#137 Iryna Gil: Escaping Ukraine: A Comedian's War Story

About this episode

<p>In this raw, wide-ranging interview, Ukrainian stand-up comic Iryna Gil tells the story of how her rising comedy career collided with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine just 11 days after she filmed her first special — and how she’s using comedy to challenge war fatigue, weaponised headlines, and Western apathy.</p><p><br></p><p>WHAT YOU’LL LEARN</p><p>Kyiv under fire: A first-hand account of air-raid sirens, evacuations, and working through missile strikes</p><p><br></p><p>The Soviet shadow: How post-Soviet distrust fuels Ukraine’s self-organising spirit, entrepreneurial drive, and digital-first approach to governance.</p><p><br></p><p>Comedy as translation: How Gil uses humour to bridge the empathy gap and make the war relatable to those far removed from it.</p><p><br></p><p>Misleading headlines: What “billions in aid” actually looks like and why surface-level stats breed hostility and misinformation.</p><p><br></p><p>Peace through deterrence: Iryna’s uncompromising vision for peace in strength</p><p><br></p><p>TIMESTAMPS</p><p>00:00 Botox for Burping – the weirdest opening ever</p><p>01:13 Meet Iryna Gil</p><p>02:45 Growing up in post-Soviet Ukraine</p><p>10:13 Starting stand-up in Kyiv</p><p>14:18 Ukraine’s hustle culture and distrust of government</p><p>21:04 24 Feb 2022: missiles hit Kyiv</p><p>28:54 Leaving home under fire</p><p>32:10 Zoom calls from bomb shelters and hiding behind two walls</p><p>39:47 Losing safety, leaving Kyiv</p><p>43:52 Starting over in Scotland</p><p>48:45 Grieving a life left behind</p><p>50:38 Comedy, trauma, and fighter jets</p><p>53:55 What &quot;billions in aid&quot; actually means</p><p>57:00 The real cost of headlines and public perception</p><p>1:01:48 Has Ukraine faded from public attention?</p><p>1:04:32 Genocide Olympics and comparative advocacy</p><p>1:05:38 What peace really looks like</p><p>1:06:47 Closing thanks</p><p><br></p><p>LINKS</p><p>Follow Iryna Gil – https://www.instagram.com/gil_iryna</p><p>Follow David – https://www.instagram.com/davidmcintoshjr</p><p>Support verified Ukrainian charities – (Add specific links)</p><p>Support on Patreon – Patreon.com/davidmcintoshjr</p><p>Buy Origin Story merch – originstoryclub.co.uk</p><p><br></p><p>Support verified Ukranian charities - </p><p><br></p><p>Save Life: </p><p><br></p><p>https://savelife.in.ua/en/projects/military-en/status/active/ </p><p><br></p><p>U24:</p><p><br></p><p>https://u24.gov.ua/projects </p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>ABOUT ORIGIN STORY WITH DAVID MCINTOSH</p><p>Every episode, David explores the pivotal moments that shape extraordinary people — from hidden-gem heroes to global voices — so you can apply their lessons, insights, and perspective to your own journey. Subscribe and turn on notifications to catch the next origin story first.</p>