War-life balance with Julia

Society EN ↓ 5 episodes

What does it take to live a normal life when nothing is normal? From surviving harsh winters without electricity to finding moments of normalcy amid chaos, in each episode, journalist Julia Kalashnyk talks about how Ukrainians work, love, laugh, and survive while their country fights for freedom, and what we humans share during the worst of crises. juliakalashnyk.substack.com

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War-life balance with Julia

Episodes

The harshest winter ever 08.03.2026 13:57

Episode 5. The harshest winter ever Ukraine just lived through the coldest winter since all-out war began. With temperatures hitting -20 outside, Russia was hammering the power grid with hundreds of drones and missiles, leaving entire cities with no lights, no water, no heat. In this episode, Julia looks back on the harshest winter ever, and the people who defined it. Divers repairing pipes underw...

A teacher the war couldn't stop 24.02.2026 16:20

Episode 4. A teacher the war couldn't stop Nataliia, a teacher from Kharkiv, woke up to Russian missiles on February 24, 2022. She fled the city with her family and her little dog to her mother's house in the region, thinking she'd be back in days. Instead, she got trapped under Russian occupation for 42 days. When she finally flee and made it home, her physical classroom was empty. Her students w...

I go to an aesthetician during the war 31.12.2025 11:42

Episode 3. Rituals during the war For Valya, her beauty routine makes her feel grounded. "I feel that I'm alive when I touch my face, no matter how hard it is." In this episode, the host reflects on the importance of rituals and routines during wartime. You can support this show on Patreon or by donating via PayPal j.kalashnyk@gmail.com To receive the War-Life Balance newsletter subscribe to Julia...

How do Ukrainians get through constant blackouts? 28.11.2025 9:10

Episode 2. How do Ukrainians get through constant blackouts? Blackouts are Ukraine's new normal. Russia keeps hitting the country's power plants, and we keep adapting because that's what Ukrainians do. This episode explores how Ukrainians navigate constant blackouts and why we've gotten so good at adapting to the impossible. You can support this show on Patreon or by donating via PayPal j.kalashny...

Let's talk about hope 14.11.2025 9:50

Episode 1. Let's talk about hope We all understand hope – but do we understand its anatomy in war? In this episode, we explore how hope shifts from a personal feeling to a collective force, and whether war changes hope itself or does hope change us? You can support this show on Patreon or by donating via PayPal j.kalashnyk@gmail.com To receive the War-Life Balance newsletter subscribe to Julia's S...