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We take a look back at the week's headlines and some of our best stories from the past week.

RERUN: Mozart's Requiem played in St Martin's Cathedral in Bratislava ahead of All Saints Day in 2017; Rafal Kiepuszewski's real and virtual walk around Slovak cemeteries in 2016; In a memory of Slovak born world class soprano Lucia Popp in 2019

In this program, we travel to Trenčín to explore two events that bring people together through storytelling and art. At Braided Stories, storytellers from around the world share folk tales and personal experiences of love, loss, alienation and belonging. Organised by Slovak storyteller Martina Jánošíková, the event reveals how stories can bridge cultural divides, connect people across generations and remind us of our shared humanity. We hear from storytellers Umi Sinha, Philippa and María Serrano, as well as Jánošíková herself, about the enduring power of storytelling and its role in a world where meaningful human connection can sometimes feel increasingly rare. We also visit The Thin Green Line, an exhibition curated by Slovak artist and teacher Otto Hudec that explores how art can raise awareness of environmental challenges and inspire change. Featuring artists from different countries and backgrounds, the exhibition brings together personal reflections, imagined futures and works that blur the boundaries between art and activism. We hear from artists including Diana Lelonek, Oliver Ressler and Cecylia Malik about their approaches to environmental issues, their work with communities and the role creativity can play in protecting the natural world. Together, the two events reveal how storytelling and art can do more than entertain: they can challenge perspectives, spark conversations and encourage us to see our connections to one another and the world around us.

To mark the 108th anniversary of the establishment of Czechoslovakia, Patrícia Polakovičová revisits two reports from the Radio Slovakia International archives. Our late colleague from RSI English section Anka Dragu explores the role of Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk and Milan Rastislav Štefánik in the creation of the common state, while Martina Šimkovičová Greňová takes listeners to the site of Štefánik's tragic plane crash in 1919, examining the circumstances of his death and his lasting legacy.

Nova Trznica, the new market hall, is the futuristic looking building at Bratislava’s Trnavské mýto. In the past, it was a bustling market hall, an architectural wonder, the place to be in Bratislava. Recently it had fallen on hard times. Those times are past. Ben Pascoe visited the market hall and met with vendors, and organizers Peter Briatka and Illah Van Oijen, who are working hard to rebuild the nova trznica community and breathe new life into the new market hall.

We explore Slovakia’s new primary school curriculum reform and what it means for pupils and teachers. Plus, Slovak Sound Check celebrates its 60th episode with favourite words and memorable moments from past lessons. From colourful fruit and ice cream flavours to city sightseeing, student life, everyday shopping and autumn vocabulary, this part of the series has been packed with practical words, useful phrases and grammar discoveries.

After almost 20 years at RSI, I, Martina Greňová Šimkovičová, am leaving you with a programme dedicated to Slovak literature in English translation — a subject I’ve been following closely for the past eight years. It’s an honour to bring my career at Slovak Radio to a close with Julia Sherwood, a passionate advocate for Slovak literature in English translation. She came to Bratislava on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, to receive the Pavol Országh Hviezdoslav Award for Translator of the Year. Dado Nagy also joins us to talk about Slovak literature in translation. He’s a passionate advocate for quality literature, not just in the Slovak media. Invitations to Slovak culture in Czechia.

In today's programme, Patrícia Polakovičová revisits the work of Proti prúdu, the organization behind Slovakia’s street magazine Nota bene, which supports people experiencing homelessness. In another edition of the Young Money series, she explores the National Bank of Slovakia’s Graduate Education Programme with their Economic Education Manager Stefania Gladys Paredes Fuentes, offering young graduates an opportunity to gain professional experience in central banking. And lastly, we bring you the concluding part of our information series on Slovakia’s combined elections, explaining key aspects of the electoral process.

Are healthcare clowns artists — or healthcare assistants? Our colleague Veronika Ščepánová takes a closer look at ČERVENÝ NOS Clowndoctors, an organization bringing humour, empathy and human connection to hospitals and care facilities across Slovakia. According to Executive Director Milan Šagát, the team made nearly 3,000 visits in 2025 alone, helping patients through the healing process. In the third edition of Octavia McKenzie’s series Slovakia Through My Eyes, we explore how emergency medical services operate in Slovakia, how quickly ambulances respond to emergencies, and what foreigners should know about accessing urgent medical care.

Ben Pascoe talks with former local member of parliament and political advisor Boris Azaltovic about the upcoming regional and local elections. They explain how the regional and local governments are set up, what they are responsible for and how it affects our lives. Volby 2026 pt. 2 by Brano Grman

Pink October highlights the importance of breast cancer prevention and early detection. Zuzana Bardyová from the National Oncology Institute discusses progress in screening and awareness in Slovakia, while Zuzana Janovičová of OZ Amazonky shares how community and mutual support help women affected by breast cancer. The latest episode of Slovak Sound Check will take you for a walk through autumn in Slovak.

A look back at the past week in Slovakia and on RSI.

As part of the Gothic Route project, the gates of eleven historic churches in the Gemer and Malohont regions open to tourists during the season. Experts gather regularly to discuss the latest research into the region’s medieval cultural heritage. Peter Palgut, Dušan Buran and Ivan Foletti share insights from this year’s conference. On Friday, 16 October, Slovak Radio paid tribute to a legend of 20th-century radio broadcasting in what is now Slovakia. Štefan Horský died on 5 October 2026, aged 97. In this RSI obituary, Martina Greňová Šimkovičová looks back at excerpts from her 2018 interview with the iconic broadcaster. And to round off the programme, we head to Bratislava for a world-class contemporary dance festival currently under way.

On the occasion of International White Cane Day, Patrícia Polakovičová looks at everyday life for blind and partially sighted people in Slovakia. Together with Michaela Serafin and Eliška Fričovská from the Slovak Blind and Partially Sighted Union, she explores independence, road safety and the stereotypes that still surround visual impairment. The programme also offers a more personal perspective through Darina Kválová, who shares her own experience of navigating everyday life without sight.

Country music and cowboy culture have found an audience in Slovakia, from the campfire songs and Czech-Slovak folk traditions of the Country Lodenica festival to the adrenaline-fuelled world of bull riding at Ranch 13 near Nemšová. Though the events took place several weeks apart, both offer a glimpse into a scene that brings together musicians, festivalgoers and riders from different backgrounds and countries. Some grew up around ranches and rodeo; others discovered the music or sport later in life. In this program, we hear from festival organiser Janko Kulich and singer Lucia Čierna, whose music crosses the boundaries of country, folk and alternative rock, as well as members of the Czech band Country Sisters. We also meet Belgian bull rider William Junior Dougan, Slovak rider Samuel Adamec and Czech rider Jay, who discovered the sport through the television series Yellowstone. They talk about what draws them to country music and bull riding, the communities they have found, the growth of the sport and the risks that come with it. Together, their stories explore the different ways people connect with country and cowboy culture in Slovakia.