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An Englishman in the Balkans

An Englishman in the Balkans

Written by: David Pejčinović-Bailey MBE
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About this listen
 **An Englishman in the Balkans** is a personal storytelling podcast about Bosnia and Herzegovina, everyday life in the Balkans, and what it means to make a home somewhere different. I'm David Pejčinović-Bailey, a British broadcaster and former soldier who has lived in Bosnia for more than 25 years. From my village near Banja Luka, I share stories about the places I visit, the people I meet, and the small moments that often tell us more about a country than the headlines ever could. Some episodes explore Bosnia's history, traditions, landscapes and communities. Others are more personal reflections on belonging, cultural differences, friendship, retirement abroad and life after 70. And quite often, those two worlds come together. This isn't a glossy travel brochure or a guide to relocating overseas. It's an honest, curious and occasionally humorous look at life in Bosnia and the wider Balkans, told by someone who has made his home here but is still discovering new things. Whether you're interested in Bosnia and Herzegovina, slow travel, living abroad or simply enjoy thoughtful stories about people and places, you're very welcome. **An Englishman in the Balkans — Stories of Bosnia, and the life I've found here.**David Pejčinović-Bailey MBE 2026 Social Sciences Travel Writing & Commentary
Episodes
  • Growing Up in Bosnia: A 13-Year-Old's Honest View of His Country

    Growing Up in Bosnia: A 13-Year-Old's Honest View of His Country
    Nov 7 2026

    What is it really like to grow up in Bosnia and Herzegovina today? And when you're just 13 years old, how do you imagine your country's future, and your own?

    In this episode of An Englishman in the Balkans, I introduce you to Anes, a thoughtful and outspoken 13-year-old from near Zenica in central Bosnia.

    I've spent more than 25 years living in Bosnia and Herzegovina, listening to people's stories and trying to understand this fascinating country. But this conversation offered something different: a view of Bosnia through the eyes of someone who has only ever known the country as it is today.

    Anes loves football, history, his village and the freedom of growing up in the Bosnian countryside.

    He's also passionate about his country's traditions. We talk about folklore, sevdalinka music and why he was so disappointed to hear a traditional Bosnian song reworked using artificial intelligence.

    And although he's growing up in a world of AI and online gaming, he has some surprisingly thoughtful things to say about technology, particularly why he doesn't automatically trust the answers it gives him.

    But our conversation also takes a more serious turn.

    Despite his affection for Bosnia, Anes already imagines that he might eventually leave to find better opportunities abroad. He talks openly about wages, the cost of living and his concerns about the country's future.

    There's something particularly striking about hearing those thoughts from someone so young.

    In this episode, you'll hear about:

    • What Anes enjoys most about growing up in Bosnia and Herzegovina
    • Football, friends and the freedom of village life
    • Why traditional Bosnian music and folklore still matter
    • His reaction to AI-generated versions of sevdalinka
    • How he uses ChatGPT — and why he questions its answers
    • The Bosnia he'd love to show a young visitor from Britain
    • Why he might consider living and working in Germany
    • How online gaming helped him develop his remarkable English

    One of the things that stayed with me from our conversation was the contrast between Anes's love for his country and his uncertainty about whether he'll build his adult life here.

    As he puts it:

    "We've got the culture. We've got the land, the nature. We've got the water. We got everything, but we just don't have the politics."

    This isn't an expert discussion about Bosnia's economy or political system. It's one young person's personal perspective, expressed in his own words.

    And perhaps that's why it's worth hearing.

    My thanks to Anes and his family for making this conversation possible.

    I'd love to hear what you think.

    If you're from Bosnia and Herzegovina, do you recognise some of Anes's hopes and concerns? And if you grew up here but now live abroad, how different was your experience?

    You can find more stories, conversations and reflections on everyday life in Bosnia and Herzegovina at:

    https://anenglishmaninthebalkans.com

    An Englishman in the Balkans — stories of people, places and everyday life from a British resident of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

    An Englishman in the Balkans is a weekly podcast about the people, places and everyday life of Bosnia and Herzegovina, told by David Bailey, who has lived here for more than 25 years. New episodes arrive every Tuesday.

    Thanks for listening. If this episode was worth your time, the best thing you can do is pass it on to someone who'd enjoy it.

    Every episode, and more about my life here, is at anenglishmaninthebalkans.com.

    I also write a short, free weekly newsletter, The Sunday Edition, a recap of my week in Bosnia. If you're not already receiving it, you can join here:

    https://anenglishmaninthebalkanspodcast.substack.com

    Already a subscriber?

    If you don’t want to receive everything I publish, you don’t have to unsubscribe completely.

    Use the unsubscribe or preferences link at the bottom of any email and you can choose which of my newsletters and sections you’d like to receive.

    That way, you can keep the Sunday Edition, for example, while switching off emails from sections you’re less interested in.

    I’d much rather you received only the things you enjoy than felt I was filling up your inbox.
    Show More Show Less
    14 mins
  • The 1969 Banja Luka Earthquake: A Survivor Remembers

    The 1969 Banja Luka Earthquake: A Survivor Remembers
    Nov 1 2026
    On 27 October 1969, a devastating earthquake struck Banja Luka, in what was then Yugoslavia and is now Bosnia and Herzegovina. Buildings collapsed, families fled their homes, and the city was changed forever.But what was it actually like to be there?In this deeply personal episode of An Englishman in the Balkans, I share an extraordinary eyewitness account from my mother-in-law, Hasna, who was just 18 years old when the earthquake struck.She remembers the strange, almost unnatural silence before the shaking began. The terrifying moment when the street seemed to move beneath her feet. The dust, the screams, the confusion, and the desperate search for family and friends.She also remembers what happened afterwards.Families sleeping outdoors, the arrival of humanitarian aid, makeshift accommodation, and the enormous task of rebuilding a shattered city.But perhaps the most moving part of Hasna's story isn't about the earthquake at all.It's about the Banja Luka she remembers before 1969.A city of small neighbourhoods, houses with gardens, and neighbours who always had time to invite you in for coffee. A warmth and sense of community that she feels has gradually disappeared as the city has grown and changed.This is more than the story of an earthquake. It's a personal record of a city, its people, and a way of life that is slowly passing from living memory.Why I'm sharing this story againI originally recorded this conversation two years ago, but I've returned to it for the 57th anniversary of the earthquake.As the people who experienced that day grow older, preserving their memories becomes increasingly important.Hasna's story deserves to be heard, not simply as a piece of local history, but as a reminder that behind every historical event are ordinary people with extraordinary experiences.A note about the English voiceoverHasna originally shared her memories in her own language.For this edition, I've used Descript and AI-assisted technology to make her account accessible to English-speaking listeners, including an AI-generated female voiceover.The English narration is not Hasna's natural voice. It is a translation and voiced presentation of her eyewitness testimony.As an independent podcaster, these tools allow me to preserve and share important personal stories without the resources of a professional production team.The technology may be new, but the memories are real.In this episodeThe terrifying moments of the October 1969 Banja Luka earthquake.Hasna's firsthand memories of the ground shaking beneath her feet.How families survived in the days and weeks after the disaster.The role of radio operators, the Red Cross and community solidarity.How reconstruction transformed Banja Luka.The neighbourhoods, gardens and everyday friendships Hasna remembers.Why preserving eyewitness accounts matters more than ever.A question for youDo you remember the 1969 Banja Luka earthquake? Perhaps your parents or grandparents told you stories about it.Or maybe there's another important moment in history that someone in your family remembers firsthand.I'd love to hear those stories.Because sometimes the most valuable history isn't found in books or archives.It's sitting across the table from us, waiting to be asked.An Englishman in the Balkans is a personal storytelling podcast about Bosnia and Herzegovina, its people, its history, and everyday life through the eyes of a British broadcaster who has made this country his home.An Englishman in the Balkans is a weekly podcast about the people, places and everyday life of Bosnia and Herzegovina, told by David Bailey, who has lived here for more than 25 years. New episodes arrive every Tuesday.Thanks for listening. If this episode was worth your time, the best thing you can do is pass it on to someone who'd enjoy it.Every episode, and more about my life here, is at anenglishmaninthebalkans.com.I also write a short, free weekly newsletter, The Sunday Edition, a recap of my week in Bosnia. If you're not already receiving it, you can join here:https://anenglishmaninthebalkanspodcast.substack.comAlready a subscriber?If you don’t want to receive everything I publish, you don’t have to unsubscribe completely.Use the unsubscribe or preferences link at the bottom of any email and you can choose which of my newsletters and sections you’d like to receive.That way, you can keep the Sunday Edition, for example, while switching off emails from sections you’re less interested in.I’d much rather you received only the things you enjoy than felt I was filling up your inbox.
    Show More Show Less
    25 mins
  • Growing Old Abroad: What Nobody Tells You | Life in Bosnia at 73

    Growing Old Abroad: What Nobody Tells You | Life in Bosnia at 73
    Oct 25 2026

    What is it really like growing old in a foreign country? At 73, after more than 25 years living in Bosnia and Herzegovina, I'm beginning to discover the answers.

    In this unusually personal episode of An Englishman in the Balkans, I take you on a walk around my garden in rural Bosnia and reflect on the realities of ageing abroad, the things nobody really prepares you for.

    I talk openly about changing health, losing some of my physical confidence, navigating healthcare in Bosnia, maintaining independence, and the growing importance of family and community.

    There's also the more difficult question of what happens when I can no longer look after myself. It's something Tamara and I have already discussed, and I'm not afraid to share those thoughts.

    But growing older isn't simply about what we lose. It's also about freedom, curiosity, knowing what matters, and no longer worrying quite so much about what other people think.

    Would I still choose to live in Bosnia rather than return to Britain? Absolutely. But that doesn't mean there aren't challenges.

    This is an honest, unscripted, 28-minute walk-and-talk about retirement abroad, life after 70, belonging, ageing, and finding home in a country that wasn't the one I was born in.

    Because growing older abroad is about much more than pensions, cheaper living, and beautiful scenery. It's about what happens when the life you've chosen meets the realities of getting older.

    An Englishman in the Balkans is a weekly podcast about the people, places and everyday life of Bosnia and Herzegovina, told by David Bailey, who has lived here for more than 25 years. New episodes arrive every Tuesday.

    Thanks for listening. If this episode was worth your time, the best thing you can do is pass it on to someone who'd enjoy it.

    Every episode, and more about my life here, is at anenglishmaninthebalkans.com.

    I also write a short, free weekly newsletter, The Sunday Edition, a recap of my week in Bosnia. If you're not already receiving it, you can join here:

    https://anenglishmaninthebalkanspodcast.substack.com

    Already a subscriber?

    If you don’t want to receive everything I publish, you don’t have to unsubscribe completely.

    Use the unsubscribe or preferences link at the bottom of any email and you can choose which of my newsletters and sections you’d like to receive.

    That way, you can keep the Sunday Edition, for example, while switching off emails from sections you’re less interested in.

    I’d much rather you received only the things you enjoy than felt I was filling up your inbox.
    Show More Show Less
    30 mins
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