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Artwork for Turan Tales
Central Asia
Uzbekistan
Kazakhstan
Tajikistan
Kyrgyzstan
Turkmenistan
Russia
China
Women's Rights
Shavkat Mirziyoyev
Emomali Rahmon
Kloop
Soviet Union
Almaty
Gulnara Karimova
Dariga Nazarbayeva
Oguljahan Atabayeva
Press Freedom Index
Astana
Ukraine

Turan Tales is a weekly podcast covering underreported stories of people, politics and social change in Central Asia by journalist and author Agnieszka Pikulicka turantales.substack.com

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes56Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsSociety & Culture

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Latest Episodes

China’s presence is increasingly visible across Central Asia. Chinese-made electric vehicles are becoming more common on the roads, Chinese companies are investing in the local markets, and more young people are choosing to study in China.

Yet resea... more

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Tajikistan has emerged as a leading advocate for global water cooperation. Yet as the water crisis worsens across Central Asia and beyond, finding solutions has become increasingly urgent.

Get full access to Turan Tales at turantales.substack.com/s... more

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In the last interview before the summer break, we speak with Bagila Bukharbaeva, the author of The Vanishing Generation: Faith and Uprising in Modern Uzbekistan. We discuss Uzbekistan’s turn toward religion, unpack the events that led to the Andijan ... more

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This week, we discuss the craft of akyns and aitysh, their poetic duels. We look into the history of this art form, its historical functions, and how these have changed during the Soviet era and since the collapse of the USSR. We also examine the soc... more

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Recent Guests

Ed Lemon
Co-author of Backlash, China's Struggle for Influence in Central Asia
Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs; Texas A&M University
Episode: Episode 44: Why does China have an image problem in Central Asia?
Dilarom Kayumova
Medical doctor and climate change researcher; co-leader in Glacier Research Center discussions
Association of Women Studying Glaciers / Tajikistan
Episode: Can Tajikistan fix Central Asia’s water crisis?
Lander Van Tricht
Postdoctoral scientist specializing in glacier modelling
ETH Zurich
Episode: Can Tajikistan fix Central Asia’s water crisis?
Jennifer Sering
Head of the water governance department
IHE Delft Institute for Water Education
Episode: Can Tajikistan fix Central Asia’s water crisis?
Andres Racalde
Health and safety manager
Webuild Group (on-site at Rogun)
Episode: Can Tajikistan fix Central Asia’s water crisis?
Umumali Rahman
President mentioned in context of dam project site and political oversight
President (Central Asia)
Episode: Can Tajikistan fix Central Asia’s water crisis?
Bagila Bukharbaeva
Uzbek journalist and author of The Vanishing Generation
Author, The Vanishing Generation
Episode: Episode 43: Has Islam ever posed a threat to the Uzbek state?
Akylai Otkulbek-Kizy
Researcher focusing on Aytish as living civic and epistemological practice
University/Researcher (as discussed)
Episode: Episode 42: Why Central Asia still needs akyns - the poets who speak truth to power
Gulzat Botoeva
associate professor of criminology at Swansea University
Swansea University
Episode: Episode 41: Hashish and survival in rural Kyrgyzstan

Host

Agnieszka Pikulicka-Wilczewska
Host of Turan Tales

Chart Rankings

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Apple Podcasts
#67
Poland/News

Talking Points

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Episode 44: Why does China have an image problem in Central Asia?
Q: How has China responded to backlash to improve its image in Central Asia?
Beijing has pursued a multi-pronged soft power strategy—expanding cultural and educational exchanges, increasing Chinese-language media presence, building higher-value local investments like LuBan workshops, and promoting a narrative of mutual benefit and development—though structural criticisms about labor, environment, debt, and political governance persist.
Episode 44: Why does China have an image problem in Central Asia?
Q: What sort of resistance to Chinese influence in Central Asia have you observed over the course of your work?
Listeners learn that resistance comes from a spectrum of concerns—from territorial anxieties and land use to ecological damage, labor practices, rising migration, and anxieties about Xinjiang-related policies—though not everyone dislikes China and perceptions vary by country and community.
Episode 41: Hashish and survival in rural Kyrgyzstan
Q: What does the situation look like now when it comes to harvesting hashish and selling hashish?
By the later period, police raids increased and the practice became more restricted; fewer people and more men traveling to fields changed the dynamics, with some professionals emerging while others stopped, and communities still relying seasonally on hashish for income.
Episode 41: Hashish and survival in rural Kyrgyzstan
Q: So, how did the cultivation of cannabis for illicit profit begin?
Cannabis harvesting in Issyk-Kul was mostly a harvesting activity rather than large-scale cultivation; most people collected wild or readily available plant material and sold it, often because of economic desperation after the 1990s transformations.
Episode 40: Abdulla Qodiriy's "Bygone Days" and the fight for intellectual property rights
Q: Why pursue the IP case, and what does this mean for Uzbekistan's future creative economy?
To push for accountability and to establish a precedent that protects translators and authors; the case highlights the need for robust IP enforcement and transparent, fair treatment of rights holders as Uzbekistan seeks to attract investment and cultural exchange.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Turan Tales

What is Turan Tales about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show consistently explores underreported or overlooked stories from Central Asia, spanning politics, culture, society, and regional geopolitics. Episodes commonly unpack long-running issues such as water governance and cross-border cooperation, religious and social dynamics, censorship and freedom of expression, and the cultural legacies that shape contemporary life—from Akyns and Tengriism to cinema, literature, and diaspora experiences. A recurring strength is blending on-the-ground reporting with academic and expert perspectives, creating nuance around how history, policy, and everyday life intersect in Central Asia. The format often interleaves personal narratives with scholarly analysis, highlighting how local communities navigate ... more

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1. CAPS Unlock Podcast
2. The Red Line
3. In Moscow's Shadows

How many episodes of Turan Tales are there?

Turan Tales launched a year ago and published 56 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 Turan Tales?

Recent guests on Turan Tales include:

1. Ed Lemon
2. Dilarom Kayumova
3. Lander Van Tricht
4. Jennifer Sering
5. Andres Racalde
6. Umumali Rahman
7. Bagila Bukharbaeva
8. Akylai Otkulbek-Kizy

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