Generation Putin

What does it mean to come of age in the shadow of a single, dominant political figure? Generation Putin, a documentary series from PRX, moves beyond headlines to listen to the voices often unheard: the young people navigating a complex present in Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and Georgia. Decades after the Soviet Union's end, this generation grapples with a unique mix of challenges-scarce jobs, the weight of historical repression, and the persistent struggle for democratic freedoms-all while global culture, from Western ideals to the defiant energy of punk music and the symbolism of the Pussy Riot trials, filters into their lives. This podcast is built from ground-level reporting by a team from the Seattle Globalist, who traveled to capture the daily realities and quiet tensions of societies caught, as The Atlantic noted, uneasily suspended between two political eras. In each episode, you’ll hear personal stories that illuminate the push and pull of tradition and change, offering a nuanced portrait of a region defining itself. It’s a timely, intimate audio journey into the hearts and minds of those living within a vast and evolving geopolitical landscape.