On this episode recorded August 21, 2020, Matt and Lera speak with Alexei Navalny's close co-collaborator on anti-corruption in Russia, Maxim Mironov. They discuss the current situation with Alexei Navalny's alleged poisoning and also Russian state corruption in a broader, global context. NOTE: We apologize for audio difficulties with our guest due to bad internet connections in Buenos Aires. This episode was recorded via Zoom on August 21, 2020. We thank our guest Maxim Mironov for graciously a...
Aug 22, 2020•31 min
Is this the end of Europe's Last Dictator? In this episode, Matt spoke with Aliaksandr aka Ales Herasimenka, a researcher at the University of Westminster and previous guest on the show about the ongoing presidential elections in Belarus, where embattled president Alexander Lukashenko faces the most organized opposition in the history of his 26 years as president. A new generation has rallied around the 37-year-old English teacher Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who promises to usher in a new era of dem...
Aug 07, 2020•43 min
BBC's Seva Novgorodsev joins us once more just in time for his 80th birthday! This time, we gather around Zoom, but the conversation is, as always, entertaining and unexpected--one never knows where Seva will lead us and what he will teach us. We hope you enjoy! If you wish to check out any of Seva's books and his latest audiobook "Настоящий джентльмен" (A True Gentleman), visit his site https://seva.ru/store/?id=16 . NOTE: This episode was recorded on April 17th, 2020 via Zoom. CREDITS Co-Produ...
Jul 10, 2020•50 min
Former CIA officer Stephen Slick joins us to talk about his nearly three decades in intelligence, spent largely overseas in Ukraine, the Balkans, and East Germany. Professor Slick also discusses his return Stateside to a position in Langley just one week before 9-11 occurred and his present role as an educator at the University of Texas at Austin in building the Intelligence Studies Project--a first of its kind in the United States. We hope you enjoy! ABOUT THE GUEST Stephen Slick was appointed ...
Jun 01, 2020•43 min
Dr. Susie Crate returns to The Slavic Connexion ! This time, Dr. Crate spoke with SlavX host Katya about her experiences collecting ethnomusicological material from 1989–1990 in the Kharkiv oblast in Eastern Ukraine, then still part of the Soviet Union. This work was part of a larger project to collect and preserve songs unique to particular villages in the Kharkiv oblast. The types of songs recorded include kozats’ki pisni (Cossack songs), wedding, balada (ballad), chastivka (joking), funeral, ...
May 14, 2020•33 min
Renowned geopolitical strategist Peter Zeihan ( www.zeihan.com ) graciously joins us via Zoom for an intensive breakdown of the current world order and his predictions for the future concerning the economic and political directions of America, Russia, China, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, and other nations. This is a true international whirlwind, and a must-listen for any student or aficionado of global policy and IR theory. We hope you enjoy! ABOUT THE GUEST Peter Zeihan is a geopolitical strategist, au...
May 12, 2020•59 min
В этом эпизоде Мэтт беседует со знаменитой российской журналисткой Жанной Немцовой о многих темах, от ее времени в Америке до Украины. Надеемся, вам понравится слушать! Фонд Бориса Немцова за свободу: https://nemtsovfund.org/ Летняя школа журналистики и социокультурных исследований: https://summerschool.nemtsovfund.org/apply/ Статья о коронавирусе и рейтинге власти, которую мы обсуждали: https://www.forbes.ru/obshchestvo/398943-udar-po-kreativnomu-klassu-pochemu-pandemiya-privedet-k-padeniyu-rey...
May 08, 2020•56 min
Columnist, radio host, and Hoover Institution fellow Dr. Markos Kounalakis joins us via Zoom to talk about California's early response to Covid-19, the cognitive dissonance of beautiful Hungary, his experience in Central and Eastern Europe in the late 80s/early 90s as a journalist, and much more! And if you haven't yet and are looking for a decent read, check out Dr. Kounalakis's recommendation World War Z by Max Brooks. ABOUT THE GUEST Markos Kounalakis, Ph.D. is a Visiting Fellow at Stanford U...
Apr 30, 2020•51 min
Jeff Trimble, Moscow Bureau Chief for US News & World Report during the late Soviet period, talks to us about his wild experiences reporting from behind the Iron Curtain and witnessing the dissolution of the USSR. A radio professional as well (and earnest space aficionado and Star Trek fan) he certainly brings some extra finesse to yet another Zoom session. Hope you enjoy! NOTE: This episode was recorded via Zoom on April 15th, 2020. (Pictured below, guest Jeff Trimble with famed lead singer...
Apr 25, 2020•49 min
Joining us via Zoom from self-isolation in Moscow, New Jersey native Joseph Crescente talks to us about his area of expertise as the media literacy fellow at the US Embassy/American Center in Moscow. This is a fascinating and relevant discussion on how to navigate the media landscape in today's COVID-19 information-rich and facts-poor environment. Take a listen! NOTE: This episode was recorded via Zoom on April 10th, 2020. CREDITS Co-Producer: Tom Rehnquist (Connect: facebook.com/thomas.rehnquis...
Apr 21, 2020•36 min
If you're at all a Russophile and you've never visited Russia Beyond (rbth.com), find out what you've been missing as we connect with the editor-in-chief of this amazing, culturally-focused international publication that now boasts 5 million readers worldwide. (Also, the alternate title for this episode is "Pants Challenge", courtesy of Tom -- you'll have to listen all the way to the end to find out who wins the pants challenge or at least who clearly does not.) Thank you for listening! NOTE: Th...
Apr 17, 2020•53 min
Joining us via Zoom is the authority on public diplomacy from University of Southern California, Nicholas Cull. Having written the primary resource on the subject as used by the US State Department, Dr. Cull defines public diplomacy for us and expounds on how it has changed and will continue to change in this digital age. (Note: this is one of Tom's favorite interviews.) ABOUT THE GUEST Nicholas J. Cull is Professor of Public Diplomacy and is the founding director of the Master of Public Diploma...
Apr 14, 2020•47 min
Artemy Troitsky was scheduled to come to Austin and visit us at the University of Texas just a few weeks ago, but of course, due to enforced travel restrictions and a host of unforeseen coronavirus complications, his visit has been postponed until the Fall of 2020, hopefully. However, we decided to check in with him via Zoom, anyway, and he was gracious enough to join us not once but twice in both English and Russian to discuss music past and present and also biopics about the most famous musica...
Apr 12, 2020•1 hr 3 min
Back for more via Zoom, Tom Garza joins Matt and Tom once again to discuss Russian rock during the late USSR period to modern-day Russia, the power of nostalgia, and the role of music in COVID-19. And this time legendary music critic Artemy Troitsky also joins from Estonia. To listen to the previous episode in this short series, follow this link: https://www.slavxradio.com/sovietskyrock As always, thank you for listening, and we hope you enjoy!! RAW and UNEDITED Zoom video: For the episode in Ru...
Apr 09, 2020•55 min
On this episode, Tom, Matt, and Graham reunite to discuss more about Covid-19, the continuing oil drama between Russia and Saudi Arabia, and the ways in which the pandemic will permanently affect our world. As Dave from 2001 A Space Odyssey said, "Everything is going extremely well." NOTE: This episode was recorded on March 31, 2020 via Zoom. Thanks for listening and if you like us and support open academic programming, please take a second to rate the show on Apple Podcasts, TuneIn, or on our F...
Apr 05, 2020•49 min
On this episode, we meet with freelance journalist Aliide Naylor who joins us for our first Zoom interview from London to discuss her experiences in Russia, Ukraine, and her newly released book on Putin and the Baltics. This is our 80th episode, and we want tthank you for listening wherever you are in the world. We hope you enjoy! ABOUT THE GUEST: Aliide Naylor Aliide Naylor is a freelance journalist focusing on Russia and eastern Europe. Her writing has appeared in the Guardian, New Statesman, ...
Apr 02, 2020•46 min
At this time, we understand the world is in chaos, but it's still a good idea to take a break from the headlines every once in a while and feed your Slavic mind! (Almost as important as washing your hands and responsible social distancing!!) So, while we get our Zoom on, please enjoy some of our squirreled away interviews that we've saved for such a time as this. On this episode, Cullan has a great conversation with the engaging Dr. James Felak, Central European historian at the University of Wa...
Mar 28, 2020•37 min
On this episode, Tom and Matt are joined by returning guest Graham Reblitz to delve into the meaty headlines of the day: Russian politics, the conflict between Russia and Saudi Arabia, and the WHO-declared pandemic that is sweeping the globe. NOTE: This episode was recorded on March 11, 2020 at the University of Texas at Austin. Thanks for listening and if you like us and support open academic programming, please take a second to rate the show on Apple Podcasts, TuneIn, or on our Facebook page. ...
Mar 13, 2020•43 min
Christian Ray Flores is an entrepreneur, world traveler, and philanthropist who was an international music "supernova" during the 90s in post-Soviet Russia. Though he may have, by his own estimation, been a short-lived phenomena in Russia he continues to make tremendous impact globally to this day. From charities to start-up ventures to churches to film, Christian does it all and has (quite literally) seen it all! Listen to his amazing, highly-entertaining story on this episode. ABOUT THE GUEST:...
Mar 08, 2020•1 hr 8 min
On this episode we have the privilege of speaking with History professor and Eisenstein expert Dr. Joan Neuberger who among many things is also co-host and co-creator of 15-Minute History podcast and the public history project Not Even Past. ABOUT THE GUEST: Dr. Neuberger received her PhD from Stanford University in 1985. She is currently a professor in the History Department at the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Neuberger studies modern Russian culture in social and political context, with ...
Feb 28, 2020•53 min
On this episode, we have the pleasure of getting to know the president of UT's International Affairs Society, Graham Reblitz, who brings his broad, cosmopolitan perspective to our studio and discussing everything from geopolitics in Europe to sports on the international plane. ABOUT THE GUEST: Graham Reblitz Graham is a senior from Lakewood Ranch, Florida currently studying Economics and Government at UT, while also pursuing an undergraduate Certificate in Security Studies from the Clements Cent...
Feb 24, 2020•26 min
On this episode, we have the privilege of speaking with a modern-day archaeologist Dr. Adam Rabinowitz and archaeology grad student Susan Crane. Both take us into the ancient world of Romania through their exciting (and sometimes not-so-exciting) archaeological expeditions and unbelievable discoveries. ABOUT THE GUESTS Adam T. Rabinowitz Adam Rabinowitz is an Associate Professor in the Department of Classics and Assistant Director of the Institute of Classical Archaeology at The University of Te...
Feb 20, 2020•37 min
Dr. Mark Pomar, Russia expert and senior fellow at the Clements Center for National Security, revisits the studio to speak with us about modern-day politics and foreign policy in the US. Drawing on his extensive experience and service to the US government, Dr. Pomar gives us a deeper look into US-Russia relations and the future of the international landscape. NOTE: This episode was recorded on February 7, 2020 at the University of Texas at Austin. Thanks for listening and if you like us and supp...
Feb 10, 2020•53 min
In this episode, Tom and Tracy team up to talk with three former CREEES and LBJ dual degree grad students who are successfully applying their classroom experience to the real world in very big ways. If you're a student eyeing that scary drop-off after graduation, then this episode is totally for you. Let our fabulous UT CREEES alumni Michael Deegan, Jessica Terry, and Ryan Williams reassure you: degrees CAN turn into awesome careers, and yes, you will get paid! NOTE: This episode was recorded on...
Feb 01, 2020•1 hr 4 min
At the 2019 ASEEES Conference, PhD student Raya Shapiro shares with SlavX host Samantha about their research on the Jewish émigré playwright and author S. Ansky. And then, anthropoligist Jenanne Ferguson from the University of Nevada talks about the language of Sakha (Yakut) and the intrinsic spirit of all languages. ABOUT THE GUESTS: Raya Shapiro is a 3rd year PhD student at the University of Illinois Chicago. They are interested in how late 19th/early 20th century Eastern European Jewish write...
Jan 26, 2020•1 hr 6 min
Russia and Japan have yet to reconcile when it comes to the islands in the Pacific. Professor Akaha gives us his take on the relations between these two nations in the aftermath of the Cold War. Then, in the second half of the episode, Dr. Smeltz from the Chicago Council on Global Affairs explains her findings from surveys that reveal Russians still approve of Putin's foreign policy and also the increased negativity of Americans towards Russians post-Crimean annexation. ABOUT THE GUESTS Tsuneo A...
Jan 23, 2020•42 min
Dr. Sabina Amanbayeva (Oklahoma City University) takes us into the magical world of Winnie the Pooh... but in the Soviet Union, unpacking the ways in which the Disney show translated into a very different and yet similar production in the USSR. In the second segment of this episode, Dr. Sunnie Rucker-Chang (University of Cincinnatti) discusses the nonalignment movement in Yugoslavia and also the surprising ways in which people see themselves in the Balkans. EDITOR'S NOTE: Episode recorded during...
Jan 17, 2020•31 min
Wrapping up our ASEEES conference series, we have a super fun couple's episode with the dynamic duo of Alexander Prokhorov and Elena Prokhorova from Moscow State University who talk about their personal journeys and how they ended up at teaching at College of William & Mary. THE GUESTS: Elena Prokhorova and Alexander Prokhorov EDITOR'S NOTE: Episode recorded during the 2019 ASEEES Conference in San Francisco, California. Thanks for listening and if you like this show and support open academi...
Jan 15, 2020•26 min
If you're like us, you probably don't know too much about Albania--that little former Soviet satellite state that we certainly couldn't have picked out on a map in high school (maybe not even after 4 years of college). But Albania is a very unique nation and although not Slavic, as Tom says, "it's close enough for the Slavic Connexion". Through the eyes of the incredible Chelsi West Ohueri, we gain perspective while having a ton of laughs at the same time. Recorded at the University of Texas at ...
Jan 11, 2020•46 min
In this episode, we trek back in time to the late Habsburg Empire and post-World War I Eastern Europe with Dr. Hsia. And then we discuss Slavic Folklore in modern young adult literature with Dr. Martiniuk who talks about the romanticized Russian symbols used by authors everywhere of all backgrounds. We'll get into the issues behind using such symbols, and if it's cultural appreciation or appropriation. ABOUT THE GUESTS: Ke-Chin Hsia Having his received his PhD from the University of Chicago in 2...
Jan 05, 2020•33 min
