Czechast, Radio Prague International

In the latest Czechast, we travel to Olomouc, where a former railway waiting room has been turned into a small but vibrant cinema. The Waiting Room project offers films and community events just steps from passing trains. In an age of streaming, it shows how cinema can still bring people together.

In this episode of Prague Off the Beaten Track on Czechast, we explore Klanovice Forest — the largest continuous forest in Prague. Just on the edge of the city, it offers a surprising mix of deep history, quiet nature, and traces of ambitious plans that never fully materialised. From medieval robber legends to modern conservation debates, this is a place where the past and present meet in unexpect...

Joy Kadečková’s life reads like a 20th-century European drama shaped by war, love and political upheaval. After meeting a Czech pilot in wartime Britain, she made a promise that would bring her to Czechoslovakia—and keep her there for life. Her story, preserved by Memory of Nations and now featured on Czechast, offers a deeply personal window into history.

More than three decades after the Velvet Revolution, the legacy of the communist regime continues to shape debates in Czech society. In the latest episode of the Czechast podcast, Vít Pohanka speaks with Kamil Nedvědický, First Deputy Director of the Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes in Prague. Their conversation explores why the communist coup of 1948 was unconstitutional, why many...

In the Czechast podcast, Lenka Králová reflects on her life as a transgender woman in Czechia. She speaks about identity, online hostility and why open conversations about transgender experiences matter.

Defense policy is once again at the center of public debate in Europe. In the latest episode of Czechast, we spoke to Kateřina Gruntová, a young Czech Radio reporter specializing in defense and security, about how the army is changing, how NATO really works, and why society still underestimates the stakes. She argues that security is not just a military issue — but a responsibility shared by all.

Seventy-eight years after the communist coup of February 1948, Czechast looks back at the dramatic years when Czechoslovakia stood between democracy and dictatorship. The takeover was not sudden, but carefully prepared between 1945 and 1948. Featuring historian Igor Lukeš, this episode also explores the enduring question: could the country’s fate have been different if the U.S. Army had liberated...

Marking four years since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine, Czech FM Petr Macinka delivered two forceful speeches at UN headquarters in New York. Addressing the General Assembly and later the Security Council, he placed responsibility for the war squarely on Russia and called on Moscow to stop the aggression. At a time when some questioned whether Czechia’s new government might soften its stanc...

As Europe marks four years since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Czechast returns to a powerful interview with Czech fighter Jan Trčka. Speaking openly about combat, fear, and conviction, he reflects on why he believes Ukraine’s fight is about far more than territory. It is, he says, about the future of Europe and the defense of democratic values.

In this episode of Czechast, Vít Pohanka returns to where it all began — Žďár nad Sázavou. As he walks through the town, he reflects on its transformation, its character, and the stories embedded in its streets. This is not just a travel episode; it’s a personal journey through memory and identity. Tune in to the full Czechast audio or video to experience this intimate portrait of a Czech hometown...

Former Czech Foreign Minister Tomáš Petříček reflects on the state of Czech democracy, constitutional norms and Europe’s security challenges. In a new episode of Czechast, he warns against undermining judicial independence and against illusions about Russia’s war in Ukraine. He also shares what years in politics taught him about compromise.

International attention in Munich centered on Marco Rubio’s message of transatlantic unity and tensions over Ukraine. Yet Czechast special brings you deeper into the conference halls, where President Petr Pavel analyzed the roots of populism and democratic safeguards, while Foreign Minister Petr Macinka took part in a confrontational debate about sovereignty, values and the rift within the West.

In Czechast, Martin Kroupa reflects on the power of oral history and the work of Post Bellum’s Memory of Nations project. He discusses how subjective memories, archival verification and public support shape their independence. The conversation explores why preserving lived experience remains politically and morally urgent today.

Czechia has equalled its best result in the Corruption Perceptions Index, yet still lags behind Western Europe. Why does the country remain stuck in the middle of Europe’s corruption rankings? In Czechast, we speak to Transparency International analyst Marek Chromý in a full in-depth interview.

Why did ice hockey take such deep roots in Czechia – a country far from Scandinavia and Canada? In a special episode of Czechast, Vít Pohanka looks at the history, culture and lasting appeal of Czech ice hockey, from frozen ponds to Olympic gold. The episode also features a fresh interview with legendary goaltender Dominik Hašek, who shares his view on the Czech team’s chances at the Winter Olympi...

Russia, security, and uncertainty have returned to the centre of European politics. But security, says analyst Filip Scherf, is not only about threats — it is also about self-confidence, responsibility, and partnerships. In this episode of Czechast, Scherf explains what Russia means for Czechia today, why size matters less than mindset, and what gives him hope in an increasingly fragile world.

In a special episode of Czechast, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks openly about the war with Russia, peace talks, and the role Czechia plays in supporting Ukraine. In an exclusive interview for Czech Radio, conducted by Josef Pazderka, Zelenskyy reflects on military cooperation, energy security, and difficult questions facing European societies. The conversation offers a rare insight...

After two decades in Czech public media and years spent in Brussels, Filip Nerad, now working at Globsec Policy Institute, offers a long-term view of Czechia’s position inside the EU and NATO. In an interview for Czechast, he discusses the country’s growing credibility in Europe, the challenges posed by the new government, and persistent Czech euroscepticism. He also turns to a lighter theme, expl...

At a time when international news can feel increasingly unsettling, a calm and thoughtful conversation about music, culture and perspective stood out. In a special episode of Czechast brings listeners an interview with Emmanuel Villaume, chief conductor of the Prague Philharmonia, recorded shortly before the orchestra’s U.S. tour, which included a concert at Carnegie Hall. The conversation offers...

In a new episode of Czechast, the podcast in English about all things Czech, former Czech NATO ambassador Jakub Landovský reflects on Ukraine, NATO and Europe’s hard lessons. Drawing on his own experience inside the Alliance, he speaks openly about disillusionment, strategy and power. He also looks back at 1989 and explains where he still finds hope today.

Malá Strana is one of Prague’s most visited neighbourhoods and very much part of the beaten track. But behind its busy streets lies a network of stairways that lead away from crowds and into calmer, more intimate spacesand take you suddenly off the beaten track.

Political scientist and analyst Tomáš Klvaňa has spent decades moving between academia, journalism, politics and international public affairs. In an interview for Czechast, he reflects on advising Czech presidents, working with the United States, and teaching American students in Prague. Klvaňa also speaks about the decline of traditional media, the rise of populism, and why liberal democracy is f...

One of the best ways to experience Prague off the Beaten Track is not on foot, but from a tram. Line 22 crosses the city from Bílá Hora to Hostivař, passing castles, squares, and residential districts along the way. Seen from street level and in motion, Prague reveals itself as a lived-in city, not just a collection of sights.

In this episode of Czechast, Jan Lipavský looks back on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Czechia’s security-first turn in foreign policy, and the internationally praised ammunition initiative. Former Czech foreign minister, now an opposition MP elected on the Civic Democratic Party ticket, he also warns that Czechia is nearing a strategic crossroads in an increasingly unstable world.

In this episode of Prague off the Beaten Track, we head to Baba, a rocky plateau just north of Hanspaulka. Built in the 1930s as a model housing exhibition, the Baba villa colony combines functionalist architecture with sweeping views over Prague. From here, even the city’s most familiar landmarks appear — just from angles most visitors never see.