What We Need To Know About Ukraine

Sofiia Andrushchak

Discovering Ukrainian history, literature, and culture.

  1. 05/06/2025

    The Impact of Media: A Conversation with Dr. Marta Dyczok on History, Memory, and Propaganda

    Today's episode explores history, memory, and propaganda through the lens of the media. * Dr. Marta Dyczok, a historian, political scientist, media scholar, and professor at the University of Western Ontario in Canada with a PhD from Oxford University, is the special guest on this episode. * Read Marta's book Ukraine not 'the' Ukraine here: https://www.cambridge.org/core/elements/ukraine-not-the-ukraine/1A0CC1D8913162C5A65763614CCC39E1 * Find Marta here: https://x.com/mdyczok * Sponsored by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress. * Find me here: https://linktr.ee/sofiia_andrushchak

  2. 01/04/2025

    Nestor Makhno: Ukrainian Anarchism and Revolution

    Today's episode is about Nestor Makhno — a Ukrainian revolutionary leader and anarchist active during the Ukrainian War of Independence of 1917-1921. * "[A] will to freedom and independence, which only in the width and depth of the Ukrainian soul could so quickly and strongly manifest itself." - Nestor Makhno * The music at the end of today's episode is "Любо, братці, любо" ("l'ubo, bratsi, l'ubo") sung by Taras Zhytynskyy. It is a Ukrainian folk song that emerged during the Ukrainian War of Independence of 1917-1921. It was frequently sung in Ukrainian by the army of Nestor Makhno. Some say that Makhno himself liked to sing it too. The music in the episode's background is "Melody" by Ukrainian composer Borys Lyatoshynsky. * Find me here: https://linktr.ee/sofiia_andrushchak

  3. 09/21/2024

    Ukrainian Cuisine and its History with Yevhen Klopotenko

    Today's episode is about Ukrainian cuisine, its history, and its importance in culture. * Yevhen Klopotenko, renowned Ukrainian chef and restaurateur, credited with getting the culture of Ukrainian Borshch cooking to be listed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, is the special guest on the episode. * Try Ukrainian cuisine with Yevhen's recipes: https://klopotenko.com/en/ * Find Yevhen here: Twitter: https://x.com/klopotenko_chef?lang=en Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/klopotenko/?hl=en * Find me here: https://linktr.ee/sofiia_andrushchak

  4. 08/13/2024

    Lesya Ukrainka: Freedom Through Verse

    Today's episode is about Lesya Ukrainka. A feminist and political activist, she is one of Ukraine's most famous and beloved writers to this day. Lesay was a leading figure in the modernist movement and the development of Ukrainian literature. * "No! I am alive, I will live forever. I have that in my heart, which does not die..." - Lesya Ukrainka, The Forest Song * Full version of Lesya Ukrainka's "The Forest Song" in English: https://tarnawsky.artsci.utoronto.ca/elul/English/Ukrainka/Ukrainka-ForestSong.pdf * The music in the background and at the very end of the episode is "Farewell. Waltz in C Minor, Op. 39, No. 1" by the phenomenal composer Mykola Lysenko. The song at the end of the episode is "Як дитиною, бувало" ("As a child, I sometimes") by Mike Udlis, with the lyrics being Lesya Ukrainka's poem of the same name. * Find me here: https://linktr.ee/sofiia_andrushchak

  5. 07/18/2024

    How the Cossacks Fought Wars: Weapons, Strategy, and the War of Khotyn

    Today's episode is about the weapons and strategy used by the Cossacks in battles and wars. In particular, Hetman Petro Konashevych-Sahaidachnyy and how he saved Europe in the War of Khotyn. * Image of troops in the War of Khotyn: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a5/Battle_of_Khotyn_1673.PNG * The music at the end of today's episode is "Їхав Козак За Дунай" ("The Cossack Rode Beyond the Danube") by Semen Klymovsky - Ukrainian philosopher, poet and Cossack. The background music throughout the episode is "Kyiv" by Oskar Schuster. * Fun Fact: The song "The Cossack Rode Beyond the Danube" by Semen Klmovsky was made into a song in German and arranged for piano by Ludwig van Beethoven and Christoph August Tielde. Beethoven's version is known as "Schöne Minka, ich muß scheiden." * Find me here: https://linktr.ee/sofiia_andrushchak

  6. 06/20/2024

    The Night of Ivana Kupala

    Today's episode is about the night of Ivana Kupala - a celebration and holiday in Ukraine that stems from pagan rites and beliefs. Jumping over bonfires, honoring the pagan god of the sun, and singing enchantments are all part of the 3000-year-old holiday. * The background music in today's episode is "Hutsul Triptych: Hutsuls'ky tryptykh (Hutsul Triptych): I. Dytynstvo (Childhood)" by Myroslav Skoryk, and the music at the end of the episode is "Oy na Ivana ta y na Kupala" by Pisni Dzherela. * Find me here: https://linktr.ee/sofiia_andrushchak

  7. 06/03/2024

    Kyiv: The Beginnings

    Today's episode is about the emergence of Kyiv - the capital of Ukraine - and its story from its prehistoric beginnings until becoming the birthplace of the Kyivan Rus'. * The background music in today's episode is "Kyiv Valse" by Pol Solonar, and the music at the end of the episode is "Київ" by Євген Філатов ("Kyiv" by Yevhen Filatov). * Find me here: https://linktr.ee/sofiia_andrushchak

  8. 05/07/2024

    Easter in Ukraine

    Today's episode is about the beliefs, traditions, and Ukrainianness that all play their part in Ukrainian Easter. * A painting of a traditional Ukrainian Easter "Easter Matins" by a Ukrainian artist Mykola Pymonenko: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paska_(bread)#/media/File:PimonenkoNK_PashalZautrRYB.jpg * The music in today's episode is "Prayer for Ukraine" by Kyiv Symphony Orchestra and Chorus. * Find me here: https://linktr.ee/sofiia_andrushchak

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Discovering Ukrainian history, literature, and culture.

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