Episodes
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The Impact of Media: A Conversation with Dr. Marta Dyczok on History, Memory, and Propaganda
Today's episode explores history, memory, and propaganda through the lens of the media. * Dr. Marta Dyczok, a historian, political scientist, media scholar, and professor at the University of Western Ontario in Canada with a PhD from Oxford University, is the special guest on this episode. * Read...
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Nestor Makhno: Ukrainian Anarchism and Revolution
Today's episode is about Nestor Makhno — a Ukrainian revolutionary leader and anarchist active during the Ukrainian War of Independence of 1917-1921. * "[A] will to freedom and independence, which only in the width and depth of the Ukrainian soul could so quickly and strongly manifest itself." -...
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Ukrainian Cuisine and its History with Yevhen Klopotenko
Today's episode is about Ukrainian cuisine, its history, and its importance in culture. * Yevhen Klopotenko, renowned Ukrainian chef and restaurateur, credited with getting the culture of Ukrainian Borshch cooking to be listed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, is the special guest on the...
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Lesya Ukrainka: Freedom Through Verse
Today's episode is about Lesya Ukrainka. A feminist and political activist, she is one of Ukraine's most famous and beloved writers to this day. Lesay was a leading figure in the modernist movement and the development of Ukrainian literature. * "No! I am alive, I will live forever. I have that in...
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How the Cossacks Fought Wars: Weapons, Strategy, and the War of Khotyn
Today's episode is about the weapons and strategy used by the Cossacks in battles and wars. In particular, Hetman Petro Konashevych-Sahaidachnyy and how he saved Europe in the War of Khotyn. * Image of troops in the War of Khotyn:...
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The Night of Ivana Kupala
Today's episode is about the night of Ivana Kupala - a celebration and holiday in Ukraine that stems from pagan rites and beliefs. Jumping over bonfires, honoring the pagan god of the sun, and singing enchantments are all part of the 3000-year-old holiday. * The background music in today's…
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Kyiv: The Beginnings
Today's episode is about the emergence of Kyiv - the capital of Ukraine - and its story from its prehistoric beginnings until becoming the birthplace of the Kyivan Rus'. * The background music in today's episode is "Kyiv Valse" by Pol Solonar, and the music at the end of the episode is "Київ" by...
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Easter in Ukraine
Today's episode is about the beliefs, traditions, and Ukrainianness that all play their part in Ukrainian Easter. * A painting of a traditional Ukrainian Easter "Easter Matins" by a Ukrainian artist Mykola Pymonenko:...
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Ukraine's Revolution of Dignity
The Revolution of Dignity, also known as the Euromaidan, was a series of violent and peaceful protests throughout Ukraine, with the center in Kyiv, in the winter of 2013-2014. The Revolution led to the overthrow of the government, as well as Ukraine taking a definite stance on its pro-freedom,...
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Ukraine's Orange Revolution
Today's episode is about the Orange Revolution. It started in November 2004 as a result of mass falsifications of the Ukrainian Presidential elections. It was a revolution that fought for free and fair elections and democracy as a whole. * The music in this episode is "Symphony #2" by Mykhailo...
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Taras Shevchenko: Poetry, Art, and Revolution
Today's episode is about Taras Shevchenko - a poet, writer, artist, and prominent public figure. His literary heritage is regarded to be the foundation of modern Ukrainian literature and to some degree the modern Ukrainian language. Today, he is the bard of Ukraine and sometimes is referred to as…
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Serfdom In Ukraine
Today's episode is about serfdom in Ukraine throughout history. Peasants and serfs are often the unheard part of history, yet serfdom - a type of unpaid forced labour left a significant mark on Ukraine, as well as most of Europe. * To read the collection stories by Ukrainian author Marko Vovchok...
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Hetman Ivan Mazepa: Cossack and Patron of Ukrainian Culture
Today's episode is about Ivan Mazepa - one of Ukraine's most famous hetmans - a genius diplomat and a patron of Kyiv's architecture. * The music at the end of the episode is "Transcendental Etudes, S. 139: No. 4, Mazeppa" by Franz Liszt, which is a symphonic poem about Mazepa. The background…
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New Year's Eve in Ukraine: Eve of Generosity or Malanka
Today's episode is about New Year celebrations and traditions in Ukraine. New Year's Eve in Ukraine is called the Eve of Generosity, and the traditions on this day are a mix of Christian, Pagan, and simply Ukrainian traditions. Have a mystical, musical, and fun Ukrainian New Year's Eve. * The…
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Christmas in Ukraine: Traditions and History
Today's episode is about Christmas in Ukraine. It is its very own unique celebration that combines traditions from Christian and pagan celebrations dating back all the way to the Kyivan Rus'. Welcome to the mystical, musical and exciting Ukrainian Christmas. * The music in todays episode are...
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Mykola Gogol: Ukrainian Writer and Explorer of the Soul
Today's episode is about Mykola Gogol - a Ukrainian who turned out to be one of the greatest and most influential writers of all time. He had a huge influence worldwide inspiring many authors, and musicians. He created entire genres of literature. But how did Gogol come to dominate the literary...
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Hryhorii Skovoroda: Ukrainian Philosopher, Poet and Musician
Today's episode is about Hryhorii Skovoroda who was the first Ukrainian philosopher and who was part of the Ukrainian Baroque thinkers and writers. - "The world was catching me but didn't capture me." - Hryhorii Skovoroda - The music in today's episode is composed and written by Hryhorii…
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Magdeburg Law in Ukraine or Democracy in the Middle Ages
Today's episode is about the Magdeburg law that came to Ukraine during the Middle Ages and brought democracy and self-government to most Ukrainian cities and towns. * The music in the episode is "Suite in D Minor, HWV 447: Allemande" by George Frideric Handel
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Roksolana: Ukrainian Queen of the Ottoman Empire
Today's episode is about Roksolana - the most powerful woman in the Ottoman Empire who was also Ukrainian. This marvelous woman was born in a regular family in Ukraine, then enslaved as a girl, and after became the Ottoman Emperor's wife. She does this all while significantly changing the many...
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Stepan Bandera: Ukraine's Misunderstood Hero
Today's episode is about Stepan Bandera - a Ukrainian nationalist, politician, activist, and thinker who strove towards Ukrainian independence during both the world wars, in between and after them. Loved in Ukraine and hated in the Soviet Union, he is still misunderstood today. So who was he...
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History of the Ukrainian Language & the Attempts of Linguistic Genocide
Today's episode is about the turbulent history of the Ukrainian Language and the many attempts at its linguistic genocide - the use of Ukrainian was banned 134 times in various contexts and times. --- The music used in this episode was "Elegy" by the phenomenal Ukrainian composer Mykola Lysenko.
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Ukrainian Mythology and Demonology: Demons, Mavkas, Witches and More
Today's episode is about Ukrainian mythology and demonology, or in other words the fascinating magical creatures that were believed to have roamed the forests, mountains, fields, cities, and waters in Ukraine. These are the books I've recommended today for you to spend some more time with your...
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Holodomor: Genocide of the Ukrainian People
Today's episode is about the Holodomor - genocide of the Ukrainian people which happened in the 1930s and resulted in millions of deaths.
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Football in Ukraine: Dynamo Kyiv's Lobanovskyi - Pioneer of the Modern Game
Today's episode is about the history of football (or soccer) in Ukraine as well as the pioneer of modern football worldwide - Valeriy Lobanovskyi. Happy Birthday Valeriy Andrushchak :)
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Olha of Kyiv: a Queen, a Saint, and an Avenger
Today's episode is about the fascinating Olha of Kyiv - a canonized saint and a female ruling monarch of the Kyivan Rus'.
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The Executed Renaissance
Today's episode is about the Executed Renaissance. A generation of Ukrainian writers, poets, and artists who were murdered in the 1920s and 1930s. If you wish to read some of their novels, I recommend: I (Romance) by Mykola Khvylovyi The City by Valerian Pidmohylnyi Tiger Trappers by Ivan...
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Kyivan Rus': The Golden Age and Yaroslav the Wise
Today's episode is about the Kyivan Rus' - a medieval empire in its golden age, one of its kings - Yaroslav the Wise, and what places you should visit when you travel to Ukraine.
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Hetman Sahaidachnyy: The Cossack Who Changed The Game
Today's episode is about Cossack Hetman Petro Konashevych-Sahaidachnyy. Being a genius and innovator in the military field he's done many extraordinary things in his life. His massive contributions are not only to Ukraine but also to Europe.
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Ukraine in World War II: Unbroken Spirit or Forgotten History?
Today's episode is about the lives of Ukrainians during the Second World War. Their aspirations for independence and contributions to the eventual victory of the Allies.
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People's Movement of Ukraine
Today's episode is about the People's Movement of Ukraine and one of its most prominent figures, Viacheslav Chornovil, in their fight for Ukrainian freedom in the latter part of the twentieth century.
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Ukraine - Country of the Cossacks
Today's episode is about the Cossacks - the Ukrainian knights.
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Striving For Independence: Ukrainian Independence Day 2023
Today’s episode is in honour of the Independence Day of Ukraine and it is exploring how Ukraine got its independence back in 1991.
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Ukrainian People’s Republic: What Is It?
Today I will talk about the Ukrainian People’s Republic. If you would like to read the “Memorandum to the Government of the United States on the Recognition of the Ukrainian People’s Republic” by Julian Batchinsky, that I mention in this episode it is available for free on Google Books:...
About this show
Discovering Ukrainian history, literature, and culture.
Hosted by
Sofiia Andrushchak
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