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. 5d ago

    28 years in Slovakia. Sort of fluent. But can I speak Czech? | Blorecast #33

    After nearly three decades of learning Slovak, you might think that understanding Czech would be easy. Czech and Slovak are famously similar — so why can I still get completely lost in a five-minute Czech phone call? In this episode of the Blorecast, I look at my very strange relationship with the Czech language: from my first exposure to Czech at university and then on Slovak television, through years of increasingly irrational frustration, to finally deciding that perhaps I should perhaps get over myself. I talk about Czech vs Slovak, how mutually intelligible the two languages really are, why exposure matters, and why Slovaks who grew up watching Czech television and cartoons often have a very different experience of Czech from someone like me. Along the way, there are Czech pronunciation nightmares, Czech car vocabulary, the famous ř sound, strč prst skrz krk, Prague’s metro announcements, Petr Novotný’s pepř a sůl, Karel Gott, Tři oříšky pro Popelku, and the Czech words that I increasingly find rather wonderful. So, after 28 years in Slovakia, can I speak Czech? Well… no. But I can sing it. ⸻ Chapters 00:00 Can I speak Czech? 01:40 My Slovak isn’t perfect either 03:03 My first encounters with Czech 04:06 Czech on Slovak television 04:44 The terrifying Czech ř 05:41 The greatest dad joke in the world 06:08 Slovak vs Czech exposure 07:03 My first trip to the Czech Republic 07:28 The tomato soup problem 08:35 Czech on the telephone 09:50 My Czech–Slovak grudge 10:11 The Quora Incident 10:49 The uncanny similarity of Slovakia and Scotland 11:35 Why I finally got over myself 12:20 Learning Czech with Duolingo 13:19 The lovely sounds of Slovak and Czech 13:58 Can I fool a Czech person? 14:43 Outtakes Are Czech and Slovak really mutually intelligible? How much Czech can a Slovak understand? And what about the other way round? Let me know what you think in the comments. If you enjoyed this video, subscribe to the Blorecast so you don’t miss the next one. The previous video featuring me speaking Slovak: https://youtu.be/p_tZ1uKeNvc #Czech #Slovak #CzechLanguage #SlovakLanguage #CzechVsSlovak #LearnCzech #Slovakia #Blorecast ⸻ 📺 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/ ⸻ Picture Attributions Most of the photos I use are from Wikipedia or they are my own. As the number of characters in these descriptions is limited, I've decided to start keeping a full list here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vR6mYAXFBibF92HMHRMsuJkiHPqas5Fm-KBQA-_7pnn4mFYc3-rXmZdaS3dNlvhnQPh5Jh-bh9sijT7/pub ⸻ Music Our theme tune is Ode to Joy – Heavy Edition, written specially for us by the most excellent dafteaux: https://youtu.be/rU6nLowrtmE And the new funky beats are from here: https://samplefocus.com/samples/acoustic-rolling-drum-loop-cool-beat

  2. Sep 7

    Can I Do a Whole Video in Slovak? 🇸🇰 | Blorecast #32

    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’s favourite myths: is British food really that bad? In this video, I speak Slovak (well… mostly Slovak!) while talking about: 🇬🇧 traditional British foods that deserve more respect 🇸🇰 what Slovakia does differently with food culture 🥔 Slovak zemiaky v pahrebe vs British baked potatoes 🍽️ why traditional food survives better in some countries 🌭 sausages, gravy, baked beans, and other food debates from the comments After 28 years living in Slovakia, I’ve learned that you can genuinely love the food of the country where you live while still missing the flavours you grew up with. A huge thank you to everyone who commented on my previous Slovak food videos — your corrections, suggestions and stories made this episode possible. Chapters: 00:00 The Slovak challenge 01:10 The Slovak Begins 01:39 Defending traditional British food 02:19 Some things you just have to grow up with 02:44 Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) 03:31 The real problem with British food 04:00 Slovak baked potatoes: zemiaky v pahrebe 05:12 Food traditions and why they matter 06:01 Back to English: corrections from the last food video 08:06 Final thoughts If you enjoyed this video, let me know: What food from another country have you fallen in love with? And please be kind with my Slovak corrections! 😄 Rasty's Deli and Butchery https://rastys.sk/product-category/breakfast-sausages/ 🇸🇰🇬🇧 More food from The Blorecast: 10 Slovaks Foods I Love https://youtu.be/Sp0uE2P1eN0 10 Unwritten Rules of Slovak Food https://youtu.be/r1zkxy8A-Sc #Slovakia #SlovakLanguage #BritishFood #LivingInSlovakia #LearnSlovak #SlovakCulture ⸻ 📺 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/ ⸻ Picture Attributions Most of the photos I use are from Wikipedia or they are my own. As the number of characters in these descriptions is limited, I've decided to start keeping a full list here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vR6mYAXFBibF92HMHRMsuJkiHPqas5Fm-KBQA-_7pnn4mFYc3-rXmZdaS3dNlvhnQPh5Jh-bh9sijT7/pub ⸻ Music Our theme tune is Ode to Joy – Heavy Edition, written specially for us by the most excellent dafteaux: https://youtu.be/rU6nLowrtmE And the new funky beats are from here: https://samplefocus.com/samples/acoustic-rolling-drum-loop-cool-beat

  3. Sep 6

    10 Unwritten Rules of Slovak Food (After 30 Years, I've Finally Cracked Them) | Blorecast #31

    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 about Slovakia's relationship with potatoes. 🕒 Video Chapters: 0:00 Intro 0:22 Recap: soup, sweet lunches, and why one carb is never enough 2:03 The great pastry-and-meat challenge — results 4:22 Sweet things stay sweet in Slovakia 5:19 Savoury breakfasts vs British cereal culture 7:04 What makes a "real" sausage 8:10 Green might not be mint 8:29 The great cabbage obsession 8:56 Gravy & custard: the sauces Slovakia never needed 10:27 The biggest mystery in Slovak cuisine If you're British, Slovak, or just someone who loves comparing food cultures, I think you'll enjoy this one. Let me know in the comments if I got anything wrong — or if you can solve the potato mystery at the end. 🇸🇰🇬🇧 More from The Blorecast: 10 Slovaks Foods I Love https://youtu.be/Sp0uE2P1eN0 #SlovakFood #Slovakia #BritishFood #FoodCulture #ExpatLife #Kosice #Blorecast ⸻ 📺 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/ ⸻ Picture Attributions Most of the photos I use are from Wikipedia or they are my own. As the number of characters in these descriptions is limited, I've decided to start keeping a full list here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vR6mYAXFBibF92HMHRMsuJkiHPqas5Fm-KBQA-_7pnn4mFYc3-rXmZdaS3dNlvhnQPh5Jh-bh9sijT7/pub ⸻ Music Our theme tune is Ode to Joy – Heavy Edition, written specially for us by the most excellent dafteaux: https://youtu.be/rU6nLowrtmE And the new funky beats are from here: https://samplefocus.com/samples/acoustic-rolling-drum-loop-cool-beat And the inspirational music is this: –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Music: Exalted by Aylex https://soundcloud.com/alexproductionsmusic License: https://freetouse.com/license Free Download / Stream: https://links.al/fXh Music promoted by Audio Library: https://links.al/youtube ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

  4. Sep 5

    10 Slovak Foods I Love and 4.5 That Broke Me: How I Became Slightly Slovak | Blorecast #30

    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 lunch" (sladký obed) and the infamous "fish yogurt" known as Treska. Slovakia sits at an incredible culinary crossroads of Hungarian, Czech, Austrian, and Polish traditions, creating a hearty, peasant-logic diet built for long winters and hard farm work. 🚨 MY CHALLENGE TO THE COMMENTS: Why does Slovak cuisine completely avoid meat wrapped in pastry? No meat pies, no sausage rolls, no pasties! If you know of a true Slovak meat-in-pastry exception that proves me wrong, drop it in the comments below! (And no, pagáče do not count!) Don't forget to like, subscribe, and tell me your favorite comfort dish! 🕒 Video Chapters: 0:00 - The Ultimate Multi-Carb Approach to Life 0:31 - Where Am I, Exactly? (A Culinary Geography Note) 1:36 - 1. Párky & 2. Fresh Slovak Bread (The Saturday Ritual) 2:43 - 3. Turecká Káva (Honourable Mention: Parenica & Tatárska) 4:58 - 4. Thick Soups & 5. Schnitzels (Plutonium-Dense Comfort Food) 5:17 - 6. Zemiakové Placky, Lokše & Langoš (Say No to Ketchup!) 6:39 - 7. Granadiersky Pochod (Pure Peasant Logic) 7:09 - 8. Hovädzí Vrabec (The Czech Pub Classic) 7:41 - 9. Bryndzové Halušky & Pirohy (& The Sweet Lunch Problem) 8:51 - 10. Medové Rezy (Honourable Mention: Pečené Buchty) 9:32 - The 4.5 Monstrosities That Broke Me: The Sours 10:30 - The Mayonnaise Salads & The Treska Experience 11:23 - Huspenina: The Silver Cloche Tragedy 12:04 - Chicken Diana & Držková Soup 12:41 - The Missing Link: Where is the Meat Pastry? 13:37 - The Logic, the Zabíjačka & How I Became Slightly Slovak ⸻ #SlovakFood #LifeInSlovakia #Slovensko #Blorecast #Halusky #Treska #FoodReview #SlovakCulture ⸻ 📺 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 Most of the photos I use are from Wikipedia or they are my own. As the number of characters in these descriptions is limited, I've decided to start keeping a full list here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vR6mYAXFBibF92HMHRMsuJkiHPqas5Fm-KBQA-_7pnn4mFYc3-rXmZdaS3dNlvhnQPh5Jh-bh9sijT7/pub ⸻ Music Our theme tune is Ode to Joy – Heavy Edition, written specially for us by the most excellent dafteaux: https://youtu.be/rU6nLowrtmE And the new funky beats are from here: https://samplefocus.com/samples/acoustic-rolling-drum-loop-cool-beat

  5. Jun 10

    Why Smart People Believe Dumb Things | Blorecast 29

    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 institutional distrust, education, fatalism, David Icke, Soňa Peková and Peter Kotlár, this is an attempt to understand not why Slovaks are irrational, but why human beings are. 📌 Chapters 00:00 Quiz: Common Beliefs 00:41 The answers 02:12 Received wisdom 02:24 The Three Frozen Men (Traja zmrznutí muži) 03:34 Cold drinks and sore throats 04:24 The meningitis scare 05:11 Phenylephrine, supplements and smart consumers 06:19 Our cognitive operating system 07:16 The lure of simple stories 07:55 The Slovak Localisation 08:45 Old Magic 10:37 Who Do You Trust? 12:39 Come Flies, East Me 15:03 David Icke and Soňa Peková 17:13 Glass Houses: Britain, conspiracy thinking and Nigel Farage 19:20 Outro Sources and further reading: • GLOBSEC 2020 https://www.globsec.org/what-we-do/publications/voices-central-and-eastern-europe-perceptions-democracy-governance-10-eu https://www.globsec.org/what-we-do/publications/perception-democracy-and-conspiracies-slovakia • European Social Survey (ESS) https://ess.sikt.no/en/datafile/f37d014a-6958-42d4-b03b-17c29e481d3d?tab=1&elems=ef74b26c-f25a-4922-ba98-01764aca7c1d • YouGov https://yougov.com/en-gb/articles/33746-global-where-believe-conspiracy-theories-true • Cochrane Review Vitamin C for preventing and treating the common cold https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD000980.pub4/full?highlightAbstract=vitamin%7Cc • Research on phenylephrine efficacy https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10730950/ • David Icke interview on Wogan (1991): https://youtu.be/ZS1dVBedfo0?si=_wC38wWKC8nBeQJJ If you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe, and join the discussion in the comments. #Slovakia #ConspiracyTheories #CriticalThinking #Psychology #Misinformation #DavidIcke #SoňaPeková #PeterKotlár #Blorecast This is the final part of a three-part arc. Here are the first two: Part I — Put Some Socks On! https://youtu.be/LiEDKykC0bQ?si=yhUG4wznHU2OunyZ Part II — The Lekáreň https://youtu.be/-IgtLxdFrJk ⸻ 🔔 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 Most of the photos I use are from Wikipedia or they are my own. As the number of characters in these descriptions is limited, I've decided to start keeping a full list here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vR6mYAXFBibF92HMHRMsuJkiHPqas5Fm-KBQA-_7pnn4mFYc3-rXmZdaS3dNlvhnQPh5Jh-bh9sijT7/pub 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

  6. May 23

    I went to a Slovak doctor... and walked out with this | Blorecast 28

    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 has treated me well for over 27 years. But there's a specific and fascinating reason why the line between conventional and alternative medicine is drawn differently here than in Britain — and it has everything to do with history. 📖 Full source list and references: https://blore.sk/en/blorecast-28-master-sources-evidence-compendium/ Part I — Slovaks vs The Cold: https://youtu.be/LiEDKykC0bQ?si=yhUG4wznHU2OunyZ Part III — [LINK when live] 🕐 CHAPTERS 00:00 The €22 Prescription [01:31] The Lekáreň — Slovakia's Favourite Shop [03:43] Not All Evidence Is Equal [04:26] The Spectrum: Magnesium [05:55] Salt and Salt Caves [07:47] Magnetic Therapy [09:21] Kosmodisk [10:27] Honey vs Calcium Syrup [11:41] Homeopathy [12:57] Why the System Works This Way [14:44] The Irony #Slovakia #SlovakCulture #BritishInSlovakia #ExpatLife #Košice #Lekáreň #AlternativeMedicine #Homeopathy #SlovakMedicine #BritishExpat #LearnSlovak #CentralEurope ⸻ 🔔 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 Rod of Asclepius (thumbnail): https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Esclapius_stick_1.svg Maps: Mapy.com (Kosice and Aberdeen) Halotherapy: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Halotherapy_Spain_.jpg Hospital Magnets: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Neuro-ms.png Kosmodisk online: https://www.lekarnicka.sk/rehabilitacne-pomocky/masazne-pristroje/Kosmodisk-Classic Homeopathy bottles: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Homeopathy#/media/File:Homeopathic332.JPG Homeopathy sugar pills: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Homeopathy_globules.jpg Crystal Healing: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:John_Dee%27s_crystal,_used_for_clairvoyance_%26_healing,_17th_C_Wellcome_M0019989.jpgAromatherapy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Aromatas.JPG Holland & Barrett: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Holland_%26_Barrett.jpg Covid vaccine: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pfizer-BioNTech_COVID-19_vaccine_%282020%29_E.jpg Boiron Revenue: https://www.reuters.com/markets/companies/BOIR.PA/financials/income-annual The original studies referenced in the video can be found here: https://blore.sk/en/blorecast-28-master-sources-evidence-compendium/ Other photos are James's own (all rights reserved). 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

  7. May 23

    Why Slovaks Fear The Cold | Blorecast 27

    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. 🧦 Wear some bloody socks! Chapters: 0:00 Chladená alebo nechladená? 0:44 Pranostiky: Slovakia's calendar of cold 2:27 The prievan: the silent killer 6:39 The thermostat, the aircon, and the sauna paradox 9:52 Socks, hats, and the months with an R 12:51 Cold drinks and sore throats 14:05 What's really going on? 15:17 Outro ⸻ 🔔 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 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Europe_blank_map_with_Kosovo.png https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Panel%C3%A1ky.jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bc105_thermostat_front_view.png https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sauna_2.jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Zamrznut%C3%A1_vodn%C3%A1_n%C3%A1dr%C5%BE_Sigord,_Koko%C5%A1ovce_25_Slovakia_12.jpg https://libreshot.com/legs-in-cold-water/ by https://martinvorel.com/ Microwave Ping: https://pixabay.com/sound-effects/household-microwave-ding-104123/ Scream: https://pixabay.com/sound-effects/film-special-effects-cartoon-scream-1-6835/ Other photos are James's own (all rights reserved). 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

  8. Apr 19

    Why I smuggled 480 tea bags into Slovakia | Blorecast 25

    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 ⸻ ⏱️ Chapters 00:00:00 – A Nightmare in Slovakia: No More Tea 00:00:08 – “Dust and Broken Dreams” 00:00:12 – The Widnes Yorkshire Tea Story 00:00:54 – A Personal Connection to Tea 00:01:51 – What Do Brits Mean by “Tea”? 00:02:49 – The Arrival of Tea in Britain 00:03:17 – Tea vs Coffee: The Battle for Britain 00:04:00 – Assam Tea and Why Brits Add Milk 00:05:34 – The Industrial Revolution and the Rise of Tea 00:06:00 – Why Slovakia Is Different 00:07:03 – Coffee Culture and the Habsburg Legacy 00:07:35 – Turecká Káva and Socialist-Era Coffee 00:09:00 – Trying to Find Proper Tea in Slovakia 00:10:39 – George Orwell’s Rules for Making Tea 00:11:06 – My Controversial Tea-Making Method 00:12:23 – Tea, Culture, and National Identity 00:13:08 – Final Thoughts and Conclusion 00:13:35 – 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/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 Horror 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.jpg UK Coffee House: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Interior_of_a_London_Coffee-house,_17th_centuryFXD.jpg Oxford: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:High_Street_Oxford_Queens_College.jpg Tea Routes: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4d/Whole_world_-_land_and_oceans.jpg Cargo Ship: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3a/Francis_Holman_%281729-1784%29_-_The_Indiaman_%27Withywood%27_-_BHC3730_-_Royal_Museums_Greenwich.jpg Assam: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/34/Assam_in_India.png https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Zones_de_th%C3%A9iculture_de_l%27Assam,_1873.jpg Assam Tea: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Assam-Tee_SFTGFOP1.jpg Assam Tea Plantation: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/be/Tea_Plantation_and_workers_in_Assam_01.jpg https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a5/Tea_Plantation_and_workers_in_Assam_02.jpg https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/79/Tea_Plantation_and_workers_in_Assam_03.jpg Tannic Acid: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tannic_acid.svg Indian Chai: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3b/Indian_chai_tea_-_Haridwar_-_India.jpg https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6a/The_soothing_Indian_Chai.jpg Industrial Revolution: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1e/MandK_Industrial_Revolution_1900.jpg https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/77/The_St._James%27s_magazine_and_United_Empire_review_%281871%29_%2814755278706%29.jpg Červený Kláštor monastery: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%C4%8Cerven%C3%BD_Kl%C3%A1%C5%A1tor_monastery,_20210807_0849_1378.jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%C4%8Cerven%C3%BD_Kl%C3%A1%C5%A1tor,_House_of_Camaldul_Monks,_20210807_0927_1497.jpg Vienna Cafe: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/da/Caf%C3%A9_Griensteidl_Wien.jpg Vienna Cafe (inside): https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cafe-Griensteidl-1896.jpg Microwave Ping: https://pixabay.com/sound-effects/household-microwave-ding-104123/ Drake Meme: https://imgflip.com/i/apbrtd?herp=1776329571625 Orwell Photo: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:George-orwell-BBC.jpg Orwell's A Nice Cup of Tea: https://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks03/0300011h.html#part35 ⸻ Music Our theme tune is Ode to Joy – Heavy Edition, written specially for us by the most excellent dafteaux: https://youtu.be/rU6nLowrtmE And the new funky beats are from here: https://samplefocus.com/samples/acoustic-rolling-drum-loop-cool-beat

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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
    33
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 James Blore
  • Show Website
    The Blorecast