Communism Survivor: From Kiev to American Patriot

Episode Description

Like both of us (your co-hosts Polina and Yelena) Viktoria was born in the Soviet Union and immigrated to Chicago with her parents when she was 10. Her story of being raised in the former Soviet Union has influenced Viktoria in countless ways including being the source of inspiration for her dedication to sharing the realities of life under communism. In our conversation we discuss the deep appreciation Viktoria feels for the same freedoms that many of us take for granted today. We hope that Viktoria’s thoughts on the striking differences between life in the Soviet Union and the opportunities available in the U.S. encourage you to apply a critical eye when you come across communist and anti-capitalist propaganda. We discuss how the children of immigrants are often more likely to see the importance of being politically engaged. If you have experience of living under an oppressive regime, and when you grow up listening to the stories of how your parents and grandparents struggled, you are more likely to treasure the  immense privileges that come with freedom. We feel this perspective is particularly relevant in today's heated climate, where many college students in the West are expressing hatred for their own country without a basic understanding of  the historical realities and struggles that led to their freedoms. When she is not fighting communism tendencies in society, Viktoria helps people apply gradual change to improve their health through her work as an integrative nutritionist. Don't miss out on the opportunity to hear from someone who has lived through the realities that many only read about in textbooks.  Viktoria on Instagram   PLEASE HELP US  OUT BY SHARING THIS EPISODE WITH A FRIEND! Follow us on Instagram at @meantforit Sign up for our  newsletter here  Visit our website at www.meantforit.com, Guest ideas? Partnership ideas? Comments? Email us directly at contact@meantforit.com   Notable Quotes: "Being a Communism survivor is something that definitely molds you into a certain way of being." "We won the lottery because we were able to not only come here, but we have the relativity of the two worlds that make us so grateful and so patriotic." "If you're not involved in politics, politics is going to get involved in you." "The problem with communism is that it doesn't take human nature into account."  Topics Discussed: 02:35 The Telepathy Tapes 03:59  Adolescence on Netflix 05:55 Intro to Viktoria 16:20  Communism will never work with humans because it's incompatible with human nature 21:27 Most people in the west don't recognize the patterns of anti-government protests 21:53 Victoria started Communism Survivor after becoming passionate about politics 25:35 Advice for those trying to grow their Instagram accounts 33:22 Being banned on Instagram several times 39:50 Trump's treatment of Ukraine 50:12 Vktoria's career in integrative nutrition