Czechast, Radio Prague International

More than 35 years after the fall of communism, how close is the Czech Republic to the free society and free-market economy envisioned in the early 1990s? In this episode of Czechast, former Czech president and prime minister Václav Klaus argues that much of Europe is now moving in the opposite direction. Speaking to Vít Pohanka, he discusses the European Union, the euro, the war in Ukraine and the political forces challenging Europe’s mainstream.

Karen Kruger grew up in the United States unaware that her mother was Jewish and had escaped Czechoslovakia on a Kindertransport. Discovering that secret set the Holocaust educator and filmmaker on a decades-long search that resulted in Letters from Brno and repeated journeys to South Moravia. Speaking to Czechast during ŠTETL FEST, Kruger explains how confronting a painful family history gradually turned into an unexpected sense of belonging.

Václav Klaus is known internationally as a politician who has never shied away from controversy, from questioning policies designed to fight climate change to his views on Russia’s war against Ukraine. But this episode of Czechast reveals a more personal side of the former Czech president: Václav Klaus the Pražák. Born and raised in Vinohrady, he looks back on more than eight decades of life in a changing Prague – and has some typically strong opinions about the city of today.

Prague is already feeling the effects of a warming climate, particularly during increasingly intense summer heat waves. Jan Richter, a climate change adaptation specialist at Prague City Hall, believes the answer lies partly beneath our feet: giving trees enough underground space, retaining rainwater and bringing more vegetation into even the historic centre. In this episode of Czechast, he also explains how a Fulbright scholarship in the United States and the urban farms of Detroit helped shape his ideas about the resilient city of the future.

For centuries, paintings, monuments and public buildings have shaped the way Czechs understand their past. According to art historian and Charles University Professor Vít Vlnas, works of art often tell us less about the historical events they portray than about the period in which they were created. In an interview for Czechast, he reflects on Baroque art, Charles Bridge, collective memory and why modern generations are beginning to see Czech history differently.

For the latest episode of Czechast, regional geographer and president of Jan Evangelista Purkyně University Jaroslav Koutský reflects on the changing map of Czechia. He discusses why some regions have reinvented themselves while others continue to face deep social challenges, and why geography still shapes everyday life.

The second half of the 1960s brought political thaw to stagnant Czechoslovakia and, with it, a breath of freedom that inevitably spread through the corridors of Czechoslovak Radio. International broadcasting, until then a strict and uncompromising instrument of communist propaganda, slowly began to change its tone. Czechoslovakia was opening up to the world, and the airwaves no longer carried only rigid ideological dictates.

After almost thirty years spent studying and teaching in the United States and Britain, political scientist and writer Milan Babík has returned to Prague. In an interview for Czechast, he speaks about adapting to life back in Czechia, the strengths and weaknesses of Czech education, the troubled future of the Václav Havel Library and why he still finds hope in ordinary human relationships.

Linda Nosková and Karolína Muchová made history in the first all-Czech Grand Slam singles final. This special edition of Czechast brings their reactions in their own words – Nosková speaking on Centre Court moments after winning Wimbledon and Muchová reflecting on a painful defeat at her press conference.

Few universities in the world can offer students hands-on experience with a real nuclear reactor. This episode of Czechast takes listeners inside the Czech Technical University in Prague with Professor Jan Rataj, head of the Department of Nuclear Reactors.

The witch trials in northern Moravia claimed nearly two hundred lives and remain one of the darkest episodes in the history of today's Czechia. In Blood in Bohemia, a special series of Czechast, Vít Pohanka and Rob Cameron revisit the story with historian Jaroslav Čechura. The episode explores both the traditional interpretation of the trials and a thought-provoking new perspective on their origins.

Military commander, entrepreneur, statesman—or traitor? The latest episode of Blood in Bohemia, a special series of Czechast by Radio Prague International, explores the remarkable life of Albrecht von Wallenstein. Historian Jaroslav Čechura explains how a Bohemian nobleman rose to become the Emperor's most powerful general before being assassinated by his own officers.

The execution of twenty-seven leaders of the Bohemian Revolt on Prague's Old Town Square ranks among the most dramatic public executions in European history. In this episode of Blood in Bohemia, a special series of Czechast, Rob Cameron and Vít Pohanka retrace the events that followed the Battle of White Mountain and examine how one morning in June 1621 transformed the Czech lands for centuries.

In the latest episode of Prague Off the Beaten Track, a Czechast series, we step inside the Church of St. Martin in the Wall, one of Prague's oldest and least-known historic churches. Hidden just off Národní třída, it played a remarkable role in the Hussite movement and today offers one of the city's most welcoming and distinctive Protestant communities.

The Second Defenestration of Prague is one of the best-known episodes in Czech history, yet the dramatic fall from the windows of Prague Castle was only the beginning. In Blood in Bohemia, a special series of Czechast, journalists Vít Pohanka and Rob Cameron explore how a failed triple murder became the spark that ignited the Thirty Years' War and changed the course of European history.

The First Prague Defenestration is one of the most dramatic turning points in Czech history. In Blood in Bohemia, a special series of Czechast, Vít Pohanka and Rob Cameron trace how religious tension, fear, and politics led to violence in Prague in 1419. With insights from historian Eva Doležalová, the episode shows how one act helped ignite the Hussite Wars.

Violence in medieval Bohemia was nothing new—but the fate of Duke Jaromír stands apart. Mutilated by his own brothers and killed in a shocking final act, his story reveals how power struggles could turn deeply brutal. In this episode of Blood in Bohemia, we explore one of the darkest chapters of the Přemyslid dynasty.

For this Czechast special, Vít Pohanka joins the March of Reconciliation from Pohořelice to Brno, where painful memories of the post-war expulsion of German-speaking residents still resonate. This year’s event carried added weight, as Brno hosted the Sudeten German Association’s annual gathering for the first time in history. Alongside calls for reconciliation came loud protests, revealing how emotionally charged the subject remains.

A powerful noble family rises close to the centre of power—and then faces sudden and devastating violence. In Blood in Bohemia, a special series of Czechast, the episode explores the story of the Vršovci and their bloody downfall. It raises a deeper question: what happens when power exists without security?

It is one of the most brutal and decisive episodes in early Czech history. In Blood in Bohemia, a special series of Czechast, the episode examines the massacre of the Slavníkovci clan in 995. The story raises a deeper question: what role did violence play in the birth of the Czech state?

In this special episode of Czechast, Czech President Petr Pavel and Finnish President Alexander Stubb have a timely discussion on Europe’s future, security, and democracy. A thoughtful conversation between two European leaders at a critical moment.

It is a dramatic legend of violence between women striving for independence and men determined to reassert control. In Blood in Bohemia, a special series of Czechast, the episode explores the Maidens’ War and its enduring appeal. The story raises a deeper question: why has this bloody myth remained so powerful for centuries?

In the latest episode of Czechast, British Ambassador Matt Field speaks about his experience in Czechia, the impact of Brexit, and Western support for Ukraine. Drawing on his time in the Balkans, he also reflects on Europe’s changing security landscape and explains why institutions like the BBC World Service and Radio Prague International remain essential in the age of disinformation.

The story of Saint Wenceslas is often told as a tale of faith and virtue—but it begins with violence. In Blood in Bohemia, a special series of Czechast, the episode examines what we really know about his death. It is a story where history and legend have been intertwined for more than a thousand years.

Blood in Bohemia is a special series of Czechast, the podcast in English about all things Czech. In it, Vít Pohanka teams up with BBC correspondent Rob Cameron to revisit some of the most brutal and defining moments in Czech history. Before the series begins, they sit down together to explain what drew them to these stories — and why they still matter today.

In Czechast, Mexican entrepreneur Alejandro Cruz reflects on his life in Prague and the cultural differences he encountered and what made him start podascting. He speaks about identity, belonging, and the challenges of adapting to a new society. His experience offers a personal insight into what it means to live between cultures.

The latest Amnesty International report points to persistent human rights challenges in Czechia. These include segregation in education, growing pressure on refugee integration, and controversial arms exports. Climate policy, or rather the lack-off it, is also emerging as a key human rights issue.

Amnesty International’s latest annual report on human rights is the focus of this Czechast episode. In the full interview, spokesperson Martina Nejedlá discusses key findings on Czechia, from education and migration to climate policy. The conversation offers a deeper look at the challenges highlighted in the report.

In this episode of Prague off the Beaten Track, we explore Obora Hvězda, a quiet park in Prague 6 that hides a remarkable story. From its origins as a royal game reserve to the striking Renaissance Letohrádek Hvězda, the site reflects centuries of history, ambition, and transformation. Today, it offers a calm escape — but beneath the surface lies a landscape shaped as much by human design as by nature itself.

In this special episode of Czechast, we take a closer look at Czechia’s defence readiness in today’s rapidly changing security environment. Our guest is Martin Sklenář, analyst and co-author of a new report by GLOBSEC, a respected Bratislava-based think tank focusing on security, geopolitics, and international affairs across Europe and beyond.

In Czechast, veteran journalist Petr Dudek looks back at the 1990s, a key period in shaping modern Czech society and politics. One of the editors that shapúe current affair programs in Czech Public Radio reflects on how the Czech media landscape and political communication have evolved since then.

Holešovická tržnice in Prague’s Holešovice district has undergone a remarkable transformation. What was once a modern slaughterhouse is now a bustling market and cultural hub. Today, it stands as one of Prague’s most intriguing places off the beaten track.

In Czechast, journalist Petr Brod draws on decades of experience at the BBC and Radio Free Europe to reflect on the past and future of international broadcasting. As funding pressures grow and audiences shift online, the role of global media is being redefined. The episode also asks what place remains for Radio Prague International in today’s world.

Easter in Czechia is often linked to folk traditions—but what about its spiritual meaning? In this Czechast archive special, Vít Pohanka speaks with Czech Protestant minister Miki Erdinger. Together, they explore faith, doubt, and the place of religion in modern Czech society.

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 unexpected ways.

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 crimes of the regime were never punished, and why understanding the realities of life under communism remains crucial for younger generations today.

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 Prague?

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 stance, the message was unequivocal. In this special Czechast episode, you can hear both speeches in full.

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 Olympics in Milan and Cortina, as well as a look back at his extraordinary career.

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.