Simple Russian Stories
Podcast ‘Simple Russian Stories’ is a fun and easy way to learn Russian. In each episode, you’ll hear simple yet engaging stories that will help you improve your language comprehension, expand your vocabulary, and discover Russian culture. Perfect for beginners and those who want to practice Russian in everyday situations. Join us and explore the world of the Russian language through simple stories!
Ep. 89 What I Eat in a Day | Russian Listening Practice for A1 Learners
What do I eat in a day in Vietnam? 🇻🇳 In this episode, learn Russian through a story about food, daily routines, breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Discover Vietnamese food, Russian food, and useful food vocabulary. Perfect for A1 Russian learners who want to improve their Russian listening skills.
Online lessons with me: https://artemevamaria.taplink.ws/
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Contact email: [email protected]
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Ep. 88 Why Is Bread So Important in Russia?| Russian Food & Culture (A2–B1)
Why is bread so important in Russia? 🍞 In this episode, discover Russian bread, traditional Russian food, and the cultural traditions and proverbs connected to bread. Learn about rye bread, Borodinsky bread, Russian wedding traditions, and Easter bread while improving your Russian listening skills. Perfect for A2–B1 Russian learners interested in Russian culture, food, and everyday vocabulary.
Online lessons with me: https://artemevamaria.taplink.ws/
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Contact email: [email protected]
📄 Transcript + Quizlet set in my Telegram: https://t.me/rustor_podcast<...
Ep. 87 Real Russian Conversation 🇷🇺 | Travel, Family & Everyday Life | B1–B2
In this episode, I’m sharing a personal life update — all in Russian. I talk about moving to Halong in northern Vietnam, my new apartment, the weather, Russian food, my upcoming family trip to China, and a recent trip to Nanning. A relaxed episode for B1–B2 learners who want to practice listening to natural, everyday Russian.
Online lessons with me: https://artemevamaria.taplink.ws/
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Contact email: [email protected]
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Ep. 86 Is This Rude?! 😳 Modern Etiquette in 2026 | Learn Russian B1–B2
What is considered rude in 2026? In this episode, I discuss some modern etiquette rules from a recent The Guardian article - from taking Zoom calls in cafés and keeping your earphones in at the checkout to using ChatGPT to write a personal message and filming strangers for social media.
This is a conversational episode for B1–B2 Russian learners who want to practice listening to natural Russian and hear useful vocabulary and expressions in context.
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Ep. 85 How Does Yan Get Around Moscow? | Russian for Beginners A1–A2
How do people get around Moscow? In this episode, Yan tells his mom about his everyday life in Moscow and the different types of transport he uses — the metro, buses and taxis. You’ll learn useful Russian vocabulary and practice ехать, ездить and поехать, as well as the prepositions в and на with different types of transport.
Perfect for A1–A2 Russian learners who want to learn useful vocabulary through a simple story.
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Ep. 84 Who Is Pavel Durov? The Story of the Telegram Founder | Learn Russian Through a Story | B1–B2
Today, we're talking about one of the most well-known and controversial Russian entrepreneurs in the world — Pavel Durov, the creator of Telegram. But this isn't just a story about a successful businessman. We'll go back to the beginning, when Durov was a university student studying philology, and follow the unusual path that took him from a small student project to one of the world's biggest messaging apps.
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Ep. 83 Different Types of Shops in Russian | Learn Russian Through a Story | A1–A2
Today, we're going shopping — in Hanoi! I recently moved to a new apartment, and of course, I need to buy a lot of things. But where do you go if you need a vacuum cleaner? What about food, a lamp, or new clothes? In this episode, I'll take you shopping with me and show you the different types of shops you can find in Russia. So grab your shopping bag, and let's go!
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Ep. 82 Russian School Life| Learn Russian Vocabulary & Culture (A2 - B1)
What is school like in Russia? In this episode, we’re going back to school and exploring Russian school life through my own memories and old photographs. Learn about September 1st and День знаний, the first school bell, classes and grades, school traditions, ОГЭ and ЕГЭ exams, tutors, the last school bell, and graduation.
Along the way, you'll learn useful Russian vocabulary and expressions connected with school and studying, including учиться, учить, изучать, отличник, двоечник, линейка, аттестат and more.
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📄 Transcript...
Ep. 81 Pets in Russia & Around the World | SLOW Russian Podcast (A2)
Today’s episode is about pets. We’ll talk about the most popular pets in different countries, and I’ll also tell you about the animals I had when I was a child.
This episode is for Russian learners at A1+ / A2 level.
Online lessons with me: https://artemevamaria.taplink.ws/
Say thank you: buymeacoffee.com/artemevamaria
Contact email: [email protected]
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Ep. 80 Can You Surf in Russia? Sakhalin Island | Learn Russian| Slow Russian Story (A1 - A2)
In this episode, Yan travels to Sakhalin Island, one of the most remote and beautiful places in Russia. He visits the famous Cape Velikan, takes a boat trip to the mysterious Aniva Lighthouse, tries surfing in the cold Pacific Ocean, and hopes to see one of Sakhalin's most famous animals — the Steller sea lion (сивуч).
Online lessons with me: https://artemevamaria.taplink.ws/
Say thank you: buymeacoffee.com/artemevamaria
Contact email: [email protected]
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Ep. 79 Learn Russian | Masha and the Bear | Slow Russian Story (A2)
Today's episode is a little different. Instead of talking about Russian culture or travel, we're going to read one of the most famous Russian folk tales — Masha and the Bear. I've adapted this story for A2 learners, so the language is simple, clear, and natural. Listen carefully, don't worry if you don't understand every word, and try to enjoy the story.
Online lessons with me: https://artemevamaria.taplink.ws/
Say thank you: buymeacoffee.com/artemevamaria
Contact email: [email protected]
📄 Transcript + Quizlet set in my...
Ep. 78 Childhood Memories from Russia | Learn Russian with Real Stories (B1)
Today we're going to do something a little different. Instead of talking about Russian grammar or a famous tourist destination, I'd like to introduce you to one of my favourite Russian writers — Viktor Astafyev.
For me, this episode is very personal. Astafyev's books remind me of my childhood in Krasnoyarsk, of the Siberian forest, the Yenisei River, and long walks in nature.
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Ep. 77 Jan’s stories: Trip to Altai | Slow Russian Story (A2)
You'll hear a simple story about Jan, who goes there during his summer holidays. You'll also learn new words, practise the future tense and hear some useful travel vocabulary.
After each part of the story, I'll ask you a simple question. Try to answer it out loud before you hear the correct answer. Speaking aloud is one of the best ways to improve your Russian.
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Ep. 76 The Golden Ring of Russia | Ancient Russian Cities (A2 - B1)
Today's episode is for upper beginner and intermediate learners of Russian. We are going to travel along one of the most famous tourist routes in Russia — the Golden Ring. We will talk about what the Golden Ring is, why it is so important in Russian culture, and visit some of its most famous cities.
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Ep. 75 Summer in Russia: Jan's Trip to Sochi | SLOW Beginner Russian Podcast (A1 - А2)
In this episode, we follow Jan, an American student learning Russian in Moscow, as he plans his summer vacation to Sochi. You'll practice the simple future tense, learn travel and vacation vocabulary, and discover interesting facts about one of Russia's most popular seaside destinations. Perfect for beginner Russian learners.
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Ep. 74 How I Plan My Trips and Pack for Travel (B1 / B2)
In this intermediate Russian podcast episode (B1–B2), I talk about how I usually plan my travels around Asia. You'll learn vocabulary related to transportation, hotels, packing, sightseeing, and travel planning. I also share why I dislike sleeper buses, how I choose accommodation, and what I always take with me on a trip.
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Ep. 73 Summer in Russia: Where Russians Go on Vacation (A1+ A2)
Discover how Russians spend their summer holidays. In this episode, you'll learn about popular destinations such as Sochi, the Black Sea, Lake Baikal, Karelia, Altai, and the Russian dacha tradition. Perfect for A1+ – A2 learners who want to improve their Russian through simple and interesting stories about travel and summer culture.
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How to Keep Improving Your Russian| Russian Podcast (B1-B2)
Many Russian learners reach the B1 or B2 level and suddenly lose motivation. Why does this happen? Do you really need to keep studying if you can already communicate in Russian? In this episode, we talk about language-learning motivation, the B1 plateau, common mistakes learners make, and why the most successful students are not always the most talented ones. A useful episode for intermediate and upper-intermediate Russian learners.
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Ep. 71 Под грибом | Under the Mushroom — Russian Fairy Tale for Beginners (A2)
In this episode, we read and discuss the famous Russian fairy tale *Under the Mushroom* (Под грибом), adapted for A2 learners. At the end of the episode, test your understanding with listening comprehension questions and a vocabulary challenge.
📄 Transcript + Quizlet set in my Telegram: https://t.me/rustor_podcast
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Ep. 70 The Real Dostoevsky | Prison, Love and Gambling (B1-B2)
Friends, sorry about the sound quality in this episode. I bought a new microphone and I still can’t set it up properly. This episode about Dostoevsky became very long, and I really didn’t want to record it again. I tried to improve the sound during editing, but unfortunately I couldn’t make the volume as loud and clear as in the previous episodes. I hope you still enjoy the episode and find it interesting.
In this episode, we talk about the life of Fyodor Dostoevsky — one of the most famous Russian writers in the world. Y...
Ep. 69 Russian Daily Life Vocabulary for Beginners | A Day with Family and Friends (Instrumental Case) A1-A2
In this episode, you’ll learn simple Russian through a story about a Russian student named Anya, her family, university life, friends, hobbies, and daily routine. Perfect for A1 - A2 learners who want to practice the instrumental case naturally through everyday conversations and daily life vocabulary.
📄 Transcript + Quizlet set in my Telegram: https://t.me/rustor_podcast
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Ep. 68 Дом и семья: кто отвечает за порядок? | Housework & Responsibility (B1-B2)
Welcome back to the Simple Russian Stories podcast, where we make learning Russian fun and easy.
In today’s episode we’re going to talk about something very practical - household chores.
What people usually do at home, who does what, how it works in different families, and I’ll also share some personal stories.
📄 Transcript + Quizlet set in my Telegram: https://t.me/rustor_podcast
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Ep. 67 Young Russian Athletes | Learn Russian with Real Stories (A2)
In this episode, you will learn Russian with a real story about young athletes from Russia.
We talk about a tennis player, a figure skater, and esports players. You will hear simple Russian, useful vocabulary, and real-life contexts. This episode is perfect for A1–A2 learners who want to improve listening and learn how Russian sounds in natural speech.
📄 Transcript + Quizlet set in my Telegram: https://t.me/rustor_podcast
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Ep. 66 How to Address People in Russian: девушка, женщина, мужчина, молодой человек (B1)
How do you say “excuse me” to a stranger in Russian without sounding rude? Should you say девушка, женщина, or something else?
In this episode, you’ll learn how Russians address people in everyday situations and why it’s not just about age — it’s about culture, politeness, and perception. We’ll also look at historical forms like “товарищ” and how modern Russian speakers actually talk in real life.
This episode is perfect for intermediate learners who want to sound more natural and avoid awkward or even rude mistakes when speaking Russian.
📄 Transcript + Quizlet set in my Telegram: https://t.me/rustor_podcast
🎥 Fol...
Ep. 65 What Is Krasnoyarsk Like? Learn Russian|Siberia Guide (A1–A2)
In this episode, you’ll learn Russian while discovering one of the most beautiful cities in Siberia — Krasnoyarsk. This A1–A2 level podcast is perfect for beginners who want to improve their listening skills with clear and simple Russian.
We talk about famous places in the city: the Yenisei River, the embankment, parks, bridges, museums, and theatres. You’ll also learn how people spend their time in winter and summer, and hear about nature, culture, and everyday life in Krasnoyarsk.
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Ep. 64 Learn Russian Through Stories: Space, Cosmonauts & Belka and Strelka (B1-B2)
In this episode, you’ll learn Russian through one of the most fascinating topics — space exploration.
We’ll talk about the first Soviet cosmonauts, including Yuri Gagarin, the first human in space, German Titov, and Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman in space. You’ll also hear the story of famous space dogs Belka and Strelka and learn why animals were sent to space before humans.
This episode is designed for intermediate learners (B1–B2). The language is clear and natural, with useful vocabulary and real context to help you improve your listening skills.
📄 Transcript + Quizlet set i...
Ep.63 Learn Russian Through Stories A2–B1 | Easter in Russia – An Easter Visit (Listening Practice)
In this episode, you will listen to an adapted version of the classic Russian story “An Easter Visit” by Sasha Chorny.
This story is perfect for A2–B1 learners. It’s slow, clear, and helps you improve your listening skills while learning new vocabulary in context.
📄 Transcript + Quizlet set in my Telegram: https://t.me/rustor_podcast
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Ep. 62 Russian Podcast | Perfective vs Imperfective Verbs | Going to the Market Story (A1–A2)
In this A1–A2 level episode, you’ll follow a simple and engaging story about Yan, a student who usually shops at a supermarket but decides to go to a local market for the first time. This episode is designed to help you practice perfective and imperfective verbs in a natural context. You’ll hear how Russians talk about routine actions (what we usually do) and completed actions (what happened once). The vocabulary is practical and focused on everyday situations like buying food, talking to продавцы, and navigating different sections of a market.
📄 Transcript + Quizlet set in my Telegram: https...
Ep. 61 Owls and Larks: Morning vs Night People | Learn Russian (B1-B2)
In this episode we talk about “owls” and “larks” — people who prefer staying up late or waking up early. You will also learn why modern society is often organized around early schedules and why this can be difficult for some people. This episode is designed for B1-B2 learners of Russian and includes clear, natural speech and useful everyday vocabulary.
📄 Transcript + Quizlet set in my Telegram: https://t.me/rustor_podcast
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Ep. 60 Little Red Riding Hood | Красная Шапочка (A2)
In this episode you will listen to an adapted version of the famous fairy tale Красная Шапочка (Little Red Riding Hood). This story is told in slow and clear Russian and is perfect for A2 learners. While listening, you will learn useful vocabulary about family, the forest, everyday actions, and simple past tense verbs. Fairy tales are great for language learning because the story is easy to follow and the vocabulary repeats many times.
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Ep.59 Happy birthday! (A1+)
In this episode we talk about a birthday celebration.
You will learn:
Perfect for beginners who want to understand simple stories in Russian.
📄 Transcript + Quizlet set in my Telegram: https://t.me/rustor_podcast
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Ep.58 Pushkin is our everything
Why do Russians say “Pushkin is our everything”?
In this B2-level episode, we explore the life, personality, and cultural legacy of Alexander Pushkin — the founder of modern Russian literature. You’ll learn about his childhood, education, exile, relationships with the emperor, superstitions and duels.
We also discuss cultural references to Pushkin in modern Russia and why he remains so influential today. Perfect for upper-intermediate Russian learners who want to understand not just the language, but the cultural context behind it.
📄 Transcript + Quizlet set in my Telegram: https://t.me/rustor_podcast
🎥 Fo...
Ep.57 At the supermarket (A1)
In this episode, we go to a Russian supermarket and practice real-life dialogues for A1 learners.
You will learn: how to ask about prices, numbers, useful phrases at the checkout, how to use “этот” and “тот” (this/that), common shopping vocabulary.
📄 Transcript + Quizlet set in my Telegram: https://t.me/rustor_podcast
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Ep.56 Learn Russian: Valentine’s Day from A1 to C1 (Beginner to Advanced)
Valentine’s Day in Russian — from A1 to C1 ❤️
In this special episode, you will hear one romantic story told at five different language levels: A1, A2, B1, B2 and C1.
But the grammar, vocabulary and sentence structure become more complex with each level.
📄 Transcript + Quizlet set in my Telegram: https://t.me/rustor_podcast
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Online lessons with me: https://artemevamaria.taplink.ws/
Free Russian reading course: https://youtu.be/yh4pHZaNPZM?si=VXAnSa0sU4abZgPi
M...
Ep.55 Weird Russian Habits: What Surprises Foreigners in Russia? (B2)
Weird Russian Habits: What Surprises Foreigners in Russia? Why do Russians keep a “bag of bags”? Why do men shake hands every single day? And why do balconies often look like storage rooms?
In this B2-level episode, we talk about everyday Russian habits that surprise foreigners. Based on a popular article and my personal experience — we explore cultural differences, historical context, and the logic behind these traditions. This episode is perfect for upper-intermediate learners who want to expand their vocabulary, understand Russian mentality better, and hear natural spoken Russian with cultural commentary.
📄 Transcript + Quizlet set in my Teleg...
Ep.54 Russian Fairy tale: Teremok (A2)
In this episode of Simple Russian Stories, we listen to a simplified version of the classic Russian fairy tale Teremok. The story is told in clear, slow Russian and is suitable for A2-level learners. You will practice basic verbs, simple dialogues, and common structures used in everyday speech.
📄 Transcript + Quizlet set in my Telegram: https://t.me/rustor_podcast
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If you wanna read confidently in Russian: https://youtu.be/yh4pHZaNPZM?si=VXAnSa0sU4abZgPi
My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/Russ...
Ep.53 My Trip to China: Cities, Trains and Rice Terraces (B1-B2)
In this episode, I share my personal travel experience in China.
I talk about my trip to Guangzhou, Sanya, Guilin, Yangshuo, and the rice terraces. You’ll hear about big Chinese cities, high-speed trains, local food, long journeys, and what it feels like to travel across very different regions of one country. I also share some real moments from the trip — including getting sick on the rice terraces and realizing how important it is to listen to your body while traveling.
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Ep.52 The coldest places in Russia
In this A1–A2 episode we explore the coldest places in Russia — Yakutia, Oymyakon and Verkhoyansk.
You’ll learn how people live in extreme frost, what they wear, what they eat, and why winter in these regions is so unique.
A simple and engaging story for beginner learners who want to expand their vocabulary and listen to real, easy Russian.
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Ep.51 A Russian Christmas: Masha’s Christmas Eve (A1)
A1 Christmas Special.
This episode tells a simple and heart-warming story about Masha, an eight-year-old girl who celebrates Russian Christmas on January 7th.
You will learn about Christmas Eve (Сочельник), traditional foods like kutya and kozuli, the night church service, gifts under the Christmas tree, and the beginning of Svyatki — twelve festive days full of songs, guests, and joy. A perfect cozy episode for beginner Russian learners ✨
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...
Ep.50 New Year's story: A gift with soul
A warm B2 holiday story about choosing meaningful gifts before the New Year. Andrey wants to find presents that are practical, personal, and thoughtful — something more than simple souvenirs. He looks for gifts for his friends, his parents, and even for himself, discovering that true gifts carry emotions and attention. A cozy, easy-to-follow episode with useful everyday vocabulary and plenty of New Year atmosphere.
📄 Transcript + Quizlet set in my Telegram: https://t.me/rustor_podcast
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To s...
