Country of Dust

Country of Dust
  • 5.0 (37)
  • DOCUMENTARY
Country of Dust

A lot has been happening in Armenia: war, immigration, shifting alliances, a rising economy, and so much more. Country of Dust tells the stories of the people who are living through this important, in-between moment in Armenia’s history. We capture the odd, inspiring and perplexing ways in which Armenia keeps going, despite the odds.If you want support the show, donate here: https://www.paypal.me/CountryOfDust

Episodes

  1. Bonus episode: Something to do with Armenia

    1D AGO · BONUS

    Bonus episode: Something to do with Armenia

    Our podcast tells the stories of how Armenia is changing, but in this episode, we sat down to talk about how Armenia has changed each of us. Plus we have an announcement: We just launched a crowdfunding campaign for our second season! If you've enjoyed listening to our podcast so far, we'd really appreciate your support to keep making it happen. You can donate here: igg.me/at/countryofdust Support the show

    23 min
  2. Daughter of the crying man

    1D AGO

    Daughter of the crying man

    An unexpected VHS in a Toronto basement leads to finding a branch of the family that has been lost for 60 years, and uncovering the last Armenian village still surviving in Turkey. A multi-generational story told by producer Nyree Abrahamian.  Support the show

    42 min
  3. Special episode: My land feels so sweet, but it’s thirsty for blood

    10/03/2023 · BONUS

    Special episode: My land feels so sweet, but it’s thirsty for blood

    Gayane Milonyan, a mother of two, has just been forced to flee her home in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), along with over 100,000 people – the entire indigenous Armenian population left in the region after the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War. We spoke to Gayane a day after her arrival in Armenia about what she lost, what she survived, and how she survived it. Photo by Nanna Heitmann. Content warning: this episode contains descriptions of violence. If you’re looking for a place to donate to help alleviate the refugee crisis, here are some organizations that are working on the ground: All for Armenia https://allforarmenia.org/ World Central Kitchen https://donate.wck.org/give/522197/ Kooyrigs https://kooyrigs.org/ AGBU https://agbu.org/ Support the show

    29 min
  4. These bottles have a story

    08/30/2023

    These bottles have a story

    Wine has been part of Armenia’s story since the beginning, and it can be a bridge from its ancient history, to the Soviet era, to today. In our final episode of the season, we talk to Mariam Saghatelyan, co-owner of In Vino wine bar, about the resurgence of wine culture in Armenia. And we delve into the unexpected ways that uncorking a bottle of wine can connect you to the pulse of the country.  Support the show

    21 min
  5. Barev dzez, barev dzez

    08/22/2023

    Barev dzez, barev dzez

    After the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine, Armenia woke up with thousands of Russians moving here – escaping the draft, political crackdowns and economic uncertainty. Many of them were young creatives, a few dozen of whom ended up staying at an old Soviet factory in a small town in northern Armenia.  We spoke to Arseniy Zykhowski and Lisa Khoreva, two artists living there, about their journey to Armenia, the unlikely corner of the country they ended up in, and how it’s been going. Support the show

    26 min
  6. I’m just a designer

    08/15/2023

    I’m just a designer

    Ara Aslanyan designed one of the most iconic symbols of Armenia’s 2018 revolution - the dukhov hat. But he says he never cared about the movement, that he only wanted to make a successful design. When we spoke in 2022 he said, “I’m really out of politics. But if you need some services, as a professional, I'm there.” How did someone so apolitical end up creating the emblem of a revolution? Support the show

    27 min
  7. I want to believe

    08/08/2023

    I want to believe

    Mane Gevorgyan was Nikol Pashinyan’s press secretary during the most turbulent period of his premiership. She entered as part of a rockstar government, but after the war, she had to deal with all the frustration and anger directed at the administration. Mane’s story offers a glimpse into the complexities of post-war Armenia. Support the show

    26 min
  8. We shall prevail

    08/01/2023

    We shall prevail

    The nation’s hopes rose with the 2018 Velvet Revolution, then came crashing down during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War. Ruben Malayan is a calligrapher who not only lived through these ups and downs but, through his art, helped shape them.  Support the show

    25 min
  9. We don’t talk about the future

    07/25/2023

    We don’t talk about the future

    Ashot Gabrielyan moved to an isolated village in Artsakh to work as a teacher after the 2020 war. He has loved living there, but repeated aggressions from Azerbaijan have made everyday life in Artsakh more and more difficult. How can he plan for his future, when so much is uncertain? Support the show

    33 min
  10. Serving with a rifle, and then with a pen (Part 2)

    07/18/2023

    Serving with a rifle, and then with a pen (Part 2)

    In this episode, we delve deeper into Nikolay Stepanyan's personal journey during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War, and hear his remarkable story of survival. If you missed part 1 of Kolya’s story, go back and listen to the first episode before listening to this one.  Photo by Astrig Agopian Support the show

    24 min
  11. Serving with a rifle, and then with a pen (Part 1)

    07/11/2023

    Serving with a rifle, and then with a pen (Part 1)

    In our first episode, we introduce Nikolay Stepanyan, a young Armenian from Russia. We learn about the circumstances that shaped his life and that ultimately led him to become a soldier.  Photo by Astrig Agopian Support the show

    20 min
  12. Introduction: Armenia as a country of dust

    11/16/2022 · BONUS

    Introduction: Armenia as a country of dust

    Meet your hosts, listen to the poem that helped inspire our podcast, and hear why we think the best way to understand Armenia is by following the stories of the people who live here. Photo by Chris Natalie Support the show

    19 min
  • 12 Episodes

5
out of 5
37 Ratings

About

A lot has been happening in Armenia: war, immigration, shifting alliances, a rising economy, and so much more. Country of Dust tells the stories of the people who are living through this important, in-between moment in Armenia’s history. We capture the odd, inspiring and perplexing ways in which Armenia keeps going, despite the odds.If you want support the show, donate here: https://www.paypal.me/CountryOfDust

Information

  • Creator
    Country of Dust
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2025
  • Episodes
    12
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Country of Dust
  • Show Website
    Country of Dust

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