Vsi co-host Hannah got married in September and learned a lot about various Ukrainian wedding traditions, incorporating many of them into her wedding day, and she wants to share them with you! Here’s your guide to the Ukrainian culture-inspired wedding of your dreams. What Else You’ll Hear - Ukrainian wedding customs and how Hannah personalized them to her celebration - How to make outdated customs modern and fit your big day - How Hannah and her husband, Yulian, unknowingly practised Ukrainian wedding traditions years before they got married Resources - Follow Hannah on Instagram and ask he ..read more

Two top-notch Ukrainian dance ensembles in Canada are putting on a joint show this September. Saskatoon’s Pavlychenko Folklorique Ensemble (PFE) and Edmonton’s Volya Ukrainian Dance Ensemble’s Душа Народу (Dusha Narodu) — The Spirit of a Nation. The show highlights the foundation of Kyiv to how Ukrainian culture took root in Canada to what we understand Ukrainian traditions to be today. We talked with dancers Odessa Bahri from Volya and Natalya Shevchuk from PFE to learn more about the show. What Else You’ll Hear - What dances will be debuted in the show - The importance of putting on a produ ..read more

russia’s full-scale invasion has been going on for one year. We love Ukraine, we are proud of her and her people, and it hurts our hearts to see russia’s actions. We asked a few Ukrainians and those in the Ukrainian diaspora to write love letters to Ukraine to show our support and spread our collective love for Ukraine. What Else You’ll Hear - Why writing a love letter together helped us process our emotions - Letters from special guests Eva van Rensburg, Carson McLean, and Liudmyla Tereshchenko - An official call-out for you all to write your own love letters Resources - Follow Vsi on Insta ..read more

While superstitions and folk beliefs are ancient customs, people still practise them today. It could be because they truly believe bad luck will come if they don’t follow them, or it might just be that it’s something passed down to them so it’s become second nature. When we were in Ukraine, superstitions became ingrained in us. And we became some pretty lucky folks. We want to share this luck with you. In this episode, Hannah and Kaitlin will highlight some standout Ukrainian superstitions and tell stories to back them up. What Else You’ll Hear - Superstitions around the home, for your love l ..read more

Kaitlin released an updated edition of her book Planted: Stories From Manitoba’s Natural World, with proceeds supporting humanitarian aid in Ukraine. In this episode, Hannah talks with Kaitlin about the inspiration behind the book, her connection to nature, and how Kaitlin’s Ukrainian heritage has shaped her writing and life. What Else You’ll Hear - An overview of what you’ll read in Planted - What’s been updated since Kaitlin released the first edition five years ago - Hannah’s takeaways from the book - Kaitlin’s favourite nature memory from Ukraine - What organizations Planted proceeds are ..read more

After a break in performances because of the pandemic, Ukrainian dance groups are back on stage. One of those groups is Canada’s Ukrainian Shumka Dancers from Edmonton. The company is touring Canada and made a stop in Winnipeg, where we had a chance to attend a dance workshop, see the elaborate sets and costumes up close backstage, and talk with Shumka dancer Caitlin Kaminsky and Shumka Senior Creative Director Les Sereda. What Else You’ll Hear - What it’s like dancing with Shumka - The importance of celebrating Ukrainian culture during times of war - What to expect in the show: Mosquito’s We ..read more

russia’s war against Ukraine is ongoing. The war has brought a rollercoaster of emotions for many. We’ve been frustrated, annoyed, angry, heartbroken, sad. And in other moments we’ve felt hopeful, immense pride and patriotism, and a strong love for Ukraine. Among many standing up for Ukraine, plenty of creatives have been sharing their heart, sharing news, and sharing their support for Ukraine. One of these artists is Maarit Tymchyshyn, a Ukrainian-Canadian artist working in Winnipeg. She’s spent time living, studying, and working in Ukraine and a lot of her work as an artist is influenced by ..read more

This is a heavy time for Ukraine. Russia launched an unprovoked, full-scale war in Ukraine on February 24, 2022. It’s heartbreaking to see this destruction. Like a lot of people, we have been experiencing so many emotions and feelings, including feeling helpless. In this episode, find out ways you can support Ukraine no matter where you are. We talk with Vince Rees of Cobblestone Freeway and Zoya Kostetsky of Prairie Clay to hear about their fundraising efforts. We also share some ways you can support Ukraine even if you aren’t able to donate money right now. What Else You’ll Hear - How the C ..read more

Thanks to WikiSpiv and its founder Danylo (Daniel) Centore, Ukrainian folk songs will live on as long as the internet exists. WikiSpiv is a collaborative living songbook website that documents the history of Ukrainian folk songs. Anyone can add their knowledge to the site, though Danylo has done the bulk of the work, including extensive research to find the origin of songs, What Else You’ll Hear - How WikiSpiv tracks the evolution of language - Fun Ukrainglish phrases from common zabava songs - Words of wisdom for others working on side projects - How you can help document Ukrainian folk song ..read more

Alina Kuzma is a fourth-generation bandurist, a.k.a. someone who plays the bandura, an instrument sometimes said to embody the “voice and soul of Ukraine.” Alina is a co-founder of the Women’s Bandurist Ensemble of North America and a member of Korinya Folk Band. The bandura has shaped her life in many ways — in all ways, really. Alina says she wouldn’t exist if not for this instrument. In this episode, Vsi listeners are treated to a performance by Alina! What Else You’ll Hear How Alina merges traditional music with modern times How you can start learning the bandura yourself The phenomenon o ..read more