Eastern Approaches podcast

27/02/2022

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https://how-to-help-ukraine-now.super.site

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27/02/2022

We are not dissecting war strategy or talking politics. Just our personal stories and feelings over this tragedy.

https://anchor.fm/eastern-approaches/episodes/Ukraine-e1f07u5

Honest talk on our personal memories of Ukraine and feelings on the Russian attack.

16/11/2021

Washed up and left for dead (again), Ben and Andrew crawl back to record their 25th episode. They are joined by author Tomek Jankowski. who was crazy enough to study and live in this part of the world when it truly was 'Eastern Europe', to discuss his book Eastern Europe!. The book is well worth a read. And the podcast, well, perhaps worth a listen.

https://anchor.fm/eastern-approaches/episodes/Episode-25-Eastern-Europe--The-book--the-author--our-interview-e1abkc1

18/08/2021

Back with a vengeance and showing no signs of rust, Ben and Andrew welcome in the podcast's #1 fan and talk summer vacay in the Balkans (what a shock).

https://anchor.fm/eastern-approaches/episodes/EA-Podcast-Episode-394---Summer-Vacay-in-the-Balkans-e163bcf

After a long hiatus, Ben and Andrew catch everyone up on their summer travels. They welcome in EA's #1 fan and history professor Jaime Aguila to discuss his summer travels through the Balkans. Jaime talks first impressions, history, comparing Balkan foods with Mexican culinary delights and his unbri...

13/05/2021

Our picks to enjoy some touristy destinations that won't be over-crowded.

https://anchor.fm/eastern-approaches/episodes/Episode-23-Taking-advantage-of-under-touristed-touristy-places-e10ps7l

Ben and Andrew give their picks for some over-touristed destinations that won't be so touristy for this year and 2022. They also discuss ideas for more off the beaten path spots that could be all yours until tourism comes back to normal.

30/04/2021

Stereotypes that fit Eastern Europe? Did we get these right? Let us know if you were either deeply offended or laughed because you know these are true.

https://anchor.fm/eastern-approaches/episodes/Episode-22-Stereotypes-that-Stick-evvgu1

21/04/2021

Our latest episode ( #21) has us chatting with my good friend Peter Czinkan about Hungary as a destination for retirees and digital nomads.

https://anchor.fm/eastern-approaches/episodes/Episode-21-Is-Hungary-a-country-to-move-to-ev6sii

31/03/2021

Episode 20 took us a while but thanks for tuning in. Now let's talk about the biases against Eastern Europeans.
https://anchor.fm/eastern-approaches/episodes/Episode-20-Bias-against-Eastern-Europeans-etudqm

Discussion of the biases and discrimination against 'Eastern Europeans'. Ben recounts is first time to Greece via cruise ship while Andrew discusses making it through his first visit in Poland with nothing more than a hand-drawn map.

01/03/2021

A one-off podcast just on Slovenia, known as the Sunny Side of the Alps

https://anchor.fm/eastern-approaches/episodes/Sunny-Side-of-the-Alps---Drinks-and-good-company-on-Slovenian-farm-eqjmbd

Andrew is joined by guest host Saso to chat with Monika about her farm in Slovenia's Gorenjska region.

13/02/2021

I got just a small taste of Saze music during my week in Albanian and loved it. Check out this piece on Discovering the craze for Albania's Saze folk music from the BBC







https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p043kqk1

After isolation under communist rule music producers are discovering Albania's Saze music

13/02/2021

Discussing all things Albania on our latest Episode, # 19



https://anchor.fm/eastern-approaches/episodes/Episode-19-Everything-you-wanted-to-know-about-Albania-but-were-afraid-to-ask-eqbpm7

Impromptu discussion of Andrew's recent travels in Albania. Lots of travel destination talk focused on the southern half of the country. Plus some discussions on communism, religion, hospitality and, of course, food.

11/02/2021

Don't want to watch the live stream, but just listen in? Here's our 18th episode (sans video) talking all things traveling in the time of Covid and North Macedonia impressions.

https://anchor.fm/eastern-approaches/episodes/Episode-18-LiveStream-from-the-Balkans-eq8n18

Live streamed from northeast Albania, Andrew gives his thoughts and impressions of North Macedonia and Albania plus how it is traveling between countries during Covid.

04/02/2021

Live chat of Andrew's current travels to North Macedonia and Albania.

27/01/2021

We're turning our attention to Dark Tourism on this week's podcast

https://open.spotify.com/episode/7fhmtThGF9HAGmU6CncNRr...

08/01/2021

What do Sarajevo, Astrakan, Dagestan, the first elected President of Croatia and a Manwich have in common? They are part of our first podcast of 2021

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6Djr40MY8HerkNKXiV6XKw?si=q1V3l76ySkGjkN8iOZeyOw

To ring in 2021, Ben and Andrew tackle a big fish, the issue of Russia and Turkey being part of Europe or not. Do these countries belong in their own special category or are they really Europe? Ben waxes poetic about his first time in Bosnia where a still war-torn Sarajevo had not revealed all of it...

30/12/2020

Our last podcast of 2020. Discussing travel ideas in Hungary other than Budapest. Plus a few of our wish list places we hope to travel to in 2021.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3QqmrMDjb3J8wFyxq25guG?si=A4bxFZxmSFWWvVwkj2RUjg

Ben & Andrew reveal many Hungarian destinations outside of Budapest where the average English-speaking traveler are few and far between. We also discuss picks for our most-anticipated destinations of 2021.

23/12/2020

**New Episode** No smiles, no check, no worries - service culture in our part of the world

https://open.spotify.com/episode/7pOJUy3vaVRVs8tRi9cJgq?si=gkJILTWtT4WyO8Xcmq3HQQ

16/12/2020

Our latest episode talking Christmas traditions and decorations, reminiscing about travels with family members, places we don't much about (sorry Slovakia) and some good off the radar outdoor spots in Montenegro and Slovenia.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2JUDfT2Rv2PmMDQnBLEbxk?si=VJpNZf8eQ9GmJZykCCyd5g

16/12/2020

In our latest episode ( #13) we talk about Christmas in our respective countries. But if you want to see some truly gorgeous photos of the Christmas season in Poland, check out some of the photos by Japanese photographer Yuya Matsuo / EseJapan, He spends a lot of time in Croatia and Montenegro but this season he's got some amazing shots of Warsaw and Krakow with all their holiday trappings and dusting on snow.
https://www.facebook.com/EseJPN

09/12/2020

Ben & Andrew finally have a go at all the things they aren't enamored or in love with in this part of the world. Hopefully at least a few of their listeners will be offended when they bash, bitch and dissect your favorite destination...

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3xXUVNpucOLSwTVfHlsd5V?si=X5gZzf0zRZefCjSZDd8ukg

Is everything in C&E Europe just amazing, awesome and 100% super? Our short answer - NOPE! So Ben and Andrew have produced their most grinchest Grinch episode yet. Over-rated? Check. Tired of going there? Check. Actually not that interesting sights or history? Check again. Plus some lumps of coal dr...

05/12/2020

When you get tired of blah, blah, blah from us two Americans, give these three Scottish ladies a listen. They definitely have way better accents than we do and for sure you'll learn something new about Scotland. It's not just haggis and deep-fried Mars bars anymore 😉

02/12/2020

Brunch and Super Bowl parties in Prague. The darker side of traveling in Romania during the late 90's. Nearly meeting a famous film producer in Croatia's capital. All these stories and more as we rumble through yet another brand new episode of Eastern Approaches. And our love for waffles (of course)

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6a8oBGBqCccY20iDv2FL8o?si=a-u8WOL7Sge_Z1TJbxCdkw

Ben recalls many of his not-so-fond memories ‘surviving’ his first time in Romania. Andrew waxes poetic about Sunday brunch and double-features in Prague. And they both discuss why Zagreb and Plovdiv are two great cities that aren’t on most travelers’ radar (yet). We'd love to hear what you ...

01/12/2020

The only problem is that I'd get hungry from that smell and then it would all come crashing down on me.

Khinkali: Georgian dumplings like a work of art!

01/12/2020

Not only does Bulgaria have a much larger monolith (yes, size does matter), it also has the bizarro UFO-looking thing next to it.
Winner - BULGARIA!

30/11/2020

Plovdiv, Bulgaria has gotten some love on our podcasts. Here's another reason why it could be on that short list for expats to live in.

http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20201104-europes-city-of-dawdlers-and-loafers

27/11/2020

PUB TRIVIA - bonus episode.

If you missed it live now you can join in the trivia competition and watch in on replay. Let us know your score as prizes may be handed out!

Want to listen to the just the normal audio podcast version? No problem, we have it up at Anchor and Spotify along with all of our other podcasts.

21/11/2020

Why are so many of us so excited about Slovenia wines. Listen in and find out.

Saso Papp our CEO & Founder talks with Adventures With Sarah and Andrew Villone from Savor the Experience Tours about Slovenian Wine and other stuff Slovenian.

18/11/2020

Episode 10: The rich traditions and culture of the Seto peoples

In this episode we explore one of the least-known cultures in Europe: the Seto people in Estonia. Setomaa ("the land of Seto") is a fascinating place, and our guide Helen Külvik brings it to life. She tells us what makes the Seto people distinct, all about their most notable traditions and customs, and how they have survived until the present day.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0Fqh490iRMSu6HSJXjWVqB?si=ziCTBc33TT2JFWbPT62_uQ

Contact Helen, your guide for Setomaa: [email protected] or https://www.facebook.com/setotours

17/11/2020

We are looking forward to introducing our listeners to the culture, traditions and history of the Seto people, an ethnic and linguistic minority in SE Estonia and northern Russia.

Check out our latest episode, coming online Wednesday November 18 at 19:00 CEST on Spotify, Anchor and our other platforms.

16/11/2020

Get to know the hosts of Eastern Approaches better with this one hour discussion about our podcast plus some travel stories and tips with our good friend Trish from The Travelphile