Two Minds, One Mic: A Hot Topics Podcast

2023 is over! A long year – a year with many events: remarkable events and shattering events. What moved you the most in 2023? What was going on all over the world, in Japan or in Germany? We recap on the most googled terms 2023 as well as our personal anecdotes. 

When was the last time you stumbled upon a comment on social media where you thought something like: “Oh wow, this person is really stupid! How can they think like this?!” and ended up composing a long angry response. The modern internet and social media is not only filled with internet trolls but also serious fights about unnecessary topics, with no arguments at all. Where do all these emotions come from? Let us tell you, it is because our brains are stupid. 

Christmas is around the corner, Christmas markets opened, and we lit the first candle on the advent wreath. What are typical Christmas traditions in your country? In this episode, we discuss Christmas traditions in Germany and Japan and discuss interesting facts from enjoying KFC in Japan to infant Jesus bringing the presents in Germany.

日本出身のゆかりとドイツ出身のパトリックが、お互いの国でのクリスマスの過ごし方についてディスカッションしました。

Have you already thought about your New Year’s resolutions for 2024? New Year’s resolutions may be a thing of the past – 55% of Americans believe it’s time to ditch New Year’s resolutions. In this episode, we discuss the effect of New Year’s resolutions, why so many people fail to keep them over the year, and what might be better strategies to set smaller, reachable goals. Additionally, we discuss typical resolutions in Germany and Japan.

みなさんはもう2024年の新年の抱負は決めましたか？調査によると、55％のアメリカ人が新年の抱負を捨てる時が来たと考えているそうです。このエピソードでは、なぜ多くの人が新年の抱負を守れないのか、そしてどうすれば目標を達成できるのかについてディスカッションしました。

In this enlightening episode of "Confidence Unraveled," we delve deep into the multifaceted nature of confidence, inspired by a recent poll of 2,000 British adults that revealed an average adult requires 16 confidence boosters a month. We'll explore the top 15 confidence boosters, ranging from receiving compliments and achieving personal goals to the impact of appearance and grooming. The episode will feature insights and personal stories, highlighting how confidence levels evolve over time due to various factors like societal pressures, personal achievements, and the complexities of human psychology.

2,000人の英国人を対象とした調査で、平均的な成人は1ヶ月に16の自信を高める方法を必要としていることが明らかに。自信を高める上位15個のブースターをシェアしながら、自信についてディスカッションしました。

In this episode, we dive deep into the modern digital news landscape and its many challenges. From the rise of fake news and its impact on key global events to examining how countries like Germany navigate trust in their media. We also discuss the global trend of news fatigue and the influence of algorithms on what we see and believe. Joined by a special co-host from Japan, we explore unique insights from the Land of the Rising Sun, contrasting its news consumption patterns and cultural responses to misinformation with the rest of the world. Tune in for a comprehensive look at news in our digital age.

We are finally back after a long time. We will give you a quick update about what happened while we are taking a break.

A University of Surrey study reveals intriguing findings on internet usage patterns and addiction across age groups. With participants spending an average of four to six hours online daily, the research introduces a spectrum categorizing users from "Casual" to "Addicts." Distinctly, younger users are more prone to addiction, while emotional experiences play a pivotal role in app interactions, especially with augmented reality. Notably, gender shows no impact on online behavior.

サリー大学の研究で、ネット中毒レベルの5つのレベルが発表されました。あなたはどのグループ？

With increasing social awareness, dads are becoming more and more involved in raising kids and actively taking part in their education. According to a study by the university of Leeds dad's involvement in this matter can increase their learning capabilities. But, are they really involved so much nowadays? And what factors influence the overall circumstances? Let us dive into the world of paternity leave, flexible working hours to help in education, and the social status of the helping dad.

父親が子育てに関わることで子どもの学習能力を高めるという研究結果をもとに、日本とドイツの父親の子育て参加についてディスカッションしました。

Working from your pajamas has never been this eco-friendly! Dive into the surprising ways remote work is slashing our carbon footprints, from seat-sharing to ditching that office commute. Could our video calls be the unsung heroes in the fight against climate change? Let's find out!

リモートワークがどれだけCO2排出量の削減に貢献しているかについての研究をもとに、ディスカッションしました。

今回はテーマを決めずに、今日本とドイツで話題になっていることについてざっくばらんにディスカッションしました！ジャニーズ問題、ドイツの環境政策、使い捨て包装をめぐるマクドナルドの闘いなど

In this mixed-topic episode, we delve into recent scandals in the music industry, featuring Japan's Johnny's Boys and Germany's Rammstein. Then we switch gears to environmental policy, discussing Germany's new heat pump laws and a bold statement from Japan's PM's son about Fukushima. We wrap up with a small town's battle against McDonald's over single-use packaging. Tune in for a whirlwind tour of contemporary issues!

Have you ever wondered which behavior makes you step onto the second date? In this episode, we discuss a study where first date strategies of men and women were investigated. It seems that expectations and reality are often not connected. Dive with us into the exciting world of dating.

研究で分かった「セカンドデートにつながる行動」についてドイツ人のパトリックと日本人のゆかりがディスカッションしました。

Do you like to be your own boss and make the rules or do you want to be part of a big team? How is it to be self-employed? And how is life in a company? How stressful is it to work in both environments? These and other questions are discussed in our new episode, where two completely opposite work models clash. Be ready for personal experiences, talking about work-life balance, the feeling of significance, and stories about the most unusual customers. Can you survive in the wilderness of an office or do brace yourself for the pressure of being last-(wo)man-standing with your own business?

みなさんは自分のボスになってルールを作るのが好きですか、それとも大きなチームの一員になりたいですか？このエピソードでは、個人事業主のYukariと会社員のPatrickが、ワーク・ライフ・バランス、仕事のやりがいの感じ方やストレスなど、個人的な体験談をもとにディスカッションしました。

In today's episode, we're shifting gears to explore the world of autonomous driving! From cars that promise to park themselves without a scratch to ethical dilemmas about machines making life-or-death decisions on the road. As Germany zooms on the Autobahn and Japan navigates its intricate cityscapes, we dive deep into whether driverless cars are a dream come true or a beep-beep-beeping nightmare. Will these smart cars make our roads safer, or will we lose the thrill of the drive? Buckle up, listeners, as we navigate the twists and turns of the self-driving revolution!”

We are back from vacation and bring you fresh experiences! On vacation, we noticed different kinds of people have different travel intents. But, what are those? And why? In this episode, we discuss differences and similarities in travel styles among Western and eastern countries. We talk about personal travel experiences and stereotypical tourist pictures. In the end, we cover the newly emerging solo travel trend. What is your travel style?

休暇から戻ったので、日本でのわたしたちの新鮮な体験を皆さんにお届けします！休暇中、わたしたちは人々がそれぞれ違った旅行の目的を持ち、それがヨーロッパとアジアで明確に違うことに気づきました。このエピソードでは、ヨーロッパとアジアの旅行スタイルの違いと共通点について、個人的な旅行体験やステレオタイプな観光客のイメージなどを例に挙げてディスカッションしました。最後には、新たに台頭してきた一人旅のトレンドについても取り上げています。

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Have you ever heard of nuclear fusion energy? This episode covers a discussion about the ITER project - an international research collaboration of 35 countries all over the world. Their goal? To prove that fusion, this process that powers our very sun can be harnessed here on Earth as a clean, sustainable source of energy. In connection with this topic, we discussed the nuclear image post-Fukushima, the importance of international collaboration and scientific communication as well a the “No free lunch” theorem.

今回のエピソードは、世界35カ国の国際共同研究であるITER(イーター)プロジェクトについてです。ITERプロジェクトとは、人類初の核融合実験炉を実現しようとする超大型国際プロジェクトです。このトピックに関連して、私たちは福島災害以後の核のイメージ、国際協力と科学的コミュニケーションの重要性などについて議論しました。

Reading for pleasure early in childhood is linked to better cognitive performance and mental well-being in adolescence.

How often have you read books when you were a child? A US study including 10,000 young adults found that reading for pleasure in early childhood is linked to better cognitive performance and mental well-being in adolescence. According to the study, 12 hours of reading each week seems to be the optimum. In this episode, we discussed the outcome of this study, covered that Japan and Germany are book-loving countries, and related this to our own experiences.

幼少期によく本を読みましたか？米国の研究で、幼児期に読書を楽しむことが、青年期における認知能力の向上と精神的幸福につながることが明らかになりました。この研究によると、毎週12時間の読書が最適とのこと。

このエピソードでは、この研究結果について、日本とドイツが読書好きな国であることを取り上げつつ、私たち自身の経験と関連づけながら議論しました。

In this episode, we discuss the trial of Universal Basic Income (UBI) in the UK, where 30 people will receive £1,600 a month for two years without any obligation. UBI is a government program in which every adult citizen receives a set amount of money regularly. We also explore the pros and cons of UBI, including its potential to reduce poverty, improve physical and mental health, and encourage entrepreneurship, as well as its potential drawbacks, such as reduced incentive to work.

このエピソードでは、英国のユニバーサル・ベーシック・インカム（UBI）の試行について議論しています。UBIとは、すべての成人国民が一定額を定期的に受け取る政府の制度です。貧困削減、心身の健康、起業家精神の奨励といったUBIの可能性と、労働意欲の減退といった潜在的な欠点も含め、UBIの長所と短所を探りました。

The episode discusses how tech giants in Germany and Japan have shaped the technology landscape in their respective countries, the role of startups in the innovation culture of both countries and how government policies have supported or hindered the growth of tech giants and startups. While Germany values precision, efficiency, and high-quality engineering in its innovation culture, Japan values continuous improvement and craftsmanship. Despite both countries facing increasing competition from the US and China, they are making efforts to boost their digital economies and start-up scenes.

Neuralink, Elon Musk's brain chip company, has announced that it has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to conduct its first tests on humans.

While there are positive expectations, such as the chip improving the situation of people with disabilities, there are also several concerns about implanting chips in the brain.

In this episode, we discuss the future of microchips, showing the interesting results of animal studies and the case of a man who was paralyzed in the lower half of his body and was able to walk again after having a chip implanted in his body.

イーロン・マスクの脳チップ会社、Neuralinkが米国食品医薬品局（FDA）から、人間に対する最初のテストを行うための承認を得たと発表しました。

障害を持つ人の状況をチップによって改善したりなど、ポジティブな期待がある一方で、脳にチップを埋め込むことに対する懸念すべき点も複数あります。

今回のエピソードでは動物実験の興味深い結果や、下半身が麻痺した男性がチップを埋め込んで再び歩けるようになった件を紹介しながら、マイクロチップの未来について話し合いました。

This time it's all about language learning. Patrick speaks German and English as well as French and a little Italian, and Yukari speaks Japanese and English. And now we are both learning Japanese and German. From our perspectives as language learners, we talked about the situation of language learning in both countries and the reasons why Germans are able to learn a second or third language relatively easily, while Japanese are not able to speak English even after 12 years of study. If you are learning a language, we hope you will find some useful hints for your learning.

今回は言語学習についてです。ドイツ語と英語に加え、フランス語と少しイタリア語も話すパトリックと、日本語と英語を話すゆかり。そして今はお互い日本語とドイツ語を学んでいます。言語学習を続けてきたわたしたちの視点から、両国の言語学習の現状や、ドイツ人は比較的容易に第二、第三言語を習得することができるのに比べて日本人が12年間学んでも英語を話せるようにならない理由などについて話しました。言語を学んでいる方は、学習のヒントになることがあると思うので、ぜひ聞いてみてください。

How often do you keep in touch with your family? We noticed a big difference in the way we from Germany and Japan relate to our families, so we had a discussion about the German and Japanese views on family. We discussed cultural differences from various perspectives, ranging from the shape of the family to marriage, divorce, and the recent dating situation.

みなさんはどのくらいの頻度で家族と連絡を取りますか？ドイツと日本という違う文化を持つわたしたちに、家族との関わり方にも大きな違いがあることに気づき、ドイツと日本の家族観についてディスカッションをしました。今回のエピソードでは、家族の形から結婚、離婚、最近のデート事情まで、さまざまな角度から文化の違いを話し合っています。

This time, we discussed the university systems in Germany and Japan, since Patrick took the last Ph.D. exam. We talked about a wide range of comparisons between the two countries, including Germany's openness to give everyone the opportunity to learn, and Japan's admission system that only allows selected students to study, tuition fees, the path to employment, and the advantages and disadvantages of each system.

今回PatrickがPh.Dの最終試験を受けたということで、ドイツと日本の大学システムについてディスカッションしました。ドイツの誰にでも学びの機会を与えるオープンな姿勢と、日本の選ばれた者だけが学べる入学システム、学費や就職までの道のり、お互いのシステムのメリットデメリットなど、多岐にわ立って両国の比較について話しています。

In Japan, there is this concept called "Ikigai," which translates to "the meaning of life" or "the purpose of life". This time, based on this concept, we discussed how people in Japan and Germany perceive life. In the second half of the recording, we explored ways to live better based on research showing the physical benefits of a three-day weekend.

日本には"Ikigai"という考え方があり、これは生きている意味や人生の目的に通じるものです。今回はこのコンセプトを元に、日本とドイツの人々の人生に対する捉え方を議論しました。また、後半の収録では週休3日制の働き方がもたらす身体的な利益を示す研究結果を元に、わたしたちがよりよく生きるための方法について探りました。

Recently, a popular YouTube channel was hacked and all of their videos were erased, but this is not only for influencers, it can happen to any of us. In this episode, we talk about what we can do to avoid becoming a target of hacking. Let's be aware that it is possible for anyone to become a potential victim at any time, and let's do everything we can to prevent it.

最近人気ユーチューバーがハッキングの被害に遭って動画をすべて消されてしまった事件がありましたが、これは何もインフルエンサーに限らず、私たち誰にでも起こり得ることです。今回のエピソードでは、ハッキングの被害者にならないために、わたしたちはできることについて話しました。いつでも誰でも被害者になり得るということを意識して、できる限りの対策をしていきましょ！

With the diversity of both shopping options and career choices, how do we choose what is right for us?

In this episode, we discussed the current situation in Germany where many of the major department stores have had to close, the comparison between traditional shopping and online shopping, and the advantages and disadvantages. And in the second half, we discussed how to find the right career for you according to what research has revealed.