Learn Russian Conversation

Follow Learn Russian Conversation
Share on
Copy link to clipboard

Welcome to Learn Russian Conversation. If you want to improve your understanding of Russian, you can do it. Join us for daily conversations and learn real Russian. No textbook, no grammar -- start speaking Russian today.

Mariya and Victor


    • Dec 1, 2023 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 9m AVG DURATION
    • 238 EPISODES


    Search for episodes from Learn Russian Conversation with a specific topic:

    Latest episodes from Learn Russian Conversation

    286--287 Eternal Sicily in the Modern Age

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2023 17:50


    "Everything must change for everything to remain the same" - this is how Tomasi di Lampedusa describes life in Sicily in his novel The Leopard. 

    270–271 Karl Polanyi and capitalism

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2023 16:50


    capitalism karl polanyi
    284–285 Prince Oleg of Kiev – the epic hero

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2023 21:33


    In the 10th century, Kievan Rus was first a military-trade company. Later, it turned into a Slavic state. Prince Oleg settled in Kiev and named it the mother of the cities of Rus. 

    282–283 International relations - theories and approaches

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2023 17:45


    Realism, liberalism, Marxism, Neo-Marxism, and Constructivism are the major approaches to international relations.

    280–281 Gnostics and the Bible

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 19, 2023 18:09


    If Christianity is about Christ, why is the Old Testament included in the Bible?

    278–279 Leviathan of Thomas Hobbes

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2023 18:15


    Thomas Hobbes founded a theory of modern state, as he looked for a way to stop religious wars that afflicted Europe and England, in particular, in the 16th and 17th centuries. He based his theory on the fear of death that is common for most people. 

    276–277 Nikolai Fedorov – resurrection and cosmos

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 19, 2023 17:12


    He slept on the chest and was wearing poor clothes – Nikolai Fedorov was an unassuming librarian and a mentor of Tsiolkovsky, a father of astronautics, as well as Tolstoy and Dostoevsky, big writers.   

    274–275 Blaise Pascal – the last believer

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2023 19:46


    Blaise Pascal (1623– 1662) believed that we are great when we are aware of our insignificance.

    272–273 Are there philosophers in Russia?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 13, 2023 16:09


    In the 19th century, two names stand out when we think of philosophy in Russia – Alexander Herzen and Konstantin Leontiev. While Herzen was the father of Russian socialism, Leontiev was a conservative whose writings can explain how the idea of the decaying West came into being in Russia.

    268-269 Did the Black Death delay the Renaissance?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2023 15:04


    Where did the catastrophe of the 14 century come from? Was the Renaissance delayed?

    266–267 Herodotus – the father of history

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 19, 2023 14:29


    In  his treatise of 9 books, Herodotus described many peoples, countries, and events of the 5th century BC. He titled his work "History", which gave the name to a scholarly discipline.  

    264–265 Iran between Islam and the West

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2023 17:09


    263–264 The borders of Iraq

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2023 15:11


    260–261 The birth of Middle East

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2023 13:24


    After the first world war, the Ottoman Empire collapsed and the Middle East emerged anew. What was the role of secular Arab nationalism in it?  

    258–259 German Romanticism

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 30, 2023 14:20


    Born as a reaction to the Enlightenment, German Romanticism embraced many of its ideas.

    enlightenment german romanticism
    256–257 Russia's Greek project

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2023 14:14


    Catherine the Great was German and she came up with the Greek project for Russia.

    254–255 When Russia became part of Europe

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2023 17:32


    It happened when Russia won the war against Sweden, one of the most powerful European state, and became part of European geopolitical balance. 

    252–253 Jesuits in China

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 3, 2023 15:44


    Jesuits cast their missionary net far and wide. They aimed for China. 

    250–251 Goya, Spain, and modern art

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2023 14:18


    Francisco Goya was Spain's road to modernity.

    248—249 Franciscans and Dominicans

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 17, 2023 15:03


    The most important religious orders of the Catholic church. In the 13th century, the Franciscans "went to people," while the Dominicans filled the positions in the Inquisition. 

    246–247 China turns Communist

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2023 16:33


    Once a powerful and self-centered empire, China is now a Communist state.  In this episode, we talk about how Marxism, a Western ideology, became adopted to the Chinese conditions.

    244–245 Saint Augustine

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2023 15:44


    Saint Augustine (354-430) was one of the most influential church fathers of Western Christianity. His concepts of eternity, time, and the human being laid the foundation of the Catholic Church.

    242–243 Manon Lescaut, the best love story

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2023 14:36


    First published in 1731, this story written by Abbé Prévost is about moral degradation, fraud, loyalty, passion, and love.  

    240–241 Michel Foucault, the death of author and archeology of knowledge

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2023 13:59


    Michel Foucault, 1926-1984.  Is he a historian, sociologist, philosopher? He is all this and much more, 

    238–239 Don Quixote, madness and reason

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2023 16:55


    Smart in his speeches, clownish in his actions, Don Quixote is a modern character.  To access transcripts for this and other episodes, visit https://store.lrcpodcast.ca Find out how to rapidly make progress in spoken Russian How to listen Give it a try with our free Sample transcripts Learn Russian Conversation on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ7pE0ufROXRDlQSlVWiLqQ Ready to leave the classroom and try modern Russian? Learn Russian Conversation is the best place to practice your Russian! If you want to start speaking Russian fluently, you can do it here. Listen to Russian conversations regularly, improve your understanding of spoken Russian, and start speaking Russian today at our Russian Conversation Club.

    236–237 The return of Martin Guerre

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 27, 2022 14:43


    Does identity matter? Yes, as the case of a 16th-century imposter Martin Guerre proves it.  To access transcripts for this and other episodes, visit https://store.lrcpodcast.ca Find out how to rapidly make progress in spoken Russian How to listen Give it a try with our free Sample transcripts Learn Russian Conversation on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ7pE0ufROXRDlQSlVWiLqQ Ready to leave the classroom and try modern Russian? Learn Russian Conversation is the best place to practice your Russian! If you want to start speaking Russian fluently, you can do it here. Listen to Russian conversations regularly, improve your understanding of spoken Russian, and start speaking Russian today at our Russian Conversation Club.

    234–235 Cheese and worms

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2022 14:29


    When the peasants speak, the elites are puzzled. In this episode we talk about how Carlo Ginzburg deciphered testimonies of a miller in a small village in Italy.  To access transcripts for this and other episodes, visit https://store.lrcpodcast.ca Find out how to rapidly make progress in spoken Russian How to listen Give it a try with our free Sample transcripts Learn Russian Conversation on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ7pE0ufROXRDlQSlVWiLqQ Ready to leave the classroom and try modern Russian? Learn Russian Conversation is the best place to practice your Russian! If you want to start speaking Russian fluently, you can do it here. Listen to Russian conversations regularly, improve your understanding of spoken Russian, and start speaking Russian today at our Russian Conversation Club.

    232–233 Peasants, Christians, and heretics

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2022 15:38


    What can we see in the French village of Montaillou? A community, a trial, and heretics, but also a world of Christianity.  To access transcripts for this and other episodes, visit https://store.lrcpodcast.ca Find out how to rapidly make progress in spoken Russian How to listen Give it a try with our free Sample transcripts Learn Russian Conversation on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ7pE0ufROXRDlQSlVWiLqQ Ready to leave the classroom and try modern Russian? Learn Russian Conversation is the best place to practice your Russian! If you want to start speaking Russian fluently, you can do it here. Listen to Russian conversations regularly, improve your understanding of spoken Russian, and start speaking Russian today at our Russian Conversation Club.

    230–231 Renaissance art of memory

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2022 14:32


    Knowledge is impossible without memory. In the epoch of Renaissance, memory could be a theater.  To access transcripts for this and other episodes, visit https://store.lrcpodcast.ca Find out how to rapidly make progress in spoken Russian How to listen Give it a try with our free Sample transcripts Learn Russian Conversation on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ7pE0ufROXRDlQSlVWiLqQ Ready to leave the classroom and try modern Russian? Learn Russian Conversation is the best place to practice your Russian! If you want to start speaking Russian fluently, you can do it here. Listen to Russian conversations regularly, improve your understanding of spoken Russian, and start speaking Russian today at our Russian Conversation Club.

    228–229 Thomas More and early English capitalism

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 28, 2022 16:52


    A staunch Catholic, Thomas More raised his voice against sheep "that ate people."  To access transcripts for this and other episodes, visit https://store.lrcpodcast.ca Find out how to rapidly make progress in spoken Russian How to listen Give it a try with our free Sample transcripts Learn Russian Conversation on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ7pE0ufROXRDlQSlVWiLqQ Ready to leave the classroom and try modern Russian? Learn Russian Conversation is the best place to practice your Russian! If you want to start speaking Russian fluently, you can do it here. Listen to Russian conversations regularly, improve your understanding of spoken Russian, and start speaking Russian today at our Russian Conversation Club.

    226–227 Heidegger and crisis in science

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 21, 2022 13:38


    He is the most influential philosopher of the 20th century and one of the most difficult ones to understand.   To access transcripts for this and other episodes, visit https://store.lrcpodcast.ca Find out how to rapidly make progress in spoken Russian How to listen Give it a try with our free Sample transcripts Learn Russian Conversation on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ7pE0ufROXRDlQSlVWiLqQ Ready to leave the classroom and try modern Russian? Learn Russian Conversation is the best place to practice your Russian! If you want to start speaking Russian fluently, you can do it here. Listen to Russian conversations regularly, improve your understanding of spoken Russian, and start speaking Russian today at our Russian Conversation Club.

    224–225 Marx didn't like capitalism

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2022 13:28


    The capitalists and the workers are like Tom and Jerry – always in a fight. To access transcripts for this and other episodes, visit https://store.lrcpodcast.ca Find out how to rapidly make progress in spoken Russian How to listen Give it a try with our free Sample transcripts Learn Russian Conversation on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ7pE0ufROXRDlQSlVWiLqQ Ready to leave the classroom and try modern Russian? Learn Russian Conversation is the best place to practice your Russian! If you want to start speaking Russian fluently, you can do it here. Listen to Russian conversations regularly, improve your understanding of spoken Russian, and start speaking Russian today at our Russian Conversation Club.

    222–223 Europe and the people without history

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 7, 2022 13:10


    Colonization means settlement in new areas, but also control over the people and resources. Are there differences between Spanish. Portuguese, or British colonization?  To access transcripts for this and other episodes, visit https://store.lrcpodcast.ca Find out how to rapidly make progress in spoken Russian How to listen Give it a try with our free Sample transcripts Learn Russian Conversation on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ7pE0ufROXRDlQSlVWiLqQ Ready to leave the classroom and try modern Russian? Learn Russian Conversation is the best place to practice your Russian! If you want to start speaking Russian fluently, you can do it here. Listen to Russian conversations regularly, improve your understanding of spoken Russian, and start speaking Russian today at our Russian Conversation Club.

    220–221 When Poland disappeared

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2022 15:05


    In the 17th century, Jan Sobieski, the king of the powerful Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth saved Vienna from the Ottoman Empire. A hundred years later,  this state disappeared from the map. How was it possible? To access transcripts for this and other episodes, visit https://store.lrcpodcast.ca Find out how to rapidly make progress in spoken Russian How to listen Give it a try with our free Sample transcripts Learn Russian Conversation on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ7pE0ufROXRDlQSlVWiLqQ Ready to leave the classroom and try modern Russian? Learn Russian Conversation is the best place to practice your Russian! If you want to start speaking Russian fluently, you can do it here. Listen to Russian conversations regularly, improve your understanding of spoken Russian, and start speaking Russian today at our Russian Conversation Club.

    russian poland disappeared ottoman empire polish lithuanian commonwealth
    218–219 The Seven years' war, the first global conflict

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2022 15:51


    Held in 1756-63, this war's consequences are still felt.  To access transcripts for this and other episodes, visit https://store.lrcpodcast.ca Find out how to rapidly make progress in spoken Russian How to listen Give it a try with our free Sample transcripts Learn Russian Conversation on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ7pE0ufROXRDlQSlVWiLqQ Ready to leave the classroom and try modern Russian? Learn Russian Conversation is the best place to practice your Russian! If you want to start speaking Russian fluently, you can do it here. Listen to Russian conversations regularly, improve your understanding of spoken Russian, and start speaking Russian today at our Russian Conversation Club.

    216–217 Women and war

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2022 13:56


    When men go to war, women go to war and to the factories. And this change is irreversible.  

    214–215 Machiavelli, the Jesuits, and dishonesty in politics

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2022 13:17


    Treachery has many faces, and some of them are unreconcilable. 

    212–213 Bonapartism, plebiscites and Napoleon III

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 2022 14:36


    Bonapartism comes from Bonaparte, Napoleon Bonaparte. There were actually two Napoleons, the First and the Third. These emperors could not do without plebiscites. To access transcripts for this and other episodes, visit https://store.lrcpodcast.ca Find out how to rapidly make progress in spoken Russian How to listen Give it a try with our free Sample transcripts Learn Russian Conversation on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ7pE0ufROXRDlQSlVWiLqQ Ready to leave the classroom and try modern Russian? Learn Russian Conversation is the best place to practice your Russian! If you want to start speaking Russian fluently, you can do it here. Listen to Russian conversations regularly, improve your understanding of spoken Russian, and start speaking Russian today at our Russian Conversation Club.

    210–211 Why Russia did not have the Renaissance

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2022 13:15


    You need Latin and Greek to have the Renaissance, but the Eastern Slavs had Church Slavonic.   To access transcripts for this and other episodes, visit https://store.lrcpodcast.ca Find out how to rapidly make progress in spoken Russian How to listen Give it a try with our free Sample transcripts Learn Russian Conversation on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ7pE0ufROXRDlQSlVWiLqQ Ready to leave the classroom and try modern Russian? Learn Russian Conversation is the best place to practice your Russian! If you want to start speaking Russian fluently, you can do it here. Listen to Russian conversations regularly, improve your understanding of spoken Russian, and start speaking Russian today at our Russian Conversation Club.

    208-209 Charles V, the world emperor

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 19, 2022 12:37


    After Charlemagne, Charles V Habsburg was arguably the most famous Charles. His empire was enormous, nevertheless he abdicated in 1555.

    206-207 Plutarch, common reading

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 12, 2022 12:02


    Rome conquered Greece, but Greece conquered Rome. It is easy to see it, when reading Plutarch. And it is not that difficult to read his Parallel Lives! To access transcripts for this and other episodes, visit https://store.lrcpodcast.ca Find out how to rapidly make progress in spoken Russian How to listen Give it a try with our free Sample transcripts Learn Russian Conversation on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ7pE0ufROXRDlQSlVWiLqQ Ready to leave the classroom and try modern Russian? Learn Russian Conversation is the best place to practice your Russian! If you want to start speaking Russian fluently, you can do it here. Listen to Russian conversations regularly, improve your understanding of spoken Russian, and start speaking Russian today at our Russian Conversation Club.

    204–205 France, Germany, and Alsace

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 2022 14:11


    Alsace was on the move from the Holy Roman Empire to France, from France to the German Empire, and then again back to France. And now Alsace speaks Alsatian and French. To access transcripts for this and other episodes, visit https://store.lrcpodcast.ca Find out how to rapidly make progress in spoken Russian How to listen Give it a try with our free Sample transcripts Learn Russian Conversation on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ7pE0ufROXRDlQSlVWiLqQ Ready to leave the classroom and try modern Russian? Learn Russian Conversation is the best place to practice your Russian! If you want to start speaking Russian fluently, you can do it here. Listen to Russian conversations regularly, improve your understanding of spoken Russian, and start speaking Russian today at our Russian Conversation Club.

    202–203 Three Russian revolutions

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2022 13:26


    Here are the dates: the Russo-Japanese war of 1904-1905, the First Russian revolution of 1905, WWI of 1914-1918, the February revolution of 1917, the October revolution of 1917.  To access transcripts for this and other episodes, visit https://store.lrcpodcast.ca Find out how to rapidly make progress in spoken Russian How to listen Give it a try with our free Sample transcripts Learn Russian Conversation on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ7pE0ufROXRDlQSlVWiLqQ Ready to leave the classroom and try modern Russian? Learn Russian Conversation is the best place to practice your Russian! If you want to start speaking Russian fluently, you can do it here. Listen to Russian conversations regularly, improve your understanding of spoken Russian, and start speaking Russian today at our Russian Conversation Club.

    200–201 The rise of the West

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2022 14:29


    From the ancient East to the medieval South to the modern West. To access transcripts for this and other episodes, visit https://store.lrcpodcast.ca Find out how to rapidly make progress in spoken Russian How to listen Give it a try with our free Sample transcripts Learn Russian Conversation on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ7pE0ufROXRDlQSlVWiLqQ Ready to leave the classroom and try modern Russian? Learn Russian Conversation is the best place to practice your Russian! If you want to start speaking Russian fluently, you can do it here. Listen to Russian conversations regularly, improve your understanding of spoken Russian, and start speaking Russian today at our Russian Conversation Club.

    198–199 Elias – on violence and politeness

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 15, 2022 11:45


    When Elias read textbooks on good manners, he discovered how bad the manners were. To access transcripts for this and other episodes, visit https://store.lrcpodcast.ca Find out how to rapidly make progress in spoken Russian How to listen Give it a try with our free Sample transcripts Learn Russian Conversation on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ7pE0ufROXRDlQSlVWiLqQ Ready to leave the classroom and try modern Russian? Learn Russian Conversation is the best place to practice your Russian! If you want to start speaking Russian fluently, you can do it here. Listen to Russian conversations regularly, improve your understanding of spoken Russian, and start speaking Russian today at our Russian Conversation Club.

    196–197 Enlightenment – private vices, public benefits

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 8, 2022 13:49


    Enlightenment means light. Coming from England, it made its way to Europe via France. To access transcripts for this and other episodes, visit https://store.lrcpodcast.ca Find out how to rapidly make progress in spoken Russian How to listen Give it a try with our free Sample transcripts Learn Russian Conversation on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ7pE0ufROXRDlQSlVWiLqQ Ready to leave the classroom and try modern Russian? Learn Russian Conversation is the best place to practice your Russian! If you want to start speaking Russian fluently, you can do it here. Listen to Russian conversations regularly, improve your understanding of spoken Russian, and start speaking Russian today at our Russian Conversation Club.

    194–195 Reformation and the birth of Europe

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2022 15:31


    Reformation generated Counterreformation. They both gave rise to modern Europe. To access transcripts for this and other episodes, visit https://store.lrcpodcast.ca Find out how to rapidly make progress in spoken Russian How to listen Give it a try with our free Sample transcripts Learn Russian Conversation on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ7pE0ufROXRDlQSlVWiLqQ Ready to leave the classroom and try modern Russian? Learn Russian Conversation is the best place to practice your Russian! If you want to start speaking Russian fluently, you can do it here. Listen to Russian conversations regularly, improve your understanding of spoken Russian, and start speaking Russian today at our Russian Conversation Club.

    192–193 Levinas – how to overcome war?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 25, 2022 14:40


    If analysis means violence, what is the alternative? To access transcripts for this and other episodes, visit https://store.lrcpodcast.ca Find out how to rapidly make progress in spoken Russian How to listen Give it a try with our free Sample transcripts Learn Russian Conversation on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ7pE0ufROXRDlQSlVWiLqQ Ready to leave the classroom and try modern Russian? Learn Russian Conversation is the best place to practice your Russian! If you want to start speaking Russian fluently, you can do it here. Listen to Russian conversations regularly, improve your understanding of spoken Russian, and start speaking Russian today at our Russian Conversation Club.

    190–191 Can we live without a fight?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2022 12:26


    Yes, we can. No, we cannot. To access transcripts for this and other episodes, visit https://store.lrcpodcast.ca Find out how to rapidly make progress in spoken Russian How to listen Give it a try with our free Sample transcripts Learn Russian Conversation on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ7pE0ufROXRDlQSlVWiLqQ Ready to leave the classroom and try modern Russian? Learn Russian Conversation is the best place to practice your Russian! If you want to start speaking Russian fluently, you can do it here. Listen to Russian conversations regularly, improve your understanding of spoken Russian, and start speaking Russian today at our Russian Conversation Club.

    188–189 World War I and internal enemies

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2022 14:40


    There was another war. It took place at home. To access transcripts for this and other episodes, visit https://store.lrcpodcast.ca Find out how to rapidly make progress in spoken Russian How to listen Give it a try with our free Sample transcripts Learn Russian Conversation on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ7pE0ufROXRDlQSlVWiLqQ Ready to leave the classroom and try modern Russian? Learn Russian Conversation is the best place to practice your Russian! If you want to start speaking Russian fluently, you can do it here. Listen to Russian conversations regularly, improve your understanding of spoken Russian, and start speaking Russian today at our Russian Conversation Club.

    187 France, farewell to empire

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 6, 2022 8:11


    When empire is a burden, it is time to abandon it. To access transcripts for this and other episodes, visit https://store.lrcpodcast.ca Find out how to rapidly make progress in spoken Russian How to listen Give it a try with our free Sample transcripts Learn Russian Conversation on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ7pE0ufROXRDlQSlVWiLqQ Ready to leave the classroom and try modern Russian? Learn Russian Conversation is the best place to practice your Russian! If you want to start speaking Russian fluently, you can do it here. Listen to Russian conversations regularly, improve your understanding of spoken Russian, and start speaking Russian today at our Russian Conversation Club.

    Claim Learn Russian Conversation

    In order to claim this podcast we'll send an email to with a verification link. Simply click the link and you will be able to edit tags, request a refresh, and other features to take control of your podcast page!

    Claim Cancel