Ausländer Sessions

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I sit down with my friend, the Head of Visit Iceland, the marketing organization responsible for promoting Iceland as a travel destination. A native Icelander living in Reykjavík, she shares what it’s like growing up in this land of glaciers, geysers, black sand beaches, and geothermal spas. We dive into unique Icelandic customs, including the family naming conven...

Send us Fan Mail  In this follow-up episode, recorded back in July, I sit down with my friend Andi from Nuremberg, Germany. Although it’s been a while since the last episode (thanks to my leisurely editing pace), this conversation is worth the wait. We dive into Andi’s experiences growing up in Germany, reflecting on his youth and how it shaped his worldview. From there, we navigate through discus...

Send us Fan Mail In this special episode, recorded on the fly during a family vacation in Germany, I sit down with a friend who grew up in former East Germany. Now living in what was West Germany, she shares her unique perspective on the stark contrasts between East and West, as well as her personal experience during the fall of the Berlin Wall—known in Germany as "Mauerfall." We dive in...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I delve into the career of a dedicated law enforcement officer from Bergen County, the most populous county in New Jersey with nearly one million residents. Nestled along the Hudson River, Bergen County is connected to Manhattan by the iconic George Washington Bridge, a vital link between suburban tranquility and urban hustle. My guest has served the community for...

Send us Fan Mail This one is with my buddy Erik.  He's a wild man with a wild story.  He's mad talented and shares part of his life story over a few pints ;-)  There is some explicit content in this one as the title alludes to. Follow on Instagram @auslandersessions Email: auslandersessions@yahoo.com Props to: Emma G for the logo artwork Sean H for the music Friends & family for the...

Send us Fan Mail  In this episode I chat with a small business owner in Ireland 🇮🇪 who started his own tour business called The Perfect Pint. They take tour groups to 3-4 Dublin pubs and teach them about Irish pub culture, how to pour the perfect pint of Guinness and a bit of history. He also worked for Charlie Chawke the guy who owned the most pubs in Ireland.  #IrishPubCulture #ThePerfectPint #D...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I engage in a heartfelt conversation with a remarkable individual whom I've had the privilege of knowing since she was six years old. Our enduring bond is evident throughout our discussion, underscoring the profound connection that transcends differences in race, color, and religion. Join us as we explore the profound essence of friendship that has evolved in...

Send us Fan Mail Mr. Kontogeorgos has spent more than ten years in field missions with UN Peacekeeping, serving as a Civil Affairs Officer in Kosovo and Lebanon, and as a DDR Senior Officer in Haiti, where he headed the Community Violence Reduction (CVR) programme. He is responsible for the development of the Section’s strategic vision and supervision. Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration...

Send us Fan Mail This time, I had a delightful chat with my friend and colleague hailing from a quaint coastal town on the eastern shores of Ireland, just south of Dublin. Our conversation was a blast, revealing fascinating aspects of her life. However, what resonated with me the most was her boundless spirit and zest for life. She has explored the far corners of the globe, indulging in countless...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I have a conversation with a childhood friend hailing from Nurnberg, Germany, who happened to be visiting Miami. I packed up my recording equipment and embarked on a weekend journey to meet him. Our hour-long discussion spans a lengthy 34-35 years of memories, only scratching the surface of our shared experiences.  During our conversation, we delved into a myriad...

Send us Fan Mail Join me in this captivating episode as I engage in a conversation with my dear friend Rich, who dedicated 30 years of his life to the US Air Force, traversing the globe. Brace yourself for some military jargon that adds an authentic touch to our dialogue. Beyond his military journey, Rich is a passionate musician, actively contributing his talents to a band named Full Vinyl Jacket...

Send us Fan Mail Hi Gene, thanks again for having us over last night. I enjoyed the podcast interview, food and company!  Here are a few resources:  Epic Experience- the Colorado based nonprofit I’m on the board of directors for, offering free week-long adventure camps to adult cancer patients and survivors and virtual reality experiences to cancer patients in the hospital setting.  Epicexperience...

Send us Fan Mail I met Asel Swango in a Manhattan restaurant a couple months ago. We started chatting and I asked her to come on the podcast.  The conversation went something like this: Where are you from originally? Her: take a guess…of course I had no chance and she told me she’s originally from Kazakhstan. Very intrigued, I explained my podcast and asked her to come on.  I have to give her cred...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode I talk to a brand-new friend named Oli.  I met Oli randomly one day while picking up my son from German Language School. He was dressed in a pair of jeans that literary looked like school kids painted him with all sorts of colors.  When you listen to this, you’ll realize how very fitting that is.  Oli talks me through his youth and the area in Bavaria where he grew...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode I talk to my friend Greg.  Greg is a high school principal and rock n roll enthusiast.  Originally from New Jersey, he started out in a rough area, but was too young to know it.  His family moved to another part of New Jersey when he was young. We touch briefly on the music aspect, but really focus on the public school system.  This is a great example of someone no...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I talk to my friend Gary, who’s originally from Scotland. Gary is an entrepreneur and owns two comedy clubs in Manhattan…New York City. We talk about his background, how he länded here in the US, a little bit about raising kids, some jujitsu and a fair amount of discussion about the comedy clubs and some of the inner workings of owning and operating bars and comed...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode I have a chat with my friend Ben, who’s originally from England and came to America by way of Denmark.  Ben has a winery in upstate New York, which we talk about.  I get his perspective on growing up in England as well as raising his kids in America.  We touch on a few different topics and have some laughs along the way.  Sit back and enjoy. Tousey Winery - Homepag...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode I talk to my good friend from Ireland.  Mick was born and raised in Ireland and subsequently became an American citizen.  He's married to a wonderful young lady who has her own "Auslander" story, and they have two beautiful kids.  We touch on some interesting topics without going too deep on any of it.  It's basically two knuckleheads opining on...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode I continue with Pete's letters offering his perspective during our time in Baghdad.  He gives more insight into the social life, political situation and introduces a few more foreign characters aka Ausländers.   There's a bit more comedy in this one as well as some tragedy.  Be sure to check out auslandersessions on Instagram for a couple photos from this...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode I share my friend Pete's perspective from Baghdad during our 2005/2006 deployment.  While there, Pete wrote several letters that he sent to friends and family keeping them up to date on a variety of things to include the food, the social life and the political situation of the time.  Along the way he introduces a cast of characters, or should I say, a cast of...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode I sit down with my friend Ed.  Ed is a Jersey boy.  We touch briefly on a couple of topics including our childhoods, our career choices, our differences growing up and how, even though we come from very different backgrounds, we do have some commonalties between us.  I know Ed through Jujitsu and this episode wouldn't be complete without a chat about jujitsu. ...