Rephonic
Artwork for Thinking in Dark Times

Thinking in Dark Times

Volodymyr Yermolenko
Ukraine
Freedom
Philosophy
Russia
Russian Invasion
Democracy
Communism
Hannah Arendt
PEN Ukraine
Imperialism
Cultural Renaissance
Russian Imperialism
Totalitarianism
20th Century Ideas
Evil
Kherson
Colonialism
War
Autocracies, Incorporated
Critical Thinking

A philosophical and cultural podcast from Ukraine. By Volodymyr Yermolenko, Ukrainian philosopher and writer. I live and work in Ukraine, doing both intellectual and practical volunteering work in the context of the Russian invasion against Ukraine. I try to see the light through and despite the darkness. Support my work at: www.patreon.com/thinkinggg

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes25Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PhilosophySociety & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Thinking in Dark Times

Latest Episodes

She is not only a Nobel Peace Prize laureate. She is not only one of the most visible human-rights defenders in Europe in recent decades. She is not only a tireless activist with profound empathy for others. She is also a thinker — someone who reflec... more

Ukraine is not a burden for Europe — it’s a chance for Europe.

Today, European security is unthinkable without Ukraine. Ukraine has the strongest army in Europe, a dynamic defense industry, and citizens with vast military experience.

The real quest... more

In September 2025, in Kyiv, a prominent American historian Timothy Snyder received the Vasyl Stus Prize — a Ukrainian award honoring the name of Vasyl Stus, one of Ukraine’s greatest poets and dissidents of the 20th century, killed by the Soviet regi... more

SUPPORT this podcast: www.patreon.com/c/thinkinggg

***

Are all empires equally bad? If some were better than others, what criteria can we use to make such judgments? Why must we study networks, not only hierarchies, to understand our past,... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

In Moscow's Shadows
In Moscow's ShadowsMark Galeotti
The LRB Podcast
The LRB PodcastThe London Review of Books
Ones and Tooze
Ones and ToozeForeign Policy

Recent Guests

Oleksandra Matviychuk
Prominent Ukrainian human rights defender and head of the Center for Civil Liberties
Center for Civil Liberties
Episode: Nobel Laureate Oleksandra Matviychuk on Ukraine’s Moral Core
Yevhen Hlibovytskyi
Prominent Ukrainian intellectual and director of the Frontier Institute
Episode: Why Europe’s security depends on Ukraine - with Yevhen Hlibovytskyi
Yaroslav Hrytsak
One of Ukraine's leading historians and public intellectuals
Episode: Why Ukrainian History Matters Globally — with Yaroslav Hrytsak
Botakoz Kassymbekova
Renowned scholar of Eastern Europe and Central Asia, currently professor of Eastern European history at the University of Zurich
University of Zurich
Episode: Why colonialism is more complicated than you think - with Botakoz Kassymbekova
Joseph Stiglitz
Nobel Prize-winning economist and thinker
Episode: Nobel-Winning Economist Joseph Stiglitz on the Failures of Neoliberalism and Sanctions Against Russia
Marci Shore
An American intellectual and historian specializing in 20th century European intellectual history, particularly Hannah Arendt
University of Toronto
Episode: Hannah Arendt on evil: what can we learn from her today? - with Marci Shore
Peter Pomerantsev
Renowned scholar of propaganda and information warfare
Episode: How to win an information war? - with Peter Pomerantsev
Aman Sethi
Indian journalist and editor-in-chief of Open Democracy, an independent international media platform based in London
Open Democracy
Episode: Ukraine and Democracy in the Global World – with Aman Sethi
Anne Applebaum
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and political analyst
Episode: Anne Applebaum on Trump, Ukraine, and Russia

Host

Volodymyr Yermolenko
Ukrainian philosopher, chief editor of UkraineWorld, and president of PEN Ukraine with expertise in intellectual and philosophical discussions, particularly in the context of Ukraine's cultural and political landscape.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 20 ratings
  • Essential

    I discovered this podcast via ‘Affaires étrangères’ and found it extremely insightful. How do we want to be governed?

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bonneaventure99
    Ireland9 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Insightful exploration of crucial topics in contemporary society.
A unique perspective on Ukrainian history and culture in the context of current events.
Engaging discussions that resonate with a variety of informed audiences.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Why Europe’s security depends on Ukraine - with Yevhen Hlibovytskyi
Q: How do you view the recent military and political developments between the US and NATO countries?
Hlibovytskyi expresses concerns regarding NATO's credibility and the perception that European security is primarily Europe's responsibility, pointing out the necessity for a renewed political will to back up NATO's protective commitments, especially with Eastern European countries in peril.
Why Europe’s security depends on Ukraine - with Yevhen Hlibovytskyi
Q: What do you think about the security structure of Europe and how does Ukraine fit into this context?
Yevhen Hlibovytskyi outlines that Ukraine's role is crucial as a security provider for Europe, suggesting that a transformation in the EU's integration strategy must reflect this reality, particularly in light of Russian aggression. He emphasizes the need for Europe to adapt to a context where security cannot be taken for granted.
Why Ukrainian History Matters Globally — with Yaroslav Hrytsak
Q: What can other nations learn from the global significance of Ukrainian history?
Other nations can learn about resilience and the emergence of democratic values in the face of autocratic suppression.
Why Ukrainian History Matters Globally — with Yaroslav Hrytsak
Q: What elements make Ukrainian history interesting to the wider world?
Ukrainian history serves as a significant lens through which to examine global crises, particularly in the context of global wars and imperialism.
Why colonialism is more complicated than you think - with Botakoz Kassymbekova
Q: What were the imperial and colonial practices inside the Soviet Union?
The Soviet Empire engaged in practices akin to colonialism, often using propaganda to disguise its control over various nations.

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 Thinking in Dark Times

What is Thinking in Dark Times about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The content encompasses a wide range of philosophical and cultural discussions, primarily focused on themes of nationalism, democracy, and the historical context of Ukraine, particularly regarding its relationship with Russia and the complexities of colonialism. Listeners can expect to engage with diverse intellectual perspectives from notable guests, including historians, economists, and political analysts, who explore pressing global issues through a Ukrainian lens, often reflecting on the ongoing impacts of conflict and the evolution of identity in times of crisis. The discussions frequently address the interplay between personal narratives and broader societal questions, presenting a unique blend of academic rigor and accessibility that... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Thinking in Dark Times?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Thinking in Dark Times. 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 Thinking in Dark Times and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Thinking in Dark Times get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Thinking in Dark Times, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Thinking in Dark Times?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Thinking in Dark Times, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Thinking in Dark Times have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Thinking in Dark Times 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 Thinking in Dark Times?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Thinking in Dark Times:

1. In Moscow's Shadows
2. The David Frum Show
3. The LRB Podcast
4. Making Sense with Sam Harris
5. Ones and Tooze

How many episodes of Thinking in Dark Times are there?

Thinking in Dark Times launched a year ago and published 25 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 Thinking in Dark Times?

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 Thinking in Dark Times?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Thinking in Dark Times from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Thinking in Dark Times?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Thinking in Dark Times. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Thinking in Dark Times?

Recent guests on Thinking in Dark Times include:

1. Oleksandra Matviychuk
2. Yevhen Hlibovytskyi
3. Yaroslav Hrytsak
4. Botakoz Kassymbekova
5. Joseph Stiglitz
6. Marci Shore
7. Peter Pomerantsev
8. Aman Sethi

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days