The Blorecast

This week on the Blorecast: a short, clear update on what’s been happening in Slovakia — explained in simple English for international students, expats, and anyone trying to follow Slovak news without perfect Slovak.

In this episode, I talk about the recent protests in Košice, the growing tension between conservative and liberal parts of Slovak society, and some of the major political events from November — including the chalk protests, the cancelled 17 November holiday, and the controversial visit of Prime Minister Robert Fico to a school in Poprad.

I’m not a political expert, and this isn’t political analysis — it’s a friendly monthly news summary, told from the perspective of someone living in Slovakia who remembers what it was like to have no idea what was going on.

If you’re a foreign student in Košice, an expat anywhere in Slovakia, or simply someone learning English or Slovak, this episode should help you keep up with what’s happening.

If you’re new here:

The Blorecast is a weekly podcast about Slovak culture, British culture, language, food, and life in Eastern Slovakia — with the occasional news breakdown to help non-Slovaks understand what’s going on.

Let me know in the comments:

Would you like a monthly English-language summary of Slovak news?

👉 Subscribe for more (language, culture, food, politics-lite).

👉 Like, share, and ring the bell — it really helps the channel!

#slovakia #kosice #slovaknews #internationalstudents #slovenskopolitika #blorecast #englishpodcast #slovakiaculture #velvetrevolution

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🎧 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

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🌍 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.

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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

Thumbnail image adapted from DC Studio on Freepik: https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/journalist-talks-about-news-segment_134858590.htm

What happens when a Brit moves to Slovakia and stays (almost) forever?

In this episode of The Blorecast, I’m joined once again by Andy Billingham, a long-time expat, Slovak citizen and all-round legend, to talk about:

🇸🇰 Getting used to life in socialist-era Slovakia

🛒 Strange supermarket rules in the 80s

🥾 Hiking culture

🕖 Why everyone wakes up so early

🗣️ Tykanie, vykanie & the dying art of onikanie

Whether you’re a Slovak curious about how foreigners see your country, or a foreigner thinking about moving to Slovakia, this episode is packed with stories, cultural insights, language quirks, and plenty of laughs:

👉 Have a question for Andy or me? Leave a comment or find all the contact links below.

🎧 Watch More Blore – my new video series on UK–Slovakia culture https://youtu.be/nJhGT70BRyY?si=LVHKL2CLLvLCOOEX

📩 Website • Email • YouTube • Facebook — all links below

#Slovakia #BritishInSlovakia #SlovakCulture #TykanieVykanie #SlovakLanguage #Slovensko #BritishPodcast #CulturalDifferences

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🎧 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.

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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

When I first arrived in Slovakia back in 1998, “doing the shopping” meant visiting three or four different little shops — Potraviny Narcis for basics, Coop Jednota for salami and coffee, and Vrchovina for a litre of Cappy juice.

Twenty-five years later, things look a little different. In this episode, I take a nostalgic (and slightly caffeinated) trip from those early shopping days in Humenné to Košice's supermarkets today.

Along the way, I talk about how grocery shopping has changed, what British immigrant's like me still bring home in our suitcases (tea and biscuits, of course), and why I think Lidl’s new “quiet hour” for autistic shoppers is one of the best ideas I’ve seen in Slovakia.

🔗 https://www.noviny.sk/slovensko/1119735-slovensky-retazec-zavadza-tichu-hodinku-ludia-s-autizmom-budu-moct-nakupovat-bez-hudby

🎧 Listen for reflections on food, memory, and culture — and stick around to hear about my new side project More Blore, where British and Slovak foods go head-to-head in a series called Food Fight!

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🎧 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.

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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

In this episode of The Blorecast, James steps outside to enjoy a beautiful autumn day and share the surprising story behind a viral Instagram short — the infamous Slovak snail rhyme! 🐌🔥

From Slimák, slimák to Šnečku, šnečku and even the brutal Serbian version, James compares how different countries talk to their snails (some nicely… some not so much). He also chats about Guy Fawkes Night, cultural quirks, and why one short video suddenly got over 200,000 views.

If you enjoy British humour, Slovak culture, and language learning with laughs, hit Like, Subscribe, and Share this episode!

#Slovakia #SlovakCulture #NurseryRhymes #BritishInSlovakia #Blorecast #SlovakLanguage #Folklore #BonfireNight #GuyFawkes #Podcast #EnglishInSlovakia #CulturalDifferences #AutumnVibes #LanguageLearning

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🎧 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.

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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

It's a quick one this time, featuring horror snails!

⸻

🌍 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.

⸻

🎧 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

⸻

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

Blog: https://blore.sk/en/pohanske-schmohanske-halloween-in-slovakia/

Why does Slovakia sometimes feel like it’s living in a different decade? And is that actually a bad thing?

In this episode of The Blorecast, James Blore explores a country that has modernised rapidly yet still holds tight to its roots. From carpet beaters and top-loading washing machines to rural life, birds, mushrooms, and boars, James reflects on the pros and cons of the Slovak time warp.

Comparing Slovak pragmatism with British romanticism towards nature, he asks: have Brits become too detached from our rural past? And could Slovakia’s “one foot in the mud” approach actually be a strength in an over-urbanised world?

🪶 Topics in this episode:

• What Slovakia was like in the late 1990s

• Why life here sometimes feels 20 years behind (in a good way)

• Birdwatching, mushroom picking, and the Slovak countryside

• Rural vs urban life: UK vs Slovakia

• Why Brits romanticise nature while Slovaks live it

🎧 Listen to the full episode for stories of carpet-beating grannies, birdwatching epiphanies, and one man’s theory about why Slovakia might just be winning the slow-life game.

💬 What do you think?

Is Slovakia stuck in the past, or preserving something precious?

Do you prefer birdwatching or mushroom picking?

👇 Leave a comment or reach out via the links below.

#Slovakia #BritishExpat #LifeInSlovakia #SlovakCulture #ExpatPodcast #TheBlorecast #JamesBlore #CulturalDifferences #Timewarp #Birdwatching #MushroomPicking #RuralLife #SlovakiaVsUK

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🌍 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.

⸻

🎧 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

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

Blackbird singing: https://pixabay.com/sound-effects/blackbird-singing-296516/

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/

Blog: https://blore.sk/en/why-did-you-stay/

Stats:

https://www.campop.geog.cam.ac.uk/blog/2024/10/31/urban-society/

https://doc.ukdataservice.ac.uk/doc/7154/mrdoc/pdf/guide.pdf

https://www.czechfriends.net/news/lecture-by-dr-lorman-on-4th-febraury-2020

https://www.macrotrends.net/global-metrics/countries/svk/slovak-republic/rural-population

https://www.theglobaleconomy.com/rankings/rural_population_percent/European-union/

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/key-findings-statistical-digest-of-rural-england/key-findings-statistical-digest-of-rural-england

The Jamie Oliver series referred to is Jamie’s School Dinners, Season 1 — Episode 02

Why do Slovaks love pigs so much? 🐷

In this episode of The Blorecast, I explore Slovakia’s deep and delicious relationship with all things porcine — from schnitzels and slanina to zabíjačka and wild boars in the forest!

You’ll hear stories from my early days teaching in Humenné, discover why being vegetarian used to be a challenge in 1990s Slovakia, and learn about traditional dishes, local habits, and a few wild encounters along the way.

We’ll talk about:

🐽 Slovak pork dishes (goulash, schnitzel, klobása & more)

🌾 The zabíjačka tradition

🐗 Wild boars in Slovakia and whether they’re really dangerous

🍽️ How Slovak and British food cultures differ

If you’re a foodie, expat, or anyone curious about Central Europe, this episode’s for you!

🗣️ Share your thoughts:

Are you a pig fan? What’s your favourite Slovak dish? Do you fear the wild boars? Let me know in the comments or drop me a message — all links below 👇

#Slovakia #SlovakFood #ExpatLife #TheBlorecast #PorkyPig #Slanina #Goulash #Zabijacka #SlovakCulture #WildBoar #SlovakiaPodcast #FoodStories #BritishInSlovakia #CulturalDifferences

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🌍 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.

⸻

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

📺 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

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Boar videos:

https://www.tvkosice.sk/video/65b4ce42525b5fb0735159bb / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpXS0ik1LOM

Boar and encephalitis stats:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/379121929_Human_fatalities_resulting_from_wild_pig_attacks_worldwide_2000-2019

https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/sites/default/files/documents/Tick-borne-encephalitis-annual-epidemiological-report-2022.pdf

Bramble Farm

https://www.facebook.com/bramblefarmbristol/

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

I created the cover imaged using Bing: https://sl.bing.net/e7CNsHEuxky

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/

In this episode of The Blorecast, James catches up once again with his long-time lunch companion and all-round legend, Andy Billingham, who’s now officially a Slovak citizen! 🇸🇰

Andy explains why he decided to apply for citizenship, what the process involves, and how the language test went.

There’s also an update on James’s charity cricket match (spoiler: he survived) and some listener shoutouts from around the world.

#TheBlorecast #Slovakia #LearningEnglish #SlovakCitizenship #EnglishPodcast #LivingInSlovakia #LifeAbroad #BritishInSlovakia #EnglishTeacher #PodcastForEnglishLearners #Kosice #LanguageLearning #JamesBlore

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🌍 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.

⸻

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

📺 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

⸻

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/

Welcome back to the Blorecast! In Episode 4 – Unsporting Behaviour, I dive into the world of sport — despite being about the least sporty person you could imagine.

This weekend is a big one in Slovakia:

🏃‍♂️ The Košice Peace Marathon celebrates its 101st year – the oldest marathon in Europe and the third-oldest in the world.

🏏 I’ve inexplicably agreed to play in a charity cricket match in Spišská Nová Ves (what could possibly go wrong?).

This episode, I share some personal sporting stories:

⚡ School PE nightmares: rugby, cross-country and my escape route via the music room

🥅 The day I became “Golden Balls” in a university rugby match

🎿 My disastrous Slovak skiing attempts (spoiler: I ended up sliding down on my bum)

👧 Why my daughter thankfully has a much healthier relationship with sport

Despite my lifelong aversion to exercise, has Slovakia’s passion for hiking, skiing and cycling made me think twice about what sport means?

👉 Are you a sport lover, or an unsporter like me? Drop your stories in the comments – I’d love to hear them.

If you enjoy the podcast, please like, subscribe and share – it really helps me keep going. And wish me luck in the cricket… I’m going to need it!

#Blorecast #KosicePeaceMarathon #Slovakia #Podcast #EnglishPodcast #Kosice #SportFails #Marathon #Cricket #SkiingFails

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🌍 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.

⸻

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

📺 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

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

Blackbird singing: https://pixabay.com/sound-effects/blackbird-singing-296516/

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/

In this episode of the Blorecast, James dives into one of the tastiest parts of Slovak cuisine – carbohydrates! From fresh Slovak bread and fluffy rožky to potato pancakes, bryndzové halušky and pirohy, this is your guided tour through Slovakia’s most comforting, filling, and downright delicious foods. 🇸🇰

What you’ll hear about in this episode:

• Why Slovak bread is better than UK bread

• Potatoes (zemiaky, bandurky) in every possible form

• Traditional Slovak dishes like bryndzové halušky, šúľance, pirohy, Francúzske zemiaky and Černohorský rezeň

• The Slovak habit of mixing multiple carbs in one meal (yes, rice and chips together!)

• Why protein might be taking over Slovakia’s food scene… and why James is proudly #TeamCarb

Whether you’re an English learner brushing up your food vocabulary, a foodie interested in Central European cuisine, or just someone who loves potatoes, pasta and bread, this episode will give you a tasty slice of Slovak food culture.

👉 What’s your favourite Slovak carb? Do you agree with James that carbs are life? Let us know!

If you enjoy learning about Slovak food and culture, don’t forget to like, subscribe, share, and hit the bell 🔔 so you never miss an episode.

#SlovakFood #SlovakCuisine #Slovakia #FoodPodcast #BryndzoveHalusky #SlovakBread #Potatoes

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🌍 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.

⸻

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

📺 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

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/