What does it mean to build a mental health platform that truly reflects who we are?
In this episode of the ALSA UK Podcast, we sit down with Jona Doda, founder and CEO of Bliss, a wellbeing platform designed for diaspora communities who’ve long been underserved by traditional therapy models.
Jona shares the story behind Bliss, from growing up in Durrës and moving to the UK at 16, to confronting shame, burnout, and generational silence. With honesty and clarity, she walks us through what it means to lead with empathy, design with cultural sensitivity, and care without compromise.
🎧 Whether you're a founder, a diaspora listener, or simply navigating the complexities of identity, this conversation is a deep breath and a clear mirror.
You’ll hear about:
– Building Bliss from lived experience and professional expertise– How shame, silence, and sacrifice shape mental health in Albanian families– Using tech and AI to scale culturally rooted therapy– Why returning to Albania was both strategic and soulful– The emotional language of switching between Albanian and English– What it means to care for yourself while building for others
📌 Chapters00:00 Introduction & Jona’s Journey to the UK08:21 Burnout, Therapy & Founding Bliss18:51 Cultural Sensitivity & Mental Health in the Diaspora26:58 Returning to Albania & Building Community Trust35:11 Identity, Language & Expanding to Global Diasporas44:20 Leadership, Feedback & What We Deserve in Care
🎯 Watch this if you want to:
✅ Understand how therapy can reflect, not erase, cultural identity✅ Learn what it takes to build a care-focused startup✅ Hear real talk about burnout, AI, and breaking taboos in the diaspora✅ Feel seen in the tension between gratitude and unmet needs
👤 Connect with Jona Doda
🌐 Website: https://bliss.al📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bliss.al🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonadoda📩 Email: info@bliss.al
🔗 Follow ALSA UK🌐 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/alsauk👥 Join the ALSA UK Community: https://www.alsauk.co.uk/membership📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alsa_uk_/📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ALSA_UK🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/76KXivrg70p7E87L2cF2wD📩 Email: info@alsauk.co.uk
