The first novel ever written in the territory of present-day Slovakia has just been released in its first English translation. Martina Greňová Šimkovičová speaks with Dobrota Pucherová, one of the editors of René, or: A Young Man's Adventures and Experiences. Meanwhile, Veronika Ščepánová explains the difference between masculine and feminine nationality names to Sean from Ireland. This week's culture tips highlight the Days of Early Music festival and the Open Parks and Gardens Day.

In this interview, Romana Grajcarová speaks with Slovak triathlete Nikola Čorbová, the first woman ever to win Himalayan Xtri. Čorbová reflects on this historic achievement—conquering one of the most demanding endurance races in the world—and shares what it took to prepare both physically and mentally for such an extreme challenge.

In Slovakia, research is underway both in laboratories and even on farms, as scientists work to better understand and combat infectious diseases. One of the most prominent figures in this effort is Dr. Boris Klempa, a virologist at the Institute of Virology within the Biomedical Research Center at the Slovak Academy of Sciences. In our conversation, we discussed his work on zoonotic viruses in Slovakia and beyond, the role of the European Virus Archive, and the ongoing challenge of combating misinformation in science and public health.

Continuing with interviews from the Start with Children summit recently held in Bratislava. Today Ben Pascoe talks with keynote speaker Eva Kail from Vienna and Sandra Stasselova from the Bratislava Metropolitan Institute. Also Tomas Peciar from cykloloalicia tells us about critical mass and kidical mass.

RERUN

Project Disconnect aims to comprehensively and interdisciplinaryly explore loneliness and social isolation in Slovakia. In this show, we are going to talk to researcher and doctor from Psychiatric Clinic at the Slovak Medical University, Jakub Januška.

Weekly news digest followed by some of the topical stories of the past week.

Professor Jozef Šuvada, Slovakia's representative in the WHO Executive Board, explains what it means that Slovakia abstained form the WHO Pandemic Agreement. Culture tips invite to Night of Churches, Circus l'Art and BRaK among other events. Veronika and Sean dive into another Slovak phrases usefull for English speakers.

In the interview with Andrea Froncová, we discussed biodiversity and a new project called EMYS, which focuses on biotope restoration and the protection of the European pond turtle, in celebration of the International Day for Biological Diversity.

In this episode of the Slovakia Today programme, we bring you the interview with the founder and manager of the Slovak Theatre in London Simona Vrabcová and her colleague and co-manager Rebeka Jurčacková about its history, activities and future. Next up are two young filmmakers from eastern Slovakia Matúš Chovanec and Adam Šoltés sharing their insights about shooting their upcoming feature "City of Dreams" in one of the largest Romani settlements in Slovakia.

Bratislava played host to the international summit Start with Children. Experts from around the country and the world met to discuss how thinking about children when planning cities can make them better places for everyone to live.