# From Comedian to Wartime Leader: The Remarkable Journey of Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Discover the extraordinary transformation of Volodymyr Zelenskyy from entertainment star to Ukrainian president in this compelling podcast episode. Follow his unprecedented path from founding the comedy troupe Kvartal 95 to literally living out his fictional TV role as president in real life. Learn how this Russian-speaking Jewish Ukrainian has united his diverse nation while standing firm against Russian aggression since the full-scale invasion of 2022. The episode explores Zelenskyy's anti-corruption platform, his wartime leadership compared to Churchill, and the challenges he faces while leading Ukraine through its most existential crisis. Don't miss this fascinating examination of a comedian who became one of the world's most recognized political figures and Time's Person of the Year 2022. Subscribe to our weekly updates on Zelenskyy's ongoing story at QuietPlease.ai.
Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3Qs
For more check out http://www.quietplease.ai
Discover the extraordinary transformation of Volodymyr Zelenskyy from entertainment star to Ukrainian president in this compelling podcast episode. Follow his unprecedented path from founding the comedy troupe Kvartal 95 to literally living out his fictional TV role as president in real life. Learn how this Russian-speaking Jewish Ukrainian has united his diverse nation while standing firm against Russian aggression since the full-scale invasion of 2022. The episode explores Zelenskyy's anti-corruption platform, his wartime leadership compared to Churchill, and the challenges he faces while leading Ukraine through its most existential crisis. Don't miss this fascinating examination of a comedian who became one of the world's most recognized political figures and Time's Person of the Year 2022. Subscribe to our weekly updates on Zelenskyy's ongoing story at QuietPlease.ai.
Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3Qs
For more check out http://www.quietplease.ai
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Volodymyr Zelensky stands today as one of the most recognizable
figures in global politics, a president whose journey from comedy
and entertainment to the presidency of Ukraine is like none
other in recent history. He was born on January twenty fifth,
nineteen seventy eight, in Crivioury, an industrial city in the
din Perpetuusk region of southeastern Ukraine, which was then part
(00:23):
of the Soviet Union. Zelensky grew up in a Jewish
family that spoke Russian at home, a detail that would
litter shape the messaging and symbolism of his inclusive political campaigns.
His father was a professor and a computer scientist, and
his mother was an engineer, so education and intellectual rigor
were always significant in his upbringing. Although he earned a
(00:43):
law degree in two thousand from Kiev National Economic University,
his passion turned out to be far from legal practice.
Shortly after university, he pivoted toward a career in the
performing arts, which would set the stage for his unusual
entry into politics. Zelensky's early adult life on folded against
a rapidly changing Ukrainian cultural scene. In nineteen ninety seven,
(01:05):
he founded the comedy troupe Quartow ninety five with fellow performers,
and within a few years Quartew ninety five became one
of Ukraine's top entertainment companies. Zelensky, with his sharp wit
and keen sense of timing, starred in and produced variety shows,
humor programs and satirical sketches that often lampooned politicians and
(01:26):
held a mirror to everyday Ukrainian life. By two thousand three,
he had established Quartol ninety five Studio, which produced television programs,
movies and comedy tours, including popular projects like The League
of Laughter. He also worked as an executive at PGSC
inter TV station for a year, further increasing his influence
(01:48):
in Ukraine's burgeoning entertainment season CTOT. His work brought international recognition,
winning more than thirty National Television Teletrium Awards and receiving
acclaim several international Foom festivals and forums. However, Zelensky's career
took its most fateful turn in twenty fifteen when he
played the role of Vasil Hulleboriko and every Man's school
(02:11):
teacher who accidentally becomes the President of Ukraine in the
blockbuster television series Servant of the People. Ironically, this entirely
fictional plot would play out in reality only a few
years later. During the post twenty fourteen conflict with Russian
backed separatists in Donbas, Zelensky and his production team performed
(02:31):
for Ukrainian troops on the front lines, providing both financial
assistance and moral support. His willingness to be connected to
national issues, unlike many celebrities, endeared him to many citizens,
especially a skepticism toward traditional politicians and endemic corruption bree
He made no moves toward government while he was building
(02:51):
his entertainment empire, but during the years of President Poroshenko's administration,
the desire for a political outsider grew significantly. In late
twenty eighteen, leveraging both his celebrity status and the name
recognition from his TV character, Zelensky announced his candidacy for
the Ukrainian presidency under the newly formed Servant of the
(03:12):
People party, which directly referenced to satirical TV show. The
twenty nineteen election campaign saw Zelensky present himself as a
true outsider, an anti corruption crusader, and a voice for
bringing Ukraine's divided linguistic and regional communities together. The authenticity
of his campaign, conducted mostly on social media, made him
(03:33):
a phenomenon. He delivered campaign speeches in Russian, in Ukrainian
and in the language of inclusion, which set him apart
from the nationalist rhetoric that had dominated Ukrainian politics. When
the votes were counted in April, Zelensky secured a landslide
victory over incumbent Pictro Poroshenko, capturing seventy three percent of
the vote, one of the largest mandates in Ukraine's post
(03:56):
Soviet history. He was officially sworn in as the Seine six,
the President of Ukraine, on May twentieth, twenty nineteen, and
immediately dissolve the parliament, calling for snap elections to secure
legislative support for his reform agenda. His Servant of the
People Party won an absolute majority in the July twenty
nineteen parliamentary elections, a first in independent Ukraine's history, enabling
(04:19):
him to push forward legislative reforms without meeting coalition partners.
In his initial years as president, Zelensky prioritized efforts to
dismantle the country's deeply rooted corruption, calling for the end
of parliamentary immunity, judicial reforms and more effective jury trials.
He oversaw key responses to the COVID nineteen pandemic and
sought to steer Ukraine through the subsequent economic downturn. His
(04:42):
commitment to modernization included promoting e government initiatives, as well
as striving for greater unity between Ukraine's Russian and Ukrainian
speaking populations. Internationally, he pledged to seek peace in the
ongoing conflict in Eastern Ukraine and tried several times to
negotiate with Russian President Vladimir put to halt the fighting
in Dhanbas, though with limited success. Criticized questioned his political
(05:06):
inexperience and accused him at times of targeting rivals rather
than upholding democratic integrity, but his anti corruption message resonated widely,
and in twenty twenty one he enjoyed the highest trust
rating of any Ukrainian president since independent endants. The most
defining chapter of his presidency was triggered on February twenty fourth,
(05:28):
twenty twenty two, when Russia launched a full scale invasion
of Ukraine. When offered safe passage out of the capital
as Russian forces closed in on Kiev, Zelensky famously refused,
declaring that he needed ammunition, not awrye. This phrase crystallized
his determination and galvanized support both domestically and abroad. He
(05:50):
declared martial law and introduced a general mobilization while making
near daily video appearances that showed steadfastness and calm in
the face of danger. Zelensky's leadership was compared to that
of Winston Churchill, as he continued to address not only
his own country, but also international forums like the United
(06:10):
Nations and the US Congress, rallying support for his embattled
country and pushing for additional aid in sanctions against Russia.
Over the following years, as the Russian invasion ground into
a war of attrition with enormous human and economic cost,
Zelensky visited frontlines, encouraged resilience, and urged Western allies not
(06:33):
to waver, even when some grew hesitant. Global admiration for
his resolve reached a peak when Time magazine named him
its Person of the Year in twenty twenty two. Despite
his wartime popularity, his administration has not been free of controversy.
Opposition leaders accused him of targeting political rivals, while his
(06:56):
moves to curtail Russian affiliated media raised concerns about freedom
of the press. Leading figures within his own administration at
times questioned the direction of his policies and criticized some
failed counter offensives, especially following the Grinding Battles of twenty
twenty three. Meanwhile, criticism grew concerning Ukraine's inability to hold
(07:19):
new presidential elections under Marad
Volodymyr Zelensky stands today as one of the most recognizable
figures in global politics, a president whose journey from comedy
and entertainment to the presidency of Ukraine is like none
other in recent history. He was born on January twenty fifth,
nineteen seventy eight, in Crivioury, an industrial city in the
din Perpetuusk region of southeastern Ukraine, which was then part
(00:23):
of the Soviet Union. Zelensky grew up in a Jewish
family that spoke Russian at home, a detail that would
litter shape the messaging and symbolism of his inclusive political campaigns.
His father was a professor and a computer scientist, and
his mother was an engineer, so education and intellectual rigor
were always significant in his upbringing. Although he earned a
(00:43):
law degree in two thousand from Kiev National Economic University,
his passion turned out to be far from legal practice.
Shortly after university, he pivoted toward a career in the
performing arts, which would set the stage for his unusual
entry into politics. Zelensky's early adult life on folded against
a rapidly changing Ukrainian cultural scene. In nineteen ninety seven,
(01:05):
he founded the comedy troupe Quartow ninety five with fellow performers,
and within a few years Quartew ninety five became one
of Ukraine's top entertainment companies. Zelensky, with his sharp wit
and keen sense of timing, starred in and produced variety shows,
humor programs and satirical sketches that often lampooned politicians and
(01:26):
held a mirror to everyday Ukrainian life. By two thousand three,
he had established Quartol ninety five Studio, which produced television programs,
movies and comedy tours, including popular projects like The League
of Laughter. He also worked as an executive at PGSC
inter TV station for a year, further increasing his influence
(01:48):
in Ukraine's burgeoning entertainment season CTOT. His work brought international recognition,
winning more than thirty National Television Teletrium Awards and receiving
acclaim several international Foom festivals and forums. However, Zelensky's career
took its most fateful turn in twenty fifteen when he
played the role of Vasil Hulleboriko and every Man's school
(02:11):
teacher who accidentally becomes the President of Ukraine in the
blockbuster television series Servant of the People. Ironically, this entirely
fictional plot would play out in reality only a few
years later. During the post twenty fourteen conflict with Russian
backed separatists in Donbas, Zelensky and his production team performed
(02:31):
for Ukrainian troops on the front lines, providing both financial
assistance and moral support. His willingness to be connected to
national issues, unlike many celebrities, endeared him to many citizens,
especially a skepticism toward traditional politicians and endemic corruption bree
He made no moves toward government while he was building
(02:51):
his entertainment empire, but during the years of President Poroshenko's administration,
the desire for a political outsider grew significantly. In late
twenty eighteen, leveraging both his celebrity status and the name
recognition from his TV character, Zelensky announced his candidacy for
the Ukrainian presidency under the newly formed Servant of the
(03:12):
People party, which directly referenced to satirical TV show. The
twenty nineteen election campaign saw Zelensky present himself as a
true outsider, an anti corruption crusader, and a voice for
bringing Ukraine's divided linguistic and regional communities together. The authenticity
of his campaign, conducted mostly on social media, made him
(03:33):
a phenomenon. He delivered campaign speeches in Russian, in Ukrainian
and in the language of inclusion, which set him apart
from the nationalist rhetoric that had dominated Ukrainian politics. When
the votes were counted in April, Zelensky secured a landslide
victory over incumbent Pictro Poroshenko, capturing seventy three percent of
the vote, one of the largest mandates in Ukraine's post
(03:56):
Soviet history. He was officially sworn in as the Seine six,
the President of Ukraine, on May twentieth, twenty nineteen, and
immediately dissolve the parliament, calling for snap elections to secure
legislative support for his reform agenda. His Servant of the
People Party won an absolute majority in the July twenty
nineteen parliamentary elections, a first in independent Ukraine's history, enabling
(04:19):
him to push forward legislative reforms without meeting coalition partners.
In his initial years as president, Zelensky prioritized efforts to
dismantle the country's deeply rooted corruption, calling for the end
of parliamentary immunity, judicial reforms and more effective jury trials.
He oversaw key responses to the COVID nineteen pandemic and
sought to steer Ukraine through the subsequent economic downturn. His
(04:42):
commitment to modernization included promoting e government initiatives, as well
as striving for greater unity between Ukraine's Russian and Ukrainian
speaking populations. Internationally, he pledged to seek peace in the
ongoing conflict in Eastern Ukraine and tried several times to
negotiate with Russian President Vladimir put to halt the fighting
in Dhanbas, though with limited success. Criticized questioned his political
(05:06):
inexperience and accused him at times of targeting rivals rather
than upholding democratic integrity, but his anti corruption message resonated widely,
and in twenty twenty one he enjoyed the highest trust
rating of any Ukrainian president since independent endants. The most
defining chapter of his presidency was triggered on February twenty fourth,
(05:28):
twenty twenty two, when Russia launched a full scale invasion
of Ukraine. When offered safe passage out of the capital
as Russian forces closed in on Kiev, Zelensky famously refused,
declaring that he needed ammunition, not awrye. This phrase crystallized
his determination and galvanized support both domestically and abroad. He
(05:50):
declared martial law and introduced a general mobilization while making
near daily video appearances that showed steadfastness and calm in
the face of danger. Zelensky's leadership was compared to that
of Winston Churchill, as he continued to address not only
his own country, but also international forums like the United
(06:10):
Nations and the US Congress, rallying support for his embattled
country and pushing for additional aid in sanctions against Russia.
Over the following years, as the Russian invasion ground into
a war of attrition with enormous human and economic cost,
Zelensky visited frontlines, encouraged resilience, and urged Western allies not
(06:33):
to waver, even when some grew hesitant. Global admiration for
his resolve reached a peak when Time magazine named him
its Person of the Year in twenty twenty two. Despite
his wartime popularity, his administration has not been free of controversy.
Opposition leaders accused him of targeting political rivals, while his
(06:56):
moves to curtail Russian affiliated media raised concerns about freedom
of the press. Leading figures within his own administration at
times questioned the direction of his policies and criticized some
failed counter offensives, especially following the Grinding Battles of twenty
twenty three. Meanwhile, criticism grew concerning Ukraine's inability to hold
(07:19):
new presidential elections under Marad
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