We start with yet another bike-sharing program (to replace the previous failed bike-sharing program) coming to town soon at the cost of 72 million zloty. After that, it's new tram ticket prices, pigeon murder, idiot mountain hikers and generally stupid winter behavior, the COVID vaccination situation, Primark says no Kraków and a top local cop gets busted at Biedronka.
No, it's not a conspiracy theory—tests have repeatedly shown that there is a measurable difference in quality between the Polish and German versions of many familiar products. Needless to say, Poland (almost) always gets the worse version and we want to know why. Join us for a discussion of this weird-but-true secret of supermarket shelves.
Financial problems at the Kino Kijów and old-school cinemas generally are our starting point this week before we move on to new tram lines, accepting fines from cops, restaurants try to save themselves, Poland refuses to be silenced by social media and the "Kraków Olympics" are still a mess.
If you don't know the story of Father Jerzy Popiełuszko, you need to check out Popiełuszko - Messenger of Truth on Netflix right now. Listen as we discuss his incredible story and his place right at the intersection of several powerful historical forces that shaped recent Polish history.
2021's first news starts with a LOT of complaining about the new sugar tax and taxes generally before moving on to celebrity COVID vaccinations (including a Polish vocabulary lesson), Dave is obsessed with Henry Cavill's legs and instructions on what to do with your pizza boxes.
As referred to by Dave.
https://web.williams.edu/HistSci/curriculum/101/garbage.html
Lifetime healthcare costs.
https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.0050029#authcontrib
The UK has a severe COVID problem? Let's quickly import as many people from there as possible! That's our starting point this week before we move on to Presidential penises, a smog update, looking forward to the 2022 Mayoral election, the new alcohol tax, a job opening at St. Mary's Church and the New Year's Eve curfew.
PiS might control the government, but everyone knows the REAL power in this country is Żabka. Listen as we discuss the early history and rise of the company that you literally cannot get away from if you spend any time in Poland.
In this off-topic Weekend edition, we talk about how different the Olympics have become in recent years. Is breakdancing really an Olympic sport? Is snowboarding? What about all those other sports no one really cares about?
After a quick discussion of Cyberpunk 2077, we jump into the news, including a makeover for Hala Targowa, park(ing) on Karmelicka, a discussion about trees, Olren buys media, updates on the latest fight with the EU and the mystery of carp.
Krakow's most interesting politician joins us to talk about a long list of the issues that he deals with as a member of the City Council. Listen and learn about billion-dollar budgets, tram ticket prices, electric scooters and more.
News of a coming COVID vaccine is our starting point this week, along with police controls of stores, milk bar struggles, parking at Tauron Arena, Straz Miejska drama, the future of Tesco in Krakow, brothels get busted and a depressing ending with Santa.
Yes, we know you've seen them. What the hell are they and why do they look like THAT? We have an informed answer to share but we're open to other explanations if you have one. It's time to talk about this mystery of manifestly male metal mirth!
We watched "Miasto 44" on Netflix so you don't have to. It's actually not that bad, but could have been so much better. Listen as we discuss the handful of pros and the many cons of this dramatic tale set during the Warsaw Uprising, including what might be the worst acting performance ever.
SO MUCH to talk about this week, including taxi drivers on strike, Poles are drinking more alcohol, ski industry problems, local and national budget issues, going to Biedronka can be bad for your health, new laws for phone zombies and the classic issue of when to turn the heat on in trams.
The newest generation of gaming consoles is here (if you can find one), giving us all another reason to stay at home on the couch. Listen as a special guest joins us to discuss what's new, what's interesting and what's vibrating in the latest entries in the never-ending gaming arms race between Sony and Microsoft.
The news starts with Poland giving the finger to Brussels, at least for the moment. We then move on to nurses threatening to go on strike, the feria school holiday gets changed, stores are reopening soon (maybe?), bus & tram tickets prices go up (again) and John rants about his hatred of student discounts (again).
We're perfectly split in our opinions of the 2019 Polish film "Boże Ciało", with two for and two against. Listen and be the deciding vote about this Oscar-nominated, blue-filtered tale of a fake priest.
Netflix recently added an excellent documentary about Polish diplomat Jan Karski. Charged with informing the outside world about what was going on in Poland during WWII, he repeatedly risked his life while personally witnessing one of the darkest chapters of human history. Listen as we discuss the documentary and the incredible story it tells.
After a COVID update and a discussion of a possible vaccine, this week's news turns to the latest lovers' quarrel between Poland and the EU, Independence Day marches, Duda's Trump tweet, the Olympics that no one's heard of come to Krakow and more.
You'll NEVER guess what we start our show with in this week of lockdowns and red zones and whatever the new term is for global doom. After that it's the end of restaurants, the beginning of food delivery empires, Christmas is canceled and a jewelry heist in Bonarka.
