The Motherland Podcast: Recent Episodes
Zachary Phillips
Welcome to the Motherland Podcast - A place to learn conversational Russian, dive into the culture and hear some ridiculous stories about our experiences visiting The Motherland. If you’re a Russian expat, fan of culture, or want to just learn the language, this is the podcast for you. Hosted by Marsha: A first generation Russian now living in Australia, and her husband Zachary: an Aussie who desperately wants to learn enough of the language so that he can survive his next visit to The Motherland.
For some inexplicit reason, Russians LOVE buckwheat.
It’s a grain that can and is (but really shouldn’t) be used as a side dish for basically all meals, given to babies as porridge, and as a breakfast staple.
I’m here to tell you that it tastes like dirt, and is the absolute inferior and weird cousin of rice, flower, potatoes and almost every other carb out there.
God bless Masha, but even she cannot quite defend this little gem… it’s not even as appealing as Russian architecture on a sloshy autumn morning.
Words and phrases:
- Dirt: грязь - ‘gryaz’
- Buckwheat : Гречневая каша - ‘Grechnevaya kasha’
- Kvass: Квас - ‘Kvas’
- Jelly Meat: Холодец - ‘Holodets’
Mama Maria’s Amazing Beetroot Recipe
In Russia, podcast reviews you! - Спасибо большое!
Apparently, surprisingly, we had to bribe our way into and around Russia.
In this episode we share our experiences dealing with pirates, stubborn officials, as well as the shameless use of a priest’s garb and our new-born’s cuteness to lubricate the mechanisms of bureaucracy.
We also explore the Russian obsession with un-castrated animals and acid to the face.
Words and phrases:
- Corruption: Коррупция- ‘Korruptsiya’
- Government: Дума- ‘duma’
- Crime: криминал - ‘kriminal’
- Dog: Собака - Sobaka
In Russia, podcast reviews you! - Спасибо большое!
In this episode Zac recounts some holiday experiences with Masha and extrapolates that perhaps (despite Masha’s positive reviews) visiting Russia during the winter may not be the best idea!
With temperatures ranging from -20 to -15 degrees Celsius, what could possibly go wrong?
Words and phrases:
- Cold: холод - ‘kholod’
- Urine: моча- ‘mocha’
- Yellow: желтый - ‘zheltyy’
- Snow: снег- sneg
In Russia, podcast reviews you! - Спасибо большое!
All birth experiences are equal but some birth experiences are more equal than others …
Today we delve into what it was like to give birth in Soviet Russia… think collective birthing, screaming mothers restrained at the wrists, and one doctor for 30 mothers in the throws of labour.
Yay communism!
Words and phrases:
- Birth Home: Род Дом - ‘rod dom’
- Hospital: Больница - ‘Bol'nitsa’
- Moscow Oblast: Моско́вская о́бласть - ‘Moskovskaya Oblast’
- Comrade: Товарищ - Tovarishch
In Russia, podcast reviews you! - Спасибо большое!
You would think that animals say the same thing around the world, but apparently not in Russia!
Today we explore the sounds of animals in The Mother Land and embrace the government mandated restriction of hot water for two weeks every summer.
Words and phrases:
- Woof woof: гав гав - ‘gav gav’
- Cheep cheep: крр крр - ‘krr krr’
- Oink oink: хрю хрю - ‘heu heu’
In Russia, podcast reviews you! - Спасибо большое!
The Russian birthday song is something to be admired. Born from the soviet era cartoon crocodile ‘Gena’ this song ‘Let Them Run Clumsily’ is now the traditionally Russian birthday celebration.
The lyrics talk of a day of joy whilst all others around them dodge the puddles and rain…
“Let pedestrians toddle
And the rainwater gurgle
As it streams underneath their feet
Let pedestrians wonder
Why this day full of thunder
Makes me look so jolly upbeat….”
Words and phrases:
- Birthday: День рождения- ‘Den' rozhdeniya’
- It’s a shame: к сожалению - ‘k sozhaleniyu’
Crocodile Gena's Birthday Song
In Russia, podcast reviews you! - Спасибо большое!
Grab a bottle of vodka and take a seat in your local children’s playground while we regale you with our stories of Russian style drinking and the drinking styles we saw in Russia.
на-здоровье! (cheers!)
Words and phrases:
- Water: вода - ‘voda’
- Vodka: Водка - ‘Vodka’
- Cheers: на-здоровье! - ‘Nasdarovier’
- Kvass: квас - ‘kvas’
- Ice cream: Мороженое - ‘Morozhenoye’
- To drink: Пить - ‘Pit’
- Beer: пиво - ‘pivo’
- Wine: Вино - ‘Vino’
- Snack: Закуска - ‘Zakuska’
In Russia, podcast reviews you! - Спасибо большое!
Join us for a journey through the maze that is the Russian language, as Marsha struggles to enlighten Zac as to object genders, plurals and other confusing nonsense.
Words and phrases:
- Parliament: дума - ‘Duma’
- Monday: понедельник - ‘ponedel'nik’
- Tuesday: вторник - ‘vtornik’
- Wednesday: Среда - ‘Sreda’
- Thursday: Четверг - ‘Chetverg’
- Friday: Пятница - ‘Pyatnitsa’
- Saturday: суббота - ‘subbota’
- Sunday: Воскресенье - ‘Voskresen'ye’
- Car: Машина - ‘Mashina’
- My Car: Моя машина - ‘Moya mashina’
- My Chair: Мой стул - ‘Moy stul’
- ы - ‘Oui’
- Ball: Мяч - ‘Myach’
- Play: Играть - ‘Igrat’
- Computer: Компьютер - ‘Komp'yuter’
- Train: Поезд - ‘Poyezd'
- Hat: Шляпа - ‘Shlyapa’
In Russia, podcast reviews you! - Спасибо большое!
With Putin making a play for an eternal rein, we thought it was time to break down the reasons why (not…?) to visit Russia.
Words and phrases:
- Propaganda: пропаганда - ‘propaganda’
- Truth: правда - ‘pravda’
- Everything: Все - ‘Vse’
- Big: большой - ‘bol'shoy’
- Dog: Собака - ‘Sobaka’
Links mentioned:r/ANormalDayInRussia
In Russia, podcast reviews you! - Спасибо большое!
So we got married in Russia.
The only thing grander than the wall to wall gold laden icons was how loose the babushkas got on the dance floor.
It turns out that Russians love to dance. A lot.
Words and phrases:
- She likes to dance: она любит танцевать - ‘ona lyubit tantsevat’
- Holy Spirit: Святой Дух - ‘Svyatoy Dukh’
- She likes to party - Она любит тусоватся - ‘Ohna lubit tusavatsa’
- Grandma: Бабушка - ‘Babushka’
- Church: церковь - ‘tserkov’
- Candle: свеча - ‘svecha’
- Wedding: свадьба - ‘svad'ba’
- Would you dance with me? хотите танцевать со мной - ‘khotite tantsevat so mnoy’
In Russia, podcast reviews you! - Спасибо большое!
Imagine a cross between Michael Jackson, Cher and Prince, give him an vaguely Indian heritage, and put him in a frock, and you come close to the glory that is Philipp Kirkorov.
Strap in for a concert that you, your mum and grandma would love to attend together as we dig into the Russian music scene.
The colour of the mood is blue … now its black.
Words and phrases:
- Music: Музыка - ‘Muzyka’
- I want to go to a concert: Я хочу пойти на концерт -‘Ya khochu poyti na kontsert’
- Lets go: давай - ‘davai’
Links Mentioned:
The Mood Is Blue
Романы
- In Russia, podcast reviews you! - Спасибо большое!
Look deep enough into any religion and you are bound to discover some interesting rituals. No factor, until a global pandemic strikes.
Join us for a journey into the world of Orthodoxy: Chalice sharing, idol kissing and devil spitting awaits.
Words and phrases:
- A bit further: подальше - ‘podal'she’
- No thank you: Нет, спасибо - ‘Net, spasibo’
- Jesus: Иисус - ‘Iisus’
- Church: церковь - ‘tserkov’
- Priest: священник - ‘svyashchennik’
- Call me an ambulance: меня нужна скорую - ‘Mne nuzhna skorayu’
- In Russia, podcast reviews you! - Спасибо большое!
If you ever want some black market caviar, we know a guy who can hook you up. But it won’t come cheap.
Join us for a journey into the shady underworld of this iconic Russian delicacy.
Words and phrases:
- Parliament house: дума- ‘Duma’ (house of thinking)
- Market: рынок - ‘rynok’
- Cheese: сыр - ‘syr’
- French: французский - ‘frantsuzskiy’
- Is there?: Есть - ‘Yest’
- What kind of caviar do you have?: Какая у вас икра? - ‘Kakaya u vas ikra?’
- Do you have another one?: а ешё у вас что–то есть - ‘Ah yesho o vas shtota yest’
- Yes: да - ‘da’
- No, take half out: нет, вытащите половину - ‘Nyet, vytashchite polovinu’
- Black caviar: чёрная икра - ‘chernaya ikra’
- Red: красная икра - ‘krasnaya ikra’
- In Russia, podcast reviews you! - Спасибо большое!
Russian’s don’t typically get along with their family-in-law. Masha constantly shocks her Russian counterparts when she shares her positive relationship with Zac’s mum.
The typical Russian Baba is the queen bee, the matriarch; she don’t take no crap from no one!
Words and phrases:
- Mum: Мама - ‘Mama'
- Dad: папа- ‘papa’
- Mother-in-law: тёща- ‘tyosha'
- Father-in-law: тесть- ‘tyest’
- Brother: брат- ‘brat’
- Sister: Сестра - ‘sistra’
- And: и - ‘e’
- In Russia, podcast reviews you! - Спасибо большое!
Join us for a two day, 60 km walk through the Russian wilderness.
Ignore the warning signs, keep away from the fist sized snail, pay off the criminal and end up in church.
This is the story of our Russian pilgrimage walk.
Words and phrases:
- Keep Out: не входить- ‘ne vkhodit'
- Watermelon: арбуз- ‘arbuz’
- Walk: ходить - ‘khodit’
- Lets go: идём- ‘idom’
- church: церковь- ‘tserkov’
- money: Деньги - ‘Den'gi’
- university : Университет - ‘Universitet’
- Your support makes this podcast possible
Social: @zacpphillips | Website: zachary-phillips.com
How many people does it take to sell you a smoke detector? In Russia, the answer is always more.
This is our experience navigating the labyrinth that is the Russian bureaucracy. Getting into the country is just half the battle!
Words and phrases:
- Fire: Пожар - ‘Pozhar’
- Death: умиреть - ‘umiret’
- Dad: папа - ‘papa’
- Vodka: Водка - ‘Vodka’
- Beer: Пиво - ‘Pivo’
- Your support makes this podcast possible
Social: @zacpphillips | Website: zachary-phillips.com
At 8 years old, Masha was sold a baby tortoise from a Russian roadside seller.
She proceeded to smuggle it through the Holy-land and into Australia by stashing it in her jacket pocket.
This Rosie the tortoise’s story.
Words and phrases:
- Tortoise: Черепаха - ‘Cherepakha’
- Do you want?: Вы хотите - ‘Vi khotite’
- Airport: аэропорт - ‘aeroport’
- Jacket: куртка- ‘kurtka’
- Berry: ягода - ‘yagoda’
- Raspberries: малина - ‘malina’
- Strawberries: клубника - ‘klubnika’
- Buy: купить - ‘kupit’
- Sell: продавать - ‘Prodavats’
- No thank you: Нет, спасибо - ‘Net, spasibo’
When Zac raised his concerns to Masha that this podcast may gain disapproval from the more left leaning listeners, she just laughed.
She countered that we were far more likely to be killed by Putin.
This is the conversation that followed.
p.s. We really and truthfully love Putin.
Words and phrases:
- Job: работа - ‘Robota’
- I’m a journalist: Я журналист- ‘ya jernolist’
- Parliament: дума- ‘Duma’
- I think: Я думаю - ‘ya dumiu’
- The time without roads: распу́тица - ‘Rasputitsa’
- Normal: нормально - ‘normalno’
- I Love Putin: Я люблю путина - ‘Ya lyublyu Putina’
- Your support makes this podcast possible
Social: @zacpphillips | Website: zachary-phillips.com
That time when Marsha went to the Moscow circus and saw an act with trained monkeys recreating a Jewish wedding.
Yep.
Words and phrases:
- Circus: Цирк - ‘Tsirk’
- I want to go to the circus: Я хочу в Цирк - ‘ya hachu v tsirk’
Your support makes this podcast possible
Social: @zacpphillips | Website: zachary-phillips.com
If you find yourself flirting in Russia, would you know how and when to drop formalities?
Whether it’s for business or pleasure, you need to know which version of ‘you’ to use when addressing the other party - in this episode Zac and Maria dissect this concept to help you to avoid a potential social faux pa!
Words and phrases:
- You (informal): ты - ‘ty’
- You (formal): вы- ‘vy’
- Can we drop formalities?: перейдём на ты- ‘pereydom na ty’
- Yes: да - ‘da’
- Good: Хорошо - ‘hahrasho’
- I don’t speak much Russian: я немного говорю по-русский - ‘ya nyemnogo govoryu po-ruski’
Your support makes this podcast possible
Social: @zacpphillips | Website: zachary-phillips.com
It turns out that ‘meat jelly’ is a delicacy in Russia. It looks like fancy canned dog food, and tastes about the same!
So sit down for a meal of ‘Holodets’ and ‘Hachapuri’ with Masha and Zac as they talk about their dining experiences in Russia.
Words and phrases:
- Holodets (Jelly Meat): холодец - ‘kholodets’
- No: нет - ‘net’
- No Jelly Meat: нет холодец - ‘net kholodets’
- Menu: Меню - ‘Menyu’
- Do you have?: есть - ‘yest’
- English: английский - ‘angliyskiy'
- Vodka: Водка - ‘Vodka’
- Beer: Кошка - ‘Pieva’
- Or: Или - ‘ili’
- Cheers: на здоровья - ‘na zdarovier’
- Hachapuri: хачапури - ‘Hachapuri’
Your support makes this podcast possible
Social: @zacpphillips | Website: zachary-phillips.com
Some much needed information on how to stay safe in Russia - Dodge the falling icicles, watch out for potholes and avoid other dangers during your stay!
So strap on your seat-belt (if your car has it) and look both ways (a minimum of three times) when you cross the road (at running speed) on whilst listing to this episode!
Good luck!
Words and phrases:
- Help: Помогите - ‘Pomogite’
- Watch out: берегись- ‘Berehgees’
- Your support makes this podcast possible
Social: @zacpphillips | Website: zachary-phillips.com
What to do if you get bitten by a dog in Russia!
In this episode you will learn all about what happened when Zac went for a run in Russia, got bitten by a dog and needed to get some rabies injections.
Words and phrases:
- Help: Помогите - ‘Pomogite’
- Dog: Собака - ‘Sobaka’
- Cat: Кошка - ‘Koshka’
- Excuse me: Извините- ‘Izvinite’
- This is me: Это я - ‘Eto ya’
- It bit me: укусила - ‘Ookoosila’
- Hospital: больница - ‘bol'nitsa’
- Ambulance: скорая помощь - ‘skoraya pomoshch'
- Smoke: курить - ‘kurit’
- Please: пожалуйста - ‘pozhaluysta’
- Me: я - ‘Ya’
- Shut Up! (explicit): закрой рот - ‘Zakroy rot’
- Can you: можешь - ‘mozhesh'
- Not: Не - ‘Ne'
Need to go use a taxi in Russia? We’ve got you covered!
In this episode you will learn all about the state of Russian workers who work 24 hr shifts, how to use a taxi in Russia and general taxi use safety.
Words and phrases:
- Taxi: такси - ‘taksi’
- Do you need a taxi?: вам нада такси? - ‘vam nada taksi?’
- No: нет - ‘nyet’
- Thank you: Спасибо - ‘Spasibo’
- Yellow: желтый - ‘zheltyy’
- Where do you want to go?: вам куда? - ‘vam kuda?’
- Subway: метро - ‘metro’
- Where?: куда - ‘kuda’
- Starbucks: Старбакс - ‘Starbaks’
- Cafe: Кафе - ‘Kafe’
- Restaurant: Ресторан - ‘Restoran’
- Bolshoi Theater: Большой Театр - ‘Bol'shoy Teatr’
- Here!: здесь! - ‘zdyes!’
- Big Thank you: Спасибо Большое - ‘spasibo bol'shoye’
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Your support makes this podcast possible
Social: @zacpphillips | Website: zachary-phillips.com
Need to go to the toilet in Russia? Have no fear, we’ve got you covered.
In this episode you will learn all about the Toilet Babas - the admin grandmas that will impede your progress at every step. You will also learn why there is a ‘viewing platform’ for your poop.
Words and phrases:
- Where (where is it?): где - ‘gder’
- Grandma: бабушка - ‘babushka’
- Toilet: туалет - ‘tualet’
- Rubles: рубли - ‘rubli’
- There: там - ‘tam’
- No: нет - ‘net’
- Yes: да - ‘da’
- Look: смотри- ‘smotri’
- Your support makes this podcast possible
Social: @zacpphillips | Website: zachary-phillips.com
Welcome to the Motherland Podcast - A place to learn conversational Russian, dive into the culture and hear some ridiculous stories about our experiences visiting The Motherland.
If you’re a Russian expat, fan of culture, or want to just learn the language, this is the podcast for you.
Hosted by Marsha: A first generation Russian now living in Australia, and her husband Zachary: an Aussie who desperately wants to learn enough of the language so that he can survive his next visit to The Motherland.
- Your support makes this podcast possible
Social: @zacpphillips | Website: zachary-phillips.com