
Hosted by Damian Kolodiy · EN

In this episode of The Talking Ukraine Podcast, longtime Kyiv resident and Ukraine commentator Peter Dickinson reflects on his life in Ukraine since 1997 and his work in English-language media, from Business Ukraine and What's On to his current role as editor of UkraineAlert. We discuss the Orange Revolution as a turning point in Ukraine’s modern history, Russia’s recent May 9th parade, Tucker Carlson’s controversial interview with Yulia Mendel, and political turmoil in the UK — including what it could mean for continued support for Ukraine.

In this episode of The Talking Ukraine Podcast, George Woloshyn — former FEMA Associate Director and longtime Republican insider — reflects on a life that bridges American politics and humanitarian work in Ukraine. From his early involvement in the Republican Party to years spent supporting Ukraine through faith-driven initiatives, his perspective offers a unique lens on today’s moment, and what the future of Ukraine could look like — politically, economically, and spiritually — once the war ends.

In this episode of The Talking Ukraine Podcast, American Iraq War veteran Carl Larson joins me to discuss his experience serving in Ukraine’s International Legion during the early days of Russia’s full-scale invasion. We talk about his time on the ground, what motivated him to join the fight, and why he believes Ukraine’s struggle matters for American and global security. Carl also shares insights into his current work supporting Ukraine through his initiatives, Defense Tech Ukraine and European Action for Ukraine, and offers perspective on emerging technologies and developments shaping the war today. https://defensetechforukraine.org/

In this episode of The Talking Ukraine Podcast, Canadian journalist Stefko Bandera discusses his ongoing project translating the private correspondence of his grandfather, Stepan Bandera, a central and highly debated figure in Ukraine’s 20th-century nationalist movement. Stefko discusses what it was like growing up as a descendant of a Ukrainian liberation leader with a controversial legacy, exploring efforts to better understand Bandera through primary documents, and how history is shaped by war, propaganda, and competing narratives.

In this episode of The Talking Ukraine Podcast, filmmaker Christina Paschyn joins me to discuss her powerful new documentary, Etched in Memory. The film highlights the stories of several Crimean Tatars as they struggle to live freely on their ancestral homeland — a land marked by deportation, repression, and renewed occupation. We explore the film’s production process, the challenges of documenting this story, and the broader significance of the Crimean Tatar fight for identity, rights, and justice under Russian occupation.

Ten years ago, filmmaker Damian Kolodiy and Ukrainian volunteer activist Ivan Rodichenko traveled into the Donbas to screen Freedom or Death, Kolodiy’s documentary on the Revolution of Dignity. Their journey took them to frontline cities — Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, Kostiantynivska, and Mariupol — places that were already feeling the first tremors of a war that would reshape Ukraine. In this episode, they look back on that 2015 trip: the audiences they met, the mood in the east, and the sense of uncertainty that hung in the air. A decade later — with some of those same cities scarred or destroyed — they reflect on what that moment meant, and how the spirit of the Revolution continues to echo on the front lines today. Ten years ago those screenings felt like small acts of solidarity in uncertain times. Today, their meaning feels even clearer. The spirit of the Revolution of Dignity — the belief in freedom, agency, and national self-determination — didn’t fade. It endured. "Freedom or Death in Donbas: a Journey to Ukraine's Eastern Front" a behind the scenes documentary can be viewed at: https://youtu.be/X-7PMCC_UDQ?si=mWWLj3P5kdl9EGFe

In this episode, I speak with Olexander, a resident of Kyiv living through another winter of intermittent heating and electricity caused by Russia’s attacks on Ukraine’s power grid. He describes daily life under these conditions and shares the mood on the streets — how ordinary Ukrainians are coping, adapting, and thinking about the war.

In this episode, social scientist and public intellectual Myhailo Wynnyckyj—Associate Professor at Kyiv-Mohyla Academy—joins me to discuss the newly released Ukraine Manifesto, a sustainable peace plan for Ukraine he recently co-authored detailing what a minimum and maximum victory could look like. We also revisit the early days of the full-scale invasion reflected in his widely read Thoughts from Kyiv blog during the invasion’s first days—and what Ukrainian resilience means today. Full Manifesto here:

In this episode, Ukraine analyst Adrian Karatnycky breaks down the implications of the so-called “peace plan,” and why robust support for Ukraine is in America's interest. We also explore the Ukrainian government’s response to the recent corruption scandal — and what it reveals about Ukraine’s internal dynamics at a critical moment.

In this episode, Canadian journalist Neil Hauer reflects on his eigth reporting trip to Ukraine and shares vivid insights from covering the war since its onset in February 2022 — including his firsthand experience of the invasion’s first days.