Online Radio and Digital Resistance in the South Caucasus (Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan)
An Englishman in the Balkans
08/07/25
•30m
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From Tbilisi to Baku—stories of activism, hope, and media freedom in Azerbaijan and Georgia.
In this special episode, I take you back to Tbilisi, Georgia, one year after my initial media training visit in 2015.
This time, I reconnect with some of the passionate individuals I first met and sit down with new voices who are using online radio and digital media to challenge the status quo in the South Caucasus.
You’ll hear from Zamira, a fearless advocate for digital activism in Azerbaijan, as well as two other remarkable change-makers working to empower youth, promote gender equality, and give ethnic Azerbaijani communities a voice.
Often in places where being heard isn’t easy.
These reflective conversations reveal the power of independent media in regions where mainstream narratives often fall short.
It’s a story of creativity, courage, and connection.
One broadcast at a time.
🎧 Whether you’re interested in media freedom, cross-cultural collaboration, or just love human stories that matter, this episode is for you.
Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed this episode, you can support the podcast by leaving a review or buying me a coffee, it really does help keep things going.
Want to hear more or catch up on past episodes? Visit anenglishmaninthebalkans
For a deeper look into life here in the Balkans, check out my Blog at Coffee and Rakija.
Find us on ALL podcatchers at: PODLINK
Until next time — stay curious.
Previous Episode
In this episode, I take you far from my usual home in the Balkans, back to Ethiopia in 2012, where I was invited to help launch two newly licensed university-based community radio stations at Haramaya and Hawassa Universities.
Armed with years of broadcast experience and what I thought was a solid plan, I was ready to deliver media training on presentation techniques and programme structure. But I quickly discovered that I wasn’t just there to teach, I was there to learn.
This short story explores the challenges of building radio schedules from scratch in a multilingual, multicultural setting. It reflects on working with students who had never spoken into a microphone before, and on learning how to frame a story with empathy, often through tea breaks, laughter, and shared silence when someone froze mid-sentence on air.
You’ll hear about:
The raw talent and eagerness of the students in Haramaya and Hawassa.
How we built radio programming from nothing into something truly meaningful.
The quiet power of local storytelling in shaping identity, belonging, and community.
More than a behind-the-scenes look at training future broadcasters, this is a story of mutual respect, adaptation, and the crackling energy of change on the airwaves.
Whether you’ve worked in radio or simply tuned into your local station, this one’s for anyone who believes in the power of voice, authentic, community-driven, and deeply human.
🎧 So grab a cuppa, and join me from a dusty studio in Ethiopia to the quiet rhythms of life back here in northern Bosnia.
Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed this episode, you can support the podcast by leaving a review or buying me a coffee, it really does help keep things going.
Want to hear more or catch up on past episodes? Visit anenglishmaninthebalkans
For a deeper look into life here in the Balkans, check out my Blog at Coffee and Rakija.
Find us on ALL podcatchers at: PODLINK
Until next time — stay curious.
Next Episode
Why I Don’t Talk Politics in Bosnia and Herzegovina
August 8, 2025
•6m
For sometime now I have become a permanent resident of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
This podcast episode isn’t about the beauty of the Vrbas river or where to find the best ćevapi (although there’s plenty of that on this channel). It’s about why, despite living here for over two decades, I choose not to talk publicly about politics.
Now don’t get me wrong. I am interested. I follow what’s happening. I see how decisions impact everyday life. But I also know, deeply, that this isn’t my country. And with that comes responsibility: to observe, not interfere. To listen, not judge.
When friends and visitors ask me about the conflict, the three presidents, or the state of the country today, I tell them what I can. But the truth? The truth depends on who you ask.
Bosnia and Herzegovina is many things. Complicated. Fragmented. Yes, dysfunctional. But also endlessly generous, rich in stories, and deeply human. It’s a living archive of history, culture, pain, pride, and resilience.
In this episode, I reflect on the minefield of discussing politics as a foreigner, the legacy of the Dayton Agreement, and why it’s better to explore Bosnia through its people, not its politics.
If you’re curious about this beautiful, complex place, watch, listen, and maybe even plan your own journey to this heart-shaped land.
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