After the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, a newly independent Austria sought fresh business ventures to aid the reconstruction process and its battered economy. In this episode, guest Andrew Behrendt of the Missouri University of Science and Technology joins host Luke Morgante to discuss the emergence of tourism as a salve to Austria's financial woes, and why American tourists were so highly coveted despite their low numbers.

Follow along to hear about the ways Austrian tourism promoters propagandized to Americans overseas, how the arrival of tourists affected local culture, and the changing modes in which Austrians and Americans perceived each other during the 1920s and 1930s.

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If you would like to find more from Andrew Behrendt and his work, click the links below:

- Missouri University of Science and Technology Profile

- Historical Representation in Video Games

This reading comes from Chapter Two of Deitrich W. Botstiber's 2007 autobiography, "Not On The Mayflower."

Dietrich Botstiber was born in 1912 in Vienna, Austria, during the final years of the Habsburg monarchy when the country flourished with abundant natural resources and high culture. In his memoirs, Botstiber writes about his life in Austria during the first part of the twentieth century, and describes an Austria of great beauty and bounty that, over those years, diminished in size, culture, wealth and prestige, due in large part to the breakup of the Habsburg Dual-Monarchy, the 1938 Anschluss and the ensuing war. Botstiber witnessed the most unsettling times in Austrian history, but in Chapter One he poignantly recounts the innocence of his own youth in 1931 when he was 18.

On September 29, 1995, Dietrich Botstiber penned his name to a trust that would be the governing document for the Dietrich W. Botstiber Foundation. In the trust, Botstiber set forth his charitable intentions: to provide scholarships to talented students of good moral character in the fields of science, technology and commerce; to promote an understanding of the historic relationship between the United States and Austria; to support programs that prevent cruelty to animals and human beings; and to reform education systems in the fields of science, technology and commerce.

Growing from its roots, today the Botstiber Institute for Austrian-American Studies and Botstiber Institute for Wildlife Fertility Control continue to advance the mission of the Dietrich W. Botstiber Foundation.

The full book, "Not On The Mayflower" (2007) can be found here.

This reading comes from Chapter One of Deitrich W. Botstiber's 2007 autobiography, "Not On The Mayflower."

Dietrich Botstiber was born in 1912 in Vienna, Austria, during the final years of the Habsburg monarchy when the country flourished with abundant natural resources and high culture. In his memoirs, Botstiber writes about his life in Austria during the first part of the twentieth century, and describes an Austria of great beauty and bounty that, over those years, diminished in size, culture, wealth and prestige, due in large part to the breakup of the Habsburg Dual-Monarchy, the 1938 Anschluss and the ensuing war. Botstiber witnessed the most unsettling times in Austrian history, but in Chapter One he poignantly recounts the innocence of his own youth in 1931 when he was 18.

On September 29, 1995, Dietrich Botstiber penned his name to a trust that would be the governing document for the Dietrich W. Botstiber Foundation. In the trust, Botstiber set forth his charitable intentions: to provide scholarships to talented students of good moral character in the fields of science, technology and commerce; to promote an understanding of the historic relationship between the United States and Austria; to support programs that prevent cruelty to animals and human beings; and to reform education systems in the fields of science, technology and commerce.

Growing from its roots, today the Botstiber Institute for Austrian-American Studies and Botstiber Institute for Wildlife Fertility Control continue to advance the mission of the Dietrich W. Botstiber Foundation.

The full book, "Not On The Mayflower" (2007) can be found here.

We're thrilled to bring you an engaging conversation between two esteemed guests: Lotte Bailyn and guest host, Gary Cohen.

Lotte Bailyn, Professor Emerita at the MIT Sloan School of Management, is a trailblazer in the field of organizational behavior and the daughter of acclaimed Austrian social scientists Marie Jahoda and Paul Lazarsfeld. Her pioneering research on work-life integration and gender equality has had a profound impact on workplaces around the world.

Joining her is Gary Cohen, a distinguished professor from the University of Minnesota, renowned for his expertise in modern European history, particularly focusing on Central Europe and the Jewish experience.

In this episode, Bailyn shares parts of her remarkable life story, highlighting her deep connections to Austria. From her family's Austrian roots to her academic and professional collaborations, Austria has played a significant role in shaping Bailyn's perspectives and achievements.

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More from Lotte Bailyn and her work:

Lotte Bailyn at MIT Sloan School of Management

Lotte Bailyn Books & Publications

Raymond Jonas is a Botstiber grant recipient and the Jon Bridgman Endowed Professor in History at the University of Washington. In this episode, he discusses the rise and fall of Maximilian I and the Second Mexican Empire. A brief yet impactful period, the story of the Second Mexican Empire connects 19th century Mexico and the United States with European powers of the era and a motivated Habsburg monarch, Maximilian I.

Much of the conversation stems from Jonas' recent book, Habsburgs on the Rio Grande: The Rise and Fall of the Second Mexican Empire (2024).

More from Raymond Jonas and his work:

Raymond Jonas Website

Raymond Jonas Publications

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Intro & Outro Music: Erroll Garner Trio - When Johnny Comes Marching Home (1950)

Today's guest is Yale University graduate and University of Vienna doctoral student, Alexander McCargar! In this episode, he discusses early perceptions and portrayals of Native America in the Habsburg Empire and Austrian society, as well how these first impressions evolved into present-day understanding.

McCargar offers a unique approach to historical analysis, blending his backgrounds in stage design, theatre, architecture and more!

Find more from Alexander McCargar and his work, below:

Alexander McCargar Website

Alexander McCargar presenting at "Habsburg Encounters with Native America"

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Introduction & Outro Music: Josef Suk - Serenade for Strings, Op.6 (1892)

Born in Bad Gastein, nestled in the middle of Austria, Gerald Lehner began a lifelong journey from the alpine peaks of Central Europe, to the high-altitude vistas of the Himalayas, the windswept terrains of Alaska, and countless other places around the world.

As an engineer and teacher, Lehner contributed directly to the communities that welcomed him. As a journalist for major news publications like ORF, Profil and Der Spiegel, he supported his hosts by sharing their stories with global audiences, thousands of miles away.

Listen in to hear Lehner's most beloved and formative stories from his multi-continental adventures!

In this episode we are lucky to hear from recent Botstiber grantee and lecturer at the University of Graz, Duncan Bare. Bare's research has offered a new glimpse into the development of the United States' intelligence agencies, especially the OSS, SSU and CIG, in the context of their 1940s Austrian operations.

Listen in to hear the stories of these organizations' early days, the normal people tasked with establishing their presence, and the eventual creation of the CIA!

Recorded On: December 15, 2023