Balkan Sis

80th Birthday Special: Strina Slavica Strbac (HR) This episode is recorded entirely in Croatian (HR), because that is how Strina Slavica talks, thinks, and has lived her whole life. If you don't speak Croatian, stay with us anyway, you will still feel everything in her voice. This one is different from anything we have done before. This is a dedication to Strina Slavica's children, grandchildren a...

In this episode, Ivana sits down with migration lawyer, author, and former refugee Adam Khaze for a wide ranging conversation about his own story, his family, and the realities of Australia's immigration system. In this episode: Adam's family's escape from Iran as Bahá'ís facing religious persecution, the journey through Pakistan, and resettling in Perth as refugees Growing up betw...

Today's episode is a full one. life has been full. we open with a birthday. sretan rođendan mama. 67 years old, a pensioner at last, and the most selfless woman i know. this episode is dedicated to you. but it's been a mixed bag since we last spoke, and i wanted to come on and share all of it with you. the joy, the grief, and everything in between. we talk about little Tessa, who lost her...

BALKAN SIS PODCAST @balkansispodcast | @ivanastrbacalfonso Martina Dimoska: The Girl Who Was Never Asked What She Wanted to Be EPISODE DESCRIPTION This week Ivana sits down with Martina Dimoska, a Macedonian from Kicevo in North Macedonia who became the first female Balkan analog astronaut in the world. She has commanded missions simulating life on the Moon and Mars, run operations inside subsurfa...

This one came straight from the heart with zero script and zero filter. After an article Ivana wrote for Croatia Weekly went unexpectedly viral (close to 400 comments and counting), she jumped straight into the mic to talk about what happens when you put yourself out there the good, the bad, and the absurd. In this episode Ivana covers the Croatia Weekly article and the title that set the internet...

Melissa Pizovic grew up in the south of France as the only person in the room who did not speak the language. Her father, Bosnian-Croatian, never taught her. At family gatherings surrounded by aunts, uncles and cousins all speaking Croatian and Bosnian, she needed a translator. In her own family. She found her way back through the skin. After seven years studying architecture and four years in Par...

Happy Mother's Day to every single woman who has ever stood at a kitchen bench, packed a lunchbox, cooked for her family and made it all look effortless. This one is for you. This Mother's Day I am sitting down with one of the most recognised food creators in Australia — George Georgievski, known across the world as the School Lunchbox Dad. George is Macedonian-Australian, a father of two...

Cheers to being different. Cheers to not being mainstream. Sisters, this episode is one I have been sitting with since we recorded it and I genuinely cannot wait for you to hear it. My guest today is Tamara Peklic, a cross-cultural coach based in America who spent 15 years figuring out what happens when you take your culture somewhere that does not understand you, and then built a whole career hel...

In this powerful and heartfelt episode of Balkan Sis , Ivana sits down with Croatian-born Human Design and Feng Shui practitioner Petra Bezić for a conversation that is equal parts emotional, healing and eye-opening. Together, they explore what it means to come back to yourself after years of conditioning, people pleasing, overthinking and living by everyone else’s rules. Petra breaks down Human D...

Books, Babies, Balkan Roots & Big Feelings: A Raw Solo Catch-Up on Life, Legacy & What’s Next - The Life You’re Building While You’re Still Healing Hey sis 🤍 This is a real, unscripted catch-up episode — no guest, no script, just life lately. From Easter and family moments to big personal milestones, ancestry, motherhood, and building something meaningful in real time… this episode is a r...

📍 Easter Special Bonus Episode In this special Easter bonus episode of Balkan Sis , Ivana sits down with MasterChef Australia alum Snežana Calić, a Croatian-born, Serbia-raised food storyteller now living in Australia, to explore the deeper meaning of food, family, and tradition. From dyeing eggs with onion skins to baking homemade pogača, Snežana shares how her childhood shaped the way she cooks...

There’s something I’ve been thinking about lately… We grew up being told: wear socks don’t sit on cold concrete don’t go outside with wet hair eat something warm… have some soup And somewhere along the way we stopped listening. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Maz Roginski — Doctor of Chinese Medicine, Qi expert, and a fellow Eastern European sis with Polish roots — to talk about what’s really...

In this episode of Balkan Sis, I’m trying something a little different. With guests across the world and time zones that don’t always align, this conversation was recorded in a new format — allowing us to still share powerful stories without missing out on voices that deserve to be heard. And this one… is a story so many of us will feel. I’m joined by Michelle Jurić — born and raised in Germany to...

🎙️ Balkan Sis – Episode 50 (Pt. 2) Part 2 of this conversation shifts into something deeper. This is where Frankie steps fully into her own voice. From navigating motherhood on her own terms to choosing a home birth despite societal pressure, this episode is about what it really means to trust yourself — even when it goes against what’s expected. Frankie opens up about living with a more tradition...

This episode is a special one. For the 50th episode of Balkan Sis, Ivana sits down with someone who has been part of her life for over two decades — her best friend, her soul sister, Franka “Frankie” Batinic. From meeting as young girls at Bellevue Park Primary School on the Gold Coast, to navigating life across countries, cultures, and completely different seasons — this is a story about a friend...

In this special bonus episode of Balkan Sis , I’m sharing powerful voice notes from Dr Selma Music , a clinical psychologist, neuroscientist and trauma specialist. This is a deeply honest and reflective conversation around motherhood, culture and emotional wellbeing , especially through the lens of Balkan women and migrant families. We talk about the realities of motherhood — beyond the highlight...

In this episode of Balkan Sis , I’m opening up about something that recently happened to me. I received a message criticising my podcast, my guests and the way I show up online. And instead of ignoring it, I decided to talk about it. Because this isn’t just about one comment. It’s about what happens when you use your voice, especially in spaces where people expect you to stay quiet or fit into a c...

In this episode of Balkan Sis , Ivana sits down with stand-up comedian and writer Arijana Ramic . Originally from Seattle and now performing across Los Angeles, Arijana is quickly making a name for herself in the comedy world. She regularly performs on the LA comedy scene and even works at the legendary Comedy Store . Arijana has opened for well-known comedians including Annie Lederman, Bobby Lee...

In this solo episode of Balkan Sis , Ivana opens up about something many of us are feeling right now but don’t always talk about openly — anxiety and the emotional weight of the world we are living in today . From global news cycles and social media overload to motherhood, relationships and the pressure of running a business, many women are carrying more than ever before. Ivana reflects on how our...

In this episode of Balkan Sis , Ivana revisits one of the very first conversations recorded when the podcast originally began with her best friend Franka. This episode remains just as powerful and relevant today. Ivana sits down with Katerina Mitrevska , a Macedonian-born writer and advocate who shares her deeply personal story of growing up with a mother experiencing severe mental illness. After...

In this solo episode of Balkan Sis , Ivana records a spontaneous update from the car and shares her thoughts on the newly released Balkan movie SVADBA . She talks about why the film caught her attention, the excitement around Balkan cinema and how powerful it is to see our stories, humour and culture represented on screen. Ivana also shares a personal life update and reflects on something many of...

In this episode of Balkan Sis, I sit down with Karolina Drakovac psychologist, artist, mother, and former refugee for an honest and heartfelt conversation about identity, healing, motherhood, and navigating life between cultures. Karolina and I connected through our shared Balkan roots, and this episode explores her journey from her upbringing and migration experience to building a life and career...

In this week’s episode I share a heartfelt reflection on life lately. I talk about experiences with racism, belonging, and identity, and how these moments continue to shape me as a woman, mother, and storyteller. I reflect on celebrating my 38th birthday, navigating farewells as my aunt returned home, and the reminder to seize the moment and stay present with the people we love. This episode is ho...

In Part 2 of my conversation with Dunja , founder of Earth Magic Medicine , we move from story into embodiment. This episode explores what healing actually looks like after survival. We talk about the body, the nervous system, ancestral roots, ritual, spirituality, and why so many women are being called back to their lineage and inner wisdom. Dunja shares how Earth Magic Medicine came to life, how...

This bonus meditation is a gentle grounding journey guided by Dunja of Earth Magic Medicine , offered as a gift to the Balkan Sis community. In this practice, you are invited to slow down, settle into your body, and reconnect with your ancestral roots. Through breath, presence, and stillness, this meditation supports your nervous system and reminds you that you are held, supported, and never alone...