Tracy Jans as a guest in the podcast by Nicoletta Cimmino and Peter Hossli

In their podcast "1776", Nicoletta Cimmino and Peter Hossli tackle American topics. The current episode features Federal Councillor Tracy Jans as a guest. "I have the privilege of knowing two places very well," says the American with a Swiss passport. "Both countries have fantastic things - and things that make you think: okay, you could work on that." She feels at home where she lives: "My home is Switzerland."

She misses something American, says Tracy Jans. "I miss those brief conversations with people I don't know." The everyday flirtations on the street, in a café with people you never see again afterwards, but with whom you share a brief moment. "When I talk to people in Switzerland about it, I'm surprised that it's not even on their radar."

Tracy Jans raised her two children in Switzerland and talks about the differences between the education systems in the "1776" podcast. She appreciates the fact that in Swiss schools you don't just learn what's in the books, but also how to swim, ride a bike and eat healthily.

"In the USA, people believe that you can achieve anything if you work hard," says Jans, describing another difference. "Switzerland has a bit more of this 'Nobody Left Behind' philosophy, which I think is wonderful."

She identifies differences in the political system. As soon as a new president comes to power in the USA, changes are made to what the predecessor did. Switzerland is slower, but more stable.

She will vote for Joe Biden in the US presidential elections in the fall. Tracy Jans describes Barack Obama as her favorite president. "He embodied this hope, this Americanness, this feeling that anything is possible."

She herself is "not a political person", emphasizes Tracy Jans. "I don't really like politics. And if I had met Beat and he had been a politician back then, I'm not sure we would have gotten together."

But it would never have occurred to her to keep her husband away from politics. She recognizes the joy that Jans gets from politics. "It gives him a lot of energy and joy." And she knows that he is in the right place. "When you love someone, that's all you want for them."

The biostatistician didn't move to Switzerland because of Beat Jans, but because of a job at Novartis. "I had already met Beat a few times, but we weren't together. And I thought it was a nice coincidence that I had a job offer in a city where I knew a really nice guy."

She is now taking on a new role, says Tracy Jans about the impact of her husband's election to the Federal Council. "We have always supported each other." She now has to be more flexible. "I have to take over some of the things he did at home and give the children the feeling that everything is okay."

The independent USA Podcast "1776" will be presented by Nicoletta Cimmino, journalistic director at Gassmann Mediaand Peter Hossli, Head of the Ringier School of Journalism, produced and moderated. The podcast can be heard on Spotify, Apple Podcast and YouTube.