Stories From The Eastern West

This episode focuses on an Eastern European operative named Ryszard Kukliński, an officer in the Polish Army and a spy for American intelligence. We’ll discuss how Kukliński joined the army and his swift rise through the ranks. We’ll try to understand why he became disillusioned with the army and decided to work with American intelligence. Towards the end of the episode, we explore how his fascinating story can help us to better understand the nature of Cold War espionage.

In this episode, we present the story of an innovative film that completely changed Hollywood and our understanding of how films should be made. You’ll learn about the origins of the film and how a little-known director revolutionized Hollywood. We’ll discuss why this film was so unique in terms of style and aesthetic. Finally, we’ll look into the mysteries surrounding the film and the so-called curse of Rosemary’s Baby.

In this episode, we tell you the remarkable story of Józef Rotblat, a nuclear physicist and peace activist. We’ll discuss the suffering he endured in his early life and how this shaped his worldview. We’ll talk about his time at the Manhattan Project and his motivations for leaving. We’ll also dedicate a significant portion of the episode to talking about Rotblat’s lifelong activism and his enduring legacy.

In the second part of our mini-series, we dive deeper into the palace’s corridors and explore the massive impact it has had on Warsaw. For example, after initial deliberation, what was the palace actually used for? What did people think of this palace shortly after its creation?  What do they think about it now? Above all, how has this palace, despite the controversy surrounding it, become a cultural icon for the city?

In the first episode of our two-part series on Warsaw’s Palace of Culture and Science, we discuss post-war reconstruction efforts in Warsaw and the strange origins of the Palace of Culture. What were the immediate challenges of rebuilding a city that was almost entirely razed during the war?  Would the reconstructed city look like it did before the war? Why would this palace, a manifestation of Stalinist excess, be built in a city that still lay mostly in ruins?

In this episode, we discuss the remarkable story of Jan and Antonina Żabiński and the Warsaw Zoo. How was this formerly prosperous zoo transformed into a shelter for Jewish refugees escaping the brutality of the Nazis? How was Jan Żabiński able to travel in and out of the Warsaw ghetto?  How were the Żabińskis able to avoid being discovered?  Most importantly, what can Jan and Antonina’s daring act of humanity teach us about compassion, altruism, and selflessness?

Learn how Ludwig Zamenhof single-handedly created an entire language, Esperanto, in the 19th century. Esperanto is the most widely-spoken artificial language in the world today. It has allowed people from vastly different backgrounds with vastly different cultures to connect with one another and share experiences. Despite its success, many often forget Esperanto’s humble origins and the fascinating story of its creator, L.L. Zamenhof, a man whose main goal was bringing peace to the world.

In 1973, while traveling by train across the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, David Bowie had a brief and seemingly insignificant stopover in Warsaw. However, what he witnessed there served as an inspiration for Warszawa from the widely-acclaimed 1977 album Low. Why was Bowie so fascinated with Eastern Europe and the nature of Cold War politics in the first place? How did the sights and sounds that Bowie witnessed during his brief time in Warsaw impact the song’s creation? 

Learn how a Polish monk created the first bulletproof vest and, in doing so, changed the world. In this episode, we discuss the man behind the first bulletproof vest and the story of its creation. How was he inspired to create it and how did he manage to do it? How did the public tests look like? Did it save any lives? And finally, how has Żegleń’s invention influenced modern-day bulletproof vests? To learn more, visit: http://storiesfromtheeasternwest.com/en/podcast/SFTEW-04-Bulletproof

Hear all about a brave bear named Wojtek who came to join the army in a time of war. In this episode, our hosts discuss the unbelievable story of Wojtek the bear and his legendary role in the 22nd Company of Anders’ Army. How did the army find this bear and why did they keep it? How did Wojtek contribute to the military efforts? And what became of him after the war was over? For full show notes visit: http://storiesfromtheeasternwest.com/en/podcast/SFTEW-03-Bear

Find out what happened when the Rolling Stones went behind the Iron Curtain. In this episode, our hosts discuss the story of the Rolling Stone’s legendary performance in Warsaw in 1967. Why did the Rolling Stones become interested in performing in Eastern Europe? What was the impact of this performance on Polish society and the political environment of the Cold War? For full show notes visit: http://storiesfromtheeasternwest.com/en/podcast/SFTEW-02-Stones

Learn how the result of a piano competition had the power to shock an entire nation. We bring you the story of the 1980 Chopin Competition and why it was one of the most contentious competitions in recent memory as well as attempt to answer some of the difficult questions that this competition raises about the nature of art competitions. For full show notes visit: http://www.storiesfromtheeasternwest.com/en/podcast/SFTEW-01-Competition