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Vienna Past and Present

Carmen and Stephen

Dive into the depths of Vienna's history with 'Vienna Past and Present'! Join Carmen and Stephen on a journey through the centuries as they unearth lesser-known tales from Vienna's past. From Habsburg jaws to guilded halls, each episode brings to light a new facet of the city's rich tapestry and links it to sites that you can visit in the present day. Whether you're a history buff or a curious listener, 'Vienna Past and Present' has something for everyone. So, pour yourself a Grüner Veltliner and tune in for stories and friendly banter about the world's most livable city.

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  • 22 episodes
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Episodes 22

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  • S1 · E31
    Saturday · 26 min

    Austrians at the North Pole Part 1: Ice, Antonios, and Arctic Misery

    What happens when you set off on an expedition to find an ice-free passage east of Russia, only to discover that the Arctic is, in fact, absolutely full of ice? In this first part of our two-parter, we travel back to 1872 and the Austro-Hungarian North Pole Expedition that would lead to the discovery of Franz Josef Land. Carmen and Stephen delve into the ambitious plans behind the voyage, marvel at the sheer number of Antonios among the crew, and commiserate with the explorers enduring months of darkness, freezing temperatures, and generally miserable conditions. Stephen also tries his hand at a new Viennese expression, because even in the Arctic, there's always time for a bit of Schmäh. And just as things get interesting, we leave you hanging in a proper Hängepartie until next time. For more, check us out on social media at viennapastandpresent or at viennapastandpresent.com. Reach out to us at viennapastandpresent@gmail.com. We love hearing feedback and ideas. Danke!

  • S1 · E30
    September 5 · 23 min

    (Bonus Episode) Vienna's Public Transportation with Paul

    What happens when Stephen takes the day off and Carmen suddenly finds herself interviewing a public transport expert? Well, apparently you call in the next generation! In this special bonus episode, Carmen is joined by her cousin's son Paul, who knows a frankly impressive amount about Vienna's trams, U-Bahn and trains. Together they travel from Vienna's first horse-drawn tram in 1865 through smoky steam trams, the arrival of electricity, the heyday of the tram network, and the mysterious origins of Vienna's U-Bahn. Why does Vienna have a U6 but no U5? What exactly is a U-Strab? Why do some trams have numbers while others still have letters? And can you spot an abandoned U-Bahn station from a moving train? Plus, Carmen discovers that she apparently lives on not one but two pieces of Vienna's public transport history — and Paul gets the chance to prove that he really does know his stuff. A special episode about the trains, trams and U-Bahns that keep Vienna moving, with a special guest who may just be better at this than we are. For more, check us out on social media at viennapastandpresent or at viennapastandpresent.com. Reach out to us at viennapastandpresent@gmail.com. We love hearing feedback and ideas. Danke! LINKS https://wienuncovered.com/geisterbahnhof-lerchenfelder-strasse-in-wien/ https://www.public-transport.at/nummernsystem_strassenbahn_wien.htm https://www.geschichtewiki.wien.gv.at/Schaffner https://www.meinbezirk.at/hernals/c-lokales/erste-pferdetramway-fuehrte-nach-hernals_a873833 https://www.planetizen.com/features/130700-mass-transit-and-manure-new-yorks-lost-era-horse-drawn-streetcars#:~:text=In%20November%201832%2C%20the%20Bowery,Side%20up%20to%20Union%20Square

  • S1 · E29
    July 26 · 26 min

    Vienna Survival Guide, Pt. 2: Summer Edition

    Summer has arrived, which means it's time for the next installment of our Vienna Survival Guide. This time, Carmen walks Stephen through the finer points of surviving everyday Viennese life: why you must always open a window for some fresh air, only to immediately complain "es zieht!" (there's a draft!); our complicated relationship with air conditioning; the unwritten rules of elevator etiquette; and the active participation required whenever someone inevitably shouts, "Zweite Kassa bitte!" at the supermarket. We also dive into the great Viennese tradition of Raunzen—the fine art of complaining—which, strangely enough, is only possible because things generally work so well in the first place. This is livability, baby. For more, check us out on social media at viennapastandpresent or at viennapastandpresent.com. Reach out to us at viennapastandpresent@gmail.com. We love hearing feedback and ideas. Danke!

  • S1 · E28
    June 27 · 43 min

    Zeitgeist: If they don't respond in 20 minutes, they're missing

    It's time for another Zeitgeist episode: a grab bag of Vienna, history, and whatever else managed to distract us this week. We start with an update on everyone's favorite controversial statue: Sexy Karl. After his dramatic encounter with vandals, we ask the important historical questions llike whether the ancient Egyptians had the right idea by completely erasing their least favorite pharaoh from history. Then we return to the ongoing saga of the Nuns of Goldenstein and catch up on the latest twists and turns since our original episode. Along the way, we decide that if someone doesn't respond to a message within 20 minutes, they should probably be reported missing. Finally, we turn our highly qualified and deeply researched attention toward Eurovision and the World Cup, proving once again that confidence is not the same thing as expertise. For more, check us out on social media at viennapastandpresent (viennapastandpres on Instagram) or at viennapastandpresent.com. Reach out to us at viennapastandpresent@gmail.com. We love hearing feedback and ideas. Danke! LINKS Dunkelkammer podcast: https://dunkelkammer.simplecast.com/episodes/213-drei-nonnen-klagen-an-unsere-menschenrechte-werden-mit-fuen-getreten

  • S1 · E27
    May 31 · 33 min

    Red Vienna (Part 2): Millimetternich Strikes Back

    In the second part of our Red Vienna series, the grand experiment collides with political reality. We follow the rise of Engelbert Dollfuß, the emergence of Austrofascism, and the escalating tensions that culminated in the Austrian Civil War of 1934. Along the way, Karl-Marx-Hof goes from model housing project to battlefield, and Vienna's socialist dream comes to a dramatic end. Of course, we can't leave Red Vienna behind without reflecting on its lasting legacy, debating proper laundromat etiquette, and agreeing that "Millimetternich" might be one of the greatest political nicknames ever coined. Join us as we explore how a conflict that lasted only a few days helped shape Austria for decades to come. For more, check us out on social media at viennapastandpresent (viennapastandpres on Instagram) or at viennapastandpresent.com. Reach out to us at viennapastandpresent@gmail.com. We love hearing feedback and ideas. Danke! LINKS Exhibit at Karl-Marx-Hof: https://dasrotewien-waschsalon.at/sonderausstellung/auch-fuer-nichtschwimmer City website with overview of Gemeindebau:https://www.wien.gv.at/kultur/kulturgut-gemeindebauten https://www.ooegeschichte.at/archiv/themen/wir-oberoesterreicher/buergerkrieg-in-oberoesterreich https://www.geschichtewiki.wien.gv.at/Republikanischer_Schutzbund https://www.geschichtewiki.wien.gv.at/Heimwehr https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/July_Revolt_of_1927 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engelbert_Dollfuss

  • April 24 · 31 min

    Red Vienna (Part 1): Socialism, but Make It Viennese

    What happens when a city decides to reinvent everyday life from the ground up? In this episode, we dive into Red Vienna—an ambitious socialist experiment that transformed the city in the 1920s with massive housing projects, public baths, and a bold vision of "luxury for everyone." From the monumental Karl-Marx-Hof to the world of communal laundries, we explore how Vienna tried to build a better society, one apartment block at a time. Along the way, we (once again) fulfill listener demand for more washbasin and washing machine facts -- because apparently that's what the people want. And just when things take a dramatic turn in 1933, we leave you with a cliffhanger… of a cliffhanger. For more, check us out on social media at viennapastandpresent (viennapastandpres on Instagra) or at viennapastandpresent.com. Reach out to us at viennapastandpresent@gmail.com. We love hearing feedback and ideas. Danke!

  • February 15 · 41 min

    Vienna Survival Guide: Lüften, Sundays, and a Bucket of Water

    Thinking of moving to Vienna? Already here but still confused? In this grab-bag episode, we present your unofficial Vienna Survival Guide—covering the less-obvious, entirely unwritten rules that no one explains until you've already broken them. From mastering the sacred art of lüften to emotionally preparing yourself for shops being closed on Sundays (yes, all of them), we've got you covered. We also unpack the delicate science of tipping culture, the deeply ritualized world of Viennese coffeehouses, and the shocking news that Vienna recently received a top friendliness ranking—a development that has left us… skeptical. Whether you're new in town or just trying to avoid another passive-aggressive note in your building hallway, this episode is your crash course in surviving—and maybe even thriving—in Vienna. For more, check us out on social media at viennapastandpresent or at viennapastandpresent.com. Reach out to us at viennapastandpresent@gmail.com. We love hearing feedback and ideas. Danke!

  • S1 · E23
    Dec 14, 2025 · 28 min

    The Florentine Diamond: Lost, Found, and Packed in Cardboard

    The Florentine Diamond is one of Europe's most famous missing jewels—or at least, it was. In this episode, we trace the extraordinary journey of a 137-carat diamond from Renaissance Florence and the Medici dynasty to the Habsburgs, the collapse of empire, and a century-long disappearance that turns out not to have been a disappearance at all. Along the way, we meet Empress Zita, who doesn't just have one of the best Habsburg names, but also ran one of the tightest ships in imperial history—successfully keeping a world-class secret for over 100 years. Carmen and Stephen also question the wisdom of transporting priceless crown jewels across the Atlantic in a cardboard suitcase, and are scandalized at the purported price of the diamond. For more, check us out on social media at viennapastandpresent or at viennapastandpresent.com. Reach out to us at viennapastandpresent@gmail.com. We love hearing feedback and ideas. Danke!

  • S1 · E22
    Nov 13, 2025 · 15 min

    Zeitgeist: Runaway Nuns!

    If you saw some nuns escaping a retirement home to return to their former castle, what would you do? If you're at all unsure, you should hear the story of the nuns of Castle Goldenstein, the recent *darlings* of Austrian and international news. With low-speed car chases, hugging police officers, Stephen's stuffy sick voice, and social media stardom -- this episode really has it all. And the youngest nun is 81! Feel lazy yet? Yes... we do, too. Follow their instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nonnen_goldenstein/ For more, check us out on social media at viennapastandpresent or at viennapastandpresent.com. Reach out to us at viennapastandpresent@gmail.com. We love hearing feedback and ideas. Danke!

  • S1 · E21
    Oct 28, 2025 · 29 min

    The Habsburg Vampire Panic: When Maria Theresia Took on the Undead

    In our first Halloween episode, we sink our teeth into the true story of the vampire panic that swept through the Habsburg borderlands during the Age of Enlightenment—because nothing says "reason and progress" like mass fear of the undead. It all begins in 18th-century Serbia, where a shoeless peasant was said to have crawled out of his grave to reclaim his footwear… and maybe a little blood. From there, the hysteria spread across the empire, reaching even the court of Empress Maria Theresia herself. Her response? A vampire decree based on reports by her Dutch physician, Gerard van Swieten—the very man who would later inspire Bram Stoker's legendary vampire hunter, Professor Van Helsing. Join us as we trace how the Enlightenment tried (and mostly succeeded) to drive a stake through superstition—and how bats somehow ended up taking the blame. For more, check us out on social media at viennapastandpresent or at viennapastandpresent.com. Reach out to us at viennapastandpresent@gmail.com. We love hearing feedback and ideas. Danke! LINKS Klenk+Reiter podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/74Ib9NB1WM4KdImJBWaiHD?si=14d7e9ebf36f4258 Arnold Paole - Wikipedia Petar Blagojević - Wikipedia The Theological and Esoteric Debate on the Existence of Vampires (17th–19th centuries). 2. An Epidemic of Vampirism in the Austro-Hungarian Empire https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerard_van_Swieten https://www.onb.ac.at/mehr/blogs/untot-seit-dem-18-jahrhundert-der-erste-vampirhype https://anno.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/anno?aid=wrz&datum=17250721&seite=11&zoom=33 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1369848612000313 https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250630-serbian-village-stakes-claim-to-the-first-vampire https://www.br.de/radio/bayern2/sendungen/kalenderblatt/maria-theresia-verkuendet-den-vampir-erlass-100.html https://www.thegreatprojects.com/blog/bats-associated-with-vampires

  • S1 · E20
    Sep 30, 2025 · 32 min

    Felix Baumgartner: Living on the Edge

    This week, we're freefalling into the story of Felix Baumgartner, Austria's very own daredevil skydiver who leapt from the stratosphere (literally). Along the way, Stephen valiantly attempts some German words with mixed results, Carmen learns a few things she probably should have already known, and together they try—and mostly fail—to understand what drives someone to jump out of perfectly good aircraft for fun. Is it bravery, madness, or just another day in the life of a man who redefined "living on the edge"? Join us as we parachute straight into the world of Felix Baumgartner. For more, check us out on social media at viennapastandpresent or at viennapastandpresent.com. Reach out to us at viennapastandpresent@gmail.com. We love hearing feedback and ideas. Danke! LINKS Felix Baumgartner - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia https://www.derstandard.at/story/3000000280012/felix-baumgartner-obduktion-soll-todesursache-klaeren https://www.derstandard.at/story/3000000279972/felix-baumgartner-ein-teufelskerl-mit-eigenem-kopf https://www.redbull.com/int-en/felix-baumgartner-in-numbers https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BASE_jumping https://felixbaumgartner.com/base-jumper/ https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2012/oct/16/felix-baumgartner-from-the-vault https://www.redbull.com/int-en/red-bull-stratos-contribution-to-science https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/records/hall-of-fame/felix-baumgartner-first-person-to-break-sound-barrier-in-freefall

  • S1 · E20
    Aug 13, 2025 · 37 min

    Wilhelm Reich: The Prophet of the Better Orgasm

    In this episode, we uncover the strange and fascinating life of Wilhelm Reich, a once-promising Vienna-trained psychoanalyst whose career took a sharp turn into uncharted territory. From a scandalous youth and mentorship under Freud to his unorthodox theories on "orgastic potency," Reich's ideas often teetered between groundbreaking and eyebrow-raising. We follow him across the Atlantic, where he invented the Orgone Accumulator (a.k.a. the cosmic orgasm box), clashed with the FDA, tried to win over Einstein, and even claimed to battle UFOs in the Arizona desert. Visionary, eccentric, or both? Either way, his story is a wild ride through sex, pseudoscience, and space energy. For more, check us out on social media at viennapastandpresent or at viennapastandpresent.com. Reach out to us at viennapastandpresent@gmail.com. We love hearing feedback and ideas. Danke! LINKS https://www.nytimes.com/1971/01/04/archives/back-into-the-old-orgone-box.html https://projectmailer.net/pm/The_Mailer_Review/Volume_10,_2016/Mailer%E2%80%99s_Use_of_Wilhelm_Reich https://www.meduniwien.ac.at/web/en/about-us/history/ https://www.wilhelmreich.at/wp-content/uploads/Hebenstreit_Diplomarbeitsauszug-2.pdf https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orgone https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilhelm_Reich https://www.scribd.com/document/409496302/brady-the-strange-case-of-wilhelm-reich-pdf https://oe1.orf.at/artikel/328444/Film-Der-Fall-Wilhelm-Reich https://www.lennygibson.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Reich-review.pdf Movie about Reich (Apple+): https://tv.apple.com/at/movie/the-strange-case-of-wilhelm-reich/umc.cmc.4d5kpivmlampf1bsyguxnu6my?l=en NYTimes article : https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1957/12/07/87342935.html?pageNumber=20

  • S1 · E19
    Jul 19, 2025 · 35 min

    Gänsehäufel - Vienna's beloved goose pile

    This week, we're headed to the seaside! Or at least, as close as Vienna gets— we're talking about the Gänsehäufel, the beloved island in the Danube that's been offering sun, swims, and skin (lots of it) for over a century. We dig into the evolution of this uniquely Viennese summer escape: from its early days as a kind of naturist commune founded by Florian Berndl, to a city-led takeover (with a surprise return of good old Sexy Karl), to its glory days in Red Vienna and post-war nudist boom. We also reminisce about our experiences with Japanese baths and KOA—yes, Kampsites of America. Why the K? And how do you pronounce it? Sunburns, socialism, and public nudity—it's all here. For more, check us out on social media at viennapastandpresent or at viennapastandpresent.com. Reach out to us at viennapastandpresent@gmail.com . We love hearing feedback and ideas. Danke! LINKS https://www.filmarchiv.at/de/filmarchiv-on/video/f_030HDAllma6h1gTTStWtQ0 https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%A4nseh%C3%A4ufel https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florian_Berndl https://www.geschichtewiki.wien.gv.at/G%C3%A4nseh%C3%A4ufel https://www.falter.at/zeitung/20210831/ums-nackte-ueberleben https://geschichtsgreisslerei.at/gaensehaeufel/ https://www.derstandard.at/story/2000061895606/kabane-und-liebe-sommerresidenz-im-gaensehaeufel https://www.wien.gv.at/freizeit/baeder/uebersicht/sommerbaeder/gaensehaeufel.html https://www.travelportland.com/culture/sauvie-island/

  • S1 · E18
    May 31, 2025 · 29 min

    Zeitgeist: 12 Points to Austria!

    Try as we might to talk about literally anything else, Eurovision keeps pulling us back in. Are we closet fans? Maybe. Probably. OK, fine—yes. In this Zeitgeist episode, we set out to cover a range of current topics... but then Austria won Eurovision again, and suddenly we're back, clumsily covering a topic we know little about. But we do know that JJ has officially captured our hearts. Stephen watches the winning entry live on air and—shockingly—realizes he might actually enjoy the whole dramatic spectacle. Resistance was futile. For more, check us out on social media at viennapastandpresent or at viennapastandpresent.com. Reach out to us at viennapastandpresent@gmail.com. We love hearing feedback and ideas. Danke! LINKS https://dietagespresse.com/damit-oesterreich-teuren-esc-2026-nicht-ausrichten-muss-marterbauer-ruft-3-000-mal-fuer-schweden-an/ Wasted Love, Austrian Eurovision entry: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coGaxAWtp58 https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/15/arts/music/eurovision-how-to-win.html?unlocked_article_code=1.JE8.MzUg.jbIOX3S6CkWM&smid=url-share 'It's going to be expensive': Austria frets about price tag of hosting Eurovision 'There is anxiety' - RTE 'fears' winning Eurovison & facing huge staging costs, claims Ireland's first winner Dana | The Irish Sun JJ & Conchita Mashup: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaTvgfopHkU

  • S1 · E17
    May 4, 2025 · 26 min

    Weighing In: Vienna's Street Scales

    This week, we step onto one of Vienna's most curious bits of street furniture: the humble street scale. Scattered across the city in over 150 locations, these coin-operated relics have no real reason to still exist—yet somehow, they do. We dig into their surprisingly rich history, from imperial times to today's random encounters with your own body weight on the sidewalk. Along the way, Stephen and Carmen have a small (but passionate) spat about the proper unit of weight (spoiler: it's kilos), and we can't help but wonder just how much Emperor Franz Josef's muttonchops might have tipped the scale. For more, check us out on social media at viennapastandpresent or at viennapastandpresent.com. Reach out to us at viennapastandpresent@gmail.com. We love hearing feedback and ideas. Danke! LINKS https://wien.orf.at/stories/3301198/ https://www.numismatikforum.de/viewtopic.php?t=20435 https://www.derstandard.at/story/1231152644414/stadtteil-poppscher-kampf-gegen-die-fadesse https://www.derstandard.at/story/2000124660026/ewige-schwergewichte-die-oeffentlichen-personenwaagen-in-wien

  • S1 · E16
    Apr 6, 2025 · 33 min

    Arnold: American Attitude and Austrian Schmäh

    In this episode, we're talking all things Arnold. After watching the Netflix documentary Arnold, we came away with a new-found respect for the man who went from a small town to global superstardom. But we don't stop there—we dig into a few stories the doc left out, discuss what makes Arnold such a uniquely Austrian export, and explore the concept of Schmäh (that special Viennese blend of charm and cheek) and how Arnie's got it in spades. Plus, Carmen and Stephen briefly revive an old dispute about the existence of smoothies in Europe. Come for the bodybuilding, stay for the schmäh. For more, check us out on social media at viennapastandpresent or at viennapastandpresent.com. Reach out to us at viennapastandpresent@gmail.com. We love hearing feedback and ideas. Danke! LINKS https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley_Williams https://www.derstandard.at/story/2276076/schwarzenegger-stadion-duerfte-umbenannt-werden https://www.klippmagazin.at/spots-1/arnie-und-sein-stadion https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merkur_Arena_(Graz)#Kontroverse_um_den_Stadionnamen;_Namens%C3%A4nderung https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/After_Dark_(magazine) Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6516300

  • S1 · E15
    Mar 6, 2025 · 29 min

    Vienna's Snow Palace: Soap, Sawdust, and a Ski Jump

    Long before Dubai put ski slopes in the desert, Vienna had its own indoor skiing dream: the Schneepalast (Snow Palace). Opened in 1927 as the world's first permanent hall for year-round skiing, it was the brainchild of Dagfinn Carlsen—a man who clearly thought no idea was too ambitious. With two ski slopes, a toboggan run, and even a ski jump, Carlsen envisioned competitions, lessons, and endless winter fun... all under one roof. The only problem? The "snow substitute" was a slippery mix of soap and sawdust that behaved nothing like actual snow. Unsurprisingly, things went downhill fast. Oh, and did we mention there's also an assassination attempt in this story? Join us for a deep dive into one of Vienna's strangest and most forgotten experiments in winter sports history. For more, check us out on social media at viennapastandpresent or at viennapastandpresent.com. Reach out to us at viennapastandpresent@gmail.com. We love hearing feedback and ideas. Danke! Links https://magazin.wienmuseum.at/der-schneepalast-1927 https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dagfin_Carlsen https://www.geschichtewiki.wien.gv.at/Nordwestbahnhof https://finanzbildung.oenb.at/docroot/waehrungsrechner/#/

  • S1 · E14
    Feb 13, 2025 · 29 min

    Zeitgeist: Sausage stands and Football

    In this Zeitgeist episode, we're sticking our heads in the sand and focusing on the real hard-hitting topics: sausage stands and football. It's the zeitgeist we want to be living in. We explore the Würstelstand as a cornerstone of Viennese cultural heritage, and Stephen quizzes Carmen on Viennese expressions—only to question her credentials when she doesn't quite pass the test (but at least she's impressed by his pronunciation). Then, we shift gears to American football and why it's suddenly gaining traction in Austria. Sausage, slang, and sports—what more could you ask for? For more, check us out on social media at viennapastandpresent or at viennapastandpresent.com. Reach out to us at viennapastandpresent@gmail.com. We love hearing feedback and ideas. Danke! Links https://www.patriots.com/news/austrian-football-association-announces-partnership-with-the-new-england-patriots https://viennavikings.com/wordpress/2022/09/american-sports-studie-football-immer-popularer-jeder-2-osterreicher-kennt-vikings/ https://www.derstandard.at/story/3000000235661/football-214sterreich-ist-europas-f252hrende-kraft-rund-ums-laberl https://viennavikings.com/ https://apnews.com/video/vienna-united-kingdom-unesco-food-and-drink-4627d1ebef3d4341b651a3017830cfc7 Vienna's much-loved Würstelstand gets UNESCO recognition | Euronews Celebrations around the big event - The best Super Bowl parties - from free to deluxe - Vienna | Heute.at Super Bowl Parties 2025 - the coolest in Vienna and all of Austria https://www.stadt-wien.at/veranstaltungen/sportevents/superbowl.html#google_vignette

  • S1 · E13
    Jan 30, 2025 · 32 min

    Vienna: The Spy Capital of the World

    Why is Vienna considered the ultimate playground for spies? We start with the Habsburgs' surprising innovations in spycraft and how Metternich made "the walls listen" with his sophisticated network of informants. From there, we uncover how the city evolved into the espionage capital of the world, from its Cold War heyday to modern cloak-and-dagger operations. And for those with espionage aspirations, we wrap up with some tips and tricks—just in case you're looking to trade in your day job for a double life. For more, check us out on social media at viennapastandpresent or at viennapastandpresent.com. Reach out to us at viennapastandpresent@gmail.com. We love hearing feedback and ideas. Danke! Links https://unipub.uni-graz.at/obvugrhs/content/titleinfo/213364/full.pdf https://greydynamics.com/vienna-a-city-of-spies-a-history-of-espionage/ https://www.thecipherbrief.com/book-review/viennas-history-of-espionage https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austria_and_Russian_intelligence https://secretvienna.org/the-city-of-spies-about-viennas-history-of-espionage/ https://www.bmi.gv.at/104/Wissenschaft_und_Forschung/SIAK-Journal/SIAK-Journal-Ausgaben/Jahrgang_2007/files/Beer_3_2007.pdf https://www.derpragmaticus.com/r/spionage#:~:text=Spionage%20und%20ihre%20Technologien&text=Die%20Spionage%20richtete%20sich%20als,ge%C3%B6ffnet%20und%20wieder%20verschlossen%20wurden. https://www.bbc.com/news/10564994 https://www.wienmalanders.at/blog/unterwelt-wien

  • S1 · E12
    Dec 28, 2024 · 43 min

    Zeitgeist Episode: Christkind, Krampus, and Christmas Around the World

    In this Zeitgeist episode, we're feeling festive as we dive into holiday traditions from around the world. Carmen and Stephen compare the Christkind to Santa Claus and explore the wild world of St. Nicholas and Krampus—because what's Christmas without a satanic helper? But we don't stop at Austria and the U.S.; there's a delightful sidebar about how Christmas is celebrated in Japan, from fried chicken to commitment to kitsch. Whether you're team Christkind, Santa, or Colonel Sanders, this episode has something for everyone who loves a good holiday tradition. For more, check us out on social media at viennapastandpresent or at viennapastandpresent.com. Reach out to us at viennapastandpresent@gmail.com. We love hearing feedback and ideas. Danke!

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