Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 43:04 — 29.8MB)
In this week’s episode, James describes narrowly dodging a traffic ticket from Henny Youngman, then talks about British vs American board games and nursery rhymes. Later, Kurt takes the quiz and tries to guess what a “Fluffernutter” is, while Johnson visits a “Wendy House.”
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 56:11 — 38.8MB)
Our faithful listeners get in touch: first Jochen writes from Hamburg to stick it to James about Easter, Heathrow Airport and British cars, but also asks about the origins of the word “loo.” Then Laci writes from Oregon and confirms the existence of a pop record once made by Bob Gandalf. Later, Ray Peacock of Peacock & Gamble calls in to chat about Star Wars figures, comedy double-acts, and getting more lines than any of the statues in the Doctor Who episode “Blink.” He then plays the “That’s Not English” quiz, and tries to guess what a “Monte Cristo” is, while Johnson tries to decipher a “sleeping policeman.”
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 38:26 — 26.6MB)
In our April Fool’s show we talk about the breakfast of champions that is the Taco Bell A.M. Crunchwrap, then attempt to discuss the major developments at the end of Downton Abbey’s third season without actually discussing it. After that, we chat about April Fool’s Day and James Bond, and finally the politics of bagging your own shopping (or not.) Later, James’ mum returns for the “That’s Not English” quiz, and tries to guess what a “clunker” is, while Paul considers what a “balaclava” might be.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 44:52 — 31.1MB)
Easter for the Christians, passover for the Jews, chocolate for everyone! We talk about all three of those things, plus Stephen Fry’s spider bite and why it’s only hooman to say Jagwar. Yeah. Later, Jordan takes the quiz, getting agita from schlepping a po’ boy to the bayou, while Johnson gets chivvied into getting a slapper up the duff. Is it Thursday already?
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 43:04 — 29.8MB)
It’s Palm Sunday later this week, so we talk about that until it stops being interesting (90 seconds or so.) James then segues into talking about palm trees, despite Paul thinking that this is also too dull a subject to merit attention. So we talk instead about the various poisonous creatures inhabiting these United States, and whether Wikipedia or the Brady Bunch is the more reliable source of information. Later, Rhiannon calls in to take the quiz and tries to figure out what a “Hoosier” is, while Paul contemplates “fly-tipping.”
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 43:59 — 30.5MB)
St. Patrick’s Day is here, but in the interest of fairness, we talk about all four patron saints of the UK. We also discuss our Irish voiceover guy, and James does an impression of his French teacher who was, well, Irish. Listener Todd writes in with a question, and later, Cocker takes a kid-themed “That’s Not English” quiz; he tries to guess what a “noogie” is, while Johnson ponders something called “Knock Down Ginger.”
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 49:59 — 34.6MB)
Our quinceañera episode! We talk about daylight savings, then listener Jill gets in touch to tell us about some British and jewish folklore involving people acting stupid. This allows us to revisit Polish jokes, James tells a story about treating scary East German guards like postmen, and Johnson tells of his own experiences as a member of a totalitarian regime. Then Soji takes the “That’s Not English” quiz, trying to figure out what the best part of waking up is, while Johnson gets the Abbey habit (not Downton this time.)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 46:18 — 32.1MB)
A packed episode! First, we give the least intelligent talk about the Oscars ever, because they hadn’t actually happened when we recorded, and we’d seen a total of 1 of the films between us. After that, author Jonathan Thomas calls in from Anglotopia to talk about his excellent new dictionary of British slang, and how his own name makes English people titter. Then Sam returns for the “That’s Not English” quiz and tries to guess what a “Murphy bed” might be, while Johnson wrestles with a “nonce.”
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 44:40 — 30.9MB)
If there’s a through-line to this week’s episode, it seems to be flesh and blood; we chat about the fact that while American giants can apparently smell the blood of Englishmen, the American Red Cross is, by contrast, totally uninterested in it. This gets us on to the mad cow scare of a few years back, and the current horse meat debacle going on in Europe. Also, Jochen gets back in touch from Hamburg, and later, Tom takes the quiz and explains how not to order coffee in Harlem.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 34:29 — 23.9MB)
You’d think Valentine’s Day would be uncontroversial, but starting with the fact that the British consider it odd that Americans send their mothers Valentines at all, we chat about the yanks’ limited use of irony and somehow end up on zombies, via Richard III and Oliver Cromwell. Later, Johnson guesses what Fairy Liquid might be (which goes as badly as you’d think) while Lil & Ryan ponder how to use K.C. Masterpiece.