Claim OwnershipCzechast, Radio Prague International
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© 2025 Radio Prague International
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Czechast is a regular RPI podcast about Czech and Moravian culture, history, and economy.
112 Episodes
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As 2025 comes to an end, Czechia has achieved something unprecedented in its modern history: it is no longer dependent on Russian oil or gas. In Czechast, political scientist Martin Jirušek explains how this became possible and why it matters. The interview also looks ahead to new risks hidden in Europe’s energy transition.
In this episode of Czechast, we speak with Professor Bohumír Janský, one of the most respected Czech geographers of his generation. He is known worldwide for leading the scientific expeditions that mapped the true sources of the Amazon River in Peru. His work has reshaped our understanding of the world’s greatest river and remains a milestone in modern hydrological research.
Czechs embrace the Christmas season with enthusiasm, but long-term statistics show that church attendance in Czechia is among the lowest in Europe. In this episode of Czechast, we explore why these two realities coexist — and where the roots of this paradox lie. Religion editor Adam Šindelář offers historical context and insight into Czech attitudes toward faith, tradition and spirituality.
In this new Czechast episode, lawyer and entrepreneur Linda Tejchmanová talks about building a life and career in Belgium. From studying two law degrees in parallel to co-founding the Czech-Belgian Chamber of Commerce, her story reflects both opportunities and dilemmas many Czechs abroad face. Recorded in Leuven, the conversation explores identity, motherhood, community, and the cultural nuances between Czechia and Belgium.
The current tug-of-war between President Petr Pavel and Andrej Babiš centres on how the ANO leader — and billionaire owner of Agrofert — should publicly address his business interests before being appointed prime minister. While it dominates today’s headlines, history shows that such tensions between the Castle and the head of government have appeared many times before. In this Czechast special, we explore how these power dynamics shaped politics from the First Republic to the present day.
In this episode of Czechast, we reveal the unexpected Czech footprint behind one of the world’s most prestigious gastronomic symbols. Smalt Brno company manufactures the iconic enamel plaques displayed by Michelin-starred restaurants across the globe.
In a special episode of Czechast, we revisit a 2019 discussion on the state of Czech democracy with Jiří Pehe and Tomáš Sedláček. Recorded at a time when Andrej Babiš was Prime Minister, the debate feels even more relevant today. As Czechia reflects on November 17, this episode offers perspective on political shifts, polarization, and the resilience of democratic processes.
Czechast visits Zlín to explore “The Baťa Principle,” the signature exhibition at the Museum of Southeast Moravia. It traces the Baťa company’s rise from a village workshop to a global brand through shoes, film, and travel. Step inside a functionalist city that still runs on Tomáš Baťa’s energy.
In this special episode of Czechast, we revisit a report originally produced for Radio Prague International that tells the story of the Czechoslovak Legionnaires — soldiers who fought across Europe and deep into Siberia to secure their country’s independence. Among them was host Vít Pohanka’s great-granduncle, who fell in battle near the Ural Mountains. His fate is part of a larger story of courage, sacrifice, and nation-building that should never be forgotten.
Czech Route 66 Association president Zdeněk Jurásek first pedaled the Mother Road from Chicago to Santa Monica in 1998, covering roughly 4,000 kilometers in 30 days. Since then, he has returned dozens of times, guiding higher hundreds of travelers and earning a spot on Kingman’s Route 66 Walk of Fame. In this Czechast interview, he explains the appeal beyond nostalgia—and how to plan a smart, safe, and memorable trip.
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.
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