Country of Dust Country of Dust
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- Society & Culture
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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/jeremydalmas
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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/countryofdustSupport the Show.
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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. Content warning: this episode contains descriptions of violence.If you’re looking for a place to donate to help alleviate the refugee crisis, he...
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Episode 8: 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.
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Episode 7: 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 t...
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Episode 6: 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.
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Episode 5: 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.
Customer Reviews
Listening in on conversations with friends
This wonderful podcast feels like I’m sitting with my friends around a table, listening as they discuss difficult topics soberly, respectfully and with love and hope. I’m grappling with these topics for years too, but I’m grateful for the podcast’s respect and grace on how they are approached. The short episodes remain with me long afterwards. Also perfectly appropriate to share with people who are not as entrenched, who may never had heard of Artsakh as there is such spirit in each episode. Really well done.
An engaging and refreshing human-centric dive into difficult
Fearlessly delves into divisive and painful topics like the Velvet Revolution and the 2020 War, thankfully grounded in the actual experiences of real people who live there. The production quality is top-notch, making it a compelling listen. It fills a massive gap with its thoughtful presentation of emotionally-charged issues free of the usual shouting matches, enabling listeners to quietly take in diverse perspectives via the lens of personal stories.
Beautifully produced
I was really happy to stumble onto this podcast. It’s really well produced and thought provoking. Looking forward to more episodes!