Cheers to being different. Cheers to not being mainstream.

Sisters, this episode is one I have been sitting with since we recorded it and I genuinely cannot wait for you to hear it.

My guest today is Tamara Peklic, a cross-cultural coach based in America who spent 15 years figuring out what happens when you take your culture somewhere that does not understand you, and then built a whole career helping others do the same.

We talked for almost 4 hours. 2.5 on air. Across a 9 hour time difference. That is how you know.

In this episode we cover:

Growing up and carrying a whole city inside you when you leave. Landing in America with a masters degree and discovering none of it counts. Being told you are too direct, too loud, too much and what that does to you. How to assimilate without losing yourself. What living in the in-between actually feels like. Love across cultures and what is hard and what is surprisingly easy. Raising children between multiple worlds. Mothering without your village. Why diaspora people find each other no matter where they land. Directness versus rudeness and why passive-aggressive is more socially accepted. How Tamara built her coaching practice from 15 years of lived experience. And yes we played a culture game and Rafa got his shout out.

If you have ever felt too much in the wrong place, this one is for you.

Find Tamara:Instagram: @tamarapeklicYouTube: @tamarapeklicTikTok: @tamarapeklicLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tamarapeklicUS Crash Course: tamarapeklic.com/uscrashcoursePrivate Coaching: whop.com/@tamarapeklic

Find Balkan Sis:Instagram: @ivanastrbacalfonso and @balkansispodcastYouTube: Ivana Strbac AlfonsoTikTok: @ivanastrbacalfonsoFacebook: Ivana Strbac AlfonsoSpotify: Balkan SisApple Podcasts: Balkan Sis

If this episode resonated with you please share it with someone who gets it. Leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. It really does help more sisters find this space.

Zivjeli. Bok. Love, Ivana x

In this powerful and heartfelt episode of Balkan Sis, Ivana sits down with Croatian-born Human Design and Feng Shui practitioner Petra Bezić for a conversation that is equal parts emotional, healing and eye-opening.

Together, they explore what it means to come back to yourself after years of conditioning, people pleasing, overthinking and living by everyone else’s rules. Petra breaks down Human Design in a practical, relatable way and explains how this system can help us better understand our energy, our decision-making, our relationships and the ways we may have drifted away from who we truly are.

This episode speaks especially deeply to women navigating motherhood, migration, identity, culture, burnout and belonging, and to anyone who has ever felt like they’ve had to work hard to prove themselves or constantly stay in survival mode.

Ivana and Petra also talk openly about the Balkan mindset, the pressure to always be doing, the challenge of slowing down, and how powerful it can be to understand not only your own design, but also the design of your partner and children.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, disconnected from yourself, or curious about why certain patterns keep repeating in your life, this episode is a beautiful place to begin.

In this episode, we cover:

• What Human Design actually is and how it works
• How Petra found Human Design after moving from Croatia to Australia
• Why so many Balkan women struggle with rest, softness and trusting themselves
• The difference between living from conditioning and living authentically
• How Human Design can support better decisions and more self-trust
• Why understanding your child’s design can completely change your parenting
• How relationship dynamics can make more sense through Human Design
• Petra’s personal journey through burnout, self-discovery and learning to slow down
• Why not everything you feel is necessarily yours to carry
• How this work can help you reconnect to your body, your energy and your truth
• A little teaser into Petra’s work in Feng Shui, with a part two to come

This episode is for you if:

• You feel disconnected from yourself
• You are always in your head and struggle to slow down
• You’re curious about self-discovery tools that go deeper than surface-level advice
• You want to better understand your child, partner or family dynamics
• You’re navigating motherhood, identity, migration or cultural pressure
• You’re craving more ease, flow and self-acceptance in your life

Connect with Petra Bezić:
Instagram: @petrahumandesign

Petra also shares a special offer for listeners of this episode. If you book a reading with her, she will include a child reading as well. If you do not have children, this can also be used for your partner.

If this episode resonated with you, please share it with someone you love, subscribe to Balkan Sis, and leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. It really helps more women in our community find these conversations.

Books, Babies, Balkan Roots & Big Feelings: A Raw Solo Catch-Up on Life, Legacy & What’s Next - The Life You’re Building While You’re Still Healing

Hey sis 🤍

This is a real, unscripted catch-up episode — no guest, no script, just life lately.

From Easter and family moments to big personal milestones, ancestry, motherhood, and building something meaningful in real time… this episode is a reflection on everything that’s been unfolding behind the scenes.

It’s about showing up anyway, even when things don’t go to plan.
It’s about legacy, identity, and creating a life that feels aligned with who you are becoming.

• Showing up and staying consistent, even when plans fall through
• A powerful “welcoming happiness” message and what it means right now
• The emotional final stages of my children’s book At Baba and Dido’s House
• Growing up as a refugee and how that shapes identity, creativity, and purpose
• Easter at home — traditions, family, and why these moments matter
• A beautiful Easter collaboration with Snežana Čalić
• Celebrating my husband’s 40th birthday and reflecting on nearly 20 years together
• The wild connection of my dad and husband sharing the exact same birthday
• Gratitude, family, and being able to celebrate together after a difficult year
• Motherhood, watching my kids grow, and the real conversations around a third baby
• Building a life that integrates family, business, creativity, and purpose
• My vision for a Balkan women’s masterclass and global community
• A special shoutout to Maida from Radio Most
• Supporting diaspora voices and why community media matters
• My cousin Ivan Knežević and the impact of Entourage Touring
• Why Balkan representation in media and events is growing — and why it matters
• The journey of getting Croatian citizenship for my kids and passing on legacy
• Navigating paperwork, identity, and staying connected to your roots
• Diving deep into ancestry and why documenting your story matters now
• A future episode with Sofija Marić on tracing family history
• Why you should talk to your parents and grandparents while you still can
• The importance of showing up to give, not just take, in your community
• A Croatian returnee survey for those in Australia considering moving back
• Community love for Baba’s Milk and Burek on Wheels
• Upcoming pita workshops and preserving cultural traditions
• Ways to work with me through coaching, podcast ads, and collaborations

This episode is about:

Legacy. Identity. Motherhood. Healing.
Belonging. Community. Creativity. Growth.

It’s about building something meaningful while still figuring it all out.

If you’re Croatian living in Australia and have ever considered moving back — this matters.

📝 Anonymous
📝 Quick to complete
📝 Helps shape real research for our community

👉 https://forms.gle/4vicyFcA1RSgrkb87

If you want to collaborate, promote your business, or work together:

• Podcast ads & sponsorships
• 1:1 coaching for diaspora women
• Upcoming group coaching & masterclasses
• Guest opportunities

📩 Email: [email protected]
📸 Instagram: @balkansispodcast @ivanastrbacalfonso

If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who needs it.

Leave a review, follow the podcast, and help this community grow.

Thank you for being here.
Volim vas. Pusa.

📍 Easter Special Bonus Episode

In this special Easter bonus episode of Balkan Sis, Ivana sits down with MasterChef Australia alum Snežana Calić, a Croatian-born, Serbia-raised food storyteller now living in Australia, to explore the deeper meaning of food, family, and tradition.

From dyeing eggs with onion skins to baking homemade pogača, Snežana shares how her childhood shaped the way she cooks, lives, and raises her own children today. This conversation is a heartfelt reminder of the rituals that connect us across generations, across countries, and across cultures.

Together, we explore what it really means to live between two worlds, how to preserve identity in a modern life, and why food is so much more than what is on the plate.

This episode is a little different, recorded through voice notes and brought together into one intimate conversation, but the message is the same.

Home lives in the small moments, the shared meals, and the traditions we choose to keep alive.

• Easter traditions from the Balkans and how to pass them down

• Growing up between Croatia, Serbia, and Australia

• Why food carries memory, emotion, and identity

• Snežana’s mum’s cooking wisdom, including her go-to base for every dish

• Simple, time-saving cooking tips for busy mums and families

• Getting your kids involved in the kitchen

• Preserving culture while building a life in a new country

This episode celebrates both Western and Orthodox Easter, honouring the beauty of our traditions, rituals, and the time we spend with the people we love.

Snežana Calić is a MasterChef Australia contestant, culinary content creator, and storyteller who blends Mediterranean and Balkan flavours into simple, nourishing meals for modern families.

Born in Croatia, raised in Serbia, and now based in Australia, her cooking is deeply inspired by her roots, especially her mother Mira, whose recipes and wisdom continue to shape everything she creates.

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

LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/snezana-calic-8ba661bb

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

Feature article: https://missingperspectives.com/posts/masterchef-australias-snezana-calic-mother-advice-recipe/

SBS feature: https://www.sbs.com.au/serbian/podcast-episode/snezana-calic

Share it with someone you love. Your mum, your sister, your friend.

Because at the end of the day, it is not just food that brings us together. It is the memories we create around it.

If you love the podcast, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your community.

We are building something special here, one story and one conversation at a time.

There’s something I’ve been thinking about lately…

We grew up being told:

wear socks

don’t sit on cold concrete

don’t go outside with wet hair

eat something warm… have some soup

And somewhere along the way we stopped listening.

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Maz Roginski — Doctor of Chinese Medicine, Qi expert, and a fellow Eastern European sis with Polish roots — to talk about what’s really going on with our health today.

Because so many of us are doing everything right…

and still feel exhausted, overwhelmed, and completely depleted.

Dr. Maz blends ancient Chinese Medicine with modern science to help people restore their life force energy Qi which fuels everything from hormones and metabolism to mental clarity and emotional wellbeing. 

But this conversation goes deeper than that.

We talk about burnout, motherhood, trauma, culture, and the disconnect between how we were raised… and how we’re living now.

From ice baths and modern wellness trends

to the power of rest, warmth, and even something as simple as soup

This is about coming back to ourselves.

• Why women feel constantly exhausted (even when doing everything “right”)

• East vs West: modern health trends vs traditional ways of living

• Burnout, hormones & nervous system overload

• How childhood, culture & trauma shape our health

• Why we’ve become disconnected from our bodies

• The pressure on modern women (and why it’s unsustainable)

• Ice baths, fasting & wellness trends — what actually works?

• The power of warmth, rest & simple rituals

• Practical ways to start reconnecting with your body

🌐 Website

https://drmaz.earth/about/

🎧 Podcast

Balanced Natural Health with Dr. Maz

Listen on Spotify

(Also available on Apple Podcasts)

📸 Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/drmaz_qi/ 

📘 Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/maz.roginski/ 

Maybe we’re not broken.

Maybe we’re just burnt out… disconnected… and running on empty.

And maybe the answers aren’t in doing more —

but in coming back to what we’ve always known.

If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who needs it 🤍

and don’t forget to follow Balkan Sis on your favourite platform.

In this episode of Balkan Sis, I’m trying something a little different.

With guests across the world and time zones that don’t always align, this conversation was recorded in a new format — allowing us to still share powerful stories without missing out on voices that deserve to be heard.

And this one… is a story so many of us will feel.

I’m joined by Michelle Jurić — born and raised in Germany to Balkan parents, who spent most of her life navigating what it means to belong.

Growing up, Michelle shares what it felt like to be seen as an outsider — the subtle discrimination, the pressure to prove herself, and how that quietly shaped her identity.

At just 18, she made a life-changing move to Australia. What started as six months turned into over five years — a period where she experienced freedom, began her healing journey, explored spirituality, and reconnected with herself.

Through therapy and self-work, she also began to understand her parents differently — unpacking generational trauma, building boundaries, and finding forgiveness.

From the outside, it looked like she had built a dream life.

But internally… something was missing.

Despite the lifestyle and independence, Michelle speaks openly about the loneliness of being far from family, the stress of visa uncertainty, and the moment she realised that success on paper didn’t equal fulfilment.

So she made another bold decision — to leave it all behind and move to Croatia.

We dive into what that transition really looked like — the beauty of being close to family and community, but also the challenges: family dynamics, cultural differences, being misunderstood, and navigating spirituality in a more traditional environment.

Michelle also shares a powerful perspective on privilege — through the lens of her parents’ sacrifices and everything they endured to create opportunities for the next generation.

This episode is about identity, courage, and coming back to yourself.

Because sometimes… home isn’t a place.

It’s a feeling you spend your whole life searching for.

• Growing up in Germany and feeling like an outsider

• Moving to Australia at 18 and starting over

• Healing, therapy, and reconnecting with yourself

• Generational trauma and forgiveness

• Building a “dream life” — and still feeling empty

• Loneliness, visa stress, and emotional turning points

• Leaving Australia and choosing uncertainty

• Why Croatia — and why not Germany

• Community, connection, and redefining home

• Family boundaries and cultural friction

• Spirituality and being misunderstood

• Privilege and our parents’ sacrifices

• Advice for anyone feeling stuck

00:00 Welcome & Subscribe

00:48 New Interview Format

02:16 Meet Michelle & Theme

03:24 Growing Up in Germany

08:12 Outsider to People Pleaser

09:22 Moving to Australia

13:28 Healing & Freedom

18:07 Generational Trauma

21:12 Dream Life Missing Family

26:34 Turning Points

29:28 Everyday Moments

33:33 Why Croatia

36:29 Leaving Australia

39:06 Why Not Germany

41:02 Community in Croatia

44:00 Redefining Home

45:54 Family & Boundaries

50:36 Spirituality

53:14 Privilege

57:23 Advice

01:00:43 Risk Worth It

01:03:05 Younger Self

01:04:59 Creating Home Within

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michelle.juric/

Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unleash-align/id1871267238

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@michelle.juric

If this episode resonated with you, send it to someone who’s been questioning their life, their path, or where they truly belong. You’re not alone in that feeling. And you’re not crazy for wanting something more.

🎙️ Balkan Sis – Episode 50 (Pt. 2)

Part 2 of this conversation shifts into something deeper.

This is where Frankie steps fully into her own voice.

From navigating motherhood on her own terms to choosing a home birth despite societal pressure, this episode is about what it really means to trust yourself — even when it goes against what’s expected.

Frankie opens up about living with a more traditional mindset in a modern world, and the tension that can come with choosing a path that others don’t always understand.

They talk about:

• The reality of birth choices and why no one should dictate how or where a woman gives birth

• Reclaiming power through motherhood and trusting your instincts

• Living in alignment vs living to please others

• The pressure of societal expectations — and what it takes to break away from them

• Relationships, communication, and the truth behind “being right vs being together”

• Why finding your people matters more than fitting in

• The idea that if you haven’t found your tribe yet — keep going

• And the belief that there is “one good Frankie” out there for everyone

This episode is honest, grounding, and deeply empowering — especially for women navigating identity, motherhood, and the courage to choose a life that actually feels right.

00:00 Home Birth & Rights

00:14 Choosing Your Birth Experience

00:23 Traditional Mindset in a Modern World

00:29 The “New Aussie Dream”

00:32 Disappointing Others vs Yourself

00:36 Being Right vs Being in a Relationship

00:41 Finding Your Tribe

00:47 There’s a “Frankie” for Everyone

Franka offers online yoga, movement, and breathwork classes designed to help you reconnect with your body and slow down — no matter where you are in the world.

• Website: https://www.eyogahub.com/ 

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eyogahub/

• Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/eqmhub/?locale=af_ZA

• Facebook Community Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2240375919604435?locale=af_ZA

Her work focuses on creating a space where people can move, breathe, and reconnect — with options including online classes and small group sessions. 

If Part 1 was about your shared past…

Part 2 is about choosing your future.

If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who is learning to trust themselves — even when it feels uncomfortable.

This episode is a special one.

For the 50th episode of Balkan Sis, Ivana sits down with someone who has been part of her life for over two decades — her best friend, her soul sister, Franka “Frankie” Batinic.

From meeting as young girls at Bellevue Park Primary School on the Gold Coast, to navigating life across countries, cultures, and completely different seasons — this is a story about a friendship that never really left.

In Part 1, Ivana and Frankie take it back to where it all began.

They talk about what it was like growing up as Balkan girls in Australia, feeling both connected and out of place at the same time, and how their bond formed so naturally from such a young age.

Franka shares her early life between Croatia and Australia, her independent path from a young age, and the cultural expectations that shaped her decisions. The two reflect on losing touch, staying connected through letters, and what it felt like to find each other again years later — picking up right where they left off.

They also open up about living together in Australia, navigating boundaries, growth, and becoming women in their own right, while still holding onto the friendship that grounded them.

This episode touches on identity, belonging, timing, and the quiet strength of friendships that evolve but never break.

00:00 Welcome to Balkan Sis

00:55 50th Episode Toast

01:38 Meet Franka “Frankie”

03:21 How We Met

05:11 Moving to the Gold Coast

08:03 Early Life & Transitions

10:30 Losing Touch & Letters

11:29 Life in Croatia & Return

15:50 Cultural Conditioning & Expectations

19:09 Reconnecting in Australia

22:33 Living Together Era

26:00 Learning Boundaries

27:28 Discovering Yoga

31:31 Why It Felt So Different

32:43 First Session Experience

33:42 Breaking Old Beliefs

35:16 Letting Go & Trust

37:20 Love & Big Life Decisions

44:26 Long Distance Relationship

46:10 Work, Travel & Growth

50:34 Leaving Australia Before COVID

52:24 Citizenship & Lockdown Impact

54:48 Goodbyes & Missed Moments

59:38 Wrap Up

In Part 2, Frankie shares her journey into motherhood, building a life in Croatia, running an online business, and navigating what it truly means to live between two worlds.

If you feel called to slow down, reconnect, and move your body in a more intentional way, you can find Frankie here:

• Website: https://www.eyogahub.com/

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eyogahub/

• Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/eqmhub/?locale=af_ZA

• Facebook Community Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2240375919604435?locale=af_ZA

Franka offers online yoga and movement classes designed to support both body and mind — wherever you are in the world.

If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who has been part of your story — through distance, time, and every season in between.

✨ Part 2 Coming Next🌿

In this special bonus episode of Balkan Sis, I’m sharing powerful voice notes from Dr Selma Music, a clinical psychologist, neuroscientist and trauma specialist.

This is a deeply honest and reflective conversation around motherhood, culture and emotional wellbeing, especially through the lens of Balkan women and migrant families.

We talk about the realities of motherhood — beyond the highlight reel — and what it actually feels like to carry the emotional, mental and physical load of raising children while still navigating your own life, identity and past.

This episode explores:

• the emotional load of motherhood and what many women carry silently

• the transition into motherhood, including birth, postpartum and identity shifts

• how our childhood, family dynamics and generational history shape how we parent

• Balkan motherhood and the cultural expectations placed on women

• intergenerational patterns, trauma and resilience

• emotional regulation and how our nervous system responds to stress

• relationships and marriages during the child-raising years

• the pressure of “holding it all together” and what that actually costs us

• the invisible labour mothers carry within the family

• how self-sacrifice can lead to exhaustion, resentment and disconnection

• the importance of self-care in realistic, everyday ways

• small, practical ways to look after yourself without overwhelm

• reconnecting with yourself outside of motherhood

• modelling emotional health and boundaries for our children

This episode is a reminder that:

You can love your children deeply

and still feel overwhelmed

You can be strong

and still need support

You can give to your family

and still choose yourself too

Motherhood is not about losing yourself —

it’s about learning how to include yourself in your life again.

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/dr.selma_music/

Website

https://www.drselmamusic-psychology.com/

Podcast (The Cultured Cortex)

https://www.instagram.com/theculturedcortex/

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/ivanastrbacalfonso

TikTok

https://www.tiktok.com/@ivanastrbacalfonso

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/ivanastrbacalfonso

Pinterest

https://www.pinterest.com/ivanastrbacalfonso

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/balkansispodcast

Listen on Spotify

https://open.spotify.com/show/6ZSNzqbKrcyDepOmT7WmDH

In this episode of Balkan Sis, I’m opening up about something that recently happened to me.

I received a message criticising my podcast, my guests and the way I show up online.

And instead of ignoring it, I decided to talk about it.

Because this isn’t just about one comment.

It’s about what happens when you use your voice, especially in spaces where people expect you to stay quiet or fit into a certain box.

In this episode, I share my thoughts on:

• navigating criticism, especially within our own community

• the pressure to conform and be “acceptable”

• standing by my guests and the stories shared on this platform

• different opinions around Balkan identity, culture and language

• building something meaningful without needing everyone’s approval

• setting boundaries and protecting my energy

I created Balkan Sis to share stories, connect people and give women in our community a space to be seen and heard.

That doesn’t mean I will silence myself or others to make everyone comfortable.

This isn’t a free-for-all space, but it is a space for expression, connection and real conversations.

I know not everyone will agree with me.

And that’s okay.

But I will always stand by my work, my guests and my voice.

If you’re building something, sharing your story or stepping into your voice, this episode is for you.

Keep going.

Even when it’s uncomfortable.

Especially then.

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/ivanastrbacalfonso

TikTok

https://www.tiktok.com/@ivanastrbacalfonso

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/ivanastrbacalfonso

Pinterest

https://www.pinterest.com/ivanastrbacalfonso

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/balkansispodcast

Listen on Spotify

https://open.spotify.com/show/6ZSNzqbKrcyDepOmT7WmDH