What does it take to turn personal memories into powerful theatre?

In this episode of the ALSA UK Podcast, we sit down with Loresa Leka, an actress, writer, and performer whose bold storytelling has captured national stages and now, our hearts.

From navigating identity in the diaspora to writing her award-winning play Teapot Troubles, Loresa opens up about her creative process, the legacy of her family’s journey, and the reality of making space in an industry that doesn’t always make room.

This episode is for anyone creating their own path in the arts, and especially for those who know what it means to carry more than one home in their story.

You’ll hear about:

– How her family’s stories became the foundation of her art

– What it felt like to see Albanian culture at the National Theatre

– Translating the Kosovo war into personal, creative memory

– The emotional challenges of putting on her first solo play

– Advice for young creatives navigating doubt and identity

📌 Chapters

00:00 – Introduction to Loresa Leka

01:19 – The Creative Path: From Music to Theatre

04:33 – Identity and Storytelling: The Albanian Influence

08:24 – The Impact of Family on Creative Expression

11:22 – Navigating Identity as a Young Albanian

15:18 – The Dual Role: Writing and Acting in Citizen

17:31 – Emotional Depth in Performance: The Heart of Citizen

21:26 – Cultural Pride and Integration: A Balancing Act

24:17 – Teapot Troubles: A Milestone in Recognition

29:47 – From Table Read to Production

32:15 – Adapting for Audio: A Creative Challenge

35:16 – Translating History into Personal Narratives

39:40 – Navigating the Creative Industry: Struggles and Growth

44:48 – The Importance of Community in the Arts

47:22 – Embracing the Process: Advice for Aspiring Artists

51:16 – Lessons Learned: Trusting the Creative Journey

55:08 – What’s Next: Upcoming Projects and Aspirations

🎯 Watch this if you want to: Understand how lived experience becomes theatre Learn what it takes to write, act, and produce your own work Hear real talk about rejection, resilience, and representation Be inspired by a young creative writing her own future

👤 Connect with Loresa Leka

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loresa_leka/

🎭 A Womans Truth: https://camdenfringe.com/events/a-womans-truth/

🎭 Camden Fringe Shows: https://camdenfringe.com/

🔗 Follow ALSA UK

🌐 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/alsauk

👥 Join the ALSA UK Community: https://www.alsauk.co.uk/membership

📸 Instagram: www.instagram.com/alsa_uk_/

📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCow0hd01cvfIJ8Cvd92n8Rg

🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/76KXivr...📩

Email: [email protected]

What does it mean to come back, not just to a place, but to yourself?In this episode of the ALSA UK Podcast, we sit down with Ariana Krasniqi, a communicator, strategist, and one of the most thoughtful voices in the Albanian diaspora. Ariana returned to Kosova to take part in the Citizen Diplomacy Fellowship, helping to shape how her country is seen by the world.From her early career in Denmark to working with Kosovo’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ariana shares the deeply personal and strategic journey behind her return. We talk identity, media, purpose, and what it means to tell your story before someone else does.You’ll hear about:Why she left a stable career abroad to return “home”What it really means to be a citizen diplomatHow storytelling can rebrand a countryThe balance between vulnerability and strategy onlineHer message to young diaspora navigating multiple identities📌 Chapters00:00 – Introduction to Ariana Krasniqi02:42 – Returning to Kosovo: A Long-Awaited Homecoming05:07 – Navigating Professional Roots in Kosovo06:23 – Citizen Diplomacy Fellowship: Bridging Cultures08:57 – Challenges and Wins in Shaping Kosovo's Image11:05 – Moments of Inspiration During the Fellowship11:16 – Ariana's Diverse Career Path12:21 – Skills from Denmark Applied in Kosovo14:14 – Content Creation: Authentic Storytelling18:18 – Connecting with Albanian Communities Abroad25:47 – Preserving Cultural Heritage Through Content Creation27:11 – Navigating Identity in a Globalized World28:47 – Becoming a Cultural Bridge for the Diaspora31:03 – The Journey of Moving Back to Kosovo33:02 – Changing Perspectives on Returning Home39:33 – The Role of Emotion in Modern Diplomacy41:48 – Overcoming Negativity in Content Creation43:32 – Living in the Present and Embracing Change45:30 – Taking the Leap: Moving Back to Your Roots49:17 – Future Aspirations and New Opportunities🎯 Watch this if you want to:Understand what returning to Kosova feels like after 30 years awayLearn how storytelling can change political narrativesSee how identity is shaped through movement, work, and cultureHear real advice for speaking up online with authenticity👤 Connect with Ariana Krasniqi:🌐 All Links: https://lnk.bio/arianakra📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arianakra/🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@arianakra🔗 Follow ALSA UK:🌐 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/alsauk👥 Join the ALSA UK Community: https://www.alsauk.co.uk/membership📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alsa_uk_/📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TeaWithALSA🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/76KXivrg70p7E87L2cF2wD📩 Email: [email protected]

What does it really mean to engage the diaspora? Not just through remittances, but through identity, innovation, and long-term impact.In this episode of Tea with ALSA, we speak with Lirim Krasniqi, Co-Executive Director at GERMIN, one of the leading organisations working to connect the Western Balkans with its global diaspora.We explore how migration has shaped our collective story, how programmes like OriginAL are reconnecting second and third generations with their roots, and why the average diaspora member has more to offer than just donations.🎧 Whether you’re part of the diaspora, working in development, or curious about how we build bridges across borders, this episode is for you.📌 Chapters00:00 – Introduction: Who is Lirim Krasniqi02:40 – Why diaspora, migration and development became his purpose06:00 – Studying at CEU, time in Romania and early leadership lessons10:20 – How history of migration drives GERMIN’s mission14:10 – The meaning of diaspora as soft power18:40 – From remittances to investment, real examples of impact22:00 – How the diaspora can engage beyond sending money26:10 – Diaspora voting and why it matters more than ever32:00 – How the OriginAL Programme was created37:30 – What it means to witness the impact of OriginAL42:00 – Why sponsors support OriginAL and what they value in it47:30 – The importance of business and investment from the diaspora50:50 – Identity, generation gaps and preserving our culture56:00 – What diaspora youth misunderstand about home01:01:00 – The power of “Unofficial Ambassadors” today01:05:30 – What gives Lirim hope for the future💡 You’ll learn:✅ What meaningful diaspora engagement really looks like✅ How GERMIN is shaping policy, programmes and participation✅ Why youth-focused initiatives like OriginAL work✅ What governments can do better✅ How to build identity while living across borders👤 Connect with Lirim Krasniqi:🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lirimkrasniqi/🌐 GERMIN: https://germin.org/🌍 OriginAL Website: https://origin-al.org/📸 OriginAL Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/originalbanian/?hl=en-gb🔗 Follow ALSA UK:🌐 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/alsauk👥 Join the ALSA UK Community: https://www.alsauk.co.uk/membership📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alsa_uk_/📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TeaWithALSA🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/76KXivrg70p7E87L2cF2wD📩 Email: [email protected]

Alice Taylor: The Journalist Who Made Albania Her Home

What happens when a three-day holiday turns into a lifetime commitment?

Alice Taylor visited Albania in 2017, and never left. In this powerful episode of Tea with ALSA UK, we sit down with the British-born journalist who has become one of Albania’s most recognisable storytellers.

Now a naturalised Albanian citizen, Alice shares the deeply personal and political reasons behind her move, her career in journalism, and what it means to belong somewhere new. From raising a daughter in Albania to covering corruption, culture, and democracy, this is a conversation about roots, resilience, and rewriting the narrative from within.

You’ll hear about:

Her unexpected move from Malta to Albania

The cultural challenges and joys of living in Tirana

Building a journalism career as a foreigner in the Balkans

Publishing Inside Albania and why it matters

What the diaspora needs to understand about today’s Albania

Her advice for others who feel caught between countries, cultures, or careers

📌 Chapters:

00:00 – Intro: Who is Alice Taylor?

01:42 – Moving to Albania: A 3-Day Trip That Changed Everything

04:00 – Family, Identity & Reactions from Back Home

07:10 – Studying Law, Working in Malta & Finding Journalism

09:40 – Why Do We Talk About Diaspora So Much? (Migration History)

13:00 – The Early Culture Shocks in Albania

17:30 – Documenting Her Life on Social Media

20:00 – Advice on Sharing Your Story Online

23:00 – Journalism in Albania: Building Trust & Covering Tough Stories

27:00 – Why She Created Inside Albania on Euronews

30:20 – One Story That Stuck With Her

33:30 – Writing Inside Albania: Process & Personal Meaning

37:00 – The Role of Her Earlier Books on North Albania

39:40 – How Language Transformed Her Life in Albania

42:00 – Raising Her Daughter in Albania vs the UK

45:30 – Misconceptions Diaspora Have About Albania

48:10 – Underreported Issues Foreign Media Misses

51:00 – What Albanians Themselves Don’t Realise

53:30 – Advice to Diaspora Thinking About Moving Back

56:00 – Final Reflections: Home, Identity & the Power of Storytelling

🎯 Watch this if you want to:

Learn what it’s really like to move to Albania from abroad

Understand the complexities of identity, citizenship, and cultural belonging

Hear how journalism can shape national narratives

Get inspired to live boldly, even if it’s not what you planned

👤 Connect with Alice Taylor:

📚 Buy her new book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0F9B5FQRM

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aliceopheliataylor/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aliceinalbania/?hl=en-gb

🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@alice.in.albania

🌍 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/aliceinalbania

🔗 Follow ALSA UK:

🌐 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/alsauk

👥 Join the ALSA UK Community: https://www.alsauk.co.uk/membership

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alsa_uk_/

📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TeaWithALSA

🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/76KXivrg70p7E87L2cF2wD

📩 Email: [email protected]

Would you set your CV on fire in a job interview? Emir Allen did, and it worked.In this episode of Tea with ALSA UK, Emir shares his unbelievable journey from arriving in the UK with no safety net to selling his first tech company to James Caan of Dragon’s Den. We dive into his time on the trading floor at Citi during the 2008 financial crash, the infamous job interview that changed his life, and how he went on to build and scale businesses across banking, recruitment, and Web3.This is a story about risk, reinvention, and redefining success. From balancing spreadsheets in rainbow colours to building a crypto-powered vision for Albania’s future, Emir speaks candidly about lessons learned, overcoming stigma, and the power of showing up as yourself.You’ll learn:• How bold moves create life-changing opportunities• Lessons from surviving one of the worst financial crashes in history• How to stand out in cutthroat industries like banking and recruitment• What it takes to build and sell a startup with no safety net• The power of giving back and building legacy over wealth• Why Albania could become the “Dubai of Europe” in Web3 innovation📌 Chapters: 00:00 Intro – Who is Emir Allen? 02:04 From Immigrant to Investment Banking 04:50 Setting His CV on Fire at Citi 08:20 Surviving the 2008 Crash 12:10 Why He Left Banking After 6 Months 14:30 Building His First Business at Uni 17:20 Falling Into Recruitment and Field Sales 20:40 Why Recruitment Is the Toughest Sales Game 23:10 How to Stand Out in Service-Based Industries 26:30 Why He Never Overpromises (and Never Misses) 29:10 The Sale to James Caan 32:00 How Luck Meets Relentless Action 34:00 Writing His First Book: Just Us 2 36:00 Relationships, Energy, and the 33% Rule 39:00 Giving Back, Legacy, and Living With Purpose 42:00 Building a Web3 Incubator in the UAE 45:00 Why He’s Turning Albania Into the “Dubai of Europe” 48:00 Crypto, Blockchain & the Balkans Crypto 2025 Vision 52:00 Misconceptions About Albania – And the Truth 55:00 Emir’s Top Book Recommendations 57:00 What Every Person Should Do in Their Lifetime🎯 Listen if you want to:• Learn how to stand out, even in the most competitive industries• Understand how to build and sell businesses from scratch• Discover the hidden opportunities in Albania and the Balkans• Hear an unfiltered story of ambition, resilience, and impact👤 Connect with Emir Allen: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emir-allen/ Balkans Crypto: https://www.linkedin.com/company/balkans-crypto/🔗 Follow ALSA UK: Linktree: https://linktr.ee/alsauk Join the ALSA UK Community: https://www.alsauk.co.uk/membership Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alsa_uk_/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TeaWithALSA Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/76KXivrg70p7E87L2cF2wD?si=20a217c2d9d847db Email: [email protected]

Is leaving a high-paying job worth it? Arta Ramaj thought so, and she did it without a finance degree.

From waitressing tables on Oxford Street to founding a thriving financial strategy firm, Arta shares how she broke into finance in the most unconventional way, what financial modelling actually means, and why leaving a comfortable 9–5 was the best decision she ever made.

In this episode, Arta reveals how she battled imposter syndrome, landed her first finance job without formal experience, and why discipline, not passion, is the real key to success.

You’ll learn:

• How to break into an industry with no traditional background

• Why job-hopping helped her find her true career path

• The real meaning behind financial modelling

• How to spot red flags in startup businesses

• Building a boutique brand without investors

• Why most people misunderstand personal finance

📌 Chapters:

00:00 Intro – Who is Arta Ramaj?

02:04 From Human Geography to Finance

04:50 How Waitressing Helped Her Land a Finance Job

08:20 Breaking Into Finance Without a Degree

10:38 Why Job-Hopping Helped Shape Her Career

13:20 Leaving a Toxic Job to Start 360 Finance

16:10 What Financial Modelling Actually Means

20:40 Red & Green Flags in Startup Finances

26:00 Finding the Right Clients — And When to Pivot

33:00 Dealing With Founder Ego

38:00 What Arta Looks For When Hiring

42:00 Learning Sales Without Being “Salesy”

47:00 Is Crypto a Scam?

51:00 Is There Hope for the UK Economy?

54:00 What Social Media Gets Wrong About Finance

59:00 Arta’s Top 3 Personal Finance Tips

1:04:00 Book Recommendations & Final Thoughts

🎯 Listen if you want to:

• Learn how to leave the 9–5 and build your own business

• Understand the reality of financial modelling and startup life

• Get better at spotting financial risks early

• Hear a real journey of entrepreneurship without a finance degree

🔗 Connect with Arta:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/artaramaj/

Business: https://www.three6ixtyfinance.com/

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/alsauk

Join the ALSA UK Community: https://www.alsauk.co.uk/membership

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alsa_uk_/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TeaWithALSA

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/76KXivrg70p7E87L2cF2wD?si=20a217c2d9d847db

Email: [email protected]

In this episode, Dite Gashi discusses his journey in the Web3 ecosystem, focusing on his startup Web3Wiz, which aims to simplify the development of decentralized applications. He emphasizes the importance of solving real problems in startups, the transition from tech to sales, and the significance of community building. The conversation also explores the future of blockchain technology, the role of AI, and the entrepreneurial landscape in Europe, particularly in Albania and Kosovo. Dite shares valuable insights on networking, the challenges of bureaucracy in Europe, and offers book recommendations for aspiring entrepreneurs.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Web3 and Dite Gashi02:59 The Need for Problem-Solving in Startups05:56 The Evolution of No-Code Solutions in Web308:53 Navigating the Transition from Tech to Sales and Marketing11:51 Guerrilla Marketing Tactics for Startups14:42 The Future of Blockchain: Challenges and Opportunities18:02 The Role of AI in Enhancing Blockchain Transparency20:47 The Societal Impact of Blockchain and Trust Dynamics32:56 Trust and Entrepreneurship: A Shift in Perspective36:34 The Bureaucratic Burden: Challenges in Europe38:52 Innovation vs. Regulation: European Dilemma42:01 The Rise of Young Entrepreneurs46:33 The Importance of Safety Nets49:19 Opportunities in the Balkans51:46 Navigating Change in Albania54:52 Books for Entrepreneurs: Wisdom for the Next Generation

Join us in Episode 19 as we dive into the inspiring journey of Kanita , the Co-founder and CEO of Browniegod. From humble beginnings in her home kitchen, Kanita transformed her passion for baking into a successful business that has captured the hearts (and taste buds) of dessert lovers across the country.In this episode, you'll hear Kanita's story of entrepreneurship, innovation, and perseverance. Discover how she navigated the challenges of scaling from a small home operation to a national powerhouse, the strategies she employed to maintain quality and authenticity, and her vision for the future of Browniegod.Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a foodie, or someone who loves a good success story, this episode is packed with valuable insights and inspiration.Links: https://browniegod.com/Tune in to learn how passion and dedication can turn a dream into a nationwide phenomenon. Don't miss it!

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Jasin, the founder of Naked Chips and G&G Potatoes, a thriving potato chip company that has taken the food industry by storm. Despite dropping out of university, Jasin has defied expectations and achieved remarkable success in the business world.