Prague Times

EATS - Follow Your Bagel Bliss w/Ezra's Bagels

Guests: Chelsea London & Giuseppe Cantanzariti, Owners & Operators of Ezra's Bagels

Recent additions to the city Chelsea & Giuseppe started making bagels to satisfy her pregnancy cravings, and a business was born. And so was their son, Ezra, so they named it after him. These New York-style bagels are the real thing - shiny, chewy, tangy, airy and delicious. They are also 100% vegan.

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

SECTIONS

01:43 - These are real deal

04:43 - Digital nomads find a home

07:38 - A non-traditional operation (it's Stephanie Cohen's fault)

12:40 - A bagel primer

16:41 - Trade secrets & regional variations

22:28 - Salt & coffee - adapting the menu

30:12 - Community while apart

37:42 - Wrap it up, I'll take it

• Music by Fannete Ronjat

Ezra's Bagels

• website

Also mentioned

• Totally Jewish Travel

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 - Living Free (in) Europe w/Grant Podelco

Guest: Grant Podelco, editor-in-chief of rferl.org (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty), blogger, photographer, actor, etc.

Grant's is a classic story - someone who came to Prague for one reason, and ended up staying for many reasons. We talk about the important work Radio Free Europe is still doing and some of Grant's many projects. He writes a blog on bicycling in Prague, another about the "good things in life", takes pictures and has even tread the boards on stage a few times now.

For Grant, life in Prague is a movable feast, and he is having the time of his life. And Prague will always be a part of it.

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

SECTIONS

01:33 - Opportunity knocked

04:23 - Radio Free Europe then & now

10:23 - RFE by the numbers

11:56 - The stakes are still high

13:40 - Rex-patriate syndrome

17:31 - Blogs & pictures

20:55 - Shakespeare in India

23:45 - The future of the moveable feast - Prague & Ireland?

28:28 - Radio Love

• Music by Fannete Ronjat

Check out Grant's stuff:

• Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty website

See also:

• "Radio Free Europe" by R.E.M.

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 - Long Live the King (Again) (1172-1230)

Yet more musical chairs around the throne of Bohemia, but it all comes out in the end as yet another king secures long term power. Third time's a charm!

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SECTIONS

00:53 - Vladislav II Abdicates Without Permission

01:19 - Frederick (Bedřich) Round One, then Oldřich, then Soběslav II Gets in Trouble

03:16 - Frederick (Bedřich) Round Two, Konrád (Otto) and Soběslav Scheme, Moravia Becomes a Margraviate, the Přemyslids Gear Up for a Family Civil War, the Third Crusade is Called and Frederick (Bedřich) Dies 

06:44 - Konrád (Otto), Nobles Force the Statutes of Konrad, Konrád Dies of Plague in Naples

07:24 - Václav II Becomes Duke...for Three Months, Ottokar I Takes Control (Round One)

08:06 - Family Squabbles Continue, Jindřich Břetislav Goes for a Walk and Gets Kidnapped and then the HRE Makes Him Duke, then Falls Ill Preparing for the German Crusade, Ottokar Takes Control but the Nobles Elect his Brother Vladislav Jindřich Instead (Who Steps Down)

11:11 - Ottokar I Is Back in the Saddle, Becomes KING, Gets Permission to Divorce, the Fourth Crusade and Albigensian (Cathar) Crusades, Ottokar Secures Power with the Golden Bull of Sicily of 1212 (Same Year as the Children's Crusade)

13:40 - Fifth and Sixth Crusades, Bohemia Now Has Kings Forever and Quite a Bit of Status and Autonomy

• 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. 

HERE - Blood on the Snow: Czech Holiday Traditions w/Peter Collman

Guest: Peter Collman, co-author of Curious Czech Christmas; podcaster for The Bohemican and History of Alchemy, YouTube channel Past Access

What holiday has a wallet that smells like fish, hallucinations of magical pig, a mutant baby, chocking hazards, molten lead exploding in your face, telling the future with shoes and eviscerated fish all over the sidewalk? Why, Christmas in the Czech Republic, of course!

Peter Collman, co-author of Curious Czech Christmas, gets into some of the details of the holiday season here in CZ. He also talks a bit about his podcast about being an American living in CZ called The Bohemican, his other podcast called History of Alchemy, and his YouTube channel about travelling the world as a wheelchair user called Past Access. 

NOTE: Xmas spoilers in this episode, so maybe little kids should not listen!!

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

SECTIONS

01:42 - A Busy Guy - Two Podcasts, a YouTube channel & a Book

05:49 - The Golden Pig, Freakish Infants & Total Exhaustion

12:25 - Carp & Communism - Builds Your Character

19:52 - Predicting the Future (Pancake Batter, Hot Lead & Shoes)

23:08 - Short Nights, Excesses & Three Wise Men

26:44 - Hang in There, 2021!

28:18 - Wrapping Up & Shameless Cross Promotion

• Music by Fanette Ronjat

Check Out:

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

THEN - CZ in the 90s: Privatization, Politics & Progress with Jonathan Stein

Guest: Jonathan Stein, Managing Editor for Project Syndicate

Jonathan Stein has seen many transitions - Czechoslovakia into the Czech Republic, working in academia then news, how the three phases of privatization worked in the 90s, the rise of Klaus and the technocrats, bureaucratic shenanigans and much more. We talk about these things, plus his news service, Project Syndicate. He also shares some pretty funny stories from the 90s. 

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

SECTIONS

01:31 - Freelancing Through the 90s - Academia, Teaching & the Economist Intelligence Unit

05:00 - Project Syndicate in a Nutshell

12:22 - Small Scale Privatization Post Revolution

15:53 - Coupons, Property Restitution & Sociological Implications

23:17 - Banking on the Future & the Apotheosis of the Technocrat

29:33 - Old Habits Die Hard - Corruption, Taxis, Lunch Reservations & Magic Phones

• Music by Fanette Ronjat

Check Out:

• Project Syndicate - the World's Opinion Page

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 - Back to Bohemia - The House of Přemyslid (870-999)

The Great Moravian Empire is over, but the fun is just beginning in Bohemia. The Přemyslids fend off external attacks and start internal squabbles, brother kills brother, Christianity makes inroads but not without resistance, one family rises while another falls, but (spoiler) it all finally comes together with one ruler for Bohemia. However, compared to what comes after all this, these are relatively peaceful times. 

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

SECTIONS

01:28 - Themes of the Era

02:03 - Bořivoj I, First Duke of Bohemia

02:52 - Spytihněv I, the Royal Seat Moves to Prague and Prague Castle Gets Started

04:36 - Vratislav I and His Pretty Unfriendly Wife Drahomíra

05:43 - Václav I - Good (Duke) Wenceslas, 

09:36 - Václav Becomes the Patron Saint of Bohemia

10:28 - Boleslav I the Cruel - Fratricide, Yet Not a Totally Bad Guy

13:17 - Boleslav II the Pious - Bohemia Gets a Bishop, the Slavník family Cause Trouble, the Great Slav Uprising, the Vršovci Help Wipe Out the Slavníks, Vyšehrad is Founded, Bohemia is Finally United Under a Single Ruler

• 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. 

EATS - Memories & Meals with Lori Wyant & Dean Selby

Guests: Lori Wyant & Dean Selby, Chef-Owners of The Tavern and U Kurelů

Lori and Dean love Prague, and Prague loves them back. Consistently innovative, they have helped transform the food scene here over the past decade - sparking off the burger craze, kickstarting BBQ, helping usher in brunch and even trying out vegan comfort food. Yet their focus has always been on Prague, specifically Žižkov, where they both have lived for many years. It's even where they met and feel in love! Lori and Dean are staying true to both their old roots in the US and their new ones here in the heart of Europe.

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

SECTIONS

01:35 - Burger Beginnings - The Tavern

05:30 - Authentically American but Locally Focused

11:56 - Updating the Past - U Kurelů

17:25 - Thanksgiving's for Everyone

20:01 - Bringing the BBQ - Sticky D's & Friends

25:55 - Brunches & Memories of the Bluegrass State

29:00 - Adapting Thanksgiving & More During COVID

31:38 - Venturing into Vegan Comfort Food

• Music by Fanette Ronjat

Thanksgiving Options in Prague for 2020:

• The Tavern and U Kurelů are maxed out. However they will be doing something similar at Christmas.

Check out Lori and Deans places:

• The Tavern

Things mentioned in this episode:

• Prague Farmer's Markets

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 - #HelpYourHood with Rob Cameron

Guest: Rob Cameron, BBC Correspondent for CZ and Slovakia

Fulfilling two lifelong dreams, Rob Cameron gets to live in Prague and work in news. His response to the COVID-19 pandemic was to create the #helpyourhood Facebook group for a few friends, but it has grown almost beyond his control into something like an informal news agency in its own right (thanks to a crack team of volunteers - see their names below). Rob talks about having goulash & beer in his veins, and how this country has handled the COVID pandemic, including some insight into why things went so well in the spring.

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

SECTIONS

01:17 - Czech at Heart

03:00 - Prague Chooses You

06:19 - Journalist at Heart

07:21 - This Stuff Affects Me

09:25 - A Frog Being Boiled - Change is Incremental

13:49 - #helpyourhood - a place of COVID-19 calm in the Facebook echo chamber & voluntary news agency

20:54 - The Infamous Dinner Party on the Charles Bridge

22:52 - The First Wave is Now, One Man Saved Us in the Spring, the State of the State Now

30:33 - Thoughts on the (Nearish) Future

• Music by Fanette Ronjat

SHOUT OUT to Rob's incredible collection of volunteers who continue to make #helpyourhood a place of reasons and good information:

• Alicia Grant, Anne Johnson, Becka McFadden, Brie Yosh, Chris Richardson, Cynthia Graner, Filip Novak, Luke Fisher, Silvana Wasitova and Zuza Sykorova

Check out:

• #helpyourhood on Facebook

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 - 13 More Ghost Stories with Raymond Johnston

Guest: Raymond Johnston, Journalist and author of the Ghost Map

Prague's one of the most haunted cities in Europe, so it was an easy task to find 13 scary stories for Halloween to amaze, delight and frighten you. Follow along using Raymond's interactive ghost map, or just settle back and listen to tales about ghosts, pirates, mermaids, water sprites, beheadings, barbers, a werewolf, a very slow zombie, a very shy vampire and more.

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

SECTIONS

01:51 - North to South

02:12 - The Ghoul of Stromovka (Holešovice)

04:17 - The Werewolf of the Stag Moat (below Prague Castle)

06:45 - The Invisible Nun (Malá Strana)

09:10 - Headless Laura (Malá Strana)

12:08 - Kabourek, the Water Sprite (Malá Strana)

15:02 - The Mad Barber of Karlova Street (Staré Město)

17:51 - The Headless Templar of Liliova Street (Staré Město)

21:08 - The Pirate Red Goat & Black Lilly (Petrská čtvrť)

23:54 - The Mermaid of V Tůních (Nové Město)

27:41 - The Devil Chef (Nové Město)

31:08 - The Well-Dressed Solider (Vyšehrad)

33:41 - Vampire Lick It Up Bloody Knee (Žižkov)

37:41 - The White Lady of Záběhlice Chateau (Záběhlice)

40:03 - Sources for Stories

• Music by Fanette Ronjat

Things mentioned in this episode:

• Magic Bohemia

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 - News, Nuance & the 90s with Douglas Lytle

Guest: Douglas Lytle, Editor for Bloomberg Intelligence, former editor/reporter at Dow Jones, former reporter at the Wall Street Journal, former editor at Prague Post, author of Pink Tanks and Velvet Hangovers: An American in Prague

Douglas Lytle came to Prague in 1990 on something of a whim. The city and the country have since become a permanent part of his life. He talks about the news industry here, life in Prague in the 90s, Czech politics and culture, and more in this this part reminiscence, part analysis.

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

SECTIONS

01:48 - Early Days in the Early 90s - teaching, Prognosis, Alan Levy & Prague Post

05:00 - Prague Post Takes Off, Making Ends Meet, Pink Tanks and Velvet Hangovers: An American in Prague

08:37 - Finding the Story, the Left Bank of the 90s, Prague vs. Budapest

13:50 - Americans Colonize Prague, Doug Leaves & Returns, CZ in Transition - Economics & Politics

19:13 - Coming to Understand the Czechs (a bit), the Battle of White Mountain, Small Country Syndrome

25:07 - Jára Cimrman & Mythmaking, Prague Embraces Cosmopolitanism

29:20 - Prague Continues to Change

32:48 - The Czech News Scene Today

36:50 - The Czechs Are Pretty Lucky but a Reckoning with Communism Is a Good Idea

39:52 - Frank Zappa Gives Advice

• Music by Fanette Ronjat

Check out Doug's book

• Pink Tanks and Velvet Hangovers: An American in Prague

See also

• Article about Prognosis by Jacques Poitras on Medium

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.