Prague Times

TOUR - Prague Haunts 1

Prague is reputedly the most haunted city in Europe. Yet it’s not very big, really. So it should not be surprising that there are some areas and streets in town that are heavy with the ghost action.

This is a tour episode designed for you to take yourself to several haunted spots in Prague's Hradčany and Malá Strana districts. You can follow along as you go or listen and take notes to bring with you.

• See a video version on our YouTube channel.

SECTIONS

01:41 - Hradčany - start at U Černého vola, go to Loretánské náměstí

01:56 - Černínský palác - Contract from beyond the grave

04:42 - Bread shoes

07:21 - Dům U Drahomířina sloupu & Drahomira's Column

10:17 - Evil echoes through history

11:22 - The Loreto

12:42 - Origin of the bells

13:50 - The sorrowful widow

15:16 - The song of the bells

16:14 - Inside the Loreto, St. Wilgefortis - the bearded lady

17:29 - Walk to Úvoz

18:07 - The headless monk

19:08 - Walk to Nerudova

19:58 - The headless Swede

21:39 - Statues of Moors at Morzinský palác

22:29 - The devil child at Fragnerova lékárna U Černého orla

23:42 - The white lady of the Lichtenstein Palace

24:39 - Beer break: Malostranská beseda 

25:32 - The skeleton with a nail in its head

27:38 - The obese merchant at Waldštejnská hospoda

30:20 - Ruprecht the bugler

31:15 - Walk to Karmelitská, the Church of Our Lady Victorious and The Infant Jesus of Prague

31:54 - Ghost with a nail in its tongue

34:05 - Grammar snob ghost

34:41 - Walk to Na Prádle and the Church of John the Baptist in the Laundry

35:37 - The miserly widow, the priest & his two goats

37:28 - The headless horse

38:37 - Optional: Pagan grove on Petřín Hill

39:09 - Walk down Újezd, past the Memorial to the Victims of Communism 

39:48 - The Nightmare Horror Bar

• Music by Fanette Ronjat

More Info:

• Interactive Ghost Map of Prague

For events in Prague, go to the Facebook page The Prague Haps 

Follow us on social for extras:

• Facebook

DONATE HERE

Other Podcasts by Derek DeWitt

• DIGITAL SIGNAGE DONE RIGHT - Winner of the 2021 AVA Gold Award for Best Podcast Series and the 2020 Communicator Award of Excellence for Podcasts Series-Corporate Communications and on numerous top 10 podcast lists. 

HERE - The Long & Short of Prague (Superlatives 1)

Prague tops a lot of lists because, well, it's a super place! So why not look at some super superlatives in the city? In this episode, we look at some of the longest and shortest things in Prague.

• See a video version on our YouTube channel.

SECTIONS

01:39 - Prague ranks high on lots of lists

02:54 - Bridges

07:21 - Public transportation - escalator, distance btwn. stations/stops, routes

10:38 - Tunnels

15:52 - Block building

16:40 - A brief history of paneláks

20:57 - Square (inc. a brief history of Václavák)

25:49 - Streets

33:39 - Streams

• Music by Fanette Ronjat

Mentioned in this episode: 

• THERE - 6 More UNESCO Sites

For events in Prague, go to the Facebook page The Prague Haps 

Follow us on social for extras:

• Facebook

DONATE HERE

Other Podcasts by Derek DeWitt

• DIGITAL SIGNAGE DONE RIGHT - Winner of the 2021 AVA Gold Award for Best Podcast Series and the 2020 Communicator Award of Excellence for Podcasts Series-Corporate Communications and on numerous top 10 podcast lists. 

NOW - Re-use, Recycle, Upcycle

Guest: Matouš Pinkava, CEO of nevyhazujto.cz, reuseto.cz & goodooga.cz

The Czech Republic is focused on sustainability and Prague is very much onboard with that. Many initiatives and projects are happening or are in the works, and the future for the city looks pretty green. I talk with Matouš Pinkava, who heads a few such projects in town, about recycling, upcycling, re-use, wishcycling, downcycling and more.

See a video version on our YouTube channel.

Like what we do? Then buy us a beer or three via our Buy Me a Coffee page!

SECTIONS

1:31 - Don't throw it away - nevyhazujto.cz, reuseto.cz

05:14 - An easy app, cities get involved

08:09 - Re-use points in Prague give things a second life

14:25 - Circular economy projects in Prague

22:27 - Re-use is the future, Czechs recycle, wishcycling

24:42 - Upcycling, downcycling, supply & demand

26:50 - Goodooga.cz - business get on board with waste prevention and re-use

30:09 - A long way to go but positive change is in the air

• Music by Fanette Ronjat

More Info:

• Nevyhazujto.cz

For events in Prague, go to the Facebook page The Prague Haps 

Follow us on social for extras:

• Facebook

Other Podcasts by Derek DeWitt

• DIGITAL SIGNAGE DONE RIGHT - Winner of the 2021 AVA Gold Award for Best Podcast Series and the 2020 Communicator Award of Excellence for Podcasts Series-Corporate Communications and on numerous top 10 podcast lists. 

GLUG - In Czecho Veritas (Czech wine country & culture)

See a video version on our YouTube channel.

Sure, this country is known for beer, but there's also a thriving wine industry here as well. We'll dive into the history, regions, types and celebrations of Czech viticulture culture.

Like what we do? Then buy us a beer or three via our Buy Me a Coffee page!

SECTIONS

01:40 - History of Wine in the Czech Lands

06:39 - Wine Regions

07:07 - Bohemia (Mělník, Litoměřice)

09:34 - Moravia (Slovácko, Velké Pavlovice, Znojmo, Mikulov)

15:01 - Grape varieties

15:38 - White wine grapes

20:18 - Red wine grapes

24:01 - Vinobraní & burčák (plus part of the winemaking process)

29:37 - More of the winemaking process, Sudové víno (cask wine)

31:36 - Vinotéka vs. vinný sklep vs. vinárna

34:16 - Wine vaults (banka vín)

34:53 - Wine trails (vinařské stezky)

36:16 - Bohemia Sekt

42:15 - Wine spritzers (vinný střik)

• Music by Fanette Ronjat

More Info:

• Moravian and Bohemian Wine Fund website

For events in Prague, go to the Facebook page The Prague Haps 

Follow us on social for extras:

• Facebook

Other Podcasts by Derek DeWitt

• DIGITAL SIGNAGE DONE RIGHT - Winner of the 2021 AVA Gold Award for Best Podcast Series and the 2020 Communicator Award of Excellence for Podcasts Series-Corporate Communications and on numerous top 10 podcast lists. 

THEN - End of the Line: The Last Přemyslids & John the Blind

See a video version on our YouTube channel.

The time of the Přemyslids was coming to an end on the throne of Bohemia. Václav II puts in good work, but then Václav III sort of drops the ball, opening the door for a stepfather, a Habsburg and then the Luxembourgers. 

Like what we do? Then buy us a beer or three via our Buy Me a Coffee page!

SECTIONS

01:33 - Václav II (1278-1305) - expanding Bohemia & stealing a crown

07:24 - He did a pretty good job

08:09 - Václav III (1305-1306) - assassination in Olomouc, last of the line

11:21 - Henry the Carinthian (1306, 1307-1310) - only Přemyslid by marriage, Rudolf I (1306-1307) - King Porridge 

14:33 - John the Blind of Luxembourg (1301-1346) - Papa was a rolling stone, dad to Charles IV

23:55 - Even dead, John's was a ramblin' man

• Music by Fanette Ronjat

For events in Prague, go to the Facebook page The Prague Haps 

Follow us on social for extras:

• Facebook

Other Podcasts by Derek DeWitt

• DIGITAL SIGNAGE DONE RIGHT - Winner of the 2021 AVA Gold Award for Best Podcast Series and the 2020 Communicator Award of Excellence for Podcasts Series-Corporate Communications and on numerous top 10 podcast lists. 

THERE - 6 More UNESCO Sites

CZ is small but dense with history and beauty. We take a look at six more locations to have made it on the UNESCO World Heritage List, this time mainly focusing on Moravia.

Like what we do? Then buy us a beer or three via our Buy Me a Coffee page!

SECTIONS

01:22 - Gardens & Castle at Kroměříž (1998)

04:41 - Zlín

07:46 - Holašovice Historical Village Reservation (1998)

09:43 - Holašovice Stonehenge (a tourist trap)

11:08 - Litomyšl Castle (1999)

14:39 - The Portmoneum & other museums

15:55 - Svitavy & Česká Třebová

16:44 - Holy Trinity Column in Olomouc (1999) (plague columns)

21:33 - Tugendhat Villa in Brno (2001) (Functionalism & Modernism)

28:36 - Jewish Quarter & St Procopius' Basilica in Třebíč (2003)

32:29 - Archeological finds in the area, chateaus (Náměšť nad Oslavou, Jaroměřice nad Rokytnou, Budišov), NPP Dukovany & castles (Templštejn)

• Music by Fanette Ronjat

More Info:

• THERE - 6 UNESCO Sites in CZ episode

For events in Prague, go to the Facebook page The Prague Haps 

Follow us on social for extras:

• Facebook

Other Podcasts by Derek DeWitt

• DIGITAL SIGNAGE DONE RIGHT - Winner of the 2021 AVA Gold Award for Best Podcast Series and the 2020 Communicator Award of Excellence for Podcasts Series-Corporate Communications and on numerous top 10 podcast lists. 

LIT - Čas proměn' (Time of Changes) w/Mark Baker

Guest: Mark Baker, journalist and author - new book Čas proměn' out now!

Writer Mark Baker has been in the region for most of his life, writing new articles, guide books for Fodor's and Lonely Planet, a blog and much more. When he was asked to evaluate the time of the Velvet Revolution from his own perspective, it gave him a chance to visit and re-evaluate that period of history as well as hid own life.  The result is Čas proměn', a personal look at a time when history became very personal indeed for a large swath of Europe.

Like what we do? Then buy us a beer or three via our Buy Me a Coffee page!

SECTIONS

01:40 - The rationale for the book

04:47 - 1989 in a nutshell

10:18 - 1990 is an underappreciated year

16:13 - 1991-92: The Prague Post & difficult times

18:25 - Chill out, past Mark

21:39 - Left bank of the 90s

25:48 - The Globe café & bookstore

33:23 - Ghosts & memory

37:00 - Call it "The Changes"

• Music by Fanette Ronjat

More Info:

• Buy Čas proměn online from Albatros Media

For events in Prague, go to the Facebook page The Prague Haps 

Follow us on social for extras:

• Facebook

Other Podcasts by Derek DeWitt

• DIGITAL SIGNAGE DONE RIGHT - Winner of the 2021 AVA Gold Award for Best Podcast Series and the 2020 Communicator Award of Excellence for Podcasts Series-Corporate Communications and on numerous top 10 podcast lists. 

ARTS - In the Gallery w/Camille Hunt

Guest: Camille Hunt, co-owner of Hunt Kastner Gallery

*To see some images along with the talk, check out the video version on our YouTube channel.*

There's a lot of art in Prague, but what is it, exactly, that galleries do for contemporary artists? One of the owners of Hunt Kastner Gallery in Žižkov talks about the multiple roles of the gallerist, what exactly a collector is collecting, art fairs and more about modern art here in the Czech capital. Whether you're in the art world or just art world curious, there's a lot of interesting stuff in this conversation.

Like what we do? Then buy us a beer or three via our Buy Me a Coffee page!

SECTIONS

01:40 - A French Canadian (not a French-Canadian), a Czech-forward gallery

05:26 - Far more than just wall space

10:17 - Come on in (Instagram-friendly)

13:38 - A gallerist's work is never done

18:06 - All's fair at the art fair

19:28 - Eye of the beholder - what collector's collect

23:19 - What is contemporary Czech art?

• Music by Fanette Ronjat

More Info:

• Hunt Kastner Gallery

For events in Prague, go to the Facebook page The Prague Haps 

Follow us on social for extras:

• Facebook

Other Podcasts by Derek DeWitt

• DIGITAL SIGNAGE DONE RIGHT - Winner of the 2021 AVA Gold Award for Best Podcast Series and the 2020 Communicator Award of Excellence for Podcasts Series-Corporate Communications and on numerous top 10 podcast lists. 

LATER - Modern Architecture in Prague w/David Černý

Guest: David Černý - artist, sculptor, architect, pilot

World-renowned Czech artist David Černý joins us for our one year anniversary episode, talking about how he got into art but mainly about the large-scale architectural projects he has planned here in Prague. Along the way, we talk about other modern buildings in the city, including some that will never get made at all.

*See images & videos of the buildings and projects mentioned here (and more) in the video version on our YouTube channel (recommended!)*

Like what we do? Then buy us a beer or three via our Buy Me a Coffee page!

SECTIONS

01:11 - I was going to be a jet pilot

05:26 - Time is an essential part, kinetic sculptures

08:08 - Black N' Arch projects: Fragment

10:08 - Top Tower

14:35 - The Dancing House, proposal for Slav Epic Pavilion

16:23 - Zlíchov Distillery (Lihovar), Dog in Dock Winery in Veselí nad Moravou, other projects large & small (including a baby)

19:44 - Modern architecture hits and misses (Kotva, Hlavní Nádraží new terminal, Myslbek, Euro Palace, Nová Scéna of the National Theatre), UNESCO and the Pankrác skyscrapers

23:27 - The Blob - Jan Kaplický's neofuturist proposal for a new National Library

• Music by Fanette Ronjat

More info on stuff talked about:

•  David Černý on Instagram 

For events in Prague, go to the Facebook page The Prague Haps 

Follow us on social for extras:

• Facebook

Other Podcasts by Derek DeWitt

• DIGITAL SIGNAGE DONE RIGHT - Winner of the 2021 AVA Gold Award for Best Podcast Series and the 2020 Communicator Award of Excellence for Podcasts Series-Corporate Communications and on numerous top 10 podcast lists. 

TOUR - David Černý in Prague

For images of all the works mentioned here, see the video version out our YouTube channel.

Sculptor David Černý is perhaps the most notorious Czech artist today, with a sarcastic and sardonic wit that informs his large-scale, often kinetic, works. Subtle, he ain't. He's got 22 works here in Prague, and we'll take a tour of them all in this episode, going all the way back to beginning of his career through works from 2020. You can try to see them all in one day (takes about six hours) or in separate sections. Includes directions and area info as well.

Like what we do? Then buy us a beer or three via our Buy Me a Coffee page!

SECTIONS

01:46 - The tour layout

02:29 - PART ONE - Outlying Areas (3)

02:31 - In Utero (2009)

04:10 - London Booster (2012)

06:11 - Beetle (Brouk) (2020)

06:58 - PART TWO - The City Centre (12)

07:07 - Babies on Žižkov Tower (2000, 2019)

10:12 - Horse (St. Wenceslas) (1999)

11:58 - "K" (Head of Franz Kafka, K on Sun) (2014)

13:48 - Women on a House (2004?)

15:04 - Sigmund Freud (1997)

16:33 - Václav Havel Memorial Plaque (2012)

17:39 - Embryo (2008)

18:42 - Gesture (2013) [now gone]

19:20 - Streams (Piss, Pissing Men) (2004)

20:37 - Quo Vadis (1990)

22:08 - Babies on Kampa (2008)

22:51 - Mlýnská Kavárna bar top (2011)

23:19 - Torso of a Tank (2018) [plus info on Pink Tank (Tank Number 23)]

29:07 - PART THREE - Prague 5 (6)

29:21 - Brown Nosing (2003) at the FUTURA Gallery

31:08 - Maso (Red Cars) (2007) at MeetFactory

32:49 - Speederman (2014) & Pegas (Pegasus) (2017)

34:14 - Trifot (2016) & Cyberdog (2018) at the Czech Photo Center

36:28 - BONUS: Monument to the Russian Liberation Army (2020) on Řeporyjské náměstí

• Music by Fanette Ronjat

More Info:

• David Černý on Instagram

For events in Prague, go to the Facebook page The Prague Haps 

Follow us on social for extras:

• Facebook

Other Podcasts by Derek DeWitt

• DIGITAL SIGNAGE DONE RIGHT - Winner of the 2021 AVA Gold Award for Best Podcast Series and the 2020 Communicator Award of Excellence for Podcasts Series-Corporate Communications and on numerous top 10 podcast lists.