A Coffee in the Accursed Mountains

18/09/2023

Our latest podcast episode, on why Musine still matters: Musine Kokalari (1917 - 1983) was Albania's first woman writer to be published, created a political party, and dared to speak out for pluralism when her country was falling to Communism. She spent nearly 40 years in imprisonment and internment, writing alone. Nashi Brooker, who herself experienced the dictatorship, talked to us about why Musine still matters - find the podcast on Apple podcasts, Google podcasts, Spotify or on the link in comments

08/05/2023

'The bandit woman and the businesswomen' The latest episode of our podcast is now out at https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/1410061.rss where Ilire Lepaja tells us about why her business, Ilire Lepaja Postcards sold out of the products commemorating Shote Galica, and what a woman who took up a gun 100 years ago means for Kosovan women entrepreneurs today. Find the podcast on Spotify. Apple podcasts, Google podcasts and beyond.

08/01/2022

'The one with the Ashkali karateist who can...' the latest episode is out now, sharing the inspiring story of Sabile Gashi who's trained her way to international karate success, and paid it forward to the young people of her community. Also featuring Jeta Lepaja's great voiceover, this is 13 minutes to start 2022 on the right foot! Hear Sabile's story at https://www.buzzsprout.com/1410061/9835335 or on Apple podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts

30/09/2021

'The one with the Kosovan train': the latest episode of A Coffee in the Accursed Mountains is now out. Robert Wilton and Elizabeth Gowing clank through beautiful countryside, and through time, on one of Prishtina’s two daily trains: an adventure for Edith Durham 120 years ago, a horror in the 1999 war, and now part of Kosovo’s European future – if you have a visa. Podcast available on Apple podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Listen here https://www.buzzsprout.com/1410061/9278802

04/07/2021

New episode is out! What do you do as the daughter of a King known as 'the father-in-law of Europe' when you don't want to get married? Princess Ksenia (1881-1960) of Montenegro found a way. Hear the inspiring story of the role she created for herself through photography in the latest episode of our podcast. 22 minutes long, available at https://www.buzzsprout.com/1410061/8771235 or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify - or wherever you get your podcasts. [Credit for this fab photo of the Princess below]

24/03/2021

'The one with Pomegranate and Steel: a taste of Albanian names' The latest (16-minute) episode of our podcast is out. How do you choose a name for your child? Who is being honoured in the first names Villson, Tonibler and Marenglen? Meet Homeland (pictured here in a photograph from last year) and the Swallow and other beautifully-named Albanians, and hear the stories behind what they are called. Listen at https://www.buzzsprout.com/1410061/episodes/8186365 , on Apple podcasts or Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. With Robert Wilton

08/02/2021

The latest episode of our podcast, A Coffee in the Accursed Mountains, is now live. It features an interview with Bekim Xhemili of the Muzeu Etnologjik - Ethnological Museum, Prishtinë - Kosovo's number 1 attraction on TripAdvisor. Have you been there yet? This is Bekim's story of how the team at the museum have developed this wonderful site of collective memory. And where the word 'odalisque' comes from. Find the podcast at https://www.buzzsprout.com/1410061/7723315 or on Spotify, Apple podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts
[Photo from Ethnological Museum page with thanks]

27/10/2020

Have you subscribed, rated and reviewed on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts? Thanks so much for your support!

25/10/2020

Our first episode is now live. It's The One with the Mountain Tea. 15 minutes on what you can tell about an Albanian from the type of caj mali he drinks, what exactly these herbal teas mean to the Albanian economy, and what you should never do with your teaspoon... https://player.fm/series/a-coffee-in-the-accursed-mountains

Stories of Balkan life and culture from the countries bordered by the Accursed Mountains - Kosovo, Albania and Montenegro