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.
Aug 08, 2025•40 min
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.
Aug 02, 2025•33 min
In this episode of Czechast, journalist and podcaster Julie Urbišová reflects on life between cultures—Czech, American, and Turkish. From her first glimpse of Louisiana’s flooded bayous to teaching schoolchildren how to slow down and breathe, her story is one of quiet transformation. Born in Hlučínsko, she now lives in New Orleans, where she continues to explore identity, parenting, and balance—topics at the heart of this Czechast conversation.
Jul 26, 2025•37 min
When Czech musician Jaroslav Škuta was denied entry to the U.S. this summer, some pointed to Trump’s stricter border controls. But his case isn’t unique. Similar incidents over many years suggest U.S. immigration checks have always been strict—no matter who’s in the White House.
Jul 19, 2025•34 min
Julie Urbišová is a journalist, yoga teacher, and podcaster based in New Orleans. In this episode of Czechast, she reflects on identity, motherhood, and what it's like to live in a deeply divided United States while staying connected to her Czech roots and those of her Turkish husband.
Jul 12, 2025•1 hr 5 min
Adam Holomoucký came to the United States on a sports scholarship and recently graduated from a university in North Carolina. He and his wife now hope to stay in America — not despite its political divisions, but with eyes wide open to its diversity. In this episode of Czechast, he shares why he still believes in the opportunities the U.S. offers and why he remains proudly Czech at heart.
Jun 28, 2025•29 min
Peter Bísek left Czechoslovakia in the 1960s using a clever trick on a travel form. He arrived in Brooklyn with two suitcases, $180, and no plan. In this episode of Czechast, he shares how he turned exile into a mission to connect Czech-Americans through journalism.
Jun 07, 2025•1 hr 5 min
In this episode of Czechast, we meet Martina Šmídová—a young Czech woman who has made a new life for herself in Thailand. Born after 1990, she’s part of the Millennial generation whose worldview is shaped by digital life, global mobility, and personal freedom. But as she tells us, some old clichés about her country—and even her accent—are hard to shake.
May 31, 2025•38 min
After years of debate and determined civic effort, Czechia has finally adopted postal voting for its citizens living abroad. For many, it’s not just a logistical reform, but a powerful act of recognition. In this episode of Czechast, we speak with those who helped make it happen—and those who will now benefit from the change. It’s a story of activism, identity, and democratic belonging.
May 24, 2025•46 min
In this new episode of Czechast, host Vít Pohanka meets Jean Svoboda and her partner Richard in person for the first time. Jean, an Australian with Czech and Latvian roots, is back in Czechia to continue piecing together her family history. Richard, who had never been to Europe before their first trip, joins her again and shares what this journey has meant to him. Together, they reflect on identity, heritage, and the enduring pull of ancestral memory.
May 17, 2025•41 min
In this special episode of Czechast, long-time host Vít Pohanka becomes the guest. Interviewed by his colleague Danny Bate, he reflects on the complicated Czech relationship with Russia—from wartime liberation to post-Soviet tensions and today’s polarized opinions. Drawing on personal memories and historical milestones, Pohanka unpacks how deep emotions, nostalgia, and geopolitical shifts continue to shape public opinion. The conversation explores what it means to remember, to forget, and to ret...
May 14, 2025•48 min
In a new episode, Czechast speaks to Jan Trčka, a Czech citizen who left his civilian life behind to fight in Ukraine. In a wide-ranging and deeply personal conversation, Trčka explains his motivations, battlefield experiences, and the moral clarity that drives his commitment.
May 10, 2025•49 min
In May 1945, World War II came to an end in Czechoslovakia with scenes of liberation and chaos. While most of western Bohemia was freed by the American army under General George S. Patton, Soviet forces took control of Prague and much of the rest of the country.
May 03, 2025•51 min
Celtic symbols and festivals remain surprisingly popular in Czechia. But how much did 19th-century historians really know about the ancient Boii who once lived here? František Palacký’s classic history offers a revealing glimpse into early efforts to understand the region’s pre-Slavic past.
Apr 25, 2025•33 min
This Czechast special features the winners of the 2025 Czexpats in Science Award. These outstanding researchers have worked at top institutions around the world. Now they’re bringing their expertise back to Czechia—and helping shape the future of Czech science.
Apr 23, 2025•17 min
What does it mean to represent Czech culture in one of the most diverse and dynamic cities in the world? Tereza Porybná brings Czech culture to life in New York — through bold programming, unexpected encounters, and a deep belief in creative dialogue.
Apr 19, 2025•54 min
Once the industrial powerhouse of Czechoslovakia, Ostrava is reinventing itself. In the latest episode of Czechast, geographer Jan Hradecký from Ostrava University shares how the city is embracing its industrial heritage while reconnecting with nature.
Apr 12, 2025•43 min
Born in France, Constantin Kinský studied there, and made a successful career in international finance. But when communism fell in Central and Eastern Europe, Constantin Kinský came back. With his late father, he returned to the family's ancestral estate in Žďár nad Sázavou — my very own hometown — and set about reclaiming not just a chateau, but a legacy.
Apr 05, 2025•43 min
Czechast with Jaromír Marek, journalist and author who produced a TV documentary and a whole book about a story that takes us far from Central Europe—deep into the heart of Soviet Central Asia, to what is today Kyrgyzstan.
Mar 29, 2025•51 min
From early explorers to Cold War émigrés, Czechs have made a lasting impact on American society. Understanding the role of Czech communities abroad is an essential part of how the country represents itself to the world.
Mar 26, 2025•53 min
Legendary journalist Petr Brod remembers working fo Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty in Munich and Prague at times, when it often seemed that Communism is here to stay.
Mar 22, 2025•42 min
Jakub may be young, yet, he has a lived experience that spans cultures and borders: Slovak, Canadian, Spanish, Polish, British, and Czech.
Mar 15, 2025•46 min
What are Jakub Hrůša's feeleings before taking over the music directorship of Royal Opera House in Covent Garden? And is the saying that every Czech is a musician still valid? Listen to this episode of Czechast!
Mar 01, 2025•42 min
Czechast had the great pleasure of speaking with one of the most distinguished Czech conductors of our time, Jakub Hrůša. Starting in September, Jakub will take on a prestigious new role as the music director of the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, London—a milestone that places him among the world’s most influential conductors.
Feb 22, 2025•42 min
How to change the switch on life's journey? Jitka Hloušková knows the answer!
Feb 08, 2025•43 min
Czechast speaks to Jakub Majer, a Czech businessman and activists: why is it not a good idea to have a new Nationa Park stone's throw from Prague?
Feb 01, 2025•47 min
A great new way to learn about the hidden gems of Prague with Radio Prague International.
Jan 29, 2025•9 min
In this episode, we have a truly fascinating guest, Eleanor Janega, an American broadcaster, historian, and author with a deep personal and professional connection to Czech history.
Jan 25, 2025•1 hr 13 min
Czech language from the perspective of a linguist, broadcaster and soon an author Danny Bate.
Jan 18, 2025•44 min
The story of Kateřina Ferenčíková: how Czech identity can stretch across borders and generations.
Jan 11, 2025•54 min
