English biography

Profeesional Profile

Hey there! I’m a radio journalist, poet, novelist, and playwright – basically, I love telling stories in all sorts of ways. I even have a PhD in Russian Philosophy from Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, which might sound a bit academic, but it really just fuels my curiosity about how we think and experience the world. I also host a podcast called „Dziennik Zmian,” where I get to explore all sorts of interesting topics.

My writing journey started back in 2001 with a collection of short stories, „Baroness Late Autumn,” and I followed it up with „There’s No Mono” in 2007. Since then, I’ve been busy writing poems (like „Things That Have Transpired”) and novels, including „Fronasz,” „The Cosmos in the Ritz,” and „In the Mantle of the World.”

I guess you could say my writing is a little off the beaten path. I’m fascinated by consciousness, memory, and how we make sense of our experiences. I love digging into how stories can capture what’s going on in our minds and how science can help us understand ourselves a little better. Ultimately, I’m trying to shake things up a bit and offer a fresh perspective on what it means to be aware in the world today.

discussion of Miłka’s work in English – podcast episode

Achievements

2024

  • Received an honorable mention at the 8th S. Lenz International Literary Competition for the text „Albanian-Podlasie connection in spirit”. Link
  • The play ‘Corridor’ was made available in the Theatre Library as part of the second edition of HyPaTia, implemented by the Art Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences under a grant from the National Programme for the Development of the Humanities (2022-2027). Link
  • Regular audio column in the literary magazine SUBURBIA.

2023

  • Publication of the drama mJAsto in the bi-monthly magazine Pole. Link
  • Permanent cooperation with the literary monthly Suburbia through audio columns. Link
  • The „Cat” mini-documentary was a finalist in the competition for an audio miniature inspired by the work of the Polish Nobel Prize winner, organized by the Audionomy Foundation and the Wisława Szymborska Foundation. Link
  • Cooperation with the „Mountains of Literature” festival organized by the Olga Tokarczuk Foundation in Nowa Ruda. Conducted an interview with Edward Pasewicz about Pulverkopf and led a creative writing module. Link
  • Invited to the 49th International Feature Conference in Reykjavik as a co-author of an audio story entitled Melody of Changes, produced for Polskie Radio Białystok, and participated in a panel discussion about audio art and the war in Ukraine. Link
  • The podcast episode entitled „What’s the laugh for” was qualified for the LABA Festival in Tarnowskie Góry, as part of the exhibition „Doors Closed”.
  • Cooperation with online Radio Danielka, contributing sound columns that reflect on the poetry of a gray day, based on the podcast „Dziennik Zmian”. Link

2022

  • Nominated for the finals of the contest „Podcaster of the Year 2022”. Link
  • Documented my family’s history in the village of Bialowieza with a fragment entitled „Białowieża and Solidarity” in the online cultural magazine „Nowy Napis” by the Institute of Literature. Link
  • The episode of the artistic podcast entitled „Witkacy. Mirror. The key” received an award during the 25th International Competition for the Interpretation of the Works of Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz „Witkacy pod strzechy” on September 17, 2022.
  • Presented a live version of the fairy tale „Pansen and Noc” at Fetial LiterObrazki 2022 in Bydgoszcz. Link

2021

  • Awarded third prize for the literary series „Bialowieza and Solidarity!” in the Solidarity Generation competition in the non-fiction category organized by the Institute of Literature. Link YouTube
  • The poem „The Matrix of feelings” with music by Wojciech Bura was published in the English artzine Continue the Voice Zine. Link
  • The literary-musical work „Timeline – line of sound” by Miłka Malzahn & Wojciech Bura was featured in the exhibition „Challenge 2020” at Art Gallery Jan Tarasin. Link

2020

  • One of my short stories, „State of Trepidation” (translated by Urszula Humienik-Dworakowska), was published in the „Versopolis” Review. Link
  • Awarded a three-month scholarship from the Minister of Culture and National Heritage to support the development of my artistic podcast channel „Dziennik Zmian” (Diary of Changes). Link
  • The mini-broadcast „Witkacy wrote me a letter?” received recognition from the Słupsk Society for Theater Culture during the 23rd International Competition for the Interpretation of the Works of Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz in Słupsk. Link

2019

  • Delivered a lecture entitled „Old age – such a concept” at the Arsenal Gallery in Białystok. Link
  • Received a distinction for the story „Box”, with recordings presented on the „My Books” magazine. Link
  • The story „Beautiful dreams” translated by Kamila Walker was included in the collection „Contemporary Polish short stories in English”. PDF

2018

  • Received a distinction for the short story „Tkacze” during the Siegfried Lenz International Literary Competition in Ełk, Poland.

2017

  • Presented a fragment of the novel W płaszczu świata at the 13th International Short Story Festival in Wroclaw, Poland.

2015

  • Premiered the drama Corridor at the Municipal Theatre in Inowrocław, Poland, based on my play which won the Mirror Picture Illusion National Dramatic Competition in Łódź.

2010

  • Public reading of the drama Corridor at the Białysztuk Festival in Białystok, Poland.
  • Participated in the 5th Edition of the Weekend of Literature in Edith Stein’s House in Wroclaw, Poland.

2009

  • Participated in the 15th Toruń Festival of the Books in Toruń, Poland.

2007

  • Participated in the 3rd Art of Storytelling Festival in Wroclaw, Poland.

2001

  • Organized The Gallery of Vision, a series of events combining photography and poetry in Toruń, Poland, which led to the establishment of the May Poetic Boom Festival.

Education

  • 2014: PhD in Russian Philosophy at the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Poland. Dissertation: The Crisis of Art and Culture. Selected Problems of Nicholas Berdyaev Philosophy.
  • 1997: MA in Philosophy at the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Poland.
  • 1992: Theatre Arts Instructor Diploma at the Higher Vocational School in Ciechanów.

Art Projects

  • 2022 – ?: Author of audio columns in online Radio Danielka, based on the podcast „Journal of Change”. Link
  • 2022-2023: Author of audio columns in online Radio Klang. Link
  • 2020 – ?: Author of artistic radio (audio) forms in the podcast channel „A Journal of Changes” (Dziennik Zmian). Each episode is a maximum of 12 minutes long, featuring essays about changes in people and places narrated poetically. Supported by a grant from the Ministry of Culture as part of the project „online culture”. The podcast was a finalist in the Podcaster of the Year competition in 2021 and 2022. Link
  • 2019: Invited to the project „New Dramaturgy Scene” at the Teatr im. W. Siemaszkowa in Rzes

I’m a storyteller at heart, exploring narratives through various mediums. As a radio journalist, poet, novelist, and playwright, I weave tales that delve into the intricacies of consciousness, memory, and the human experience. My academic background, including a PhD in Russian Philosophy from Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, fuels my exploration of how we perceive and interact with the world around us. I also host the podcast „Diary of Changes,” where I delve into a wide range of thought-provoking subjects.

Literary Works:

My literary journey began in 2001 with the short story collection Baroness Late Autumn. Since then, I’ve published further collections, including There’s No Mono (2007), and novels such as Fronasz (2012), The Cosmos in the Ritz (2014), and In the Mantle of the World (2017). My poetry collection Things That Have Transpired was published in 2001. My writing often explores the uncharted territories of the mind and the evolving relationship between humanity and science, aiming to offer fresh perspectives on our understanding of awareness..

Other Projects and Activities:

  • Podcast: „Diary of Changes” (Dziennik Zmian) – exploring contemporary changes through poetic narration and „sound poetry.” Supported by a grant from the Ministry of Culture.
  • Radio Columns: Regular contributions to online radio stations Radio Danielka and Radio Klang.
  • Art Projects: Including participation in the „New Dramaturgy Scene” at Teatr im. W. Siemaszkowa (Rzeszów), guest appearance on Kronos TV, hosting at Zebrane Festival (Bialystok), and more.
  • Events: Scenario writing, master of ceremonies, and hosting duties for cultural events.
  • Translation: Early works of Nikolai Berdyaev.

Education:

  • 2014: PhD in Russian Philosophy, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń.
  • 1997: MA in Philosophy, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń.
  • 1992: Theatre Arts Instructor Diploma, Higher Vocational School in Ciechanów.

Scholarships:

  • 2015: Scholarship from the Marshal of Podlasie.
  • 2014: Scholarship from the City of Toruń.
  • 2007: Scholarship from the Minister of Culture and National Heritage.

Music:

  • Contributed to international music projects (Dis Cover – Donna Regina).
  • Released music albums: Sequel (Gusstaff Rec) and Mapa (OffMusic Rec).

Publications:

  • Books: Baroness Late Autumn (2001), Things That Have Transpired (2001), The Queen of Rhubarb (2004), There’s No Mono (2007), Fronasz (2012), The Cosmos at the Ritz (2014), A Former Tsar’s Nine Moments of Spring (2015), In the Mantle of the World (2017).
  • Articles and Short Stories: Numerous publications in literary journals and anthologies. A selection of these can be found on my Academia.edu profile.

Links: