Shows
Understanding Train StationEP78: The Final Stop
All good things must come to an end. Like many cliche phrases, however annoying they may be, they are often true. After over 70 episodes, Josh’s move to Germany, lots of back and forth trips between Germany and the U.S. to see family and friends, the time has finally come for UTS to pull into its final station and blow the whistle one last time. Join us in this last journey down memory lane as Josh and Feli reflect on the early beginnings of UTS, our favorite episodes, the way this podcast has impacted our lives, and some of...
2023-11-091h 49
De SandwichUitzending van 3 september 2023Uur 1
1. It’s magic – Doris Day
2. Leonardo – Liesbeth List
3. Take the world apart – Yusuf (Cat Stevens)
4. Besame mucho – Cesaria Evora
5. Birds – Anouk
6. I love – Dawes
7. Tropisch Nederland – Amazing Stroopwafels
8. Wildflowers – The Hound + The Fox
9. La femme des uns sous le corps des autres – Serge Gainsbourg
10. Ces petits riens – Francoise Hardy
11. Always on my mind – Amanda Shires & Bobbie Nelson
12. Over de muur – Klein Orkest
13. Pick yourself up – Diana Krall
14. A better life – Graham Nash
15. Baby I love you – Aretha Franklin
16. ...
2023-09-031h 51Understanding Train StationEP77: Finding a Job in Germany vs. USA
Go to https://try.lingoda.com/UTS_BacktoSchool and use our code UTS25 for 25% off the first two months of your Lingoda subscription (after the free trial) and save up to 200EUR! #lingoda202308
▸What's it like applying for a job in Germany and the US? How is the application process different? And what tips do recruiters from the two countries have for applicants? In this week's episode, we had our listeners Tom (from Germany) and Mark (from the US) join to share their experiences working in the field of HR!
EP4: Work-Life & Office Culture feat. Niklas ▸https://youtu.be/ireY...
2023-09-011h 50Understanding Train StationEP76: In Germany, We Don't Say... ft. Liam CarpenterYou know him from TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube Shorts as the guy in the grey tracksuit, the crossbody bag, and the Birkenstocks. Liam Carpenter is originally from the UK but at the age of 18, he came to Germany to pursue a career in basketball. In today's episode, he tells us all about how he went from the basketball court to social media and which of the German stereotypes that he usually makes fun of, he's actually adopted into his own life!
Follow Liam:
▸https://www.youtube.com/@liamcarps
▸https://www.instagram.com/liamcarps1
2023-08-041h 23Understanding Train StationEP75: A German Actor in Hollywood ft. Aramis Merlin++German speaking part from 01:18:35 to 01:24:57++
What's it really like trying to make it as an actor in Hollywood? And as a non-native English speaker at that? YouTuber and actor @AramisMerlin moved from Hamburg, Germany to Los Angeles in 2014 to follow his dreams and in today's episode, he shares with us which obstacles he had to overcome, how his accent affected his success as an actor, and what his biggest roles have been so far.
Aramis' channel ▸https://www.youtube.com/@AramisMerlin
German Reacts to German (?) Scenes in Hollywood Movies! ▸https://youtu.be/6kv3rvi...
2023-07-221h 30Understanding Train StationMessage from Feli*NO EPISODE THIS WEEK*
Hey guys! Unfortunately, we didn't get to record a new episode for you this week (due to the time issue we mentioned last time) and I'll actually be on vacation next week so the next episode will come out in 2 weeks. Thank you for all of your kind comments and messages in response to last week's announcement about the upcoming end of the podcast. We're just as sad as you are but we do still have a few cool episodes planned! :) You guys had a lot of suggestions for guests so we're going to try...
2023-07-0707 minUnderstanding Train StationEP74: Getting Nostalgic & Answering Your QuestionsYou guys submitted your questions for us on Instagram and we picked a wild mix of questions for today's Q&A episode! From funny curse words to questions about the podcast and a throwback to when we first moved abroad. We definitely got a little nostalgic! And we also had some news to share...
Mentioned videos:
AMERICAN FLUENT IN GERMAN! Our Bilingual Friendship ▸https://youtu.be/gr313Rac0Z8
EP72: Growing up German in the Midwest feat. Lena ▸https://youtu.be/or-Bqk7QGbc
You can also watc...
2023-06-221h 16Understanding Train StationEP73: New Country, New Things
Moving to a new country also means getting used to new customs, different products, and doing a lot of things for the very first time. In this episode, we talk about some of the things that we had NEVER done before we moved abroad.
Mentioned videos and episodes:
10 Things I'd Never Done Before I Came to the US▸https://youtu.be/Lwk9zHEjzLQ
WHAT'S UP WITH AMERICANS AND NUDITY? ▸https://youtu.be/B5_1eiLzXDY
EP45: 100k Dollars Debt After College?! Money & Finances in Germany vs. USA ▸https://youtu.be/iptPR7XZSPg
EP47: On The Road! Driving in Germany vs. USA ▸h...
2023-06-091h 09Understanding Train StationEP72: Growing up German in the Midwest feat. Lena
Almost two years ago, we got to interview Josh’s high school German teacher, Christine, about her experiences moving to the U.S., teaching German in an American school and raising a family in Cincinnati. This week’s episode is almost the sister episode (or perhaps it’s more appropriate to say daughter episode) to that as we had the chance to chat with Christine’s daughter Lena. She grew up in Cincinnati in a German family and only recently moved to Berlin - her first experience living outside of Ohio. We had a great time chatting with her and lear...
2023-05-251h 03Understanding Train StationEP71: On the Streets of Cincinnati - We Asked Your Questions!+Unfortunately, Josh's mic sounds a little muffled in this episode, sorry about that!+ After a short hiatus, Josh and Feli are back with another episode and this time we are in Cincinnati! A few weeks back, when Feli was visiting Munich, we asked you all what you wanted to know from the people of Munich and then we hit the streets and got asking. This week’s episode is the sister episode to that. We asked you all to send us your questions for the people of Cincinnati and then we made our way to the mall to get ch...
2023-05-111h 02Understanding Train StationEP70: Friendships & Social Life in Germany vs. USA
Living abroad can be one of the most amazing experiences, but it’s not always sunshine and rainbows. While the topic normally takes a back seat to amazing travel experiences with amazing food and landscapes, friends and social circles can make or break your experience while living away from your home culture. In this week’s episode, Josh and Feli discuss their opinions on the importance of building a strong circle of friends while abroad, their tips on how to do so, and share some differences in how people socialize in Germany and the U.S. Make sure to shar...
2023-04-131h 17Understanding Train StationEP69: On The Streets of Munich - We Asked Your Questions!If you follow us on Instagram (@understandingtrainstation) you know this episode has been in the pipeline because a few weeks back we asked you all what you wanted to know from the people of Munich. Armed with the questions we collected from you, we hit the streets and got talking to people. From Munich specific questions about travel tips, rent and favorite breweries to stereotypes of Americans, we collected the answers you wanted! We hope you all enjoy this episode and since we plan on doing a counterpart of this episode in Cincinnati soon, let us know what you...
2023-04-021h 26Understanding Train StationEP68: Y’all Talk Funny! Guessing YOUR Accents and Dialects - Pt. 7While we were both in Munich we tried to make the most of our time together and record as much for you as possible and that, of course, includes a dialect episode! We’ve been doing this series for a while now and after 7 episodes we finally made it through all the audio files you sent in! We love getting to hear from our listeners so this a fun way for us to connect with you and vice versa! Make sure to let us know in the comments how many you were able to guess correctly and if you wa...
2023-03-1649 minUnderstanding Train StationEP67: Expect the Unexpected - Culture Shocks That Surprised UsGreetings from Munich! Even though Feli's trip came with some complications, she made it home and we got to record an episode in person for you! Granted, we're fresh off a sugar high from all the Krapfen from Fasching/Karneval/Fastnacht… you get the point! Just as a lot of people are surprised to hear that Fasching is celebrated in Munich, we have both been surprised by certain things or culture shocks in our respective chosen countries when we first moved there. From the size of the infrastructure and the true “rudeness” of customer service in Germany or the gun vi...
2023-03-021h 08Understanding Train StationEP66: Our Visa Stories (Doing It The Legal Way)Go to https://try.lingoda.com/UTS_Sprint_Challenge and use our code UTS2023 to get 20€ ($25) off your deposit when signing up for the Lingoda Sprint! #sprint202302
▸Moving to a foreign country, even if just for an exchange semester, can be daunting and confusing. For many, it is the first time they are confronted with the complexities of dealing with foreign governments and applying for visas. While it all can seem really scary and almost insurmountable, we wanted to help provide a light at the end of the tunnel and share our experiences with immigrating and applying for...
2023-02-161h 39Understanding Train StationEP65: "Work to Live" or "Live to Work"?When it comes to adulting, one thing is inevitable - we have to work. Whether you have a 9-5, do shiftwork, or are self-employed, we all have our own ways of financing our lives. While it is something so fundamental to modern society, there are many differences between how work is seen in the U.S. and Germany. A common saying is “In Germany, one works to live while in the U.S. one lives to work” - but is that true? In this week’s episode, we talk about our work experiences in both countries, what stereotypes exist in the...
2023-01-261h 07Understanding Train StationEP64: From U.S. Farm Country to the German Bicycle Mecca feat. The Black Forest Family Go to https://try.lingoda.com/UTS_LanguageWins and use our code WINWITHUTS to get 20€ ($25) off your deposit when signing up for the Lingoda Sprint! #sprint202301
▸After a bit of a Christmas hiatus, we are excited to start the new year with some highly requested guests! Jonathan and Ashton are originally from the Midwest but have found their home in Germany's Black Forest. On their YouTube channel The Black Forest Family they regularly analyze complex differences between Germany and the US, like why Germans seem to increasingly turn away from religion or which country leaves their residents with...
2023-01-121h 42Understanding Train StationEP63: Christmas Live Stream++Good audio quality starts at 00:07:02++
For the last episode of the year, we decided to make it extra special! 😊🎄 So we got cozy in front of the Christmas tree with some Glühwein and recorded the episode while we were on a live stream so that you guys could interact with us and ask questions! (The live stream took place on the Feli fom Germany YouTube channel due to technical issues.) Thank you so much for everyone tuning in and asking questions! We wish you all happy holidays and a "good slide into the new year" as the Germans...
2022-12-231h 24Understanding Train StationEP62: An International Love Story feat. Joss and JanikGo to https://try.lingoda.com/UTS_Dec and use our code UTSWINTER to get 20€ ($25) off your deposit when signing up for the Lingoda Sprint! #sprint202212
This week, we have a real power couple join us on the podcast! Some of you might already know them and for the rest of you, we think it's about time you meet them! Joss and Janik are content creators and entrepreneurs and share a lot of their experiences with the world on YouTube and Instagram. Janik is from Germany, Joss is from Mexico and they're currently enjoying the Christmas season in...
2022-12-011h 35
The Latin AlternativeThe Latin Alternative Show 2214It's a new Latin music explosion! This week we highlight recent recordings from Jorge Drexler, Adrian Quesada, Ramona, Katzú Oso, Mista Savona, Feli Colina, Fitasha, Di WAV and more!
2022-12-0159 minUnderstanding Train StationEP61: Q&A - Midterms, World Cup, Celebrity Encounters and More!You asked - we answered! It's time for another Q&A episode and this time, we covered everything from serious topics such as the midterm elections in the U.S. or the controversy around the World Cup in Qatar to lighthearted topics like our understanding of comedy and satire in our second language or our taste in music. And maybe your question made it into the episode as well? If it didn't, make sure to leave your questions for us in the YouTube comments and follow us on Instagram (http://instagram.com/understandingtrainstation) so that you won't miss it...
2022-11-181h 11Understanding Train StationEP60: South of the Equator. Brazilian Identity, Language and Travel Tips feat. MatheusGo to https://try.lingoda.com/UTS_Sprint_Nov and use our code SPRINTUTS to get 20€ ($25) off your deposit when signing up for the Lingoda Sprint! #sprint202211
▸This week’s episode is a first for UTS! Not only have we never had a guest from Brazil on our podcast before, but we've also never had someone join us who we didn't have any prior connections to through social media or friends. Matheus is actually a fan of the podcast and reached out to us on Instagram offering his time in case we ever wanted to talk about anythi...
2022-11-031h 22Understanding Train StationEP59: Oktoberfest & La Dolce Vita feat. BenGo to https://try.lingoda.com/UTS_SprintChallenge and use our code UTS2022 to get 20€ ($25) off your deposit when signing up for the Lingoda Sprint! #sprint202210
▸Although busy schedules normally slow down in the fall, Feli and Josh have been busier than ever. With Oktoberfest and then respective vacations in Italy and Greece, we thought we’d invite Ben, Feli’s boyfriend, to talk about our travels, his developing perspective on Europe, and his first experiences at Oktoberfest! It was a lot to pack into one episode so make sure to send us your questions so we can do a...
2022-10-2158 minUnderstanding Train StationEP58: Stars, Stripes, Soccer – Patriotism in Germany vs. the USGo to https://try.lingoda.com/UTS_SprintChallenge and use our code UTS2022 to get 20€ ($25) off your deposit when signing up for the Lingoda Sprint! #sprint202210
▸Are you proud to be from your country? Are you patriotic? Why or why not? 🤔 We know this is a really tricky question and it's possible that your answer is going to be more of an emotional one than a rational one based on a list of pros and cons. But it's such an interesting topic to think about, and based on where we were raised, our perceptions of patriotism can be so d...
2022-10-0737 minUnderstanding Train StationEP57: Y’all Talk Funny! Guessing YOUR Accents and Dialects - Pt. 6▸Go to https://try.lingoda.com/UTS_LanguageSprint and use our code UTS09 to get 20€ ($25) off your deposit when signing up for the Lingoda Sprint! #sprint202209
We’re back in person again and you know what that means… another episode of “Y’all Talk Funny”! We love doing this series as we get to hear directly from you listeners, and this episode was especially fun since we had quite a few English-speaking participants this time as well as the classic German dialects. Can you guess along where these accents and dialects are from? If you would like to send us a v...
2022-09-231h 06Understanding Train StationEP56: Reverse Culture Shock - When Home Becomes ForeignGo to https://try.lingoda.com/UTS_LanguageSprint and use our code UTS09 to get 20€ ($25) off your deposit when signing up for the Lingoda Sprint! #sprint202209
After we had to cancel our last episode due to illness and travels, we're back with a new episode in which we discuss Josh’s recent trips to the US and France, and the weird sensation referred to as "reverse culture shock" that both of us have plenty of experience with when visiting our respective home countries. Have you experienced reverse culture shock before too?
Mentioned videos:
EP7...
2022-09-091h 18Understanding Train StationEP55: How to Spend a Summer - Cincinnati vs. MunichGo to https://try.lingoda.com/Sprint-UTS and use our code TRAINSTATION to get 20€ ($25) off your deposit when signing up for the Lingoda Sprint! #sprint202208
With the sun beating down strong on Europe and Cincinnati being as humid as ever, we decided to talk about the ways we perceive summer in our chosen homes vs. our places of origin. We talk about how people spend their summers in the two cities, going on vacation, and what summer meant for us growing up. So let's dive into (pun intended!) our stories about kayaking, ice cream, fireflies or and sw...
2022-08-111h 31Understanding Train StationEP54: From Cincinnati to Vienna and Berlin - Stories of an International Student feat. Sarah++German speaking part 1:37:47 - 1:44:25 - English subtitles available YouTube!++
Go to https://try.lingoda.com/UTS_July and use our code UTSJULY to get 20€ ($25) off your deposit when signing up for the Lingoda Sprint! #sprint202207
Although we try to include various perspectives in our interviews, sometimes there’s just no place like home! That's why this week, we are excited to introduce you to someone who has helped out somewhat behind the scenes here with the podcast, namely Sarah. Sarah is a Cincinnatian, like Josh, and currently lives in Berlin. If you want to hear more...
2022-07-291h 51Understanding Train StationEP53: Q&A - Tricky Words, Fashion Differences, Gun Control and More!Go to https://try.lingoda.com/UTS_July and use our code UTSJULY to get 20€ ($25) off your deposit when signing up for the Lingoda Sprint! #sprint202207
You asked and we answered! After having some heavier topics in the last episodes, we wanted to interact more with you all and answer some of your questions. So in this week’s episode, we discuss a hodgepodge of various topics and give you our tips and opinions to answer your questions. If you want to know what the hardest words are for us to pronounce, how we can identify Americans abro...
2022-07-141h 26
Understanding Train StationEP52: Getting Settled Smoothly (& Happy Pride!) feat. Jen & Yvonne from Simple GermanyGo to https://try.lingoda.com/UTS_June and use our code UTSJUNE to get 20€ ($25) off your deposit when signing up for the Lingoda Sprint! #sprint202206
Meet Yvonne and Jen - founders and co-creators of Simple Germany. We are super excited to have them join us for our last episode in June - also known as Pride Month! Jen is originally from Guatemala and Yvonne is from Germany (Latin America and Germany - a mixture close to Josh’s heart). We loved learning more about what led them to start their website and YouTube Channel, hearing about how...
2022-07-011h 35Understanding Train StationEP51: Where We Come From - Ancestry, Ethnicity and Racism in Germany and the U.S.Go to https://try.lingoda.com/UTS_June and use our code UTSJUNE to get 20€ ($25) off your deposit when signing up for the Lingoda Sprint! #sprint202206
Do you know where your ancestors came from? Josh did a genetic ancestry test a few years back and found out that he's mostly German and Irish! Taking these tests and speaking about your ancestry is a pretty common thing for Americans which is why this week, we took some time to discuss this ancestry-fascination in the U.S. and how ethnicity and racism are inherently intertwined with the topic as we...
2022-06-161h 09Understanding Train StationEP50: From Ukraine to Germany - When War Forces One to Leave Home feat. AnnaGo to https://try.lingoda.com/UTS_June and use our code UTSJUNE to get 20€ ($25) off your deposit when signing up for the Lingoda Sprint! #sprint202206
This week, we head east to discuss and learn about the devastating situation that currently exists in Ukraine. Our friend Anna - a Ukrainian who fled to Germany - joined us to tell us about her experiences living in Ukraine when the war began, what life was like in the first few weeks of the invasion, her journey to Germany, and how she has adjusted to life here in Munich. And of...
2022-06-031h 48Understanding Train StationEP49: The Mystery of Eurovision & German vs. American Restaurant CultureGo to https://try.lingoda.com/UnderstandingTrainStation and use our code UTSMAY to get 20€ ($25) off your deposit when signing up for the Lingoda Sprint! #sprint202205
▸After last week’s intense German episode we thought we’d take the opportunity to explore some of the finer things in life - like the Eurovision Song Contest and restaurants! We discuss what Eurovision is, what we think about it, and who our favorite acts were. And since we just can’t seem to keep things short, we also covered the topics of dining in restaurants in the U.S. vs. Germany. W...
2022-05-201h 06Understanding Train StationEP48: Let's Speak Some German!Go to https://try.lingoda.com/UnderstandingTrainStation and use our code UTSMAY to get 20€ ($25) off your deposit when signing up for the Lingoda Sprint! #sprint202205
You guys asked for it and we made it happen! No more short segments where we say a few sentences in German. This week's episode is full on Deutsch! We asked you guys to send in your questions for us and we did our best to give you honest answers. It was weird speaking German in front of the camera instead of English but this way you get a glimpse into how we...
2022-05-061h 04Understanding Train StationEP47: On The Road! Driving in Germany vs. USA.What's it like to drive on the Autobahn? What's up with all those stop signs in the US? And why does the German driver's license cost so much? In this episode, we talk about the biggest differences in regards to driving in Germany and the US and share things that you should probably know before you get behind the wheel in the other country. Which country do you prefer to drive in? :)
Time stamps: 0:00 Catching up: Josh's trip to Croatia, Feli's trip to Munich | 16:14 Traffic signs | 37:52 Speed limits & speeding tickets | 48:39 Getting your driver's license | 1:12:46 Driving on the...
2022-04-221h 34Understanding Train StationEP46: Y'all talk funny! Guessing YOUR accents & dialects - Pt. 5You guys know the drill! It's mandatory for us to record at least one dialect guessing episode every time we get to record together in person - even though we ran into a few technical issues with our audio setup this time (sorry about that!). We LOVE including you guys in the podcast by listening to your recordings and, of course, it's a lot of fun for us to try and figure out where your accents and dialects are from. To send us your recording, just head over to anchor.fm/understandingtrainstation and then click on the “+ Message” button (note...
2022-04-0742 minUnderstanding Train StationEP45: 100k Dollars Debt After College?! Money & Finances in Germany vs. USAJosh was back in Cincinnati for two weeks, so we got to record a couple of episodes in person 🥳 And we finally got to talk about a topic that we've been wanting to cover for a while now: Money and finances in Germany and the US. While many Americans are probably shocked by the fact that a lot of places in Germany still don't accept card payments, many Germans are baffled by how many people in the US are in debt. From student loans and mortgages to car loans and credit card debt, for many Americans, borrowing money is a n...
2022-03-241h 01Understanding Train StationEP44: Friday Night Lights in a Quaint German Town feat. NALFMoving to Germany to play American Football? Might sound crazy but our guest NALF did exactly that! Originally from Portland, Oregon, he now lives in the small (and beautiful!) German town of Schwäbisch Hall, plays football for the Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns, and documents his life and everyday experiences on his YouTube channel. We were excited to finally have him on our podcast and talk to him about what it's like playing College Football in the US compared to the semi-professional league in Germany, what has kept him in Germany for over 6 years, and why he has an It...
2022-03-101h 09Understanding Train StationEP43: From Sunny Australia to Running in Shorts in Munich feat. LachlanDo you miss Vegemite? How have you been dealing with German weather? Do people mistake you for a Brit? These are just some of the questions that you guys submitted on Instagram for this week's guest Lachlan who recently moved from Australia to Munich to pursue his master's and ended up becoming one of Josh's roommates - or flatmates, as he would call it! We talked about his experiences with German directness, people's reactions to him wearing shorts in the winter, Australian slang, and we even spoke some German together! ++German speaking part 00:37:09-42:14:19++
You can also...
2022-02-251h 20Understanding Train StationEP42: The Super Bowl & American Sports CultureFor the first time in over 30 years, the Cincinnati Bengals made it to the Super Bowl and are going to play the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, February 13th! The city of Cincinnati is going crazy over this and even we, two people who don't usually follow sports, are super excited which is why today's episode is all about the Super Bowl, American sports culture, and how it compares to sports culture in Germany. Go Bengals! P.S. Send us photos of your Super Bowl watch parties on Instagram @understandingtrainstation or via email at understandingtrainstation@gmail.com!
M...
2022-02-101h 08Understanding Train StationEP41: Y'all talk funny! We react to YOUR dialects - Pt. 4It’s dialect guessing time! You guys sent us a voice recording of YOUR German or English accent/dialect and we're going to guess what you’re saying and where you’re from. And of course, you can guess along! 😊 This is the fourth episode in this little series but don’t worry, there will be more! If you want to be part of the next one, just send us a voice recording at anchor.fm/understandingtrainstation and click on the “+ Message” button.
Check out the other episodes:
EP21: Y’all speak funny! We react to YOUR dialects...
2022-01-2745 minUnderstanding Train StationEP40: Josh in Germany - One Year LaterOne year ago, Josh packed up his things in Cincinnati and moved to Munich for work. Just a few days after he arrived, he and Feli sat together in this very spot and talked about the logistics of the move, the obstacles he was about to face, and what it felt like starting this new journey (watch here ▸https://youtu.be/KpFrtKhfy6Q). Now, a whole year later, Feli wants to know how his first year living in Germany went. What were the highlights and the low lights? Does Munich feel like home to him now? And has Germany ch...
2022-01-1350 minUnderstanding Train StationEP39: Return of a Legend - Interview and Life Update from NiklasTry Lingoda with an exclusive discount of up to 40% off with our link: https://try.lingoda.com/Dec_UTS #lingoda202112
All good things must come to an end… but don’t worry, we’re not talking about this podcast! In this week's episode, one of our most requested guests, Niklas, returns to answer your questions, discuss differences between northern and southern Germany, and update us on some exciting things going on in his life. We hope you guys enjoy catching up with Niklas as much as we did and we wish everyone a wonderful holiday season!
Check...
2021-12-241h 47Understanding Train StationEP38: Q&A - German Dating Services, the Lottery, Visas, and More!+++Subtitles available for German part at 39:17-41:16+++
Try Lingoda with an exclusive discount of up to 40% off with our link: https://try.lingoda.com/Dec_UTS #lingoda202112
Christmas time is here so we went through YOUR wish list aka questions for us and tried to answer them! We talk about German dating services, the German lottery, how to order at an American restaurant, how to find a job in the US as a German, and more. We hope you enjoy it!
Mentioned episodes:
Josh in Germany ▸https://youtu.be/KpFrtKhfy6Q...
2021-12-091h 09Understanding Train StationEP37: When Kiwi Culture Meets Germany feat. Antoinette EmilyTry Lingoda with an exclusive discount of up to 40% off with our link: https://try.lingoda.com/Nov_UTS #lingoda202111
A German and a Kiwi meet in a bar in New Zealand. Numbers are exchanged and 11 years later they’re still together with three kids and are living in Germany. Although it may sound like the beginning of a joke, this is the story of this week’s interview guest Antoinette from the YouTube channel “Antoinette Emily”. We were so happy to be able to collaborate with her, learn more about her story and compare our experiences with mov...
2021-11-251h 41Understanding Train StationEP36: No Humor vs. Fast Food? We react to the biggest clichés about Germany and the USGo to https://try.lingoda.com/Nov-UTS and use our code UTS30 to get 30% off the Lingoda Marathon course or the first months of your monthly subscription! #lingoda202111
Americans are loud and eat nothing but fast food? 🇺🇸 And Germans have no sense of humor and are overly punctual? 🇩🇪 We asked you guys which clichés come to your mind when thinking about the two countries and you delivered! So for today's episode, we sat down and went through the list of clichés and shared our personal opinions on them both from the perspective of someone who grew up in tha...
2021-11-111h 40Understanding Train StationEP35: HalloweenGo to https://bit.ly/UTS-Lingoda-Oct and use our code UTS30 to get 30% off the Lingoda Marathon course or the first months of your monthly subscription!
++German parts at 14:29 -17:41 and 01:06:41-01:08:27++
Americanization of existing culture or a childhood tradition? No matter how you view Halloween, we are both psyched that it’s right around the corner! In this week’s episode, we discuss how we celebrated Halloween and fall traditions growing up and how we now view it in our adoptive countries. Bobbing for apples, trick or treating, or dealing with grumpy neighbors, we share...
2021-10-291h 12Understanding Train StationEP34: La vie avec les boches - From France to Munich feat. Laetitia & ChloéSign up for the Lingoda Sprint here by October 15 ▸ https://bit.ly/Sprint-UTS and use the code CHAMP21 to save 20€/25USD on the deposit! (Terms and conditions apply. Make sure to read the rules of the Sprint.) #sprint202109
In this week‘s episode we head west from Germany (at least mentally if not physically) and had the opportunity to interview two of Josh’s French friends - Chloé and Laetitia. Both of them moved to Munich for work and have decided to stay for the foreseeable future. We had a great time learning about their stories, some of the cu...
2021-10-141h 15Understanding Train StationEP33: Y'all talk funny! We're guessing YOUR dialects - Pt. 3Sign up for the Lingoda Sprint here by October 15 ▸ https://bit.ly/Sprint-UTS and use the code CHAMP21 to save 20€/25USD on the deposit! (Terms and conditions apply. Make sure to read the rules of the Sprint.) #sprint202109
We're back at it! You guys sent me voice recordings of YOUR English or German dialect/accent and we tried to understand what you were saying and locate where you might be from. This was already part 3 of this series that we enjoy a lot! We're going to record another episode for this, next time we're together in person, so f...
2021-09-3057 minUnderstanding Train StationEP32: The Name of the Game - How German Federal Elections WorkSign up for the Lingoda Sprint here by October 15 ▸ https://bit.ly/Sprint-UTS and use the code CHAMP21 to save 20€/25USD on the deposit! (Terms and conditions apply. Make sure to read the rules of the Sprint.) #sprint202109
September 26th is going to be a big day for Germany! The German people are electing a new Bundestag (federal parliament) and after 16 years of being in office, Angela Merkel decided not to run anymore and Germany will be getting a new chancellor. But how do elections even work in Germany? What's up with all that talk about an Erst...
2021-09-161h 08Understanding Train StationEP31: Q&A - German patriotism, living expenses, how our parents reacted to us moving abroad & more!+++German-speaking sections: 00:35:32 - 00:42:26 and 00:50:15 - 00:54:08. English subtitles available on YouTube for that part! Just activate them on YouTube.+++ Do we think that Germans should be more patriotic? Was it difficult to have our university degrees recognized in the other country? What did our parents say when we told them we were going to move abroad? It's time for a Q&A episode, so we asked you guys on our Instagram page (@understandingtrainstation) to ask us questions and we went through them and tried to answer them as best as we could. P.S. When Josh talked about having his u...
2021-09-021h 12Understanding Train StationEP30: Y'all talk funny! We're listening to YOUR dialectsA while back we asked you all to send us voice messages of you speaking your dialect/regional accents! We were overwhelmed with the number of messages we received and were only able to feature a few of them back in Episode 21. For that reason we decided to keep the series going and continue with the messages we didn’t get to last time! These are some of our favorite episodes to record so make sure to send us your dialect if we haven’t gotten to it yet and we will keep the series going. Sit back, relax and...
2021-08-191h 01Understanding Train StationEP29: Where It All Began - An Interview with Josh's High School German Teacher+++German-speaking section: From 00:43:08 to 00:47:48. Subtitles in German and English available for that part.+++
How did you learn German? Why do you sound like a native speaker? Josh gets these questions all the time and people are often surprised to hear that he did not grow up in Germany or in a German-speaking family but actually didn't take his first German class until 10th grade. The reason why he became fluent so quickly was a mix of his own motivation and ambition, his talent for languages, and his amazing German teacher that he has mentioned several times on...
2021-08-051h 24Understanding Train StationEP28: Burgers, Football, Hollywood - American Culture in GermanySign up for the Lingoda Sprint here by July 26 ▸http://bit.ly/LingodaxUTS_Sprint and use the code FAST47 to save 20€/25USD on the first month's tuition! (Terms and conditions apply. Make sure to read the rules of the Sprint.)
Shop our merch! :)▸https://felifromgermany.com/
From burgers and American football to pop music and Hollywood movies - you don't have to look far to realize that there are a lot of American influences in Germany. Or should we say "American" influences...? How has Josh experienced these things since moving to Germany six months ago? How mu...
2021-07-221h 20Understanding Train StationEP27: A Brit in Germany feat. Rachel Stewart [DW Meet the Germans]Interview goes from 15:54 to 1:14:08.
Sign up for the Lingoda Sprint here by July 16 ▸http://bit.ly/LingodaxUTS_Sprint and use the code FAST47 to save 20€/25USD on the deposit! (Terms and conditions apply. Make sure to read the rules of the Sprint.)
Shop our merch! :)▸https://felifromgermany.com/
In this week’s episode, we got the opportunity to interview Rachel Stewart from the ‘Meet the Germans’ series by the German international broadcaster DW - Deutsche Welle. In her YouTube videos and on Instagram, Rachel explains and introduces some of the quirky aspects and cultural tra...
2021-07-081h 18Understanding Train StationEP26: Different Personalities in Different Languages?Shop our merch! :)▸https://felifromgermany.com/
Sign up for the Lingoda Sprint here by July 16 ▸http://bit.ly/LingodaxUTS_Sprint and use the code FAST47 to save 20€/25USD on the deposit! (Terms and conditions apply. Make sure to read the rules of the Sprint.)
Being fluent in another language opens a lot of doors in life. Josh gets to live abroad in Germany and work for a German company because of this while Feli was able to study in the US and eventually move there. However, being bilingual and especially living “between cultures”, as our podcast ti...
2021-06-241h 14Understanding Train StationEP25: A German at a British Boarding School feat. ClemensSign up for the Lingoda Sprint here by July 16 (June 24 for the early bird offer!)▸http://bit.ly/LingodaxUTS_Sprint and use the code FAST47 to save 20€/25USD on the deposit! (Terms and conditions apply. Make sure to read the rules of the Sprint.)
Imagine moving to a foreign country to go to a boarding school where you don’t speak the language fluently - and all of this at the age of thirteen! To many, that would sound like a nightmare but this week’s guest did so willingly and even stayed to complete his schooling there! C...
2021-06-101h 24Understanding Train StationEP24: Get Schooled - Education in Germany vs. USAHave you ever wondered how different countries handle educating the next generation? It’s easy to forget that things are done differently in different countries and cultures. In this week’s episode, we discuss the differences between the German and American school systems. Do Americans really ride a yellow school bus to school, split up into cliques (jocks, cheerleaders, band nerds, etc.) and stay after school for hours on end for various school activities? Do Germans really get told whether or not they can go to university in the 5th grade, not have school sports and drink alcohol on scho...
2021-05-281h 33Understanding Train StationEP23: Josh in Germany Pt. 2Josh moved from Cincinnati to Munich at the beginning of the year! In episode 13, we asked you to send us questions to the "future" Josh and now it's finally time to answer them and give you an update on how Josh is doing in Germany and adjusting to life in Munich. In this episode, we talk about Josh's experiences with finding a permanent flat share, buying a car, getting his residency permit, dealing with the German Department of Motor Vehicles and a whole bunch more!
EP13 Josh in Germany Pt. 1▸https://youtu.be/KpFrtKhfy6Q
Bil...
2021-05-131h 23Understanding Train StationEP22: We need to talk about "The Sound of Music"!Young women are called Fräulein, Austrians eat Schnitzel with noodles, and the song "Edelweiss" is their national anthem?! These and many more clichés and misconceptions about the German-speaking countries play a role in the musical film “The Sound of Music” (1965). While most people outside of the US have never even heard of it, it's a classic for many Americans. They love the songs, the real-life story of the von Trapp family during the Nazi era, and, of course, the beautiful scenery in Salzburg, Austria where the movie is set. In today’s episode, we talk about the success a...
2021-04-291h 02Understanding Train StationEP21: Y’all speak funny! We react to YOUR dialectsSign up for the Lingoda Sprint here by April 23▸http://bit.ly/UTC_SprintLC and use the code CHANGE124 to save 10€/12USD on the first month's tuition! (Terms and conditions apply. Make sure to read the rules of the Sprint.)
When we talked about the different German and American dialects and accents in episode 15, we asked you guys to submit voice recordings of your regional dialect/accent, and we were overwhelmed by how many messages we received! 😊 So, we sat down together and listened to them one after another while trying to guess what you guys were saying...
2021-04-2257 minUnderstanding Train StationEP20: Vietnam - USA - Germany. Living & Studying in 3 Countries feat. HienSign up for the Lingoda Sprint here by April 16▸http://bit.ly/UTS_Lingoda and use the code CHANGE112 to save 10€/12USD on the deposit (49€/59USD)! (Terms and conditions apply. Make sure to read the rules of the Sprint.)
He moved from Vietnam to Idaho and Washington during high school with his twin brother, went on to get his bachelor's degree in Ohio, and is now attending a master's program in Munich. In this week's episode, we're talking to our good friend Hien who is sharing his outsider perspective on what it’s like to live in the two...
2021-04-1553 minUnderstanding Train StationEP19: German Culture in the USA. How authentic is it really?Sign up for the Lingoda Sprint here by April 16▸http://bit.ly/UTS_Lingoda and use the code CHANGE112 to save 10€/12USD on the deposit (49€/59USD)! The Super Sprint has sold out, make sure to save your spot for the Sprint! (Terms and conditions apply. Make sure to read the rules of the Sprint.)
Oktoberfest, pretzels, and Christmas markets? You’d think you’re in Germany but these traditions, along with many others, made their way across the pond and are now part of many Americans’ lives. In this week’s episode, we talk about the “German” traditions that ex...
2021-04-0853 minUnderstanding Train StationEP18: Expat Podcasters United feat. Geoff & Alex from the AGDW podcastSign up for the Lingoda Sprint here by April 16▸http://bit.ly/UTS_Lingoda and use the code CHANGE112 to save 10€/12USD on the deposit (49€/59USD)! ++The Super Sprint has sold out, make sure to save your spot for the Sprint++
We’re back from our break and are hitting the ground running! While we enjoyed having some time off to relax and recharge, we couldn’t wait to get back in front of the mics and start recording again. For this week‘s episode, we interviewed Geoff and Alex, two Americans living in Berlin who are also hosts o...
2021-04-011h 24Understanding Train StationEP17: Cuckoo Clocks, Teen Pregnancies and our Non-Existent Acting Careers - Q&ASince you guys ask us so many questions in the comments and via dm and email, we decided to dedicate a whole episode to answering them! We touched on the topic of cuckoo clocks, what kinds of food we can't find in the other country, teen pregnancy, our experiences with the Covid restrictions, taxes, and MUCH MORE! Who knows, maybe we answered your questions too? :) We hope you guys enjoy the episode and we'll be back on April 1st - mark your calendars! ++German part from 20:17 to 27:30 - subtitles available on YouTube!++
Videos we mentioned in the...
2021-02-251h 22Understanding Train StationEP16: Adventures of a German Hotel Manager Around the World feat. Marco FoelskeWhat's it like to work where other people go on vacation? Marco Foelske knows the answer because he's been working in the hospitality business his whole life. Born and raised in Bremen, Germany he has worked and lived in many countries around the world, including England, Switzerland, Poland, and different states within the U.S. We're glad he was able to join us in this week's episode from his current home in Atlanta, Georgia to tell us about the reasons he dreamed about going to the US as a young professional, the challenges he and his family faced when...
2021-02-181h 14
Get the Boots24. Loving your global life - with Martina from Almonds & SunsetSend us a textToday's guest is Martina from Germany, who has lived in Spain, Switzerland and Australia, and is currently enjoying life in California with her young family.Martina created her blog, Almonds & Sunset, to celebrate the beauty and adventures of life abroad. Languages are one of her biggest passions, and if you're ready to listen to two German language nerds geeking out about accents, the English language in general and our innate desire to fit in as non-native speakers, this episode is for you!Of course we also talk about Martina's e...
2021-02-081h 02Understanding Train StationEP15: Do we speak the same language? Dialects & accents in the US and GermanyIn this week's episode, we take a trip through the crazy and confusing world of accents and dialects in both the U.S. and Germany. What is the difference between an accent and a dialect? Is double negation actually incorrect? What's the proper way to refer to a "carbonated beverage" in the US? And what do you call the last piece of bread in a loaf? These are just some of the questions and topics that we discuss in our first full episode recorded from two different continents. Also, make sure to listen until the end to get the...
2021-02-041h 41Understanding Train StationEP14: A German with the American Dream - Football and College Life feat. DanielA Munich native who lives in Cincinnati? Nope, we're not talking about Feli and even though our guest ended up in the same city as her, he has a very different story! Daniel played American football in the German Football League in Ingolstadt, did an exchange year in the US during high school, and worked his ass off to get a scholarship to play college football in Chicago. Why he quit his football career and moved to Cincinnati instead to study business is just one of the many stories he told us in today's episode. We talked about his...
2021-01-281h 29Understanding Train StationEP13: Josh in Germany - Moving During a PandemicJosh is in Munich! :) In this week’s episode, we talk about Josh’s move to Germany, what that process looked like, some of the challenges that COVID posed, and some of our tips for people looking to move internationally. In addition to the main topic, we go on our usual few tangents about the descriptiveness of the German language and how living abroad changes the way you view the world.
You can listen to this podcast/watch it on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Podbean, Amazon Music, and iHeart Radio!
Follow us on Inst...
2021-01-211h 24Understanding Train StationEP12: Tequila, Friendships, Safety - Life between Mexico, Germany, and the US feat. SeymerToday's guest Seymer is originally from Mexico but lived in Germany for a couple of years for college and work and then moved to the US. We wanted to know which of the three countries has the best work culture, how friendships are different, how safe he's felt in each of the countries, and how he deals with speaking three languages on a daily basis. He also brought us some high-quality tequila and told us how confused he was when he first ordered Tequila in Germany! **German part from about 01:04:00 to 01:09:00**
Check out the Link EUS online...
2021-01-141h 27Understanding Train StationEP11: "That's not the yellow from the egg!" Our Favorite German and American ColloquialismsWhat's up with Germans talking about the yellow from the egg and leaving the church in the village? And what does it mean when Americans talk about cakes that you can't have and eat, too? Or beating dead horses?! Today's episode is all about German and American idioms, slang, and other colloquialisms. What do you think, how many German idioms does Josh know and how familiar is Feli with American colloquialisms? We had a lot of fun guessing the meaning of some of these sayings and also learned a lot about their backgrounds!
You can listen to...
2021-01-071h 13Understanding Train StationEP10: Have a Good Slide - New Year's Eve in the U.S. and GermanyWhether you celebrate with lead pouring and fireworks or by watching the ball drop in New York while singing Auld Lang Syne, New Year's Eve is upon us! In this episode we discuss how we both celebrate New Year's Eve and talk about some of the traditional ways of ringing in the new year in Germany and the U.S. Get your pots and pans (or your fireworks depending on the country) ready and have a glass of champagne as you listen to this week's episode of Understanding Train Station. We wish everyone a Happy New Year and Guten...
2020-12-311h 07Understanding Train StationEP9: Growing up between the US and Germany feat. Jay SamuelzWhat's it like to grow up in both Germany and the USA? That's what we talked about with this week's guest Jay Samuelz, a successful Youtuber, filmmaker, and musician based in Berlin. Since he is half American and half German and moved back and forth between the two countries several times growing up, we were curious to find out what it's like to switch between the school systems, what role the two languages play in his everyday life, what his experiences with racism have been, and much more. We hope you guys enjoy the conversation as much as we...
2020-12-171h 21Understanding Train StationEP8: Christmas Traditions in the US vs. Germany (Are St. Nikolaus and Santa Claus the same?!)Lighting a candle each Sunday, opening a "door" every morning, and putting a shoe in front of your door on December 5th? These are some of many many German Christmas traditions that we talk about in this episode. And, of course, we talk about how Christmas is celebrated differently in the US where you'll see Santa Claus at the mall, stockings on the fireplace, and fake Christmas trees popping up everywhere as early as November. Grab some tea, eggnog, or Glühwein, and dive into the wonderful world of Christmas with us. :)
++We’d like to apologize for...
2020-12-171h 36Understanding Train StationEP7: From India to the USA - Experiences of an International Student feat. SheffiIt’s time for another interview! In this episode, we expand our conversation beyond the U.S. and Germany and have our good friend Sheffi from India join us on the podcast. We discuss what it was like moving from a metropolis like New Delhi to a medium-sized city like Cincinnati, learning how to do laundry yourself, how friendships are different in different cultures and the effects stereotypes can have on day-to-day interactions. Stick around till the end to hear Sheffi's tips on not only surviving but thriving while living abroad for the first time!
You can al...
2020-12-031h 08Understanding Train StationEP6: Thanksgiving - American Traditions, History, and German Equivalent?Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Since Thanksgiving is such a major holiday in the US, we decided to dedicate a whole episode to this day. We talk about how people celebrate it here, what the history behind it is, if Germans celebrate it at all, why Thanksgiving was challenging for Feli's taste buds, and what's up with Black Friday. We hope you guys enjoy the episode and please stay safe everyone!
You can also listen to us on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Podbean, and Amazon Music!
Follow us on Instagram▸instagram.com/understandingtrainstation • Support us on P...
2020-11-2656 minUnderstanding Train StationEP5: Our Language Learning StoriesHow did Josh become fluent in German? Why doesn't Feli sound like a typical German when speaking English? What are our tips for learning a second language and losing your accent? In this episode, we address all of the questions that you guys have asked us regarding our language skills.
You can also listen to us on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Podbean, and Amazon Music!
Follow us on Instagram▸instagram.com/understandingtrainstation • Support us on Patreon▸patreon.com/understandingtrainstation • Buy us a coffee▸buymeacoffee.com/utspodcast • Email us▸understandingtrainstation@gmail.com • Website▸understandingtrainstation.com
Check o...
2020-11-191h 13Understanding Train StationEP4: Work-Life & Office Culture feat. Niklas (and life update from Josh!)30 days of paid vacation, making business deals on the golf course, and sending text messages instead of professional emails? These topics and many more were part of our conversation about work-life and office culture in Germany and the US with our good friend Niklas. Niklas is originally from outside of Hamburg and in 2018 his German company sent him over to Cincinnati to step into the position of CEO. Since his experience is different from our own, we were excited to get his perspective on the biggest differences in work-life in both countries. We also learned something about the relevance...
2020-11-121h 17Understanding Train StationBonus Episode: Eating, Recycling, and Cleaning HabitsSince our last episode (EP3) on homes and household habits in Germany and the United States was a really long one, we shortened it a little. In this bonus episode, we wanted to share the parts we cut out, in case you’d like to hear them. We talked about eating habits, recycling, and cleaning preferences. The next regular episode (EP4) will be out on Thursday, as always! :)
You can also listen to us on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Podbean, and Amazon Music!
Follow us on Instagram▸instagram.com/understandingtrainstation • Support us on Patreo...
2020-11-0920 minUnderstanding Train StationEP3: Homes and Household Habits (and what's up with those German guest slippers?!)Ceiling fans, air vents, and garbage disposals in the US vs. drying racks, missing doorknobs, and miracle windows in Germany. There are a lot of differences when it comes to homes and household habits in Germany and the United States. That's why in this episode, we're taking you on a virtual house tour through a typical German and a typical American home and talk about all the physical differences as well as those everyday household habits that might seem really odd when you first visit the country.
Timestamps:00:00:00 Intro | 00:09:26 House Tour | 01:09:35 Household Habits
You can a...
2020-11-051h 34Understanding Train StationEP2: Adulting 2.0 - Life Outside of the ClassroomGrocery shopping, driving, getting gas, or – once again – using a public bathroom all seem like simple, everyday tasks. Until you have to do them in a foreign country and feel totally lost. In this episode, we talk about those kinds of situations and share our personal stories of things that we felt like we had to "relearn" in the other country. And we talk about how even when you know a language in the classroom, it doesn't always mean you know how to communicate with the locals in an everyday situation.
You can also listen to us on Y...
2020-10-291h 25Understanding Train StationEP1: Introduction and First Culture Shocks (and way too much bathroom talk!)Who are we? Why does Josh speak German so well? Why did Feli move to the US? What’s the story behind all that? And what were our very first culture shocks when visiting Germany/the US? In the first episode of Understanding Train Station, we answer all of those questions, share our goals for the podcast, and for some reason, we talked surprisingly much about bathrooms, door handles, and onion sizes…
You can also listen to us on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Podbean, and Amazon Music!
Follow us on Instagram▸instagram.com/unders...
2020-10-2255 min
Matter and Motion's PodcastWiggle Live 4/22/2020Direct Audio from FBLive and Twitch set 4/22/2020 M'Out - Wiggle Bassbin Twins-Island Love Rewind-Spreading Out Basement Freaks-Something Freaky Josh Abrahams-Funkacidic (all Funked Up) Feli & Buddi-Exploding Fist (El Nino Mix) Green Velvet-Bigger Than Prince (Hot Since 82 Remix) Aphrohead-In The Dark We Live (Kingsize Mix) Left/Right, Jacq-Bad (Worthy Remix) Matroda-On My Mind Walker & Royce-The Biznes Jack Beats, Jay Robinson, Night Bass-Hustler Malaa-Notorious (Cheyenne Giles Festival Flip) 50 Cent-Candy Shop (Scissors Remix) Bomb Da Bass-Beat Dis Shift K3Y-They Wanna Know Return of...
2020-04-291h 54