The Special Relationship

Were Taylor and Travis right to host their wedding at Madison Square Garden? Nicole and Rachel disagree. The same weekend America celebrated it's 250th birthday. How does the USA reconcile its past and why does Britain rarely acknowledge its messy history? Topics covered: Taylor and Travis' wedding venue - for spectacle or for security? America250 America's appetite for navel gazing Britain's delu...

Britain is about to get its seventh prime minister in ten years. Why are we here again and who will replace Starmer? Topics covered: Britain's chaotic politics Andy Burnham's plot to oust Starmer Who is Andy Burnham? What did Starmer get right? Why did Starmer fail? The Burnham takeover timeline About us and the show: Nicole is American and lives in Chicago. She's a content strategist, writer, cyn...

A Brit and an American discuss the Tartan Army's Boston take over for the World Cup Topics covered: Who are the Tartan Army Why are they having such a good time Why is America loving World Cup fans Why was Boston the perfect place for them to land Scottish culture explained (broadly) About us and the show: Nicole is American and lives in Chicago. She's a content strategist, writer, cynic, and yapp...

New York City's been on a winning streak since it elected Zohran Mamdani as its mayor. We take a look at what he's done and what it means for politics in America. Topics covered: Mamdani's rise to power Mamdani's agenda The vilification of socialism What does Mamdani's success mean for the rest of America? About us and the show: Nicole is American and lives in Chicago. She's a content strategist,...

Are fans going to enjoy America's stadiums, prices and tailgates? Plus, the politicisation of Henry Nowak's murder and why Los Angeles voted for Spencer Pratt. Topics covered: The vibes in America ahead of the World Cup The stadium experience Tailgates, explained The tragic death of Henry Nowak The disgusting opportunism of politicians in its wake Spencer Pratt's LA Mayoral bid How homelessness is...

Brits are so fixated they spend four and a half months of their life talking about the weather Topics covered: Britain's 35C/95F heatwave Why British homes don't have air conditioning Britain's unsettled weather America's wild climate About us and the show: Nicole is American and lives in Chicago. She's a content strategist, writer, cynic, and yapper on TikTok at ⁠⁠@attitudepr0blem⁠⁠ . Rachel is B...

What's the deal with all these gift giving events? Topics covered: Baby showers explained Who gets invited to a baby shower Baby shower games The cultural difference over knowing the sex of a baby before it's born Bridal showers explained Food trains About us and the show: Nicole is American and lives in Chicago. She's a content strategist, writer, cynic, and yapper on TikTok at   ⁠⁠@attitudepr0bl...

The British prime minister is a dead man walking. How did that happen and what comes next? Topics covered: British political pandemonium The disastrous local elections Starmer's approval ratings sink Runners and riders for the next prime minister How MPs can topple a prime minister Labour's mad bid to get the man they want Mike Johnson's familiarity with Grindr About us and the show: Nicole is Ame...

Nicole dishes on what America gets right Topics covered: The joy of brunch America's cultural dominance Black culture is American culture America's vast grocery stores Walmart's gun section Convenience is king in the U.S. Multiculturism rocks About us and the show: Nicole is American and lives in Chicago. She's a content strategist, writer, cynic, and yapper on TikTok at   ⁠ ⁠@attitudepr0blem⁠ ⁠ ....

Mortgages, astronauts and garage fridges - a Brit who's spent ten years in America gives her take on what it aces. Topics covered: The King and Queen visit America Melania Trump's style 30-year fixed rate mortgages National Parks Pancakes and tacos Garages, laundry rooms and massive fridges NASA About us and the show: Nicole is American and lives in Chicago. She's a content strategist, writer, cyn...

Americans expect an open bar and Brits get the celebrations done in one day, so how does the typical wedding measure up across the Atlantic divide? Topics covered: Trump's third assassination attempt America's news fatigue Wedding costs Hen parties versus bachelorettes US versus UK celebrations The wedding customs made for Instagram Brand sponsored bachelorettes About us and the show: Nicole is Am...

What's with all the screens in American bars and why do Brits spend so much time in the pub? Topics covered: Trump's meltdown American drinking culture Brits obsession with the pub About us and the show: Nicole is American and lives in Chicago. She's a content strategist, writer, cynic, and yapper on TikTok at  ⁠@attitudepr0blem⁠ . Rachel is British and lives between London and Los Angeles. She wr...

Why do Brits love sex, scandal and sport in their newspapers, and who's doing the same in the States? Topics covered: Nicole's beef with Brits on TikTok The history of British tabloids Chequebook journalism Brits love to see a downfall TMZ's political pivot Big titty Bryon About us and the show: Nicole is American and lives in Chicago. She's a content strategist, writer, cynic, and yapper on TikTo...

Why are the grocery chains so beloved? Topics covered: Moon mission Trader Joe's cult status Why Brits love M&S About us and the show: Nicole is American and lives in Chicago. She's a content strategist, writer, cynic, and yapper on TikTok at  ⁠@attitudepr0blem⁠ . Rachel is British and lives between London and Los Angeles. She writes the  ⁠ highly flammable ⁠  newsletter and spends too much ti...

British teeth are the butt of American jokes. Do they deserve the rep? Topics covered: Trump talking to himself America thinks British teeth suck NHS dentistry The advent of veneers and Invisalign Turkey teeth Trivago teeth Quirky teeth as a point of differentation About us and the show: Nicole is American and lives in Chicago. She's a content strategist, writer, cynic, and yapper on TikTok at  ⁠@...

Why is America so into tipping, and why do Brits revere a queue? Topics covered: Saturday Night Live UK launch GLP-1 ads are everywhere History of tipping in America Who to tip and how much Brits approach to tipping Why Brits love to queue Queue jumping is a social crime About us and the show: Nicole is American and lives in Chicago. She's a content strategist, writer, cynic, and yapper on TikTok...

After the scandals and cost to taxpayers, why do Brits still support the royal family? And why do Americans even care? Topics covered: The royal family's popularity The anti-monarchist movement The brainwashing of Brits Nostalgia and the British psyche How the royals use soft power The soap opera and spectacle Tourism cash America's royal fetish About us and the show: Nicole is American and lives...

Hot new TV show Love Story has everyone hung up on Carolyn Bessette Kennedy and JFK Jr again. But why are Americans so into the Kennedy family? Topics covered: America goes to war with Iran Is the (real) Special Relationship over? How the Kennedys became America's first family Carolyn Bessette Kennedy and JFK Jr's romance The Kennedy curse The Kennedy privilege RFK Jr and homoeroticism Workout jea...

Expensive, difficult to navigate, with patchy outcomes - the U.S. healthcare system is a mess. How did it get that way? And is the British NHS system better? Topics covered: Epstein files arrests Kash Patel's vacay to the Olympics The history of America's healthcare system How healthcare works today in America How the NHS works About us and the show: Nicole is American and lives in Chicago. She's...

... Brits have some clangers too Topics covered: Why Americans are obsessed with aliens The words Americans mispronounce that sends Brits mad The word panties needs to be banned A+ American expressions Charming words Brits use What Brits need to put on the ban list About us and the show: Nicole is American and lives in Chicago. She's a content strategist, writer, cynic, and yapper on TikTok at  @a...

Today we get to the bottom of why Americans went for Trump a second time, and whether Britain is heading for its own MAGA moment in the form of Nigel Farage and Reform UK. About us and the show: Nicole is American and lives in Chicago. She's a content strategist, writer, cynic, and yapper on TikTok at  @attitudepr0blem .  Rachel is British and lives between London and Los Angeles. She writes the ...

What exactly is a hillbilly? And who are huns? An American and a Brit get to grips with their subcultures. About us and the show: Nicole is American and lives in Chicago. She's a content strategist, writer, cynic, and yapper on TikTok at @attitudepr0blem .  Rachel is British and lives between London and Los Angeles. She writes the highly flammable newsletter, spends too much time online and yet so...

Welcome to the first ever episode of The Special Relationship with Nicole James and Rachel Richardson. Today we're working out why Brits are so funny and Americans get so little vacation. About us and the show: Nicole is American and lives in Chicago. She's a content strategist, writer, cynic, and yapper on TikTok at @attitudepr0blem .  Rachel is British and lives between London and Los Angeles. S...