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Czechast is a regular RPI podcast about Czech and Moravian culture, history, and economy.
102 Episodes
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In a wide-ranging conversation for Czechast, Charles University spokesperson Jan Bumba explains how a 700-year-old institution works to stay modern and international. He reflects on his switch from journalism to academia, the realities of rankings, and the draw of studying in Prague. Bumba also acknowledges dormitory shortcomings and why improving student housing is now a key priority.
In a new episode of Czechast, journalist Daniel Kaiser of Echo24 speaks about the recent Czech elections. The vote ended with a clear defeat for the governing coalition and opened the door for Andrej Babiš to reclaim power.
The latest Czechast tells the story of two remarkable women — Barbara Day and Nancy Durham — who risked much to help Czech intellectual life survive under communism. Through the Jan Hus Educational Foundation, they built bridges between British academics and dissident scholars in Czechoslovakia. Their courage and empathy show how even small acts of solidarity can shape freedom and education.
In a new episode of Czechast, we stay in Ostrava, once the proud industrial heart of Czechoslovakia. The city has faced tough decades since the fall of heavy industry, but new projects are giving it a fresh pulse. Among them is the University of Ostrava’s city campus — a symbol of how education and creativity can help renew even the most hard-hit regions.
As Czechs prepare to vote again in the elections for the Chamber of Deputies, Czechast takes a look back at 35 years of free elections. Host Vít Pohanka speaks with Jiří Pehe, political scientist, commentator, and former adviser to Václav Havel. Together, they trace the milestones that have shaped Czech democracy since 1989.
Petr Kopecký, President of Ostrava University, has spent nearly three decades teaching and researching English and American literature. In an interview for Czechast, he spoke about the role of universities in defending democracy, the challenge of integrating AI in education, and his passion for John Steinbeck. He also addressed the future of Ostrava and the ongoing struggle to keep young talent in the Moravia-Silesia region.
In a landmark shift, Czechia now allows its citizens living abroad to vote by mail. But to participate in the 2025 parliamentary elections, Czechast wants to remind expats that they must register by Sunday, August 24. As the country marks the anniversary of the 1968 invasion that once crushed its democratic hopes, this new right to vote from abroad carries special meaning.
In this summertime episode of Czechast, the podcast in English about all things Czech, I set aside our usual interviews. Instead, I read my own English translation of a short story written and published in the 1930s by Karel Čapek, arguably the most famous Czech writer. Playful yet thought-provoking, it shows that lamenting the “decline of times” is hardly a new phenomenon.
In this summer edition of Czechast, host Vít Pohanka visits the South Bohemian village of Holašovice, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that feels like a storybook come to life. He speaks with Julia Kňažková, a local guide and heritage expert, about the village’s ancient roots, charming architecture, and sometimes overwhelming popularity with tourists. This episode explores how the community balances preservation with everyday life — and how its future may depend on the next generation.
In this episode of Czechast, we talk to Michaela Küchler, Secretary General of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance. She shares her family’s deep Czech roots and her work preserving the memory of the Roma and Sinti genocide. We discuss the story of the Lety camp and why remembrance matters now more than ever.
In this episode of Czechast, journalist and podcaster Julie Urbišová reflects on life between cultures—Czech, American, and Turkish. From her first glimpse of Louisiana’s flooded bayous to teaching schoolchildren how to slow down and breathe, her story is one of quiet transformation. Born in Hlučínsko, she now lives in New Orleans, where she continues to explore identity, parenting, and balance—topics at the heart of this Czechast conversation.
When Czech musician Jaroslav Škuta was denied entry to the U.S. this summer, some pointed to Trump’s stricter border controls. But his case isn’t unique. Similar incidents over many years suggest U.S. immigration checks have always been strict—no matter who’s in the White House.
Julie Urbišová is a journalist, yoga teacher, and podcaster based in New Orleans. In this episode of Czechast, she reflects on identity, motherhood, and what it's like to live in a deeply divided United States while staying connected to her Czech roots and those of her Turkish husband.
Adam Holomoucký came to the United States on a sports scholarship and recently graduated from a university in North Carolina. He and his wife now hope to stay in America — not despite its political divisions, but with eyes wide open to its diversity. In this episode of Czechast, he shares why he still believes in the opportunities the U.S. offers and why he remains proudly Czech at heart.
Peter Bísek left Czechoslovakia in the 1960s using a clever trick on a travel form. He arrived in Brooklyn with two suitcases, $180, and no plan. In this episode of Czechast, he shares how he turned exile into a mission to connect Czech-Americans through journalism.
In this episode of Czechast, we meet Martina Šmídová—a young Czech woman who has made a new life for herself in Thailand. Born after 1990, she’s part of the Millennial generation whose worldview is shaped by digital life, global mobility, and personal freedom. But as she tells us, some old clichés about her country—and even her accent—are hard to shake.
After years of debate and determined civic effort, Czechia has finally adopted postal voting for its citizens living abroad. For many, it’s not just a logistical reform, but a powerful act of recognition. In this episode of Czechast, we speak with those who helped make it happen—and those who will now benefit from the change. It’s a story of activism, identity, and democratic belonging.
In this new episode of Czechast, host Vít Pohanka meets Jean Svoboda and her partner Richard in person for the first time. Jean, an Australian with Czech and Latvian roots, is back in Czechia to continue piecing together her family history. Richard, who had never been to Europe before their first trip, joins her again and shares what this journey has meant to him. Together, they reflect on identity, heritage, and the enduring pull of ancestral memory.
In this special episode of Czechast, long-time host Vít Pohanka becomes the guest. Interviewed by his colleague Danny Bate, he reflects on the complicated Czech relationship with Russia—from wartime liberation to post-Soviet tensions and today’s polarized opinions. Drawing on personal memories and historical milestones, Pohanka unpacks how deep emotions, nostalgia, and geopolitical shifts continue to shape public opinion. The conversation explores what it means to remember, to forget, and to rethink a relationship marked by both admiration and anxiety.
In a new episode, Czechast speaks to Jan Trčka, a Czech citizen who left his civilian life behind to fight in Ukraine. In a wide-ranging and deeply personal conversation, Trčka explains his motivations, battlefield experiences, and the moral clarity that drives his commitment.
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