Refugees’ Thermostat and Chocolatier’s Thermometer

Our guest for the full hour is Olya Yaloza, chocolatier originally from Lviv, Ukraine, now setting up life and her enterprise here in OC. The host first met her at the World Refugee Day earlier this summer. As she explained what it was like to produce some of the finest chocolates one could find anywhere in the world, and to have to uproot from providing that choicest of treats, giving up her personal investments in that business – it became apparent that her story ought to be heard. That refugees are over-achievers is an adage that listeners will hear again today.

Music credits: Chimora, “Africano Americano,” Sounds of Africa – album; DakhaBrakha, “Carpathian Rap,” broadcast in KEXP Studios.

http://www.kuci.org/podcastfiles/984/Yaloza8-22-23.mp3

United Ukrainian Ballet Co Brings “Giselle” to Segerstrom Hall

Today my guests are: Alexis Tutunnique and Elizaveta Gogidze, both principal dancers with the United Ukrainian Ballet Company, an assemblage of refugee dancers from all over Ukraine, who will perform at our Segerstrom Hall, 6/29-7/2nd, in Alexei Ratmansky’s version of the ghost story “Giselle, with surprising nuances and a hopeful ending in place of the usual bleak one. They’ve performed in the Netherlands, the UK, Singapore, Australia and the US; we are fortunate to have them in our neighborhood. These artists express what they are doing, and what’s on their minds. Details for tickets and times are available at: https://www.scfta.org/events/2023/united-ukrainian-ballet.

Music credits: Chimora, “Africano Americano,” Sounds of Africa – album; and Vsevolod Zaderatsky, “Preludes and Fugues in a minor,” performed by Irma Klimenko.

Note to listeners: In 1937 Ukrainian composer Vsevolod Zaderatsky (1891-1953) was one of those who fell under the Great Terror – the most brutal of Stalinist repressions. In earlier years all his compositions were destroyed to render him silent. Zaderatsky was accused of being a teacher for young Tsarevich, of formalism – a fraught word, which means one’s music is not approved by the Party – and of “anti-Soviet statements” that musical life in Ukraine was superior to that in Yaroslavl (Russia), where he worked before. This prelude and fugue was written during his imprisonment in GULAG – on fragments of telegram forms, without access to any musical instrument – and performed publicly only in 2014, 75 years after the composer’s death. Please listen to the whole work.

http://www.kuci.org/podcastfiles/984/UnitedUABalletCo6-20-23.mp3

“Motherland” Speaking Truth$ to Petrol

Vic Gerami, editor and publisher of the Blunt Post, as well as host/producer of the “Blunt Post with Vic” on Radio KPFK,” speaks about his recently released documentary, “Motherland” an award-winning documentary feature film about Azerbaijan’s, Turkey’s attack on Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) in 2020 and the massacre of 5,000+ people. In his film he details his travels to Armenia several times last year, where he interviews elected officials, eyewitnesses, veterans, refugees, and journalists for the film. That act of aggression, is part of campaign that has associations with our Irvine Mayor, which listeners have heard raised before on this show. The film will be presented at the Irvine City Hall chamber at 6 pm on 1/25th, with Vic Gerami presenting, and Q & A to follow.

Music credits: Chimora, “African Americano,” Sounds of Africa- album; Djivan Gasparyan – “Dle Yaman.”

http://www.kuci.org/podcastfiles/984/Gerami1-17-23.mp3

One Ukrainian Voice Rising to This Moment

For the full hour is Andriy Strekhaliuk, Ukrainian entrepreneur, consultant in HR & organizational development, and instructor at local business school – currently assisting his country’s military. He paints a personal picture of one Ukrainian man and his family, as well as show particular intersections between Ukrainian and American institutions, while taking every opportunity to bring us along with Ukrainians’ rich culture. Along with this broadcast, the host urges a listen to the accompanying Part 2 below. Andriy offers a host of resources for listeners who want to be more than by-standers to the horrific invasion of Ukraine. Those include: https://prytulafoundation.org/en https://savelife.in.ua/en/; https://spendwithukraine.com/; https://www.etsy.com/shop/NatArtiStudio?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=1209255865; https://www.facebook.com/valerii.pekar – thinker and entrepreneur; https://www.facebook.com/andrij.bondar – author https://www.facebook.com/volodymyr.yermolenko – philospher, journalist

Music credits: Chimora, “African Americano,” Sounds of Africa- album; Jazz Kolo, Ukrainian Jazz Melody. http://www.kuci.org/podcastfiles/984/StrekhaliukPart1_9-6-22.mp3

Part 2: This is a continuation of Andriy Strekhaliuk’s personal accounts of his participation in the EuroMaidan movement and how that contributes to the capacity that is rallying in Ukraine’s nation building – before, during, and after the Russian Invasion of Ukraine. He closes with some family notes. http://www.kuci.org/podcastfiles/984/ASPart2.mp3

Women Bringing The Goods on 3-8-22

It’s March 8th and a good time to tap into the gifts of the thinking of seasoned women. Sharon Rosen Leib, attorney and blogger; and Nancy Wingfield, emeritus scholar of Eastern European history – present solid takes on the range and depth of years of analyzing current events. It’s time. And a work in progress. Other women will be invited to weigh in later. Music credits: Chimora, “African Americano,” Sounds of Africa- album Ukrainian Folk Song Group Dhzerela. http://www.kuci.org/podcastfiles/984/LeibWingfield3-8-22.mp3

Hapsburg Scholar Looks Under U.S.’s Democratic Hood

For the full hour, in advance of the Biden/Harris Inauguration, Dr. Nancy Wingfield is an academic for the moment. As a Northern Illinois University Presidential Research Emerita Professor, principally investigating Eastern European history and with many connections in public agencies, Professor Wingfield offers insight about: fascism, soft power, autocracies, and more.
Music credits: Greg Foat, “Symphonie Pacifique;” Bedrich Smetna “Ma Vlast,” Thomas Hengelbrock conducting Hamburg Sinfonieorchester.

http://www.kuci.org/podcastfiles/984/WingfieldPod1-19-21.mp3