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In this episode, we shine a light on people across Slovakia who are doing things differently. They are confident in their values, but they are working nonetheless to speak to people who think differently than them and understand the way they think. In a country where polarization seeps into almost everything, they are swimming against the tide.
We begin in Banská Bystrica in Central Slovakia where we meet two university students who lead an award-winning NGO, Edumacy. We then move to Trenčín in Western Slovakia to meet a political scientist who has conducted hundreds of workshops with young people with the aim of strengthening democracy and fighting extremism. We also make a brief trip to Košice to meet two women working at an NGO that advocates for Roma people living in Eastern Slovakia.
While all of my guests today work in different parts of the country and on different topics, they are united by one thing: all of them are engaged in the hard work of breaking down barriers, shaking us out of our comfortable bubbles, and challenging our complacency.
Episode breakdown:
- Intro: The danger of complacency and the importance of breaking out of neat binaries
- Segment 1: Beyond empty talking points: Bringing the EU closer to young Slovaks, with Martin Demčák and Kristína Piknová of the student NGO Edumacy in Banská Bystrica
- Segment 2: Confronting extremism through open dialogue, with political scientist Pavol Struhár in Trenčín
- Interlude: Advocating for Roma rights and centering Roma stories, with Agáta Duchoňová and Vanda Durbáková from the NGO Poradňa in Košice
- Segment 3: The dangers of mainstreaming far-right extremism, with Pavol in Trenčín
- Outro: Starting with ourselves, painful truths leaking through the cracks, and reflecting on the episode soundtrack, "Fúga"
Episode soundtrack:
"Fúga" by Besna (from their debut album Zverstvá, meaning Atrocities).
Fúga / Fugue is a word with multiple meanings: a musical form where a single voice is joined and echoed by a chorus; a psychological fugue state where we flee from reality and erect barriers against trauma; and in Slovak specifically, the narrow crack or gap between tiles or bricks.
In the context of this episode, fúga, as I interpret it, evokes the crack in the foundation through which false, comforting national narratives and ideologies pass—reminding us that when history is suppressed, painful truths still leak out through the cracks. Interpretation of the song is my own; you can check out the full lyrics in Slovak and English and reflect on them yourself. My heartfelt thanks to Besna for lending their music to the podcast. You can catch Besna on tour in Slovakia and Czechia later this fall.
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As always, you can email me with questions, reactions or to throw ideas for collaboration my way.
This episode was mastered and produced by Dávid Pál. It was written, hosted, and executive produced by me, Jeff Lugowe.
