Voices from the Homelands

In this episode, Pavol Demeš speaks with Jan Surotchak, former President and current board member of the Friends of Slovakia, about the evolution of Slovak–U.S. relations on the eve of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. Drawing on his long personal and professional engagement with Slovakia—from the early post-Velvet Revolution years through his work with USAID and the Inte...

Czech by mother, Slovak by farther, and alpine ski legend by Americans and Canadians - Pavel Šťastný (79). A world class skiing coach from the Czech Republic who was, a couple of weeks ago, introduced into the Vermont Hall of Fame by the Vermont Alpine Ski Association. For over 35 years, Pavel Šťastný has been a cornerstone of alpine ski racing in Vermont, a world class coach, dedicated mentor, an...

In this episode, host Pavol Demeš welcomes Martina Kolesárová, Executive Director of the internationally respected Pontis Foundation, to discuss the role of civil society in Slovakia and the Foundation’s flagship event - the Impact Summit. The conversation traces the origins and mission of Pontis (founded with the involvement of American public figure Wendy Luers), explores Kolesárová’s profession...

This is our almost last podcast from Prague of the year, the last just before Christmas, so the guest will be very special, connected to the Czech holidays, Christmas ornaments and jewelry, art, design, traditions and the world of glass. My guest is an historian, Chief Curator and Deputy Director of the Museum of Glass and Jewelry in Jablonec nad Nisou, Dr. Petr Nový. We will be talking about the...

This episode of  Voices from the Homelands  features sociologist Dr. Oľga Gyárfášová, who reflects on the 36th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution and its meaning for Slovakia today. We discuss why November 17 remains a defining civic holiday, the rise in commemorative events, political tensions around its observance, and the symbolism of the new Velvet Revolution memorial in Brati...

In this podcast Voices from the Homelands from Prague (in cooperation with Radio Prague International) Miroslav Konvalina talks to a former journalist and spokesperson of the Charles University Jan Bumba about the state of the Czech society, media and academia.  Jan Bumba is currently working as a spokesperson of Charles University, the oldest and the largest university in the Czech Repu...

In this episode, Pavol Demeš welcomes Adrian Vyćítal — a successful entrepreneur with over two decades of experience in renewable energy, infrastructure, and innovation. As co-founder and Chairman of the Slovak Global Network, Adrian plays a key role in connecting Slovaks at home and abroad, fostering collaboration across professional and generational lines. Their conversa...

Voices from the Homelands are focusing now on the results of the general elections in the Czech Republic. Our guest at the Radio Prague International studio is a journalist: Commentator of the Czech Public Radio, Petr Dudek. What was the tone, theme, and atmosphere of these general elections and major differences were there compared to previous campaigns? What were the major themes of the cam...

In this episode, Pavol Demeš speaks with Peter Weiss — a prominent Slovak former member of Parliament and former Slovak Ambassador to the Czech Republic. Their conversation explores the recent parliamentary elections in Czechia, their course, key issues, results, and possible scenarios for the formation of the new government led by Andrej Babiš. The discussion also examines the implications for Cz...

Mirek Konvalina speaks with Petr Šimùnek, respected Czech journalist, former editor in chief of the world best business magazine Forbes (Czech Edition), about the state of the Czech Republic before upcoming general elections. At the beginning of October, Czechs will head to the polls to elect a new Chamber of Deputies, the lower house of Parliament. In a parliamentary democracy like the...

Pavol Demeš speaks with Ján Figel' — Slovakia’s former Chief Negotiator for EU accession, the country’s first European Commissioner, and recognized expert in the interfaith dialogue. Their conversation touches on Figel'’s personal and family ties to the United States, reflections on shifts in transatlantic relations, perspectives on the war in Ukraine, and the role of spiritual and religious leade...

Mirek Konvalina speaks with Czech linguist Ivana Bozděchová, associate professor from the Institute of Czech Language and Communication Theory, Faculty of Arts at Charles University, Prague. They talk about their native language and how it is used abroad, among compatriots, in Czech schools, and among other people interested in their mother tongue.

In this podcast, within the NCSML Voices from the Homelands series, Pavol Demeš interviews Gabriela Zahoranska, executive Director of the Slovak PRO, large and very successful community-based non-profit organization which has been connecting, supporting and empowering the Slovak professional community in America.

Mirek Konvalina speaks with musicologist and Director of the Bohuslav Martinù Institute, Dr. Aleš Bøezina, who is currently finishing preparations for a major festival of the Czech composer Bohuslav Martinù in the United States, inviting us to the upcoming Martinù festival at Bard College New York – "Bard Music Festival 2025: Martinù and his World". Aleš Bøezina is Director of the Bohuslav Ma...

Miroslav Wlachovský is the former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Slovak Republic, an ambassador, and now is a distinguished fellow at the well-known GLOBSEC international think tank. Host Pavol Demes discusses with him the recent GLOBSEC Forum in Prague, results of the NATO Summitt in Hague, and his views on the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library in Cedar Rapids, IA. 

Miroslav Konvalina talks from Prague with popular Czech bass-baritone Adam Plachetka, currently the most successful Czech opera singer who is performing at the Metropolitan Opera and who has had more than one hundred appearances in the last 10 years. 

After the freedom celebrations in Pilsen, which were bigger than ever, there is time to reflect on the 80 years since its liberation by US troops. Ivan Puš, Assistant Professor at the Department of History, Faculty of Arts, Palacky University Olomouc, speaks about how a young Czech historian can, from today's perspective, characterize this huge conflict which, for a long time, changed the course o...

In this episode, Katarína Mathernová, Ambassador of the European Union to Ukraine, who was born in Bratislava before studying and working for several years in the United States, shares information on the heroism of Ukrainians defending their country from Russian aggression. She also describes parameters of her job as well as EU and US assistance to Ukraine.

Host Miroslav Konvalina speaks with Petr Kolář, advisor to President Pavel and former Czech ambassador to the US and Russia, to gauge his overall sense of what went wrong with EU-Russia relations, what Czechs can influence within the situation in Europe, and whether they can hope that American people will finally be able to persuade their leadership that it is in the United States' interest to hav...

Pavol Demes interviews Benjamin Kosnáč, the Slovak catholic priest with rich experience in pastoral work not only in Slovakia but also abroad, including many years spent in the United States of America.

On Today's Episode: Dr. Pavol Demeš interviews President of the Slovak Academy of Sciences Pavol Šajgalík on the last decade of this leading Slovak scientific institution, its transformation, achievements, and challenges. Pavol Šajgalík is leaving his post in a few weeks.

On Today's Episode: Czech interpreter and translator Helena Koutná talks to Miroslav Konvalina about her life perception of Czech culture and historical heritage through her lived multi-cultural experience in the ever shifting linguistic landscape that echoes the fluidity of Central European sociopolitical changes.

On Today's Episode: Miroslav Konvalina, Former Director of the American Center (US Embassy Prague) and of the CZECH CENTER NEW YORK, speaks with Veronika Vejvodová, Director of Antonín Dvořák Museum in Prague, on her reflections on the Year of the Czech Music. 

On Today's Episode: Dr. Pavol Demeš interviews Jana Kobzová, well-known Slovak expert on post-Soviet space, Ukraine in particular, former foreign policy advisor to Slovak President Zuzana Čaputová, now visiting fellow at the international think-tank - the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR).