Exchange Me Podcast

09/02/2024

A fantastic academic opportunity for Ukrainians and more🙌

Найбільша у світі програма академічних обмінів

25/07/2023

Wow! New episode of Exchange Me Podcast is out!

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/xmepod/episodes/16-Jeff-Gospe-CA-and-his-exchanges-in-France--West-Germany--and-communist-Poland-e270dlb

We spoke with Jeff Gospe who was an exchange student before and after the fall of the Berlin Wall; met Gorbachov in person at Stanford, and came to Moscow during the transition of the USSR to a market economy as an E&Y consultant.

Jeff holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Stanford University. Since November 2005, he has been working as a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley. He is also an active member of the Rotary Club of Santa Rosa, California, and a person with vast experience in exchange programs, including the Rotary Youth Exchange (RYE).

Jeff Gospe's biography reflects a life driven by the values of peace, understanding, and building connections through international experiences. Born in 1968, his journey of cultural exchange began at the age of 15 when he participated in a private exchange program in France. This was followed by a summer spent in Bavaria, Germany. At 17, Jeff embarked on a year-long exchange through the American Field Service (AFS) in Germany, where he attended high school and immersed himself in a different culture. As a student, he also developed a passion for brewing beer and even used brewing vending machines while attending a German gymnasium.

During his junior year of college in 1989, while studying East European studies at Stanford University, Jeff had the opportunity to live in communist Poland. This experience allowed him to witness firsthand the realities of a closed society and the struggles faced by individuals living under oppressive regimes.

Jeff's commitment to promoting peace and understanding continued through his involvement in Rotary exchanges, which he believed provided invaluable education and personal growth. He recognized that nothing clarifies one's thinking better than experiencing the effects of war and that being an exchange student on the ground fosters adaptability, critical thinking, and the ability to connect with people from different backgrounds.

Please, enjoy, share, and give feedback in comments or on the platform of your choice.

27/03/2023

“It’s not only Ukrainian issue, it’s a global issue. Whether you like it or not, we must all rise up to defeat this evil power.”

In another episode of the Global Response (GR) series, we travel to Auckland, New Zealand, to talk with Leo Shin, a South Korean by descent and with Ukraine in his heart.

He was in Ukraine one time but for 3 months while on AIESEC program. Since then, he well in love with Ukrainian culture and made lots of friends. And we know well, friends are known in trouble.

In another episode of the Global Response (GR) series, we travel to Auckland, New Zealand, to talk with Leo, a South Korean by descent and with Ukraine in his heart. He was in Ukraine one time but for 3 months while on AIESEC program. Since then, he well in love with Ukrainian culture and made lots....

16/03/2023

Hi, Listener. This is Denys from Ukraine, your co-host of the Exchange Me Podcast.

My guest for the third episode of the Global Response series has a background in literature and visual culture and is based in Pakistan🇵🇰, where she's working as freelance development writer and researcher for local and international grassroots organisations.

Listen to the episode: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/xmepod/episodes/GR-3-A-voice-from-Pakistan-with-Saadia-e20hqq3

Saadia's previous work has put her at the intersection of teaching, creative practice and interaction–where she has witnessed the benefits of a people-first and co-creative approach towards community engagement and education.

Saadia believes that respect, communication and an understanding that every person has the capacity to create change will lead us to a better and kinder world and is working towards a career in education that engenders this.

Recorded on 08.01.2023 (it was also a death anniversary of her grandfather – a figure she admires a lot).

Want to unlock more value? Visit: https://exchangemepodcast.com

But it is still war in Ukraine. Please see the ways to help Ukraine today: https://supportukrainenow.org/

A podcast about exchange programs – the stories you always wanted to share and hear

30/01/2023

Episode 15: After Studying in the West, She Brought English to the East w/ FLEX’14 (IL) 🇺🇸 Anna Deviatko 🇺🇦

Links in the comments section. Please notice that we recorded this episode over a year ago! The full-scale invasion in Ukraine switched our priorities. But more than ever, English is vital to millions of Ukrainians who were forced to flee abroad, including many children and teenagers.

In , you will learn from Anna how she encountered , became a FLEX alumna, and got inspired to plant a seed of learning into other minds. Our guest also shares a difference she noticed between Ukraine in 2013 when she left for the US and in 2014 after her return.

Listen to this and other episode of at https://anchor.fm/xmepod

Share with friends and see the ways to help Ukraine today: https://supportukrainenow.org/

10/01/2023

One of the exchanges ahead!
Stop looking, start applying!

Applications are now open for Fall 2023/Spring 2024 Professional Fellows Program (PFP) for citizens of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, Russia, Serbia, Turkiye, and Ukraine under the Governance and Society theme and under the Innovation and Entrepreneurship theme for Belarus! This is a great opportunity for mid-level professionals to gain valuable fellowship experience with American organizations, expand networking, and participate in an enriching international fellowship experience. Visit https://www.professionalfellows.americancouncils.org/ for more information, including eligibility requirements and application instructions. The deadline to apply is January 31st, 2023!

Image Description: Group of PFP Alumni in front of the U.S. Capitol Building

05/01/2023

Happy New Year, everyone!
As always, the link to the new episode in the comments to the original post.

Wow, we recorded this episode over a year ago... But it is still war in Ukraine. Please see the ways to help Ukraine today at Support Ukraine NOW (link to website in comments).

Especially, we encourage you to donate to the SUN Leaders Program which provides scholarship to young leaders of Ukraine who address specific social issues helping this fearless country to win in the mid- to long-term.

What's inside this episode:
- one family, different arrival stories; one context, different perception;
- good relationships with family vs. good relationships with friends theory;
- when Tetyana went to the US, her host family's daughter was only 10; instead, Anastasia had to deal with a teenager as her sibling during the exchange year;
- Anastasia: a hilarious story of cooking mushrooms for her host family;
- Tetyana: on meeting Arnold Schwarzenegger.

18/12/2022

Yesterday, Julia Popyk had her birthday! And we wanted to remind about the episode with her – one of the first ones on our show! Thank you, Yulia!

Link in the comment on our Exchange Me Podcast page.

20/09/2022

Команда Офісу Програми імені Фулбрайта продовжує працювати в повному обсязі, усі наші конкурси залишаються активними, а фулбрайтівська спільнота з перших днів війни інформує світ про події в Україні, докладає всіх зусиль, аби український голос був почутий у кожному його куточку.

Ми завжди радо вітаємо нових учасників конкурсів Програми імені Фулбрайта. Заохочуємо всіх, хто займається дослідницькою працею, подавати заявки на чергові щорічні конкурси:

• FULBRIGHT VISITING SCHOLAR PROGRAM 2023-2024 – проведення досліджень в університетах США, дослідницьких центрах, бібліотеках, музеях, архівах тощо від трьох до дев’яти місяців. Реченець подання заявок – 15 жовтня 2022.
https://fulbright.org.ua/uk/fulbright-visiting-scholar-program/

• FULBRIGHT RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM 2023-2024 – проведення досліджень молодими науковцями (віком до 45 років) в університетах США тривалістю від шести до дев’яти місяців. Реченець подання заявок – 1 листопада 2022.
https://fulbright.org.ua/uk/fulbright-research-and-development-program/

! Офіс Програми імені Фулбрайта у 2022 році прийматиме документи від конкурсантів – громадян України, які перебувають в Україні, а також тих громадян України, які після 24 лютого змушені були покинути країну через війну.

09/09/2022

Andres from Ecuador and I met online 8 years ago to do a startup together. We aimed to “share the chance” of participating in exchange programs and scholarships easier. He is a Fulbright scholar and resides in the US now.

🎧 Listen to the episode: https://anchor.fm/xmepod/episodes/12-Building-a-Metaverse-before-it-was-cool-w-Fulbright13-FL-Andres-Vargas-e1ma391

Listen on a platform of choice:
https://spoti.fi/3Gz9Rpe
https://apple.co/3dMiBfn
https://bit.ly/3lZCd41

23/08/2022

Published this list of exchange programs for Ukrainians 🇺🇦 (and their friends abroad).

➡️ Soon, we'll have a bot to do the search for you (cool, right?). To access the database, go to https://oppcorn.com

🎧 To listen to our episodes with exchange programs alumni, go to https://anchor.fm/xmepod/

01/04/2022

Episode 13: Indie singer Promsonya w/ FLEX’19 (NV🇺🇸) Sofiya Pylypenko 🇺🇦
https://anchor.fm/xmepod/episodes/13-Indie-singer-Promsonya-w-FLEX19-NV-Sofiya-Pylypenko-e1g90jg

Donate to support Ukrainians via PayPal: [email protected]

Having started volunteering at the age 13, Sofia (or Sonya) was among creators of the Druzi (Friends) youth space in Kostyantynivka (Donetsk oblast) supported by USAID - US Agency for International Development (listen to https://anchor.fm/xmepod/episodes/10-Serendipity-and-Cross-pollination-w-FLEX10-OH-Roman-Vydro-e1bjjj0).

After returning from FLEX Program, she doubled down on her passion to music and started an indie project with her father: https://slukh.media/new-music/promsonya-new-name/

As we pray for Ukraine, we also ask for your help. You can do it in numerous ways by:
- spreading a word (including our podcast);
- donating to selected charities or our team (we direct the funds to local initiatives we know personally);
- asking your country representatives to assist Ukraine with defense and humanitarian aid.

24/01/2022

11: Destiny Has Something in Store for You w/ FLEX’19 (CA🇺🇸) Valeriia Rudnichenko> Link in the comments! 🇺🇦 🇵🇱

How do you react when one of the host family relatives dies on the day of your arrival? How to overcome bullying and turn your deepest fears into career opportunities? This and other contradictory topics we covered in our new episode of Exchange Me show with co-host Tetyana Kondrya.

Valeriia Rudnichenko is originally from Zhytomyr, Ukraine. She is now studying in Poland to become a nutritionist. She was one of the lucky ones who got to live in California during her exchange year, but her most important journey was not geographical – but to self-love, confidence, and self-esteem.



https://www.instagram.com/valer1yaboss/

25/12/2021

XME hosts Tetyana Kondrya and Denys Andrushchenko are sending their listeners greetings with the holiday season and a Merry Xmas!

There is a carol about FLEX alumni promoting the program via different video and audio formats. Check them out:

https://bradleyherald.org/2021/12/22/going-digital-alumni-in-ukraine-find-new-ways-to-promote-flex/

In a year bustling with virtual events, alumni in Ukraine have learned to get creative with their methods of FLEX program promotion. Alumni have begun recording interviews, launching podcasts, and creating YouTube videos to get the word out. Take a look at some of these initiatives below! Kyiv Futur...

12/12/2021

10: Serendipity and Cross-pollination w/ FLEX’10 (OH🇺🇸) Roman Vydro🇺🇦

Roman Vydro isn't an average exchange student:
- he has been to the States prior to his exchange year;
- moreover, his sister was already a FLEX alumna by that time;
- after FLEX, Roman was active with the Community ACTion Ukrainian Style;
- and currently transforms people's hobbies into micro business at гараж хаб.

"Creativity is the oil of the 21st century", he says. And we can't agree more as we uploaded the 10th episode of the Exchange Me Podcast (links in the comments).

Read about the project on https://exchangemepodcast.com
This episode is supported by the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy to Ukraine. The views of the authors and guests do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Government.

#Харьков #Харків

02/12/2021

9: Embrace Changes w/ FLEX’03 (WA🇺🇸) Olga Shyshman (Lebedyna) 🇺🇦 > Link in the comments!

Our new episode is with FLEX alumna of 2003. She had to change 4 families with the patience and understanding of a Tibetan monk and continues to spread positivity wherever life takes her.

Currently, Olga works as a Partner Account Manager at Dell Technologies after previously spending 8 years at SAP. Listen to our conversation as we unpack her FLEX experience.

Read about our podcast on https://exchangemepodcast.com

This episode is supported by the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy to Ukraine. The views of the authors and guests do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Government.

22/11/2021

From the Ukrainian city of Kherson🇺🇦 to the US state of Kansas🇺🇸: the story of Nadia who “got hungry for impressions.” Curious fact: six years before she applied for FLEX, her father participated in the agricultural program in the same state.

Currently, Nadia lives in Germany🇩🇪 after “literally falling in love with this country.”

https://anchor.fm/xmepod/episodes/8-A-Poetess-Living-in-Germany-w-FLEX09-Kansas-Nadia-Telenchuk-e1akn3b

This episode is supported by the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy to Ukraine. The views of the authors and guests do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Government.

09/11/2021

Param-pam-pam! The second conversation with Kateryna Kulyk is out now!

7: We Are Laowai w/ FLEX’05 (WV🇺🇸) Katia Kulyk 🇺🇦🇨🇳 🇹🇭
https://anchor.fm/xmepod/episodes/7-We-Are-Laowai-w-FLEX05-WV-Katia-Kulyk-e19vvdl

In this episode, we speak about various settings for exchange students (China, Russia, Thailand, USA).

Read about our podcast on https://exchangemepodcast.com

This episode is supported by the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy to Ukraine. The views of the authors and guests do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Government.

29/10/2021

We all need a some peace of mind...

By the end of the week, you might feel exhausted. Facebook news are all about the divide. And even the weekend ahead seems uncertain.

It's alright. We have been there. Moreover, Katia had her own roller-coasters in life. But YOU are in power to change YOUR own perspective towards life.

Listen in: https://anchor.fm/xmepod/episodes/6-Peace-of-Mind-w-FLEX05-WV-Katia-Kulyk-e19b8l6

After traveling to 35 countries, teaching mindfulness in 14 of them, Katia moved to a small village of Zavallia in Ukraine to organize her yoga and meditation retreats.

Learn more at http://katiakulyk.com/aboutkatiakulyk
Besides, she just launched her project "Meditate in Ukrainian" on Telegram: https://t.me/meditateUA

She's a writer, too, but hey, we've got another episode with Katia coming soon!

https://exchangemepodcast.com

Anchor: https://anchor.fm/xmepod
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LeadersFund/
Telegram: https://t.me/xmepod

This episode is supported by the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy to Ukraine. The views of the authors and guests do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Government.

05/10/2021

Хочеш провести рік у США безплатно? Навчаєшся у 8-10 класі? Тоді це твій шанс!

Реєструйся до 15 жовтня: https://ais.americancouncils.org/flex

Щороку FLEX Ukraine відправляє кілька сотень школярів в 1 з 50 штатів. Фіналісти проживають у приймаючих сім'ях і ходять до справжньої high school.

Слухай історії випускників і надихайся:
http://exchangemepodcast.com/ua

29/09/2021

Yevgeniya Vodopyanova is a combination of fun and logic. And it's been an opening to talk about some taboo topics. Once again, the show is all about true experience and real-life tips. We've been there.

But each time is unique. So enjoy your trip to the fullest whenever you go. Accept both opportunities and challenges. Your comfort zone is like a gym: the muscles hurt, therefore they grow.

Listen now: https://anchor.fm/xmepod/episodes/5-Exchanges-to-Internships-w-FLEX12-MI-Yevheniya-Vodopyanova-e17pnmq

This episode is supported by the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy to Ukraine. The views of the authors and guests do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Government.

27/09/2021

⬇️ A small competition inside.
What's your favorite soundtrack from the exchange year?

Our team wants to thank FLEX Program and the U.S. Department of State for providing such opportunity to 5000+ Ukrainians and thousands more participants from 22 countries. What started with the Freedom Support Act turned into a real movement of true leaders.

Today, we are blessed to meet all over the globe, within all three sectors: government, business, and non-profits.

➡️ In appreciation of the program, we decided to remember what music (song or melody) associates with . Comment below + add a thing you want us to bring for you from the States. We'll do a lottery by the end of October. Tag friends to gather more songs and ideas 😋

If we gather enough options, we might choose one as a jingle for the show or make something very special.

23/09/2021

FLEX Program announced 𝐅𝐋𝐄𝐗 𝐀𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐝, a new and unique scholarship opportunity for U.S. high school students to study abroad for an academic year. ✨ FLEXers (past and present!), please share this announcement with your American friends, siblings, and schools!⁣ 💙
⁣
FLEX Abroad is a scholarship program of the U.S. government with funding from the Department of State. See link in bio for more information. Basic eligibility requirements are as follows:⁣
• U.S. Citizen⁣
• Currently enrolled in high school⁣
• 15-18.5 years old at the start of the program

To express interest in hosting, please email the office in a chosen country. For example, the FLEX office in Ukraine: [email protected] or call 380-44-289-3952.

The news: https://www.instagram.com/p/CUC8frKFZeJ/?utm_medium=copy_link

19/09/2021

Welcome our new episode with FLEX'12 and Erasmus'14 alumna Victoria Umanska.

Victoria works as an investment manager at SMOK Ventures, and by now has gained enough experience in the tech industry. What exactly was an influence for this path?

Our listeners will hear about various stories from the exchange year, including the NASA pin, and Victoria's startup attempts.

Tune in: https://anchor.fm/xmepod/episodes/4-How-FLEX-inspired-me-for-tech-w-FLEX12-CO-Victoria-Umanska-e17igr9

This episode is supported by the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy to Ukraine. The views of the authors and guests do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Government.

13/09/2021

Well, you know what to do!

🚀 Анкету на програму FLEX Program'23 відкрито!

💻 Цього року відбір відбуватиметься онлайн. Анкета доступна для учнів, які відповідають вимогам програми, з 13 вересня по 15 жовтня 2021 року на сайті https://ais.americancouncils.org/flex

📝 Для того, щоб взяти участь у тестуванні учасники мають відповідати всім нижче наведеним критеріям:

- Дата народження: 01.01.2005 -15.07.2007 (15.02.2004 -15.07.2007 для учнів з інвалідністю);
- Мати громадянство України;
- Бути зарахованими та відвідувати середню школу в Україні;
- Навчатися в 8, 9 або 10 класі школи (8-11 клас для учнів з інвалідністю);
- Володіти англійською мовою;
- Відповідати вимогам візи J-1;
- Конкурсант не мав перебувати у США більш ніж 3 місяці впродовж останніх 5 років.

Конкурсний відбір проходить у три тури з вересня по грудень :

📌 І тур – заповнення аплікаційної форми та написання трьох невеликих творів на задані теми англійською мовою протягом 10 днів з моменту подання заявки;

📌 ІІ тур – складання короткого письмового тесту з англійської мови;

📌 ІІІ тур – заповнення анкети, написання творів англійською мовою, співбесіда з кожним учасником та стандартизований тест з англійської мови.

Програма обміну майбутніх лідерів (FLEX) – це програма для учнів загальноосвітніх шкіл, яка фінансується урядом Сполучених Штатів.

Програма надає школярам стипендії, які дають їм змогу подорожувати до Сполучених Штатів, навчатися в американській школі протягом одного академічного року і проживати у американській родині.

Більше інформації: https://americancouncils.org.ua/programs/future-leaders-exchange-program/

03/09/2021

Some magic to your khata.

https://fb.watch/7NVm7LmEaR/

09/08/2021

In the upcoming episodes, you'll hear Kateryna Kulyk. A alumna of 2005, she'd been to West Virginia like me and traveled many more countries. Based on her stories, including an exchange student experience, she wrote two books.

I just received one of them as a gift. Thanks, Katia!

02/08/2021

“Wealth equals income minus ego.”

I am so thankful to Roman Koshovskyy for appearing in the ! The third episode of our show was full of condensed wisdom and sweet memories from 2007-2008 in Missouri🇺🇸

Roman is Business Analyst at SoftServe, author of Youtube series and a podcast named “GOALS on FIRE” (bit.ly/GoFy2b) about financial literacy, investments and meaningful life.

He is a Personal Finance Planner at iplan.ua, a consulting service that helps Ukrainians around the world to plan their life goals with smart financial & investment decisions and milestones.

Roman also has a blog called Креатив Розвиток Пошук, where he shares the ideas on habits, psychology, good books, finances and a healthy & balanced lifestyle.

Listen now on platforms of your choice: https://anchor.fm/xmepod/episodes/3-FLEX-your-identity-w-FLEX08-MORoman-Koshovskyy-e15be8j

22/07/2021

The second episode of the ExchangeMe podcast is now available!

My guest Julia Popyk is a multifaceted person – one can certainly find a topic to talk with her: Julia's an activist, social video director, scholar, and speaker.

On our show, we talked about her experience on in sunny California and the art of soft power (both links in comments on this page).

And yes, the capital of Ukraine is .