From The Bloc

In this episode Ella interviews a London-based photographer and visual artist, Zula Rabikowska. Zula is known for her powerful portraits and documentary photography focused on migration, identity, Eastern Europe and LGBTQI+ communities. Inspired by her Polish heritage, her work shines a light on voices and stories that are too often overlooked. Through intimate and deeply human photography, Zula c...

In this episode Ella is talking to Polina Belenchuk, a London-based collage artist, illustrator, and creative facilitator. Her work prioritises bold self-expression and celebrates individuality and creativity. She sees art as a tool for emotional healing and empowerment. Her creative workshops offer a supportive space to process pain, manage emotions and build confidence. Polina studied Graphic &a...

This episode features Aziza, a London-based Uzbek artist working across textiles, sculpture, new technologies, experimental costume and performance practices.  Her projects explore diverse subjects, including migration, displacement, social invisibility, identity, decolonisation, feminism, and loss of language. Aziza is also intrigued by the potential of XR/AR/VR and AI and often uses the new...

In this episode Ella is talking to Marcelina Amelia, a UK based artist working with mixed media approaches to print, painting and drawing. Her work is often inspired by her Polish heritage, religious iconography and folk tales, as well as her childhood memories. It explores the power of dreams, spirituality, sexuality, and the human condition. Marcelina has been featured in Vogue, The NY Times, De...

Alexander Khokhlov, a Russian photographer and artist based in London. He moved to the UK in 2022 to connect with the international progressive creative community.  Many of Alexander’s projects are known worldwide and some of his artworks were purchased for top luxury interiors, including Hilton, Waldorf Astoria and Four Seasons hotels.  In 2017, Alexander and his wife Veronica, launched...

This episode features Maria Springis - a London-based Director and Producer, originally from Ukraine. She has founded an award-winning production company Dreams Into Reality and worked on sets of major future films like House of Dragons, Shadow and Bone, Fast & Furious, and The Crown. Maria has also directed and produced many internationally acclaimed documentaries and worked with famous peopl...

In this episode Ella is interviewing an amazing Lithuanian photographer, Sane Seven . Sane is internationally known for her powerful and intimate portraits of influential women. She photographed cultural icons such as Helena Bonham Carter, industry pioneers like Dame Donna Langley and world leaders like Julia Gillard. Through her work, Sane amplifies women’s voices across all spheres and serves as...

Season 3 is opening with Paulina Korobkiewicz and Elena Juzulenaite. Paulina is a Polish-born and London-based photographer and visual artist. Her work explores themes of cultural identity, memory, and the transformation of social spaces. She exhibited her work in the UK and internationally and has been featured in many important art publications and magazines. Elena is an artist and a community a...

In this episode Ella is talking to a London-based visual artist, Anka Dabrowska. Being a migrant from Poland, she adopted the position of an outsider to artistically respond to a sense of displacement increasingly common to people living in contemporary metropolises. As an artist, Anka works in drawing, illustration, sculpture and installation art, and has exhibited widely nationally and inte...

Tim Darmenov is a young commercial and music video director from Ukraine. In 2023 he had to flee the war in his home country and moved to the UK. On the podcast he talks to Ella about how he adjusted to living in a new country and his first impressions of working in the British creative industry. Tim has directed commercial films for the world’s biggest brands, such as Apple, and created music vid...

Andriy Kyrychenko is a Ukrainian musician based in London. Originally from Kharkiv, he started his musical career as a singer and song-writer in a local rock band. Over the course of years he got involved in experimental electronic music projects and gained recognition among fans all over the world. On the podcast Andriy tells Ella how war separated him from his country and family and how he finds...

In this episode Ella is talking to Noemi Gunea , a Romanian actress, model and artist. She went to a drama school in Bucharest and got a role in Cannes winning film 'Beyond the Hills' by a legendary director Cristian Mungiu. She then moved to Paris to study acting and pursue a career in modelling. Noemi worked with some huge fashion brands, such as Burberry, Paul Smith and Belstaff. She is now bas...

In this episode Ella talks to two friends and collaborators, Joanna Woznicka and Rebeka Dio.  Joanna is a Polish producer and playwright with a passion for new writing, community engagement, and migrant theatre. Her shows have been critically acclaimed and her most recent short film, SILENCE AND HER ROOMMATE, was broadcast on BBC Four.  Originally from Hungary, Rebeka is a co-founder of...

This episode features Lara Julian - an established artist and a Russian refugee based in London. Lara uses a diverse range of media to visualise colour as matter and energy.  She exhibited widely in both solo and group shows in London, Amsterdam, Venice and New York. Born and raised in Siberia, Lara had a successful career in the banking industry before dedicating herself to painting. She too...

The last episode of Season 1 features the Founder of the Slovak Theatre in London, Simona, and the organisations Co-Manager, Rebeka. The theatre is a nonprofit initiative that supports Slovak and Czech artists living in London. Apart from performing regularly in the UK, the theatre crew often travels around Europe and visits local communities in other countries. Check out their story now! Pod...

This episode features a multi-talented Bulgarian choreographer, director and yoga teacher based in London, Stephanie Handjiiska. The host, Ella, asks her about her amazing dance projects, working with Michael Bubble and Sherihan, opportunities and struggles of living in London, dating British people and common stereotypes about Eastern European women. Check out Stephanie’s story now! The podcast f...

In this episode Ella interviews Polish producer and songwriter from East London, Power. He moved to the UK with his parents when he was 6 years old. Music has been present in his family for a long time and he started making his own tunes at the age of 16. Power has worked with many UK artists, such as NSG, ZieZie, Tallia Storm, Figure Flows, Dun D, Ashton Russell, Summa Taylor, Aya Bleu and more....

Aiko is a Moscow born and Czech Republic raised artist, based in London. Her career started with an appearance on a TV talent show “Superstar” held in Prague. From that moment she actively pursued her career in music, released an album and played concerts in many European countries. Her sound is a unique blend of cultures, influences and electronic music. Check out her story now! You can follow Ai...

In this episode Ella interviews Sasha Alexis, a migrant actor and writer, originally from Russia. She moved to London in 2013 to study at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Her first ever script for a short film Whore#4 (in which she also played the lead role) won awards at many renowned film festivals and has been recently a part of BFI Future Film Festival '23. As an actress, Sasha has wor...

The first episode of From The Bloc podcast features an extremely talented singer and songwriter born in Prague, Maella. She spends most of her time in London but often travels back to the Czech Republic to work on various musical projects and artistic collabs. Recently, she’s been shortlisted to represent her country on Eurovision 2023! Podcast produced by DJ Dean Leon at Riddim Life Records . Hos...

A short podcast introduction with the host, Ella. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.