Ep. 66 | Ukrainian psychologist Kateryna Yasko and integral leadership development expert Vytautas Bučiūnas share their first-hand experiences of the war in Kyiv now, one year after the invasion by Russia, as well as their penetrating perspectives on Russian imperialism (“Russia needs to lose this war so they can reinvent themselves”), on why there is comparably less PTSD among Ukrainian soldiers, and the implications for the world if Russia were to win or if it were to disintegrate. They acknowledge the relatively recent “awakening of Europe” to the fact that Putin won’t stop with Ukraine if he wins, and warn that “democracy needs to be fully ready for a possibly long-term battle for its values.”Kateryna and Vytautas have witnessed how having an overriding mission and purpose has changed Ukrainians, and describe perceiving an unmistakable shift in energy upon crossing the border into Ukraine, where the heightened appreciation for life and the strength and solidarity of common purpose are palpable. What does the struggle for democracy, freedom, and dignity actually feel like? Find out on a planned pilgrimage to Ukraine this fall—both a spiritual journey of awakening and an opportunity to embody the experience of being invaded by Russia. This podcast is also a call for help—if you feel inspired to support the efforts in Ukraine, below are links to three trustworthy organizations working hard on Ukraine’s behalf. Recorded February 13, 2023.“Democracies need to have guts. Who knows how many battles between democracy and autocracy lie ahead?”(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)Topics & Time StampsIntroducing Ukrainian psychologist Dr. Kateryna Yasko and leadership development expert Vytautus Bučiūnas (01:51) Thank you to people who gave via iAwake in support of Ukraine (04:23)Update on what’s happening on the front lines thanks to the support of Western countries and especially the U.S. (06:01)President Zelensky, his speech to the United States Congress, and the qualities that make him a great wartime president (06:58)The metamodern cultural code and using force to protect ethical values (10:06)The awakening of Europe: democracy needs to be ready for a possibly long-term battle for its values (11:42)Ukraine has integrated the extremely important polarities: love and power, and the Battle of Antonov Airport (13:01)This is an existential war; there is no choice for Ukrainians (17:40)Things are getting a lot worse in Russia socially, economically, and among the elite (20:01)Russian imperialism needs to die for the benefit of all, including Russians (21:09)Because the defensive war in Ukraine is a just war, levels of PTSD among soldiers are much less (25:04)There are more than 100 small nations under Russian control who seek autonomy, independence, dignity, and respect (25:55)What will happen if/when Russia disintegrates? (26:34)Every country has its Nazis (30:25)The spirit in Kyiv now: solidarity, purpose, meaning & an extraordinary appreciation of life (32:30)You are invited on a pilgrimage to Ukraine in Oct 2023 to experience the vital spirit of the struggle for democracy firsthand (37:33)Co-host John Dupuy’s riveting...