Ausländer Sessions

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 discussions about travel, exploring the differences in travel styles and destinations between Germans and Americans. We also take time to compare and contrast the cultural nuances between Germany and the U.S. Whether you’re into travel, culture, or just curious about how these two worlds stack up, this episode offers an interesting perspective. Follow on Instagram @auslandersessionsEmail: auslandersessions@yahoo.comProps to:Emma G for the logo artworkSean H for the musicFriends & family for the encouragementStayed tuned for more and share it out! \m/

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 into the emotions of transitioning from East to West and what it felt like to become a foreigner in her own country. Tune in for a conversation that brings history to life from a personal angle. Enjoy! Follow on Instagram @auslandersessionsEmail: auslandersessions@yahoo.comProps to:Emma G for the logo artworkSean H for the musicFriends & family for the encouragementStayed tuned for more and share it out! \m/

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 26 years, witnessing firsthand the evolving public sentiment towards law enforcement. Throughout his career, he has experienced both highs and lows, but his commitment to protecting and serving has never wavered. He shares some poignant moments of community engagement, illustrating the vital bond between officers and the people they serve.In addition to his law enforcement duties, our guest is also a talented bagpipe player with the Police Pipes & Drums of Bergen County. His passion for music and dedication to his craft add another layer to his identity, reminding us that behind the badge is a person striving to do the right thing.This conversation personalizes the life of a law enforcement officer, highlighting that they, like all of us, are trying to be good people. We extend our heartfelt thanks to all members of law enforcement, especially those who put themselves in harm's way every day to serve our towns and communities across the country. Much respect to you all.Tune in for an enlightening discussion that underscores the humanity behind the uniform and the dedication required to serve and protect. #LawEnforcement #BergenCounty #NewJersey #HudsonRiver #GeorgeWashingtonBridge #PoliceCareer #CommunityEngagement #Bagpipes #PolicePipesAndDrums #HumanizingTheBadge #PublicSentiment #ServeAndProtect #PoliceStories #RespectForLawEnforcement #Podcast #LawEnforcementPodcast Follow on Instagram @auslandersessionsEmail: auslandersessions@yahoo.comProps to:Emma G for the logo artworkSean H for the musicFriends & family for the encouragementStayed tuned for more and share it out! \m/

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 @auslandersessionsEmail: auslandersessions@yahoo.comProps to:Emma G for the logo artworkSean H for the musicFriends & family for the encouragementStayed tuned for more and share it out! \m/

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#DublinPubTour#GuinnessExperience#IrishHospitality#CharlieChawkeLegacy#SmallBusinessSuccess#LocalGuides#HistoryAndPints#PubLife@perferctpinttourFollow on Instagram @auslandersessionsEmail: auslandersessions@yahoo.comProps to:Emma G for the logo artworkSean H for the musicFriends & family for the encouragementStayed tuned for more and share it out! \m/

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 into a cherished familial relationship.Follow on Instagram @auslandersessionsEmail: auslandersessions@yahoo.comProps to:Emma G for the logo artworkSean H for the musicFriends & family for the encouragementStayed tuned for more and share it out! \m/

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 SectionThrough a process of removing weapons from the hands of members of armed groups, taking these combatants out of their groups and helping them to reintegrate as civilians into society, the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Section seeks to support ex-combatants and those associated with armed groups, so that they can become active participants in the peace process. In complex environments, this is often supported by Community Violence Reduction - an approach to disarmament, demobilization and reintegration that plays a key role in reducing tensions at the grassroots level while increasing opportunities for social cohesion and conflict resolution – thus creating space for political processes and disarmament, demobilization and reintegration.Follow on Instagram @auslandersessionsEmail: auslandersessions@yahoo.comProps to:Emma G for the logo artworkSean H for the musicFriends & family for the encouragementStayed tuned for more and share it out! \m/

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 exhilarating experiences, and truly embodies the adage of living in the present, carpe diem, or seizing the day - whichever saying suits you. Her infectious energy makes spending time with her an absolute joy, and I'm sure we could have continued our conversation indefinitely. Perhaps, there's a second episode waiting for us somewhere down the road.Follow on Instagram @auslandersessionsEmail: auslandersessions@yahoo.comProps to:Emma G for the logo artworkSean H for the musicFriends & family for the encouragementStayed tuned for more and share it out! \m/

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 of topics, touching on subjects such as COVID, politics, compulsory military service, and more. Despite his youthful perspective, he offered insights into the reunification of Germany in 1990. We even explored the impact of the War in Ukraine and what it’s like in Germany being so close to a major conflict.The sound quality is not as good as usual since I had to use portable mics, but we had fun, nevertheless.A couple points of clarification, "Mauer" is the German word for "wall," "German Marks" were the currency used in Germany before the Euro came into existence, and "Puls der Zeit" roughly translates to "finger on the pulse," referring to his experiences living in downtown Nürnberg. Follow on Instagram @auslandersessionsEmail: auslandersessions@yahoo.comProps to:Emma G for the logo artworkSean H for the musicFriends & family for the encouragementStayed tuned for more and share it out! \m/

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. The episode recounts Rich's journey from Seattle, Washington to join me for an unforgettable weekend, highlighted by a 2-day Metallica concert at MetLife Stadium. During the day between shows, we seized the opportunity to record this session. While our storytelling could have easily extended this session to a marathon 4-hour episode, we've distilled it to an engaging 90 minutes, skimming the surface of our most captivating tales. This episode resonates with me deeply, as it brings our initial discussions full circle, encapsulating the essence of our shared experiences.Grim Statistic | Facebook@RichRawDawgdrums(246) Rich Raw Dawg drums - YouTubeFollow on Instagram @auslandersessionsEmail: auslandersessions@yahoo.comProps to:Emma G for the logo artworkSean H for the musicFriends & family for the encouragementStayed tuned for more and share it out! \m/

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.org. If you are diagnosed with a brain tumor, check out the American Brain Tumor Association’s Website- abta.org- there is a ton of knowledge, information and recourses, brochures, over 100 webinars, clinical trials finder, a care line, and more. If you’re into political lobbying, the National Brain Tumor Society is hosting its annual head to the hill event each May. They can be found at braintumor.orgI mentioned Imerman Angels- a Chicago-based nonprofit matching patients and care partners with a mentor who has the same diagnosis, age, and life circumstances. Lastly if anyone needs guidance, inspiration, encouragement, prayer, or just someone to listen, feel free to share my contact info with them. Happy to help and support💜Follow on Instagram @auslandersessionsEmail: auslandersessions@yahoo.comProps to:Emma G for the logo artworkSean H for the musicFriends & family for the encouragementStayed tuned for more and share it out! \m/

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 credit, she accepted, and we stayed in touch and finally made it happen. At the time, I had no idea about her story and her journey, I only knew that she is originally from Kazakhstan, and an aspiring actress.  After a quick google search the following day I found out that she was adopted as a young girl.  Her story is really cool. She even asked her mom to come on and give her perspective.  So this one is a bit different than previous episodes.  We did it over Facetime. The audio came out ok, but it is a bit different than being in person.  I have to thank Asel for making this happen and making it happen in the way it did.  I had considered trying to do an episode over the phone but hadn’t tested it out.  Thanks to mom Beverly for her time and input on this episode as well. Asel SwangoAsel Swango - IMDbAsel Swango (@aselswango) • Instagram photos and videosFollow on Instagram @auslandersessionsEmail: auslandersessions@yahoo.comProps to:Emma G for the logo artworkSean H for the musicFriends & family for the encouragementStayed tuned for more and share it out! \m/

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 up, which was only about an hour from where I spent the bulk of my teenage years. We touch on some of the differences in our two societies such as the school system, health care, growing up during the cold war and much more before getting into his colorful travel and job paths to include milking cows, a diving instructor in Fiji, a ski instructor in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, and a mountain bike guide in Greece among others ultimately leading him to his current profession as the number one rated tour guide in NYC! He also published a book called Gewalt gegen behinderte Kinder und Jugendliche translated in English to: Violence against disabled children and young people. He talks about fake news and how things are edited and used to create certain angles to drive opinions.  He also uses an example of how he was the subject of an article in which it references New York as a borough of NJ.The boy has a  got a 5 star rating on trip advisor If nothing else, I hope this conversation inspires you to travel…get out and see the world yo!!www.olidaytours.comwww.olidaytours.dehttps://shop.olidaytours.com/Follow on Instagram @auslandersessionsEmail: auslandersessions@yahoo.comProps to:Emma G for the logo artworkSean H for the musicFriends & family for the encouragementStayed tuned for more and share it out! \m/

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 not fitting the traditional definition of a foreigner, yet his story and experiences are definitely foreign to me.Follow on Instagram @auslandersessionsEmail: auslandersessions@yahoo.comProps to:Emma G for the logo artworkSean H for the musicFriends & family for the encouragementStayed tuned for more and share it out! \m/

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 comedy clubs in the city. I had great time with this one and I think you will enjoy it.https://thegrislypear.com/Instragram: @grislypearFollow on Instagram @auslandersessionsEmail: auslandersessions@yahoo.comProps to:Emma G for the logo artworkSean H for the musicFriends & family for the encouragementStayed tuned for more and share it out! \m/

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 - HomepageTousey Winery (@touseywinery) • Instagram photos and videosFollow on Instagram @auslandersessionsEmail: auslandersessions@yahoo.comProps to:Emma G for the logo artworkSean H for the musicFriends & family for the encouragementStayed tuned for more and share it out! \m/

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 things that we think we know about.  There are lots of laughs and maybe a couple pints along the way.  SláinteFollow on Instagram @auslandersessionsEmail: auslandersessions@yahoo.comProps to:Emma G for the logo artworkSean H for the musicFriends & family for the encouragementStayed tuned for more and share it out! \m/

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 time period.Follow on Instagram @auslandersessionsEmail: auslandersessions@yahoo.comProps to:Emma G for the logo artworkSean H for the musicFriends & family for the encouragementStayed tuned for more and share it out! \m/

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 Ausländers, and laces it all with his unique sense of humor.  It's not your typical war story.Follow on Instagram @auslandersessionsEmail: auslandersessions@yahoo.comProps to:Emma G for the logo artworkSean H for the musicFriends & family for the encouragementStayed tuned for more and share it out! \m/

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.  While Ed is not a foreigner in the traditional sense, his story is foreign to me and undoubtedly to others as well.Follow on Instagram @auslandersessionsEmail: auslandersessions@yahoo.comProps to:Emma G for the logo artworkSean H for the musicFriends & family for the encouragementStayed tuned for more and share it out! \m/