Slovakia Today, English Language Current Affairs Programme from Slovak Radio

We take a look back at the week's headlines and some of our best stories from the past week.

Professor Anne Tomiche of Sorbonne University in Paris was the keynote speaker at an international symposium exploring various aspects of the norms and transgressions of masculinities in Central Europe — from the 19th century to the present day. Martina Greňová Šimkovičová also spoke with Ivana Taranenková, head of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, and Václav Smyčka of Charles University in Prague. The program includes a brief tribute to Anca Monica Dragu, a longtime member of the RSI English section, who passed away on October 3rd, 2021. This week's culture tips feature: an invitation to Roman Ondák's solo exhibition in New York, the shared Visegrad Stage at the Budapest International Book Festival, and the Bratislava in Movement, the International Festival of Contemporary Dance — among others.

In an interview from 2024 Ben Pascoe talks with cellist and festival organizer Jozef Luptak about that years Konvergencie Festival as well as the past, future and current state of Chamber music. (repeat)

In this episode we travel to the rolling hills south of Zvolen for the fourth edition of the Hurá Von Festival, where educators and lecturers from across Slovakia gathered to celebrate the power of outdoor learning. From workshops on emotional hygiene, apitherapy, and sensory-motor skills to thoughtful discussions on youth mental health, the festival highlights how time in nature can nurture both mind and body. Listeners will hear firsthand from organizers, lecturers, and a special guest researcher from Canada who are rethinking how children play, learn, and grow.

Ben Pascoe visits the pop-up teahouse at Research lab, an experimental space where diverse intersect and they attempt to develop at holistic approach to the co-evolution of human consciousness and AI. He talks with founders/organizers Roman Pii Wagner, Peter Kašpar, and Andrea Kutlikova about AI, community building, keeping young people at home and doing business in Slovakia today.

With over 6,500 languages spoken around the globe, communication across cultures can be a challenge. Translators and interpreters help us overcome these barriers. To mark International Translation Day, celebrated worldwide on September 30, our show pays tribute to Slovakia's language professionals. We meet Pavol Šveda, EU-accredited interpreter, president of the Slovak Association of Translators and Interpreters, and associate professor at Comenius University. He shares insights into the cognitive demands of simultaneous interpreting and the current state of the profession in Slovakia. Also joining the conversation is Miroslava Petrovská, Head of the Slovak Interpretation Unit at the European Parliament, who reflects on the significance of her work within one of the world's most complex multilingual institutions – the EU. And in the new episode of Slovak Sound Check, we dive into core vocabulary: learning the names of family members in Slovak.

We take a look back at the week's headlines and some of our best stories from the past week.

In this edition of the Window to the World series, Tatiana Žitníková from the Russian section joins Michal Herceg from Rádio Regina Západ to explore the collaboration between the UNESCO-listed town of Levoča in eastern Slovakia and the city of Perechyn in western Ukraine. In Friday's show, we also highlight cultural events in Slovakia that are perfect for English speakers — and today, we add an invitation to the international symposium Central European Masculinities, an event to be held in Bratislava and featuring speakers from Charles University in Prague, the University of Illinois at Chicago, Sorbonne University in Paris, and more.

RERUN: How is mathematics taught in Slovakia? And how to teach it in a way that entertains and inspires children? Mathematician Zbynek Kubáček reveals. Dušan Polačik, a representative of WAMA, talks about new trends in waste processing. Finally, a new episode of the Who was that series reveals who Janko Alexy was.

Don't miss your final chance to participate in the 8th round of the RSI competition series for 2025. In this episode, Peter Sabaček from the Spanish section uncovers the mystery of the Tribeč hills near Nitra. While in Nitra, we also revisit the partnership between this town in western Slovakia and Naperville, Illinois.

Ben Pascoe talks with recently appointed Director of the Slovak National Gallery Juraj Kralik as well as co-organizer of the free SNG initiative Andras Csefalvay about how the see the Slovak National Gallery today. He also attended the recent opening of SNG's newest exhibit and heard from protesters and attendees about how they seen SNG today.

Every year on 22 September, cities across the world celebrate World Car-Free Day, encouraging people to leave their cars at home. The event highlights the benefits of car-free living — from cleaner air and safer streets to more space for walking and cycling. In Europe, it marks the finale of European Mobility Week (16–22 September), a campaign promoting clean and sustainable urban transport. Slovakia is part of this initiative too, with towns and cities introducing creative programmes and lasting measures to make mobility more accessible and environmentally friendly. On this occasion, we bring you insights from Juraj Moravčík, General Director of the Slovak Environment Agency, Ján Horváth, transport emissions expert at the Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute, architect and urbanist Zuzana Ladzianska, and Jozef Vozár, spokesperson for Dopravný podnik Bratislava (the capital's public transport company). They share their perspectives on how transport shapes daily life in Slovak towns, the impact of cars on air quality and climate, and what alternatives are emerging to make cities more livable and sustainable. As always, the programme concludes with a new edition of our language corner — Slovak Sound Check.

After our regular news digest covering the past week, we now bring you another part of our 2025 series, Window to the World. Today, our colleague from the Russian section, Tatiana Žitníková, takes you on a journey to Spišské Podhradie in Slovakia and Perečín in Ukraine.

In his remarks regarding his visit to China in September 2025, Robert Fico also expressed his hope that a Slovak Cultural Institute would soon be established in Beijing, alongside a Chinese cultural presence in Bratislava. In today's show, you'll hear from a Slovak interpreter who has been traveling to China for the past 30 years as well as a Chinese poet who attended a literary festival in Slovakia in July 2025. Some tips for Slovak culture in and beyond Slovakia too.

RERUN: In today's program, we once again explore inclusive education in Slovakia through the experiences of Mária Reviľáková and Michaela Vlasáková, two friends and visionaries behind the project Alka. They share how personal stories, collaboration with institutions, and dialogue across generations are shaping a more inclusive society.

In this episode, we speak with researcher Jakub Šrol about how conspiracy theories threaten sustainability efforts. Drawing on his new paper published in the journal Nature Human Behavior, he discusses how belief in conspiracy theories erodes confidence in science and institutions and how social media accelerates misinformation. The conversation covers what defines a conspiracy theory, how to spot telltale signs online, and practical steps—like education and stronger public engagement—to slow the spread of disinformation and protect sustainable policies.

Recently in Bratislava, the city opened Loom, a center for people of foreign origin living in Slovakia. In addition to basic info, foreigners can find social, psychological, legal and employment counselling, in addition to finding community activities. Ben Pascoe visited the center to find out more.

On September 15, Slovakia commemorates the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, the country's patron saint. To mark this occasion, we have prepared a special programme exploring the origins of this powerful tradition, the meaning of “sorrow” as an expression of love, and the depth of maternal love as the strongest human emotion. The broadcast will revisit Mary's story, the long-standing pilgrimages to the national shrine in Šaštín, and the historic visit of Pope Francis, who met with the faithful there during his pastoral journey to Slovakia. The programme is built around STVR's archival interviews with prominent figures from the church, academia, and public life. Listeners will hear insights from Martin Kramara, priest of the Žilina diocese and former spokesperson of the Slovak Bishops' Conference; Benjamín Kosnáč, Roman Catholic priest active in Bratislava with international missions; Mons. Marián Bublinec, parish priest in Krupina; Roman Kečka, university lecturer and religious studies scholar from Comenius University; Dária Miezgová, psychologist from the Community of the Beatitudes; and Štefan Chrapa, musician and editor of religious broadcasting at Slovak Radio.

Weekly roundup of news and stories from RSI English.

September 12th marks the name day of Mária in the Slovak calendar. To celebrate the occasion, Martina Greňová Šimkovičová asks: which Slovak Mária do you know? As part of our cultural tips for English speakers at home and abroad, Marek Soltis invites you to the 47th Slovak Heritage Festival in New Jersey. Other cultural highlights include the Cinematik Film Festival in Piešťany, Džem Festival in Košice, Amplión Festival in Banská Štiavnica, and the World Music Festival Bratislava, among others.

Do you know the genre World Music? It blends classical musical traditions with modern elements, creating something that feels both new and yet familiar. Which Slovak bands have made their mark on the global World Music scene? Radio FM editor Vladimír Potančok, who has been following this topic for years, will tell us more — and he'll also invite you to the 10th edition of the World Music Festival in Bratislava, taking place in the capital at the end of September. In the second part of the show, we'll once again look at a personality whose name you can also find on Slovak street signs. This time, the spotlight will be on the storyteller Pavol Dobšinský.

In the next episode of our Window to the World series, we'll visit the Slovak town of Bojnice – famous for its beautiful castle and zoo – and the Italian town of Rosta to explore their partnership and shared activities. Later, we'll take you to a unique event, LingvaFest, a festival that brings together language lovers and polyglots from near and far.

Ben Pascoe meets the organizers of two upcoming events aimed at helping everyone better enjoy Slovakia. Director of the Milan Simecka foundation, Veronika Fishbone Vlčková, introduces the 20th edition of Fjuzn festival. Illah van Oijen one of the founders and organizers of Dobry Trh lets us know what we can look forward to at the fall edition.

The eighth episode of the Window to the World series takes us to the historic Slovak town of Banská Štiavnica. From there, we travel nearly 1,000 kilometers west to its twin town, Hünenberg, in Switzerland's canton of Zug. Along the way, we'll explore how the two towns have built a lasting partnership — through cooperation in areas such as social support, education, music, and even waste management. The new episode of Slovak Sound Check takes you through a full day in Slovak — from getting up in the morning to going to bed at night — while covering some useful verbs and handy grammar tips along the way.

Week in Slovakia. Window to the World: Bojnice - Rosta.

Gigi Green sat down with Syrian musician Lara Abou Hamdan, who moved to Slovakia at 18 and has since made her mark on the local music scene. In their conversation, Lara reflects on her upbringing in Syria, her journey to Slovakia, and how she bridges cultures through her music. Looking for cultural events this weekend and next week? Don't miss what's happening in Devín, Rača, Gelnica, Prešov, and beyond.

Today we'll take you to the final stop in our Diaspora on the Airwaves series — this time to the Vatican, where, surprisingly, you can also hear broadcasts in Slovak. In the second part of the program, we'll turn to our series Who Was That and introduce you to the Evangelical pastor Samuel Zoch. We'll look at his life story and the important role he played in Slovak history.

In September 2021, Pope Francis made his first—and only—visit to Slovakia. Despite strict COVID-19 restrictions, thousands of Slovaks traveled across the country for a chance to see the beloved pontiff. Among them were filmmakers Stanislav Piatrik and Mária Piatriková, who documented the historic visit through powerful footage and interviews with notable Slovaks. Their work culminated in the new documentary Návšteva (The Visit). In the first half of this episode, we sit down with the directors to discuss the significance of Pope Francis's visit and their experimental approach to storytelling. In the second half, we continue our series Diaspora on the Airwaves, exploring Slovak media abroad—this time from Szeged, Hungary.

Eating disorders have long been a problem. After covid, with so much social media it seems they are more prevelant and problematic than ever. Eating disorders are not just the problem of young girls, unfortunately they don't discriminate and can affect anyone, even someone close to us. Ben Pascoe sat down with Veronika Kolejáková a psychologist from Chuť žiť, an organization dedicated to helping anyone suffering from an eating disorder. (re-run)

On Constitution Day, we bring you an interview with Marián Giba, head of the Department of Constitutional Law at Comenius University in Bratislava. Together, we look at the strengths and weaknesses of Slovakia's Constitution, its frequent amendments, the role of the Constitutional Court, and how politics and ideology shape constitutional debates. As the Slovak Constitution turns 33, we ask: how should we understand and protect this cornerstone of democracy today? And since September 1st also marks the first day of the new school year in Slovakia, our Slovak Sound Check language segment takes us into the classroom. We'll learn essential school vocabulary and discover how Slovak adjectives change depending on gender.

Diaspora on the Airwaves - part 8. Slovak Sound Check. Slovak music.

On the occasion of the 81st anniversary of the Slovak National Uprising (SNP), Martina Greňová Šimkovičová visits the SNP Museum in Banská Bystrica, while Kerstin Plaschke Jakubik speaks with the daughter of Anton Ivan Szekely, the uprising's only official photographer. The program will also feature music from the time of the rebellion.

In today's programme, we bring you the seventh part of the series Diaspora on the Airwaves, this time dedicated to Ukraine. Afterwards, we'll look at the life and work of theatre artist Andrej Bagar and also talk about the theatre in Nitra that bears his name.

A re-run of some of the interviews published in the previous years by our colleague Kamila Galjuš.

Ben Pascoe talks with former MP, MEP and founder of political party SMER, Boris Zala. They discuss how and why SMER was formed, how it has changed over the years and how Slovakia in the 1990's has an influence on Slovakia today.

For the sixth installment of our summer mini-series Diaspora on the Airwaves — originally produced by Ingrid Slaninková from RSI's Slovak section — we head to the Austrian city of Eisenstadt to meet Mirka Špring and Monika Caudr, members of the editorial team behind the local Slovak radio programme Rádio Dia:tón and the TV show Czech and Slovak Echoes. In their native language, they spotlight the achievements and stories of the Slovak community living in the region. In Episode 15 of Slovak Sound Check, we make counting in Slovak simple — no math degree required.

Diaspora on the Airwaves - 7th round. Liptovská Mara dam and its hidden histories. Slovak Sound Check

On the 57th anniversary of the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact invasion, Martina Greňová Šimkovičová reflects on the memories of those who were in their twenties at the time, filled with hopes for a better future. Radio broadcasts played a crucial role during those days when tanks rolled through the streets of former Czechoslovakia. The bravery of radio workers is commemorated by a plaque in Bratislava's Primatial Square, installed in 2018. Valuable radio recordings, collected by Boris Koreň, further enrich the narrative.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the construction of the Liptovská Mara dam. On one hand, the reservoir offers numerous opportunities for recreation, water sports, or relaxing by the water with views of the Tatras. On the other hand, this water reservoir on the Váh River also carries the story of 13 villages and their inhabitants who lost their homes due to its construction. I discussed this darker side of Liptovská Mara with writer Zuzana Líšková, author of the radio play From the Bottom of the Liptov Sea. We will stay in the Liptov region in the second part of the program, where we explore the story of Liptovský Mikuláš native, writer Mária Rázusová-Martáková.

This year, Mira Tus Manos — the solo project of Argentine producer Cristian Estrella — released a new album titled The Future Sounds of Slovakia. The record journeys through Slovakia's rich folkloric traditions and regional cultures, but with a modern twist. Each expansive track, created in collaboration with musicians from around the globe, fuses traditional Slovak sounds with diverse influences from world music. In this episode, we dive into The Future Sounds of Slovakia and its companion film Medzi dolinami, Medzi vrski with Cristian Estrella. Together, we'll explore how cross-cultural collaboration shapes music across borders — and uncover what astronauts and the ancient Slovak flute, the fujara, have in common.

Ben Pascoe talks with former Slovak Minister of Finance and architect of the flat tax in Slovakia, Ivan Miklos, to discuss the not so distant past so we can better understand how we got to Slovakia today.

In today's episode of Slovakia Today, our colleague Gigi Ann Green takes us inside "Za Hranice s Hudbou" (Beyond Borders with Music), a summer workshop bringing together young musicians to explore jazz and contemporary genres. From harmony and vocal courses to late-night jam sessions, she also talks with co-founders Ester Wiesnerová and Lenka Molčányiová about music education in Slovakia, the challenges artists face, and their vision for inspiring a new generation of Slovak talent. We'll also mark Serendipity Day — Aug 18th — by celebrating life's unexpected joys with music, and bring you the latest Slovak Sound Check, where we broaden our Slovak vocabulary with Lubna.