Best Polar Tracks Productions Podcasts (2025)

1
Russia exploits weaknesses of democracies, but the fight is not lost 15:49

4M ago15:49

15:49

Disinformation, populism and other tools are used by Russia to destabilize Western democracies. Pola Cebulak, from Free University of Amsterdam, describes methods used by Moscow in its fight against the West. She remains optimistic, despite obvious weaknesses of democratic countries exploited by the authoritarian regime. A project Protecting Europe…

1
Lukashenko can look for support in the Balkans. There is an affinity 16:17

5M ago16:17

16:17

Belarusian' dictator can look for support in the Balkans. There is at least an affinity. It is based on historic, ethnic and cultural links, as Adam Balcer from the College of Eastern Europe explains. Russia is using the same links and affiliations, too. The EU enlargement seems to be the only way to diffuse the cooperation. “We support the Belarus…

1
BRICS is useful for Russia and Belarus. It's a challenge for the West 19:38

5M ago19:38

19:38

Russia and Belarus use BRICS to circumvent sanctions. In addition, countries such as Brazil don't really follow the conflict between the West, and Moscow and Minsk. Angelo Kramer from Wroclaw University underlines that Brazilians now little about Eastern Europe and don't really understand EU's arguments with regard to the region. Therefore, the Wes…

1
There is a place for democratic Belarus in Europe 17:16

5M ago17:16

17:16

It is difficult to maintain interest in Belarusian issues in Germany. Robert Sperfeld from Heinrich-Böll Foundation explains the phenomenon and the need to maintain support for Belarusian diaspora. The regime will change, one day, and Belarusians must know that they are welcome in the family of democratic, European countries. “We support the Belaru…

1
Supporters and opponents of Ukraine and Russia in Germany, Poland and EU 21:20

5M ago21:20

21:20

It would be easy to understand why Poles or Germans support Ukraine and oppose Russia, or the other way around. Olena Babakova, a journalist, migration researcher and lecturer, presents a more complex view where one can criticize or oppose Ukraine while neither supporting Russia. The reasons and nuances also vary from country to country, too. The p…

1
Learning from Ukraine and dealing with polarization 23:49

5M ago23:49

23:49

Russian aggression in Ukraine has a polarizing effect on the world. Yulia Kazdobina, a senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Council, Ukrainian Prism, draws some comparisons with the Cold War, but the lessons from the past are limited. Also with regard to the Global South countries which require serious consideration and approach. She also talks abou…

1
European Friends of Ukraine: Poland, Germany and who else? 22:51

5M ago22:51

22:51

The moral argument of Ukraine facing an aggressive enemy seems not to be convincing any more, when speaking with Kyiv's friends in the West. Ukraine has to adapt its messages, but also Western leaders have to improve their communication with their voters, as explains Stepan Rusyn, a coordinator of the German-Ukrainian Partnership Programme at the T…

1
Slovaks have elected a president. PM Fico seals his system 22:55

12M ago22:55

22:55

Peter Pellegrini emerged victorious in the second round of presidential elections in Slovakia. Yet, it's apparent that the true beneficiary is the populist Prime Minister, Robert Fico. A shift towards a more Russia-friendly political stance, coupled with Euroscepticism, has now gained solid ground. Tomáš Strážay of the Slovak Foreign Policy Associa…

1
Between signal and noise: strategic communication in Central Europe 30:14

1y ago30:14

30:14

What does "strategic communication" really mean? What is the current state of strategic communication in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland? Kristína Šefčíková from Prague Security Studies Institute and Adam Lelonek, International Republican Institute "The Beacon Project" discuss weaknesses and the best practices of strategic communication in …

1
Ukraine needs fast reforms, not a fast track to the EU 23:14

1+ y ago23:14

23:14

Andreas Metz, Director for Public Affairs at the German Eastern Business Association, highlights Germany's pivotal role in Europe's support for Ukraine. Emphasizing the necessity of collaboration with Poland in the realm of international relations, Metz suggests that Europe must be ready for the increasingly unpredictable nature of American support…

1
Renewed opportunities for Czech-Polish cooperation 22:31

1+ y ago22:31

22:31

In their paper, Pavel Havlíček of the Association for International Affairs in Prague and Adam Balcer from the College of Eastern Europe argument that the Czech Republic and Poland have the potential to serve as a central political nexus for the entire region. In the podcast, Havlíček, the Czech expert, emphasizes the shared political positions bet…

1
Russia may not feel that it's losing 22:31

1+ y ago22:31

22:31

Agnieszka Bryc from Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń explain why Russia might be thinking that it is winning the war against the West. Ukraine is only a part of a broader strategy aimed at challenging the current world order. In addition, by supporting i.a., far right and populist tendencies, Kremlin is waging a cognitive warfare against the…

1
Ukraine and EU have work to do. Accession won't be easy 22:02

1+ y ago22:02

22:02

The European Union has opted to commence accession talks with Ukraine. Iryna Solonenko, a Senior Fellow at the Centre for Liberal Modernity, underscores the challenging and intricate nature of these negotiations, emphasizing the presence of numerous difficult technical hurdles. She also highlights Ukraine's readiness to undertake essential reforms …

1
Russian aggression in Ukraine sparks decolonial activism 29:49

1+ y ago29:49

29:49

Speaking on the role of Russian-language independent journalism, Barbara von Ow-Freytag said that media outlets have to find a way to get through to people in Russia itself, with their audiences often having to resort VPNs or piggybacking through an available service in Russian territory. Independent outlets provide a window of objectivity in a med…

1
NATO-Ukraine relationship is getting closer 22:05

1+ y ago22:05

22:05

Olha Nykorak, Human Security Coordinator at Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung, presents the reciprocal benefits of Ukraine's integration into NATO. The deepening collaboration between the partners is evident in the transformation of the NATO-Ukraine Commission into the NATO-Ukraine Council. Furthermore, Ukraine's military is aligning itself with NATO standard…

1
Victor Orban puts Hungary between a rock and a hard place 25:01

1+ y ago25:01

25:01

Hungary's Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, faces a formidable challenge as he navigates a complex situation he created. His reliance on European funds to sustain his political influence clashes with the EU's insistence on reforms that pose a direct threat to his government's stability. Compounding this, Orban's pro-Russian stances have eroded trust am…

1
Belarusians fight for freedom, against dictatorship and Russian domination 23:34

1+ y ago23:34

23:34

Alina Koushyk, serving as a Representative for National Revival in the United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus, underscores the shared goals of Belarusians and Ukrainians. Their struggles for freedom from Russian colonialism and commitment to European integration are intricately linked. Koushyk further outlines various potential future scenarios, em…

1
The situation in Slovakia might not be as bad as it appears 26:39

1+ y ago26:39

26:39

Several factors suggest that despite his illiberal rhetoric, the new Slovak Prime Minister, Robert Fico, may not significantly alter the country's policies. Slovakia is deeply integrated into both the EU and NATO, and PM Fico, being an experienced politician, recognizes the importance of Ukrainian independence. Tomáš Strážay of the Slovak Foreign P…

1
Unpopular but stable Czech government faces populist 24:21

1+ y ago24:21

24:21

Vit Dostal, the Executive Director of the Association for International Affairs, provides insight into the current political landscape in the Czech Republic. Although the government is facing unpopularity, it remains stable. Conversely, the populist ANO party is striving to garner support by emphasizing three key issues: immigration, the green deal…

1
Poles have voted for a change 28:38

1+ y ago28:38

28:38

Prof. Maria Wincławska from Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń comments on the recent parliamentary elections in Poland. There is a change, but how deep it will go? Poles participated in unprecedented numbers and clearly showed fatigue with illiberal, even autocratic rule of Law and Justice. But is there a real mandated to reform the state and…

1
The Black Sea is crucial for the EU and NATO, but neglected 24:17

2y ago24:17

24:17

The Black See plays a key role in the Russian aggression on Ukraine. Together with the Caucasus, it also has an important role for the EU and NATO. Despite its crucial position, as well as political and economic weight, the West has neglected the area, as argued by Wilfried Jilge, an expert on Eastern Europe, Ukraine and the Black Sea Region at the…

1
Russia devastates Ukrainian economy. It needs support and plans for the future 16:40

2+ y ago16:40

16:40

Russia is devastating Ukrainian economy. Garry Poluschkin, an economic advisor for the Ukrainian government in a project financed by the German Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, describes the current needs and the level of support Ukraine required at the moment. At the same time, the expert underlines that there are discussions abou…

1
Germany is entangled by Russia. It's difficult to break the bonds 24:24

2+ y ago24:24

24:24

The Russian invasion of Ukraine caught Germany completely unprepared. Berlin was entangled into a web of mutual economic and political relationships with Moscow. The attitude is slowly changing and the aid to Ukraine is flowing. Germany still has problems with breaking the appeasement attitude and see the aggressor for what it is, as explained by F…

1
העדים האילמים של ההיסטוריה. בני מיעוטים ושבויי מלחמה באושוויץ 30:10

2+ y ago30:10

30:10

בני קבוצות ומיעוטים אתניים, דתיים ומגדריים שונים נפלו קורבן למדיניות הגזענית של הרייך השלישי. 21,000 מבני רומה וסינטי נרשמו בבירקנאו. עקב מחלות, רעב והשמדה מתוכננת, רק כל אדם שביעי מתוכם הצליח לצאת בחיים מן המחנה לאחר סיום המלחמה תמותה גבוהה במיוחד נרשמה גם בקרב כ-15,000 שבויי מלחמה סובייטים שהובאו למחנה. חלקם, בעיקר נציבים פוליטיים, לא נרשמו ונשלח…

1
Silent witnesses to history. Minorities and war prisoners in Auschwitz 28:52

2+ y ago28:52

28:52

Members of various ethnic, religious or sexual groups and minorities were victims of the racist policies of the Third Reich. In Birkenau, 21,000 members of the Roma and related Sinti communities were registered. Disease, starvation and later their planned extermination meant that only one in seven of them made it out alive after the camp’s liquidat…

1
העדים האילמים של ההיסטוריה. נשים וילדים באושוויץ-בירקנאו 26:25

2+ y ago26:25

26:25

בטרנספורט הנשים הראשון שהגיע לאושוויץ במרץ 1942 היו 999 אסירות גרמניות מרָאוֶנְסְבְּרִיק, שהיו אמורות להקים את מחנה הנשים. באותו היום הגיעה אותה כמות בדיוק של נשים יהודיות מסלובקיה. בתחילה נראה היה כי רשויות המחנה לא ידעו מה לעשות עם מספר כה גדול של נשים, שכן היה קשה למצוא את העבודה המתאימה לכולן. רק בקיץ הועברו רוב האסירות, שממספרן עמד באותה עת כב…

1
Silent witnesses to history. Women and children in Auschwitz-Birkenau 25:06

2+ y ago25:06

25:06

With the first transport of women to Auschwitz in March 1942, 999 German women prisoners from Ravensbrück were brought in to form a women’s camp. An identical number of young Jewish women from Slovakia arrived on the same day. Initially, the camp authorities did not seem to know what to do with such a large number of women. It was difficult to find…

1
Silent witnesses of Auschwitz-Birkenau. Poles in the camp 25:50

2+ y ago25:50

25:50

A small booklet with the dedication ‘Son, remember that courage is the most important thing in life’, kept at the Museum, helps to tell the story of Bernard Świerczyna, a Polish Auschwitz prisoner and member of the camp resistance movement. Prisoners employed in the offices found books of fairy tales that most likely belonged to murdered Jewish chi…

1
העדים האילמים של ההיסטוריה. פולנים באושוויץ 27:46

2+ y ago27:46

27:46

ספרון קטן שבו מופיעה ההקדשה "בני, תזכור שהדבר החשוב ביותר בחיים הוא אומץ", שנמצא במוזיאון, מספר את סיפורו של בֶּרְנַרְד שְׁווִיֵרְצִ'ינָה, אסיר פולני מאושוויץ וחבר בתנועת ההתנגדות. אסירים שהועסקו במשרדי המחנה מצאו ספרי אגדות שכנראה היו שייכים לילדים יהודים שנרצחו. האיורים והטקסטים מתוכם הועתקו ונשלחו למשפחותיהם של האסירים באופן לא חוקי על מנת לשמור…

1
העדים האילמים של ההיסטוריה. מבצעי הפשע באושוויץ-בירקנאו 25:02

2+ y ago25:02

25:02

מחלונות מגדל השמירה שמעל שער הכניסה למחנה ניתן לראות כמעט את כל מחנה בירקנאו. כיום ניתן להבין בשורות הצריפים ובארובות הלבנים שנותרו ממבני עץ שנהרסו לאחר המלחמה. מהמגדל הזה וגם מהמגדלים הנמוכים יכלו שומרי האס-אס לראות בבירור כמעט את כל מה שהתרחש על הרמפה. מצד שני, ממגדלי השמירה שהיו ממוקמים בסביבת המשרפות ניתן היה לראות היטב את האסירים יורדים במדרגו…

1
Silent witnesses of Auschwitz-Birkenau. Perpetrators 28:48

2+ y ago28:48

28:48

Through the large windows in the tower above the entrance gate you can see almost the entire Birkenau camp. Today it is rows of barracks and brick chimneys left over from the wooden structures that were already dismantled after the war. Both from here and from the lower towers, the SS guards could see everything that happened on the ramp with an un…

1
העדים האילמים של ההיסטוריה. התפקיד הכפול של אושוויץ-בירקנאו 23:01

2+ y ago23:01

23:01

בירקנאו היה מחנה גדול ולמעשה כבר בשלבי התכנון שלו הכוונה הייתה לבנות מסילת רכבת נפרדת שתשמש להכוונת הקרונות מהרמפה היהודית הישנה אל פנים המחנה – מציין פְּיוֹטְר סֶטְקֶבִיץ'. – אולם, עד סתיו 1943 לא בוצעו עבודות לקידום בניית המחנה עקב בעיות לוגיסטיות. בסופו של דבר, הרמפה הושלמה במאי 1944 – הוא מוסיף ומדגיש כי המסילות שמהן נוצרו פסי הרכבת המקשרים בין…

1
Silent witnesses of Auschwitz-Birkenau. Two functions of the camp 21:44

2+ y ago21:44

21:44

“Birkenau was a huge camp, and in fact from the very beginning of its planning there was an intention to build a separate railway siding here, which was to direct wagons from the old Jewish ramp directly into the camp,” says Piotr Setkiewicz. “However, no such work was undertaken until the autumn of 1943 due to material difficulties. The ramp was f…

1
העדים האילמים של ההיסטוריה. שני קרונות על הרמפה היהודית 21:51

2+ y ago21:51

21:51

אנחנו עומדים על מה שמכונה "הרמפה היהודית הישנה" , שבה ירד הילד במדי המלח מן הרכבת. האמן האלמוני שצייר את הסצנה הזו הבין ככל הנראה את חשיבותו של מסמך זה, אותו יצר תוך סיכון חייו, ולכן החליט להחביאו בתוך בקבוק אשר הוטמן בבטון היסודות של אחד הצריפים במחנה. שני קרונות משא ישנים עומדים על פסי רכבת משוחזרים הממוקמים בין אזור תחנת הרכבת באוֹשְׁוִויֵינְצ…

1
Silent witnesses of Auschwitz-Birkenau. Carriages on the Jewish ramp 20:57

2+ y ago20:57

20:57

We are on the site of the so-called old Jewish ramp, or Judenrampe, at the place where the boy in the navy uniform got off the train. The artist who drew this scene probably understood the importance of a document created at the risk of his life, so he therefore hid it in a bottle in the foundation of one of the barracks. Two old freight wagons sta…

1
Central Europe is safer but less optimistic than 30 years ago 21:56

3+ y ago21:56

21:56

The podcast was produced in the framework of the conference "Czechia, Poland and the Current Russian Historical Narratives: Old Problems, New Common Opportunities". The conference is supported by the Czech-Polish Forum of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic.By Jarosław Kociszewski, Iwona Reichardt, Daniela Kolenovská

1
For the Baltic States security means life 28:20

3+ y ago28:20

28:20

The podcast was recorded during a Polish-German roundtable organised by the College of Eastern Europe.By Kai-Olaf Lang, Kinga Dudzińska, Jaroslaw Kociszewski

1
Begin in Poland decided to fight for Israel (Hebrew) 17:24

3+ y ago17:24

17:24

הפודקאסט נוצר במסגרת פרויקט של הקרן המזרח אירופאית על שם יאן נובאק-יז'וראנסקי, במימון משרד החוץ של הרפובליקה הפולנית. פעולה במימון משרד החוץ של הרפובליקה הפולנית בתחרות "דיפלומטיה ציבורית 2021". הפרסום מבטא את דעות המחבר בלבד ואינו מצביע על עמדתו הרשמית של משרד החוץ של הרפובליקה הפולנית.By Sapir Librowski-Sher, Dominik Flisiak, Philp Earl Steele, Itay Cohen

1
Begin in Poland decided to fight for Israel 20:00

3+ y ago20:00

20:00

The podcast was produced as part of the Jan Nowak-Jeziorański Eastern Europe College project funded by the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Public task financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland within the grant competition “Public Diplomacy 2021”. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and…

1
The idea of the rabbi of Bialystok is still relevant in Israel today 14:35

3+ y ago14:35

14:35

The podcast was produced as part of the Jan Nowak-Jeziorański Eastern Europe College project funded by the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Public task financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland within the grant competition “Public Diplomacy 2021”. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and…

1
The idea of the rabbi of Bialystok is still relevant in Israel today (Hebrew) 13:38

3+ y ago13:38

13:38

הפודקאסט נוצר במסגרת פרויקט של הקרן המזרח אירופאית על שם יאן נובאק-יז'וראנסקי, במימון משרד החוץ של הרפובליקה הפולנית. פעולה במימון משרד החוץ של הרפובליקה הפולנית בתחרות "דיפלומטיה ציבורית 2021". הפרסום מבטא את דעות המחבר בלבד ואינו מצביע על עמדתו הרשמית של משרד החוץ של הרפובליקה הפולנית.By Philip Steele, Itay Cohen, Sapir Librowski-Sher

1
Ukraine cannot be alone and helpless when facing Russia 23:10

3+ y ago23:10

23:10

The podcast was recorded during a Polish-German roundtable organised by the College of Eastern Europe.By Jarosław Kociszewski, Jarosław Stróżyk, Gustav Gressel

1
The rabbi from Toruń who showed the way to a Jewish state (Hebrew) 17:28

3+ y ago17:28

17:28

הפודקאסט נוצר במסגרת פרויקט של הקרן המזרח אירופאית על שם יאן נובאק-יז'וראנסקי, במימון משרד החוץ של הרפובליקה הפולנית. פעולה במימון משרד החוץ של הרפובליקה הפולנית בתחרות "דיפלומטיה ציבורית 2021". הפרסום מבטא את דעות המחבר בלבד ואינו מצביע על עמדתו הרשמית של משרד החוץ של הרפובליקה הפולנית.By Philp Steele, Sapir Librowski-Sher, Anna Bieniaszewska, Itay Cohen

1
Continuity, criticism and scepticism. Polish and German look at Russia 20:47

3+ y ago20:47

20:47

The podcast was recorded during a Polish-German roundtable organised by the College of Eastern Europe.By Maria Domańska, Jarosław Kociszewski, Fabian Burkhardt

1
The rabbi from Toruń who showed the way to a Jewish state 26:29

3+ y ago26:29

26:29

The podcast was produced as part of the Jan Nowak-Jeziorański Eastern Europe College project funded by the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Public task financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland within the grant competition “Public Diplomacy 2021”. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and…

1
The most important Jew in the world - from Wyszogród (Hebrew) 21:48

3+ y ago21:48

21:48

הפודקאסט נוצר במסגרת פרויקט של הקרן המזרח אירופאית על שם יאן נובאק-יז'וראנסקי, במימון משרד החוץ של הרפובליקה הפולנית. פעולה במימון משרד החוץ של הרפובליקה הפולנית בתחרות "דיפלומטיה ציבורית 2021". הפרסום מבטא את דעות המחבר בלבד ואינו מצביע על עמדתו הרשמית של משרד החוץ של הרפובליקה הפולנית.By Philip Steele, Zdzisław Leszczyński, Gabriela Dąbrowska, Piotr Dąbrowski, Sapir Librowski-Sher, Itay Cohen

1
The most important Jew in the world - from Wyszogród 22:52

3+ y ago22:52

22:52

The podcast was produced as part of the Jan Nowak-Jeziorański Eastern Europe College project funded by the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Public task financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland within the grant competition “Public Diplomacy 2021”. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and…

1
Poland, Germany and Belarus 23:07

3+ y ago23:07

23:07

The podcast was recorded during a Polish-German roundtable organised by the College of Eastern Europe.By Jarosław Kociszewski, Markus Meckel, Agata Wierzbowska-Miazga

1
Railway in Elk and the Hebrew language 19:49

3+ y ago19:49

19:49

The podcast was produced as part of the Jan Nowak-Jeziorański Eastern Europe College project funded by the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Public task financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland within the grant competition “Public Diplomacy 2021”. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and…

1
Railway in Elk and the Hebrew language (Hebrew) 16:50

3+ y ago16:50

16:50

הפודקאסט נוצר במסגרת פרויקט של הקרן המזרח אירופאית על שם יאן נובאק-יז'וראנסקי, במימון משרד החוץ של הרפובליקה הפולנית. פעולה במימון משרד החוץ של הרפובליקה הפולנית בתחרות "דיפלומטיה ציבורית 2021". הפרסום מבטא את דעות המחבר בלבד ואינו מצביע על עמדתו הרשמית של משרד החוץ של הרפובליקה הפולנית.By Sapir Librowski-Sher, Philip Earl Steele, Rafał Żytyniec, Itay Cohen

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