming Saturday!

With the Easter chocolate still littering the floor, we discuss the Easter traditions of the Sorbain community, and an odd delivery service in the UK. We look at the new coalition agreement. We also share some rumours about the real origin of Germany’s humble Gummistiefel. Episode 228 Out Now!

Who's for boycotting US products? It's a question we've been wondering ourselves over the last few weeks, but how difficult is it, and what are the EU alternatives? Find out more on Ep 227: Puff Puff Pass(Over), Out Now!