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
  • Why Britain Lost Its Easter Traditions (and Slovakia Didn't) | Blorecast 24

    Why Britain Lost Its Easter Traditions (and Slovakia Didn't) | Blorecast 24
    Apr 5 2026
    🐰🐣🇬🇧 Why does Easter feel so different in the UK compared to Slovakia? 🧺💦🇸🇰After nearly 30 years living in Slovakia, coming back to Britain at Easter feels… strange. In the UK, it’s mostly chocolate eggs and a long weekend. In Slovakia, it’s five days of rituals, food, and traditions that go back centuries.In this video, I explore the real reasons behind that difference — and address a claim that keeps appearing in the comments: that Britain has weaker traditions because of immigration.The reality is far more interesting.We’ll look at how the English Reformation, the Industrial Revolution, and the decline of religious life reshaped British traditions — and how Slovakia’s history, from the Counter-Reformation to communism, helped preserve its own.⏱️ Chapters00:00 Intro00:41 British Easter – chocolate, bank holidays, and modern habits01:36 Slovak Easter – five days of rituals, food, and tradition04:11 The Argument – “Britain has lost its traditions because...”05:17 Pancake Day vs Fašiangy – one meal vs seven weeks 07:01 The English Reformation – how traditions were dismantled08:33 The Industrial Revolution – losing the connection to the land09:19 The Counter-Reformation – preserving ritual and tradition09:59 Morena – pagan traditions inside the Christian calendar10:32 Slovak National Revival – culture as identity10:52 State-funded Folklore – how communism preserved the forms11:33 Falling faith – modern decline in both countries12:29 The Biggest Sausage – a moment that explains everything. Sort of. 14:38 Wrap-up💬 I’d love to hear from you:What does Easter look like where you live?More chocolate… or more tradition?📌 If you enjoy videos about Slovak culture, language, and life in Central Europe, consider subscribing for more.#Easter #Slovakia #UnitedKingdom #Traditions #Culture #History #SlovakCulture #BritishCulture #EasterTraditions #Blorecast⸻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/⸻Attributionshttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Westminster_Abbey_(18754332104).jpghttps://www.flickr.com/photos/charmainezoe/33811011038https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:EasterSaris12Slovakia8.JPGhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:EasterSaris12Slovakia3.JPGhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gardavsk%C3%A1_Moravsk%C3%A9_typy.jpghttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Poml%C3%A1zka.jpghttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pstrak-Monday.png#mw-jump-to-licensehttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Zz07_smigus_dyngus_sanok_2010.JPG#mw-jump-to-licensehttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:20_and_50_Euro_banknote_straps_delivered_by_G4S.jpg#mw-jump-to-licensehttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:English_Pancake.jpghttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pancake_race_London_on_your_marks.jpghttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fa%C5%A1iangy_26_Slovakia_5.jpghttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ples_Matice_slovenskej.jpghttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Palenka.JPGhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:After_Hans_Holbein_the_Younger_-_Portrait_of_Henry_VIII_-_Google_Art_Project.jpghttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Edward_VI_of_England_-_2.jpghttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Oliver_Cromwell_Gaspard_de_Crayer.jpghttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Philipp_Jakob_Loutherbourg_d._J._002.jpghttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kosice_(Slovakia)_-_Jesuistical_Church.jpghttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ludovit_Stur_adj.jpghttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fa%C5%A1iangy_WLF_21_Slovakia_5.jpghttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bratislava_Panorama_R01.jpghttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Religious_affiliation_in_Great_Britain_over_time.svghttps://www.ethnicity-facts-figures.service.gov.uk/uk-population-by-ethnicity/national-and-regional-populations/population-of-england-and-wales/latest/https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ha%C5%BE%C3%ADn_nad_Cirochou_22_Slovakia.jpghttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Acetres_e_Hisopos_Sto_Domingo_Calzada_16.jpg⸻MusicOur theme tune is Ode to Joy – Heavy Edition, written specially for us by the most excellent dafteaux: https://youtu.be/rU6nLowrtmEThe 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
  • Blorecast X The British Ambassador | Blorecast 23

    Blorecast X The British Ambassador | Blorecast 23
    Apr 4 2026

    I sat down with Bilal Zahid, the British Ambassador to Slovakia, for lunch at the Pilsner Urquell pub in Košice — and somehow the conversation ended up involving bears.

    We talked about what it's like to live in Slovakia as a Brit, the challenge of learning Slovak, regional differences across the country, and the wildlife. Bilal also shares his tips for language learning and I share my birdwatching gems around Košice.

    If you're learning Slovak, interested in life in Slovakia, or just curious what the British Ambassador makes of the place — this one's for you.

    🇸🇰 Learning Slovak? Check out my video on how I learned Slovak in just 27 years:

    https://youtu.be/s6x62XWGEtY

    📻 Listen to the Blorecast as a podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts:

    https://feeds.captivate.fm/blorecast/

    https://open.spotify.com/show/0kHQShCL2BG10TD20ILDNb

    https://podcasts.apple.com/sk/podcast/the-blorecast/id1837288694

    _______

    Chapters:

    00:00 Intro

    00:36 The basics

    01:12 Slovak is a hard language

    01:48 Other languages

    02:17 Tips for language learning

    04:05 Best things about Slovakia

    05:29 Challenges

    06:43 Speaking tips

    07:36 Eastern accent

    08:23 Regional differences

    10:12 A foot in every nation

    10:45 James's top tips

    11:55 Bears, boars, ticks and midgies

    13:31 Hidden (birdwatching) gems

    14:29 Outro

    _______

    #Slovakia #LearnSlovak #BritishAmbassador #SlovakLanguage #KošiceSlovakia #ExpatSlovakia #LifeInSlovakia

    _______

    🔔 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

    The pub:

    https://www.pilsnerurquellpub.sk/kosice/jedalny-listok/speciality#region-menu

    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
    15 mins
  • 9 Things About Slovakia I Still Can't Handle | Blorecast 22

    9 Things About Slovakia I Still Can't Handle | Blorecast 22
    Mar 31 2026

    After 27 years in Slovakia, you'd think nothing would surprise me anymore. You'd be wrong.

    From ticks to tichý zabijak, návleky to kapustnica — here are 9 things about Slovak life that I still haven't quite come to terms with. Featuring a drunk hunter, a couple of rants, and my spectacular failure to park a car politely.

    🇸🇰 Living in Slovakia as a British expat for nearly three decades, I've grown to love this country deeply — but some cultural differences still catch me off guard. In this video I cover Slovak health beliefs, Slovak food, the great tea debate, Slovak summers, and one linguistic faux pas I'd rather forget.

    ⏱ CHAPTERS

    00:00 Introduction

    00:45 #1 Ticks

    02:35 #2 Drafts (spelled the US way! 'Draughts' in British English)

    03:55 #3 Nose blowing

    04:50 #4 Návleky

    06:19 #5 Lifts

    07:50 #6 Tea

    08:39 #7 Kapustnica

    10:06 #8 Summer

    11:30 #9 Ty and Vy

    📺 MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO

    The Tea episode — coming soon

    Slovak health superstitions (fizzy drinks & sore throats) — coming soon

    How to learn Slovak (in 27 years or less) — https://youtu.be/s6x62XWGEtY?si=MXq0tS3xALBtBoK0

    #Slovakia #BritishInSlovakia #SlovakLife #ExpatLife #LearnSlovak #Košice #SlovakCulture #UKvsSlovakia #SlovakFood #Kapustnica

    ⸻

    🔔 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

    Boar: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Sus_scrofa#/media/File:Wildschwein,_N%C3%A4he_Pulverstampftor.jpg

    Tick-borne encephalitis map: https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications-data/country-profile-slovakia-tick-borne-encephalitis-tbe

    Bear Headline: https://spravy.pravda.sk/domace/clanok/727984-opity-a-zraneny-muz-so-zbranou-tvrdil-ze-ho-v-lese-napadol-medved/

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

    Trumpet: https://pixabay.com/sound-effects/musical-reveilli-mix-33299/

    Slippers: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%D0%A2%D0%B0%D0%BF%D0%BA%D0%B8._%D0%A4%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%BE_%D0%90._%D0%A9%D0%B5%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B0.jpg

    Kapustnica: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Silvestrovska_kapustnica.JPG#/media/File:Silvestrovska_kapustnica.JPG

    Map of Europe: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Europe_countries_map_en_2.png

    Lidl: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Lidl_supermarkets_in_Slovakia#/media/File:Lidl_Herlianska_Ko%C5%A1ice.jpg

    Water Park: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Besenova-_Thermal_Park_-_panoramio.jpg

    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
    15 mins
  • 🔥 Burn the Snail? 🐌 Macabre Children’s Stories from Slovakia & the UK | Blorecast 21

    🔥 Burn the Snail? 🐌 Macabre Children’s Stories from Slovakia & the UK | Blorecast 21
    Mar 5 2026

    Today we dive into some of the darkest children’s rhymes and cautionary tales: from a Slovak snail threatened with arson, to a speckled rooster facing death for breaking a flower, and the infamous story of Jim, the boy slowly eaten alive by a lion. These stories remind us that childhood literature wasn’t always innocent — and sometimes, it’s hilariously macabre.

    Stick around until the end for a macabre Slovak dad joke that’s perfectly grim and pun-tastically clever.

    In this episode, you’ll discover:

    • The shocking speed from sweetness to horror in Slovak rhymes

    • Symbolism and morality in Kohútik jarabý

    • Hilaire Belloc’s Cautionary Tales for Children and the story of Jim

    • How these tales still resonate and inspire adult humor today

    Chapters:

    00:00 – Intro

    00:57 – Burn the Snail!? – One Slovak children’s rhyme threatens a snail with arson

    03:39 – Speckled Rooster – Kohútik jarabý and the extreme consequences of breaking a lily

    05:27 – Jim – The English cautionary tale of a boy eaten by a lion

    07:33 – Built Different – Why Slimák, slimák stands apart with its sweet-to-macabre pivot

    08:09 – The Joke – A macabre Slovak dad joke to end the episode

    #SlovakLanguage #LearnSlovak #LanguageLearning #FunnyLanguageStories #JamesBlore #Blorecast #LanguageHumor

    ⸻


    🔔 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

    Jim https://englishverse.com/poems/jim

    Cautionary Tales for Children - Hilaire Belloc (1907) https://www.gutenberg.org/files/27424/27424-h/27424-h.htm

    Cautionary Tales for Children (cover) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:CautionaryTales-Belloc-Blackwell-cover.jpg

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

    The 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/
    Show More Show Less
    9 mins
  • Should Slovaks Smile More? | Blorecast 20

    Should Slovaks Smile More? | Blorecast 20
    Mar 1 2026

    Are Slovaks really grumpy?

    Is customer service in Slovakia actually terrible?

    Is the food bland?

    Do public offices close too early?

    In this episode of the Blorecast, I respond to sharp (but thoughtful) criticism from foreigners living in Slovakia and separate fact from fiction.

    We talk about Slovak food, public smiling, bureaucracy, police fines, “reklamácia” (the Slovak warranty claim system), and the deeper cultural difference between high-trust and lower-trust societies.

    If you’re an expat in Slovakia, thinking of moving here, or just curious about Slovak culture, this is your practical survival guide.

    Because sometimes what looks like rudeness… is just difference.

    And sometimes it really is bad customer service.


    Chapters:

    00:00 – The Criticism: “Do Slovaks Ever Smile?”

    00:40 – Fact vs Fiction: Setting the Ground Rules

    01:34 – Is Slovak Food Really Bland?

    01:58 – Heavy Food & Historical Context

    02:35 – Public Offices & Early Closing Times

    03:07 – Police Fines & Personal Confessions

    03:37 – Smiling, Small Talk & Social Performance

    05:50 – My Shoe Shop Trauma (Size 49 Problems)

    07:07 – What Is “Reklamácia”?

    08:08 – High-Trust vs Low-Trust Cultures Explained

    19:42 – Scores: What’s Fact and What’s Fiction?

    10:46 – The Slovak Survival Guide

    12:35 – Closing Thoughts


    If you’ve lived in Slovakia, I’d love to hear your experience in the comments.

    Do Slovaks need to smile more?

    Or do foreigners need to adjust their expectations?

    Subscribe for more conversations about Slovak culture, language, and life as a Brit living in Košice.


    #SlovakLanguage #LearnSlovak #LanguageLearning #FunnyLanguageStories #SlovakWords #JamesBlore #Blorecast #LanguageHumor

    ⸻

    🔔 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

    Trust survey: https://ourworldindata.org/trust

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

    The 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/
    Show More Show Less
    14 mins