Discover how authoritarian regimes twist history, power, and culture to survive, and what their tricks mean for us today. Each video reveals hidden mechanisms of control, shown through Russia’s past and present yet reaching far beyond its borders.

I’m Elvira Bary, an author born in the USSR. I draw on lived experience, research, and cultural insight to decode how strongmen build systems, justify lies, and keep entire nations in line. Russia is the clearest example, but the lessons apply to every authoritarian society.

This podcast is about more than politics. It’s about the instincts and survival codes that make people accept abuse, obey power, and even defend their own chains. Once you see these patterns, you can spot them anywhere: in your country, community, and your workplace.

New podcasts every Wednesday and Sunday. 


Video Episodes (at 7 days early) on my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabary