Great storyteller— engaging, clear, and intelligent. I could listen to this guy’s stories for hours (and often do).

Enjoying the show, the snark keeps me sane, when the news from Ukraine can be so dark.

Fantastic show, always insightful and a good listen. Cheers on the marriage! 🥂

Dude you are a journalist. Life is hard and full of tragedy, your job is to report facts and analyze. This podcast is an unbearable listen at times because of the constant sniveling and self-pity expressed by the host. Its a shame because his heart is in the right place and the east European angle he brings to the topic is fascinating and worth listening to. Just be more professional with your emotions.

He claims to be a journalist but he personalizes way too much of what he reports. He once ranted about being banned from Twitter after he admitted to threatening someone on the Twitter platform. And now he verbally threatens members of the EU. Also, he adds too much information about his personal life into the mix. A report can opinionated. But it should never be a rant. Another annoying thing I have found about his podcast are his interviews. He is never able to let the interviewee answer a question fully (if at all) without him interjecting his own story or opinion first.

This guy is paid by the US military-industrial complex (see Eisenhower's farwell address). He seems to think that we Americans should risk a nuclear exchange with the Russians in order to defend small countries on the other side of the planet that most Americans couldn't find on a map.

Love this show!

Why is your country called Letonia in Spanish? I didn’t know Latvia until I found out we call it Letonia. Greetings from a Catalonian follower who lives in Florida. Also, you said Catalonia hates you? Wrong! We admire those republics who gained independence from their dictatorial empire governments. We just don’t have the sufficient will to follow through. Much love, Magda

Kristaps is at his very best when he untangles the narratives and makes you understand what Russia is really doing.

If I had a dollar for every time I heard “well um yea… so ya know… the thing” or “so yea” I could pay rent on a Manhattan apartment. Please stop using useless fillers to end statements or to avoid further elaboration on a subject.

His information is very interesting on the former Soviet Union and the Russo-Ukrainian War as he provides a unique perspective for those of us in the US. However, his guests tend to straw man issues occurring in the US such as the anti-interventionist movement or backlash against sexual indoctrination of children. They make accusations either without bringing the proof to support them or by picking out those on the fringe as representative of the whole movement. He should really have on someone more knowledgeable such as Michael Malice, Dave Smith, or Scott Horton. He could have a good conversation with them instead of hosting people with unsupported rants who simply deride and name call those who disagree with them.

Thank you for all your hard work keeping us informed.

I’ve been listening to the Eastern Border for several months - ever since the host was featured on another podcast I enjoy. He provides excellent translations of internal Russian discussions that I find useful for understanding the current situation, and his analysis of current on-the-ground events is insightful. Unfortunately, he rambles quite a bit about his own life and circumstances in ways that render some of the episodes unlistenable. Sometime this takes the form of long diatribes, and other times shorter asides in the middle of information that’s interesting. If he could hold off on all the rants and personal stuff and stick to objective reporting and translation, this would be an excellent podcast. Unfortunately, in its current state I must give it three stars.

Like most leftist advancing the elites leftist agenda is always the top priority. Talking about Ukraine is less important than promoting the leftist agenda. Leftist are so certain they are smarter than everybody else that they feel it necessary to impose their viewpoints on the rest of us.

I started listening after Kristaps went on the Telegraph podcast, and I am hooked! He gives a really unique perspective on the former Soviet Union society, and how it impacts their judgment. A must listen to when trying to understand modern Russia.

The Eastern Border is an essential podcast for understanding the internal politics of the Baltic states and Eastern Europe

Thank you for your hard work.

The author has the talent and insight to inform a wide audience about events in Eastern Europe. He is better than some of the podcasters he collaborates with, and I’d like to see him set higher aspirations and work for an experienced editor with a larger media organization.

I love this podcast. I get a much broader view of Ukraine and life in the former Soviet Union. As an American, this additional knowledge is so valuable!

I love this podcast. It’s a bit goofy, but Kris is extremely knowledgeable and I learn a lot. However, the couple guys he occasionally has on are simply not at his level and as an American, I find them embarrassing.

I appreciate the firsthand accounts of what is going on in Ukraine and the personal perspectives on Soviet history. However, the author does not seem to understand the worldview of non-Eastern Europeans, which is much of his audience. He does not seem to understand what many Western (especially American) people feel about even more foreign involvement after we have suffered foreign debacle after debacle, kinda like Russia is right now. Exhibit A and B: Afghanistan and Iraq.

Kristaps does a fantastic job bringing clear, detailed accounts about EE and the war in Ukraine. My only suggestion is not to suggest listeners to donate to the Red Cross, which has been terrible in Ukraine. Many other alternatives (some of which are also mentioned here). Thanks!!! Pls support Kristaps.

Its Ukraines fight go win or lose and we(America citizens) shouldn’t be paying for it either with our tax dollars and this point there is no return on investment for the American people

I discovered this around September when Mr Andrejsons was a guest on another great podcast Explaining Ukraine. Since then I’ve been hooked. Although he’s not a native English speaker, he’s fluent enough. Comparing his early efforts with the more recent ones, I’d say drop him in the US for a few months. He’ll turn native soon enough. Anyway this should be easy to listen. Being a journalist, he does his homework. When he doesn’t know, he’ll say so, but also ask around, dive into written materials and translate that into English for us. A minor problem I see is that he tries too hard to pack in as much information as possible into most of his podcasts that they’re actually pretty heavy in substance. There’re more than a few that I’ve been listening over and over to really hammer it in. I went to college in the 80’s, and had a Russian history class then where the professor explained how things could be ‘turning out’ over there on the other side of the curtain. Little did he, nor any of us students, know what would transpire only a few years later. Before getting hooked on this, I knew things had been real bad in the Soviet Union. But I’ve learned with this that what I thought I knew was but a tiny fraction of the grave injustices, and terrible experiences that the people on the other side of the curtain had to endure all those years. Anyway, this material which Mr and Mrs Andrejson present here is stuff I wish I’d learned way back then. In that sense, I think this is excellent material for college classes. Yes, he does swear on occasion, but he does so at the right time where most of us would also. So may I suggest not to take that ‘Parental Advisory’ icon too seriously. Alice and Kris are very respectful of whoever’s mentioned. So unless you’re still attending Sunday School, or haven’t started junior high, why not give these folks a try. I wish I’d found this podcast years ago.

Thanks for providing the window into another culture, another system, different experiences. I was really hoping there would be a podcast where I could hear what life was like for the people in the USSR and this podcast was exactly what I was looking for.

Not a reliable source of the facts on the ground. Merely entertainment value and wishful thinking for the NATO coalition.

I love this podcast, kristaps is very informative about all things dealing with the Soviet era Russia and is knowledgeable about nuance of the Russian federation . He goes to great lengths to get the story about what’s really going on in the Ukraine. Thank you for what you are doing and keep up the good work

I used to worry the show didn’t have enough support in the early years and was my only monthly patreon donation for years. Excellent to hear him on The Political Orphanage and other shows I already listened to, keep up the good work Kristaps!

I discovered this show after the 24 Feb full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia. Since then, I have listened to all of Kristaps previous episodes and will continue to listen for as long as the show continues. A massive gap in my understanding of the Baltic States and the history of the USSR has been filled. Do yourself a favor.

How can one possibly describe listening, no, accompanying a host into a life on the edge. A life on the edge of being a witness to a society becoming post soviet and embracing western values to the extent that it improves and heals the past. A life on the edge of respecting and holding dear national and family tradition while looking forward. And a life living on the edge of war both from those watching and of those trapped by it. Thank you for inviting us in all its earthy realness to accompany you in this telling.

Unbelievably sincere and real. I have grown to love this show and care deeply for the host as a friend whose voice keeps me company in the dark abyss of the void reminding me that, “Happiness is mandatory.” Do svidaniya, tovarishchi.

June 22, 2022: I don’t recall the ad disruptions in past episodes, though I do recall them at the start. Ads are a personal pet peeve so I’m sorry but unfollowing. I’ve only listened to one episode, the most recent as of April 21. It was very interesting how his perspective mirrored those I’ve listened to by Ukrainians and Westerners. However, what I responded to the most and particularly loved was the last part of the episode, in which the host shared his own feelings about the situations in Ukraine and Russia right now, then shared his feelings about sharing those feelings. Hey Host, please don’t listen to anyone telling you that is not valuable to the listener. I hope you find a way to keep a balance going between the objective and subjective. Both are moving. Hang in there and God bless you.

Great information, perspectives, and personal humor! Keep up the great work!

Not the CIA

Kristaps basically reads off whatever Radio Free Liberty says in all scenarios and glazes over anything that the Russian propaganda he is so mad about happens to be correct. He is a borderline fascist in his thinking. I listen to this so I can understand what CIA assets think about the world. I hope they are paying Kristaps because he works hard for them.

Kristops podcast has always been a very informative source for understanding the old and new Soviet systems and their impact on the old Warsaw Pact, especially the Baltic states. Now that Russia has invaded Ukraine, Kristops again offers insights that you will not find in the mainstream western news. Allan Breazeale

You gotta love Kristaps. Quirky and down to earth. He gives a unique perspective on all things in the area. The coverage of the war in Ukraine is top notch and very interesting. Such a great show.

Libertarians do not believe in interfering in foreign affairs. More into free trade and capitalism. Keeping troops on US soil. Basically a fiscally conservative socially liberal stance. Also filling the US constitution, which our politicians like to ignore. It’s about checks and balances and bringing an opposing viewpoint.

If you’re a Foreign Policy junkie, or like serious in depth perspectives then this podcast is definitely worth your time to investigate. The episode with Dan Carlin is one of the best ever! Thanks for your personal sacrifice in continuing to broadcast. Kristaps, You are a true life hero!

He definitely knows his facts, quotes and figures. My objection is the interpretation of those things… At one point he ran down a litany of traits of a Trump support ending with “they want to make America great” then described liberals in opposite terms finishing with “they hate America.” C’mon man, if that’s the conclusion you draw from someone being liberal, I shudder to think about the quality of his other assessments.

I just listened to the brief April 21st cast- I am in the US and am grateful for your authenticity which is lacking in most “professional journalism”. If people do not value your contribution, they lack the capacity to understand your message - No one is forcing your show down their ear holes.

I met the host in a sound education seminar a few years ago and he was saying things that no one was picking up on the news. At the time, I didn’t have much to go by but everything that he told me at the time has unfolded the way it has. Now this is my #1 source of news for the Ukraine war. There’s no one else I trust.

An amazing podcast because it is made by an amazing man. Please stay safe and know that your show is helping so many understand what is happening today. Slava Ukraini! 💙 💛

I’ve been listening to this podcast since 2015. He provides a great perspective of life in the USSR and life in the Russian world. Also, love the dry humor. Keep it up!

I love you

Thank you for creating this space and having the hard and necessary conversations. Keep up keepin on!

I appreciate your perspective and insight. You are definitely doing a great work! The Only constructive suggestion for you is to clean up those occasional “F Bombs” and a few other words which are offensive. Thanks again for all your hard work!

Kristaps, thank you for the daily updates from the war in Ukraine.

It's a great podcast, they just need to fix the low volume.

Those of you who appreciate the Forgotten Wars Podcasts 40+ episode focus on the Boer Wars will appreciate the 20-episode series The Eastern Border Podcast does on Joseph Stalin. Also, obviously checkout his Ukraine stuff.