How It Ticks

James Blake Wiener, a historian, writer, and Co-Founder of the World History Encyclopedia, joins How It Ticks to explore remarkable Swiss stories throughout history. His research illuminates global history through unique cross-cultural exchanges and individual narratives.This is Part 4 of our special 5-part series, focusing on Johann Ludwig Burckhardt: An Intrepid Swiss Explorer. We delve into the fascinating life of this Swiss adventurer, known for his daring travels across the Middle East and his significant contribution to archaeology, including his "rediscovery" of Petra.Expect to learn about Johann Ludwig Burckhardt's background and his motivations for his extensive explorations. We discuss his journeys through regions like Syria, Egypt, Arabia, and Nubia, his methods for blending in with local cultures, and the challenges he faced. The conversation highlights his monumental discovery of Petra and his lasting legacy in the world of exploration and Orientalism.Read the original article by James Blake Wiener here:https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/2024/08/johann-ludwig-burckhardt-schweizer-entdecker/Listen to the full 5-Part Series:Part 1: The Swiss on the Titanic - ⁠⁠Link⁠Part 2: The Swiss on the LusitaniaPart 3: Albert Gallatin: A Swiss Founding Father Part 5: The Ticinese and the Australian Gold RushChapters:Coming Soon:Connect with James Blake Wiener:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameswiener/Connect with How It Ticks:Website: https://howitticks.ch/contact-page/Full Transcript: https://howitticks.ch/podcast/swiss-stories-james-blake/

James Blake Wiener, a historian, writer, and Co-Founder of the World History Encyclopedia, joins How It Ticks to explore remarkable Swiss stories throughout history. His research illuminates global history through unique cross-cultural exchanges and individual narratives.This is Part 3 of our special 5-part series, focusing on Albert Gallatin: A Swiss Founding Father. We delve into the life and profound influence of this Swiss-born statesman who played a pivotal role in early American politics, serving alongside figures like Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin.Expect to learn about Albert Gallatin's Swiss origins and his path to becoming a key figure in American history, including his contributions as Treasury Secretary and diplomat. We discuss how his unique background may have influenced his political philosophy and his lasting legacy in shaping the young United States.Read the original article by James Blake Wiener here:https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/en/2021/01/albert-gallatin-a-swiss-founding-father/Listen to the full 5-Part Series:Part 1: The Swiss on the Titanic - ⁠⁠Link⁠Part 2: The Swiss on the Lusitania Part 4: Johann Ludwig Burckhardt: An Intrepid Swiss Explorer Part 5: The Ticinese and the Australian Gold RushConnect with James Blake Wiener:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameswiener/Connect with How It Ticks:Website: https://howitticks.ch/contact-page/Full Transcript: https://howitticks.ch/podcast/swiss-stories-james-blake/

James Blake Wiener, a historian and writer, and a Co-Founder of the World History Encyclopedia, joins me to discuss Swiss stories throughout history. His work explores various aspects of global history, often highlighting cross-cultural exchanges and the narratives of individuals.Expect to learn about the experiences of Swiss passengers on the Titanic and the Lusitania, the role of Albert Gallatin as a Swiss-born figure in American history, the expeditions of Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt, and the experiences of Ticinese migrants during the Australian Gold Rush. This conversation highlights how Swiss individuals engaged with significant global events across different periods and locations.This is Part 2 of a 5 part series covering The Lusitania and the fate of it's Swiss passengers. The original article written by James can be found here:https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/en/2024/05/the-sinking-of-the-lusitania-and-the-fate-of-its-swiss-passengers/Listen to the full 5-Part Series:Part 1: The Swiss on the Titanic - ⁠Link⁠Part 3: Albert Gallatin: A Swiss Founding Father Part 4: Johann Ludwig Burckhardt: An Intrepid Swiss ExplorerPart 5: The Ticinese and the Australian Gold Rush Chapters00:00 Introduction to the Lusitania Story00:00:55 What Was the Lusitania?00:06:05 The Lusitania as a War Target and German-American Ties00:09:50 The Swiss on Board and a Survivor's Story00:15:30 Germany's Response to the Sinking00:17:30 Why It's Hard to Blame Just One SideConnect with James Blake Wiener:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameswiener/https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/en/author/james-wiener/Connect with How It Ticks:Website: https://howitticks.ch/contact-page/Full Transcript: https://howitticks.ch/podcast/swiss-stories-james-blake/

James Blake Wiener, a historian, writer, and Co-Founder of the World History Encyclopedia, joins How It Ticks to explore remarkable Swiss stories throughout history. His research illuminates global history through unique cross-cultural exchanges and individual narratives.This is Part 1 of our special 5-part series, focusing specifically on The Swiss on the Titanic. We delve into the little-known stories of Swiss passengers aboard the ill-fated ship, uncovering their backgrounds, their hopes, and the tragic circumstances they faced.Expect to learn about the personal experiences of Swiss individuals linked to the Titanic disaster, how their stories fit into the broader narrative of Swiss history and global events, and the historical context of maritime travel in that era. This conversation highlights how Swiss individuals engaged with significant global events.Read the original article by James Blake Wiener here:https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/en/2024/04/swiss-on-the-titanic/Listen to the full 5-Part Series:Part 2: The Swiss on the Lusitania [Link to Part 2 - TBD]Part 3: Albert Gallatin: A Swiss Founding Father [Link to Part 3 - TBD]Part 4: Johann Ludwig Burckhardt: An Intrepid Swiss Explorer [Link to Part 4 - TBD]Part 5: The Ticinese and the Australian Gold Rush [Link to Part 5 - TBD]Chapters:00:00 Meet James Blake Wiener04:45 Swiss People on the Titanic09:40 Why Swiss People Sailed on the Titanic15:45 The Good Reputation of Swiss Workers16:30 Personal Stories and How They Were FoundConnect with James Blake Wiener:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameswiener/https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/en/author/james-wiener/Connect with How It Ticks:Website: https://howitticks.ch/contact-page/Full Transcript: https://howitticks.ch/podcast/swiss-stories-james-blake/

Episode SummaryKathrin Altwegg, astrophysicist and professor emerita at the University of Bern, joins me to discuss Switzerland’s surprising role in global space science. As the head of the ROSINA project—one of the key instruments aboard the European Space Agency’s Rosetta mission—Kathrin played a central role in helping humanity land on a comet for the first time.Expect to learn how Switzerland became a respected contributor to space exploration despite not having a national space agency, what the Rosetta mission revealed about the early solar system, and why the discovery of amino acids on comet 67P was such a scientific milestone. Kathrin also shares her reflections on leading a decades-long mission, the challenges of space engineering, and what she hopes future generations will discover among the stars.CONTACT KATHRINhttps://space.unibe.ch/research/groups/rosina/index_eng.htmlCONTACT MIKEhttps://howitticks.ch/contact-page/TRANSCRIPTTBDTIMESTAMPS00:00 How Kathrin accidentally entered space science through job logistics04:00 Switzerland’s early involvement in space missions and Apollo 1107:00 Why precision engineering made Switzerland a valuable ESA partner09:00 Women in STEM and leadership during the Rosetta mission12:00 Building, testing, and launching an instrument to orbit a comet18:00 What comets reveal about the early solar system and the origins of life26:00 How Rosetta was steered, calibrated, and kept on track from Earth38:00 Discovering organic molecules and why glycine was such a big deal

Jakob Tanner, professor emeritus of modern history at the University of Zurich, joins me to explore Switzerland’s role in World War II and what it really meant to be a “neutral” country surrounded by Nazi-occupied Europe.Expect to learn what daily life looked like for Swiss citizens during the war, how the country balanced fear of invasion with domestic stability, and why the Reduit strategy focused on retreating into the Alps. Jakob also breaks down Switzerland’s trade and financial ties with Nazi Germany, including gold transfers and the country’s role as a safe haven for German assets.If you’re curious about Swiss wartime diplomacy, military preparedness, or the controversies that followed, this conversation offers rare historical insight.CONTACT Jakobhttps://www.hist.uzh.ch/de/fachbereiche/neuzeit/emeritiert/tanner.htmlCONTACT MIKEhttps://howitticks.ch/contact-page/TRANSCRIPThttps://howitticks.ch/podcast/switzerland-ww2-history-jakob-tanner/TIMESTAMPS00:00 Refugee policies and Switzerland’s stance toward Jewish asylum seekers06:00 The limits of direct democracy and why women didn’t get the vote until 197112:00 German invasion plans: Operation Tannenbaum and strategic miscalculations18:00 Would the Reduit defense plan have worked? What was actually built?24:00 Cultural and agricultural resistance within Switzerland during wartime30:00 Post-war relations with Germany and the long road to historical reflection

Jakob Tanner, professor emeritus of modern history at the University of Zurich, joins me to explore Switzerland’s role in World War II and what it really meant to be a “neutral” country surrounded by Nazi-occupied Europe.Expect to learn what daily life looked like for Swiss citizens during the war, how the country balanced fear of invasion with domestic stability, and why the Reduit strategy focused on retreating into the Alps. Jakob also breaks down Switzerland’s trade and financial ties with Nazi Germany, including gold transfers and the country’s role as a safe haven for German assets.If you’re curious about Swiss wartime diplomacy, military preparedness, or the controversies that followed, this conversation offers rare historical insight.CONTACT JAKOBhttps://www.hist.uzh.ch/de/fachbereiche/neuzeit/emeritiert/tanner.htmlCONTACT MIKEhttps://howitticks.ch/contact-page/TRANSCRIPThttps://howitticks.ch/podcast/switzerland-ww2-history-jakob-tanner/TIMESTAMPS00:00 Switzerland’s unique position in 1942 and how neutrality shaped daily life04:00 Economic dependence, rationing, and internal efforts to maintain stability08:00 Public morale, spiritual defense, and fear of German invasion13:00 The Reduit strategy: preparing to retreat into the Alps17:00 Trade and economic ties with Nazi Germany: exports, raw materials, and political complexity25:00 Gold transactions, banking secrecy, and the Swiss role in storing Nazi assets

Nora Markwalder, former prosecutor and professor of criminal law and criminology at the University of St. Gallen, joins me to unpack how Switzerland’s criminal justice system really works. Drawing on her deep experience across criminal procedure, white-collar crime, and criminology, Nora explains what happens from the moment a crime is investigated all the way to sentencing.Expect to learn how Switzerland’s justice system compares to countries like France, Germany, and the U.S., why rehabilitation is prioritized over punishment, and how the controversial juvenile justice framework operates. Nora also discusses what life is like inside Swiss prisons, how criminal records affect future employment, and the ways Switzerland handles international and immigration-related legal cases. If you’re curious about Swiss law, justice philosophy, or crime trends, this conversation is packed with insights.CONTACT Noralinkedin.com/in/nora-markwalder-4277765bCONTACT MIKEhttps://howitticks.ch/contact-page/TRANSCRIPThttps://howitticks.ch/podcast/justice-in-switzerland/TIMESTAMPS00:00 Foreigners in the Swiss justice system: are they treated differently?04:00 How the juvenile justice system works—and why 18 is a hard cutoff10:00 Trends in Swiss crime rates and the legacy of Zurich’s heroin epidemic18:00 The role of victims in Swiss criminal cases and the limits of restorative justice24:00 Political influence on Swiss criminal law through public votes30:00 What Nora would change about the justice system + the impact of AI on legal work

Nora Markwalder, former prosecutor and professor of criminal law and criminology at the University of St. Gallen, joins me to unpack how Switzerland’s criminal justice system really works. Drawing on her deep experience across criminal procedure, white-collar crime, and criminology, Nora explains what happens from the moment a crime is investigated all the way to sentencing.Expect to learn how Switzerland’s justice system compares to countries like France, Germany, and the U.S., why rehabilitation is prioritized over punishment, and how the controversial juvenile justice framework operates. Nora also discusses what life is like inside Swiss prisons, how criminal records affect future employment, and the ways Switzerland handles international and immigration-related legal cases. If you’re curious about Swiss law, justice philosophy, or crime trends, this conversation is packed with insights.CONTACT NORAlinkedin.com/in/nora-markwalder-4277765bCONTACT MIKEhttps://howitticks.ch/contact-page/TRANSCRIPThttps://howitticks.ch/podcast/justice-in-switzerland/TIMESTAMPS00:00 Why Nora chose criminal law and her journey from prosecution to academia03:00 How the Swiss criminal justice process works: investigation to sentencing07:30 Key differences between Swiss and common law systems12:00 Why incarceration is rare in Switzerland and how monetary penalties work16:00 How rehabilitation is prioritized over punishment24:00 What prison life looks like in Switzerland and different levels of prison security

Patricia Schafer, a Swiss political scientist, civic educator, and militia politician who’s built her career around understanding and participating in the country’s political system joins me to unpack the inner workings of Swiss democracy.Expect to learn what makes Switzerland’s political system so unique, why it allows citizens to vote on nearly everything, and how that shapes the country’s culture and governance. We explore how the Federal Council operates without a central head of state, how political and cultural diversity is kept thanks to a gentleman’s agreement, and what it means to work in politics while maintaining another full-time job. Patricia also reflects on why it took so long for women to gain voting rights, and the current debates around expanding civic participation.CONTACT PATRICIAPatricia Schafer | LinkedinCONTACT MIKEhttps://howitticks.ch/contact-page/TRANSCRIPThttps://howitticks.ch/podcast/patricia-schafer-direct-democracy/TIMESTAMPS00:00 Introduction to Patricia Schafer and Swiss Politics02:01 Understanding Direct Democracy07:48 The Role of Public Votes and Elected Officials18:38 Swiss Federal Council Explained25:05 The Unique Militia System in Swiss Politics30:09 Challenges and Future of Swiss Democracy37:19 Civic Participation and Voting Rights42:55 Conclusion and Final Thoughts