PODCAST · society
The Bishkek Diaries
by Zanré Reed
A series of narrative audio documentaries guided by themes of transit, borders, identity, and transition, told from the Post-Soviet city of Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Created and hosted by Zanré Reed from South Africa.
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7
Transitions (Inspired by The Secret Life of Ghosts)
In the final episode of The Bishkek Diaries, we explore themes of transition in a liminal co-living community where friends come and go. Ivan curates a museum of memories, preserving belongings left behind by former housemates. As spring arrives in the streets of Bishkek, Valentin captures the changing seasons through his window, photographing a single tree in varying states of transition. Following this trajectory, he creates a series of intimate portraits, photographing his housemates in the nude, capturing their own liminality. We think of life as a spiral, as opposed to a straight line. This episode was made alongside a documentary film with the title "The Secret Life of Ghosts" also directed by Zanré Reed. The film is in postproduction.
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6
Trust
A puzzle of meandering conversations and funny situations from the streets of Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan on the theme of trust.
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5
Borders
Pitching a tent in a "Spiritual Zone" reveals something deeper about borders and the politics of place. We attend a contested soccer game between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan in Bishkek - with their border conflict in the background. Mansoora from Afghanistan processes the impossibility of emigrating to the USA with her beloved cat. I attempt to make a casual trip to Almaty, Kazakstan for the weekend with my South African passport.
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4
The Future
A dystopian novel by Chingiz Aitmatov is curiously signed years into the future by his son. A mysterious giant egg becomes a metaphor for future, surprise, and fairy tales. Meanwhile, "Sarry-Chelek" evokes unknown adventures that unfold precisely because "the pass is closed."
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3
(De)colonization in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyz voices explore the topic of Russian colonization and how it manifests through perceptions of the Kyrgyz and Russian language in the capital.
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2
The Dilemma of Home
I explore the experiences of Afghan students who have not been able to return home since the Taliban recaptured Afghanistan in 2021. Will Bishkek feel like home?
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1
In the Backseat
Join me on a journey from Cape Town, South Africa, to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, as we explore the surprising and symbolic meaning of seatbelts—from the backseat of a Yandex taxi in Bishkek
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
A series of narrative audio documentaries guided by themes of transit, borders, identity, and transition, told from the Post-Soviet city of Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Created and hosted by Zanré Reed from South Africa.
HOSTED BY
Zanré Reed
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Bishkek Diaries have?
The Bishkek Diaries currently has 7 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Bishkek Diaries about?
A series of narrative audio documentaries guided by themes of transit, borders, identity, and transition, told from the Post-Soviet city of Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Created and hosted by Zanré Reed from South Africa.
How often does The Bishkek Diaries release new episodes?
The Bishkek Diaries has 7 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to The Bishkek Diaries?
You can listen to The Bishkek Diaries on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Bishkek Diaries?
The Bishkek Diaries is created and hosted by Zanré Reed.
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