This week on Pole-ish, Peter and John are joined by British expat Mark Cameron, who tells us why he fell in love with Gdańsk, what keeps him in Poland, and why he believes making friends is easy enough but making real connections can be much harder.

After experiencing depression himself, Mark set up Man Up Polska, a peer-to-peer support group for English-speaking men in Poland. We talk openly about loneliness, masculinity, working from home, moving countries and the importance of simply having somebody you can talk to. Mark explains that one of the biggest issues he sees among the men joining his group is the loss of genuine human connection.

But don't worry - this is still Pole-ish, so there's plenty of lighter stuff too. Mark reveals his favourite place in Poland, his frustration with Polish customer service, and his love of Polish craft beer. We also discuss Polish football, learning the language, British food cravings, and the many joys of living on the Baltic coast.

Plus, John tackles our brand-new quiz, We Put Poland in Order.

And, yes, there's plenty of arguing.

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Read our blog: www.pole-ish.eu

Write to us: peter@pole-ish.eu

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Solec-Zdrój: https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solec-Zdr%C3%B3j

Man Up Polska: https://manuppolska.com/

The Riverboat Song – Ocean Colour Scene: https://open.spotify.com/track/6Ykk0PRL8VMQb6h13CxH31?si=0eb004e66c4a4e23

Pole-ish Guest Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/68kYaLG4XYgcjRdSjzzgcW?si=de7065757241400c

Polish food is having a moment - and who better to talk about it than Karolina Klesta, founder of Polish Foodies?

Karolina joins Peter and John to talk about her journey from travelling the world to returning to Poland, and how a love of Polish food turned into a global online community and a collection of 10 cookbooks.

We get stuck into the big questions: why Polish food is still misunderstood abroad, whether traditional Polish cuisine really is all about meat, the secrets of a proper bigos, the joys of Polish sourdough bread, and why you should never EVER put ketchup on pierogi.

Karolina also reveals her favourite place in Poland, her favourite Polish food, and the song she wants to add to the Pole-ish playlist.

Plus - Peter gets angry about the plural of pierogi, our 3 in 10 quiz is officially retired after an outright winner is declared, and we discover that Poland has a national bird imitation championship.

Come hungry.

Guest: Karolina Klesta, Polish Foodies

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Read our blog: www.pole-ish.eu

Write to us: peter@pole-ish.eu

Follow our socials: search for ‘Pole-ish Podcast’ on BlueSky, Xwitter, YouTube and Facebook.

Polish Foodies: www.polishfoodies.com

ShataQS – Wilczyca: https://open.spotify.com/track/06tDKUcLlu7lYq9ey8Dlvi?si=41c99e3eefda4444

Pole-ish Guest Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/68kYaLG4XYgcjRdSjzzgcW?si=de7065757241400c

Meet Lee Taylor, an Englishman who moved to Poland, couldn't speak the language nor understand what's going on, and initially followed his Polish wife around like a “little lost dog”?

Today, Lee is the man behind ‘Lee Learns Polish’, the channel that documents his experiences, misunderstandings and attempts to master Polish and is now a hugely popular social-media brand.

Lee tells us how a seemingly spontaneous decision to move to Poland came about, how arriving in a new country left him feeling that he'd lost his identity, why learning Polish became so important, and why Polish people insisting on speaking English to him isn't always helpful!

We uncover his somewhat embarrassing geographical revelation about Poland, his love of the Baltic coast and Gdańsk, his thoughts on Polish bureaucracy (spoiler alert – he’s not a fan!) and the Polish habits he has gradually adopted, including the refusal to throw anything away.

And, naturally, we get into food. Lee explains why he thinks Polish cuisine is seriously underrated, reveals his love of żurek, pierogi and gołąbki, and admits that he's even started cooking Polish food for his friends.

Plus, Peter brings back some Greek inspiration from Corfu, John and Peter battle over their latest 3 in 10, and Lee reveals the song that has a very special place in his heart.

So climb aboard the wesoły autobus and enjoy the ride.

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Read our blog: www.pole-ish.eu

Write to us: peter@pole-ish.eu

Follow our socials: search for ‘Pole-ish Podcast’ on BlueSky, Xwitter, YouTube and Facebook.

Corfiot Folk Music/Dancing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=For3dbbP5A4

Polish Round Table (Okrągły Stół): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish_Round_Table_Agreement

Kraków Folk Art Fair: https://imagokrakow.pl/

‘Lee Learns Polish’: https://www.youtube.com/@leelearnspolish

Lee’s coaching community: https://www.skool.com/the-standout-solopreneur/about

James Blunt – Bonfire Heart: https://open.spotify.com/track/1D7c4uelZgxBx5r5BoD4do?si=984a63fee2494fd1

Pole-ish Guest Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/68kYaLG4XYgcjRdSjzzgcW?si=de7065757241400c