Yasha

About Yasha

Experience the harrowing true story of a Jewish boy and his family's 6-year flight across the Soviet Union during World War II. When the Nazi invasion threatens their small town in Belarus, 11-year-old Yasha's mother makes a decision that will save the lives of generations to come: the decision to flee. What follows is an odyssey spanning thousands of miles across a war-torn nation, caught between Hitler's advancing forces and Stalin's iron rule. Built from testimony recorded by his grandson on an old camcorder, Yasha brings to life a childhood defined by upheaval, scarcity, and war, where growing up meant never standing still.

Publisher

Jeremy Gendelman

Category

history · society & culture · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

18 Aug 2026

Latest episode

20 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

2 of 7 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   20 Oct 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Bonus: Inside the Making of Yasha

   Host Jeremy Gendelman interviews Buzzsprout about transforming a 2008 camcorder interview into the narrative documentary podcast "Yasha," offering insights for independent creators.

2. 

   1 Sept 2026

   Helpers

   Yasha's family finds unexpected kindness from strangers during a harsh winter journey, revealing new realities.

3. 

   1 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Land and Sea

   Host Yasha shares her family's harrowing journey fleeing the Nazis, detailing their struggle for survival during a three-month transport to the Urals.

4. 

   31 Aug 2026

   A Grand Society

   Host Yasha recounts his childhood displacement to a Soviet collective farm, exploring the absurdities of Stalin's system and the search for safety.

5. 

   31 Aug 2026

   Rumors

   Yasha recounts how rumors of Nazi massacres force his family to flee their home by barge, highlighting the devastating impact of war on civilian life.

6. 

   31 Aug 2026

   The World Beyond the Trees

   Host Jeremy shares his grandfather Yasha's harrowing childhood experiences in 1930s Belarus, detailing famine, loss, and the impact of Hitler's invasion.

7. 

   18 Aug 2026

   Official Trailer

   Jeremy Gendelman shares the harrowing story of eleven-year-old Yasha's flight from Nazi invasion during World War II, offering a profound look at childhood resilience.

Inside a recent episode

Bonus: Inside the Making of Yasha

Published 20 Oct 2026 · Transcript excerpt

[…] So for someone who wants to make a more narrative or documentary style podcast, what is one place they should start if they feel overwhelmed at that idea? Well, I understand that for sure. I felt that way too. I would say like, I would say really hone in on the story first and foremost, like take the role of almost, of almost like a researcher or a hobbyist instead of a podcaster, you know, before even thinking about the style of the show, the scripting, anything like spend time just digging in, like, Take notes on the parts that made you feel something. Research the heck out of it. For Yasha, a lot of what I consider the strongest passages come from me just noodling around on the Internet during a research binge and finding interesting anecdotes or information that kind of sat adjacent to Yasha's story and that can help add texture to it. […]

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.8 / 5

26 ratings

Spotify

4.8 / 5

11 ratings

Contact Yasha

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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Questions about Yasha