Nash Holos Ukrainian Roots Radio

In this Nash Holos exclusive interview from 2014, Pawlina speaks with Mirko Petriw, Vancouver-based author of two spy thrillers set in Ukraine and president of the Ukrainian-Canadian Congress Vancouver branch.Recorded during the Maidan Uprising, in the tense weeks leading up to Russia’s annexation of Crimea, this conversation delves into the intersection of energy politics, propaganda, and democratic struggle in Ukraine.Listeners will hear about:• Ukraine’s shale gas ambitions and what they could have meant for energy independence  • How Russia and Gazprom sought to block Ukraine’s EU association and undermine shale gas development  • The propaganda battles around fracking and environmental fears, echoing debates in the West  • The political crackdown on protesters, including restrictive laws and state-directed violence against demonstrators  • The broader struggle for sovereignty, democracy, and Ukraine’s future direction  Petriw’s insights reveal how hopes for energy independence collided with Russian influence, Gazprom’s pressure, and authoritarian tactics during one of Ukraine’s most pivotal moments.This interview originally aired on the Vancouver edition of Nash Holos on AM1320 CHMB on January 18, 2014.

A Nash Holos Feature Interview with Nick Buderatsky, a patriotic Ukrainian volunteer who was mentored by legendary combat medic Taira and went on to become a civilian paramedic working on Ukraine's front lines, including Avdiivka and Irpin. Despite being injured himself, he helped save countless lives — including in Bucha and Irpin, where he set up a mobile field hospital modeled after a M.A.S.H. unit (Mobile Army Surgical Hospital) following the 2022 massacre.He also is an IT specialist and helped Ukrainian soldiers innovate and improvise when western support lagged. I met Nick back in 2015 when he took me to visit a Donetsk airport Cyborg in a military hospital in Kyiv. (Story here) Originally aired in February, 2024.Disclaimer: References to “M.A.S.H.” are used in a descriptive, non-branded context to denote mobile surgical field hospitals. This podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by the MAS*H television series or its rights holders.

Recently on Nash Holos I interviewed two authors of young adult novels set in war-torn Ukraine: 2022 Mariupol and 2014 Crimea. Both great reads but also gut-punching, even for adults."Kidnapped from Ukraine: Under Attack" by Marsha Skrypuch tells the story of 12-year old Dariia, who gets separated from her family during the attack on Mariupol. In the chaos she is abducted by russia, put through a filtration camp and placed against her will with a russian family."Swimming with Spies" tells the story of 12-year old Sofiya who tries to save Ukraine's therapy dolphins in Sevastopol from the invading russians intent on turning them back into military marine animals.Both authors share their experiences researching and writing these gripping, fascinating stories based on real life events in Ukraine.

Pawlina in conversation with Canadian Kobzar, one of the principals of Toonie Tuesdays, a unique and visionary fundraiser to support Ukraine. Kobzar explains the crowd-funding approach that Toonie Tuesdays takes to overcome the inevitable "compassion fatigue" and in the process makes fundraising for Ukraine accessible to anyone who can spare a toonie ($2) to help defenders in Ukraine. At the time of this chat Toonie Tuesdays had already raised over $600,000 for Ukraine in less than a year. He also explains the "west coast" connection to Toonie Tuesdays, NAFO, and the Wild Hornets. Originally aired March 29, 2025 on Nash Holos Ukrainian Roots Radio on AM1320CHMB Vancouver and April 2, 2025 on CHLY 101.7FM.In English. Recorded on March 26, 2025. For more information about Toonie Tuesdays visit www.toonietuesday.giveshttps://www.toonietuesday.gives/ Official Toonie Tuesday (@toonietuesday.bsky.social) — BlueskyFor more information on Nash Holos visit www.nashholos.com

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!

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.

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 interestYour 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

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.