Épisodes

  • 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
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    14 min
  • 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
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    16 min
  • 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
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    15 min
  • 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
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    15 min
  • 🔥 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/
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    9 min
  • 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/
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    14 min
  • When is a potato not a potato? | Blorecast 19

    When is a potato not a potato? | Blorecast 19
    Feb 21 2026

    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 approach to dialect with the UK’s evolving embrace of regional accents across the BBC and popular culture, from Peaky Blinders and EastEnders to The Royle Family and Taggart — and figures like Paddy McGuinness.

    This is a discussion about:

    • Slovak dialects and regional speech

    • Standardisation vs linguistic diversity

    • Language and national identity

    • Accent adaptation and belonging

    • Why dialect words for “potato” tell a deeper story

    Are Slovak dialects disappearing?

    Or simply growing quieter?

    Let me know in the comments:

    • What do you call potatoes where you’re from?

    • Do you still use your local dialect?

    • Is standardisation protection — or loss?

    ⸻

    Chapters

    00:00 Potatoes and belonging

    00:50 When is a potato not a potato?

    01:44 Bun, bap, cob: UK regional words

    02:09 Northern vowels & losing an accent

    02:52 “Buns?” — adapting for my mum

    03:42 Slovak word stress: NEmocnica vs nemocNIca

    04:19 Dialect as identity marker

    04:50 The history of Slovak words for potato

    06:30 Media, accents & diversity in the UK

    07:38 Slovakia’s focus on standard language

    08:30 Why standard Slovak carries symbolic weight

    09:06 What gets lost when dialects fade

    09:33 Bandurkomán

    10:30 So when is a potato not a potato?

    11:12 The promised Slovak joke



    If you enjoy the video, don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more language adventures!



    #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.


    ⸻

    The Blorecast is also available as a podcast


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

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

    https://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/


    ⸻

    Attributions


    Bryndzové halušky: https://sk.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bryndzov%C3%A9_halu%C5%A1ky


    Buns and Baps: https://yougov.co.uk/consumer/articles/21204-cobs-buns-baps-or-barm-cakes-what-do-people-call-b


    Map of the UK: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:United_Kingdom_England_adm_location_map.svg


    Online shopping: https://groceries.morrisons.com/


    Map of Slovakia: https://sk.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%BAbor%3ATourism_regions_of_Slovakia_sk.png


    Annotated version:

    https://emefka.sk/narecove-slova-ktore-nemas-sancu-pochopit-ak-nie-si-rodakom/


    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/
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    12 min
  • How to learn Slovak (in 27 years or less) | Blorecast 18

    How to learn Slovak (in 27 years or less) | Blorecast 18
    Feb 12 2026

    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

    Whether you’re learning Slovak, interested in language humor, or just love listening to someone fumble delightfully through a foreign language, this podcast is for you!

    📌 Topics covered:

    • Slovak tongue twisters

    • Wrong numbers

    • Fantastic Slovak words

    • Tips for language learning


    If you enjoy the podcast, don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more language adventures!



    #SlovakLanguage #LearnSlovak #LanguageLearning #ExpatsInSlovakia #SlovakTongueTwisters #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/

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

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


    ⸻

    Attributions


    Declensions: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slovak_declension

    Stonechat: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_stonechat

    Skyscraper: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skyscraper

    Salamander: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salamander

    Space suit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_suit

    Hoarfrost: that one's mine

    Scaffolding: https://pixabay.com/photos/craftsmen-building-scaffold-19584/


    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/
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    9 min