Seen&Heard

In this linguistics-focused episode, hosts Edita Bandur (Business English Teacher) and Darko Mareš (Portrait Photographer) welcome Deepika Vasudevan , a PhD researcher studying English as a Lingua Franca while pursuing her doctorate in Spain, sharing her journey from Chennai to academia in Barcelona. Deepika offers a research-backed perspective on how English functions as a global communication to...

In this business technology episode, hosts Edita Bandur (Business English Teacher) and Darko Mareš (Portrait Photographer) welcome Nenad Kostić , a HubSpot expert who demystifies CRM systems using relatable analogies like Lego bricks to explain complex digital organization concepts. Nenad provides practical guidance for businesses overwhelmed by scattered customer data and manual processes, showin...

In this communication-focused episode, hosts Edita Bandur (Business English Teacher) and Darko Mareš (Portrait Photographer) welcome Ana Klancir , a proofreader and educator who specializes in Croatian language and business communication, offering practical tips on navigating cultural nuances in professional settings. Ana provides a unique perspective on how cultural differences manifest in everyd...

In this encouraging episode, hosts Edita Bandur (Business English Teacher) and Darko Mareš (Portrait Photographer) address the common fears that hold professionals back from being visible online - from worrying about accents to feeling unphotogenic - and offer practical approaches to move beyond these concerns. The conversation provides grounded advice based on their own experiences, emphasizing h...

In this media-focused episode, hosts Edita Bandur (Business English Teacher) and Darko Mareš (Portrait Photographer) examine the practical implications of subtitles and dubbing for language learning, accessibility, and cultural understanding, drawing from personal experiences across European viewing habits. The conversation explores often-overlooked technical differences between captions and subti...

In this thought-provoking episode, hosts Edita Bandur (Business English Teacher) and Darko Mareš (Portrait Photographer) welcome Meri Maroutian , an English teacher and equity advocate who confronts the systemic bias favoring native speakers in language teaching professions. Meri provides a comprehensive analysis of how native speaker ideology affects hiring practices, compensation, and profession...

In this podcasting-focused episode, hosts Edita Bandur (Business English Teacher) and Darko Mareš (Portrait Photographer) welcome Anja Lordanić-Mustać , who shares her hands-on experience transitioning from Croatian co-hosting to launching a successful English solo podcast and becoming a podcast mentor. Anja offers practical guidance based on real experience, covering everything from platform sele...

In this episode, hosts Edita Bandur (Business English Teacher) and Darko Mareš (Portrait Photographer) welcome Leo Prada , a project manager who shares his journey from Argentina to Croatia, offering practical tips on building international relationships across cultures. Leo provides honest accounts of his transition from construction work to tech project management, demonstrating how networking s...

In this sales-focused episode, hosts Edita Bandur (Business English Teacher) and Darko Mareš (Portrait Photographer) welcome Danijel Bićanić , a sales trainer with 20 years of experience who shares his perspective on sales as a fundamental communication and influence skill that extends far beyond traditional "selling." Danijel challenges common misconceptions about sales, presenting it instead as...

In this language-focused episode, hosts Edita Bandur (Business English Teacher) and Darko Mareš (Portrait Photographer) welcome Mihaela Jekić , a cultural engagement specialist working to build community among South Slavic language speakers and help people navigate the complex waters of linguistic and cultural integration. Mihaela offers a nuanced perspective on multilingualism, sharing her person...

In this networking-focused episode, hosts Edita Bandur (Business English Teacher) and Darko Mareš (Portrait Photographer) tackle the nuances of creating genuine connections, with audience participation highlighting common challenges and misconceptions. The conversation covers practical aspects of professional introductions, from crafting first messages that don't sound sales-y to navigating the cu...

In this business-focused episode, hosts Edita Bandur (Business English Teacher) and Darko Mareš (Portrait Photographer) welcome Klara Frančišković (Virtual Assistant), who shares her transition from corporate employee to successful virtual assistant specializing in customer experience. Klara provides a realistic look at the virtual assistant industry, addressing common misconceptions while offerin...

In this inspiring episode, hosts Edita Bandur (Business English Teacher) and Darko Mareš (Portrait Photographer) welcome Kalaivani Pallavanraja from India, who shares her transformation from traditional housewife to Business English Trainer - a journey that gained momentum during the pandemic. Kalaivani (Vani) offers candidly honest accounts of the challenges she faced: gaining family support for...

In this art-focused episode, hosts Edita Bandur (Business English Teacher) and Darko Mareš (Portrait Photographer) welcome illustrator and printmaker Marta Vučković , who shares her practical journey of building an artistic presence online while staying true to her environmental values. Marta offers a refreshingly honest look at the challenges artists face when marketing their work, particularly o...

In this forward-looking episode, hosts Edita Bandur (Business English Teacher) and Darko Mareš (Portrait Photographer) share their practical forecasts for education, visual media, and AI in the coming year, focusing on shifts they're already seeing in their respective fields. The conversation examines the growing tension between highly polished content and the rising demand for authenticity, with...

In this practical financial episode, the hosts Edita Bandur (Business English Teacher) and Darko Mareš (Portrait Photographer) welcome Barbara Smrček , a licensed Croatian financial advisor who breaks down money management into straightforward steps anyone can implement. Barbara cuts through financial jargon to focus on foundational habits: developing a healthier relationship with money, tracking...

In this Boxing Day episode, the hosts Edita Bandur (Business English Teacher) and Darko Mareš (Portrait Photographer) welcome Anna Aleksenko , who shares her work helping international professionals navigate English-speaking workplaces and the emotional challenges expatriates face during the holiday season. Anna speaks candidly about discrimination against non-native English teachers despite their...

In this education-focused episode, the hosts Edita Bandur (Business English Teacher) and Darko Mareš (Portrait Photographer) talk with Dragana Pavičić , who shares her transition from classroom teacher to educational consultant, highlighting the practical gaps she's working to fill in traditional schooling. Dragana offers a straightforward look at the essential life skills often overlooked in stan...

In this book-focused episode, the hosts Edita Bandur (Business English Teacher) and Darko Mareš (Portrait Photographer) welcome Mateja Vranković , author of " Koordinate Doma " (Coordinates of Home), who shares the practical realities of writing a memoir about her move from Croatia to Scotland. Mateja offers a candid look at the writing process, from finding a meaningful topic to dealing with the...

In this episode, hosts Edita Bandur (Business English Teacher) and Darko Mareš (Portrait Photographer) welcome Višnja Željeznjak , educator and founder of Croatian education platform Eduza , who shares the practical realities of helping experts share their knowledge online. Višnja offers a refreshingly honest account of her language learning journey through German and English, connecting these exp...

In this episode, the hosts Edita Bandur (Business English Teacher) and Darko Mareš (Portrait Photographer) tackle the everyday concerns professionals have about AI's impact on their careers, sharing personal perspectives from education and photography. The conversation avoids both tech panic and dismissive optimism, instead focusing on practical questions: Which aspects of teaching and creative wo...

In this casual episode, the hosts Edita Bandur (Business English Teacher) and Darko Mareš (Portrait Photographer) share an honest look at their own working partnership, complete with real challenges of coordinating schedules and expectations. The conversation cuts through typical partnership advice to focus on practical elements that make collaboration work: consistent reliability, aligned goals,...

In this conversation-driven episode, hosts Edita Bandur (Business English Teacher) and Darko Mareš (Portrait Photographer) welcome Ante Mihaljević (Sales and Communication Coach), who shares his unconventional path from learning English through American TV shows to becoming a professional coach. Ante offers refreshingly honest accounts of his early struggles with imposter syndrome and the practica...

In this straightforward episode, hosts Edita Bandur (Business English Teacher) and Darko Mareš (Portrait Photographer) share their real experiences transitioning from face-to-face teaching to online visibility, with all the awkward moments and technical mishaps included. The conversation tackles common fears teachers and professionals face when putting themselves on camera, offering practical work...

In this playful Halloween episode, hosts Edita Bandur (Business English Teacher) and Darko Mareš (Portrait Photographer) flip the script with a tongue-in-cheek guide to everything you should absolutely never do on camera or when teaching English. Through humorous reverse psychology, they showcase the most common mistakes in online presentations and language learning by exaggerating them to comical...