Transatlantically Speaking

Fair warning: this episode is going to bum you out, and I’m profoundly sorry for that. I wish more than anything that I wasn’t posting this; in fact, I thought for a long while about not posting it, and letting … Continue reading →

See? We’re just like London buses: you wait for ages, and then two come along at once. This week, we discuss my m(o)ustache discoveries, and then (after a rude interruption) we talk about chocolate hazelnoot spread. Then, I lecture Johnson … Continue reading →

After a little gap (let’s call it a hiatus) we’re back to talk about the curious case of two battery rabbits. Then we discuss dumplings in all their forms, and I relate the world’s first and only case of “clashtag.” … Continue reading →

Groveling apologies for the gap between episodes, but that should make this one all the more sweet! Ha! Heh! Ahem. Anyway. This week, we discuss molasses, treacle, and the unfortunate slave-trade that brought us both. Later, Sam takes the quiz … Continue reading →

This episode, we inadvertently enter the wacky realm of spoons, which aren’t just for drugs anymore. Then we hear some listener mail from Raphael, Chris Morris, Jochen and Jeff – everything from disappearing black people to Johnson’s accidental outing. Then, … Continue reading →

This week we discuss “The Tilted Kilt,” a pub, eatery and affront to Celts everywhere. Then we ponder why time itself is pretending to be Irish, which gets us onto Will-o-the-Wisp. Then we chat about gobstoppers vs jawbreakers, and why … Continue reading →

This week, we catch up on listener mail from Jeff, Beth, Jochen, John K and my dad; we learn everything from how foreigners decide which “English” they want to speak, to why British soldiers are called “Tommies.” Then, Cocker takes … Continue reading →

This week, I make Johnson try various British sodas, and along the way we learn about e-numbers, tidy man and dwarf suicide. Then, we compare Captain Birdseye and the Gorton’s Fisherman to see who’s better at selling fish and shagging … Continue reading →

This week, we talk about the outrageous British Surrender Quarter, then make some startling discoveries about Teddy Bears. Then, I have a hankering for some Banoffee Pie, and we get listener comments about bumfluff and gyros. Finally, I educate Johnson … Continue reading →

This week, we discuss the lie that is the open-faced sandwich, and hear about its scandalous legal troubles. Then, we imagine having entire theme parks named after us, and hear about familiar products that have different names elsewhere. Some links … Continue reading →

A packed show this week! Firstly, we have a guest called Patti, so I explain why I have trouble saying her name. Then I show off my “black man’s pinch,” which gets us into the wacky world of soft drinks. … Continue reading →

This week, an extremely late but packed episode! First we hear about some recent problems I had with my caulk (ooer), and then listeners John Killey, Randy, Ed and Raphael get in touch about everything from Babycham to the Queen, … Continue reading →

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 … Continue reading →

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 … Continue reading →

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 … Continue reading →

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 … Continue reading →

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 … Continue reading →

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;” … Continue reading →

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 … Continue reading →

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 … Continue reading →

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 … Continue reading →

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 … Continue reading →

This week, Johnson hijacks the show; firstly with something called “Periscope” that, apparently, those crazy kids are into. And later, after me griping about how everyone gets me name wrong, and some chat about silly things we said and did … Continue reading →

Very, ridiculously late with this one, but finally, we get to hear the Belize trip debrief. Caves! Cash! Crabs! Crashes! This episode has them all. Then we chat about the fall of the British empire, and how we magnanimously gave … Continue reading →

Very late with this one, but we talk about the (at the time unnamed) new princess, and then I make the Kentucky Derby sound more British, which is to say, better. Then, it’s time for another round of our annual … Continue reading →

This week, my recent dental surgery gets us into Niki Lauda jokes, stealth Australians and Ken Branagh’s lips. Then we talk about Hot Cross Buns: what they are, how much they cost, and why Puffy remixed the song. Then Paul … Continue reading →

This week, I prove that, though they don’t know it, most Americans have heard the voice of one Magnus Pyke. Then we chat about some conspicuously British Bingo calls, and something in British newspapers called “Spot The Ball.” Then, I … Continue reading →

This week, we talk about our recent one-hour jet lag, and I frighten Americans by telling them it’s Mother’s Day. Then, I play a clip of someone trying to identify individual members of the Jackson 5 using only European culture references. … Continue reading →

This week, a letter from our Kansas chum Jeff gets us arguing over who should be allowed to call their sport “football.” Then, I give Johnson chocolate spiked with something, and share one of my famous (and slightly stupid) observations, … Continue reading →

This week, we talk about Black History Month — what it used to be called, and which month they went with in the UK. Then we discuss the latest British chocolate drama, and read some mail from the listeners: Ed … Continue reading →

A packed episode this week: First, we talk about the “New” versions of lots of places, then I confess to over-thinking the way to say a colleague’s name. Then, I compare the British “Wagon Wheel” to the American “Moon Pie.” … Continue reading →

It’s our 100th episode, and Johnson celebrates by becoming a woman! Not really, but he does have more holes in him than he used to. We discuss what Brits call “styrofoam,” which gets us onto the Stylophone, a kid’s toy … Continue reading →

Seriously, look at the size of that television! And you can hang it on the wall! Yes, it’s 2015, so we take the opportunity to discuss which predictions in “Back To The Future 2” came true, and which they got … Continue reading →

This week, despite a crippling hangover, Johnson bravely pulls some christmas crackers, so we naturally tell bad jokes, wear paper crowns, and discuss the noises made by animals in foreign countries. Hope you all had a terrific holiday, and have … Continue reading →

A packed episode! First we talk about rain, vol-au-vents, and what color liquorice should be. Then we read some listener mail about Where’s Waldo (and various other people), and the ongoing feud between the show’s Arsenal and Man Utd supporters. … Continue reading →

Johnson’s back, and after discussing whether or not Yosemite and Yellowstone exist outside of cartoons, we chat about Thanksgiving football and the correct way to say “Detroit.” Then Johnson complains about KPCC stealing our ideas again with a bit called … Continue reading →

It’s Thanksgiving week, and them’s my wife’s first ever attempt at Yorkshire Pud. Not bad, eh? We also chat about Sirie’s confusion about the Home Depot, and dissect the 1960 Max Bygraves song “Fings Ain’t What They Used To Be,” … Continue reading →

Sorry again for the delay in posting, but here it is: the big post-trip debrief. We talk about what a great time we had, plus cabbies, toilets, clocks, road safety, pumpkins, toilets, coffee, toilets, card readers, soccer, disabled access and … Continue reading →

Apologies for the late posting of this show, but as regular listeners will know, we’re in the UK at the moment. In this show, Johnson and I chat about our (then) impending trip, after which the quiz triumphantly returns: Cocker … Continue reading →

This week, Jennifer and I discuss the word “downtown,” after which I complain about how Americans mispronounce the word “voila.” Then I play a clip of “The Young Ones” parodying the TV show “Dallas,” and finally, the Kansas Cricks get … Continue reading →

This week, after hearing Johnson’s harrowing story about his adventures in Mexico, we discuss my huge voltage adaptor (that’s not a euphemism.) Then I reveal that we’re away for the all-important mid-term elections, and then we discuss the cultural impact … Continue reading →

Sorry about this, but I’m shamelessly re-posting our clip show from July of 2013. I’m not even changing the intro, so when I say “out of town” please substitute “a bit poorly and very busy.” It’s a crazy time right … Continue reading →

A shorter than usual show this week, because I was, well, not well. But it’s still a good one: we talk about the Scottish referendum result, and get letters from listeners Amy and LaToya. Amy talks about how the “ABC … Continue reading →

Inevitably, this week we discuss Scottish independence, which at time of posting is still undecided. We talk about how sad it’ll be, and how it’ll ruin the lovely British flag. Then we dip into the Ed Files to discuss some … Continue reading →

This week, the listeners single-handedly prop up the show. First, Chris Morris sends us some observations and a poem. Then, Beth Kent gives some suggestions for Johnson’s upcoming trip to London, and a list of things some foreigners have observed … Continue reading →

This week, after I complain about an odd inconsistency with our old friend the letter zed, we enjoy listening to some Americans arguing amongst themselves about an unusual American term. Then we hear from listener Lisa, and later, Scott returns … Continue reading →

This week, after I complain about some over-flexibility in American pronunciations, listener Andrea asks how to blend in while on vacation in the UK. Then, we listen to some Irish people trying American snacks, then some Americans trying Irish snacks. … Continue reading →

This week, Johnson makes an observation on the British version of the magical negro, after which we discover how much (or little) Americans know about Canada. Then, Johnson fields some searching questions about American life, and later we try and … Continue reading →

This week, after a quick elucidation of the scandalous non-flipping pancake race, we discuss the proper way to say “data,” then Mollie clarifies coffee, literally. Then I reveal my formula for creating the perfect American name, and Jochen quizzes us … Continue reading →

This week, we read some listener letters, which leads to the invention of the official show drink (Beerbon™) and an education on how important pancakes are in a certain Kansas town. Then we tease our trip (triptease, ha) and later, … Continue reading →