In this episode, we talk with Mgr. et Mgr. Milan Balaban, Ph.D., a historian from Tomas Bata University in Zlín and a researcher at the Bata Information Centre, which operates within the TBU Library. Milan has spent years studying the history of the Baťa company, with a special focus on its global expansion.

We discuss how he found his way to the Czech Republic, where his passion for history and the Baťa legacy comes from, what the Baťa Information Centre actually does, and why it’s so important to keep the Baťa story alive and accessible. We also talk about his home country, Bosnia, which he beautifully describes as “the last secret of Europe.”

Ready to explore one of the most fascinating chapters of Czech industrial history? Let’s dive in!