The 011 Podcast: Recent Episodes
Todd Williams & Steve Graning
Two American misfits moved to Europe in the 1990s and watched the world change. Join Todd & Steve as they retrace the events that brought them from California and Illinois to the Wild Wild West of Eastern Europe after the fall of the Iron Curtain. Along the way they answer questions like: Should you fear the police? What happens to rock bands at borders? And what are the best ruin pubs in Budapest? So tune in each week for a new episode of the 011 Podcast.
After returning home from the West in 1985, Tamás Rupaszav lost his traveling privaleges but not his love for punk music. In part 2 of our interview with the Hungarian music producer, Tamás talks about dodging military service, recording music in summer homes and his never-ending car repairs.
Music producer Tamás Rupaszav joins The 011 Podcast to talk about playing in a Hungarian punk band in the early 1980s. Looking like Johnny Rotten got him his first gig, launching Tamás on a wild journey that culminated in exile in France.
Maria Gyarmati joins The 011 Podcast to talk about her work as the Art Director of Panel Magazine, why she decided to leave Russia to study and live in Hungary, and what she thinks about the state of animation, dance and NFTs.
Todd & Steve ask John about how and why he became a Hungarian citizen. They then discuss navigating local bureaucracy, addressing adults with the formal form, meeting Todd during his office hours and much more.
The publisher of Panel Magazine joins The 011 Podcast to talk about trends in writing and publishing, printing on demand, what she looks for in new authors who submit to her magazine and much more.
John Cantwell left Long Island in 1993 to live in Budapest for a year or 2. Nearly 30 years later it all still makes sense.
How different were things in Hungary back in the day? Bob Cohen shares his opinions on flip phones, music promoters, and Hungarian cultural myths.
What makes a good laugh? Todd & Steve unpack humor in the US and Europe to find we all have much more in common than we think.
Bronx native Bob Cohen arrived in Hungary in just before the fall of Communism and his interest in music and linguistics took him to Romania, Hungary and the Balkans during a fascinating period of change.
Todd & Steve put their American heads together and sort the European continent into sectors. The resulting paradigm may still need a little work.
There's not much adventure on a guided, all-inclusive tour. So how far do you need to go to call yourself a real traveler?
Todd & Steve search their histories and experiences to answer the question of how committed people are to the identities they assume and explain why they grew their hair at the beginning of their European adventure.
Human rights lawyer Tamás Fazekas reflects on the past six years, since the Hungarian government erected a barbed wire fence across its southern border to keep refugees, whom they insisted were economic migrants, out.
Lighting fireworks in the driveway, skateboarding at the fire department, and building muscle cars. Todd & Steve plumb their memories to talk about being a child in the 1970s. Find out why Todd wore a suit to school and Steve only saw his mom at dinnertime.
Todd & Steve are joined by lawyer and human rights activist Tamás Fazekas to talk about the effects of the government's new anti-pedophilia law, which included restrictions on classroom material and media that "popularizes" homosexuality or gender reassignment.
Where can you go? In honor of the (partial) renovation of Budapest's vital City Park, Todd & Steve weigh up public spaces in Hungary versus the United States and why it's always a struggle to maintain public areas. Then they discuss the merits of fenceless neighborhoods.
Todd & Steve are joined again by author and professor Zoltán Pogátsa to figure out what it takes to get kicked out of the EU, why the money will keep flowing into Greece and Hungary, and what to expect in next year's Hungarian election.
Todd & Steve are joined by published author and professor of political economy Zoltán Pogátsa to discuss privatization after the fall of Communism, the disastrous speech given by then-Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány, the lack of ideology in modern politics and much more.
Rocking with Bródy János and the growing open-mic scene, part 2 of our interview with Gábor Bihari. After organizing a concert for Bródy János in Los Angeles, Gábor returns to Hungary and joins the good times in Budapest in the 1990s. He then tells us about running one of the most popular open-mics in Europe, while Todd announces his new album.
From Romania to California in the 1980s, part 1 of our interview with Gábor Bihari. As a teenager under the Ceausescu dictatorship, Gábor's family was cut in half when his mother and brother defected to America. Two years later he joined them in Los Angeles and the American dream was at hand. So why does he live in Hungary?
Ever wondered how your country looks to an outsider? Todd & Steve recount the historical legends and myths they have been told about Hungary and what it says about their adoptive home.
Everyone believes that Big Tech is intruding on our private lives, but how far does it go and how did we get here? Todd & Steve explore the world of conspiracies, government secrets, and exploding candy.
The people of Earth have chosen English as its language of communication. Will it be the world's last lingua franca? How will the language itself change in the coming years? And will it eventually be surpassed or made obsolete? Join Todd & Steve on The 011 Podcast.
Now and forever. What would a time traveler from 1994 recognize about Budapest today? Todd & Steve take an inventory on what places and experiences (but mainly food) still exist three decades later.
Todd & Steve talk about how the public discourse has changed around topics like homosexuality, racist team mascots, safe spaces and much more on this week's 011 Podcast.
The little guy is fighting back against the corporate giants on Wall Street and the world has a case of investment fever. Will it lead to revolution? Find out on this week's 011 Podcast.
Why are American families known for being looser-knit than Europeans? Todd & Steve talk about family reunions, eloping, and how close they are to their second cousins.
How did America's culture of violence facilitate the attack on the Capitol Building in Washington DC? Todd & Steve share personal stories from their past and connect them to what they saw during the outrageous coup attempt by Trump supporters.
Join Todd & Steve as they dive into garbage, pollution, conservation and other topics that make up the sprawling issue of environmentalism. The guys discuss polluters, psychology, fluffy animals and The Skeptical Environmentalist on this week's 011 Podcast.
Foreigner, immigrant, expatriot or just a citizen of the world. Todd & Steve argue about how to define a controversial term. They then wonder if a different part of the world now resembles the Eastern Europe they discovered in the 1990s or if people just don't wander like they used to.
The Covid quarantine caused Todd & Steve to reminisce about New Year's Eve parties in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Budapest, Edinburgh, Krakow, and Serbia. Drinking, fighting, shooting, dancing and other ways to ring in the New Year all on this week's 011 Podcast.
How much of our time is wasted on useless tasks? When we reject the trappings of the modern world are we running away from our problems or streamlining our lives? Todd & Steve examine time sinks such as pets, technology, cars, and employment on this week's episode of The 011 Podcast.
Growing up in America, it's nearly impossible to avoid playing and watching sports. Todd & Steve reflect on how engaging in athletics was both encouraged and discouraged by their peers before looking at various aspects of the business of sports.
Will automation take away your job? Will universal income or widespread poverty follow? Todd & Steve imagine a future where machines have made humans labor obsolete, drawing on their experiences in Post-Communist Hungary.
Todd & Steve explain why Americans expect larger serving portions. In Europe, less is often more, while Americans want a taller glass and bigger plate. Listen to this week's 011 Podcast to get more bang for your buck!
How do Americans display their wealth compared to Europeans? In a highly personal podcast, Todd & Steve recount their experiences growing up in different parts of America. Expensive watches, Ferraris, summer homes, and yacht stops in the Adriatic.
Todd, Steve and Zsombor argue over the future of the written word in the latest episode of The 011 Podcast. They get into a larger discussion about technology, knowledge, Marshall McLuhan and writers planning out the adaptation of their work.
Culture crosses borders in interesting ways. Todd & Steve explore the various ways that people, customs and products swirl into and out of favor as the world clashes and connects.
In the 1990s Todd & Steve invaded the Hungarian labor market just as most Hungarians dreamed of finding riches abroad. Zsombor joins the guys to explain why he stays in Budapest even though his parents now live in West Virginia as well as why American guys get all the women.
Todd and Steve react to the outcomes of the American election. Can America be saved, or is it an empire in decline? The guys share their thoughts and dream a little about what could be versus what is likely to happen next.
In Part 2 of our interview with Nate Johnson, we ride along with his band Fabulon as they rock the city in the late 1990s. Join us as we revisit Heaven Street Seven, Másfél, Amber Smith and Stig Roar Husby to make the rounds at Jailhouse Rock, Fél Tiz and other famous venues.
An interview with Flop drummer Nate Johnson. Tour the Pacific Northwest of the 1980s as musicians from the region coalesced into bands that would change the face of music forever. Todd & Steve are joined by someone who was there and actually remembers some of it.
Too sweet, too happy, too expensive. Does a product sell better around the world if people associate it with the United States? Todd & Steve visit McDonalds, Ford, Starbucks, Levi's and other hallmarks of Americana to discuss the state of American brands in the world today.
Professor Frank Zsigó of Eötvös Loránd University joins Todd & Steve to talk about the current political landscape in Hungary, answering questions about Fidesz, opposition parties, The Media Law, the failed Bős-Nagymaros hydropower project and much more.
Todd & Steve wrestle with their national identities on this week's 011 Podcast. Todd describes his spiritual attachment to his dreadlocks, while Steve recalls being told to "love it or leave it." They then add other ingredients to the formula that makes up one's identity, including sports, geography and music.
In response to a listener question, Todd & Steve imagine what their lives would have been like if they'd stayed in or returned to the US and raised a family. Find out why the guys balked at the chance to be an accountant or a lawyer on this week's 011 Podcast.
Responding to Joe Rogan's recent criticism of gamers, Todd & Steve reveal their love for gaming in all its true forms ... except for Monopoly. They discuss gaming as a pastime and argue about whether people in the future will spend more time in a virtual world or the real one.
Ever wonder what Todd & Steve did to earn some bread before they became world famous podcasters? Delivering papers, carrying golf bags and frying chicken with 11 herbs and spices are just a few of the early chores that taught the boys the value of money.
Check out this week's episode of The 011 podcast if you want to hear Todd and Steve let their inner nerds out. They tackle crucial issues such as Star Trek or Star Wars? Utopian or dystopian? And how realistic should out outer-space fiction attempt to be?
Steve and Todd ask When Do You Become a Local? They've lived half their lives in two faraway countries, so where do they belong? Todd wonders if he is allowed to criticize tourists, while Steve considers whether people are listening either way. Tune in for an entertaining, thought-provoking episode.
Todd & Steve break down summer pastimes both growing up and currently, including summer cookouts, hosting culture and jobs where guys cut their hands off. Find out how American summer culture has come to Hungary in the form of screen doors, barbeque sauce and more.
Todd & Steve came to Europe and never looked back, but there have been some bumps in the road. As they say, things are just a little different. From holding open doors to dating etiquette, the guys dissect the norms and expectations on both sides of the Atlantic.
High ceilings, landlords, and party fall-out all feature in this week's episode of The 011 Podcast. Todd & Steve recount numerous tales about where they've lived in both America and Hungary while also explaining the different attitudes towards how one should live.
Horseradish, sour cream and pig cheese are just a few items on the menu of this week's episode of The 011 Podcast. Find out what Todd & Steve miss about American cuisine, including donuts and good hamburger buns, as well as a few things they've grown to love.
Grandmas on trains with 500 t-shirts, cars parked on medians, and ubiquitous smoking. It must be Eastern Europe in the 1990s! Listen in as Steve and Todd reminisce about their early days in Hungary, Czechia, Serbia, and other post-Communist outposts in the Wild, Wild East.
Before podcasts, there was radio. Todd and Steve recount how they went from radio listeners to DJs and the music they encountered along the way. AM, FM, college and pirate radio all get their due, culminating in Todd's takedown of Guns and Roses and the King of Pop himself. Stay tuned!
Budapest is famous for transforming its derelict buildings in the city center into stylized bars. Todd & Steve tell you about how they came to be, how they've evolved over the years, and how they've become tourist destinations.
What does it take to find work in a foreign country? Todd & Steve walk you through the practical issues related to teaching English as a foreign language. Find out how to find work, what options are available, how to fill your schedule and which options pay better.
Todd & Steve give you a taste of how alcohol is consumed in Eastern Europe. The craft brewing revolution is colliding with tradition, which means there is plenty to go around. Whether you prefer wine, beer or spirits, the guys will keep pouring until your cup runneth over.
Todd & Steve compare notes on the university experience in the US versus Europe. Todd recalls trying to convince a debt collector that his time would be better spent chasing someone else before Steve brags about his daughter's lack of tuition. They then discuss the merits of spending $280,000 on a college education.
Rock out with Todd and Steve as they look behind the curtain at the changing state of popular music in Europe since the 1980s. Along the way they tackle such mysteries as why Queen and Depeche Mode receive more love than The Who and The Cure, which Western bands are feted by cover bands, and why strangers on the street assume Todd wants them to serenade him with Michael Jackson hits.
Take a ride with Todd and Steve as they compare adventures getting around in Hungary after growing up in American driving culture. Todd explains giving up driving early in life, while Steve recounts learning to drive stick in the Budapest crucible. Todd thinks his cycling days might be over, and not only because his bike kept getting stolen. The conclusion is no surprise: public transport in a European city is always your best bet.
People travel to see new things, but also to meet new people. What they don't realize is that the people you meet when you travel are different from the people you meet once you settle down in a new country. Todd and Steve talk about how the people you meet inside the tourism bubble are not the people you meet in the workplace, at government offices, and in the homes of fresh squeezes.
Meet Todd and Steve and hear their stories about moving to Europe. Both traveled around Europe before putting down roots in Hungary. Steve explains how unfinished business motivated him to come to Eastern Europe, while Todd flew to England for free before making his way to Portugal and Spain. Both had to find a way to support themselves abroad without overstaying their visas.
Todd and Steve recount a number of encounters with the police over the years on two different continents. Todd recalls his run-ins with the cops growing up in California before contrasting his experiences with European police, mostly while creating havoc on his bike.