Jade McGlynn

Today’s guest is Dr. Jade McGlynn, a specialist in Russian memory and foreign policy at the Monterey Initiative in Russian Studies and the author of two books: “The Kremlin’s Memory Makers” and “Russia’s War.” Discussed in this interview: the Kremlin’s claims that Russia is fighting an existential battle in Ukraine, how memory shapes that conversation, balancing dispassionate scholarly work and ethical advocacy, and more!

Today’s guest is <a href="https://twitter.com/DrJadeMcGlynn" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dr. Jade McGlynn</a>, a specialist in Russian memory and foreign policy at the Monterey Initiative in Russian Studies and the author of two books: “The Kremlin’s Memory Makers” and “Russia’s War.” Discussed in this interview: the Kremlin’s claims that Russia is fighting an existential battle in Ukraine, how memory shapes that conversation, balancing dispassionate scholarly work and ethical advocacy, and more!

E135: Jade McGlynn on memory’s role in the Russian invasion of Ukraine

Jonny Tickle

Today’s show features an interview with Jonny Tickle, a man with an incredible name and a controversial resume, given that he worked as a writer for Russia Today — RT — right up until Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February. He left the country shortly thereafter, but he’s since returned (like quite a few others), and he’s even resumed his YouTube travel vlog where he visits cities across Russia and talks about the local scene and attractions. Jonny agreed to come on The Russia Guy to talk about being back in Russia, what’s in store for him next, and what life is like in a country at war where you can’t even call it a war. Skip to the bits you want:  (1:26) Being safe in Russia today. (3:46) Why go back to Russia? (11:36) The vibe on the streets of Moscow. (19:33) Today’s journalism about Russia.

Today’s show features an interview with <a href="https://twitter.com/jonnytickle" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jonny Tickle</a>, a man with an incredible name and a controversial resume, given that he worked as a writer for Russia Today — RT — right up until Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February. He left the country shortly thereafter, but he’s since returned (like quite a few others), and he’s even resumed his <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/JonnyTickle" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">YouTube travel vlog</a> where he visits cities across Russia and talks about the local scene and attractions. Jonny agreed to come on The Russia Guy to talk about being back in Russia, what’s in store for him next, and what life is like in a country at war where you can’t even call it a war. Skip to the bits you want: <ul> <li>(1:26) Being safe in Russia today.</li> <li>(3:46) Why go back to Russia?</li> <li>(11:36) The vibe on the streets of Moscow.</li> <li>(19:33) Today’s journalism about Russia.</li></ul>

E134: Jonny Tickle on leaving RT and returning to Russia

Emily Holland

Today’s guest is Dr. Emily Holland, an assistant professor in the Russia Maritime Studies Institute at the U.S. Naval War College, where she teaches and researches subjects like the Cold War, Russia, energy politics, diplomacy, geopolitics, and more. Follow her on Twitter here. In the interview you’re about to hear, Dr. Holland describes her background and the nature of her job at the Naval War College before explaining the challenges and tradeoffs inherent in the West’s efforts to isolate Russia’s oil and gas industries. Timestamps for this episode: (5:56) How did you get into studying Russia? (7:53) Mixing a geopolitical and cultural interest in Russia. (10:05) What is the Russia Maritime Studies Institute at the U.S. Naval War College? (14:24) The identity crisis among Russia studies scholars in the U.S. (19:25) Resistance to “strategic empathy.” (21:24) The next generation of American experts on Russia. (22:49) Expanding diversity among America’s Russia scholars. (25:02) What are the tradeoffs of boycotting Russian fuel? (33:21) Cracks in the newly reinvigorated Transatlantic unity. Music: Joey Pecoraro, “Russian Dance,” and Олег Анофриев, Бременские музыканты, “Говорят, мы бяки-буки”

Today’s guest is Dr. Emily Holland, an assistant professor in the <a href="https://usnwc.edu/Faculty-and-Departments/Directory/Emily-J-Holland" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Russia Maritime Studies Institute at the U.S. Naval War College</a>, where she teaches and researches subjects like the Cold War, Russia, energy politics, diplomacy, geopolitics, and more. Follow her on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/EmilyJHolland" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>. In the interview you’re about to hear, Dr. Holland describes her background and the nature of her job at the Naval War College before explaining the challenges and tradeoffs inherent in the West’s efforts to isolate Russia’s oil and gas industries. Timestamps for this episode: (5:56) How did you get into studying Russia? (7:53) Mixing a geopolitical and cultural interest in Russia. (10:05) What is the Russia Maritime Studies Institute at the U.S. Naval War College? (14:24) The identity crisis among Russia studies scholars in the U.S. (19:25) Resistance to “strategic empathy.” (21:24) The next generation of American experts on Russia. (22:49) Expanding diversity among America’s Russia scholars. (25:02) What are the tradeoffs of boycotting Russian fuel? (33:21) Cracks in the newly reinvigorated Transatlantic unity. Music: Joey Pecoraro, “Russian Dance,” and Олег Анофриев, Бременские музыканты, “Говорят, мы бяки-буки”

E133: Emily Holland on Boycotting Russian Oil and Gas

Marlene Laruelle

Today’s guest is Dr. Marlene Laruelle, the director of Institute for European, Russian, and Eurasian Studies and the Illiberalism Studies Program at George Washington University. On this episode of The Russia Guy, Dr. Laruelle discussed her 2021 book, “Is Russia Fascist? Unraveling Propaganda East and West,” and its relevance to today’s crisis in Ukraine. We focused specifically on the book’s insights into Russian geopolitics and post-colonialism. Read more about the book here! Timestamps for this episode:  (3:02) Is the book about Putin or Russia?  (4:10) What’s the role of Russian illiberalism in the current Ukraine crisis? (6:40) Why is Russia pressing its case in Ukraine at precisely this moment? (8:46) Would Russia get along better with a more illiberal Europe? (11:34) Vladimir Putin vs. Charles de Gaulle (14:59) Russia’s post-imperial struggle (22:37) Normalcy for Russia vs. normalcy for the West  Music and audio for "The Russia Guy":  Joey Pecoraro, "Russian Dance" Олег Анофриев, Бременские музыканты, “Говорят, мы бяки-буки” Oi Čorna by Yale Women's Slavic Chorus (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 US) Table Dance by The Underscore Orkestra (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US)  Support this show on Patreon!

Today’s guest is Dr. Marlene Laruelle, the director of Institute for European, Russian, and Eurasian Studies and the Illiberalism Studies Program at George Washington University. On this episode of The Russia Guy, Dr. Laruelle discussed her 2021 book, “Is Russia Fascist? Unraveling Propaganda East and West,” and its relevance to today’s crisis in Ukraine. We focused specifically on the book’s insights into Russian geopolitics and post-colonialism. Read more about the book <a href="https://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501754135/is-russia-fascist/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>! Timestamps for this episode: <ul> <li>(3:02) Is the book about Putin or Russia? </li> <li>(4:10) What’s the role of Russian illiberalism in the current Ukraine crisis?</li> <li>(6:40) Why is Russia pressing its case in Ukraine at precisely this moment?</li> <li>(8:46) Would Russia get along better with a more illiberal Europe?</li> <li>(11:34) Vladimir Putin vs. Charles de Gaulle</li> <li>(14:59) Russia’s post-imperial struggle</li> <li>(22:37) Normalcy for Russia vs. normalcy for the West</li> </ul> Music and audio for "The Russia Guy": <ul> <li>Joey Pecoraro, "Russian Dance" Олег Анофриев, Бременские музыканты, “Говорят, мы бяки-буки”</li> <li><a href="https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Yale_Womens_Slavic_Chorus/Yale_Womens_Slavic_Chorus_Live_at_the_Golden_Festival_Atrium_Stage_Jan_14_2012/YWSC_04_Oi_Corna" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Oi Čorna by Yale Women's Slavic Chorus</a> (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 US)</li> <li><a href="https://freemusicarchive.org/music/The_Underscore_Orkestra/Table_Dance" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Table Dance by The Underscore Orkestra</a> (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US)</li> </ul> <a href="https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Support this show on Patreon!</a>

E132: Marlene Laruelle asks Is Russia Fascist?

Aleksandr Gorbachev

This is to notify listeners of a special installment of The Russia Guy that utilizes “Music + Talk,” Anchor’s Spotify integration, for a music-focused episode featuring music journalist Aleksandr Gorbachev, who selected five recent Russian songs that signify for him the state of affairs and everyday life in Russia now. The episode is available exclusively on Spotify here and on Telegram here.

This is to notify listeners of a special installment of The Russia Guy that utilizes “Music + Talk,” Anchor’s Spotify integration, for a music-focused episode featuring music journalist Aleksandr Gorbachev, who selected five recent Russian songs that signify for him the state of affairs and everyday life in Russia now. The episode is available exclusively on Spotify <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/35FnSTuoSNiBRRgC28I83l?si=2b4e9ed998854683" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a> and on Telegram <a href="https://t.me/krothrock/87" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>.

E131 Announcement: Five Songs with Aleksandr Gorbachev

Nikolaus von Twickel

This episode’s guest is Nikolaus von Twickel, a journalist-turned-analyst who specializes on the war in eastern Ukraine. He is now an editor at the Center for Liberal Modernity in Berlin, and he previously served as a media liaison officer for the OSCE Monitoring Mission in Donetsk. In 2020, he co-authored a book with Thomas de Waal called “Beyond Frozen Conflict: Scenarios for the Separatist Disputes of Eastern Europe,” which looks at the Donbas, Transdniestria, Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and Nagorny Karabakh. Follow Nikolaus on Twitter! Timestamps for this episode:  (2:22) Welcome back and introduction (6:13) Nikolaus explains why he thinks Russia has mobilized its troops outside Ukraine (8:45) Is it nonsense for Russia to claim that Kyiv is considering an assault on the Donbas? (15:49) Is Minsk II the only way forward diplomatically in the Donbas or is it now a dead agreement? (19:36) Is Zelensky still viewed in the West as pragmatic? (22:17) Can Russia claim to defend the interests of people in the Donbas if the breakaway “republics” are police states? (28:48) Outro and closing plug for donations!  Music and audio for "The Russia Guy":  Joey Pecoraro, "Russian Dance" Олег Анофриев, Бременские музыканты, “Говорят, мы бяки-буки”  Support the show at Patreon!

This episode’s guest is Nikolaus von Twickel, a journalist-turned-analyst who specializes on the war in eastern Ukraine. He is now an editor at the Center for Liberal Modernity in Berlin, and he previously served as a media liaison officer for the OSCE Monitoring Mission in Donetsk. In 2020, he co-authored a book with Thomas de Waal called “Beyond Frozen Conflict: Scenarios for the Separatist Disputes of Eastern Europe,” which looks at the Donbas, Transdniestria, Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and Nagorny Karabakh. <a href="https://twitter.com/niktwick" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Follow Nikolaus on Twitter!</a> Timestamps for this episode: <ul> <li>(2:22) Welcome back and introduction</li> <li>(6:13) Nikolaus explains why he thinks Russia has mobilized its troops outside Ukraine</li> <li>(8:45) Is it nonsense for Russia to claim that Kyiv is considering an assault on the Donbas?</li> <li>(15:49) Is Minsk II the only way forward diplomatically in the Donbas or is it now a dead agreement?</li> <li>(19:36) Is Zelensky still viewed in the West as pragmatic?</li> <li>(22:17) Can Russia claim to defend the interests of people in the Donbas if the breakaway “republics” are police states?</li> <li>(28:48) Outro and closing plug for donations!</li> </ul> Music and audio for "The Russia Guy": <ul> <li>Joey Pecoraro, "Russian Dance"</li> <li>Олег Анофриев, Бременские музыканты, “Говорят, мы бяки-буки”</li> </ul> <a href="https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Support the show at Patreon!</a>

E130: Nikolaus von Twickel on the Donbas War

Elena Chernenko

Elena Chernenko, a special correspondent at the newspaper Kommersant who focuses on cybersecurity, non-proliferation, and arms control, joins the show to talk about arriving at foreign-affairs journalism, navigating Russia's contemporary media environment, and staying sane in an increasingly crazy world.Follow her on Twitter here.Music and audio for "The Russia Guy":Joey Pecoraro, "Russian Dance"Олег Анофриев, Бременские музыканты, “Говорят, мы бяки-буки”Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock)

Elena Chernenko, a special correspondent at the newspaper Kommersant who focuses on cybersecurity, non-proliferation, and arms control, joins the show to talk about arriving at foreign-affairs journalism, navigating Russia's contemporary media environment, and staying sane in an increasingly crazy world. Follow her on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/elenachernenko" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>. Music and audio for "The Russia Guy":<ul><li><a href="https://youtu.be/5udqlTK4NEg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Joey Pecoraro, "Russian Dance"</a></li><li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-3wC7gkMDQ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Олег Анофриев, Бременские музыканты, “Говорят, мы бяки-буки”</a></li></ul><a href="https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support the show</a> (<a href="https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock</a>)

E129: Elena Chernenko

On today's episode, Kevin speaks to the scholars behind the new book “Navalny: Putin's Nemesis, Russia's Future?” The three authors: Jan Matti Dollbaum, a postdoctoral researcher at Bremen University, Morvan Lallouet, a PhD candidate at the University of Kent, and Ben Noble, a lecturer in Russian Politics at University College London.Music and audio for "The Russia Guy":Joey Pecoraro, "Russian Dance"Олег Анофриев, Бременские музыканты, “Говорят, мы бяки-буки”Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock)

On today's episode, Kevin speaks to the scholars behind the new book “<a href="https://www.hurstpublishers.com/book/navalny/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Navalny: Putin's Nemesis, Russia's Future?</a>” The three authors: <a href="https://twitter.com/janmattid" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jan Matti Dollbaum</a>, a postdoctoral researcher at Bremen University, <a href="https://twitter.com/m_lallouet" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Morvan Lallouet</a>, a PhD candidate at the University of Kent, and <a href="https://twitter.com/Ben_H_Noble" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ben Noble</a>, a lecturer in Russian Politics at University College London. Music and audio for "The Russia Guy":<ul><li><a href="https://youtu.be/5udqlTK4NEg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Joey Pecoraro, "Russian Dance"</a></li><li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-3wC7gkMDQ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Олег Анофриев, Бременские музыканты, “Говорят, мы бяки-буки”</a></li></ul><a href="https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support the show</a> (<a href="https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock</a>)

E128 Navalny: Putin’s Nemesis, Russia’s Future?

Anton Barbashin

Today's show welcomes back Anton Barbashin, a political analyst focusing on Russia and the editorial director at Riddle, for a conversation about the different schools of thought and general drift and direction of foreign-policy expertise inside Russia.Follow Anton on Twitter here and read Ivan Timofeyev's Valdai Club article here (in Russian), which is cited during the interview.Music and audio for "The Russia Guy":Joey Pecoraro, "Russian Dance"Олег Анофриев, Бременские музыканты, “Говорят, мы бяки-буки”Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock)

Today's show welcomes back Anton Barbashin, a political analyst focusing on Russia and the editorial director at <a href="https://www.ridl.io/en/about-riddle/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Riddle</a>, for a conversation about the different schools of thought and general drift and direction of foreign-policy expertise inside Russia. Follow Anton on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/ABarbashin" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a> and read Ivan Timofeyev's Valdai Club article <a href="https://ru.valdaiclub.com/a/highlights/zabyt-kalashnikov/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a> (in Russian), which is cited during the interview. Music and audio for "The Russia Guy":<ul><li><a href="https://youtu.be/5udqlTK4NEg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Joey Pecoraro, "Russian Dance"</a></li><li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-3wC7gkMDQ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Олег Анофриев, Бременские музыканты, “Говорят, мы бяки-буки”</a></li></ul><a href="https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support the show</a> (<a href="https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock</a>)

E127: Anton Barbashin on Russia’s Foreign Policy Experts

Sam Greene

Today's guest is Dr. Sam Greene, the director of the Russia Institute at King’s College London and the co-author of the 2019 book “Putin V. the People: The Perilous Politics of a Divided Russia."Music and audio for "The Russia Guy":Олег Анофриев, Бременские музыканты, “Говорят, мы бяки-буки”Счастье вдруг (из х/ф Иван Васильевич меняет профессию)Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock)

Today's guest is Dr. Sam Greene, the director of the Russia Institute at King’s College London and the co-author of the 2019 book “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Putin-v-People-Perilous-Politics/dp/0300238398" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Putin V. the People: The Perilous Politics of a Divided Russia</a>." Music and audio for "The Russia Guy":<ul><li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-3wC7gkMDQ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Олег Анофриев, Бременские музыканты, “Говорят, мы бяки-буки”</a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuLLYZTaIys&amp;ab_channel=%D0%90%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%81%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B4%D1%80%D0%90%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%8C%D0%B5%D0%B2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Счастье вдруг (из х/ф Иван Васильевич меняет профессию)</a></li></ul><a href="https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support the show</a> (<a href="https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock</a>)

E126 - Sam Greene

In this podcast, translator and news aggregator Kevin Rothrock talks to movers and shakers in Russia-focused journalism and academia. Interviews deal with views on trending news stories, the overarching themes of “Russia watching,” and the ins and outs of life as a professional in this field. Help him pay for recording software by supporting the show with recurring donations.

The Russia Guy

Keith Gessen

Kevin’s guest today is Keith Gessen, a novelist, journalist, literary translator, and assistant professor at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism. Gessen has written about Russia for The New Yorker, The London Review of Books, The Atlantic, and The New York Times Magazine, where he recently published a fascinating story, titled “The Quiet Americans Behind the U.S.-Russia Imbroglio,” where he examines the historical and philosophical landscape of today’s Russia expertise in the United States. So what are you going to learn about on today’s episode of the podcast? This interview is devoted to Keith’s “Quiet Americans” story in The New York Times Magazine. Here’s a list of the questions, preceded by the times in the episode that they appear: (2:50) Why write this story now? How did it come together? (8:45) Did anything about this story surprise you? (13:14) What do you say to critics who accuse you of speaking only to “like-minded” Russia hands? (15:34) Do Russia domestic politics matter here? Did you leave them out of your story intentionally? Do you think they’re not important to understanding what shapes and divides America’s “Russia hands? (22:05) How did NATO expansion become a litmus test for American Russia experts? (29:53) What’s the influence of the U.S. news media on America’s Russia hands? (35:23) How should the U.S. media improve its Russia coverage? (36:48) Is this mainstream aware that it’s living in an echo chamber? (38:55) Why is realism so unpopular in American thinking about Russia? (43:28) You’ve written about the Russia experts, but what about the Russia grifters?Read “The Quiet Americans Behind the U.S.-Russia Imbroglio”https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/08/magazine/the-quiet-americans-behind-the-us-russia-imbroglio.htmlFollow Keith Gessen on Twitter at @KeithGessenhttps://twitter.com/keithgessenPre-order his new book, “A Terrible Country: A Novel” (available July 10, 2018)https://www.amazon.com/Terrible-Country-Novel-Keith-Gessen/dp/0735221316If you enjoy this podcast, consider pledging a little dough to help with sound recording, editing, and hosting costs:www.patreon.com/kevinrothrockSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock)

Kevin’s guest today is Keith Gessen, a novelist, journalist, literary translator, and assistant professor at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism. Gessen has written about Russia for The New Yorker, The London Review of Books, The Atlantic, and The New York Times Magazine, where he recently published a fascinating story, titled “The Quiet Americans Behind the U.S.-Russia Imbroglio,” where he examines the historical and philosophical landscape of today’s Russia expertise in the United States. So what are you going to learn about on today’s episode of the podcast? This interview is devoted to Keith’s “Quiet Americans” story in The New York Times Magazine. Here’s a list of the questions, preceded by the times in the episode that they appear: (2:50) Why write this story now? How did it come together? (8:45) Did anything about this story surprise you? (13:14) What do you say to critics who accuse you of speaking only to “like-minded” Russia hands? (15:34) Do Russia domestic politics matter here? Did you leave them out of your story intentionally? Do you think they’re not important to understanding what shapes and divides America’s “Russia hands? (22:05) How did NATO expansion become a litmus test for American Russia experts? (29:53) What’s the influence of the U.S. news media on America’s Russia hands? (35:23) How should the U.S. media improve its Russia coverage? (36:48) Is this mainstream aware that it’s living in an echo chamber? (38:55) Why is realism so unpopular in American thinking about Russia? (43:28) You’ve written about the Russia experts, but what about the Russia grifters?Read “The Quiet Americans Behind the U.S.-Russia Imbroglio”<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/08/magazine/the-quiet-americans-behind-the-us-russia-imbroglio.htmlFollow" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/08/magazine/the-quiet-americans-behind-the-us-russia-imbroglio.htmlFollow</a> Keith Gessen on Twitter at @KeithGessenhttps://<a href="http://twitter.com/keithgessenPre-order" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">twitter.com/keithgessenPre-order</a> his new book, “A Terrible Country: A Novel” (available July 10, 2018)<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Terrible-Country-Novel-Keith-Gessen/dp/0735221316If" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.amazon.com/Terrible-Country-Novel-Keith-Gessen/dp/0735221316If</a> you enjoy this podcast, consider pledging a little dough to help with sound recording, editing, and hosting costs:<a href="http://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock</a><a href="https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support the show</a> (<a href="https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock</a>)

E44: Keith Gessen on The Quiet Americans

In this episode, Kevin discusses “Going Vertical,” a new Russian blockbuster film about the USSR's 1972 Olympic basketball defeat of the United States, which was both an upset and upsetting to the Americans, who refused to accept silver medals, arguing that the game ended unfairly. This episode features audio clips from the film and from the actual game. Meduza also spoke to several of the 1972 team's members, including two of their widows, who have not exactly welcomed the new movie.https://meduza.io/en/feature/2018/01/12/miracle-on-mapleSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock)

In this episode, Kevin discusses “Going Vertical,” a new Russian blockbuster film about the USSR's 1972 Olympic basketball defeat of the United States, which was both an upset and upsetting to the Americans, who refused to accept silver medals, arguing that the game ended unfairly. This episode features audio clips from the film and from the actual game. Meduza also spoke to several of the 1972 team's members, including two of their widows, who have not exactly welcomed the new movie.https://<a href="http://meduza.io/en/feature/2018/01/12/miracle-on-maple" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">meduza.io/en/feature/2018/01/12/miracle-on-maple</a><a href="https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support the show</a> (<a href="https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock</a>)

E20: Going Vertical

Mark Galeotti

Kevin continues his interview series with professionals in the field of Russia expertise. Today's guest is Dr. Mark Galeotti, a senior researcher at the Institute of International Relations Prague and the coordinator of its Center for European Security. Check out Dr. Galeotti's latest book: “The Vory: Russia's Super Mafia,” released this May by Yale University Presshttps://www.amazon.com/Vory-Russias-Super-Mafia/dp/0300186827In this interview, Kevin asks Mark several big questions, like what are the most important developing events and stories in Russia today? Will Putin stick around past 2024? Should we keep thinking about the Kremlin in terms of towers and clans? And Mark also talked a bit about himself, how he got into “the Russia game,” what was so special about his introduction to Russia, and how he manages to juggle so many different roles, while maintaining a sane private life.Follow Mark on Twitter:https://twitter.com/MarkGaleottiSupport this very podcast here:www.patreon.com/kevinrothrockMusic:“Polyushka Polye” by The Red Army Choir, www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2YlbiyiuMcОлег Анофриев, Бременские музыканты, “Говорят, мы бяки-буки,” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-3wC7gkMDQSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock)

Kevin continues his interview series with professionals in the field of Russia expertise. Today's guest is Dr. Mark Galeotti, a senior researcher at the Institute of International Relations Prague and the coordinator of its Center for European Security. Check out Dr. Galeotti's latest book: “The Vory: Russia's Super Mafia,” released this May by Yale University Presshttps://<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Vory-Russias-Super-Mafia/dp/0300186827In" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.amazon.com/Vory-Russias-Super-Mafia/dp/0300186827In</a> this interview, Kevin asks Mark several big questions, like what are the most important developing events and stories in Russia today? Will Putin stick around past 2024? Should we keep thinking about the Kremlin in terms of towers and clans? And Mark also talked a bit about himself, how he got into “the Russia game,” what was so special about his introduction to Russia, and how he manages to juggle so many different roles, while maintaining a sane private life.Follow Mark on Twitter:<a href="https://twitter.com/MarkGaleottiSupport" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/MarkGaleottiSupport</a> this very podcast here:<a href="http://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrockMusic:“Polyushka" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.patreon.com/kevinrothrockMusic:“Polyushka</a> Polye” by The Red Army Choir, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2YlbiyiuMcОлег" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2YlbiyiuMcОлег</a> Анофриев, Бременские музыканты, “Говорят, мы бяки-буки,” <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-3wC7gkMDQ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-3wC7gkMDQ</a><a href="https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support the show</a> (<a href="https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock</a>)

E58: Mark Galeotti

Anastasia Karimova

On today’s show, Kevin talks to to Anastasia Karimova, a former activist and journalist in Russia. Today, she’s a graduate student at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University in the United States. Anastasia’s personal history is fascinating in its own right, but it's especially interesting now, in the aftermath of the arrest of Maria Butina.Kevin asked Anastasia about finding her way into and out of Russian opposition politics. What were the old days like? What’s the world of protesting become today? She also talked about working for “Kommersant” and losing faith in Russia’s news media. And finally she talked about studying in the U.S. as a Russian person, putting Maria Butina’s alleged activities in some context.If you enjoy this podcast, please consider making a pledge at Patreon, where you can send Kevin money for all his grand efforts. Many thanks to the listeners already ponying up.www.patreon.com/kevinrothrockSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock)

On today’s show, Kevin talks to to Anastasia Karimova, a former activist and journalist in Russia. Today, she’s a graduate student at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University in the United States. Anastasia’s personal history is fascinating in its own right, but it's especially interesting now, in the aftermath of the arrest of Maria Butina.Kevin asked Anastasia about finding her way into and out of Russian opposition politics. What were the old days like? What’s the world of protesting become today? She also talked about working for “Kommersant” and losing faith in Russia’s news media. And finally she talked about studying in the U.S. as a Russian person, putting Maria Butina’s alleged activities in some context.If you enjoy this podcast, please consider making a pledge at Patreon, where you can send Kevin money for all his grand efforts. Many thanks to the listeners already ponying <a href="http://up.www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">up.www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock</a><a href="https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support the show</a> (<a href="https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock</a>)

E53: Anastasia Karimova

Kevin reads the full text of a new investigative report by Meduza’s Daniil Turovsky about how Russia’s war in Georgia sparked Moscow’s modern-day recruitment of criminal hackers. The story is timely not just because we’re currently marking the 10-year anniversary of the Russo-Georgian war, but also because we’re still living in a world dominated by news about Russian election interference, cyber-threats, and more. This is an important story, but most of the reporting has happened in the United States, where the victims are located and the fallout has occurred. Turovsky’s new report is worth reading because it offers some insight into the other side of things: the world of the hackers who were likely mobilized for Moscow’s efforts in 2016. Read the text for yourself here, and share it with your pals:https://meduza.io/en/feature/2018/08/07/it-s-our-time-to-serve-the-motherlandIf you enjoy this podcast, please consider making a pledge at Patreon, where you can send Kevin money for all his grand efforts. Many thanks to the listeners already ponying up.www.patreon.com/kevinrothrockOpening music: Assmack by Podington Bearhttp://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/Haplessly_Happy/AssmackClosing tune: Бременские музыканты (1969), Олег АнофриевSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock)

Kevin reads the full text of a new investigative report by Meduza’s Daniil Turovsky about how Russia’s war in Georgia sparked Moscow’s modern-day recruitment of criminal hackers. The story is timely not just because we’re currently marking the 10-year anniversary of the Russo-Georgian war, but also because we’re still living in a world dominated by news about Russian election interference, cyber-threats, and more. This is an important story, but most of the reporting has happened in the United States, where the victims are located and the fallout has occurred. Turovsky’s new report is worth reading because it offers some insight into the other side of things: the world of the hackers who were likely mobilized for Moscow’s efforts in 2016. Read the text for yourself here, and share it with your pals:<a href="https://meduza.io/en/feature/2018/08/07/it-s-our-time-to-serve-the-motherlandIf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://meduza.io/en/feature/2018/08/07/it-s-our-time-to-serve-the-motherlandIf</a> you enjoy this podcast, please consider making a pledge at Patreon, where you can send Kevin money for all his grand efforts. Many thanks to the listeners already ponying <a href="http://up.www.patreon.com/kevinrothrockOpening" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">up.www.patreon.com/kevinrothrockOpening</a> music: Assmack by Podington Bearhttp://<a href="http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/Haplessly_Happy/AssmackClosing" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/Haplessly_Happy/AssmackClosing</a> tune: Бременские музыканты (1969), Олег Анофриев<a href="https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support the show</a> (<a href="https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock</a>)

E54: How Russia Started Recruiting Hackers

Kevin commits Internet treason by criticizing his own country, moaning about Washington's inability to live up to its own word about FARA registration not interfering with media outlets' work. Then he moves on to moaning about the Russian Orthodox Church's weird obsession with an old and ugly conspiracy theory about Jews murdering the Romanovs in a “ritual killing.”How the U.S. says it treats ‘foreign agent’ journalists versus what it actually doeshttps://meduza.io/en/short/2017/11/30/how-the-u-s-says-it-treats-foreign-agent-journalists-versus-what-it-actually-doesFederal investigators have reopened the Tsar Nicholas II murder case, and the Russian Orthodox Church wants them to consider a notoriously anti-Semitic conspiracy theoryhttps://meduza.io/en/feature/2017/11/30/federal-investigators-have-reopened-the-tsar-nicholas-ii-murder-case-and-the-russian-orthodox-church-wants-them-to-consider-a-notoriously-anti-semitic-conspiracy-theorySupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock)

Kevin commits Internet treason by criticizing his own country, moaning about Washington's inability to live up to its own word about FARA registration not interfering with media outlets' work. Then he moves on to moaning about the Russian Orthodox Church's weird obsession with an old and ugly conspiracy theory about Jews murdering the Romanovs in a “ritual killing.”How the U.S. says it treats ‘foreign agent’ journalists versus what it actually doeshttps://<a href="http://meduza.io/en/short/2017/11/30/how-the-u-s-says-it-treats-foreign-agent-journalists-versus-what-it-actually-doesFederal" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">meduza.io/en/short/2017/11/30/how-the-u-s-says-it-treats-foreign-agent-journalists-versus-what-it-actually-doesFederal</a> investigators have reopened the Tsar Nicholas II murder case, and the Russian Orthodox Church wants them to consider a notoriously anti-Semitic conspiracy theoryhttps://<a href="http://meduza.io/en/feature/2017/11/30/federal-investigators-have-reopened-the-tsar-nicholas-ii-murder-case-and-the-russian-orthodox-church-wants-them-to-consider-a-notoriously-anti-semitic-conspiracy-theory" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">meduza.io/en/feature/2017/11/30/federal-investigators-have-reopened-the-tsar-nicholas-ii-murder-case-and-the-russian-orthodox-church-wants-them-to-consider-a-notoriously-anti-semitic-conspiracy-theory</a><a href="https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support the show</a> (<a href="https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock</a>)

E15: Dumb Americans and Crazy Anti-Semites

Today's guest is Olesya Vartanyan, Crisis Group’s analyst for the “EU Eastern Neighbourhood.” Based in Tbilisi, she researches and produces reports on regional security issues in Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan, with a particular focus on breakaway regions in the South Caucasus. She told Kevin what it’s like to go from a career in journalism to the world of professional analysis, and let him ask her ignorant questions about the region.Follow her on Twitter here:https://twitter.com/Olesya_vArtFind her Crisis Group expert page here:https://www.crisisgroup.org/who-we-are/people/olesya-vartanyanSupport this very podcast here:www.patreon.com/kevinrothrockMusic and audio:Ну погоди, episode 14, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncHd3sxpEbo&amp;t=7sОлег Анофриев, Бременские музыканты, “Говорят, мы бяки-буки,” www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-3wC7gkMDQSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock)

Today's guest is Olesya Vartanyan, Crisis Group’s analyst for the “EU Eastern Neighbourhood.” Based in Tbilisi, she researches and produces reports on regional security issues in Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan, with a particular focus on breakaway regions in the South Caucasus. She told Kevin what it’s like to go from a career in journalism to the world of professional analysis, and let him ask her ignorant questions about the region.Follow her on Twitter here:<a href="https://twitter.com/Olesya_vArtFind" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/Olesya_vArtFind</a> her Crisis Group expert page here:<a href="https://www.crisisgroup.org/who-we-are/people/olesya-vartanyanSupport" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.crisisgroup.org/who-we-are/people/olesya-vartanyanSupport</a> this very podcast here:<a href="http://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrockMusic" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.patreon.com/kevinrothrockMusic</a> and audio:Ну погоди, episode 14, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncHd3sxpEbo&amp;t=7sОлег" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncHd3sxpEbo&amp;t=7sОлег</a> Анофриев, Бременские музыканты, “Говорят, мы бяки-буки,” <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-3wC7gkMDQ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-3wC7gkMDQ</a><a href="https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support the show</a> (<a href="https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock</a>)

E95: Olesya Vartanyan on South Caucasus Breakaway Regions

Aric Toler

Today's the first in The Russia Guy's new interview series. Kevin sat down (remotely. don't read too much into that word) with Aric Toler, one of Bellingcat's top analysts and the lead Eastern Europe digital researcher at DFR Lab, to find out how he got into the Russia expertise biz, and what life is like in the open-source intelligence world.Follow him on Twitter, y'all.https://twitter.com/AricTolerSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock)

Today's the first in The Russia Guy's new interview series. Kevin sat down (remotely. don't read too much into that word) with Aric Toler, one of Bellingcat's top analysts and the lead Eastern Europe digital researcher at DFR Lab, to find out how he got into the Russia expertise biz, and what life is like in the open-source intelligence world.Follow him on Twitter, y'all.https://<a href="http://twitter.com/AricToler" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">twitter.com/AricToler</a><a href="https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support the show</a> (<a href="https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock</a>)

E17: Aric Toler

Natalia Antonova

Kevin’s guest today is Natalia Antonova, who as many listeners already know is a prolific writer, and a journalist who’s worked in Moscow, Kiev, and soon Washington, D.C., where she’s accepted a position at the Voice of America. Natalia was deputy editor at The Moscow News before it was liquidated in the collapse of RIA Novosti, and she’s been published all over the place, including The Washington Post, Politico, The Guardian, Foreign Policy, Newsweek, and many other fine outlets. Natalia is also a playwright and a poet, and she’s working on a fiction book right now.So what are you going to learn about on today’s episode of the podcast? Natalia and Kevin discussed her recent move back to the United States, and her new job at Voice of America. They also talked a lot about her experience in the Moscow art world, and she helped Kevin get some perspective on the “Seventh Studio” criminal investigation that has targeted acclaimed stage director Kirill Serebrennikov. She described what it was like editorially under pressure from the state when The Moscow News went under and while working at Russia Beyond the Headlines. And she and Kevin talked about her upbringing in Kiev and North Carolina, and how life brought her the Middle East, then back to the former Soviet Union, and finally again to the United States. You can follow Natalia on Twitter at @NataliaAntonovahttps://twitter.com/NataliaAntonova Natalia is also the co-founder of the Anti-Nihilist Institute nonprofit, which you can find @NoToNihilism on Twitterhttps://twitter.com/NoToNihilismIf you enjoy this podcast, consider pledging a little dough to help with sound recording, editing, and hosting costs:www.patreon.com/kevinrothrockSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock)

Kevin’s guest today is Natalia Antonova, who as many listeners already know is a prolific writer, and a journalist who’s worked in Moscow, Kiev, and soon Washington, D.C., where she’s accepted a position at the Voice of America. Natalia was deputy editor at The Moscow News before it was liquidated in the collapse of RIA Novosti, and she’s been published all over the place, including The Washington Post, Politico, The Guardian, Foreign Policy, Newsweek, and many other fine outlets. Natalia is also a playwright and a poet, and she’s working on a fiction book right <a href="http://now.So" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">now.So</a> what are you going to learn about on today’s episode of the podcast? Natalia and Kevin discussed her recent move back to the United States, and her new job at Voice of America. They also talked a lot about her experience in the Moscow art world, and she helped Kevin get some perspective on the “Seventh Studio” criminal investigation that has targeted acclaimed stage director Kirill Serebrennikov. She described what it was like editorially under pressure from the state when The Moscow News went under and while working at Russia Beyond the Headlines. And she and Kevin talked about her upbringing in Kiev and North Carolina, and how life brought her the Middle East, then back to the former Soviet Union, and finally again to the United States. You can follow Natalia on Twitter at @NataliaAntonovahttps://<a href="http://twitter.com/NataliaAntonova" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">twitter.com/NataliaAntonova</a> Natalia is also the co-founder of the Anti-Nihilist Institute nonprofit, which you can find @NoToNihilism on Twitterhttps://<a href="http://twitter.com/NoToNihilismIf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">twitter.com/NoToNihilismIf</a> you enjoy this podcast, consider pledging a little dough to help with sound recording, editing, and hosting costs:<a href="http://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock</a><a href="https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support the show</a> (<a href="https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock</a>)

E42: Natalia Antonova

On today’s show, Kevin reviews the pension reform proposal slipped into Russia’s news agenda last week, just as the country’s attention turned to a certain soccer tournament. After summarizing the proposed reforms, Kevin gets some feedback about the plan from a very special guest, his eight-year-old daughter.So what are you going to learn about on today’s show? The Russian government wants to raise the country’s retirement age (from 55 to 63 for women, and from 60 to 65 for men), but how do they intend to do that? How are the authorities communicating this policy initiative to the public? Where’s Putin in all this, and what have the masses had to say about this momentous reform proposal? And what does an eight-year-old American girl think about all this?Catch up on Meduza's coverage of Russian pension reform here:*https://meduza.io/en/feature/2018/06/18/officials-vow-to-raise-the-retirement-age-the-kremlin-fears-protests-and-labor-unions-are-fuming-this-is-russia-s-pension-reform*https://meduza.io/en/cards/russia-is-raising-its-retirement-age-how-and-whyIf you enjoy this podcast, please consider making a pledge at Patreon, where you can send Kevin money for all his grand efforts. Many thanks to the listeners already ponying up.https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrockSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock)

On today’s show, Kevin reviews the pension reform proposal slipped into Russia’s news agenda last week, just as the country’s attention turned to a certain soccer tournament. After summarizing the proposed reforms, Kevin gets some feedback about the plan from a very special guest, his eight-year-old <a href="http://daughter.So" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">daughter.So</a> what are you going to learn about on today’s show? The Russian government wants to raise the country’s retirement age (from 55 to 63 for women, and from 60 to 65 for men), but how do they intend to do that? How are the authorities communicating this policy initiative to the public? Where’s Putin in all this, and what have the masses had to say about this momentous reform proposal? And what does an eight-year-old American girl think about all this?Catch up on Meduza's coverage of Russian pension reform here:*<a href="https://meduza.io/en/feature/2018/06/18/officials-vow-to-raise-the-retirement-age-the-kremlin-fears-protests-and-labor-unions-are-fuming-this-is-russia-s-pension-reform*https://meduza.io/en/cards/russia-is-raising-its-retirement-age-how-and-whyIf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://meduza.io/en/feature/2018/06/18/officials-vow-to-raise-the-retirement-age-the-kremlin-fears-protests-and-labor-unions-are-fuming-this-is-russia-s-pension-reform*https://meduza.io/en/cards/russia-is-raising-its-retirement-age-how-and-whyIf</a> you enjoy this podcast, please consider making a pledge at Patreon, where you can send Kevin money for all his grand efforts. Many thanks to the listeners already ponying up.https://<a href="http://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock</a><a href="https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support the show</a> (<a href="https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock</a>)

E49: Talking Russian Pension Reform With an 8-Year-Old

Kevin discusses three stories in this episode:A conspiracy theory says the FSB leaked a hacker's confession to incriminate the U.S. government in the DNC hack!https://meduza.io/en/feature/2017/12/12/new-information-about-russian-officials-orchestrating-the-dnc-hack-could-be-designed-to-pin-the-cyber-attack-on-the-u-s-governmentRelated to this story, see Ellen Nakashima's WaPo report:https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/court-document-points-to-kaspersky-labs-cooperation-with-russian-security-service/2017/12/13/14ba9450-df42-11e7-bbd0-9dfb2e37492a_story.html?tid=ss_tw&amp;utm_term=.5290e4ad429aThese religious traditionalists make for awful posterboys, if tolerance is your thing.https://meduza.io/en/feature/2017/12/11/a-moscow-university-student-is-attacked-and-forced-to-apologize-on-camera-for-offending-muslims-christians-and-all-women-by-criticizing-sexist-traditionsRussian media monitoring and censorship explained.https://meduza.io/en/feature/2017/12/13/a-hybrid-hunt-for-criminal-journalistsSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock)

Kevin discusses three stories in this episode:A conspiracy theory says the FSB leaked a hacker's confession to incriminate the U.S. government in the DNC hack!<a href="https://meduza.io/en/feature/2017/12/12/new-information-about-russian-officials-orchestrating-the-dnc-hack-could-be-designed-to-pin-the-cyber-attack-on-the-u-s-governmentRelated" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://meduza.io/en/feature/2017/12/12/new-information-about-russian-officials-orchestrating-the-dnc-hack-could-be-designed-to-pin-the-cyber-attack-on-the-u-s-governmentRelated</a> to this story, see Ellen Nakashima's WaPo report:<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/court-document-points-to-kaspersky-labs-cooperation-with-russian-security-service/2017/12/13/14ba9450-df42-11e7-bbd0-9dfb2e37492a_story.html?tid=ss_tw&amp;utm_term=.5290e4ad429aThese" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/court-document-points-to-kaspersky-labs-cooperation-with-russian-security-service/2017/12/13/14ba9450-df42-11e7-bbd0-9dfb2e37492a_story.html?tid=ss_tw&amp;utm_term=.5290e4ad429aThese</a> religious traditionalists make for awful posterboys, if tolerance is your thing.https://<a href="http://meduza.io/en/feature/2017/12/11/a-moscow-university-student-is-attacked-and-forced-to-apologize-on-camera-for-offending-muslims-christians-and-all-women-by-criticizing-sexist-traditionsRussian" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">meduza.io/en/feature/2017/12/11/a-moscow-university-student-is-attacked-and-forced-to-apologize-on-camera-for-offending-muslims-christians-and-all-women-by-criticizing-sexist-traditionsRussian</a> media monitoring and censorship explained.https://<a href="http://meduza.io/en/feature/2017/12/13/a-hybrid-hunt-for-criminal-journalists" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">meduza.io/en/feature/2017/12/13/a-hybrid-hunt-for-criminal-journalists</a><a href="https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support the show</a> (<a href="https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock</a>)

E16: False Flags! Treason! Hacker Conspiracy!

Yasha Levine

Today’s podcast guest is Yasha Levine, an investigative journalist and the author of the new book “Surveillance Valley: The Secret Military History of the Internet,” which offers a new look at the little-discussed genesis of the very thing that brings my voice to your ears: the Internet. What did Yasha and Kevin discuss? You guessed it: Russia’s block of Telegram. Some highlights:*The concepts of “national information security” and “digital sovereignty” *How we ought to know whom to trust when it comes to keeping our online correspondence private*The role American tech giants like Amazon, Google, and Apple are playing in the battle over Telegram*A bit of context to bear in mind when comparing and contrasting the online ecosystems in Russia and the United StatesYou can pick up a copy of Yasha’s book, “Surveillance Valley: The Secret Military History of the Internet,” here at Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/Surveillance-Valley-Military-History-Internet/dp/1610398025If you enjoy this podcast, consider pledging a little dough to help with sound recording, editing, and hosting costs:www.patreon.com/kevinrothrockSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock)

Today’s podcast guest is Yasha Levine, an investigative journalist and the author of the new book “Surveillance Valley: The Secret Military History of the Internet,” which offers a new look at the little-discussed genesis of the very thing that brings my voice to your ears: the Internet. What did Yasha and Kevin discuss? You guessed it: Russia’s block of Telegram. Some highlights:*The concepts of “national information security” and “digital sovereignty” *How we ought to know whom to trust when it comes to keeping our online correspondence private*The role American tech giants like Amazon, Google, and Apple are playing in the battle over Telegram*A bit of context to bear in mind when comparing and contrasting the online ecosystems in Russia and the United StatesYou can pick up a copy of Yasha’s book, “Surveillance Valley: The Secret Military History of the Internet,” here at Amazon:<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Surveillance-Valley-Military-History-Internet/dp/1610398025If" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.amazon.com/Surveillance-Valley-Military-History-Internet/dp/1610398025If</a> you enjoy this podcast, consider pledging a little dough to help with sound recording, editing, and hosting costs:<a href="http://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock</a><a href="https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support the show</a> (<a href="https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock</a>)

E38: Yasha Levine on Telegram

Neil Hauer

In this episode, Kevin spoke to Neil Hauer, an independent analyst and journalist based in Tbilisi, Georgia, who focuses on Syria, Russia, and the North Caucasus, to learn more about the chemical weapons attack in Syria that provoked the latest tensions between Washington and Moscow. He discussed evidence and the military situation that led us here, as well as Russia’s threat to shoot down American missiles fired at targets in Syria. Neil also talked about Russian personnel on the ground and the risks of U.S. bombs claiming Russian lives. Follow Neil Hauer on Twitter:https://twitter.com/NeilPHauerIf you enjoy this podcast, consider pledging a little dough to help with sound recording, editing, and hosting costs:www.patreon.com/kevinrothrockSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock)

In this episode, Kevin spoke to Neil Hauer, an independent analyst and journalist based in Tbilisi, Georgia, who focuses on Syria, Russia, and the North Caucasus, to learn more about the chemical weapons attack in Syria that provoked the latest tensions between Washington and Moscow. He discussed evidence and the military situation that led us here, as well as Russia’s threat to shoot down American missiles fired at targets in Syria. Neil also talked about Russian personnel on the ground and the risks of U.S. bombs claiming Russian lives. Follow Neil Hauer on Twitter:<a href="https://twitter.com/NeilPHauerIf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/NeilPHauerIf</a> you enjoy this podcast, consider pledging a little dough to help with sound recording, editing, and hosting costs:<a href="http://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock</a><a href="https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support the show</a> (<a href="https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock</a>)

E35: Neil Hauer on Russia in Syria

After several weeks of silence, Kevin is back with a look at Evgeny Prigozhin, “Putin's favorite chef,” to talk troll factory, procurement deals, and American shortsightedness. He's also going to gab about two very fine pieces of original reporting — one very long, and the other not as much.For background about Mr. Prigozhin:https://meduza.io/en/feature/2016/06/13/evgeny-prigozhin-s-right-to-be-forgottenFor a summary of Navalny's May 2017 research on Prigozhin's "cartel":https://themoscowtimes.com/news/navalny-unmasks-a-cartel-allegedly-earning-billions-in-defense-contracts-58049For Sasha Sulim's epic work on the North Caucasus:https://meduza.io/en/feature/2017/10/31/guilty-by-bloodFor Mikhail Danilovich's probing look at unprosecuted hate crimes against gay men in Russia:https://meduza.io/en/feature/2017/11/02/he-wasn-t-worthy-of-being-a-manSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock)

After several weeks of silence, Kevin is back with a look at Evgeny Prigozhin, “Putin's favorite chef,” to talk troll factory, procurement deals, and American shortsightedness. He's also going to gab about two very fine pieces of original reporting — one very long, and the other not as much.For background about Mr. Prigozhin:<a href="https://meduza.io/en/feature/2016/06/13/evgeny-prigozhin-s-right-to-be-forgottenFor" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://meduza.io/en/feature/2016/06/13/evgeny-prigozhin-s-right-to-be-forgottenFor</a> a summary of Navalny's May 2017 research on Prigozhin's "cartel":<a href="https://themoscowtimes.com/news/navalny-unmasks-a-cartel-allegedly-earning-billions-in-defense-contracts-58049For" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://themoscowtimes.com/news/navalny-unmasks-a-cartel-allegedly-earning-billions-in-defense-contracts-58049For</a> Sasha Sulim's epic work on the North Caucasus:<a href="https://meduza.io/en/feature/2017/10/31/guilty-by-bloodFor" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://meduza.io/en/feature/2017/10/31/guilty-by-bloodFor</a> Mikhail Danilovich's probing look at unprosecuted hate crimes against gay men in Russia:<a href="https://meduza.io/en/feature/2017/11/02/he-wasn-t-worthy-of-being-a-man" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://meduza.io/en/feature/2017/11/02/he-wasn-t-worthy-of-being-a-man</a><a href="https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support the show</a> (<a href="https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock</a>)

E12: Putin's Sandwich Buddy and Some Damn Good Reporting

Maria Baronova

Kevin's guest this week is Maria Baronova, a former opposition activist who now works for the state media network “Russia Today.” On this episode, Masha talks about her new job at “RT,” leaving the Russian opposition, and visiting the United States in the summer of 2018.Follow Baronova on Twitter here:https://twitter.com/ponny1Support this very podcast here:www.patreon.com/kevinrothrockMusic:Ну погоди, episode 14, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncHd3sxpEbo&amp;t=7sОлег Анофриев, Бременские музыканты, “Говорят, мы бяки-буки,” www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-3wC7gkMDQHenrik Lundkvist, “Kalinka on a Balalaika,” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hH5znHQ9QRYSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock)

Kevin's guest this week is Maria Baronova, a former opposition activist who now works for the state media network “Russia Today.” On this episode, Masha talks about her new job at “RT,” leaving the Russian opposition, and visiting the United States in the summer of 2018.Follow Baronova on Twitter here:<a href="https://twitter.com/ponny1Support" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/ponny1Support</a> this very podcast here:<a href="http://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrockMusic:Ну" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.patreon.com/kevinrothrockMusic:Ну</a> погоди, episode 14, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncHd3sxpEbo&amp;t=7sОлег" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncHd3sxpEbo&amp;t=7sОлег</a> Анофриев, Бременские музыканты, “Говорят, мы бяки-буки,” <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-3wC7gkMDQHenrik" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-3wC7gkMDQHenrik</a> Lundkvist, “Kalinka on a Balalaika,” <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hH5znHQ9QRY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hH5znHQ9QRY</a><a href="https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support the show</a> (<a href="https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock</a>)

E74: Maria Baronova on Leaving Russia's Opposition for ‘Russia Today’

Lincoln Pigman

Today's guest is Lincoln Pigman, a Master’s graduate student at Oxford University and a research fellow at the Foreign Policy Center. He’s written for The New York Times, The Washington Post, and many other outlets, usually about Russian cyberspace. About a year ago, he wrote an article in the Journal of Cyber Policy, titled “Russia’s Vision of Cyberspace: A Danger to Regime Security, Public Safety, and Societal Norms and Cohesion.”Follow Lincoln on Twitter here:https://twitter.com/lincolnpigmanSupport this very podcast here:www.patreon.com/kevinrothrockMusic and audio:Ну погоди, episode 14, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncHd3sxpEbo&amp;t=7sОлег Анофриев, Бременские музыканты, “Говорят, мы бяки-буки,” www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-3wC7gkMDQSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock)

Today's guest is Lincoln Pigman, a Master’s graduate student at Oxford University and a research fellow at the Foreign Policy Center. He’s written for The New York Times, The Washington Post, and many other outlets, usually about Russian cyberspace. About a year ago, he wrote an article in the Journal of Cyber Policy, titled “Russia’s Vision of Cyberspace: A Danger to Regime Security, Public Safety, and Societal Norms and Cohesion.”Follow Lincoln on Twitter here:<a href="https://twitter.com/lincolnpigmanSupport" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/lincolnpigmanSupport</a> this very podcast here:<a href="http://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrockMusic" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.patreon.com/kevinrothrockMusic</a> and audio:Ну погоди, episode 14, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncHd3sxpEbo&amp;t=7sОлег" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncHd3sxpEbo&amp;t=7sОлег</a> Анофриев, Бременские музыканты, “Говорят, мы бяки-буки,” <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-3wC7gkMDQ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-3wC7gkMDQ</a><a href="https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support the show</a> (<a href="https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock</a>)

E97: Lincoln Pigman on Russian Cybersecurity

Alina Polyakova

Today's guest is Alina Polyakova, a fellow at the Brookings Institution, an adjunct professor of European studies at Johns Hopkins University, and a specialist in far-right populism and nationalism, and Russian foreign policy.Alina and Kevin discussed who’s to blame for Donald Trump’s election, how you take a sociology doctorate and become a Washington think tank expert, and what life is like in the hustle and bustle of the American capital. She explained why she didn’t really like Keith Gessen’s “The Quiet Americans” piece in The New York Times Magazine this May, and talked about Washington’s lack of strategic thinking, when it comes to Russia.Follow Alina on Twitter here:https://twitter.com/apolyakovaAnd follow her work at the Brookings Institution here:https://www.brookings.edu/experts/alina-polyakova/Support this very podcast here:www.patreon.com/kevinrothrockMusic:“Polyushka Polye” by The Red Army Choir, www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2YlbiyiuMcОлег Анофриев, Бременские музыканты, “Говорят, мы бяки-буки,” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-3wC7gkMDQ“Your Health,” Soyuzmultfilm, 1965, Ivan Aksenchuk, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFKxyA81TtMSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock)

Today's guest is Alina Polyakova, a fellow at the Brookings Institution, an adjunct professor of European studies at Johns Hopkins University, and a specialist in far-right populism and nationalism, and Russian foreign policy.Alina and Kevin discussed who’s to blame for Donald Trump’s election, how you take a sociology doctorate and become a Washington think tank expert, and what life is like in the hustle and bustle of the American capital. She explained why she didn’t really like Keith Gessen’s “The Quiet Americans” piece in The New York Times Magazine this May, and talked about Washington’s lack of strategic thinking, when it comes to Russia.Follow Alina on Twitter here:<a href="https://twitter.com/apolyakovaAnd" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/apolyakovaAnd</a> follow her work at the Brookings Institution here:<a href="https://www.brookings.edu/experts/alina-polyakova/Support" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.brookings.edu/experts/alina-polyakova/Support</a> this very podcast here:<a href="http://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrockMusic:“Polyushka" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.patreon.com/kevinrothrockMusic:“Polyushka</a> Polye” by The Red Army Choir, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2YlbiyiuMcОлег" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2YlbiyiuMcОлег</a> Анофриев, Бременские музыканты, “Говорят, мы бяки-буки,” <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-3wC7gkMDQ“Your" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-3wC7gkMDQ“Your</a> Health,” Soyuzmultfilm, 1965, Ivan Aksenchuk, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFKxyA81TtM" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFKxyA81TtM</a><a href="https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support the show</a> (<a href="https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock</a>)

E62: Alina Polyakova on Life as a D.C. Think Tanker

Alexey Kovalev

Today’s show looks at a controversial new op-ed that appeared in The New York Times on Friday, March 29, 2019, titled “Russians Always Knew There Was No Collusion.” The subheader reads, “The Kremlin’s allies and its opponents alike have been baffled by America’s Russia obsession. Can we ever look at the U.S. the same way again?” Kevin speaks to the author of the text, Alexey Kovalev, the new investigations editor at Meduza and the author of many articles and op-eds in major news outlets, both in Russia and the West.Read the article here:https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/29/opinion/mueller-report-russia.htmlFollow Alexey on Twitter here:https://twitter.com/Alexey__KovalevSupport this very podcast here:www.patreon.com/kevinrothrockMusic:Ну погоди, episode 14, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncHd3sxpEbo&amp;t=7sОлег Анофриев, Бременские музыканты, “Говорят, мы бяки-буки,” www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-3wC7gkMDQHenrik Lundkvist, “Kalinka on a Balalaika,” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hH5znHQ9QRYSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock)

Today’s show looks at a controversial new op-ed that appeared in The New York Times on Friday, March 29, 2019, titled “Russians Always Knew There Was No Collusion.” The subheader reads, “The Kremlin’s allies and its opponents alike have been baffled by America’s Russia obsession. Can we ever look at the U.S. the same way again?” Kevin speaks to the author of the text, Alexey Kovalev, the new investigations editor at Meduza and the author of many articles and op-eds in major news outlets, both in Russia and the West.Read the article here:<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/29/opinion/mueller-report-russia.htmlFollow" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/29/opinion/mueller-report-russia.htmlFollow</a> Alexey on Twitter here:<a href="https://twitter.com/Alexey__KovalevSupport" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/Alexey__KovalevSupport</a> this very podcast here:<a href="http://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrockMusic:Ну" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.patreon.com/kevinrothrockMusic:Ну</a> погоди, episode 14, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncHd3sxpEbo&amp;t=7sОлег" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncHd3sxpEbo&amp;t=7sОлег</a> Анофриев, Бременские музыканты, “Говорят, мы бяки-буки,” <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-3wC7gkMDQHenrik" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-3wC7gkMDQHenrik</a> Lundkvist, “Kalinka on a Balalaika,” <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hH5znHQ9QRY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hH5znHQ9QRY</a><a href="https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support the show</a> (<a href="https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock</a>)

E72: Alexey Kovalev on ‘Russians Always Knew There Was No Collusion’

Ariel Cohen

Today's guest is Ariel Cohen, a scholar focusing on political risk, international security and energy policy, and the rule of law, working as a specialist on Russia, Eurasia, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East. He’s currently a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, the director of the Energy, Growth, and Security Program at the International Tax and Investment Center (which promotes tax reform and public-private initiatives to improve the investment climate in transition and developing economies), and he’s a columnist at Forbes.Ariel talked at length about growing up in the Soviet Union, and how his childhood experiences inform his thinking to this day, not just about Russia, but about human nature and geopolitics. And he discussed conditions in the U.S. foreign service these days, where he says the demise of regional studies has done serious damage. Also, he talked about how he came to political risk analysis.Follow Dr. Cohen on Twitter:https://twitter.com/Dr_Ariel_CohenSupport this very podcast here:www.patreon.com/kevinrothrockMusic and audio:Ну погоди, episode 14, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncHd3sxpEbo&amp;t=7sОлег Анофриев, Бременские музыканты, “Говорят, мы бяки-буки,” www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-3wC7gkMDQSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock)

Today's guest is Ariel Cohen, a scholar focusing on political risk, international security and energy policy, and the rule of law, working as a specialist on Russia, Eurasia, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East. He’s currently a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, the director of the Energy, Growth, and Security Program at the International Tax and Investment Center (which promotes tax reform and public-private initiatives to improve the investment climate in transition and developing economies), and he’s a columnist at Forbes.Ariel talked at length about growing up in the Soviet Union, and how his childhood experiences inform his thinking to this day, not just about Russia, but about human nature and geopolitics. And he discussed conditions in the U.S. foreign service these days, where he says the demise of regional studies has done serious damage. Also, he talked about how he came to political risk analysis.Follow Dr. Cohen on Twitter:<a href="https://twitter.com/Dr_Ariel_CohenSupport" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/Dr_Ariel_CohenSupport</a> this very podcast here:<a href="http://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrockMusic" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.patreon.com/kevinrothrockMusic</a> and audio:Ну погоди, episode 14, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncHd3sxpEbo&amp;t=7sОлег" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncHd3sxpEbo&amp;t=7sОлег</a> Анофриев, Бременские музыканты, “Говорят, мы бяки-буки,” <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-3wC7gkMDQ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-3wC7gkMDQ</a><a href="https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support the show</a> (<a href="https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock</a>)

E96: Ariel Cohen on Political Risk in Russia

Ivan Golunov

On today’s show, Kevin reads the full text of his translation of Meduza investigative journalist Ivan Golunov’s August 2018 report on corruption in Russia’s funeral industry. This is the journalism (plus a forthcoming part two) that got him arrested over the weekend and turned the country upside-down. Read the text at Meduza:https://meduza.io/en/feature/2019/06/12/coffins-graveyards-and-billions-of-dollars Chapter breakdowns:(5:33)ST. PETERSBURGA private security monopoly(8:21)VOLGOGRADThe “Pamyat” (Memory) Society(15:50)MOSCOWRituals and criminals(22:23)IN AND AROUND MOSCOW292 pairs of eyeballs for sale(26:42)MOSCOWAccess to death(30:36)RUSSIAA piece of land in Seychelles(34:08)MOSCOWGuardians of the graves(37:47)MOSCOW, TOLYATTI, AND OMSKSuicide at the cemetery(41:48)YEKATERINBURG“Dondiki” versus the President’s Office(44:19)RUSSIAThe activist from “Occupy-Pedophilia”(52:16)Finishing remarksSupport this very podcast here:www.patreon.com/kevinrothrockMusic:Ну погоди, episode 14, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncHd3sxpEbo&amp;t=7sОлег Анофриев, Бременские музыканты, “Говорят, мы бяки-буки,” www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-3wC7gkMDQ“Hedgehog in the Fog,” music by Mikhail Meyerovich, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jZ2G--y1hwSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock)

On today’s show, Kevin reads the full text of his translation of Meduza investigative journalist Ivan Golunov’s August 2018 report on corruption in Russia’s funeral industry. This is the journalism (plus a forthcoming part two) that got him arrested over the weekend and turned the country upside-down. Read the text at Meduza:<a href="https://meduza.io/en/feature/2019/06/12/coffins-graveyards-and-billions-of-dollars" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://meduza.io/en/feature/2019/06/12/coffins-graveyards-and-billions-of-dollars</a> Chapter breakdowns:(5:33)ST. PETERSBURGA private security monopoly(8:21)VOLGOGRADThe “Pamyat” (Memory) Society(15:50)MOSCOWRituals and criminals(22:23)IN AND AROUND MOSCOW292 pairs of eyeballs for sale(26:42)MOSCOWAccess to death(30:36)RUSSIAA piece of land in Seychelles(34:08)MOSCOWGuardians of the graves(37:47)MOSCOW, TOLYATTI, AND OMSKSuicide at the cemetery(41:48)YEKATERINBURG“Dondiki” versus the President’s Office(44:19)RUSSIAThe activist from “Occupy-Pedophilia”(52:16)Finishing remarksSupport this very podcast here:<a href="http://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrockMusic:Ну" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.patreon.com/kevinrothrockMusic:Ну</a> погоди, episode 14, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncHd3sxpEbo&amp;t=7sОлег" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncHd3sxpEbo&amp;t=7sОлег</a> Анофриев, Бременские музыканты, “Говорят, мы бяки-буки,” <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-3wC7gkMDQ“Hedgehog" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-3wC7gkMDQ“Hedgehog</a> in the Fog,” music by Mikhail Meyerovich, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jZ2G--y1hw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jZ2G--y1hw</a><a href="https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support the show</a> (<a href="https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock</a>)

E79: Ivan Golunov's Investigation Into Russia's Corrupt Funeral Business

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