Slovakia Today, English Language Current Affairs Programme from Slovak Radio

Three years after the start of the war in Ukraine, the flow of refugees to Slovakia has slowed, and many volunteer groups that once mobilized have scaled back. Yet, the needs of Ukrainians—both at home and abroad—remain immense. In this episode, we travel to the village of Moravské Lieskové, where local volunteers with the NGO Žito v Sypke hosted a weekend fundraiser to collect essential aid, incl...

Ben Pascoe attended the Eset Slovak Scientist of the Year awards held recently in Bratislava. He brings you interviews with founders, jury members, Slovak scientists and even a former president, as well info on many of the great scientists in Slovakia today.

In this round of Mysterious Slovakia, we travel to Košice, home to the St. Elizabeth’s Cathedral — the largest church in Slovakia and the easternmost Gothic cathedral in Europe. Beyond its treasures and relics, the cathedral hides a dramatic story: the legend and legacy of the Urban Bell. Then, we celebrate the 20th episode of Slovak Sound Check — with reflections, recaps, and a look at how far ou...

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

In this part of our series about names in the Slovak calendar, we’re once again catching up with Natália Hejková, the world-famous basketball coach from Slovakia, while playing the song Natália by Robo Opatovský. In Culture Tips, we’ll tell you about events happening in Banská Štiavnica, Trenčín, Žilina, and other great spots.

Wolves in Slovakia have a complex and often turbulent history. Once widely persecuted, these wild canines were relentlessly hunted and driven into the remote valleys of the country’s east. However, Slovakia’s accession to the EU brought stronger conservation policies, allowing wolf populations to make a remarkable comeback. Now, a new wave of fear and controversy threatens their future—not just in...

Today, we explore eco-friendly farming across Slovakia. First, we visit Ovosad Farm in Myjava, where sustainable farming practices are shaping a greener future. Then, we head to Moravské Lieskové to learn about hazelnut farming and its role in the local economy and environment. Next, we check out a prototype electromobile designed to assist farmers in vineyards, reducing emissions and soil disrupt...

Fjuzn festival’s konektiv concert evening brings together Slovak and foreign musicians living in Slovakia to make a special concert. Ben Pascoe talked with the organizers and musicians at this year’s edition, which was part of the 20th year of this unique multi-genre festival whose slogan this year was “dare to get to know the world we have at home.”

RERUN: Anna Podmanická (19) and Tomáš Čermák (18) are two talented young scientists and global winners of the prestigious Earth Prize 2025. 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 co...

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

Professor Anne Tomiche of Sorbonne University in Paris was the keynote speaker at an international symposium exploring various aspects of the norms and transgressions of masculinities in Central Europe — from the 19th century to the present day. Martina Greňová Šimkovičová also spoke with Ivana Taranenková, head of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, and Václav Smyčka of Charles University in Prague....

In an interview from 2024 Ben Pascoe talks with cellist and festival organizer Jozef Luptak about that years Konvergencie Festival as well as the past, future and current state of Chamber music. (repeat)

In this episode we travel to the rolling hills south of Zvolen for the fourth edition of the Hurá Von Festival, where educators and lecturers from across Slovakia gathered to celebrate the power of outdoor learning. From workshops on emotional hygiene, apitherapy, and sensory-motor skills to thoughtful discussions on youth mental health, the festival highlights how time in nature can nurture both...

Ben Pascoe visits the pop-up teahouse at Research lab, an experimental space where diverse intersect and they attempt to develop at holistic approach to the co-evolution of human consciousness and AI. He talks with founders/organizers Roman Pii Wagner, Peter Kašpar, and Andrea Kutlikova about AI, community building, keeping young people at home and doing business in Slovakia today.

With over 6,500 languages spoken around the globe, communication across cultures can be a challenge. Translators and interpreters help us overcome these barriers. To mark International Translation Day, celebrated worldwide on September 30, our show pays tribute to Slovakia’s language professionals. We meet Pavol Šveda, EU-accredited interpreter, president of the Slovak Association of Translators a...

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

In this edition of the Window to the World series, Tatiana Žitníková from the Russian section joins Michal Herceg from Rádio Regina Západ to explore the collaboration between the UNESCO-listed town of Levoča in eastern Slovakia and the city of Perechyn in western Ukraine. In Friday's show, we also highlight cultural events in Slovakia that are perfect for English speakers — and today, we add an in...

RERUN: How is mathematics taught in Slovakia? And how to teach it in a way that entertains and inspires children? Mathematician Zbynek Kubáček reveals. Dušan Polačik, a representative of WAMA, talks about new trends in waste processing. Finally, a new episode of the Who was that series reveals who Janko Alexy was.

Don't miss your final chance to participate in the 8th round of the RSI competition series for 2025. In this episode, Peter Sabaček from the Spanish section uncovers the mystery of the Tribeč hills near Nitra. While in Nitra, we also revisit the partnership between this town in western Slovakia and Naperville, Illinois.

Ben Pascoe talks with recently appointed Director of the Slovak National Gallery Juraj Kralik as well as co-organizer of the free SNG initiative Andras Csefalvay about how the see the Slovak National Gallery today. He also attended the recent opening of SNG's newest exhibit and heard from protesters and attendees about how they seen SNG today.

Every year on 22 September, cities across the world celebrate World Car-Free Day, encouraging people to leave their cars at home. The event highlights the benefits of car-free living — from cleaner air and safer streets to more space for walking and cycling. In Europe, it marks the finale of European Mobility Week (16–22 September), a campaign promoting clean and sustainable urban transport. Slova...

After our regular news digest covering the past week, we now bring you another part of our 2025 series, Window to the World. Today, our colleague from the Russian section, Tatiana Žitníková, takes you on a journey to Spišské Podhradie in Slovakia and Perečín in Ukraine.

In his remarks regarding his visit to China in September 2025, Robert Fico also expressed his hope that a Slovak Cultural Institute would soon be established in Beijing, alongside a Chinese cultural presence in Bratislava. In today's show, you’ll hear from a Slovak interpreter who has been traveling to China for the past 30 years as well as a Chinese poet who attended a literary festival in Slovak...

RERUN: In today’s program, we once again explore inclusive education in Slovakia through the experiences of Mária Reviľáková and Michaela Vlasáková, two friends and visionaries behind the project Alka. They share how personal stories, collaboration with institutions, and dialogue across generations are shaping a more inclusive society.

In this episode, we speak with researcher Jakub Šrol about how conspiracy theories threaten sustainability efforts. Drawing on his new paper published in the journal Nature Human Behavior, he discusses how belief in conspiracy theories erodes confidence in science and institutions and how social media accelerates misinformation. The conversation covers what defines a conspiracy theory, how to spot...