Episode 1: The old system collapsed, but is it really gone?

This episode marks our first trip to Slovakia and the start of season 1, Slovakia – Democracy under attack. Buckle up; it's going to be a wild ride. Follow me, host Jeff Lugowe, as I speak with activists, researchers, artists and concerned citizens about the battle currently underway in their country over the future of their democracy. 

We begin in Banska Bystrica in central Slovakia, where we meet Sandra and Lea, two activists with the organization Not in our Town (Nie v nasom meste). 

Then we move a few hours northwest to the city of Zilina. There, I sat down with three high school students who recently gained national prominence for their Student Protest initiative (Studentsky protest).

Finally, I followed the winding roads back to Central Slovakia and Revuca, a town of 11,000 people surrounded by mountains. Diana invited me to her apartment, where we talked about being a community activist in a small, isolated town. 

This episode was produced by Dávid Pál, and hosted and executive produced by me, Jeff Lugowe.

Photos by Lucia Hasbach/Ekopolis and me