Slovakia Today, English Language Current Affairs Programme from Slovak Radio

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...

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...

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),...

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.

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...

Light pollution is an increasingly widespread problem that has profound, negative effects on the human body and the natural world. This fact has led some to push for measures that aim to mitigate these effects. The first to recognize the problem and call for change were astronomers. In this episode, we travel to the darkest place in Slovakia, Poloniny dark sky park, to experience something most pe...

This years Biela Vrana, White Crow awards were recently handed out. The awards recognize those people in our society who defend truth, justice and the public interest. Ben Pascoe talks with the organizers, jury members and this year’s laureates about why these awards are important.

In last week’s programme, we looked back at the Velvet Revolution and the events that brought down the communist regime in former Czechoslovakia. This week, we move from history to the present — exploring what the legacy of November ’89 means for Slovakia today. This year, November 17th was no longer a day off work, following government austerity measures. Yet despite that, many schools, companies...

Thomas Lorman, historian of SSEES University College London, talks about 1989 in Central Europe; Jana Kirschner, Slovak star singer living in London, brings back her memories of November 1989

This show explores the growing use of electronic cigarettes among young people in Slovakia and how the new law proposal on banning the use of electronic cigarettes may affect them, including older generation of smokers and Slovak economy. Experts Filip Kužma from the Smart Consumer Institute and addiction specialist Rastislav Žemlička from SanatoriumAT discuss marketing strategies and the addictiv...

Mysterious Slovakia pt. 10 - Trenčín: In this episode, we journey to the legendary Trenčín Castle to uncover the moving tale behind its famed Well of Love. Listeners will be transported into the 16th-century love story of Omar, a Turkish nobleman, and Fatima, the woman he vowed to save. Captured and imprisoned within the castle walls, Omar undertook the daunting task of digging a deep well through...

United on the ice. This special event which aims to foster inclusion and resilience through sport, brings Slovak and Ukrainian children together on the ice to train with professional hockey players. The is organized by the Canadian, Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish and Ukrainian embassies in Slovakia along with the Banska Bystrica Self-governing region, former NHLer Michal Handzus and his hockey school...

November 17 marks one of the most significant moments in modern Slovak and Czech history. In November 1989, people across Czechoslovakia took to the streets with hope and courage, ringing their keys in a symbolic call for change – and won their freedom. Thirty-six years after the fall of the totalitarian communist regime, our programme takes listeners back in time to revisit the atmosphere of the...

Week in Slovakia