There is a Czech rap anthem called Praha that says, "Prague is not just the Bridge and the Castle," referring, of course, to the city's best-known historic landmarks. We'd add that the Czech Republic is not just Prague. That's what Czech Side Story, the new podcast from Czech Centre London, is all about – introducing inspiring people whose work and ideas make Czech-British ties in culture and beyond so unique and flourishing. Let's call them Bohemians.
Join Czech Centre Director Tereza Šídlová, who spent more than twenty years in journalism and simply couldn't resist doing what she loves most: listening to fascinating stories and sharing them with others. The podcast is now available on your favourite podcast platform.
The first-ever guest of the Czech Side Story podcast is indeed very special.
He is a British journalism legend, but his birthplace lies deep in the Czech Republic, in the town of Zlín, which is also the brithplace of global shoemaking phenomenon Bata, well known in the UK too. And these two facts are no coincidence as you will hear in the podcast. Sir John Tusa, former managing director of the BBC World Service.
How did a Bata-manager’s son become one of the most famous and “benchmark” journalists in the UK? What is the Czech Republic’s reputation in the UK and how it is re-shaped by Czech businessmen active in the UK? And why is Bystřice pod Hostýnem Sir John’s favourite place in the Czech Republic?
A small apology from us: the sound quality is not perfect during the first few minutes of the episode. Apparently, it was not only our host who felt nervous meeting Sir John—the recording equipment did too! Thank you for your understanding.
