Back in 2011, some 10 years ago now, I had the pleasure and privilege of speaking with Oleg Atbashan, author of a book called Shakedown Socialism: Unions, Pitchforks, Collective Greed, the Fallacy of Economic Equality, and other Optical Illusions of "Redistributive Justice".

 

Oleg shared with me some startling personal recollections of life in Ukraine—and, by extension, anywhere in the former USSR—before the collapse of communism in Europe, during and after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, and the years following until he left Ukraine.

 

He also reflected on the circumstances, events and government policies that led to the Holodomor (the famine-genocide in Ukraine in 1932 and 1933) … and why in his view the western world is on the brink of repeating history from the darkest days of communism in eastern Europe.

 

It seemed a bit far-fetched 10 years ago… but today, maybe not so much.

 

That interview was recorded via Skype in days before today’s advanced recording devices and internet technology were readily available and affordable for independent broadcasters in home studios. So, apologies for the sound quality. I hope the content of this interview makes up for it. Ten years later, it is every bit as timely...if not more so.

To visit Oleg's website, and get an autographed copy of Shakedown Socialism, click here:

Here are affiliate links to Oleg's three books referenced at the end of the interview. If you use these links to purchase Oleg's book, you will be supporting both Oleg and Nash Holos. Amazon will send a (very small) commission to Nash Holos for promoting his book:

Shakedown Socialism. Link here.

Hotel USSR: Memoirs of a Soviet non-artist. Link here.

A Notebook for the Resident Socialist. Link here.

Nash Holos Ukrainian Roots Radio airs in Vancouver Saturdays at 6pm PST on AM1320 (streaming at am1320.com) and in Nanaimo Wednesdays from 11am-12pm with Pawlina and from 12-12:30pm with Oksana (in Ukrainian) on CHLY 101.7fm (streaming at chly.ca).

Transcripts, information and more at the Nash Holos website here.

Thanks for tuning in!

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Pawlina in conversation with Svitlana Kominko, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Maple Hope Foundation in Vancouver.

Svitlana shares details of how her foundation came to sponsor the upcoming west coast and Ottawa performances of iconic and beloved Ukrainian singer Oksana Mukha on her 2024 Canada/US tour.

She also tells about Oksana's current fundraising project helping with the rehabilitation of Ukrainian defenders, and the latest project of Maple Hope Foundation working with bereaved family members of fallen soldiers.

Originally aired Dec 7, 2024 on Nash Holos Ukrainian Roots Radio 6pm on AM1320CHMB Vancouver.

In English.

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Oksana Poberezhnyk in conversation with iconic and beloved Ukrainian singer Oksana Mukha on her 2024 Canada/US tour. Oksana shares details of her music career as well as her current fundraising project helping with rehabilitation of Ukrainian defenders. Originally aired Dec 7, 2024 on Nash Holos Ukrainian Roots Radio 6pm on AM1320CHMB Vancouver.

In Ukrainian.

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In this edition:

• Ukrainian Food Flair: Recipe for Festive Red Cabbage Salad

• Feature Interview: Pawlina in conversation with Svitlana Kominko of Maple Hope Foundation

• Feature Interview: Oksana Poberezhnyk in conversation with Ukrainian singer Oksana Mukha

• Ukrainian Proverb of the Week

• Other items of interest

Your host: Pawlina.

The Vancouver edition of Nash Holos airs Saturdays at 6pm PST on air at AM1320 CHMB and streaming live at the CHMB website. www.am1320.com.

The Nanaimo edition airs Wednesdays at 11am PST on CHLY 101.7FM, broadcasting to the north and central Vancouver Island, Gulf Islands, Sunshine Coast, northwest Washington State and Greater Vancouver listening areas.

For audio archives, transcripts and information about the show, visit our website.

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Visit our YouTube channel where Anton and Daria Lysenko are discussing current affairs, history and culture with fascinating people.

Note: The Ukrainian Food Flair cookbook is now available on Amazon: Ukrainian Food Flair: Authentic Recipes from Canada's West Coast: Molnar, Sylvia, MacQuarrie, Paulette: 9780981037820: Books - Amazon.ca

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Gene in conversation with Pawlina shares details of UWA's 2024 Christmas Shoebox project and how, thanks to UWA donors, Ukrainian families who have lost their homes and livelihoods are being helped with basic footwear as well as food parcels to help make the festive season more festive, and the winter season tolerable. In English.

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This edition of Knyzka Corner features Orysia Tracz’s book, First Star I See Tonight: Ukrainian Christmas Traditions. 

Orysia Tracz explores the origins, rituals, and cultural significance of Ukrainian Christmas traditions in her first book, First Star I See Tonight. This book includes a number of articles about Ukrainian Christmas celebrations in Winnipeg and Manitoba since the first immigration to Canada more than 125 years ago. It is the first in-depth English language book on Ukrainian Christmas traditions, and will definitely be of interest to Ukrainian families throughout the world. 

The First Star I See Tonight begins with a discussion about the importance of tradition in Ukrainian life thatwill stir up memories for readers both young and old. Non-Ukrainian readers will recall their own traditions as they discover the historical origins of Ukrainian Christmas traditions. 

The greatest strength of this book is its visual appeal. It is simply a beautiful book! Readers who pick it up will be attracted to the illustrations, photographs and layout. The pictures include historical photographs of Ukrainian Christmas celebrations as well as current celebrations both in Ukraine and in North America. It would be a great gift!

The research and wealth of information provided by Tracz will fascinate both Ukrainian and non-Ukrainian readers. They will discover a culture which is both strong and vibrant. There is an extensive bibliography for further research. 

First Star I See Tonight: Ukrainian Christmas Traditions was first published in the fall of 2015 and would be Orysia’s last book since she passed away on November 10, 2016. The Tracz family has established a bursary in her memory with the Ukrainian Canadian Foundation of Taras Shevchenko. The second printing of the book in 2021 has a new dedication by Orysia’s children, Boyan, Dobryan, and Ruslan. Orysia was a pillar of the Ukrainian community, and her absence is keenly felt. 

First Star I See Tonight: Ukrainian Christmas Traditions is available online at Koota Ooma, McNally Robinson Booksellers, Yevshan, Audrey’s Books and some independent book stores.

– Reviewed by Myra Junyk

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In this edition:

• Ukrainian Food Flair: Recipe for pears in custard sauce, Ukrainian style

• Knyzhka Corner Book Review: The Battle for Ukrainian*

• Latest news from Ukraine

• Ukrainian Proverb of the Week

• Other items of interest

• Plenty of great Ukrainian music!

Your host: Pawlina.

The Vancouver edition of Nash Holos airs Saturdays at 6pm PST on air at AM1320 CHMB and streaming live at the CHMB website. www.am1320.com.

The Nanaimo edition airs Wednesdays at 11am PST on CHLY 101.7FM, broadcasting to the north and central Vancouver Island, Gulf Islands, Sunshine Coast, northwest Washington State and Greater Vancouver listening areas.

For audio archives, transcripts and information about the show, visit our website.

Podcast feed here:

*affiliate link

Visit our YouTube channel where Anton and Daria Lysenko are discussing current affairs, history and culture with fascinating people.

Visit our Patreon page and get in line for a copy of the new Ukrainian Food Flair cookbook!

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram.and Threads

The Ukrainian Food Flair cookbook is now available on Amazon: Ukrainian Food Flair: Authentic Recipes from Canada's West Coast: Molnar, Sylvia, MacQuarrie, Paulette: 9780981037820: Books - Amazon.ca

Support the show on Patreon

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this edition:

• Ukrainian Food Flair: Recipe for "Cool Kovbasa" courtesy a listener in Ukraine

• Knyzhka Corner Book Review: Travels in a Young Country by British author Michelle Lawson

• Ukrainian Proverb of the Week

• Other items of interest

• Plenty of great Ukrainian music!

Your host: Pawlina.

The Vancouver edition of Nash Holos airs Saturdays at 6pm PST on air at AM1320 CHMB and streaming live at the CHMB website. www.am1320.com.

The Nanaimo edition airs Wednesdays at 11am PST on CHLY 101.7FM, broadcasting to the north and central Vancouver Island, Gulf Islands, Sunshine Coast, northwest Washington State and Greater Vancouver listening areas.

For audio archives, transcripts and information about the show, visit our website.

Podcast feed here:

You can also find us on Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Deezer, and most music platforms ... and of course on your favourite podcast app.

*affiliate link

Visit our YouTube channel where Anton and Daria Lysenko are discussing current affairs, history and culture with fascinating people.

Visit our Patreon page and get in line for a copy of the new Ukrainian Food Flair cookbook!

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram.and Threads

The Ukrainian Food Flair cookbook is now available on Amazon: Ukrainian Food Flair: Authentic Recipes from Canada's West Coast: Molnar, Sylvia, MacQuarrie, Paulette: 9780981037820: Books - Amazon.ca

Support the show on Patreon

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this edition:

• Feature Interview: Oksana Poberezhnyk in conversation with Sofia and Taras in Kyiv, who share their most recent experiences as volunteer workers on the front lines of Ukraine
• Ukrainian Food Flair: Sour cherry compote
• Ukrainian Proverb of the Week
• Other items of interest
• Great Ukrainian music!

Your host: Pawlina.

The Nanaimo edition airs Wednesdays at 11am PST on CHLY 101.7FM, broadcasting to the north and central Vancouver Island, Gulf Islands, Sunshine Coast, northwest Washington State and Greater Vancouver listening areas.

The Vancouver edition of Nash Holos airs Saturdays at 6pm PST on air at AM1320 CHMB and streaming live at the CHMB website. www.am1320.com.

For audio archives, transcripts and information about the show, visit our website.

Podcast feed here:

You can also find us on Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Deezer, and most music platforms ... and of course on your favourite podcast app.

Visit our YouTube channel where Anton and Daria Lysenko are discussing current affairs, history and culture with fascinating people.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram.and Patreon.

New! The Ukrainian Food Flair cookbook is now available on Amazon: Ukrainian Food Flair: Authentic Recipes from Canada's West Coast

Also available (signed) copies at CHLY studios in downtown Nanaimo (on the China Steps)

Support the show on Patreon

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this edition:

• Feature Interview: Oksana Poberezhnyk in conversation with Sofia and Taras in Kyiv, who share their most recent experiences as volunteer workers on the front lines of Ukraine
• Feature Interview: Odesa klezmer and urban folk band Kommuna Lux
• Ukrainian Food Flair: Sour cherry compote
• Ukrainian Proverb of the Week
• Other items of interest
• Great Ukrainian music!

Your host: Pawlina.

The Vancouver edition of Nash Holos airs Saturdays at 6pm PST on air at AM1320 CHMB and streaming live at the CHMB website. www.am1320.com.

The Nanaimo edition airs Wednesdays at 11am PST on CHLY 101.7FM, broadcasting to the north and central Vancouver Island, Gulf Islands, Sunshine Coast, northwest Washington State and Greater Vancouver listening areas.

For audio archives, transcripts and information about the show, visit our website.

Podcast feed here:

You can also find us on Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Deezer, and most music platforms ... and of course on your favourite podcast app.

*affiliate link

Visit our YouTube channel where Anton and Daria Lysenko are discussing current affairs, history and culture with fascinating people.

Visit our Patreon page and get in line for a copy of the new Ukrainian Food Flair cookbook!

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram.and Threads

The Ukrainian Food Flair cookbook is now available on Amazon: Ukrainian Food Flair: Authentic Recipes from Canada's West Coast: Molnar, Sylvia, MacQuarrie, Paulette: 9780981037820: Books - Amazon.ca

Support the show on Patreon

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.