In this special episode of Czechast, we revisit a report originally produced for Radio Prague International that tells the story of the Czechoslovak Legionnaires — soldiers who fought across Europe and deep into Siberia to secure their country’s independence. Among them was host Vít Pohanka’s great-granduncle, who fell in battle near the Ural Mountains. His fate is part of a larger story of courage, sacrifice, and nation-building that should never be forgotten.

Czech Route 66 Association president Zdeněk Jurásek first pedaled the Mother Road from Chicago to Santa Monica in 1998, covering roughly 4,000 kilometers in 30 days. Since then, he has returned dozens of times, guiding higher hundreds of travelers and earning a spot on Kingman’s Route 66 Walk of Fame. In this Czechast interview, he explains the appeal beyond nostalgia—and how to plan a smart, safe, and memorable trip.

In a wide-ranging conversation for Czechast, Charles University spokesperson Jan Bumba explains how a 700-year-old institution works to stay modern and international. He reflects on his switch from journalism to academia, the realities of rankings, and the draw of studying in Prague. Bumba also acknowledges dormitory shortcomings and why improving student housing is now a key priority.

In a new episode of Czechast, journalist Daniel Kaiser of Echo24 speaks about the recent Czech elections. The vote ended with a clear defeat for the governing coalition and opened the door for Andrej Babiš to reclaim power.

The latest Czechast tells the story of two remarkable women — Barbara Day and Nancy Durham — who risked much to help Czech intellectual life survive under communism. Through the Jan Hus Educational Foundation, they built bridges between British academics and dissident scholars in Czechoslovakia. Their courage and empathy show how even small acts of solidarity can shape freedom and education.

In a new episode of Czechast, we stay in Ostrava, once the proud industrial heart of Czechoslovakia. The city has faced tough decades since the fall of heavy industry, but new projects are giving it a fresh pulse. Among them is the University of Ostrava’s city campus — a symbol of how education and creativity can help renew even the most hard-hit regions.

As Czechs prepare to vote again in the elections for the Chamber of Deputies, Czechast takes a look back at 35 years of free elections. Host Vít Pohanka speaks with Jiří Pehe, political scientist, commentator, and former adviser to Václav Havel. Together, they trace the milestones that have shaped Czech democracy since 1989.

Petr Kopecký, President of Ostrava University, has spent nearly three decades teaching and researching English and American literature. In an interview for Czechast, he spoke about the role of universities in defending democracy, the challenge of integrating AI in education, and his passion for John Steinbeck. He also addressed the future of Ostrava and the ongoing struggle to keep young talent in the Moravia-Silesia region.

In a landmark shift, Czechia now allows its citizens living abroad to vote by mail. But to participate in the 2025 parliamentary elections, Czechast wants to remind expats that they must register by Sunday, August 24. As the country marks the anniversary of the 1968 invasion that once crushed its democratic hopes, this new right to vote from abroad carries special meaning.