Episode 12: War in Europe

We grew up with this as a nightmare, and thought these days were over.

Russia has invaded Ukraine, and we are stuck reliving the kind of Cold War panics we went through as children. We’re mostly just taken aback, so we don’t have any of the social media integration we’re supposed to this week, except to urge that you assist the International Red Cross.

Dona nobis pacem

Episode 11: Al and Lies in St Albans

After an unexpected break (thanks Omicron) – WE’RE BACK! Our conversation this week is with Al and Lies in St Albans. We talk about:
– What it’s like to cross the English Channel after Brexit during a pandemic for the holidays.
– Becoming a US citizen.
– Life as an American and Belgian/(newly) American Belgian couple.

We also talk Picardy, potatoes, finding bombs from WWII, heart attacks, and when your family finally gets Covid.

LINKS!
– Get to know the little known French region of Picardy
Just a Little Heart Attack
St Albans is a lovely little village.

Episode 10: January 6th

It’s been one year since the January 6th insurrection. The week we are sharing with you an early conversation that we recorded just days after the events. Here are just a few things we discuss:
– Watching the events unfold
– Conspiracy theories
– Reparations
– Silver linings and Overton Windows

Episode 9: The Holidays on the Outside

It’s our last episode of 2021 and this week we reflect on the past year and look forward to the next. We’re talking about:
The Christmas Markets in Strasbourg, France
– The Omicron wave in Europe
– Celebrating New Years and the Southern US traditions we still keep.
– Our greatest challenges this year
– The best books we read this year: SPOILER it was The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen for Weldon and The Deepest South of All by Richard Grant for Chesney
– The things we are looking forward to and a few things we are worried about in 2022
– Our mottos as we begin a new year

As always, thank you so much for listening! We hope you’ll join us for more conversations and stories in 2022.

Stay safe. Stay healthy.




Episode 8: Whit in Stuttgart

Happy Holidays!

In this episode, we talk about:
– sourcing ingredients for our favorite holiday meals
– our favorite holiday recipes
– Christmas traditions at home and abroad

We also talk with Whit in Stuttgart about:
– life as an academic in Germany
– alienation and identification
– the Afro- Deutsch Movement, Audrey Lorde, and May Ayim

Episode 7: Bill in London

November in Europe is full of important historical events. In this week’s podcast, we talk about how knowing history is important because we experience places on a deeper level. Knowing the history of a place helps us to see the ghosts.
Just a few of the things we talk about:
The Night of Shattered Glass, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the German The Day of Fate.
The Southereastern Ceremonial Complex
The Slave Cemetary at George Washington’s Mount Vernon
Guy Fawkes Night

We also talk with our friend Bill in London who shares with us his thoughts on:
– Growing up as a twin
– Sharing a name with this popular movie
– The Great American Summer Road Trip™
– The importance of British pub culture
– The joys of good Mississippi BBQ

Episode 6: Gwen in Biggleswade

It’s a big day for us here at American on the Outside. After years of planning and months of getting our feet wet learning the process of podcasting, we’re jumping in with the show as it was conceived way back in 2016. We recorded this interview the day after Election Day 2020. It’s fitting to release it today – the day after Election Day 2021. We are so excited to finally bring you the first of many stories from Americans on the outside with our interview of Gwen in Biggleswade.

Just a few things we talk about:
– Growing up Mormon in Mississippi
– Expectations of assimalating into a new culture permanently
– How politics in the US and the UK are different and how they are the same

Taking A Break This Week

Hi there. It’s Chesney in Aarhus, Denmark. Weldon has just arrived back in the US for some long-overdue quality time with his family. I’m three days into the first week of a new school year here in Denmark. Life is a lot right now and so we’re taking a little break this week. We hope that you’re enjoying the show so far. Thank you so much for listening. We’ll be back later this month with another episode.

Until then, be safe. Stay healthy.