Prague Times

THERE - 6 UNESCO Sites in CZ

See pictures of these places in the video version of this episode on our YouTube channel.

The Czech Republic isn't very big, but it's got more castles & chateaux per square kilometer in the world, some very well-preserved towns and scads of history. We also have 14 (and counting) UNESCO World Heritage sites. Today we take a look at the first six to make it on that list.

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SECTIONS

02:18 - What is the UNESCO World Heritage List and who cares?

04:26 - Historic Centre of Prague (1992) & Průhonický park

08:12 - Český Krumlov (1992)

09:51 - Telč (1992)

11:32 - Pilgrimage Church of St. John of Nepomuk, Zelená Hora (1994)

13:45 - Kutná Hora (1995)

17:15 - The Cathedral of Our Lady & the Bone Church at Sedlec

20:57 - In the area: Kolín, Konárovice (Crispin Glover's house), Čáslav, Vysoká near Miskovice

26:33 - Transport options for Kutná Hora (plus beer & food)

27:47 - Lednice-Valtice Cultural Landscape (1996) -Lichtensteins Amok!

29:15 - Some of the follies (Kolonáda na Rajstně, Belveder, Dianin chrám, Apollónův chrám, Kaple sv. Huberta, Hraniční zámeček, Tři Grácie, Janův hrad, Zámeček Pohansko, Obelisk, Maurská vodárna, Akvadukt)

32:38 - The Minaret (Minaret v lednickém zámeckém parku)

33:33 - The towns of Lednice and Valtice in the wine country, plus getting there

• Music by Fanette Ronjat

More Info:

• České dráhy (Czech Rail) 

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

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• 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. 

EATS - Cookin' Up a Storm w/Isaac Starobin

Guest: Isaac Starobin, Chef/Owner of Dirty Dog BBQ

It's a classic immigrant story - move to a new place, miss certain food items, make those food items. Isaac Starobin is bringing a taste of New York to Prague, experimenting like crazy and having a fine time while doing it. Not even the pandemic shutdown can contain what he is doing with Dirty Dog Barbeque, Cali Brothers, and Bohemia Bagel. And there are plenty more tricks up his sleeve.

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

SECTIONS

01:52 - Manifest(o) Destiny - NYC to Prague (starts & stops, ZOOna, Dirty Dog, Manifesto)

06:28 - Make what you want to eat

08:40 - Goulash or bust - Czech tastes evolve

12:07 - Feelings & food (and treat your people right)

19:23 - March 2020 = crisis mode

26:59 - Patron to partner - Bringing New York to Prague (Cali Bros., revitalizing Bohemia Bagel, ghost concepts)

34:42 - Kotva Backyard - Subs & bagels in the centre

36:53 - Gastro is a lifestyle (and chili ice cream)

• Music by Fanette Ronjat

See the video version of this episode on our YouTube channel for some mouthwatering pictures as well. #foodporn

More info: 

• Art and Food ZOOna

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 - A Czech Beer Primer

Beer - it's central to Czech social life, history and identity. Pretty much any Honza walking down the street just knows certain things about beer, having grown up in a culture saturated with it. This episode aims to give you the same background knowledge, so that you, too, can be on the same page as the locals. At least when it comes to the good stuff.

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

SECTIONS

01:35 - A brief history of beer

03:19 - Serious business - purity laws, brewing boom, brewing bust, breweries bounce back

06:48 - A matter of degrees

07:38 - How to make beer

11:58 - Beer styles (lager vs ale)

13:25 - Dark & light

14:33 - Hops to it

15:22 - Czech beer brands

21:34 - Budvar vs. Budweiser

27:57 - Post Velvet Revolution

28:45 - The proper pour (and types of pours)

33:38 - Czech pub culture & habits

• Music by Fanette Ronjat

See the video version of this episode on our YouTube channel for some enticing pictures as well

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 2020 Communicator Award of Excellence for Podcasts Series-Corporate Communications and on numerous top 10 podcast lists. 

HERE - Dog Walks Prague w/Karen O'Rourke

Guest: Karen O' Rourke, author of Dog Walks Prague

Prague's already gone to the dogs - they're welcome everywhere. And they need to go walkies, as do their humans. Karen O'Rourke believes in the benefits of hiking and dog ownership so much, she's created a group for walkers, written a book about dogs walks in and out of Prague, and is working on a second book. She shares her ideas, some details and some of her favourite walks, both in Prague and out.

Video version (with pictures!) on our YouTube channel.

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

SECTIONS

01:54 - Walking + dogs = happiness

07:41 - Dog Walks Prague - Prokopák Paradise (Prague 5)

11:00 - At our doorstep: wild horses, Milovice (50km NE of Prague), biodiversity, Cibulka (Prague 5) and Motol Forest

13:02 - THERE: Lochovice, Plešivecký hřeben & Fabian's Garden (50km SW or Prague); Lake Mácha & Mouse Island (75km north of Prague), Kokořín (40km north of Prague), Václav Nebeský & Božena Němcová and Ratibořice (130 km east of Prague)

15:50 - A plaque on your house - Čapek Villa (Vinohrady, Prague 2), Klamovka & Lenka Reinerová (Prague 5)

17:20 - Dog Walks Prague 2 - writers and more; Karel Jaromír Erben, the Wedding Shirt & Velhartice (145km SW of Prague), hiking trails in CZ

19:45 - You don't have to have a dog (but it helps) - Dog Walks Prague FB group, extinct volcanoes (Říp & Milešovská) & Píšťany (37-80km north of Prague), a multi-cultural experience

• Music by Fanette Ronjat

More info (plus links in the Sections section above)

• Shakespeare & Sons English language bookshop (main distributor or the book: to order, send an inquiry email to [email protected], cost is 300CZK)

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 2020 Communicator Award of Excellence for Podcasts Series-Corporate Communications and on numerous top 10 podcast lists. 

XOVER - UFOs in Czecho w/Sam Beckwith

Guest: Sam Beckwith, editor of Prague Pig

The Czech Lands have had their fair share of UFO sightings over the centuries, including wingless capsules, flaming wheels, weird organic drones, tiny balls, giant figures, sliver men and more. It's time to delve into some high weirdness in Central Europe.

This is a special extra episode as part of a crossover with our sister podcast Conspiracy Clearinghouse, which has it's 1st year anniversary today! 

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

SECTIONS

01:37 - UFOs as cultural phenomenon, as narratives

07:29 - Projekt Záře

09:06 - Vranov nad Dyjí - the most famous Czech sighting

13:26 - A saucer too far - Communists hate mysteries, Nazi UFO in Prague

15:39 - Centuries of sightings - flaming wheels, time-displaced tanks

19:36 - Slatiny, 1938, the Číhošť Miracle, Loose lips get you killed

21:27 - Ostružná Nová Ves - a teeny spacecraft that sucks, Miličín - balls and figures in Czech Siberia, Don't call me stupid

26:08 - Aliens tour our spa towns, The summer of '93 - sightings all over, including Svitavy

30:20 - The Silver Men (Stříbrňáci)

32:15 - Crop circles, Fidel's cigars, Are you normal?

36:12 - Universe People (Vesmírní lidé sil světla) - a Czech and Slovak UFO church

38:10 - Ashtar Galactic Command

40:54 - The Spooky Book and other Czech Forteana (coming soon!)

• Music by Fanette Ronjat

More on these topics

• Prague Pig

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 2020 Communicator Award of Excellence for Podcasts Series-Corporate Communications and on numerous top 10 podcast lists. 

FOLKS - Democrats Abroad with Julia Bryan

Guest: Julia Bryan, Global Chair for Democrats Abroad

Just because you're an American living outside the country, you can still vote. And you should. Organizations like Democrats Abroad are here to help make it as easy a process as it can be. We also talk about the Electoral College, HR1, the filibuster, her blog and more. Plus handy links for voters abroad from several countries in the episode notes. 

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

SECTIONS

01:59 - Democrats Abroad - a stateless state party

04:35 - Your vote does count

06:16 - The Electoral College is archaic

07:29 - D.C. should be a state

08:09 - From Bohemia Bagel to global chair and success in 2020

12:15 - Come for a year, stay forever

16:22 - Kolo Kolo Mlynsky

17:43 - Getting involved in DA

21:28 - All politics is local

23:54 - HR1 - the For the People Act

25:56 - Bust the filibuster

28:56 - They're on your side

• Music by Fanette Ronjat

More on topics discussed

• Democrats Abroad

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 2020 Communicator Award of Excellence for Podcasts Series-Corporate Communications and on numerous top 10 podcast lists. 

GLUG - The Oldest Pub in Prague

One way to explore Prague culture and history is to hit the historic pubs of the city. But which one is the oldest? Well, it depends on what you mean by "oldest". We take a look at 12 candidates that might fit the bill.

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SECTIONS

01:49 - U Fleků - 522 unbroken years

05:29 - U Černého Vola - hostinec vs hospoda vs pivnice

09:42 - U Pinkasů - the first modern lager

15:02 - U Zlatého Tygra - famous patrons

16:18 - U Medvídků - beer hall, brewery, strongest beer in CZ

20:15 - U Tří růží - Dominicans to publicans

21:23 - U Vejvodů - underground but well-known

22:20 - U Glaubiců & U Krále Brabantského - two Malá Strana spots

24:56 - Na Slamníku - out of the city center

25:43 - Strahov & Břevnov Monasteries - what became of the monks?

27:57 - Which one is the oldest?

• Music by Fanette Ronjat

More Info on places in this episode

• U Fleků

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 2020 Communicator Award of Excellence for Podcasts Series-Corporate Communications and on numerous top 10 podcast lists. 

NOW - Prague: The Capitol of Crypto w/Maya Bersheva

Guest: Maya Bersheva, community manager for the Czech Republic, Binance

Just because Prague is more than 1000 years old doesn't mean it's behind the times. In fact, it's the most crypto-friendly city in the world. What does that mean? I certainly don't know. But my guest does! Maya Bersheva of Binance, the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the world, talks about what cryptocurrency and blockchain are, why Prague is one of the world hubs of this stuff, and why crypto is the future.

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

SECTIONS

01:33 - What the heck is crypto?

05:08 - Paralelní Polis & the Institute of Cryptoanarchy - crypto ATMS, the luckiest cup of coffee ever

07:42 - Prague is the #1 crypto city

10:20 - Digital nomadism

13:20 - A possible future for crypto

17:02 - Crypto use cases - Brave browser, we are all influencers, P2P, developing nations, mid-term investment

21:07 - How to crypto

24:51 - Get your crypto on - the world is digital

27:33 - Final Thoughts

• Music by Fanette Ronjat

Resources for this topic

• Binance cryptocurrency exchange

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 2020 Communicator Award of Excellence for Podcasts Series-Corporate Communications and on numerous top 10 podcast lists. 

THEN - Two of the Greats: Vaclav I & Ottokar II (1230-1278)

Bohemia finally has permanent kings, and the next two rulers are ranked among the best all of time. Under Vaclav I and Ottokar II, Bohemia would reach the apex of its power and influence. At least, under the Přemyslids.

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SECTIONS

01:30 - Vaclav I (1230-1253) - One-Eye, two Freds and several new towns (including Prague's Old Town)

04:04 - The Mongols come a-visiting

05:36 - Vaclav expanded Bohemia's influence, plus got Austria (finally)

08:15 - Ottokar II (1253-1278) - The Iron & Golden King didn't want to be in politics, but then he did

10:20 - The coast of Bohemia, the Hapsburgs make an appearance, Ottokar builds the Hofburg in Vienna

12:38 - Zaviš of the Vítkovci causes problems, so does HRE Rudolf, Ottokar picks a fight he can't win

14:51 - The Legacies of Vaclav I and Ottokar II

• 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 2020 Communicator Award of Excellence for Podcasts Series-Corporate Communications and on numerous top 10 podcast lists. 

THERE - Jaq's Cool Critters - Cuddlin' in Kadlín

Guest: Jaq Beart, owner of Jaq's Cool Critters Animal Sanctuary in Kadlín

*Apologies to Jaq and the gang at Cool Critters for totally stealing their tag line for the title of this episode! 

** To see some of the dogs & cats mentioned here, check out our video version on YouTube

Jaq wanted a summer home and ended up with a farm and a pet sanctuary. Located in the very small village of Kadlín, about 60km NE of Prague, Jaq and her team have created a unique locations for animals to get safe and healthy, and people to find a new best friend. Cool Critters is where the cool cats hang out. And dogs. Mainly dogs.

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

SECTIONS

01:49 - Pet sanctuary, not shelter

04:43 - How it works

06:33 - Hellboy & others

09:49 - Adopting a pet

11:15 - Virtual adoption

13:04 - Supply & demand, how to visit

16:50 - Donations & supporters, Click and Feed, GIVT, flea market

21:31 - Names & bittersweet sympathy

23:34 - Czechs love dogs

24:42 - Outro

• Music by Fannete Ronjat

Jaq's Cool Critters

• Cool Critters website

Also mentioned and supporters of Cool Critters

• Click and Feed

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 2020 Communicator Award of Excellence for Podcasts Series-Corporate Communications and on numerous top 10 podcast lists.