A bit about myself first

My name is Elian Pergola and I like to describe myself as an ambitious, young storyteller. I'm a podcast creator, digital storyteller and historian, but really I'm mostly a creative entrepreneur.

As co-founder at What's Next Media, I coordinate its daily operations and follow up on its projects. I love to combine my passions for human interest, media and creativity to come up with impactful projects.

In other words: I'm never not doing anything...

Student@Night Podcast

20 September 2020

1 December 2021

UNLABELED for The Warmest Week (VRT)

I am launching my own podcast series for the first time. Giving young people, students a platform in their own talk show: Student@Night!

As youth ambassador for DWW21, I am creating the very first DWW podcast. It appears on VRTNU, the predecessor of VRTMAX.

Elian goes entrepreneuring

1 May 2022

The blood goes where it cannot go. It itches too fiercely to do anything. I apply for my company number and an adventure begins.

28 June 2023

Co-founder What's Next Media

In Femke Thijs I find a companion-de-route. With a similar vision, we founded What's Next Media: giving young people a voice in the media.

Sept - Dec 2023

Internship with the United Nations (FAO)

Networking, stakeholdership management and diplomacy: as a historian I learned about them in books and in Rome I apply them in practice at FAO.

01 March 2024

Board Member ISLI

I learned about the International Student Leadership Institute (ISLI) in 2018 as a student at Saint Francis College. Now I help organize its leadership training programs.

06 February 2025

Master of History
(KU Leuven)

My student life is over: as of today I can call myself Master of History (cum laude).

My thesis research was about the identity among the Italian diaspora in Limburg (BE).

To be continued...

What have I to offer you?

Project management

Inventing a project, improving it or taking it to the next level? Tell me more. If I believe in something, I go for it and carry the project with me to the outside world.

Digital storyteller & creator

Whether it's a podcast, a docu or a radio show, I help develop your unique media project. Both in front of and behind the scenes, I play my part.

Historian: lectures and writing

As a modern historian (KU Leuven), I specialize in European migration & identities. My thesis research was on the Italian diaspora in Limburg.

Need a word or someone who knows what he is writing about? Here I am.

Moderator

The ideal moderator is someone who likes to chat, at least equally likes to listen and is not afraid of a contrarian comment. I happen to be able to do just that.

Creative webdesign

The page you scroll on? Self-made. An ideal website is one that stands out. Does this intrigue you? Then you've come to the right place.

Let's drink a coffee!

As a Belgian with Italian roots,
there is always an opportunity for a nice coffee. Just let me know when...(you know: busy schedule and all that)