The Blorecast
Download on the App Store

The Blorecast episodes

  • 9 Things About Slovakia I Still Can't Handle | Blorecast 22

    After 27 years in Slovakia, you'd think nothing would surprise me anymore. You'd be wrong.

    From ticks to tichý zabijak, návleky to kapustnica — here are 9 things about Slovak life that I still haven't quite come to terms with. Featuring a drunk hunter, a couple of rants, and my spectacular failure to park a car politely.

    🇸🇰 Living in Slovakia as a British expat for nearly three decades, I've grown to love this country deeply — but some cultural differences still catch me off guard. In this video I cover Slovak health beliefs, Slovak food, the great tea debate, Slovak summers, and one linguistic faux pas I'd rather forget.

    ⏱ CHAPTERS

    00:00 Introduction

    00:45 #1 Ticks

    02:35 #2 Drafts (spelled the US way! 'Draughts' in British English)

    03:55 #3 Nose blowing

    04:50 #4 Návleky

    06:19 #5 Lifts

    07:50 #6 Tea

    08:39 #7 Kapustnica

    10:06 #8 Summer

    11:30 #9 Ty and Vy

    📺 MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO

    The Tea episode — coming soon

    Slovak health superstitions (fizzy drinks & sore throats) — coming soon

    How to learn Slovak (in 27 years or less) — https://youtu.be/s6x62XWGEtY?si=MXq0tS3xALBtBoK0

    #Slovakia #BritishInSlovakia #SlovakLife #ExpatLife #LearnSlovak #Košice #SlovakCulture #UKvsSlovakia #SlovakFood #Kapustnica

    ⸻

    🔔 Subscribe for more

    The Blorecast is a podcast from The School of Blore in Košice, Slovakia. It’s about life, culture, language, and exams – all served up with a dose of humour and storytelling. Whether you’re learning English, preparing for Cambridge exams, or just curious about life in Slovakia, you’ll find something here.

    ⸻

    📺 Watch: https://www.youtube.com/@bloresk

    📌 Find out more at: https://blore.sk/

    📧 Contact: [email protected]

    👍 Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blore.sk

    📸 Or instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blore.sk/

    ⸻

    Attributions

    Boar: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Sus_scrofa#/media/File:Wildschwein,_N%C3%A4he_Pulverstampftor.jpg

    Tick-borne encephalitis map: https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications-data/country-profile-slovakia-tick-borne-encephalitis-tbe

    Bear Headline: https://spravy.pravda.sk/domace/clanok/727984-opity-a-zraneny-muz-so-zbranou-tvrdil-ze-ho-v-lese-napadol-medved/

    Scream: https://pixabay.com/sound-effects/film-special-effects-cartoon-scream-1-6835/

    Trumpet: https://pixabay.com/sound-effects/musical-reveilli-mix-33299/

    Slippers: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%D0%A2%D0%B0%D0%BF%D0%BA%D0%B8._%D0%A4%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%BE_%D0%90._%D0%A9%D0%B5%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B0.jpg

    Kapustnica: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Silvestrovska_kapustnica.JPG#/media/File:Silvestrovska_kapustnica.JPG

    Map of Europe: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Europe_countries_map_en_2.png

    Lidl: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Lidl_supermarkets_in_Slovakia#/media/File:Lidl_Herlianska_Ko%C5%A1ice.jpg

    Water Park: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Besenova-_Thermal_Park_-_panoramio.jpg

    Our theme tune is Ode to Joy – Heavy Edition, written specially for us by the most excellent dafteaux: https://youtu.be/rU6nLowrtmE

    The first funky breakbeat drum loop is by Alexander, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License: http://www.orangefreesounds.com/vintage-drum-and-organ-beat-87-bpm/

    And the new ones are from here: https://samplefocus.com/samples/acoustic-rolling-drum-loop-cool-beat

    15 min
  • 🔥 Burn the Snail? 🐌 Macabre Children’s Stories from Slovakia & the UK | Blorecast 21

    Today we dive into some of the darkest children’s rhymes and cautionary tales: from a Slovak snail threatened with arson, to a speckled rooster facing death for breaking a flower, and the infamous story of Jim, the boy slowly eaten alive by a lion. These stories remind us that childhood literature wasn’t always innocent — and sometimes, it’s hilariously macabre.

    Stick around until the end for a macabre Slovak dad joke that’s perfectly grim and pun-tastically clever.

    In this episode, you’ll discover:

    • The shocking speed from sweetness to horror in Slovak rhymes

    • Symbolism and morality in Kohútik jarabý

    • Hilaire Belloc’s Cautionary Tales for Children and the story of Jim

    • How these tales still resonate and inspire adult humor today

    Chapters:

    00:00 – Intro

    00:57 – Burn the Snail!? – One Slovak children’s rhyme threatens a snail with arson

    03:39 – Speckled Rooster – Kohútik jarabý and the extreme consequences of breaking a lily

    05:27 – Jim – The English cautionary tale of a boy eaten by a lion

    07:33 – Built Different – Why Slimák, slimák stands apart with its sweet-to-macabre pivot

    08:09 – The Joke – A macabre Slovak dad joke to end the episode

    #SlovakLanguage #LearnSlovak #LanguageLearning #FunnyLanguageStories #JamesBlore #Blorecast #LanguageHumor

    ⸻


    🔔 Subscribe for more

    The Blorecast is a podcast from The School of Blore in Košice, Slovakia. It’s about life, culture, language, and exams – all served up with a dose of humour and storytelling. Whether you’re learning English, preparing for Cambridge exams, or just curious about life in Slovakia, you’ll find something here.


    ⸻

    📺 Watch: https://www.youtube.com/@bloresk

    📌 Find out more at: https://blore.sk/

    📧 Contact: [email protected]

    👍 Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blore.sk

    📸 Or instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blore.sk/


    ⸻

    Attributions

    Jim https://englishverse.com/poems/jim

    Cautionary Tales for Children - Hilaire Belloc (1907) https://www.gutenberg.org/files/27424/27424-h/27424-h.htm

    Cautionary Tales for Children (cover) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:CautionaryTales-Belloc-Blackwell-cover.jpg

    Our theme tune is Ode to Joy – Heavy Edition, written specially for us by the most excellent dafteaux: https://youtu.be/rU6nLowrtmE

    The funky breakbeat drum loop is by Alexander, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License: http://www.orangefreesounds.com/vintage-drum-and-organ-beat-87-bpm/

    10 min
  • Should Slovaks Smile More? | Blorecast 20

    Are Slovaks really grumpy?

    Is customer service in Slovakia actually terrible?

    Is the food bland?

    Do public offices close too early?

    In this episode of the Blorecast, I respond to sharp (but thoughtful) criticism from foreigners living in Slovakia and separate fact from fiction.

    We talk about Slovak food, public smiling, bureaucracy, police fines, “reklamácia” (the Slovak warranty claim system), and the deeper cultural difference between high-trust and lower-trust societies.

    If you’re an expat in Slovakia, thinking of moving here, or just curious about Slovak culture, this is your practical survival guide.

    Because sometimes what looks like rudeness… is just difference.

    And sometimes it really is bad customer service.


    Chapters:

    00:00 – The Criticism: “Do Slovaks Ever Smile?”

    00:40 – Fact vs Fiction: Setting the Ground Rules

    01:34 – Is Slovak Food Really Bland?

    01:58 – Heavy Food & Historical Context

    02:35 – Public Offices & Early Closing Times

    03:07 – Police Fines & Personal Confessions

    03:37 – Smiling, Small Talk & Social Performance

    05:50 – My Shoe Shop Trauma (Size 49 Problems)

    07:07 – What Is “Reklamácia”?

    08:08 – High-Trust vs Low-Trust Cultures Explained

    19:42 – Scores: What’s Fact and What’s Fiction?

    10:46 – The Slovak Survival Guide

    12:35 – Closing Thoughts


    If you’ve lived in Slovakia, I’d love to hear your experience in the comments.

    Do Slovaks need to smile more?

    Or do foreigners need to adjust their expectations?

    Subscribe for more conversations about Slovak culture, language, and life as a Brit living in Košice.


    #SlovakLanguage #LearnSlovak #LanguageLearning #FunnyLanguageStories #SlovakWords #JamesBlore #Blorecast #LanguageHumor

    ⸻

    🔔 Subscribe for more

    The Blorecast is a podcast from The School of Blore in Košice, Slovakia. It’s about life, culture, language, and exams – all served up with a dose of humour and storytelling. Whether you’re learning English, preparing for Cambridge exams, or just curious about life in Slovakia, you’ll find something here.

    ⸻

    📺 Watch: https://www.youtube.com/@bloresk

    📌 Find out more at: https://blore.sk/

    📧 Contact: [email protected]

    👍 Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blore.sk

    📸 Or instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blore.sk/


    ⸻

    Attributions

    Trust survey: https://ourworldindata.org/trust

    Our theme tune is Ode to Joy – Heavy Edition, written specially for us by the most excellent dafteaux: https://youtu.be/rU6nLowrtmE

    The funky breakbeat drum loop is by Alexander, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License: http://www.orangefreesounds.com/vintage-drum-and-organ-beat-87-bpm/

    14 min
  • When is a potato not a potato? | Blorecast 19

    When is a potato not a potato?

    In Slovakia, it might be a bandurka, gruľa, švábka, krumpeľ, or zemiak — and the word you choose can reveal where you’re from.

    In this episode, I explore Slovak dialects, regional vocabulary, and how language quietly signals identity and belonging. Why does Slovakia promote standard Slovak so strongly in the media? What might be gained — and what might be lost — when dialects grow quieter?

    Drawing on my own experience — from northern England to the University of Oxford, and from Humenné to Košice — I compare Slovakia’s approach to dialect with the UK’s evolving embrace of regional accents across the BBC and popular culture, from Peaky Blinders and EastEnders to The Royle Family and Taggart — and figures like Paddy McGuinness.

    This is a discussion about:

    • Slovak dialects and regional speech

    • Standardisation vs linguistic diversity

    • Language and national identity

    • Accent adaptation and belonging

    • Why dialect words for “potato” tell a deeper story

    Are Slovak dialects disappearing?

    Or simply growing quieter?

    Let me know in the comments:

    • What do you call potatoes where you’re from?

    • Do you still use your local dialect?

    • Is standardisation protection — or loss?

    ⸻

    Chapters

    00:00 Potatoes and belonging

    00:50 When is a potato not a potato?

    01:44 Bun, bap, cob: UK regional words

    02:09 Northern vowels & losing an accent

    02:52 “Buns?” — adapting for my mum

    03:42 Slovak word stress: NEmocnica vs nemocNIca

    04:19 Dialect as identity marker

    04:50 The history of Slovak words for potato

    06:30 Media, accents & diversity in the UK

    07:38 Slovakia’s focus on standard language

    08:30 Why standard Slovak carries symbolic weight

    09:06 What gets lost when dialects fade

    09:33 Bandurkomán

    10:30 So when is a potato not a potato?

    11:12 The promised Slovak joke



    If you enjoy the video, don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more language adventures!



    #SlovakLanguage #LearnSlovak #LanguageLearning #FunnyLanguageStories #SlovakWords #JamesBlore #Blorecast #LanguageHumor



    ⸻


    🔔 Subscribe for more


    The Blorecast is a podcast from The School of Blore in Košice, Slovakia. It’s about life, culture, language, and exams – all served up with a dose of humour and storytelling. Whether you’re learning English, preparing for Cambridge exams, or just curious about life in Slovakia, you’ll find something here.


    ⸻

    The Blorecast is also available as a podcast


    🎧 Listen: https://feeds.captivate.fm/blorecast/

    https://open.spotify.com/show/0kHQShCL2BG10TD20ILDNb

    https://podcasts.apple.com/sk/podcast/the-blorecast/id1837288694


    ⸻


    📺 Watch: https://www.youtube.com/@bloresk

    📌 Find out more at: https://blore.sk/

    📧 Contact: [email protected]

    👍 Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blore.sk

    📸 Or instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blore.sk/


    ⸻

    Attributions


    Bryndzové halušky: https://sk.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bryndzov%C3%A9_halu%C5%A1ky


    Buns and Baps: https://yougov.co.uk/consumer/articles/21204-cobs-buns-baps-or-barm-cakes-what-do-people-call-b


    Map of the UK: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:United_Kingdom_England_adm_location_map.svg


    Online shopping: https://groceries.morrisons.com/


    Map of Slovakia: https://sk.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%BAbor%3ATourism_regions_of_Slovakia_sk.png


    Annotated version:

    https://emefka.sk/narecove-slova-ktore-nemas-sancu-pochopit-ak-nie-si-rodakom/


    Our theme tune is Ode to Joy – Heavy Edition, written specially for us by the most excellent dafteaux: https://youtu.be/rU6nLowrtmE


    The funky breakbeat drum loop is by Alexander, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License: http://www.orangefreesounds.com/vintage-drum-and-organ-beat-87-bpm/

    12 min
  • How to learn Slovak (in 27 years or less) | Blorecast 18

    Ever wondered what 27 years of living in Slovakia does to your language skills? Join me, James Blore, as I take you through my long (and occasionally amusing) journey learning Slovak — from tongue twisters to unhinged phrasebooks, from chicken shops to an exploding appendix.

    In this video, you’ll hear:

    • How I survived early Slovak mistakes like shouting at a wrong number 🐔

    • My favorite Slovak words and phrases: guľôčky, neidentifikovateľná, and more

    • Tips and reflections on pronunciation, cases, and tricky inflections

    • Why Slovak is both challenging and fun for English speakers

    Whether you’re learning Slovak, interested in language humor, or just love listening to someone fumble delightfully through a foreign language, this podcast is for you!

    📌 Topics covered:

    • Slovak tongue twisters

    • Wrong numbers

    • Fantastic Slovak words

    • Tips for language learning


    If you enjoy the podcast, don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more language adventures!



    #SlovakLanguage #LearnSlovak #LanguageLearning #ExpatsInSlovakia #SlovakTongueTwisters #FunnyLanguageStories #SlovakWords #JamesBlore #Blorecast #LanguageHumor



    ⸻


    🔔 Subscribe for more


    The Blorecast is a podcast from The School of Blore in Košice, Slovakia. It’s about life, culture, language, and exams – all served up with a dose of humour and storytelling. Whether you’re learning English, preparing for Cambridge exams, or just curious about life in Slovakia, you’ll find something here.


    ⸻


    📺 Watch: https://www.youtube.com/@bloresk

    📌 Find out more at: https://blore.sk/

    📧 Contact: [email protected]

    👍 Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blore.sk

    📸 Or instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blore.sk/

    🎧 https://open.spotify.com/show/0kHQShCL2BG10TD20ILDNb

    🎧 https://podcasts.apple.com/sk/podcast/the-blorecast/id1837288694


    ⸻

    Attributions


    Declensions: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slovak_declension

    Stonechat: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_stonechat

    Skyscraper: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skyscraper

    Salamander: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salamander

    Space suit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_suit

    Hoarfrost: that one's mine

    Scaffolding: https://pixabay.com/photos/craftsmen-building-scaffold-19584/


    Our theme tune is Ode to Joy – Heavy Edition, written specially for us by the most excellent dafteaux: https://youtu.be/rU6nLowrtmE


    The funky breakbeat drum loop is by Alexander, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License: http://www.orangefreesounds.com/vintage-drum-and-organ-beat-87-bpm/

    10 min
  • Why American Healthcare Sounds So Strange to Europeans | Blorecast 17

    In Europe, healthcare is a baseline — not a debate.

    If you live in Slovakia, the UK, or most of the European Union, you grow up with a simple assumption: if you’re ill, you’re treated — regardless of your income or employment.

    That assumption is so normal here that we rarely talk about it. But it’s also what makes the American healthcare debate sound so strange from a European perspective.

    In this episode, I compare how healthcare works in Europe and the United States — not ideologically, but structurally — looking at access, costs, insurance, real-life examples, and outcomes.

    This isn’t about attacking America. It’s about understanding why two wealthy, democratic societies ended up with such different systems — and what Europeans risk losing if we stop valuing what we already have.

    00:00 Intro

    01:40 American exceptionalism

    02:30 How other systems work

    03:21 How it works in America

    05:19 The catch

    06:28 Real examples

    08:28 The uninsured

    10:15 Cost and outcomes

    11:07 Who profits?

    12:04 “Socialism” as a narrative device

    13:35 Freedom and control

    14:44 Conclusion

    16:44 Terrible impression

    ⸻


    📊 Sources:

    • US: https://www.healthsystemtracker.org/chart-collection/u-s-spending-healthcare-changed-time/

    • Slovakia: https://www.oecd.org/content/dam/oecd/en/publications/reports/2025/12/country-health-profile-2025-country-notes_7e72146d/slovak-republic_a9b397e5/02c29a7f-en.pdf

    • UK: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/healthcaresystem/bulletins/ukhealthaccounts/2023and2024

    All: https://ourworldindata.org/financing-healthcare


    ⸻


    🔔 Subscribe for more

    The Blorecast is a podcast from The School of Blore in Košice, Slovakia. It’s about life, culture, language, and exams – all served up with a dose of humour and storytelling. Whether you’re learning English, preparing for Cambridge exams, or just curious about life in Slovakia, you’ll find something here.

    ⸻

    The Blorecast is also available as a podcast


    🎧 Listen: https://feeds.captivate.fm/blorecast/

    https://open.spotify.com/show/0kHQShCL2BG10TD20ILDNb

    https://podcasts.apple.com/sk/podcast/the-blorecast/id1837288694

    ⸻


    📺 Watch: https://www.youtube.com/@bloresk

    📌 Find out more at: https://blore.sk/

    📧 Contact: [email protected]

    👍 Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blore.sk

    📸 Or instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blore.sk/


    ⸻

    Our theme tune is Ode to Joy – Heavy Edition, written specially for us by the most excellent dafteaux: https://youtu.be/rU6nLowrtmE

    The funky breakbeat drum loop is by Alexander, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License: http://www.orangefreesounds.com/vintage-drum-and-organ-beat-87-bpm/

    17 min
  • 5 Ways Slovakia Wins: Listener Feedback | Blorecast Episode 16

    In this Blorecast episode, I respond to viewer feedback on two recent videos:

    🇸🇰🇬🇧 Slovak vs British Christmas and 5 Ways Slovakia Is Definitely Better Than the UK.

    Over the holidays, both videos generated thoughtful discussion on YouTube and Instagram. Here, I reflect on what people agreed with, what they challenged, and what I learned from the comments — from Christmas traditions and food, to practicality, multilingualism, and access to nature.

    Topics include:

    • Slovak vs British Christmas traditions (and the “no birds” debate)

    • Why turkey replaced goose in the UK

    • Slovak practicality and real-life repair stories

    • Multilingualism, dialects, and a controversial language quote

    • Name days and traditions

    • Food quality and processed food

    • Nature in Slovakia vs the UK — and why people disagree

    This episode is about cultural comparison without hostility, and why good discussion matters.

    💬 Which translation of the language quote do you prefer — and does the attribution matter?

    👍 Like, subscribe, and share if you enjoy thoughtful takes on language, culture, and life in Slovakia.


    ⸻

    🔔 Subscribe for more

    The Blorecast is a podcast from The School of Blore in Košice, Slovakia. It’s about life, culture, language, and exams – all served up with a dose of humour and storytelling. Whether you’re learning English, preparing for Cambridge exams, or just curious about life in Slovakia, you’ll find something here.

    ⸻

    #Slovakia #UK #ExpatLife #LivingAbroad #CultureComparison #FoodCulture #Nature #Multilingualism #CentralEurope #BritsAbroad

    ⸻

    📺 Watch: https://www.youtube.com/@bloresk

    📌 Find out more at: https://blore.sk/

    📧 Contact: [email protected]

    👍 Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blore.sk

    📸 Or instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blore.sk/


    ⸻


    Photos used for the thumbnail and interstitials:

    Jastrabia veža (I think), https://www.vecteezy.com/free-photos/stone

    View of the Cheshire Countryside from Beeston Castle, https://www.vecteezy.com/free-photos/british-countryside


    Masaryk photo: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tom%C3%A1%C5%A1_Garrigue_Masaryk_1925.PNG


    Our theme tune is Ode to Joy – Heavy Edition, written specially for us by the most excellent dafteaux: https://youtu.be/rU6nLowrtmE


    The funky breakbeat drum loop is by Alexander, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License: http://www.orangefreesounds.com/vintage-drum-and-organ-beat-87-bpm/

    16 min
  • Five ways Slovakia is definitely better than the UK | Blorecast Episode 15

    Is Slovakia actually better than the UK? 🇸🇰🇬🇧

    I spent the first half of my life in the UK — and the second half in Slovakia.

    So I’ve experienced plenty of Christmases, dentists, supermarkets, and public offices in both.

    In this episode of The Blorecast, I ask a slightly dangerous question:

    Is Slovakia genuinely better than the UK — and if so, how?


    To keep things fair, I set myself some rules:

    • No cheap shots

    • No unfair comparisons

    • No obvious wins like skiing or ice hockey

    • And no pretending that salaries, healthcare, or history are simple


    What’s left are five areas where Slovakia really does have an edge — based on lived experience, culture, data, and everyday life.


    This episode covers:

    • Why Slovaks are often more practical and pragmatic

    • How Slovakia became quietly multilingual

    • Why traditions are still lived, not just performed

    • How Slovak food culture avoids the worst of ultra-processed diets

    • And why nature, forests, and mountains are Slovakia’s greatest advantage


    This isn’t about claiming Slovakia is perfect.

    And it’s definitely not about saying the UK is awful.

    It’s about noticing what works — and what we might lose if we’re not paying attention.

    ⸻

    ⏱ Chapters

    00:00 Intro

    00:42 The Rules

    01:49 #5 Practicality & Pragmatism

    03:34 #4 Multilingualism

    05:56 #3 Traditions

    07:50 #2 Food

    09:43 #1 Nature

    12:05 Outro

    ⸻

    💬 Join the conversation

    Have you lived in Slovakia, the UK, or both?

    Do you agree — or am I talking complete nonsense?

    Leave a comment — I read them all, and I often feature viewer responses in future episodes.


    ⸻

    🔔 Subscribe for more

    The Blorecast is a podcast from The School of Blore in Košice, Slovakia. It’s about life, culture, language, and exams – all served up with a dose of humour and storytelling. Whether you’re learning English, preparing for Cambridge exams, or just curious about life in Slovakia, you’ll find something here.


    ⸻

    #Slovakia #UK #ExpatLife #LivingAbroad #CultureComparison #FoodCulture #Nature #Multilingualism #CentralEurope #BritsAbroad


    ⸻

    The Blorecast is also available as a podcast

    🎧 Listen: https://feeds.captivate.fm/blorecast/

    https://open.spotify.com/show/0kHQShCL2BG10TD20ILDNb

    https://podcasts.apple.com/sk/podcast/the-blorecast/id1837288694


    ⸻

    📺 Watch: https://www.youtube.com/@bloresk

    📌 Find out more at: https://blore.sk/

    📧 Contact: [email protected]

    👍 Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blore.sk

    📸 Or instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blore.sk/


    ⸻

    Photos used for the thumbnail and interstitials:

    Jastrabia veža (I think), https://www.vecteezy.com/free-photos/stone

    View of the Cheshire Countryside from Beeston Castle, https://www.vecteezy.com/free-photos/british-countryside

    EU flag: www.vecteezy.com/video/36025113-european-union-waving-flag-realistic-flag-animation-seamless-loop-background

    Masaryk photo: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tom%C3%A1%C5%A1_Garrigue_Masaryk_1925.PNG

    Morena: Jaroslav Moravcik - stock.adobe.com 605763679 a 497770811

    Folk dancing: kviktor - stock.adobe.com 76542936


    Morris Dancers: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Morris_Dancers,_York_(26579460201).jpg

    Infographic adapted from here: https://slidesgo.com/theme/visual-comparison-infographics

    All other photos (and the wood warbler video) are mine.

    Our theme tune is Ode to Joy – Heavy Edition, written specially for us by the most excellent dafteaux: https://youtu.be/rU6nLowrtmE

    The funky breakbeat drum loop is by Alexander, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License: http://www.orangefreesounds.com/vintage-drum-and-organ-beat-87-bpm/

    14 min
  • Slovak vs UK Christmas | Blorecast Episode 14

    I spent the first half of my life in the UK, and I've lived the second half in Slovakia — which means I’ve experienced Christmas from both sides.

    In this episode of the Blorecast, I put British and Slovak Christmas head to head in 10 festive rounds, comparing everything from food and traditions to timing, TV, Christmas markets, and the man himself.

    This isn’t a rant, and it’s not a culture war — just a good-natured, slightly nerdy comparison from someone lucky enough to have lived both.

    🎄 The 10 rounds
    1. The Christmas build-up
    2. Decorations
    3. Christmas markets
    4. Timing
    5. Starters
    6. Main courses
    7. Desserts
    8. Traditions
    9. TV
    10. The Dude

    #ukchristmas #vianoce #slovakiaculture #christmastraditions #fatherchristmas #christmasfood #livinginslovakia

    🔔 Subscribe for regular Blorecast episodes on culture, life in Slovakia, and a bit of humor along the way!

    ⸻

    🎧 Listen: https://feeds.captivate.fm/blorecast/

    https://open.spotify.com/show/0kHQShCL2BG10TD20ILDNb

    https://podcasts.apple.com/sk/podcast/the-blorecast/id1837288694

    📺 Watch: https://www.youtube.com/@bloresk

    📌 Find out more at: https://blore.sk/

    📧 Contact: [email protected]

    👍 Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blore.sk

    ⸻


    🌍 About the Blorecast

    The Blorecast is a podcast from The School of Blore in Košice, Slovakia. It’s about life, culture, language, and exams – all served up with a dose of humour and storytelling. Whether you’re learning English, preparing for Cambridge exams, or just curious about life in Slovakia, you’ll find something here.


    ⸻

    Jingle Sound Effect from https://pixabay.com/users/dragon-studio-38165424/

    Our theme tune is Ode to Joy – Heavy Edition, written specially for us by the most excellent dafteaux: https://youtu.be/rU6nLowrtmE

    11 min
  • Is Slovakia a Safe Country? My 27-Year Experience | Blorecast Episode 13

    Is Slovakia a safe country to live in? After 27 years of living here, I share my personal experiences with safety, weather, and everyday life on Slovak streets. From harsh winters and quirky pedestrian crossings to the one time I was accosted while bird watching, I’ll give you a realistic view of life in Slovakia.

    In this episode of the Blorecast, I cover:

    • Crime and street safety in Slovakia

    • What Slovak weather might throw at you

    • Pedestrian experiences and unusual road culture

    • Funny and unexpected encounters in Slovak towns

    Whether you’re planning to move to Slovakia, travel here, or are just curious about life in Central Europe, this episode will give you insights you won’t find in guidebooks.


    🔔 Subscribe for regular Blorecast episodes on culture, life in Slovakia, and a bit of humor along the way!

    #slovakia #safety #livinginslovakia #Blorecast #JamesBlore #movingtoSlovakia #Slovakiatraveltips



    ⸻

    🎧 Listen: https://feeds.captivate.fm/blorecast/

    https://open.spotify.com/show/0kHQShCL2BG10TD20ILDNb

    https://podcasts.apple.com/sk/podcast/the-blorecast/id1837288694


    📺 Watch: https://www.youtube.com/@bloresk


    📌 Find out more at: https://blore.sk/

    📧 Contact: [email protected]

    👍 Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blore.sk


    ⸻


    🌍 About the Blorecast

    The Blorecast is a podcast from The School of Blore in Košice, Slovakia. It’s about life, culture, language, and exams – all served up with a dose of humour and storytelling. Whether you’re learning English, preparing for Cambridge exams, or just curious about life in Slovakia, you’ll find something here.


    ⸻

    The funky breakbeat drum loop is by Alexander, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License: http://www.orangefreesounds.com/vintage-drum-and-organ-beat-87-bpm/


    Our theme tune is Ode to Joy – Heavy Edition, written specially for us by the most excellent dafteaux: https://youtu.be/rU6nLowrtmE

    11 min

About The Blorecast

From the publisher's feed

Welcome to The Blorecast – An Englishman in Slovakia, a podcast designed for learners and teachers of English who want to improve their skills while enjoying real stories and conversations. Hosted by James Blore, an experienced English teacher and founder of The School of Blore in Košice, Slovakia, this show mixes practical English learning advice with humour, cultural insights, and engaging interviews.