6 Podcasts to Help You Understand Austria

Austria has a strong legacy of producing great wines, with Vienna being one of Europe’s only cities to produce its own wine, although it is often overlooked for neighbouring Italy. This podcast, created by the Austrian Tourist Board, celebrates the country’s wine culture, with various episodes that capture the voices of Austrian wine country.

History buffs will love this in-depth chat about the Ottoman siege of Vienna in 1683, which was a vital moment for the city, resulting in the creation of the Viennese coffee houses. This is a fascinating moment in history, helping to ‘define a series of boundaries between Europe and Asia.’ The BBC podcast hears from Claire Norton, a Lecturer in History at St Mary’s University, Andrew Wheatcroft, a professor of International Publishing at Stirling University and Jeremy Black, a professor of History at the University of Exeter.

Booklet guides aren’t for everyone, and those who want a more intimate tour guide should download the Indie Travel podcast, run by Kiwi couple and passionate travellers Craig and Linda, who give unique tips about the city’s culture and best sights, including where to eat, where to stay, and how to get around. You can listen to their podcast for free here.

Feeling brave or just want to pick up a new skill? For those who understand a little bit of German but want to improve, Aufkaft gives you a chance to do just this whilst simultaneously learning about the cultures of both Austria and Germany. Produced and recorded by native speakers, the podcast takes you through the language’s structures and vocabulary. Bonus suggestion: beginners can also try out Slow German, a series hosted by Annik, a journalist who lives in the city of Munich in southern Germany.

Austria is not well known for its music scene, however those who want to explore further should download this podcast, run by one of Austria’s most popular contemporary music radio shows, FM4.

Sigmund Freud, the godfather of psychoanalysis and the mind behind the infamous Oedipus complex theory, is primarily responsible for Vienna’s fixation with therapy and neurology. Born in Freiberg – formerly in Austria, now in the Czech Republic – in 1856, his family relocated to Vienna when Freud was a young boy and it became the city where he would conduct the majority of his life’s work. One of Freud’s most famous theories was that our dreams can give us insight into our waking lives. This podcast and audiobook takes you through his famous theory and gives you tools so that you can understand your own dreams.