Macedonia marks the 35 anniversary of its independence from Yugoslavia. At the same time, Macedonians are, like the rest of the world, focused on our coming dependence on the Matrix machines and are hotly debating the merits of allowing construction of data centers. We cover in depth these two topics in a somewhat longer podcast - give it a listen.

Music by:

- Mizar (Pocesna strelba - Last salute)

With gratitude to Mark Steyn for giving us the idea for the podcast name

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit macedoniancontentfarmers.substack.com

Jason lives in the desert, but it’s Macedonia that is having water issues lately, as the local authorities in Gostivar polluted the supply. This prompted SDSM to begin politicizing the issue to the max which eventually progressed to a fake news scare in the capital.

We also discuss two anniversaries - 35 years of independence and 25 years since the civil war started by Ali Ahmeti. Give it a listen.

Music by:

- Mizar (Pocesna strelba - Last salute)

With gratitude to Mark Steyn for giving us the idea for the podcast name

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit macedoniancontentfarmers.substack.com

Football fever takes over the podcast as Jason marvels at the strange alliances that Balkan people are prone to when it comes to rooting at the World Cup. We also cover the political developments, as Macedonia might be heading to elections next year, amid consolidation of the Government. And we kvetch about the hot weather.

Music by:

- Mizar (Pocesna strelba - Last salute)

With gratitude to Mark Steyn for giving us the idea for the podcast name

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit macedoniancontentfarmers.substack.com

Jason is in Macedonia to mark the 30th anniversary of his adventures in this country, and that’s a good opportunity for an in-person episode of the pod. We sat down as some movement was reported from Tivat, the Montenegrin port city that hosts the EU - Balkans summit, where both France and Germany announced a new plan for enlargement that should finally move the region forward to the EU. We discussed what it could look like, would Bulgaria try to block it, and how SDSM are hurling themselves into a push to implement the long derailed “French proposal”.

Give it a listen

Music by:

- Mizar (Pocesna strelba - Last salute)

With gratitude to Mark Steyn for giving us the idea for the podcast name

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit macedoniancontentfarmers.substack.com

We made it to episode 200! And Jason noticed that we were talking about Orban back in episode 1, so now we are right back to where we started. Sadly, Orban is out (for the time being) but we discuss the movement that he built and if it can survive. Of course, it wouldn’t be much of a Macedonian Content Farmers podcast episode if we didn’t also discuss Bulgaria

Music by:

- Mizar (Pocesna strelba - Last salute)

With gratitude to Mark Steyn for giving us the idea for the podcast name

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit macedoniancontentfarmers.substack.com

This was supposed to be a podcast on Macedonia, of course, but we had the stupid idea to just mention Iran, off the top. And of course, we now have a full podcast on the war. Cvetin and Jason generally disagree with how things are going, the gameplan, the timing and how it will affect what was a budding right wing revolution. Give it a listen

Music by:

- Mizar (Pocesna strelba - Last salute)

With gratitude to Mark Steyn for giving us the idea for the podcast name

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit macedoniancontentfarmers.substack.com

Cvetin and Jason get together to discuss political changes in Bulgaria, and how that could reflect on Macedonia and the historic dispute that blocks our EU integration. We also talk about the latest depths to which SDSM has sunk, with their new propaganda campaign and where it may borrow its inspiration from. Give it a listen

Music by:

- Mizar (Pocesna strelba - Last salute)

With gratitude to Mark Steyn for giving us the idea for the podcast name

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit macedoniancontentfarmers.substack.com

Jason and Cvetin do a rare in-person recording of the Macedonian Content Farmers podcast, at the foot of Vodno mountain in Skopje. We cover the news of the 2025 and give our expectations for 2026, in the political sphere, the economy and how the turmoil in Europe can affect Macedonia. Give it a listen

Music by:

- Mizar (Pocesna strelba - Last salute)

With gratitude to Mark Steyn for giving us the idea for the podcast name

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit macedoniancontentfarmers.substack.com

Important local elections took place both in Macedonia and in NYC, with some similarities in the candidates, but different outcomes. We dive deep into the elections in Macedonia, the inter-ethnic angle, and discuss who is now the largest opposition party in the country. We also lament what New York is about to be exposed to - may it serve as a warning to others.

Music by:

- Mizar (Pocesna strelba - Last salute)

With gratitude to Mark Steyn for giving us the idea for the podcast name

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit macedoniancontentfarmers.substack.com

The local elections in Macedonia resolved a number of issues - such as the hastening end of Ali Ahmeti, but also raised a number of new ones. Cvetin and Jason discuss the major dual victory of VMRO and VLEN, the splintering of SDSM, the dirty tricks (literally) played in the capital, and how will VMRO manage the Albanian parties in the future. Give it a listen.

Music by:

- Mizar (Pocesna strelba - Last salute)

With gratitude to Mark Steyn for giving us the idea for the podcast name

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit macedoniancontentfarmers.substack.com