Ryan tests his co-hosts' knowledge of Russian car history.  Learn about famous Russian cars like Zhiguli, Kopeika, Lada, why you would walk 30 min to your car garage, and what offends Russian drivers the most. 

Hosts discuss the movie K-19: The Widowmaker,  a 2002 historical submarine film directed and produced by Kathryn Bigelow. This movie has everything:  crazy accents, nuclear almost-meltdowns, Harrison Ford, a bunch of counting, and Liam Neeson's guns...

The hosts talk about a classic Soviet comic science fiction film Ivan Vasilyevich Changes Occupation (Иван Васильевич меняет профессию) directed by Leonid Gaidai in 1973. The film has a time-travel machine, singing horses, Ivan the Terrible in modern...

If you call yourself a milk mushroom, get in the basket! and other Russian proverbs. 

Hosts discuss Russian Eurovision participants over the years- including creepy sisters,  babushkas with a dancing oven, Dima Bilan, and Dima Bilan again. Learn about Russian's successes and failures at the beloved (by some) European music contest. 

Hosts discuss 2019 Russian movies. Most of them involve tanks, some kind of war, and a mashup of animated movies. You can watch the trailers of the movies discussed below: ПИКОВАЯ ДАМА: ЗАЗЕРКАЛЬЕ/Queen of Spades...

Hosts tell each other Russian jokes (called anecdotes by Russians) about Russian circus, animals, Vovochka, and the Soviet Union. Lean our favorite jokes about talking cows, swimming green turds, and dick wallets. 

Quarantine measures in Russia

Traditions, new and old, observed during a Russian wedding

Russian video games, outside activities, and toys

Strangling toads, whistling lobsters, and crying cats...Amie and Ryan try (and fail, most of the time) to guess the meaning of Russian idioms

The Death of Stalin- we discuss the historical accuracy and significance of the movie in modern times, as well as the reception in the US and abroad

In today's episode we explore Russian curse words and common slang. Say them along with us but be careful with repeating them on the streets! 

Learn which one of the Russian sweets, according to Ryan, looks like a bread loaf that survived nuclear annihilation, and why Red October and Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory is the next movie cross-over that we can't wait to see made. Tundra Vodka and Bitters- http://www.thedieline.com/blog/2016/11/18/tundra-vodkas-and-bitters Halva- http://www.wikiwand.com/en/Halva Talkysh Kaleve image- https://es.postila.io/post/42610220 Red October Candy Factory...

In this episode of The Russian Pod- Stories from Russia, hosts dive into a strange world of Russian folktales. It's a world where children turn into animals, pikes can grant you unlimited wishes, and you pick your wife by shooting her with an arrow.

Is beef tongue still meat? How about chicken stomachs? (some Russians have interesting thoughts on that). What is the best time to announce to the nation that they have to work for 8 years longer before retiring? (hint: during a game with Saudi Arabia) Can you catch herpes from wind? (Russians say Yes!). Tune in and learn about the recent trip to Russia that brought some interesting questions and revelations. 

Have you ever tried Steak tartare? Do you know that it's named after nomadic Turkic-speaking people? After various groups of these Turkic nomads became part of the armies of the Mongol conqueror Genghis Khan in the early 13th century, a fusion of Mongol and Turkic elements took place, and the Mongol invaders of Russia and Hungary became known to Europeans as Tatars (or Tartars). Tatars live mainly in Russia and other Post-Soviet countries. Our co-host, Leysan, is tatar, and wants to tell you...

While we work on the next episode, we wanted to share a segment called Tea Time where Ryan and Leysan taste Russian dishes. This is actually the earliest recording we have done so this takes us back down memory lane before we were vegan. Today on the menu we have a Russian salad "Herring Under Fur Coat" and a drink called "Tarhun". Find out what the "fur" is made out of and how to pronounce "Tarhun". Feel free to go ahead and make your own salad by following the link to Lea's cooking blog at...

In Russia, getting pooped on by a bird is a sign of good luck. Also, Russian unmarried people should never sit at the corner of the table. Listen to this episode to learn about all the weird Russian superstitions that almost everyone in Russia follows without question.

Temperatures in some cities in Russia dropped to -88F, just as many were getting ready to plunge into the frozen water in remembrance of Jesus' baptism. We decided that this is a good time to discuss how Russians survive winter temperatures in different parts of the country. Vodka plays a part in getting Russians through the winter, but so do other less likely items such as frozen horse liver. Tune in and learn about tricks to get through rough winter or just sit back and enjoy the fact that...

Find out who is Ded Moroz, learn about the Russian equivalent of A Wonderful Life, and discover different ways to make your wishes come true (including yelling out your window in freezing cold).

What is a Russian meat jelly? Does fermented milk in a salad make it a soup? Russia says yes! Would you eat some dried horse sausage? Would you take a bite of a Russian salted fish? Join The Russian Pod hosts as they explore peculiar and delicious Russian cuisine. To learn more about Russian receipes, you can visit the following sites:...

In this episode of The Russian Pod- Stories from Russia: Why are there cats in Russian hospitals? Do you bring your own plate to the ambulance ride? Do Russian hospitals ask you to bring your own towel? These and other questions answered by your hosts as they discuss their experiences in Russian hospitals