E101: Goodbye Eastern Europe: A Conversation w/ Author Jacob Mikanowski

Historian and journalist Jacob Mikanowski explores the legacy of communism, post-Soviet transitions, surveillance states, and the uncertain future of Europe.

Guest Bio: Jacob Mikanowski is a historian, cultural critic, and journalist. He is the author of Goodbye, Eastern Europe: An Intimate History of a Divided Land, which traces the complex past and present of the region through personal stories, political history, and cultural memory.

Topics Covered:

• Communist nostalgia and post-1989 transitions
• Economic shocks, privatization, and hyperinflation in Eastern Europe
• Surveillance tactics in Cold War-era regimes vs. modern digital surveillance
• Decline of legacy media and rise of decentralized information
• Fertility decline, rural depopulation, and mass emigration
• EU integration, expansion fatigue, and national resistance
• Regional identity: Western vs. Eastern vs. Central Europe
• Travel and expat life in underrated Eastern European countries like Albania and Romania
• Cultural memory, censorship, and historical erasure (e.g. Tiananmen Square)
• Living standards and quality of life comparisons between the U.S. and Europe

📺Watch the full episode on YouTube:➡️ https://youtu.be/vqcK8hsvCzI

🎙 The Pod is hosted by Jesse Wright
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