In this episode, we dive into the inspiring journey of Marica Strazmester, a two-time Olympic swimmer who represented Serbia on the global stage. Marica opens up about her childhood introduction to swimming, the passion that fueled her to continue, and the relentless mentality required to become a professional athlete. From her Olympic debut in 2000 in Sydney to one of swimming’s greatest comebacks—qualifying for the 2008 Beijing Games with just one year of training—she shares the grit, discipline, and coaching that shaped her success. A Serbian record-holder in the 100-meter backstroke, Marica reflects on her competitive years, her life between the Games, and her transition to coaching in countries like Spain and the USA. Now running her own swimming academy - Pro Aquatics Academy, she reveals the diet, habits, and mindset that keep her thriving, offering a masterclass in resilience and purpose for athletes and dreamers alike.

IG: maricastrazmester2808
IG: proaquaticsacademy
www.proaquaticsacademy.com

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Nemanja "Neman" Golubovic joins us on the podcast.  Neman is the CEO and Founder of restaurant "Kale My Name", and host of "Kale Krew", a television series on UnchainedTV, which has been nominated for five Taste Awards, including Best Food Program.  His hard work also got him nominated for Favorite Vegan Instagramer by VegNews.  Can't forget his "Extraordinary With Neman" Podcast, where he shines a light on people with extraordinary stories.

In our podcast, we delved into several aspects of his life and career. We discussed his difficult experiences growing up as a gay man in Montenegro, including his decision to come out in his twenties and how his family reacted to this revelation. Neman shared his journey through various countries like Spain, France, Norway, Qatar, and Mexico, enriching his worldview and personal growth.

He expressed his deep affection for America, detailing his process of obtaining citizenship. We talked about his initial foray into the workforce in the U.S., starting as a host in a restaurant, and how he ascended to the position of manager. Leveraging this experience, combined with his profound love for animals, he decided to open "Kale My Name," a vegan restaurant in Chicago that has since garnered numerous industry accolades.

Neman explained his transition to veganism, what motivated this lifestyle choice, and how his life improved, as he puts it, since eliminating death from his plate.  He shed light on the harsh realities of animal agriculture.  Additionally, we explored the health benefits of veganism and how it has contributed to his well-being.

IG: nekacgolubovic
IG: kalemyname  
YouTube (podcast): Extraordinary With Neman 

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In Episode 30 we welcome Luka 'Jaguar' Rachovschi.  Luka shares with us what it was like growing up half Ukrainian and half Serbian in the United States.  Luka opens up about his profound spiritual journey to Serbia, where he sought solace and redemption at the historic Monastery Studenica. His quest was to forge a deeper connection with God and to find forgiveness for his past mistakes.

Luka also shares his passion for the intense world of combat sports, particularly Muay Thai, discussing the thrills and the inherent risks of the sport. He recounts his experiences living and training in Thailand, where he honed his skills in this martial art.

Beyond the fighting ring, Luka explores his creative side, delving into his endeavors in acting and modeling. He shares an intimate look at his decision to go bald, discussing the personal impact and how he navigated this significant change.

Lastly, we dive into his online presence with his YouTube channel, 'Jersey_Jaguar,' where he provides detailed reviews on sports jerseys, focusing on fit and design, offering insights and advice to his followers.

YouTube: Jersey_Jaguar
IG: jersey.jaguar
IG: roaring_jaguar

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Join us for an inspiring journey with the CEO and Owner of Zastava USA, Ranko Ristic, as he shares his remarkable story from the war-torn landscapes of Yugoslavia to becoming a key player in the American market.

We delve into his harrowing escape from the conflict in Yugoslavia, arriving in the US as a young adult with little more than hope and determination. Listen as he recounts his path to success, from attending trade school to master the electrician trade, to launching his own business. His entrepreneurial spirit didn't stop there; he leveraged his success to venture into importing, setting the stage for what would become a pivotal moment in his career.

Discover the origin story of Zastava USA, from the initial spark of opportunity to establishing a significant presence in the American firearms market. Our guest walks us through the unique partnership with Zastava, detailing how he navigated the complexities of international trade to bring this storied brand to the U.S.

The episode also explores the rich history of the AK47, with a special focus on what makes the Serbian Zastava variant stand out in a crowded field. Whether you're a history buff, a firearms enthusiast, or someone inspired by stories of resilience and reinvention, this episode promises insights, history, and an incredible tale of personal and professional transformation.

Tune in to uncover the legacy of Zastava, the nuances of the AK47, and one man's journey from survival to success.

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In this episode I jump on the mic by myself to give an update on my podcast journey thus far, my career, business ambitions and plans to monetize the podcast in 2025 by starting "The Network Show".  Listen to the episode to learn how your businesses and companies will benefit from coming on The Network Show.

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LinkedIn: Bo Durman

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Maja Igic, CEO of Balkan Bakery, established in 2007, joins the podcast for Ep. 27.  We discuss the history of Balkan Bakery, what it takes to run the bakery, how they managed to stay open during the COVID-19 pandemic, how the business has evolved over time, and the diverse menu options available that attract both the Balkan and non-Balkan communities.

Balkan Bakery
541 South La Grange Road
La Grange, Illinois 60525
www.balkan-bakery.com

IG: balkanbakerylg
FB: balkan bakery

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Vlado Zrnic shares insights from his journey through education, sports, and the transition from being a student to staring his career. We discussed his decision to major in digital marketing, the strategic move to pursue an MBA, his entrepreneurial approach to business development, and his experiences as a Division 2 college basketball player. The conversation also touched on his experience and attempt at playing basketball overseas, comparing the developmental stages of basketball skills between Europe and America, and what it was like growing up and competing against NBA star Tyler Herro.

IG: veeeezee

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Sretenko Karic was born in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and lived in Germany for a short while before moving to the U.S.A.  In life he has two passions, acting and trucking.  Sretenko says that some of his earliest memories are him acting out scenes from different movies.  Although he had this passion since childhood, he did not pursue the dream until just 3 years ago.  

In this podcast Sretenko shares with us why he loves being a truck driver, and the obstacles in life that kept him from pursuing his acting career, the main one being his speech impediment.  He shares what he thinks caused the speech impediment, what has helped him overcome this obstacle, and say that as an actor thus far, he has had nothing but support from his coworkers.  He explains his speech techniques that help him get through the scenes and says that people should not let anything stop them from pursuing their dreams.  Sretenko thanks God for guiding him and hopes to pass this message through his acting, while also inspiring others to chase their dreams no matter what obstacles life throws at them.   

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X (Twitter): BozoDurman

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Jovan Ignjatovic came to the United States as an aspiring basketball player and stayed as a businessman.  After playing basketball at Whitney Young High School and University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), Jovan was involved in the Chicago Serbian community and was on the board of various Serbian Organizations.  During his basketball days, he was introduced to cannabis and in his mid-twenties he decided to move to California, to the Emerald Triangle, to grow and harvest cannabis. 

Jovan does what he is passionate about, takes risks and does not look back.  In this podcast, he takes us through his life journey by sharing stories such as getting arrested for transporting cannabis across state lines, 30 days in jail, his experience in the Emerald Triangle as a cannabis farmer, we discuss his cannabis inspired business ventures and his journey back to Chicago where he is opening a store called “Tunnel Vision”.   

Jovan is a very positive and optimistic person who sees value in building a strong community.  With Tunnel Vision, Jovan hopes to build a network of people that use each other’s resources to help achieve their personal and business goals, while at the same time providing cannabis inspired products.

IG: iggyserbia
 
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X (Twitter): BozoDurman
 
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Samir Burdzovic is an entrepreneur with a new calling in life. His goal is to help people improve their lives by spreading his message on the “Immigrant Mentality”. Samir says his message is for the people that are lost in life and that may feel like they lack purpose, immigrant or not. In his message he emphasizes the importance of having faith in your religion, maintaining healthy relationships with your family, community, and yourself, taking care of yourself physically and mentally, being kind to yourself and others, and the importance of hard work. We also discuss his life journey thus far, business career, what he learned about life through his travels to countries such as China and Dubai, the differences between China and the USA in his opinion, importance of being a man in today's world, along with many other topics.

IG: samirburdzovic8

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X (Twitter): BozoDurman

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