In this weekend on Czechia in 30 Minutes, we hear from Martina Šmídová—a young Moravian woman born after 1990. She talks about building a new life in Thailand, what it means to belong to the Millennial generation, and how old labels like “Czechoslovakia” still follow her. A brief but insightful look at how younger Czechs see the world—and how the w…

Born free, growing up wired: Meet Czechia’s digital generation, Twenty years of baby boxes in Czechia: One adoptive father’s perspective, Jeffrey Martin on mapping Prague’s streets in 1.3 million photos, news

This Sunday marks exactly twenty years since the opening of the first baby box in Czechia — a place where mothers can anonymously leave their babies to be cared for and adopted. Today, there are 88 baby boxes across the country, and so far, 277 children have been safely placed in them.

Between 1990 and 2010, about 2.3 million Czechs were born. Often categorized as younger Millennials or older Gen Z, they came of age in a free country—but not an easy world. From the explosion of social media to pandemics and wars nearby, they’re facing challenges few generations before them could imagine.…

For today's show: the News; Czech government holds China responsible for cyber-attack on Ministry of Foreign Affairs network; new mural at Prague’s Letná pays tribute to Milada Horáková; an interview with Czech UN Youth Delegate Veronika Novotná on the mental health crisis of our time and what the UN can do about it.…

Depression, loneliness, and suicide rates continue to increase. According to some data, in 2021, suicide was the third leading cause of death among youth aged 15 to 29. As a result, some UN Youth Delegates have called on the UN and other world leaders to make mental health one of their top priorities in the coming years, and perhaps, decades. One o…

A new mural has just been completed on a building along Milady Horákové Street in Prague’s Holešovice district, near Štrossmayer Square. Created by the masked street artist Toy Box, the large-scale work pays tribute to Milada Horáková, the democratic politician executed in a communist show trial in 1950. Featuring a fragmented portrait and a quote …

Following an extensive investigation, the Czech government is holding China responsible for a “malicious cyber campaign” that targeted a confidential network of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Consequently, the Chinese Ambassador to Czechia was summoned to the ministry on Wednesday.

News; Čapek’s Letters from England, signed by WWII paratroopers, exhibited; Prague celebrates specialty coffee at Filtruj! 2025 festival; Dr. Tomáš Páleníček on psychedelics in psychiatric treatment.

The Museum of Literature in Prague is hosting a powerful new exhibition—centred around a remarkable item on loan from London. At its heart is a rare English edition of Karel Čapek’s Letters from England, signed and dedicated in the autumn of 1941 by twenty Czechoslovak parachute trainees in the UK. Among them was Jan Kubiš, one of the men who would…

Filtruj! 2025 is a sister event to Prague Coffee Festival, that functions as another opportunity for coffee enthusiasts in Prague, and for those visiting the city, to celebrate the country’s coffee culture. This year’s Filtruj! festival was held at the scenic National Library of the Czech Republic in Klementinum on May 24. Due to my fondness for gr…

News, Africa Day highlights historic Czech-African partnership, Day of Czech returns to enthuse and educate about Czech language and literature, Beavers’ comeback: How a once-extinct species is reshaping the Czech landscape, news

On May 27th, the ‘Day of Czech’ ( Den češtiny ) is serving up a multi-genre programme of linguistic events, designed to inform Czech speakers about their language and help them to look at it with new eyes. Aimed in the morning at school groups, and later on the general public, the Day of Czech is being held in Prague’s Kampus Hybernská, where Danny…

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized the National Development Day for the second time. The public was invited to the gardens of the Czernin Palace on Friday, where information stands and key players provided information about the government's development policy projects and humanitarian aid. Along with this, Africa Day was held on the premises…

From tanks to sabotage: how Russia never left Czechia alone, To mark 100th anniversary, Sokol’s Tyrš House unveils new mural, Martin Dušek maps anarchic Czech approach to construction in new film

It’s been nearly 60 years since Soviet tanks rolled into Czechoslovakia. But as investigative journalist Jaroslav Spurný argues in his new book, "Vrbětice: The Attack that Changed the Czech Republic", Russia’s security services never truly left. Their tactics evolved—from military occupation to covert sabotage, money laundering, and disinformation …

Tyrš House celebrated 100 years since its reconstruction and reopening as the Prague headquarters of the Czech Sokol community in 1925. To mark the occasion, the organisation christened a colourful mural by artist Michal Škapa.

Czechia has made a historic change to its election laws: citizens living abroad will now be able to vote by mail. As Czech women Marta McCabe, Julie O'Donovan and political scientist Petr Just point out, the reform comes after years of advocacy by Czech expatriates around the world. Weekend edition of Czechia in 30 minutes brings their views.…

News; A major exhibition about the Czech animator and illustrator Jiří Trnka opens in Prague; Revealing the fate of Czechoslovaks in Soviet Gulags; Interview with Steve Gove as the 24th Prague Fringe Festival begins its rich programme of performances.

A major exhibition dedicated to legendary Czech animator and illustrator Jiří Trnka opened this week at Prague’s Villa Pellé. It brings together both familiar and rarely seen works—from film puppets and book illustrations to paintings and sculptures— showcasing the full range of his creative genius.

Ukrainian historian Anna Khlebina, Czech historian Adam Hradilek, and their team are searching for the fate of Czechoslovaks in the gulags. They bring some of that history to life in Gulag and Czechoslovakia: War , the first book in a four-part series.

Returning for its 24th edition, the Prague Fringe Festival offers the Czech capital a cornucopia of English-language comedy and theatre. Ahead of the programme’s start on May 26th, Danny Bate met with its founder and director, Steve Gove, to find out what’s in store this year, how the Prague Fringe works, and how it successfully recreates the spiri…

For today's show: the news; remains of Olomouc's Přemyslid rulers identified and laid to rest; researchers examine stains in medieval medical manuscripts to uncover ancient remedies; the Czech Anne Frank: Diary of Věrka Kohnová.

A unique research project is currently underway at Palacký University in Olomouc. Chemists are studying residues—possibly the remnants of ancient medicines—on medieval medical manuscripts and printed books. The project carried out in collaboration with medical experts, aims to shed new light on historical medical practices.…

For today's show: the News; how the Czech Army is reaching out to the public; are firefighters at increased risk of heart disease due to “eternal chemicals”?; and for our feature, an interview with political scientist Jiří Pehe on his career and life as he retires at 70.

News; the iconic Říp Hill was once a lava lake, researchers have revealed; the future Via Silva Nortica: the cycle route from Vysočina through southern Bohemia and on to Melk in Austria; will bears disappear entirely from Czech castles?; former Slovak President Kiska speaks out on Fico, Orbán, Babiš and the EU.…

On today's Czechia in 30 minutes show, we bring you: the news; Czechia's extreme drought and forecast for the summer; expats in London honor Czech and Slovak wartime stories; and, for our feature, over 24,500 walkers take part in 58th annual Prague–Prčice March.

Australian couple Jean Svoboda and her partner Richard have returned to Czechia to continue a remarkable journey—one that began in online archives and led them across Europe. Jean, whose father was Czech and mother Latvian, has spent years reconstructing her family’s past, piece by piece. Richard, himself of British origins and new to genealogy but…

News; Czech voters are sticking to familiar choices as the election campaign begins; The top 4 real-life locations of the hit game Kingdom Come: Deliverance II; Dozens of rarely accessible buildings are set to welcome visitors during Open House Prague.

News; GLOBSEC poll shows 81% of Czechs would defend country; The Prague Transport Company celebrates 150 years with special documentary series; Prague off the Beaten Track goes to Rohan Island.

In today's Czechia in 30 minutes show, we bring you: the news; the chances of Adonxs winning Eurovision 2025 in Basel; Brno scientists develop monitoring system to keep pilots from nodding off; and, for our feature, I take you to an award-winning cafe in Prague, May Cafe, to speak to its owner about the inspiration behind the cafe.…

News; interview with the programme director of Prague Spring music festival; Czech cavers navigate country’s longest underground traverse in Moravia; Variety journalist Steven Gaydos remembers the late Jiří Bartoška.

News, Museum of Survivors opens near Brno, in the former factory of Oskar Schindler, Czechia beats Norway at World Ice Hockey Championship, and the geocaching craze in Czechia.

In Czechia in 30 Minutes, Czech fighter Jan Trčka explains why he defends Ukraine—and why the war matters to all who value democracy.

News; passing of Jiří Bartoška, actor and face of Karlovy Vary festival; selling precious stones of unclear origin may cost geogark its UNESCO status; POBT explores Grand Hotel International Prague.

Alex Rosenzweig talks to Holocaust survivor Felix Kafka who together with his brother was lucky enough to join a children’s transport to Great Britain, organised by Nicholas Winton. Mr. Kafka, who will turn 100 in June of this year, shares his memories of the time. And later on Jakub Ferencik will talk to Ivan Puš, a historian at Palacký University…

Brno court blocks completion of Dukovany tender – what happens now?, Suffering not over for Terezín inmates, as liberating troops arrived to free them, Adam Stewart: Many Czechs don’t believe Cimrman plays could possibly work in English, news

Science fiction in the spotlight at this year’s Anifilm festival, Czechia shows greatest growth in EU of sales of electric cars, Martina Skála on working with Forman and Polanski – and dancing with horses, news

Zelensky in Prague: “We see Czech aid as a joint fight against terrorism”, 80 years ago: Prague rises up against the Third Reich, “You absolutely have to use AI”: AI researcher on Czech-US alignment in AI regulation

Eighty years ago, World War II ended in Czechoslovakia with both celebration and uncertainty. In this weekend edition of Czechia in 30 minutes, historian Vít Smetana reflects on how the U.S. Army and Soviet forces divided the country—not just geographically, but politically. What did liberation mean in 1945, and how should we remember it today?…

Landovský: “The agreement will help Kyiv. If the US is mining somewhere, security forces will be present”, Freedom Celebrations in Plzeň bigger than ever on 80th anniversary of liberation, Maya Kvetny’s casting journey from L.A. to Prague

For today's Czechia in 30 minutes show, we bring you an exlusive interview with anti-fascist Sudeten German Alois Ullmann and his two grandchildren who sat down with us in our studio. Alois Ullmann was a key figure in the Sudeten German social democratic movement. He fled to Great Britain during the Nazi regime but later returned to Prague. After b…

News, exhibition showing never-before-seen images of Antonín Dvořák, reconstruction of Prague square, the return of beavers to the Czech lands

On this show: news; a UNESCO mission recommends the reconstruction of Prague’s iconic Vyšehrad Railway Bridge; eighty years after WWII, Czech volunteers are defending Europe in Ukraine; Antonín Kokeš's career, from Albi to 'Antonín’s bakeries'.

On today's show: News; plans unveiled for Prague’s Philosopher Quarter; treasure worth unearthed in north-eastern Bohemia; and for our feature, we bring you another edition of our series, “Prague Off the Beaten Track” with Vit Pohanka.

Weekend edition of Czechia in 30 minutes reveals just how much—and how little—was known about the Celts who once lived in Czech lands. In the hills in the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands, a reconstructed Celtic oppidum stands as a reminder of the ancient Boii tribe who once lived in what is now Czechia. The site reflects a broader fascination in Czech …

How is Czechia complying with EU's AI Act, bombing of Plzen in April 1945, an interview with Former Slovak ambassador to NATO, Peter Bátor who recently visited Prague.

Excessive alcohol consumption in Czechia, new network monitoring health of trees around Czechia, what will Prague look like in 2050?

Prague Astronomical clock stops to commemorate road traffic victims, Life story of murdered Czech female novelist subject of new series, Czechs' quiet secularism

Czechia mourns and remembers Pope Francis, Adolf Loos villa reconstruction, interview with daughter of photographer Jan Lukas