Czechia in 30 minutes

Episodes

• 
  Strikes, protests and political disputes: The future of Czech public broadcasting 07.11.2026 27m

  The Czech government's plan to abolish television and radio licence fees has sparked strikes at public-service broadcasters and protests in the streets of Prague. While Prime Minister Andrej Babiš insists that a new funding system can guarantee stable financing, critics fear that greater dependence on the state budget could undermine media independence. In this weekend edition of Czechia in 30 Minutes, Vít Pohanka speaks to demonstrators and brings you the views of government politicians and Czech Radio's Director General René Zavoral on a dispute that is far from over.
• 
  Exhibition on now destroyed sculpture, ex-US astronaut Andrew "Drew" Feustel speaks 06.11.2026 29m

  An exhibition in Prague looks at a now destroyed socialist-era sculpture; ex-US astronaut Andrew "Drew" Feustel discusses Czechia's contribution to space science and more.
• 
  News, Czechia receives rare books and publications from Czech-American communities abroad, more Czechs turning to AI for health advice 05.11.2026 29m

  News, Czechia receives rare books and publications from Czech-American communities abroad, more Czechs turning to AI for health advice -doctors ringing alrm bells. 
• 
  News, battle over funding for Czech public broadcasters, the Czech who "helped save the internet". 04.11.2026 29m

  News, battle over funding for Czech public broadcasters, the Czech who "helped save the internet" and Czechia’s unusual cargo for space.   
• 
  Hašek demands laws to block Russian athletes and Czech military must prepare for prolonged war 02.11.2026 29m

  Sports great Hašek demands laws to block Russian athletes, Czech military must prepare for prolonged war but lacks the funding and Egon Bondy’s 1970s novel Unsound Siblings gets English translation.
• 
  Czech statehood and Moravian identity: President Pavel’s speech and a question of belonging 31.10.2026 27m

  In this weekend edition of Czechia in 30 Minutes, we mark the anniversary of the founding of independent Czechoslovakia with President Petr Pavel's October 28 speech, presented in full in English translation. We then explore the question of Moravian identity: why do some people still identify strongly as Moravians, even though the historical border between Bohemia and Moravia has long since lost its administrative significance? Through conversations with ordinary people, a former Moravian political leader and a historian, we examine what it means to be Moravian in today's Czechia.
• 
  News, juvenile violence, Kumar Vishwanathan interview 30.10.2026 28m

  News, juvenile violence on the rise -schools strengthen crisis-response training, Kumar Vishwanathan on three decades of supporting Roma in Czechia 
• 
  News, MP quits ANO but coalition retains solid majority, leading Czech palliative care NGO holds anniversary auction 29.10.2026 27m

  News, MP quits ANO but coalition retains solid majority, leading Czech palliative care NGO holds anniversary auction
• 
  Geraldine Manolas on preserving the legacy of Czechoslovak war veterans, Andreas Halskov on the genius of Miloš Forman 28.10.2026 29m

  Geraldine Manolas on preserving the legacy of Czechoslovak war veterans,  Andreas Halskov on the genius of Miloš Forman
• 
  Public media funding 26.10.2026 28m

  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 24.10.2026 27m

  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 mass tourism changed their town and its atmosphere.
• 
  Gratias Agit Awards 2026, Egon Bondy novel Unsound Siblings gets English translation, How Czech freeskiers built a community on and off the slopes 23.10.2026 27m

  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 22.10.2026 28m

  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 21.10.2026 26m

  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 20.10.2026 28m

  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 19.10.2026 28m

  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 17.10.2026 26m

  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 and the demands of political life.
• 
  Health Ministry planning financial incentive for preventive screenings, Pavel Haas Quartet wins latest Gramophone prize, Tomki Němec on photographing Václav Havel 16.10.2026 28m

  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 15.10.2026 29m

  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 14.10.2026 27m

  News, Signalfest -Dreams and Visions, Climate change threatens rare Krkonoše mountain tundra, Amanita Design announces a sequel to Machinarium