"Our borders do not end anywhere": watch the new episode of the "Russia Speaks" podcast

Why is Ivan the Terrible not featured on the "Millennium of Russia" monument? How did Russian pioneers travel from the Urals to the Pacific Ocean in just half a century? And why, in the age of 3D models and virtual tours, do people still go to museums? These topics were explored by Director General of the State Historical Museum, Alexei Levykin, in the National Centre RUSSIA podcast "Russia Speaks". In conversation with host Anzhelika Kiryan, they discussed controversial historical periods — from the calling of the Varangians and the Mongol rule to the reforms of Peter the Great and Russian circumnavigation expeditions.

The podcast was recorded ahead of the new exposition "Geography Lessons" at the National Centre RUSSIA, which will show how the country was formed and how different peoples and cultures created a shared history of the state. The exposition will open on 3 April and will continue the conversation about how history shapes our future. We invite you to watch the episode on the website, VKontakte, Odnoklassniki, RUTUBE, or Dzen.

The original podcast "Russia Speaks" by the National Centre RUSSIA continues the tradition of open dialogue on the most important issues of our time. The project features leading experts and cultural figures whose ideas and experience help us better understand our rapidly changing world.