The Coherence Conspiracy: Lessons from a Culture That Still Touches
I had the honor of giving a talk at the Sofia Tech Park event Pro during September. The topic was how authentic experiences create lasting…
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From Accidental Vlogger to Animation Entrepreneur: How Ina Built an 85,000-Strong Creative Community
At 28 (and 24 month:-) Ina leads Kashu, an all-women animation studio based in Bulgaria, and commands a dedicated community of 85,000 followers. Her journey…
Bulgarian Empire vs Kingdom
In my upcoming book State Builders from The Steppe: A History of the First Bulgarian Empire, I obviously refer to this state as an empire…
Walking Through Time: Bulgaria’s Ancient Cities That Changed the World
If you ever visit Bulgaria, make sure you hit Plovdiv, take your shoes off and walk barefoot on the stones in the old city –…
Bulgaria—A Land of Festivals: From Ancient Rituals to Jazz Beneath the Stars
Bulgaria is a land of music. From the Rhodope Mountains to the Black Sea, from old village community centers to modern urban stages, the country’s…
Why Bulgaria’s Medieval History Deserves More Than Footnotes
I’ve long believed one of the best reasons to create something is that you believe it should exist. That’s why I created The Bulgarian History…
Infinite Presence – An Unexpected Journey to Our Forgotten Selves
As we’re getting closer to the end of the post-production of our first documentary, it feels right to explain how the documentary came to life….
The Bulgarian Exception: When Everything Wrong Becomes Everything Right
Here is a paradox for you: A country consistently ranked among the top three nations where people are “least likely to become entrepreneurs” has somehow…
Driving Past Yesterday – How Bulgaria’s Integration Is Reshaping Europe
On a blazing August morning, the road to Greece hums with the rhythm of summer. Cars snake southward through sun-baked valleys, windows rolled down, the…
Celebrating a Country Worth Knowing
I am Kalina, founder of This is Bulgaria. My story begins far from the country whose name I now carry in my work, my heart,…
The Bulgaria Advantage: How to Monetize Being Different in a Standardized World
I gave a talk once about falling in love with a Bulgarian woman, then falling in love with Bulgaria itself. At 51, I find myself…
From Brain Drain to Brain Gain – Bulgaria’s €6.3 Billion Answer
Bulgaria has more developers than Estonia, world-class technical universities, and cheaper costs than Poland. So why are we the only ones without a unicorn? Last…