Post-Soviet Files

Janos

Ever wanted to learn about the culture and history of Central/Eastern Europe? You've come to the right place. Substack link: https://www.eurodreampod.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 20 HR AGO

    The Soviet Rock Legend, Gone Too Soon

    The band KINO and its lead singer Viktor Tsoi are legends of the Soviet rock scene. Many say that Viktor left the world too soon, yet his music is beloved by millions around the globe today. This episode seeks to examine his rise to fame and the environment in which KINO operated. The Soviet Union had long held a contentious relationship with the music industry, for many decades most music which was widely released had to have explicit state backing in one way or another. Viktor Tsoi was born in 1952, and passed away in 1990 one year prior to the formal dissolution of the USSR. His legacy and music 30 years later resonate with people across borders. KINO's first album: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lK355IQmm7I&list=RDlK355IQmm7I&start_radio=1 Omnistar East is a channel which has repurposed many old USSR era songs into music video style productions. Below is a link to one of their works featuring KINO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYC1tMk0ZrY&list=RDzYC1tMk0ZrY&start_radio=1 Thank you again for subscribing to the Post Soviet Files Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    18 min

  2. 24 JAN

    Lithuania Isn't Erasing History

    Central Eastern Europe is full of statues memorializing kings, poets, and the victims of war. The Baltic States especially since the collapse of the USSR have been trying to assert their national identity after decades of systematic attempts to erase their language and culture. Soviet monuments have been controversial in the region since the collapse in 1991. Today, the host James Orban discusses a recent issue with these statues and how they are fundamentally different from someone paying respect to the war dead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    20 min

  3. 18 JAN

    Soviet Engineering Wasn't Always Terrible

    The USSR had a much different philosophy with regard to the profession of engineering. In today's episode we explore in brief a history of how the profession was viewed by the state, why it was promoted so heavily, and how the social position of engineers evolved over time. Now, whether it was objectively "better" is a different question. TRemember to follow the Post Soviet Files wherever you listen! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    18 min

  4. 11 JAN

    The Surprising Origin of Estonia's Tech Revolution

    Estonia is a country that punches way above its weight. In NATO, they are known as being experts in cyber security, while in the business world numerous major start-ups and tech companies emerged from the Baltic country. The origin of this technological prowess is often said to be in the 1990s when Estonia found itself free from occupation by the USSR. The reality, however, is much more interesting and stems from that very Soviet planned system. It developed within Estonia an appetite for systems-driven thinking we see only in a few other nations. Host James Orban explores this history and how it has imacted Estonia today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    17 min

  5. 28/12/2025

    Did the Soviets Steal Christmas?

    The USSR lasted for over 80 years, and how the state treated religio varied over time. One big way this happened was through public holidays, and especially holidays centered on religion. Host James Orban breaks down how the USSR treated Christmas, shifting the date and trappings to New Years. This is a much shorter episode than usual, here's to a happy new year! Thank you all for the continue support this year Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    8 min

  6. 21/12/2025

    the Death of Russian as a Lingua Franca?

    For centuries, Russia has held cultural and economic pull for people across Central Asia, the Caucasus, and Eastern Europe. In the 2020s this seems to be changing, ot just due to the war in Ukraine. Geopolitical winds are changing, and even as the US is arguably in decline the Russian language too faces an uncertain situation. Many countries once occupied/governed by Moscow are turning to English or Mandarin education, while the Baltic States do everything they can to distance themselves in an effort to revitalize local languages. Host James orban gives an overview of the situation in 3 regions once governed directly from Moscow. WIll Russian ever truly go away as a lingua franca? It depends. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    20 min

  7. 07/12/2025

    The Ornate Soviet Metro Never Built

    In the Soviet Union, having a metro system in your city was a real status symbol. In most cities this would be good news, a sign their city was on the rise. Latvia's capital Riga was scheduled to have a metro built in the late 1980s as the population swelled to over 900,000. Early plans called for murals and marble ceilings, new rolling stock to rival that of Moscow and St. Petersburg, but this opulence masked the concerns of local residents. Many thought the metro would displace more local Latvians, making them a minority population in their own SSR, many worried about the ecological and environmental impact of such a project. In today's episode host James Orban examines the history and impact of this project, its rise and fall in the span of less than a decade. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    17 min

  8. 30/11/2025

    Russia's Most Unique Literary Genre

    All cultures have some form of "second world fiction", where a character enters another world. Japan's "isrkai" light novel industry and web fiction are what most people think of, but the post-Soviet sphere and particularly Russian speaking world has its own formof these stories. On this episode I discuss the origins of this genre, how it differs from Japanese light novels, and the unique sub-genre that centers on the experiences of former Soviet leader Josef Stalin. Don't forget to subscribe and share this episode around if you enjoyed it1 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    14 min
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About

Ever wanted to learn about the culture and history of Central/Eastern Europe? You've come to the right place. Substack link: https://www.eurodreampod.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Janos
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Brian Smelzer
  • Show Website
    Post-Soviet Files