The Slavic Connexion
A fresh international chat show on Russia, Eastern Europe, and Eurasia from The University of Texas at Austin
About the show
A fresh international chat show on the Slavic world from the Center for Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies and the William P. Clements, Jr. Center for National Security at The University of Texas at Austin. "It's not typical Texas."
The Center for Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies condemns the Russian Federation’s military invasion of Ukraine. We stand in support of the people of Ukraine who are fighting for their lives and sovereignty in the face of the unjustified invasion by Russian military forces.
Texas Podcast Network is brought to you by The University of Texas at Austin. Podcasts are produced by faculty members and staffers at UT Austin who work with University Communications to craft content that adheres to journalistic best practices. The University of Texas at Austin offers these podcasts at no charge. Podcasts appearing on the network and this webpage represent the views of the hosts, not of The University of Texas at Austin.
The Slavic Connexion on social media
Episodes
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Post-Election Passivity and the Poisonous Politics of Petrostates with Maria Snegovaya
September 24th, 2020 | Season 3 | 47 mins 49 secs
belarus, civic engagement, educational exchange, elections, navalny, russia, venezuela, youth
In this episode, Matt discussed with Dr. Maria Snegovaya the leading issues of the day in the Slavic region. Namely, the aftermath of Russia's recent regional elections, the Kremlin's response to Alexei Navalny's poisoning, and the ongoing spectre of Russian intervention in Belarus's post-election crisis. We hope you enjoy!
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The Hidden Green Men with Kiril Avramov
September 19th, 2020 | Season 3 | 53 mins 2 secs
belarus, bulgaria, corruption, mass protest, mercenaries, russia
In this insider's episode hosted by Matt and newbie host Katherine, Intelligence Studies Project fellow Dr. Kiril Avramov discusses his new book, “Russia’s Hidden Armies,” Belarusian turmoil, and the anti-corruption protests continuing within Bulgaria. This was a packed session, so we hope you're ready for this. Enjoy!
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The Second Libyan Civil War and the Russia Connexion with Mohamed Abufalgha
September 11th, 2020 | Season 3 | 37 mins 23 secs
civil war, libya, mercenaries, russia
Tom and Matt have the great opportunity to speak with Libyan national Mohamed Abufalgha and expert on the conflict that has been going on for several years now in this oil-rich, war-torn country. Mohamed helps us unpack the Russian-Libyan connection and exactly how many countries have their fingers--and fighters--in Libya. We hope you enjoy!
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"Rival Power: Russia's Challenge to the West in the Balkans" with Dimitar Bechev (BALKAN CIRCLE series)
September 7th, 2020 | 33 mins 53 secs
balkan circle, balkans, bosnia, china, great power politics, russian foreign policy, serbia, soft power
On this first session of the Balkan Circle, a lecture series of the Center for Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies, Dimitar Bechev talks about his book "RIVAL POWER" and Russia's current foreign policy, particularly its role in the Balkans.
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The Białowieża Forest and "Pompik the Bison" with Tomasz Samojlik
September 4th, 2020 | Season 3 | 42 mins 27 secs
belarus, bison, environment, environmental activism, environmental history, forest, poland
On this episode, Cullan speaks with Dr. Tomasz Samojlik, an environmental historian and researcher at the Mammal Research Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Białowieża. In addition to his research, Dr. Samojlik spoke with us about his work popularizing science and scientific knowledge using books, comics and graphic novels for children. Enjoy!
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"The Strategist": The Legacy of Brent Scowcroft with Dr. Bartholomew Sparrow
August 29th, 2020 | Season 3 | 52 mins 38 secs
cold war, gorbachev, intelligence, iraq war, national security, scowcroft, soviet union
On this episode, Tom speaks with UT's own Professor Sparrow about his 2015 book on legendary multi-administration US National Security Advisor Brent Scowcroft who sadly passed away recently on August 6th, 2020. This is a great conversation, remembering the unassuming but brilliant strategist who was so integral during the late Cold War period. Hope you enjoy!
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"In Moscow's Shadows" with Dr. Mark Galeotti
August 24th, 2020 | Season 3 | 42 mins 21 secs
anti-corruption, belarus, navalny, russia, russian protests
In this episode, Matt spoke with Dr. Mark Galeotti about the pressing issues of the day in Eurasia: the suspected poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, the ongoing protests in the far-eastern city of Khabarovsk, and the Kremlin's view on the post-election crisis in Belarus. We hope you enjoy! Using his keen understanding of the Kremlin's decision-making process, Dr. Galeotti provides a number of timely insights for our listeners. We eagerly await your feedback!
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SPECIAL EDITION: The Fate of Alexei Navalny
August 21st, 2020 | Season 3 | 30 mins 38 secs
anti-corruption, dissidents, elections, navalny, politics, russia
On this episode recorded August 21, 2020, Matt and Lera speak with Alexei Navalny's close co-collaborator on anti-corruption in Russia, Maxim Mironov. They discuss the current situation with Alexei Navalny's alleged poisoning and also Russian state corruption in a broader, global context. Thank you for listening.
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Belarus Elections 2020: The End of Europe's Last Dictator?
August 6th, 2020 | Season 3 | 43 mins 1 sec
alexander lukashenko, belarus, democracy, elections, former soviet states, svetlana tikhanovskaya
Is this the end of Europe's Last Dictator? Find out in this special current events episode featuring Belarusian political scientist Aliaksandr Herasimenka about the exciting presidential elections in Belarus, where embattled Alexander Lukashenko faces the most organized opposition in the history of his 26 years as president.
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"A True Gentleman" with Seva Novgorodsev
July 10th, 2020 | Season 2 | 49 mins 35 secs
biopics, culture, language, music, seva novgorodsev
BBC's Seva Novgorodsev joins us once more just in time for his 80th birthday! This time, we gather around Zoom, but the conversation is, as always, entertaining and unexpected--one never knows where Seva will lead us and what he will teach us. We hope you enjoy!
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Intelligence with a Human Face (featuring Stephen Slick)
June 1st, 2020 | Season 2 | 43 mins 20 secs
balkan history, diplomacy, intelligence, soviet history, yugoslav wars
Former CIA officer Stephen Slick joins us to talk about his nearly three decades in intelligence, spent largely overseas, to his role as an educator at the University of Texas at Austin in building the Intelligence Studies Project--a first of its kind in the United States. We hope you enjoy!
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Voices of the Past: Songs from Rural Ukraine (with Susan Crate)
May 13th, 2020 | Season 2 | 32 mins 31 secs
anthropology, ethnomusicology, folklore, ukrainian culture, ukrainian language
Dr. Susie Crate returns! This time, Dr. Crate spoke with SlavX host Katya about her experiences collecting ethnomusicological material from 1989–1990 in the Kharkiv oblast in Eastern Ukraine, then still part of the Soviet Union. This work was part of a larger project to collect and preserve songs unique to particular villages. Hope you enjoy!
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"Disunited Nations" with Peter Zeihan
May 11th, 2020 | Season 2 | 59 mins 5 secs
future of international relations, geopolitics, world order
Renowned geopolitical strategist Peter Zeihan graciously joins us via Zoom for an intensive breakdown of the current world order and his predictions concerning the economic and political directions of America, Russia, China, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, and other nations. A must-listen for any student of global policy and IR theory!
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Вокруг света с Жанной Немцовой
May 7th, 2020 | Season 2 | 56 mins 26 secs
journalism, russia, ukraine, usa
В этом эпизоде Мэтт беседует со знаменитой российской журналисткой Жанной Немцовой о многих темах, от ее времени в Америке до Украины. Надеемся, вам понравится слушать!
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World War "C": Covid, Cognitive Dissonance, and Communism (with Markos Kounalakis)
April 29th, 2020 | Season 2 | 51 mins 15 secs
civic engagement, cold war, history, protest, revolution
Columnist, radio host, and Hoover Institution fellow Dr. Markos Kounalakis joins us via Zoom to talk about California's early response to Covid-19, the cognitive dissonance of beautiful Hungary, his experience in Central and Eastern Europe in the late 80s/early 90s as a journalist, and much more. Hope you enjoy!
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"It Is What It Is": Western Media, the End of the USSR, and Russia Today (with Jeff Trimble)
April 25th, 2020 | Season 2 | 49 mins 19 secs
history, press, us-russia relations, us-soviet relations
Jeff Trimble, Moscow Bureau Chief for US News & World Report during the late Soviet period, talks to us about his wild experiences reporting from behind the Iron Curtain and witnessing the dissolution of the USSR. A radio professional as well (and earnest space aficionado and Star Trek fan) he certainly brings some amazing skills to this Zoom session. Hope you enjoy!