In this episode, I discuss the brutalist Spomenik monuments of the former Yugoslavia with Donald Niebel - founder of the Spomenik Database. Donald is an environmental scientist turned researcher from the United States We delve into the historical significance, architectural design, and location details of these unique, massive structures. Donald explains how he transformed his initial curiosity about these striking monuments into a comprehensive online resource. Sharing his experiences and insights, Donald reveals the value of the Spomeniks as instruments for studying local and regional histories. The Spomenik Database can be accessed at https://spomenikdatabase.org 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast 00:06 Exploring the Spomeniks of Yugoslavia 01:02 Discovering the Spomenik Database 01:33 Interview with Donald Niebel: The Man Behind the Spomenik Database 02:40 The Journey of Documenting the Spomeniks 04:39 The Challenges of Cataloging the Monuments 07:35 The Significance and Interpretation of the Spomeniks 08:25 Public Reactions to the Spomeniks 14:23 The Role of the Spomenik Database in Education 16:51 The Community's Connection to the Spomeniks 18:30 Future Plans for the Spomenik Database 24:23 Donald's Personal Connection to the Spomeniks 25:58 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Please also do share this episode and maybe leave a 5 start review on the podcast platform you listened to this on. Stay tuned for more exciting stories and adventures from the Englishman in the Balkans podcast! Thank you for being a part of our podcasting community, and we look forward to bringing you more exciting content in the future. You can support my work, by maybe leaving a Tip or by becoming a member of our podcast family at: https://anenglishmaninthebalkanspodcast.com/support Get full access to 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 An Englishman in the Balkans Blog 🇧🇦 at https://www.anenglishmaninthebalkans.com/ Get full access to Coffee and Rakija at www.anenglishmaninthebalkans.com/subscribe