In this episode, Dr. Noah Charney sits down with one of the most extraordinary athletes of our time – Tadej Pogačar. From a small town near Ljubljana to the summit of global cycling, Pogačar’s journey is a story of talent, discipline and an enduring love for the ride.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest cyclists in history, Pogačar reflects on the moments that shaped his career. He shares what it really takes to win: the gruelling six-hour training days, the precision of race-day nutrition, and the mental balance between suffering and joy.

But this conversation goes beyond cycling. It offers a glimpse into the spirit of Slovenia itself – a country that continues to produce world-class athletes while remaining deeply connected to nature, community, and authenticity. Pogačar speaks about growing up in Komenda, his favourite training routes across Slovenia’s diverse landscapes, and why the country has become a must-visit destination for cyclists.

Read about 10 reasons for a cycling adventure in Slovenia

Listeners will also discover a more personal side of the champion: his life off the bike, the importance of family and downtime, his thoughts on life after racing, and the simple pleasures he returns to when he’s home. From home-cooked meals to spontaneous moments of rest, it’s a reminder that even the world’s best find strength in slowing down.

The episode also explores the Pogi Challenge, Pogačar’s own cycling event that blends sport, community, and celebration – reflecting his desire to give back and share his passion with others.

Thoughtful, relaxed, and quietly inspiring, this conversation reveals why Pogačar is more than a champion. He is a reflection of a nation that surprises the world not through noise, but through excellence, humility, and heart.

Photo by: @FotoFizza

Feel Slovenia the Podcast is brought to you by the Slovenian Tourist Board and hosted by Dr Noah Charney.

Sound Production: Urska Charney

For more inspirational content, check out www.slovenia.info and our social media channels, including Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn and Tripadvisor.

In this episode of Feel Slovenia, the Podcast, Dr. Noah Charney takes listeners beyond Slovenia’s iconic destinations into a network of 24 historic towns – where culture is not preserved as memory, but lived as experience. At its emotional and cultural core is the Škofja Loka Passion Play, one of Europe’s oldest dramatic traditions and a UNESCO-recognised masterpiece of intangible heritage.

Performed across the streets, squares, and courtyards of Škofja Loka, the Passion Play transforms the town into an immersive open-air stage, bringing together hundreds of local performers in a powerful retelling of a centuries-old story. It is not simply a performance, but a collective act of memory, identity and community.

From this defining experience, the episode unfolds across Slovenia, introducing towns shaped by craftsmanship, culinary traditions, and layered histories—from Idrija’s lace-making heritage to Radovljica’s beekeeping legacy. Whether explored through a scenic journey or slow, immersive stays, these towns reveal Slovenia as a country of living stories—best understood not just by seeing, but by experiencing them.

Feel Slovenia the Podcast is brought to you by the Slovenian Tourist Board and hosted by Dr Noah Charney.

Sound Production: Urska Charney

For more inspirational content, check out www.slovenia.info and our social media channels, including Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn and Tripadvisor.

This Valentine’s Day, we invite you to step into one of the most extraordinary love stories in contemporary art — a story where passion became performance and devotion became artistic legacy. In this intimate and thought-provoking episode of Feel Slovenia the podcast, we explore the powerful intersection of love, risk and radical creativity.

At its heart is Art Vital, the landmark exhibition at Cukrarna in Ljubljana, which traces the groundbreaking collaborative work of Marina Abramović and Ulay, who were partners in life as much as in art — living nomadically in a van, placing absolute trust in one another and testing the limits of endurance, vulnerability and connection.

In this deeply personal conversation, Marina Abramović, arguably the world's most famous living artist, reflects on how they met, how their creative alliance took shape, and what it meant to make art at a time when performance had no market, no clear institutional support and no safety net. What drove them forward was a shared vision — radical, uncompromising and profoundly human.

The episode also illuminates Slovenia’s vibrant contemporary art landscape — from Moderna galerija and the Museum of Contemporary Art Metelkova in Ljubljana to the forthcoming museum in Bled — underscoring the country’s growing role as a compelling cultural destination in Europe.

Feel Slovenia the Podcast is brought to you by the Slovenian Tourist Board and hosted by Dr Noah Charney.

Sound Production: Urska Charney

For more inspirational content, check out www.slovenia.info and our social media channels, including Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn and Tripadvisor.