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PODCAST

The Blorecast

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

education language learning

All Episodes

09:13

🔥 Burn the Snail? 🐌 Macabre Children’s Stories from...

The Blorecast ·

2026/03/05

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:•

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13:39

Should Slovaks Smile More? | Blorecast 20

The Blorecast ·

2026/03/01

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,

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11:58

When is a potato not a potato? | Blorecast 19

The Blorecast ·

2026/02/21

When is a potato not a potato?In Slovakia, it might be a bandurka, gruľa, švábka, krumpeľ, or zemiak — and the word you choose can reveal where you’re from.In this episode, I explore Slovak dialects, regional vocabulary, and how language quietly signals identity and belonging. Why does Slovakia promote standard Slovak so strongly in the media? What might be gained — and what might be lost — when dialects grow quieter?Drawing on my own experience — from northern England to the University of Oxford,

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09:27

How to learn Slovak (in 27 years or less) | Blorecast 18

The Blorecast ·

2026/02/12

Ever wondered what 27 years of living in Slovakia does to your language skills? Join me, James Blore, as I take you through my long (and occasionally amusing) journey learning Slovak — from tongue twisters to unhinged phrasebooks, from chicken shops to an exploding appendix.In this video, you’ll hear: • How I survived early Slovak mistakes like shouting at a wrong number 🐔 • My favorite Slovak words and phrases: guľôčky, neidentifikovateľná, and more • Tips and reflections on pronunciation, cases,

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16:53

Why American Healthcare Sounds So Strange to...

The Blorecast ·

2026/01/30

In Europe, healthcare is a baseline — not a debate.If you live in Slovakia, the UK, or most of the European Union, you grow up with a simple assumption: if you’re ill, you’re treated — regardless of your income or employment.That assumption is so normal here that we rarely talk about it. But it’s also what makes the American healthcare debate sound so strange from a European perspective.In this episode, I compare how healthcare works in Europe and the United States — not ideologically, but

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15:04

5 Ways Slovakia Wins: Listener Feedback | Blorecast...

The Blorecast ·

2026/01/11

In this Blorecast episode, I respond to viewer feedback on two recent videos:🇸🇰🇬🇧 Slovak vs British Christmas and 5 Ways Slovakia Is Definitely Better Than the UK.Over the holidays, both videos generated thoughtful discussion on YouTube and Instagram. Here, I reflect on what people agreed with, what they challenged, and what I learned from the comments — from Christmas traditions and food, to practicality, multilingualism, and access to nature.Topics include:• Slovak vs British Christmas

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13:44

Five ways Slovakia is definitely better than the UK |...

The Blorecast ·

2026/01/04

Is Slovakia actually better than the UK? 🇸🇰🇬🇧I spent the first half of my life in the UK — and the second half in Slovakia.So I’ve experienced plenty of Christmases, dentists, supermarkets, and public offices in both.In this episode of The Blorecast, I ask a slightly dangerous question:Is Slovakia genuinely better than the UK — and if so, how?To keep things fair, I set myself some rules: • No cheap shots • No unfair comparisons • No obvious wins like skiing or ice hockey • And no pretending that

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10:59

Slovak vs UK Christmas | Blorecast Episode 14

The Blorecast ·

2025/12/24

I spent the first half of my life in the UK, and I've lived the second half in Slovakia — which means I’ve experienced Christmas from both sides.In this episode of the Blorecast, I put British and Slovak Christmas head to head in 10 festive rounds, comparing everything from food and traditions to timing, TV, Christmas markets, and the man himself.This isn’t a rant, and it’s not a culture war — just a good-natured, slightly nerdy comparison from someone lucky enough to have lived both.🎄 The 10

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10:50

Is Slovakia a Safe Country? My 27-Year Experience |...

The Blorecast ·

2025/12/05

Is Slovakia a safe country to live in? After 27 years of living here, I share my personal experiences with safety, weather, and everyday life on Slovak streets. From harsh winters and quirky pedestrian crossings to the one time I was accosted while bird watching, I’ll give you a realistic view of life in Slovakia.In this episode of the Blorecast, I cover: • Crime and street safety in Slovakia • What Slovak weather might throw at you • Pedestrian experiences and unusual road culture • Funny and

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11:56

Blorecast Episode 12 - This is the News - Podcast for...

The Blorecast ·

2025/11/30

This week on the Blorecast: a short, clear update on what’s been happening in Slovakia — explained in simple English for international students, expats, and anyone trying to follow Slovak news without perfect Slovak.In this episode, I talk about the recent protests in Košice, the growing tension between conservative and liberal parts of Slovak society, and some of the major political events from November — including the chalk protests, the cancelled 17 November holiday, and the controversial visit

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17:05

Blorecast Episode 11 - Andy's Back - Podcast for...

The Blorecast ·

2025/11/19

What happens when a Brit moves to Slovakia and stays (almost) forever?In this episode of The Blorecast, I’m joined once again by Andy Billingham, a long-time expat, Slovak citizen and all-round legend, to talk about:🇸🇰 Getting used to life in socialist-era Slovakia🛒 Strange supermarket rules in the 80s🥾 Hiking culture🕖 Why everyone wakes up so early🗣️ Tykanie, vykanie & the dying art of onikanieWhether you’re a Slovak curious about how foreigners see your country, or a foreigner thinking

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09:39

Blorecast Episode 10 - The Shopping - Podcast for...

The Blorecast ·

2025/11/12

When I first arrived in Slovakia back in 1998, “doing the shopping” meant visiting three or four different little shops — Potraviny Narcis for basics, Coop Jednota for salami and coffee, and Vrchovina for a litre of Cappy juice.Twenty-five years later, things look a little different. In this episode, I take a nostalgic (and slightly caffeinated) trip from those early shopping days in Humenné to Košice's supermarkets today.Along the way, I talk about how grocery shopping has changed, what British

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11:04

Blorecast Episode 09 - Bonfire Night - Podcast for...

The Blorecast ·

2025/11/05

In this episode of The Blorecast, James steps outside to enjoy a beautiful autumn day and share the surprising story behind a viral Instagram short — the infamous Slovak snail rhyme! 🐌🔥From Slimák, slimák to Šnečku, šnečku and even the brutal Serbian version, James compares how different countries talk to their snails (some nicely… some not so much). He also chats about Guy Fawkes Night, cultural quirks, and why one short video suddenly got over 200,000 views.If you enjoy British humour, Slovak

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05:06

Blorecast Episode 08 - Halloween Special - Podcast...

The Blorecast ·

2025/10/31

It's a quick one this time, featuring horror snails!⸻🌍 About the BlorecastThe 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.⸻🎧 Listen:

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11:12

Blorecast Episode 07 - Time Warp - Podcast for...

The Blorecast ·

2025/10/22

Why does Slovakia sometimes feel like it’s living in a different decade? And is that actually a bad thing?In this episode of The Blorecast, James Blore explores a country that has modernised rapidly yet still holds tight to its roots. From carpet beaters and top-loading washing machines to rural life, birds, mushrooms, and boars, James reflects on the pros and cons of the Slovak time warp. Comparing Slovak pragmatism with British romanticism towards nature, he asks: have Brits become too detached

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09:45

Blorecast Episode 06 - Pigging Brilliant! - Podcast...

The Blorecast ·

2025/10/14

Why do Slovaks love pigs so much? 🐷In this episode of The Blorecast, I explore Slovakia’s deep and delicious relationship with all things porcine — from schnitzels and slanina to zabíjačka and wild boars in the forest!You’ll hear stories from my early days teaching in Humenné, discover why being vegetarian used to be a challenge in 1990s Slovakia, and learn about traditional dishes, local habits, and a few wild encounters along the way.We’ll talk about:🐽 Slovak pork dishes (goulash, schnitzel,

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15:07

Blorecast Episode 05 - Citizen Andy - Podcast for...

The Blorecast ·

2025/10/08

In this episode of The Blorecast, James catches up once again with his long-time lunch companion and all-round legend, Andy Billingham, who’s now officially a Slovak citizen! 🇸🇰Andy explains why he decided to apply for citizenship, what the process involves, and how the language test went.There’s also an update on James’s charity cricket match (spoiler: he survived) and some listener shoutouts from around the world.#TheBlorecast #Slovakia #LearningEnglish #SlovakCitizenship #EnglishPodcast

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09:09

Blorecast Episode 04 - Unsporting Behaviour -...

The Blorecast ·

2025/10/03

Welcome back to the Blorecast! In Episode 4 – Unsporting Behaviour, I dive into the world of sport — despite being about the least sporty person you could imagine.This weekend is a big one in Slovakia:🏃‍♂️ The Košice Peace Marathon celebrates its 101st year – the oldest marathon in Europe and the third-oldest in the world.🏏 I’ve inexplicably agreed to play in a charity cricket match in Spišská Nová Ves (what could possibly go wrong?).This episode, I share some personal sporting stories:⚡ School PE

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09:29

Blorecast Episode 03 - Slovak Food: Carbs - Podcast...

The Blorecast ·

2025/09/24

In this episode of the Blorecast, James dives into one of the tastiest parts of Slovak cuisine – carbohydrates! From fresh Slovak bread and fluffy rožky to potato pancakes, bryndzové halušky and pirohy, this is your guided tour through Slovakia’s most comforting, filling, and downright delicious foods. 🇸🇰What you’ll hear about in this episode: • Why Slovak bread is better than UK bread • Potatoes (zemiaky, bandurky) in every possible form • Traditional Slovak dishes like bryndzové halušky,

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09:10

Blorecast Episode 02 - The Inimitable Andy B -...

The Blorecast ·

2025/09/17

In this episode of the Blorecast, James Blore sits down with his longtime friend Andy Billingham, a British bloke who has lived in Slovakia so long that he’s now officially Slovak.They talk about:how Andy ended up in Slovakia not once, but twicehis first impressions of Slovakia in 1983the places he's worked and the jobs he's doneThis episode is audio-only, as James is experimenting with different formats, but don’t worry, video episodes will be back soon!💬 Join the conversation:Do you prefer short

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