Avsnitt
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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 [email protected]. 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 -
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 [email protected]. 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-gemeindebautenhttps://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
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Saknas det avsnitt?
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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 [email protected]. We love hearing feedback and ideas. Danke!
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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 [email protected]. We love hearing feedback and ideas. Danke!
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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 [email protected]. We love hearing feedback and ideas. Danke!
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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 [email protected]. We love hearing feedback and ideas. Danke!
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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 [email protected]. 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
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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 [email protected]. 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
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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 [email protected]. We love hearing feedback and ideas. Danke!
LINKS
https://www.nytimes.com/1971/01/04/archives/back-into-the-old-orgone-box.htmlhttps://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
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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 [email protected] . 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/
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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 [email protected]. 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
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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 [email protected]. 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
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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 [email protected]. 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
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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 [email protected]. 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/#/
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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 [email protected]. 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
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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 [email protected]. 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
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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 [email protected]. We love hearing feedback and ideas. Danke!
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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 Haider's life itself.
For more, check us out on social media at viennapastandpresent or at viennapastandpresent.com. Reach out to us at [email protected]. We love hearing feedback and ideas. Danke!
Links
https://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/jorg-haiders-fatale-erbschaft-7060375.html
https://time.com/archive/6944641/joerg-haiders-troubled-legacy/
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/J%C3%B6rg_Haider
The FPÖ of Jörg Haider - Populist or Extreme Right-Winger? (archive.org)
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2000/feb/04/austria.ianblack
https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/der-lange-schatten-100.html
https://www.dermaerz.at/kaernten-ein-politischer-sonderfall-in-oesterreich-2/
https://www.diepresse.com/layout/diepresse/files/dossiers/hypo/index.html
Jorg Haider successor tells of their 'relationship' (telegraph.co.uk)
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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 room—the U.S. election—we also admit to sticking our heads (or feet, in Carmen's case, who was literally on the beach) in the sand. So grab yourself a glühwein and tune in for some casual conversation and hot takes.
For more, check us out on social media at viennapastandpresent or at viennapastandpresent.com. Reach out to us at [email protected]. We love hearing feedback and ideas. Danke!
Detroit Lions make it on ORF: https://sport.orf.at/stories/3134174/
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vier-Prozent-H%C3%BCrde_(%C3%96sterreich)
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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 political landscape—and how we got to where we are today.
For more, check us out on social media at viennapastandpresent or at viennapastandpresent.com. Reach out to us at [email protected]. We love hearing feedback and ideas. Danke!
Links
https://www.derstandard.at/story/2000122364439/ein-blick-auf-den-zauber-des-joerg-haider
https://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/jorg-haiders-fatale-erbschaft-7060375.html
https://time.com/archive/6944641/joerg-haiders-troubled-legacy/
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/J%C3%B6rg_Haider
The FPÖ of Jörg Haider - Populist or Extreme Right-Winger? (archive.org)
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2000/feb/04/austria.ianblack
Jörg Haider Interview from the 80s: https://youtu.be/gfFKCx6IY3Q?si=rale3TFtzpZH_-tX
Oe24 Haider documentary: https://youtu.be/--T7O6gurwQ?si=9cAMlbJCI8-ulQtP
ORF Haider documentary: https://youtu.be/zyieK8ZSID8?si=FgYWHTWxOfbP3T2G
- Visa fler
