He has his own TV program and a farm. He runs healthy sandwich bars, works for the radio and is a unique individual. He has turned his American accent to his advantage. Michael Moritz talks with Magda Kuszewska about his love of Warsaw and his passions.

How did you find yourself in Poland? Did it happen by chance or was it a conscious decision?
I used to come here almost every year since I was a child. My father is Polish and my mother's parents were also Polish. I came to Poland for the first time in 1971 as a one-year-old baby. I continued to travel between Poland and the United States. On one occasion-I think it was in 1985-I spent a year here attending a language school. I was very fond of Poland from the beginning. I always found the country interesting and this was not because Poland was at a different level compared to America at the time. My grandfather was a professor in Warsaw, he showed me the city, trams and streets and Polish culture. I have great childhood memories.

When did you decide to stay here?
I used to live near Detroit, Michigan. Around 1996-1997 my band, with whom I had recorded two albums, fell apart and I also had problems in my private life. I wasn't in a good shape so I thought it a good idea to leave the States.

What was your first job in Poland?
In Poland, my father gave me a job in his company, where I learned everything. In Warsaw, I opened a City Service business, something which hadn't existed here before. So in the beginning, I delivered parcels. After two years my father sold his company. In the States, I worked from the age of 14 in order to learn discipline. First it was Burger King, then I worked for each of the American fast food chains.

But in Warsaw, you opened an alternative to fast food, Subway.
I thought it was an excellent idea. People in Poland like to eat something real. Initially, I had three sandwich bars. Now, I have only two: on Jerozolimskie Avenue and in the Galeria Mokotów shopping mall, but I'm looking for new locations.

And how did you become the most popular presenter on Jazz Radio?
I was in the legendary, and now non-existent, Akwarium club when Mariusz Adamiak remarked: "You speak Polish in an interesting way, Michael." And I told him that I had been a musician. When I was 12, my mother sent me to radio lessons in the States. It was my only experience. My first broadcast in Radio Jazz was hopeless, I talked in far too simple a way. Then, I hit on the idea of arranging live phone calls. Kids called and rapped to the background music I played them. This developed into bolder conversations on the radio; instead of making trouble, people called me. My program became very popular. Then, Gazeta Wyborcza called me one of the best broadcasters on Jazz Radio together with Hołdys. The next day I was fired, but after two weeks Adamiak called me and said: "Come back." I made jazz programs for around a year. Then, someone bought the radio and I broadcast a show program, which was aired daily and became very popular. I talked about topics that no one had talked about before-the best sexual positions or who should be in the government, without vulgar language. They used to say that Michael touches the edge, but balances.

But you moved to Radio PIN.
The decision to leave was very difficult because I had quite a lot of Jazz fans, people who liked my show, listened to me every day, and co-created the subjects I suggested to them. I encouraged the audience, often with non-conventional ideas, to support all sorts of organizations aiding animals. Sometimes there were weird contests that now seem very funny to me and that were successful. All the ideas were mine, I had much freedom.

You didn't limit yourself to radio however, as you also have a program on TVN Turbo.
I had prepared material earlier for TV4 and TVP Kultura. A few months ago, I was approached by people from TVN. We are now making an interesting program for women and men-an atypical, far out one. It's perfectly suited to me. I recently appeared wearing a bra. Men have problems taking bras off women so I talked with women about it in front of the camera and I showed men how the bra should be taken off. We went into the streets of downtown Warsaw with the camera and I managed to persuade four women to take off their bras without taking off their T-shirts. We also talked about what women do not like about men. The program is broadcast on Thursdays at 11 p.m. with reruns every day. I have just begun to host Miasto Kobiet with Paulina Młynarska on TVN Style. The best thing is when someone feels good after my program. That is what gives me the greatest pleasure. I'm not seeking popularity, I don't like it. I'm just happy doing these things.

How do you combine your work as a radio and TV presenter with business?
I also have billboards, a farm in Mazuria and I run the Internet-based X Radio, which I set up in my home. It has around 100 regional listeners. There are no programs, only music. I manage somehow. Voice is very important in radio and character is the second most important thing. Besides, I like challenges. I do not hide in snobbish places, do not go to banquets. I support Polish alternative music. Moreover, I combine the features of an American and a Pole and this is interesting.

How do you see Americans and how do you see Poles?
Polish people can be proud of being very family-oriented, something which has always fascinated me. Here, mothers, fathers, grandfathers are still respected. Some Americans do not know what is going on around them, but they are often imitators, while it is Poland that shows more innovativeness. In Poland, sometimes people dwell unnecessarily on certain things, move back. Instead of thinking about bygones, one should think about what to do now. But I love Warsaw and Poland, and I feel great here. I believe in Poland.

What are your plans?
I have a dream. I would like to do something that would resemble David Letterman and Jay Leno's shows. I dream that someone might give me a studio and the freedom to invite whomever I wish. I would also like to create an international radio station. In my opinion, radio broadcasting different countries' programs is needed. Germans staying in Poland do not quite know what's going on around them, they do not understand the local television programs. A radio like that would broadcast in English for a few hours, then in Spanish for a few hours, and so on. Someone told me there were only 5,000 Americans in Warsaw. So what? They hold high posts. It is a small group, but they make important decisions. I am going to focus on the media now, although this is not my source of income. I earn money doing other things.