Slovakia Today, English Language Current Affairs Programme from Slovak Radio

The 31st annual IFF Art Film Košice took place from June 20 to 27, showcasing 130 films from around the world. As we mentioned in the first part of our report, the festival draws film lovers from far and wide—not only for its international lineup, but also for its vibrant cultural atmosphere. But what truly sets Art Film apart isn't just the diversity of its screenings. It's the platform it offers: a rare opportunity for Slovak artists of all disciplines to present their work alongside some of the world's most acclaimed filmmakers. It's a one-of-a-kind event—unmatched anywhere else in Slovakia. In this episode, we'll be speaking with some of these Slovak creators. From red carpet premieres and autograph sessions to quiet, thoughtful conversations in the park, we'll show you how Art Film Košice is much more than just movies.

The Swords to Slovakia bike team rode into Bratislava to raise funds and awareness for Down syndrome centers in both countries. Ben Pascoe talked with them about their trek across Europe. Kulturne Leto or cultural summer in coming to an end, Ben talked with the Director or BKIS, Katarina Hulikova about what we can look forward to this August.

A tribute to Slovakia's golden voice — in life, in legend, and now on the big screen. As excitement builds around the new film about Karol Duchoň, we bring you the story of one of Slovakia's most beloved singers — a powerful voice and gentle soul who touched generations. Through rare archival recordings, new film interviews, and heartfelt memories from those who knew him best, this special traces Duchoň's meteoric rise, his private struggles, and the timeless legacy now revived for a new generation. Featuring voices from film director Peter Bebjak, actor Vladimír Plevčík, lyricist Ľuboš Zeman, longtime collaborators Marcela Laiferová and Pavol Hammel, his first wife Elena Duchoňová, Karol Duchoň himself – and more. The new episode of Slovak Sound Check dives into essential vocabulary for getting around and asking for directions in Slovak.

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

Hawaii - Havaj - revisit with us a place in the USA and in Slovakia

In today's program, Gigi Green explores the ambient narratives of resistance, rights, and visibility that resonated through the 15th Dúhový – Rainbow – Pride in Bratislava. Later, Romana Grajcarová examines how these same values echo within Slovakia's Vietnamese community in an interview with artist Kvet Nguyen.

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

July is Pride month. Ben Pascoe visited Bratislava duhovy pride and reports from there. He also talked with the organizers of the pride in the family march (Hrdi na rodinu).

For the second installment of our mini summer series Diaspora on the Airwaves —originally produced by Ingrid Slaninková from RSI's Slovak section — we travel to Luxembourg to meet Peter Balla, a translator and interpreter who's also a former radio professional. Through the local community station Radio ARA, he brings Slovak and Czech music and culture to a diverse audience abroad. We also take a moment to mark World Nature Conservation Day — July 28th — and reflect on our connection with the planet in these times of mounting challenges. And finally, the latest episode of Slovak Sound Check will help you order coffee like a local — whether you take it with sugar, milk, or just a smile.

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

Pohoda, Slovakia's largest multi-genre festival, reached new heights in 2025, with director Mišo Kaščák calling it the best edition yet. The Slovak band Tolstoys recently performed at Glastonbury for the second year in a row. Listen to the interview with Tolstoys about what it takes to get to the top European festivals. Rappers Video Dave, US, and Bene, SK, presented their bilingual rap in Trenčín.

The Bratislava Coronation Days are approaching, bringing with them a rich program and a reenactment of the coronation of King Charles III. Chairwoman of the Bratislava Tourist Board, Nina Erneker, will talk about what visitors can look forward to. What is the historical background of the Bratislava coronations? Historian and Head of the Department of Early Modern History, Diana Duchoňová, will shed light on that.

As many tourists and foreign residents have discovered, Slovakia is much more than its charming capital, Bratislava. From villages adorned with mysterious folk symbols to castles perched above deep valleys and trails leading into the rocky heights of Slovakia's many majestic mountains, the country is full of hidden gems. For those curious to explore beyond Slovakia's well-known destinations, we present our travel series called Country Roads. In this second episode, we journey to Muránska Planina National Park in central Slovakia. Here, we uncover the unique flora, fauna, and geology that make this relatively new national park so special. We also delve into the region's fascinating history and culture—once known as “the iron heart of Hungary.” Along the way, you'll get practical travel tips, discover how Slovak literature can enrich your trip, and even learn how feeding a ground squirrel might just make your adventure unforgettable.

Ben Pascoe reports from the 17th Biela Vrana (White Crow) awards which recognize courageous civil actions in Slovakia. (rerun)

On July 21, we mark 145 years since the birth of Milan Rastislav Štefánik — a remarkable astronomer, aviator, military leader, and diplomat who played a crucial role in the founding of Czechoslovakia. Born in 1880, Štefánik lived a life that bridged science and statecraft, sky and soil, ambition and sacrifice. In this episode, we speak with renowned Slovak historian Michal Kšiňan, author of the first scientific monograph on Štefánik, “Milan Rastislav Štefánik: The Man Who Talked to the Stars,” to explore his story, public image, and some of the myths that still surround him today. The new episode of Slovak Sound Check dives into some useful vocabulary for shopping.

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

Pohoda, Slovakia's largest multi-genre festival, reached new heights in 2025, with director Mišo Kaščák calling it the best edition yet. Iggy Pop delivered an unforgettable show, while Africa Express took the stage not only in solidarity with their fellow musicians from Massive Attack—who couldn't attend this year—but also as a gesture of deep respect for the audience. The legendary Queens of the Stone Age from the U.S. ignited a wild mosh pit, as did local punk powerhouse Fvck_Kvlt from Trnava. Renowned American jazz saxophonist Kamasi Washington and Slovakia's own jazz icon Peter Lipa each received standing ovations for their sets. Other standout live performances included female performers Skye from Morcheeba, Anoushka Shankar as well as Slovak musicians Jana Kirschner, and Katarzia, all of whom captivated the crowd. The Czech band Dukla surprised fans with a duet alongside Ela Tolstova, lead singer of the Slovak band Tolstoys, who recently performed at Glastonbury for the second year in a row. The festival's atmosphere and unforgettable moments were captured over four days in a special report and series of interviews by Martina Greňová Šimkovičová.

In the first episode of the series Diaspora on the Airwaves, we head to Novi Sad, Serbia, home to the Slovak section of Radio Novi Sad. Then, musician and singer Eva Miškovičová invites you to her upcoming concert with Júlia Kozáková, part of the Viva Musica! festival. And finally, you'll learn about Elena Maróthy-Šoltésová in a new episode of the series Who Was That.

In this edition of the Slovakia Today programme, we continue with the interview with professor Julieta Rotaru, a contract lecturer of Romani and Sanskrit at the National Institute of Oriental Languages and Civilizations (INALCO) in Paris, who attended the annual conference Aktuálny stav rómskych štúdií (Current State of Romani Studies) organised by the State Scientific Library in Prešov, eastern Slovakia. Next up is Roman Čonka, the editor-in-chief of the only Romani print newspaper in Slovakia, about its past, present, and future.

Ben Pascoe sat down with Slovak-Americans Thomas Skladony, Katarina Skladony and Jan Surotchak to discuss how American Slovaks see Slovakia today. We also discussed the Friends of SLovakia organization, of which Thomas and Jan are board members, what it does and how it brings Slovaks and Americans together.

In today's episode of Slovakia Today we head to the historic mining town of Banská Štiavnica for the sixth round of our Mysterious Slovakia competition, exploring its underground tunnels, cultural treasures, and poetic legacy. Then, we celebrate a small milestone — the 10th episode of Slovak Sound Check — with reflections, recaps, and a look at how far our learners Sean and Lubna have come on their Slovak language journey.

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

In an interview marking the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the International Visegrad Fund, its Deputy Executive Director, Maja Wawrzyk, discusses the importance of fostering mutual cooperation within the Central European region. The Culture Tips section highlights Slovak cultural events in Český Krumlov, Cedar Rapids, as well as in Trnava and Bratislava.

In the first part of the program, our new colleague Gigi Ann Green discusses AI with Professor Peter Drotár from the Technical University in Košice and Project Manager Viera Bordoy from the Slovak University of Technology. They share insights into the European Summer School on Artificial Intelligence, the state and potential of the AI industry in Slovakia, and what ESSAI means for the country's role in Europe's AI future. Then you will hear an interview with young developer Juraj Kollár, who won a programming competition with his own app at the age of 11. And finally, you will hear another part of our Who Was That series, this time dedicated to Ján Andrej Segner.

As many tourists and foreign residents have discovered, Slovakia is much more than its charming capital, Bratislava. From villages adorned with mysterious folk symbols to castles perched above deep valleys and trails leading into the rocky heights of the Tatras, the country is full of hidden gems. For those curious to explore beyond Slovakia's well-known destinations, we're launching a new travel series called Country Roads. In this first episode, we take you to Trenčianske Teplice, a picturesque village renowned for its healing thermal waters. We'll show you not only the many ways to relax and unwind, but also the wide range of recreational activities—from hiking and biking to historical tours and cultural events. With this guide, you'll have everything you need to plan your next unforgettable trip to discover the wonders of Slovakia.

Ben Pascoe brings more interviews from the recent Start With Children Summit. This episode we meet the Platforma Rodina which helps families with children with disabilities, the chief architects of Bratislava and Kosice, architect and author of a new book on how to improve Bratislava Juraj Benetin and Sam Balto introduces the bike bus concept.

June 24 marked International Women in Diplomacy Day. To mark the occasion, a public discussion was held at the European Parliament Liaison Office in Bratislava. In this follow-up, we bring you some highlights from that event and speak with both the host and guests about the importance of women's representation in diplomacy and high-ranking positions. Joining the conversation are former Slovak ambassador, State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, and twice Permanent Representative of Slovakia to the OECD in Paris – Ingrid Brocková; former ambassador, head of protocol, and director of the press department at the Office of President Michal Kováč in the 1990s – Anna Tureničová; researcher at the Faculty of Social and Economic Sciences at Comenius University – Zuzana Maďarová; and the event's organizers. They share personal stories from diplomatic missions, reflect on how the field has changed, and speak candidly about challenges and progress toward gender equality in society. The new episode of the Slovak Sound Check introducse the conjugation of the verb mať – to have.

Slovakia celebrates the Feast of Saints Cyril and Methodius annually on 5 July. On this occasion, Romana Grajcarová spoke with historian Matej Harvát not only about the two saints themselves, but also about the broader context of missionary work in the Middle Ages.

The UEFA U21 EURO tournament concluded in Bratislava, with the coaches of the German and English teams praising the Slovak organisers at the press conference after their teams' final match. Before the public holiday, Martina took a walk through a forest full of memories of the Great Moravian era. Culture tips for English speakers in and beyond Slovakia.

Over the past three years, Ukraine has not only defended its sovereignty on the battlefield but also worked tirelessly to preserve and promote its cultural identity worldwide. One institution playing a crucial role in this effort is the Ukrainian Institute in Slovakia. Saints Cyril and Methodius are highly revered in Slovakia as national saints and are credited with bringing Christianity and literacy to the Slavic peoples. Their feast day, July 5th, is a public holiday in Slovakia, celebrating their legacy and contribution to Slovak history and culture.

In this edition of the Slovak Today programme, we bring you two interviews from the presentation of the new publication titled "Proti režimu" or "Against the Regime" by Patrícia Fogelová and Veronika Szegy-Gayer from the Slovak Academy of Sciences. Next is Julieta Rotaru, a researcher and a member of the Gypsy Lore Society, talking about the history of the Romani people during the annual conference "Aktuálny stav rómskych štúdií" (Current State of Romani Studies) organised by the State Scientific Library in Prešov.

Ben Pascoe meets Canadian Ambassador to Slovakia, Karen Elizabeth Mollica, to discuss Canada-Slovak relations as well as what it is like for a Canadian in Slovakia Today.

Anna Podmanická (19) and Tomáš Čermák (18) are two talented young scientists and global winners of the prestigious Earth Prize 2025. This week we delve into their innovative project PURA – a groundbreaking approach to water purification. The conversation explores the limitations of current purification methods, particularly the failure of the quaternary phase to remove antibiotic residues, a major contributor to the growing problem of antibiotic resistance. Anna and Tomáš explain how PURA combines photocatalysis and cold plasma technology to provide an effective and sustainable solution to this urgent global issue. The new episode of Slovak Sound Check focuses on the essential verb to be – "byť".

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

In the 5th round of the RSI 2025 competition, we take you to the northern Slovak region of Kysuce. Culture tips present the Month of reading festival in Bratislava, Trenčín and Prešov, the major traditional culture festival Východná and international street show in Zvolen and Banská Bystrica.

Is it possible to talk about the Holocaust from a queer perspective? This is the question posed at the beginning of the first book to explore the desires of queer people during the Holocaust, originally published in German under the title Menschen ohne Geschichte sind Staub (People Without History are Dust: Queer Desire in the Holocaust) by historian and pioneer in the study of queer desire during the Holocaust, Anna Hájková.

On Friday, June 19th, the Art Film International Film Festival opened in Košice, drawing visitors from across the globe. This celebrated event showcases not only the best of Slovak cinema, but also a handpicked selection of outstanding films from around the world. In this episode, we travel to Košice to meet the people behind the scenes—those responsible for selecting, judging, and presenting these cinematic works. You'll hear from Martin Paluch, the festival's artistic director; Apoorva Srivastava, the Indian ambassador to Slovakia; and Alexandre O. Philippe, a Swiss-American filmmaker. Together, they offer insights into what makes Art Film a truly international celebration of cinema.

Ben Pascoe takes a look at the cultural programs being offered all around Slovakia this summer.

Matej Tóth, Olympic gold medalist in the 50 km walk from Rio 2016 and one of Slovakia's most celebrated athletes, founded his Academy back in 2016 to help children fall in love with movement. In this interview, he reflects on the academy's mission, its unique three-pillar approach — physical training, physiotherapy, and mental preparation — and how it has expanded to over 200 schools across Slovakia. The new episode of Slovak Sound Check explores how native speakers talk about their feelings. Learn how to ask and answer “Ako sa máš?” and pick up everyday Slovak expressions for describing your mood.

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

What's new about Fest Anča, ArtFilm, Kvantum and Pohoda festivals in 2025? Teams, headliners, topics. Culture tips also about the final concerts of 2024/25 season in the Slovak Philharmonic.

Discussing life in Bratislava with two Irish men who found their new home in Slovakia.