Slovakia Today, English Language Current Affairs Programme from Slovak Radio

In the first part of the show, Patka talked to a few organizations around Bratislava that serve young people as a safe space and hub where they can meet and socialize. In the second half we covered what it is like to be a journalist in todays society.

A regular news roundup, followed by a selection of stories from the past week. Today, a breast cancer survivor on World Cancer Day, the safety of protesters at recent demonstrations, Slovakia in the Berlinale film festival, and climate anxiety effecting mental wellbeing

Two exhibitions presenting two generations of Slovak female visual artists will open at 2 venues in New York on 13 and 14 February. Curator Zuzana Novotova Godalova and artist Eva Cisarova Minarikova invite to come and see. In 2025, jazz singer Ester Wiesnerova became the first ever Slovak member of the jury deciding on Grammy recipients. Culture tips at the end of the show feature also Foreigners in Slovakia: Interactive comedy.

The Slovak stop-motion animated movie Tales from the Magic Garden has its premiere at the Berlinale festival. We spoke with its producer, Juraj Krasnohorský, as well as members of the Slovak Film Institute. The Plant Your Own Plant (Zasaď si svoju rastlinku) project begins in February at the Stredoslovenské Múzeum in Banská Bystrica. Bring your kids and plant a plant! Who Was That: Enea Lanfranconi – the first episode of a new series.

While natural disasters and the climate crisis dominate headlines, their psychological toll often goes unnoticed. Yet, the impact on mental well-being goes far beyond mere concern. In this episode we explore the topic with psychologist Patricia Gajdosociova and climate activist Martina Kedrova from the NGO Znepokojne Matky. Then, we discuss at the landmark EU-Mercosur trade agreement with European Parliament Vice President Martin Hojsik.

Ben Pascoe talks with the CEO of event safety consultancy company Safety Crew, Brano Tichy. They discuss what goes into making an event both safe and secure as well as what attendees should do to help make events successful. They also touch on safety in schools today.

February 4th marks the World Cancer Day and a regular movement is one of the most important forms of prevention of oncological diseases. As part of awareness, Liga proti rakovine organization came up with an idea for people to move more and to choose steps over the elevator. You are going to hear experts from Liga proti rakovine talking about their newest initiative and cancer survivor, Kristína Oravcová, who shares her remarkable story.

Week in Slovakia.

Ben and Martin taka a look at the past week in Slovakia and look forward to upcoming events.

Slovak born American actress Katarina Morhacova shares her story of getting from Banska Bystrica to NY and LA. European museums' halt to co-operation with the Slovak National Gallery accellerated the decision of about a hundred of experts to leave this cultural institution. Speaking about their reasons to quit are Maria Bohumelova, Director of Collections and Acting Director of Exhibitions and Displays, and Lubica Orechovska, Director of the Department of Expositions and Exhibition Production.

In this edition of the Slovakia Today programme, we bring you three interviews dealing with Romani visual artists coming from Slovakia. First up is Rudolf Dzurko, a Romani artist from eastern Slovakia. Although he spent most of his life in the Czech Republic, his works of art found themselves back in Slovakia at the "Only with Me Can You Hear the Grass Grow" exhibition at the East Slovak Gallery in Košice. The director of the gallery Dorota Kenderová and the curator Miroslav Kleban share more about his person, his one-of-a-kind art technique, and his connection to magical realism or even surrealism. Next up is Šarlota Bottová from Hnúšťa, a Romani portraitist specilising in drawing. The last interview introduces Miloš Rác, a Romani visual artist and sculptor coming from Považská Bystrica.

Ben Pascoe talks with Mier Ukrajine co-founder and co-organizer of the Slovensko je Europa demonstrations, Marian Kulich. We also bring you sights and sounds from the demonstration that took place recently in Bratislava.

Eva Mosnáková was not only a holocaust survivor, but also a long-standing figther against extremism. Even in her old age she invested a lot of time in discussions with younger generations about war, holocaust and extremism. She died in December 2024 aged 95 years old. And what is her message for the next generations and how to people remeber her? We talked to Madeline Vadkerty, Andrej Bán a Soňa Gyarfášová.

January 27 marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp. The day was chosen to be the Holocaust Memorial Day. Martin Bednárik talks to Madeline Vadkerty, an American based in Bratislava, Slovakia. She is professor, author and researcher dedicated to the topic of documenting the Holocaust. Madeline's first encounter with Slovakia was in the 1990s. She came across a letter by a woman addressed to the President of Slovak state asking for exemption from the harsh Jewish Code. After her retirement, Madeline came back to Slovakia to satisfy her curiosity. In 2020, she published a book about these letters. And her research goes on. Also on the show, she remembers Eva Mosnáková, a Holocaust survivor who has passed away last December.

Patka and Ben discuss the past week and look ahead to all the great stuff Slovakia has to offer in the upcoming week.