An Englishman in Latvia
I first lived in Latvia as a diplomat from 1996-99, a few years after Latvia regained independence from the crumbling Soviet Union. I returned to live in Latvia in 2022. This storytelling podcast combines history, culture and tourism together with my personal anecdotes.
Podcasting since 2022 • 51 episodes
An Englishman in Latvia
Latest Episodes
On Rīga's Soviet microdistricts
Rīga's pre-fabricated apartment blocks built during the Soviet occupation represent a significant urban planning project. The 13 microdistricts on the city outskirts were not merely housing solutions but comprehensive attempts to create ne...
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Season 2
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Episode 23
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36:18
On Miķeļdiena
Miķeļdiena is Latvia’s ancient harvest festival, full of folklore tales like the Jumis deity-catching ceremony and the spirit world of Veļu laiks, when ancestors walk among the living. In this episode, we explore traditions and how Miķeļdiena i...
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Season 2
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Episode 22
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24:40
On Līgatne
This is the story of a town founded by the owners of a paper mill 200 years ago, who built a thriving community for their workers before profits. It is also about 333 caves dug by people, as well as a secret Soviet command centre bunker built u...
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Season 2
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Episode 21
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39:30
On the Latvija minibus
The RAF Latvija was a Soviet-era minibus. Externally, it looks remarkably similar to the iconic Volkswagen Type 2 van. The story of its production offers us an insight into manufacturing during the Soviet era. The Latvija became a symbol of com...
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Season 2
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Episode 20
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26:42
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