EPISODE · Jul 18, 2025 · 1H 6M
#137 Iryna Gil: Escaping Ukraine: A Comedian's War Story
from Origin Story with David McIntosh Jr · host David McIntosh Jr
In this raw, wide-ranging interview, Ukrainian stand-up comic Iryna Gil tells the story of how her rising comedy career collided with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine just 11 days after she filmed her first special — and how she’s using comedy to challenge war fatigue, weaponised headlines, and Western apathy.WHAT YOU’LL LEARNKyiv under fire: A first-hand account of air-raid sirens, evacuations, and working through missile strikesThe Soviet shadow: How post-Soviet distrust fuels Ukraine’s self-organising spirit, entrepreneurial drive, and digital-first approach to governance.Comedy as translation: How Gil uses humour to bridge the empathy gap and make the war relatable to those far removed from it.Misleading headlines: What “billions in aid” actually looks like and why surface-level stats breed hostility and misinformation.Peace through deterrence: Iryna’s uncompromising vision for peace in strengthTIMESTAMPS00:00 Botox for Burping – the weirdest opening ever01:13 Meet Iryna Gil02:45 Growing up in post-Soviet Ukraine10:13 Starting stand-up in Kyiv14:18 Ukraine’s hustle culture and distrust of government21:04 24 Feb 2022: missiles hit Kyiv28:54 Leaving home under fire32:10 Zoom calls from bomb shelters and hiding behind two walls39:47 Losing safety, leaving Kyiv43:52 Starting over in Scotland48:45 Grieving a life left behind50:38 Comedy, trauma, and fighter jets53:55 What "billions in aid" actually means57:00 The real cost of headlines and public perception1:01:48 Has Ukraine faded from public attention?1:04:32 Genocide Olympics and comparative advocacy1:05:38 What peace really looks like1:06:47 Closing thanksLINKSFollow Iryna Gil – https://www.instagram.com/gil_irynaFollow David – https://www.instagram.com/davidmcintoshjrSupport verified Ukrainian charities – (Add specific links)Support on Patreon – Patreon.com/davidmcintoshjrBuy Origin Story merch – originstoryclub.co.ukSupport verified Ukranian charities - Save Life: https://savelife.in.ua/en/projects/military-en/status/active/ U24:https://u24.gov.ua/projects ABOUT ORIGIN STORY WITH DAVID MCINTOSHEvery episode, David explores the pivotal moments that shape extraordinary people — from hidden-gem heroes to global voices — so you can apply their lessons, insights, and perspective to your own journey. Subscribe and turn on notifications to catch the next origin story first.
What this episode covers
In this raw, wide-ranging interview, Ukrainian stand-up comic Iryna Gil tells the story of how her rising comedy career collided with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine just 11 days after she filmed her first special — and how she’s using comedy to challenge war fatigue, weaponised headlines, and Western apathy.WHAT YOU’LL LEARNKyiv under fire: A first-hand account of air-raid sirens, evacuations, and working through missile strikesThe Soviet shadow: How post-Soviet distrust fuels Ukraine’s self-organising spirit, entrepreneurial drive, and digital-first approach to governance.Comedy as translation: How Gil uses humour to bridge the empathy gap and make the war relatable to those far removed from it.Misleading headlines: What “billions in aid” actually looks like and why surface-level stats breed hostility and misinformation.Peace through deterrence: Iryna’s uncompromising vision for peace in strengthTIMESTAMPS00:00 Botox for Burping – the weirdest opening ever01:13 Meet Iryna Gil02:45 Growing up in post-Soviet Ukraine10:13 Starting stand-up in Kyiv14:18 Ukraine’s hustle culture and distrust of government21:04 24 Feb 2022: missiles hit Kyiv28:54 Leaving home under fire32:10 Zoom calls from bomb shelters and hiding behind two walls39:47 Losing safety, leaving Kyiv43:52 Starting over in Scotland48:45 Grieving a life left behind50:38 Comedy, trauma, and fighter jets53:55 What "billions in aid" actually means57:00 The real cost of headlines and public perception1:01:48 Has Ukraine faded from public attention?1:04:32 Genocide Olympics and comparative advocacy1:05:38 What peace really looks like1:06:47 Closing thanksLINKSFollow Iryna Gil – https://www.instagram.com/gil_irynaFollow David – https://www.instagram.com/davidmcintoshjrSupport verified Ukrainian charities – (Add specific links)Support on Patreon – Patreon.com/davidmcintoshjrBuy Origin Story merch – originstoryclub.co.ukSupport verified Ukranian charities - Save Life: https://savelife.in.ua/en/projects/military-en/status/active/ U24:https://u24.gov.ua/projects ABOUT ORIGIN STORY WITH DAVID MCINTOSHEvery episode, David explores the pivotal moments that shape extraordinary people — from hidden-gem heroes to global voices — so you can apply their lessons, insights, and perspective to your own journey. Subscribe and turn on notifications to catch the next origin story first.
NOW PLAYING
#137 Iryna Gil: Escaping Ukraine: A Comedian's War Story
No transcript for this episode yet
Similar Episodes
No similar episodes found.