The Blorecast

James Blore
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  • LANGUAGE LEARNING

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 Maturita and Cambridge), explores the challenges of learning English in Slovakia, and shares tips for building confidence in speaking, grammar, and vocabulary. Along the way, James draws on more than 25 years of teaching experience, life in Slovakia, and his passion for storytelling, board games, and more. Whether you are a student preparing for exams, a teacher looking for classroom inspiration, or simply someone who loves the English language, The Blorecast offers a fresh, entertaining, and educational perspective. 👉 Listen now and join our growing community of learners and teachers at blore.sk

  1. 30 JAN

    Why American Healthcare Sounds So Strange to Europeans | Blorecast 17

    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, real-life examples, and outcomes. This isn’t about attacking America. It’s about understanding why two wealthy, democratic societies ended up with such different systems — and what Europeans risk losing if we stop valuing what we already have. 00:00 Intro 01:40 American exceptionalism 02:30 How other systems work 03:21 How it works in America 05:19 The catch 06:28 Real examples 08:28 The uninsured 10:15 Cost and outcomes 11:07 Who profits? 12:04 “Socialism” as a narrative device 13:35 Freedom and control 14:44 Conclusion 16:44 Terrible impression ⸻ 📊 Sources: • US: https://www.healthsystemtracker.org/chart-collection/u-s-spending-healthcare-changed-time/ • Slovakia: https://www.oecd.org/content/dam/oecd/en/publications/reports/2025/12/country-health-profile-2025-country-notes_7e72146d/slovak-republic_a9b397e5/02c29a7f-en.pdf • UK: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/healthcaresystem/bulletins/ukhealthaccounts/2023and2024 All: https://ourworldindata.org/financing-healthcare ⸻ 🔔 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/ ⸻ 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/

    17 min

  2. 11 JAN

    5 Ways Slovakia Wins: Listener Feedback | Blorecast Episode 16

    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 real-life repair stories • Multilingualism, dialects, and a controversial language quote • Name days and traditions • Food quality and processed food • Nature in Slovakia vs the UK — and why people disagree This episode is about cultural comparison without hostility, and why good discussion matters. 💬 Which translation of the language quote do you prefer — and does the attribution matter? 👍 Like, subscribe, and share if you enjoy thoughtful takes on language, culture, and life in Slovakia. ⸻ 🔔 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. ⸻ #Slovakia #UK #ExpatLife #LivingAbroad #CultureComparison #FoodCulture #Nature #Multilingualism #CentralEurope #BritsAbroad ⸻ 📺 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/ ⸻ Photos used for the thumbnail and interstitials: Jastrabia veža (I think), https://www.vecteezy.com/free-photos/stone View of the Cheshire Countryside from Beeston Castle, https://www.vecteezy.com/free-photos/british-countryside Masaryk photo: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tom%C3%A1%C5%A1_Garrigue_Masaryk_1925.PNG 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/

    15 min

  3. 4 JAN

    Five ways Slovakia is definitely better than the UK | Blorecast Episode 15

    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 salaries, healthcare, or history are simple What’s left are five areas where Slovakia really does have an edge — based on lived experience, culture, data, and everyday life. This episode covers: • Why Slovaks are often more practical and pragmatic • How Slovakia became quietly multilingual • Why traditions are still lived, not just performed • How Slovak food culture avoids the worst of ultra-processed diets • And why nature, forests, and mountains are Slovakia’s greatest advantage This isn’t about claiming Slovakia is perfect. And it’s definitely not about saying the UK is awful. It’s about noticing what works — and what we might lose if we’re not paying attention. ⸻ ⏱ Chapters 00:00 Intro 00:42 The Rules 01:49 #5 Practicality & Pragmatism 03:34 #4 Multilingualism 05:56 #3 Traditions 07:50 #2 Food 09:43 #1 Nature 12:05 Outro ⸻ 💬 Join the conversation Have you lived in Slovakia, the UK, or both? Do you agree — or am I talking complete nonsense? Leave a comment — I read them all, and I often feature viewer responses in future episodes. ⸻ 🔔 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. ⸻ #Slovakia #UK #ExpatLife #LivingAbroad #CultureComparison #FoodCulture #Nature #Multilingualism #CentralEurope #BritsAbroad ⸻ 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/ ⸻ Photos used for the thumbnail and interstitials: Jastrabia veža (I think), https://www.vecteezy.com/free-photos/stone View of the Cheshire Countryside from Beeston Castle, https://www.vecteezy.com/free-photos/british-countryside EU flag: www.vecteezy.com/video/36025113-european-union-waving-flag-realistic-flag-animation-seamless-loop-background Masaryk photo: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tom%C3%A1%C5%A1_Garrigue_Masaryk_1925.PNG Morena: Jaroslav Moravcik - stock.adobe.com 605763679 a 497770811 Folk dancing: kviktor - stock.adobe.com 76542936 Morris Dancers: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Morris_Dancers,_York_(26579460201).jpg Infographic adapted from here: https://slidesgo.com/theme/visual-comparison-infographics All other photos (and the wood warbler video) are mine. 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...

    14 min

  4. 24/12/2025

    Slovak vs UK Christmas | Blorecast Episode 14

    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 roundsThe Christmas build-upDecorationsChristmas marketsTimingStartersMain coursesDessertsTraditionsTVThe Dude #ukchristmas #vianoce #slovakiaculture #christmastraditions #fatherchristmas #christmasfood #livinginslovakia 🔔 Subscribe for regular Blorecast episodes on culture, life in Slovakia, and a bit of humor along the way! ⸻ 🎧 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 ⸻ 🌍 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. ⸻ Jingle Sound Effect from https://pixabay.com/users/dragon-studio-38165424/ Our theme tune is Ode to Joy – Heavy Edition, written specially for us by the most excellent dafteaux: https://youtu.be/rU6nLowrtmE

    11 min

  5. 05/12/2025

    Is Slovakia a Safe Country? My 27-Year Experience | Blorecast Episode 13

    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 Whether you’re planning to move to Slovakia, travel here, or are just curious about life in Central Europe, this episode will give you insights you won’t find in guidebooks. 🔔 Subscribe for regular Blorecast episodes on culture, life in Slovakia, and a bit of humor along the way! #slovakia #safety #livinginslovakia #Blorecast #JamesBlore #movingtoSlovakia #Slovakiatraveltips ⸻ 🎧 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 ⸻ 🌍 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. ⸻ 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/ Our theme tune is Ode to Joy – Heavy Edition, written specially for us by the most excellent dafteaux: https://youtu.be/rU6nLowrtmE

    11 min

  6. 30/11/2025

    Blorecast Episode 12 - This is the News - Podcast for English Learners

    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’t political analysis — it’s a friendly monthly news summary, told from the perspective of someone living in Slovakia who remembers what it was like to have no idea what was going on. If you’re a foreign student in Košice, an expat anywhere in Slovakia, or simply someone learning English or Slovak, this episode should help you keep up with what’s happening. If you’re new here: The Blorecast is a weekly podcast about Slovak culture, British culture, language, food, and life in Eastern Slovakia — with the occasional news breakdown to help non-Slovaks understand what’s going on. Let me know in the comments: Would you like a monthly English-language summary of Slovak news? 👉 Subscribe for more (language, culture, food, politics-lite). 👉 Like, share, and ring the bell — it really helps the channel! #slovakia #kosice #slovaknews #internationalstudents #slovenskopolitika #blorecast #englishpodcast #slovakiaculture #velvetrevolution ⸻ 🎧 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 ⸻ 🌍 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. ⸻ 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/ Our theme tune is Ode to Joy – Heavy Edition, written specially for us by the most excellent dafteaux: https://youtu.be/rU6nLowrtmE Thumbnail image adapted from DC Studio on Freepik: https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/journalist-talks-about-news-segment_134858590.htm

    12 min

  7. 19/11/2025

    Blorecast Episode 11 - Andy's Back - Podcast for English Learners

    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 with stories, cultural insights, language quirks, and plenty of laughs: 👉 Have a question for Andy or me? Leave a comment or find all the contact links below. 🎧 Watch More Blore – my new video series on UK–Slovakia culture https://youtu.be/nJhGT70BRyY?si=LVHKL2CLLvLCOOEX 📩 Website • Email • YouTube • Facebook — all links below #Slovakia #BritishInSlovakia #SlovakCulture #TykanieVykanie #SlovakLanguage #Slovensko #BritishPodcast #CulturalDifferences ⸻ 🎧 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 ⸻ 🌍 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. ⸻ 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/ Our theme tune is Ode to Joy – Heavy Edition, written specially for us by the most excellent dafteaux: https://youtu.be/rU6nLowrtmE

    17 min

  8. 12/11/2025

    Blorecast Episode 10 - The Shopping - Podcast for English Learners

    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 I think Lidl’s new “quiet hour” for autistic shoppers is one of the best ideas I’ve seen in Slovakia. 🔗 https://www.noviny.sk/slovensko/1119735-slovensky-retazec-zavadza-tichu-hodinku-ludia-s-autizmom-budu-moct-nakupovat-bez-hudby 🎧 Listen for reflections on food, memory, and culture — and stick around to hear about my new side project More Blore, where British and Slovak foods go head-to-head in a series called Food Fight! ⸻ 🎧 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 ⸻ 🌍 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. ⸻ 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/ Our theme tune is Ode to Joy – Heavy Edition, written specially for us by the most excellent dafteaux: https://youtu.be/rU6nLowrtmE

    10 min
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About

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 Maturita and Cambridge), explores the challenges of learning English in Slovakia, and shares tips for building confidence in speaking, grammar, and vocabulary. Along the way, James draws on more than 25 years of teaching experience, life in Slovakia, and his passion for storytelling, board games, and more. Whether you are a student preparing for exams, a teacher looking for classroom inspiration, or simply someone who loves the English language, The Blorecast offers a fresh, entertaining, and educational perspective. 👉 Listen now and join our growing community of learners and teachers at blore.sk

Information

  • Creator
    James Blore
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    18
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 James Blore
  • Show Website
    The Blorecast