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My guest on One on One this week is my Czech Radio colleague, Vit Pohanka. Vit is one of three Czech journalists who were taken captive in Iraq last week. Along with a Czech TV reporter and cameraman, he spent six days being held by an unknown Iraqi group somewhere in the country outside Baghdad.

My guest in this week's One on One is Jana Hybaskova, former Czech ambassador to Kuwait and now candidate for the forthcoming European Parliament elections. Jana Hybaskova is the only woman - from any country - ever to have held the post of ambassador in Kuwait. But she's best known for the manner in which she left the post - she was sacked after criticising the Defence Ministry's decision to withdraw the Czech Army Field Hospital from the Iraqi city of Basra, criticism that earned her praise and scorn in equal measure. Jana Hybaskova spent her

In today's "One on One" I'd like you to sit back and listen to an extraordinary story of determination on a dangerous journey towards freedom. The Masin brothers and their fight for democracy is one of the great stories of 20th century Czechoslovak history. Born to a military father who was persecuted by the Nazis in the Second World War, the Masins put to use their military knowledge and started a resistance group after the communists won elections in Czechoslovakia in 1948. Often regarded, as the "third brother" is Milan Paumer. He took the time

Director Bobby Garabedian comes from Hollywood but it was a short film he made in the Czech Republic, in the Czech language, which got him nominated for an Oscar this year. The film's Czech title is Most (rhymes with cost), meaning 'bridge', though the English title is Most (rhymes with toast). It is a moving film about a man, brilliantly played by Vladimir Javorsky, who is forced to choose between saving his son and saving a train full of strangers, when an accident occurs at the rail bridge he operates. Bobby Garabedian visited many European

Listeners of "Czech Books" will perhaps already be familiar with Jan's guest in today's One on One - David C. Murphy who works at one of Prague's prominent NGOs Nova Skola - New School - aimed at promoting multiculturalism and helping minorities in the Czech Republic. Recently Jan met with the charismatic American at Prague's Imperial Café, asking David Murphy why he chose Prague in the early 90s, as well as how he looked back on his involvement in the not-for-profit sector over the years.

Maxim Velcovsky is one of the Czech Republic's leading young artists. Most of his work is in porcelain and involves 'reimagining' everyday objects; among his best known pieces are a vase in the shape of a Wellington boot and a porcelain version of a typical water-cooler paper cup. He is also known for a huge fibreglass crucifix, which stands in a Protestant church in Hradec Kralove. I spoke to Maxim Velcovksy at an exhibition of his at Prague's Galerie Kritiku, and began by asking him to explain the thinking behind his work.

My guest in this week's One on One is Howard Sidenberg from Twisted Spoon Press, an independent publisher that offers a wide spectrum of literature from Central and Eastern Europe in English. Howard is one of three men who founded Twisted Spoon in Prague in 1992, along with late writer Lukas Tomin from a well-known Czech dissident family, and Kevin Blahut from Massachusetts. Today, however, it is primarily Howard Sidenberg from Richmond, Virginia who keeps the small operation alive and well. Though it had humble beginnings, Twisted Spoon today

My guest in this week's One on One is Pavel Telicka, recently nominated as the Czech Republic's first ever European Commissioner. Mr Telicka, currently Czech Ambassador to the EU, certainly has the experience for the job; he was the man who led the accession negotiations on behalf of the Czech government. But his nomination follows an embarrassing few days for the Czech Republic: he was only asked to do the job after the government's first choice, former Environment Minister Milos Kuzvart, changed his mind at the last minute, prompting the Prime

Rob Cameron's guest in this week's One on One is Ivo Lukacovic, founder and managing director of the Czech Republic's first ever Internet portal - seznam.cz. Eight years ago, aged just 22, Ivo dropped out of college to set up Seznam. Now it's one of the country's best known websites, and Ivo employs 150 people.

Harold Pinter. Edna O'Brien. Martin Amis, Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Irvine Welsh. Those are just a few of the many renowned international authors who attended the Prague Writers' Festival over the years. Today we interview the festival's founder, Prague-based poet Michael March, who has led the festival into an amazing 14th year. I met recently with Michael to discuss not only this year's programme, but also the future of the festival, his thoughts on corporate Prague culture, and his recollection of a unique meeting with Arthur Miller.