Czechia in 30 minutes
A daily news podcast from Radio Prague International covering politics, culture, sport, science, and in-depth reports about the Czech Republic. Each episode features interviews and analysis, providing a comprehensive overview of current events in the country. The show is broadcast every weekday and Saturday in English.
Epizody
Public media funding
The Babiš government’s fast-tracking of legislation to end license fees and fund Czech Television and Czech Radio from the state budget sparked protests at the weekend. Ian Willoughby discussed the situation in Pundit series with political scientist Jiří Pehe and Vít Pohanka prepared a report from demonstrations in two of the country's biggest cities.
Two cities, two stories: Discovering the spirit of Ostrava and Český Krumlov
In the weekend edition of Czechia in 30 Minutes, we revisit two reports recorded during the COVID pandemic, exploring the distinctive character of two very different Czech cities. Singer-songwriter Jaromír Nohavica reflects on his hometown of Ostrava, its industrial heritage and transformation. In picturesque Český Krumlov, artist Jana Pešková and radio documentary maker Ivan Studený recall how m
Gratias Agit Awards 2026, Egon Bondy novel Unsound Siblings gets English translation, How Czech freeskiers built a community on and off the slopes
Gratias Agit Awards 2026: from preserving veterans’ legacy to promoting Czech music, Unsound Siblings: 1970s Egon Bondy novel gets English translation, More than tricks: How Czech freeskiers built a community on and off the slopes
News, El Niño to hit Czechs in the wallet, Ji.hlava at 30: Documentaries that changed the world, Kingdom Come: Deliverance star Luke Dale has pub in Prague
News, unprecedented El Niño to hit Czechs in the wallet, Ji.hlava at 30: Documentaries that changed the world, Kingdom Come: Deliverance star Luke Dale on becoming a Prague “innkeeper”
News, arttherapy gaining ground in Czechia, Czech crop invention heads to European farms
News, Czech galleries explore art’s potential to improve mental health, Czech crop invention heads to European farms through British partnership
News, historic Spitfire returns to Czechia after decades abroad, exhibition documents Sigmund Freud’s childhood in his hometown of Příbor, Moravia
News, historic Spitfire returns to Czechia after decades abroad, exhibition documents Sigmund Freud’s childhood in his hometown of Příbor, Moravia
ANO’s Senate “disaster”, virtual reconstruction of the abandoned mine and small municipalities
ANO failed to take a single constituency in second round run-offs to one-third of the seats in the Senate, virtual reconstruction of the Rolava-Sauersack tin mine and the history and future of one of the most distinctive and unique features of Czech public life: 11 million inhabitants divided into more than 6,200 municipalities.
Working with Václav Havel: Alexander Vondra on the man behind the presidency
How did Václav Havel lead, and did power change him? In the weekend edition of Czechia in 30 Minutes, Alexander Vondra recalls the dissident playwright who became president—and the friend he knew after his years at Prague Castle. Marking what would have been Václav Havel’s 90th birthday, we return to our interview in a longer version, exploring his character, his painstaking approach to speeches
Health Ministry planning financial incentive for preventive screenings, Pavel Haas Quartet wins latest Gramophone prize, Tomki Němec on photographing Václav Havel
Health Ministry planning financial incentive for preventive screenings, critics skeptical, “It’s unbelievable”: Pavel Haas Quartet wins latest Gramophone prize with Martinů: String Quartets, “There was no censorship”: Tomki Němec on photographing Václav Havel
Ministry and arts community at odds, first orange-breasted fig parrot bred in Czechia
Many in culture sphere in Czechia angered over new state arts policy; parrot breeding success for Prague Zoo.
News, Signalfest, Climate change threatens Krkonoše mountain tundra, Amanita Design announces a sequel to Machinarium
News, Signalfest -Dreams and Visions, Climate change threatens rare Krkonoše mountain tundra, Amanita Design announces a sequel to Machinarium
Cardiovascular research award, charity Soup that Helps and migrating birds crossroad in Czechia
Young Brno scientist wins international award for early detection of heart failure, Soup that Helps: A local tradition with a charitable purpose, Czechia: a crossroads for Europe's migrating birds.
News, municipal elections, Bílá pastelka charity drive for the blind, Martin Plesar of HairMates
News, municipal elections, Bílá pastelka charity drive for the blind, Martin Plesar of HairMates
Palestinian voices challenge Czech views on Israel and Gaza
In the weekend edition of Czechia in 30 Minutes, we hear from two Palestinians with close ties to Czechia about the devastating war in Gaza and its impact on Czech public debate. Lamis Bartušková Khalilová and anthropologist Yasar Abu Ghosh express deep disappointment with what they see as a lack of solidarity with Palestinian civilians among Czech politicians and in much of the Czech media.
News, President Pavel to skip local elections, exhibition puts Czechoslovakia’s forgotten lamp designers in the spotlight, Václav Havel Remembered.
News, President Pavel to skip local elections, exhibition puts Czechoslovakia’s forgotten lamp designers in the spotlight, Václav Havel's former spokesperson Ladislav Špacek shares his memories of the late Czech president.
News, Czechs at Frankfurt Book Fair, Ivan Klima book, interview with Midnight Swimmers frontman Stanislav Chyzhman.
News, Czechs at Frankfurt Book Fair, Ivan Klima book, interview with Midnight Swimmers frontman Stanislav Chyzhman.
Czech media unite against threats to journalists, Designblok director on Václav Havel and this year’s festival, archaeologists explore a former Soviet Gulag in Kazakhstan
Czech media unite against threats to journalists and restrictions on information, Designblok director on Václav Havel, light as a symbol of hope and the festival’s biggest edition yet, Czech archaeologists comb site of former Soviet Gulag in Kazakhstan that held Czechs and Slovaks
News, Bill Clinton remembers Vaclav Havel, Czech researchers find that 3D materials not always safe, Alexander Vondra on his years with Havel
News, Bill Clinton remembers Vaclav Havel, Czech researchers find that 3D materials not always safe, Alexander Vondra on his years with Havel
What can Czech literature tell foreign readers about Czechia?
Next week, Czechia will be Guest of Honour at the Frankfurt Book Fair under the motto Czechia: A Country on the Coast. Ahead of the event, we meet Belgian intellectual-property lawyer and passionate reader Bart van Besien, whose Bookmarked Places project explores countries through literature. He tells us how visits to Czechia led him to discover writers including Bohumil Hrabal, Jiří Weil and Mar
News, municipal and Senate elections coming up, Drone Shield 2026, head of Galerie Rudolfinum Julia Bailey
News, municipal and Senate elections coming up, Drone Shield 2026, head of Galerie Rudolfinum Julia Bailey
Villa Müller reopens,Kamil Lhoták exhibition, improving cereal crops
Villa Müller reopens to visitors, exhibition showcasing work of artist Kamil Lhoták opens in Prague and Czechs have developed a way to help cereal crops make better use of water and nutrients
News, Egon Schiele’s work on display, music conferences vying for artists, Malešice Botanical Gargen
News, Egon Schiele’s work on display, music conferences vying for artists, Malešice Botanical Gargen
1968 shooting victim identified; Czech scientists develop bone glue
Man shot during 1968 invasion identified, with bullet still in leg; Brno scientists develop glue that could help heal complex fractures.
Brother, martyr, patron saint: Why Czechs remember Wenceslas on September 28
In Monday’s Czechia in 30 Minutes, we travel back more than a thousand years to the violent death of Saint Wenceslas. Historian Robert Novotný explains how a murdered 10th-century prince became the patron saint of the Czech lands and one of the country’s most enduring symbols.
News, how EU citizens can vote in Czechia’s local elections, LUSTR festival of illustration and comics, trip to Olomouc
News, how EU citizens can vote in Czechia’s local elections, LUSTR festival of illustration and comics, trip to Olomouc
President Pavel at UN General Assembly, stunning 1930's apartment opens to public in Brno, Ida the Young band to tour UK
President Pavel at UN General Assembly, stunning 1930's apartment opens to public in Brno, Ida the Young band to tour UK
Havel's widow entrusts legacy to Prague Municipal Library, the story of Karel Kuttelwascher, Czech flora atlas
Havel's widow entrusts legacy to Prague Municipal Library, the story of Karel Kuttelwascher, Czech flora atlas
Sex crime online, Prague funicular back in operation, Vyšehrad Casemates
OnlyFans human trafficking case highlights growing sex crime online, Prague funicular back in operation, Vyšehrad Casemates: exploring Prague's hidden underground
Czechia reaches Davis Cup final, UNICEF CR presents Paddington's Postcards, trip to Obora Hvezda in Prague
Czechia reaches Davis Cup final, UNICEF CR presents Paddington's Postcards, trip to Obora Hvezda in Prague
An outsider’s view of Czechia: Sceptical of change, but surprisingly quick to adapt
In the weekend edition of Czechia in 30 Minutes, Vít Pohanka speaks to Latvian-born Linda Zeilina-Cross, who chose Prague as the base for her work on sustainable finance in Central and Eastern Europe. She sees Czechs as naturally sceptical of new ideas, but says that once they are convinced, change can happen remarkably fast. Their conversation, recorded at Climate Week Prague, explores Czech att
Bohemian crown jewels on display, Havel’s relationship with architecture and how he transformed Prague Castle, the campaign encouraging children to walk to school
Bohemian crown jewels on display, Havel’s relationship with architecture and how he transformed Prague Castle, the campaign encouraging children to walk to school
Film Volklore picks up silver in Toronto, Czechia dotted with contaminated sites, Mikulov
Student film Volklore wins silver at the film festival in Toronto, how many toxic sites need to be dealt with around the Czech Republic? Trip to Mikulov in southern Moravia
Czech archaeologists comb site of former Soviet gulag, Dürer painting The Rosary Feast to undergo restoration
News, Czech archaeologists comb site of former Soviet gulag in Kazakhstan, Dürer painting The Rosary Feast to undergo major restoration, trip to Prague's Bohnice district
Climate Week Prague puts climate change into everyday terms, Czech government declares war on illegal kratom sales, Neil Bermel on the future of Czech studies
From mortgages to food prices: Climate Week Prague puts climate change into everyday terms, Czech government declares war on illegal kratom sales, raises purchasing age, Why study Czech today? Neil Bermel on language, translation and the future of Czech studies
Czech Radio testing new radio warning system for emergencies, Záviš Cross reveals hidden relic and misidentified gemstones, Prague Talk with Jan Zikmund
Czech Radio testing new radio warning system for emergencies, Záviš Cross: Czech medieval treasure reveals hidden relic and misidentified gemstones, Jan Zikmund on bringing today's Czech writers to the world
Broadcast in English - 09/13/2026
Broadcast in English - 09/13/2026
Historian Cynthia Paces on Prague over the last millennium
Interview with historian Cynthia Paces. She is the author of Prague: The Heart of Europe, which traces the city’s story from the 10th century to the modern era.
News, Letters to Olga, how have travelogues changed over the centuries? Trip to Mikulov
News, Letters to Olga -Vaclav Havels correspondence from jail, how have travelogues changed over the centuries? Trip to Mikulov, in southern Moravia.
Czech Pavel Hlava on capturing unique images of 9/11, Could climate change threaten the quality of Czech beer? Inside Phonopolis, the striking new game from Amanita Design
Czech Pavel Hlava on capturing unique images of 9/11, Could climate change threaten the quality of Czech beer? Researchers working on drought-resistant hops, Inside Phonopolis, the striking new game from Czech studio Amanita Design
News, Otto Jelinek obit, rare Gospel of Mark fragment leaves Prague for Italy, mobility on Czech labour market, Malešice Botanical Garden
News, Otto Jelinek obit, rare Gospel of Mark fragment leaves Prague for Italy, mobility on Czech labour market, Malešice Botanical Garden
News, Hazardous chemicals in Sumava National Park, Czech classic Valerie and her Week of Wonders screened in Venice
News, Hazardous chemicals in Sumava National Park, Czech classic Valerie and her Week of Wonders screened in Venice
Antonin Dvořák anniversary, Linda Noskova in quarter-finals of US Open, craft chocolate compoany
Antonin Dvořák anniversary, Linda Noskova in quarter-finals of US Open, craft chocolate compoany
Security incidents in Germany reverberate in Czechia, Masaryk death investigation, Dvorak Music Festival
Security incidents in Germany reverberate in Czechia, Masaryk death investigation, Dvorak Music Festival
Lost play by Václav Havel, Czech lace inspires new Žižkov mural, Václav Bartuška, Czechia’s ambassador to the UK
News, Previously lost play by Václav Havel, Warning, to get its first performance, Czech lace inspires new Žižkov mural by Polish artist, interview with Václav Bartuška, Czechia’s ambassador to the United Kingdom.
Havel ALIVE festival, copy of Infant Jesus of Prague heading for Ireland, atlas of country's wild plants nearing completion
Havel ALIVE festival, copy of Infant Jesus of Prague heading for Ireland, extensive atlas of country's wild plants nearing completion
Czech demographic paradox and schools, getting kids to walk to school, Neil Bermel interview
Czech demographic paradox and schools. Campaign encouraging kids to walk to school Why study Czech today? Neil Bermel on language, translation and the future of Czech studies.
Štetl Fest celebrates Jewish culture; RPI marks 90 years - listeners send messages
Brno's Štetl Fest celebrates Jewish culture; Radio Prague International marks 90 years since its first broadcast - listeners share their memories with us.
The voice of Czechia that circled the globe: A look behind the scenes at Radio Prague International (8)
Czech Radio’s international service is celebrating its 90th anniversary. What is Radio Prague International like today? How has it changed and who are the people behind it?
Prague and Warsaw have responded to a disinformation campaign falsely claiming Poland planned to seize Czech territory, Beavers fighting drought in Czechia are “ecosystem engineers,” says zoologist
Prague and Warsaw have responded to a disinformation campaign falsely claiming Poland planned to seize Czech territory, Beavers fighting drought in Czechia are “ecosystem engineers,” says zoologist, Former president Václav Klaus says Czechia needs to “desubsidize” its economy
Czech tennis players Karolína Muchová and Jakub Menšík claim their first Grand Slam title at the US open, Obnaženi festival brings together multiple generations, Filmmaker Karen Kruger about her documentary at the Jewish cultural Štetl fest
Czech tennis players Karolína Muchová and Jakub Menšík claim their first Grand Slam title at the US open, Obnaženi festival brings together multiple generations, Filmmaker Karen Kruger about her documentary at the Jewish cultural Štetl fest
PM Babiš on Invalidovna overhaul: “It’s a great project”, Returns to Brno: ŠTETL FEST revives the city’s Jewish stories, Secret Soviet bunker built to survive a nuclear blast opens to visitors in Czechia
PM Babiš on Invalidovna overhaul: “It’s a great project”, Returns to Brno: ŠTETL FEST revives the city’s Jewish stories, Secret Soviet bunker built to survive a nuclear blast opens to visitors in Czechia, Why study Czech today? Neil Bermel on language, translation and the future of Czech studies
Liberec sea lion dies after swallowing toy, Rohan Island plant could become urban farm, Can Kingdom Come teach history?, TerraDrought: global real-time drought tool
Liberec Zoo sea lion dies after swallowing child’s toy, raising safety concerns, Prague’s Rohan Island concrete plant could be transformed into urban farm. Kingdom Come and the real Middle Ages: Can video games teach us history?, TerraDrought: global real-time drought tool
Crystal Valley Week turns Liberec into a showcase of Bohemian glass, horseback archery slowly gaining ground in Czechia, Evie Harbury on the magic of Czech cuisine
Crystal Valley Week turns Liberec into a showcase of Bohemian glass, horseback archery slowly gaining ground in the Czech Republic, Evie Harbury on the magic of Czech cuisine
RPI history series Part 7
RPI history series Part 7 - signature tunes and significant broadcasts
How radio waves linked Čapek with Einstein and a Communist anthem with British pop (7)
From Čapek and Einstein to Protectorate-era hockey and OMD. Dive into the 90-year history of international broadcasting that shaped the image of Czechoslovakia around the world and became the voice of hope, art and political propaganda.
Political leaders honor victims of 1968 invasion, “He was sending a message to future generations”: Artist Hynek Martinec on Jan Palach’s legacy, Broken angel, believed to have inspired one of Karel Kryl's 1969 protest songs, coming home
Trauma of betrayal we should learn from: Political leaders honor victims of 1968 invasion, “He was sending a message to future generations”: Artist Hynek Martinec on Jan Palach’s legacy, Broken angel, believed to have inspired one of Karel Kryl's 1969 protest songs, coming home
Czech film selected for 2027 Academy Awards, efforts to save critically endangered “glacial” plant, Ester Geislerová interview
If pidgeons turned to gold -Czech film selected for 2027 Academy Awards, efforts to save critically endangered “glacial” plant, Ester Geislerová's new documentary
Measures against drought, exhibition of 1968 letters to RPI, the history of the Šumperak houses
Measures against drought, exhibition of 1968 letters to RPI, history of the Šumperak houses
Kryl inspiring statue returns, Romany anthology for Frankfurt, Prague new circus fest
Statue said to have inspired Karel Kryl returned for the August 21 anniversary; new anthology of Czech and Slovak Romany writing set for Frankfurt; Prague new circus fest.
Jan Svěrák’s comedy Five Plums to hit UK cinemas under the title What a Way to Go, Pat and Mat turn 50: Czechia’s clumsy handymen take DIY chaos worldwide, Inside Prague's summer school of Czech
Jan Svěrák’s comedy Five Plums to hit UK cinemas under the title What a Way to Go, Pat and Mat turn 50: Czechia’s clumsy handymen take DIY chaos worldwide, Inside Prague's summer school of Czech
RPI history series Part 6
Dive into the history of Radio Prague, which connected countries and offered popular music in exchange for political proclamations.
From Poděbrady's transmitters to honouring Karel Gott: How Radio Prague conquered the airwaves (6)
From reflections in the ionosphere to the musical oasis of Interprogram. Dive into the history of Radio Prague, which connected countries and offered popular music in exchange for political proclamations.
TrutnOFF Open Air celebrates its “tribal chief” Václav Havel, Wild boars are increasingly venturing into urban areas, drawn by food and safety, Miss Czech Republic on her Japanese and Moravian identity, beauty and Miss Universe
TrutnOFF Open Air celebrates its “tribal chief” Václav Havel on what would have been his 90th birthday, Wild boars are increasingly venturing into urban areas, drawn by food and safety, Miss Czech Republic on her Japanese and Moravian identity, beauty and Miss Universe
Czechs enthusiastic stargazers,Czech communities troubled by drying wells and dwindling groundwater, Jewish book collection
Czechs enthusiastic stargazers,Czech communities troubled by drying wells and dwindling groundwater, Jewish book collection
Czech farmers change crops as weather shifts, Secret Soviet bunker opens, Jiřina Šiklová Library, Prague summer Czech school
Czech farmers turn to sunflowers, experiment with figs and olives, as drought and heat intensify, Secret Soviet bunker built to survive a nuclear blast opens to visitors in Czechia, Jiřina Šiklová Library offers over 9,000 books on feminism, gender and queerness, Inside Prague's summer school of Czech
Charles University seeks global science leader for new Prague Biocenter, Brno scientists chase total solar eclipse to Iceland and Spain, Keeping Czech alive abroad: How Krajánek ve světe helps children stay close to their roots
Charles University seeks global science leader for new Prague Biocenter, Brno scientists chase total solar eclipse to Iceland and Spain, Keeping Czech alive abroad: How Krajánek ve světe helps children stay close to their roots, A hidden feminist gem in Prague: Jiřina Šiklová Library offers over 9,000 books on feminism, gender and queerness
Czechia bids to host one of Europe’s giant AI Gigafactories, Hantec added to South Moravian folk culture list, Who is the greatest queer Czech?, Who reads what?
Czechia bids to host one of Europe’s giant AI Gigafactories, Hantec added to South Moravian folk culture list as enthusiasts eye UNESCO recognition, Prague Pride survey highlights unknown chapters of Czech queer history, Who reads what? The surprising patterns hidden in 17 million library loans
Series on the 90-year-long history of RPI Part 5
How Radio Prague connected with its listeners the world over
The voice that bridged five continents: The secret behind Radio Prague's international success (5)
The international broadcasts of Czechoslovak Radio were never just a one-way stream of news and music disappearing into the airwaves. From the very beginning, they formed a vibrant dialogue between Prague and the rest of the world. Thousands of letters each day, enthusiastic listeners in Africa and Latin America, remote listener clubs in Cuba, and Czechoslovak sailors in the middle of the ocean a
Time capsule beneath Wenceslas Square, Survey highlights unknown chapters of Czech queer history, Prague exhibition highlights artistic value of historic writing tools
Message for future generations: Time capsule beneath Wenceslas Square contains coins, newspapers and a beer glass, Who is the greatest queer Czech? Prague Pride survey highlights unknown chapters of Czech queer history, How did people write in the past? Prague exhibition highlights artistic value of historic writing tools
Shortage of breast cancer drug in Czechia triggers emergency measures, Czech film Volklore wins Student Academy Award, Prague’s Little Hanoi
Shortage of breast cancer drug in Czechia triggers emergency measures, Czech film exploring folklore in the age of social media wins Student Academy Award, Prague’s Little Hanoi
Czechia is Europe's fastest-growing tourism destination, Villa Tugendhat marks 25 years on the UNESCO World Heritage List, Summer School of Slavonic Studies
Czechia is Europe's fastest-growing tourism destination, Villa Tugendhat marks 25 years on the UNESCO World Heritage List, Summer School of Slavonic Studies
Why drought is unlikely to shut down Czech nuclear power plants, Czech goalie Horníček joins Newcastle in €30 million transfer, Inside Phonopolis, Amanita Design's new game
Why drought is unlikely to shut down Czech nuclear power plants , Czech goalie Horníček joins Newcastle in €30 million transfer, Inside Phonopolis, the striking new game from Czech studio Amanita Design
Prague Pride kicks off, Czech Centres overhaul, 700-year-old statue undergoes tomography at a Brno hospital
News, Prague Pride kicks off, Czech Centres overhaul, 700-year-old statue undergoes tomography at a Brno hospital, trip to Divoká Šárka on the suburbs of Prague
Series on the 90-year-long history of RPI Part 4
Series on the 90-year-long history of RPI. Part 4 - Radio Prague as a tool of communist propaganda.
The voice that was meant to conquer the airwaves: How Radio Prague spread communist propaganda (4)
During the communist era Radio Prague functioned as a highly effective Cold War propaganda tool, tailoring communist messaging to audiences around the world, while operating under strict censorship and centralized control. Yet amid the ideological campaigns and bureaucratic machinery, occasional human moments and the haunting sound of a Slovak fujara closing the day's broadcast offered rare glimp
Government plan to loosen fiscal rules threatens public finances, České Budějovice hospital becomes first in Czechia to use AI in brain surgery, Prague launches cooling map to help residents beat the heat
Government plan to loosen fiscal rules threatens public finances, České Budějovice hospital becomes first in Czechia to use AI in brain surgery, Prague launches cooling map to help residents beat the heat
Glen Hansard mourned by many in Czechia, Why do Czechs stay put? The surprising truth about labour Mobility, Jiřina Šiklová Library: A hidden feminist gem in Prague
“He was kind to everyone”: Glen Hansard mourned by many in Czech Republic, Why do Czechs stay put? The surprising truth about labour Mobility, A hidden feminist gem in Prague: Jiřina Šiklová Library offers over 9,000 books on feminism, gender and queerness
Charles Bridge repairs, CzechBusiness announced, Odyssey keeps IMAX busy
Both traditional and modern methods used to clean Charles Bridge; government creates CzechBusiness from two agencies; Prague's IMAX opening late to meet Odyssey demand
Radicalisation warning, historic store restored, artistic value of writing instruments
Government extremism report raises questions; historic store in regions gets renovation; Prague exhibition highlights artistic value of writing instruments.
