Prague Talk

Mar 03 2025 120 ep. 17 mins 40

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The best of Radio Prague International’s interviews

Society & Culture

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Ondřej Pilný: I’m planning to learn Irish properly the third time around

Mar 03 2025 23 mins

Ondřej Pilný is a professor of English and American literatures at Prague’s Charles University, where he also heads the Centre for Irish Studies. As he explains in our interview, his career path was greatly shaped by a series of coincidences that led him to Dublin in his student days. Pilný also discusses literary links between Czechia and Ireland – and says low pay prevents

“It’s a knock-out view”: Brit Guy Barker on bringing new terrace to Rudolfinum roof

Feb 24 2025 18 mins

UK businessman Guy Barker is behind a project set to bring a new terrace to the roof of Prague’s 19th century Rudolfinum. His Arcona Capital, a real estate investment company active in a number of EU countries, is a sponsor of the Czech Philharmonic, which calls the magnificent building home. When we met at Arcona Capital’s offices, Mr. Barker also discussed a notable developme

"My fear is we now bet on EU for security": Jan Kofroň on where new US stance leaves Czechs

Feb 18 2025 19 mins

Many European leaders have been aghast at American moves to unilaterally agree a Ukraine “peace deal” with Russia and their concerns have only been intensified by an explosive speech by the US vice-president that some say signals a sundering of the transatlantic alliance. What does the Trump administration’s approach mean for Czech defence policy? And how likely is conscripti

Really doing your share at home? Martina Dvořáková’s audit helps couples find out

Feb 11 2025 17 mins

Martina Dvořáková was so tired of the gender imbalance in household labour in Czechia that she did something about it, creating a Fair Household audit. It’s a questionnaire that helps couples reflect on who does what in the home – and whether that division of work is truly equitable. I discussed several aspects of the project with Dvořáková, as well as why the term “fem

Petr Brod: It could be dangerous to speak German in 1950s Czechoslovakia

Feb 04 2025 28 mins

Petr Brod grew up in a German-speaking Jewish family in communist Prague, soon learning it was wiser to converse in Czech in public. Brod fulfilled his ambition of becoming a journalist following a move to West Germany in his late teens, and found considerable success; after a stint at the BBC that saw him work on some of its top political shows, he joined Radio Free Europe/Radio L

Jewish Museum head Pavla Niklová: When Oct. 7 happened we realised we live in an open society

Jan 22 2025 18 mins

Pavla Niklová has been the director of the Jewish Museum in Prague, one of the oldest institutions of its kind in the world, for around a year and a half. When we spoke at her office on the edge of the city’s Jewish Quarter, the conversation took in everything from Niklová’s own background to whether the museum has been much impacted by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Miroslav Wanek on how Už jsme doma reached US audiences like no other Czech band

Jan 14 2025 28 mins

Miroslav Wanek is the leader of Už jsme doma, a Czech alternative band who this year are celebrating 40 years of existence. Už jsme doma have performed in over three dozen countries, most notably in the US, where they have notched up a remarkable 800-plus shows. Wanek, today 62, also has other strings to his bow. He could have entered politics after playing an active role in the

Pavel Fuksa: Very centre of Prague is visually appalling, a Wild West

Jan 07 2025 18 mins

If you’ve been to Prague in recent years, chances are high that you’ve encountered the work of Pavel Fuksa. The graphic designer is behind a series of official posters welcoming visitors to the city – and encouraging them to be on good behaviour. Fuksa, who is 42, has in the past worked for several of the world’s largest brands, including Nike, Facebook and Lego. What’s m

Diving into Waves: Jiří Mádl on massive hit "1968" film

Dec 31 2024 23 mins

Waves by Jiří Mádl wasn’t only the most successful Czech film at the box office in 2024: the movie, which centres on events at Czechoslovak Radio at the time of the Soviet invasion, is also one of the biggest cinema hits the country has seen in the modern era. Now Waves is also aiming for international glory, having made the shortlist of 15 pictures in contention for the Best

Biochemist Jan Konvalinka: I hate us being called a “very good East European institute”

Dec 23 2024 24 mins

Regular media appearances made biochemist Jan Konvalinka a well-known figure in Czechia during the Covid crisis, a period he calls the pinnacle of his professional life. A one-time vice rector at Prague’s Charles University, he is today director of the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry at the Czech Academy of Sciences – and spearheaded its establishment of an outp