Shenanigans

In this episode, we sit down with Melis — a Turkish musician who moved to Prague four years ago and has been carving her own path in the local music scene. From studying public and social policy at Charles University to finding her place through jam sessions and community, her story is one of resilience, creativity, and speaking up through art.Melis opens up about the challenges of breaking into the industry as a foreigner, the joy of performing and creating, and what it’s like to suddenly go viral with politically charged content. We also touch on how AI is reshaping music, and why community matters more than ever.🎙 Topics we explore:– Moving from Turkey to Prague– Discovering and building a music community– The highs and lows of going viral– Speaking through art and political expression– Balancing passion with a full-time job– AI’s impact on the music world🎵 Follow Melis:Instagram (personal): https://www.instagram.com/melis.music/Instagram (BNV Cast): https://www.instagram.com/bnvcast/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aysuvemelis?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc📸 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shenanigans.cz/⁠Discover more on Shenanigans: https://shenanigans.cz/

In this episode, we sit down with Will Aldis — a British entrepreneur who traded the UK for life in Mladá Boleslav, just outside the Prague bubble. From odd jobs to running his own language school, Will’s story is about persistence, cultural adaptation, and building something that lasts.He shares what it’s like to start a business in a foreign country, the lessons he’s learned about professionalism and reputation, and how life outside Prague offers its own unique challenges and rewards.🎙 Topics we explore:– Moving from the UK to Czechia– Founding and growing an English teaching business– High standards, self-critique, and burnout– What it means to integrate outside Prague– Balancing ambition, family, and identity📚 Learn more about Will’s work:East Anglian Languages: https://ea-english.cz/home/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eaenglishcz/📸 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shenanigans.cz/Discover more on Shenanigans: https://shenanigans.cz/

In this episode, we sit down with Oleg Govorukha — a Russian expat in Prague balancing two worlds: software development and music. By day, he works in tech. By night, he’s a singer-songwriter, sound producer, and frontman of the band Nomad Disco.Oleg shares how he moved to Prague four years ago, what it takes to build a life and creative career in a new country, and how speaking six languages has shaped his sense of identity. We talk about finding balance between stability and creativity, building community, and what drives him to keep making music alongside a full-time job.🎙 Topics we explore:– Moving from Russia to Prague– Life split between tech and music– The reality of sustaining creative projects while working full-time– Speaking six languages and living between cultures– Building connections in a new city🎵 Listen to Oleg’s work:Nomad Disco: https://open.spotify.com/artist/009HciBF31J1j1FQVCblR8?si=MFxSVZw5QwuCehFAB_D1CAPraha: https://open.spotify.com/track/7pnIQXMde9fmoUw5v0dLIF?si=b6e4ee57c4654c75📸 Follow Oleg on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oleg.govorukha?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=Z2M4MGlxb3UzZzN1Discover more on Shenanigans: https://shenanigans.cz/

In this episode, we sit down with Henry Hodge, a British-American filmmaker who landed in Prague and started building from scratch. What began as a leap into the unknown eventually became Spectre Films — a production company known for both commercial work and narrative storytelling, all built off persistence, collaboration, and learning by doing.Henry opens up about what it really takes to start something without permission, why Prague became the place he could finally grow roots, and the tension between doing the work you love and making it sustainable.🎙 Topics we explore:– What filmmaking looks like without film school– The realities of building creative community from scratch– Moving through imposter syndrome– Creating opportunities instead of waiting for them– Why transparency in the creative world still feels rare🎥 You can check out Henry’s work at spectrefilms.euHenry's Insta: https://www.instagram.com/henryhodgefilm/Actors in Prague: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1748567125329844/ Discover more on Shenanigans

When Nae first reached out, he didn’t try to frame his story with careful words. He told me directly: “Either I move to Prague, or I kill myself in France.”This episode starts there — not in metaphor, not in hindsight — but with the blunt reality of what it means to be done. Done pretending, done staying silent, done trying to meet the idea of what a man is supposed to carry.Nae speaks openly about living with bipolar disorder, how for years people only saw him as “high-functioning,” and the pressure that builds when you're told that being a man means shutting up and pushing through. He shares what it felt like to stand on the edge — and what helped him take a step back.Prague wasn’t just a city he moved to. It became a space where he could finally stop performing strength and start rebuilding from something real. Not healing overnight, not magically fixing everything — but choosing to stay. And speak.📊 Globally, men account for nearly 75% of all suicides.(Source: WHO, World Mental Health Report 2022)🎙 Topics we explore:The moment everything nearly endedThe weight of silence, especially for menWhat it’s like living with bipolar disorder while being “high-functioning”How music helpedWhy Prague offered more than a home — it offered time⚠️ Content warning: This episode contains discussion of suicide and mental health struggles. If you are in crisis or need support, please reach out to a mental health professional or a local crisis service. You are not alone.📍 Support in the Czech Republic:Linka Bezpečí (children & youth): 116 111Centrum krizové intervence: +420 284 016 666NÚDZ Mental Health Center: https://nudz.cz📍 Europe-wide:112 (emergency services)Mental Health Europe: https://www.mentalhealtheurope.orgSamaritans/Befrienders Worldwide: 116 123 (EU-wide emotional support helpline)Shenanigans ❤️

Valentina Huber knows — because she was there. What began as a round-trip ticket from the U.S. turned into a 25+ year journey of making Prague home. She didn’t plan to stay, and yet she found herself drawn into a life that slowly unfolded through language, culture, and creative reinvention.In this episode, we talk about the early days of expat life in post-communist Prague, the quiet charm of a city before it was crowded, and how saying “yes” — even to something as unlikely as stand-up — can change everything. Valentina’s story is a reminder that there’s no deadline on starting over.🎙 Topics we explore:– What it felt like to land in Prague when the city was still quiet– How a round-trip ticket turned into 25 years (and counting)– Building a creative life across languages and cultures– Embracing reinvention, later in life– Staying curious, expressive, and open to the unexpected

What makes someone walk away from a career in theoretical physics… and toward the human mind?In this episode, we sit down with Orestis, a Greek expat who came to Prague to study black holes — and stayed to help people explore the inner universe of their thoughts. From research labs to hypnotherapy sessions, we trace the deeply personal journey that led him to redefine what purpose, clarity, and healing really mean.Together, we unpack what hypnosis is (and isn’t), how our relationship to the “inner voice” can shape everything, and what it’s like to take a leap into a completely different life — one that might just align with who you really are.🎙 Topics we explore:– Starting over: moving countries, changing paths– From black holes to self-awareness: the logic behind the leap– What hypnotherapy actually looks and feels like– Misconceptions, reactions, and cultural biases– Finding clarity — and staying with itLet us know what resonated with you most.You can learn more about Orestis and his work at orestisv.com.

What happens when you leave everything behind, land in a new city, and decide to say “yes” more than “no”? For Aaron Dunne, that decision took him from a small town in Ireland to the fields of Prague’s Gaelic football clubs… and eventually in front of a camera, telling stories his own way.In this episode, we talk about what it's really like to start over — the awkward, funny, honest, and sometimes lonely parts of it. Aaron opens up about building a new life abroad, staying connected to who you are, and why sharing his journey publicly became so personal.🎙 Topics we explore:– The unspoken fears of moving abroad– The role of community, sport, and storytelling– Creating without asking for permission– Getting comfortable being seen — flaws and all– The emotional wins (and stumbles) of expat life in Prague🎥 You can follow Aaron’s journey on YouTube at @itsdunners.Let us know what stuck with you most.

It took Sahand Kianersi 10 years to finally step into the spotlight of Prague’s Metro Comedy Club. By day, he works in project management. But after hours, he’s finding his footing as a stand-up comedian — not to change careers, but to push himself outside his comfort zone.In this episode, we talk about moving to Prague, balancing work with creative risks, and what it really feels like to try something new after years of hesitation.🎤 Catch Sahand at Metro Comedy Club💼 Connect with him on LinkedIn

​For our first episode in Prague, we sit down with Martina Ptáčková, an eight-time world champion in martial arts, renowned for her expertise in kickboxing and hand-to-hand combat. Beyond her athletic achievements, Martina has made significant contributions by training NATO troops in hand-to-hand combat techniques. She also collaborates with the President of the Czech Republic as a member of the Youth Advisory Board: ​shape.nato.intLinkedIn+1shape.nato.int+1Martina's dedication extends to social causes, notably co-founding the "Šikana do klece" initiative, an international program aimed at combating bullying, supported by the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. Through this project, she leverages her martial arts expertise to empower individuals facing bullying. In this candid conversation, we explore Martina's journey from overcoming childhood bullying to becoming a world champion, her experiences training elite military personnel, and her ongoing efforts to create positive change in her community.​Shenanigans is a podcast dedicated to uncovering the authentic stories of Prague's diverse personalities. Each episode offers listeners intimate conversations that delve into the personal journeys, challenges, and triumphs of individuals who shape the vibrant culture of this city. Join us as we bridge the gap between locals and visitors, fostering genuine connections and a deeper understanding of the experiences that define our community.​Relevant Links:Martina Ptáčková's Official Website: https://www.ptackovi.org/Šikana do klece (Anti-Bullying Initiative): https://www.ptackovi.org/boj-proti-sikaneMartina's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/martinaptackova/Tune in to hear Martina's inspiring story and gain insight into the resilience and determination that drive her endeavors.Do you have a story to share? Write to us: [email protected]