The Bla Bla Bunker Almar Hilmarsson

Did you know that in India there is this caste system where people are divided into groups creating a hierarchy that allocates you a certain role in society, the ones at the bottom are more often than not treated like shit.

Karan Veer Khurana is an Indian film maker, comedian and an actor. He visited my Bla Bla Bunker to explain me the caste system, what is being done about it, how it is portrayed in pop culture, comedy and society in general. And where he is in that system and what effect it has had on his life.

We also talked about his relentless desire to be on stage and how he overcame stage fright.  What inspires his comedy, what he would never make fun of and why and then we somehow ended up talking about fat shaming!

And we discussed India’s role in the world and rapidly developing from being a provider of cheaper labour, the impact of green policies and the hypocrisy of the Western world when it comes to the environment.

Radka Dohnalová is the founder and CEO of ATAIRU, a purpose-driven international education company, top 10 leadership development company in Europe, and no. 1 in the Czech Republic.  Atairu prepares leaders and organisations for the future by activating their authenticity and adaptability

Born just before the end of Communism in Europe, Radka saw nothing but opportunities and she was very focused on becoming something, building things and having a purpose.  

We discussed her path that led her to the UN food program in Rome, her time in McKinsey&Company which seems to give their people an amazing foundation for future business endeavours. When she broke the glass ceiling by being the first woman breastfeeding two children while at Harvard during her MBA studies. And as if that wasn’t enough work then she also co-authored ”The Authentic and Integrated Leadership Model” while at Harvard!

And of course we discussed what are the main challenges for businesses and leaders currently with Covid and multiple social and cultural changes that call for more diversity and inclusion.

And a bit more...

https://www.atairu.com/en
https://www.linkedin.com/in/radka-dohnalova-26398a14/
https://www.instagram.com/weareatairu/
https://www.facebook.com/AtairuAuthenticLeadership

The Bla Bla Bunkerhttps://www.facebook.com/Blablabunker
https://www.instagram.com/midlifecrisiswarrior/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/almar-hilmarsson-060bb22/

Joanna Sio is a linguist, a mother and a stand-up comedian from Hong Kong, China. She always wanted to leave Hong Kong and life took her to the cosmopolitan cities of Vancouver, Amsterdam, Singapore, Melbourne and eventually Olomouc! a city of 100.000 inhabitants in the east of the Czech Republic.




She visited my bunker and told me her story, how life was in Hong Kong while it was a colony of the UK, the class separation of foreigners vs locals and how Hong Kong has changed since China took control of it. We also discussed the Chinese mindset of thinking long term, Chinese Capitalism and if Chinese people are busy arguing about Pronouns as Westerners do nowadays.


And of course we discussed the comedy, what inspires her Chinese humour, what is off limits, how it is to be a woman in stand up and who gives more critical feedback on her stuff, women or men.


And a lot more...a lot



https://www.facebook.com/joannasiocomedian

https://www.instagram.com/joanna_sio/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYzAIGxQLg0

Isaac Starobin owns Dirty Dog Barbeque in Prague, a very popular place that sells traditional American barbeque food.

Born in Yonkers New York Isaac’s plan was to become a lawyer but he found out that he liked his part time job in a ”s****y” bar and grill more than he liked school so he changed course and went to culinary school and then on to work at a Michelin star restaurant in New York City where the love was tough, very tough.

He came to Prague for a holiday and got stuck like most expats do, started his business journey there where he ran a successful bar that he later sold. Only to venture on to open a restaurant which went bust and he was left with nothing but a grill and van...so he started a food truck operation taking his truck anywhere that he could find mouths to feed.  That eventually became Dirty Dog

Isaac does not love cooking, he loves the buzz, the action, the adrenaline and cooking dead meat of an animal on an open fire gives him a chance to connect with his inner caveman...

We went all over the place in our talks, hearing is believing.

Ivak is a Turkish photographer and filmmaker in Prague who also works for a living in a ”real job” as his mom told him he would have to do when he got interested in arts back home in Bursa in Turkey.

In this Part 2 out of 2 episodes we discussed how Turkey today is a melting pot of very diverse cultures of conservative religious groups vs then more liberal groups in and around the bigger cities in the western part of the country.  
Unless you have been to Istanbul you probably would not imagine that some of the biggest celebrities, actors and singers are openly gay.  And this is just one of the examples of the contrast in this society.  

We discussed Erdoğan the controversial president of Turkey, what he has done right, what he is doing wrong and where the real political power rests in the country.
And there is no talk about Turkey without the classic Kebab question being discussed...

Ivak‘s photos are here
https://www.instagram.com/monolumia/
https://www.ivak.org/

The Bunker
https://www.facebook.com/Blablabunker
https://www.instagram.com/thebunkerprague/
https://www.youtube.com/theblablabunker

Ivak is a Turkish photographer and filmmaker in Prague who also works for a living in a ”real job” as his mom told him he would have to do when he got interested in arts back home in Bursa in Turkey. 

In this Part 1 out of 2 episodes, he told me about the Ottoman empire that stretched so far into Europe, The Middle East and Northern Africa that they called the Mediterranean sea their ”lake”.  What does such a glorious past do to a nation? 
We discussed how Ataturk changed and modernised Turkey and how that created a rift in the social fabric that still exists today.

And a lot more....

In Part 2 that is out in 4 days we discuss Turkey today, Erdogan, Gay and Trans people in Turkey and the classic kebab question that every Turk gets...

Ivak‘s photos are here

https://www.instagram.com/monolumia/
https://www.ivak.org/

The Bunkerhttps://www.facebook.com/Blablabunker
https://www.instagram.com/thebunkerprague/
https://www.youtube.com/theblablabunker