Transatlantically Speaking Podcast

Transatlantically Speaking

James Van Leer
A weekly Anglo-American podcast about British and American culture
Give My Regards to Broadchurch
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 →
May 16, 2017
51 min
Nootella?
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 →
Oct 22, 2016
30 min
Battling Battery Bunnies
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 →
Oct 15, 2016
48 min
Treacle!
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 →
Aug 19, 2016
45 min
Actually, There Are Lots Of Spoons
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 →
Jul 7, 2016
43 min
Tilted Kilts, Alphabetti Spaghetti
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 →
Jun 7, 2016
35 min
How To Speak American
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 →
May 23, 2016
52 min
Soda Sommeliers!
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 →
Apr 24, 2016
46 min
Quarterly Losses
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 →
Apr 2, 2016
39 min
The People vs Open-Faced Sandwich
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 →
Mar 21, 2016
26 min
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