Podcasts about soviet russia

On June 22, 1941, Nazi Germany launched Operation Barbarossa, the surprise invasion of the Soviet Union that opened the Eastern Front in World War II. With lightning speed and devastating success, the German army tore through Soviet territory and rolled over the Red Army, scoring some of the most dramatic victories in military history--until the blitzkrieg bogged down during the approach on Moscow. At the spearhead of the attack was General Heinz Guderian, one of the most celebrated and controversial commanders of the war, who commanded a tank group in the center of the German front that stretched from the Baltic to the Black Sea. Guderian's Panzers reconstructs Barbarossa from the perspective of Generaloberst Guderian and his 2nd Panzer Group. With the German war machine at the height of its martial prowess in June 1941, Guderian's group of 250,000 men and 900 tanks rapidly broke through the Soviet frontier defenses and thrust some 600 kilometers into Soviet Russia in a matter of weeks--in doing so playing an integral part in the successful encirclement (cauldron) battles of Belostok-Minsk (June/July 1941) and Smolensk (July/August 1941); each of these battles resulting in the loss of several Soviet armies and hundreds of thousands of prisoners. Despite having sustained alarming losses of personal and equipment in these opening battles, Guderian pushed his men, and himself, to even greater achievements, culminating in the triumphant cauldron Battle of Kiev in the Ukraine (September 1941) that obliterated Soviet Southwestern Front and resulted in the capture of over 600,000 Red Army POWs. It was, perhaps, Germany's greatest victory in WWII, and Guderian had made it happen. 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

On June 22, 1941, Nazi Germany launched Operation Barbarossa, the surprise invasion of the Soviet Union that opened the Eastern Front in World War II. With lightning speed and devastating success, the German army tore through Soviet territory and rolled over the Red Army, scoring some of the most dramatic victories in military history--until the blitzkrieg bogged down during the approach on Moscow. At the spearhead of the attack was General Heinz Guderian, one of the most celebrated and controversial commanders of the war, who commanded a tank group in the center of the German front that stretched from the Baltic to the Black Sea. Guderian's Panzers reconstructs Barbarossa from the perspective of Generaloberst Guderian and his 2nd Panzer Group. With the German war machine at the height of its martial prowess in June 1941, Guderian's group of 250,000 men and 900 tanks rapidly broke through the Soviet frontier defenses and thrust some 600 kilometers into Soviet Russia in a matter of weeks--in doing so playing an integral part in the successful encirclement (cauldron) battles of Belostok-Minsk (June/July 1941) and Smolensk (July/August 1941); each of these battles resulting in the loss of several Soviet armies and hundreds of thousands of prisoners. Despite having sustained alarming losses of personal and equipment in these opening battles, Guderian pushed his men, and himself, to even greater achievements, culminating in the triumphant cauldron Battle of Kiev in the Ukraine (September 1941) that obliterated Soviet Southwestern Front and resulted in the capture of over 600,000 Red Army POWs. It was, perhaps, Germany's greatest victory in WWII, and Guderian had made it happen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/military-history

On June 22, 1941, Nazi Germany launched Operation Barbarossa, the surprise invasion of the Soviet Union that opened the Eastern Front in World War II. With lightning speed and devastating success, the German army tore through Soviet territory and rolled over the Red Army, scoring some of the most dramatic victories in military history--until the blitzkrieg bogged down during the approach on Moscow. At the spearhead of the attack was General Heinz Guderian, one of the most celebrated and controversial commanders of the war, who commanded a tank group in the center of the German front that stretched from the Baltic to the Black Sea. Guderian's Panzers reconstructs Barbarossa from the perspective of Generaloberst Guderian and his 2nd Panzer Group. With the German war machine at the height of its martial prowess in June 1941, Guderian's group of 250,000 men and 900 tanks rapidly broke through the Soviet frontier defenses and thrust some 600 kilometers into Soviet Russia in a matter of weeks--in doing so playing an integral part in the successful encirclement (cauldron) battles of Belostok-Minsk (June/July 1941) and Smolensk (July/August 1941); each of these battles resulting in the loss of several Soviet armies and hundreds of thousands of prisoners. Despite having sustained alarming losses of personal and equipment in these opening battles, Guderian pushed his men, and himself, to even greater achievements, culminating in the triumphant cauldron Battle of Kiev in the Ukraine (September 1941) that obliterated Soviet Southwestern Front and resulted in the capture of over 600,000 Red Army POWs. It was, perhaps, Germany's greatest victory in WWII, and Guderian had made it happen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/german-studies

On June 22, 1941, Nazi Germany launched Operation Barbarossa, the surprise invasion of the Soviet Union that opened the Eastern Front in World War II. With lightning speed and devastating success, the German army tore through Soviet territory and rolled over the Red Army, scoring some of the most dramatic victories in military history--until the blitzkrieg bogged down during the approach on Moscow. At the spearhead of the attack was General Heinz Guderian, one of the most celebrated and controversial commanders of the war, who commanded a tank group in the center of the German front that stretched from the Baltic to the Black Sea. Guderian's Panzers reconstructs Barbarossa from the perspective of Generaloberst Guderian and his 2nd Panzer Group. With the German war machine at the height of its martial prowess in June 1941, Guderian's group of 250,000 men and 900 tanks rapidly broke through the Soviet frontier defenses and thrust some 600 kilometers into Soviet Russia in a matter of weeks--in doing so playing an integral part in the successful encirclement (cauldron) battles of Belostok-Minsk (June/July 1941) and Smolensk (July/August 1941); each of these battles resulting in the loss of several Soviet armies and hundreds of thousands of prisoners. Despite having sustained alarming losses of personal and equipment in these opening battles, Guderian pushed his men, and himself, to even greater achievements, culminating in the triumphant cauldron Battle of Kiev in the Ukraine (September 1941) that obliterated Soviet Southwestern Front and resulted in the capture of over 600,000 Red Army POWs. It was, perhaps, Germany's greatest victory in WWII, and Guderian had made it happen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/russian-studies

On June 22, 1941, Nazi Germany launched Operation Barbarossa, the surprise invasion of the Soviet Union that opened the Eastern Front in World War II. With lightning speed and devastating success, the German army tore through Soviet territory and rolled over the Red Army, scoring some of the most dramatic victories in military history--until the blitzkrieg bogged down during the approach on Moscow. At the spearhead of the attack was General Heinz Guderian, one of the most celebrated and controversial commanders of the war, who commanded a tank group in the center of the German front that stretched from the Baltic to the Black Sea. Guderian's Panzers reconstructs Barbarossa from the perspective of Generaloberst Guderian and his 2nd Panzer Group. With the German war machine at the height of its martial prowess in June 1941, Guderian's group of 250,000 men and 900 tanks rapidly broke through the Soviet frontier defenses and thrust some 600 kilometers into Soviet Russia in a matter of weeks--in doing so playing an integral part in the successful encirclement (cauldron) battles of Belostok-Minsk (June/July 1941) and Smolensk (July/August 1941); each of these battles resulting in the loss of several Soviet armies and hundreds of thousands of prisoners. Despite having sustained alarming losses of personal and equipment in these opening battles, Guderian pushed his men, and himself, to even greater achievements, culminating in the triumphant cauldron Battle of Kiev in the Ukraine (September 1941) that obliterated Soviet Southwestern Front and resulted in the capture of over 600,000 Red Army POWs. It was, perhaps, Germany's greatest victory in WWII, and Guderian had made it happen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/eastern-european-studies

In this profound conversation, Liza Futerman, a somatic educator, practitioner, and artist, shares her journey from Soviet Russia to Israel, her academic journey pursuing advanced degrees at Oxford and Toronto, and how movement and language became her twin resources for navigating identity, loss, and healing. Liza's life took an unexpected turn when her mother was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's. This led her back to movement through contact improvisation, particularly mixed-abilities dance, where she discovered new ways of understanding leadership, disability, and what it means to be human. The conversation explores how major life disruptions - from immigration to divorce to witnessing war in one's neighborhood - can reconnect us to our bodies and reshape our relationship with uncertainty. Key Topics: Immigration and identity: Finding home between Russian, Hebrew, and English The body-mind split and the journey toward integration Using photography and narrative to communicate with a parent with Alzheimer's Contact improvisation as a path to healing trauma and anxiety Mixed-abilities dance and the intersection of visible and invisible disabilities Somatic approaches to grief, money, and taboo subjects Leadership as a question rather than certainty How major life events force us to reconsider our relationship with control The nervous system's response to crisis and the importance of discharge Academic competition versus embodied learning environments Notable Quotes: "As opposed to Russian and Hebrew, my self did not exist in English. And so I could shape it the way I wanted." "Whatever is hard, whatever is challenging can be done easier, can be done in a more gentle way." "If something is hard, it means that it's not getting the right support." "I came to this class and we were invited to lie on the floor. And it was just like an answer to all of my prayers." "All of a sudden I was dancing in the studio with people with wheelchairs... And that made me feel human again." Liza's Powerful Questions: "How should a human be?" (from Kelly Rodriguez) "How to ask questions?" "What support do I need and how to ask for that support and where to ask the support from?" Resources Mentioned: Liza's website Liza's TEDx talk about dementia "What We All Long For" by Dionne Brand "Maus" by Art Spiegelman Get access to CuriosityGPT and find your gateway questions Connect with your leader mindset and walk out with an actionable roadmap - join the Curiosity Lab

SEASON 4 EPISODE 1: COUNTDOWN WITH KEITH OLBERMANN A-Block (1:45) SPECIAL COMMENT: The Jobs Report will now be handled by the same guy who keeps score when Trump plays golf. But first, the unexplained move of Ghislaine Maxwell from near Alligator Alcatraz to Club Fed was just beginning to calm down when Trump detonated on Lenard McKelvey (political commentary name Charlamagne Tha God). All Charlamagne had done was to go on Fox News and claim to Lara Trump “I think that traditional conservatives are going to take the Republican Party back. I think there’s a political coup going on right now in the Republican Party that people aren’t paying attention to… we have the opportunity to have, like, a huge reset.” Trump has never known when to leave bad enough alone, but this time he just hit the side of the hornets’ nest with his tie. Called him “racist sleazebag… low IQ individual… has no idea what words are coming out of his mouth… knows nothing about me… this dope.” So now millions of people who DIDN’T know an often conservative, Trump-accepting-if-not-supporting African American was describing a Republican Palace Coup AGAINST TRUMP OVER EPSTEIN… have THAT new Trumpsteen tendril to ponder. Let’s sort this out. Somebody had to change Maxwell’s status as a registered sex offender to get her transferred to an all-women, all-white collar criminals, minimum security facility. She might no longer BE a registered sex offender; that could be a free sample offered by Trump if she’ll lie for him. The move to the cushier camp could be ANOTHER free sample. Or to make it easier for her to suffer rapid unscheduled disassembly. Also there’s a Trump cover-up OF The Epstein Files, and a Trump cover-up OF HIS OWN NAME IN the Epstein Files, and a Conservative Coup Against Trump OVER The Epsteen files, and the unexplained cushy new home for Epstein’s co-rapist. Oh and the true Orwellian shooting of the statistical messenger. But - you'd forgotten, hadn't you - he's always done this. He did this most infamously as Covid started. B-Block (30:17) THE WORST PERSONS IN THE WORLD: There's little left for Andrew Cuomo. Apparently that includes flat out making up a story that mayor-to-be-Zamdani has never had a job before. Ryan "Who Put That Porn On The TV Monitor In My Office During The State Education Department Executive Meeting" Walters of Oklahoma doubles down. And the Republicans sure know how to sell American cars: with a picture of a car made in Soviet Russia in 1970 being sold by a Trump that looks like he was made in 1870. C-Block (40:00) THINGS I PROMISED NOT TO TELL: The teachers of Hackley School in Tarrytown, New York are legendary. Nineteen of them there I graduated fifty years ago were still there the day I gave the Commencement Address thirty years ago. But now we may have lost the last of the greats, at least of that era. Gerry Murphy was the math teacher with empathy. He once recognized he had hit "the math wall" - he recognized I had. If he hadn't, I'd still be there failing that class for the 51st straight year. Gerald Murphy, R.I.P.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Spirit of Socialism is a cultural history of the Soviet collapse. It examines the millions of Soviet people who, during the cascading crises of the collapse and the post-Soviet transition, embarked on a spirited and highly visible search for new meaning. Amid profound disorientation, these seekers found direction in their horoscopes, or behind gurus in saffron robes or apocalyptic preachers, or by turning from the most basic premises of official science and history to orient themselves anew. The beliefs they seized on and, even more, the questions that guided their search reveal the essence of late-Soviet culture and its legacy in post-Soviet Russia. To skeptical outsiders, the seekers appeared eccentric, deviant, and above all un-Soviet. Yet they came to their ideas by Soviet sources and Soviet premises. As Joseph Kellner demonstrates, their motley beliefs reflect modern values that formed the spiritual core of Soviet ideology, among them a high regard for science, an informed and generous internationalism, and a confidence in humanity to chart its own course. Soviet ideology failed, however, to unite these values in an overarching vision that could withstand historical change. And so, as The Spirit of Socialism shows, the seekers asked questions raised but not resolved by the Russian Revolution and subsequent Soviet order—questions of epistemic authority, of cultural identity, and of history's ultimate meaning. Although the Soviet collapse was not the end of history, it was a rupture of epochal significance, whose fissures extend into our own uncertain era. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/russian-studies

The Spirit of Socialism is a cultural history of the Soviet collapse. It examines the millions of Soviet people who, during the cascading crises of the collapse and the post-Soviet transition, embarked on a spirited and highly visible search for new meaning. Amid profound disorientation, these seekers found direction in their horoscopes, or behind gurus in saffron robes or apocalyptic preachers, or by turning from the most basic premises of official science and history to orient themselves anew. The beliefs they seized on and, even more, the questions that guided their search reveal the essence of late-Soviet culture and its legacy in post-Soviet Russia. To skeptical outsiders, the seekers appeared eccentric, deviant, and above all un-Soviet. Yet they came to their ideas by Soviet sources and Soviet premises. As Joseph Kellner demonstrates, their motley beliefs reflect modern values that formed the spiritual core of Soviet ideology, among them a high regard for science, an informed and generous internationalism, and a confidence in humanity to chart its own course. Soviet ideology failed, however, to unite these values in an overarching vision that could withstand historical change. And so, as The Spirit of Socialism shows, the seekers asked questions raised but not resolved by the Russian Revolution and subsequent Soviet order—questions of epistemic authority, of cultural identity, and of history's ultimate meaning. Although the Soviet collapse was not the end of history, it was a rupture of epochal significance, whose fissures extend into our own uncertain era. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/intellectual-history

The Spirit of Socialism is a cultural history of the Soviet collapse. It examines the millions of Soviet people who, during the cascading crises of the collapse and the post-Soviet transition, embarked on a spirited and highly visible search for new meaning. Amid profound disorientation, these seekers found direction in their horoscopes, or behind gurus in saffron robes or apocalyptic preachers, or by turning from the most basic premises of official science and history to orient themselves anew. The beliefs they seized on and, even more, the questions that guided their search reveal the essence of late-Soviet culture and its legacy in post-Soviet Russia. To skeptical outsiders, the seekers appeared eccentric, deviant, and above all un-Soviet. Yet they came to their ideas by Soviet sources and Soviet premises. As Joseph Kellner demonstrates, their motley beliefs reflect modern values that formed the spiritual core of Soviet ideology, among them a high regard for science, an informed and generous internationalism, and a confidence in humanity to chart its own course. Soviet ideology failed, however, to unite these values in an overarching vision that could withstand historical change. And so, as The Spirit of Socialism shows, the seekers asked questions raised but not resolved by the Russian Revolution and subsequent Soviet order—questions of epistemic authority, of cultural identity, and of history's ultimate meaning. Although the Soviet collapse was not the end of history, it was a rupture of epochal significance, whose fissures extend into our own uncertain era. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/eastern-european-studies

The Spirit of Socialism is a cultural history of the Soviet collapse. It examines the millions of Soviet people who, during the cascading crises of the collapse and the post-Soviet transition, embarked on a spirited and highly visible search for new meaning. Amid profound disorientation, these seekers found direction in their horoscopes, or behind gurus in saffron robes or apocalyptic preachers, or by turning from the most basic premises of official science and history to orient themselves anew. The beliefs they seized on and, even more, the questions that guided their search reveal the essence of late-Soviet culture and its legacy in post-Soviet Russia. To skeptical outsiders, the seekers appeared eccentric, deviant, and above all un-Soviet. Yet they came to their ideas by Soviet sources and Soviet premises. As Joseph Kellner demonstrates, their motley beliefs reflect modern values that formed the spiritual core of Soviet ideology, among them a high regard for science, an informed and generous internationalism, and a confidence in humanity to chart its own course. Soviet ideology failed, however, to unite these values in an overarching vision that could withstand historical change. And so, as The Spirit of Socialism shows, the seekers asked questions raised but not resolved by the Russian Revolution and subsequent Soviet order—questions of epistemic authority, of cultural identity, and of history's ultimate meaning. Although the Soviet collapse was not the end of history, it was a rupture of epochal significance, whose fissures extend into our own uncertain era. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Martin Cruz Smith (1942-2025, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky, recorded in the KPFA studio December 9, 2004 while on tour for his novel “Wolves Eat Dogs.” The great noir and detective author Martin Cruz Smith died of Parkinsons Disease on July 11, 2025 at the age of 82.  A journalist originally, and then a writer of paperback fiction under a variety of pseudonyms, he began writing under his own name and became known following the publication of a horror novel, Nightwing, in 1977. Though it wasn't until 1981 with the release of Gorky Park, a detective novel set in Soviet Russia and featuring investigator Arkady Renko, that he hit best-seller stardom. Over the next few years, he alternated non-series novels with entries in the Renko series, all to much acclaim. “Wolves Eat Dogs” is partially set in Ukraine, in and around Chernobyl. In the interview, Bill Smith discusses his own trip to Kyiv and Ukraine, and the politics of the early 2000s, which offers insight into what's happening in 2025. There are four Martin Cruz Smith interviews. The first two, both co-hosted with Richard A. Lupoff for Probabilities, were recorded in 1990 while on tour for Polar Star, the sequel to Gorky Park, and then again in 1996 for the award-winning stand-alone novel, Rose. These interviews have yet to be digitized. This is the third interview. The fourth, for his novel “Tatiana,” was recorded on December 9, 2013. At the time of his death, Martin Cruz Smith had written 15 early novels under a variety of pseudonyms, eleven novels in the Renko series, and seven stand alone novels. The final Renko novel, “Hotel Ukraine,” was published shortly before his death. This interview has never been posted, or aired, in its entirety. The post Martin Cruz Smith (1942-2025) Acclaimed Noir and Literary Novelist appeared first on KPFA.

Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter and pianist Regina Spektor grew up in Soviet Russia, so when she moved to the Bronx with her family in 1990, American food was a bit of a culture shock. Cereal! Oranges! Chocolate pudding cups! It was all brand-new! Regina shares a handful of her family’s immigration eating stories. When in doubt, order the soup! That’s what Regina does. She tells host Rachel Belle about her (nearly) lifelong love of soup, what caused her to rebel against it in high school and why the simplest of broths would be her last meal. Cookbook author Caroline Wright never set out to have a career in soup, but a terminal cancer diagnosis resulted in a soup club, two vegan soup cookbooks and the title of Seattle Soup Lady. She tells Rachel her story. Watch Rachel’s Cascade PBS TV show The Nosh with Rachel Belle! Season 2 out now! Sign up for Rachel’s new (free!) Cascade PBS newsletter for more food musings! Follow along on Instagram! Order Rachel’s cookbook Open Sesame. Support the show: http://rachelbelle.substack.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, life for Russia's rich and powerful has passed the point of no return. The recent suicide of Roman Starovoit is the first case in post-Soviet Russia of a cabinet minister taking their own life when faced with an investigation and possible prison term. For many, it has brought back memories of Joseph Stalin's purges in the 1930s. How are members of the Russian elite processing Starovoit's death? If the old rules of the game no longer apply, are there any new rules? How will the death affect Putin's control over his power vertical?Check out the newsletter Fairdaily on Substack.Alexandra Prokopenko's piece on Roman Starovoit's death.Tatiana Stanovaya's piece on Russian elites.

Bookwaves/Artwaves is produced and hosted by Richard Wolinsky. Links to assorted local theater & book venues   Martin Cruz Smith: The Arkady Renko Novels Martin Cruz Smith (1942-2025, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky, recorded in the KPFA studio in 2004 and 2013. The great noir and detective author Martin Cruz Smith died of Parkinsons Disease on July 11, 2025 at the age of 82.  A journalist originally, and then a writer of paperback fiction under a variety of pseudonyms, he began writing under his own name and became known following the publication of a horror novel, Nightwing, in 1977. Though it wasn't until 1981 with the release of Gorky Park, a detective novel set in Soviet Russia and featuring investigator Arkady Renko, that he hit best-seller stardom. Over the next few years, he alternated non-series novels with entries in the Renko series, all to much acclaim. There are four Martin Cruz Smith interviews. The first two, both co-hosted with Richard A. Lupoff for Probabilities, were recorded in 1990 while on tour for Polar Star, the sequel to Gorky Park, and then again in 1996 for the award-winning stand-alone novel, Rose. These interviews have yet to be digitized. Today's program focuses on the two later interviews> Part One: This interview was recorded December 9, 2004 while on the book tour for the Arkady Renko novel, “Wolves Eat Dogs.” Part Two: This interview was recorded December 9, 2013 while on the book tour for the  Arkady Renko novel, “Tatiana.”   Martin Cruz Smith Wikipedia page   Book Interview/Events and Theatre Links Note: Shows may unexpectedly close early or be postponed due to actors' positive COVID tests. Check the venue for closures, ticket refunds, and mask requirements before arrival. Dates are in-theater performances unless otherwise noted. Some venues operate Tuesday – Sunday; others for shorter periods each week. All times Pacific Time. Closing dates are sometimes extended. Book Stores Bay Area Book Festival  See website for highlights from the 110th Annual Bay Area Book Festival, May 31 – June 1, 2025. Book Passage.  Monthly Calendar. Mix of on-line and in-store events. Books Inc.  Mix of on-line and in-store events. The Booksmith.  Monthly Event Calendar. BookShop West Portal. Monthly Event Calendar. Center for Literary Arts, San Jose. See website for Book Club guests in upcoming months. Green Apple Books. Events calendar. Kepler's Books  On-line Refresh the Page program listings. Live Theater Companies Actors Ensemble of Berkeley.  Summers at John Hinkel Park: Cymbeline July 5-20 Sundays 4 pm; The Taming of the Shrew opens August 16. See website for readings and events. Actor's Reading Collective (ARC).  All readings at 7 pm: Appropriate by Brandon Jacob Jenkins, July 20 Aurora, July 21  Z Below. The Best We Could by Emily Feldman, July 27 Aurora, July 28 Z Below; Recipe by Michael Gene Sullivan, August 4 Aurora; August 5 The Magic. African American Art & Culture Complex. See website for calendar. Afro-Solo Theatre Company.See website for calendar. American Conservatory Theatre Golden Thread presents The Return  by Hannah Eady and Edward Mast,  August 7-24, The Garret at the Toni Rembe Theatre; Young Conservatory: Hadestown, Teen Edition, August 8-17, Strand. Kim's Convenience by Ins Choi, Sept 18 – Oct 19, Toni Rembe Theatre. Aurora Theatre  The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe by Jane Wagner, with Marga Gomez, July 12 – August 10.  Awesome Theatre Company. See website for information. Berkeley Rep. The Reservoir .by Jake Brasch, Sept. 5 – Oct 12, Peets Theatre. See website for summer events. Berkeley Shakespeare Company See website for upcoming events and productions. Boxcar Theatre. The Illusionist with Kevin Blake, live at the Palace Theatre. Tony Brava Theatre Center: See calendar for events listings. The Heat Will Kill Everything written and performed by Keith Josef Adkins, July 17-19. BroadwaySF: & Juliet, July 1-27, Orpheum. See website for complete listings for the Orpheum, Golden Gate and Curran Theaters. Broadway San Jose:  Moulin Rouge!, The Musical. July 8-13. See website for other events. Center Rep: Indecent by Paula Vogel, September 1 – 28. Lesher Center. Central Stage. See website for upcoming productions, 5221 Central Avenue, Richmond Central Works  The Last Goat by Gary Graves, June 28 – July 27. Cinnabar Theatre. Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood by Ken Ludwig, September  12-28, Sonoma State. Club Fugazi. Dear San Francisco ongoing. Check website for Music Mondays listings. Contra Costa Civic Theatre Pippin, August 30 – Sept. 14. See website for other events. Golden Thread   The Return by Hanna Eady and Edward Mast, August 7 – 24, The Garret at ACT's Toni Rembe Theatre. Hillbarn Theatre: Murder for Two, a musical comedy, October 9 – November 2, 2025. Lorraine Hansberry Theatre. See website for specific workshops and events. Los Altos Stage Company. Guys & Dolls, July 18 – 27, Los Altos Youth Theatre. Lower Bottom Playaz  August Wilson's Two Trains Running, August 8 -31. August Wilson's King Hedley II, November 8 -30. BAM House, Oakland. Magic Theatre. Aztlan by Luis Alfaro, World Premiere, June 25 – July 20 (extended). See website for additional events. Marin Shakespeare Company: Seeds of Time Festival, July 19 – August 3. 514 Fourth Street Theatre, San Rafael. The Tempest,  August 15 -September 14, Forest Meadow Amphitheater. See website for other events. Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts Upcoming Events Page. New Conservatory Theatre Center (NCTC)  Ride the Cyclone, the musical, July 11 – August 15. New Performance Traditions.  See website for upcoming schedule Oakland Theater Project. Les Blancs (The Whites) by Lorraine Hansberry, July 11 – 27. Odd Salon: Upcoming events in San Francisco & New York, and streaming. Palace of Fine Arts Theater.  See website for event listings. Pear Theater. Constellations by Nick Payne, June 27 – July 20. See website for staged readings and other events. Playful People Productions. See web page for information on upcoming shows. Presidio Theatre. See website for complete schedule of events and performances. Ray of Light: 9 to 5, the Musical. September 2025. Ross Valley Players: See website for New Works Sunday night readings and other events. San Francisco Playhouse. My Fair Lady, July 3 – Sept. 13. SFBATCO.  See website for upcoming streaming and in- theater shows.  Into The Woods, July 25-26, Blue Shield of Caliornia Theaer at YBCA. The Day The Sky Turned Orange by Julius Ernesto, Sept 5 – Oct. 5, Z Space. San Jose Stage Company: See website for events and upcoming season Shotgun Players.  The Magnolia Ballet by Terry Guest, July 12 – August 10. South Bay Musical Theatre:  The Sound of Music, September 27 – October 18. SPARC: Sir John Falstaff and the Merry Wives of Windsor. Outdoors: July 3-27, Darcie Kent Vineyards,  Livermore. Indoors: August 8-24, Village Theatre and Art Gallery, Danville. Stagebridge: See website for events and productions. Storytime every 4th Saturday. The Breath Project. Streaming archive. The Marsh: Calendar listings for Berkeley, San Francisco and Marshstream. Theatre Lunatico See website for upcoming events and producctions. Theatre Rhino  Kyles' by Olivia Bratco, July 3-18.Streaming: Essential Services Project, conceived and performed by John Fisher, all weekly performances now available on demand. TheatreWorks Silicon Valley. New Works Festival, July 25 – August 18. See website for details. Word for Word.  See website for upcoming productions. Misc. Listings: BAMPFA: On View calendar for Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive. Berkeley Symphony: See website for listings. Chamber Music San Francisco: Calendar, 2025 Season. Dance Mission Theatre. On stage events calendar. Fort Mason Center. Events calendar. Oregon Shakespeare Festival: Calendar listings and upcoming shows. San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus. See schedule for upcoming SFGMC performances. San Francisco Opera. Calendar listings. San Francisco Symphony. Calendar listings. Filmed Live Musicals: Searchable database of all filmed live musicals, podcast, blog. If you'd like to add your bookstore or theater venue to this list, please write Richard@kpfa.org                                   .   . The post July 17, 2025: Martin Cruz Smith (1942-2025) Acclaimed Noir and Literary Novelist appeared first on KPFA.

"You can't put all your eggs in one basket. You can't have one citizenship as a Bitcoiner. You must have a hedge in place." In this episode of THE Bitcoin Podcast, Walker America sits down with Katie Ananina, founder of Plan B Passport and now with CitizenX, to explore how Bitcoiners can secure their sovereignty by stacking second passports, leveraging flag theory, and opting out of failing nation-states. Katie shares her incredible journey from pro athlete in post-Soviet Russia to U.S. immigrant, entrepreneur, and Bitcoin pioneer. She breaks down the sovereign individual thesis, the rise of Bitcoin citizenship programs like El Salvador's, and why jurisdictions like Serbia, Argentina, and the Caribbean are leading the charge. FOLLOW KATIE ON X: https://x.com/PlanBpassport GET A SECOND PASSPORT: https://citizenx.com/?ref=wa EXODUS MAP: https://citizenx.com/exodus They dive into: • Why Bitcoiners need second citizenships before it's too late • How nation-states are becoming subscription services • How governments are losing their monopoly on money and violence • Capital flight from socialist regimes like the UK and Canada • The future of microstates, borderless capital, and Bitcoin-based governance • How to acquire citizenship through investment, descent, or relocation Plus: prepping vs doomering, raising free kids in Austin, and what would cause Katie to finally leave America.

 “Your identity isn't what you do—it's who you become in the process. Fame fades, but purpose endures.” – Christian Ray Flores In this powerful episode of Turmeric & Tequila™, host Kristen Olson is joined by Christian Ray Flores—global speaker, impact-driven entrepreneur, and former international music star. From topping the charts in post-Soviet Russia to co-founding award-winning companies and nonprofit movements, Christian's story is anything but ordinary. They dive deep into identity, leadership, and legacy—unpacking how fame shaped Christian's worldview and how faith continues to guide his mission in business, philanthropy, and media. Whether you're building a personal brand or looking for purpose beyond success, this conversation is filled with practical wisdom and soulful reminders that your path matters.  Time Stamps: 0:00 – Welcome + Christian Ray Flores' wild journey from fame to faith 4:10 – The unexpected rise to pop stardom in post-Soviet Russia 9:30 – Leaving the spotlight to pursue a deeper mission 13:45 – Entrepreneurship, spiritual alignment, and serving through business 18:25 – Overcoming ego, imposter syndrome, and pressure to perform 24:50 – Advice to creators and changemakers 29:30 – Why faith + impact are the ultimate success metrics 34:20 – Final reflections on leadership, legacy, and what's next  Christian Ray Flores Founder, Xponential Life Coaching Christian Ray Flores is an entrepreneur, evangelist, international recording artist, and philanthropist. From a childhood as a refugee to international pop stardom in post-Soviet Russia, he has forged an extraordinary path as a successful artist, speaker, and impact-driven leader. He co-founded Ascend Academy, Third Drive, and launched Xponential, a high-performance coaching program and community designed to help world changers thrive in life, leadership, and faith. Christian is a sought-after voice on creativity, business, purpose, and global transformation—combining real-world experience with spiritual conviction to inspire and equip the next generation of change-makers. https://www.xponential.life/littlebook https://www.xponential.life/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/christianrayflores/ https://x.com/ChristianRay https://www.facebook.com/christianrayflores1/ https://www.instagram.com/christianrayflores/ https://www.tiktok.com/@christianrayflores    Connect with T&T: IG: @TurmericTequila Facebook: @TurmericAndTequila Website: www.TurmericAndTequila.com Host: Kristen Olson IG: @Madonnashero Tik Tok: @Madonnashero Website: www.KOAlliance.com WATCH HERE   MORE LIKE THIS: https://youtu.be/ZCFQSpFoAgI?si=Erg8_2eH8uyEgYZF   https://youtu.be/piCU9JboWuY?si=qLdhFKCGdBzuAeuI https://youtu.be/9Vs2JDzJJXk?si=dpjV31GDqTroUKWH

Send me a DM here (it doesn't let me respond), OR email me: imagineabetterworld2020@gmail.comToday I'm honored to have back on the show for a fourth time: MK ULTRA, satanic ritual abuse, and organized abuse survivor, overcomer and thriver, loving mother, published writer and author, content creator and podcaster, Physician and Radiologist turned activist, Founder of the Angel Coalition and Co-Founder of Women and Children First and the Babushka Brigade, Star Fort enthusiast, award winner of the University of Washington School of Medicine's prestigious Humanitarian Award, and absolute inspiration: Dr. Juliette EngelIf you're new here, missed Juliette's last few episodes, or need a refresher, here's a brief synopsis of her life and a little bit about what we will be talking about today: A survivor of the CIA's sinister MK ULTRA program, Juliette has emerged as a beacon of hope, dedicating her life to rescuing the vulnerable and exposing the hidden scourge of human trafficking. Her humanitarian work in Moscow, where she founded the Angel Coalition, stands as a monument to her courage and unwavering commitment to healing a broken world.Born in 1949 into a family entangled with OSS, CIA, and NSA operatives, Juliette's childhood was stolen at age six when she was sold into MK ULTRA and MONARCH mind control programs. Subjected to relentless physical and psychological torture, including trauma-based mind control and “Sex Magick”, her early years were designed to fracture her mind and silence her spirit. Yet, at seventeen, driven by an indomitable will to survive, she escaped - barefoot, with no memories of her childhood - and forged a new path. Through sheer determination, she put herself through college and medical school, becoming a respected radiologist and physician. In 1990, Juliette's life took a transformative turn when she sold her successful Seattle practice to establish the MiraMed Institute in Moscow, aiming to reform maternal and infant healthcare in post-Soviet Russia. What began as a mission to improve medical care for orphaned children unveiled a horrifying truth: state institutions were complicit in an international network trafficking young Russian girls to Scandinavia for prostitution. This discovery, echoing the control and exploitation of her own past, ignited a fire within her. She could not turn away. This is what we will be discussing on today's show.With boundless empathy, Juliette founded the Angel Coalition in 1999, an underground railroad that became a lifeline for trafficking victims. Over a decade, her network of villagers, educators, police, media, and government officials rescued tens of thousands of children and women, guiding them to safety across the former USSR. Her memoir, Angels Over Moscow, vividly recounts her perilous journeys through remote villages, her deep bonds with Russian colleagues, and her heartbreak over lives lost - like Zhenya, a spirited girl who haunts her memory. Juliette's work also led to co-founding Women and Children First, a training center for orphanage staff, and the Babushka Brigade, a nationwide support program for single mothers, weaving a tapestry of care across Russia.Juliette's MK ULTRA past gave her a unique lens to recognize the mechanisms of control in trafficking networks - systems that thrive on breaking spirits, much like the programming she endured. Her advocacy exposed the collusion of global powers, including the U.S., in perpetuating this modern slavery, challenging the silence that once bound her. In 2013, her extraordinary efforts earned her the University of Washington School of Medicine's prestigious Humanitarian Award.Despite personal risks and the resurfacing of her own traumatic memories, JSupport the show

This week on YKWD Yakov Smirnoff comes on to discuss The Tonight Show, doing comedy in Branson, and to judge Soviet Russia's Got TalentUpgrade your wallet today! Get 10% Off @Ridge with code DUDE athttps://www.ridge.com/DUDEGet the EXTRA YKWD, Watch LIVE and UNEDITED AT https://www.patreon.com/robertkelly LIVE FROM THE SHED AND MORE ON PATREON DUDE!!! https://twitter.com/robertkelly https://twitter.com/YKWDpodcast http://instagram.com/ykwdudepodcast https://www.facebook.com/YkwdPodcast/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NA'ALEH YOGA: Yoga Nidra Journeys for Deep Rest Close Your Eyes and Stay Awake... In this enlightening episode we chat with the extraordinary Diana Esther Berschader. Diana shares her compelling life story from her upbringing in Soviet Russia to her miraculous spiritual awakening. She dives deep into the transformative experiences that shaped her path and unveils the secrets to discovering one's true purpose. Amidst the conversation, Diana speaks about overcoming life's pressures, embracing inner whispers, and the immense power of meditation and love. Her journey reveals that beneath life's challenges lies an opportunity for transformation, akin to a diamond emerging in brilliance from the rough.   Diana's Bio: Diana Esther is an author, poet, speaker, transformational coach and an inspirational teacher she delivers the most profound knowledge of enlightenment in her unique loving, simple and intuitive way. Her love for life and miraculous recovery from lymphatic cancer, as well as an extraordinary triumph over numerous life challenges, made her an expert in her field, teaching by example and out of her own personal experience, helping her clients to transform their lives, experiencing greater wellbeing. She is a true seeker of the truth of life, unlocking the doors of wisdom and knowledge and turning the key to more happiness and joy. Like a diamond that was shaped and molded under a massive amount of pressure and exposed to the high temperatures of the inner crust of mother earth, she was shaped and polished by the forces of life and her divine destiny. Like a diamond, it took her many years of learning and experimenting, transforming and molding herself, developing trust and perseverance, melting away limitations and crushing all the barriers, that were in the way of her own brilliant light. Her journey took her across continents and made her a true soul doctor, and transformational coach, helping others to connect to the light within, finding their life purpose and developing stronger health, inner peace, balance, harmony, wellbeing, trust and perseverance on the journey to becoming flawless and brilliant.   Episode Summary: 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 01:31 Diana's Early Life in Soviet Russia 06:37 Spiritual Awakening and Inner Trust 11:43 The Power of the Heart and Mind 23:53 Meditation and Everyday Mindfulness 34:05 The Diamond Within: A Metaphor for Self 35:47 The Power of Free Will 36:08 The Diamond's Story 38:07 Embracing Imperfections 40:28 Unique Fingerprints 41:14 The Value of Inclusions 43:43 Consciousness and Evolution 47:40 Poetry of the Soul 52:41 Handling Pressure 56:56 Meditation for Balance 01:02:55 Final Thoughts and Offerings   Here is where to find Diana Esther: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Diana.Esther.Berschader Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thediamondwithin/ Website:    https://www.thediamondwithin.co.uk/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diana-esther-the-diamond-within/   Subscribe to Na'aleh Yoga Podcast for more transformative journeys and feel free to share this podcast with a friend. Take a moment to review and share your thoughts—I always appreciate your feedback!  Feel free to reach out!  Biosite: https://bio.site/ruthieayzenberg Therapy Practice: Mental Fitness Therapy Email: naalehyoga@gmail.com     May you be peaceful and safe!   

How did the communists take power in Russia? How did Franklin Roosevelt prop up the Soviet economy and set the stage for the Cold War? Are communists motivated by a desire for equality, or by darker desires for revenge? Historian Sean McMeekin joins Charlie for a wide-ranging conversation on World War 2, Soviet Russia, Joseph Stalin, and the facts that every American should know about the real history of the 20th century. Watch every episode ad-free on members.charliekirk.com! Get new merch at charliekirkstore.com!Support the show: http://www.charliekirk.com/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How did the communists take power in Russia? How did Franklin Roosevelt prop up the Soviet economy and set the stage for the Cold War? Are communists motivated by a desire for equality, or by darker desires for revenge? Historian Sean McMeekin joins Charlie for a wide-ranging conversation on World War 2, Soviet Russia, Joseph Stalin, and the facts that every American should know about the real history of the 20th century. Watch every episode ad-free on members.charliekirk.com! Get new merch at charliekirkstore.com!Support the show: http://www.charliekirk.com/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Justin was recovering from his madcap trip to the Hawkeye State, so we took a brief hiatus but will be returning next week with a "Fun," summery feeling sessions-and-album discussion (hint hint).  Enjoy this blast from the past in two ways: Justin & Gurdip's 2021 bonus discussion of the Billboard Top 10 from May 26, 1958, which offers up iconic rock and pop tracks, from Elvis's "Wear My Ring Around Your Neck" and Chuck Berry's "Johnny B. Goode" to less-well-remembered hits like The Four Preps' "Big Man". But the guys ended up going deeper when Justin start pulling in the top songs on the R&B and country charts as well, realizing that mid-1958 is a point of huge musical overlap between the major mainstream genres.  Then, the guys also discuss some of the other Elvis-related items featured in this historical issue of this music industry magazine, including a contemporary review of King Creole and an incredibly fascinating story about Elvis bootlegs pressed into unconventional materials in Soviet Russia in the 1950s! For your listening convenience and pleasure, we've built a Spotify playlist of the songs featured on these charts, plus a handful of other tracks included in the discussion, at this link: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6PeM4TMYaXx8ToQOfS84GH?si=de7dee88f6bf4e81  For more on the X-Ray Audio Project, visit: https://x-rayaudio.squarespace.com/ If you enjoyed this kind of content, please consider consider supporting us with a donation at Patreon.com/TCBCast. We have an archive of over 4 years (and growing!) of bonus discussions just like this! Your support allows us to continue to provide thoughtful, provocative, challenging and well-researched perspectives on Elvis's career, his peers and influences, and his cultural impact and legacy.

Send me a DM here (it doesn't let me respond), OR email me: imagineabetterworld2020@gmail.comToday I'm honored to introduce you all to: MK ULTRA, satanic ritual abuse, and organized abuse survivor, overcomer and thriver, loving mother, Physician, published writer and author, content creator and podcaster, Physician and Radiologist turned activist, Founder of the Angel Coalition and Co-Founder of Women and Children First and the Babushka Brigade, Star Fort enthusiast, loving mother, award winner of the University of Washington School of Medicine's prestigious Humanitarian Award, and absolute inspiration: Dr. Juliette EngelBorn in into a family entangled with OSS/CIA/NSA operatives, Juliette's childhood was stolen by the CIA's sinister MK ULTRA program. At the tender age of six, she was sold by her father into a world of mind control, sexual abuse, and satanic ritual abuse she would later come to know as “Sex Magick.” Subjected to relentless physical and psychological torture, her early years were a crucible of pain, designed to fracture her mind and mold her into a tool for the agency's dark agenda.At seventeen, Juliette's courage and instinct for survival propelled her to escape, barefoot and with nothing but her will to live. With no memory of her harrowing childhood due to trauma-forced amnesia, she forged a new life, driven by an inner strength she scarcely understood. She put herself through college and medical school, becoming a respected physician and radiologist. In Seattle, she built a successful practice, her professionalism and compassion earning her acclaim. But beneath this veneer of achievement, her past lay dormant, waiting to resurface.In 1992, Juliette's life took a pivotal turn when she sold her practice to establish the MiraMed Institute in Moscow, a nonprofit dedicated to improving obstetric care and advancing human rights for women and children in post-Soviet Russia. It was here, amidst her mission to enhance medical care for orphanage children, that she stumbled upon a chilling truth: state institutions were linked to an international network trafficking young Russian girls into prostitution. This discovery shattered her amnesia, triggering fragmented memories of her own abuse and awakening her to the global scourge of human trafficking - a modern slave trade she could not ignore. What followed was the beginning of her fearless activism. The resurfacing of her childhood memories was agonizing, yet, Juliette transformed this pain into purpose. Her memoir, ‘Sparky: Surviving Sex Magick', and its sequel, ‘Angels Over Moscow', chronicle her survival and her fight against trafficking, earning her recognition as a bestselling author. Her third book, ‘Moscow Traffic', further amplifies her voice as a whistleblower and advocate. RECOMMENDED READING - MK ULTRA DOCS: https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/briefing-book/dnsa-intelligence/2024-12-23/cia-behavior-control-experiments-focus-new-scholarlyCONNECT WITH JULIETTE: Website: https://julietteengel.com/CONNECT WITH THE IMAGINATION:EMAIL: imagineabetterworld2020@gmail.comMy Substack: https://emmakatherine.substack.com/BUY ME A COFFEE: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theimaginationAll links: https://direct.me/theimaginationpodcastRIFE TECHNOLOGIES: https://realrifetechnology.com/Support the show

Today I interviewed Charles Hecker about Zero Sum. The Arc of International Business in Russia (Oxford UP, 2025). Hecker, a journalist and business consultant, speaks with dozens of Western business executives, bankers, and financiers who reaped immense profits for themselves and their companies in the Russian market, which suddenly opened to foreigners after decades of state planning and economic autarky. These “riskophile” Westerners recall the early post-Soviet Russia as an unchartered territory where business “had a body count” and “violence was cheap, routine and almost casual”. In the 2000s Russia, now stabilized by Putin, offered unparalleled opportunities for those who had learnt to navigate its murky, gray environment. While some expressed concern over the unchallenged primacy of the supreme ruler presiding over arbitrary redistribution of property in favor of his cronies and the rapid consolidation of state ownership, the squeamish were far outnumbered by the opportunistic. Following Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and the subsequent imposition of sweeping Western sanctions forced most Westerners to flee, often selling their companies for a fraction of their value and, in some cases, even giving it for free to their Russian partners. Looking back some regret “looking the other way” at the rampant corruption and lawlessness, while others admit that enrichment in Russia was always destined to be short-lived. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today I interviewed Charles Hecker about Zero Sum. The Arc of International Business in Russia (Oxford UP, 2025). Hecker, a journalist and business consultant, speaks with dozens of Western business executives, bankers, and financiers who reaped immense profits for themselves and their companies in the Russian market, which suddenly opened to foreigners after decades of state planning and economic autarky. These “riskophile” Westerners recall the early post-Soviet Russia as an unchartered territory where business “had a body count” and “violence was cheap, routine and almost casual”. In the 2000s Russia, now stabilized by Putin, offered unparalleled opportunities for those who had learnt to navigate its murky, gray environment. While some expressed concern over the unchallenged primacy of the supreme ruler presiding over arbitrary redistribution of property in favor of his cronies and the rapid consolidation of state ownership, the squeamish were far outnumbered by the opportunistic. Following Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and the subsequent imposition of sweeping Western sanctions forced most Westerners to flee, often selling their companies for a fraction of their value and, in some cases, even giving it for free to their Russian partners. Looking back some regret “looking the other way” at the rampant corruption and lawlessness, while others admit that enrichment in Russia was always destined to be short-lived. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/eastern-european-studies

Today I interviewed Charles Hecker about Zero Sum. The Arc of International Business in Russia (Oxford UP, 2025). Hecker, a journalist and business consultant, speaks with dozens of Western business executives, bankers, and financiers who reaped immense profits for themselves and their companies in the Russian market, which suddenly opened to foreigners after decades of state planning and economic autarky. These “riskophile” Westerners recall the early post-Soviet Russia as an unchartered territory where business “had a body count” and “violence was cheap, routine and almost casual”. In the 2000s Russia, now stabilized by Putin, offered unparalleled opportunities for those who had learnt to navigate its murky, gray environment. While some expressed concern over the unchallenged primacy of the supreme ruler presiding over arbitrary redistribution of property in favor of his cronies and the rapid consolidation of state ownership, the squeamish were far outnumbered by the opportunistic. Following Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and the subsequent imposition of sweeping Western sanctions forced most Westerners to flee, often selling their companies for a fraction of their value and, in some cases, even giving it for free to their Russian partners. Looking back some regret “looking the other way” at the rampant corruption and lawlessness, while others admit that enrichment in Russia was always destined to be short-lived. 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

Today I interviewed Charles Hecker about Zero Sum. The Arc of International Business in Russia (Oxford UP, 2025). Hecker, a journalist and business consultant, speaks with dozens of Western business executives, bankers, and financiers who reaped immense profits for themselves and their companies in the Russian market, which suddenly opened to foreigners after decades of state planning and economic autarky. These “riskophile” Westerners recall the early post-Soviet Russia as an unchartered territory where business “had a body count” and “violence was cheap, routine and almost casual”. In the 2000s Russia, now stabilized by Putin, offered unparalleled opportunities for those who had learnt to navigate its murky, gray environment. While some expressed concern over the unchallenged primacy of the supreme ruler presiding over arbitrary redistribution of property in favor of his cronies and the rapid consolidation of state ownership, the squeamish were far outnumbered by the opportunistic. Following Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and the subsequent imposition of sweeping Western sanctions forced most Westerners to flee, often selling their companies for a fraction of their value and, in some cases, even giving it for free to their Russian partners. Looking back some regret “looking the other way” at the rampant corruption and lawlessness, while others admit that enrichment in Russia was always destined to be short-lived. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/russian-studies

Today I interviewed Charles Hecker about Zero Sum. The Arc of International Business in Russia (Oxford UP, 2025). Hecker, a journalist and business consultant, speaks with dozens of Western business executives, bankers, and financiers who reaped immense profits for themselves and their companies in the Russian market, which suddenly opened to foreigners after decades of state planning and economic autarky. These “riskophile” Westerners recall the early post-Soviet Russia as an unchartered territory where business “had a body count” and “violence was cheap, routine and almost casual”. In the 2000s Russia, now stabilized by Putin, offered unparalleled opportunities for those who had learnt to navigate its murky, gray environment. While some expressed concern over the unchallenged primacy of the supreme ruler presiding over arbitrary redistribution of property in favor of his cronies and the rapid consolidation of state ownership, the squeamish were far outnumbered by the opportunistic. Following Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and the subsequent imposition of sweeping Western sanctions forced most Westerners to flee, often selling their companies for a fraction of their value and, in some cases, even giving it for free to their Russian partners. Looking back some regret “looking the other way” at the rampant corruption and lawlessness, while others admit that enrichment in Russia was always destined to be short-lived. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/economics

Today I interviewed Charles Hecker about Zero Sum. The Arc of International Business in Russia (Oxford UP, 2025). Hecker, a journalist and business consultant, speaks with dozens of Western business executives, bankers, and financiers who reaped immense profits for themselves and their companies in the Russian market, which suddenly opened to foreigners after decades of state planning and economic autarky. These “riskophile” Westerners recall the early post-Soviet Russia as an unchartered territory where business “had a body count” and “violence was cheap, routine and almost casual”. In the 2000s Russia, now stabilized by Putin, offered unparalleled opportunities for those who had learnt to navigate its murky, gray environment. While some expressed concern over the unchallenged primacy of the supreme ruler presiding over arbitrary redistribution of property in favor of his cronies and the rapid consolidation of state ownership, the squeamish were far outnumbered by the opportunistic. Following Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and the subsequent imposition of sweeping Western sanctions forced most Westerners to flee, often selling their companies for a fraction of their value and, in some cases, even giving it for free to their Russian partners. Looking back some regret “looking the other way” at the rampant corruption and lawlessness, while others admit that enrichment in Russia was always destined to be short-lived. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/finance

In this powerful episode of Manlihood: a podcast for men, Josh Hatcher sits down with Christian Ray Flores—a former refugee turned Russian pop star, now an entrepreneur, evangelist, coach, and unapologetic believer in the American Dream.Christian shares his incredible life story—growing up across continents, surviving war and dictatorship, rising to fame in post-Soviet Russia, and ultimately building a life of faith, freedom, and purpose in the United States.This episode is a deep dive into the essence of manhood, resilience, opportunity, and the power of apprenticeship. Christian talks about overcoming trauma, building something meaningful from nothing, and why America still matters.You'll also hear about:

What's at stake when nonprofits and democracy are under attack? How can organizations respond effectively to threats against their tax status and Constitutional rights? In this illuminating conversation, Rusty speaks with Mike Zamore, National Director of Policy and Government Affairs at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), about the unprecedented challenges facing nonprofits in today's political climate.Mike Zamore draws from his 22 years of Capitol Hill experience and current ACLU leadership to explain how nonprofits are essential to America's constitutional framework of checks and balances. He details recent fights against attempts to weaponize government power against nonprofits, including legislation that would have allowed stripping organizations of tax-exempt status without due process. The conversation highlights parallels between threats to individual liberties and threats to nonprofit First Amendment freedoms.The discussion concludes with practical advice for nonprofits in red states and red districts to effectively engage with Republican representatives regarding the upcoming tax reconciliation bill that could adversely affect the sector. Zamore emphasizes the importance of solidarity, encouraging nonprofits to stand together against intimidation tactics, and that reminding us that maintaining collective courage is crucial for preserving both Constitutional rights and the ability to serve communities.This episode was recorded the morning of May 9, 2025, before the House Ways and Means Committee revealed the language in their portion of the proposed tax bill, which includes re-introduction of H.R. 9495. Click here for resources on new tax bill.Resources referenced in the episode:ACLUA Call to Action for Red State Nonprofits on the FTP blog"Meet the Man Who Wants to Tax Most of the Nonprofit World" by Ben Gose"‘Five Alarm Fire': How New Tax Law Could Decimate Nonprofits — and What Can Be Done" by Steve TaylorFilibustered!: How to Fix the Broken Senate and Save America, co-authored by Senator Jeff Merkley and Mike Zamore"How Will We Know When We Have Lost Our Democracy?"Harvard statement "Upholding Our Values, Defending Our University" and lawsuit against the governmentStatement of Solidarity with Harvard UniversityFTP Podcast Episode “Dr. King, AmeriCorps, & Nonprofit Work - with Michael Smith, AmeriCorps”“AmeriCorps members who respond to disasters and help nonprofits are let go in DOGE cuts”Guest Bio:Mike Zamore is the National Director of Policy & Government Affairs at the ACLU, where he leads efforts to harness the organization's vast expertise, 4 million members and supporters, paid staff in every state, and electoral work to shape federal, state, and local policy.Mike is a 22-year veteran of Capitol Hill, and spent over 14 years as the Chief of Staff to Senator Jeff Merkley, an Oregon Democrat first elected in 2008. As Merkley's top aide, Mike managed a 50+ person staff and $4 million budget, counseled the Senator on legislative and political strategy, represented the Senator to various constituencies, and led two successful re-elections. Prior to joining Senator Merkley, Mike was the Policy Director at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, where he assisted the 2008 Senate candidates develop their positions on the issues. Mike earlier served as Policy Advisor to Representative Patrick Kennedy and spearheaded Kennedy's legislative agenda, including mental health parity legislation that became law in 2008, and spoke frequently on health systems reform. Earlier in his career, he spent several years working on business development projects in the early days of post-Soviet Russia and clerked for Judge Allyne R. Ross on the Eastern District of New York.Mike is an adjunct faculty member at American University's Washington College of Law. He graduated from Brown University and Harvard Law School, lives in Washington, DC with his wife and two sons.

In this episode of Karma School of Business, Sean Mooney sits down with Misha Logvinov, Managing Director and New York Office Lead at MGX, to discuss the essential lessons he's learned throughout his entrepreneurial journey and private equity career. Together, they explore actionable insights on leadership, adaptability, and leveraging technology for value creation in private equity and beyond. Episode Highlights: 1:19 - Misha's Early Journey: Growing up in post-Soviet Russia, launching entrepreneurial ventures as a teen, and transitioning to Silicon Valley during the dotcom boom. 7:22 - Entry into Private Equity: Misha describes his unplanned move into private equity after years as a tech operator and entrepreneur. 13:43 - Hallmarks of Great Companies: Key factors Misha looks for in businesses poised for success, including strong leadership, adaptability, and robust tech infrastructure. [00:18:31] Value Creation at MGX: How MGX helps portfolio companies grow by integrating cutting-edge AI and data strategies. [00:23:16] Actionable Advice: Misha highlights the importance of prioritizing data readiness, embracing AI for operational improvement, and rethinking leadership approaches for the future. [00:33:44] Advice to Younger Self: Misha reflects on the importance of balancing drive with kindness while pursuing high performance. For more information on MGX, go to https://www.mgx.ae/en For more information on Misha Logvinov, go to https://www.linkedin.com/in/mlogvinov For more information on BluWave and this podcast, go to https://www.bluwave.net/podcasts

Brea and Mallory talk about their most anticipated books for May and June! Plus, they give out book hangover cures. Email us at readingglassespodcast at gmail dot com!Reading Glasses MerchRecommendations StoreSponsors -Clarion West Steamy in Seattlewww.clarionwest.orgAncient Nutritionwww.ancientnutrition.com/GLASSESLinks -Reading Glasses Facebook GroupReading Glasses Goodreads GroupAmazon Wish ListNewsletterLibro.fmTo join our Discord channel, email us proof of your Reading-Glasses-supporting Maximum Fun membership!www.maximumfun.org/joinStack the ShelvesSpring ReadathonMay 18th!Books Mentioned - The Day the World Stopped Shopping by J.B. MacKinnonWhy I Love Horror edited by Becky SpratfordMayDecolonizing Language by Ngugi W. Thiong'oNonfiction, modern African literature, post colonial literary criticismAnd the Trees Stare Back by Gigi GriffisYA horror, Soviet Russia, historical, “came back wrong”Eliza, from Scratch by Sophia Lee - YA rom-com, cooking, high school, Korean foodThe Lost Queen by Aimee Phan - YA fantasy, magic, sisters, Vietnamese lore, past livesTitan of the Stars by E.K. Johnson - YA sci fi horror, space, aliens, Mars, trapped on a spaceshipDeath in the Cards by Mia P. Manansala - YA mystery, tarot, teen detective, vanished girlYou and Me on Repeat by Mary Shyne - YA rom-com graphic novel, time loop, friendshipHome Has No Borders by Sona Charaipotra and Samira Ahmed - Short story collection, YA, South Asian writersThe Original Daughter by Jemimah Wei - Historical fiction, Singapore, family saga, sistersMy Name is Emilia del Valle by Isabel Allende - Historical fiction, 19 century, Chile, San Francisco, female writer sent to cover civil warThe Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong - Literary fiction, chosen family, friendship between elderly woman and the young man she savesMy Friends by Fredrick Backman - Literary fiction, 25 year saga about four friends in a seaside townThe Tenant by Freida McFadden - Thriller, man rents a room to a woman who is not what she seemsThe Man Made of Smoke by Alex North - Thriller, serial killer, criminal profiler solving case he survived as a childThe Incandescent by Emily Tesh - Fantasy, dark academia, sapphic romanceAftertaste by Daria Lavelle - Urban fantasy, NYC, chef who can taste ghostsAwake in the Floating City by Susanna KwanSci fi, eco-fiction, flooding, artist bonding with elderly woman who remembers the city's historyThe Memory Collectors by Dete Meserve - Sci fi, mystery, technology that lets you visit the most pivotal moment of your life for one hourThe Starving Saints by Caitlin Starling - Historical horror, sapphic erotica, cannibals, medieval, surrealNever Flinch by Stephen King - Horror, next Holly bookCan't Get Enough by Kennedy Ryan - Third in Skyland seriesThe Love Haters by Katherine CenterContemporary romance, swimming, cynicism, Key WestThe Knight and the Moth by Rachel GilligRomantasy, divination magic, gothic, hot knightA Fate Forged in Fire by Hazel McBrideRomantasy, Celtic inspired, magic, dragon riding, hot princeBad Friend: How Women Revolutionized Modern Friendship by Tiffany Watt SmithNonfictionMark Twain by Ron ChernowNonfictionImmaculate Conception by Ling Ling Huang - Literary horror, friendship, technology that enhances empathyForest Euphoria by Patricia Ononiwu Kaishian - Nonfiction, queerness in wildlife and natureFake Work: How I Began to Suspect Capitalism is a Joke by Leigh Claire la Berge - NonfictionSo Many Stars: an Oral History of Trans, Nonbinary, Genderqueer, and Two-Spirit People of Color by Caro de RobertisNonfictionDisappoint Me by Nicola DinanLiterary fiction, trans protagonist, love, betrayal, “allure of bougie domesticity”And They Were Roommates by Page Powars - Queer YA romance, trans protagonist, boarding schoolGay the Pray Away by Natalie NaudusQueer YA romance, cult, small town, secret loveSummertime by Yigit Karaahmet, translated by Nicholas GlastonburyQueer thriller, Turkey, “the Birdcage but by Patricia Highsmith”When Devils Sing by Xan KaurYA horror, Southern gothic, small town, vanished teenOf Earthly Delights by Goldy MoldavskyYA horroromance, contemporary gothic, family secrets, mysterious gardenRun for the Hills by Kevin Wilson - Literary fiction, funny, family road tripGingko Season by Naomi Xu Elegant - Literary fiction, finding yourself after a heartbreak, friendshipThe South by Tash AwGay literary fiction, family, summer, small town, secret loveThe Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association by Caitlin Rozakis - Cozy fantasy, magic school in New England, werewolf protagonistJuneThe Mercy Makers by Tessa Gratton - Romantasy, forbidden love, forbidden magic, political intrigueA Far Better Thing by H.G. Parry - Fantasy, fairy revenge, historical, French revolutionA Treachery of Swans by A.B. Poranek - Queer YA fantasy, sapphic Swan Lake retellingA Magic Deep and Drowning by Hester Fox - Historical romantasy, Dutch Golden Age, Little Mermaid retellingBury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab - Queer spec fic, immortality, romanceWearing the Lion by John Wiswell - Historical fantasy, Hercules retelling, funny and sweetI Think I'm in Love with an Alien by Ann Aguirre - Romantiscifi, space, rom-comThe Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery by Clarence A. Haynes - Queer fantasy, ghosts, funny, magical pastThe Lady, The Tiger, and the Girl Who Loved Death by Helen Marshall - Fantasy, circus, mystery, dark magic, revengeThe Palace of Illusions by Rowena Miller - Historical fantasy, Paris, 1900s World's Fair, magical clockmakerThe Potency of Ungovernable Impulses by Malka Older - Sapphic cozy space mystery, third in seriesA Girl Walks into the Forest by Madeleine Roux - Fantasy, journey through evil forest, monstersThe Beautiful Maddening by Shea Ernshaw - YA contemporary romantasy, family love curse, magic tulipsThe Phoenix Pencil Company by Allison King - Queer fantasy, magic, memories contained in pencils, lost connections across time and spaceCosmic Love at the Multiverse Hair Salon by Annie MareQueer romantiscifi, sapphic, two women in different worlds trying to find the right timeline to be togetherMeet Me at the Crossroads by Megan Giddings - Sci fi, mysterious doors to new worlds, sistersBest of all Worlds by Kenneth OppelYA spec fi thriller, survival storyThe Two Lives of Faven Sythe by Megan O'Keefe - Sci fi, missing person search uncovers galaxy-wide conspiracy, space operaPearly Gates by Bonnie Solomon - Queer cozy funny fantasy, drag queen protagonist in after life, found familyEcstasy by Ivy Pochoda - Horror, Greek tragedy retelling, female empowermentStrange Houses by Uketsu, translated by Jim RionJapanese mystery horror, disturbing architectureThis Princess Kills Monsters by Ry Herman - Queer fantasy, high fantasy, magic princess on a quest, fairytale satireWork Nights by Erica Peplin - Queer literary fiction, young woman in love triangle, NYCGirls Girls Girls by Shoshana von BlanckenseeQueer Jewish new adult literary fiction, 1990s road trip from NYC to San FranciscoThese Heathens by Mia McKenzieQueer new adult historical fiction, 1960s Atlanta, queer Black community, civil rights movementIf I Told You I'd Have to Kiss You by Mae Marvel - Sapphic romance, if Mr. and Ms. Smith was gayOrdinary Love by Marie Rutkoski - Queer literary fiction, bisexual protagonist, woman risking it all for a second chance at first loveA Rare Find by Joanna Lowell - Sapphic historical romance, archaeologist teaming up with childhood enemyReady to Score by Jodie Slaughter - Sapphic contemporary romance, spicy, small town, Texas footballIt's Not the End of the World by Jonathan Parks-RamageCli-fi thriller, queer, family saga, near future sci fiWhat is Queer Food? How We Served a Revolution by John BirdsallNonfictionEl Dorado Drive by Megan Abbott - Thriller, all woman pyramid scheme, Detroit, crime, female friendship, powerThe Dark Library by Mary Anna EvansGothic historical thriller, family secrets, dark academiaThe Farmhouse by Chelsea Conradt - Horror, family moves to a creepy house in the middle of nowhere, corn!!!!!Worth Fighting For by Jesse Q. Sutanto - Mulan reimagined as a contemporary romanceSomeone Knows by Vi Keeland - Thriller, sexy, English professor has a dark past come back to haunt her, murder, affairThe Compound by Aisling Rawle - Dystopian thriller, Lord of the Flies meets Love Island, reality TVBattle of the Bookstores by Ali BradyContemporary romance, rivalry between two managers at the same bookstoreMurder Takes a Vacation by Laura LippmanCozy mystery, murder on a Parisian river cruiseThe Poppy Fields by Nikki ErlickSpec fic, what if there was a scientific cure for heartbreakKing of Ashes by S.A. CosbyCrime thriller, family drama, Southern, inspired by The GodfatherThe Listeners by Maggie Stiefvater - Historical romantasy, 1940s Appalachia, luxury hotel, magicWith a Vengeance by Riley SagerHistorical horror, trains, murder, 1940s midwest AmericaThe Primal of Blood and Bone by Jennifer L. ArmentroutSixth in the Blood and Ash seriesAtmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid - Historical romance, 1980s, NASA, astronautsThe Dry Season by Melissa Febos - Celibacy memoir

My guest today is Nika Dubrovsky. Nika is an artist and writer whose work has been exhibited internationally, her children's books have been translated into several languages and, remarkably, as you'll hear in the episode, Nika is directly responsible for bringing Russian translations of Dr. Suess to post-Soviet Russia.Nika is the co-creator of Anthropology For Kids alongside her late husband: Anthropologist, best selling author, and activist, David Graeber, who passed away suddenly in 2020. A4Kids.org is an open-source platform which experiments with new educational formats. After David's passing, Nika also founded the David Graeber Institute as a platform to develop ideas and projects that continue his legacy.Most of Nika's projects are dedicated to the building and maintaining of social relationships, among which are the “Museum of Care”, a nomadic ‘anti' institute, and the Playground of the Future, a collaborative and interactive art project imagining playgrounds as a space of collectivity and care. “Playgrounds are vital public spaces,” she writes, “—they bring communities together, bridging generations and social divides. They're also about fun and play, which is exactly the kind of atmosphere we need when making collective decisions. A network of community-built playgrounds, designed around Visual Assemblies, could become spaces where people gather, play, and make decisions together.”https://museum.care/playgrounds-notes-from-the-curator/ Anthropology For Kidshttps://museum.care/ Radical Playgrounds: From Competition to CollaborationCities Made Differently (MIT Press)David Graeber Institute Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Podcast Episode Title:"Investments and Impersonations"Show Description:In this captivating episode of the Mostly Middle Tennessee Business Podcast, Jared Peters shares his remarkable story of family heritage, real estate adventures, and entrepreneurial spirit. Highlights:His family's migration from Soviet Russia to California's Central ValleyNavigating the 2008 real estate market as a young investorUnique experiences in property management, including colorful characters and unexpected storiesInsights into business creativity, impersonations, and standing out in networking groupsFascinating tales of family farming, underwater welding, and cultural transitionsListeners will be entertained and inspired by Jared's blend of humor, historical perspective, and business acumen. A must-listen for entrepreneurs and those fascinated by personal journeys of resilience and opportunity.Follow Jared:https://www.richlandnashville.com/______________________________________________________________________****SUBSCRIBE/RATE/FOLLOW the Mostly Middle Tennessee Business Podcast:www.mmtbp.comwww.instagram.com/mostlymiddletnbusinespodcastwww.instagram.com/jimmccarthyvosTiktok: @jimmccarthyvos __________________________________________________________Shoutout to Matt Wilson for lending his voice to the new intro of MMTBP.Follow him and his podcast from which I may have borrowed the *mostly* concept:https://linktr.ee/mamwmw___________________________________________________________If you like Jim's Boston Scallys, click here to shop and order yours!https://www.bostonscally.com/a/refer-a-friend/redeem/mqgpwi3u0zgm89vaxnv5crzvlolevo82rvcygsn5/1668 ___________________________________________________________***You hear Jim mention it on almost every episode, ME vs. WE and how 2023 will be 1943 all over again….order “PENDULUM:How Past Generations Shape Our Present and Predict Our Future”:https://a.co/d/7oKK7Ip_________________________________________________________________The co-author of Pendulum wrote a myriad of other books and started a non-profit 21st Century Non-Traditional Business School that you should really check out: Wizard Academy - www.wizardacademy.org______________________________________________________________________Curious about podcasting? This podcast (and many others) is produced by www.itsyourshow.coA Middle Tennessee Business Podcast....subscribe/follow/rate/review at www.mmtbp.com

After playing Tetris at a 1988 video game conference, video game designer Henk Rogers knew he'd encountered something special. The only problem? The game was designed and owned by a coder in the Soviet Union. So in 1989, Henk set off for Soviet Russia on an adventure game of his own to bring the beloved game to the masses. Founder of Blue Planet Software and The Tetris Company, Henk Rogers talks to Liz Claman about his dangerous journey he braved to bring Tetris to the rest of the world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Julia Ioffe joins Peter to discuss the shock impact of the president's blunt-force trade warfare—raising prices, tanking markets, and alienating even America's closest geopolitical allies. Then they chew over the troubling historical antecedents (Soviet Russia, for one) and debate why and how we got here. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What is an oligarchy, exactly? Is the US entering a period similar to post-Soviet Russia in the 1990s? What do Russian oligarchs have to do with proven interference in the 2016 US election?  Julian digs into Russian history to explore parallels with modern-day America. Meet Vladislav Surkov, the architect of both Putin's 25-year rule over what Surkov has dubbed “sovereign democracy,” and the global propaganda strategies generating our post-truth ecosystem of disinformation and conspiracies. There's a reason why politics feels like theater these days, why democracy seems like a pipe dream.  While MAGA has a fascism fetish, Putin's invasion of Ukraine might be a better match for Hitler on the verge, with Trump and Co acting as macho-clown versions of Neville Chamberlain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This detailed study traces the history of the Soviet-Polish War (1919-20), the first major international clash between the forces of communism and anti-communism, and the impact this had on Soviet Russia in the years that followed. It reflects upon how the Bolsheviks fought not only to defend the fledgling Soviet state, but also to bring the revolution to Europe. Peter Whitewood shows that while the Red Army's rapid drive to the gates of Warsaw in summer 1920 raised great hopes for world revolution, the subsequent collapse of the offensive had a more striking result. The Soviet military and political leadership drew the mistaken conclusion that they had not been defeated by the Polish Army, but by the forces of the capitalist world - Britain and France - who were perceived as having directed the war behind-the-scenes. They were taken aback by the strength of the forces of counterrevolution and convinced they had been overcome by the capitalist powers. The Soviet-Polish War and its Legacy (Bloomsbury, 2023) reveals that - in the aftermath of the catastrophe at Warsaw -Lenin, Stalin and other senior Bolsheviks were convinced that another war against Poland and its capitalist backers was inevitable with this perpetual fear of war shaping the evolution of the early Soviet state. It also further encouraged the creation of a centralised and repressive one-party state and provided a powerful rationale for the breakneck industrialisation of the Soviet Union at the end of the 1920s. The Soviet leadership's central preoccupation in the 1930s was Nazi Germany; this book convincingly argues that Bolshevik perceptions of Poland and the capitalist world in the decade before were given as much significance and were ultimately crucial to the rise of Stalinism. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/history

In this one, Cody talks to author and historian Bathsheba Demuth. She grew up in Iowa, a place she describes as having an extremely cultivated landscape — shaped and managed by people at nearly every turn. Her first exposure to the North came through the writings of Jack London, books her parents read to her aloud. As a kid, London's tales of adventure resonated with her, but as she got older she began thinking about his reflections on how economic and political systems can crush people. At 18, she made the decision to head to the Arctic. There she spent time mushing dogs in the Yukon. She says that experience was utterly transformative. It shifted her idea of what it means to be a human being — not as a lone agent of individual destiny, but as a life that is part of a broader ecology. In her book “Floating Coast: An Environmental History of the Bering Strait,” she compares how Soviet Russia and the United States approached the Arctic, specifically around the Bering Strait. What she discovered was that despite their ideological differences, both nations treated animals and sealife in similar ways — primarily as resources to be managed or harvested. For those living outside the Arctic, the region has undergone a series of shifting narratives, it's gone from a place of extraction, to a geopolitical flashpoint during the Cold War, and now, to the forefront of global climate change. Both of those perspectives stand in stark contrast to how many Indigenous Arctic communities have historically related to the sea and the land, their focus being on reciprocity rather than domination.

Bathsheba Demuth is an author and historian. She grew up in Iowa, a place she describes as having an extremely cultivated landscape — shaped and managed by people at nearly every turn. Her first exposure to the North came through the writings of Jack London, books her parents read to her aloud. As a kid, London's tales of adventure resonated with her, but as she got older she began thinking about his reflections on how economic and political systems can crush people. At 18, she made the decision to head to the Arctic. There she spent time mushing dogs in the Yukon. She says that experience was utterly transformative. It shifted her idea of what it means to be a human being — not as a lone agent of individual destiny, but as a life that is part of a broader ecology. In her book “Floating Coast: An Environmental History of the Bering Strait,” she compares how Soviet Russia and the United States approached the Arctic, specifically around the Bering Strait. What she discovered was that despite their ideological differences, both nations treated animals and sealife in similar ways — primarily as resources to be managed or harvested. For those living outside the Arctic, the region has undergone a series of shifting narratives, it's gone from a place of extraction, to a geopolitical flashpoint during the Cold War, and now, to the forefront of global climate change. Both of those perspectives stand in stark contrast to how many Indigenous Arctic communities have historically related to the sea and the land, their focus being on reciprocity rather than domination.

“I believe that the more my clients know I care about them, the more I can nudge them toward success.” – Natalia Worthington Natalia wasn't supposed to be here—literally. As her parents rode a bus to make a life-altering decision, her father had a change of heart. That choice sparked a life defined by curiosity, compassion, & quiet rebellion. Born in Soviet Russia, she came of age in a system that crushed curiosity & rewarded obedience. But at home, things were different. Her father, an English professor, championed critical thinking & lifelong learning—lessons that would one day save her. Years later, as a young mom in a new country, Natalia battled isolation, depression, & weight gain. But instead of giving in, she channeled her hunger to learn & took control of her story. She healed—& then made it her mission to help others do the same. Today, Natalia helps clients thrive in six areas of deep health—from fitness to purpose. Her goal isn't just a workout. It's total transformation. To learn more, find her at customfitcoaching.com. Arthur Ashe once said, “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” Natalia did just that.

This detailed study traces the history of the Soviet-Polish War (1919-20), the first major international clash between the forces of communism and anti-communism, and the impact this had on Soviet Russia in the years that followed. It reflects upon how the Bolsheviks fought not only to defend the fledgling Soviet state, but also to bring the revolution to Europe. Peter Whitewood shows that while the Red Army's rapid drive to the gates of Warsaw in summer 1920 raised great hopes for world revolution, the subsequent collapse of the offensive had a more striking result. The Soviet military and political leadership drew the mistaken conclusion that they had not been defeated by the Polish Army, but by the forces of the capitalist world - Britain and France - who were perceived as having directed the war behind-the-scenes. They were taken aback by the strength of the forces of counterrevolution and convinced they had been overcome by the capitalist powers. The Soviet-Polish War and its Legacy (Bloomsbury, 2023) reveals that - in the aftermath of the catastrophe at Warsaw -Lenin, Stalin and other senior Bolsheviks were convinced that another war against Poland and its capitalist backers was inevitable with this perpetual fear of war shaping the evolution of the early Soviet state. It also further encouraged the creation of a centralised and repressive one-party state and provided a powerful rationale for the breakneck industrialisation of the Soviet Union at the end of the 1920s. The Soviet leadership's central preoccupation in the 1930s was Nazi Germany; this book convincingly argues that Bolshevik perceptions of Poland and the capitalist world in the decade before were given as much significance and were ultimately crucial to the rise of Stalinism. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/russian-studies

This detailed study traces the history of the Soviet-Polish War (1919-20), the first major international clash between the forces of communism and anti-communism, and the impact this had on Soviet Russia in the years that followed. It reflects upon how the Bolsheviks fought not only to defend the fledgling Soviet state, but also to bring the revolution to Europe. Peter Whitewood shows that while the Red Army's rapid drive to the gates of Warsaw in summer 1920 raised great hopes for world revolution, the subsequent collapse of the offensive had a more striking result. The Soviet military and political leadership drew the mistaken conclusion that they had not been defeated by the Polish Army, but by the forces of the capitalist world - Britain and France - who were perceived as having directed the war behind-the-scenes. They were taken aback by the strength of the forces of counterrevolution and convinced they had been overcome by the capitalist powers. The Soviet-Polish War and its Legacy (Bloomsbury, 2023) reveals that - in the aftermath of the catastrophe at Warsaw -Lenin, Stalin and other senior Bolsheviks were convinced that another war against Poland and its capitalist backers was inevitable with this perpetual fear of war shaping the evolution of the early Soviet state. It also further encouraged the creation of a centralised and repressive one-party state and provided a powerful rationale for the breakneck industrialisation of the Soviet Union at the end of the 1920s. The Soviet leadership's central preoccupation in the 1930s was Nazi Germany; this book convincingly argues that Bolshevik perceptions of Poland and the capitalist world in the decade before were given as much significance and were ultimately crucial to the rise of Stalinism. 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

This detailed study traces the history of the Soviet-Polish War (1919-20), the first major international clash between the forces of communism and anti-communism, and the impact this had on Soviet Russia in the years that followed. It reflects upon how the Bolsheviks fought not only to defend the fledgling Soviet state, but also to bring the revolution to Europe. Peter Whitewood shows that while the Red Army's rapid drive to the gates of Warsaw in summer 1920 raised great hopes for world revolution, the subsequent collapse of the offensive had a more striking result. The Soviet military and political leadership drew the mistaken conclusion that they had not been defeated by the Polish Army, but by the forces of the capitalist world - Britain and France - who were perceived as having directed the war behind-the-scenes. They were taken aback by the strength of the forces of counterrevolution and convinced they had been overcome by the capitalist powers. The Soviet-Polish War and its Legacy (Bloomsbury, 2023) reveals that - in the aftermath of the catastrophe at Warsaw -Lenin, Stalin and other senior Bolsheviks were convinced that another war against Poland and its capitalist backers was inevitable with this perpetual fear of war shaping the evolution of the early Soviet state. It also further encouraged the creation of a centralised and repressive one-party state and provided a powerful rationale for the breakneck industrialisation of the Soviet Union at the end of the 1920s. The Soviet leadership's central preoccupation in the 1930s was Nazi Germany; this book convincingly argues that Bolshevik perceptions of Poland and the capitalist world in the decade before were given as much significance and were ultimately crucial to the rise of Stalinism. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/military-history

Sue Dobson was a white South African who risked her life as an ANC secret agentSue was a student when she was first recruited as a spy for the African National Congress liberation movement in the 1980s, and she knew that if she was caught she'd face prison, torture or death. Sue's mission would require her to infiltrate the pro-apartheid media establishment, but first she needed to learn spycraft and weapons handling. Her training would take place in Soviet Russia. Presenter: India Rakusen Producer: Harry Graham Editor: Deiniol Buxton Sound design: Joel Cox

[Limited 1 on 1 Zoom calls with the host: email me at bogumil@talkingbillions.co, no com]Episode OverviewIn this illuminating conversation, Vitaliy Katsenelson shares his remarkable journey from Soviet Russia to becoming a respected value investor in the United States. Through personal anecdotes and philosophical reflections, Vitaliy explores the delicate interplay between life's most precious currencies: time, money, and purpose.Key ThemesFrom Scarcity to AbundanceVitaliy's formative years in Soviet Russia shaped his unique perspective on scarcity and abundanceThe stark contrast between socialist principles and capitalist realities informed his investment philosophyCultural transitions between European and American work ethics revealed deeper truths about value creationFinding Alignment: The Soul in the GameThe concept of 'Soul in the Game' emerges as a north star for meaningful livingAuthentic writing requires vulnerability and self-confidence—a mirror to authentic investingPersonal alignment between values and vocation creates fulfillment beyond financial metricsThe courage to pursue alignment often means embracing discomfort and uncertaintyThe Philosophy of Time and MoneyTime stands as our most irreplaceable asset—money should ultimately purchase time, not thingsWealth without purpose becomes an empty pursuitMaterial detachment liberates decision-making in both life and investingStoicism provides a framework for focusing on what we can control amid market volatilityThe Human Element in BusinessPeople remain the crucial factor in business success—relationships over transactionsHiring decisions should evaluate character alongside competenceManagement analysis deserves equal attention to financial analysisSubtle cues often reveal more about company culture than formal presentationsNavigating Complexity and ChangeInvesting requires continuous learning and intellectual curiosityDisruption demands adaptability in investment strategiesValue investing must evolve to consider future growth opportunitiesThe nonlinear nature of investing mirrors the nonlinear journey of life itselfRedefining SuccessSuccess transcends financial metrics to encompass relationships and independenceParenthood brings both profound joy and inevitable pain—similar to market cyclesQuality of work matters more than quantity—depth over breadthCreative pursuits like music enhance problem-solving and pattern recognitionReflections for ListenersHow might you find greater alignment between your values and your work?Where are you trading time for money when you could be doing the opposite?What attachments might be limiting your freedom and decision-making?How can you incorporate more reflection and creative thinking into your professional life?Podcast Program – Disclosure StatementBlue Infinitas Capital, LLC is a registered investment adviser and the opinions expressed by the Firm's employees and podcast guests on this show are their own and do not reflect the opinions of Blue Infinitas Capital, LLC. All statements and opinions expressed are based upon information considered reliable although it should not be relied upon as such. Any statements or opinions are subject to change without notice.Information presented is for educational purposes only and does not intend to make an offer or solicitation for the sale or purchase of any specific securities, investments, or investment strategies. Investments involve risk and unless otherwise stated, are not guaranteed.Information expressed does not take into account your specific situation or objectives, and is not intended as recommendations appropriate for any individual. Listeners are encouraged to seek advice from a qualified tax, legal, or investment adviser to determine whether any information presented may be suitable for their specific situation. Past performance is not indicative of future performance.

Dividing Army Group South, both the Baku Oil Fields and Stalingrad are to be captured. Berlin believes this will weaken Soviet Russia's war effort. But between Gen. Zhukov's leadership and Lend Lease material reaching Russia by June 1942, Gen. Paulus' 6th Army is in for a surprise. Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/wwii45 Twitter @WW2Podcaster TikTok-@wwiiguy Instagram - rayharrisjr youtube- https://www.youtube.com/@historyofwwiipodcast8712 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bill Browder is a financier turned anti-corruption campaigner. He made his fortune in post-Soviet Russia before falling afoul of Putin. We last spoke to him back in 2018. Back then, few imagined Russia would dare carry out a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. But Browder wasn't one of them.Now, with Donald Trump's return to the White House just weeks away, the newly knighted Browder tell us world leaders must act. He joins us to explain why Putin remains such a huge threat to Ukraine and the world. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy