From the Ottoman Empire to Today: The Legacy of Political Apathy in Bulgaria
First a confession. I’ve been deeply interested in politics for decades at this point. I was born in Washington D.C., the son and grandson of…
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The Hidden Currency – Dataius the Great visits Stoian in Bulgaria, with Middleton in the Middle (a short stroy)
I often find satire to be one of the most powerful tools not just to tell a story, but to simply tell the truth. What…
“Empathy in Motion”: A Conversation with Director-Choreographer Kosta Karakashyan
As founder of This Is Bulgaria, I was genuinely honored to meet—and learn from—director and choreographer Kosta Karakashyan, an artist whose work keeps widening what…
The Stars Over Bulgaria
I’ve always loved the story of the Michelin star system. It began as a clever trick by a tire company, which tells you almost everything…
Bulgaria’s Path Forward: Learning from Patterns, Not Places
When a former foreign minister recently told me that “those who have power have no imagination and those with imagination have no power,” I realized…
Circles of Identity: A Conversation with Natanail Stefanov
How choosing constraint created freedom — and why betting on Bulgaria is a bet on possibility. The Paradox of Choice Most stories end with tears….
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…
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…