Best Russia Podcasts (2025)

1
Putin’s 25 Years In Power 32:16

4M ago32:16

32:16

On December 31, 1999, Boris Yeltsin stepped down and handed Russia’s reins to Vladimir Putin, the former KGB officer he had named prime minister months earlier -- and who remains in power to this day. Analyst and author Mark Galeotti joins the host to discuss Putin’s 25-year rule.By Steve Gutterman

1
The War In Ukraine In 2025 24:39

4M ago24:39

24:39

Sam Greene, professor at the King’s Russia Institute at King’s College London and director of democratic resilience at the Center for European Policy Analysis, joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss Russia’s war against Ukraine, including the prospects for a cease-fire in 2025 and the role that public opinion in Russia, Ukraine, and the West could p…

1
'The Idea Seemed Insane': Behind Putin's Invasion Of Ukraine 36:43

5M ago36:43

36:43

Lucian Kim, author of the new book Putin's Revenge: Why Russia Invaded Ukraine, joins the host to discuss Putin's growing resentment, Russia's imperialist legacy, the Kremlin's turn toward autocracy, and other factors behind the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.By Steve Gutterman

1
Escalation And Endgame 18:08

5M ago18:08

18:08

U.S. permission for Ukrainian strikes deeper in Russian territory. A new Russian nuclear doctrine and a ballistic missile attack. Olga Oliker of the Crisis Group joins the host to discuss what the rush of recent developments could mean for the war in Ukraine.By Steve Gutterman

1
Elections, War, And Sabotage 26:38

6M ago26:38

26:38

What does Donald Trump's election mean for the war in Ukraine? Author and analyst Mark Galeotti joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss the ramifications of the U.S. vote and examine Russia's sabotage campaign in Europe.By Steve Gutterman

1
'Distraction Dividend': Moscow's Aims And Actions In The Middle East 37:11

6M ago37:11

37:11

As it focuses on its war against Ukraine, Russia is also seeking to leverage violence in the Middle East to improve its global standing and condemn the West. The Kremlin is reaping rewards, but it also faces risks posed by its footprint in the volatile region. Hanna Notte, director for Eurasia at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies…

1
Perception And Reality In The War Against Ukraine 24:45

6M ago24:45

24:45

As Moscow's forces press forward and Ukraine holds onto part of Russia's Kursk region, there are new "mutterings" in the West about the prospects for an end to the fighting. Ruth Deyermond, senior lecturer in the Department of War Studies at King's College London, joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss the situation on the battlefield and the latest…

1
Zelenskiy's Trip, Putin's Threat 29:16

7M ago29:16

29:16

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy took his "victory plan" to Biden, Harris, and Trump in a U.S. visit that also included UN speeches. In Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin issued yet another nuclear threat. Analyst and author Mark Galeotti joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss what it all means for the war in Ukraine.…

1
August Surprise: Ukraine's Incursion Into Russia's Kursk Region 27:29

9M ago27:29

27:29

How big a deal is Kyiv's incursion into the Kursk region? What are Ukraine's goals? And what are the ramifications for Russia? This week, host Steve Gutterman discusses these issues with Oleg Ignatov, a senior analyst for Russia at the International Crisis Group.By Steve Gutterman

1
On The Battlefield In Ukraine 21:48

9M ago21:48

21:48

Russian forces press forward in eastern Ukraine but also suffer setbacks. Dara Massicot, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and an expert on Russian military issues, joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss the battlefield situation, manpower problems, and the talk about efforts to end the fighting.…

1
What Biden's Withdrawal And Trump's VP Pick Mean For The War In Ukraine 23:13

9M ago23:13

23:13

President Joe Biden has withdrawn from the U.S. presidential race and Donald Trump has picked J.D. Vance as his running mate. Sam Greene, director of Democratic Resilience at CEPA and a professor at the King's Russia Institute, discusses what these developments could mean for Ukraine and its defense against the Russian invasion.…

1
The Deadly Legacy Of MH17 33:58

10M ago33:58

33:58

July 17 marks 10 years since a Russian missile shot down Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over the war zone in eastern Ukraine, killing all 298 passengers and crew. Christopher Miller, Ukraine correspondent for the Financial Times and author of The War Came To Us: Life And Death In Ukraine, joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.…

1
War, Elections, And Summitry 21:02

10M ago21:02

21:02

NATO leaders meet after a Russian strike on a children's hospital underscores the horrors of Russia's war on Ukraine. And the U.S. election looms after votes in Britain and France. Nigel Gould-Davies, the senior fellow for Russia and Eurasia at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.…

1
Fights For The Future 31:42

10M ago31:42

31:42

What do Western elections and new support deals mean for Ukraine's defense against Russia? And a year later, how is the Wagner mutiny still reverberating across Russia and beyond? Mark Galeotti, author of Downfall: Prigozhin, Putin, And The New Fight For The Future Of Russia, joins host Steve Gutterman discuss.…

1
One Year After The Wagner Mutiny 23:25

10M ago23:25

23:25

How has the rebellion by Yevgeny Prigozhin and his Wagner mercenary force changed Russia, and what effects may still be to come? Kirill Shamiev, a fellow at the European Council of Foreign Relations and an expert on Russia and civil-military relations, joins the host to discuss.By Steve Gutterman

1
On The Battlefield And Beyond 25:18

11M ago25:18

25:18

How will relaxed U.S. rules for Ukraine's use of American weapons affect Kyiv's defense against Russia's invasion? And can the upcoming Peace Summit in Switzerland make a difference? Olga Oliker, program director for Europe and Central Asia at the Crisis Group, joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.By Steve Gutterman

1
Striking Inside Russia 23:41

11M ago23:41

23:41

Under increasing pressure to untie Kyiv's hands, the United States has changed course and allowed Ukraine to use U.S.-supplied weapons to strike at some targets inside Russia. Ruth Deyermond, senior lecturer in the Department of War Studies at King's College London, joins the host to discuss the significance of the shift.…

1
History Under Fire 29:01

11M ago29:01

29:01

Dr. Allyson Edwards, a lecturer at Bath Spa University in Britain and an expert on Russian militarism, youth, memory, and patriotic education, joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss the Kremlin's misuse of history in the war in Ukraine and beyond.By Steve Gutterman

1
A Shake-Up And A New Offensive 31:11

12M ago31:11

31:11

What's behind the shake-up that is sending longtime Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to President Vladimir Putin's Security Council and putting a longtime economic official in charge of the military? Author and analyst Mark Galeotti joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss the personnel shifts and Russia's new offensive in Ukraine's Kharkiv region.…

1
War, Peace, And Containment 39:01

12M ago39:01

39:01

U.S. weapons for Ukraine, more talk about talks, and calls for the containment of Russia. As Russian President Vladimir Putin starts yet another term, Sam Greene, director of Democratic Resilience at the Center for European Policy Analysis and a professor at King's Russia Institute, joins the host to discuss developments in Moscow's war on Ukraine …

1
Plug It, Mute It, or Hear It 8:52

1+ y ago8:52

8:52

The words for things that shut out sound and let you hear it are the same in Russian. Of course they are.By Michele A. Berdy

1
Alexei Navalny and the Secret List of Forbidden Words 9:44

1+ y ago9:44

9:44

It's hard to know where general language ends and criminal slangs begins.By Michele A. Berdy

1
And Yet It's Nevertheless, All the Same, After All 8:37

1+ y ago8:37

8:37

The joy of particles (not).By Michele A. Berdy

1
A Guide to Giving a Bribe in Russian 8:20

2y ago8:20

8:20

What you say when you bribe depends on whether you want something or they want something.By Michele A. Berdy

1
Who is Gulya and Why Do We Care About Her Nose? 8:30

2y ago8:30

8:30

The preposition "c" has some weird constructions.By Michele A. Berdy

1
Spitting, Eating Your Teeth and Other Weird Gestures 8:35

2y ago8:35

8:35

When a person eats his teeth, is that bad or good? Or even possible?By Michele A. Berdy

1
Take Your Pick: Mutiny, Coup, Uprising or Nothing 10:59

2y ago10:59

10:59

What happened last week is a changing story that depends on speaker, day, mood and the subjunctive.By Michele A. Berdy

1
Wait - What Russian Month is This? 10:23

2y ago10:23

10:23

If you thought you knew the names of the months in Russian, think again.By Michele A. Berdy

1
What's in a Name? With Russian Holidays - Everything 12:12

2y ago12:12

12:12

This week Russia celebrated Russia Day. If you have no idea what that holiday is, join the gang.By Michele A. Berdy

1
A Gathering of Witches, Dues, Herbs and Classmates 8:37

2y ago8:37

8:37

Сбор and сборы are unusual words: sometimes the singular and plural forms have unrelated meanings.By Michele A. Berdy

1
Buy a Brilliant and Applaud an Artist 8:40

2y ago8:40

8:40

Oh, those false friends... every translator's nightmare.By Michele A. Berdy

1
Tricks of the Trade 9:52

2y ago9:52

9:52

Using the right verb and the right case to express changing and exchanging is a big headache.By Michele A. Berdy

1
Under the Mighty Oak I Sit, Stupidly 10:04

2y ago10:04

10:04

Sitting on stumps, falling out of trees and stepping in rotten logs figure prominently in Russian expressions.By Michele A. Berdy

1
The Cat Cried and Ran By 11:15

2y ago11:15

11:15

Cats are popular pets In Russia but unpopular in folk expressions.By Michele A. Berdy

1
Serving and Not Serving in the Military 8:47

2y ago8:47

8:47

The confusing terminology of conscripts, reservists and draft dodgers.By Michele A. Berdy

1
Two Words, Three Letters and Ten Meanings 8:48

2y ago8:48

8:48

Oh, the joy of little Russian words.By Michele A. Berdy

1
How a Saint Becomes a Sinner 9:34

2y ago9:34

9:34

How some Russian words change meaning in and out of church.By Michele A. Berdy

1
Of Courtyards, Grifters and Days Off 9:13

2y ago9:13

9:13

All about things and people that pass by, pass through, and ought to pass off forever.By Michele A. Berdy

1
Shame That is Cringeworthy 7:57

2y ago7:57

7:57

Understanding teenagers is a struggle that makes you cringe.By Michele A. Berdy

1
Of Ear Noodles and Maniacal Printers 10:14

2y ago10:14

10:14

How you can spend a day translating three words.By Michele A. Berdy

1
Please Don't Hit on Me, Bug Me, or Harass Me 7:06

2y ago7:06

7:06

How everyone from gangsters to presidents keep people calm and in their place.By Michele A. Berdy

1
A Pocketful of Somethings 8:10

2y ago8:10

8:10

How can I say something? Let me count the ways.By Michele A. Berdy

1
A Year of the Language of War 10:53

2y ago10:53

10:53

A new set of language norms have taken hold in Russia.By Michele A. Berdy

1
The Ears Have It 7:58

2y ago7:58

7:58

Russian ears are more athletic than English ears.By Michele A. Berdy

1
Travels, Trips and Tours 10:51

2y ago10:51

10:51

Trips with goals, aimless travels, and all-inclusive tourist packages.By Michele A. Berdy

1
Starting Anew or Again or Freshly Baked 8:54

2y ago8:54

8:54

A few thoughts on new being old or next or just the same old thing over and over again.By Michele A. Berdy

1
Mark My Words: How to Remember and Forget 8:36

2+ y ago8:36

8:36

How to remember and how to forget are good skills to have whatever your language.By The Moscow Times

1
Mark My Words: How to Remember and Forget [old] 8:03

2+ y ago8:03

8:03

How to remember and how to forget are good skills to have whatever your language.By The Moscow Times

1
The Hopeless Quest for Language Purity 9:20

2+ y ago9:20

9:20

Russian legislators keep making laws to keep Russian pure. It's not working.By Michele A. Berdy

1
Words of the Year 2022 9:56

2+ y ago9:56

9:56

The annual Words of the Year compendium is dark, bleak and brutal.By Michele A. Berdy

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