Baltic Ways is a podcast bringing listeners insights and interviews from the world of Baltic Studies, hosted by Dr. Indra Ekmanis, Editor of FPRI's Baltic Bulletin. In interviews with experts, the podcast explores the past, present and future of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania — and the many ways these three countries on the Baltic Sea impact the politics, history, and culture of the region and beyond. Baltic Ways is brought to you by the Association for the Advancement of Baltic Studies, produced in partnership with the Baltic Initiative at the Foreign Policy Research Institute. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of AABS or FPRI.
fpribalticinitiative.substack.com (https://fpribalticinitiative.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast)
In this episode of Baltic Ways, recorded on the sidelines of the Association for the Advancement of Baltic Studies (AABS) conference at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, host Indra Ekmanis (https://www.fpri.org/contributor/indra-ekmanis/) speaks with Inta Mieriņa (https://www.fpri.org/contributor/inta-mierina/), a political sociologist and director of the Center for Diaspora and Migration Research at the University of Latvia. Dr. Mieriņa discusses her path to being awarded a prestigious European Research Council grant and unpacks her new project comparing how European societies received Ukrainian refugees. The conversation also traces her groundbreaking work surveying the Latvian diaspora, from a landmark 14,000-person study to plans for a permanent diaspora consultation panel that could give emigrant communities a stronger voice in policymaking.
Baltic Ways is a podcast from the Association for the Advancement of Baltic Studies, produced in partnership with the Baltic Initiative at the Foreign Policy Research Institute. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of AABS or FPRI.
Image: A mural in Riga, Latvia, titled "Kopā Mēs Esam Spēks," meaning “Together We Are Strong.” Artwork by Dainis Rudens, Ēriks Caune, and Beatrise Bīriņa. (liveriga.com (https://www.liveriga.com/en/11775-riga-street-art-guide))
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit fpribalticinitiative.substack.com (https://fpribalticinitiative.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
16 Jun 2026
Unlikely Alliance, Uncertain Future
The Baltic states are stalwart NATO members today, but their membership was not assured from the moment they restored their independence following the collapse of the Soviet Union. They fought to overcome the reticence of other allies, then proved themselves as devoted partners on battlefields in Afghanistan and Iraq. Today, this alliance is once again in question. What does it mean to the Baltic states, and what does the future hold? Ben Gardner-Gill (https://www.fpri.org/contributor/ben-gardner-gill/) chats with Dr. Andris Banka (https://www.fpri.org/contributor/andris-banka/) about his research and cautiously optimistic view about what comes next.
Baltic Ways is a podcast from the Association for the Advancement of Baltic Studies, produced in partnership with the Baltic Initiative at the Foreign Policy Research Institute. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of AABS or FPRI.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit fpribalticinitiative.substack.com (https://fpribalticinitiative.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
14 May 2026
Slow Memory, Slow Conflict
In this episode of Baltic Ways, Dr. Indra Ekmanis speaks with Professors Violeta Davoliūtė and Ene Kõresaar about their contributions to a special issue of Slovak Ethnology. Co-edited by Davoliūtė, the issue focuses on slow memory. Kõresaar, together with colleague Kristi Jõesalu (who contributed to this episode outside of the recording), brought comparative research on slow conflict in Baltic history museums and the representation of Russophone minorities to the issue. The discussion also explores the academic value of slowing down in research and how this contrasts with the broader pressures to publish quick results.
Image: Wikipedia | Nacionalinismuziejus (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Museum_of_Lithuania#/media/File:Lietuvos_nacionalinis_muziejus.jpg)
Baltic Ways is a podcast from the Association for the Advancement of Baltic Studies, produced in partnership with the Baltic Initiative at the Foreign Policy Research Institute. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of AABS or FPRI.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit fpribalticinitiative.substack.com (https://fpribalticinitiative.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
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Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
9 ratings
Spotify
4.7 / 5
14 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 33 / 100
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Quality
46
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
51
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