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The Blorecast

The Blorecast

By: James Blore
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Welcome to The Blorecast – An Englishman in Slovakia, a podcast designed for learners and teachers of English who want to improve their skills while enjoying real stories and conversations. Hosted by James Blore, an experienced English teacher and founder of The School of Blore in Košice, Slovakia, this show mixes practical English learning advice with humour, cultural insights, and engaging interviews. Each episode covers useful topics for everyday communication and English exams (including Maturita and Cambridge), explores the challenges of learning English in Slovakia, and shares tips for building confidence in speaking, grammar, and vocabulary. Along the way, James draws on more than 25 years of teaching experience, life in Slovakia, and his passion for storytelling, board games, and more. Whether you are a student preparing for exams, a teacher looking for classroom inspiration, or simply someone who loves the English language, The Blorecast offers a fresh, entertaining, and educational perspective. 👉 Listen now and join our growing community of learners and teachers at blore.skCopyright 2026 James Blore Language Learning Politics & Government Social Sciences Travel Writing & Commentary
Episodes
  • I went to a Slovak doctor... and walked out with this | Blorecast 28

    I went to a Slovak doctor... and walked out with this | Blorecast 28
    May 23 2026

    A couple of years ago, a Slovak specialist wrote me a prescription. I took it to the lekáreň, paid €22, and only googled it afterwards. What I found made me — a trained chemist — genuinely furious with myself.

    This is Episode 28 of The Blorecast, and it's about Slovakia's pharmacy culture: why there are twice as many pharmacies per person here as in the UK, what's actually on those shelves, and why the Slovak medical system treats magnesium, salt caves, magnetic therapy and homeopathy with roughly the same institutional confidence.

    I'm not here to mock Slovakia. The system has treated me well for over 27 years. But there's a specific and fascinating reason why the line between conventional and alternative medicine is drawn differently here than in Britain — and it has everything to do with history.

    📖 Full source list and references: https://blore.sk/en/blorecast-28-master-sources-evidence-compendium/

    Part I — Slovaks vs The Cold: https://youtu.be/LiEDKykC0bQ?si=yhUG4wznHU2OunyZ

    Part III — [LINK when live]

    🕐 CHAPTERS

    00:00 The €22 Prescription

    [01:31] The Lekáreň — Slovakia's Favourite Shop

    [03:43] Not All Evidence Is Equal

    [04:26] The Spectrum: Magnesium

    [05:55] Salt and Salt Caves

    [07:47] Magnetic Therapy

    [09:21] Kosmodisk

    [10:27] Honey vs Calcium Syrup

    [11:41] Homeopathy

    [12:57] Why the System Works This Way

    [14:44] The Irony

    #Slovakia #SlovakCulture #BritishInSlovakia #ExpatLife #Košice #Lekáreň #AlternativeMedicine #Homeopathy #SlovakMedicine #BritishExpat #LearnSlovak #CentralEurope

    ⸻

    🔔 Subscribe for more

    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.

    ⸻

    📺 Watch: https://www.youtube.com/@bloresk

    📌 Find out more at: https://blore.sk/

    📧 Contact: podcast@blore.sk

    👍 Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blore.sk

    📸 Or instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blore.sk/

    ⸻

    Attributions

    Rod of Asclepius (thumbnail): https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Esclapius_stick_1.svg

    Maps: Mapy.com (Kosice and Aberdeen)

    Halotherapy: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Halotherapy_Spain_.jpg

    Hospital Magnets: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Neuro-ms.png

    Kosmodisk online: https://www.lekarnicka.sk/rehabilitacne-pomocky/masazne-pristroje/Kosmodisk-Classic

    Homeopathy bottles: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Homeopathy#/media/File:Homeopathic332.JPG

    Homeopathy sugar pills: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Homeopathy_globules.jpg

    Crystal Healing: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:John_Dee%27s_crystal,_used_for_clairvoyance_%26_healing,_17th_C_Wellcome_M0019989.jpgAromatherapy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Aromatas.JPG

    Holland & Barrett: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Holland_%26_Barrett.jpg

    Covid vaccine: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pfizer-BioNTech_COVID-19_vaccine_%282020%29_E.jpg

    Boiron Revenue: https://www.reuters.com/markets/companies/BOIR.PA/financials/income-annual

    The original studies referenced in the video can be found here: https://blore.sk/en/blorecast-28-master-sources-evidence-compendium/

    Other photos are James's own (all rights reserved).

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

    The first 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/

    And the new ones are from here: https://samplefocus.com/samples/acoustic-rolling-drum-loop-cool-beat
    Show More Show Less
    18 mins
  • Why Slovaks Fear The Cold | Blorecast 27

    Why Slovaks Fear The Cold | Blorecast 27
    May 23 2026

    Why do Slovaks choose warm Coke? Why will a draught kill you but a frozen lake won't? Why does my wife prescribe socks as the solution to frequent urination?

    After 27 years in Slovakia, I've developed a theory: Slovaks don't have random superstitions about cold — they have a framework. Cold is an active agent of harm. It is trying to get in. And that framework turns out to be more interesting, more historically rooted, and occasionally more scientifically defensible than it first appears.

    This is Part 1 of a three-part arc. Next time: the lekáreň.

    🧦 Wear some bloody socks!

    Chapters:

    0:00 Chladená alebo nechladená?

    0:44 Pranostiky: Slovakia's calendar of cold

    2:27 The prievan: the silent killer

    6:39 The thermostat, the aircon, and the sauna paradox

    9:52 Socks, hats, and the months with an R

    12:51 Cold drinks and sore throats

    14:05 What's really going on?

    15:17 Outro

    ⸻

    🔔 Subscribe for more

    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.

    ⸻

    📺 Watch: https://www.youtube.com/@bloresk

    📌 Find out more at: https://blore.sk/

    📧 Contact: podcast@blore.sk

    👍 Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blore.sk

    📸 Or instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blore.sk/

    ⸻

    Attributions

    https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Europe_blank_map_with_Kosovo.png

    https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Panel%C3%A1ky.jpg

    https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bc105_thermostat_front_view.png

    https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sauna_2.jpg

    https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Zamrznut%C3%A1_vodn%C3%A1_n%C3%A1dr%C5%BE_Sigord,_Koko%C5%A1ovce_25_Slovakia_12.jpg

    https://libreshot.com/legs-in-cold-water/ by https://martinvorel.com/

    Microwave Ping: https://pixabay.com/sound-effects/household-microwave-ding-104123/

    Scream: https://pixabay.com/sound-effects/film-special-effects-cartoon-scream-1-6835/

    Other photos are James's own (all rights reserved).

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

    The first 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/

    And the new ones are from here: https://samplefocus.com/samples/acoustic-rolling-drum-loop-cool-beat
    Show More Show Less
    16 mins
  • Why I smuggled 480 tea bags into Slovakia | Blorecast 25

    Why I smuggled 480 tea bags into Slovakia | Blorecast 25
    Apr 19 2026
    Why do British people drink tea with milk?In this episode of The Blorecast, I explore the history, chemistry, and culture behind Britain’s most iconic drink—and why Slovakia never developed the same tradition.From the East India Company and the Industrial Revolution to tannins, empire, and everyday habits, this video explains how tea became Britain’s national beverage. Along the way, I compare British tea culture with Slovak traditions of herbal infusions and coffee, offering a unique cross-cultural perspective.If you’ve ever wondered why Brits put milk in tea—or why Slovaks say “Poďme na kávu” instead—this is the story behind the mug.☕ Featuring:• The history of tea in Britain• The science behind adding milk• Tea vs coffee in European culture• British traditions explained• A Brit’s life in Slovakia⸻⏱️ Chapters00:00:00 – A Nightmare in Slovakia: No More Tea00:00:08 – “Dust and Broken Dreams”00:00:12 – The Widnes Yorkshire Tea Story00:00:54 – A Personal Connection to Tea00:01:51 – What Do Brits Mean by “Tea”?00:02:49 – The Arrival of Tea in Britain00:03:17 – Tea vs Coffee: The Battle for Britain00:04:00 – Assam Tea and Why Brits Add Milk00:05:34 – The Industrial Revolution and the Rise of Tea00:06:00 – Why Slovakia Is Different00:07:03 – Coffee Culture and the Habsburg Legacy00:07:35 – Turecká Káva and Socialist-Era Coffee00:09:00 – Trying to Find Proper Tea in Slovakia00:10:39 – George Orwell’s Rules for Making Tea00:11:06 – My Controversial Tea-Making Method00:12:23 – Tea, Culture, and National Identity00:13:08 – Final Thoughts and Conclusion00:13:35 – Finishing the Tea⸻#BritishTea #TeaWithMilk #BritishCulture #TeaHistory #WhyBritsDrinkTea #Slovakia #CulturalDifferences #YorkshireTea #Blorecast #LifeAbroad #TeaVsCoffee #UKCulture⸻The Blorecast is also available as a podcast🎧 Listen: https://feeds.captivate.fm/blorecast/https://open.spotify.com/show/0kHQShCL2BG10TD20ILDNbhttps://podcasts.apple.com/sk/podcast/the-blorecast/id1837288694⸻📺 Watch: https://www.youtube.com/@bloresk📌 Find out more at: https://blore.sk/📧 Contact: podcast@blore.sk👍 Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blore.sk📸 Or instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blore.sk/⸻AttributionsHorror sounds: https://pixabay.com/sound-effects/horror-horror-sound-lurking-horror-monster-189948/Catherine of Braganza: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Catherine_of_Braganza.jpgUK Coffee House: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Interior_of_a_London_Coffee-house,_17th_centuryFXD.jpgOxford: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:High_Street_Oxford_Queens_College.jpgTea Routes: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4d/Whole_world_-_land_and_oceans.jpgCargo Ship: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3a/Francis_Holman_%281729-1784%29_-_The_Indiaman_%27Withywood%27_-_BHC3730_-_Royal_Museums_Greenwich.jpgAssam: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/34/Assam_in_India.pnghttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Zones_de_th%C3%A9iculture_de_l%27Assam,_1873.jpgAssam Tea: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Assam-Tee_SFTGFOP1.jpgAssam Tea Plantation: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/be/Tea_Plantation_and_workers_in_Assam_01.jpghttps://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a5/Tea_Plantation_and_workers_in_Assam_02.jpghttps://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/79/Tea_Plantation_and_workers_in_Assam_03.jpgTannic Acid: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tannic_acid.svgIndian Chai:https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3b/Indian_chai_tea_-_Haridwar_-_India.jpghttps://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6a/The_soothing_Indian_Chai.jpgIndustrial Revolution: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1e/MandK_Industrial_Revolution_1900.jpghttps://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/77/The_St._James%27s_magazine_and_United_Empire_review_%281871%29_%2814755278706%29.jpgČervený Kláštor monastery: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%C4%8Cerven%C3%BD_Kl%C3%A1%C5%A1tor_monastery,_20210807_0849_1378.jpghttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%C4%8Cerven%C3%BD_Kl%C3%A1%C5%A1tor,_House_of_Camaldul_Monks,_20210807_0927_1497.jpgVienna Cafe: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/da/Caf%C3%A9_Griensteidl_Wien.jpgVienna Cafe (inside): https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cafe-Griensteidl-1896.jpgMicrowave Ping: https://pixabay.com/sound-effects/household-microwave-ding-104123/Drake Meme: https://imgflip.com/i/apbrtd?herp=1776329571625Orwell Photo: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:George-orwell-BBC.jpgOrwell's A Nice Cup of Tea: https://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks03/0300011h.html#part35⸻MusicOur theme tune is Ode to Joy – Heavy Edition, written specially for us by the most excellent dafteaux: https://youtu.be/rU6nLowrtmEAnd the new funky beats are from here: https://samplefocus.com/samples/acoustic-rolling-drum-loop-cool-beat
    Show More Show Less
    14 mins
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