Our first guest edition introduces the wonderful David Kennedy to the Pole-ish audience. Listen to Scotsman David’s stories about his early visits to Poland, where he witnessed the shipyard strikes in Gdańsk, his lock-out from a Krakow monastery, and the strong bonds between his homeland and his adopted one.

Plus, he plays the part of a guinea pig as he faces the first airing of our ‘Five Big Questions’.

We suspend most of our regular features to leave room for David, but there’s still space for plenty of chit-chat between John and Peter.

Please like, subscribe, share, review and comment, and tell your friends, family and colleagues about us. Dziękujemy.

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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’ on BlueSky, Xwitter, YouTube and Facebook.

Bober k*rwa!: https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/bober-kurwa-bobr-bobrze

List of Polish Desserts: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Polish_desserts

Scottish Festival / Dzień Szkocki in Jadów: https://www.dzienszkocki.pl

Scotland / Poland connections: https://www.scotland.org/inspiration/scotland-and-poland

Kraków tartan: https://www.krakow.pl/otwarty_na_swiat/215929,artykul,-szkockakratadlakrakowa.html

Barszcz Ukraiński recipe: https://aniagotuje.pl/przepis/barszcz-ukrainski

Jest Super by T.Love: https://open.spotify.com/track/0IpGOqvBr3mloK9HzrY0GJ?si=ac7bff723e8943d1

John and Peter plunge headfirst into a barrel of Polish traditions and come up for air chatting about pączki, arguably the world’s tastiest doughnuts. In a food-heavy edition, we look at the Polish national sport of grilling sausages, and Peter takes a deep-dive into a bowl of his favourite żurek. Pole of the Week is Maksymilian Faktorowicz, better known as the patron saint of make-up, Max Factor. We also find time to discuss the work of American lexicographer Noah Webster, who single-handedly ruined/improved (delete as appropriate) the English language.

Please subscribe, like, share and comment, and tell your friends, family and colleagues about us. Thank you.

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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’ on BlueSky, Xwitter, YouTube and Facebook.

Śmigus-dyngus: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%9Amigus-dyngus

Tlusty czwartek: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fat_Thursday#Poland

Authentic pązcki recipe: https://www.seasonsandsuppers.ca/polish-paczki-donuts-recipe/

Name Days: https://www.kalendarzswiat.pl/imieniny

Noah Webster: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Noah-Webster-American-lexicographer

Żurek recipe: https://tinyurl.com/4jf3kh4t

Max Factor’s Micrometer: https://tinyurl.com/5dpyvswv

Episode 1 sees John and Peter cover a lot of early ground, including a weirdly numbered bus, an extraordinary (female) Polish spy, the weather, cheese on toast Kraków style, and a whole load of other stuff.

Please subscribe, like, share and comment, and tell all your friends and colleagues about us. Thank you.

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Read our blog: www.Pole-ish.eu

Write to us: peter@pole-ish.com

Follow our socials: Search Facebook, Xwitter and BlueSky for “Pole-ish”

Krystyna Skarbek: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krystyna_Skarbek

Zapiekanka at Okrąglak (Kraków): https://maps.app.goo.gl/irzfTTxyJ6T5xaGi8

Hey Now! (Don’t Dream It’s Over by Crowded House): http://youtube.com/watch?v=J9gKyRmic20

666 to Hel: https://notesfrompoland.com/2023/06/14/end-of-the-line-for-polands-666-bus-to-hel/

Suffolk Accent: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJWdEo7zpbo

Welcome to the preview edition of the Pole-ish podcast, launching here on 2nd February 2026 with new episodes every Monday thereafter.

Pole-ish is an affectionate, funny and often bemused look at life in Poland from two outsiders who now call it home. Brit Peter MacLeod (Warsaw) and American Johnathan Nett (Kraków) share stories, observations and hard-won wisdom about navigating Polish culture, bureaucracy, language, food and everyday life, with plenty of banter along the way.

Each episode blends personal anecdotes, cultural curiosities, surprising Polish history, expat survival tips and lively features - from Two Nations Divided by a Common Language to Pole of the Week and Hey Now! A Polish Fact You Didn't Know You Didn't Know. Expect laughter, learning, and the occasional tram rumbling past.

First Pancake? It's not yet perfect, but subsequent ones will be.

We’re not Polish, we’re Pole-ish!

Website (under construction, obvs): www.pole-ish.eu

Contact us: peter@pole-ish.eu

Xwitter: @Pole_ishPodcast

Other socials coming soon!

Please like, subscribe, review and tell all your family and friends! Thanks. See you in February.