In this week’s episode of Talk Eastern Europe, Adam, Alexandra, and Nina come together to discuss the ongoing Serbian protests and explore the latest European Union reports on the progress of candidate countries, including those from our region. They also unpack the latest developments surrounding the Czech government formation and discuss recent updates from Poland.
Later in the episode, Alexandra and Nina speak with Christopher Herwig, a photographer known for his remarkable project documenting hundreds of unique bus stops across the post-Soviet region. Christopher shares how his journey began and reflects on how these striking examples of urban architecture may represent glimpses of freedom of expression within the Soviet Union.
For our Patreon supporters, Christopher stays on to delve deeper into his fascination with Soviet metro stations and the stories behind their grand, distinctive designs.
Listen here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/episode-243-143049188
Check out Christopher’s books:
Soviet Bus Stops 1a nd 2 and Soviet Metro Stations: https://www.herwigphoto.com/Soviet-Bus-Stops
And his newest book on Trucks and Tuks: https://www.herwigphoto.com/Trucks-and-Tuks
In this episode of Talk Eastern Europe co-hosts Adam Reichardt and Aleksandra Karpi discuss the latest developments across the region, from Lithuania’s border closure with Belarus to new US sanctions on Russian oil giants and Hungary’s political shifts ahead of next year’s elections. They also explore a recent sabotage plot uncovered in Romania and Poland.
The main interview, which was recorded recently live at the Sarajevo Security Conference, features Charles Kupchan, a professor of international affairs at Georgetown University and senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. Kupchan shares his insights on the state of US foreign policy under Trump’s second term, the future of transatlantic relations and what the world can expect from America’s evolving role on the global stage.
We’d like to express our appreciation to the organizers of the Sarajevo Security Conference for assisting us in making this happen. Learn more about the event here: https://sarajevosecurityconference.com/
Further reading:
“NATO in times of crisis. Safeguarding the future of the Euro-Atlantic Alliance” by Wojciech Michnik, https://neweasterneurope.eu/2025/09/26/nato-in-times-of-crisis-safeguarding-the-future-of-the-euro-atlantic-alliance/
Check out a recent issue of New Eastern Europe dedicated tothis topic: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2025/05/06/issue-3-2025-negotiating-peace/
//Additional financing for this podcast is provided by the Polish MFA: Public task financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland within the grant competition “Public Diplomacy 2024 – 2025 - the European dimension and countering disinformation". The opinions expressed on this podcast are those of the authors and do not reflect the views of the official positions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland.
In this week’s episode of Talk Eastern Europe, hosts Alexandra and Adam unpack another intense week of regional developments, from Donald Trump’s surprising outreach to Vladimir Putin and the potential Budapest summit, to leaks of Polish military documents and rising Russian sabotage activity. They also touch on coalition talks in Czechia and the Georgian government’s deepening crackdown on opposition voices.
Later, Adam sits down with Carlo Masala, a leading German political scientist and author of If Russia Wins, to discuss his new book imagining what might follow a Russian victory in Ukraine. Masala outlines why Europe must take the Russian threat seriously, how NATO could be tested in unexpected ways, and why helping Ukraine win is crucial for Europe’s own security.
Check out the book here: https://atlanticbooks.co.uk/book/if-russia-wins/
Further reading:
Kremlin’s drone surge in 2025 and its hybrid threat toUkraine and Europe: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2025/10/16/kremlins-drone-surge-in-2025-and-its-hybrid-threat-to-ukraine-and-europe/
Bonus episode:
Watch Alexandra’s full interview with Full interview with Ivona Šimunović, a youth worker from Croatia: https://www.patreon.com/posts/bonus-episode-141718094
/////Additional financing for this podcast is provided by the Polish MFA: Public task financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland within the grant competition “Public Diplomacy 2024 – 2025 - the European dimension and countering disinformation The opinions expressed on this podcast are those of the authors and do not reflect the views of the official positions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland.
In this episode of Talk Eastern Europe, Nina, Adam andAlexandra start by discussing the latest news in the region, including the Hungarian spy scandal, train accident in Slovakia, Latvian minority policy, and some updates from the Western Balkans.
Later, Adam is joined by Mihail Nesteriuc, a Moldovan analyst and journalist, and discuss the country’s recent parliamentaryelections, which took place on September 28th 2025. The result of the vote delivered a relatively strong victory for the pro-European Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS). Mihail describes what the results mean for Moldova’s European path, Russian interference and disinformation efforts, the complex role of Transnistria, and how these developments might reshape the region’s geopolitics.
Further reading:
Read a report directly from the ground in Moldova during theelections, recently published on New Eastern Europe https://neweasterneurope.eu/2025/10/10/operation-matryoshka-russias-direct-intrusion-into-moldovas-parliamentary-elections/
Watch Alexandra’s full interview with Oriana IvkovićNovokmet on Croatia’s elections and lessons for digital resilience. https://www.patreon.com/posts/oriana-ivkovic-141186086
Additional financing for this podcast is provided by the Polish MFA: Public task financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland within the grant competition “Public Diplomacy 2024 – 2025 - the European dimension and countering disinformation The opinions expressed on this podcast are those of the authors and do not reflect the views of the official positions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland.
This episode of Talk Eastern Europe is the final one in our mini-series on digital election interference our region. Alexandra reports in-person from Croatia to cover the country's "super election year" with an emphasis on the youth vote and young peoples' participation in politics and online. She speaks with Gong Executive Director Oriana Ivković Novokmet and youth workers Ivona Šimunović and Anja Kolimbatović on these topics and more.
Commentary by:
To watch the full-length interviews and other behind-the-scene clips, you can check out our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/talkeasterneurope
Research for this podcast episode was made possible with the support of the Heinrich Böll Foundation, Washington, DC’s Transatlantic Media Fellowship. Find out more about the Fellowship, and the Foundation’s work, here: https://us.boell.org/en/2025/05/22/2025-cohort-transatlantic-media-fellows
Finally, thank you to Ana Puljić and the European Democracy Youth Network Croatia for support in selecting the participants for this episode.
Adam and Alexandra are back from Sarajevo and give a littleinsight into their recent visit there for the Sarajevo Security Conference.
They later run down the latest news stories, including updates on Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova’s parliamentary elections, Trump’s change in Ukraine policy and Slovakia’s constitutional changes.
For the main interview, Nina sat down with Eva Svatoňová todiscuss the parliamentary elections in the Czech Republic on October 3-4, 2025. Eva, a sociologist specializing in social movements, culture wars, and anti-feminism, offers an overview of the current political landscape and the key issues shaping the debate, and explores why far-right parties are gaining ground. They also consider whether the country might follow the illiberal trends seen elsewhere in the region.
Check out the latest issue of New Eastern Europe now online:https://neweasterneurope.eu/2025/09/27/issue-5-2025-on-shaky-ground/
Join us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/talkeasterneurope
Nina and Alexandra kick off this episode with a summary ofthe week's news, from the violations of NATO airspace in Estonia and Denmark to US President Donald Trump's possible 180 on Ukraine. They also discuss Russia's revival of the Intervision Song Contest as its latest cultural diplomacyeffort, as well as the extradition of Moldovan oligarch Vladimir Plahotniuc from Greece after several years of evading the law.
Nina then speaks with Serbian political scientist Nikola Burazer of the Center for Contemporary Politics and European Western Balkans. Nikola updates listeners on the ongoing student demonstrations in Serbia, the government's increasingly harsh response, and where he thinks the situation could be headed. While protesters' demands have evolved, Serbian president Aleksandar Vučić appears to be digging in his heels.
Support the podcast visit: www.patreon.com/talkeasterneurope
In this episode, Adam and Nina review the week’s key developments, including the Zapad 2025 military exercises between Russia and Belarus, protests in Slovakia, a Russian drone incursion into Poland and Romania, and the latest updates from Romania and Georgia.
Following the news, Nina speaks with Ray Koçi, an advisor to the Mayor of Tirana on inclusive planning and coordinator of the Tirana School Streets Programme. They discuss the city’s architectural transformation, exploring its challenges, controversies, and the efforts to create a better environment for all its citizens.
Ray is currently working on the 25th International Walk21 Conference on Walking and Liveable Communities, taking place in Tirana from 6–10 October 2025. Read more about the conference here: https://walk21.com/conference/tirana-2025/
Read the latest news and analysis online at: www.neweasterneurope.eu
Support the podcast at: www.patreon.com/talkeasterneurope
In this episode, Alexandra and Adam start off with some discussion on the news, including concerns over the upcoming Russia/Belarus Zapad 2025 military exercises, Slovakia’s Robert Fico and his meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Ukraine, and upcoming elections in Moldova.
Later, Adam and Nina are joined by Thomas de Waal, a senior fellow with Carnegie Europe and expert on the South Caucasus. They discuss the peace deal which was initialed at the White House between Armenia and Azerbaijan and dig deeper as to what it means, who wins, who loses, and what might come next.
Check out the guest’s profile at: https://carnegieendowment.org/people/thomas-de-waal?lang=en
Read Alexandra’s piece on Bosnia and Herzegovina in Brief Eastern Europe: https://briefeasterneurope.eu/p/september-8-2025
Support our work – become a patron: www.patreon.com/talkeasterneurope
Talk Eastern Europe is back from its August break! In this episode, Adam, Alexandra and Nina run through some of the bigger stories from the region, including developments in the Balkans, Poland, the EU, and look at the global implications of China’s victory celebrations this week.
After the news, Adam and Nina are joined by Pavel Havlíček, research fellow at the Prague-based Association for International Affairs (AMO) to discuss the recent Trump–Putin meeting in Alaska and what it means for Ukraine’s future. The episode explores the high-stakes diplomacy shaping the war and the prospects for peace, which President Trump has been pursuing since before his inauguration.
In the bonus section to this episode – Pavel gives us a peek into Czech domestic politics, as the country prepares for parliamentary elections in early October.
>>> Click here to listen to the bonus content.
For further reading:
“A recipe for an unfair stalemate, not a just peace” – CoryAlpert, New Eastern Europe https://neweasterneurope.eu/2025/08/20/a-recipe-for-an-unfair-stalemate-not-a-just-peace/
“Scenarios for the end of the war” – Andrii Dligach & ValeriiPekar, New Eastern Europe https://neweasterneurope.eu/2025/09/01/scenarios-for-the-end-of-the-war/
In this episode, Adam and Alexandra start by discussing the latest news including fears of interference in Moldova’s upcoming elections, the upcoming inauguration Poland’s new president as well as some worrisome security breaches in the Baltics.
For the main interview, Adam sits down with Kyiv-based journalist Aleksander Palikot to discuss the recent political crisis surrounding Ukraine’s anti-corruption institutions, NABU and SAPO. Aleksander explains the background of these agencies, the controversial law passed by parliament to strip their independence, and the wave of spontaneous protests which followed. They also discuss the wider implications for President Zelenskyy, public trust, and Ukraine’s path towards EU membership.
Further reading: “How Zelenskyy undermined Ukraine’s path to EU membership and what happens next” https://neweasterneurope.eu/2025/07/29/how-zelenskyy-undermined-ukraines-path-to-eu-membership-and-what-happens-next/
Support the podcast, get great benefits, join us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/talkeasterneurope
Additional financing for this podcast is provided by the Polish MFA: Public task financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland within the grant competition “Public Diplomacy 2024 – 2025 - the European dimension and countering disinformation The opinions expressed on this podcast are those of the authors and do not reflect the views of the official positions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland.
Episode 232: Book talk: The history of queer life in Bosnia and Herzegovina
In this episode, Adam and Nina cover several key developments from the region, including the latest from Ukraine, breaking news from Moldova, far-right marches across Poland, and the EU’s adoption of its 18th package of sanctions against Russia.
Later in the episode, Alexandra and Nina are joined by Matej Vrebac, Programme Coordinator at the Sarajevo Open Centre, who researches queer history in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Matej is one of the authors of the recent publication The History of Queer Life in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The conversation explores the motivation behind documenting queer history in the region, how queer lives have appeared in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s past, including in folk traditions, and the importance of conducting such research and making it accessible. The book is available here in Bosnian, Croatian, and Serbian (BCS), with plans to publish an English edition in the future:
Support Talk Eastern Europe. Join our Patreon community! www.patreon.com/talkeasterneurope
Check out the latest of issue of New Eastern Europe – Rebalancing the Baltics Sea Region
In this special edition of Talk Eastern Europe, Alexandra reports in-person from Sofia for a deep dive into disinformation and digital interference in Bulgaria during the last several years of perpetual election campaigning. She speaks with experts Angel Petrov, Gloria Trifonova, and Petko Petkov on Bulgaria’s political landscape, local and Russian backed disinformation, the rise of far-right political actors, and why Russian narratives have resonance in the country.
Commentary by:
Angel Petrov, World News Reporter at Dnevnik.bg
Gloria Trifonova, FIMI Analyst at the Center for the Study of Democracy
Petko Petkov, a Bulgarian software developer and system architect based in Kyiv and public representative of the BG Elves
To watch the full-length interviews and other behind-the-scene clips, you can check out our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/talkeasterneurope
Research for this podcast episode was made possible with the support of the Heinrich Böll Foundation, Washington, DC’s Transatlantic Media Fellowship. Find out more about the Fellowship, and the Foundation’s work, here: https://us.boell.org/en/2025/05/22/2025-cohort-transatlantic-media-fellowsCheck out the previous episode in this series:
In this episode, Alexandra and Nina discuss the blockades across Serbia, the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide, Russia’s largest air assault on Ukraine to date, and reflect on the conclusion of Poland’s EU presidency.
Later in the episode, Nina speaks with Norwegian documentary filmmaker Tommy Gulliksen about his latest documentary, Facing War. The documentary follows NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg through his final year in office in 2024, as he works to maintain unity within the alliance and sustain support for Ukraine. The film shows NATO high-stakes meetings with world leaders a offers a rare and intimate look at diplomacy in times of war.
More info about the film: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt35671816/Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/talkeasterneurope
Episode 229: Film talk – Black Snow
In this episode, Adam and Nina catch up on the latest news, including a discussion on the outcomes of the historic NATO Summit in The Hague, highlights of the Pride in Budapest, recent clashes and arrests during protests in Serbia and ongoing protests in Georgia.
Later in the episode, Nina speaks with Alina Simone, a Ukrainian-American journalist and filmmaker whose work has appeared in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and the Guardian Long Read. They go behind the scenes of Black Snow, a powerful documentary set in a remote Russian mining town where black snow falls due to extreme pollution. Alina reflects on the experience of making the film and the broader challenges of environmental activism in today’s Russia.
Read more about the film: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31462874/
More on the guest: https://www.alinasimone.com/about-alina-simone/
Sign up for the Brief Eastern Europe newsletter: https://briefeasterneurope.eu/subscribe
In this episode Adam and Alexandra open with some discussion on the latest news, including the release of 14 political prisoners in Belarus, repressions taking place in Azerbaijan, Romania and Georgia.
For the main deep dive, Alexandra and Nina continue on the Georgian theme by speaking with Teona Macharashvili, co-founder and board member of Caucasus Open Space, and a committed pro-democracy activist, to unpack the latest developments in Georgia. Teona shares powerful first-hand insights from the ongoing protests, which have now continued for over 200 days.
In the exclusive bonus segment – available to our Patrons - Teona sheds light on recent cuts to US foreign aid and what they mean for civil society and human rights defenders on the ground in Georgia.
Listen to the bonus content here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/episode-228-132340122
Further reading:
Repression in Azerbaijan - An interview with Cesare FigariBarberis: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2025/06/24/repression-in-azerbaijan/
The 2024 Georgian elections and their geopolitical implications, Vakhtang Maisaia:
History rhymes: intellectual resistance and state repression in Georgia, Tamar Gamkrelidze:
Sign up for our weekly newsletter – Brief Eastern Europe:
In this episode, Alexandra and Nina discuss recent developments across Central and Eastern Europe, including the latest charges in North Macedonia following the tragic nightclub fire in Kočani, ongoing protests in Serbia, and a vote of no confidence in the Czech Republic.
The main interview features Daryna Pidhorna, Senior Lawyer at the Regional Centre for Human Rights. Daryna explores how Russia's aggression is targeting Ukrainian culture, impacting museums, festivals and outlines what can be done to safeguard Ukraine’s cultural heritage during wartime. She also shares what life is currently like in Kyiv and reflects on the atmosphere in the city as Russia steps up its aerial attacks.
In the bonus content for our patrons, Daryna stays on to delve into the repatriation of cultural property. She explains how Ukraine is working to recover looted heritage and highlights lessons that can be drawn from other countries’ experiences in reclaiming stolen cultural assets.
To listen to the bonus content visit: https://www.patreon.com/posts/episode-227-131877614
Read Adam’s takeaways from the Globsec Conference featured in Brief Eastern Europe: https://briefeasterneurope.eu/p/june-16-2025Additional financing for this podcast is provided by the Polish MFA: Public task financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland within the grant competition “Public Diplomacy 2024 – 2025 - the European dimension and countering disinformation The opinions expressed on this podcast are those of the authors and do not reflect the views of the official positions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland.
In this special episode, Nina, Alexandra and Adam host a special episode recorded live with the Patrons of Talk Eastern Europe. They start with a discussion on recent news developments, including Ukraine’s Operation Spider Web, Bulgaria joining the Eurozone, and the latest on repressions in Georgia.
During the main episode, Adam is put in the hot-seat with Alexandra and Nina asking about the recent elections in Poland. They discuss the overall results of both rounds as well as key context heading into the elections. They also discuss how the new president-elect, Karol Nawrocki may act in relations with Europe, but also on the situation with Ukraine.
During our bonus section, the co-hosts address patrons questions and discuss in-depth the political repercussions of the election result and what could come next for Poland.
The bonus content can be found here:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/episode-226-131296617
Thank you to all of our patrons who joined us during the recording and all of those who support Talk Eastern Europe. If you want to support the podcast and gain access to additional benefits and bonus content, join us here: www.patreon.com/talkeasterneurope
We also were short-listed for “Best Deep Dive Podcast” at the recent Publisher Podcast awards, and Alexandra attended the awards on behalf of Talk Eastern Europe. We didn’t win, but we were honored to be even considered among such prestigious colleagues. Pictures are available on our Patron Facebook Page.
In this special edition of Talk Eastern Europe, Alexandra reports in-person from Romania for a deep dive into the recent presidential elections. She speaks with experts Laura Stefan, Diana Filimon, and Vlad Barleanu about what happened in these dramatic elections, the allegations of digital interference from Russia, how the public responded, and what it all means for Romanian democracy.
Commentary by:
To watch the full-length interviews and other behind-the-scene clips, you can check out our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/talkeasterneurope
Research for this podcast episode was made possible with the support of the Heinrich Böll Foundation, Washington, DC’s Transatlantic Media Fellowship. Find out more about the Fellowship, and the Foundation’s work, here: https://us.boell.org/en/2025/05/22/2025-cohort-transatlantic-media-fellows
Finally, thank you to Patrícia Raposo, Young European Ambassador for the EU Neighbours East and Policy Trainee at the Commission for Citizenship, Governance, Institutional and External Affairs, for her assistance in the research process.
In this episode Adam and Alexandra catch up on the latest news, with a discussion on the upcoming presidential election in Poland, current developments in Hungary and what is the status of the peace process in Russia’s war against Ukraine.
During the deep dive, Adam sits down with journalist Agnieszka Pikulicka-Wilczewska to discuss issues in Central Asia in particular the situation surrounding the Caspian Sea. They look at the geopolitical significance of the sea region and the environment situation which is deteriorating as a result of oil extraction. This episode is the third part in our mini-series on Central Asia. Check out previous episodes to catch up on the issues facing this unreported region.
Check out Agnieszka's podcast Turan Tales: https://turantales.substack.com/podcast
Read Adam’s recent commentaries:
On Poland and what’s at stake in the election: https://danperry.substack.com/p/poland-on-the-brink
On why peace in Ukraine is slipping further away: https://briefeasterneurope.eu/p/may-26-2025
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