Slovakia Today, English Language Current Affairs Programme from Slovak Radio

The Christmas season invites us to slow down, look around, and think of others. We take a closer look at charitable initiatives and nonprofit projects that aim to make Christmas a little brighter for people in Slovakia facing difficult life circumstances, whether through social disadvantage, exclusion, or vulnerability. Through conversations with Simona Stančeková, project coordinator of Vianočný...

This Sunday we are opening the last window of the RSI Window to the World series. We will talk about the partnership between Slovak mining town Kreminca and Czechia's Kutna Hora. You can look forward to some music dedicated to Slovak musicians born in Kremnica and we will also read some letters from our listeners.

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

The Historical Museum at Bratislava Castle invites visitors to see one of the four replicas in the world of the necklace once worn by Marie Antoinette. Beata Greneche, one of the exhibition’s co-curators, describes the jewel—featured in the exhibition “Marie Antoinette: From Celebration to Tragedy”—as the most famous necklace in history, as it allegedly helped spark the French Revolution. Elena Mi...

In honor of the International Human Solidarity Day, which was declared by the UN in 2005, it falls annually on December 20. Thursday's program will also be held in this spirit, during which Patrícia Polakovičová will talk to the organizations Človek v ohrozeníi, SlovakAid, Vagus and Depaul and to sociologist Zuzana Kusá from the Slovak Academy of Sciences, who is an expert on solidarity and cohesi...

In this episode, we explore the fascinating world of mushrooms and urban mushroom farming in an inspiring conversation with Paulína Pôbišová. Later, we turn our attention to the holiday season, as Nikoleta Kováčová shares practical tips and creative ideas for preparing a delicious vegan Christmas dinner that everyone can enjoy.

Ben Pascoe looks into modern Slovak Christmas traditions and how western culutre is influencing Slovak Christmas. He sits down with pop culture theorist Juraj Malicek for a different point of view of local traditions.

As Christmas approaches, the streets fill with sparkling lights, crowded shops, and people rushing by — some carrying bags of gifts, others hauling suitcases as they set off for the holidays. It’s the season when most of us long to be home with our loved ones. But what happens when “home” is suddenly far away? Maybe you’ve recently moved abroad, or work and life commitments make traveling back imp...

AUDIO QSL – A curated selection of listener feedback on RSI’s English-language shortwave broadcasts. Slovak Namedays: LUCIA – A postcard spotlighting famous Slovak cultural figures named Lucia. MUSIC.SK – A showcase of arias performed by world-renowned soprano Lucia Popp from the Slovak Radio Archive.

Week in Slovakia

An interview about the English translations of four 20th-century Slovak writers, which have been published until 2025 by Karolinum Press, the publishing house of Charles University in Prague. The importance of translating the literature of so-called “small” nations is discussed by translator Julia Sherwood and, on behalf of Karolinum Press, editors Martin Janeček and Michael Stein. The centenary o...

In this episode, we explore the realities of homelessness in Slovakia during the winter and the upcoming festive season. We speak with Alexandra Kárová, Executive Director of VAGUS and Michal Cibiri from Depaul, about the challenges faced by people without homes and the support available during the cold months. Patrik Krebs, theatre director and activist from Divadlo bez domova, shares how theatre...

On today’s episode of Slovakia Today, we head to Trenčín to explore how the NGO Punkt is training young leaders to build connected and resilient communities through its Citizen Academy workshops. We speak with participants, American lecturer Bari Hochwald Cagnola, and organizers to understand what motivates these young professionals to commit to intensive training spanning in-person modules and on...

The annual International Women’s Club’s Charity Christmas Bazaar recently took place in Bratislava. More than 25 embassies were there to share their culture and holiday traditions. Ben Pascoe visited and found out about what foreigners like about Slovak holiday traditions and what advice they have to other foreigners about how to enjoy the holiday season in Slovakia.

Human rights belong to all of us — regardless of nationality, gender, ethnicity, religion, or any other status. They include both essential protections, such as the right to life, and the rights that make our lives dignified and meaningful. Ahead of Human Rights Day (10 December), we take a closer look at how these rights are safeguarded at the European level with Michal Kučera, Head of the Slovak...

While greeting shortwave listeners and reading their reception reports at the beginning, M transitions into discussing the collaboration between Slovak and Hungarian sister cities and wraps up the show by highlighting some of the most significant men named Mikuláš in Slovakia.

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

Zuzana Botiková met with members of the Slovak ex-pat community in Sandyford, Ireland, to learn that their Christmas celebrations begin this Saturday, 6 December. Karolinum Press editors Martin Janeček and Michael Stein, together with translator Julia Sherwood, share recommendations for Slovak authors available in English translation—perfect as Christmas presents—in the first part of their discuss...

RERUN: Latest data from Intrum survey about spending in Slovakia shows, that Slovaks are among the top 5 countries ranking the highest in excessive impulse spending. This problem gets even more severe with the upcoming Christmas holidays. We will shine a light on this topic, including expert opinions from the sociology institute of Slovak Academy of Sciences, Intrum research agency and economy ana...

Today we explore the opening of Christmas markets in Bratislava and Košice. Then we examin how artificial intelligence influences translation and language, with expert insights from translator Marián Kabát. Finally, we look at the life and legacy of Slovak writer Terézia Vansová, a pioneering figure in literature and women’s publishing.

December is Christmas market season in Slovakia. Ben Pascoe brings you info from around the country about the holiday programs that have been prepared for children and adults of all ages!

Nearly one in ten women in Slovakia experienced some form of psychological or physical violence in the past year. And while this is slightly below the global average of 14%, the number remains alarmingly high — with experts warning that the true scale is likely much greater, as many incidents go unreported. To mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (25 November),...

RSI Sunday: Music, Greetings, Good vibes

Pick of the week.

25 November is the name day of Katarína in the Slovak calendar. Martina Greňová Šimkovičová once again introduces some of the most notable women in Slovakia who share this name. And in the cultural tips, we bring an invitation to Vienna, where a former Slovak member of the Vienna State Ballet is inviting audiences to a Danish Ballet performance.