Big Belly 'Pats

Hello folks! Yes it's been awhile since we posted but we are still alive and kicking. Join us as we go over a fair few topics while catching up as well and filling the gaps of this mini vacation from the pod we've been on!

Daniel recaps his two-week trip to New York City, where the goal wasn’t sightseeing—it was quality time. We talk freezing at MetLife Stadium, catching live NFL and NBA games, soaking in the magic of Radio City at Christmas, and the harsh realities of long-haul economy flights. It’s less “tourist guide” and more real-life travel talk—memories, madness, and moments that matter.

🌟 Ever felt like life is just... life-ing? You're not alone! In our latest episode, we dive into the chaos of juggling responsibilities, from parenting to personal goals.

Life has really been  lifing  lately. No fancy title, no deep theme… just us being real. It’s 2 AM, Nick finally found a moment to edit, and honestly that alone deserves applause. In this episode, we catch up on the chaos, the randomness, and everything in between. It’s messy, it’s tired, it’s genuine—and hopefully, it’s a good laugh. Enjoy!

Season 2, Episode 2 brings a special guest—baby boy himself! We catch up on life as Nick embraces permanent tiredness, chat about some upcoming trips, and dive into our usual off-the-wall banter. Somewhere in between, we question what’s really going on with the chicken here (you’ll see what we mean). And as always, we wrap it all up with the one thing you can count on every episode—dad jokes.

Season 2 kicks off in true Big Belly Pats fashion as Nick forgets to turn on his mic, so yes, the audio is rough—but that feels about right for us. This episode brings some big life updates, as Nick embraces new dad life and Daniel explains why he feels no need to hide the baby’s name (don’t worry, this still isn’t a baby pod… even if there’s a little baby talk). We also get the full report on Dan...

It’s Daniel’s last day with Nick before he jets off to New York! We dive into Nick’s baby shower (and the  interesting accommodation situation that came with it), ramble on about Daniel’s upcoming trip, swap food takes, and recap Nick’s work party-ish. Could this really be the end of Season 1? Stick around to find out—with plenty of laughs and, yes, dad jokes to close it out. ✨  Season 1 Wrap-Up...

Daniel’s back in the UK (again!) and we catch up on his journey from South Africa to the British Isles—including a few flight horror stories featuring some seriously rude passengers. Meanwhile, Nick’s half-watching the Club World Cup (spoiler: Chelsea won), but we still manage to drop some solid expat gems and, as always, sign off with painfully bad dad jokes.

Yes, we’re  very  late dropping this one—and let’s just say Nick might be to blame. We catch up on Daniel’s studious trip to Xi’an with a group of students, talk through the maze that is dual citizenship, and even dip our toes into the political pool (briefly, we promise). As always, we bring it home with some classic dad jokes to end on a high note.

A late (but not late-late) episode where we dive into why watching  Avengers  in your own city might just suck, the mystery of chav culture (seriously, what’s with the black coats?), and a shoutout to Men’s Mental Health Month—because yes, men need support too. Plus, we dabble in some “white people s**t,” serve up classic randomness, and of course, dad jokes.

In this one, we catch up on life—Nick dives into the early days of dad life, Daniel’s headed toward official relationship territory, and we somehow end up talking about how people (and kids) talk about their leaders. Sprinkle in Daniel’s upcoming travel plans and the usual random side quests we tend to take, and of course... dad jokes.

In this episode of Big Belly Pats, Nick shares his chaotic driving lesson story, complete with unexpected street brawlers that made him late—and gave us a good laugh. We chat about our upcoming summer plans, and Nick opens up about what he's looking forward to as he gets ready for fatherhood. Daniel also gives us a recap of his recent trip to Beijing, where his frisbee team took on some older...

In this special episode, we’re joined by our good friend Celo! We talk about how we met, his journey of moving to, from, and back again to China, and the lessons learned along the way. We also dive into his viral TikTok moment and where that’s led him since. On top of that, we drop some fresh expat gems from a new perspective, and—big moment—Nick has some major news to share! And of course, we wra...

As Chinese New Year comes to an end, we talk about the insane fireworks (seriously, they’re LOUD) and some interesting CNY superstitions. Then, we take a trip down memory lane, discussing what it’s like coming to Asia for the first time—especially when it comes to food, drinks, and even something as simple as grocery shopping. We also dive into gym culture in China (it's a whole experience) an...

新年快乐 and 恭喜发财! In this special episode we dive into all things Chinese New Year—celebrations, traditions, and some of our favorite memories from past CNY travels. From fireworks to food (and the occasional chaos), we share what makes this holiday so special. Of course, it wouldn’t be an episode without our signature dad jokes to keep the good vibes rolling. Tune in for festive fun, nostalg...

In Episode 41 we tackle the importance of lowering your expectations when traveling abroad—because let’s face it, the world isn’t going to adapt just because you’ve decided to visit. We also dive into the unique world of dating in China, sharing insights on cultural differences, surprises, and what makes it such an interesting experience. Of course, we sprinkle in plenty of our usual random BS alo...

Happy New Year! In our first episode of 2025, we’re kicking things off with a look ahead at what we want to achieve this year and where we see ourselves going (literally and figuratively). We talk about the power of consistency, our 2025 travel plans, and the joys and challenges of solo traveling. Of course, it wouldn’t be Big Belly 'Pats without a few off-the-rails tangents and our signature dad...

It’s Episode 39 of Big Belly 'Pats—our Christmas Special! Fair warning—Nick’s audio is rough (seriously, he might need a new mic), so bear with us and don’t send too much coal our way. In this festive episode, we try to keep things Christmas-themed as we share what means the most to us during the holidays and reflect on things we’ve done for others this season. We also dive into some of our favori...

In Episode 38, Nick dives into his experience at a Liverpool match, sharing all about the electric crowd and unforgettable atmosphere. Meanwhile, Daniel spills the ‘tea’ from work—because drama doesn’t take holidays. We also chat about getting ready for the festive season and catch up on the highlights (and lowlights) of our past week. And as always, we wrap it all up with our signature dad jokes—...

In Episode 37, Nick takes us through his trip back to the US for Thanksgiving, filled with family, food, and a whole lot of chaos. With Christmas right around the corner, we chat about holiday prep and the joys (and stresses) of the season. Oh, and we fully admit that boys and men are just... well, dumb sometimes—but hey, we own it. Of course, we couldn’t forget our signature dad jokes to wrap thi...

In this episode, the hunt is on—Daniel’s search for big shoes takes center stage. We also chat about his accidental sideline medical expertise, stepping in to help players from other teams even when it’s not his job. Nick’s latest obsession with football card collecting makes an appearance as we pull some cards and share a few surprises. Plus, we take a quick (and hilarious) dive into the world of...

In Episode 35 of "Big Belly 'Pats," we kick things off with Daniel's hilarious struggles to pronounce South African words, while Nick flexes the *very* few Afrikaans words he knows. We then take a sports detour to chat about the Ballon d'Or awards, sharing our takes on the winners and surprises. Teacher Nick makes a brief but memorable appearance, dealing with some rowdy teens on the bus. Meanwhil...

In this episode, Nick shares some of his latest random observations, including the joys (and horrors) of overhearing coworkers who just don’t know when to stop oversharing. Daniel’s got a bone to pick with Shenzhen, airing out his latest gripe about the city. Plus, he takes us through his recent hospital visit, where his size managed to leave the nurses a bit stressed out. And, as always, we’ve go...

In Episode 33, we take a detour down a random (but hilarious) rabbit hole about generational categories. Are we Millennials? Gen Z? Or something in between? We’re not sure, but we’ve got plenty of opinions. We also recap Nick’s latest adventures in the UK, focusing on his time in London with his dad. From sightseeing to bonding moments, there's a lot to unpack. Then, in our sports section, we dive...

Welcome to Episode 32 of "Big Belly 'Pats," where Nick's adventures continue—this time from Lanzarote in the Canary Islands! Get ready for part two of his travel saga, as he vents and reports his findings from the trip. For our YouTube viewers, don’t mind our rough appearances—traveling takes a toll! We kick things off with a quick sports chat, diving into fantasy football update...