@ianwilloughby.bsky.social talks with Susan Reynolds, whose new translation of one of the most important books in Czech literature — The Grandmother (Babička) by Božena Němcová, first published in 1855 — will be launched by UK-based @jantarbooks.bsky.social Oct 30. english.radio.cz/grandmother-...

Photos from my In Conversation With… with Zhanna Nemtsova — one of the best guests to date — at the Václav Havel Library yesterday evening. 📸 Ondřej Němec, VHL

I am hosting a talk after a screening of this documentary on Friday within the Press Play Prague festival. Speakers will be RFE/RL journalists Vladyslav Yesypenko, who the film is about, and Alsu Kurmasheva, who was also imprisoned in Russia. Details: www.kinoatlaspraha.cz?program=6050

My own personal moment of the day yesterday was when the host on France24 referred to my podcast! In fact the first time he mentioned it — quoting something about Babiš in an earlier interview — I was so surprised that I almost forgot what I wanted to say!

I spoke to Czech Philharmonic chief David Mareček. Why do they bother doing loss-making tours of the US? Do they feel they are competing with other European orchestras? And what's the nature of the ensemble's collaboration with The National's Bryce Dessner? english.radio.cz/david-marece...

Is "the tycoon's ambiguous relationship with NATO" an actual reason Pavel may consider not appointing Babiš PM? Surely it would actually "only" be over the Stork's Nest case and AB's ownership of Agrofert? www.politico.eu/article/czec...

I wrote a piece for Seznam Zprávy, my first, about the new official Czech logo – and efforts to promote the name Czechia. www.seznamzpravy.cz/clanek/volby...

I spoke to Czech political marketing expert Anna Shavit about electioneering this time out, her experience of working closely with Babiš when ANO were on the rise, and potential coalitions (e.g., she sees ANO-STAN as more likely than ANO-ODS). #Czechpolitics english.radio.cz/anna-shavit-...

I've just spoken to Barbora Baronová, head of Prague publishers Wo-men. Bára literally puts everything she has into the company, who publish wonderfully designed books, and this was one of the most inspiring conversations I've had in some time! english.radio.cz/barbora-baro...

Forbes says Prague's renovated Grand Hotel Evropa feels straight out of a Wes Anderson film. The part on Wenceslas Square certainly looks amazing but AFAIK the majority of the hotel is a new build at the back. www.forbes.com/sites/saraht...

My latest interview is with the charming and extremely successful Karel Kovář, AKA Kovy. Our conversation takes in a LOT of subjects, including his making little videos with his grandad as a kid, marriage equality, and Czech politicians' social media "skills". english.radio.cz/top-czech-in...

Today I had a great chat with Karel Kovář, AKA Kovy, influencer supreme and lovely fella. Interview coming soon on Radio Prague International!

I interviewed documentary maker Šimon Šafránek about his new podcast on CzechTek and how it culminated in a clash between riot police and ravers. "There was such a strong display of force against youth. And it was the first one of this size since 1989." english.radio.cz/police-vs-ra...

Filmmaker Dužan Duong's super debut Summer School, 2001 made a big impact at @KVIFF. Our conversation covers everything from why Vietnamese families often send their kids to the home country for a while to a new project scheduled for release in 2030. english.radio.cz/czech-vietna...

I interviewed Marcus Mucha, great-grandson of artist Alphonse, about his former career in Hollywood with Morgan Freeman, how the Mucha Foundation cultivates Alphonse's brand today and way more. He also shared some pretty amazing stories from the family's history. english.radio.cz/marcus-mucha...

Writer-director Ondřej Provazník is on the cover of Respekt with the lead actors from his incredible new film Sbormistr/Broken Voices, for which I did the subtitles. The movie is in the main competition at Karlovy Vary IFF and gets its world premiere a fortnight from today.

Halfway through my interview today with director Ondřej Provazník Pixie started barking at some guy doing weird exercises in the park. But I will cut that bit out and my interview with Ondřej on his brilliant new film Sbormistr/Broken Voices will go out, bark-free, in a couple of weeks!

The really bad C-word is back www.euractiv.com/section/poli...

This happened. I'm still pinching myself! english.radio.cz/isabel-stain... Many thanks to @ianwilloughby.bsky.social for suggesting it, and for bringing along his gorgeous dog! #xl8 #literarytranslation 🌐 💙📚 🇨🇿

Tomorrow evening I will be moderating the launch of the English version of Romany writer Patrik Banga's memoir The True Way Out at the Globe in Prague. Come! Details: facebook.com/events/s/boo...

Eighty-three years ago on this day, these young heroes, Jan Kubiš and Jozef Gabčík, carried out an operation to assassinate Nazi governor Reinhard Heydrich in Prague, one of the most daring moves of WWII. Glory to their memories. 🇨🇿🕯️

RIP Marcel Ophüls. I had the privilege of interviewing the great French documentarian at @jihlava_idff in 2017 and he was a lovely old gent with a real spark in his eyes.

It's 20 years today since the greatest football game I have ever seen, the Miracle of Istanbul!

Not new but still good to see -- on Panská in Prague

Yesterday I got to moderate a Q&A at Světozor with the lovely Markéta Irglová and Glen Hansard about her documentary on the making of the new Swell Season LP Forward – and then to see them play a brilliant show a couple of hours later at Forum Karlín. What a day!

Yesterday I spoke to a Czech psychiatrist researching the use of hallucinogenics in treatment and remembered this kind of amazing article by the great filmmaker Jan Švankmajer about his (bad) experiences of LSD testing when he was in the army: www.theguardian.com/film/2001/oc...

At the weekend author Dan Brown posted a pic of himself in Prague. His forthcoming book The Secret of Secrets is set in the city and I have heard he may be here again around its launch in September.

This is pretty funny if you know Czech swear words 😂

Some photos from the In Conversation With... with Czech Philharmonic chief conductor Semyon Bychkov at Prague's Václav Havel Library last night. The maestro was charming, thoughtful and super interesting, as can be seen in this video of our talk: www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRlk... 📸Ondřej Němec

"Nobody outshone Jiří," says veteran film journalist Steven Gaydos in an interview following the death of Karlovy Vary IFF main man Jiří Bartoška. But Gaydos has no concerns for the festival's future: "There’s a fantastic continuity... There is no transition." english.radio.cz/movie-stars-...

This very special edition of In Conversation With... at Prague's Václav Havel Library is this evening!

My newest interview is with Martina Skála, a Malá Strana-born, California-based woman who worked with Forman and Polanski, had a brother in Psí vojáci and literally danced with horses in France. She also has the funniest story of discovering how her dad was cheating. english.radio.cz/martina-skal...

RIP William H. Luers, a legendary US diplomat in Prague, who has died at the age of 95. "His longtime career in the Foreign Service included protecting Vaclav Havel, the writer and dissident who became the first president of the Czech Republic." www.nytimes.com/2025/05/11/u...

Happy 75th birthday to Gabriel Byrne, a cool handsome Irish movie star before that was common!

Yes!

ICYMI laser beams were projected from the Žižkov TV tower in Prague on Thursday in connection with the 80th anniversary of VE Day 📸 Prague 3

Man this new pope gets better and better — he stands up to Trump AND he knows Brno!

Maybe the new guy is going to be ok

Actor and president of the Karlovy Vary IFF Jiří Bartoška has died at the age of 78. With artistic director Eva Zaoralová he made KVIFF what it is today. RIP.

Poster for Caravan, the first Czech film in over 30 years to compete at Cannes (Un Certain Regard), seen as a very big deal among the local film community. Zuzana Kirchnerová’s feature-length debut gets its world premiere on May 22.

“You, Flock of Seagulls”

Last night I went to a screening of Mr. Nobody Against Putin, a powerful, recommended documentary based on footage shot by Pavel Talankin, who as a teacher at a Russian school documented post-2022 militarism, "patriotism", etc. The film is 🇨🇿 co-produced and Talankin has applied for asylum here.

Delighted to announce there will be a VERY special guest in the next edition of In Conversation With... at the Václav Havel Library: Czech Philharmonic chief conductor Semyon Bychkov! This is a really rare chance to hear him speak, and to ask questions if you like. Free admission, all welcome!

This is what the entrance to Czech Radio looked like on this day — the second day of the Prague Uprising — 80 years ago.

This is pretty awesome: At the Czech Parliament today Volodymyr Zelensky had his photo taken with Ukrainian cleaners, some of whom were moved to tears. #hero

Today is the 80th anniversary of the start of the Prague Uprising in the final days of WWII. This picture of citizens erecting a barricade is from a spot I pass often, the corner of Korunní and Nitranská in Prague 3.

My phone thinks people are more likely to visit space than Spain. Bloody tech bros!

Allen Ginsberg was named “king of May” in Prague on this day in 1965, when 150,000 took part in May Day celebrations. The whole story, including his expulsion from communist 🇨🇿 days later, is recounted in this article, which I translated some years ago: www.ustrcr.cz/data/pdf/pub...

Prague's most spectacular bakery and cafe, a new branch of Antonínovo pekařství on the corner of Francouzská and Náměstí Míru, opens tomorrow. And ahead of that occasion I did a wide-ranging and colourful interview with the man who started the chain. english.radio.cz/antonin-koke...

😂😂😂