Slovakia Today, English Language Current Affairs Programme from Slovak Radio

Social media, loneliness and rising mental health concerns: what are young people in Slovakia telling us? Following World Mental Health Day (Oct 10), Children’s Ombudsman Josef Mikloško discusses the findings of a nationwide youth survey and why listening to the next generation is essential to protecting their well-being. As always, the programme concludes with a new edition of our language corner...

On 2 October, 2026, it was exactly 100 years since the launch of regular radio broadcasting on the territory of what is now Slovakia. To mark this anniversary, let me, Martina Greňová Šimkovičová, the longest-serving member of the English section of Slovak Radio’s foreign service who started her public radio editor/producer service on 1 January 2000, play once again a programme that marked the 30t...

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

On 29 September, Slovak author Vladimír Rosenfeld, who lives in Hawaii, was a special guest at the Slovak premiere of "Life or Film", a documentary about acclaimed Slovak film director Dušan Hanák. Rosenfeld became known for his role in Hanák’s feature-film debut, 322, which was voted the Slovak film of the 20th century. The expat is now touring several Slovak cities, presenting his new book for c...

Can sunlight be brought back after sunset? In the first part of the programme, Patrícia Polakovičová speaks with Miroslav Kocifaj from the Slovak Academy of Sciences about plans to use orbital mirrors to reflect sunlight back to Earth and their possible impact on the night sky and light pollution. In the second part, we are going to conclude the short series on the Year of St. Francis of Assisi.

Today, we bring you stories of connection across generations and borders. We revisit the story of Kristína Holecová, whose simple act of kindness towards an elderly man at Vienna Airport grew into an unexpected friendship and a journey to India. And in the Slovakia Through My Eyes series, we explore the growing interest among Americans of Slovak descent in tracing their Slovak roots, from family h...

Ben Pascoe sits down with pundit, translator and author Samo Marec to discuss the State of Slovakia Today.

Jozef Sabovčík, the two-time European champion and 1984 Olympic bronze medallist known as “Jumping Joe,” was inducted into the Slovak Figure Skating Hall of Fame during the ISU CS 34th Nepela Memorial, held in Bratislava from 24–27 September 2026. In an exclusive interview, Sabovčík looks back on his Olympic bronze in Sarajevo, his historic quadruple toe loop, his years as a professional skater, h...

Sunday Listener's Tribune l Competition: Living Water l Musical Chapters: Peter Dvorský

A look back at the past week in Slovakia and on RSI.

On 3 October 2021, exactly five years ago, Anca Monica Dragu, an iconic producer of RSI’s English section, passed away. On the occasion of the centenary of radio broadcasting in what is now Slovakia, and the 90th anniversary of the national public radio’s shortwave broadcasts, let us run once again the tribute Martina Greňová Šimkovičová produced in her memory. At the end, a few culture tips.

Why should we care about deforestation in a vast African country like Cameroon? We may think that, as people living as far away as Slovakia, there is little we can do to influence what is happening there. But the opposite is true, and change has to start with each of us. One such individual is 21-year-old Jozef Adámek, who decided to leave academic life behind and take the fate of our planet into...

Interviews with Kristína Gendová Ružíková and Marion Jansen of the OECD at Agrokomplex 2026. These were originally broadcast by Andrej Ševčenko.

Ben Pascoe talks with Mária Modrovichová one of the organizers of the literary festival NovoTvar which brings literarture and poetry from around the world to Bratislava.

Every September, the President of the European Commission delivers the State of the Union (SOTEU) address to the European Parliament, outlining the EU’s main challenges, priorities and initiatives for the year ahead. Following this year’s address, we spoke with Peter Stano, Head of the European Commission Representation in Slovakia, about what the SOTEU means beyond Brussels — also for a smaller M...

In this Sunday show we are going to read some of the letter from our listeners and then talk about the 70th anniversary of Slovak Television with a mnumber of prominent Slovak Television figures.

In local and regional elections in Slovakia, foreign nationals with residence permits can vote. As a build-up to these elections, slated for 24 October 2026, Ben Pascoe met with some of the candidates running for mayor of the Slovak capital, Bratislava. Patrícia Polakovičová introduces a new musical project bringing together one of Slovakia’s most prominent poets, Ivan Štrpka, and the jazz musicia...

On Thursday, 24 September, Slovak cinemas welcomed "For Love", the latest feature film by acclaimed director Marko Škop. The filmmaker, who won the FIPRESCI Prize at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival for "Eva Nová", returns with his third feature film — and the final chapter of his trilogy exploring relationships between parents and children. Culture tips invite to JUNIOR DIZAJN FEST 20...

In her show, Patrícia Polakovičová introduces a new album bringing together renowned Slovak poet Ivan Štrpka and Altar Quartet. She also looks back at the 36th Days of ÚĽUV Craftsmen in Bratislava, which this year highlighted wirecraft, its history and its place on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Although the topic of Roma education has resonated in debates for many years, little attention is paid to the key actors in education – teachers. in this episode we are going to take a closer look at the conditions and struggles the teachers have to face in the marginalized communities in Slovakia and last but not least, their well-being as the SAV project tells us. We are going to be talking to t...

At the end of October, Slovakia will go to the polls to vote in Local and Regional Elections. In the first of a series of shows about the upcoming elections Ben Pascoe meets 2 of the candidtates for Mayor of Bratislava, incumbent Matus Vallo and candidate Martin Winkler.

On the occasion of the 280th anniversary of the birth of Móric Beňovský, we explore the extraordinary life of the 18th-century soldier, traveller and author who journeyed from Central Europe to Kamchatka, across the Pacific and eventually to Madagascar, where he claimed the title of “Ampansakabé,” or “King of Kings.” How much of his remarkable story is historical fact, and how much is legend? What...

This Sunday, we’ll open another Window to the World, taking you to the Czech city of Zlín and the Slovak city of Trenčín, two cities connected by a long-standing partnership and a growing number of cross-border projects. We’ll also share greetings and messages from our dear listeners. And we’ll round off the programme with music from Slovak singer Mirka Záhumenská and her new album Počúvaj, počúva...

A recap of the past week in Slovakia and a look back at some of our recent reports.

In this Friday show, we are bringing an extensive report from the 21st International Film Festival Cinematik with the focus on premiers of internationally acclaimed Slovak films and films shot in Slovak co-production. "Lover, not a fighter", "If pigeons turned to gold" or "Becoming Emma" among them. Culture tips invite to several festivals in Slovakia and a few shows abroad.