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 5 of our special 5-part series, focusing on The Ticinese and the Australian Gold Rush. We delve into the compelling story of migrants from Switzerland's Ticino region who journeyed to the other side of the world in the mid-19th century in hopes of striking gold and building new lives.

Expect to learn about the motivations behind this significant Swiss migration, the challenges faced by Ticinese individuals during their arduous journey to Australia, and their experiences on the goldfields. We discuss their contributions to Australian society and the lasting impact their adventures had both in their new home and back in Ticino.

Read the original article by James Blake Wiener here:https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/en/2023/12/the-ticinese-and-the-australian-gold-rush/

Listen to the full 5-Part Series:

• Part 1: The Swiss on the Titanic - ⁠⁠⁠Link⁠
• Part 2: The Swiss on the Lusitania [Link to Part 2 - Add when available]
• Part 3: Albert Gallatin: A Swiss Founding Father [Link to Part 3 - Add when available]
• Part 4: Johann Ludwig Burckhardt: An Intrepid Swiss Explorer [Link to Part 4 - Add when available]

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/

If you found this historical journey compelling, please like, subscribe, and leave a comment below! What did you find most surprising about the Ticinese experience in the Australian Gold Rush?

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 - ⁠⁠Link⁠
• Part 2: The Swiss on the Lusitania
• Part 3: Albert Gallatin: A Swiss Founding Father
• Part 5: The Ticinese and the Australian Gold Rush

Chapters: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 - ⁠⁠Link⁠
• Part 2: The Swiss on the Lusitania
• Part 4: Johann Ludwig Burckhardt: An Intrepid Swiss Explorer
• Part 5: The Ticinese and the Australian Gold Rush

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 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 - ⁠Link⁠

Part 3: Albert Gallatin: A Swiss Founding Father

Part 4: Johann Ludwig Burckhardt: An Intrepid Swiss Explorer

Part 5: The Ticinese and the Australian Gold Rush

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Lusitania Story

00:00:55 What Was the Lusitania?

00:06:05 The Lusitania as a War Target and German-American Ties

00:09:50 The Swiss on Board and a Survivor's Story

00:15:30 Germany's Response to the Sinking

00:17:30 Why It's Hard to Blame Just One Side

Connect 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 Wiener

04:45 Swiss People on the Titanic

09:40 Why Swiss People Sailed on the Titanic

15:45 The Good Reputation of Swiss Workers

16:30 Personal Stories and How They Were Found

Connect 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 Summary

Kathrin 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 KATHRIN

https://space.unibe.ch/research/groups/rosina/index_eng.html

CONTACT MIKE

https://howitticks.ch/contact-page/

TRANSCRIPT

TBD

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 How Kathrin accidentally entered space science through job logistics

04:00 Switzerland’s early involvement in space missions and Apollo 11

07:00 Why precision engineering made Switzerland a valuable ESA partner

09:00 Women in STEM and leadership during the Rosetta mission

12:00 Building, testing, and launching an instrument to orbit a comet

18:00 What comets reveal about the early solar system and the origins of life

26:00 How Rosetta was steered, calibrated, and kept on track from Earth

38:00 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 Jakob

https://www.hist.uzh.ch/de/fachbereiche/neuzeit/emeritiert/tanner.html

CONTACT MIKE

https://howitticks.ch/contact-page/

TRANSCRIPT

https://howitticks.ch/podcast/switzerland-ww2-history-jakob-tanner/

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Refugee policies and Switzerland’s stance toward Jewish asylum seekers

06:00 The limits of direct democracy and why women didn’t get the vote until 1971

12:00 German invasion plans: Operation Tannenbaum and strategic miscalculations

18:00 Would the Reduit defense plan have worked? What was actually built?

24:00 Cultural and agricultural resistance within Switzerland during wartime

30:00 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 JAKOB

https://www.hist.uzh.ch/de/fachbereiche/neuzeit/emeritiert/tanner.html

CONTACT MIKE

https://howitticks.ch/contact-page/

TRANSCRIPT

https://howitticks.ch/podcast/switzerland-ww2-history-jakob-tanner/

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Switzerland’s unique position in 1942 and how neutrality shaped daily life

04:00 Economic dependence, rationing, and internal efforts to maintain stability

08:00 Public morale, spiritual defense, and fear of German invasion

13:00 The Reduit strategy: preparing to retreat into the Alps

17:00 Trade and economic ties with Nazi Germany: exports, raw materials, and political complexity

25:00 Gold transactions, banking secrecy, and the Swiss role in storing Nazi assets