She's In Russia - podcast cover

She's In Russia

Olivia Capozzalo and Smith Freemant.me
A podcast where two best friends — one in St. Petersburg and the other in Brooklyn — call each other and talk about Russia.
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Episodes

81: Boys Town

The failings of Michael McFaul, Boys Town scandals, and why Lily is probably not a spy. Help us out and email this guy at Buzzfeed about how much you love our little podcast: https://www.buzzfeed.com/scottybryan/podcast-suggestions-2019

Jan 09, 201936 min

80: Tsvetaeva New Year

This fine New Year we read and discuss texts by and about 19th c. Russian/Soviet/queer/polyglot poet Marina Tsvetaeva. Read Tsvetaeva's poem New Year, translated by Caroline Lemak Brickman: http://hypocritereader.com/26/new-year

Jan 02, 201952 min

79: Ored Recordings ft. Bulat Khalilov

The co-creator of the ethnographic recording label Ored Recordings (@ored-recordings-1), Bulat Khalilov, talks to Smith about traditional music from various ethnic groups from the Caucasus. The ep includes lots of music, so best to listen with headphones. Listen to and support Ored Recordings: https://oredrecordings.bandcamp.com/ Episode image taken from this article about Ored Recordings: http://inrussia.com/understanding-circassian-folklore

Dec 25, 201857 min

78: Merch Perch ft. Sergei Pakhotin

The creator of streetwear merch producers Sputnik1985, Sergei Pakhotin, talks to Lily about why he's not a designer, the importance of subtle irony in political commentary, DIY punks in Belarus and what makes Gosha Rubchinsky an artist. Website: https://sputnik1985.com/ Episode image taken from Sputnik1985 ig

Dec 18, 201847 min

77: Comic Sans ft. Andrei Konyaev

The history of standup comedy, reality TV, and what makes media in Russia independent. Our very special guest is Andrei Konyaev, founder and editor in chief of N+1, co-host of Kuji Podcast, math professor and humor expert. N+1: https://nplus1.ru/ N+1 FB page (in English): https://www.facebook.com/einsteinsmama/ Kuji: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK8xpGAv8Oz7iMPgMw9j0LA

Dec 12, 201853 min

76: How Propaganda Works ft. Tamara Eidelman

Historian, teacher, and author Tamara Eidelman talks to us about her recently-published book Как Работает Пропаганда (How Propaganda Works), published by Individuum. Russian-speaking SIR listeners! You can read Tamara's book for free here: https://bookmate.app.link/tamara All, you can also use the promo code TAMARA to subscribe to the Bookmate app for a free *month* of reading any book they have (some are in English!). Just don't forget to unsubscribe at the end of 30 days if you don't want to a...

Nov 27, 201845 min

75: Et Tu, Russia?

We are doing a popup of new Russian fashion designers on Dec 8th & 9th at 332 E 4th St, New York, NY. Follow things: https://www.instagram.com/fortochka_, http://fortochka.site/. This week: Gossip, slander, facts about the sexual harassment case that led to Meduza's Editor in Chief Ivan Kolpakov resigning last week. Episode image lifted from lenta.ru

Nov 20, 201844 min

74: Gop-stop

We are doing a non-digital project, wherein we sell clothes made by Russian designers for two days in December in New York City: fortochka.site Why do slavs squat? The eternal question. The history of the gopnik phenomenon. Plus we trace the emergence of the gopnik image/meme from Runet—>Slavic internet—> Western internet—> global fashion trend. this episode was written up in MEL: https://melmagazine.com/en-us/story/slav-squat-meme-history-russia-gopnik (idk who made the episode image, ...

Nov 13, 20181 hr 6 min

73: The Babushka Society

Two friends meet Baba Yaga and her army of babushkas in modern day St. Petersburg. A radio drama made in collaboration with Benita Klavis (Benjamin Davis and Nikita Klimov). Written by Ben, produced by SIR. Featuring the voice talents of: Elliot Davis, Ben, Nikita, Smith, and Lily Episode art by Nikita. Ben (author) and Nikita (illustrator) have also just published a book, the King of Fu, a surreal, dark humor-filled poetic memoir. You can get it on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D2YYL6S O...

Nov 06, 201825 min

72: Bryansky Les ft. Laura Williams

Last month we trekked to a small village deep in the woods near the Ukrainian border to visit a certain legendary American and her horses. This episode is dedicated to the life, work, and loved ones of Laura Williams. Episode photo is a young Laura, taken by her husband Igor Shpilenok (presumably). If you would like to read Laura's book: https://www.amazon.com/Storks-Nest-Life-Russian-Countryside/dp/1555916295"

Oct 29, 201859 min

71: American Made ft. Grace

School shootings, how their symbolism and aesthetics continue to echo Columbine, and whether or not they're preventable. This week's ep is unfortunately apropos of the mass murder at the Kerch Polytechnic College on Oct. 17. If you'd like to send money to help fund the treatment of those injured in the attack, you can do that here (sorry, it's in Russian): https://www.sberbank.ru/ru/about/kerch

Oct 23, 201852 min

70: Attention Dvor

The mystical St. Petersburg courtyard, the rural homestead, the royal court. This week we talk about the architectural and emotional history of the Russian dvor. patreon.com/shesinrussia Music: (theme music) Shit Happens by Tierra Whack, Русский Ковчег by Монеточка, Шоколадное кафе by Тупые

Oct 16, 20181 hr 3 min

69: Kadyrov, Don't Call Me ft. Zukhra

Joined by our amazing special guest, Caucasus and MMA expert, Zukhra, we talk about how people from the North Caucasus relate to larger Russia, Khabib vs. Connor, why you shouldn't insult Caucasian people (the real ones), and everyday racism in Russian housing.

Oct 10, 201846 min

68: Tweedle D' Skripal

Super recognizers come one come all! The plot thickens in the case of the helpless Russian tourists visiting the lovely town of Salisbury. https://www.patreon.com/shesinrussia

Oct 02, 201848 min

67: Dacha San

The Russian dacha wasn’t always а one-family weekend house symbolizing a return to the land and folksy country virtues. Lily tells Smith the more complicated story. Main knowledge source for this ep: Summerfolk: A History of the Dacha, 1710–2000 by Stephen Lovell

Sep 25, 201859 min

65: Yanka

(Best to listen with headphones, as this episode is in stereo) We tell the story (and listen to the music) of musician and poet Yanka Dyagileva and the late 1980s-early 1990s Siberian punk-rock scene she was at the center of. Listen to all the music from this episode: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLFDtUKjvwX0tq-FOBtZHbsDvNqw6nkXl Support us plz: patreon.com/shesinrussia

Sep 11, 20181 hr 24 min

64: Kitchen Table ft. Nastya Pankina

A discussion in Lily's kitchen about race paradigms, Gosha Rubchinskiy, censorship in Thaw-era film, and why Russia is the greatest country on earth.

Sep 03, 20181 hr 19 min

63: Terrible

We give our very in depth and diverging two cents on Keith Gessen's new novel A Terrible Country. There are spoilers, be warned. SPOILERS: 50:16 - 55:01 and 56:49 - 58:47 Support us plz: patreon.com/shesinrussia

Aug 28, 20181 hr 5 min

62: Expat Scumbags

An informal conversation where we talk about (among other things) a particular type of male expat in Russia, their relationship to women and sex, and the time Lily revealed herself to be nothing better than a capitalist parasite.

Aug 21, 201855 min

61: Whipping Boy, Telegram pt. 2

Part two of a two part series on the saga of Telegram in Russia. This week we give you a news update on the case, explain encryption, discuss one of the heroes of this story, Pavel Durov, and raise the question (and the various theories) of why, really, Telegram is being blocked For this series we spoke to a multitude of people more important and knowledgeable than us. A huge thank you to Mikhail Klimarev, Tanya Lokot, Damir Gainutdinov, Matthew Green, Philip Kulin, Anna Fomina, and Max Oleniche...

Aug 15, 20181 hr 14 min

60: Bear with a Stick, Telegram pt. 1

Part one of a two part series on the saga of Telegram in Russia. This part is the one where we tell you more generally how the internet is regulated in Russia, why we care about Telegram, and how it (did it?) got blocked in Russia, legally and technically speaking. For this series we spoke to a multitude of people more important and knowledgeable than us. A huge thank you to Mikhail Klimarev, Tanya Lokot, Damir Gainutdinov, Philip Kulin, Anna Fomina, and Max Olenichev. Also thank you to Andrei f...

Aug 07, 20181 hr 29 min

59: Prison Tattoos ft. Mark Bullen

We learn about the history of the Russian-speaking mafia and its intricate system of prison tattoos speaking with a specialist in the subject, Mark Bullen, a US-based former UK cop. Mark wrote a book documenting Russian prison tattoos and organized crime called Thief in Law, you can buy it here: https://www.amazon.com/Thief-Law-Russian-Russian-Speaking-Organized/dp/0764355988/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1528954355&sr=8-1&keywords=thief+in+law+mark+bullen Mark's site: https://www.markgbull...

Jul 31, 201845 min

58: Unnamed Peninsula

Lily visits a certain well-known Russian-speaking peninsula and learns that since its annexation, things have changed. And mostly not for the better. For a more in-depth legal/historical overview of Crimea, listen to our episode https://soundcloud.com/shes-in-russia/episode-11-crimea-it-existed-before-2014 https://www.patreon.com/shesinrussia

Jul 24, 201845 min

57: Telman’s Market

The story of Moscow’s (in)famous Cherkizon market, the 90s born “city within a city” known for its cheap prices, über-wealthy owner Telman Ismailov, rampant corruption, and horrible living and working conditions. https://www.patreon.com/shesinrussia

Jul 17, 20181 hr 2 min

56: We Are Not Russia

Budapest local Zsolt tells Lily and her dear friend Liz about growing up in Soviet-occupied Hungary, why everything that's Russian is bad, and how Hungarian prime minister Orban Victor's feelings towards Russia have shifted since his days as a "young buck" on the early 90s political scene. https://www.patreon.com/shesinrussia

Jul 10, 201842 min

55: I'll Ask Her

Before the ever-encroaching Euro-Americans got their grubby hands on Alaska, Russian frontiersmen were colonizing the peninsula with the help of a fur trade-bead racket. Smith tells Lily the story. patreon.com/shesinrussia

Jul 03, 201850 min

54: Grand ft. Katerina Novikova

We talk with head of press for The Bolshoi Theater, Katya Novikova, about the cultural significance of the institution, Ballet Nureyev, and how the theater used to be overrun with cats. You can watch Bolshoi production in real time in movie theaters around the world, keep an eye on this list: https://www.bolshoi.ru/en/about/relays/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/shesinrussia Podcasts from Meduza: https://meduza.io/podcasts Glagolev FM: http://glagolev.fm/ Arzamas: https://arzamas.academy/radio...

Jun 26, 201847 min

53: Men Can't Sew ft. Alissa Klots

Hello, yes, we have a launched a Patreon, support SIR: https://www.patreon.com/shesinrussia European University professor Alissa Klots talks to us about early Soviet domestic labor and post-Stalinist discourses on aging. More about Alissa: https://eu.spb.ru/en/history/faculty/17377-klots-alisa

Jun 19, 201852 min

52: Lily Feels Funny

Lily and Smith talk about dating without language, parallel lives, and romanticizing America.

Jun 12, 201840 min
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