What We Need To Know About Ukraine

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 Marta's book Ukraine not 'the' Ukraine here: https://www.cambridge.org/core/elements/ukraine-not-the-ukraine/1A0CC1D8913162C5A65763614CCC39E1*Find Marta here: https://x.com/mdyczok* Sponsored by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress. *Find me here: https://linktr.ee/sofiia_andrushchak

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." - Nestor Makhno * The music at the end of today's episode is "Любо, братці, любо" ("l'ubo, bratsi, l'ubo") sung by Taras Zhytynskyy. It is a Ukrainian folk song that emerged during the Ukrainian War of Independence of 1917-1921. It was frequently sung in Ukrainian by the army of Nestor Makhno. Some say that Makhno himself liked to sing it too. The music in the episode's background is "Melody" by Ukrainian composer Borys Lyatoshynsky. * Find me here: https://linktr.ee/sofiia_andrushchak

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 episode. * Try Ukrainian cuisine with Yevhen's recipes: https://klopotenko.com/en/ * Find Yevhen here: Twitter: https://x.com/klopotenko_chef?lang=en Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/klopotenko/?hl=en * Find me here: https://linktr.ee/sofiia_andrushchak

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 my heart, which does not die..." - Lesya Ukrainka, The Forest Song *Full version of Lesya Ukrainka's "The Forest Song" in English: https://tarnawsky.artsci.utoronto.ca/elul/English/Ukrainka/Ukrainka-ForestSong.pdf*The music in the background and at the very end of the episode is "Farewell. Waltz in C Minor, Op. 39, No. 1" by the phenomenal composer Mykola Lysenko. The song at the end of the episode is "Як дитиною, бувало" ("As a child, I sometimes") by Mike Udlis, with the lyrics being Lesya Ukrainka's poem of the same name. *Find me here: https://linktr.ee/sofiia_andrushchak 


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: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a5/Battle_of_Khotyn_1673.PNG * The music at the end of today's episode is "Їхав Козак За Дунай" ("The Cossack Rode Beyond the Danube") by Semen Klymovsky - Ukrainian philosopher, poet and Cossack. The background music throughout the episode is "Kyiv" by Oskar Schuster. * Fun Fact: The song "The Cossack Rode Beyond the Danube" by Semen Klmovsky was made into a song in German and arranged for piano by Ludwig van Beethoven and Christoph August Tielde. Beethoven's version is known as "Schöne Minka, ich muß scheiden." * Find me here: https://linktr.ee/sofiia_andrushchak

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 episode is "Hutsul Triptych: Hutsuls'ky tryptykh (Hutsul Triptych): I. Dytynstvo (Childhood)" by Myroslav Skoryk, and the music at the end of the episode is "Oy na Ivana ta y na Kupala" by Pisni Dzherela. * Find me here: https://linktr.ee/sofiia_andrushchak

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 Євген Філатов ("Kyiv" by Yevhen Filatov). * Find me here: https://linktr.ee/sofiia_andrushchak

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: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paska_(bread)#/media/File:PimonenkoNK_PashalZautrRYB.jpg * The music in today's episode is "Prayer for Ukraine" by Kyiv Symphony Orchestra and Chorus. * Find me here: https://linktr.ee/sofiia_andrushchak

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, pro-European and pro-Ukrainian values. It was a major turning point in Ukraine's history. * The video of Ukraine's revolution in Independence Square from above: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhwtsjFbQK4 * Documentary about the Revolution of Dignity "Winter on Fire": https://youtu.be/yzNxLzFfR5w?si=R8FgZztHLjfMXDnf * The music at the end of the episode is "Hey, plyve kacha" by Pikkardiyska Tertsiya - a Ukrainian folk song, that became the anthem of the Revolution. The music throughout the episode is "We Will Never Be Brothers" - with lyrics by Ukrainian Anastasiia Dmytruk and music by Lithuanian Virgis Pupšys. * Find me here: https://linktr.ee/sofiia_andrushchak

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 Verbytskyi (a Ukrainian composer).

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 a prophet. All this, yet he was born a serf. He and his poetry is more than relevant - always. * "Taras Shevchenko! One person was enough to save an entire nation." - Ostap Vyshnya * Full Version of Taras Shevchenko's "The Caucasus" is available here: https://taras-shevchenko.storinka.org/the-%D1%81aucasus-poem-of-taras-shevchenko-ukrainian-to-english-translation-by-vera-rich.html * I highly recommend reading all of Taras Shvchenko's poetry in his collection "Kobzar"! * The music in the episode is "Elegy in Memory of Shevchenko" by the wonderful Ukrainian composer Mykola Lysenko and "Medley of Shevchenko's Works" by Yaroslav Dzhus.

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 (in English) you can visit the link below. The stories I referenced and quoted from today were "Horpyna," "The Kozak Girl," and "Odarka". https://diasporiana.org.ua/wp-content/uploads/books/21918/file.pdf * The music in today's episode is "Melody" by Myroslav Skoryk (a Ukrainian composer).

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 music in the episode is "Elegy in Memory of Shevchenko" by the wonderful Ukrainian composer Mykola Lysenko and "Suite in D Minor, HWV 447: Allemande" by George Frideric Handel.

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 music in today's episode are various Ukrainian shchedrivky performed by the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine as part of the "Christmas Symphonies" project. The shchedrivky sung at the end are "Oh, is there or is there not?" (a folk song) and "Shchedryk" by Mykola Leontovych (sung by Viter Ukrainian Folk Choir). * З Новим Роком! Happy New Year!

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 various Ukrainian kolyadky performed by the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine as part of the "Christmas Symphonies" project. The kolyadka sung at the end is "A New Joy Had Arisen" performed by the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus. * З Різдвом Христовим! Merry Christmas! * Correction: Ukrainians celebrate St. Nicholas Day in early December - not January. :)

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 scene? Why is he considered a genius? And who was he really? * "Do you know a Ukrainian night? No, you do not know a night in Ukraine. Take a closer look at her: The moon shines in the midst of the sky; the immeasurable vault of heaven seems to have expanded to infinity; the earth is bathed in silver light; the air is warm, voluptuous, and redolent of innumerable sweet scents. Divine night! Magical night!" - Mykola Gogol. * The music in today's episode are the overtures taken from Mykola Lysenkos operas "May Night, or the Drowned Maiden" and "Christmas Night" both based on Gogol's stories.

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 Skovoroda. The song is called "Oh you, yellow bird" ("Ой ти, птичко жолтобоко").

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

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 rules traditions and even the future of the Ottoman Empire in the late Middle Ages. * The music used in this episode is "Symphony No. 63 in C Major, Hob.I:63 - 'La Roxelane': I.Allegro" by Joseph Haydn.

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 really? * "When people choosing between bread and freedom choose bread, they ultimately lose everything, including bread. If people choose freedom, they will have bread they made themselves, bread not taken away by anyone." - Stepan Bandera * The music used in this episode is "Elegy in Memory of Shevchenko" by the wonderful Ukrainian composer Mykola Lysenko.

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.

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 favorite magical creatures (all of which are classics): The Forest Song by Lesya Ukrainka The Witch of Konotop by Hryhorii Kvitka-Osnovianenko The Night Before Christmas by Mykola Gogol'

Today's episode is about the Holodomor - genocide of the Ukrainian people which happened in the 1930s and resulted in millions of deaths.

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 :)

Today's episode is about the fascinating Olha of Kyiv - a canonized saint and a female ruling monarch of the Kyivan Rus'.

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 Bahrianyi

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.

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.

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.

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.

Today's episode is about the Cossacks - the Ukrainian knights.

Today’s episode is in honour of the Independence Day of Ukraine and it is exploring how Ukraine got its independence back in 1991.

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: https://books.google.ca/books/about/Memorandum_to_the_Government_of_the_Unit.html?id=d0M5AQAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=kp_read_button&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&gboemv=1&redir_esc=y