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The Botstiber Podcast
Botstiber Institute for Austrian-American Studies
The Habsburg Empire may have collapsed following WWI, but the impacts left by the diverse multilingual state continue to affect the world, today. The Botstiber Podcast brings together historians, politicians, authors and more to help illustrate the connections shared by the various lands of the former Habsburg Empire and the United States.
- 20 episodes
- Avg 48 min
- English
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S6 · E3February 25 · 1 hr 7 minA is for Austria Episode III: A very Habsburg Family History with Nick Reynolds
Historian, author, soldier, spy - Nick Reynolds has done it all. In this episode, the New York Times best-selling author discusses the role Austria has played in his life, shares his Habsburg family history, and highlights what he believes Americans and Austrians have in common and can learn from one another. Nick's Website Writer, Sailor, Soldier, Spy: Ernest Hemingway's Secret Adventures, 1935-1961 Need to Know: World War II and the Rise of American Intelligence
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S6 · E2Dec 17, 2025 · 55 minA is for Austria:Austria's Sherlock Holmes: Hans Gross and the Graz School of Criminalistics
What does an Austria jurist have to do with the FBI? In the second episode of the A is for Austria podcast, Priv. Doz. Christian Bachhiesl, director of the Museum im Lavanthaus, answers this question and many more. We'll carefully examine the Austrian origins of criminology and criminal science, investigate the contributions of Hans Gross and others, as well as explore their lasting impact upon the United States and beyond. - Christian Bachhiesl's Website (German only): https://christianbachhiesl.com/ - Museum im Lavanthaus: https://www.museum-lavanthaus.at/besucher/information-english/ - Austria-Forum, Essays on Criminalistics and Criminology (English and German): https://austria-forum.org/af/Wissenssammlungen/Essays/Kriminalistik_und_Kriminologie - Styrian Historical Commission (Historische Landeskommission für Steiermark; German only): https://www.hlk.steiermark.at HLK Blog (German only): https://www.hlk.steiermark.at/cms/ziel/153524465/DE/ - Hans Gross Museum of Criminology: https://universitaetsmuseen.uni-graz.at/en/locations/hans-gross-museum-of-criminology/ - University of Graz - Hans Gross Center for Interdisciplinary Criminal Sciences: https://zentrum-kriminalwissenschaften.uni-graz.at/en/ - University of Graz - Department of Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure Law, and Criminology: https://strafrecht.uni-graz.at/en/ - University of Graz - Department of History: https://geschichte.uni-graz.at/en/ - University of Klagenfurt - Department of History (German only): https://www.aau.at/geschichte/
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S6 · E2Oct 22, 2025 · 1 hr 18 minA is for Austria- Habsburg Vampires
Vampires? In Austria? For the first episode of the A is for Austria podcast, Dr. Peter Kreuter of the Leibniz Institute for East and Southeast European Studies in Regensburg, Germany treats us to a no-holds-barred discussion of the history of vampires, superstitions, and the uncanny in and around the Habsburg Monarchy. Join us - if you dare! https://leibniz-ios.de/en/ - the English version of Dr. Peter Kreuter institute's homepage. https://leibniz-ios.de/en/people/details/peter-mario-kreuter - Dr. Peter Kreuter personal page. He mentioned the following researchers/colleagues during our chat: - Michael Ursinus - Ioannis Zelepos - Elizabeth R. Miller - Ute Dukova - Paul L. Yoder - Paul Barber - Markus Köhbach - Rob Fisher
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S6 · E1Jul 22, 2025 · 54 minIf Passports Could Talk: A Life Between Worlds with Lonnie Johnson
In this episode of If Passports Could Talk, we journey through five decades of cultural exchange and international education with Lonnie R. Johnson. Lonnie R. Johnson was born in 1952 and grew up in Golden Valley, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis. As a humanities major as St. John’s University in Minnesota, a small Benedictine men’s liberal arts college, he was encouraged by an Austrian professor of German to go to Vienna to “see the real thing,” and he spent his senior year of college on a junior-year-abroad program in Vienna, 1973-74. This marked the beginning of an improbable but accomplished fifty-year career on the Austrian-American interfaces of international higher education, academic exchange, and research. His book Central Europe: Enemies, Neighbors, Friends (Oxford University Press, 1996, 3rd revised and expanded edition, 2010) is widely acknowledged as a standard work for students interested in the region. His previous books include Introducing Austria (Österreichischer Bundesverlag, Vienna, 1985; Ariadne Press, Riverside, CA, 1987) and with Inge Lehne, Vienna: The Past in the Present, (Riverside: Ariadne Press, 1995: 2nd revised edition of the Austrian 1st edition (Vienna: Österreichischer Bundesverlag, 1985)). This episode is a tribute to the intellectual wanderer—and to the power of cultural diplomacy done quietly, persistently, and well. https://www.amazon.com/Central-Europe-Enemies-Neighbors-Friends/dp/0195100719?ref_=ast_author_dp
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S5 · E1Feb 14, 2025 · 1 hr 9 minMarc Landry | White Coal: Austrian Hydropower Through Monarchy, Fascism, and the Marshall Plan
How did hydropower shape Austria’s modern history? In our latest episode, we dive into Mountain Battery: The Alps, Water, and Power in the Fossil Fuel Age (2025) with its author, Marc Landry. From the collapse of the Habsburg Monarchy to the rise of National Socialism and post-WWII reconstruction under the Marshall Plan, the story of hydropower—often called "white coal"—intersects with key moments in Austrian history. Marc Landry serves as Marshall Plan Endowed Professor in Austrian Studies and Director of Center Austria at the University of New Orleans. Landry was the Fulbright-Botstiber Visiting Professor in Austrian-American Studies at the University of Innsbruck, in 2016. __________ You can find Mountain Battery: The Alps, Water, and Power in the Fossil Fuel Age (2025), here: https://www.sup.org/books/history/mountain-battery Learn more about Marc Landry's work at the Austrian Marshall Plan Center for European Studies at the University of New Orleans: https://www.centeraustria.org/ __________ Who we are: The Botstiber Institute for Austrian-American Studies (BIAAS) promotes an understanding of the historic relationship between the United States and Austria, including the lands of the former Habsburg empire, by awarding grants and fellowships, organizing lectures and conferences, and publishing the Journal of Austrian-American History. We engage with a broader public audience through digital programming, including videos, podcasts and blog posts. For more information go to https://www.botstiberbiaas.org or follow us on our various social media accounts! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/botstiberinstitute X: https://www.twitter.com/BotstiberBIAAS Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BotstiberBIAAS Auf Wiedersehen! / Until next time!
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S4 · E12Dec 26, 2024 · 24 minWaltzing Into Silvester: New Year Traditions and Memories from Austria
Join us as we travel to the festive, snowy alps and explore how locals and visitors alike ring in the New Year. In this video, Austrians and Americans share their personal memories and traditions—feasting on raclette or goulash, sipping sparkling wine, watching the annual broadcast of “Dinner for One,” and gathering outdoors to admire fireworks and enjoy a midnight waltz. Discover the heartfelt stories and cherished rituals that define an Austrian New Year (German: "Silvester"), connecting past and present, family and friends, as the old year gracefully gives way to the new. __________ Thank you to our interviewees who made this video possible: Max, Leandra, Johanna, Christian, Philipp, Constanze, Kara, Mel, Lilly, Adrienne, Xavier, Bernhard, and Julia!
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S4 · E11Dec 17, 2024 · 43 minJudith Eiblmayr | Elizabeth Scheu-Close: An Architect's Life from Vienna to Minnesota
In this episode, we are joined by Judith Eiblmayr, a distinguished Austrian architect and insightful writer on the history and evolution of architecture. Our conversation highlights the extraordinary life and legacy of Elizabeth Scheu-Close, a trailblazing Austrian-American architect. Born in 1912 Vienna, Elizabeth—often known as Lisl—was exposed to some of the most influential thinkers and creatives of her time, inspiring her early passion for architecture. Despite the challenges of entering a field largely dominated by men, she pursued her dream with determination. Her journey led her to the United States, where she earned a degree from MIT in Boston and later established herself professionally in Philadelphia. In 1938, she and her husband, Win Close, founded the firm Close and Scheu Architects, through which she contributed to numerous significant projects, including Ferguson Hall at the University of Minnesota. Elizabeth Scheu-Close is celebrated today as one of the most important figures in modern Austrian-American architecture. __________ Find more from our guest, Judith Eiblmayr: https://www.eiblmayr.at/de/ __________ Intro and Outro Music: https://archive.org/details/lp_franz-lehars-the-merry-widow_dorothy-kirsten-robert-rounseville-the-mer __________ Who we are: The Botstiber Institute for Austrian-American Studies (BIAAS) promotes an understanding of the historic relationship between the United States and Austria, including the lands of the former Habsburg empire, by awarding grants and fellowships, organizing lectures and conferences, and publishing the Journal of Austrian-American History. We engage with a broader public audience through digital programming, including videos, podcasts and blog posts. For more information go to https://www.botstiberbiaas.org or follow us on our various social media accounts! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/botstiberinstitute Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/BotstiberBIAAS Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BotstiberBIAAS Auf Wiedersehen! / Until next time!
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S4 · E10Oct 30, 2024 · 1 hrMegan Brandow-Faller | Cižek, Zweybrück, and Lowenfeld: Child Creativity from Austria to America
In this episode of The Botstiber Podcast, host Luke Morgante sits down with Megan Brandow-Faller, a professor of history at the City University of New York - Kingsborough, to discuss her forthcoming book. "Child Creativity in the Visual Arts: From Secessionist Vienna to Postwar America," will trace the origins of Franz Cižek's ideas on child creativity and examines how these ideas migrated across the Atlantic, further developed by educators such as Emmy Zweybrück and Viktor Lowenfeld. Keep an eye out, the book will be published with Bloomsbury Academic in 2025! __________ Intro/Outro Music: https://musopen.org/music/2326-scenes-from-childhood-op-15/
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S4 · E9Sep 20, 2024 · 15 minMerlin: The World Traveller (Part 1)
In this special podcast episode presented by the Botstiber Institute, we hear stories of adventures from the life of Eduard Medinger. As a teenager in 1860s Austria, Eduard was full of eager anticipation to experience the world beyond his home in Central Europe. In part one of two, we are introduced to the young man and his bold plan to reach the distant shores of Yokohama, Japan beginning in the imperial capital, Vienna. What he expects to be a straightforward journey across the continents to Asia, becomes a much different, challenging adventure filled with eccentric characters, new destinations, and 19th century criminals. Stay tuned for part two, coming soon! __________ Eduard Medinger's personal letters and diaries were provided by his great grandson, Gregor Medinger, to make this special possible. Gregor Medinger also provides narration throughout the episode.
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S4 · E8Aug 28, 2024 · 45 minAndrew Behrendt | American Tourism and Change in Interwar Austria
After the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, a newly independent Austria sought fresh business ventures to aid the reconstruction process and its battered economy. In this episode, guest Andrew Behrendt of the Missouri University of Science and Technology joins host Luke Morgante to discuss the emergence of tourism as a salve to Austria's financial woes, and why American tourists were so highly coveted despite their low numbers. Follow along to hear about the ways Austrian tourism promoters propagandized to Americans overseas, how the arrival of tourists affected local culture, and the changing modes in which Austrians and Americans perceived each other during the 1920s and 1930s. __________ If you would like to find more from Andrew Behrendt and his work, click the links below: - Missouri University of Science and Technology Profile - Historical Representation in Video Games
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S4 · E7Aug 5, 2024 · 26 minChapter One of Dietrich W. Botstiber's Autobiography, "Not On The Mayflower" [2007]
This reading comes from Chapter One of Deitrich W. Botstiber's 2007 autobiography, "Not On The Mayflower." Dietrich Botstiber was born in 1912 in Vienna, Austria, during the final years of the Habsburg monarchy when the country flourished with abundant natural resources and high culture. In his memoirs, Botstiber writes about his life in Austria during the first part of the twentieth century, and describes an Austria of great beauty and bounty that, over those years, diminished in size, culture, wealth and prestige, due in large part to the breakup of the Habsburg Dual-Monarchy, the 1938 Anschluss and the ensuing war. Botstiber witnessed the most unsettling times in Austrian history, but in Chapter One he poignantly recounts the innocence of his own youth in 1931 when he was 18. On September 29, 1995, Dietrich Botstiber penned his name to a trust that would be the governing document for the Dietrich W. Botstiber Foundation. In the trust, Botstiber set forth his charitable intentions: to provide scholarships to talented students of good moral character in the fields of science, technology and commerce; to promote an understanding of the historic relationship between the United States and Austria; to support programs that prevent cruelty to animals and human beings; and to reform education systems in the fields of science, technology and commerce. Growing from its roots, today the Botstiber Institute for Austrian-American Studies and Botstiber Institute for Wildlife Fertility Control continue to advance the mission of the Dietrich W. Botstiber Foundation. The full book, "Not On The Mayflower" (2007) can be found here.
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S4 · E6Jun 5, 2024 · 40 minLotte Bailyn w/ Guest Host Gary Cohen | 1930s Vienna, Marie Johoda & Paul Lazarsfeld, and Work-Life Balance
We're thrilled to bring you an engaging conversation between two esteemed guests: Lotte Bailyn and guest host, Gary Cohen. Lotte Bailyn, Professor Emerita at the MIT Sloan School of Management, is a trailblazer in the field of organizational behavior and the daughter of acclaimed Austrian social scientists Marie Jahoda and Paul Lazarsfeld. Her pioneering research on work-life integration and gender equality has had a profound impact on workplaces around the world. Joining her is Gary Cohen, a distinguished professor from the University of Minnesota, renowned for his expertise in modern European history, particularly focusing on Central Europe and the Jewish experience. In this episode, Bailyn shares parts of her remarkable life story, highlighting her deep connections to Austria. From her family's Austrian roots to her academic and professional collaborations, Austria has played a significant role in shaping Bailyn's perspectives and achievements. __________ More from Lotte Bailyn and her work: Lotte Bailyn at MIT Sloan School of Management Lotte Bailyn Books & Publications
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S4 · E5May 21, 2024 · 1 hr 8 minRaymond Jonas | Emperor Maximilian and the Second Mexican Empire
Raymond Jonas is a Botstiber grant recipient and the Jon Bridgman Endowed Professor in History at the University of Washington. In this episode, he discusses the rise and fall of Maximilian I and the Second Mexican Empire. A brief yet impactful period, the story of the Second Mexican Empire connects 19th century Mexico and the United States with European powers of the era and a motivated Habsburg monarch, Maximilian I. Much of the conversation stems from Jonas' recent book, Habsburgs on the Rio Grande: The Rise and Fall of the Second Mexican Empire (2024). More from Raymond Jonas and his work: Raymond Jonas Website Raymond Jonas Publications __________ Intro & Outro Music: Erroll Garner Trio - When Johnny Comes Marching Home (1950)
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S4 · E4May 6, 2024 · 36 minAlexander McCargar | Native America in Habsburg Festival Culture
Today's guest is Yale University graduate and University of Vienna doctoral student, Alexander McCargar! In this episode, he discusses early perceptions and portrayals of Native America in the Habsburg Empire and Austrian society, as well how these first impressions evolved into present-day understanding. McCargar offers a unique approach to historical analysis, blending his backgrounds in stage design, theatre, architecture and more! Find more from Alexander McCargar and his work, below: Alexander McCargar Website Alexander McCargar presenting at "Habsburg Encounters with Native America" __________ Introduction & Outro Music: Josef Suk - Serenade for Strings, Op.6 (1892)
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S4 · E3Mar 14, 2024 · 57 minIf Passports Could Talk #4 | Gerald Lehner
Born in Bad Gastein, nestled in the middle of Austria, Gerald Lehner began a lifelong journey from the alpine peaks of Central Europe, to the high-altitude vistas of the Himalayas, the windswept terrains of Alaska, and countless other places around the world. As an engineer and teacher, Lehner contributed directly to the communities that welcomed him. As a journalist for major news publications like ORF, Profil and Der Spiegel, he supported his hosts by sharing their stories with global audiences, thousands of miles away. Listen in to hear Lehner's most beloved and formative stories from his multi-continental adventures!
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S4 · E2Feb 1, 2024 · 43 minDuncan Bare | American Intelligence Agencies: Origins and Development in 1940s Austria
In this episode we are lucky to hear from recent Botstiber grantee and lecturer at the University of Graz, Duncan Bare. Bare's research has offered a new glimpse into the development of the United States' intelligence agencies, especially the OSS, SSU and CIG, in the context of their 1940s Austrian operations. Listen in to hear the stories of these organizations' early days, the normal people tasked with establishing their presence, and the eventual creation of the CIA! Recorded On: December 15, 2023
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S4 · E1Jan 19, 2024 · 44 minIf Passports Could Talk #3 | Christoph Kapeller
Today's guest is renowned architect Christoph Kapeller. In this episode, he reflects on his journey from southeastern Austria along the border with Slovenia, to busy streets across the United States, and sunny days in the historic Egyptian city of Alexandria. If you enjoyed the episode and would like to hear more from Gerald Steinacher, you can find his work at the following links: Christoph Kapeller Architecture: https://www.ck-architecture.com/ Christoph Kapeller Photography: https://cargocollective.com/ck-imaging __________ If you enjoyed, please like and subscribe to the Botstiber Institute to receive notifications of future podcasts.
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S3 · E13Dec 19, 2023 · 56 minChristmas in Vienna (Full Special)
The Botstiber Institute for Austrian-American Studies presents, Christmas in Vienna. From warm meals in busy Christmas markets, to scary visits from Krampus, and gifts under the Tannenbaum, Austria has a wealth of cultural customs to offer throughout the month of December. In the first-ever Botstiber Christmas special, listen along as ten individuals from across Austria share with us their most cherished memories and traditions of the holiday season. __________ Narrated by: Luke Morgante & Valerie Arapis Edited by: Daniel Fullam A huge thank you to our Austrian guests who shared these memories with us, making the Christmas special possible: Gerald Steinacher, Günter Bischof, Ivett Rita Guntersdorfer, Finja Draxler, Valentina Funes-Rainer, Lena Höllebrand, Lilly Maier, Julia Secklehner, Kathrin Seel, and Christoph Kapeller. __________ Christmas in Vienna Pt.1 | St.Nikolaus, Krampus and the Perchten Christmas in Vienna Pt.2 | Holiday Traditions from the Austrian Alps Christmas in Vienna Pt.3 | Christmas Markets and Holiday Cuisine If you enjoyed, please like and subscribe to the Botstiber Institute to receive notifications of future podcasts.
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S3 · E12Dec 18, 2023 · 17 minChristmas in Vienna Pt.3 | Christmas Markets and Holiday Cuisine
Christmastime evokes memories of distinct sights, sounds and smells. in Austria, few locations embody these memories more than the Christmas markets that spring-up across the country, starting in mid-November. In the following, part three of the Botstiber Institute’s “Christmas in Vienna,” ten Austrians share their experiences from the largest Christmas markets, bustling with visitors in cities like Vienna and Salzburg, down to the smallest markets that seem to blend into the alpine forests surrounding them. In this part, the guests also share their favorite foods of the season, from grandma’s Christmas cookies at-home to Kaiserschmarrn from street vendors. __________ Narrated & Scripted by: Luke Morgante Edited by: Daniel Fullam A huge thank you to our Austrian guests who shared these memories with us, making the Christmas special possible: Gerald Steinacher, Günter Bischof, Ivett Rita Guntersdorfer, Finja Draxler, Valentina Funes-Rainer, Lena Höllebrand, Lilly Maier, Julia Secklehner, Kathrin Seel, and Christoph Kapeller. __________ Christmas in Vienna Pt.1 | St.Nikolaus, Krampus and the Perchten Christmas in Vienna Pt.2 | Holiday Traditions from the Austrian Alps If you enjoyed, please like and subscribe to the Botstiber Institute to receive notifications of future podcasts. The full special will be released soon!