Well, “all good things must come to an end,” as they say. (Even though this isn’t actually true.) It has been our singular privilege and joy to bring you CaucasTalk for the last 4+ years, and we are struck to the heart to say goodbye. Our life situations have made it such that a) we are no longer both in the North Caucasus, and b) we are therefore no longer recording in-person. We feel it is time to move on as much as it grieves us. We want to say THANK YOU to our wonderful listeners, who have honored, encouraged, and buoyed us up along the way; to our faithful Patreon supporters who have literally made this all possible; and most of all to our North Caucasus friends who, even as guests on our podcasts, have really been hosts to us and our families for several wonderful years living in their midst. Each one of you has made us feel welcome. We have cherished coming to know you, your families, and your cultures better. We consider it an honor to have represented you in some small way to the wider world. We hope earnestly to have left a positive legacy in our short tenure and that others will carry on, in their own ways, the important work of sharing positive news from the North Caucasus.

All episodes will remain available as far as we are able, in perpetuity at: www.caucastalk.com

Your continued contributions on Patreon will support the maintenance of our online presence: https://www.patreon.com/caucastalk

Enjoy these amazing blasts to the past!

A Happy New Year note—with some news minutes—from yours truly at CaucasTalk!

Tahseen from Rise’n’Glide: https://caucastalk.com/episode67

Habib Nurmagomedov’s new restaurant in Makhachkala, “Papakha”

After three years of hanging in the wings just listening to CaucasTalk, Abdurahim finally steps up to the mic to represent his beautiful Dagestani people group, the Aghuls. (Thanks to some arm-twisting from Andrew 🙂 The Aghuls hail from the southern midlands of Dagestan and, like many people groups, they lack strong resources for their language. Abdurahim became convicted of this fact and has set out to be an advocate and voice for his people and language. As we so often find with guests, his manor is disarming, and love for homeland inspiring.

Links for Episode 113

Caucasus Language Website: avzag.app

Ruxavus Telegram Channel: https://t.me/ruxavus

Ruxavus Instagram Channel: https://instagram.com/ruxavus?igshid=1m9p87l4vcp

Public Aghul ResourceS: https://cloud.mail.ru/public/ouiY/2pa67Jwkr/

YouTube Story:

How does a truck driver from Wisconsin become a champion of local cultural developing a rural mountain valley in the North Caucasus? Matt Johnson tells us today, not only of his several and often hair-raising ascents of Mt. Elbrus one many of the six routes—including lightning storms, crevasses, and a mountain rescue—but much more about his love for the local culture, and especially a remote valley on the northwest side of the mountain. In the last year he has founded the Elbrus Alpine Project “to partner with the valley’s clans to build, from the ground up, a tourism and climbing economy” that foregrounds the desires and wellness of the local culture and economy.

Links for Episode 112

Elbrus Alpine Foundation – https://www.elbrus4alpinists.org/

Matt’s Post on Summitpost.org – https://www.summitpost.org/elbrus-from-the-west-ish-unusual-sw-route/1028210

https://mountainguides.pro – Sergey Baranov

The Mountain Worker Initiative – https://www.theuiaa.org/mountain-worker-initiative

Who are the Cossacks? And what is their connection to the North Caucasus? The fascinating history of this group of “free men” become warrior caste interweaves with the history of the whole region. Our good friend (and Chislic Festival champion) Ian Tuttle eloquently unpacks the birth, rise, and continued existence of this people and their place in the North Caucasus.

Links for Episode 111

Brian Boeck, Imperial Boundaries

Leo Tolstoy, The Cossacks

Leo Tolstoy, The Raid

Clair Huffaker, The Cowboy & the Cowboy

Mark Morritz, Cossack Sabre Manual

Kolchkov, Mountain Escort Units in Russia

If there’s one topic that gets the blood stirring of the today’s young folk, it’s old age! Or… not. Actually, the fact that’s funny tells us in the West a whole lot about our own cultural views on this very important topic. And would you believe there are places in the world where this topic actually DOES garner interest and esteem from all ages? That’s right: the North Caucasus. Springboarding off of our recent episode on retirement in the North Caucasus (Ep. 105 – http://caucastalk.com/epsiode105), we explore the wider issue of aging. Not only are the Caucasus globally renowned for their high density of centenarians (people over 100), but the reasons for a preponderance of old age are fascinating, if not ultimately speculative. One thing is sure: North Caucasus cultures love their old folks. We hope at the end of today’s episode you will, too!

Links for Episode 110

Dannon 1977 Yogurt Commercial in Georgia

Cultures of the Word: Dagestan, at the Indiana Public Library!

Abkhazia: Ancients of the Caucasus (Healthy at 100), by John Robbins

Education is a deeply-held value embedded in families and throughout the North Caucasus.  From early childhood through the university years, high levels of academic achievement are considered “normal,” according to our guest today. Madina from Ingushetia shares about her personal experience growing up as a student, and now as a top English tutor in Ingushetia. As always, pride for the region, deep connection to history, and a warm welcome for visitors shines out. But we also hear about the real need of good education in today’s competitive global environment.

Links for Episode 109

Instagram: Madina_Repetitor_English

What is the ЕГЭ (Единый государственный экзамен) / Unified State Exam?

The Dargin people inhabit mainly the middle latitudes of Dagestan, from the foothills up into the mountains. As our knowledgeable and articulate guest today, Saida, shares with us, the word “Dargin” means “inside,” as in deep in the mountains, and that is where this people can be found. Their traditions range and vary from embroidery to armory, and even include an amazing ancient practice of sharing children among families. Possibly the most winsome part of this interview is how Saida’s own heart has been captured by her homeland, even as a local. She shares her hope of someday living in the rarefied air of mountain life. It’s a pleasure and privilege today to hear from yet one more North Caucasus people in their own words!

Louisa the Lezginka shares today about the—you guessed it—Lezgin people! And yes, for those of you wondering (like Andrew), the word “Lezginka” refers not only to the Caucasus-wide national dance, but actually is the term for female members of the Lezgin nation. Louisa hails from the ancient and venerable city of Derbent and gives us wonderful insights about famous Lezgins from history, handicrafts, unique aspects of geography, and a flavor for who Lezgins are. We even got her to sing a snippet of a Lezgin folk song! Join us to hear it all in their own words.

We’ve talked lots about food on this podcast, but what about the actual experience of getting it? The act of dining out in the North Caucasus brings with it a whole host of quirks, habits, and cultural expectations that may be every bit as unfamiliar as the food. Join us as we “dig in” in a different sense and discover yet again gems of culture, people, and history hidden in plain sight—even on the plate right in front of you.

Links for Episode 106

Georgy Kavkaz