The leaders of the newly established Czechoslovakia should have done far more to ensure its stability. So says historian Professor Igor Lukeš, in an interview that also looks at 1990s Czech politics, NATO enlargement, Russia and much more.

EP58: Igor Lukeš

Martin Klíma was a prime mover behind the November 1989 student gathering that sparked the Velvet Revolution. He has since found enormous success with role-playing games, including as co-founder of the hit company Warhorse Studios.

EP57: Martin Klíma

When Dana Huňátová joined Czechoslovakia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in late 1989 she literally came across a red telephone to Moscow. As head of office of new minister Jiří Dienstbier she was closely involved in the deep overhaul of the ministry required after four decades of communism.

EP56: Dana Huňátová

František Vrábel is an expert on Russia’s infiltration of Czech society via sophisticated online disinformation. He discusses efforts to combat Kremlin propaganda, says regulating Facebook is key and explains his own motivations for working “mostly for free” in this area.

EP55: František Vrábel

Has Putin dangerously lost touch with reality? And how are things most likely to play out now, following the launch of his brutal war against Ukraine? Leading Czech expert on Russia Michael Romancov discusses those questions, and others pertaining to the Czech Republic.

EP54: Michael Romancov

Roman Máca has recently been monitoring a rise in activity among pro-Russian voices on the Czech internet, linked to Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. The security expert has also been drawing attention to radical individuals, some of whom he calls Putin’s Czech “legion”.

EP53: Roman Máca

Julie Sedivy

Linguist Julie Sedivy’s family left Czechoslovakia when she was two and when they settled in Canada she gradually lost most of her Czech. In her book Memory Speaks has many interesting things to say about memory, language, identity and migration.

EP52: Julie Sedivy

Benedict Allen

Adventurer Benedict Allen used to be referred to as a “new Indiana Jones”. The English writer and broadcaster, who now lives here in Prague, shares some of his stories with us in this interview.

EP51: Benedict Allen

For three decades Glen Emery has been one of the best-known foreigners in Prague. The charismatic Canadian was a pioneering bar and club operator in the city back in the “Wild East” days of the early 1990s – and has many great stories from that period.

EP50: Glen Emery

Pavel Klusák, author of a new book on Karel Gott, discusses several of the most contentious points in the singer’s career – and the qualities that made him his country’s biggest ever pop star.

EP49: Pavel Klusák

The best of Radio Prague International’s interviews

Peter Sís

Children’s author and illustrator Peter Sís, the subject of a new documentary, discusses how the Czech version of Nicky &amp; Vera differs from the original, the fact his kids were models for David Černý’s baby sculptures – and a collaboration with David Bowie that never happened.

EP48: Peter Sís

Indian-born Czech citizen Hrishabh Sandilya used to run nightspots and work in education in Prague. But then he took a rather different turn, co-founding an NGO in Cyprus that is helping equip migrants for success in their new countries.

EP47: Hrishabh Sandilya

Joe Yanosik

Joe Yanosik is the author of A Consumer Guide to the Plastic People of the Universe. As well as exploring the legendary Czech underground group’s discography, it also delves deep into the Plastic People’s fascinating history.

EP46: Joe Yanosik

Journalist Hynek Pallas grew up in a notable Czech household in Sweden, where his family settled after being forced out of Czechoslovakia. From their home, his father Jiří ran the label Šafrán 78, releasing music by artists that were banned by the Communists.

EP45: Hynek Pallas

Mark Baker

In a new Czech-language book, travel writer and journalist Mark Baker brings to life the Czechoslovakia of the late 1980s and early 1990s, when communism gave way to capitalism at breakneck speed and everything seemed possible. He looks back on that fascinating period in this interview.

EP44: Mark Baker

Martin Nekola

Historian Martin Nekola has just brought out Czech New York, a book detailing the Czech community in the Big Apple, where 40,000 once lived on the Upper East Side. Here he discusses many interesting aspects of the Czech impact on the city, from early arrivals to the post-1948 emigres hounded on suspicion they were Communist spies.

EP43: Martin Nekola

Cliona Manahan

Ireland’s ambassador to Prague discusses her background and inspirations, approach to the job – and how she connects with the Irish community, Czech representatives and other diplomats in this trying period.

EP42: Cliona Manahan

Edita Kudláčová

Edita Kudláčová is about to take over as Head of Radio and Audio at the EBU in Geneva. The outgoing creative chief at Czech Radio has lots of interesting things to say about the future of the medium, podcasting – and how public service broadcasters can reach new audiences.

EP41: Edita Kudláčová

Czech academic Jakub Hlávka (30) has advised NASA and is currently working on US government Covid programs. Here he speaks about his flourishing career, broad range of interests – and “giving back” to his homeland.

EP40: Jakub Hlávka

Petr Sís

Nicholas Winton’s story has inspired millions. That of Vera Gissing, one of the children he saved, is less well-known. Now children’s author and illustrator Petr Sís has brought them together in the beautiful, moving new book Nicky &amp; Vera.

EP39: Petr Sís

Eda Kriseová

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