Prague Times

HERE - New Town, New Jerusalem with Raymond Johnston

Guest: Raymond Johnston, Journalist

Prague's Nové Město (New Town) is only new in comparison to other parts of town. Founded by Emperor Charles IV in 1378, it was actually intended to be a substitute for Jerusalem - a place where the Second Coming could happen in comfort and style. Journalist Raymond Johnston talks about this as well as other interesting facts about New Town. We'll visit Karlovo náměstí, the holy relics that used to be there, Prague's mystical city plan, a pagan grove that's now a tram stop, a street that may be an accident and historical helmets, just to name a few items.

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

SECTIONS

01:49 - Charles IV's Plans for Prague's New Town as a Jerusalem Substitute, Karlovo náměstí as the Center, Home to a Lot of Holy Relics (including the Spear of Destiny)

06:33 - Prague's Mystical City Plan

09:31 - Former Pagan Sites Incorporated into New Town

11:01 - Nekázanka Street, Wenceslas Square, the Statue of Wenceslas

• 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. 

THEN - Duking It Out Among the Přemyslids (1061-1167)

Přemyslid ambitions continue to make things interesting. Vratislav gets a lance, Soběslav gets to hold a cup, Crusades are joined and avoided, Vladislav goes on walkabout, the Gothic period starts and Prague gets a new bridge. And just when it looks like things are finally going to calm down, they don't.

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

SECTIONS

00:58 - Vratislav II - Help the Germans, Get a Golden Lance

02:00 - The First KING, Brother Troubles, the Vyšehrad Chapter, also Son Troubles

04:35 - Konrád I (Brněnský), Duke for Eight Whole Months

04:47 - Břetislav II - Out With the Old Ways, the First Crusade 

05:49 - Bořivoj II, Round 1 - Ambitious Relatives & Problems from Abroad

07:25 - Svatopluk - Ganged Up On & the Vršovci Make Another Appearance

08:18 - Vladislav I, Round 1 - Cooperative Dukedom

09:22 - Bořivoj II, Round 2 - Maybe He Was Just a Jerk

10:28 - Vladislav I, Round 2 - Getting Stuff Done

11:40 - Soběslav I - Otto the Black Challenges, More German Trouble, Further Challenges & Intrigues

13:46 - Soběslav Hold the Cup, Germans Welcomed Back

15:27 - Vladislav II (One of Many Vladislavs), Vladislav II Takes a Trip, Crusades Aplenty

19:00 - Vladislav II & HRE Frederick Barbarossa Make a Deal, Duke Vladislav II Becomes the Second KING, the Judith Bridge Gets Started in Prague

Slip of the Tongue: At 13:42, I said Břetislav remained Duke, but I meant Soběslav. These darned names! 

• 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. 

ARTS - Czech Cinema w/Ryan Keating (Lambert)

Guest: Film journalist Ryan Keating of the Movie Barf cinema blog

Cinema is a big deal here in the Czech Republic - Czechs have been innovators in the field since the beginning, many films and TV shows are filmed here, and more and more independent cinema establishments are opening up around Prague. We talk about the Movie Barf blog, new places for film buffs, why Czech hate popcorn, subtitles vs dubbing, the Czechoslovak New Wave, the surreal animation of Jan Švankmajer, modern Czech movies and more.

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

SECTIONS

01:36 - What's with the Name(s)?

04:25 - Movie Barf - a Blog, a Brand, Movie Barf Mondays at Edison Filmhub

07:00 - New Film Spots in Town & the Kino Kavárna Makes a Comeback (Sort Of), the Popcorn Situation is Dire

09:17 - Subtitles vs Dubbing in CZ and Elsewhere

14:13 - Juxtareading - a Lazy Form of Dubbing

15:20 - Czech Cinema's Influence - the Czechoslovak New Wave, Jan Švankmajer, Karel Zeman

19:40 - Contemporary Mainstream Czech Films

24:08 - "The Painted Bird"

27:18 - More Risks, Please

• Music by Fanette Ronjat

Check out Movie Barf

• Web

Places & People mentioned in this episode:

• Mirek Moc, Illustrator & Storyboard Artist

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. 

TOUR - 10 More Old Town Tales

The Old Town is full of interesting stories and history, and now's a great time to check it out. Here's a tour with more stories you may not know about true love, jealousy, modern beer, mockery, pride and much more. These stories and legends are always all around us, if we only know where to look.

This tour can be combined with the previous TOUR episode into one long tour. This episode is sponsored by our friends at Venue, which is right near where the tour ends.

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

TOUR

01:39 - Start intro, in front of the Estates Theatre. Info in previous TOUR episode. 

02:24 - THE VEIL GIVEN TWICE FOR LOVE - Karolinum - Ovocný trh 3-5

04:44 - THE HOUSE OF THE BLACK MADONNA - Ovocný trh 19

06:59 - THE ROPEMAKER'S WIFE - Provaznická 3

10:24 - THE LITTLE BRIDGE - Můstek Metro Station

11:53 - THE CUBIST LAMPPOST - Jungmannovo náměstí

13:04 - U PINKASU - Jungmannovo náměstí 15/16

15:44 - THE FRANCISCAN GARDENS - entrances off Jungmannovo náměstí and Pasáž Světozor

16:50 - PALACE ADRIA - Jungmannova 31

18:24 - THE PETRIFIED BOY - Church of St. Martin-in-the-Wall, Martinská 8

21:05 - THE RING INSIDE THE FISH - V Kotcích

• Music by Fanette Ronjat

This episode sponsored by VENUE

• Web

For a conversation with Venue co-owner Karina Korenblun, click here

Places mentioned in this episode:

• Grand Orient Cafe

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 - Sibling Rivalry on Steroids (999-1061)

Now things REALLY heat up in Bohemia, with wars, rebellions, blindings, castrations, whole families getting wiped out and lots more fun. You'd think things would calm down after all that, but you'd be wrong. It's Game of Thrones without the dragons!

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

SECTIONS

00:55 - Boleslav III the Red(head)/Blind

01:42 - Vladivoj, Puppet of Polish Bolesław the Brave and Alcoholic

02:02 - Boleslav III Returns, now Boleslav the Red, and then Blind (but this time, really)

03:08 - Bolesław the Brave (Boleslav Chrabrý of the Piast Dynasty) Becomes Boleslav IV

03:30 - Jaromír, Round One - Don't Trust Your Brother

04:53 - Oldřich, Round One - Don't Annoy the Emperor

06:14 - Jaromír, Round Two - Don't Trust Your Nephews

06:47 - Oldřich, Round Two - Don't Trust Anybody

07:37 - Břetislav I, the Bohemian Achilles - Changes the Rules of Succession, Which Cause More Trouble for Quite a While

10:41 - Spytihněv II -  A Weird, Angry Guy

• 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. 

FOLKS - We Are All Locals w/Karina Korenblum

Guest: Karina Korenblum, Co-Owner of Venue Cafe, Sales & Distribution Consultant for Grandview Castle Entertainment, and Sales & Acquisitions Consultant for Cercamon

Karina Korenblum is a Colombian who came to Prague after living in Paris and Berlin. She has worked in the independent film industry and is co-owner of Venue, a concept cafe in the Old Town. We talk about life in Prague, and running a business in one of the most touristed places in Europe. We also talk about what, exactly, it means to be a local.

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

SECTIONS

01:17 - Culture Shock Upon Arrival - Brunch, the Czech Language and Independent Film

05:19 - A Cafe in the Center - Increasing Options and Defining "Good" Service

10:09 - It's Not All Tourist Traps

10:58 - The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival - Egalitarian Cultural Access 

11:44 - Tradition Meets Modernity - A Woman in a Male-Dominated Business World

13:35 - The Paradoxes of Quarantine

16:20 - Are You a Local?

17:02 - Places Like Kasárna Karlín Point the Way to the Future

19:45 - Experience the City Differently (Zažít Město Jinak)

• Music by Fanette Ronjat 

Check out Venue

• Web

For two TOUR episodes looking at Old Town, sponsored by Venue, click here and here.

See also

• Grandview Castle Entertainment

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 - Ghosts in Prague with Raymond Johnston

Guest: Raymond Johnston, Journalist

We talk about ghosts with a local expert on the subject, and it should be no surprise that a city that's over 1000 years old has quite a few of them.

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

SECTIONS

01:26 - Raymond's Ghost Map of Prague

02:58 - The Fiery Turkey of Kampa Island

04:33 - Mills on Kampa

05:31 - More Scary Animals, Including the Devil Rabbit of Bohnice

07:14 - Dead Dead Redemption - the Fiery Carriage, Native American, the Fiery Man of Na Poříčí

09:50 - The Woman with Two Husbands, a WWI ghost story

11:41 - The Gambling Grave Digger

13:35 - The Vampire Panic of the 18th Century

16:08 - The Portal to Another Dimension, the Veil is Thin Here, Prague is the Beating Heart of Europe

• 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. 

TOUR - 10 Old Town Tales

Host: Derek DeWitt

Prague's Old Town is, well, old, and full of fascinating tales, legends and locations. We'll look at ten tales in the area that you may not know about. This is designed as a tour that you can take while walking the winding streets of Staré Město. If you are too far away, you could follow along using Google Maps street view or something similar, or just listen and imagine. You can also see a video with photos of each location on our YouTube channel. 

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

TOUR

01:51 - Start: In front of main library on Mariánské náměstí. Inside you can see the art installation Idiom by Slovak artist Matej Kren.

02:29 - THE IRON KNIGHT - Town Hall, corner with Platnéřská

04:40 - THE TEREZA FOUNTAIN, the richest statue in Prague - Mariánské náměstí, in the Linhartská-side wall of the Clam-Gallas Palace

06:28 - THE HOUSE OF THE GOLDEN WELL - Karlova 3, corner with Seminářská

10:08 - AT THE GOLDEN SNAKE - Liliová 17, corner with Karlova

11:14 - PALACE IN THE CELLAR - End of Řetězová

12:39 - THE HOUSE AT THE THREE SAVAGES - Řetězová 7

15:07 - AT THE THREE STANDARD BEARERS - Husova 12

17:10 - AT THE THREE WHITE ROSES - Malé náměstí 3

20:10 - AT THE TWO (GOLDEN) BEARS - Kožná 1

23:35 - THE ESTATES THEATRE (Stavovské divadlo) - Železná between Ovocný trh and Rytířská

End

• Music by Fanette Ronjat 

This episode sponsored by Venue

For a conversation with Venue co-owner Karina Korenblum, click here

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. 

ARTS - Politics & Theatre with Nancy Bishop

Guest: Nancy Bishop, CSA and Emmy-Nominated Casting Director. And also a Theatre Director.

Theatre has always been an important part of Czech culture and national identity, often being used in subversive ways to undermine those who would dominate them. Nancy Bishop takes us all the way back to 1620 up though Havel and the Velvet Revolution, when Czech theatre has its ultimate triumph: a playwright becomes president!

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

SECTIONS

02:12 - A Personal Connection and a Petition

04:11 - White Mountain and the Suppression of the Czech Language

06:53 - Czech Makes Inroads in the 18th Century, Count Nostitz and the Estates Theatre

09:26 - Czech and Irish Parallels, the 19th Century and the early Czech-Language Theatre

12:25 - The National Theatre - More Than a Building, Working Under the Radar, The Nazis Press German (Again)

14:25 - The Communists, the Counter-Charter and Theatre as Samizdat

16:47 - Theatre Under the Communists, and Havel's Take on Absurdism

23:46 - After the Prague Spring and Normalization

25:00 - The Velvet Revolution and Theatres as Places of Political Action 

Slip of the Tongue: František Palacký did not, in fact, attend the grand opening of the National Theatre in 1881, as he had died in 1876. But he was involved with it until his death. 

• Music by Fanette Ronjat  

Make sure to check out Nancy's website, workshops, books and more:

• Nancy Bishop Casting

Other places mention in this episode:

• Strawdog Theatre

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 - The Great Moravian Empire (833-907)

Host: Derek DeWitt

On slightly firmer footing facts-wise, we take a look at the Great Moravian Empire - where it was, what is was and, more importantly, who the major players were. But it was certainly not a time of calm and peace. When you are right in the middle of Europe, everyone wants a piece of your pie.

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

SECTIONS

01:13 - The Start of the GME, and Where the Heck Was It?

04:15 - Mojmir I (not a Přemyslid)

05:39 - Rastislav I, plus Cyril and Methodius

08:56 - Svatopluk I, then Slavomir, then Svatopluk Again, Help from Bohemia and the Peace of Forchheim

12:17 - The GME Expands, plus Latin Rite vs. Slavonic

14:01 - The Wilhelminer War, Svatopluk is "King of the Slavs" (kind of) and Gets Bohemia

18:51 - Who Are the Hungarians?

21:12 - Spytihněv I Takes Over in Bohemia

21:51 - Mojmir II Becomes Prince of Moravia, His Brother Svatopluk II Causes Trouble, Bohemia and the Sorbs Break Away

23:01 - The Hungarians Are Hungry...For Land

24:02 - The GME Ends and Zbohom Slovakia

• 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.