Silicon Curtain - podcast cover

Silicon Curtain

Jonathan Finkwww.youtube.com
Become a Paid Subscriber: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/siliconcurtain/subscribe A podcast about propaganda, digital disinformation, politics, corruption, hybrid warfare, weaponised conspiracy theories, social echo chambers and digital dystopias. 1984, Authoritarian, Autocracy, Autocrat, Big Brother, Brainwashing, Cold war, Cold war propaganda, Communism, Conflict, Conspiracy theories, Control, Cults, Cyber warfare, Deception, Dictator, Dictatorship, Digital dystopia, Digital media, Disinformation, Echo chambers, Economic sanctions, Fascist, Fake news, Foreign correspondents, Foreign policy, Fossil fuel sanctions, George Orwell, History, Hybrid warfare, Industrial disinfo
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Episodes

Berlin Panel 1 Break: Western Support for Ukraine with Ben Hodges, Hanna Shelest and Viktoriia Vdovychenko

This is a recording of the Marathon event in support of Ukraine that was jointly run in Berlin on 15th March 2024 by Silicon Curtain and the European Resilience Initiative Center: https://www.youtube.com/@EuroResilience https://www.youtube.com/@SiliconCurtain ---------- The online TV marathon was hosted to mark the second anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and 10 years of the Russo-Ukrainian war. Hosted in a recording studio in Berlin, by the European Resilience Initiative Ce...

Mar 17, 202426 min

Berlin Panel 5: Weaponised Disinformation with Operator Starsky, Nikolai Klimeniouk & Jonathan Fink

This is a recording of the Marathon event in support of Ukraine that was jointly run in Berlin on 15th March 2024 by Silicon Curtain and the European Resilience Initiative Center: https://www.youtube.com/@EuroResilience https://www.youtube.com/@SiliconCurtain ---------- The online TV marathon was hosted to mark the second anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and 10 years of the Russo-Ukrainian war. Hosted in a recording studio in Berlin, by the European Resilience Initiative Ce...

Mar 17, 20241 hr 27 min

364. Maria Popova and Oxana Shevel - Russia and Ukraine have Tangled Histories, cut Through with Trauma.

In February 2022, Russian missiles rained on Ukrainian cities, and tanks rolled towards Kyiv to end Ukrainian independent statehood. President Zelensky declined a Western evacuation offer and Ukrainians rallied to defend their country. What are the roots of this war, which has upended the international legal order and brought back the spectre of nuclear escalation? How did these supposedly “brotherly peoples” become each other’s worst nightmare? ---------- Maria Popova is Jean Monnet Chair and A...

Mar 16, 202453 minSeason 3Ep. 364

369. Peter Pomerantsev - Lessons from WWII in Fighting Propaganda Using Black Disinformation Techniques.

Fighting propagandistic lies with more lies rarely works and runs the risk of eroding trust in your credibility and undermining your cause. However, there is a role for so-called Black disinformation in wartime. This deliberate dissemination of false or misleading information can be highly effective as part of a military operation. Information campaigns with the intent to deceive, manipulate, or undermine an adversary during warfare or conflicts is a tactic used to gain strategic advantages by s...

Mar 14, 202450 minSeason 3Ep. 369

367. Artur Rehi - Why Europe Needs to Scale up Military Support for Ukraine As Quickly as Possible.

Today I’m speaking with Artur Rehi, influential YouTuber, and Estonian reserve soldier. He completed conscription in 2018 in Kuperjanov Infantry battalion in company communications and now delivers aid to Ukraine after every 2 months and generates fundraisers for his viewers on YouTube. He looks at the war with insight, empathy, and humour, and brings his audience the latest updates on the Russo-Ukrainian war in daily videos. Artur also explores his family’s traumatic history as victims of Sovie...

Mar 13, 202434 minSeason 3Ep. 367

366. Keir Giles - After 2007 Munich Security Conference Moscow’s Intent to Challenge West Became Clear.

After Putin’s Munich Security conference speech in 2007, Moscow’s intent to challenge the West became clearer. A question arose almost immediately: how far the country as a whole or its leader was at fault— whether the world had a Russia problem or a Putin problem. Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine analysts have continued to debate the attitudes of ordinary Russians toward the war. Do a broad majority of Russians genuinely support the crimes and atrocities committed by their country’s arm...

Mar 12, 202449 minSeason 3Ep. 366

362. DW Phillips - Film is a Powerful Medium to Counter Russian Propaganda and Disinformation Narratives.

DW Phillips is a Producer and Film Director, Attorney and Journalist. He has been involved in some extraordinary projects in Ukraine as a Documentary Filmmaker. ---------- LINKS: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dw-p-59111859/ https://www.youtube.com/@UkraineStory ---------- SUPPORT THE CHANNEL: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain ---------- TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND: Save Ukraine https://www.saveukraineua.org/ Superhumans - Hospital for war trauma...

Mar 12, 202454 minSeason 3Ep. 362

363. Timothy Ash - Make $300 Billion of Russia Central Bank Monies Available to Ukraine to Ensure Victory

Timothy Ash has been arguing for more than 18 months that the $300 billion plus of Russia central bank monies “immobilised” in Western jurisdictions should be formally frozen, seized and allocated to Ukraine both to compensate it for the immense damage done by Russia to Ukraine but also to give it a chance of being able to fund the war, to secure victory, and subsequent peace and reconstruction. For much of this time it has appeared as if we have been banging our heads against a brick wall, but ...

Mar 10, 202448 minSeason 3Ep. 363

361. Mark Galeotti - The Russian Ways of War are as Likely to Bring Defeat as Victory History Suggests.

GUEST: Mark Galeotti - historian, author, security expert and academic. ---------- Cornered like a rat, Vladimir Putin is more dangerous than ever. We want his regime to be unstable, fragile, and collapsing – but 14 months of war have shown it is remarkably resilient. We wanted the Russian people to rise up against tyranny, but more than a million fled the country instead. Analysts, politicians, and the media have been wrong about so much when it comes to Russia. What are we still getting wrong....

Mar 09, 20241 hr 8 minSeason 3Ep. 361

360. Operator Starsky - Starsky's New Project to Counter Russian Disinformation

Today I’m speaking with Operator Starsky, a Ukrainian National Guardian, blogger, and inspiration for everyone who is following the war, and supporting a Ukrainian victory. He has created one of the most popular and original YouTube channels dedicated to the international community. I’m not sure you need an introduction – I’m sure most people watching this channel will have seen your videos! ---------- LINKS: https://www.youtube.com/@PropagandaStudyInstitute http://psi-eu.org/ https://www.youtub...

Mar 09, 202453 minSeason 3Ep. 360

359. Jason Jay Smart - Does Ukraine Need to go Beyond Washington DC to Secure More US Military Support?

Many Republicans no longer support aid for Ukraine. But is the obstruction of aid to Ukraine being driven by a few radicals at the behest of former president Donald Trump, or is there wider lack to strong support for Ukraine within a highly polarised GOP? Does Ukraine need to go beyond Washington DC to ensure US support, and reach out to Middle America? ---------- Jason Jay Smart is a political adviser who has lived and worked in Ukraine, Moldova, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Latin Americ...

Mar 06, 202456 minSeason 3Ep. 359

358. Konstantin Samoilov (Inside Russia YouTube channel) - Economic Tsunami Threatens Russia's Ability to Sustain the War

Production in the military-industrial complex is squeezing money out of the civilian economy. How much longer can Putin keep burning money, resources and people on a project that is neither creating sustainable wealth for citizens, nor substantial successes in Ukraine. Russia's economic growth relies heavily on state-funded arms and ammunition production and masks a multitude of problems, including poor living standards and rampant inflation. Vladimir Putin claims the economy is developing, and ...

Mar 05, 202444 minSeason 3Ep. 358

Silicon Bites - #37 - Russia's Aircraft Losses Increase Dramatically as Kyiv's Strategy Changes.

Edition No37 | 01-03-2024 Ukrainian forces shot down the second Russian Su-34 attack plane in a single day on Feb. 27, the Air Force reported. The destruction of the jet is the latest in a recent uptick of downed Russian planes, including two A-50 early warning and control aircraft in the past two months, each costing around $330 million. There are signs that the uptick in aircraft losses has caused Russia to change its aerial strategy, reducing the number of sorties flown by Russia's Air Force,...

Mar 01, 202446 min

357. Denis Zakharov - Brave Individuals Still Speak out Against Tyranny in Russia and Terror in Ukraine.

Today I am speaking with a rare and special person – a Russian activist with an unambiguous, strong voice condemning the crimes and horrors being committed in Ukraine by Russia, and who is doing it with humour and passion. It has to be said, that he’s also taking on considerable risk in doing so. Fortunately, he’s also doing this in English, so you can follow his views on Twitter and Telegram. Denis Zakharov is an activist and has a strong, unusually direct, and outspoken voice within opposition...

Mar 01, 20241 hr 9 minSeason 3Ep. 357

355. Kostiantyn Koshelenko - Introduces his New Book on Management Forged During the Heat of Conflict.

Kostiantyn Koshelenko has created a unique book, on management in times of war. The book emerged not by choice but by necessity, following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. From the beginning of the chaos of war, Kostiantyn felt compelled to record his thoughts and observations. It grew to become a collection of reflections that shaped and refined his management practices, allowing him and his team to adapt strategies and prepare for unexpected challenges. These notes, ba...

Feb 28, 202459 minSeason 3Ep. 355

356. Nina Dobrunova - Veterans Struggle to be Reintegrated into Society, with Extreme PTSD and Trauma.

Fighting for Ukraine by supporting heroes on the front. Fundraising for frontline supplies and fighting vatniks with NAFO. A volunteer helping UA Defenders on the front --- A member of #NAFO and a Big Fan of #InternationalLegionofUkraine PATCHES ORDER FORM: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScUQkKlaPPTy9fGmhMErp--S-UJhA3UN-vyf6ieAIf2eiyEHA/viewform?pli=1 ------- DONATE: Come Back Alive - https://savelife.in.ua/en/ Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation - https://prytulafoundation.org ------- L...

Feb 27, 202449 minSeason 3Ep. 356

354. Katerina Sergatskova - What Ukraine has Learnt About Humanity, Resilience and Freedom During Wartime

Katerina Sergatskova is a journalist, writer, safety trainer, and entrepreneur. she is co-founder of Zaborona Media and 2402 Foundation. Katerina is a Kurt Shork Awardee, and works in developing safety culture in Ukraine and globally. She is Exec. Director at Daily Humanity, and is interested in human rights, freedoms, and resilience. Her writing has appeared in Foreign Affairs, NYT, Politiken, Grazia UK, Tablet Mag, and more. Katerina is a contributor to the Wilson Center and runs a Substack on...

Feb 27, 202445 minSeason 3Ep. 354

353. Anna Danylchuk - Ukraine has been on the Frontline of Resisting Russian Aggression for 10 Years.

GUEST: Anna from Ukraine - Anna Danylchuk ---------- Anna Danylchuk has been creating a war diary since the early days of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia in 2022. Anna Danylchuk aims to tell the truth about Ukraine and Russia’s war and cut through the noise and propaganda. Anna is passionate about the beauty and independence of her country, and communicates this powerfully in her videos, in a clear and honest way. ---------- LINKS: https://www.youtube.com/@UCiVefOT4TGW3pOqW6AxmlBQ h...

Feb 24, 20241 hr 7 minSeason 3Ep. 353

Silicon Bites - #36 - Putin's Appetite to Shed Blood for War and Repression Seems to be Limitless.

Edition No36 | 23-02-2024 Jailed opposition politician Vladimir Kara-Murza on Thursday urged Russians to keep fighting for democracy despite the death of Alexei Navalny in an Arctic prison. Navalny's death last week sent shockwaves through Russia's opposition, most of which is either in exile, behind bars, or dead. "I still cannot comprehend what has happened, rationally or emotionally. But if we give in to gloom and despair, that's exactly what they want. We have no right to do that, we owe it ...

Feb 24, 202441 min

352. Joseph Lindsley - Putin let Slip the Real Cause of the War in the Infamous Tucker Carlson Interview.

Second in a series of monthly conversations on Silicon Curtain, about how Ukrainians are redefining the ideas of freedom and democracy, and why Ukraine must not be allowed to fall under Russian control. ---------- ABOUT: Joe Lindsley is a traveller and a writer, and American reporting on Chicago's WGN Radio from Ukraine each and every weekday of Russia's full-scale war. He once was protégé to Fox News founder Roger Ailes, but Lindsley escaped that frenzied world where power mattered more than tr...

Feb 22, 20241 hr 15 minSeason 3Ep. 352

351. Harley Whitehead - Saving Limbs and Lives by Demining Territory Formerly Occupied by Russian Forces

Harley Whitehead is a British Sapper and Volunteer in the Ukrainian Army. He has played an active role in liberating Ukraine and helps to save limbs and lives through efforts to demine territory occupied by Russian forces. He’s been in Ukraine since 2019, prior to the full-scale invasion. ---------- LINKS: https://twitter.com/EL4UKR_Harley https://www.youtube.com/@Harley-EOD https://www.buymeacoffee.com/el4ukr https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/EastLancs4Ukraine1 ---------- ARTICLES: https://www.bb...

Feb 20, 202453 minSeason 3Ep. 351

350. Jonathan MS Pearce - Journey to Ukraine’s Frontlines and Witness to the Devestation.

Jonathan MS Pearce is a philosopher, author, columnist, and public speaker with an interest in writing about almost anything, from scepticism to science, politics, and morality, to the environment. Essentially because everything is philosophy. He is a former teacher and is now battling primary progressive multiple sclerosis. He can no longer play football with his twin boys, but he can still write a good column and book. And remarkably, and very bravely, he has just come back from an arduous jou...

Feb 19, 20241 hr 1 minSeason 3Ep. 350

348. Will Blackburn - Delivering Essential Aid to Ukraine in its Darkest Hours

Last year Will Blackburn started writing up his experiences on the Convoys into Ukraine that he's been organising. Those experiences are to be published on March 11th as "The War Next Door". The book is available for pre order from Amazon and all good bookshops now. ---------- LINKS: Link to the book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/WAR-NEXT-DOOR-Journeys-Ukraine/dp/1738497003/ref=sr_1_4?crid=1KGUKC56AHHRM&keywords=the+war+next+door&qid=1707471829&sprefix=the+war+next+door%2Caps%2C162&s...

Feb 18, 202457 minSeason 3Ep. 348

349. Rick the Ukrainian - What Motivates Russians to come to a Neighbouring Country to kill People?

Rick is from Ukraine, and every Sunday gets together with his community online (the Rick Rollers), to make video content and raise funds for the Defense Forces of Ukraine. Rick is originally from Makiivka in the Donetsk area, and lived under Russian occupation for several years following the 2014 invasion of Crimea and Donbas. His weekly streams are attended by different Ukrainian and pro-Ukrainian guests. He talks about the Russian war against Ukraine and its culture, music and historic places....

Feb 17, 20241 hrSeason 3Ep. 349

Silicon Bites - #35 - Russian Opposition Leader Alexei Navalny is Dead - the Kremlin is to Blame.

Edition No35 | 16-02-2024 Russian state media: Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny died in prison Navalny's spokesperson said the news had not been confirmed yet Michel: 'EU holds Russian regime (solely) responsible for (Navalny's) tragic death' Navalny's mother: 'He was alive, healthy, and cheerful' days ago Independent Russian media to demand footage from Navalny's penal colony Navalny's wife: Putin must be brought to justice for what he did to our country, Navalny ~~~~~ SUPPORT THE CHANN...

Feb 16, 202430 min

340. Armenak Ohanesian - Through Hybrid Informational Warfare Russia Makes A Mockery of International Law

2024 and the 2nd anniversary of Russia’s war brings a feeling of uncertainty for Ukrainians and their supporters. This period has seen a significant mood shift, influenced by factors beyond the tactical outcomes of Ukraine's summer counteroffensive. Russia has proved adept at deforming the narrative around Ukraine’s resistance to its aggression, and the amplification of so-called war fatigue. But the ultimate objective for Russia — is to influence fundamental beliefs and alliances, disrupt democ...

Feb 16, 202456 minSeason 3Ep. 340

347. Uilleam Blacker - Literature has been Played a Key Role in the Survival and Resilience of Ukraine.

Even for avid supporters of Ukraine, like me, Ukrainian literature remains and undiscovered country. Today I’m speaking with Uilleam Blacker who can guide on a journey of discovery, to engage with Ukrainian culture and identity. Ukrainian literature has a strong tradition of folk tales and oral poetry, and it has been influenced by the country's complex political and cultural history, including periods of colonization and national struggle. Russian literature, on the other hand, has been shaped ...

Feb 15, 202457 minSeason 3Ep. 347

346. Vlad Vexler - The Strategy the West Needs to Stop Putin's Aggression.

GUEST: Vlad Vexler, Social Philosopher, and popular YouTuber. If Putin's aggression towards Ukraine, Europe and NATO members is Relentless, then what should our strategy towards it be, to guarantee the future security and prosperity of Europe? ---------- It’s my pleasure today to welcome back onto the channel Vlad Vexler, Social Philosopher, and unique YouTuber. Our previous three video conversations proved to be extremely popular, and a lot has happened since we last spoke. Please do check out ...

Feb 13, 20241 hr 20 minSeason 3Ep. 346

345. Yaroslav Riabukha - Powerful YouTube Channel Examining and Demolishing Russian Propaganda Narratives

Yaroslav Riabukha is the host of a YouTube channel that does an extraordinary job examining and demolishing Russian propaganda narratives. He’s creating materials which I think are super important to gain a wide audience and should really be watched by those spreading or amplifying Russian propagandistic lies. It’s especially relevant now, in the wake of Tucker Carlsons craven and weak so-called interview with the mass murderer in the Kremlin. ---------- LINKS: https://www.youtube.com/@Savage_Sa...

Feb 11, 202440 minSeason 3Ep. 345

344. Mariia Zolkina- Using Negotiations to Pause, Regroup, Rearm and Attack Again is a Core Moscow Tactic

Mariia Zolkina is a Ukrainian Researcher and Public Policy Analyst, who joined London School Economics and Political Science as DINAM Research Fellow in 2022. She has been also working as Head of Regional Security and Conflict Studies at one of most authoritative Ukrainian think tanks, the Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation (DIF), and is Co-Founder of the Kalmius Group. Mariia is focused on research and analysis in the field of regional security, reintegration policies towards confl...

Feb 09, 20241 hr 3 minSeason 3Ep. 344
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