Discussion Programme at the Swiss Re Arena at Pohoda 2025
This year at the Swiss Re Arena, you can look forward to a wide range of discussions, a live podcast recording, and two knowledge quizzes. The full programme is below.
06. July 2025
FRIDAY
10:15 – 11:15 AM
Mindset by Chcem tu zostať: Where Are You Headed, Slovakia?
Guests: Sofia Šillerová – Student Council for Higher Education Institutions, Fedor Blaščák – OSF
Hosts: Juraj Foltín, Kristína Husáková
Where is Slovakia heading, and what role does the younger generation play in shaping that direction? In MINDSET by CHCEM TU ZOSTAŤ, we’ll explore what drives people to defend democratic values in a time of polarisation, uncertainty, and rapid change, and how young people fit into that picture. How do they think? What worries them? What inspires them to act? Is Slovakia still a country they want to stay in? This discussion is part of a live video podcast recording of MINDSET, offering an authentic and personal look at the role of young people in society, as well as the state of democracy and civic engagement in 2025.
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Pod lampou: A Captured Slovakia or How to Prevent the Worst
Guest: Roman Kvasnica
Host: Štefan Hríb
Where do we stand seven years after the murder of Ján and Martina? Why have the state captors returned? Could Slovakia fall out of the EU and NATO? And what can we do to remain free?
12:45 – 1:45 PM
Swiss Re: Places That Deserve Our Attention
Guests: Martin Lipták (Čierne diery), Zuzana Wienk (Bystriny), Tomáš Kušík (BROZ environmental organisation)
Host: Zuzana Szalaiová (Swiss Re)
The discussion will focus on valuable and vulnerable sites in terms of protecting natural and cultural heritage and adapting to climate challenges, as well as on inspiring stories of people who are making a positive difference in their surroundings. It will also touch on topics such as corporate volunteering, effective communication, and community engagement.
3:15 – 3:45 PM
Comenius University: Unconventional Investing or When Investing Becomes Fun
Speaker: Katarína Rentková
Investing doesn’t have to be just about stocks, funds, or cryptocurrencies. Katarína Rentková from the Faculty of Management at Comenius University will take you on an exploratory journey through unconventional forms of investing – from collectible items to hidden treasures that may be lying forgotten in a childhood bedroom or in your grandparents' attic. We’ll discover how a doll, a concert poster, or a vinyl record can become a valuable investment piece. Investing can, in fact, be playful, personal, and full of stories. This talk is ideal for anyone who finds the world of finance a little distant but is curious to learn how fun and nostalgia-filled items can also hold great value.
3:45 – 4:15 PM
Comenius University: Tuning With Fractions
Speaker: Assoc. Prof. RNDr. Zbyněk Kubáček, CSc.
We usually expect mathematics to offer the most accurate solution to a given problem. But sometimes, it turns out that a perfectly precise answer simply doesn’t work (not due to a flaw in mathematics, but in the problem itself). This is the case with musical scales and tuning, where we find that a suitably imprecise solution is needed. The mathematical tools involved are nothing too complex – we’ll manage with just fractions and roots.
5:45 – 7:00 PM
[fjužn] Quiz: Do You Know the World We Live In?
Host: Ján Ondrej
Come and test yourself in Pohoda’s most colourful quiz! A quiz where you learn without cramming, compete without stress, and laugh even when you don’t know the answer. Expect (un)expected questions, cultural curiosities, a touch of migration, a breeze of stereotypes – and a big dose of humanity. Bring your team, come up with a bold name, and join us at the Swiss Re Arena. Hosted by Ján Ondrej – a man who knows that a quiz can take you around the world… no travel insurance needed.
20:15 – 21:15
The Saga of the Destroyed Ambulance Oksana
Guests: Dorota Vlnová, documentary filmmaker; Vladimír Šimíček, photographer; Fedor Blaščák, philosopher and activist
In November 2024, a group of women from Slovakia delivered vehicles collected as part of the Ambulances for Ukraine initiative to Ukrainian servicewomen. In January 2025, near Pokrovsk, one of these vehicles – the ambulance named Oksana – was struck by a Russian drone. The destroyed ambulance was brought back to Slovakia and is now being exhibited as a temporary memorial to the victims of war. It has already been vandalised several times.
The exhibition of the destroyed ambulance reflects the social conflict surrounding support for Ukraine. Just as there is a battle for the hearts and minds of people in Slovakia in Russia’s hybrid war, there is also a physical battle over the symbolic message of the Oksana ambulance as it appears in public squares across Slovak towns. The saga continues.
SATURDAY
9:00 – 10:00 AM
Depaul Slovensko: Do People Without Homes Feel at Ease in Summer?
Guests: Mr Peter, client of DEPAUL SLOVENSKO, n.o.; Patrícia Ivančíková, Head of the Housing Integration Programme at DEPAUL SLOVENSKO, n.o.
Host: Dominika Uhlárová – PR Manager and Fundraiser at DEPAUL SLOVENSKO, n.o.
It might seem that after winter comes an easier time for people living on the streets. However, recent summers have proved to be just as challenging as winters. Mr Peter, a client of DEPAUL SLOVENSKO, n.o., will share his personal experience of homelessness (not just in the summer) and what it feels like to live in the safety of a home again.
Patrícia Ivančíková, Head of the Housing Integration Programme at DEPAUL SLOVENSKO, n.o., will explain why summer can be a particularly difficult period for people on the streets and how each of us can help improve their situation.
10:15 – 11:15 AM
Hoaxy a podvody: Survive Chemtrails, Wear a Mask!
Guests: Jakub Goda, social media expert; Vladimír Šnídl, journalist at Denník N; Katarína Klingová, senior analyst at Globsec
Host: David Púchovský, former police officer and founder of the project Hoaxy a podvody (Hoaxes and Scams)
Did we all come from corn? Where does the joke end when it comes to conspiracy theories whose mascots have become senior state officials? And where does the real fear begin – the fear of Slovakia being dragged eastwards under the influence of hybrid threats? What does the fight against hoaxes look like today, when activists, journalists, and former public servants have been left to battle them alone? The discussion won’t just touch on chemtrails, the pandemic, or Russia’s war, but will also explore hope and determination. Joining the discussion will be social media expert Jakub Goda, former police officer and founder of the project Hoaxy a podvody (Hoaxes and Scams) David Púchovský, Denník N journalist Vladimír Šnídl, and Katarína Klingová, senior analyst at Globsec.
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Nadační fond Propolis: Active and Orgasmic Birth
Guests: Dr. Peter Kaščák, Dr. Ondrej Šimetka, founder of the Propolis33 Foundation Lilia Khousnoutdinova
Host: Darja Rádha Angel
Join us as we explore topics in childbirth that are often left unspoken. What does an orgasmic birth actually mean? Is it possible to experience it in a hospital setting, and how do medical professionals approach it? To what extent is every birth inherently connected to sexuality, intimacy, and private environment? We will also discuss the importance of the birthing environment, why it’s crucial for women to feel trust and safety, and the influence of everyone present during the birth. The conversation will also cover the benefits of active, upright birthing positions and the initiative these historically natural positions require from the mother.
We’ll touch on when vaginal birth is appropriate in cases where the baby is in breech position or when a woman has previously had a caesarean section. What does a caesarean truly involve, and why it should, in most cases, be considered a last resort.
This discussion is not only for couples who are currently expecting or planning a pregnancy, but for anyone interested in understanding birth in a broader context and its profound impact on life thereafter.
12:45 – 1:45 PM
Swiss Re: How to Build Mental Resilience in Uncertain Times
Guests: Actress Kristína Tormová, Diana Klepoch Majdáková (League for Mental Health), psychologist Lenka Uherová
Host: Pavol Altuchov (Swiss Re)
Talking about mental health and strengthening our resilience is more relevant than ever in today’s social climate. This discussion will focus on topics such as building work-life balance, supporting mental health within companies, prevention, as well as the initiatives and systemic solutions introduced by the League for Mental Health.
13:15 – 14:15
Comenius University: The Vulnerability of Young People in the Online Space
Speaker: Andrea Madarasová Gecková
How common is problematic internet use among adolescents, and how can we recognise it? What different forms can this problematic use take, and which groups of young people are most at risk? What do adolescents themselves think about the benefits and risks, and when do they feel vulnerable in the virtual space? What needs to be done to make digital technologies and the online world a safe tool and environment for young people? We’ll explore these questions with Professor Andrea Madarasová Gecková, who leads research mapping the new challenges of adolescence for Generation Z.
3:45 – 4:15 PM
Comenius University: What Does a Pharmacologist Think About at a Music Festival?
Speaker: Prof. PharmDr. Ján Klimas, PhD., MPH
A music festival is, above all, about beautiful experiences and sharing them with others. But sometimes, in the midst of euphoria, people may take things a bit too far. For a pharmacologist, it’s hard not to start thinking about the effects of “biologically active substances” and their interactions with other things acting in our bodies. Even everyday medications, like allergy pills or contraceptives, can mix with alcohol, caffeine, and other substances to create a cocktail of unwanted effects. So how can we enjoy a festival without missing out on the best moments? What should we watch out for, and how can we at least reduce potential harm? These are some of the topics that will be covered by Professor Ján Klimas, Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy at Comenius University.
5:45 – 7:00 PM
Pohoda Quiz
Host: Jana Kopecká, PR & Media Manager of Pohoda Festival
How well do you know Pohoda Festival? This quiz is not only for the most loyal Pohoda fans but also for anyone who wants to learn something new about their favourite festival or simply have fun and get in the mood for the evening’s music programme. Winning teams will receive special Pohoda gift packs filled with festival merch, and the very best will also win tickets for Pohoda 2026.