Redefining the Albanian American Perspective with Leonita Hoxhallari from BOTA Podcast

Redefining the Albanian American Perspective with Leonita Hoxhallari from BOTA Podcast

Author: Emina Pelja July 7, 2021 Duration: 1:04:12

While she was originally born in Croatia, Leonita's family roots are in Kline, Kosova. During the late 80s, her family moved to the United States and resettled in Detroit, Michigan to pursue the "American Dream" that everyone was after. Growing up with her cousins and extended family close by helped with the transition, not to mention she excelled in her studies and graduated as high school Salutatorian. After continuing her studies at University of Detroit Mercy and obtaining a degree in biochemistry, she decided to shift her focus and pursue a more fulfilling career path in Dietetics and Nutrition. Taking this leap of faith allowed her to tap into a more creative side that included content creation, social media, and blogging, ultimately paving the way for her to start BOTA Podcast. The word "Bota" in Albanian means "world" and the podcast has become a place to share world views, culture, careers, and all the above from an Albanian American perspective. Join us as we talk in-depth about the trials and tribulations of running a podcast and how our identity is constantly being shaped by the stories told within our communities.

Follow BOTA Podcast on Instagram: @botapodcast

Listen to Leonita's Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6E515RS1Cd5xxkfOlVM6t0?si=HX0aV5FYSxi_W6cTQRw0Gw

Follow BOTA Network on Instagram: @botanetwork


Hosted by Emina Pelja, Balkan Bred is a conversation about the spaces between here and there, built from the voices of those who live in them. This isn't about nostalgia or simple definitions of home; it's about the complex, often unspoken realities of building a life across cultures. Each episode is built around a personal story from within the diaspora, exploring how heritage shapes identity in subtle and surprising ways-from the food we crave to the languages we dream in, the traditions we keep and those we quietly reshape. You'll hear about the challenges of belonging, the unexpected joys of a hybrid existence, and the quiet threads that connect people across miles and generations. It’s a raw and intimate look at the ongoing negotiation between the past we inherit and the future we create, offering a sense of community and understanding for anyone who has ever felt split between two worlds. Tune into this podcast for genuine narratives that move beyond stereotype, finding connection not in geography, but in shared human experience.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

Balkan Bred
Podcast Episodes
The Power of Failing & Following Your Dreams with Kenan Mujkanovic [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:21
Imagine being invited to fly out and give a TED Talk in Paris. That's exactly what happened to Kenan Mujkanovic, but it took a lot of hard work and perseverance to get there. From starting his nonprofit, the Young Vision…
Making & Selling Wine From the Motherland with Wines of Illyria [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:40
For this week's episode, we are joined by an incredibly talented woman, Indira Bayer, who wasn't afraid to break into the already male-dominated wine industry. Sourced from the Herzegovinian region of BiH, Wines of Illyr…
Behind the Lens: Emina Omeragic Photography [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:16
Get ready to talk about all things photography with Emina Omeragic. Based out of Phoenix, Arizona, Emina specializes in wedding, boudoir, and portrait photography. With over 8 years of experience, she's perfected her cra…
Balkans For Black Lives: Why You NEED to Speak Up [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:23
While we’re all posting about it, let’s not forget the actions we can also take to make a difference. In this episode, we're going over WHY you should care and how to talk about racism with your friends and family. There…
Dating Diaspora | Leyla & Jacob [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:10
We’re back with another episode of #DatingDiaspora! Today we’re chatting with Leyla and Jacob about how they first met, what it's like dating outside of your nationality, and making a good impression on the parents. Get…
Behind the Scenes of Writing a Best Seller with Adela Muhic [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:54
Ten months ago when Adela Muhic first published Boxed Memories, she had no idea her writing was powerful enough to land her on Amazon’s Best Sellers list, let alone become a voice of inspiration among the diaspora. Boxed…
How To Prioritize Self Care During Quarantine with Tea Sefer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:41
Tea Sefer is the founder of Breathe with Tea, a coaching program dedicated to helping people eliminate stress and find balance in their day to day lives. You might remember them from our podcast about the BiH Diasporic C…
Making Money Moves with Elsad Turkovic [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:57
In this week's episode, we're chatting with Elsad Turkovic, founder of Turk Financial, about how he started his business and giving our best pieces of financial advice for diaspora in their 20's. If you haven't done your…
What We Wish People Knew About Cancer With Lejla Begic [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:23
When you’re diagnosed with cancer at 18, your whole world turns upside down. This week, we're chatting with Lejla Begic about going through chemo, losing your hair, and ultimately all the side effects that come after rec…