Rephonic
Artwork for Russian Roulette
Russia
Ukraine
Global South
Middle East
Arms Sales
CSIS
Alexei Navalny
Saudi Arabia
Azerbaijan
Africa
Wagner Group
Armenia
Israel
Iran
Havana Syndrome
Kremlin
GRU (main Intelligence Directorate Of the Russian Armed Forces)
United Nations
Colonialism
Turkey

Hosted by Max Bergmann and Dr. Maria Snegovaya of the Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program at CSIS, Russian Roulette explores the politics, history, and complex societies of Russia and Eurasia. Tune in for fascinating interviews and discussions on some of the biggest questions facing the broader post-Soviet space. Produced by Tina Dolbaia and Nick Fenton.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes144Founded9 years ago
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Artwork for Russian Roulette

Latest Episodes

Max and Maria spoke with Clayton Seigle about how new sanctions from the Trump administration could potentially impact Russian energy revenues. Additionally, they discussed the effects of Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian refineries.

This conversat... more

YouTube

Max and Maria spoke with Leah Kieff and Vlad Lupan about the outcomes of the recent Moldovan parliamentary elections at the end of September, and why they're significant for both Moldova, and the broader region.

This conversation was recorded on Oct... more

YouTube

Max sat down with Tina Dolbaia and Vasabjit Banerjee to talk about their new CSIS paper, "Guns and Oil: Continuity and Change in Russia-India Relations." They delve into the history of the Russia-India relationship, how it's been impacted by the full... more

YouTube

Max and Maria spoke with Stanford professor and former ambassador to Russia, Michael McFaul to talk about his latest book, and where things stand today in U.S.-Russia relations.

Pre-order Autocrats vs. Democrats: China, Russia, America, and the New ... more

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Recent Guests

Clayton Seigle
Senior Fellow and James R. Schlesinger Chair in Energy and Geopolitics with the CSIS Energy Security and Climate Change Program
Center for Strategic and International Studies
Episode: The Impact of New Sanctions and Ukrainian Deep Strikes on the Russian Energy Industry with Clayton Seigle
Leah Kieff
Senior Associate Non-Resident Fellow with CSIS Project on Prosperity and Development; works for global consulting firm ICF
ICF
Episode: The 2025 Moldovan Parliamentary Elections
Vlad Lupan
Adjunct professor at NYU; former Member of Parliament and Ambassador of Moldova to the UN
New York University
Episode: The 2025 Moldovan Parliamentary Elections
Dr. Vasabjit Banerjee
Assistant professor in the political science department at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, studying defense industrial policies and politics of South Asian states.
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Episode: The Russia-India Relationship with Tina Dolbaia and Vasabjit Banerjee
Tina Dolbaia
Associate fellow at the CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program, focusing on Russian foreign policy.
Center for Strategic International Studies
Episode: The Russia-India Relationship with Tina Dolbaia and Vasabjit Banerjee
Michael McFaul
Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia and Professor of Political Science at Stanford University
Stanford University
Episode: Michael McFaul on Trump, Putin, and Autocrats vs. Democrats
Harley Balzer
Professor emeritus of government and national affairs at Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Episode: Has Putinism Failed? A Conversation with Harley Balzer and Sergei Guriev
Richard Giragosian
Founding director of the Regional Study Center, RSC, an independent think tank in Yerevan, Armenia
Regional Study Center (RSC)
Episode: Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Geopolitics in the South Caucasus
Jeff Mankoff
Distinguished research fellow at the National Defense University's Institute for National Strategic Studies
National Defense University
Episode: Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Geopolitics in the South Caucasus

Hosts

Max Bergmann
Director of the Stuart Center and Europe-Russia Eurasia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), with a focus on policy analysis and geopolitical trends in Russia and Eurasia.
Dr. Maria Snegovaya
Senior Fellow for Russia and Eurasia at CSIS, specializing in the geopolitics of Russia and its relations with the West.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 282 ratings
  • September 2025

    My favorite part of the show is the theme music!

    I imagine Maria dancing to the music, Go-Go Style, in a 1960s mini-skirt!

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Geoplanter
    United Statesa month ago
  • Great analysis

    Good to hear the full background and insights that these analyst bring.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    >>l
    United Kingdom4 months ago
  • Anti putin anti trump

    Pro DC pro EU pro war

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    very funny and clever pod
    United Kingdom8 months ago
  • Great wisdom

    The informed and professional people on this show bring a high level of thoughtful discussion.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    QE Infinity
    United States8 months ago
  • Well-informed insightful analysis

    Excellent analysis, stellar panel of speakers with balanced and engaging hosts. One suggestion: in most analysis I miss the European Union as an agent on its own right. I understand that CSIS is an US based think-tank, but missing the EU’s views leaves the picture incomplete. Of course I am biased, working for one of the EU institutions… but still :-)

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Kihoyo
    Belgiuma year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

While many find the podcast essential for understanding Russia, some express concerns about audio quality and presentation styles.
The hosts are described as knowledgeable, bringing valuable perspectives to complex topics.
Listeners appreciate the in-depth analysis and insightful discussions on pressing geopolitical issues.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#187
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#126
Germany/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#212
Italy/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#61
Sweden/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#62
South Korea/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#76
Indonesia/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The 2025 Moldovan Parliamentary Elections
Q: What are the limits of pursuing liberal democratic procedures against foreign malign influence?
Moldova has not done this perfectly but has held free and fair elections despite foreign influence.
The 2025 Moldovan Parliamentary Elections
Q: How do you think Russia is going to react to the victory of Maia Sandu's party?
The Russian government will likely continue to attempt to undermine Moldova's political situation through various means.
The 2025 Moldovan Parliamentary Elections
Q: How do you see the situation unravel? Are there reasons to feel relieved or worried?
It is a relief that there were no significant disruptive actions following the elections, but the Russian government is likely to continue its disruptive tactics.
The 2025 Moldovan Parliamentary Elections
Q: What do you think this election means for Russia's influence?
The fear of Russian interference was well-founded, but there were no significant disruptions following the election.
Michael McFaul on Trump, Putin, and Autocrats vs. Democrats
Q: Do you still believe that the Obama-era reset policy was the correct course?
McFaul reflects critically on the reset, acknowledging it aimed for engagement but lacked a hedge strategy for failure.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Russian Roulette

What is Russian Roulette about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A prominent platform for discussing the intricacies of Russia and Eurasia, featuring in-depth discussions on political, historical, and societal dynamics in the region. The content includes insightful interviews and analyses of significant geopolitical events, especially surrounding the conflict in Ukraine and Russia's subsequent global implications. The focus is on expert commentary and informed perspectives that often connect historical context to present-day challenges, making it a valuable resource for those seeking to understand the complexities of these evolving societies.

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Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Russian Roulette. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Russian Roulette and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Russian Roulette get?

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How many subscribers and views does Russian Roulette have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Russian Roulette has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Russian Roulette?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Russian Roulette:

1. ChinaPower
2. Pekingology
3. War on the Rocks
4. In Moscow's Shadows
5. The Asia Chessboard

How many episodes of Russian Roulette are there?

Russian Roulette launched 9 years ago and published 144 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Russian Roulette?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Russian Roulette?

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What guests have appeared on Russian Roulette?

Recent guests on Russian Roulette include:

1. Clayton Seigle
2. Leah Kieff
3. Vlad Lupan
4. Dr. Vasabjit Banerjee
5. Tina Dolbaia
6. Michael McFaul
7. Harley Balzer
8. Richard Giragosian

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