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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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes366Founded13 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HistorySociety & Culture

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Artwork for The Eurasian Knot

Latest Episodes

I met the graphic artist, Victoria Lomasko, about 10 years ago when she was a resident at the City of Asylum in Pittsburgh. I emceed an event with her back then. So I was happy when Victoria recently returned to the city to give a few talks at the Un... more

When I opened Facebook this morning, as I do every morning, I learned that Alexander Rabinowitch died at 91 years old. Rabinowitch was arguably one of the most important historians of the Russian Revolution. It's hard to state how much Rabinowitch's ... more

How Stalin personally ran the Soviet Union has rightly received much attention. Less discussed is the small group of men that served as his top lieutenants. They  carried out his orders, and after his death, were instrumental in establishing the post... more

It has long been assumed that there was no Holocaust memory in the Soviet Union. Official Soviet ideology lumped the 1.5 million Soviet Jews exterminated by the Nazis into the 26 million Soviet war deaths. So, the little Holocaust memory that existed... more

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Recent Guests

Harriet Murav
Center for Advanced Study Professor Emerita, University of Illinois
University of Illinois
Episode: Soviet Holocaust Literature
Alena Ledeneva
Professor of Politics and Society at University College London; founder of the Global Informality Project
University College London (UCL)
Episode: The Russian Paradox
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

Hosts

Sean Guillory
Host with deep expertise in Eurasian history and regional politics
Rusana Novikova
Co-host with focus on Eurasian studies and interview moderation

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 451 ratings
  • Great info and podcast - lacks objectivity at times

    As a years-long “In Moscows Shadows” listener, getting into this show took a little time. Their approach to the shows opening is different, but slowly grew on me. I love the passion that Rusana & Sean have for this field and topic and the hard work they put into this show. My only gripe is that sometimes their STRONG political bias takes center-stage and spirals in that direction, this tends to undermine the overall fact-based feel of the show. Wish there was more acknowledgment that peoples lif... more

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Johnboi1234
    United States2 months ago
  • 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 States4 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
    Italy5 months ago
  • Essential listening

    Very engaging podcast! 11/10

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Laika917
    United Kingdom5 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise the show's depth and rigor, calling it a standout for Eurasian history.
Prospective guests note the hosts' thoughtful, challenging interview style.
The production is often described as accessible yet academically rigorous, with high-quality guests.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#200
Finland/History
Apple Podcasts
#222
Russia/History
Apple Podcasts
#230
India/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Soviet Holocaust Literature
Q: Did you use existing Russian translations to inform your translations, and how did that influence your work?
Yes, Russian translations were consulted as a guide in tonal decisions and to understand ambiguous elements, but the final English translation aimed to stay faithful to the original Yiddish or Russian texts while preserving voice.
Soviet Holocaust Literature
Q: How did you decide which stories to translate and publish?
The decision was guided by literary quality, readability outside a classroom setting, and the potential for readers to engage with the stories in a living way, rather than a strictly didactic purpose.
The Russian Paradox
Q: Could you tell us more how the paradoxes relate to your analysis of Russia?
Ledeneva explains that paradoxes serve as entry points to uncover the hidden, yet familiar, informal practices that solve everyday problems, and she uses them to distill patterns that recur across societies, not just in Russia.
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.

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 The Eurasian Knot

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

The show offers in-depth conversations on Eurasian history, politics, culture, and current affairs, blending scholarly interviews with accessible storytelling. Across episodes, listeners hear rigorous explorations of Soviet and post-Soviet society, imperial legacies, and regional geopolitics, illuminated by field pieces, archival discoveries, and thoughtful host-curated questions. Notable strengths include a steady emphasis on primary-source context, cross-disciplinary insights from historians, political scientists, and area specialists, and a dynamic two-host format that balances scholarly rigor with engaging banter and personal anecdotes. This combination makes it a strong fit for audiences craving long-form, intellectually rich discussio... 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. The Eastern Border
4. War on the Rocks
5. ChinaTalk

How many episodes of The Eurasian Knot are there?

The Eurasian Knot launched 13 years ago and published 366 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. Harriet Murav
2. Alena Ledeneva
3. Sarah Phillips
4. Mikhail Minakov
5. Stefano Bottoni
6. Eric Lee
7. Dave Zirin
8. Stephen Sabol

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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