The Blorecast

A few weeks ago, I received a challenge from a viewer: speak Slovak for an entire video.

I was sceptical. After all, my Slovak is… not great, not terrible!

But after making a few videos about Slovak food, I started seeing some familiar comments about British cuisine: “British food is terrible”, “Brits don’t know how to cook”, and so on.

So I decided to kill two birds with one stone — zabiť dve muchy jednou ranou. I would accept the Slovak language challenge while also answering one of the internet...

After nearly 30 years living in Slovakia, I think I've finally figured out the unwritten rulebook behind Slovak food — the stuff no cookbook tells you, but every Slovak grows up just knowing.

This is part two of my deep dive into Slovak vs British food. Last time I shared 10 Slovak dishes I love (and a couple I still can't get on board with) — and the comments made it very clear there's a whole set of unspoken rules I'd missed. So today: the results of my pastry-and-meat challenge, six more food rules, and one genuinely baffling mystery abou...

What happens to an English man's palate after nearly 28 years of living in Slovakia? You start having aggressive, uncompromising protocols about frankfurters, and you accept double-carbohydrate meals as an objective scientific truth.

In this episode of the Blorecast, I’m taking you on a culinary tour of my life in Slovakia—from the absolute comfort masterpieces found at a traditional koliba, to the 4.5 local "monstrosities" that my British stomach still categorically refuses to accept. We’re covering everything from the legendary bryndzové halušky and garlic-heavy zemiakové placky to the confusing cultural phenomenon of the "sweet lun...

Why do smart people believe things that aren’t true?

Why do cold drinks get blamed for sore throats? Why do people trust vitamin supplements, miracle cures, or conspiracy theories? And why does Slovakia consistently rank among the most conspiracy-prone countries in Europe?

In this episode, I explore the cognitive shortcuts that all humans use to make sense of the world—and why the same mental “operating system” can produce very different results in different historical and cultural environments.

From old wives’ tales and folk medicine to institutio...

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 h...

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.

🧦...

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...

🐰🐣🇬🇧 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, th...

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.<...

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 gr...

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 rhym...

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...

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, and from Humenné to Košice — I compare Slovakia’s...

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, and tricky inflections

• Why Slovak is both challenging and fun for English speakers...

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 structurally — looking at access, costs, insurance, rea...

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 traditions (and the “no birds” debate)

• Why turkey replaced goose in the UK

• Slovak practicality and...

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

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 rounds

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 unexpected encounters in Slovak towns

Wheth...

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 of Prime Minister Robert Fico to a school in Poprad.

I’m not a political expert, and this isn’...

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 onikanie

Whether you’re a Slovak curious about how foreigners see your country, or a foreigner thinking about moving to Slovakia, this episode is packed w...

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 immigrant's like me still bring home in our suitcases (tea and biscuits, of course), and why...

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 culture, and language learning with laughs, hit Like, Subscribe, and Share this episo...

It's a quick one this time, featuring horror snails!

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🌍 About the Blorecast

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.

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

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

https://podcasts...

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 from our rural past? And could Slovakia’s “one foot in the mud” a...

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, klobása & more)

🌾 The zabíjačka traditi...

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 #LivingInSlovakia #LifeAbroad #BritishInSlovakia #EnglishTeacher #PodcastForEnglishLearners #Kosice #LanguageLearning #JamesBlore

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🌍 About the Blorecast

The Blorecast is a podcast from...

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 nightmares: rugby, cross-country and m...

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, šúľance, pirohy, Francúzske zemiaky and Černohorský rezeň

• The Slovak habit of mixing multiple carbs i...

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:

This 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 5–10 minute episodes, or would you...

How does a Brit become “a little bit Slovak”? In this first episode of the Blorecast, James Blore shares three Slovak habits he’s picked up over 27 years: taking shoes off indoors, eating big lunches, and learning the Slovak language.

Welcome to the first full episode of the Blorecast – a podcast for learners and teachers of English in Slovakia — and beyond! 🇸🇰🇬🇧

After a quick introduction to my journey to Slovakia in Episode 0, today I’m diving into three ways I’ve become “a little bit Slovak” over the past 27 years:

👞 Shoes – why wearing them indoors in the UK was normal...

Welcome to the very first episode of the Blorecast, a podcast for learners and teachers of English in Slovakia — and beyond! 🇸🇰🇬🇧

In this episode, James Blore (teacher, podcaster, and founder of The School of Blore in Košice) shares his story of moving to Slovakia, teaching English, and launching this brand-new show. You’ll hear:

• How James went from Oxford to Košice to build a language school

• Why he’s starting the Blorecast now

• What learners and teachers can expect in future episodes (English grammar, vocabulary, Maturita topics, Cambridge exam tips, and more!)

• ...