Welcome to "The Return of Russia," a podcast exploring the dramatic and turbulent history of the post-Soviet era, based on James Rodgers's compelling book, The Return of Russia: From Yeltsin to Putin, the Story of a Vengeful Kremlin.

Join us as we trace the nation's journey from the euphoric collapse of the USSR and the chaotic, poverty-stricken 1990s under Boris Yeltsin, to the meteoric rise of Vladimir Putin and his forging of a heavily controlled, authoritarian state. Throughout the series, we delve into the critical turning points that shaped modern Russia: the devastating wars in Chechnya that launched Putin's political career, the contentious expansion of NATO that fed Russian paranoia, and the systematic crushing of internal political and press freedoms.

Discover how a profound sense of post-Cold War humiliation fueled the Kremlin's desire for revenge and international recognition. We analyze Putin’s strategic use of historical grievances, energy power, and military interventions—from the 2008 war in Georgia and the intervention in Syria, to the 2014 annexation of Crimea and the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

If you want to understand how the democratic optimism of the 1990s devolved into today's geopolitical crises, this podcast offers an essential, in-depth look at how the Kremlin lost its faith in the West and fought to march back onto the world stage as a superpower.