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PODCAST

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

history places & travel

All Episodes

29:28

The Habsburg Vampire Panic: When Maria Theresia Took...

Vienna Past and Present ·

2025/10/28

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

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32:13

Felix Baumgartner: Living on the Edge

Vienna Past and Present ·

2025/09/30

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

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37:33

Wilhelm Reich: The Prophet of the Better Orgasm

Vienna Past and Present ·

2025/08/13

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

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35:06

Gänsehäufel - Vienna’s beloved goose pile

Vienna Past and Present ·

2025/07/19

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

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29:21

Zeitgeist: 12 Points to Austria!

Vienna Past and Present ·

2025/05/31

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

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26:41

Weighing In: Vienna’s Street Scales

Vienna Past and Present ·

2025/05/04

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

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33:02

Arnold: American Attitude and Austrian Schmäh

Vienna Past and Present ·

2025/04/06

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

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29:52

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

Vienna Past and Present ·

2025/03/06

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

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29:41

Zeitgeist: Sausage stands and Football

Vienna Past and Present ·

2025/02/13

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

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32:42

Vienna: The Spy Capital of the World

Vienna Past and Present ·

2025/01/30

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

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43:50

Zeitgeist Episode: Christkind, Krampus, and Christmas...

Vienna Past and Present ·

2024/12/28

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

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30:01

Jörg Haider Part 2

Vienna Past and Present ·

2024/12/12

In the second and final part of our deep dive into Jörg Haider, we explore his fall from grace and untimely death. Along the way, we consider whether Carinthia might just be the Texas of Austria, discuss the correct pronunciation of Phaeton, and dissect the many rumors that swirled around his tragic end. We also examine Haider’s lasting legacy, unpacking the cult of personality that mythologizes his life while conveniently overlooking his corruption and greed. It’s a roller-coaster episode—much like

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41:42

Zeitgeist Episode: Government and Glühwein

Vienna Past and Present ·

2024/11/28

In our second Zeitgeist episode, we’re diving into what’s happening in the world—and in our lives—right now. We break down how Austrian elections work and the latest on coalition talks, before taking a detour to discuss why on Earth the Detroit Lions have made the Austrian news. Responding to a listener email from Joanna, Carmen shares a review of the Christmas markets she’s already visited (impressive, considering they’ve only been open a week!). And while we do talk about the elephant in the

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22:18

Jörg Haider and the Rise of the FPÖ

Vienna Past and Present ·

2024/10/31

This week, we dive into the rise of Austria’s far-right FPÖ party and its controversial leader, Jörg Haider, whose meteoric ascent left a lasting mark on Austrian politics. As we explore the twists and turns of Austrian politics and Haider’s influence, Stephen’s dog Bo voices his disapproval loudly in the background. We also take some classic Viennese detours, including the city's obsession with academic titles and Carinthia’s infamous road sign debates. Join us for a revealing look at Austria's

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22:12

Vienna's Skyline: Inspired by an Assassin

Vienna Past and Present ·

2024/10/10

What does an assassination attempt have to do with the height of Vienna's City Hall? More than you’d expect. In this episode, we uncover the strange connection between political violence and architecture, with a surprise appearance from Mexico along the way. Stephen and Carmen agree that, when it comes to underground enclosures, they'd much rather explore a wine cellar than a crypt filled with skulls and bones. And despite what you may think, it turns out the Viennese love bending the rules. Get a

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38:10

Zeitgeist 1: Summer Break

Vienna Past and Present ·

2024/09/11

Welcome to our first-ever Zeitgeist episode, where we chat about what's happening in Vienna, the world, and in our lives right now. This week, we're tackling everything from single-use plastics and Cybertrucks to the terrorist threat that forced Taylor Swift to cancel her Vienna shows. Plus, we attempt to introduce the German word Sommerloch to the American lexicon—because let’s face it, the English translation just doesn’t cut it. Join us for a lively, casual conversation about the headlines, our

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19:35

Colonial Empire, Habsburg-style

Vienna Past and Present ·

2024/08/02

What do Mozambique, Tianjin, and the Nicobar islands have in common? Very little! Except that they were all sites of the Habsburgs' clumsy attempts at an overseas empire. In this episode, we dive into three little-known and ill-fated colonial ventures that saw the Habsburgs trying their hand at global expansion with less than stellar results. And while the lasting impacts of these colonies are near non-existent, you can see some in one of these places – if you squint. For more, check us out on

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26:05

The Habsburg Code: AEIOU

Vienna Past and Present ·

2024/07/04

The letters "AEIOU" can be found scattered throughout Vienna, etched in stone, engraved on buildings, and inscribed in art. But what do they mean? In this episode, we unravel the mystery behind these enigmatic letters that have puzzled historians and locals alike for centuries. These seemingly simple vowels are linked to grand ambitions of world domination and the Habsburgs' intricate political strategies. Join us as we explore the fascinating history and myriad interpretations of "AEIOU", from the

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24:27

Conchita Wurst: 10 years later

Vienna Past and Present ·

2024/06/18

Ten years ago, Conchita Wurst took the Eurovision stage by storm, redefining glamour and shattering boundaries. Join us as Carmen pretends to be a Eurovision aficionado while Stephen rolls his eyes. Together, they reminisce about the hotel in Istanbul they stayed at during Conchita's win, and how much it smelled like cat. And that's not all: get ready to do your morning workouts with Conchita! Yes, you read that right. Tune in to find out how you can sweat it out with one of Eurovision's most iconic

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25:18

Loo and Behold: Vienna's Public Toilets

Vienna Past and Present ·

2024/05/28

Before Vienna had public toilets, masked figures roamed the streets with poop buckets. Yes, you heard that right. It wasn't until the 1880s that the city saw its first public toilet, a milestone met with both relief and controversy. The church, ever vigilant, worried these new facilities would become dens of sin. And let's not forget Stephen, who shares his shameful yet hilarious experience with us. So, how did Vienna go from poop buckets to modern public conveniences? Join us as we dive into the

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22 results

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