1. The Moth

1. The Moth

Author: BBC Radio 4 March 11, 2022 Duration: 30:05

From street thug to spy – what the Russian president did before he came to power.

To understand what Vladimir Putin might do in the future, you need to understand his past; where he’s come from, what he’s lived through, what he’s done. Jonny Dymond hears tales of secret agents, gangsters and the time a young Putin faced off a rat.

He’s joined by:

Nina Khrushcheva, Professor of International Affairs at The New School in New York and the great-granddaughter of former Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev Tim Whewell, who watched the rise of the man who’s changing the world as Moscow correspondent for the BBC in the 1990s Dr Mark Galeotti, author of "We need to talk about Putin" and an expert in global crime and Senior Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute.

Production coordinators: Sophie Hill and Siobhan Reed

Sound engineer: James Beard Producers: Caroline Bayley, Sandra Kanthal, Joe Kent Series Editor: Emma Rippon Commissioning Editor: Richard Knight


How does a man shape a nation, and how does a nation, in turn, shape the man? Putin, from BBC Radio 4, is a deep and necessary exploration of this question, moving far beyond the headlines to trace the personal and political forces that forged the Russian leader. Host Jonny Dymond guides this series, weaving together the pivotal moments from a childhood in post-war Leningrad to the corridors of the KGB and the ultimate consolidation of power in the Kremlin. This isn't just a biography; it's a layered investigation into the motivations and worldview of a figure who has defined an era. The narrative is built with insights from a range of voices-analysts who have studied his strategies, journalists who have chronicled his rise, and diplomats who have sat across the table from him. Each episode of this podcast feels like assembling a complex portrait, piece by piece, revealing how personal history is inextricably linked to global consequence. By focusing on the trajectory of one life, the series illuminates the broader currents of society, culture, and power politics that continue to resonate today. For anyone seeking context behind contemporary events, this meticulously produced podcast offers an essential and compelling journey into the past to better comprehend the present.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 16

Putin
Podcast Episodes
5. An Indispensable Tsar [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:21
Bare-chested photo ops and the invasion of Georgia - what Vladimir Putin did as prime minister. Then, he returns to the presidency vowing to save Russia from the west.To make sense of his carefully crafted image and how…
4. The Shallow Roots of Democracy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:05
Cementing power in Russia, a revolution in Ukraine and a challenge to the US - Jonny Dymond examines Vladimir Putin’s second term as president. To help him make sense of how this tumultuous period from 2004 to 2008 began…
3. Unleashing power [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:52
President Putin turns on the men who manoeuvred him to power, he turns on the media and turns to the West with an offer of support after 9/11. According to Britain’s former ambassador to Russia, there are two sides to Pu…
2. Out of the shadows [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:01
Operation successor: the story behind the Russian president's mysterious rise to power. From bag carrier to the most powerful man in Russia. In just a few years Vladimir Putin went from working for the mayor of St Peters…
Introducing Putin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:30
Jonny Dymond tells the extraordinary and revealing story of Vladimir Putin's life.