Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 55:01 — 38.0MB)
That’s right: armless soccer players. We also chat about the Open University, MLK Day, the Great Train Robbery, the police using guns vs truncheons, and the Harlem Globetrotters. We also get closure on Kinder Eggs, and something called draught excluders. Later, Martin returns to the quiz, trying to guess what “tee-ball” is, while Johnson has a go at a “strimmer.”
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 37:57 — 26.3MB)
Another crazy meandering show: we talk about Hawaii, everything from roosters to centipedes; then how my supposedly spayed golden retriever went into heat, which leads to a discussion on our porn names; we briefly discuss the twitter hashtag #americansvsbritish, then we catch up on listener mail: Helen writes about christmas crackers, which somehow gets us into Roger Moore attacking a snake with hairspray. Latoya also writes about christmas crackers, which somehow gets us into Kinder eggs and Michael Caine’s eyelashes. Then Jochen gets in touch to ask us to decode a song lyric, and to have a little dig about the USA vs Germany football match. Happy New Year, everyone!
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 37:10 — 25.8MB)
That’s Hawaiian for “Merry Christmas,” people! In this, our final show of 2013, we eat mince pies, discuss everything from aprés ski to Hawaii to ugly sweater parties, ponder why Americans call snack bars “concession stands,” reminisce about sharing confined spaces with smokers, pull christmas crackers, and I give Johnson another gift. Thanks for listening in 2013, and we’ll see you all next year!
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 40:03 — 27.8MB)
This week, we chat about the relentless holiday parties that are typical of the the season; then we ponder the tough World Cup draws we both got. We also discuss “minced oaths,” the creative ways both our cultures avoid saying rude words. Later, Sam calls in to take the quiz, and tries to guess what the “freshman fifteen” is, while Johnson tries to figure out what a “tailback” might be.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 43:54 — 30.4MB)
This week, we’re joined by Johnson’s old friend Ed from New York! We discuss the Rosebowl vs the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, then our listener from Iran explains the whole Persia thing. Then we discuss the new phenomenon of Black Friday in the UK, and later, Adam Young calls in to take the quiz, and tries to guess what “affirmative action” is. Johnson, meanwhile, doesn’t even attempt to keep a “whip-round” above the waist.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 50:27 — 34.9MB)
It’s our thanksgiving episode, so we talk about how to deep fry a turkey without destroying your house. Then Johnson opens some overpriced gifts from the UK, and we get a letter from a listener in Iran. As if that wasn’t enough, Kurt then calls in to take the quiz, and tries to guess what a 401k is, while Johnson taps his saveloy on the window of a restaurant. Why? Good question.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 33:36 — 23.3MB)
This week, a very different show: we celebrate our first anniversary by revealing our statistics, talking about monetization via ad revenues, and also other stuff that doesn’t sound quite so dull. But mostly we express our appreciation for our fine listeners and everyone who has helped make us the show we are today. Thank you, one and all!
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 46:03 — 31.9MB)
This week, as suggested by listener Garry, we talk about one of the starkest differences between our two countries: the ability (or lack thereof) to score a personalised license plate for your car. Then, Jochen writes in to talk about Berliners (the pastry, not the people) and later, Simon from the Puzzle Hall Inn in Halifax, Yorkshire calls in to take the quiz, and tries to guess what “stucco” is, while Johnson encounters “width restrictions.” Oh boy.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 43:11 — 29.9MB)
This week, we discuss the bizarre British tradition that is Guy Fawkes Night: the annual celebration of a monumental failure. Then we chat about why British people are wearing paper poppies at the moment, and our chum Ron Choularton writes in about Desperate Dan. Later, Angus from the Stod Fold Brewing Company calls in to take the quiz, and tries to guess what a “cheese head” is; Johnson meanwhile tries to figure out which tribe lives in the “central reservation.”
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 40:27 — 28.0MB)
Appropriately for Halloween, this week was strange. We talk about the end of British Summer Time, the huge storm about to hit the south of England, and the last big British hurricane in October of ’87. Then we get into Halloween itself, and the Mexican tradition of “the day of the dead.” Instead of the quiz, my wife Jennifer and I chat about the show, podcasts in general, divine intervention, and mysterious wheelchairs that appear and disappear like the fog. Or quiz guests. Or something.