The Soviet Life

Summary In this special Independence Day episode, Kate Saba reflects on celebrating two nations that have shaped her life: Belarus and the United States. Recorded on the Fourth of July during America's 250th anniversary celebration, she explores the history behind Belarus's Independence Day, the different dates that hold meaning for Belarusians, and how national identity can be both complex and de...

In this episode of The Soviet Life , host Kate Saba explores the fascinating world of Soviet summer camps and the lasting impact they had on generations of children across the Soviet Union. Drawing from both historical context and personal experience, Kate examines how these camps were designed not only as places for recreation, but also as institutions that promoted community, independence, disci...

In this episode of The Soviet Life , host Kate Saba interviews Alex Tokmin, who shares his unique experiences growing up in the Soviet Union and his journey to the United States. Alex reflects on his childhood memories, the influence of literature, and the challenges of adapting to life in a new country. He discusses the cultural differences he encountered, the importance of education, and the imp...

What does it mean to remember a war that took 27 million lives ? In this deeply personal episode of The Soviet Life , host Kate Saba takes you into the heart of Victory Day (May 9th) —a day that is not just about history, but about identity, memory, and the stories carried across generations. Growing up with the legacy of World War II , Kate reflects on how this day shaped millions of lives across...

What did it really feel like to live through the collapse of the Soviet Union? In this episode of The Soviet Life , host Kate Saba explores the dramatic fall of a superpower and the economic and cultural shockwaves that followed. From the moment the Soviet system dissolved in 1991, millions of people were thrust into a completely new reality. Savings disappeared overnight due to hyperinflation, cu...

In this episode of The Soviet Life, host Kate Saba takes you inside a world where money didn’t work the way we expect - it existed and often couldn’t buy what people actually needed. With personal insight and historical perspective, she explores a system where salaries were stable, yet shelves were empty, where long lines and shortages defined daily life, and where the most valuable currency wasn’...

In this episode of The Soviet Life , Kate Saba speaks with Anna Kochug about growing up in Moldova during the final years of the Soviet Union. Anna shares memories of everyday life under the Soviet system, the uncertainty that followed its collapse, and her journey to the United States through education. Together, they reflect on cultural identity, the contrasts between American and post-Soviet va...

In this episode of The Soviet Life , host Kate Saba, explores the powerful role the Olympic Games played in shaping Soviet society. The Olympics were never just about sports - they were a symbol of national pride, political ideology, and global competition. She takes listeners through the USSR’s Olympic history, the intense training system that produced world-class athletes, and the immense pressu...

In this episode of The Soviet Life , host Kate Saba weaves together history, politics, and personal reflection to explore the deep and often overlooked ties between the former Soviet Union and Venezuela. Against the backdrop of recent events involving Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, the episode traces the roots of this relationship—from Soviet influence and Cuba’s pivotal role, to the rise of...

In this episode of The Soviet Life , host Kate Saba delves into the unique holiday traditions of the former Soviet Union, contrasting them with Western celebrations. She begins by discussing the Old New Year, celebrated on January 13th, which stems from the Julian calendar and serves as a quieter continuation of New Year festivities. Kate highlights how Soviet holidays were not just about fun but...

In this episode of The Soviet Life , host Kate Saba shares a deeply personal look at winter holidays in the Soviet Union. She explores what it meant to celebrate during a time when Christmas was not officially allowed, and how New Year quietly became the most important and magical holiday of the year. Kate reflects on family gatherings, familiar foods, and the figure many Soviet children grew up b...

In this heartfelt episode of The Soviet Life , host Kate Saba sits down with Elizabeth Milner — an American who has absolutely no personal ties to the Soviet Union — to explore what Soviet life looks like through fresh, unfiltered eyes. What happens when someone raised in a completely different culture hears about childhood, family life, holidays, and day-to-day realities behind the Iron Curtain?...

In this deeply inspiring episode of The Soviet Life , host Kate Saba sits down with Alex Matusevich , an entrepreneur who journeyed from his Soviet childhood in Belarus to building a thriving tech company in the United States. Alex shares a heartfelt reflection on how his Soviet upbringing shaped his values — discipline, hard work, and a sense of community — and how those lessons guided him throug...

In this episode of The Soviet Life , host Kate Saba speaks with Mr. Khalid , who shares his powerful story of growing up in Afghanistan during the Soviet invasion. Together, they explore the human side of the Soviet-Afghan War—its devastating toll on Afghan society, the ripple effects felt around the world, and the enduring resilience of those who lived through it. From the innocence of childhood...

In this episode of The Soviet Life Podcast , host Kate Saba sits down with Professor Cathy Ross , who first visited the Soviet Union in 1989 as part of a student ambassador program. Cathy shares what it was like to walk into a world so different from her own and how, despite Cold War tensions, she was met with surprising warmth, generosity, and unforgettable hospitality. They dive into her experie...

In this solo episode, host Kate Saba opens up about the personal journey behind The Soviet Life podcast. She shares what inspired her to begin, what she’s learned along the way, and how this project has evolved into a space for collective memory, cultural connection, and meaningful storytelling. Kate reflects on the joys and challenges of podcasting, the emotional impact of hearing (and telling) S...

In this heartfelt episode of The Soviet Life , host Kate Saba sits down with Monika Dorosheff-Chamasyan, a classically trained violinist and educator who grew up in Soviet Armenia. Together, they explore what it was like to live through the Soviet era, the collapse of the regime, and the resilience it took to adapt and thrive afterward. Monika opens up about her music education under the Soviet sy...

In this episode of The Soviet Life , host Kate Saba speaks with Anna Viktorovna Biroukova, who offers a heartfelt and insightful look at her life growing up in Moscow during the Soviet era—and the unexpected journey that led her to the United States just before the USSR’s collapse. Anna Viktorovna Biroukova arrived in the U.S. just two weeks before the collapse of the Soviet Union and shares the s...

In this episode of The Soviet Life , host Kate Saba welcomes Dr. Joshua, a U.S. scientist who traveled to Russia during his high school years shortly after the fall of the Soviet Union. Through his time in the research town of Pushchino, Dr. Joshua witnessed firsthand the resilience, resourcefulness, and warmth of post-Soviet scientific life. He shares fascinating stories of working with Professor...

In this deeply personal and moving episode of The Soviet Life , we sit down with Aisha Aladinov to explore her powerful story of growing up in the Soviet Union. From her family's forced deportation and cultural identity struggles to her reflections on modern-day Crimea, Aisha offers a rare, firsthand account of life shaped by Soviet policies, personal sacrifice, and resilience. She also shares her...

In this special episode of The Soviet Life , host Kate sits down with Dr. Olga Terekhina for a powerful and personal conversation about growing up and coming of age in the Soviet Union. From her childhood experiences and the Soviet education system to navigating faith under communism, Olga offers a nuanced, deeply human perspective on what everyday life was really like behind the Iron Curtain. She...

Step behind the Iron Curtain and into the everyday lives of those who lived in the Soviet Union during its final decades. In The Soviet Life , host Kate — who grew up in Belarus in the 1970s and '80s — shares personal stories, interviews, and reflections on what it was really like to live under the Soviet regime. From ration lines to quiet moments of joy, from whispered dreams of freedom to the sh...