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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"The Russia Factor": From Japan to the Crimea Consensus (ASEEES)
January 22nd, 2020 | Season 2 | 41 mins 35 secs
crimea, japan, post-cold war international relations, putin, russia, trump
Professor Akaha gives us his take on Russia-Japanese relations in the aftermath of the Cold War and the impact that Russia-US tensions play on Japan's geographic well-being. And in the second half of the episode, Dr. Smeltz from the Chicago Council on Global Affairs explains her findings from surveys that reveal Russians still approve of Putin's foreign policy.
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Winnie the Pooh... and Brezhnev Too // Balkan Blackness (ASEEES)
January 17th, 2020 | Season 2 | 30 mins 59 secs
balkans, blackness, disney, soviet animation, winnie the pooh, yugoslavia
Dr. Amanbayeva of Kazakhstan takes us into the magical world of Winnie the Pooh... but in the Soviet Union, and in the second segment, Dr. Rucker-Chang discusses the surprising ways in which people see themselves in the Balkans.
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"Who Needs to Study Soviet Literature?" with Lena and Sasha
January 14th, 2020 | Season 2 | 26 mins 28 secs
emigre journeys, literature, russian film
Wrapping up our ASEEES conference series, we have a super fun couple's episode with the dynamic duo of Alexander Prokhorov and Elena Prokhorova from Moscow State University who talk about their personal journeys and how they ended up at teaching at College of William & Mary.
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Albania Mania: Football to Rap to Racism with Cultural Anthropologist Chelsi West Ohueri
January 11th, 2020 | Season 1 | 45 mins 54 secs
african american anthropologists, albania, albanian football, balkans, cultural exchange, journeying to foreign countries, racism, sexism
In this entertaining interview, host Tom sits down with cultural anthropologist Dr. West Ohueri to discuss all things Albania with special focus on her journey as an African-American woman into a white environment. We're sure you'll enjoy!
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Victims' State // Slavic Folklore in YA Fiction
January 4th, 2020 | Season 2 | 33 mins 28 secs
czech nationalists, german nationalists, habsburg empire, russian folklore, ya fiction
In this episode, we go from the late Habsburg Empire with Dr. Hsia (of Indiana University Bloomington) to Slavic Folklore in modern young adult literature with Jill Martiniuk (U of H) talking about the romanticized Russian symbols used by authors everywhere.
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Urban Czech Walk // MTV & Yugoslav Rock (ASEEES 2019 Conference)
December 20th, 2019 | Season 2 | 31 mins 6 secs
czech cultures, live aid concert, mtv, prague, soviet rock, soviet youth, yugoslavia
From the ASEEES Conference in San Francisco, Professor Chad Bryant of UNC Chapel Hill speaks with us about Czech cultures and in the second half of the episode, Professor Laura Todd of the University of Nottingham lets us in on her research on early 1980s MTV and the Yugoslavian rock scene.
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"Time is Profoundly Weird" with Craig Campbell
December 14th, 2019 | Season 2 | 40 mins 29 secs
anthropocene, anthropology, geography, geology, photography, polar north, visual ethnography
In this episode, anthropologist Craig Campbell talks about his interest in the river life of Siberia, the age of the Anthropocene, and how "time is profoundly weird."
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Carpatho-Rusyn Nationality with Paul Magosci (ASEEES 2019 Conference)
December 12th, 2019 | Season 2 | 18 mins 32 secs
aseees, carpatho-rusyn identity, czechoslovakia, soviet ukraine, soviet union
At the 2019 ASEEES conference, Ukrainian history expert Dr. Paul Magosci talks with Cullan about Carpatho-Rusyn nationality and his pivotal role as a specialist in this region of the world.
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15 Minutes with Vladimir Golstein (ASEEES 2019)
December 9th, 2019 | Season 2 | 14 mins 43 secs
aseees, conference interviews
SlavX host Lera gets the chance to talk with Professor Vladimir Golstein from Brown University at the 2019 ASEEES conference in San Francisco. Check it out!
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Голос народа: СМИ, Киргизия, и гражданские права (на русском языке)
December 5th, 2019 | Season 2 | 37 mins 45 secs
central asia, cultural exchange programs, journalists, kyrgyzstan, media
On this episode, Aigul Adzhieva (Айгуля Аджиева) a TV producer from Kyrgyzstan, joins Matt for a discussion about media challenges today, bride kidnapping, and the role of journalists in her country. Enjoy!
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A Very Venezuelan Connexion: Cold War, Foreign Investment, and Oil Culture
December 2nd, 2019 | Season 2 | 49 mins 19 secs
cold war, economy, oil trade, venezuela
As Winter claims the Slavic world (much of it anyway), we thought we'd take a trip south of the equator with this episode on Venezuela with yet another special guest from the History department Latin American expert Marcus Golding. Maybe Tom will expertly find a way to bring us back to home base... or not. Thanks for listening!
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Journey to Lake Baikal with Dr. Evgenia Wilkins
November 27th, 2019 | Season 2 | 49 mins 59 secs
environmental studies, irkutsk, lake baikal, russian professors in the us, siberia, study abroad programs
On this episode, we meet the wonderful and charming Dr. Evgenia Wilkins, a native of St. Petersburg, who talks about her upcoming Maymester program in Siberia which will explore the richness of Lake Baikal (no knowledge of Russian necessary!)
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Q is for Qazaqstan: Independent Media, Brain Drain, and the New Alphabet
November 18th, 2019 | Season 2 | 48 mins 15 secs
central asia, free media, journalism, podcasting, politics, radio, youth culture
Two visiting Kazakh journalists talk with Matt and Tracy about their experiences as independent and international media practitioners, the challenges they face in a country they say whose government tolerates no opposition.
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London Fog: Brexit and the Dubious Future of the EU
November 14th, 2019 | Season 2 | 57 mins 16 secs
brexit, british politics, climate change security, election, european politics, european union, security policy, ukraine
With the UK's December 12th vote fogging the European horizon, Tom and Matt invited two of our favorite EU experts, Lorinc Redei and Michael Mosser, to speak about current affairs and what the future may hold.
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One Million Moments for Democracy in the Czech Republic
November 11th, 2019 | Season 2 | 37 mins 36 secs
andrej babiš, communism, corruption, czech republic, politics
Our guest today is Czech professor Petra Dominková who has stepped into our studio to talk about the upcoming demonstration on November 16th against the current controversial Prime Minister. Listen and also find out whether the country is branding itself the Czech Republic or Czechia or "Bohemia" (we unanimously veto that one).
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Kyrgyzstan: Progressive Media, Human Rights, and the Power of Journalism (with Tom and Matt)
November 7th, 2019 | Season 2 | 47 mins
central asian journalists, media, state department exchange program
On this episode, Tom and Matt talk with two fantastic media professionals from Kyrgyzstan who are wrapping up their month-long stay in the U.S. as part of a State Department exchange program for Central Asian journalists.