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An adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin said the US is strategically using crypto and gold to devalue its debt to “urgently address the declining trust in the dollar.”~This episode is sponsored by Tangem~Tangem ➜ https://bit.ly/TangemPBNUse Code: "PBN" for Additional Discounts!#Crypto #ethereum #russia ~Putin Furious At U.S. Stablecoin Growth on Ethereum
Max had wide-ranging conversation with Jade McGlynn while she was traveling in Ukraine. Topics covered include the Ukrainian war effort, the situation behind the lines in the Russian-occupied territories, and the recent protests in Ukraine against perceived efforts by the Zelenskyy administration to limit the independence of domestic anti-corruption agencies. This conversation was recorded on August 1, 2025 "Crossing Thresholds: Ukrainian Resistance to Russian Occupation," by Jade McGlynn (June 2024, CSIS).
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky - Part 5 chapter 3, narrated by Isaac BirchallSubscribe on YT or Join the Book Club on Patreon and support me as an independent creator :Dhttps://ko-fi.com/theessentialreadshttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfOFfvo05ElM96CmfsGsu3g/joinhttps://open.spotify.com/show/13b1qP3WhCWxam9yc49vIF?si=3b8907ab0f1045af SUMMARY: Luzhin insulting brushes Katerina Ivanovna aside as she seeks protection from the Landlady. Turing to Sonya, he accuses her of stealing a 100 Ruble note. Sonya denies the theft. Katerina Ivanovna is disgusted by the insult at her stepdaughter and starts raving at Luzhin and the Landlady. To prove Sonya's innocence, Katerina Ivanovna, asks her to turn out her pockets and is stunned when a 100 ruble note falls to the floor. Luzhin magnanimously agrees not to press charges against the girl, but to Luzhin's horror, Lebezyatnikov steps forwards and declares that he saw Luzhin plant the note in Sonya's pocket. Raskolnikov then steps forward and explains that Luzhin was probably looking to embarrass him for his relations with Sonya. Luzhin, plans foiled, tries to leave the apartment and maintain his innocence while insulting Raskolnikov and Lebezatnikov. After Luzhin leaves, the fight between Katerina Ivanovna and her Landlady continues, ending in the eviction of the Marmeladov family. SEO Stuff that I don't want to do lol...Welcome to this narration of Fyodor Dostoyevsky's masterpiece, bringing you another chapter of this incredible literary classic. In this literary fiction reading, we explore the depths of Russian literature as the a desperate young Russian man, Raskolnikov, plans the perfect crime - the murder of a despicable pawnbroker, an old woman who no one will mourn. It isn't just, he argues, for a man of of genius to commit a crime if it will ultimately benefit humanity. A powerful psychological study and a terrifying, thrilling murder mystery, filled with philosophical, religious and social commentary.Join me for this Crime and Punishment novel audiobook as we delve into themes of crime, social commentary, and Right and Wrong.Russian Literature, Dostoyevsky Audiobook, Classic Literature
Max and Maria give their takes on the recent efforts to negotiate a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine. They analyze the meeting between Trump and Putin in Alaska, and then the meeting between Trump, Zelenskyy, and European leaders at the White House. This episode was recorded on August 20, 2025.
This is a sermon from the Monongahela, PA, USA sanctuary of Salvation House. Joe & Rena Perozich pray that this message will be a blessing to you as you listen. Should you wish to learn more about the ministry, we invite you to visit www.salvationhouse.net
Max and Maria spoke with Harley Balzer and Sergei Guriev about the recently released volume, Failure. Russia Under Putin. This conversation was recorded on July 17, 2025. Failure. Russia Under Putin is available now from Bloomsbury Publishing.
Edition No206 | 30-07-2025 - This is Silicon Bites first travel review episode. Well not really, it's about the dwindling number of places available to Russians for mass tourism, as they are excluded from many countries, and the declining value of the rouble makes more destinations financially unattainable. The question Russians are now asking themselves in greater numbers is where should we holiday this year? Occupied Ukraine, a War Zone, of North Korea, the Hermit Kingdom. We also should ask, should Russians even be getting visa to holiday in Europe, in the context of the full-scale genocidal war it has launched against Ukraine, and hybrid attacks on Europe? ----------Today: holidays reshaped by occupation, isolation, and sanctions—where Russian tourism also serves as a chilling propaganda tool. We're diving into four related stories:1. Beaches in occupied Ukrainian territories turned into Russian holiday zones.2. The emergence of Russian tourism in North Korea via new direct flights.3. Russia intensifying travel to places like Afghanistan and Iran.4. The controversies over Russian tourists seeking European visas.It's not all sun, sand and fun. These holidays contain some anxiety, trauma and are based on a complete moral bankruptcy not only of the Russian government, but also its people. ----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------DESCRIPTION:Russian Tourism's Dark Side: Occupation, Isolation, and Moral BankruptcyIn this first travel review episode of Silicon Bites, we explore the limited holiday options available to Russian tourists amidst the ongoing war in Ukraine and international sanctions. The episode is broken into four segments: Russian holidays in occupied Ukrainian territories, new direct flights to North Korea, unusual destinations like Afghanistan and Iran, and the controversy over Russian tourists seeking European visas. We discuss the moral implications of these travels and how Russian tourism is being used as a geopolitical tool to normalize occupation and build alliances with rogue states.----------CHAPTERS: 00:00 Introduction and Channel Support00:45 The Dilemma of Russian Tourism02:10 Russian Holidays in Occupied Ukraine05:16 North Korea: The New Russian Tourist Destination07:09 Exploring Unusual Destinations: Afghanistan and Iran08:34 The Controversy Over Russian Visas in Europe09:46 Conclusion and Moral Reflections----------SOURCES: https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/07/25/sun-sea-and-the-russian-flag-inside-vacation-season-on-the-beaches-of-occupied-ukraine-a89973 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/28/moscow-pyongyang-direct-flights-russia-to-north-korea-tourists https://www.thedailybeast.com/russian-tourists-get-a-nightmare-new-vacation-destination-as-flight-choices-dwindle/ https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwyrk588dlro https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Europe/2025/0619/russia-tourism-vacation-iran-korea-afghanistan ----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - 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/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyślhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/----------
This week, Max spoke with Michael Kimmage about the recent headlines connected to Russia and Ukraine, and what they mean for the coming months. "The Limits of Putin's Balancing Act: What the Kremlin Will Sacrifice in Pursuit of Victory in Ukraine," by Michael Kimmage and Maria Lipman (Foreign Affairs, July 2025)
Max and Maria are joined by Richard Giragosian and Jeffrey Mankoff to talk about the current geopolitical moment in the South Caucasus, with a particular focus on the dynamics at play in the relationships between Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Russia. This conversation was recorded on July 9, 2025.
Hanna Notte returns to the show for a conversation with Max and Maria about what the most recent round of hostilities between Israel and Iran, plus the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, mean for Russia's own Middle Eastern strategy. This conversation was recorded on June 25, 2025. "Russia no longer needs Iran's help to sustain the war in Ukraine," by Hanna Notte (June 2025, Financial Times) "Why Isn't Russia Defending Iran?" by Hanna Notte (June 2025, The Atlantic)
This is a sermon from the Morgantown, WV, USA sanctuary of Restoration Church International. Joe & Rena Perozich pray that this message will be a blessing to you as you listen. Should you wish to learn more about the ministry, we invite you to visit www.restorationchurchintl.org
Max moderated a live panel discussion with Maria, and two leading experts on the Russian economy, Elina Ribakova and Vladislav Inozemtsev. The conversation focused on the findings of the recent report from the CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program, "The Russian Wartime Economy: From Sugar High to Hangover."
Max and Maria get another update from military expert Mike Kofman on the state of the frontlines in Ukraine. This conversation was recorded on June 11, 2025. "The Russian Wartime Economy: From Sugar High to Hangover" by Maria Snegovaya, Nicholas Fenton, Tina Dolbaia, and Max Bergmann (June 2025, CSIS.org) "Russia's Battlefield Woes in Ukraine" by Seth Jones and Riely McCabe (June 2025, CSIS.org) "Assessing Russian Military Adaptation in 2023" by Michael Kofman (October 2024, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace)
This is a sermon from the Morgantown, WV, USA sanctuary of Restoration Church International. Joe & Rena Perozich pray that this message will be a blessing to you as you listen. Should you wish to learn more about the ministry, we invite you to visit www.restorationchurchintl.org
Elina Ribakova returned to the show to speak with Max and Maria about the evolution of the Ukrainian economy since February 2022.
On this month's podcast we have our Worship Director, Chris Ruble sharing his testimony. Chris grew up loving music and that love of music took him all the way to American Idol Auditions, The X-Factor, and traveling singing doing well over 80-100 shows a year. Chris shares that whole journey and where he is now with you all!
What if you could build multiple profitable agencies instead of struggling to scale just one? In this episode of Small Business Blackholes, Alan Pentz sits down with Eli Rubel, founder of Profit Labs and serial agency entrepreneur, to explore how he achieved remarkable 67% profit margins, why sometimes being too profitable can actually hurt your business, and the strategic decision to build multiple million-dollar EBITDA agencies rather than scaling one massive organization. Whether you're hitting growth plateaus or seeking better profitability, this conversation reveals actionable insights about operation optimization, talent management, and the counterintuitive approach to sustainable agency growth. Tune in to discover why the path to greater profits might not be what you expect.
Max and Maria spoke with Edward Fishman about his bestselling book, Chokepoints: American Power in the Age of Economic Warfare.
This is a sermon from the Morgantown, WV, USA sanctuary of Restoration Church International. Joe & Rena Perozich pray that this message will be a blessing to you as you listen. Should you wish to learn more about the ministry, we invite you to visit www.restorationchurchintl.org
Max and Maria welcome Michael Kimmage back to the show to provide his analysis of the ongoing U.S.-led negotiations to achieve a ceasefire in Ukraine. This conversation was recorded on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. "What if America Abandons Ukraine?" by Liana Fix and Michael Kimmage (Foreign Affairs, May 2025). "The Zeitenwende Is Real This Time," by Michael Kimmage and Sudha David-Wilp (Foreign Affairs, April 2025).
This is a sermon from the Morgantown, WV, USA sanctuary of Restoration Church International. Joe & Rena Perozich pray that this message will be a blessing to you as you listen. Should you wish to learn more about the ministry, we invite you to visit www.restorationchurchintl.org
Maria spoke with journalist Keith Gessen and scholar Bryn Rosenfeld about their work trying to make sense of Russian public opinion towards the war in Ukraine, and what it means for our understanding of Russian society today.
Vic Verchereau welcomes Rick Ruble, who is the Summit Point Leader for the Global Leadership Summit's Lansing area site. Rick Ruble has joined the effort to bring a worldwide event to the Mid-Michigan area. The Global Leadership Summit event reaches over 300,000 people in excess of 500 locations across the globe. As the Summit Point Leader for the Lansing area site, Rick embraces the vision and mission of the Global Leadership Network. When you see the possibilities for something bigger than yourself… when you understand your place in making a better world… when you get the tools and guidance you need to grow… when you're encouraged and energized to take that next step in your journey… you'll be ready to embrace the call to be a true leader. You'll show the way forward and bring others along with you, and you'll create moments and movements that make tangible, meaningful differences in the lives around you. That's leadership with a higher purpose. That's the vision! Hear all about this innovative program when Vic Verchereau asks Rick Ruble to take us to the event and this year's plans to grow the leader and grow your organization! Join the fun on this edition of the Leadership Lowdown. » Visit MBN website: www.michiganbusinessnetwork.com/ » Subscribe to MBN's YouTube: www.youtube.com/@MichiganbusinessnetworkMBN » Like MBN: www.facebook.com/mibiznetwork » Follow MBN: twitter.com/MIBizNetwork/ » MBN Instagram: www.instagram.com/mibiznetwork/
“When they come into work now, they're happy and excited because work is not just an obligation; it's helping them achieve their dreams.”In this episode, Alyssa Ruble, Dream Manager at Chick-fil-A Greenwood, shares how The Dream Manager Program is transforming the culture at Chick-fil-A by investing in employees' personal and professional growth. Alyssa discusses how this unique program empowers team members to achieve their dreams and develop skills that not only improve their lives but also contribute to the organization's success. She explains the challenges and rewards of rolling out The Dream Manager Program, the hesitations employees initially had, and how trust and commitment ultimately turned it into a cornerstone of their workplace culture.In this episode, you'll discover:How The Dream Manager Program creates a culture of support and growthThe power of leadership involvement in personal developmentWays to overcome skepticism and build trust in innovative programsInvest in a coach to achieve your dreams: https://www.floydcoaching.com/Discover how to implement The Dream Manager Program:https://www.thedreammanager.com/Things to listen for:(00:00) Intro(01:15) Meet Alyssa Ruble: Dream Manager at Chick-fil-A(02:30) The impact of the Dream Manager Program(05:00) Overcoming skepticism and building trust(08:15) Employee growth through the Dream Manager sessions(10:00) Leadership involvement in personal development(12:45) Creating a culture of recognition and support(15:30) The future of Dream Manager at Chick-fil-A(18:00) The role of community and connection in employee success(20:00) The importance of acknowledging each other's dreams(22:30) The long-term impact of the Dream Manager programResources:Floyd CoachingThe Culture AssessmentMatthew Kelly's BooksFloyd Coaching's BlogConnect with the GuestAlyssa Ruble's LinkedInChick-fil-AConnect with the Host & Floyd Coaching:Kate Volman's LinkedInFloyd Coaching on LinkedInFloyd Consulting on FacebookFloyd Consulting on TwitterFloyd Consulting on YouTube
In this special CSIS crossover episode with Russian Roulette's sister podcast, The Eurofile, Max Bergmann and co-host Donatienne Ruy welcome Tom Wright, senior fellow at Brookings and former Senior Director for Strategic Planning at the United States National Security Council (NSC) in the Biden administration, to discuss his recent article in Foreign Affairs outlining a U.S. strategy for Russia-Ukraine negotiations. The interview covers the current state of play in negotiations, Trump and Biden's respective strategies toward Europe, and Tom's experience in government on a range of issues, including countering alignment between U.S. adversaries and competitors. For the complete episode, covering big news in European defense and more, visit The Eurofile
In this episode of The Digital Executive podcast, host Brian Thomas sits down with Thomas Ruble—a humanist, technologist, and founder of Nirvana. With a background that spans healthcare, AI, banking, and cloud infrastructure, Ruble shares how his early studies in philosophy shaped his first-principles approach to decentralized finance. He explains why the true promise of blockchain isn't just about the technology, but about creating fair and transparent systems that remove human bias and fraud from financial markets. Ruble dives deep into Nirvana's mission to create a stable digital store of value, moving beyond the speculation and volatility that plague today's crypto landscape. He also unpacks the future of digital assets, advocating for algorithm-driven systems that operate with full transparency—regardless of whether they use a blockchain. Tune in to hear why Ruble believes the real evolution in crypto is yet to come and how Nirvana is leading that charge.
Thomas Ruble is a humanist and technologist. His career began with an advanced degree in computer science, leading him through diverse industries—from healthcare AI and banking to cloud infrastructure. Today, he focuses on decentralised finance, drawn by the promise of open, autonomous systems enabled by blockchain technology. Thomas is a co-founder of Nirvana Finance who are redefining token markets and elevating the decentralised finance landscape.Ronan recently caught up with Thomas to find out more about decentralised finance and the role Nirvana Finance is playing in this. Thomas talks about his background, what Nirvana Finance does, bitcoin, ethereum, the stages of temptation, blockchain and moreMore about Nirvana Finance:Founded by a distributed team of DeFi veterans with deep roots in the Solana ecosystem, Nirvana is on a mission to redefine token markets and elevate the decentralised finance landscapeWith the relaunch of Nirvana V2, the team reaffirms its commitment to building secure, transparent, and equitable financial systems for all.
Thomas Ruble is a humanist and technologist. His career began with an advanced degree in computer science, leading him through diverse industries, from healthcare AI and banking to cloud infrastructure. Today, he focuses on decentralised finance, drawn by the promise of open, autonomous systems enabled by blockchain technology. Thomas is a co-founder of Nirvana Finance who are redefining token markets and elevating the decentralised finance landscape. Ronan recently caught up with Thomas to find out more about decentralised finance and the role Nirvana Finance is playing in this. Thomas talks about his background, what Nirvana Finance does, bitcoin, ethereum, the stages of temptation, blockchain and more. More about Nirvana Finance: Founded by a distributed team of DeFi veterans with deep roots in the Solana ecosystem, Nirvana is on a mission to redefine token markets and elevate the decentralised finance landscape. With the relaunch of Nirvana V2, the team reaffirms its commitment to building secure, transparent, and equitable financial systems for all. See more stories here.
Maria spoke with Kate Bondar and Sam Bendett about their work on the latest drone and artificial intelligence technologies being employed on the battlefield in Ukraine. Read Kate's latest report, "Ukraine's Future Vision and Current Capabilities for Waging AI-Enabled Autonomous Warfare" at CSIS.org.
This is a sermon from the Morgantown, WV, USA sanctuary of Restoration Church International. Joe & Rena Perozich pray that this message will be a blessing to you as you listen. Should you wish to learn more about the ministry, we invite you to visit www.restorationchurchintl.org
Max and Maria welcomed Rose Gottemoeller back to the show, to discuss the ongoing negotiations between the U.S., Russia, and Ukraine. As a former American diplomat who has sat across from the Russians to negotiate international treaties, she shared her insights about what she is watching as this process unfolds. This conversation was recorded on Tuesday, March 11, 2025.
Maria was joined by Tinatin Japaridze and Volodymyr Dubovyk to discuss how post-Soviet countries, particularly Ukraine and the states of the South Caucasus, are reckoning with the Trump administration's positions on the war in Ukraine. This conversation was recorded on Friday, March 7, 2025.
Trust is the foundation of strong relationships, but keeping promises isn't always easy. In this episode, Asher and Spencer dive into the importance of honesty, setting realistic expectations, and how trust shapes friendships, family, and personal growth. Spencer shares how being a husband and father has reinforced his commitment to integrity, while Asher reflects on the pressure of making the right decisions. They also explore the fine line between small white lies and meaningful promises—tune in for a thought-provoking conversation on trust and accountability.
Max and Maria sat down with Michael Kimmage and Dara Massicot for an event in the CSIS studio to discuss the three-year anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The conversation took stock of the current situation on the battlefield, the state of affairs within Russia and Ukraine right now, and the diplomatic prospects for the kind of negotiated settlement currently being advocated for by the Trump administration. This conversation was recorded on February 20, 2025. The full video recording of the event is available at CSIS.org
This is a sermon from the Morgantown, WV, USA sanctuary of Restoration Church International. Joe & Rena Perozich pray that this message will be a blessing to you as you listen. Should you wish to learn more about the ministry, we invite you to visit www.restorationchurchintl.org
Max and Maria were recently joined by Michael Kimmage and Jeffrey Mankoff for a live event in the CSIS broadcast studio to discuss the team's recent work outlining a new European strategy for containing Russia. This conversation was recorded on January 30, 2025. For a video recording of this event, please go to CSIS.org.
This is a sermon from the Morgantown, WV, USA sanctuary of Restoration Church International. Joe & Rena Perozich pray that this message will be a blessing to you as you listen. Should you wish to learn more about the ministry, we invite you to visit www.restorationchurchintl.org
On today's episode, Max and Maria give their initial takes on the news that U.S. and Russian negotiators met in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on February 18 to begin efforts to reach a diplomatic resolution to the war in Ukraine, notably without representatives from Ukraine or European nations present.
This is a sermon from the Monongahela, PA, USA sanctuary of Salvation House. Joe & Rena Perozich pray that this message will be a blessing to you as you listen. Should you wish to learn more about the ministry, we invite you to visit www.salvationhouse.net
Max and Maria spoke with historian Sergey Radchenko about his latest book, To Run the World: The Kremlin's Cold War Bid for Global Power, and how the study of Soviet foreign policy can help us understand Russia's current approach to global affairs. Sergey's book is available for purchase from Cambridge University Press.
This is a sermon from the Morgantown, WV, USA sanctuary of Restoration Church International. Joe & Rena Perozich pray that this message will be a blessing to you as you listen. Should you wish to learn more about the ministry, we invite you to visit www.restorationchurchintl.org
Maria spoke with Hanna Notte and Natasha Hall about the new balance of forces in the Middle East at the start of 2025, and what the current geopolitical situation in the region means for Russia.
Shonna Ruble, a top real estate professional, joins Lucas Sherraden on the Built How podcast to share her journey from starting in Virginia's real estate market to leading the number one team in Montana. Shonna discusses her transition from franchise ownership to an independent brokerage and offers insights into her leadership style, focusing on accountability and growth. Discover how her experiences in challenging markets shaped her success and her strategies for team building. Tune in for valuable lessons on overcoming setbacks and thriving in real estate. Connect with Shonna at https://www.shonnakeyteam.com/ ---------- Visit www.builthow.com to sign up for our next live or virtual event. Part of the Win Make Give Podcast Network
Max and Maria were joined by Dr. Sam Greene to reflect on a quarter century of Putinism in Russia, how Vladimir Putin's rule has changed the country, and where his regime might be headed from here. Follow Sam's writing on Substack by subscribing to his blog, TL;DRussia.
Dmitri Alperovitch talks with Russian economy expert Chris Weafer about the state of the Russian economy in 2025. They talk about inflation and its impact on people and business, why the ruble is collapsing, which sanctions have been the most impactful, and the one thing that could potentially trigger a crash and give Ukraine leverage to negotiate an acceptable peace deal
Max and Maria were joined by Russian military expert Michael Kofman to discuss where the war in Ukraine may be headed in the year to come. With a new administration in Washington and political turmoil across Europe, Russia continuing to make grinding gains on the battlefield, and calls for some sort of negotiated settlement rising, the next six months could prove critical to the future direction of the conflict. This conversation was recorded live in the CSIS Brack Studio on December 12, 2024. The full video from this conversation is available on the CSIS website. This is the last episode of Russian Roulette for 2024. After a brief break for the holidays, we will return with new episodes in January 2025.
Max and Maria speak with Dara Massicot, one of the leading experts on the Russian military and the war in Ukraine. Dara gives updates on the efforts of both sides to make gains on the battlefield, along with the current risks of escalation as we head into 2025. This conversation was recorded on December 3, 2024.
Max and Maria speak with Michael Kimmage to take stock of the impact of the recent U.S. elections on the future of the war in Ukraine, and U.S. policy towards Russia. "An Outcome 'Up for Grabs': What Can Russia and Ukraine Expect from the Next U.S. Administration?" by Maria Snegovaya, Tina Dolbaia, and Nick Fenton (Center for Strategic and International Studies)
Max and Maria spoke with Sorin Ioniță and Eto Buziashvili about the recent election results coming out of Moldova and Georgia. Both of these post-Soviet states find themselves at a geopolitical crossroads, with Russian malign influence campaigns directly impacting their domestic politics.
Max and Maria with Ben Cahill and Eddie Fishman about the current state of Russia's energy industry, and the prospects for the country's lucrative hydrocarbon exports. They also assessed the impacts of Western sanctions on the industry to date and ways those sanctions could potentially be tightened going forward. This conversation was recorded on October 7, 2024. Chokepoints: American Power in the Age of Economic Warfare by Edward Fishman is available for pre-order now (Penguin Random House).