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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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes372Founded14 years ago
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Society & CultureHistory

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Artwork for The Eurasian Knot

Latest Episodes

Over the last century, tens of millions of people quit Eastern Europe for the United States. The push-pull factors were many—war, poverty, instability, persecution at home and opportunity, refuge, and liberty abroad. But manna didn’t simply fall from... more

The Georgian Democratic Republic lasted a mere three years, from 1918-1921. And though it was viewed as an oddity at the time, many European social democrats marveled at its possibilities. Here was a state committed to social democracy in a mostly ba... more

Everyone has an opinion about the late Russian historian Richard Pipes. Some loved him. Many hated him. He was a conservative and anti-communist. A hardliner on American policy toward the Soviet Union. Some would even say he was a Russophobe and cult... more

Marc Bennets has been reporting from Russia for over two decades. He’s covered Putin’s rise and consolidation of power, assassinations of oppositionists, mass protests, daily life, and even Russian football. It’s a storied career filled with zipping ... more

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Recent Guests

Jonathan Daly
Historian; Professor of Russian, European and World History at the University of Illinois Chicago
University of Illinois Chicago
Episode: The Man Who Knew Russia
Mikhail Fishman
One of Russia's leading independent journalists, liberal thinker, and political commentator
Author of The Successor, Boris Nemtsov, Vladimir Putin, and The Decline of Modern Russia
Episode: Boris Nemtsov
Pietro A. Shakarian
Historian of Russia and the Soviet Union; Lecturer at the American University of Armenia in Yerevan; Author of a book on Mikoyan
American University of Armenia; Indiana University Press
Episode: Anastas Mikoyan
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
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

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 456 ratings
  • Shame about the TDS

    I mean I listen because the interviews are very interesting so it’s a shame about the continual political signalling.

    Not sure what the female co-host brings. Today she proudly announced she didn’t have ANY conservative friends. It seemed very strange. Is this just a given in academia these days? Why is she so happy with herself for this? It’s such an immature and intellectually limiting attitude to cosset yourself with only those who you agree with politically.

    The interview in the same e... more

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Mribbo675744
    United Kingdom15 days ago
  • 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 States3 months ago
  • Good information but why the potty-mouth talk?

    Podcast Addict
    3
    gzolson2000@yahoo.com
    5 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 States5 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
    Italy6 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
#225
Germany/History
Apple Podcasts
#165
India/History
Apple Podcasts
#194
Austria/History
Apple Podcasts
#196
Poland/History
Apple Podcasts
#215
Ukraine/History
Apple Podcasts
#240
Russia/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Anastas Mikoyan
Q: What are some of Mikoyan's key contributions during the thaw?
Mikoyan pushed for rehabilitation of political prisoners, advocated nationalities reform, opposed coercive assimilation, and supported decentralization within the union, shaping the post-Stalin policy landscape.
Anastas Mikoyan
Q: What drew you to Mikoyan?
The interviewer explains a long-standing interest in the history of Soviet Armenia and personal family connections, while the guest emphasizes Mikoyan's dual identity as Armenian within the Soviet system and his role in the thaw and de-Stalinization.
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.

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 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. War on the Rocks
4. The LRB Podcast
5. Ones and Tooze

How many episodes of The Eurasian Knot are there?

The Eurasian Knot launched 14 years ago and published 372 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. Jonathan Daly
2. Mikhail Fishman
3. Pietro A. Shakarian
4. Harriet Murav
5. Alena Ledeneva
6. Sarah Phillips
7. Mikhail Minakov
8. Eric Lee

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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