The Slavic Connexion

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

March 24th, 2024  |  Season 6  |  47 mins 45 secs

history, literature, politics, ukraine russia war

On this episode, Valeria Sobol of the University of Illinois Urbana Champaigne talks with us about her 2000 book "Haunted Empire." Dr. Sobol guides us through the tapestries of Imperial Russia, where crumbling estates and eerie figures cast long shadows over the pages of history. Drawing on her meticulous research and profound insights, she unveils the intricate interplay between Gothic motifs and the imperial legacy, offering a captivating exploration of power, trauma, and the uncanny in Russian literature.

Ukraine and the 2024 U.S. Presidential Elections with Terrell Jermaine Starr

March 13th, 2024  |  Season 6  |  35 mins

conflict, history, journalism, politics, ukraine russia war

On this episode, independent journalist Terrell Jermaine Starr shares his experiences covering Ukraine since Russia's invasion in 2022 and explaining to Americans the importance of the nation for global security, democracy, and humanity.

The #Connexions Experts speaker series is dedicated to providing accessible and engaging discussions for a general audience on critical issues pertaining to media, technology, and information globally.

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

January 4th, 2024  |  Season 6  |  34 mins 27 secs

conflict, politics, strategy, ukraine russia war

On this first episode of 2024, we reflect on the War in Ukraine and Ukraine's prospects for continued political and military support in 2024 and beyond with Carnegie Endowment's senior fellow and renowned military analyst Michael Kofman.

Gravedigger of the Present: Memory Politics and the Weaponization of History

December 9th, 2023  |  Season 6  |  45 mins 9 secs

conflict, history, politics, putin, stalin, ukraine russia war

In this episode, Bartek Gajos discusses his in-depth research into memory politics during the Soviet period and today, specifically the weaponization of history by the Russian regime, the past's influence on present actions taken by great powers, NATO expansion and EU enlargement, and the questions surrounding Polish-Ukrainian relations. Bartek appropriately quotes Nietzsche: "... the past must be forgotten if it is not to become the gravedigger of the present." Thanks for listening!

The State of Investigative Journalism in Russia Today with Mikhail Rubin

December 2nd, 2023  |  Season 6  |  37 mins 46 secs

journalism, politics, ukraine russia war

On this episode, Taylor and Misha speak with Mikhail Rubin, journalist and co-founder of Proekt Media, the lead investigative media outlet in Russia. Thanks for listening!

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

October 14th, 2023  |  Season 6  |  48 mins 25 secs

defense, military, politics, ukraine russia war

On this episode, Misha talks with Ruslan Pukhov, a Russian defense analyst and the director of the Moscow-based Centre for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies (CAST). Mr. Pukhov shares about the activities of CAST, the current state of Russia's defense industry, and his views on the war in Ukraine. Thanks for listening!

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

September 30th, 2023  |  Season 6  |  40 mins 45 secs

academia, international relations, national security, strategy, ukraine russia war

On this episode, we had an amazing conversation with Dr. Paul Edgar, the interim executive director of the Clements Center for National Security at UT Austin. Paul spoke about how he went from the military to academia, the Russo-Ukrainian War, and his goals for the Clements Center as a leading educational institution for discourse around history, strategy, and statecraft. Thanks for listening!

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

September 17th, 2023  |  Season 6  |  39 mins 32 secs

business, china, conflict, international relations, politics, ukraine russia war

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

KAZKA: The Voice of Ukraine

March 23rd, 2023  |  Season 5  |  51 mins 10 secs

conflict, music, politics, ukraine russia war

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

Putin's War in Ukraine: The History of the Conflict with David Marples

March 5th, 2022  |  Season 4  |  46 mins 40 secs

belarus, conflict, history, nato, politics, soviet union, ukraine russia war

On this episode, returning guest Dr. David Marples, professor of history at the University of Alberta, graciously joins us to help unpack, if not understand, Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine by providing a basic yet thorough overview of the conflict's history. Visit slavxradio.com/ukraine for ways you can help organizations addressing this humanitarian crisis.