Unexpected YouTube Fame

Welcome to the world of a "Baby Boomer in Bosnia," (me), a podcast from a spirited 70+ something British immigrant, whose plan is to take you along as I navigate life in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

If you don’t like listening to podcasts using Substack, then click the button below to find out all the alternatives.

In this episode, I walk around the upper garden with a steaming mug of Yorkshire tea, gazing out over all the pruning thats underway.These past few days I have been reflecting on how life has taken some surprising turns lately. Another funeral for a member of Tamara’s extended family for one.But every now and then, something happens that jolts me out of my quiet routine, like the sudden surge of attention of the latest video my YouTube channel.

A Baby Boomer in Bosnia is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a subscriber.

A Small Channel, A Big Surprise

I started a new YouTube channel, from scratch on 21st of December Last Year.Its a some what modest thing. Low production values and based on just “walk and talk” style presentation.A few hundred subscribers, a couple of hundred views per video, as I say, just a place to share snippets of my life here, unfiltered and honest. But then, three days ago, something changed. One of my videos, a simple walk through my garden, suddenly took off. Views have skyrocketed to nearly 3,000 views (as I write this) and the comment section has became a flurry of opinions and assumptions.At first, I was thrilled. Any content creator, no matter how niche, enjoys seeing their work appreciated by a wider audience. But this excitement has quickly turned to apprehension. People have started making assumptions about my intentions, my opinions, and even my place here in Bosnia.

Some even believe I have taken a political stance, which I would never do especially living in a region where history still runs deep through everyday life.

It’s a stark reminder for me that visibility comes with consequences. Suddenly, my quiet reflections on village life have become open to scrutiny, misinterpretation, and debate. For someone who has always aimed to highlight the beauty of Bosnia and the warmth of its people, it is an unsettling experience.

Update: I switched off the comments. It just really got too much

Thanks for reading A Baby Boomer in Bosnia! This post is public so feel free to share it.

A friend of mine, Christian, told me that I tend to focus on the rosier aspects of life here. Maybe he’s right. Maybe, in my effort to showcase the positives, I’ve overlooked the complexities. I really need to address that.There’s enough negativity online however. I’d rather offer a space where people can see a different side of the Balkans, one that isn’t defined by its past struggles but by its present charm but without sugar coating problems that arise.

That’s why I find myself drawn back to podcasting, a medium where I feel most at home.

There’s something intimate about audio storytelling, something that allows for nuance in a way that a viral YouTube comment section never could. It’s in podcasting that I can truly express what life here is like, in all its beauty and contradictions.

This is that Video

A Baby Boomer in Bosnia is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a subscriber.

Finding Solace in Local Life

This past weekend, Tamara and I attended the funeral of her favourite aunt. Funerals here are different from those I knew in the UK. They are deeply communal, drawing together extended families and entire friendship circles, regardless of religious backgrounds. Orthodox Christians, Catholics, and Muslims, everyone gathers and shares stories.

This blending of traditions is something I’ve always admired about life here. Living in Bosnia has introduced me to an intricate web of cultural and religious celebrations. We have been invited to Bajram (Eid) at the end of Ramadan by some of Tamara’s relatives.That will be a first for me.These experiences have enriched my understanding of community in ways I never expected when I first moved here.

It’s important to immerse as best you can when living in other cultures than your own

Join My Storytelling Community

I’d love to know who’s listening and where you’re from. If you have a spare moment, send me an email with your name and location. I’d like to create a Google map marking all the places where my listeners are tuning in from, building a global storytelling community.

If there’s anything you’d like to know about me or Bosnia, feel free to reach out. I also have a blog where I share additional insights about my life here.

Final Thoughts

Over time, this podcast might even take priority over my video content. The goal is to create an archive of my life for future generations, but in the process, I hope to entertain and inform you along the way.Thank you for listening. Stay safe, and as we say here in Bosnia, Vidimo se opet, we’ll see each other again.

Get full access to 🎙️ A Baby Boomer in Bosnia 🎧 at babyboomerinbosnia.substack.com/subscribe

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.coffeeandrakija.com/subscribe