After a career as an elite tennis champ, Sergiy Stakhovsky had a pleasant life growing grapes and making highly-rated wine in Ukraine's sunny Zakarpattia region. Then Russia invaded and he returned to a new type of elite athleticism as a special forces soldier.

He shares his story with American journalist Joe Lindsley, host of the "Land of the Free" podcast brought to you by Ukrainska Pravda.

Benya Stewart, an American musician from Ohio, chose to live in wartime Kyiv. Sharing a few of his wartime songs, he speaks with American journalist Joe Lindsley about playing front-line shows, the power of roots music, and life under missile attacks.

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John Sweeney: "Being in Kyiv, being in Ukraine feels like what it would've been in London or in Britain in 1940. What's happened is that this peaceful democracy has turned out to be far more of a fighter and full of fighters. And it's an honour to tell this story."

John Sweeney has an extensive background in British media, including contributions to the BBC, The Observer on Sunday, The Jewish Chronicle, and Byline Times. These days Sweeney's daily reporting on Twitter provides a real-time account of the situation in Ukraine. In a conversation with American journalist Joe Lindsley, he discusses his reporting experience as a witness to Russia's wars on Chechnya, Georgia, Syria, and now – Ukraine, his books "Killer in the Kremlin" and "Putin's Prisoner", which gained sudden public attention after Yevgeny Prigozhin's mutiny attempt, and what kind of challenges today's Russia poses to the world.

Maria Mezentseva, a member of Ukraine's parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, tells how she was one of the first to arrive in the houses of government when Russia launched its full-scale invasion. She explains why it is important not only for Ukraine to win but also for the free world to hold Russians accountable for crimes against humanity, a concept, incidentally, developed in the 1940s in the western city of Lviv.

In a conversation recorded on Thanksgiving Day with American journalist Joe Lindsley, Maria expresses her gratitude to the USA for its support. Speaking of her native Kharkiv region, Maria describes the rejuvenation of Ukrainian culture. She says that with great weapons and strong air defense, the world need not be governed by "emotions of fears."

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“This is the most resourceful country in the world,” says Deborah Fairlamb who years ago quit her Wall Street job and moved to Ukraine, a country where she chose to raise her daughter. When Russia launched the full-scale invasion, Deborah, then as an American contractor, was forced to leave. Now, she’s back, having launched Green Flag Ventures, which aims to invest in brilliant Ukrainian tech startups.

With American Joe Lindsley, host of the Land of the Free podcast, Deborah discusses the reality of corruption in Ukraine versus the USA, and she explains why Ukraine, especially in wartime, is a place of innovation and excellence.

You can learn more about Deborah here: https://www.greenflag.vc

All podcast platforms: https://pod.link/1712687757

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Taras Topolia has been serving as a medic on the front lines against the Russian invaders. But as lead man of the band Antytila, he's also one of Ukraine's top rock stars. He's lived in two realities in wartime: caring for the wounded in terrifying situations and also joining the likes of Bono and U2 to sing in the Kyiv Metro.

With American Joe Lindsley, host of the Land of the Free podcast, Taras discusses the spirit of Ukraine before the full-scale invasion, the importance of the 2014 Revolution of Dignity, and the role of music and creativity in a time of war.

Follow Antytila:

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www.youtube.com/@ANTYTILA

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In the early days of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russian agents repeatedly attempted to intimidate Michael Poperechnyuk, entrepreneur and civil society leader, in his oft-bombed hometown of Nikopol, across from Europe's largest nuclear plant.

Speaking with American journalist Joe Lindsley, Michael tells his story of resistance against Russian orchestrated corruption. A former European kickboxing champion, he also invites celebrities like Chuck Norris and Sylvester Stallone to explore the character and spirit of Ukrainian resistance firsthand.

You can find out more about Michael's work and his NGO, "Solidarity and Evolution," here:

instagram.com/poperechnyuk.michael

fb.com/michael.poperechnyuk

American Joe Lindsley, daily war correspondent on Chicago's WGN Radio, and Ukrainian Alina Poliakova, managing editor of the English edition of Ukrainska Pravda (Ukrainian Truth), discuss the importance of free speech and the role of a free press in Ukraine's effort to defeat the Russian invaders. Even, or especially, in wartime, Ukrainska Pravda's journalists continue to expose corruption and to hold officials to account.