Yasha artwork

History · Jeremy Gendelman

Yasha

by Jeremy Gendelman

Experience the harrowing true story of a Jewish boy and his family's 6-year flight across the Soviet Union during World War II. When the Nazi invasion threatens their small town in Belarus, 11-year-old Yasha's mother makes a decision that will save the lives of generations to come: the decision to flee. What follows is an odyssey spanning thousands of miles across a war-torn nation, caught between Hitler's advancing forces and Stalin's iron rule. Built from testimony recorded by his grandson on an old camcorder, Yasha brings to life a childhood defined by upheaval, scarcity, and war, where growing up meant never standing still.

Latest episodes

Showing 6 · updated from the feed

Helpers

EPISODE 5 -- Yasha’s family shelters in an abandoned circus while enduring hard labor in the dead of winter. When his mother resolves to leave once more, another arduous

Sep 1
38 min

Land and Sea

EPISODE 4 -- As the Nazis close in on the Caucasus, Yasha’s family joins thousands of evacuees at the Caspian Sea before enduring a harrowing three-month transport north.

Sep 1
47 min

A Grand Society

EPISODE 3 -- Displaced to a Soviet collective farm in the Caucasus, eleven-year-old Yasha is forced into farm labor while we contend with the absurdities of Stalin’s “uto

Aug 31
36 min

Rumors

EPISODE 2 -- Reunited with his family in Petrikov, Yasha witnesses the power of rumors — Nazi massacres that compel his mother to choose to flee by barge down the Pripyat

Aug 31
39 min

The World Beyond the Trees

EPISODE 1 -- Jeremy introduces his grandfather, Yasha, and his childhood in 1930s Belarus shaped by Stalin’s famine and the sudden death of his father. We witness the mom

Aug 31
38 min

Official Trailer

TRAILER -- When Nazi Germany invades the Soviet Union during World War II, eleven-year-old Yasha and his Jewish family must flee to survive. Built from testimony recorded

Aug 18
3 min

Chart trend

Position in the History chart (US), last 90 days.

#37
all-time peak
3
days in the top 50 since Sep 2026

Chart positions

Where Yasha ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Oct 13, 2026).

#55 ▲ 12 History US

What listeners say

A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.

This is a high-quality podcast in both terms of the content of the story and its professional production. Yasha tells a story that is both foreign and yet feels familiar. It’s the type of story we losing each passing day and I’m glad podcast like this exist to preserve these stories.

El Franchise · Sep 2026

Phenomenal. WWII is a fascinating time in history with so much to learn. This story really humanized the time on a granular level and from a different perspective than I’ve heard before. Hearing it told by the old man who lived it and the grandson who learned it was an inspiration. I want to hug them both, then call my own grandparents. I can’t wait to hear the rest of Yasha’s story.

Gendelmull · Sep 2026

This is a richly crafted true story of a very dark period in human history told through the eyes of a young boy. It’s a story of displacement and the unfathomable suffering and cruelty experienced by one family, and at the same time, an inspiring story of resilience, determination and courage. I cannot recommend this podcast enough.

Cork L4d · Sep 2026

We strive to present a balanced view by showing a diverse range of reviews from Apple Podcasts.

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About Yasha on Reason.fm

Here you find the Apple Podcasts chart positions of Yasha, its latest episodes to listen to directly, and reviews from listeners. Rankings are updated daily for the United States.

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