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 viennapastandpresent@gmail.com. We love hearing feedback and ideas. Danke!

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 viennapastandpresent@gmail.com. We love hearing feedback and ideas. Danke!

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 viennapastandpresent@gmail.com. We love hearing feedback and ideas. Danke!