When Iryna Voloshyna, a PhD student in Indiana University’s Department of Folklore and Ethnomusicology, started a Slavic choir at IU in 2021, she didn’t realize it would be a local expression of a political situation halfway around the world. But then, in February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, and suddenly the choir was in high demand. Since then, they’ve been performing folk songs about Ukrainian cultural integrity and sovereignty over their land. Producer Violet Baron talked with Voloshyna about the choir, about the importance of archives, and about how cultural heritage becomes a point of contention in war. You can keep up with the IU Slavic Choir’s latest events on Instagram at iuslavicchoir.

Then, we go back to a story Avi Forrest produced in the summer. Comedian EJ Masicampo describes his good divorce, how it led him to comedy, and what he really meant when he told his future (ex-)wife that he liked nature. You can learn more about EJ at his website.

Credits

Inner States is produced by me, Alex Chambers, with Jillian Blackburn and Avi Forrest.

Special thanks this week to producers Violet Baron and Avi Forrest.

Our theme song is by Amy Oelsner and Justin Vollmar. We have additional music from the artists at Universal Production Music.

Ver todos los episodios