Best Slavic Culture Podcasts (2024)

1
Words Without Bars: Russian Prison Literature & the Encyclopedia of the Dog 32:18

21d ago32:18

32:18

On this episode, José Vergara (Bryn Mawr College) delves into the challenges and rewards of teaching literature in a carceral setting and his continued exploration of novels born behind bars. From the haunting prose of incarcerated writers to the innovative realms of digital humanities, Vergara shares his many projects such as the Encyclopedia of t…

1
"Dynasty Divided: A Family History of Russian and Ukrainian Nationalism" 34:51

1M ago34:51

34:51

On this episode, Misha and Cullan speak with Fabian Baumann, a research associate at the University of Heidelberg, whose latest book Dynasty Divided (2023, NIU Press) uniquely approaches the nuanced history of Ukrainian and Russian nationalism through a prominent Kievan family of journalists, scholars, and politicians. Thanks for listening! ABOUT T…

1
Cyber Crime & Punishment in the Context of the Russo-Ukrainian War 38:14

2M ago38:14

38:14

On this episode, Kseniya Yurtayeva joins Taylor and Basil to discuss her work on cyberaggression, hybrid warfare, and the difficulty of creating and enforcing cyber law in the midst of a global conflict. ABOUT THE GUEST:Kseniya Yurtayeva holds a PhD in criminal law, criminology and criminal-executive law and is a visiting scholar at the University …

1
Liberty After Liberalism: Post-Maidan Transformations in Ukrainian Media 57:51

2M ago57:51

57:51

On this episode, Taras Fedirko from the University of Glasgow joins us on the Forty Acres to share the multilayered story of post-Soviet media in Ukraine and its dramatic transformations from Kravchuk to Zelenskyy. ABOUT THE GUEST Dr. Taras Fedirko is a Lecturer in Organized Crime and Corruption at the University of Glasgow. His current research fo…

1
Through American Eyes: Citizen Diplomacy and the Post-Soviet Market Economy 51:10

2M ago51:10

51:10

On this episode, attorney and business consultant Daniel Satinsky shares about his new book, which tells the story of American participation in the dismantling of the Soviet economy and the creation of the Russian market economy in the 1990s. Creating the Post-Soviet Russian Market Economy: Through American Eyes is based on more than 100 interviews…

1
Reporting in "Relative Unfreedom": A Conversation with Pjotr Sauer of The Guardian 30:52

3M ago30:52

30:52

On this episode, Pjotr Sauer shares his firsthand experiences and reflections on reporting on Russia both before February 24, 2022 from within the country and then after, reporting from outside of the country. He elaborates on the difficulties for all journalists in navigating the challenges and constraints in Russia and expands on the plight of hi…

1
Haunted Empire: Power, Trauma, & the Uncanny in Russian Imperial Gothic Literature 47:45

3M ago47:45

47:45

On this episode, Valeria Sobol of the University of Illinois Urbana Champaigne talks with us about her 2000 book "Haunted Empire." Dr. Sobol guides us through the tapestries of Imperial Russia, where crumbling estates and eerie figures cast long shadows over the pages of history. Drawing on her meticulous research and profound insights, she unveils…

1
Ukraine and the 2024 U.S. Presidential Elections with Terrell Jermaine Starr 35:00

3M ago35:00

35:00

On this episode, independent journalist Terrell Jermaine Starr shares his experiences covering Ukraine since Russia's invasion in 2022 and explaining to Americans the importance of the nation for global security, democracy, and humanity broadly. "We all need to be invested in each other's safety and security... Ukraine is the exact place I feel tha…

1
From Empires and Kings to Hitler and Co.: Democracy and Dictatorship in Central and Eastern Europe 43:41

4M ago43:41

43:41

On this episode, renowned historian John Connelly from the University of California, Berkeley, talks with us about the growth of fascism from democracy, the roots and justification narratives of anti-semitism in Germany and elsewhere, and the development of nationalism in modern history across Europe. Thanks for listening! ABOUT THE GUEST John Conn…

1
Resiliency, Corruption, and Uncertainty: Assessing Ukraine's Politics and Long-Term Prospects 31:31

5M ago31:31

31:31

On this episode, poitical scientist Serhiy Kudelia of Baylor University speaks with us about multiple topics on Ukraine from the prospects for Ukraine in the long-term, depending on continued western support, to the political effects of the war on Ukrainian leadership. Dr. Kudelia discusses the likelihood of Ukraine gaining any security guarantees …

1
Demystifying Cyber: Building Resiliency in the Modern Technology Landscape 48:02

5M ago48:02

48:02

On this episode, Francesca Lockhart, cybersecurity professor at The University of Texas at Austin, talks about her unique and prescient cybersecurity clinic that she developed on the Forty Acres after leading the Homeland Security Unit at the Texas Department of Public Safety. Francesca also discusses the role of state and local security units in p…

1
"Atomic Steppe": The Soviet Nuclear Legacy and the Global Arms Race 36:19

5M ago36:19

36:19

On this episode, Dr. Togzhan Kassenova joined Taylor and Nick for a conversation about the destructive impact of Soviet nuclear testing in Kazakhstan and the figurative fallout of the dissolution of the USSR which resulted in Russia providing security guarantees to "divorced" states in exchange for the surrender of Soviet weapons of mass destructio…

1
Ballistics and Ballots: The Ukraine War in 2024 and Beyond with Michael Kofman 34:27

6M ago34:27

34:27

On this first episode of 2024, we reflect on the War in Ukraine and Ukraine's prospects for continued political and military support in 2024 and beyond with Carnegie Endowment's senior fellow and renowned military analyst Michael Kofman. ABOUT THE GUEST Michael Kofman is a senior fellow in the Russia and Eurasia Program at the Carnegie Endowment fo…

1
17: Personal Healing & Community Dedication w/ JR Lilly 52:58

6M ago52:58

52:58

JR Lilly is seemingly one of the most connected people in East Portland! He is a cornerstone member of our community and a member of the Dineh (Navajo Nation). In this conversation, JR sets the tone by framing his identity by introducing himself from an indigenous worldview and how that framework of collectivism differs from individualism. He grew …

1
Mordor to Moscow, Potter to Putin: Into the Slavic Multiverse with Eliot Borenstein 42:03

6M ago42:03

42:03

On this episode, Eliot Borenstein returns for a fun conversation about the political and historical themes in pop culture and the abundance of Marvel, Harry Potter, LOTR, etc. fan fiction that emerged post-socialism. We hope you enjoy! ABOUT THE GUEST Eliot Borenstein is Professor of Russian & Slavic Studies at New York University. His most recent …

1
Battle Without Borders: Cyberwarfare and the Russian (Dis)advantage 35:21

6M ago35:21

35:21

On this episode, cyber expert Gavin Wilde joined us to talk all things cyberwarfare. He defined the term and its distinction from information warfare; shared the reasons why he believes studying Russia is important for this complex, actively developing, and hard-to-measure battlefront; and touched on the differences between the US and Russian milit…

1
Gravedigger of the Present: Memory Politics and the Weaponization of History 45:09

6M ago45:09

45:09

In this episode, Bartek Gajos discusses his in-depth research into memory politics during the Soviet period and today, specifically the weaponization of history by the Russian regime, the past's influence on present actions taken by great powers, NATO expansion and EU enlargement, the "armageddon option" taken by Western G7 leaders at Russia's inva…

1
The State of Investigative Journalism in Russia Today with Mikhail Rubin 37:46

7M ago37:46

37:46

On this episode, Taylor and Misha speak with Mikhail Rubin, journalist and co-founder of Proekt Media, the lead investigative media outlet in Russia. Thanks for listening! ABOUT THE GUEST Mikhail Rubin has covered Russian policy processes for nearly 13 years. During this period, he has had the opportunity to work as a Kremlin pool reporter for the …

1
The (Grass)roots of Illiberalism: Contemporary Authoritarianism, Identity Projects, & Culture Wars in Europe 46:24

7M ago46:24

46:24

In this episode, Nick and Eliza talk with widely respected historian and sociologist Marlène Laruelle about the concept of illiberalism and its spread across Europe. Dr. Laruelle explains how she frames the relatively new term as a cluster of ideologies that is challenging liberalism in its various forms, mostly based around two key arguments: (1) …

1
Surveillance, Liberty, & Privacy: A Conversation on National Security & Emerging Technologies with Adam Klein 43:21

7M ago43:21

43:21

On this episode, Adam Klein, director of the Strauss Center for International Security & Law, shares his insights on the concerns around security versus freedom of speech; his work covering the confluence of law, surveillance, and emerging technologies; and his unique perspectives on global affairs. PRODUCER'S NOTE: This episode was recorded on Nov…

1
Bravehearts: The Real Story of the Chechens' Unending Fight for Independence (#Connexions speaker series) 55:26

7M ago55:26

55:26

On this episode, Dr. Michael Dennis, a leading expert on the Chechen Republic, tells the multifaceted story of the Chechen fight for independence, including the consequences of the Chechen Wars, the rise of the Kadyrov family, lessons learned by the Russian Army, impacts on the Putin regime's decision-making in crises, and Chechnya's role in Ukrain…

1
Yellowing Paper: Russian Journalism, the New Proletarian Elite, and an Economy of Smugglers 29:13

8M ago29:13

29:13

On this episode, we talk with Financial Times' Moscow bureau chief Max Seddon who speaks about his personal path to journalism in Putin's Russia, the state of the country's economic system, the political ineffectiveness of Russian oligarchs, and much more. Thanks for listening! ABOUT THE GUEST Max Seddon has been the FT's Moscow bureau chief since …

1
On the Wings of Russian Propaganda: Slovakia and the Decline of Democracy in Central Europe 34:28

8M ago34:28

34:28

On this episode, Slovakian politician and academic Martin Klus talks with us during a trip to Texas about the state of the Slovak Republic following the recent elections favoring a more Moscow-friendly government. Slovakia's move towards the pro-Russia camp in which Victor Orban's Hungary sits will make things difficult for its eastern neighbor Ukr…

1
A Matter of Defense: Russia's Arms Industry, Post-Soviet Wars, and American Pragmatism 48:25

8M ago48:25

48:25

On this episode, Misha talks with Ruslan Pukhov, a Russian defense analyst and the director of the Moscow-based Centre for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies (CAST). Mr. Pukhov shares about the origins of CAST during the late 90s, the state of Russia's defense economy, and his views on the current war in Ukraine. He states that neither the Ukr…

1
From Fallujah to the Forty Acres: History, Strategy, and Statecraft with Paul Edgar 40:45

9M ago40:45

40:45

On this episode, we had the opportunity to sit down with Dr. Paul Edgar, the interim executive director of the Clements Center for National Security at UT Austin. Paul spoke about how he went from the military to academia, the Russo-Ukrainian War, and his goals for the Clements Center as a leading educational institution for discourse around histor…

1
From Russia to Hollywood: Bringing Slavic Culture to the Silver Screen 37:14

9M ago37:14

37:14

On this episode, Misha and Taylor speak with Lada Egorova, a Russian filmmaker in Los Angeles who has an ambitious and timely project, creating a TV comedy about Slavic emigres to the US and their culture. The show is titled BLIN, meaning 'pancake' and explores the Russian community and its culture in Los Angeles. As Lada mentions in the episode, o…

1
There's No Business Like War Business: Prigozhin, Putin, and Weakening Partnerships 39:32

9M ago39:32

39:32

On this episode, Mark McNamee, political, economic, and intelligence analyst, talks with host Nick about a range of topics pertaining to Russia's War in Ukraine: from the late Prizoghin's mutiny to China's and Russia's relationship rooted largely in an anti-Western agenda and what this means for the continuing conflict. Thanks for listening! PRODUC…

1
Bohemian Forgery: The Legendary Czech Manuscripts and National Myth 38:28

10M ago38:28

38:28

On this episode, Cullan is joined by Dr. David Cooper, the department head and associate professor at the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures at the University of Illinois, to speak about his recent book on two Czech Manuscripts and the story of their successful forgery and dramatic discovery in the early 19th century. Dr. Cooper elabora…

1
Post-Soviet Protests, Politics, and Premature Dismissals of Russia's Regional Governors 33:06

10M ago33:06

33:06

On this episode, Lera and Cullan chat with Tatiana Tkacheva, a research fellow at the Higher School of Economics in St. Petersburg, about the strategies of the autocrat in dealing with regional governors. In her paper, she and her co-authors attempt to answer this question by using the example of premature withdrawals and dismissals of Russia’s reg…

1
The Case of DOXA: A New Chapter in Russian Youth Repression 38:06

11M ago38:06

38:06

On this episode, Lera sits down with Anastasiya Osipova, a scholar of Soviet and contemporary Russian and Ukrainian cultures, who shares about her research on DOXA, a student journal on political harassment in academia that emerged from Higher School of Economics in Moscow in 2017. DOXA was stripped of its status as a university organization in 201…

1
#27 Sergiy Tomilenko, president of Union of Journalists of Ukraine about mass media at the war 11:37

11M ago11:37

11:37

Sergiy Tomilenko, the president of the largest journalistic association – the Union of Journalists of Ukraine - joined Viktor Kovalenko to talk about press freedom, relations between media and the government of President Zelensky, issues with press accreditations for foreign journalists, and war-time media solidarity. // You can support this podcas…

1
#27a (In Ukrainian) Сергій Томіленко, голова Спілки журналістів України про медіа на війні 38:07

11M ago38:07

38:07

UKR: Голова Національної спілки журналістів України Сергій Томіленко розмовляє з автором подкасту Віктором Коваленком про те, як війна Росії проти України позначилася на медійниках та ЗМІ, що відбувається із безпекою журналістів, як визволити деяких медійників з полону, та як підходити до вирішення етичних непорозумінь із тими, хто ще зовсім недавн…

1
16: Parkrose Musical Nostalgia w/ Songwriter Rich Waggoner 38:14

11M ago38:14

38:14

Rich Waggoner has been writing songs since he was a teenager in Parkrose. He shares his nostalgia for the Parkrose he knew, and we preview four of his original songs about growing up in Parkrose. For more info about Rich Waggoner and Parkrose Life, check out the show notes for this episode at parkroselife.com/nostalgia-rich-waggoner-podcast You can…

1
Behind Black & White Frontlines: Literature Development in Wartime Ukraine, 2014-2022 41:45

12M ago41:45

41:45

On this episode, Lera and Misha sit down with Dr. Alexander Chertenko, a professor of Ukrainian literature at the University of Giessen in Germany. Dr. Chertenko is uniquely positioned to trace the wartime development of Ukrainian literature in the country since 2014. He also illuminates the usually underdiscussed topic of literature in Donetsk and…

1
The Art of Transition from Socialist to Post-Socialist Russia 38:59

12M ago38:59

38:59

On this episode, Elise Herrala takes us on a tour of the evolution of art and artists in Soviet Russia and post-Soviet Russia. Elise also gives us some insight into what is going on today in Putin's Russia in terms of state repression and renewed restriction on creative freedoms. You can check out her book here: https://www.amazon.com/Art-Transitio…

1
#26 Vladislav Davidzon discusses cultural and political transformations in Ukraine 28:15

1y ago28:15

28:15

Vladislav Davidzon, a writer, translator, and critic joins Viktor Kovalenko to discuss the cultural and political transformations in Ukraine during the ongoing Russian war. We discussed the first days of the Russian invasion, his magazine the Odessa Review and his book From Odessa With Love, how he burned his Russian passport in front of the Russia…

1
KAZKA: The Voice of Ukraine 51:10

1y ago51:10

51:10

On this special episode, Sergio and Misha get the opportunity to speak with Sasha Zaritska, the lead singer of U-pop band KAZKA, and Andriy Urenov, producer and manager of the band. Their new single "Bez Kohannya" (Without Love) is out this Friday! Listen to the end of the episode for a sneak preview. Learn more about KAZKA and check out their musi…

1
You Only Need to Die: The Secret Police of East Germany and Romania 36:59

1+ y ago36:59

36:59

On this episode, Valentina Glajar and Alison Lewis share their personal stories and research on the history of East Germany's STASI and Romania's Securitate and the dismantling of these secret police forces. Thank you for listening! You can listen to Douglas Selvage's episode here: https://www.slavx.org/listen/episode/b54c0fff/operation-denver-and-…

1
#25 Peter Dickinson, publisher of Business Ukraine magazine talks about war-torn Ukraine 21:33

1+ y ago21:33

21:33

Peter Dickinson, the Kyiv-based British publisher of the English-language news magazine and website Business Ukraine joins this episode. We talked about what’s important to understand as we approach the one-year mark of Russia's Ukraine invasion. Peter described daily life in the war-torn country and how Ukrainians got used to the war. He answered …

1
Milan Rastislav Štefánik: The Slovak National Hero and Co-Founder of Czechoslovakia 32:53

1+ y ago32:53

32:53

On this episode, Cullan talks with Professor Michal Kšiňan about his monograph on the Slovak national hero and co-founder of Czechoslovakia, Milan Rastislav Štefánik. Michal talks about Štefánik's military career and meteoric rise and the place he continues to hold in Czechoslovakia history and memory. Thanks for listening! ABOUT THE BOOK https://w…

1
#24 Brian Mefford, a US expat in Ukraine talks about life, business, and help during the war 20:33

1+ y ago20:33

20:33

In this episode, my guest was Brian Mefford, a US expat from Kyiv who lives and works there for almost 23 years. We talked about Brian’s life and business during the Russian war against Ukraine, his relief project Help Ukraine 22 Operation Palyanytsya for those affected by the war, and what the Americans should understand about the modern Ukrainian…

1
"In the Storms of Transformation": History of Balkan Migration and Globalization with Ulf Brunnbauer 28:32

1+ y ago28:32

28:32

On this episode, Cullan sits down with lauded historian Ulf Brunnbauer, managing director of the Leibniz Institute for East and Southeast European Studies in Regensburg, Germany, whose research on the social history and anthropology of Southeast Europe reveals that the Balkan region is in many ways more globalized than the rest of Europe. ABOUT THE…

1
The Other: Russian-American Relations Through the Centuries with Ivan Kurilla 35:57

1+ y ago35:57

35:57

On this episode, historian Dr. Ivan Kurilla from European University in St. Petersburg shares about his research on the rich and little-known history of US-Russia relations since the 18th century. Dr. Kurilla explains how the US and Russia are "constitutive others" that have developed historically within the same political language, were both proje…

1
#23 Adrian Karatnycky, Atlantic Council summarises 2022 year for Ukraine 24:05

1+ y ago24:05

24:05

Adrian Karatnycky, a nonresident senior fellow with the Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center (USA) joins this podcast episode. As the Russian war approaches the year mark, we discussed the major positive outcomes for Ukraine due to its heroic resistance. Mr. Karatnycky explained why the Russian elites are so hateful and genocidal in pursuing their occ…

1
Compounding Conflicts: Russia in Ukraine, the Middle East, and Africa with Robert Freedman 45:02

1+ y ago45:02

45:02

On this episode, venerated political scientist Dr. Robert Freedman joins us to expound on the various wars and conflicts that Russia has gotten into, not only in Ukraine, but also in Syria, Libya, Mali, and more. Dr. Freedman articulates Putin's current goals as he sees them, touches on the liberal use of the Wagner Group by Russia, and prognostica…

1
#22 Brian Bonner, ex editor of The Kyiv Post provides insights from war-torn Ukraine 22:08

1+ y ago22:08

22:08

The guest of this episode is Brian Bonner, a former chief editor of the Kyiv Post, the English-language weekly newspaper in Ukraine. He is an American national from Minnesota who resides in Kyiv since the end of the 90s. It was a pure luck to interview Mr. Bonner between electricity outages in the Ukrainian capital city caused by the Russian missil…

1
The Reception Desk: Soviet Bureaucracy with a Human Face, 1979-1985 32:18

1+ y ago32:18

32:18

On this episode, Lera speaks with Emily Joan Elliott of H-Net about what got her interested in Soviet and post-Soviet history and her particular focus on migration to Moscow and the Priemnaia (reception desk) of the Supreme Soviet. Per Elliott's research: "the Priemnaia received thousands of complaints and petitions annually, often from individuals…

1
The Politics of Soviet Football in the 1950s and 60s 24:28

1+ y ago24:28

24:28

On this episode, Sergio talks with Yacov Zohn, football historian and former semi-professional footballer in Russia, France, and the US. Yacov's research into the development of Soviet football sheds light on the immense political pressure placed on the primary USSR team, the Sbornaya, to win each and every game--but ultimately the unrealistic aim …

1
"Budapest's Children: Humanitarian Relief in the Aftermath of the Great War" 27:54

1+ y ago27:54

27:54

On this episode, Friederike Kind-Kovács visits with us in Austin, Texas, to talk about her latest book which explores the ways in which migration, hunger, and destitution affected children's lives, casting light on their particular vulnerability in times of distress. You can find her book "Budapest's Children" (published by Indiana University Press…

1
#21 David Stulik, ex EU diplomat to Ukraine talks about how Europeans help refugees during the war times 21:05

1+ y ago21:05

21:05

In this podcast episode David Stulik, a senior analyst in European Values Center for Security Policy think tank (Czech Republic) and a former diplomat of the European Union in Ukraine talks with Viktor Kovalenko about what Europeans think about the Russian war against Ukraine. For twelve years, Mr. Stulík served in Kyiv as the press and information…

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