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Artwork for The Eurasian Knot

The Eurasian Knot

The Eurasian Knot
Soviet Union
Ukraine
Cold War
Russia
Russian History
Climate Change
Migration
Communism
Cultural Identity
World War II
Eurasia
Russian Revolution
Post-Soviet Russia
Stalinism
Russians In Latvia
Russian-Speaking Latvians
Donbas
Ukraine War
Sound Studies
Sesame Street

To many, Russia, and the wider Eurasia, is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma. But it doesn’t have to be. The Eurasian Knot dispels the stereotypes and myths about the region with lively and informative interviews on Eurasia’s complex past, present, and future. New episodes drop weekly with an eclectic mix of topics from punk rock to Putin, and everything in-between. Subscribe on you... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes364Founded13 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureHistory

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Artwork for The Eurasian Knot

Latest Episodes

Many studies focus on how Russia doesn’t work and why. There’s a laundry list of reasons. Corruption. Autocracy. Imperialism. Exceptionalism. But, how, then, does Russia work? Because there are people, a state, and society. What greases the wheels? A... more

I went through my Kurt Vonnegut phase in my late teens. I read Player Piano, Cat’s Cradle, I think, Deadeye Dick, and of course, Slaughterhouse Five. I can’t say I remember much from those novels. Nor can I recall why Vonnegut connected with me. Perh... more

The Eurasian Knot hasn’t featured many philosophers. So, when Ukrainian political philosopher, Mikhail Minakov, came to the University of Pittsburgh to give a talk, I eagerly pulled him into a studio. The result was a wide-ranging conversation on the... more

On April 12, 2026, Hungarians overwhelmingly voted Peter Magyar into office ending the sixteen-year rule of Viktor Orban. It was a stunning victory that sent voters into the streets to celebrate. Now, observers are looking to see whether Magyar will ... more

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Recent Guests

Sarah Phillips
Professor of anthropology at Indiana University Bloomington
Indiana University Bloomington
Episode: Kurt Vonnegut in the USSR
Mikhail Minakov
Political philosopher
Kiev/Milan; PhD focus on post-Soviet subjectivity
Episode: The Post-Soviet Human Condition
Stefano Bottoni
Associate professor at the University of Florence; author of The Orbán Enigma
University of Florence
Episode: Bye, Bye Orban
Eric Lee
Author, journalist, and historian; author of The August Uprising, 1924
McFarland Publishers
Episode: The Georgian August 1924 Uprising
Dave Zirin
Sports editor at The Nation, author and host of The Edge of Sports podcast
The Nation
Episode: The Edge of Sports
Stephen Sabol
Associate Professor of History, specializing in the history of Russia and Central Asia, imperialism and colonialism, and the American West
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Episode: Russian and American Internal Colonization
Jeremy Morris
Professor of Global Studies at Aarhus University, Denmark; author of Everyday Politics in Russia, From Resentment to Resistance
Aarhus University
Episode: Everyday Politics in Russia
William Jay Risch
Professor of History at Georgia College; author of Ukraine's Euromaidan, From Revolutionary Euphoria to the Madness of War
Georgia College
Episode: Ukraine's Euromaidan
Irina Roldugina
Leverholm Early Career Fellow in the School of Modern Languages at the University of Bristol
University of Bristol
Episode: KGB Same-Sex Honey Traps

Hosts

Sean Guillory
Co-host and interviewer focusing on Eurasian history and culture; long-running host of the show.
Rusana Novikova
Co-host who conducts interviews and provides historical insights; regular presence alongside the lead host.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 448 ratings
  • Good information but why the potty-mouth talk?

    Podcast Addict
    3
    gzolson2000@yahoo.com
    3 months ago
  • Excellent and accessible

    The podcast is truly a gem. Two interesting hosts passionate and extremely knowledgable about Russia and the Soviet Period, with fascinating and engaging guests! Please give it a listen, if you are at all interested in Russian history it is a massive treat!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Maxtonator
    United States3 months ago
  • One of the best

    One of the best podcasts out there. I’m addicted to podcasts and I listen to many episodes every week but this is definitely one of the best. One never gets bored. Incredible topics every time and excellent hosts. Thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Laura Inn
    Italy4 months ago
  • Essential listening

    Very engaging podcast! 11/10

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Laika917
    United Kingdom4 months ago
  • Exceptional academic podcast

    There used to be more shows like this around. Deep and thoughtful dives into a very specific topic with academic rigor instead of just too dummies talking about their interests. Love the show

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Dr. Wombat, Orthopedist M.D.
    United States6 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Fans appreciate the balance of archival history and contemporary relevance.
Listeners praise breadth of topics and high knowledge level of guests and hosts.
Shows consistently deliver deep, scholarly conversations with expert guests.
Hosts pair strong journalism with rigorous scholarship and engaging interview style.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#190
Italy/History
Apple Podcasts
#155
South Korea/History
Apple Podcasts
#175
Saudi Arabia/History
Apple Podcasts
#180
Norway/History
Apple Podcasts
#231
Finland/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Kurt Vonnegut in the USSR
Q: What role did censorship play in presenting Vonnegut to Soviet readers?
Censorship involved political trimming and puritanical edits focused on sex and bodies; editors and translators navigated two major strands of censorship, while paratexts framed the text within ideologically acceptable interpretations.
Kurt Vonnegut in the USSR
Q: How did Vonnegut become known in the Soviet Union?
Through Rita Rait-Kovaleva's translations starting in the 1960s, aided by a network of translators and editors who navigated censorship and paratexts, and by a university-driven interest in translating Western literature into Russian.
Russian and American Internal Colonization
Q: How did myths of civilization and imagery of the noble savage influence national identities in the United States and Russia during this period?
Myths framed expansion as a civilizing mission, shaping national self-images: Americans celebrated the pioneer as civilizing conqueror, while Russians framed imperial success through settlement and governance, influencing how each nation narrates its own history.
Russian and American Internal Colonization
Q: What role did the Sioux and Kazakhs play as case studies, and why were they selected for this comparative project?
They were major nomadic populations whose territories intersected with expanding settler populations, providing clear contrasts in how two continental empires managed frontier spaces and engaged with nomadic societies.
Russian and American Internal Colonization
Q: So your book compares the continental empires of the United States and Russia; how do you define colonization in this context given their different geographies and political vocabularies?
Colonization in this context refers to the expansion, settlement, and incorporation of land and peoples into a governing framework, where the U.S. tended toward civilian administration and assimilationist aims, while Russia relied more on military governance and indirect imperial control over vast territories.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Eurasian Knot

What is The Eurasian Knot about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show offers in-depth conversations centered on Eurasian history, culture, and geopolitics, often anchored by scholarly guests and seasoned interviewers. Episodes frequently explore Soviet-era history, U.S.-Russia relations, Turkish and Central European contexts, and the cultural currents shaping contemporary Eurasia, with a balance of archival insights and contemporary analysis. A standout aspect is the strong scholarly rigor paired with accessible storytelling, plus a recurring dynamic between two hosts that blends history nerd energy with thoughtful engagement with experts. Listeners who enjoy long-form, topic-specific explorations with nuanced perspectives on identity, memory, and power in Eurasia will likely find it especially engag... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Eurasian Knot?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Eurasian Knot:

1. In Moscow's Shadows
2. Russian Roulette
3. War on the Rocks
4. Behind the News with Doug Henwood
5. In Our Time

How many episodes of The Eurasian Knot are there?

The Eurasian Knot launched 13 years ago and published 364 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Eurasian Knot?

Recent guests on The Eurasian Knot include:

1. Sarah Phillips
2. Mikhail Minakov
3. Stefano Bottoni
4. Eric Lee
5. Dave Zirin
6. Stephen Sabol
7. Jeremy Morris
8. William Jay Risch

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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