Talking Ukraine Podcast
This podcast is an in depth dive into various topics related to Ukraine hosted by documentary filmmaker Damian Kolodiy who has covered the Ukrainian region for over 20 years. Kolodiy has a wide network of contacts and firsthand experience in and around Ukraine.
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Askold Lozynskyj: Ukraine, Trump, and the Crisis of American Leadership | Talking Ukraine Podcast #38
Askold Lozynskyj, former President of the Ukrainian World Congress and an American attorney, joins The Talking Ukraine Podcast for a hard-hitting conversation about Ukraine’s current crisis, Donald Trump’s approach to Russia, and the absence of genuine American leadership at a critical moment.
We discuss Trump’s pursuit of a deal for the United States to buy Russian diesel and the implications for
Diana Berg: I Lost My Home Twice — Donetsk, Mariupol and Russia's War | Talking Ukraine Podcast #37
Diana Berg was living an ordinary life as a designer in her native Donetsk when Russia’s aggression transformed her city in 2014. She became one of the local leaders organizing and demonstrating for a united Ukraine, but her activism made her a target, forcing her to flee Donetsk. She resettled in Mariupol, only to face the same fate again eight years later when Russia’s full-scale invasion brough
Anastasia Bezverkha -Mnozhyna Foundation- Talking Ukraine Podcast#36
In this episode of The Talking Ukraine Podcast, Anastasia Bezverkha of the Mnozhyna Foundation discusses the evolution of Ukrainian civil society from the Orange Revolution to today. We explore the development of Ukrainian national identity, her personal decision to return to Kyiv during wartime, and the vital role the Ukrainian diaspora continues to play in supporting Ukraine's resilience and fut
Peter Dickinson of "UkraineAlert" on Talking Ukraine Podcast #35
In this episode of The Talking Ukraine Podcast, longtime Kyiv resident and Ukraine commentator Peter Dickinson reflects on his life in Ukraine since 1997 and his work in English-language media, from Business Ukraine and What's On to his current role as editor of UkraineAlert.
We discuss the Orange Revolution as a turning point in Ukraine’s modern history, Russia’s recent May 9th parade, Tucker C
George Woloshyn: Faith, Politics, and Ukraine’s Future | Talking Ukraine Podcast #34
In this episode of The Talking Ukraine Podcast, George Woloshyn — former FEMA Associate Director and longtime Republican insider — reflects on a life that bridges American politics and humanitarian work in Ukraine. From his early involvement in the Republican Party to years spent supporting Ukraine through faith-driven initiatives, his perspective offers a unique lens on today’s moment, and what t
Inside Ukraine’s Foreign Legion — An American Veteran’s Story-- Carl Larson on Talking Ukraine Podcast #33
In this episode of The Talking Ukraine Podcast, American Iraq War veteran Carl Larson joins me to discuss his experience serving in Ukraine’s International Legion during the early days of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
We talk about his time on the ground, what motivated him to join the fight, and why he believes Ukraine’s struggle matters for American and global security. Carl also shares insights
*Stefko Bandera* -Journalist & Translator- on Talking Ukraine Podcast #32
In this episode of The Talking Ukraine Podcast, Canadian journalist Stefko Bandera discusses his ongoing project translating the private correspondence of his grandfather, Stepan Bandera, a central and highly debated figure in Ukraine’s 20th-century nationalist movement.
Stefko discusses what it was like growing up as a descendant of a Ukrainian liberation leader with a controversial legacy, explo
-Christine Paschyn- Filmmaker- Talking Ukraine #31
In this episode of The Talking Ukraine Podcast, filmmaker Christina Paschyn joins me to discuss her powerful new documentary, Etched in Memory. The film highlights the stories of several Crimean Tatars as they struggle to live freely on their ancestral homeland — a land marked by deportation, repression, and renewed occupation.
We explore the film’s production process, the challenges of documentin
Talking Ukraine Podcast 30- Ivan Rodichenko- Volunteer + Fixer
Ten years ago, filmmaker Damian Kolodiy and Ukrainian volunteer activist Ivan Rodichenko traveled into the Donbas to screen Freedom or Death, Kolodiy’s documentary on the Revolution of Dignity. Their journey took them to frontline cities — Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, Kostiantynivska, and Mariupol — places that were already feeling the first tremors of a war that would reshape Ukraine. In this episode,
Talking Ukraine Podcast#29 -Olexander Kulabuhov- Kyiv Resident +Activist
In this episode, I speak with Olexander, a resident of Kyiv living through another winter of intermittent heating and electricity caused by Russia’s attacks on Ukraine’s power grid. He describes daily life under these conditions and shares the mood on the streets — how ordinary Ukrainians are coping, adapting, and thinking about the war.
Mychailo Wynnyckyj- "Ukraine Manifesto- Co-Author" on Talking Ukraine #28
In this episode, social scientist and public intellectual Myhailo Wynnyckyj—Associate Professor at Kyiv-Mohyla Academy—joins me to discuss the newly released Ukraine Manifesto, a sustainable peace plan for Ukraine he recently co-authored detailing what a minimum and maximum victory could look like. We also revisit the early days of the full-scale invasion reflected in his widely read Thoughts from
-Adrian Karatnycky- Ukraine Expert on Talking Ukraine# 27
In this episode, Ukraine analyst Adrian Karatnycky breaks down the implications of the so-called “peace plan,” and why robust support for Ukraine is in America's interest. We also explore the Ukrainian government’s response to the recent corruption scandal — and what it reveals about Ukraine’s internal dynamics at a critical moment.
-Neil Hauer- Journalist, Talking Ukraine #26
In this episode, Canadian journalist Neil Hauer reflects on his eigth reporting trip to Ukraine and shares vivid insights from covering the war since its onset in February 2022 — including his firsthand experience of the invasion’s first days.
-Ben Goldhagen - Filmmaker "The Steel Porcupine" on Talking Ukraine Podcast #25
In this episode, we talk with Benjamin Goldhagen — the mind behind “To the Zero Line” and “The Steel Porcupine” — about what it takes to film on the edge of a war zone, finding humanity amid destruction, and why Ukraine’s story needs to be told now.
Goldhagen shares his experiences filming on the frontlines of Ukraine — capturing resilience, trauma, and the human stories behind the headlines.
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Jonas VM - Ukraine Front Line Supplier- on Talking Ukraine Episode 24
Jonas is a former Swedish Marine who when Russia invaded Ukraine, decided that he must act to support Ukraine. For almost 4 years he drives once a month to the front lines in Ukraine donating various supplies purchased by Swedish donors. Join us for his insights into the war from both an "on the ground" and Swedish perspective.
Talking Ukraine Podcast#23 -Hanna Shelest- Director of Security Programs at "Ukrainian Prism"
Hanna Shelest is the Director of Security Programmes at Foreign Policy Council “Ukrainian Prism”, one of the top Ukrainian think-tanks. A native of Odessa, we discuss how her city and people have managed during the war, Hanna's expert perspective of the global stage vis a vis Ukraine, Russia's psychological mind games, and the various technology and techniques used by Ukraine to counter Russia's i
Talking Ukraine Podcast#22 - OLENA TREHUB -Anti-Corruption & Defense Expert-
Olena Trehub is the founder and Secretary General of NAKO - the Independent Anti-Corruption Commission, established in Ukraine in cooperation with Transparency International in 2017. NAKO focuses on promoting good governance in the defense sector, anti-corruption reform in areas critical for national security, and due diligence in the defense industry. Olena is currently serving her second term o
Talking Ukraine Podcast #21 Vladyslav Stadnyk -The Metal Pilgrim-
Since the time of Covid, Vladyslav created his YouTube channel "The Metal Pilgrim" commenting on the latest happenings in the world of heavy metal music. The slick production, sharp editing combined with his insightful commentary and passion for the music grew his audience quickly. When the full scale invasion of Ukraine started in 2022, Vladyslav, who is based in Kyiv, began to fundraise to buy s
Talking Ukraine Podcast#20 -Professor Alex Motyl & Dr. Taras Kuzio.-
For Episode 20 we invite previous guests and Ukraine experts, Professor Oles Motyl and Dr. Taras Kuzio to discuss their latest thoughts on developments of Russia's war on Ukraine and the dichotomy of the Trump administration.
Talking Ukraine Podcast#19 -Brian Bonner- Former Editor Kyiv Post
Brian Bonner was Chief Editor of the Kyiv Post from 2008-2021. Join us as we catch up with Brian as to what he is doing now, his reflections on journalism both in Ukraine and the US, and a general conversation about the state of recent events on the political arena.
Talking Ukraine #18 *John Shmorhun* Founder "MoveUkraine"
John Shmorhun is a Ukrainian-American with over 30 years experience working in Ukraine. Shortly after Russia's full scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, he and his wife, Patricia, founded "Move Ukraine", an organization dedicated to supporting internally displaced Ukrainians within Ukraine by providing both housing and rehabilitation services. Join us for in depth conversation on this initiati
Talking Ukraine #17 -Stefan Korshak- Senior Defense Correspondent, Kyiv Post
Stefan Korshak is the Kyiv Post Senior Defense Correspondent. He is from Houston, Texas and is a Yalie. He has worked in journalism in the former Soviet space for more than twenty years and currently lives in Kyiv. HIs comprehensive military blogs offer unique and detailed analyses of the movements on the front lines of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. We discuss his take on the current state of affa
Talking Ukraine Podcast #16 -Simon Ostrovsky- Journalist + Documentary Filmmaker
SIMON OSTROVSKY is an Emmy Award-winning documentary filmmaker and PBS NewsHour Special Correspondent. Simon was senior correspondent and a founding member of the original VICE News team, winning a Dupont for his documentary "Selfie Soldiers" and two 2016 Emmy nominations for "Russian Roulette", his series on the war in Ukraine. In this episode we discuss his new documentary about Russian occupati
Talking Ukraine #15 - Robert Van Voren Human Rights Activist
Robert Van Voren is Chief Executive of the international foundation ‘Human Rights in Mental Health-FGIP’, an international foundation for mental health reform. He is also Executive Director of the Andrei Sakharov Research Center for Democratic Development and Professor at Vytautas Magnus University in Kaunas, Lithuania. Since 2000 he lives in Lithuania, and shuttles regularly to Ukraine, his main
Talking Ukraine #14 -Christian Borys- Founder Saint Javelin
Christian Borys is the founder of Saint Javelin, a Toronto based company that makes various clothing and swag to fundraise for charities that support Ukraine. He has years of experience working as a journalist and Saint Javelin social media is a trusted information source on breaking news from Ukraine.
Talking Ukraine Podcast#13 Journalist Maksym Eristavi
Maksym Eristavi is a Ukrainian journalist, writer, and author of the award-winning book “Russian Colonialism 101,” an illustrated guide to Russian colonial crimes. He was also a co-founder of Hromadske International, an independent news start-up based in Kyiv Ukraine. His current mission is to create global awareness about the Russian colonial legacy. We discuss the west's journalistic coverage o
Talking Ukraine Podcast#12 - Lawyer Andy Semotiuk-
Andriy Semotiuk is a Canadian and American immigration Lawyer, writer & Ukrainian leader. In this episode we discuss the legal aspects of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the general standing of global current affairs, lessons from 20th Century history that are applicable today, the state of affairs in Canada, the Hollywood Trident Group and more! Join us for a wide reaching conversation!
Talking Ukraine #11 -Sasha Maslov, Ukrainian-American Photographer
Sasha Maslov is a photographer based in New York City. Originally from Kharkiv, Ukraine, he has extensively documented the front lines since Russia’s full scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. This year he partnered with St. Javelin to publish a photography book called “Saints” which portrays stories of Ukrainians who have devoted their lives to defend their country on the front lines .
Talking Ukraine #10 -Paul Hennemeyer- "Senior Energy Executive"
Paul Hennemeyer is an American energy executive based in Europe with over 30 years experience in the energy industry. He and his partner Ralph Meima created “Re-energize Ukraine”, a volunteer initiative to help supply spare and retired electricity equipment to Ukraine. We discuss Paul’s work and recent trip to Ukraine, the closing of the last gas pipeline in Ukraine that transports Russian gas to
Talking Ukraine Podcast #9 Dr. Taras Kuzio Part 2
In Part 2 of our conversation with Dr. Kuzio we discuss potential scenarios and security guarantees for Ukraine under the Trump administration, the evolution of Volodymyr Zelensky as President, and reflections on Dr. Kuzio's last visit to Ukraine in 2023.
Talking Ukraine Podcast#8--Dr. Taras Kuzio Part 1
Dr. Taras Kuzio is a Professor in the Department of Political Science at the National University of Kyiv Mohyla Academy. He is also an Associate Fellow at the Forum for Foreign Relations and has worked with various think tanks. Taras has written over 24 books, most recently, “Fascism and Genocide, Russia’s War Against Ukrainians.”
In Part 1 we talk about the global dynamics surrounding the fall o
Talking Ukraine Podcast#7 --Jed Sunden-- Founder of Kyiv Post & The American Ukraine PAC
In Episode #7 it is our pleasure to speak with one of the original American Expat pioneers in newly independent Ukraine, Jed Sunden. Jed started the Kyiv Post in 1995, the first English language newspaper in Ukraine, which continues on today. In early 2024, Jed founded the American Ukraine PAC to lobby for political support for Ukraine to the US Congress. We discuss his experiences maintaining an
"Talking Ukraine" Episode#6- Dr. Lada Roslycky- Part 2
We continue our conversation with Dr. Lada Roslycky discussing corruption within Ukraine and troubles of Ukrainian soldiers, the lack of will and duplicity from the West, and the importance of true accountablity, and the value of freedom and liberty.
Talking Ukraine Episode #5 Dr. Roslycky - Founder of Black Trident Defense & Security Consulting Group (Part 1)
Hailing from Canada, Dr. Lada Roslycky is a Ukraine expert with esteemed academic credentials who has been living in Kyiv, Ukraine for over a decade. This gives her unique insight and perspective into analyzing Ukrainian society and the events surrounding Russia's invasion of Ukraine. In Part 1 we discuss her her work as a Black Sea security expert, Russia's genocide, objectives and information w
Talking Ukraine Episode#4 Liuba Shipovich, Dignitas Fund
In episode 4 we’ll get to chat with a founder of Dignitas Fund, Liuba Shipovich. Diginitas is non-profit based in Ukraine that supplies drones to Ukrainian soldiers and develops other cutting edge military technology and training.
Episode #3 Petro Rondiak -Head of Management Board Winner Group Ukraine-
Petro Rondiak is a Ukrainian-American who has lived in Kyiv with his family since the 1990s. Petro has been one of the key people managing Winner Group, one of the biggest car importers in Ukraine, and continues leading Winner Group Ukraine through wartime.
We discuss building an American corporate culture automotive business in the corrupt climate of Ukraine in the 1990s, how Ukraine changed duri
Episode #2 Chris Hennemeyer - Int'l Aid Worker & Founder "In The Trenches"
Chris Hennemeyer has spent his decades long career working in warzones all over Africa. Just after he retired, the Russians invaded Ukraine, and Chris couldn't help get himself back there on the ground in order to try to find ways to be helpful. We discuss his experiences and reflections from his time in and around Odessa, Ukraine, as well as the work of his non-profit "In the Trenches" which buys
"Talking Ukraine In English" Episode #1- Dr. Alexander Motyl
Join us for a conversation with Dr. Alexander Motyl, an American historian, political scientist, and author as we talk about Volodymyr Zelensky's recent US visit, the US presidential candidates vis a vis Ukraine, the rise of the far right in Europe, Germany's failures in historical accountability towards Ukraine, the state of Russia's economy and explore some of Motyl's creative work.
