History in the Making: The War in Ukraine

Mission Matters Network
Mission Matters Network
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"History in the Making: The War in Ukraine" with Mark McNamee provides a comprehensive exploration of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Host Mark, drawing from his extensive background in Eastern European studies and professional experience, offers a nuanced perspective on the region's significance. Through a blend of macro-level analysis and personal narratives, listeners gain insight into life in wartime Ukraine and the resilience of its people. Tune in to uncover the untold stories of Ukraine and understand the historical moment unfolding before us.

  1. 5d ago

    The Deep History Behind America's Political Divide

    If you've ever wondered why the US seems so divided, this conversation offers one of the most compelling explanations you'll hear. For many outside the US (and for many it in too), American politics can seem increasingly incomprehensible. Polarization is intensifying, compromise has become elusive, and debates over America's role in the world—from NATO to Ukraine—often appear deeply divided. In this episode, I spoke with award-winning journalist and historian Colin Woodard, author of American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America. Woodard argues that the US is not one unified nation in the cultural sense, but a collection of distinct regional cultures, each founded by different groups of settlers with their own values, institutions, and competing visions of society. More than four centuries later, the sharp differences of these founding cultures persist and continue to shape elections, political identities, public policy, and even America's approach to the world. We explore the origins of Woodard's fascinating framework, how it builds upon David Hackett Fischer's classic Albion's Seed, why political compromise has become so much harder in recent decades, the rise of populism, competing visions of American identity, and whether U.S. democracy is facing its greatest test since the Civil War. Finally, we examine what these deep historical divisions reveal about America's support for Ukraine, its future as a global leader, and whether the American experiment can continue to hold together in the decades ahead. About Colin Woodard: Colin Woodard is an award-winning journalist, historian, and New York Times bestselling author. He is the Director of the Pell Center for International Relations and Public Policy at Salve Regina University in Newport, Rhode Island, where he leads research on American identity, democracy, and the historical forces shaping public life. He is the author of American Nations, American Character, Union, and The Republic of Pirates. You can find his book American Nations here: https://colinwoodard.com/books/american-nations/ To connect and message with Mark on LinkedIn:www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mcnamee-58950910 To learn more, visit:https://ubn.network/ Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:https://missionmatters.com/author/Mark-McNamee/ If you found this episode valuable, follow the podcast and share it with someone who wants to better understand the war in Ukraine.

  2. Jul 23

    A Brief Update on the Latest in Ukraine and the Investment Environment

    Did something a little bit different for this one. I was the one interviewed this time. Thanks to Scott Jacobson for joining the show and asking the questions. Covered alot in this episode to give an update on where things are at with the economy, investment environment, attacks on energy infrastructure, and what's going on in Russia. Feel like we just came out of winter and now looking ahead to the next one - what will it be like for Ukraine? And what about what's happening in Russia? Also touched a bit upon the latest regarding the firing of the Minister of Defense Fedorov... Enjoy! To connect and message with Mark on LinkedIn:www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mcnamee-58950910 To learn more, visit:https://ubn.network/ Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:https://missionmatters.com/author/Mark-McNamee/ If you found this episode valuable, follow the podcast and share it with someone who wants to better understand the war in Ukraine.

  3. Jul 16

    Hope for Ukraine's Future: Speaking with 16 Year-Old Nikol Makhovka

    In this episode, I was happy to host by far the youngest guest I've had on my show. This episode is about Ukraine’s future. Not what’s happening today in the war, or the war outlook, or looking at historical drivers and context of the situation here as most of my shows do, but instead looking ahead. As we all know, Ukraine has a severe demographic problem, only worsened by the war, leaving its future precarious. For that reason, I spoke with Nikol Makhovka, who is 16 years old, a representative of Ukraine at the Genius Olympiad in the US, and currently residing in the UK, to talk about her vision and her feelings regarding Ukraine’s future. Nikol is among the ‘best and brightest’ of her generation and her thoughts give an idea of what lies ahead for this country after the war. And gives us reason to be hopeful for Ukraine's future. About the Guest:Nikol is a 16-year old student currently residing in the UK, where she fled to after the full-scale invasion, and is attending school there. She also periodically comes back home to Ukraine and plans to return to Ukraine after her studies and rebuild her country. To connect and message with Mark on LinkedIn:www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mcnamee-58950910 To learn more, visit:https://ubn.network/ Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:https://missionmatters.com/author/Mark-McNamee/ If you found this episode valuable, follow the podcast and share it with someone who wants to better understand the war in Ukraine.

  4. Jul 9

    They Save Lives at the Front - But Who Saves Them? The Story of the NGO RePower and its Founders

    It was an absolute pleasure to do this podcast - the first one I have done live, in person at my guests' office in the center of Kyiv. (Hence some of the side comments and background noise!) I had the honor of speaking with the Co-Founders of RePower NGO, Sebastian Lindstrom and Maryna Sadikova - such inspired and inspirational people who you can't help but feel the warmth, drive, and energy flowing from them. And they're doing awesome work. This episode follows upon my podcast in June with the press officer of the 37th Marine Brigade regarding The Lanterns, a documentary they filmed with United24 covering their program of providing psychological rehabilitation for frontline medics and doctors in the forests of Sweden. Listen in for more details on Sebastian and Maryna's personal journey, their motivation for serving the frontline medics, most emotionally compelling experience in supporting the medics, and what they want Westerners to take away from watching the documentary. To watch The Lanterns, check the link here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JHK6RMhK1I To see the before and after rehabilitation of the frontline medics, check out "Through Their Eyes" here - https://www.repower.ngo/projects/through-their-eyes And here is RePower's work on IG and LI (please share and follow!)https://www.instagram.com/p/DZP_PLCDDXJ/ https://www.linkedin.com/posts/repowerngo_is-it-truly-possible-to-leave-the-war-behind-activity-7469762440860237825-GU8e To connect and message with Mark on LinkedIn:www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mcnamee-58950910 To learn more, visit:https://ubn.network/ Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:https://missionmatters.com/author/Mark-McNamee/ If you found this episode valuable, follow the podcast and share it with someone who wants to better understand the war in Ukraine.

  5. Jul 2

    US Army Veteran Finds Purpose and Meaning in Ukraine

    I had the pleasure of interviewing Ryan Hendrickson, a former US Army Green Beret who spent years in Afghanistan, lost a leg, and has now devoted the last several years of his life to helping Ukraine. As so many veterans struggle with life after service, Ryan found meaning and purpose again in Ukraine. Devoting his life to helping others who are struggling and protecting those from being harmed has been therapeutic, and serves as a critical lesson for veterans back in the US and elsewhere but also the Ukrainian veterans now and in the future. Please consider supporting Ryan's work, and find out more information about Tip of the Spear, at: https://landmineremoval.org/ To connect and message with Mark on LinkedIn:www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mcnamee-58950910 To learn more, visit:https://ubn.network/ Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:https://missionmatters.com/author/Mark-McNamee/ If you found this episode valuable, follow the podcast and share it with someone who wants to better understand the war in Ukraine.

  6. Jun 25

    The Story of Ukraine's Foreign Legion - a modern day Homage to Catalonia

    If you want a fascinating look into the stories of why those in the West gave up their lives and came to Ukraine to fight, then have a listen to this episode. I had the pleasure of speaking with the British journalist Colin Freeman who did extensive interviews, trips, and research into the stories of foreign fighters who joined Ukraine's foreign legion. Who are these guys? Why did they join? What do the American fighters think about Trump's policy towards Ukraine? About the Guest Colin Freeman is a former chief foreign correspondent of The Sunday Telegraph, now a freelance foreign affairs journalist. He writes features, comment and book reviews for The Daily Telegraph, as well as for The Spectator, The Economist, and The National in Abu Dhabi. He contributes regularly to BBC Radio Four. He is the author of The Mad and the Brave: The Untold Story of Ukraine's Foreign Legion You can find his book on Amazon here:https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mad-Brave-Untold-Ukraines-Foreign/dp/0008722463 To learn more, visit:https://ubn.network/ To connect and message with Mark on LinkedIn:www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mcnamee-58950910 Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:https://missionmatters.com/author/Mark-McNamee/

  7. Jun 18

    The Life of a Frontline Medic

    I had the pleasure of meeting Denys and other members of his brigade at the showing of a documentary The Lanterns in Kyiv the weekend before the recording of this podcast. The documentary highlighted the heroic efforts of frontline medics in saving lives, while of course putting their own lives in danger. Their story is worth telling and listening to in order to get a better feel for life at the front and the extreme brutality of this war. Thanks to Denys and the heroes of the 37th Marine Brigade for their daily courageous work which never ends. About the GuestDenys Bobkov is the Press officer of the 37th Marine Brigade. To learn more, visit:https://ubn.network/ To connect and message with Mark on LinkedIn:www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mcnamee-58950910 Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:https://missionmatters.com/author/Mark-McNamee/

  8. Jun 11

    Is Russia a Fascist State? (Part 2)

    Not exactly a spoiler alert, but you can likely imagine the answer provided to this question in the podcast here today. In Part 2 of this discussion, I continue my conversation with Dr. Taras Kuzio, who was on earlier this year in a great show where we discussed whether Ukraine has a Nazi problem. He is joined by Dr. Ian Garner, prominent British-born historian and specialist in Russian war propaganda and military culture, with a focus on the indoctrination of Russia’s youth. Denazification of Ukraine has been used as a justification of this war in Ukraine by Putin since the start of the full-scale invasion in Feb 2022. Critically, this was a masterful move as Russians quickly got behind this war in strong support. Putin tapped into Russia’s sense of heroism and glory in defeating the original German Nazis and by successfully – though falsely – castigating Ukrainians in the same light as Russia’s greatest enemy in living memory in the Germans, Putin succeeded in getting high popular support for this war and for himself. However, in reality, we should be looking at Putin’s Russia to see if we can find the true Nazis and real fascism. Dr Kuzio and Dr Garner co-authored the piece from 2025 - Russia and Modern Fascism: New Perspectives on the Kremlin's War Against Ukraine. About the Guests: Dr. Kuzio is a British professor of Political Science Kyiv Mohyla University. His area of study is Russian and Ukrainian political, economic and security affairs, and he has contributed pieces to the Atlantic Council and Foreign Affairs.Dr. Ian Garner is British-born historian and specialist in Russian war propaganda and military culture, with a focus on the indoctrination of Russia’s youth. Teaches Totalitarian Studies at the Pilecki Institute in Warsaw, Poland. He is the author of Z Generation: Into the Heart of Russia's Fascist Youth (2023) and has been featured prominently in media. To learn more, visit:https://ubn.network/ Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:https://missionmatters.com/author/Mark-McNamee/

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"History in the Making: The War in Ukraine" with Mark McNamee provides a comprehensive exploration of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Host Mark, drawing from his extensive background in Eastern European studies and professional experience, offers a nuanced perspective on the region's significance. Through a blend of macro-level analysis and personal narratives, listeners gain insight into life in wartime Ukraine and the resilience of its people. Tune in to uncover the untold stories of Ukraine and understand the historical moment unfolding before us.

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