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In our regular series, we explore the twin cities of Senec, Slovakia, and Milovice, Czechia. The regular QSL segment sends greetings to our shortwave listeners, while the music segment highlights big Slovak names featured in the Pohoda 2025 lineup.
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.
This Sunday on RSI we reveal the winner of the fifth round of our Mysterious Slovakia competition and launch round six, dedicated to the historic mining town of Banská Štiavnica. Plus, in celebration of World Kiss Day, our music segment features a selection of Slovak songs all about kissing!
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".
This Sunday's show says hi to our shortwave listeners, shares some great Slovak music, and opens another window to the world.
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.
Sunday's are about Slovak music and letters from our listeners
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.
A re-run of some of the interviews published before prepared by our colleague Kamila Galjuš.
Ben Pascoe attends the V4 Buisness Conference organized by the Council of Slovak Exporters. He talks with organizers and learns about the MH2 concept car. He also brings you excerpts of speeches by Slovak and Hungarian Foreign Minister and the European Trade Commissioner.
Slovakia's biggest theatre festival Dotyky a spojenia celebrates its 20th edition this June, running from the 16th to the 21st in the city of Martin. Since its founding, the festival has become a vital platform for showcasing the diversity and innovation of Slovak theatre — from established national institutions to independent companies and emerging artists. Find out more in the interview with Róbert Mankovecký, composer, dramaturge, artistic director of Slovenské komorné divadlo in Martin, and one of the festival's founding members. The new episode of Slovak Sound Check is designed to ease the early struggles of learning Slovak.
In this Sunday edition of Slovakia Today, we will present the third part of the Window to the World cycle introducing the pair of the twin cities Bratislava and Kyiv. Next, we play for you some music by various Slovak Romani folk dulcimer bands such as Peter Balogh Orchestra (eastern Slovakia), Manuša (western Slovakia), The Alexander Daško Dulcimer Band (central Slovakia), and Ďusi Band (eastern Slovakia).
We take a look back at the week's headlines and some of our best stories from the past week.
Masked officials, accompanied by the Culture Ministry's Chief-of-Staff, removed a bust of Cecilia Gonzaga from the Spiš Museum, prompting legal concerns from opposition MPs. Art historian Marta Herucová links the work to Donatello. The Days of Early Music festival opened with a performance by the acclaimed Sollazzo Ensemble. Founder Anna Danilevskaia spoke about the rare Leuven Chansonnier pieces featured in the Bratislava concert. This week's cultural highlights include visual art exhibitions in Bratislava and Trnava, along with festivals taking place across Slovakia.
In the programming, we will revisit an interview with Tomáš Eštok in which we'll explore Spare Parts Theatre, an independent theatre group bringing English-language plays to audiences in Slovakia. Then you are going to hear the second episode of RSI series Window to the World – this time we will visit Slovak town of Michalovce and Spanish town Vila-Real. And finally, we will take a look at who Vávro Šrobár was and why he is important for Slovakia.
In this episode of Slovakia Today, we take you to the heart of Trenčín—a city with a mighty hockey legacy and a school that's been nurturing future stars for generations. As Slovakia marks 60 years of student and sports education at one of its most storied institutions, we explore how this small city has produced some of the country's biggest hockey names. But with Slovakia finishing 12th at the 2025 IIHF World Championship and fewer players reaching the NHL, the question arises: what's changed, and where is Slovak hockey headed? We speak with local legends like Stanley Cup champion Marián Gáborík, a headmaster who believes in the power of sports-integrated education, and a veteran coach guiding today's youth through new challenges. Along the way, we hear from young players navigating the demands of school, training, and rising costs. This report digs into what it takes to build elite talent in modern Slovakia—and whether the next generation has what it takes to bring the country back to the top of the hockey world.
Bratislava recently hosted the 4th international hobby horsing competition. Ben Pascoe attended and talked with organizers, participants and parents about this fast growing new sport.
Currently, 1,648 people in Slovakia are living with HIV. In 2024 alone, 63 new cases have been diagnosed. While proper treatment can ensure the virus poses no risk to others, including partners, societal stigma remains strong. Many people, including medical professionals, still lack sufficient knowledge about what it truly means to be HIV positive. Find out more in the interview with HIV/AIDS Slovensko director Ján Koller and deputy director Miroslav Krajčoviech. Another epiode of Slovak Sound Check is waiting for you, too.
In this Sunday's music segment, Patrik Sabo showcases an exhibition of unique instruments featured as part of the Days of Early Music festival in Bratislava. Meanwhile, in the 5th round of the RSI competition, Martina Greňová Šimkovičová takes you on a journey to the northern Slovak region of Kysuce, uncovering the mystery behind the local spherical stones.
A look back at the week's headlines and some of our reports.
The Bratislava Declaration was adopted last week in the Slovak capital, calling on the European Union to draft a European Act on Artistic Freedom—a legal framework designed to protect freedom of expression, creative independence, and the autonomy of cultural institutions across member states. The Days of Early Music festival kicks off in Bratislava on June 6 with a special concert by the Sollazzo ensemble, featuring a selection from one of the rarest late Gothic manuscripts—the Leuven Chansonnier. Culture tips this week include, e.g., a public reading of Irena Brežná's The Thankless Foreigner at SSEES in London.
In today's episode, we begin with Andrea Froncová from the BROZ conservation association, who highlights the crucial role of wetlands in protecting biodiversity. Later in the show, we look at the life and legacy of Prof. Jozef Čabelka, a pioneering Slovak micrometallurgist and welding expert.
A re-run of two previously published interviews with the producer Ada Solomon who visited Slovakia during the 2025 FEBIO Fest in Bratislava and the frontman Ady Hnát from the metal-core band Etterna based in Prešov, eastern Slovakia, who has won the 2024 RadioeHead Awards in the "Hard and Heavy" category.
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.
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