Introducing Sunflowers & Saguaros: A Podcast Between Arizona & Ukraine
Arizona and Ukraine are separated by thousands of miles. But if you spend enough time around the Cactus & Tryzub community, they can start to feel surprisingly close.
That connection is at the heart of our newest project: Sunflowers & Saguaros: A Podcast Between Arizona & Ukraine.
Hosted by Olya Johnson and Andrew Ripley, Sunflowers & Saguaros brings together a Ukrainian and an Arizonan perspective for conversations about the people, cultures, memories, and experiences that connect our two communities.
One of us grew up around sunflower fields. The other hiking amongst the saguaros. Between us is a bridge we hope to strengthen, one conversation at a time.
Ukraine Beyond the Headlines
For many Americans, their first—or sometimes only—encounter with Ukraine comes through news about the war.
Those stories matter. But Ukraine is also food around a family table, music, language, humor, traditions, childhood memories, art, history, friendships, and all of the ordinary things that make a place feel like home.
That's the Ukraine we want to spend more time talking about.
Each month, we'll sit down for real conversations about life in Ukraine, life in Arizona, and what happens when cultures meet. Along the way, we'll be joined by community members, veterans, artists, educators, volunteers, students, and others with stories worth sharing.
Sometimes we'll tackle serious subjects. Sometimes we'll talk about cultural traditions or history. And sometimes we'll discover that something Americans consider completely normal causes a Ukrainian guest to ask, “Wait… you actually do this?”
Two Perspectives, Lots of Questions
We aren't historians, journalists, or foreign-policy experts—and that's part of the point.
Olya brings the perspective of someone who experienced Ukraine as home and later built a life in Arizona. Andrew came to Ukraine through friendship, volunteering, cultural exchange, and a lot of questions.
Together, we get to approach conversations from both sides: the things Americans wonder about Ukraine, the things Ukrainians notice about America, and the questions neither of us realized needed explaining until we started talking.
Our goal isn't to be experts talking at people. It's to be curious people learning with them.
Come Join the Conversation
Sunflowers & Saguaros is an extension of what Cactus & Tryzub has always hoped to create: opportunities for people to meet, ask questions, share stories, and build genuine connections between Arizona and Ukraine.
So whether you're Ukrainian, Ukrainian-American, an Arizona neighbor who wants to learn more, or simply someone who enjoys a good conversation, we hope you'll pull up a chair.
🌻🌵 Listen to Sunflowers & Saguaros: A Podcast Between Arizona & Ukraine on your favorite podcast platform.
And when the episode ends, the conversation doesn't have to. Join us in the Cactus & Tryzub Community Discord to talk with other listeners, ask questions, suggest future topics, and connect with members of our community.
