An Englishman in the Balkans is a personal podcast about life, travel, culture, and storytelling in Bosnia and Herzegovina, told from the perspective of a British-born creator who has made this country home.
Expect gentle reflections, real places, local voices, field recordings, and stories that go beyond the usual headlines.
In this episode of An Englishman in the Balkans, I sit down in Banja Luka with photographer, writer, and fellow Substacker Jennie Blythe.
Jennie has travelled widely across the former Yugoslavia, but this was her first visit to Banja Luka.
Over pita cooked under the sač, with heavy rain falling outside, we talked about first impressions, Bosnian hospitality, photography, history, memory, and the way this country quietly draws people in.
Our conversation takes us from the Partisan monument on Banj Brdo to the everyday rituals of local food, from street photography and respect to the slow, thoughtful world of Substack.
What I loved most about this conversation was seeing a place I know well through someone else’s eyes. Jennie notices the details many of us walk past: a monument, a posture, a street corner, a quiet expression, or the feeling of a city after rain.
This is an episode about Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also about looking more carefully, travelling more slowly, and understanding that every place carries stories if we take the time to listen.
If you enjoy these stories from Bosnia and Herzegovina, you can find more at:
Website: https://www.anenglishmaninthebalkans.com
YouTube: A British Voice in Bosnia with David Bailey
If this episode gave you a different glimpse of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the simplest way to support the podcast is to share it with someone who might enjoy these stories too.
You can also subscribe here on Substack to receive future episodes and reflections directly by email.
As always, thank you for being here.
David
