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Ben Pascoe talks with Juraj Rizman from Post Bellum about how they help maintain the nation's memory and about his most recent visit to Ukraine.
Reintroducing Slovak musician Lotta through her music with KEXP's Kevin Cole. Shortly after the Rose festival in Dolna Krupa, western Slovakia, we map the world famous cultivars that were bred in Krupina, central Slovakia.
Second episode of the Okno do sveta or Window to the world series. Listeners tribune and Slovak music from Zemplín region.
Weekly news digest combined with some of the stories from the past week.
The first novel ever written in the territory of present-day Slovakia has just been released in its first English translation. Martina Greňová Šimkovičová speaks with Dobrota Pucherová, one of the editors of René, or: A Young Man's Adventures and Experiences. Meanwhile, Veronika Ščepánová explains the difference between masculine and feminine nationality names to Sean from Ireland. This week's culture tips highlight the Days of Early Music festival and the Open Parks and Gardens Day.
In this interview, Romana Grajcarová speaks with Slovak triathlete Nikola Čorbová, the first woman ever to win Himalayan Xtri. Čorbová reflects on this historic achievement—conquering one of the most demanding endurance races in the world—and shares what it took to prepare both physically and mentally for such an extreme challenge.
In Slovakia, research is underway both in laboratories and even on farms, as scientists work to better understand and combat infectious diseases. One of the most prominent figures in this effort is Dr. Boris Klempa, a virologist at the Institute of Virology within the Biomedical Research Center at the Slovak Academy of Sciences. In our conversation, we discussed his work on zoonotic viruses in Slovakia and beyond, the role of the European Virus Archive, and the ongoing challenge of combating misinformation in science and public health.
Continuing with interviews from the Start with Children summit recently held in Bratislava. Today Ben Pascoe talks with keynote speaker Eva Kail from Vienna and Sandra Stasselova from the Bratislava Metropolitan Institute. Also Tomas Peciar from cykloloalicia tells us about critical mass and kidical mass.
RERUN Project Disconnect aims to comprehensively and interdisciplinaryly explore loneliness and social isolation in Slovakia. In this show, we are going to talk to researcher and doctor from Psychiatric Clinic at the Slovak Medical University, Jakub Januška.
Patrícia Polakovičová is coming to you with the first part of STVR cycle Okno do sveta and plays some music.
Weekly news digest followed by some of the topical stories of the past week.
Professor Jozef Šuvada, Slovakia's representative in the WHO Executive Board, explains what it means that Slovakia abstained form the WHO Pandemic Agreement. Culture tips invite to Night of Churches, Circus l'Art and BRaK among other events. Veronika and Sean dive into another Slovak phrases usefull for English speakers.
In the interview with Andrea Froncová, we discussed biodiversity and a new project called EMYS, which focuses on biotope restoration and the protection of the European pond turtle, in celebration of the International Day for Biological Diversity.
In this episode of the Slovakia Today programme, we bring you the interview with the founder and manager of the Slovak Theatre in London Simona Vrabcová and her colleague and co-manager Rebeka Jurčacková about its history, activities and future. Next up are two young filmmakers from eastern Slovakia Matúš Chovanec and Adam Šoltés sharing their insights about shooting their upcoming feature "City of Dreams" in one of the largest Romani settlements in Slovakia.
Bratislava played host to the international summit Start with Children. Experts from around the country and the world met to discuss how thinking about children when planning cities can make them better places for everyone to live.
Recent data from Eurostat show that over 14% of Slovak population lives on the poverty line. In this show, we are going to explore the problem of growing poverty in Slovakia. You are also going to hear from experts: sociologist from SAV Zuzana Kusá and trade unionist, activist and analyst Ján Košč from initiative Pracujúca chudoba.
Jeremy Hill reads some lettres from listeners and plays some music for you.
Slovakia Today takes a look back at the past week. The biggest headlines and highlights from our reports.
Famous Irish playwright Marina Carr dropped by Bratislava for a masterclass at the New Drama Festival. She chatted with Martina Greňová Šimkovičová about what it's like seeing her plays in translation. Our regular Slovak culture tips for foreigners will take you from Cannes and Sao Paulo to Lučenec, Banská Bystrica, and Bratislava. And don't miss the next episode of our Slovak language course with Veronika Ščepánová!
Majka Reviľáková and Miška Vlasáková, founders of the ALKA project, talk about the process of including vulnerable children in everyday life at school and within their communities. Soňa Spáčilová presents the exhibition “Zmysel to má aj bez zmyslov”, which helps children and young people better understand the lives of people with disabilities.
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 visits the spring edition of Dobry Trh, the good market, and shares with you the sounds and feelings that make the event so unique and special.
May 2nd, 2025 marked the 30th anniversary of Dežo Ursíny's passing. This radio show looks at the life and work of this Slovak musical legend, filmmaker, and thinker. With the help of his son Jakub Ursiny, poet Ivan Štrpka, film producer Marián Urban and music journalist Marián Jaslovský we explore what made him so special. From his early music to his deep, personal films, Dežo Ursiny's art still speaks to people today and his legacy remains.
Sundays are about Slovak music and listener's letters. This time also edicated to Mother's Day.
Week in Slovakia
Leopold Lahola was an acclaimed Slovak filmmaker who fled Czechoslovakia in 1949. His only collection of short stories, The Last Thing, is unsettling in the extreme situations in which his characters find themselves during the Second World War. A selection of them has recently been published in English translation, secured by Julia and Peter Sherwood. In this interview, Julia also introduces Alfonz Bednár's "Hours and minutes", an iconic piece of Slovak anti-war literature that has also just been published in English translation of David Short. Later on, Veronika Ščepánová is starting a new Slovak language course for foreigners. The programme concludes with some tips on cultural events suitable for English speakers.
In today's program, you'll hear an interview with historian Anna Hájková about her book People Without History Are Dust: Queer Desire in the Holocaust, as well as a conversation with historian Peter Šumichrast about the Second World War.
In this episode, we will bring you two previously-run interviews with the director of the East Slovak Gallery in Košice Dorota Kenderová and Miroslav Kleban, the curator of Rudolf Dzurko's exhibition titled Only with Me Can You Hear the Grass Grow. We will also revisit the interview with Barbora Botošová, a Romani violinist coming from Slovakia, about her newest record Roshambo and her views on the Slovak music scene.
It is spring in Slovakia, which means it is time for the world championship of hockey. To discuss the national sport of Slovakia Ben Pascoe sat down with Slovak Radio sports journalist Martin Kaigl.
RERURN: Eva Mosnáková was not only a holocaust survivor, but also a long-standing figther against extremism. Even in her old age she invested a lot of time in discussions with younger generations about war, holocaust and extremism. She died in December 2024 aged 95 years old. And what is her message for the next generations and how to people remeber her? We talked to Madeline Vadkerty, Andrej Bán a Soňa Gyarfášová.
Sunday show presenting the winner of the third round of the "Mysterious Slovakia" competition, annoucing the fourth round, and introducing the artists on the Slovak music scene that come from the third largest city in Slovakia, Prešov.
Overview of news and stories RSI brought to you over the past week.
Martina Greňová Šimkovičová takes a trip down memory lane as she recalls the days when Slovakia joined the European Union.
Today we explore the history and symbolism of May 1st in Slovakia, from its socialist-era significance as Labour Day to its roots in international workers' movements.We will also look at traditional Slovak customs such as Maypole-raising, which continue to bring communities together today.
In recent years, international relations have faced a series of setbacks. Yet amid the challenges, there have been encouraging examples of how people from diverse backgrounds and cultures can come together to share, learn, and collaborate. One such example is the project Trebo – Culture Connects. RSI traveled to Trenčín to meet with organizers from both Slovakia and Norway, discussing the successes of this unique partnership over the past year between two distant but cooperative nations. Later in the program, we speak with Robin Rigg from the Slovak Wildlife Society about the recent rise in bear encounters and the government's controversial plan to address the issue through a mass culling. Will this strategy be effective—and is it even necessary?
For the 15th year the artists and artisans at Nova Cvernovaka will open their doors to the public and there will be a day full of programs. On 10th May will be the spring edition of Dobry Trh. Ben Pascoe talked with Laco Oravec and Boris Meluš from Nova Cvernovka about the history of the institution and what we can expect this first of May. Illah van Oijen and Barbara Zavarská from Dobry Trh introduce the theme of this year's market as well as talk about community building.
This Monday show will commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Centre of Folk Art Production (ÚĽUV) in Slovakia. The discussion will feature Eva Ševčíková, the General Director of ÚĽUV, and Milena Holánová, the Director of the Regional Crafts Center of ÚĽUV in Bratislava. They will share insights on the institute's important role in preserving and promoting Slovak folk art and crafts, as well as its impact on contemporary cultural heritage.
Sundays are about Slovak music and listener's letters.
A look back at headlines and the stories brought to you as a tribute to the late Pope Francis.
2024 Radio_Head winner for Best Experimental Album, Michaela Turcerová, lives in Copenhagen, where she studied at the prestigious Rhythmic Music Conservatory. In this interview, she reveals what lies behind her eagerness to challenge the saxophone. In this week's cultural tips - 1 May events.
In this episode, we focus on two unique natural sites and the efforts to protect and restore them. First, we visit the Šúr nature reserve, located near Bratislava. Despite its international ecological value, it remains little-known to the public. Conservationists are now working to revive this rare wetland forest—using traditional methods like grazing cattle. Then, we turn our attention to the Danube River and its islands. Once rich in biodiversity, many of these islands have been damaged by human intervention. We speak with Andrea Froncová from the Regional Association for Nature Conservation and Sustainable Development about current efforts to restore them.
In this episode of the Slovakia Today programme, we bring you a tribute to the late pope Francis in the form of an overview of contributions previously presented by RSI's Zuzana Botiková and Elena Seeber when the head of the catholic church visited Slovakia in 2021 and in the interview with Erika Godlová, a Romani journalist from eastern Slovakia, we will look back at his visit of Lunik IX, a Romani borough in Košice, eastern Slovakia.
Ben Pascoe attended the Start with Children conference (2024) in Bratislava and talks with experts both foreign and Slovak about the importance of thinking about the needs of kids when planning a city.
We all celebrate Easter in Slovakia at the same time, but completely differently, especially when it comes to food. In today's holiday show, we'll talk about traditional Easter cuisine in Slovakia across regions -- the history, symbolism, and religious significance of Slovaks' favorite Easter dishes.
This special Sunday edition, broadcast on Easter Sunday, will include letters from listeners and the programme will also focus on the life and work of Alice Garrigue Masaryková, founder of the Czechoslovak Red Cross, with particular attention to her Easter Truce initiative. Music.sk: world music made in Slovakia.
A look back at headlines and stories from the past week in Slovakia
Good Friday special with the Holy Sepulchre in Spišská Sobota, the Calvary in Prešov and a talk with Ben Kosnac about Roman Catholic Good Friday practices, as Roman Catholics account for 81% of Slovakia's Christians, who represent 56% of the country's population.
In today's programme, we'll explore the life and work of Alice Garrigue Masaryková, a key figure in the development of the Czechoslovak Red Cross and the daughter of the first president of Czechoslovakia. Our guests — Marek Jukl, president of the Czech Red Cross, and historian Dagmar Hájková — will discuss her professional legacy, her relationship to Slovakia, and her role in the humanitarian initiative known as the Eastern Truce. In the second half of the programme, we'll shift focus to Easter traditions in Slovakia. Ethnologist Marta Botíková will provide context on the origins and meaning of these customs, as well as their place in contemporary society.
Invasive species—ranging from plants and animals to insects—are a growing global threat, causing an estimated $400 billion in economic damage each year. Beyond the financial toll, they wreak havoc on native ecosystems, contributing to the decline of biodiversity and widespread agricultural losses. To better understand which invasive species have entered Slovakia, the extent of the damage they've caused, and what measures can be taken to prevent their spread, RSI spoke with two experts from the Slovak Academy of Sciences: botanist Barbora Šingliarová and entomologist Marek Semmelbauer.
The Bratislava Monarchs American Football team are celebrating their 30th season this year. Ben Pascoe visited with the team to find out more about this team/community which has helped bring American Football to Slovakia.
Project Disconnect aims to comprehensively and interdisciplinaryly explore loneliness and social isolation in Slovakia. In this show, we are going to talk to researcher and doctor from Psychiatric Clinic at the Slovak Medical University, Jakub Januška.
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