Moravia was once a distinct historical land, and some of its inhabitants still consider themselves Moravian rather than Czech. But the number declaring exclusively Moravian nationality has fallen sharply since 1991. In this episode of Czechast, Vít Pohanka explores the old boundary between Bohemia and Moravia and revisits interviews with a Moravian political activist and a historian who disagree about the region's identity and future.

In his October 28 address marking the anniversary of Czechoslovakia's independence, President Petr Pavel delivered a warning about complacency, political courage and the future of Czech democracy. He called for greater responsibility in national security, public finances, climate preparedness and public debate, arguing that freedom and democracy require constant effort. This special edition of Czechast presents his complete speech in English translation. As a bonus, it features a rare archival interview with legendary Czech-American filmmaker Miloš Forman, who was posthumously awarded the Order of the White Lion, Czechia's highest state decoration, in 2026.

After years of political interference in public broadcasting in Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, attention is turning to Czechia, long considered a stronghold of independent public service media in Central Europe. The government's plan to replace radio and television licence fees with state-budget funding has triggered fierce parliamentary debate and large demonstrations. In this edition of Czechast, Vít Pohanka examines the government's arguments, talks to protesters in Prague and Brno, and reports on Prime Minister Andrej Babiš's response to mounting criticism.

In this episode of Czechast, we travel to opposite corners of Czechia to explore two cities with very different histories and identities. Ostrava, once a powerhouse of coal mining and heavy industry, has to reinvent itself, while picturesque Český Krumlov has struggled with the consequences of mass tourism. Singer-songwriter Jaromír Nohavica, artist Jana Pešková and radio documentary maker Ivan Studený share their personal memories and explain what makes these places special to them.

Prime Minister Andrej Babiš’s ANO movement failed to win a single seat in Czechia’s latest Senate elections, leaving the opposition with a comfortable majority. In this special episode of Czechast, Vít Pohanka examines the results and why low turnout calls for caution when interpreting them. He also traces the Senate’s history and explains its powers, its role as a constitutional safeguard, and why calls to abolish it have so far failed.

What made Václav Havel a leader people trusted? In Czechast, Alexandr Vondra recalls their years in the dissident movement and the transition from opposition to working at Prague Castle. Through memories of underground publishing, speechwriting and Havel’s gift for listening, he offers a personal perspective on the man and his legacy.

In this special episode of Czechast, Vít Pohanka examines the history and future of one of the most distinctive and unique features of Czech public life: a country of fewer than 11 million inhabitants divided into more than 6,200 municipalities, each normally possessing its own elected council and mayor.

Three years after the Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel and the beginning of the devastating war in Gaza, Czechast turns to two Palestinian voices with longstanding ties to Czechia. Anthropologist Yasara Abu Ghosh and editor and translator Lamis Bartušková Khalilová reflect on their personal histories, their complex identities and their disappointment with Czech political and media responses to Palestinian suffering. Their conversations complement earlier Czechast interviews exploring Jewish perspectives on the conflict.

Václav Havel, playwright, dissident and the first president of the Czech Republic, would have turned 90 on October 5. In this edition of Czechast, former Charter 77 activist Jan Urban remembers first meeting him in the final years of communist rule – and reflects on the qualities that made Havel such an extraordinary figure within the dissident movement.

Linda Zeilina-Cross first came to Prague in 2017 and eventually chose the Czech capital as the base for her International Sustainable Finance Centre. She tells Czechast that Czech scepticism towards new ideas can be frustrating, but also sees a country whose clean-tech sector is stronger than many Czechs realise. Recent political changes concern her, but she believes economic forces driving the transformation will be difficult to reverse.