We like to think we’re the authors of our own stories—but what happens when history chooses us?

In this episode, I sit down with Josipa Kosanovic, Croatian-born host of the SBS Learn English podcast. Ten years ago, she arrived in Australia with a background in film production, shaky English, and no idea she’d end up behind the mic, helping others learn a new language and find their voice.

We talk about how growing up in a country at war shaped her understanding of identity, and what it means to start over in a place where your experience isn’t recognized and language becomes a barrier.

Language is often seen as one of the biggest hurdles to integration—into a new country, a new culture, even the job market. We explore how Josipa navigated all of that, what helped her keep going, and the messy, beautiful work of building a home in a new country.

Josipa’s story is a reminder that when history chooses us, it can be the chance to start again.

Show notes:

SBS Learn English Podcast

How speaking practice transformed my English: a personal journey