January is generally the coldest month of the year, which makes for the best conditions for "otužilci", or in English, people who like to practice cold-water immersion. We asked wellbeing coach Michal Páleník and professional in cold-water immersion Vladimír Pauco from Zdravé otužovanie organization about how to practice this activity safely and what are its benefits and risks.

News overview: A group of Slovak MPs visited Moscow, praising the Russian President Vladimir Putin while a trip of another group of MPs to Kyiv was postponed because of security reasons. Slovak Prime Minister tries to arrange a meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky.

Ben and Patka discuss the past week and look ahead to what is happening in the next week.

The President of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, visited Slovakia and spoke about the idea of holding the Olympic Games in three neighbouring countries - Austria, Hungary and Slovakia. The newly appointed executive director of the International Visegrad Fund, Linda Kapustova Helbichova, presents her plans for the next three years. Culture news also about the latest meeting of the Slovak Arts Council Board.

Rerun of the interviews with Martina Ivanová about the Slovenčina v Pohode project, Mária Koscelníková about localisation for the Slovak market and Maroš Brojo about SGDA.

Ben Pascoe talks with former Slovak Minister of Foreign Affairs, Pavol Demes, about the current situation in Slovak foreign policy and civil society.

Recent data from Eurostat show that over 14% of Slovak population lives on the poverty line. In this show, we are going to explore the problem of growing poverty in Slovakia. You are also going to hear from experts: sociologist from SAV Zuzana Kusá and trade unionist, activist and analyst Ján Košč from initiative Pracujúca chudoba.

The Interview: Marek Šulík, the filmmaker behind the film Ms President about the presidential mandate of the first female Slovak President Zuzana Čaputová. Martin Bednárik asks the director what was the making of the film like, what secrets about the presidential mandate of Zuzana Čaputová will the audience learn, and if Zuzana Čaputová liked the film after it was done. And – why is the film about the first Slovak female President important for the Slovak society? Originally broadcast on 2 Nov 2024.

Patka and Ben recap the last week in Slovakia and look ahead at events around the country that could be interesting for our listenters.

Jeweller and designer Petra Toth explains what it means to be inspired by one's roots, and the details that caught her eye while researching folk costumes in the Rusyn village of Mikova in eastern Slovakia.