In the West, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is always seen as one of two things: KGB spy or judo master. But to anyone who’s ever lived in the Soviet Union, Putin is something else entirely: a street kid. Join journalist Julia Ioffe as she explores how Putin’s childhood taught him lessons that shape his thinking and actions to this day.
Mar 2022
159. Young Putin, the KGB and the Soviet Union
[Episode 1 of 4]
Welcome to our new four part series on the latter years of the Soviet Union, its fall, Putin's early life and his subsequent rise to power.
Today's episode focuses on Brezhnev, Putin's formative years, his early KGB career and Gorbachev's descent into chaos.
W ... Show More
35m 28s
Feb 2025
#530 | Vladimir Putin: Russia’s Modern Tsar
In this episode, we will explore Vladimir Putin's unlikely journey from a rat-catching streetfighter to the modern-day tsar of Russia. We'll look at his rise to power, some of the accusations about what it took to get there, the key decisions that have defined his 25-year rule, a ... Show More
26m 9s
Jul 2022
Putin, Power and Personality
<p>Vladimir Putin has the power to reduce the United States and Europe to ashes in a nuclear firestorm. He invades his neighbours, most recently Ukraine, meddles in western elections and orders assassinations inside and outside Russia. But who is the man behind the headlines?</p> ... Show More
31m 20s