Drew produced a similar radio show to Budacast called 'Budapest Day & Night' on one of Hungary's first commercial radio stations from 1992-1995. He later worked at public radio stations in the US and over the years has contributed to numerous international news shows.

Budacast emphasizes culture and the arts and lets listeners in on places to go and things to do in Budapest and sometimes in Hungary. The program might transport listeners to an art exhibition, the thermal baths or even a pig killing in the Hungarian countryside.

1. When did you arrive in Hungary and what brought you here?
Got here in October 1990. Curiosity delivered me - I'd never been out of the US prior to getting here. A photography professor of Hungarian origin at my college sent 2 close friends to Szentes and I followed. I thought I'd stay for a few months to teach English, but things didn't turn out that way - it was the start of a great adventure.

2. Have you ever been an expatriate elsewhere?
Not really. I have spent a few months in Germany and a whole month in Cambodia doing radio training for communal elections.

3. What surprised you most about Hungary?
That it was like some strange, parallel 'bizarro' universe. Even though I realize that some of the things I found interesting here were not repaired/updated because of lack of funds, this country was/still is to some extent a wonderful time capsule and offers a window into a lost world of 40-50 years ago through things like small shops, neon signs, etc. Sometimes it's perplexing to me that people bear no romance for these old things, which are seemingly replaced without a second thought. But I always tell myself that I must understand that people want to get on with things, want new, clean things, and are doing their best to try and make ends meet, so 'out with the old' is the theme of the day.

4. Friends are in Budapest for a weekend - what must they absolutely see and do?
Meet some Hungarian friends of mine. Walk around town, go to the baths, do a coffeehouse and maybe have a drink or two at a couple of my favourite hangouts to bump into the usual suspects.

5. What is your favourite Hungarian food?
Csirkepaprikás nokedlivel

6. What is never missing from your refrigerator?
I do love to cook, but my refrigerator is incredibly bare at the moment.

7. What is your favourite Hungarian word?
How about the most difficult word to spit out? I have yet to spontaneously use the word 'egyidejûleg' in a sentence, but I'll let you know when it happens.

8. What do you miss most from home?
A lot of friendly, optimistic people - even if they can be naive. I've had people back home ask me 'how are things in Afghanistan? I also miss cheap ethnic food.

9. What career other than yours would you love to pursue?
Jazz singer or NBA player.

10. What's a job you would definitely never want?
Every experience can be a good one, and if it sucks it doesn't have to be forever.

11. Where did you spend your last vacation?
Ireland, where I saw where my grandmother was born and met my dad's cousins.

12. Where do you hope to spend your next holiday?
Would love to go to Turkey or Portugal. Ukraine sounds interesting, too.

13. What was your favourite band, film, or hobby as a teen?
Used to sing and play guitar in a heavy metal band.

14. What can't you resist?
What is the thing most men can't resist in Hungary?

15. Red wine or white?
Cabernet Sauvignon

16. Book or movie?
Book

17. Morning person or night person?
My day job has meant less time at the watering hole, so morning person I guess.

18. Dog person or cat person?
Dog.

19. Buda or Pest side?
Buda but pretty close to the action.

20. What would you say is your personal motto?
Not very inspired, but here goes: 'And in the end the love you take is equal to the love you make' - end of 'Abbey Road'