Czechia in 30 minutes

Former ambassador and Havel biographer Michael Žantovský on Czechia's response to today's challenges, Czech Academy of Sciences unveils series of unique archaeological finds, new guide to Prague 

For this Saturday episode, we're taking you on two audio trips: one to a cricket ground, the other to a brewery. First up, Danny Bate's visit to Vinoř on the north-eastern edge of Prague, which this week hosted the Central Europe cup, organised by the Czech Cricket Union. Second, Jakub Ferenčík takes us on an exclusive tour around the famous Pilsner Urquell brewery, all the way down into the cellars where Pilsner beer was born.

News; Czech students join Shell's global eco-driving challenge for the first time; Archaeologists discover mummy of boy in family tomb in Skalná; Journalist Petr Brod on Czech-German relations and the place of radio in society.

Greenpeace protest against Trump and Musk policies, scientists produce likeness of St. Wenceslas, a closer look at the life of a female fighter jet pilot 

On today's show: Prague hosts three teams for cricket's Central Europe Cup; veteran car race to celebrate 130 years of Škoda production; and, for out feature, an interview with Serge Borenstein, who famously redeveloped Prague's Karlín district.

News; the Czech army plans to bring in garrisons to every region—but is still falling short; Expert Radek Špicar discusses current state of Czech economy and trade; “There's no global resolution exclusively addressing youth mental health”, says UN Youth Delegate Veronika Novotná.

News; Czech cinematography legend Vladimír Smutný dies at age 82; Climber Adam Ondra bids farewell to bouldering; Social Science graduate Martina Dvořáková's home equality audit.

For today's show: the news; pilgrimage badge on display in Opava reveals connections of Czech medieval life; Czech scientist first to document Oceania's largest rodent; and, for out feature, our exclusive tour of Pilsner Urquell Brewery. 

For today's show: the News; an alternative statue of Holy Trinity created on Olomouc's Upper Square; 1970s “bespectacled” rail veterans to get new lease on life; and for out feature, another edition of Prague Off the Beaten Track: Prague's Little Hanoi.

What Czech films will compete at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival this year? We talk to  two laureates of the 2025 Medal for Merit in Diplomacy awards and US journalist Matt Welch talks about his years in Prague.

News; Czech PM calls National Security Council meeting over suspect bitcoin transaction; The Netherlands send a bell made of Russian missiles from Ukraine to Prague's Old Town; Beavers' comeback: How a once-extinct species is reshaping the Czech landscape.

News; Bitcoin scandal shakes Czech government as opposition pushes for no-confidence vote; Czech leaders react to Nawrocki's presidential win in Poland; British comedian Mark Watson on Prague and performing comedy abroad.

In this weekend on Czechia in 30 Minutes, we hear from Martina Šmídová—a young Moravian woman born after 1990. She talks about building a new life in Thailand, what it means to belong to the Millennial generation, and how old labels like “Czechoslovakia” still follow her. A brief but insightful look at how younger Czechs see the world—and how the world sees them.

Born free, growing up wired: Meet Czechia's digital generation, Twenty years of baby boxes in Czechia: One adoptive father's perspective, Jeffrey Martin on mapping Prague's streets in 1.3 million photos, news 

For today's show: the News; Czech government holds China responsible for cyber-attack on Ministry of Foreign Affairs network; new mural at Prague's Letná pays tribute to Milada Horáková; an interview with Czech UN Youth Delegate Veronika Novotná on the mental health crisis of our time and what the UN can do about it. 

News; Čapek's Letters from England, signed by WWII paratroopers, exhibited; Prague celebrates specialty coffee at Filtruj! 2025 festival; Dr. Tomáš Páleníček on psychedelics in psychiatric treatment.

News, Africa Day highlights historic Czech-African partnership, Day of Czech returns to enthuse and educate about Czech language and literature, Beavers' comeback: How a once-extinct species is reshaping the Czech landscape, news

From tanks to sabotage: how Russia never left Czechia alone, To mark 100th anniversary, Sokol's Tyrš House unveils new mural, Martin Dušek maps anarchic Czech approach to construction in new film

Czechia has made a historic change to its election laws: citizens living abroad will now be able to vote by mail. As Czech women Marta McCabe, Julie O'Donovan and political scientist Petr Just point out, the reform comes after years of advocacy by Czech expatriates around the world. Weekend edition of Czechia in 30 minutes brings their views.

News; A major exhibition about the Czech animator and illustrator Jiří Trnka opens in Prague; Revealing the fate of Czechoslovaks in Soviet Gulags; Interview with Steve Gove as the 24th Prague Fringe Festival begins its rich programme of performances.

For today's show: the news; remains of Olomouc's Přemyslid rulers identified and laid to rest; researchers examine stains in medieval medical manuscripts to uncover ancient remedies; the Czech Anne Frank: Diary of Věrka Kohnová. 

For today's show: the News; how the Czech Army is reaching out to the public; are firefighters at increased risk of heart disease due to “eternal chemicals”?; and for our feature, an interview with political scientist Jiří Pehe on his career and life as he retires at 70. 

News; the iconic Říp Hill was once a lava lake, researchers have revealed; the future Via Silva Nortica: the cycle route from Vysočina through southern Bohemia and on to Melk in Austria; will bears disappear entirely from Czech castles?; former Slovak President Kiska speaks out on Fico, Orbán, Babiš and the EU.

On today's Czechia in 30 minutes show, we bring you: the news; Czechia's extreme drought and forecast for the summer; expats in London honor Czech and Slovak wartime stories; and, for our feature, over 24,500 walkers take part in 58th annual Prague–Prčice March. 

Australian couple Jean Svoboda and her partner Richard have returned to Czechia to continue a remarkable journey—one that began in online archives and led them across Europe. Jean, whose father was Czech and mother Latvian, has spent years reconstructing her family's past, piece by piece. Richard, himself of British origins and new to genealogy but moved by Jean's commitment, joined her in uncovering stories long forgotten. Together, they reflect on identity, belonging, and what it means to rediscover home—half a world away.

News; Czech voters are sticking to familiar choices as the election campaign begins; The top 4 real-life locations of the hit game Kingdom Come: Deliverance II; Dozens of rarely accessible buildings are set to welcome visitors during Open House Prague.

News; GLOBSEC poll shows 81% of Czechs would defend country; The Prague Transport Company celebrates 150 years with special documentary series; Prague off the Beaten Track goes to Rohan Island.

In today's Czechia in 30 minutes show, we bring you: the news; the chances of Adonxs winning Eurovision 2025 in Basel; Brno scientists develop monitoring system to keep pilots from nodding off; and, for our feature, I take you to an award-winning cafe in Prague, May Cafe, to speak to its owner about the inspiration behind the cafe.

News; interview with the programme director of Prague Spring music festival; Czech cavers navigate country's longest underground traverse in Moravia; Variety journalist Steven Gaydos remembers the late Jiří Bartoška.

News, Museum of Survivors opens near Brno, in the former factory of Oskar Schindler, Czechia beats Norway at World Ice Hockey Championship, and the geocaching craze in Czechia.

In Czechia in 30 Minutes, Czech fighter Jan Trčka explains why he defends Ukraine—and why the war matters to all who value democracy.

News; passing of Jiří Bartoška, actor and face of Karlovy Vary festival; selling precious stones of unclear origin may cost geogark its UNESCO status; POBT explores Grand Hotel International Prague.

Alex Rosenzweig talks to Holocaust survivor Felix Kafka who together with his brother was lucky enough to join a children's transport to Great Britain, organised by Nicholas Winton. Mr. Kafka, who will turn 100 in June of this year, shares his memories of the time. And later on Jakub Ferencik will talk to Ivan Puš, a historian at Palacký University in Olomouc about Jewish identity and belonging in 20th century.

Brno court blocks completion of Dukovany tender – what happens now?, Suffering not over for Terezín inmates, as liberating troops arrived to free them, Adam Stewart: Many Czechs don't believe Cimrman plays could possibly work in English, news

Science fiction in the spotlight at this year's Anifilm festival, Czechia shows greatest growth in EU of sales of electric cars, Martina Skála on working with Forman and Polanski – and dancing with horses, news 

Zelensky in Prague: “We see Czech aid as a joint fight against terrorism”, 80 years ago: Prague rises up against the Third Reich, “You absolutely have to use AI”: AI researcher on Czech-US alignment in AI regulation

Eighty years ago, World War II ended in Czechoslovakia with both celebration and uncertainty. In this weekend edition of Czechia in 30 minutes, historian Vít Smetana reflects on how the U.S. Army and Soviet forces divided the country—not just geographically, but politically. What did liberation mean in 1945, and how should we remember it today?

Landovský: “The agreement will help Kyiv. If the US is mining somewhere, security forces will be present”, Freedom Celebrations in Plzeň bigger than ever on 80th anniversary of liberation, Maya Kvetny's casting journey from L.A. to Prague

For today's Czechia in 30 minutes show, we bring you an exlusive interview with anti-fascist Sudeten German Alois Ullmann and his two grandchildren who sat down with us in our studio. Alois Ullmann was a key figure in the Sudeten German social democratic movement. He fled to Great Britain during the Nazi regime but later returned to Prague. After being imprisoned in concentration camps, he worked to rebuild his party, Seliger Gemeinde, but was thwarted by the expulsion of Sudeten Germans. He later organized the resettlement of Sudeten German anti-fascists, known as "Aktion Ullmann."  As the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War approaches, his grandchildren, Sally Bywater and Chris Ullmann, reflect on his legacy, with the help of historian Thomas Oellermann who sets the stage for this painful period of history. We will be back with our typical show tomorrow. Enjoy!

News, exhibition showing never-before-seen images of Antonín Dvořák, reconstruction of Prague square, the return of beavers to the Czech lands 

On this show: news; a UNESCO mission recommends the reconstruction of Prague's iconic Vyšehrad Railway Bridge; eighty years after WWII, Czech volunteers are defending Europe in Ukraine; Antonín Kokeš's career, from Albi to 'Antonín's bakeries'.

On today's show: News; plans unveiled for Prague's Philosopher Quarter; treasure worth unearthed in north-eastern Bohemia; and for our feature, we bring you another edition of our series, “Prague Off the Beaten Track” with Vit Pohanka.