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Like other industrial countries, Czechia is struggling to deal with the problem of overweight and obesity. A recent report by the World Health Organization showed that some 80 percent of Czech children are not getting enough exercise. The problem has become so serious that in some cases obesity treatment for children is covered by standard health insurance.

The singing of birds, the croaking of frogs or the sound of animals moving in the undergrowth – these are just some of the sounds you can hear if you tune in to Slow Radio, broadcasting live from a secret spot somewhere in South Bohemia. This high-resolution recording, which happens in real time, offers its listeners a unique glimpse into the heart of the country’s wilderness.

The fight against COVID-19 has affected the life of millions of Czechs. As in most European countries, free movement of people is restricted no matter whether they live in big cities or small towns and villages. Vit Pohanka looks at how people are coping with the crisis in rural Czechia.

The economy should be put in neutral gear and people should take a break. That is the key recommendation of Czech economist Tomáš Sedláček for the coming weeks. He is the author of the much-celebrated bestseller Economics of Good and Evil, was the youngest advisor to the former Czech President Václav Havel and is a member of several prestigious international institutions. (Tomáš Sedláček spoke to Vít Pohanka about the impact the crisis has already had on our use of digital technology):

How does a partial lockdown feel in a small Czech town? The government declared a state of emergency more than a week ago. There is a ban on travel, schools are closed as well as most shops and other public institutions. Vít Pohanka lives in the town of Žďár nad Sázavou and sent this report.

While mothers in the Czech Republic enjoy one of the longest parental leaves in the world, they also experience serious setbacks when returning to work. Studies have shown they often see a drop in salary post maternity leave, they frequently find themselves in less skilled roles and are less likely to be promoted.

There are about 1.5 million children and teenagers enrolled in Czech elementary and secondary schools. These days, as in other European countries, they must stay at home due to the coronavirus outbreak. Teachers are expected to keep in touch with them via e-mail and other online media. How are they managing?

What is the position of Czech women on the labour market? How big a slice of the female population is employed and what is their share in the technology industry? Those are some of the factors taken into account in compiling the Women in Work Index which compares conditions for women on the labour market across the OECD. The Czech Republic has done well in the latest report, jumping from 23 to 19th place on the ladder, largely due to the country’s record low unemployment. However one indicator is keeping the country back – the gender pay gap, which

Czech Christmas is unthinkable without a vast variety of cookies. Typically, Czech households start baking them at the beginning of the festive season so that they can stock up on them well ahead of the main holiday. Some of the cookies are for consumption, others are intended mainly as decorations for the Christmas tree. Vít Pohanka visited a Pardubice bakery to find out more about the latter:

In a book just out, the renowned Czech author and illustrator Renáta Fučíková tells the story of Czechs in North America. The idea to chronicle stories of Czech immigrants originated in Chicago, which is sometimes referred to as “the most Czech city” in the US. I met up with Renáta Fučíková at her studio in the Old Town district of Prague, where she was putting finishing touches on the final illustrations for her new book.