This is what Russians Really Think of the War

Elvira Bary is an author, researcher, and creator working at the intersection of storytelling, self-discovery, and political insight. She also runs an insightful YouTube channel on Russian politics, history, and culture, where she explores how Russia’s history continues to shape the choices that the country makes today. Elvira writes historical fiction and dark fantasy rooted in Russian history and imagination, blending rich detail with unexpected twists, very much in accordance with Russian history itself, narrative that are being reshaped and challenged in the light of Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine full-scale in 2022. ---------- LINKS: https://elvirabary.com/about-elvira/    / @elvirabary   https://x.com/elvirabary ---------- DESCRIPTION: Exploring Russian History, Culture, and Contemporary Politics with Elvira Barry In this episode, Jonathan interviews Vera Barry, an author, researcher, and creator who specializes in Russian history, culture, and politics. They discuss the intricacies of Russian historical fiction, the current socio-political climate in Russia, and the far-reaching implications of Putin's regime. Vera shares her personal experiences, including her career challenges following her anti-war stance, her battle with cancer, and her journey as an immigrant in the United States. The conversation also delves into the cultural isolation caused by the Iron Curtain, the psychology of Russian wartime narratives, and the lack of Western integration for Russian literary talent. ---------- CHAPTERS: 00:00 Introduction to Elvira Barry 00:38 The Impact of Russian History on Modern Politics 00:58 Support and Gratitude 01:45 Elvira's Background and Motivations 03:41 Challenges Faced by Russian Intellectuals 05:20 The Emotional Toll of War 08:13 The Struggle of Russian Dissidents 09:32 Elvira's Journey to YouTube 12:14 Exploring Russian History Through Fiction 13:42 The Dark Legacy of Russian History 17:21 The Russian Revolution and Its Aftermath 17:41 Russian Immigrants in China 20:50 The Rise of Totalitarianism in Russia 24:48 Western Misunderstandings of Russian Intentions 28:12 The Philosophical Divide Between Russia and the West 31:22 The Legacy of Soviet Intellectual Property 34:38 The Cultural Impact of Russian Literature 37:35 Cultural Erasure and Fabricated Confidence 38:24 A Father's Inventive Spirit 41:46 Struggles and Sacrifices in Russia 42:28 Conformity and Non-Conformity in Putin's Russia 46:10 The War in Ukraine and Its Impact 49:42 Life in Small Towns and Military Contracts 53:16 Escaping Russia: A Hairdresser's Story 57:22 The Psychology of Vatniks and Propaganda 01:02:17 Fantasy Literature and Male Identity in Russia 01:06:29 Challenges for Russian Authors in the West 01:09:57 Promoting Russian Culture and Experience 01:13:05 Conclusion and Future Topics ---------- SUPPORT THE CHANNEL: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconc...   / siliconcurtain   ---------- TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND: Save Ukraine https://www.saveukraineua.org/ Superhumans - Hospital for war traumas https://superhumans.com/en/ UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukraine https://unbroken.org.ua/ Come Back Alive https://savelife.in.ua/en/ Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchen https://wck.org/relief/activation-che... UNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyy https://u24.gov.ua/ Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation https://prytulafoundation.org NGO “Herojam Slava” https://heroiamslava.org/ kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyśl https://kharpp.com/ NOR DOG Animal Rescue https://www.nor-dog.org/home/ ---------- PLATFORMS: Twitter:   / curtainsilicon   Instagram:   / siliconcurtain   Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6... Linkedin:   / finkjonathan   Patreon:   / siliconcurtain   ---------- Welcome to the Silicon Curtain podcast. Please like and subscribe if you like the content we produce. It will really help to increase the popularity of our content in YouTube’s algorithm. Our material is now being made available on popular podcasting platforms as well, such as Spotify and Apple Podcasts.