unMasking Pod

First American refugee in Germany sounds wild until you realize they're Jewish, descended from Holocaust survivors, and just traded the Statue of Liberty for a refugee center in Berlin. Try spending a day in Berlin hunting for curly hair products and accessible sidewalks while processing the fact that a trans American with disabilities felt safer in a German refugee center than in their own home i...

When your biggest worry shifts from overpriced birthday restaurant reservations to whether you'll survive the night in a concrete parking garage, you know burnout has reached new levels. (Spoiler: it involves waking up to orange flashes at 6 AM, one very anxious dog, and the sudden realization that changing your nails every four weeks instead of two is actually a cry for help). Think exhaustion is...

Think diagnosing TV characters makes you qualified for therapy? Welcome to the world where thirty-something women lose their minds over teenage love triangles while Ukrainian influencers accidentally become Putin's PR team. When reality TV becomes your reality and fictional boyfriends start looking like your actual boyfriend, it's time to separate the actors from their characters (and mayb...

Your favorite influencer just defended an abuser because "he's changed now." Meanwhile, women are getting dragged for speaking out four years later because apparently trauma has an expiration date. Ukrainian theater elite just learned what happens when pretty privilege meets predator allegations, and spoiler alert: the victim-blaming came from inside the house. Turns out having your...

From TikTok hero to public enemy number one in three easy steps: gain followers for Ukraine content, watch strangers dissect your marriage records, then discover trolls posting your house online while claiming they're "just asking questions." Nothing says digital celebrity like having Russian hackers show up at your workplace because you dared to explain geopolitics on the internet....

Mercury retrograde fanatics just got absolutely demolished by one Ukrainian who's had it up to HERE with cosmic excuses. When your spiritual besties decide to tag-team you about planetary bullsh*t during your personal hell week, sometimes you gotta hang up and go full red-thread witch mode to break whatever curse they think controls your existence. Teaching medicine to clueless foreign soldier...

Ever wondered how a perfectly planned life can transform overnight? (Spoiler: it involves one unexpected crisis, three hasty career changes, and the sudden realization that your IKEA organizing skills might actually save lives in a combat zone). Think reinvention is just for LinkedIn profiles? Try going from matching throw pillows to matching trauma kits. Or how years of planning dinner parties ac...

Ever wondered why getting your nails done at the frontline makes you a "psyop" but men visiting bars doesn't raise eyebrows? (Spoiler: it involves double standards, Combat Barbie accusations, and the revolutionary idea that women can both save lives AND have a decent manicure).Think your beauty standards are tough? Try being a female soldier who dares to wear mascara after a 12-hour...

Ever wondered how a simple law can turn an entire country upside down? (Spoiler: it involves large-scale protests, passionate citizens, and the sudden realization that democracy is, in fact, a full-contact sport). Think you've seen political drama? Try going from peaceful Kyiv streets to nationwide demonstrations overnight. Also in this episode:💸 What happens when the government ghosts its citize...

🎉 Unmasking Returns: Season 2 Drops Tonight! 🎉We're back and better than ever with a Lithuanian-American combat medic who definitely isn't your delivery driver (if you know, you know)! Meet Rima, our incredible new co-host who brings matcha AND battlefield wisdom to the couch. Season 2 promises all the unfiltered conversations you loved, now with added medical expertise and zero sleep sc...

Ever wondered how complaining about $40 croissants can instantly cure your first-world problems? (Spoiler: it involves three consecutive nights of record-breaking drone attacks, one very lost grandma at IKEA, and the sudden realization that expensive lattes are not, in fact, a legitimate crisis). Think you've had a rough week? Try going from Copenhagen's boutique trauma to Kyiv's bomb...

What do staring down Russians in airports, being mistaken for Russian speakers, and discovering Lithuania's obsession with herbal liquors have in common? This episode. This week, Masha and Yulia share their wild travel adventures outside Ukraine's war bubble. From Yulia's anti-disinformation fellowship in Vilnius to awkward encounters with Putin-defending Russians living comfortably abroad, they b...

What do peace talks, the Pope, Eurovision, and the fear of sleeping naked in wartime Ukraine have in common? This episode. This week, Masha and Yulia break down the absurdity of so-called “peace talks” between Russia and Ukraine, the strange rise of a Pope with a suspicious backstory, and why religious institutions should maybe… sit this one out. They also share how working in media during war aff...

Ever wondered how a girl's obsession with Justin Bieber's Instagram turned into Ukraine's most unexpected resistance story? (Spoiler: it involves questionable operation hours, accidental propaganda fighting, and a whole lot of discontent russians).🤔 Think you've seen weird career changes? Try explaining how memorizing Bieber's tour schedule became the perfect training for tracking disinformation...

Today on unMasking Pod we're serving apocalyptic prophecies, that might explain why Francis peaced out on Easter (dramatic timing: 10/10), with a side of unexpected drone donations, proving that even Popes can slide into Ukraine's DMs while no one is watching.   Yulia's Frenchman navigates Ukrainian Easter traditions while getting accidentally baptized (spoiler: he survived both).🤯 We investigate...

Ever met diaspora Ukrainians named "Vsevolod"? We have, and they will judge your Ukrainian-ness faster than you can take a sip of Borscht (gasp!). This cultural therapy session is where we discover mainland Ukrainians cringed at wearing Vyshyvankas growing up, while diaspora kids bedazzle their houses with more Ukrainian symbols than a Carpathian gift shop. Ukrainian identity is a beautifully chao...

Ever feel like ditching your country and moving to Ukraine? you are not alone. In this episode of Unmasking, we dive into the terrifyingly casual superiority of Ukrainian digital services — from babushkas with payment terminals to government apps that make Western bureaucracy look positively Soviet. 🤯 We unpack the wild cost comparison showing Ukrainian MRIs at $80 while Americans pay $15,000, ex...

Ever feel like reality is glitching? You’re not alone. In this episode of Unmasking, we dive into the terrifyingly casual collapse of critical thinking — from TikTok echo chambers and AI hallucinations to modern politics that feel more like cults than campaigns. 📉 A wild Columbia Journalism Review study found that AI tools cite fake news over 60% of the time. We break down how the internet is qui...

Ever wondered what it’s like to plan a date between air raid sirens? Or explain to your dog that those flashes in the sky are just another Friday night in Ukraine?  Welcome to our not-so-normal normal. From catfishing tanks (yes, really) to grandpas with DIY declarations of independence, this week’s episode of Unmasking is a chaotic ride through the surreal reality of living and not just surviving...

Ever felt like the world is one giant stress ball, and you're just trying not to squeeze too hard? Join us for a raw and witty dive into the chaos of political anxiety and panic attacks, where we serve up a cocktail of humor and heart. Live from a war zone (no biggie, just another Tuesday), we share our unique Ukrainian perspective on the madness of current events. With media and politics pla...

This week, we dive into the shifting global power structures of 2025 and why does it feel like the world is on fire—again? From Serbia, Hungary, and Georgia pushing back against authoritarianism to U.S. crackdowns on free speech and human rights, we unpack the biggest global movements happening right now. Plus, it’s St. Patrick’s Day, so naturally, we take a detour into Ireland’s long history of r...

From awkward dating run-ins to America’s democracy crisis—this episode has everything. Masha is getting a dog (finally), Yulia exposes her love life to an unintended audience, and somehow we end up debating whether the U.S. is turning into Russia. Also, should we start giving out medals for men moving to Ukraine? In this episode: 🐶 Dogs or Dating – Masha’s emotional support dog dreams and why she...

Join us for a raw, real, and often unhinged look at life in Ukraine, global events, and the messiness of being human.  In this episode: 🔥 Surviving war & daily chaos – How do we cope with constant attacks, drone warfare, and the never-ending news cycle? 📖 The Handmaid’s Tale & reality – Is the world heading toward a dystopian future? 🇺🇦 Why we moved back to Ukraine – What made us leave s...

Life feels like it’s on fire—literally and figuratively. As Ukrainians, we navigate war, politics, and daily chaos. But to stay sane, we sit on this couch every week, unpack what’s happening in the world and our lives, and now… you’re invited to the conversation. In this episode: 💘 Valentine’s Day – Dating in a war zone, matchmaking disasters, and why Masha may (or may not) have a date. ☢️ Chorno...