On today’s episode, I welcome a good friend of mine: Olga Martinez.
Before Olga joins me, I go into a rant about the WVU Mountaineers season, the head coach and the current staff. I also discuss when I had my breaking point with the previous head coach (you don’t ruin a birthday and expect to be liked by me.)
I briefly veer off to Denver and discuss the Broncos and how it’s been a frustrating season so far (at that point.)
Finally, I go into my rant about the war in Ukraine.
After the break, I welcome my guest. Olga was my translator, guide, and friend when I visited Ukraine in June of 2021. She made sure scammers stayed away from me, made sure the money changers or merchants didn’t try to rip me off, and had to scold me several times. (Find out why.)
We discuss her time in Southern Ukraine (Mykolaiv), growing up shortly after the fall of the Soviet Union, going to school, early relations, and perspectives of Russia. We also discussed how shopping for basic food supplies would be an all-day incursion in post-Soviet Ukraine. (Remember that next time you have to wait in line at the Supermarket.)
Then we discuss the mid-2010s: Euromaidan protests, how keeping up with the news can be depressing (doesn’t matter which country, language, or culture), a shift of culture and attitude among different generations of Ukrainians. The beginning of the war is in 2014, and that needs to be noted. We also discuss the election of the current Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky.
Finally, we discuss that fateful day in February of 2022: the “full invasion” orchestrated by Russia: being in Mykolaiv the morning it happened, getting out of Mykolaiv ASAP, leaving for neighboring countries (Moldova and Poland), and finally finding her way to the United States, where she has been for over 2 years now. Olga also states why people should care about Ukraine.
Is this a lengthy episode? Yes. But, there’s a lot to learn if you’re into history and current events.
