Podcasts about Kazakhstan

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NOTE: This interview was conducted in Russian. The English audio was created with AI dubbing software and reviewed by native speakers of both languages for accuracy.  Maria Snegovaya sits down with Pavel Talankin –– a Russian schoolteacher who became an unlikely lens into the Russian propaganda machine. His documentary, Mr. Nobody Against Putin, captured two years of footage from inside a provincial Russian classroom as Putin's war transformed his students into instruments of the state. The film won the 2026 Oscar for Best Documentary. Talankin joins Russian Roulette to discuss what he witnessed, the process of making the film, and what his story reveals about the depths of propaganda in Russia's education system today.  Mentioned:  Mr. Nobody Against Putin | Documentary film directed by David Borenstein and Pavel Talankin  Feedback? Suggestions? Ideas to help us improve? Email us at erep@csis.org.  If you love Russian Roulette, let us know by subscribing and leaving a review wherever you get your podcasts.   Listen to our sister podcast, covering all things Europe through a Washington lens: CSIS Podcasts | The Eurofile 

The Grand Theft Auto 6 rumor mill is firing on all cylinders. Alleged leaks suggest GTA 6 could make players actually refuel their cars, because apparently escaping the cops and committing fictional felonies wasn't immersive enough. Now we may get the authentic experience of realizing the tank is on E at the absolute worst possible moment.Would stolen cars come with random amounts of gas? Could you abandon one because the tank is empty? Would GTA Costco memberships get you cheaper fuel? These are the important questions being asked by this comedy podcast while the rest of society presumably does something productive.Then we discover—or rediscover, depending on how damaged everyone's memory is—the 1985 cinematic achievement known as Gymkata.The premise is magnificently stupid: take gymnastics, combine it with karate and create an unstoppable martial art. That's it. That's the movie. Olympic gymnast Kurt Thomas is sent on a dangerous mission where his greatest weapon is himself…and the conveniently placed gymnastics equipment that somehow keeps appearing whenever dozens of bad guys need to be kicked in the face.Moon reveals that Gymkata has been living rent-free in his subconscious since childhood, including scenes that still randomly appear in his dreams. This launches the crew into an extremely important celebration of the ridiculous action and sports movies of the '80s: Rad, No Retreat, No Surrender, Best of the Best, No Holds Barred, Bloodsport and the glorious era when movie executives could apparently greenlight anything as long as somebody knew karate.Naturally, Jean-Claude Van Damme doing the splits leads Lern to ask questions about male anatomy that nobody was emotionally prepared to answer. Suddenly we're discussing whether men have a “seam,” whether God is responsible for said seam, and why absolutely none of this information was included in health class.And then Steven Seagal arrives.The crew finds audio of Seagal telling a story about being in Kazakhstan before stopping to ask, “How do you say in English…” despite being born in Lansing, Michigan. What follows is a forensic investigation into Steven Seagal's increasingly mysterious relationship with the English language, fake accents, international travel and whether spending enough time somewhere can legitimately change how you talk.From there, Crap on Celebrities turns surprisingly philosophical when Dr. Dre and Billy Corgan land on opposite sides of the AI music debate. Dre sees artificial intelligence as another creative tool, while Corgan wants absolutely nothing to do with it. Moon breaks down how producers already use loops, samples and pre-built musical elements, leading to a bigger question: where exactly does using technology stop being a tool and start becoming “cheating”?This comedy podcast also gets into Bret Michaels recovering from kidney stone surgery while apparently refusing to surrender his hat under any circumstances, Kacey Musgraves performing while floating on giant disco-ball truck nuts, Dolly Parton exploring avatar performances, Bonnaroo taking a year off, and St. Louis artist Slater covering Hole's “Violet.”Plus, the CW dumps Miss USA and Miss Teen USA, DC apparently decides Gorilla Grodd needs a true-crime mockumentary, National Treasure 3 inches closer to becoming a real movie, and Lern takes everyone on an unsolicited but surprisingly enjoyable Whitesnake journey.Then we wrap things up with celebrity birthdays—including Dave Chappelle, Cal Ripken Jr., Steve Guttenberg and Vince McMahon—before heading toward relationship fun facts and the mysterious 7-7-7 rule.It's GTA rumors, '80s movie nostalgia, celebrity news, music industry arguments, St. Louis chaos and several conversations that should've ended three sentences earlier.In other words: a comedy podcast.Follow The Rizzuto Show → linktr.ee/rizzshow for more from your favorite daily comedy show.Connect with The Rizzuto Show Comedy Podcast online → 1057thepoint.com/RizzShow.Hear The Rizz Show daily on the radio at 105.7 The Point | Hubbard Radio in St. Louis, MO.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jason Jay Smart is a political adviser who has lived and worked in Ukraine, Moldova, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Latin America. Due to his work with the democratic opposition to Vladimir Putin, Smart was made persona non grata for life by Russia in 2010. Jason is a Special Correspondent at the Kyiv Post. It's the state of US support for Ukraine that we will discuss today.----------LINKS:https://jasonjaysmart.com/ https://www.kyivpost.com/authors/5 https://americanpoliticalservices.com/https://www.facebook.com/jasonjaysmarthttps://twitter.com/officejjsmart ----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------ACTIVE CAMPAIGN:We are raising funds for 5 of 15 Vampire DronesSilicon Curtain for Kupiansk Vampires. Dzyga's Paw, together with Jonathan Fink, is joining forces to raise $40,000 to provide the Khartiia Brigade with Vampire Drones.https://dzygaspaw.com/silicon-curtain-for-kupiansk-vampiresThese heavy bombers are designed to destroy manpower and equipment, as well as for remote mining. The Vampire UAV, manufactured by Skyfall, has proven itself to be one of the most effective weapons in the Kupiansk direction. Skyfall is one of Ukraine's largest defense tech companies, producing Vampire bomber drones, various modifications of Shrike FPV drones, P1-SUN, Shahed drone interceptors, communication systems, and components.----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Car4Ukrainehttps://car4ukraine.com/en-US/campaignsDzyga's Pawhttps://dzygaspaw.com/projectsSuperhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/----------PLATFORMS:Substack: https://substack.com/@siliconcurtainTwitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSiliconLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqm----------

What is the future of security in Asia as Japanese lawmakers head to China? Then: Canada’s tariff war with the US, Kazakhstan’s elections, fashion archives from around the world and rentrée littéraire in France.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Examining the emergence of international public health policy between the 1930s and 80s, The Emergence of International Health Policy in Southeast Asia, India, and Sri Lanka, 1937–1978 (Palgrave Macmillan, 2026) by Dr. Vivek Neelakantan sheds light on the role that rural community health initiatives in South and Southeast Asia played in the movement towards ‘primary health care' and ‘health for all,' articulated ultimately at the 1978 International Conference on Primary Health Care in Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan. The author argues that the movement was not directed exclusively from the headquarters of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, but also by institutions such as the Rockefeller Foundation's International Health Division in rural Southeast Asia, and through local community initiatives including the Bandung Plan for Health in Indonesia. The book illustrates how an exclusive association of global health with the emergence of the WHO in the 1950s fails to account for the local, national, or regional contexts that shaped the evolution of primary health care in South and Southeast Asia. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Examining the emergence of international public health policy between the 1930s and 80s, The Emergence of International Health Policy in Southeast Asia, India, and Sri Lanka, 1937–1978 (Palgrave Macmillan, 2026) by Dr. Vivek Neelakantan sheds light on the role that rural community health initiatives in South and Southeast Asia played in the movement towards ‘primary health care' and ‘health for all,' articulated ultimately at the 1978 International Conference on Primary Health Care in Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan. The author argues that the movement was not directed exclusively from the headquarters of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, but also by institutions such as the Rockefeller Foundation's International Health Division in rural Southeast Asia, and through local community initiatives including the Bandung Plan for Health in Indonesia. The book illustrates how an exclusive association of global health with the emergence of the WHO in the 1950s fails to account for the local, national, or regional contexts that shaped the evolution of primary health care in South and Southeast Asia. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A cult of fascist ideology has gripped Silicon Valley, and the tech industrial complex is threatening US democracy. Gil Durán joins Paris Marx to discuss the radical billionaire cabal that is hellbent on the consolidation of corporate and political power, including the visions they have for the future and the strategies they're using to drive us there.Gil Durán is the author of The Nerd Reich: Silicon Valley Fascism and the War on Democracy and writes The Nerd Reich newsletter. The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson. Support the show on Patreon.Also mentioned in this episode:Click here to get your first month of Proton Mail for just $1.Gil has written about Paulina Borsook's prescient warning about tech libertarians from more than twenty years ago.Gil has written the foreword for the new edition of Cyberselfish.Balaji Srinivasan has moved his commune project to Kazakhstan after being booted from Malaysia. Shout-out to friend of the pod Quinn Slobodian, who's work you can find here. Paris recently talked to Quinn, check out that episode here if you missed it.Support the show

Maria Snegovaya sits down with Nate Vance — a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who enlisted in the Ukrainian Armed Forces after the 2022 invasion — to discuss Ukrainian and Russian military tactics, life as an infantryman on the front lines, and the impact of Soviet legacies on military culture.   Vance spent three years with the Da Vinci Wolves, seeing action from Bakhmut to Pokrovsk, before leaving in early 2025 when his first cousin JD Vance's rise to the vice presidency made him a potential Russian target.    Mentioned:  Russian Blood and Treasure: The Ballooning Costs of Putin's War: CSIS Publication by Seth Jones and Riley McCabe      Feedback? Suggestions? Ideas to help us improve? Email us at erep@csis.org.  If you love Russian Roulette, let us know by subscribing and leaving a review wherever you get your podcasts.   Listen to our sister podcast, covering all things Europe through a Washington lens: CSIS Podcasts | The Eurofile   

INTRO (00:24): Kathleen opens the show drinking a Staycation Land Brilliant Lager from Baxter Brewing Company in Lewiston, ME.    TOUR NEWS: See Kathleen live on her “Flying Cats & Marching Armadillos Tour.”   TASTING MENU (2:36): Kathleen samples Cabot Creamery Firey Cheddar Popcorn, Al's Backwoods Berrie Company Pineapple Ghost Pepper Bourbon Sauce, and Cape Cod Sweet & Spicy Jalapeno Chips.    QUEEN NEWS (11:33): Kathleen shares that Stevie Nicks is rumored to be reconciling with Lindsey Buckingham, and Meghan Markle has entered a feud with Martha Stewart.   HOLLYWOOD HAPPENINGS (1:02:12): HollyBobby provides the latest news in Hollywood.   UPDATES (24:04): Kathleen reports that the Wizard of Oz's first year at Sphere in Vegas boasted $450M in sales, and Nashville Zoo's data center issues could be solved through an eminent domain vote.   FABULOUS LIVING BY AMY (35:02): Kathleen and her sister-in-law Amy review details to enhance a fabulous lifestyle, including her favorite summer beach hats by Eric Javits, Scala Hat Co, and San Diego Hat Co.    HOLY SHIT THEY FOUND IT (28:33): Kathleen reports on the discovery of a 162-year-old bottle of Guinness discovered by divers in a shipwreck in the English Channel, and a Viking ship has been discovered in Norway.    NEWS (47:12): Kathleen reports that Anna Wintour is being called a bigot over her friendship with John Galliano, Barbie honors Whitney Houston with a collective doll, California bans octopus farming, Colonel Sanders' Kentucky estate is for sale, one snakebite to the vein costs a man $1.3M, Egypt bans camel rides at the Pyramids, the Gordie Howe Bridge opens between Detroit and Canada.   SPORTS NEWS (1:13:04): Kathleen reports that Bills Mafia are voicing concerns after experiencing so many poor sight lines in the new Highmark Stadium, and a former college golfer resigns from Winghaven Country Club after faking a hole-in-one.   SPANISH PHRASE OF THE WEEK (1:23:49): The Spanish phrase to learn this week is “cuánto dinero ganas” or “how much money do you make” in English.    PATRON SAINT OF THE WEEK (1:31:30): Kathleen reads about Saint Gall, the patron saint of birds, geese, poultry, and Switzerland.     FEEL GOOD STORY (1:26:54): Kathleen shares that Mexico has set free 350 captive dolphins after banning dolphin encounters, and Kazakhstan officially began an initiative to reintroduce the Caspian Tiger species back to the Balkhash region. 

The AI boom is proving complicated for everyday Americans. It's raising the cost of living and stopping the Fed from lowering interest rates. It is making some things faster and easier, but it is also changing how we live. Also: today's stories, including how Israel's new left-wing party is not focusing on peace within its campaign; how Kazakhstan is questioning Russia's invasion of Ukraine; and how parents are advocating for less screen time in schools. Join the Monitor's Linda Feldmann for today's news.

"I wish people understood that the pace of change across this region is not gradual anymore. It's moving very quickly and in many cases faster than traditional global markets expect." Conflicts and disrupted energy flows have put energy security back at the center of the conversation, and Yogaani Bhatia is seeing what that means for geophysics across the Middle East and beyond. Exploration is gaining renewed attention, Saudi Arabia is building out a major mining sector, and countries such as Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan are investing in geological knowledge and new resource development. Behind all of it is the same need: understand the subsurface well enough to make better decisions. And as investment accelerates, the challenge is not simply having better technology. It is having the people who know how to use it. KEY TAKEAWAYS > Energy security is making subsurface knowledge strategic again: Pressure on energy flows is reinforcing the need for secure, diversified resources. Exploration is increasingly viewed not only as a commercial activity, but as a strategic capability tied to long-term energy and resource security. > Some of the fastest change is happening across the Middle East, Central Asia, Africa, and Asia Pacific: Saudi Arabia is expanding mining, Central Asia is investing in geological knowledge, Africa is seeing renewed frontier exploration, and Asia Pacific is advancing offshore energy, CCS, and geothermal. > Energy and minerals draw on many of the same geophysics skills: Imaging, interpretation, data integration, and other subsurface expertise developed in oil and gas are increasingly crossing into mining, critical minerals, geothermal, and carbon storage. > Better technology still depends on people who know how to use it: The AI and digital conversation is shifting from whether the tools have value to how they improve workflows and decisions, while organizations also face a growing need to develop talent and transfer knowledge. THIS EPISODE PROUDLY SPONSORED BY HART ENERGY SUPER DUG Conference & Expo is Hart Energy's premier shale event and the largest event of its kind. If you're looking to stay ahead of what's next in U.S. shale, don't miss the 2026 SUPER DUG, happening September 15-17 in Houston. Join the industry's top operators, executives and investors for three days of market outlooks, strategic discussions and unmatched networking focused on the trends shaping the future of oil and gas. Register today at https://hartenergy.com/SUPERDUG26. Be sure to use promo code SD26-SEG at checkout to save on your registration. Be part of the conversations shaping the future of U.S. shale. LINKS * Find upcoming events at https://seg.org/events. * Read about GEOMIN 2025: A Global Debut in Mining Innovation and Collaboration at https://seg.org/news/geomin-2025-a-global-debut-in-mining-innovation-and-collaboration/. * Learn more about IMAGE '26 and register today at https://www.imageevent.org/. ABOUT SEISMIC SOUNDOFF Seismic Soundoff showcases conversations addressing the challenges of energy, water, and climate. Produced by the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG) and hosted by Andrew Geary of 51 features, these episodes celebrate and inspire the geophysicists of today and tomorrow. Three new episodes monthly. See the full archive at https://seg.org/resources/podcast/.

Akerke Muratova: OBEs, pre-birth memories, & fairy guidesThough only 24, Akerke has experienced much in her young life, including her parents' deaths, childhood abuse, and attempted suicides. Originally from Kazakhstan, she today lives a healed and happy life in Australia, the beneficiary of spirit guidance to forgive and love.

Republic of Ireland boss Carla Ward joined us on Breakfast with KC to confirm SuperValu Páirc uí Chaoimh as the venue for their World Cup Play Off second leg clash with Kazakhstan on October 13th.

Cristina Gomez reviews the latest UFO / UAP news and covers Robert Bigelow's claim that AARO was built to squash UFO disclosure, his Kazakhstan crash and weapons claims and Secretary of State Marco Rubio's admission that he no longer controls the UAP file inside the current administration. To see the VIDEO of this episode, click or copy link - https://youtu.be/oJeSxBZh92UVisit my website with International UFO News, Articles, Videos, and Podcast direct links -www.ufonews.co00:00 - UFO Office Called A Fraud00:38 - Bigelow's UFO Warning01:30 - Inside The UFO Office02:17 - UFO Testimony Revealed03:55 - Secret UFO Weapon Claim05:43 - Rubio And The UFO File09:07 - Who Runs UFO Disclosure Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/strange-and-unexplained--5235662/support.

Global energy markets are all over the place. So, we're doing a short series on the major energy stressors across the globe and how this all is going to play out. Up first, let's look at the Ukraine War's impact on oil exports from Kazakhstan. Join the Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/PeterZeihan Full Newsletter: https://bit.ly/4pZs9bb

Send us Fan MailMiguel Armaza flew to Almaty, Kazakhstan to sit down with Mikhail Lomtadze, CEO and Co-Founder of Kaspi, for their second conversation in two years. It is hard to explain how dominant and loved Kaspi is in this market: in a country of 20 million people, more than 15 million use the app daily, and it handles two thirds of Kazakhstan's e-commerce. What started as a traditional bank is now one of the world's most defining super apps, and it just entered a new chapter, expanding into Türkiye through Hepsiburada and launching Kasper, its consumer-facing AI assistant.They discussed why Kaspi's final destination is the everyday AI assistant rather than the everyday super app, why almost nobody in the company carries a financial target, how a 10,000-person organization stays a collection of startups, what the first year inside Türkiye has actually taught them, and why he thinks investors are underestimating their ability to execute.Want more podcast episodes? Join me and follow Fintech Leaders today on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app for weekly conversations with today's global leaders that will dominate the 21st century in fintech, business, and beyond.Do you prefer a written summary? Check out the Fintech Leaders newsletter and join ~100,000+ readers and listeners worldwide!Miguel Armaza is Co-Founder and General Partner of Gilgamesh Ventures, a seed-stage investment fund focused on fintech in the Americas. He also hosts and writes the Fintech Leaders podcast and newsletter.Miguel on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nKha4ZMiguel on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Jb5oBcFintech Leaders Newsletter: https://bit.ly/3jWIpqpThe views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any affiliated organization or employer. This content is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as professional financial, legal, or tax advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making any financial decisions.

Ana Petrova is a jazz pianist and organist from Kazakhstan. Her playing is a combination of improvisation, groove, and jazz traditions. She studied at Berklee with Danilo Pérez, John Patitucci, and Joe Lovano. She's shared the stage with Dave Liebman, Catherine Russell, and Terri Lyne Carrington, among others. She's performed at clubs like Dizzy's and The Bitter End, and at festivals like the Umbria, Panama, and Monterey Jazz Festivals. My featured song is “Trippin”, from the album of the same name. Spotify link. —------------------------------------ The Follow Your Dream Podcast:Top 1% of all podcasts with Listeners in 200 countries! Click here for Start Here Click here for All Episodes  Click here for Guest List  Click here for Guest Testimonials Click here for Pillars Click here for Robert's Project Grand Slam Click here to Subscribe  Click here to receive our Email Updates Click here to Rate and Review the podcast —---------------------------------------- CONNECT WITH ANA:www.anapetrovamusic.com —------------------------------------ ROBERT'S NEWEST RELEASE:“THE BUZZ” - Ft. Darius de Haas (vocals) and Dave Eggar (Celo). Short, Sweet and Totally Different CLICK HERE FOR OFFICIAL VIDEO CLICK HERE FOR ALL LINKS —-------------------------------------- Audio production: Jimmy RavenscroftKymera FilmsConnect with the Follow Your Dream Podcast:Website - www.followyourdreampodcast.comFollow Robert's band, Project Grand Slam, and his music:Website - www.projectgrandslam.com    

Kazakhstan is heading to the polls for the first election under a new constitution. But are these reforms creating a more democratic system, or simply reshaping an authoritarian one?This week, Alex and Kaleigh explore the constitutional changes and Tokayev's campaign of "de-Nazarbayevification," in Central Asia's largest economy. They also examine Kazakhstan's delicate balancing act between Russia and China, and why its energy resources, critical minerals, and trade routes make it increasingly important on the world stage.Also: Kaleigh discusses a warning from the FAO and World Food Programme about growing global food insecurity as El Niño adds to pressure on vulnerable countries. And Alex looks at new research that could help scientists locate water ice beneath the Moon's surface, a key step toward future lunar exploration and settlement.Send your democracy queries to us!Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@probpolitics⁠⁠⁠ Email: ⁠⁠⁠probablyaboutpolitics@gmail.com

Homosexuality in Central Asia: Stories of Hardship and Hope (Barnes and Noble Press, 2026) is Ryan Michael Schweitzer's collection of first-hand narratives from LGBTQ individuals across Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Drawing on years of fieldwork in the region, Schweitzer gathers stories of violence, blackmail, forced marriage, surveillance, and exile alongside quieter accounts of love, friendship, and endurance. Rather than presenting a single Central Asian LGBTQ experience, the book traces how legal status, state security apparatuses, family structure, and religious revival intersect differently in each country to shape what visibility and safety look like for queer people in the region. About the host Cholpon Ramizova is a London-based creator and researcher. She holds a Master's in Migration, Mobility and Development from SOAS, University of London. Her thematic interests are in migration, displacement, identity, gender and nationalism—and in the ways these intersect within the Central Asia context. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Homosexuality in Central Asia: Stories of Hardship and Hope (Barnes and Noble Press, 2026) is Ryan Michael Schweitzer's collection of first-hand narratives from LGBTQ individuals across Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Drawing on years of fieldwork in the region, Schweitzer gathers stories of violence, blackmail, forced marriage, surveillance, and exile alongside quieter accounts of love, friendship, and endurance. Rather than presenting a single Central Asian LGBTQ experience, the book traces how legal status, state security apparatuses, family structure, and religious revival intersect differently in each country to shape what visibility and safety look like for queer people in the region. About the host Cholpon Ramizova is a London-based creator and researcher. She holds a Master's in Migration, Mobility and Development from SOAS, University of London. Her thematic interests are in migration, displacement, identity, gender and nationalism—and in the ways these intersect within the Central Asia context. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/central-asian-studies

In this episode of The International Risk Podcast, host Dominic Bowen is joined by Lisa Sachs, Director of the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment at Columbia University's Climate School, to unpack why critical minerals have become one of the defining forces in global geopolitics, economics and security, and why the countries richest in them so often stay poor.Sachs draws on two decades advising governments, investors and international institutions on resource governance to explain why minerals like lithium, cobalt and copper are not a new story but a long overlooked one, now thrust into the headlines by the clean energy transition and the race for AI. She examines why so few mining communities are genuinely better off for having mining nearby, why the "resource curse" is really a failure to treat natural resource governance as inseparable from geopolitics and international finance, and why the murky politics behind deals like the Kazakhstan tungsten project linked to the Trump family raise uncomfortable questions about conflict of interest at the highest levels. The conversation also covers what she calls "legalized corruption" in how resource deals get structured, why resource nationalism can be reasonable for developing countries but self-defeating for wealthy ones racing to secure their own supply chains, and why she believes AI and the energy transition represent a genuine opportunity to correct decades of unequal value capture if governments and companies are willing to learn from past mistakes.Key topics discussed:Why critical minerals are not the "new oil" but have always been central to the global economyWhat resource governance actually means in practice, beyond permits and environmental regulationWhy Sachs struggles to name mining communities that are genuinely better off for having miningThe conflict of interest questions raised by the Trump family's Kazakhstan tungsten investment"Legalized corruption" and the use of tax structuring and diplomatic pressure in resource dealsWhy resource nationalism is rational for developing countries but self-defeating for wealthy onesHow companies keep misreading community resistance to mining projectsWhether the clean energy transition and AI will reduce global inequality or deepen itThe international risks Dr. Sachs is watching most closely today, from climate change to AI driven inequalityThis episode is relevant to anyone interested in critical minerals, resource governance, geopolitics, supply chain security, sustainable investment or international risk.The International Risk Podcast brings you conversations with global experts, frontline practitioners and senior decision-makers who are shaping how we understand and respond to international risk. From geopolitical volatility and organised crime, to cybersecurity threats and hybrid warfare, each episode explores the forces transforming our world and what smart leaders must do to navigate them. Whether you're a board member, policymaker or risk professional, The International Risk Podcast delivers actionable insights, sharp analysis and real-world stories that matter.Dominic Bowen is the host of The International Risk Podcast and Europe's leading expert on international risk and crisis management. As Head of Strategic Advisory and Partner at one of Europe's leading risk management consulting firms, Dominic advises CEOs, boards and senior executives across the continent on how to prepare for uncertainty and act with intent. He has spent decades working in war zones, advising multinational companies and supporting Europe's business leaders.Tell us what you liked!

Homosexuality in Central Asia: Stories of Hardship and Hope (Barnes and Noble Press, 2026) is Ryan Michael Schweitzer's collection of first-hand narratives from LGBTQ individuals across Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Drawing on years of fieldwork in the region, Schweitzer gathers stories of violence, blackmail, forced marriage, surveillance, and exile alongside quieter accounts of love, friendship, and endurance. Rather than presenting a single Central Asian LGBTQ experience, the book traces how legal status, state security apparatuses, family structure, and religious revival intersect differently in each country to shape what visibility and safety look like for queer people in the region. About the host Cholpon Ramizova is a London-based creator and researcher. She holds a Master's in Migration, Mobility and Development from SOAS, University of London. Her thematic interests are in migration, displacement, identity, gender and nationalism—and in the ways these intersect within the Central Asia context. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/lgbtq-studies

Homosexuality in Central Asia: Stories of Hardship and Hope (Barnes and Noble Press, 2026) is Ryan Michael Schweitzer's collection of first-hand narratives from LGBTQ individuals across Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Drawing on years of fieldwork in the region, Schweitzer gathers stories of violence, blackmail, forced marriage, surveillance, and exile alongside quieter accounts of love, friendship, and endurance. Rather than presenting a single Central Asian LGBTQ experience, the book traces how legal status, state security apparatuses, family structure, and religious revival intersect differently in each country to shape what visibility and safety look like for queer people in the region. About the host Cholpon Ramizova is a London-based creator and researcher. She holds a Master's in Migration, Mobility and Development from SOAS, University of London. Her thematic interests are in migration, displacement, identity, gender and nationalism—and in the ways these intersect within the Central Asia context. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/religion

Homosexuality in Central Asia: Stories of Hardship and Hope (Barnes and Noble Press, 2026) is Ryan Michael Schweitzer's collection of first-hand narratives from LGBTQ individuals across Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Drawing on years of fieldwork in the region, Schweitzer gathers stories of violence, blackmail, forced marriage, surveillance, and exile alongside quieter accounts of love, friendship, and endurance. Rather than presenting a single Central Asian LGBTQ experience, the book traces how legal status, state security apparatuses, family structure, and religious revival intersect differently in each country to shape what visibility and safety look like for queer people in the region. About the host Cholpon Ramizova is a London-based creator and researcher. She holds a Master's in Migration, Mobility and Development from SOAS, University of London. Her thematic interests are in migration, displacement, identity, gender and nationalism—and in the ways these intersect within the Central Asia context. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/law

Movie of the Year: 2006Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of KazakhstanThe Borat Podcast Phenomenon: Satire, Shock Value, and Staying PowerThe Borat podcast from Movie of the Year explores one of 2006's most controversial and talked-about films. Sacha Baron Cohen's mockumentary arrived as a cultural earthquake. Audiences had never seen anything quite like it. The film presented itself as a documentary following a fictional Kazakhstani journalist through America. In reality, it weaponized satire in ways that still provoke debate today. The Borat podcast episode digs into how Cohen achieved this effect. We examine the craft behind the chaos. Furthermore, we ask whether the shock value overshadowed the actual social commentary. Above all, this is a film that demands to be discussed.About the FilmDirected by Larry Charles, Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan premiered at the 2006 Toronto International Film Festival. The Borat podcast traces the film's journey from festival premiere to cultural phenomenon. The film followed Borat Sagdiyev, a television reporter from Kazakhstan, as he traveled across the United States. Nominally, he was researching American culture. In practice, he spent the film creating uncomfortable, often hilarious interactions with unsuspecting Americans. The film was partially scripted and partially improvisational. Cohen's performance art approach meant that real people became unwitting participants in elaborate pranks. Consequently, the picture sparked immediate controversy about consent, cultural sensitivity, and the ethics of mockumentary comedy.The film grossed over $260 million worldwide and became a cultural phenomenon virtually overnight. By contrast, most independent comedies barely reach a fraction of that audience. Learn more about Borat on IMDb, or read the full Wikipedia entry.The Satire, the Method, and the Cultural ImpactAt its core, Borat operates as a Trojan horse. The film pretends to be a fish-out-of-water comedy. However, it's actually a scathing critique of American attitudes. The Borat podcast digs into this contradiction at length. Cohen's character exposes racism, sexism, and anti-Semitism by drawing them out of ordinary people. The satire works because audiences laugh before they realize what they're laughing at. Additionally, viewers must grapple with complicity. They enjoyed the comedy, yet that comedy often relies on humiliating real people. This tension is precisely the point.The method behind Borat borrows heavily from Andy Kaufman's tradition of transgressive performance art. Cohen spent years developing the character before filming began. He remained in character between takes. Furthermore, he worked with a skeleton crew to maintain the documentary illusion. Most of the "interviewees" had no idea they were being filmed for a narrative feature. This approach blurs the line between documentary and fiction in unprecedented ways. Notably, it also raises serious ethical questions that the film itself never fully addresses. The cultural impact proved enormous. Within weeks, Borat became shorthand for a particular brand of boundary-pushing comedy. College students quoted the film constantly. Yet critics remained divided on whether the satire was sufficiently incisive or merely cruel.The film's influence on comedy cannot be overstated. It opened doors for films like Brüno and The Dictator. Nevertheless, it also sparked a conversation about the ethics of pranking that continues today. By contrast, most comedies fade from cultural memory. Borat remains present in discourse because it asks uncomfortable questions.IP Freely on the Borat Podcast: What If a 2006 Director Made a Marvel Movie?Here's a thought experiment: Imagine Larry Charles directing a Marvel property in 2006. The result would be radically different from what the MCU eventually became. Charles brings a documentary aesthetic and deep discomfort into every frame. He's drawn to morally ambiguous situations. Therefore, his Marvel film would prioritize character awkwardness over spectacle. Consider this scenario: Charles directs Iron Man in 2006 with a 2004-era approach to superhero casting. The tone would be satirical, maybe even mockumentary-styled. Robert Downey Jr.'s character would feel less like a hero and more like a flawed businessman uncomfortable with his own mythology.Alternatively, picture Sacha Baron Cohen as a Marvel character in 2006. The studio would never allow his anarchic energy into their carefully controlled franchises. Yet imagine if they had. Cohen could have been a Thor-like character who doesn't understand Earth. His fish-out-of-water routine would align perfectly with fish-out-of-space storytelling. The scenes with other Avengers would crackle with uncomfortable tension. Baron Cohen thrives in social friction. A Marvel movie would provide an entire world of characters for him to destabilize. The result would feel more like a Kaufman film than anything in the MCU canon. Such a project would be too unpredictable for Marvel's brand management.PopFilter Hall of FameThe Taste Buds inducted Borat into the PopFilter Hall of Fame. This honor recognizes films that transcend their moment and become part of pop culture permanently. Borat earned this status for several reasons. First, the film's central character became a recognizable reference point. People who never saw the movie know who Borat is. Moreover, the film demonstrated that mockumentary could be both commercially viable and culturally significant. Additionally, it showed that comedy could be provocative and still find a massive audience. Finally, the picture's impact on subsequent comedy filmmaking cannot be understated. Every awkward-comedy and cringe-comedy film since 2006 owes something to this picture's approach.Hall of Fame status also reflects longevity. Rewatching Borat today feels different than it did in 2006. The film has aged in unexpected ways. Some jokes land harder because they reflect genuine changes in American discourse. Others feel more uncomfortable because our cultural standards have shifted. Specifically, the film's treatment of certain communities provokes more heated debate now. Nevertheless, the picture remains relevant. It remains a text people genuinely discuss in 2024. That staying power justifies Hall of Fame recognition.Why Borat Still MattersFifteen years after its release, Borat remains essential viewing. The Borat podcast episode demonstrates this staying power. The film documents a specific moment in American history. The movie captures mid-2000s attitudes with uncomfortable clarity. Furthermore, it serves as a mirror. What the film reveals about American culture in 2006 says as much about us as viewers as it does about the people on screen. The picture represents peak mockumentary filmmaking. Few films since have matched its ability to make audiences simultaneously laugh and cringe.Beyond its comedic achievements, Borat represents a risk-taking moment in mainstream cinema. The film was genuinely dangerous to make. Cohen and Charles put themselves in real physical danger. Moreover, they put others in uncomfortable situations without consent. This raises questions that remain unresolved. Can art justify its methods? When does comedy become cruelty? These aren't just academic questions. They're central to the film's power. Borat doesn't let audiences off easy. It forces us to think about what we're laughing at. Ultimately, that's why the film continues to matter. It demands engagement rather than passive consumption.Related Episodes from Movie of the Year: 2006Movie of the Year 2006: Podcast Intro, Part 1Movie of the Year 2006: Bracket Reveal2006 Mixtape, Part 1All Movie of the Year episodesFAQ: Borat Podcast and FilmWhat is the Borat podcast episode about?The Borat podcast explores Sacha Baron Cohen's 2006 mockumentary as a work of satire, examining the methods Cohen used to expose American attitudes. The Borat podcast episode discusses the film's cultural impact, its boundary-pushing approach to comedy, and why it remains relevant today. The Borat podcast also features segments imagining a Marvel movie directed by the film's director Larry Charles, and we induct Borat into the PopFilter Hall of Fame.What is the film Borat about?Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan is a mockumentary that follows a fictional Kazakhstani journalist through the United States. The film presents itself as a documentary but is actually a carefully constructed satire designed to provoke reactions from real people. Sacha Baron Cohen's performance exposes uncomfortable truths about American culture through...

A recap of Mendy's last two globetrotting weeks.

Looking for even more favorite indie horror movies? This week on Tomb of Terrors, Old Man Brad returns to the 30th Fantasia International Film Festival to dive into 5 more films! Find out what you need to add to your watchlist!03:00 Home Bodies - A haunting dystopian Canadian sci-fi horror film.05:33 The Galactic Ghoul- A silly, retro sci-fi comedy that is a loving homage to classic B-movies.08:28 Sicko - A gripping, heartbreaking thriller from Kazakhstan.11:16 Motherwitch - A striking greek gothic filk horror film set in 1880s Cyprus.14:27 Bowels of Hell - A wild, unpredictable Brazilian horror-comedy.Follow Fantasia International Film Festivalhttps://www.instagram.com/fantasiafestival/https://fantasiafestival.com/en/Come out to Frightful Fridays on the 3rd Friday of each month!https://www.esquiretheatre.com/If you love horror cinema, movie reviews, and all things Tubi, make sure to support the show!Follow on Socials: https://linktr.ee/oldmanbradhttps://letterboxd.com/OldManBrad/Leave a Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please drop us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to help the tomb grow!Support the Show:https://www.patreon.com/OldManBrad https://ko-fi.com/oldmanbradNew episodes drop every week. Step inside the tomb... if you dare!A huge thank you to my patrons: Gerald Morris, Dustin Elkins, Nerdrovert, Brett Parker, KaraMusic:Ghoul by Carl Kasey @ White Bat AudioDisclaimer:All audio clips, images, and titles featured on this podcast belong to their respective owners. Tomb of Terrors and Old Man Brad do not claim ownership of copyrighted material.

Industrial oven caused massive delays as it fell into the travel lanes of a Dallas highway, Zac Brown gave every person in attendance at his show Sunday night at Fenway Park a free cruise for two, Nake man plants flag of Kazakhstan on top tower of Brooklyn Bridge and then jumps naked into the East River...and survived

Industrial oven caused massive delays as it fell into the travel lanes of a Dallas highway, Zac Brown gave every person in attendance at his show Sunday night at Fenway Park a free cruise for two, Nake man plants flag of Kazakhstan on top tower of Brooklyn Bridge and then jumps naked into the East River...and survivedSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

HaRav Levi Yitzchak Schneerson spent his final years in exile in Kazakhstan, banished there by the Soviets for his work strengthening Jewish life across the Soviet Union. Soon after arriving there in 1940, he wrote a brief account of his imprisonment. It reads like no ordinary memoir: each line is a kabbalistic commentary on his own life, shaped by a deep belief in personal divine providence. Gathering to honor his yahrzeit on the twentieth of Av, we studied this account and worked to unpack its esoteric terms. It isn't the easiest material to understand, but it does paint a vivid picture of this special leader and his worldview. Click here to follow along in the original Reshima HaRav Levi Yitzchak, In His Own Words: A Commemorative Study

In the aftermath of the Soviet Union's collapse, Kazakhstan inherited the remnants of one of the world's most contaminated landscapes: the Semipalatinsk Test Site, known locally as the Polygon. Resigned to dispossession, residents have chosen to remain on the abandoned nuclear test site, despite the isolation and the radioactive environment, rather than face marginalization or the rigors of a neoliberal world. Atomic Collective: Radioactive Life in Kazakhstan (University of Toronto Press, 2025) examines this nuclear legacy through a decade-long ethnographic examination of the village of Koian, situated on the border of the test site. Facing residual radiation all around them and isolation, Koianers persist, reshaping their pastoral existence among the ruins and scientific debates surrounding genetic damage. Drawing on first-hand accounts and archival research, this book explores the resilience and everyday survival strategies of a community left behind to fend for itself in the shadow of nuclear testing. It offers a unique perspective on life in a nuclear zone and poses fundamental questions about human resilience and the impact of historical events on a collective identity. Atomic Collective sheds light on a community overlooked in the larger Cold War histories of atomic testing. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/anthropology

It started as an English-teaching ministry in Japan in 1967. Today, A3 is raising up church leaders in 25 countries; leaders equipped and unified to accelerate gospel movements around the world, including numerous hostile areas and restricted nations where Voice of the Martyrs works with persecuted Christians. Dr Joe Handley, CEO of A3, and Janelle Stoops, US President for the ministry, share how A3 was founded and how it serves the global church by meeting one of the biggest needs: trained leaders. Janelle will share her background as a gospel worker seeing God establish his church among Muslims in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. She also had a personal taste of Christian persecution as she and her family were expelled from the country they'd grown to love. She wrestled with having to leave the place they felt called to, but ultimately accepted that "God was working here before we got here, and even when we leave, He is still going to be at work." Joe and Janelle will share challenges they face in ministry, how they work under the radar in places where Christian teaching is not welcome and how A3 provides resilience training to leaders in countries where there is intense persecution. These leaders also experience fellowship within the Body of Christ, knowing they are not alone in their suffering. One tool A3 uses to help build resiliency in the leaders is a book published by VOM titled In the Shadow of the Cross: https://vom.com.au/product/in-the-shadow-of-the-cross/

In the aftermath of the Soviet Union's collapse, Kazakhstan inherited the remnants of one of the world's most contaminated landscapes: the Semipalatinsk Test Site, known locally as the Polygon. Resigned to dispossession, residents have chosen to remain on the abandoned nuclear test site, despite the isolation and the radioactive environment, rather than face marginalization or the rigors of a neoliberal world. Atomic Collective: Radioactive Life in Kazakhstan (University of Toronto Press, 2025) examines this nuclear legacy through a decade-long ethnographic examination of the village of Koian, situated on the border of the test site. Facing residual radiation all around them and isolation, Koianers persist, reshaping their pastoral existence among the ruins and scientific debates surrounding genetic damage. Drawing on first-hand accounts and archival research, this book explores the resilience and everyday survival strategies of a community left behind to fend for itself in the shadow of nuclear testing. It offers a unique perspective on life in a nuclear zone and poses fundamental questions about human resilience and the impact of historical events on a collective identity. Atomic Collective sheds light on a community overlooked in the larger Cold War histories of atomic testing. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/sociology

Pandemic Politics in Central Asia: Authoritarian Contagion (Routledge, 2026) examines how the authoritarian regimes of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan exploited the Covid-19 pandemic to consolidate their political control over Central Asia. Through restrictive policies and strategic manipulation, these governments reshaped the region's politics and societies during 2020-2022. This volume offers readers an insight into three key areas where Central Asia's pandemic power grab was most visible: mobility control, whereby restrictive legislation limited freedom of movement and suppressed dissent; authoritarian information flows, whereby COVID-19-related measures aligned media and digital information to government messaging, further curtailing freedom of expression; and the international politics of the pandemic, whereby the regimes capitalised on global instability to strengthen their kleptocratic hold over Central Asia's politics and society. This book provides a detailed analysis of these strategies, offering a compelling exploration of how crises can be used to entrench authoritarianism. It is ideal for scholars, students, and professionals in political science, international relations, and Central Asian Studies. The book is also valuable to readers interested in understanding the intersection between public health crises and authoritarian governance. The Open Access version of this book, available here has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives (CC BY-NC-ND) 4.0 license. Adam Quinn is a Glasgow-based researcher whose work focuses on activism, social movements and state-society relations in the Post-Soviet space. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Pandemic Politics in Central Asia: Authoritarian Contagion (Routledge, 2026) examines how the authoritarian regimes of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan exploited the Covid-19 pandemic to consolidate their political control over Central Asia. Through restrictive policies and strategic manipulation, these governments reshaped the region's politics and societies during 2020-2022. This volume offers readers an insight into three key areas where Central Asia's pandemic power grab was most visible: mobility control, whereby restrictive legislation limited freedom of movement and suppressed dissent; authoritarian information flows, whereby COVID-19-related measures aligned media and digital information to government messaging, further curtailing freedom of expression; and the international politics of the pandemic, whereby the regimes capitalised on global instability to strengthen their kleptocratic hold over Central Asia's politics and society. This book provides a detailed analysis of these strategies, offering a compelling exploration of how crises can be used to entrench authoritarianism. It is ideal for scholars, students, and professionals in political science, international relations, and Central Asian Studies. The book is also valuable to readers interested in understanding the intersection between public health crises and authoritarian governance. The Open Access version of this book, available here has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives (CC BY-NC-ND) 4.0 license. Adam Quinn is a Glasgow-based researcher whose work focuses on activism, social movements and state-society relations in the Post-Soviet space. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/political-science

Pandemic Politics in Central Asia: Authoritarian Contagion (Routledge, 2026) examines how the authoritarian regimes of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan exploited the Covid-19 pandemic to consolidate their political control over Central Asia. Through restrictive policies and strategic manipulation, these governments reshaped the region's politics and societies during 2020-2022. This volume offers readers an insight into three key areas where Central Asia's pandemic power grab was most visible: mobility control, whereby restrictive legislation limited freedom of movement and suppressed dissent; authoritarian information flows, whereby COVID-19-related measures aligned media and digital information to government messaging, further curtailing freedom of expression; and the international politics of the pandemic, whereby the regimes capitalised on global instability to strengthen their kleptocratic hold over Central Asia's politics and society. This book provides a detailed analysis of these strategies, offering a compelling exploration of how crises can be used to entrench authoritarianism. It is ideal for scholars, students, and professionals in political science, international relations, and Central Asian Studies. The book is also valuable to readers interested in understanding the intersection between public health crises and authoritarian governance. The Open Access version of this book, available here has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives (CC BY-NC-ND) 4.0 license. Adam Quinn is a Glasgow-based researcher whose work focuses on activism, social movements and state-society relations in the Post-Soviet space. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/central-asian-studies

Pandemic Politics in Central Asia: Authoritarian Contagion (Routledge, 2026) examines how the authoritarian regimes of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan exploited the Covid-19 pandemic to consolidate their political control over Central Asia. Through restrictive policies and strategic manipulation, these governments reshaped the region's politics and societies during 2020-2022. This volume offers readers an insight into three key areas where Central Asia's pandemic power grab was most visible: mobility control, whereby restrictive legislation limited freedom of movement and suppressed dissent; authoritarian information flows, whereby COVID-19-related measures aligned media and digital information to government messaging, further curtailing freedom of expression; and the international politics of the pandemic, whereby the regimes capitalised on global instability to strengthen their kleptocratic hold over Central Asia's politics and society. This book provides a detailed analysis of these strategies, offering a compelling exploration of how crises can be used to entrench authoritarianism. It is ideal for scholars, students, and professionals in political science, international relations, and Central Asian Studies. The book is also valuable to readers interested in understanding the intersection between public health crises and authoritarian governance. The Open Access version of this book, available here has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives (CC BY-NC-ND) 4.0 license. Adam Quinn is a Glasgow-based researcher whose work focuses on activism, social movements and state-society relations in the Post-Soviet space. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/russian-studies

In the aftermath of the Soviet Union's collapse, Kazakhstan inherited the remnants of one of the world's most contaminated landscapes: the Semipalatinsk Test Site, known locally as the Polygon. Resigned to dispossession, residents have chosen to remain on the abandoned nuclear test site, despite the isolation and the radioactive environment, rather than face marginalization or the rigors of a neoliberal world. Atomic Collective: Radioactive Life in Kazakhstan (University of Toronto Press, 2025) examines this nuclear legacy through a decade-long ethnographic examination of the village of Koian, situated on the border of the test site. Facing residual radiation all around them and isolation, Koianers persist, reshaping their pastoral existence among the ruins and scientific debates surrounding genetic damage. Drawing on first-hand accounts and archival research, this book explores the resilience and everyday survival strategies of a community left behind to fend for itself in the shadow of nuclear testing. It offers a unique perspective on life in a nuclear zone and poses fundamental questions about human resilience and the impact of historical events on a collective identity. Atomic Collective sheds light on a community overlooked in the larger Cold War histories of atomic testing. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

In the aftermath of the Soviet Union's collapse, Kazakhstan inherited the remnants of one of the world's most contaminated landscapes: the Semipalatinsk Test Site, known locally as the Polygon. Resigned to dispossession, residents have chosen to remain on the abandoned nuclear test site, despite the isolation and the radioactive environment, rather than face marginalization or the rigors of a neoliberal world. Atomic Collective: Radioactive Life in Kazakhstan (University of Toronto Press, 2025) examines this nuclear legacy through a decade-long ethnographic examination of the village of Koian, situated on the border of the test site. Facing residual radiation all around them and isolation, Koianers persist, reshaping their pastoral existence among the ruins and scientific debates surrounding genetic damage. Drawing on first-hand accounts and archival research, this book explores the resilience and everyday survival strategies of a community left behind to fend for itself in the shadow of nuclear testing. It offers a unique perspective on life in a nuclear zone and poses fundamental questions about human resilience and the impact of historical events on a collective identity. Atomic Collective sheds light on a community overlooked in the larger Cold War histories of atomic testing. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/military-history

In the aftermath of the Soviet Union's collapse, Kazakhstan inherited the remnants of one of the world's most contaminated landscapes: the Semipalatinsk Test Site, known locally as the Polygon. Resigned to dispossession, residents have chosen to remain on the abandoned nuclear test site, despite the isolation and the radioactive environment, rather than face marginalization or the rigors of a neoliberal world. Atomic Collective: Radioactive Life in Kazakhstan (University of Toronto Press, 2025) examines this nuclear legacy through a decade-long ethnographic examination of the village of Koian, situated on the border of the test site. Facing residual radiation all around them and isolation, Koianers persist, reshaping their pastoral existence among the ruins and scientific debates surrounding genetic damage. Drawing on first-hand accounts and archival research, this book explores the resilience and everyday survival strategies of a community left behind to fend for itself in the shadow of nuclear testing. It offers a unique perspective on life in a nuclear zone and poses fundamental questions about human resilience and the impact of historical events on a collective identity. Atomic Collective sheds light on a community overlooked in the larger Cold War histories of atomic testing. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/central-asian-studies

In the aftermath of the Soviet Union's collapse, Kazakhstan inherited the remnants of one of the world's most contaminated landscapes: the Semipalatinsk Test Site, known locally as the Polygon. Resigned to dispossession, residents have chosen to remain on the abandoned nuclear test site, despite the isolation and the radioactive environment, rather than face marginalization or the rigors of a neoliberal world. Atomic Collective: Radioactive Life in Kazakhstan (University of Toronto Press, 2025) examines this nuclear legacy through a decade-long ethnographic examination of the village of Koian, situated on the border of the test site. Facing residual radiation all around them and isolation, Koianers persist, reshaping their pastoral existence among the ruins and scientific debates surrounding genetic damage. Drawing on first-hand accounts and archival research, this book explores the resilience and everyday survival strategies of a community left behind to fend for itself in the shadow of nuclear testing. It offers a unique perspective on life in a nuclear zone and poses fundamental questions about human resilience and the impact of historical events on a collective identity. Atomic Collective sheds light on a community overlooked in the larger Cold War histories of atomic testing. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/russian-studies

Jason Jay Smart is a political adviser who has lived and worked in Ukraine, Moldova, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Latin America. Due to his work with the democratic opposition to Vladimir Putin, Smart was made persona non grata for life by Russia in 2010. Jason is a Special Correspondent at the Kyiv Post. It's the state of US support for Ukraine that we will discuss today.----------LINKS:https://jasonjaysmart.com/ https://www.kyivpost.com/authors/5 https://americanpoliticalservices.com/https://www.facebook.com/jasonjaysmarthttps://twitter.com/officejjsmart ----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------ACTIVE CAMPAIGN:We are raising funds for 5 of 15 Vampire DronesSilicon Curtain for Kupiansk Vampires. Dzyga's Paw, together with Jonathan Fink, is joining forces to raise $40,000 to provide the Khartiia Brigade with Vampire Drones.https://dzygaspaw.com/silicon-curtain-for-kupiansk-vampiresThese heavy bombers are designed to destroy manpower and equipment, as well as for remote mining. The Vampire UAV, manufactured by Skyfall, has proven itself to be one of the most effective weapons in the Kupiansk direction. Skyfall is one of Ukraine's largest defense tech companies, producing Vampire bomber drones, various modifications of Shrike FPV drones, P1-SUN, Shahed drone interceptors, communication systems, and components.----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Car4Ukrainehttps://car4ukraine.com/en-US/campaignsDzyga's Pawhttps://dzygaspaw.com/projectsSuperhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/----------PLATFORMS:Substack: https://substack.com/@siliconcurtainTwitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSiliconLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqm----------

Ze Long was born and raised in Germany to Cantonese parents from Guangzhou, and grew up speaking both languages at home before he could speak either one fluently outside it. Now living in Almaty, Kazakhstan, he joins me to talk about Cantonese food and culture — not the version most of us know from Chinese restaurants abroad, but the real regional differences, the history behind it, and what it means to carry a cuisine across three countries and counting.We get into the actual differences between Hong Kong and Guangdong (colonial history included), why congee became a survival food during hard times in China and what it's become since, the family soup tradition he avoided for years, and the fusion cooking his parents built at home using local German ingredients with Cantonese seasoning. We also talk about living in Beijing versus the south, and the very real north-south stereotypes that hold up more than you'd expect.If you can, watch this one instead of just listening — there are maps and photos throughout that add a lot of context.The Food I Take With Me: https://substack.com/@wherewefindhome/note/p-196644782?utm_source=notes-share-action&r=7usnd0Hong Kong with Tess Cheng: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2j1eFF29Uua84rom1kQF3c?si=ee65895878094f5fHang out with me: Food: @tastytrailstravelpod Life in Korea: @wherewefindhome Identity & Belonging: SubstackSources: Map: "Guangdong in China (+all claims hatched).svg" by TUBS, used under CC BY-SA 3.0. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Guangdong_in_China_(%2Ball_claims_hatched).svg/ License Link: creativecommons.orgMap: "Guangdong2.png" by User: (WT-shared) Cacahuate at wts wikivoyage, PhiLiP (svg base), Shaundd (2019 modifications), used under CC BY-SA 2.0. License Link: creativecommons.org. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Guangdong2.png

Day 1,613.As Putin is forced to cancel his annual Navy Day parade in St. Petersburg for the second year in a row – forced to stand by an image of a submarine instead – we report on another major weekend on the battlefield for both Russia and Ukraine, including a strike by Kyiv on an Iranian-linked tanker in the Caspian Sea. Meanwhile Volodymyr Zelensky is in London to meet with new British PM Andy Burnham for the first time, as the Ukrainian president warns of a new mobilisation drive by Moscow amid mounting Russian losses. Then we hear from the WELT offices in Germany about their wargame that caused such a stir, NATO's Secretary General had to respond.Contributors:Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.James Rothwell (Berlin Correspondent). @JamesERothwell on X.With thanks to Caroline Drüten, international security correspondent at WELT.Senior Producer: Lilian FawcettVideo Producer: Sophie O'SullivanSocial Producer: Tom SteedStudio Director: Meghan SearleExecutive Editor: Francis DearnleyCreated by David KnowlesNOW IN FULL VIDEO WITH MAPS & BATTLEFIELD FOOTAGE:‘Ernstfall: What if Russia Attacks NATO? Inside a German Wargame' (WELT Podcast):Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/ernstfall-what-if-russia-attacks-nato-inside-a/id6785429115Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/033GHuBrh6zwl1mq4TVeY6 https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/21/new-missile-at-centre-of-anglo-german-golden-age-of-defence/ Fabrice Deprez's Substack describing Kramatorsk:https://eastradar.substack.com/p/the-long-war-60?triedRedirect=true Kazakhstan's Tokayev Urges Putin to Freeze Ukraine War (Kyiv Post)https://www.kyivpost.com/post/81070 Kremlin Shrugs Off Reports of US-Ukraine Air Truce Plan, Says It's ‘Too Early' (Kyiv Post)https://www.kyivpost.com/post/81124 EMAIL US:Contact the team on ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk. We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many as possible.HIGHLIGHTS:‘Humiliated' Putin poses with fake submarine after navy parade cancelledUkraine strikes Iranian tanker in Caspian Sea Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Max Bergmann sits down with Maria Snegovaya and Jade McGlynn, senior associate (non-resident) with the CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program and senior research fellow / head of the Ukraine and Russia Program at King's College London, to discuss how Russians have responded to major shocks over the past four years, and whether polling data in Russia truly indicates shifting attitudes toward the war. Mentioned:  Russian Attitudes Are Shifting as the War's Effects Come Home, Maria Snegovaya and Jade McGlynn  Feedback? Suggestions? Ideas to help us improve? Email us at erep@csis.org.  If you love Russian Roulette, let us know by subscribing and leaving a review wherever you get your podcasts.   Listen to our sister podcast, covering all things Europe through a Washington lens: CSIS Podcasts | The Eurofile  

SpaceTime Series 29 Episode 88 The hellish planets orbiting a nearby star Astronomers have painted the most detailed portrait yet of the planetary system orbiting Barnard's Star – the Sun's closest stellar neighbour after Alpha Centauri, just under six light-years away. Australia's role in India's manned space program India's manned space program is moving ahead with the commissioning of a new space tracking station on Australia's Cocos (Keeling) Islands. The latest mission to the International Space Station The Russian Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft has successfully docked with the International Space Station three hours and two orbits after launching from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in the central Asian republic of Kazakhstan. The Science Report A new study has found a link between health risks and electromagnetic fields. Wild koala given a chlamydia vaccine implant to help them survive the ever spreading disease. A quadriplegic now able to feed himself using his own hand, thanks to microchip brain implants. Study shows the last five decades of pop music has slowly shifted towards being more self-focused. Skeptics guide to the Pentagon's latest UFO file release.     Our Guests This Week: Mars Perseverance Rover Deputy Project Scientist Katy Stack Morgan NASA JPL Mars Perseverance Rover project Scientist Ken Farley NASA JPL Mars Perseverance Rover Deputy Project Manager Matt Wallace NASA JPL Mars Perseverance Rover Chief Engineer Adam Steltzner NASA JPL Mars Perseverance Rover Mobility Team Member Farah Alibay NASA JPL     And our regular guests: Alex Zaharov-Reutt from techadvice.life Tim Mendham from Australian Skeptics  

Patrick Witt, the White House's executive director for digital assets policy, calls in mid-episode to give the Chopping Block crew a live read on the CLARITY market structure bill! Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Tarun Chitra, and Robert Leshner chop it up about the latest in crypto. This week they're joined mid-episode by Patrick Witt, Executive Director of the President's Council of Advisors for Digital Assets, who dialed in late because he was literally chasing down bill language. First, Tarun explains how Gauntlet closed its biggest raise ever, $125M from SBI Holdings, the crypto OGs of Japan and early Ripple Labs backers, and what it cost him in suits and seven straight days of staying shaved (chairman Kitao-san reportedly listens). Then the crew dissects Balaji's Network School saga, from a Forest City ghost town in Malaysia to an immigration raid, a revoked license, and a sudden MOU-fueled pivot to Kazakhstan, with Tom's dreaded 'turkey chart' making an appearance. Finally, the main event: Patrick lays out the state of play on the CLARITY market structure bill, the August 7th recess deadline, the ~46% Polymarket coin flip, and the first-of-its-kind ethics provision, including the DOJ-versus-state-AG enforcement fight and whether crypto gets a second crack after midterms. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pods, Fountain, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform. Show highlights