Author | Lightnews

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Ian Willoughby @ianwilloughby.bsky.social · 9d

By the way, Zhanna said you had introduced her and Tomáš, @bijansabet.com — cool!

m.youtube.com/watch?v=Wav3...

Ian Willoughby @ianwilloughby.bsky.social · 9d

In Conversation With… Zhanna Nemtsova

YouTube video by knihovnavaclavahavla

m.youtube.com

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Ian Willoughby @ianwilloughby.bsky.social · 9d

Photos from my In Conversation With… with Zhanna Nemtsova — one of the best guests to date — at the Václav Havel Library yesterday evening.
📸 Ondřej Němec, VHL

Ian Willoughby @ianwilloughby.bsky.social · 16d

I am hosting a talk after a screening of this documentary on Friday within the Press Play Prague festival. Speakers will be RFE/RL journalists Vladyslav Yesypenko, who the film is about, and Alsu Kurmasheva, who was also imprisoned in Russia. Details: www.kinoatlaspraha.cz?program=6050

Ian Willoughby @ianwilloughby.bsky.social · 18d

My own personal moment of the day yesterday was when the host on France24 referred to my podcast! In fact the first time he mentioned it — quoting something about Babiš in an earlier interview — I was so surprised that I almost forgot what I wanted to say!

David Mareček: We want whole nation to feel part of success of Czech Philharmonic – it’s theirs too

Ian Willoughby @ianwilloughby.bsky.social · 23d

I spoke to Czech Philharmonic chief David Mareček. Why do they bother doing loss-making tours of the US? Do they feel they are competing with other European orchestras? And what's the nature of the ensemble's collaboration with The National's Bryce Dessner?
english.radio.cz/david-marece...

David Mareček, director general of the Czech Philharmonic, discusses the appointment of Jakub Hrůša as next music director, the orchestra's international standing and more.

Babiš is on track to return as Czech prime minister. The president can say ‘no.’

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Ian Willoughby @ianwilloughby.bsky.social · Sep 19

Is "the tycoon's ambiguous relationship with NATO" an actual reason Pavel may consider not appointing Babiš PM?

Surely it would actually "only" be over the Stork's Nest case and AB's ownership of Agrofert?

www.politico.eu/article/czec...

Right-wing populist Babiš is tipped to win October’s election, but the president is weighing barring him over his business interests and ambivalence toward NATO.

www.politico.eu

Česká volba: Nový lev funguje, teď ještě dořešit značku „Czechia“ - Seznam Zprávy

Ian Willoughby @ianwilloughby.bsky.social · Sep 8

I wrote a piece for Seznam Zprávy, my first, about the new official Czech logo – and efforts to promote the name Czechia.

www.seznamzpravy.cz/clanek/volby...

Vláda nedávno posvětila jednotný vizuální styl, který má zemi reprezentovat doma i v zahraničí. Je to povedený počin, teď je třeba zabrat s propagací anglického názvu země.

www.seznamzpravy.cz

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Ian Willoughby @ianwilloughby.bsky.social · Sep 6

I spoke to Czech political marketing expert Anna Shavit about electioneering this time out, her experience of working closely with Babiš when ANO were on the rise, and potential coalitions (e.g., she sees ANO-STAN as more likely than ANO-ODS). #Czechpolitics

english.radio.cz/anna-shavit-...

Anna Shavit on campaigning with early ANO, “very polarised” 2025 elections – and potential coalitions

Anna Shavit is one of Czechia’s top experts on political marketing and has herself worked on major election campaigns. So how does she see this year's campaigning?

Barbora Baronová, the “punk” publisher putting art before financial stability

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Ian Willoughby @ianwilloughby.bsky.social · Sep 2

I've just spoken to Barbora Baronová, head of Prague publishers Wo-men. Bára literally puts everything she has into the company, who publish wonderfully designed books, and this was one of the most inspiring conversations I've had in some time!

english.radio.cz/barbora-baro...

Barbora Baronová runs Wo-men, an independent publishing house based in Prague. She literally puts everything she has into the company, which is a true labour of love.

This Hotel In Prague Feels Straight Out Of A Wes Anderson Movie

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Ian Willoughby @ianwilloughby.bsky.social · Aug 29

Forbes says Prague's renovated Grand Hotel Evropa feels straight out of a Wes Anderson film. The part on Wenceslas Square certainly looks amazing but AFAIK the majority of the hotel is a new build at the back.

www.forbes.com/sites/saraht...

A historic hotel in Prague has been renovated with both historical accuracy and 21st century panache

www.forbes.com

“Top Czech influencer” Kovy on politics, marriage equality – and life beyond social media

Ian Willoughby @ianwilloughby.bsky.social · Aug 25

My latest interview is with the charming and extremely successful Karel Kovář, AKA Kovy. Our conversation takes in a LOT of subjects, including his making little videos with his grandad as a kid, marriage equality, and Czech politicians' social media "skills".

english.radio.cz/top-czech-in...

Karel Kovář, who goes by the name Kovy, is one of Czechia’s biggest social media stars. This year he reached a million subscribers on YouTube and was named top influencer.

Police vs. ravers: Šimon Šafránek on how CzechTek culminated in violence

Ian Willoughby @ianwilloughby.bsky.social · Aug 20

Today I had a great chat with Karel Kovář, AKA Kovy, influencer supreme and lovely fella. Interview coming soon on Radio Prague International!

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Ian Willoughby @ianwilloughby.bsky.social · Aug 11

I interviewed documentary maker Šimon Šafránek about his new podcast on CzechTek and how it culminated in a clash between riot police and ravers. "There was such a strong display of force against youth. And it was the first one of this size since 1989."

english.radio.cz/police-vs-ra...

Šimon Šafránek is the creator of a new podcast on CzechTek, an unauthorised techno music event that culminated in 2005 in clashes between police and participants.

Czech-Vietnamese director Dužan Duong: I’m torn between two worlds – but I use this as an advantage

Ian Willoughby @ianwilloughby.bsky.social · Jul 25

Filmmaker Dužan Duong's super debut Summer School, 2001 made a big impact at @KVIFF.

Our conversation covers everything from why Vietnamese families often send their kids to the home country for a while to a new project scheduled for release in 2030.

english.radio.cz/czech-vietna...

Writer-director Dužan Duong made a big splash at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival with his debut Summer School, 2001, dubbed the “first Czech-Viet” movie.

Marcus Mucha: It’s not nice when you see your family name in Goebbels’ handwriting

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Ian Willoughby @ianwilloughby.bsky.social · Jun 26

I interviewed Marcus Mucha, great-grandson of artist Alphonse, about his former career in Hollywood with Morgan Freeman, how the Mucha Foundation cultivates Alphonse's brand today and way more. He also shared some pretty amazing stories from the family's history.
english.radio.cz/marcus-mucha...

UK-born Marcus Mucha is the great-grandson of Alphonse Mucha and helps preserve the legacy of the world-renowned Czech painter, illustrator and graphic artist.

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Ian Willoughby @ianwilloughby.bsky.social · Jun 22

Writer-director Ondřej Provazník is on the cover of Respekt with the lead actors from his incredible new film Sbormistr/Broken Voices, for which I did the subtitles. The movie is in the main competition at Karlovy Vary IFF and gets its world premiere a fortnight from today.

Czech far right gains ground, reigniting talk of ‘Czexit' - Euractiv

Ian Willoughby @ianwilloughby.bsky.social · Jun 20

Halfway through my interview today with director Ondřej Provazník Pixie started barking at some guy doing weird exercises in the park. But I will cut that bit out and my interview with Ondřej on his brilliant new film Sbormistr/Broken Voices will go out, bark-free, in a couple of weeks!

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Ian Willoughby @ianwilloughby.bsky.social · Jun 19

The really bad C-word is back

www.euractiv.com/section/poli...

The upcoming parliamentary election in October has brought renewed discussion of a possible Czech exit from the EU.

www.euractiv.com

Isabel Stainsby: My parents said, “We forbid you from studying Czech” – Don’t say that to a teenager

Reposted by Ian Willoughby

isabeltranslates @isabeltranslates.bsky.social · Jun 18

This happened. I'm still pinching myself!

english.radio.cz/isabel-stain...

Many thanks to @ianwilloughby.bsky.social for suggesting it, and for bringing along his gorgeous dog!

#xl8 #literarytranslation 🌐 💙📚 🇨🇿

Brit Isabel Stainsby is the translator of a gripping memoir by Roma journalist Patrik Banga, which has just been launched in English under the title The True Way Out.

Last days: The heroes of Operation Anthropoid at Prague’s Cyril and Methodius Church

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Ian Willoughby @ianwilloughby.bsky.social · Jun 11

Tomorrow evening I will be moderating the launch of the English version of Romany writer Patrik Banga's memoir The True Way Out at the Globe in Prague. Come!

Details: facebook.com/events/s/boo...

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Ian Willoughby @ianwilloughby.bsky.social · May 27

Here's a piece I did some years ago on their group's final days at a church in central Prague.
english.radio.cz/last-days-he...

Seventy-five years ago, on May 27, 1942, Czechoslovak parachutists dropped into Bohemia carried out one of the most daring actions of World War II, the assassination of…

english.radio.cz/marcel-ophul...

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Ian Willoughby @ianwilloughby.bsky.social · May 27

Eighty-three years ago on this day, these young heroes, Jan Kubiš and Jozef Gabčík, carried out an operation to assassinate Nazi governor Reinhard Heydrich in Prague, one of the most daring moves of WWII. Glory to their memories. 🇨🇿🕯️

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Ian Willoughby @ianwilloughby.bsky.social · May 26