Through exclusive interviews, detailed analyses, and compelling stories, Closer connects younger readers with the heart of Slovakia.Av The Slovak Spectator

Kvet Nguyen, a Slovak artist and writer of Vietnamese descent, captures the beauty and complexity of living between cultures in her work and storytelling.Av The Slovak Spectator

Petra Klimová Dzvoníková, known online as Petush Nasklee, is a Slovak influencer and podcaster who uses her platform to empower others through her open approach to fashion, art and mental health awareness.Av The Slovak Spectator

Ready for a ride? In the picturesque Rajec valley, visitors can ride a bike in all directions without getting lost. I am living proof. Host: Peter DlhopolecAv The Slovak Spectator

Our next trip around the Žilina Region will be slightly Italian because of its name. We'll climb Slovakia's oldest via ferrata. It can be found in the Turiec area, which is compared to the Tuscany region in Italy. Host: Peter DlhopolecAv The Slovak Spectator

In a Slovak town, visitors can see Brestovská Cave, a spring featured in an iconic film, and an open-air museum (and much more).Av The Slovak Spectator

Explore a place with three different names – Trojmedzie, Trojmezí, Trójstyk – where three nations regularly meet. Trojmedzie is a hidden gem, easily accessible by train from Bratislava. Host: Peter Dlhopolec Guest: Marta SlávikováAv The Slovak Spectator

In addition to a hike or a cable-car ride up to Chopok peak, visitors to the ski resort Jasná, Liptov region, can meet Wallachian sheep and take a wild ride in a mountain cart down the hill. Host: Peter Dlhopolec Guests: Jiří Trumpeš, Veronika TabačkováAv The Slovak Spectator

We spent a day in the resort town of Terchová, hometown of Slovakia’s national hero and source of many hiking trails. Host: Peter Dlhopolec Guest: Ivana AdžićAv The Slovak Spectator

Svidník, a town in eastern Slovakia known for its military history, is home to the country’s oldest ethnic museum, the Museum of Ukrainian Culture. Explore the museum with Miriam Božíková who works at the cultural institution. Presenter: Peter Dlhopolec Music: Ukrainian folk songsAv The Slovak Spectator

Bratislava-based Teheran-born comedian Nastaran "Nasi" Alaghmandan Motlagh, who will host events at the upcoming fjúžn festival in Bratislava, is the latest guest on the Spectacular Slovakia podcast.Av The Slovak Spectator

In the final episode of this summer series, we will immerse ourselves in exploring Žilina, rafting the Váh river, and hiking some of the most beautiful peaks in Slovakia. Presenter: Peter DlhopolecGuests: Ivan the rafter, David Cartwright, Róbert HlaváčAv The Slovak Spectator

A Dutch couple always wanted to have their own farm. What is impossible in the Netherlands, they accomplished near Krupina.Av The Slovak Spectator

In addition to a spa town and a Marian pilgrimage site, the quaint Čičmany village can be found in the Rajec region. Presenter: Peter Dlhopolec Guests: Jean Gâteau, Juraj KudjakAv The Slovak Spectator

The region is known for Orava Castle. But have you gone on a cruise in Námestovo or tasted some scrumptious ice cream in Dolný Kubín? Presenter: Peter Dlhopolec Guest: Vladimír Klocok, Tamari Mikatsadze, Tatia Basilaia, Jozef FerenčíkAv The Slovak Spectator

The Kysuce region is a quintessential Slovak region, with quaint hilltop villages and plenty of adventures to offer. Presenter: Peter Dlhopolec Guests: Mirka Petríková, Avuzwa Ngubo, Pedro Viola de AbreuAv The Slovak Spectator

The Liptov region is a great holiday destination that is not just about Tatralandia, Jasná and Vlkolínec, although they are also worth a visit. Presenter: Peter Dlhopolec Guests: Linda Šimunová, Zuzana Trnovská, Gerdi VanfleterenAv The Slovak Spectator

Peter expands his textbook knowledge about the Turiec region. He talks to three people who know the region quite well: Zuzana, Stanislava and Scott.Av The Slovak Spectator

For American Jeremy Hill, his number one enemy in Slovakia has always been winter. He’s not a fan of the bitter cold and after the holidays, this “vegetarian with a sensitive tummy” usually requires some medical assistance… and a stool sample. Listen as he recalls with a mixture of shame and amusement the day he presented a Slovak nurse with a stoo…

Listen to Jeremy Hill recount his very first Christmas in Slovakia, when he rediscovered the healing magic of the holiday season.Av The Slovak Spectator

Austrian Ambassador Margit Bruck-Friedrich on why she loves Bratislava and what to not miss out on in surrounding towns. Presenter: Peter Dlhopolec Photo: TASRAv The Slovak Spectator

Japanese Ambassador Makoto Nakagawa is here to talk about his hobbies - biking and birdwatching - in Bratislava. Plus, it's time to compare capital cities again. Presenter: Peter Dlhopolec Photo: TASRAv The Slovak Spectator

Israeli Ambassador Boaz Modai shares his views on Bratislava and talks about the city's Jewish heritage. Presenter: Peter Dlhopolec Photo: TASRAv The Slovak Spectator

Swiss Ambassador Alexander Hoffet on where in Bratislava he walks his dog, favourite spots, and Bratislava rolls. Presenter: Peter Dlhopolec Photo: TASRAv The Slovak Spectator

Ambassador Barbara Wolf talks about German presence and her favourite places in Pressburg, as Bratislava was referred to in days of old. Presenter: Peter Dlhopolec Photo: TASRAv The Slovak Spectator

Spectacular Slovakia meets Dutch Ambassador Henk Cor van der Kwast in Danubiana to talk art, classical music, cycling and tulips. Presenter: Peter DlhopolecPhoto: TASRAv The Slovak Spectator

Canada’s Chargé d’affaires John von Kaufmann has learnt a lot about Slovak history. Moreover, in Bratislava, he discovered a nudist beach and a farmers’ market by accident. How’s life in the capital going for him? Presenter: Peter Dlhopolec Photo: TASRAv The Slovak Spectator

In 1993, Nigel Baker found himself in Bratislava for the first time. What does the British ambassador recall from the old times? Presenter: Peter Dlhopolec Photo: TASRAv The Slovak Spectator

Bridget Brink, US Ambassador to Slovakia, considers the country and Bratislava fantastic places to live in. Why does she think that Bratislava and D.C. are quite similar? Presenter: Peter Dlhopolec Photo: TASRAv The Slovak Spectator

Despite a bug, the [fjúžn] festival will kick off on September the 18th. Nina Galanská and Kristína Hamárová of Milan Šimečka Foundation will guide you through the week-long event.Av The Slovak Spectator

Hilda Ó Riain, Ambassador of Ireland to Slovakia, reveals where in Bratislava you can often meet her and what she loves about the city. She even provides a short Irish language class. Photo: TASR Presenter: Peter DlhopolecAv The Slovak Spectator

Get your pen and paper ready before you set off on a trip around Slovakia. Presenter: Peter DlhopolecAv The Slovak Spectator

American musician Francisco Mejia talks about his debut album 'Ghost Sex Empire' and how his dream of becoming a musician was finally realised. Presenter: Peter DlhopolecAv The Slovak Spectator

Stay home, stay safe. It is time to have some fun in our virtual quiz club. Are you ready to play? Presenter: Peter DlhopolecAv The Slovak Spectator

It is not only a furniture museum. The well-preserved fortress, hidden in the Small Carpathians, is home to a replica of Madonna of Bruges and breathtakingly huge cellars. Explore this covert and cozy place with Englishman James Thompson. Presenter: Peter DlhopolecAv The Slovak Spectator

Peter chats to Michal Kaščák, Pohoda Festival founder, about what will follow after the festival was postponed to 2021 due to COVID-19.Av The Slovak Spectator

Ecuadorian Jorge Mancero, who is helping a community in northern Slovakia, sat down with Peter to talk about Čadca, Slovakia and Ecuador. Presenter: Peter DlhopolecAv The Slovak Spectator

The former royal town, Pukanec, has a rich history of mining, pottery and growing vines. But the story of Samko Šikeť of Pukanec is a whole new story. Presenter: Anna Fay Guest: Peter DlhopolecAv The Slovak Spectator

Spectacular Slovakia welcomes back Sergei (Russia) and Ingeborg (Norway), who live in Košice. This time, they will take listeners to the Belianske Tatry mountain range. Presenter: Peter DlhopolecAv The Slovak Spectator

Volunteers Suna Uzun from Turkey and Sebastian Pellizzari from Austria talk about one of their first hikes in Slovakia. Did they find any gold at the top of Veľký Rozsutec in the national park Malá Fatra? Presenter: Peter DlhopolecAv The Slovak Spectator

Súľovské skaly, or the Súľov Rocks, are must-climb mountains for everyone as they offer much more than a hiking experience. Presenters: Anna Fay, Peter DlhopolecAv The Slovak Spectator

Anna and Peter talk about hiking Šíp peak, or Arrow peak in English, located in northern Slovakia. It’s time to pack up and seek out an adventure in the hills. Presenters: Anna Fay, Peter DlhopolecAv The Slovak Spectator

People in Slovakia are often inconvenienced by delayed trains and buses, but Briton Graham Strouts managed to avoid wasted hours at the train station by cycling all the way from Spain to Slovakia. Find out how he managed to cycle such a long way and what ultimately brought him to Bratislava, a place he has called home for over two years now, on thi…

Ingeborg Jørgensen and Sergei Batiashov reveal what their life in the capital of eastern Slovakia has been like in the last three years, what to do in Košice, and where to go. Presenter: Peter DlhopolecAv The Slovak Spectator

Spectacular Slovakia sets out on a trip to Banská Štiavnica to relive an actual love story. Listen to how a bank, without money but filled with love boxes, preserves the old love story of Andrej Sládkovič and Marína Pišlová. Guest: Katarína Javorská Presenter: Peter DlhopolecAv The Slovak Spectator

What would MasterChef judges say if they were served pampúchy? Peter has finally learned how to make Slovak doughnuts thanks to his grandma. Guest: Ľudmila Kučerová Presenter: Peter DlhopolecAv The Slovak Spectator

Spectacular Slovakia will take you for a walk near Bratislava in the first episode of 2020. Have a listen to learn more about two hills, Malá Baňa (Small Mine) and Veľká Baňa (Big Mine), and how to get there. Presenter: Peter Dlhopolec Guest: Ľubo Mäkký (Hiking.sk)Map Guide: https://mapy.hiking.sk/?trasa=kpI23…

The Spectacular Slovakia podcast will return with its first episode of 2020 on January 29. Get your candle ready. Why? Anna and Peter will explain in the teaser.Av The Slovak Spectator

Listen to the last and festive Spectacular Slovakia episode of 2019. Peter will take you on a tour of Slovak Christmas traditions with help of Viktória, Janka, Katka, Alžbetka and Marek – five students from the Lutheran Grammar School in Bratislava. Sing along to some Slovak carols featured in the podcast. Veselé Vianoce and Happy 2020! Photo: TASR…

Anna and Peter discover more spellbinding and unknown facts about Bratislava in this episode. Join them and you will learn why beer has long been considered liquid bread. Photo: TASR Book: Po stopách dávnej Bratislavy by V. TomčíkAv The Slovak Spectator