From Down Under to Down South

Send us Fan Mail Before moving to the United States, I carried a handful of assumptions about Americans — some light-hearted, some more firmly held. Seven years later, many of them didn’t survive real life. In this episode, I reflect on eleven stereotypes about Americans that I grew up hearing in Australia — and what actually changed once I experienced the culture from the inside. We’ll look at: •...

Send us Fan Mail Australia has its share of quiet superstitions — some playful, some taken seriously, and others woven so casually into life that we barely notice them. In this episode, I explore a range of Australian beliefs and traditions, from sporting rituals and everyday habits to older folklore that still lingers in the background of national imagination. We’ll look at: • Sporting superstiti...

Send us Fan Mail Australian English can sound like a completely different language if you didn’t grow up around it. In this episode, I take a closer look at some well-known Aussie expressions — from “fair dinkum” to phrases that seem to make no sense at all — and explore where they came from and how they’re actually used. We’ll look at: • The meaning behind classic Australian sayings  • The cultur...

Send us Fan Mail Every country has public figures who spark strong reactions. In this episode, I take a measured look at ten Australians who have divided opinion — across sport, media, entertainment, and public life — and explore why certain moments or decisions generated such intense national debate. We’ll examine: • The events that placed them in the spotlight  • How media coverage shaped the na...

Send us Fan Mail Living in the United States has shown me that every culture has its quiet anxieties — the things that feel serious, obvious, or concerning from the inside, but puzzling from the outside. In this episode, I look at ten American fears or concerns that often surprise Australians, and explore why they make sense within their own cultural context. We’ll consider: • How history and geog...

Send us Fan Mail Voting feels very different depending on which country you’re standing in. Having lived — and voted — in both Australia and the United States, I’ve come to appreciate how differently the two systems are structured, and how those structures shape political culture. In this episode, I take a clear look at the contrasts, including: • Compulsory voting in Australia and voluntary votin...

Send us Fan Mail Crime rankings tend to generate strong headlines — but what do the numbers actually show? In this episode, I look at the latest FBI data for 2025 and examine which US cities record higher reported crime rates, and how those figures are calculated. We’ll explore: • How crime statistics are measured and compared  • The difference between violent and property crime  • Why certain cit...

Send us Fan Mail You can learn a lot about a country by how it handles a meal. Living between Australia and the United States, I’ve noticed that dining etiquette carries subtle — and sometimes surprising — differences. Things that feel completely ordinary in one country can seem unusual in the other. In this episode, I look at: • The American “cut and switch” method  • Restaurant pacing and table...

Send us Fan Mail Barbecues in Australia are rarely just about the food. They’re a social ritual — informal, open, and often unplanned — where the grill becomes an excuse to gather rather than the main event. In this episode, I reflect on what gives an Aussie “barbie” its particular character, from backyard gatherings and beach cook-ups to the unspoken rules about what to bring, who cooks, and how...

Send us Fan Mail Sharing a language doesn’t guarantee instant understanding. Living in the United States, I’ve come across plenty of American expressions that sound perfectly ordinary here — but leave Australians quietly puzzled. In this episode, I look at a selection of American phrases that don’t immediately translate across the Pacific, and explore what they actually mean in everyday context. W...

Send us Fan Mail Living in the United States has made me more aware of the small habits I grew up with in Australia — the ones that feel completely ordinary at home, but slightly surprising elsewhere. In this episode, I look at a handful of everyday Australian behaviours that often catch Americans off guard, from our relaxed social tone to the way sport, humour, and language shape daily life. We’l...

Send us Fan Mail What one person calls rude, another might call direct. Living in the United States as an Australian, I’ve noticed how differently friendliness is expressed from state to state — and how easily behaviour can be misread without context. In this episode, I look at survey data and common perceptions around “rude” states, and explore what might sit beneath those reputations. We’ll cons...

Send us Fan Mail Australia is generally relaxed — but there are a few cultural missteps that can leave visitors feeling slightly out of sync. Having lived both in Australia and now in the United States, I’ve seen how easily small misunderstandings happen when people rely on stereotypes rather than context. In this episode, I look at common mistakes visitors make and explain why they land the way t...

Send us Fan Mail Every country has everyday habits that feel completely normal from the inside — and slightly puzzling from the outside. Living in the United States as an Australian, I’ve come across a handful of customs that made me pause and think: would Americans actually choose to keep these if they stepped back and looked at them fresh? In this episode, I explore ten American habits and cultu...

Send us Fan Mail Australian food often surprises people — not because it’s extreme, but because it carries memories and rituals that don’t always translate. In this episode, I revisit fifteen classic Australian foods and reflect on what makes them so enduring, from pantry staples to childhood party favourites and weekend traditions. On the list: • Vegemite and how it’s actually meant to be eaten  ...

Send us Fan Mail Australia often travels in stereotype form — beaches, barbecues, and wildlife. But living in the United States has shown me that many of the things that genuinely define Australian life rarely make it into the conversation. In this episode, I look at nine everyday Australian habits and cultural details that tend to surprise Americans — not because they’re dramatic, but because the...

Send us Fan Mail You don’t have to leave the supermarket to experience culture shock. Living in the United States, I’ve found that some of the biggest differences between Australia and America show up on menus and grocery shelves — not in the food itself, but in what we call it. In this episode, I look at the everyday food terms that don’t quite translate across the Pacific. From “bell peppers” an...

Send us Fan Mail Moving from Australia to the United States is less about swapping countries and more about adjusting to a completely different rhythm of life. In this episode, I look at the US states where Australians often seem to settle most comfortably — not because they’re identical to home, but because certain elements feel familiar. We’ll consider: • Climate similarities and outdoor culture...

Send us Fan Mail American fast food is instantly recognisable around the world — but how does it land with Australians? In this episode, I share the results of a recent poll of over 100 Aussie travellers and explore how some of America’s biggest chains are viewed through Australian eyes. We’ll look at: • Which US fast food brands Aussies rate highly  • Which ones divide opinion  • How portion size...

Send us Fan Mail Moving from Australia to the United States isn’t just a change of address — it’s a shift in rhythm, language, and everyday assumptions. In this episode, I reflect on what it’s actually like to live as an Australian in America: the moments of culture shock, the small misunderstandings, and the things that quietly reshape your sense of home. We’ll look at: • The cultural adjustments...

Send us Fan Mail Living in the United States has made me more aware of the everyday habits I grew up with in Australia — the ones that feel completely ordinary at home but prompt a puzzled look overseas. In this episode, I explore some Australian customs that often surprise Americans, not because they’re dramatic, but because they’re different in tone and history. We’ll look at: • The Australian i...

Send us Fan Mail Rudeness is often in the eye of the beholder. After living in the United States as an Australian, I’ve had moments where something felt abrupt or blunt — only to realise it made perfect sense within its own cultural context. In this episode, I reflect on the idea that Americans are “rude” and explore where that perception comes from. We’ll look at: • How directness can be misread...