History in the Making: The War in Ukraine

Episod

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  Putin's next move: A risky mobilization or a ceasefire? 13.08.2026

  Vladimir Putin is likely approaching one of the most consequential decisions of the war and in fact of his entire reign: escalate further through another major mobilization, or accept some form of ceasefire. Or can he continue delaying that choice? In this episode, I spoke with Russian foreign policy expert Dr. Olena Snigyr about what Putin is likely to do in the coming months and what could actually force him to change course. They discuss why Putin has maintained his maximalist war aims after more than four years of fighting, whether the Russian political system now depends on continued war, what another mobilization would mean for Russian society, and the circumstances under which Putin might accept a ceasefire. They also examine the risks of nuclear escalation, how Russians are responding to increasingly frequent Ukrainian attacks deep inside the country, what could come after Putin, and a fundamental question for Ukraine and Europe: what would it actually take to make Moscow conclude that continuing the war is more dangerous than stopping it? About the Dr. Olena Snigyr Dr. Olena Snigyr is a political scientist and expert on Russian foreign policy, European security, and Russian strategic narratives. She is a Senior Fellow at the Delphi Global Research Center and a Jean Monnet Fellow at the European University Institute. Previously, she spent more than 15 years at Ukraine’s National Institute for Strategic Studies, including as Head of its Foreign Policy Department. To connect and message with Mark on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mcnamee-58950910 To learn more, visit: https://ubn.network/ Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters: https://missionmatters.com/author/Mark-McNamee/ If you found this episode valuable, follow the podcast and share it with someone who wants to better understand the war in Ukraine.
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  The War Beyond the Headlines: A Chat with Francis Dearnley of Ukraine: The Latest 06.08.2026

  Today's guest is someone who has helped shape how thousands of people around the world understand this war on a daily basis. Francis Dearnley is Executive Editor at The Telegraph and one of the co-hosts of the award-winning podcast Ukraine: The Latest, which has become one of the most respected and widely followed sources of analysis on the conflict since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. One of the things I've always appreciated about Francis' work is that it combines rigorous journalism with a deep appreciation for history. As I also try to do with my podcast, rather than simply asking what happened today, he's constantly exploring the bigger questions and how these events fit within their historical context. So today, rather than focusing solely on the latest battlefield developments, I want to take a step back. We'll get Francis’ personal views on the war, what Ukraine has taught him after years of reporting from the country, and ultimately how history may judge this conflict. Link to Francis' podcast Ukraine: The Latest - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLO-F29HDAmtnKk7p0LMLqc5Xb4lpeqU5T About Francis Dearnley Francis Dearnley is a British journalist, writer and podcast host who has spent years closely following Ukraine and the war with Russia. He is the host of Ukraine: The Latest, the leading English-language podcasts covering the war, and brings a rare combination of on-the-ground reporting, historical context and deep knowledge of Ukrainian affairs. To connect and message with Mark on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mcnamee-58950910 To learn more, visit: https://ubn.network/ Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters: https://missionmatters.com/author/Mark-McNamee/ If you found this episode valuable, follow the podcast and share it with someone who wants to better understand the war in Ukraine.
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  The Deep History Behind America's Political Divide 30.07.2026

  If you've ever wondered why the US seems so divided, this conversation offers one of the most compelling explanations you'll hear. For many outside the US (and for many it in too), American politics can seem increasingly incomprehensible. Polarization is intensifying, compromise has become elusive, and debates over America's role in the world—from NATO to Ukraine—often appear deeply divided. In this episode, I spoke with award-winning journalist and historian Colin Woodard, author of American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America. Woodard argues that the US is not one unified nation in the cultural sense, but a collection of distinct regional cultures, each founded by different groups of settlers with their own values, institutions, and competing visions of society. More than four centuries later, the sharp differences of these founding cultures persist and continue to shape elections, political identities, public policy, and even America's approach to the world. We explore the origins of Woodard's fascinating framework, how it builds upon David Hackett Fischer's classic Albion's Seed, why political compromise has become so much harder in recent decades, the rise of populism, competing visions of American identity, and whether U.S. democracy is facing its greatest test since the Civil War. Finally, we examine what these deep historical divisions reveal about America's support for Ukraine, its future as a global leader, and whether the American experiment can continue to hold together in the decades ahead. About Colin Woodard: Colin Woodard is an award-winning journalist, historian, and New York Times bestselling author. He is the Director of the Pell Center for International Relations and Public Policy at Salve Regina University in Newport, Rhode Island, where he leads research on American identity, democracy, and the historical forces shaping public life. He is the author of American Nations, American Character, Union, and The Republic of Pirates. You can find his book American Nations here: https://colinwoodard.com/books/american-nations/ To connect and message with Mark on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mcnamee-58950910 To learn more, visit: https://ubn.network/ Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters: https://missionmatters.com/author/Mark-McNamee/ If you found this episode valuable, follow the podcast and share it with someone who wants to better understand the war in Ukraine.
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  A Brief Update on the Latest in Ukraine and the Investment Environment 23.07.2026

  Did something a little bit different for this one. I was the one interviewed this time. Thanks to Scott Jacobson for joining the show and asking the questions. Covered alot in this episode to give an update on where things are at with the economy, investment environment, attacks on energy infrastructure, and what's going on in Russia. Feel like we just came out of winter and now looking ahead to the next one - what will it be like for Ukraine? And what about what's happening in Russia? Also touched a bit upon the latest regarding the firing of the Minister of Defense Fedorov... Enjoy! To connect and message with Mark on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mcnamee-58950910 To learn more, visit: https://ubn.network/ Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters: https://missionmatters.com/author/Mark-McNamee/ If you found this episode valuable, follow the podcast and share it with someone who wants to better understand the war in Ukraine.
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  Hope for Ukraine's Future: Speaking with 16 Year-Old Nikol Makhovka 16.07.2026

  In this episode, I was happy to host by far the youngest guest I've had on my show. This episode is about Ukraine’s future. Not what’s happening today in the war, or the war outlook, or looking at historical drivers and context of the situation here as most of my shows do, but instead looking ahead. As we all know, Ukraine has a severe demographic problem, only worsened by the war, leaving its future precarious. For that reason, I spoke with Nikol Makhovka, who is 16 years old, a representative of Ukraine at the Genius Olympiad in the US, and currently residing in the UK, to talk about her vision and her feelings regarding Ukraine’s future. Nikol is among the ‘best and brightest’ of her generation and her thoughts give an idea of what lies ahead for this country after the war. And gives us reason to be hopeful for Ukraine's future. About the Guest: Nikol is a 16-year old student currently residing in the UK, where she fled to after the full-scale invasion, and is attending school there. She also periodically comes back home to Ukraine and plans to return to Ukraine after her studies and rebuild her country. To connect and message with Mark on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mcnamee-58950910 To learn more, visit: https://ubn.network/ Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters: https://missionmatters.com/author/Mark-McNamee/ If you found this episode valuable, follow the podcast and share it with someone who wants to better understand the war in Ukraine.
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  They Save Lives at the Front - But Who Saves Them? The Story of the NGO RePower and its Founders 09.07.2026

  It was an absolute pleasure to do this podcast - the first one I have done live, in person at my guests' office in the center of Kyiv. (Hence some of the side comments and background noise!) I had the honor of speaking with the Co-Founders of RePower NGO, Sebastian Lindstrom and Maryna Sadikova - such inspired and inspirational people who you can't help but feel the warmth, drive, and energy flowing from them. And they're doing awesome work. This episode follows upon my podcast in June with the press officer of the 37th Marine Brigade regarding The Lanterns, a documentary they filmed with United24 covering their program of providing psychological rehabilitation for frontline medics and doctors in the forests of Sweden. Listen in for more details on Sebastian and Maryna's personal journey, their motivation for serving the frontline medics, most emotionally compelling experience in supporting the medics, and what they want Westerners to take away from watching the documentary. To watch The Lanterns, check the link here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JHK6RMhK1I To see the before and after rehabilitation of the frontline medics, check out "Through Their Eyes" here - https://www.repower.ngo/projects/through-their-eyes And here is RePower's work on IG and LI (please share and follow!) https://www.instagram.com/p/DZP_PLCDDXJ/ https://www.linkedin.com/posts/repowerngo_is-it-truly-possible-to-leave-the-war-behind-activity-7469762440860237825-GU8e To connect and message with Mark on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mcnamee-58950910 To learn more, visit: https://ubn.network/ Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters: https://missionmatters.com/author/Mark-McNamee/ If you found this episode valuable, follow the podcast and share it with someone who wants to better understand the war in Ukraine.
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  US Army Veteran Finds Purpose and Meaning in Ukraine 02.07.2026

  I had the pleasure of interviewing Ryan Hendrickson, a former US Army Green Beret who spent years in Afghanistan, lost a leg, and has now devoted the last several years of his life to helping Ukraine. As so many veterans struggle with life after service, Ryan found meaning and purpose again in Ukraine. Devoting his life to helping others who are struggling and protecting those from being harmed has been therapeutic, and serves as a critical lesson for veterans back in the US and elsewhere but also the Ukrainian veterans now and in the future. Please consider supporting Ryan's work, and find out more information about Tip of the Spear, at: https://landmineremoval.org/ To connect and message with Mark on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mcnamee-58950910 To learn more, visit: https://ubn.network/ Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters: https://missionmatters.com/author/Mark-McNamee/ If you found this episode valuable, follow the podcast and share it with someone who wants to better understand the war in Ukraine.
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  The Story of Ukraine's Foreign Legion - a modern day Homage to Catalonia 25.06.2026

  If you want a fascinating look into the stories of why those in the West gave up their lives and came to Ukraine to fight, then have a listen to this episode. I had the pleasure of speaking with the British journalist Colin Freeman who did extensive interviews, trips, and research into the stories of foreign fighters who joined Ukraine's foreign legion. Who are these guys? Why did they join? What do the American fighters think about Trump's policy towards Ukraine? About the Guest Colin Freeman is a former chief foreign correspondent of The Sunday Telegraph, now a freelance foreign affairs journalist. He writes features, comment and book reviews for The Daily Telegraph, as well as for The Spectator, The Economist, and The National in Abu Dhabi. He contributes regularly to BBC Radio Four. He is the author of The Mad and the Brave: The Untold Story of Ukraine's Foreign Legion You can find his book on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mad-Brave-Untold-Ukraines-Foreign/dp/0008722463 To learn more, visit: https://ubn.network/ To connect and message with Mark on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mcnamee-58950910 Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters: https://missionmatters.com/author/Mark-McNamee/
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  The Life of a Frontline Medic 18.06.2026

  I had the pleasure of meeting Denys and other members of his brigade at the showing of a documentary The Lanterns in Kyiv the weekend before the recording of this podcast. The documentary highlighted the heroic efforts of frontline medics in saving lives, while of course putting their own lives in danger. Their story is worth telling and listening to in order to get a better feel for life at the front and the extreme brutality of this war. Thanks to Denys and the heroes of the 37th Marine Brigade for their daily courageous work which never ends. About the Guest Denys Bobkov is the Press officer of the 37th Marine Brigade. To learn more, visit: https://ubn.network/ To connect and message with Mark on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mcnamee-58950910 Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters: https://missionmatters.com/author/Mark-McNamee/
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  Is Russia a Fascist State? (Part 2) 11.06.2026

  Not exactly a spoiler alert, but you can likely imagine the answer provided to this question in the podcast here today. In Part 2 of this discussion, I continue my conversation with Dr. Taras Kuzio, who was on earlier this year in a great show where we discussed whether Ukraine has a Nazi problem. He is joined by Dr. Ian Garner, prominent British-born historian and specialist in Russian war propaganda and military culture, with a focus on the indoctrination of Russia’s youth. Denazification of Ukraine has been used as a justification of this war in Ukraine by Putin since the start of the full-scale invasion in Feb 2022. Critically, this was a masterful move as Russians quickly got behind this war in strong support. Putin tapped into Russia’s sense of heroism and glory in defeating the original German Nazis and by successfully – though falsely – castigating Ukrainians in the same light as Russia’s greatest enemy in living memory in the Germans, Putin succeeded in getting high popular support for this war and for himself. However, in reality, we should be looking at Putin’s Russia to see if we can find the true Nazis and real fascism. Dr Kuzio and Dr Garner co-authored the piece from 2025 - Russia and Modern Fascism: New Perspectives on the Kremlin's War Against Ukraine. About the Guests:- Dr. Kuzio is a British professor of Political Science Kyiv Mohyla University. His area of study is Russian and Ukrainian political, economic and security affairs, and he has contributed pieces to the Atlantic Council and Foreign Affairs. Dr. Ian Garner is British-born historian and specialist in Russian war propaganda and military culture, with a focus on the indoctrination of Russia’s youth. Teaches Totalitarian Studies at the Pilecki Institute in Warsaw, Poland. He is the author of Z Generation: Into the Heart of Russia's Fascist Youth (2023) and has been featured prominently in media. To learn more, visit: https://ubn.network/ Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters: https://missionmatters.com/author/Mark-McNamee/
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  Is Russia a Fascist State? (Part 1) 04.06.2026

  Not exactly a spoiler alert, but you can likely imagine the answer provided to this question in the podcast here today. To answer the question of this podcast, I had back on the show Dr. Taras Kuzio, who was on earlier this year in a great show where we discussed whether Ukraine has a Nazi problem. He is joined by Dr. Ian Garner, prominent British-born historian and specialist in Russian war propaganda and military culture, with a focus on the indoctrination of Russia’s youth. Denazification of Ukraine has been used as a justification of this war in Ukraine by Putin since the start of the full-scale invasion in Feb 2022. Critically, this was a masterful move as Russians quickly got behind this war in strong support. Putin tapped into Russia’s sense of heroism and glory in defeating the original German Nazis and by successfully – though falsely – castigating Ukrainians in the same light as Russia’s greatest enemy in living memory in the Germans, Putin succeeded in getting high popular support for this war and for himself. However, in reality, we should be looking at Putin’s Russia to see if we can find the true Nazis and real fascism. Dr Kuzio and Dr Garner co-authored the piece from 2025 - Russia and Modern Fascism: New Perspectives on the Kremlin's War Against Ukraine. About the Guests:- Dr. Kuzio is a British professor of Political Science Kyiv Mohyla University. His area of study is Russian and Ukrainian political, economic and security affairs, and he has contributed pieces to the Atlantic Council and Foreign Affairs. Dr. Ian Garner is British-born historian and specialist in Russian war propaganda and military culture, with a focus on the indoctrination of Russia’s youth. Teaches Totalitarian Studies at the Pilecki Institute in Warsaw, Poland. He is the author of Z Generation: Into the Heart of Russia's Fascist Youth (2023) and has been featured prominently in media. To learn more, visit: https://ubn.network/ To connect and message with Mark on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mcnamee-58950910 Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters: https://missionmatters.com/author/Mark-McNamee/
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  A Historian's Perspective on US Foreign Policy & the State of the International Order 28.05.2026

  Always honored to have back on the show my professor from graduate school, John Harper. I was fortunate to have his class - one of the best classes I've ever taken - American Foreign Policy since 1945. Considering the historic events going on globally, I wanted to take a step back and take the historical view of things. We discuss Ukraine but more broadly the current state of the international order, US foreign policy, and where things are heading.- What does the failed policy in Iran mean in terms of US global influence looking ahead? How does the US seem to keep getting over its foreign policy failures as in Vietnam and Iraq and maintain an assertive foreign policy? Where is US foreign policy is heading: isolationism/unilateralism/return to western leadership? How will things in Europe develop in the next generation? Is the world moving into a multipolar/spheres of influence direction or continuation of the Western dominant order or something else? About the Guest Professor John Harper is an expert on US Foreign Policy and the Cold War, having written 4 books related to the Cold War and teaches a course titled American Foreign Policy Since World War II at my graduate school, Johns Hopkins SAIS. He Originally from the US, he lives and teaches in Bologna, Italy. To learn more, visit: https://ubn.network/ To connect and message with Mark on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mcnamee-58950910 Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters: https://missionmatters.com/author/Mark-McNamee/
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  Kidnapping Ukrainian Children: The Story Behind One of Russia's Worst War Crimes 21.05.2026

  One of the most underreported stories of the horrific crimes Russia has committed relates to what Russia has done to children. Aside from killing hundreds of children in attacks deep within Ukraine, including intentionally targeting maternity wards and kindergartens, what we’ll focus on today is the kidnapping, forced deportation, and re-education of Ukrainian children stolen from Ukrainian territory into Russia. This is why the ICC issued arrest warrants for Vladimir Putin. Please listen in as this story has been terribly underreported and this war crime has gone far too little noticed outside of Ukraine. About the Guest Dr. Thom Reilly is a Professor in Public Affairs at Arizona State University, author of the forthcoming book, Child Abduction in the War in Ukraine: Erasing Ukrainian Identity as a Tool of War (scheduled for late 2026). He has done extensive research in Ukraine speaking with the recovered children themselves, state officials, charities dedicated to these kidnapped children, the UN and other international organizations likewise working on this, among numerous others. To learn more, visit: https://ubn.network/ To connect and message with Mark on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mcnamee-58950910 Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters: https://missionmatters.com/author/Mark-McNamee/
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  Russia is Losing at the Front: Ukraine Takes Back the Technological Edge 14.05.2026

  I for one became super encouraged for Ukraine after doing this interview. The last few months, and specifically the past few weeks, things have taken a turn for Ukraine on the battlefield. Ukraine has taken back more land than Russia has gained lately. Ukraine is eliminating more men than Russia can recruit. Ukraine has taken back the technological edge. And Ukraine is now winning. Tune in to this one for some optimism regarding Ukraine's fight on the battlefield. I had the pleasure to have back on the show my friend and great war correspondent, Giorgio Provinciali, who has see it all across the entire front the last 4 years. We talked about the fight underground, above ground, in the air, middle range, and long range for a comprehensive picture of what has developed at the front and why we should expect good things ahead for Ukraine. About the Guest: Giorgio Provinciali, War Correspondent, Writes from the trenches of democracy in Ukraine. Engineer, journalist, war reporter. Medium writer since November 2023. Read more from Giorgio: https://medium.com/@giorgioprovinciali The article referred to in the podcast regarding Ukraine's technological advantage: https://medium.com/@giorgioprovinciali/ukraine-is-setting-the-pace-6e468483c5d8 To learn more, visit: https://ubn.network/ To connect and message with Mark on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mcnamee-58950910 Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters: https://missionmatters.com/author/Mark-McNamee/
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  Documenting the horrors of Russia's invasion - a chat with the head of the UN Human Rights Mission in Ukraine 30.04.2026

  We all read in history books the horrors of World War II, and collectively said "never again". Yet here we are in Europe, and it's happening again. Far too often I speak with those outside of Ukraine who have either forgotten about what Russia has done to innocent civilians in Ukraine or who are entirely unaware of what has happened. To help correct that, I was motivated to do this podcast with the head of the UN Human Rights Mission in Ukraine, Danielle Bell. The sharp rise in indiscriminate attacks on civilians lately, the kidnapped children, the torture of Ukrainian POWs, the "dire" situation for Ukrainians in Russian-occupied territory, and much more - we cover as much as possible to remind the world of the horrors of what Russia has done in Ukraine. Please do share this episode to help keep up awareness. It's concerning how many people outside Ukraine are unaware of the severity of what Russia has done here. Reports cited in the show: - UN report on "human safari" - https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/05/un-commission-concludes-russian-armed-forces-drone-attacks-against-civilians UN report on forced displacement - https://ukraine.ohchr.org/en/Forced-displacement-from-territory-of-Ukraine-occupied-by-the-Russian-Federation UN report on impact on children - https://ukraine.ohchr.org/en/The-impact-of-the-armed-conflict-and-occupation-on-childrens-rights-in-Ukraine-24-February-2022-31-December-2024 About the Guest Danielle Bell is the Head of Mission, UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU). She has led UN human rights programs for more than 25 years, working mainly in conflict and post-conflict contexts. Prior to coming to Ukraine, Ms. Bell served as the Chief of the Human Rights Office in the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) and the representative in Iraq of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), a position she held since 2018, after leading the UN human rights component in Afghanistan at the same level 2015 to 2018. Since 2001, Ms. Bell has also led human rights teams within UN peace missions in South Sudan, Central African Republic, Sudan (Darfur) and Timor-Leste. To learn more, visit: https://ubn.network/ To connect and message with Mark on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mcnamee-58950910 Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters: https://missionmatters.com/author/Mark-McNamee/
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  One man's fight to renounce his Russian citizenship - the story of historian Dr. Sergey Radchenko 23.04.2026

  I was honored to have back on the show Dr. Sergey Radchenko - though this time the focus of the conversation was not about history or negotiations, but instead on his own inspiring and thought-provoking personal journey. Recently he published in the British paper The Guardian his personal journey in renouncing his Russian citizenship due to the disgust he felt at being associated as a Russian with the atrocities and war crimes of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. In that powerful piece, Dr. Radchenko reflects on his own identity, internal struggle, and sense of collective guilt he felt due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. We also had time at the end to discuss the state of affairs of the War in Ukraine and the War in Iran, and Dr. Radchenko's view of negotiations and where they sit in their historical context. Given the lack of progress in talks with Russia, what does Trump not understand about dealing with the Russians? Is the War in Iran as positive for Russia as it seems? Is the War in Iran the US's Suez Crisis (the end of the British empire)? Read the full article in The Guardian here - https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/apr/09/i-had-poked-the-bear-right-in-the-eye-my-fight-to-renounce-my-russian-citizenship The Foreign Policy article - https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/03/30/trump-putin-iran-war-hormuz-oil-israel-sanctions/ About the Guest Dr. Sergey Radchenko is a leading historian of Soviet/Russian foreign policy and Sino-Russian relations at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). To learn more, visit: https://ubn.network/ To connect and message with Mark on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mcnamee-58950910 Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters: https://missionmatters.com/author/Mark-McNamee/
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  Building Superhumans: Olga Rudnieva on Turning Trauma into Triumph in Ukraine 16.04.2026

  If you're looking for some inspiration, listen in to this conversation with Superhumans CEO Olga Rudnieva. This one will hit your emotions. Having helped thousands of amputees from the war, the stories of resilience and strength of Ukraine's heroes are overwhelming. How do amputees recover both physically and mentally? What keeps them going? This show isn't about trauma - its about the dreams that keep people going after having suffered immensely. The dream to hold your child once again. To walk again. To simply be able to stand up to pee. That's how you go from losing a leg at the front to running a marathon. The dreams keep you alive. Understand why most of the amputees say losing their limb was the best thing that ever happened to them. Special thanks to Olga for taking the time from her critical work to speak with me and get the message out about Superhumans - Ukraine's heroes. Prosthetics and mental recovery from war are yet just additional areas where Ukraine will lead the Western world in the future. The Superhumans Center is a specialist clinic for the treatment and rehabilitation of war victims with specialist in orthopedic trauma, reconstructive and Plastics Surgery, Facial Surgery and Ear Nose and Throat Surgery as well as rehabilitation specialists and prostheticians. About the Guest Olga is the co-founder and CEO of the Superhumans Center in Ukraine which has treated over 4,000 wounded amputees from the Russia-Ukraine conflict since 2022. In December 2024, she was named in BBC's 100 women for her work inspiring others.- Website: http://superhumans.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rudnieva_olga/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olgarudneva/ To learn more, visit: https://ubn.network/ Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters: https://missionmatters.com/author/Mark-McNamee/
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  World Mine Awareness Day - A chat on Ukraine, the most mined country in the world 09.04.2026

  We recorded this episode on April 4th, the International Mine Awareness Day, to highlight the situation Ukraine is in as the most heavily mined country in the world. I had the pleasure of speaking with the head of the UN's Mine Action program here in Ukraine, Paul Heslop, on this important day. We discussed the scale of the mine problem in Ukraine, how de-mining is done, innovations in de-mining developed in Ukraine, and the outlook ahead. To connect and message with Mark on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mcnamee-58950910 To learn more, visit: https://ubn.network/ Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters: https://missionmatters.com/author/Mark-McNamee/ If you found this episode valuable, follow the podcast and share it with someone who wants to better understand the war in Ukraine.
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  Is There a Red Line for Trump Voters? (Part 2) 02.04.2026

  The US has an outsized influence on world events. So much here in Ukraine and elsewhere hinges on the policies of Trump. For that reason, I did this episode to help non-Americans (but I think will be informative for Americans as well) understand the mindset of the Trump voter. In Part 1, we explored domestic issues and general perceptions. In this second part, we shift to foreign policy and global conflicts. In short, I have been asked the last decade living in Europe by European friends and colleagues: Who votes for Trump and what are they thinking? Instead of again trying to answer this on my own, I got questions from several of my European friends and posed them to a Trump supporter – and my oldest brother, Dave McNamee. He in turn sent the questions to 6 of his friends, likewise all Trump voters the past ten years, to get a more comprehensive view of the motivations and mindset of the Trump voter. US involvement in foreign wars, relations with Russia and China, war in Ukraine, Iran… How does the Trump voter view all these things? And above all, the ultimate question in my opinion: “Is there a red line? What would Trump have to do to lose your support?”—this time in the context of foreign policy and potential military involvement. Please note that this episode has nothing to do with my views, as that’s not the point of this episode. Some of what Dave says I agree with, other points I completely disagree with, but that’s irrelevant. I’m trying to communicate the view of tens of millions of voters to people outside the US who are truly bewildered. And lastly, while anecdotal and just the thoughts of a few citizens in a nation of 335 mn people, I do think the views shared here are highly representative of tens of millions of Trump voters: these are all middle-aged, white, Christian, males, college educated, and professionally successful (in the top 10% of income earners), residing in suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio, a mid-sized Midwestern city. About the Guest Dave McNamee, President at DMC Benefits General Agency, Resident of Cleveland, Ohio and oldest brother of the podcast host Mark. To connect and message with Mark on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mcnamee-58950910 To learn more, visit: https://ubn.network/ Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters: https://missionmatters.com/author/Mark-McNamee/ If you found this episode valuable, follow the podcast and share it with someone who wants to better understand the war in Ukraine.
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  Is There a Red Line for Trump Voters? 26.03.2026 54min

  The US has an outsized influence on world events. So much here in Ukraine and elsewhere hinges on the policies of Trump. For that reason, I did this episode to help non-Americans (but I think will be informative for Americans as well) understand the mindset of the Trump voter. In short, I have been asked the last decade living in Europe by European friends and colleagues: Who votes for Trump and what are they thinking? Instead of again trying to answer this on my own, I got questions from several of my European friends and posed them to a Trump supporter - and my oldest brother, Dave McNamee. He in turn sent the questions to 6 of his friends, likewise all Trump voters the past ten years, to get a more comprehensive view of the motivations and mindset of the Trump voter. January 6th, erosion of rule of law, ICE, Epstein files, war in Ukraine, war in Iran…. How does the Trump voter view all these things? And above all, the ultimate question in my opinion: “Is there a red line? What would Trump have to do to lose your support?” Please note that this episode has nothing to do with my views, as that’s not the point of this episode. Some of what Dave says I agree with, other points I completely disagree with, but that’s irrelevant. I’m trying to communicate the view of tens of millions of voters to people outside the US who are truly bewildered. And lastly, while anecdotal and just the thoughts of a few citizens in a nation of 335 mn people, I do think the views shared here are highly representative of tens of millions of Trump voters: these are all middle-aged, white, Christian, males, college educated, and professionally successful (in the top 10% of incomes earners), residing in suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio a mid-sized Midwestern city. Enjoy the show! About the Guest Dave McNamee, President at DMC Benefits General Agency, Resident of Cleveland, Ohio and oldest brother of the podcast host Mark. To connect and message with Mark on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mcnamee-58950910 To learn more, visit: https://ubn.network/ Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters: https://missionmatters.com/author/Mark-McNamee/ If you found this episode valuable, follow the podcast and share it with someone who wants to better understand the war in Ukraine.