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Radio Diaries

Sofia's Choice: A Ukrainian Diary

Radio Diaries

Radio Diaries & Radiotopia

Documentary, Society & Culture

4.61.3K Ratings

🗓️ 30 March 2022

⏱️ 11 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Sofia Bretl has lived in New York City for the last decade. But she was born and raised in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, about 25 miles from the Russian border. The city has received some of the worst shelling so far in the war. That’s where her mother lives. As conditions in Kharkiv worsened, they faced a difficult choice.

**
If you’d like to show your support during this crisis, one organization that is helping settle refugees is HIAS. Find them at hias.org.

Transcript

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0:00.0

You're listening to Radio Diaries. This is Joe and we have some exciting news from a fellow radio topia show

0:06.0

Everything is alive has a new series called the animals. It's an interview show where all the subjects are

0:12.3

Animals. Here's a sneak peek. My name is Jerry Dra. Um, you can see me. Okay. Mm-hmm. Okay, good

0:19.6

I'm a jellyfish. So that's why I always check with people. We're celebrities in the natural world

0:24.5

You know, that's the thing about being a butterfly that I don't think people understand is the pressure

0:28.8

This is my son Joseph and we are kangaroos. Joseph, we should say you are

0:34.8

Currently still in the pouch. Yeah, I live in the pouch still. Okay

0:39.9

The show's funny and full of heart and surprises. You can listen to the animals right now and the everything is alive podcast feed

0:48.6

Radio topia

0:51.4

From prx from prx is radio topia. This is radio diaries. I'm Joe Richmond

0:59.6

In times of war one of the most difficult decisions people face is whether to leave to abandon their homes their possessions their memories

1:08.6

Sometimes leaving loved ones behind

1:11.4

According to the UN close to four million people have left Ukraine since the war began

1:20.9

Sophia Bretel is 33 and has lived in New York City for the last decade

1:25.5

But she was born and raised in the Ukrainian city of harkiv about 25 miles from the Russian border

1:31.3

The city has received some of the worst shelling so far in the war

1:35.0

And it's where her mother still lives

1:37.5

Sophia has talked to her mother almost every day since the war began and as conditions in harkiv worsened

1:43.8

They faced a difficult decision

1:46.1

Today on the show Sophia's choice

1:48.9

Every day I wake up reached my phone and let's split second before I look at my phone

1:58.5

I have a fear of not seeing a message from my mom

...

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