Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 21:12 — 15.0MB)
In our quickie holiday post-mortem show, we discuss the American habit of putting family portraits on their christmas cards; then Johnson goes below the waist with something called a Yankee Swap. Then we talk about the phenom that is the One-Man Band, and learn how to rig a jury. Some links: an OMB google image search, and videos of the three that we listen to here, here, and the Japanese bloke is here.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 56:12 — 39.0MB)
It’s Christmas, which means it’s time for Johnson and I to pull crackers again (with predictable results.) Then we chat about something Americans don’t have (“specterly locomotives”) and dig into some listener mail from Raphael, Ed Lee, John Killey and Mollie Bowling. Then, at long last, Jon takes the quiz and tries to figure out what “Old Glory” is, while Johnson samples “Babycham.” See you next year, everyone!
Links: Mollie’s Isle of Man Internment Camp page, and the Babycham commercial.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:20 — 17.8MB)
A short and embarrassingly late episode (there’s another one coming right behind it though) in which we discuss the difference (if any) between icing and frosting – and likewise britches and breeches. Then we dip into the Ed Files to hear a report about the origins of the Australian accent, and talk more about the mysterious Isle of Man, and what happened if you crashed your plane in Ireland during WWII. Links: Ed’s Aussie article, and (for the 8 people who haven’t seen it) the SNL cowbell sketch.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:24 — 20.6MB)
This episode, my wife steps in to chat about the Queen’s big milestone, and what “knocking someone up” and “going potty” mean in the UK. Then I explain “999 Letsby Avenue” and other jokes that only Brits understand, and listener John Killey writes in, which gets us into motorcycle racing and cats without tails.
Oh: here’s the Isle of Man TT footage we were watching …
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 39:40 — 27.7MB)
This week, Johnson tries a “Crunchie” to resolve last episode’s important honeycomb story. Then, we talk about companies in American films that may or may not have been real, and I confess to a childhood mispronunciation. Then I educate Americans on the origins of “Right Said Fred,” and Johnson ruins it for everyone. Then we talk about kid acronyms, and get letters from listeners Jeff Crick and Mack Pitchford.
Links to things mentioned: the Malteser ad, Right Said Fred (sexy) and Right Said Fred (not sexy), Jeff’s cockney rhyming slang article, the Bobby McFerrin thing, and of course Johnson’s beer blog.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:21 — 20.6MB)
This week, Ed Lee writes in about Jamie Foxx, code-switching, and the correct use of the word “fishes;” John Killey corrects me on the commonwealth and South African racism; we chat about the American use of the French word “reveille;” Irene writes about fork-switching and asks me about the Ashes; and finally we investigate the truth behind the shadowy world of honeycomb (and other suspicious confectionery.)
Some links mentioned: Ed’s code-switching sleep-aid; the rapier-like wit of Alec Baldwin; Irene’s anti-fork-switching article.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 39:24 — 27.5MB)
This week, my plan to entrap Johnson with the word “Aunt” backfires. Then we argue about whether Canadians ever say the name of their country wrong, and Beth Kent sends us a letter about the word “the,” which we get to via some 80’s bands. Then we painstakingly dissect the phrase “taking the piss,” which somehow leads us up a canal to Yorkshire textile mills. Oh: link to Beth’s article is here.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 39:21 — 27.6MB)
This week, Jamie Foxxx(xx?) gets us into the wacky world of stage names, where we learn the difference between Marion Morrison and Maurice Micklewhite. Then we discuss the Hokey Cokey (or Pokey), and get a letter from Mack and Alistair in Canada. Then we dip into the Ed Files to learn some tips on doing an authentic southern accent, and swap stories of how we tried to blend in.
Some links to things mentioned: the Hokey Cokey video is here, and the Ed Files video is here.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 34:34 — 24.0MB)
This week, it’s Transatlantically Speaking “After Dark” which, sadly, just means that we recorded later than normal. We do a wrap-up of the women’s World Cup, and get a letter from Kevin in Oregon with a list of ways to tell if you’re an American. Then we go through a list of olde tyme stuff, to see how many Johnson and I know. Somehow in this episode we touch on everything from airport codes to artisanal Jell-o, David Caruso to ice trays. Enjoy!
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 42:33 — 29.5MB)
This week, Jochen writes in about how well the England and Germany women’s football teams are doing (unfortunately, a week is a long time in football, and they’ve since both been eliminated.) Also in his letter, among other things, is a theory on the American knife/fork switcheroo thing, then my dad writes in to commiserate on the trials of our family name. Later, the old buddy-cop team is back when Cocker takes the quiz, trying to identify what “Ma Bell” is, while Johnson goes below the waist (I know!) with “a dab hand.” Happy 4th of July, everyone!