CaucasTalk

04/07/2022

Hi CaucasTalk family! It's been 4 months since we posted for obvious reasons. Below is an update from Andrew and a re-launch of his Caucasus travel business that we thought many of you would like to know about. We'll see you when you get here!

26/02/2022

This is such a cool 20-minute walk-through of night-time Grozny, Chechnya. Very professionally-done! Really gives you a feel for how the city has been re-built and developed in recent years....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZByR9FKz4c

A short walking tour of the downtown of Grozny — the capital of the Chechen Republic (Chechnya) at a quiet December evening.00:00 — A. Kadyrov Square & Chech...

24/02/2022

What fruit or vegetable CAN'T be pickled in the North Caucasus? :)

23/02/2022

Our walk down memory lane (yes, the podcast has officially come to an end) continues as we look back at our most popular episodes ever. Here are the Top 3 releases from 2019:

1. The Nart Sagas - This is one of our only episodes (maybe THE only) that the term "legend" could be used to describe our guest: Dr. John Colarusso. Dr. Colarusso is renowned among Circassians around the world for translating their ancient Nart Sagas (i.e. myth literature) into the English language and publishing it (as well as for the Ossetian Narts). Enjoy this absolutely fascinating interview with Dr. Colarusso about his life-long work with Caucasus languages and their ancient literature!

https://caucastalk.com/episode49/

***Links in the show notes to purchase Dr. Colarusso's published works!

2. Chechnya "In Their Own Words" - Naturally, our first guest from the Chechen Republic was a popular listen! Dubbed "The Couch Surfing guy" by more than one listener, Abdullah describes Chechens' ancient moral code, the beginnings of international tourism after the wars, and life in Grozny today. A great listen!

https://caucastalk.com/44-2/

3. The Dazzling Languages of Dagestan - This episode is a true gem as we are schooled in the field of linguistics by Ph.D.-linguist Dr. Maria Polinsky. Dr. Polinsky is one of the most experienced people in the West working with Dagestani languages, and isn't just a theorist, as she has produced multiple requested materials in local languages to help preserve and pass on the language to future generations. For anyone interested in linguistics or Dagestani languages, don't pass this one by!

https://caucastalk.com/episode50/

The Nart sagas lie like bedrock, or like groundwater, deep under the surface of the cultures here in the Caucasus. It is our immense privilege to welcome our esteemed guest Dr. John Colarusso to th…

21/02/2022

A staple food/drink product in the Western Caucasus is "airan" from Karachay-Cherkessia, or "Caucasus kefir". Discover how the Karachay create healthy dairy products, long promoted to lengthen one's life, here! (***Russian-language only but the video visuals are helpful!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUL67LetFP8

What do Karachay people do with milk? Village life in Karachay-Cherkessia. Russia. ASMR CookingWe are interested in learning how our ancestors lived, to stud...

18/02/2022

Mt. Elbrus is quite the scene in the winter months, with its slopes full of young and old trying their...feet!...at skiing and snowboarding. Enjoy this short video of my daughters on Elbrus's ONLY gentle slope at the very bottom of the mountain :)

17/02/2022

What are you doing next Monday, Feb. 21? How about joining former podcast guest Emre Basok (Circassian from Turkey) for a virtual discussion about the role of technology in maintaining minority languages? It's great to see such strong Circassian/Kabardian representation on this panel! Registration link below...

https://osu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_T7phDtQGQtmxIpDMRhZZlg?fbclid=IwAR1vYhOge1mlkd_nkWHEiuKju67ZVmY57e8wONd1xJYeAPIbPnzuXG5DHAU

16/02/2022

We had a good run at CaucasTalk. 125 episodes in 4.5 years! We have a lot of followers out there but 125 episodes.....phew that is a lot to listen to! I'm sure there are some classic episodes out there you didn't manage to hear yet, despite your best intentions. :) Here are our Top 3 episodes from 2018, based on # of downloads; enjoy!

1) Ep. 24: Lezginka, Part 1 - Can you imagine listening.....to someone talking about dancing?! Apparently it's not that hard, because this was one of our most downloaded episodes ever! Enjoy this inside-look at how the Caucasus Lezginka dance works, and its many meanings (Part 2 in Ep. 25 was also very popular and a great follow-up!):

https://caucastalk.com/lezginka1/

2. Ep. 33B: Ingushetia, From the Ladies' Perspective! Sorry guys, but this interview with two young Ingush women was significantly more popular than the guys' interview. You have to listen if only to hear about what Eli dubbed "The Wildest Mother-in-Law custom on earth!" :)

https://caucastalk.com/episode33b/

3. Ep. 32: Dagestan in Their Own Words - This was a great interview with Hasan, our first of many Dagestani guests on the podcast. Learn about life in diverse Makhachkala, growing up as a fighter, and of course, Khabib. :)

https://caucastalk.com/episode32/

Have you ever felt that. . . you can’t stop the feeling? Well Justin Timberlake has. And he is not alone! Lezginka—the passionate, flashy, incendiary national dance of the North Caucasus—embo…

15/02/2022

We are a few days late finding (and posting) this, but WOW. A 3-week online course teaching the historical dance of the Mountain Jews from Dagestan. Incredible! If someone signs up, please let us know how it goes!

https://helene-eriksen.weebly.com

Please consider supporting Helene and her incredible work of ANAR DANA using the link below, or by joining as a Patron of her newly launched Patreon site here !

14/02/2022

I bet you've never watched a movie....in the Lezgin language of southern Dagestan?! Here is a recently-released film out of Azerbaijan, representing the significant Lezgin population on that side of the border. And don't worry, there are subtitles for everyone: English, Russian, Azeri, and Lezgin! (Disclaimer: I haven't actually watched the film and am recommending it purely for linguistic purposes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bz_2B_IHkw

Cold sun /Къайи рагъ/ Soyuq günəş/ Холодное солнце/ [Eng sub]

12/02/2022

The city of Kizlyar in northern Dagestan is primarily known for its famous hand-made knives. But every city has its own unique look & beauty, right? Enjoy this drone video of Dagestan's largest city north of Makhachkala in the flatlands.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWSkSalqy6c

#Путешествие #Дагестан #АвтоПутешествие #МояРоссия #Кизляр #Кавказ #СвоимХодом #ВездеСами #НаКавказе #МыЛюбимКавказ #ДжумаМечеть #Строите...

11/02/2022

Check out this beautiful Autumn scene of stand-up paddle boarding in Dagestan. One of many fun things to do in the North Caucasus besides eating good food and being shown hospitality! :)

09/02/2022

A post-punk record....in the Ingush language? Yes! Check out this "first ever" song of its kind complete with music video.....just released!

https://www.calvertjournal.com/articles/show/13514/post-punk-first-ingush-language-record-january-blues

The Ingush duo’s debut had garnered 9,000 views on YouTube for promoting their native tongue

08/02/2022

Yes, the podcast has officially come to an end. BUT. We aren't completely disappearing! The FB page will continue to post positive content about the North Caucasus for the near future.

In light of that, we want to walk down memory lane and post some of our most popular episodes from the past 5 years. Here are the Top 3 from Year 1, i.e. 2017:

1. Meat & Tea: The Food of the Caucasus - It goes without saying that this one got a lot of play (and even made some mouths water :) ) - https://caucastalk.com/episode7/

2. What exactly is the "Culture" of the North Caucasus? Our first ever interview with a local person, and it's a great one! - https://caucastalk.com/ct4-culture-what-is-it-and-our-first-interview-bonus-episode/

3. The History of the North Caucasus - A VERY brief flyover of the main events in the North Caucasus that bring us to where we are today - https://caucastalk.com/episode5/

Sure, we probably had a lot of people listen to our first 10 episodes and never listen again. But hey, this is what the numbers show, you be the judge! :)

What’s in a barbecue? Have you ever thought about the cultural significance of this seemingly insignificant even? Well, here in the North Caucasus, two foods in particular hold incredible cul…

07/02/2022

Do you live in Moscow? There is a fantastic Circassian/Kabardian cultural event coming your way Wed., Feb. 16! Friend of the podcast Ored Recordings has organized a cultural & historical experience, including both Circassian music & a lecture about the history of Circassians living in Israel. Book your spot by purchasing a ticket through the link; we hope you can make it!

http://eshkolot.ru/event/43959?fbclid=IwAR0qCb5pF9O5ciMdD4qTa2Xpyad-Bdsmgpr5RBJBss_96cAjEBBF91GHzb0

Лекция израильского историка Михаила Чернина «Черкесы Святой Земли – страницы истории»

05/02/2022

It would take us over a year if we posted a daily videos of each mountain gorge from the North Caucasus. I guess that means we've lots of years ahead of us of good content to post. :) Here is beautiful drone footage of majestic Tsei Gorge in North Ossetia including its famous glacier....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsCkqUhftz0

Видео снятое дроном во время похода в Цейское Ущелье в Августе 2021 года / Video filmed by a drone during a hike in the Tsey Gorge in August 2021Soundtrack:M...

04/02/2022

Desserts in the North Caucasus are ENDLESS! One of the classics in the region is halva; check out the unique twist on this recipe you'll find in Ingushetia!

https://www.rbth.com/russian-kitchen/334588-dessert-halva-recipe

This exotic recipe comes from the country’s southern Muslim region and combines the aroma of corn flour with the texture of nuts.

02/02/2022

Check out the February Virtual Tour Schedule to the North Caucasus. Explore Chechnya, Dagestan, North Ossetia, Pyatigorsk, and more with a local guide...virtually! See below for schedule and booking link...

01/02/2022

The North Caucasus is a gold mine for archaeologists, with so much ancient history being discovered over the years. A recent re-classification of an 1897 discovery in Maikop, Adygea, shows exactly that; the world's oldest drinking straws were discovered here! The straws are visible today at the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg...

https://www.ancient-origins.net/news-history-archaeology/oldest-drinking-straws-0016316

An exciting new study from Russia has reinterpreted an 1897 find of silver and gold tubes from a Bronze Age burial mound in Maikop in the northern Caucasus as being straws rather than scepters

31/01/2022

Well, “all good things must come to an end,” as they say. (Even though this isn’t actually true.) It has been our singular privilege and joy to bring you CaucasTalk for the last 4+ years, and we are struck to the heart to say goodbye. Our life situations have made it such that a) we are no longer both in the North Caucasus, and b) we are therefore no longer recording in-person. We feel it is time to move on as much as it grieves us.

We want to say THANK YOU to our wonderful listeners, who have honored, encouraged, and buoyed us up along the way; to our faithful Patreon supporters who have literally made this all possible; and most of all to our North Caucasus friends who, even as guests on our podcasts, have really been hosts to us and our families for several wonderful years living in their midst. Each one of you has made us feel welcome. We have cherished coming to know you, your families, and your cultures better.

We consider it an honor to have represented you in some small way to the wider world. We hope earnestly to have left a positive legacy in our short tenure and that others will carry on, in their own ways, the important work of sharing positive news from the North Caucasus.

***For the time being, we'll continue posting to our FB page, so don't be a stranger!

https://caucastalk.com/episode114/

Well, “all good things must come to an end,” as they say. (Even though this isn’t actually true.) It has been our singular privilege and joy to bring you CaucasTalk for the last 4…

29/01/2022

Kanjal Plateau in Kabardino-Balkaria is one of the best overlooks in the Western Caucasus, with amazing views of Mt. Elbrus, the Caucasus Range, and the foothills of KBR and Karachay-Cherkessia. Enjoy this drone video to see for yourself!

https://www.airvuz.com/video/kanjal-plateau-russia-caucasus-2021?id=619ce331c6700834202781aa

28/01/2022

December wasn't a very snowy month in the lowlands of the North Caucasus this year, but that didn't stop local people from enjoying the end of 2021! Enjoy these fun snapshots of families celebrating the most festive time of year in some of the main cities of the North Caucasus: Grozny, Makhachkala, Vladikavkaz, Nalchik, Magas, Kislovodsk & Pyatigorsk...

https://etokavkaz.ru/sobytie/semnadtcat-mgnovenii-zimy

В декабре на Кавказе не везде лежит снег, но праздничному настроению это не мешает. Как подготовился к Новому году самый южный регион страны — в фотогалерее из горо...

27/01/2022

Ingush towers...breathtaking at all times of year!

25/01/2022

One of our goals with CaucasTalk has always been to portray the positive things about life in the North Caucasus. Our "A Day in the Caucasus Life" mini-series really embodied this well, as Eli and I recorded 5 episodes about seemingly "mundane" places/activities, but which are loaded with clues (and plentiful humor!) about the cultural values of the Caucasus. If you never got a chance to listen to them, here they are!

-Daily Life at Playgrounds - https://caucastalk.com/episode62/
-Daily Life on Public Transport - https://caucastalk.com/episode63/
-Daily Life Getting Things Done and Standing in Line - https://caucastalk.com/episode64/
-Daily Things People Say - https://caucastalk.com/episode68/
-Daily Life as a Parent, i.e. "Dadding in Dagestan" - https://caucastalk.com/episode69/

Some of the most mundane places we visit in daily life can actually teach us the most about ourselves if we look closely. Come with us as we visit some everyday places in the North Caucasus and unp…

24/01/2022

This is a touching tribute to the late Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, Dagestani father to Khabib and wrestling coach to hundreds. You get a real feel for how cultural values are passed down through wrestling in the North Caucasus!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kX0cOJoi3Fs

Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov’s students Islam Makhachev, Abubakar Nurmagomedov, Tagir Ulanbekov, Eldar Eldarov, Rustam Khabilov, Magomed Magomedov and Esedulla Em...

22/01/2022

Gizhgit Lake in Kabardino-Balkaria is one of the hidden gems of the greater Mt. Elbrus region. Just a 15-minute off-road drive from the main highway to Elbrus, this incredible lake is famous for its turquoise waters and the beautiful cliffs surrounding it. Have fun experiencing Gizhgit from these TWO drone videos!

-Drone Vid 1 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWkULerrpJo
-Drone Vid 2 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_KjcyWwA-E

Еще больше в моём Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/nikitin_alex_93/

21/01/2022

Our 11-month old loved the snow tubing recently opened at Dolina Narzanov, on the border of Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachay-Cherkessia (on the way to Djili-Suu). There is something for literally any age group in the North Caucasus :)

19/01/2022

Sometimes we spend as much time talking about food as we eating it. :) So is it any surprise that Eli and I took two full episodes to do this very thing? Enjoy this audio-gastro journey with my (Andrew's) wife about food in the North Caucasus!

-"Food in the North Caucasus Part 1" - https://caucastalk.com/episode34/
-Part 2 - https://caucastalk.com/2018/11/

What’s one thing that ties together culture, history, and tourism here in the North Caucasus? And ties together everything else? Everywhere? That’s right: FOOD. It’s no secret tha…

18/01/2022

Besides Georgian khachapuri (i.e. cheese bread) or shashlik (shish kabobs), Ossetian pies may be the most famous food in Russia to come out of the North Caucasus. Try this simple recipe with photos to taste for yourself if Ossetian pies are all they're cracked up to be!

https://www.rbth.com/russian-kitchen/334629-how-to-cook-ossetian-pies-cheese-recipe

What's the best thing about pizza? If your answer is the delicious dough and plenty of cheese, then you’re going to love our recipe for Ossetian pies with cheese and potato filling.

17/01/2022

Sometimes I stumble across a gem of a story from the North Caucasus that needs to be shared. This is one of them. This lady with Ingush roots journeyed across Europe in the early 20th century as a refugee, and actually fought for Poland during WWII. If you don't believe me, read the story for yourself!

https://www.thefirstnews.com/article/fascinating-tale-of-muslim-princess-who-fought-for-poland-during-wwii-wins-short-film-award-27064

A short animated film about the fascinating little-known story of a Caucasian-Muslim princess who joined the Polish army and settled in Gdynia in the 1930s has won the ‘Museums in Short’ international film competition.