FOJ 75 - From Berlin Bistros to Midwest Parking Lots

Jeff and Jason are back for episode 75 and they've got a full plate. Jeff just returned from Berlin for his annual industry conference and breaks down the trip — from jet-lagged Five Guys runs to a Michelin-rated dinner he'd rather forget, a five-mile walking tour past the Brandenburg Gate, and some sharp observations about EVs, car culture, and the surprising absence of dealership stickers on German vehicles. The guys also riff on European wages, the rising cost of living in the US, and whether America could ever get its act together on a wage floor.

Back stateside, Jason recounts a spicy Memorial Day weekend parking lot standoff with an oversized F-150 and reflects on how much less patient he's become with age. Jeff's dealing with a recurring calf injury from the Berlin walking tour, and both hosts bond over the general misery of getting older.

On the sports front, the guys dig into the wild quirks of the 2026 NFL schedule — including the 49ers traveling 38,000 miles, Wednesday Night Football debuts, the Jaguars hosting two London home games, the Bears earning five primetime slots, and the Arizona Cardinals being underdogs in all 17 games. They also check in on the NBA playoffs with the Knicks rolling at 11-0 and OKC and San Antonio knotted at 2-2.

To close things out: a Gallup poll reveals 72% of Americans would rather live next to a nuclear plant than a data center, and Jason's son Jeremy officially flies the nest. Congrats to Jeremy and Morgan — FOJ Listeners of the Week!

TIMESTAMPS:0:00 - Bears Jersey #75: The History (or Lack Thereof)2:28 - FOJ Podcast Stats: Vietnam and Denmark Are Listening5:36 - Memorial Day & 30 Years Since Bradley Nowell Passed7:40 - Jeff's Berlin Trip: Flights, Five Guys & Conference Life12:21 - The Michelin Dinner He'd Rather Forget30:00 - European Wages vs. US Cost of Living49:00 - Jason's Parking Lot F-150 Showdown55:22 - Getting Old: Torn Calves & Baseball Tournament Pain1:03:14 - 2026 NFL Schedule Quirks Breakdown1:11:37 - NBA Playoffs: Knicks Undefeated, OKC-Spurs Tied1:12:55 - Data Centers vs. Nuclear Plants: The Gallup Poll1:19:50 - Cubs Skid, Sox Hanging In & Jeremy Moves Out

KEYWORDS:FOJ podcast, Friends of Jeff, Jeff and Jason podcast, Berlin travel 2026, Michelin restaurant Berlin, Five Guys Berlin, NFL 2026 schedule, 49ers Australia game, Wednesday Night Football, Bears primetime games, Jacksonville Jaguars London, Arizona Cardinals underdogs, NBA playoffs 2026, New York Knicks undefeated, OKC Thunder Spurs, data centers noise pollution, data center vs nuclear plant poll, minimum wage debate, cost of living USA, getting older humor, Memorial Day podcast, Bradley Nowell Sublime anniversary, parking lot road rage, Cheetos debate, College World Series Omaha