Pole-ish

By Peter MacLeod / John Nett

Two expats. Two cities. Two perspectives.

Peter, a Brit living in Warsaw, and John, an American based in Kraków, dive into the hilarious, always confusing and often eye-opening

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FAQs about Pole-ish:

How many episodes does Pole-ish have?

The podcast currently has 27 episodes available.

Pole-ish episodes:

August 22, 2026 From Sicily to Silesia
It's our silver anniversary! Episode 25 of Pole-ish takes us on the first stop of our grand tour of Poland - Katowice.
Our guest is Sicilian-born Marco Cillepi, who arrived in Katowice 15 years ago expecting little more than a job and a change of scenery. Instead, he built a career, a family and the Katowice Internationals Foundation .
What began as a casual Saturday kickabout involving players from a handful of countries eventually became the Katowice Internationals World Cup, now featuring 28 national teams. Marco tells us how the tournament has grown into much more than football - creating friendships, jobs, marriages and connections between people from all over the world.
We also discover how Katowice has changed since Marco arrived, why he thinks it offers a better quality of life than Poland's biggest tourist destinations, and why the openness of Polish people is one of the things he loves most about the country.
Elsewhere, we celebrate our anniversary with some Polish silver facts, meet the legendary Art Deco artist Tamara Łempicka, debate the delights - and crimes against humanity - of Polish food, and discover that Poland really does have a vending machine for almost everything. Including injured birds and, naturally, pierogi.
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Read our blog: www.pole-ish.eu
Write to us: [email protected]
Follow our socials: search for ‘Pole-ish Podcast’ on BlueSky, Xwitter, YouTube and Facebook.
Katowice Internationals Foundation: https://www.katowiceinternationals.org
Tamara Łempicka: www.tamaradelempicka.org
Big City Life – Mattafix: https://open.spotify.com/track/0Stkh0VvjWMqQOWNkHVhJq?si=975a154ade384269
Pole-ish Guest Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/68kYaLG4XYgcjRdSjzzgcW?si=de7065757241400c

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1h 16min
August 03, 2026Proszę! Proszę!
When Nigerian content creator Raphael Obi (DarkMagikCA) joined us for Episode 17, we barely scratched the surface. So we invited him back. This time, Raphael shares the stories that didn't make it into the first episode - from the challenges of finding work and learning Polish to surviving scams, online trolls and the rollercoaster of going viral.
We also talk about why Warsaw can actually make learning Polish harder, how joining local communities might be the secret to finally becoming fluent, and why he believes every interaction in Poland is potential content.
Along the way, Raphael tells us about the extraordinary moped scam that greeted him during his first month in Poland, losing thousands of dollars to fraudsters, coping with negative comments online, and why he's determined not to let setbacks define his experience of living here.
Elsewhere in the episode:
Peter recalls an unexpected lesson from a stay in a Polish hospital
John enjoys a summer paddleboarding adventure on Kraków's Bagry Lake
The battle for Three in Ten continues with the most adaptable of Polish words - "proszę"
It's a funny, honest and surprisingly moving conversation about resilience, adapting to a new country, and finding opportunity even when things don't go to plan.
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Read our blog: www.pole-ish.eu
Write to us: [email protected]
Follow our socials: search for ‘Pole-ish Podcast’ on BlueSky, Xwitter, YouTube and Facebook.
Follow Raphael Obi / DarkMagikCA
Instagram: @darkmagikca
TikTok: DarkMagikCA Live
Linktree: DarkMagikCA Links
Bagry Beach: https://plazabagry.pl/
Proszę: https://culture.pl/en/article/prosze-poland-word-by-word
Pole-ish Guest Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/68kYaLG4XYgcjRdSjzzgcW?si=de7065757241400c
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57min
July 20, 2026 Planet Pole-ish
This week we're joined by Ged Nichols, founder of Planet Kraków, one of the fastest-growing online communities dedicated to helping visitors discover the very best of Poland's former royal capital.
Originally from Sunderland via Los Angeles, Ged tells us how a pandemic lockdown, a leap of faith, and a move to Kraków led him to create a platform that's now inspiring thousands of tourists and expats to look beyond the obvious attractions.
We chat about hidden gems in Kraków, why Nowa Huta deserves far more attention, day trips to Zakopane and the Tri-City, the best place to grab a proper zapiekanka, and why Ged thinks Poland's greatest asset isn't its castles or cuisine... it's the feeling of safety.
Elsewhere, Peter returns from a birthday trip to the UK with an embarrassing Polish-language story, John tackles a gruelling 42,000-step hike in the Tatra Mountains before soaking in Bukovina's thermal baths, and the pair continue their increasingly chaotic 3 in 10 quiz battle with a geography challenge that neither of them covers themselves in glory over.
Whether you're planning your first visit to Poland, already call it home, or simply enjoy hearing two expats (and this week's guest) celebrate everything that makes the country special, there's plenty to enjoy in Episode 23.
As always, we'd love to hear your own recommendations, hidden gems and travel tips. Do get in touch, and if you're enjoying Pole-ish, please subscribe, leave us a review and tell a friend!
Planet Kraków: https://www.youtube.com/@planetkrakow
Magillo Restaurant: https://magillo.pl/
Endzior (‘best zapiekanka in Kraków’) – via Google Maps - https://maps.app.goo.gl/CSgjYw8X1tQUuwuh6
Golonkarnia (‘best golonka in Kraków’) – via Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/nW69gcAjz5joV4ce8
Feniks Nightclub: https://feniksklub.com/
USMNT ‘We love it!’ chant: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/V3Iq5DaZ18Q
Bal u Rafała – Ralph Kaminski: https://open.spotify.com/track/3uIYWYJzh4qKfpExCF05oS?si=84bdb91e09044eac
Pole-ish Guest Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/68kYaLG4XYgcjRdSjzzgcW?si=de7065757241400c
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1h 5min
July 11, 2026 Pan Kiełbasa
It's a Kraków Special on Pole-ish as we welcome David McGirr - Scottish photographer, founder of Kraków Expats Directory, creator of Kraków TV, and one of the city's official Ambassadors of Multiculturalism.
David explains what first drew him to Kraków, why he chose to stay, and how he's helped thousands of newcomers discover the city. We talk hidden gems, favourite neighbourhoods, expat life, learning Polish, British tourists, Kraków's thriving food scene, the city's unique blend of history and modernity – and how his friends came to give him THAT nickname!
Plus, Peter and John explore some of Kraków's best-loved legends, from the mysterious knife hanging in the Sukiennice to Pan Twardowski, and put John's local knowledge to the test in another round of 3 in 10.
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Read our blog: www.pole-ish.eu
Write to us: [email protected]
Follow our socials: search for ‘Pole-ish Podcast’ on BlueSky, Xwitter, YouTube and Facebook.
The Legend of Pan Twardowsky: https://culture.pl/en/article/pan-twardowski-the-first-pole-on-the-moon
Kraków Expats Directory: https://krakowexpats.pl/
Kraków ‘sine’ bridge: https://www.architekturaibiznes.pl/en/kladka-ludwinow-kazimierz-dzieli,34665.html
Kraków TV: https://www.youtube.com/@KrakowTV
Otwarty Krakow: https://otwarty.krakow.pl/
Kraków Celtic Festival: https://krakowcelticfestival.pl/
Kraków Photo Tours: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g274772-d9786466-Reviews-Krakow_Photo_Tours-Krakow_Lesser_Poland_Province_Southern_Poland.html
Polish Celtic Association: https://www.polishcelticassociation.org/#/en
Mad dog (wściekły pies): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W%C5%9Bciek%C5%82y_pies
Caledonia – Dougie McLean (lyrics): https://genius.com/Dougie-maclean-caledonia-lyrics
Caledonia – Dougie McLean (song): https://open.spotify.com/track/7jEVW8o2CIfdgziEJXnii8?si=50681d767dfe4dd3
Pole-ish Guest Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/68kYaLG4XYgcjRdSjzzgcW?si=de7065757241400c

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1h 18min
June 22, 2026 Flying Solo
No guest this week - just Peter and John, armed with microphones, questionable opinions and 21 increasingly random questions.
In this special guest-free edition of Pole-ish, the hosts turn the spotlight on themselves. They tackle everything from beaches vs. mountains, Warsaw vs. Kraków, and Żabka vs. Biedronka, before John reveals his own answers to the Five Big Questions usually reserved for guests.
Along the way, John discovers a new scuba diving community in Kraków, Peter stumbles across the historic town of Olsztynek, and the pair discuss one of Poland's most beloved icons - the legendary Fiat 126p "Maluch".
There's also a deep dive into the curious history of Czernina, the traditional Polish duck-blood soup once used to reject unwanted suitors, plus plenty of the usual banter, disagreements and cultural observations.
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Read our blog: www.pole-ish.eu
Write to us: [email protected]
Follow our socials: search for ‘Pole-ish Podcast’ on BlueSky, Xwitter, YouTube and Facebook.
Centrum Nurkowe Nautica: http://www.nauticadiving.pl/
Polski Fiat 126p ‘Maluch’: https://www.motor1.com/news/62725/soviet-bloc-cars-were-weird-polski-fiat-126p/
Czernina: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Czernina
Jesień – Tańcuj (z filmu ‘Chłopi’) - Various Artists: https://open.spotify.com/track/1TwTHhkLEU4XcDRobMAUaW?si=a5fa1028d1a24248
Pole-ish Guest Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/68kYaLG4XYgcjRdSjzzgcW?si=de7065757241400c
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1h 1min
June 15, 2026 Mission Accompl-ish
Football, history, bureaucracy, seafood, bicycles and a lot of affection for Poland - it can only be Pole-ish!
In this episode, Peter and John welcome Mike Giammattei, an American former Army Reservist who came to Poland on deployment, met the woman who would become his wife, and ended up building a life in Gniezno, Poland's historic first capital.
Along the way, Mike shares his experiences of bristling at Polish bureaucracy, working in logistics and his frankly bizarre love of Ipswich Town - not exactly one of English football's most glamorous clubs.
Elsewhere, Peter reports from the Baltic coast with some surprisingly salty facts, John reflects on a seafood extravaganza in Kraków, and the pair discuss cycling culture in Poland and the Netherlands.
This week's Pole of the Week is the extraordinary Irena Sendler, the Polish social worker who helped save around 2,500 Jewish children during the Second World War.
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Read our blog: www.pole-ish.eu
Write to us: [email protected]
Follow our socials: search for ‘Pole-ish Podcast’ on BlueSky, Xwitter, YouTube and Facebook.
RJ’s Goals – in memory of Mike’s brother: https://www.instagram.com/rjs.goals?igsh=NXJrb3VwZ2dmY2dw
Kapitan Konrad: https://en.kapitankonrad.pl/
Dutch Reach Project: https://www.dutchreach.org/
Polish National Anthem (Mazurek Dąbrowskiego): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BWvhox662o
Ipswich Town Football Club: www.itfc.co.uk
New Haven Pizza: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Haven-style_pizza
Delta Dawn – Tanya Tucker: https://open.spotify.com/track/7GH8qNOm2gEKryVUyVzkmt?si=5bdd431f9c1c491f
Pole-ish Guest Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/68kYaLG4XYgcjRdSjzzgcW?si=de7065757241400c

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1h 9min
June 08, 2026 Two Weddings and a PESEL
In Episode 19 of Pole-ish, we ask what makes someone leave Britain behind to build a new life in Poland.
Communications consultant Tom Lane swapped the drizzle of West Midlands for the sunlit uplands of Poznań after falling in love during the Covid years. He shares the story of moving to Poland, navigating the post-Brexit maze of paperwork, getting married across two countries, and launching his own communications business in a foreign language and culture. Along the way, the conversation explores Polish bureaucracy, learning the language (obvs), football, community spirit, quality of life, and how Poland for Tom increasingly feels more like home than the UK.
Elsewhere, Peter and John discuss Czechia, Nashville, amber, Żabka, churches, and the welcome return of the legendary 666 bus to Hel.
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Read our blog: www.pole-ish.eu
Write to us: [email protected]
Follow our socials: search for ‘Pole-ish Podcast’ on BlueSky, Xwitter, YouTube and Facebook.
Return of the 666 bus to Hel: https://notesfrompoland.com/2026/05/31/polands-666-bus-to-hel-returns-in-new-form/
Polish amber: https://culture.pl/en/article/amber-poland-a-history-crafted-in-resin
UNESCO Heritage Sites in Poland: http://whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/pl
Polish National Anthem: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poland_Is_Not_Yet_Lost
Myslovitz - Długość dźwięku samotności: https://open.spotify.com/track/0DqRsfmMvauRib1AsgpOP2?si=de6e5c9309ae4c01
Pole-ish Guest Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/68kYaLG4XYgcjRdSjzzgcW?si=de7065757241400c

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1h 8min
June 01, 2026 Pole-ish Position
For Episode 18 of Pole-ish, we’re joined by internationally minded Polish career coach, recruitment expert and intercultural communication specialist Lucy Bolin.
After living in six countries across Europe and North America - including the US, UK, Germany, Spain and France - Lucy shares what two decades abroad taught her about identity, ambition, language, belonging and the emotional reality of expat life.
We explore reverse culture shock, why some people never truly feel “at home”, how moving abroad changes your personality, and why learning the local language matters far more than many people realise.
Lucy also opens up about returning to Poland during COVID, raising a multilingual family, the emotional pull of home, and why she believes Polish people are uniquely adaptable abroad.
Along the way, we discuss confidence, self-awareness, recruitment culture, British food, Polish seriousness, beaches on the Baltic coast and the psychology behind starting over.
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Read our blog: www.pole-ish.eu
Write to us: [email protected]
Follow our socials: search for ‘Pole-ish Podcast’ on BlueSky, Xwitter, YouTube and Facebook.
Puszcza Białowieska: https://bpn.gov.pl/
Lucyna Bolin Coaching: https://www.lucynabolin.com/
Sviatoslav Kondrativ: https://www.youtube.com/@NaSkrzypcachGraSviatoslav
Marcin Wyrostek: https://www.youtube.com/user/wyrostekmarcin
Maciej Tubis – Into The Night: https://open.spotify.com/track/1wJq8P1gSQzp9fReVlsMOU?si=ecfa96e49abe476c
Pole-ish Guest Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/68kYaLG4XYgcjRdSjzzgcW?si=de7065757241400c

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1h 9min
May 25, 2026Rosół Cures Everything
In Episode 17 of Pole-ish podcast, Peter and John are joined by Nigerian-born content creator Raphael Obi, whose hilarious and sharply observed videos about life in Poland have built a huge online following.
Raphael talks about why he moved from Nigeria to Warsaw, the culture shocks of arriving in Poland, learning the Polish language (or attempting to), and what it’s like being a Black foreigner in one of Europe’s most homogenous countries.
The conversation dives into identity, belonging, bureaucracy, Polish food, viral content creation, and why rosół apparently solves every problem in life.
Elsewhere in the episode:
Peter discovers the wonderfully Polish tradition of the parapetówka
John takes us deep underground into Poland’s legendary salt mines
We visit the ancient settlement of Biskupin - the “Polish Pompeii”
And Peter somehow survives another round of Three in Ten Seconds
Expect observations, laughter, honesty, and at least one attempt at Disco Polo singing.
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Read our blog: www.pole-ish.eu
Write to us: [email protected]
Follow our socials: search for ‘Pole-ish Podcast’ on BlueSky, Xwitter, YouTube and Facebook.
Follow Raphael Obi / DarkMagikCA
Instagram: @darkmagikca
TikTok: DarkMagikCA Live
Linktree: DarkMagikCA
Wieliczka Salt Mine: www.kopalnia.pl
Biskupin Archaeological Site: https://biskupin.pl/
Bałkanica – Piersi (Będzie zabawa!): https://open.spotify.com/track/3bsxKpPB1rv80N8edDIZz8?si=6daa91481db549cb
Pole-ish Guest Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/68kYaLG4XYgcjRdSjzzgcW?si=de7065757241400c
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55min
May 18, 2026Barszcz to the Future
We boldly go where no podcast has gone before... well, at least no podcast which also features ptasie mleczko, pétanque and the coconut song.
Our special guest is Dr Tomasz Zajkowski - President of the Polish Astrobiology Society, and researcher at AGH University’s new Faculty of Space Technologies in Kraków. Tomasz talks to us about the search for extraterrestrial life, whether we might all secretly be Martians, the challenges of science in Poland and the US, and why understanding alien life can actually teach us more about ourselves.
Along the way, we discuss Polish student festivals, Stanisław Barańczak’s linguistic madness, veganism, California culture shocks, Mazurian lakes, and the possibility that Poland may soon play a much bigger role in space exploration.
Also featuring:
Rugby & cricket in Warsaw parks
why Americans sit facing restaurant entrances
which Polish delicacy is much in demand at NASA
and a scientifically questionable amount of discussion about bird’s milk.
We urge you to listen to this episode – it’s out of this world!
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Read our blog: www.pole-ish.eu
Write to us: [email protected]
Follow our socials: search for ‘Pole-ish Podcast’ on BlueSky, Xwitter, YouTube and Facebook.
Stanisław Baranczak: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanis%C5%82aw_Bara%C5%84czak
Polish Astrobiological Society: https://astrobio.pl/
Project Hail Mary (film): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12042730/
The Coconut Nut (The Coconut Song) - The San Miguel Master Chorale: https://open.spotify.com/track/1XHeQupI4MWPA7UrU6EKEu?si=f7ee483235a94ac6
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55min

FAQs about Pole-ish:

How many episodes does Pole-ish have?

The podcast currently has 27 episodes available.