The Soviet Life is a podcast that brings the past to life through personal stories and honest conversations about everyday experiences behind the Iron Curtain. Hosted by Kate, who grew up in 1970s–80s Belarus, the show explores how people lived, loved, worked, and endured during the final decades of the USSR — and what followed after its collapse. Featuring voices from across the former Soviet republics, the West, and beyond, each episode bridges generations and cultures to uncover the human side of history. Whether you're a former citizen, a curious learner, or a student of the Cold War, The Soviet Life...
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Sep 30, 2026 · 22:33
Episode Summary In this episode of The Soviet Life , Kate Saba explores the tradition of bringing flowers to teachers at the start of the school year in the Soviet Union. Through…
Sep 6, 2026 · 25:52
What is Moscow really like when you experience it for yourself? In this episode of The Soviet Life , host Kate Saba sits down with Maria and Sonya (who goes by Sophia) following…
Aug 9, 2026 · 34:19
In this episode of The Soviet Life , host Kate Saba takes listeners back to the unforgettable summers of the Soviet Union, when summer wasn’t simply a vacation — it was an entire…
Jul 4, 2026 · 30:01
Summary In this special Independence Day episode, Kate Saba reflects on celebrating two nations that have shaped her life: Belarus and the United States. Recorded on the Fourth…
Jun 21, 2026 · 35:37
In this episode of The Soviet Life , host Kate Saba explores the fascinating world of Soviet summer camps and the lasting impact they had on generations of children across the…
Jun 7, 2026 · 1:04:20
In this episode of The Soviet Life , host Kate Saba interviews Alex Tokmin, who shares his unique experiences growing up in the Soviet Union and his journey to the United States.…
May 9, 2026 · 25:28
What does it mean to remember a war that took 27 million lives ? In this deeply personal episode of The Soviet Life , host Kate Saba takes you into the heart of Victory Day (May…
Apr 21, 2026 · 28:20
What did it really feel like to live through the collapse of the Soviet Union? In this episode of The Soviet Life , host Kate Saba explores the dramatic fall of a superpower and…
Mar 29, 2026 · 46:01
In this episode of The Soviet Life, host Kate Saba takes you inside a world where money didn’t work the way we expect - it existed and often couldn’t buy what people actually…
Mar 5, 2026 · 45:25
In this episode of The Soviet Life , Kate Saba speaks with Anna Kochug about growing up in Moldova during the final years of the Soviet Union. Anna shares memories of everyday…
Feb 19, 2026 · 26:21
In this episode of The Soviet Life , host Kate Saba, explores the powerful role the Olympic Games played in shaping Soviet society. The Olympics were never just about sports -…
Feb 9, 2026 · 28:54
In this episode of The Soviet Life , host Kate Saba weaves together history, politics, and personal reflection to explore the deep and often overlooked ties between the former…
Jan 20, 2026 · 22:13
In this episode of The Soviet Life , host Kate Saba delves into the unique holiday traditions of the former Soviet Union, contrasting them with Western celebrations. She begins…
Dec 24, 2025 · 23:13
In this episode of The Soviet Life , host Kate Saba shares a deeply personal look at winter holidays in the Soviet Union. She explores what it meant to celebrate during a time…
Nov 30, 2025 · 58:42
In this heartfelt episode of The Soviet Life , host Kate Saba sits down with Elizabeth Milner — an American who has absolutely no personal ties to the Soviet Union — to explore…
Nov 10, 2025 · 59:33
In this deeply inspiring episode of The Soviet Life , host Kate Saba sits down with Alex Matusevich , an entrepreneur who journeyed from his Soviet childhood in Belarus to…
Sep 14, 2025 · 44:11
In this episode of The Soviet Life , host Kate Saba speaks with Mr. Khalid , who shares his powerful story of growing up in Afghanistan during the Soviet invasion. Together, they…
Aug 23, 2025 · 46:10
In this episode of The Soviet Life Podcast , host Kate Saba sits down with Professor Cathy Ross , who first visited the Soviet Union in 1989 as part of a student ambassador…
Aug 7, 2025 · 15:53
In this solo episode, host Kate Saba opens up about the personal journey behind The Soviet Life podcast. She shares what inspired her to begin, what she’s learned along the way,…
Jul 23, 2025 · 48:03
In this heartfelt episode of The Soviet Life , host Kate Saba sits down with Monika Dorosheff-Chamasyan, a classically trained violinist and educator who grew up in Soviet…
Jul 3, 2025 · 48:44
In this episode of The Soviet Life , host Kate Saba speaks with Anna Viktorovna Biroukova, who offers a heartfelt and insightful look at her life growing up in Moscow during the…
Jun 26, 2025 · 42:23
In this episode of The Soviet Life , host Kate Saba welcomes Dr. Joshua, a U.S. scientist who traveled to Russia during his high school years shortly after the fall of the Soviet…
Jun 19, 2025 · 43:13
In this deeply personal and moving episode of The Soviet Life , we sit down with Aisha Aladinov to explore her powerful story of growing up in the Soviet Union. From her family's…
Jun 10, 2025 · 42:06
In this special episode of The Soviet Life , host Kate sits down with Dr. Olga Terekhina for a powerful and personal conversation about growing up and coming of age in the Soviet…
Jun 10, 2025 · 2:26
Step behind the Iron Curtain and into the everyday lives of those who lived in the Soviet Union during its final decades. In The Soviet Life , host Kate — who grew up in Belarus…
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