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★★★★★

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59 reviews

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You know The Brothers Grimm, but do you know the weird and whimsical fairy tales of Russia? Nicholas Kotar brings you Russia’s most beloved fairy tales as you would have heard them from a grandparent sitting near the hearth on a cozy winter evening, the wind howling outside and the courage of these heroic stories lighting a flame in your heart. Enter the world of Baba Yaga, the mysterious hag who can be both friend and foe, and follow Ivan the Idiot as he faces off against a cunning dragon with six heads. These are not stuffy, academic translations, but vividly enacted retellings from Nicholas Kotar’s 3-volume fairy tale collection, accompanied by the original music of composer Natalie Wilson. Don’t be fooled: these are not just tales for children. As Russian philosopher Ivan Ilyin reminds us, the spiritual meaning of the fairy tale is “like refined and sweet-smelling honey. If you drip it on your tongue, you’ll taste all the ineffable essence of Russia’s nature–the smell of the earth, the heat of the sun, the fragrance of flowers, and something else that is subtle and rich, something eternally youthful and yet eternally ancient… Only he who worships at the altar of facts and has lost the ability to contemplate a state of being ignores fairy tales. Only the one who wants to see with his physical eyes alone, plucking out his spiritual eyes in the process, considers the fairy tale to be dead.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Check latest episodes from In A Certain Land podcast

The Tale of Marya Morevna, the Wondrous Queen

2026/10/15

Prince Ivan’s three sisters marry mysterious warriors who arrive as a falcon, an eagle, and a raven. After he marries them off, he begs restless living alone and sets out to visit them. But along the way, he falls in love with Marya Morevna, a wondrous warrior queen. He marries her and they live very happily together, until Marya once again gets the itch to go to war. But when Ivan disobeys his bride and frees Koshchei the Deathless from his chains, the fearsome sorcerer steals Marya away. To win her back, Ivan must cross a river of fire, outwit Baba Yaga, and discover the secret of a horse worthy of a warrior. A grand Russian fairy tale of forbidden doors, loyal friends, death-defying adventures, and a love that refuses to surrender. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Tale of the Wooden Eagle

2026/09/24

A prince's reckless flight on a marvelous wooden eagle carries him into a distant kingdom, where a lonely princess is imprisoned in a tower and guarded from the world. With the help of an extraordinary invention, daring escapes, and a master craftsman's genius, this enchanting Russian fairy tale weaves together romance, adventure, and the timeless truth that true craftsmanship can change the course of a kingdom. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ilya Muromets Quarrels with Prince Vladimir

2026/09/10

When Prince Vladimir's pride drives away the greatest defender of Rus, disaster follows. As King Kalin's vast army descends upon Kiev, only the aging Ilya Muromets can stand between his homeland and ruin. Yet before he can save the prince who betrayed him, Ilya must decide whether true loyalty belongs to a ruler—or to the widows, orphans, and ordinary people he has always sworn to protect. This powerful bylina explores forgiveness, justice, and the burden of defending a nation even when its leaders have failed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Tale of Sukhmann the Warrior

2026/08/27

At a feast in Prince Vladimir's court, the quiet warrior Sukhman makes a simple promise: he will return before dawn with a living swan caught by his own hands. But a chance encounter with the mighty River Dnieper leads him instead to a desperate battle against an invading army—one he must fight entirely alone. Wounded, betrayed, and falsely accused of boasting, Sukhman returns not to honor but to prison, while jealous courtiers dismiss his impossible tale. Only the great Ilya Muromets believes him enough to seek the truth. What follows is one of the most poignant Russian epics: a story of quiet heroism, loyalty, and the tragic cost of serving those who fail to recognize true greatness. One of the oldest and most moving epic poems of the Kievan cycle, this story is a powerful reminder that glory is often won in solitude, and that the greatest heroes do not fight for praise, but because the land they love calls them to stand and fight. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Wedding of Dobrynia Nikitich

2026/08/16

Fresh from his victory over the dragon Zmei Gorynich, Dobrynia Nikitich encounters a mysterious warrior whose strength far surpasses his own. Blow after blow fails to move the stranger—until the helmet comes off, revealing not a fearsome knight, but someone far more unexpected... What follows is one of the most delightful tales from the Russian epics: a playful contest of strength, wit, and pride that blossoms into an unforgettable romance. Featuring one of folklore's greatest warrior women, this tale reminds us that true heroes recognize greatness wherever they find it—and that sometimes the strongest opponent can become the truest companion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Tale of Nikita the Tanner

2026/08/05

When a terrible dragon begins demanding a daughter of Kiev every month, even Prince Vladimir cannot protect his own child forever. Carried away to the monster’s distant mountain lair, the princess discovers a surprising secret: the only person the dragon fears is not a famous warrior, but a humble tanner named Nikita. A classic Russian wonder tale of hidden strength, cleverness, and an unlikely hero, this episode follows the man who would rather work with leather than seek glory—until the children of Kiev come begging for his help. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Tale of Dobrynia and the Dragon

2026/07/10

When the legendary Ilya Muromets becomes war-leader of Kiev, not every hero is pleased. The proud and quick-tempered Alyosha Popovich openly challenges the prince's decision—but an older, wiser warrior steps forward to defend the newcomer. That warrior is Dobrynia Nikitich, and his own story reveals why true greatness is measured by courage, humility, and keeping one's word. In this classic Russian epic, young Dobrynia ignores his mother's warnings and rides to the forbidden River Puchai, where he encounters the fearsome dragon Zmei Gorynich. After sparing the monster's life in an act of mercy, Dobrynia discovers that evil creatures rarely honor their promises. When the dragon kidnaps Prince Vladimir's beloved niece, Zabava Potiatichna, Dobrynia is forced to break his own oath, ride into the serpent's mountain lair, and wage a battle that lasts for days. Filled with dragons, enchanted weapons, impossible endurance, and unforgettable heroes, this epic poem celebrates one of the greatest bogatyrs of the Russian tradition. It's a tale of honor tested, promises broken, and the hard choices that separate true heroes from those who merely seek glory. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Tale of Volga the Warrior Mage

2026/07/03

Born with the power to shake the earth and master the secrets of shape-shifting, the young bogatyr Volga Vseslav'evich leads a band of fearless warriors on an impossible mission. As an enemy king prepares to invade Rus, Volga must rely on wit as much as strength, proving that the greatest heroes win battles long before swords are drawn. A remarkable Russian epic of magic, cunning, and one of the oldest heroes of the bogatyr tradition. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Podcast Update!

2026/06/25

Update! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Tale of Ilya Muromets and Nightingale the Outlaw

2026/04/30

Ilya Muromets leaves his parents’ home at last, armed with a warrior’s strength and a solemn oath, but the road to Kiev quickly tests both his promise and his mettle. When a great city lies under siege and the deadly Nightingale the Outlaw rules the forest roads with a whistle that can topple armies, Ilya must decide when a vow must bend for the sake of the innocent sufferers. A powerful tale from the Russian epic tradition, this episode follows the making of Rus’s greatest defender, whose true strength is measured not by might alone, but by courage, mercy, and the will to stand for those who cannot. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Tale of Ivan the Bull’s Son

2026/04/02

A miraculous birth gives a kingdom not one Ivan, but three! Yet among prince, cook’s son, and bull’s son, only one rises first among equals: Ivan the Bull’s son, whose strength can topple boulders, outmatch dragons, and recover kingdoms lost to monsters. When the brothers ride into the deep forest and find Baba Yaga’s hut turning on chicken feet, their journey opens onto a darker path: the River Currant, the arrow-wood bridge, and a night watch haunted by monstrous foes from another world. But some battles are won not only by strength, but by vigilance, cunning, and the willingness to stand vigil when others sleep. A sweeping tale of dragon-slayers, enchanted traps, brotherhood, and the perilous road home, this episode follows one of the great wonder-tales of the Russian tradition—where every victory hides another test, and the sharpest sword is often wisdom itself. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How Ilya Muromets Won Sviatogor’s Sword

2026/04/02

In a certain kingdom, in a certain land, young Ilya Muromets rides north into the holy mountains, where the old powers of Rus still linger among thunder, stone, and cloud. He seeks the sword of the legendary giant Sviatogor—a warrior too mighty and great for the earth itself to bear. What begins as a journey for a sword becomes something far greater: a passing of the mantle of strength from the old to the new and a terrifying test of restraint and wisdom. This is the tale in which Ilya Muromets, Rus’s greatest protector, steps out of legend’s shadow and begins to claim it as his own. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Childhood of Ilya Muromets

2026/03/13

In a certain kingdom, in a certain land, a long-awaited child is born beneath a star bright enough to shake the heavens. His name is Ilya—and though prophecies swirl around his cradle, his path to greatness proves stranger than anyone could imagine. Years of stillness, wandering sages, and a cup of mysterious mead set the stage for the rise of one of the great heroes of old Rus. In this legendary beginning to the tale of Ilya Muromets, strength is not simply given—it must be learned, tempered, and turned toward something greater than selfish gain and grasping power. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Tale of the Fisherman and the Fish

2026/02/13

On the banks of the deep blue sea, an old fisherman casts his net day after day without any change to his routine. But one morning, it brings him a marvel—a golden fish with a human voice and a promise too generous to refuse. What begins as an act of kindness soon draws the fisherman into a rising tide of desires, each larger and more dangerous than the last. With crashing waves, sharp humor, and a wife whose hunger knows bounds, this classic fairy tale asks a timeless question: when is enough truly enough? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Tale of the Magical Horse

2026/01/29

In a certain kingdom, in a certain land, a childless old couple’s prayer is answered in the most unexpected way—by a vow, a chance meeting, and a godfather far grander than anyone could have imagined. As their son Ivan grows with uncanny speed and strength, his fate becomes bound to a horse that is anything but ordinary. From whispered advice and secret transformations to distant kingdoms and impossible challenges, The Magical Horse is a tale of loyalty, cleverness, and the strange truth that the humblest gifts often carry the greatest power. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Podcast reviews

Read In A Certain Land podcast reviews

5 out of 5

59 reviews

★★★★★

Happy Listener 6864 2026/05/10

Three Cheers for Mr. Kotar

Do you wish your modern life did not require hours of car rides every week going to and fro to the store, riding up and down the highway? It is not to...

★★★★★

Brittany KY 2026/04/29

Delightful!

My children and I recently began listening to this podcast on our drive to school in the mornings and we absolutely love it. Highly recommend!

★★★★★

MTMama1806 2026/03/13

Why Aren’t There Ten Stars??

If I could give this podcast 10 stars, I absolutely would! It has been a delight to listen to each and every story. My 3-year-old LOVES them and is st...

★★★★★

Fabric and Paper 2025/12/29

Enchanting stories

Our family loves listening to these stories. They are beautifully produced with gorgeous music and sound quality and the narration is amazing. My 6 ye...

★★★★★

katzsan 2025/11/15

We belong to this Certain Land

Hanging on every word and each each piano key. My home educated students enjoy these enchanting stories, adults no question. One can find familiar fri...

★★★★★

A_man_da_review 2025/08/08

Fairy Tale Friday

The perfect addition to our fairy tale Fridays in our homeschool.

★★★★★

Ari Chaya 2025/07/28

Delightful. Relaxing, interesting, funny- perfect story pod

These episodes are exactly what I’ve been looking for. Storytelling that is both engaging and calming, inspiring (I literally used one of the lessons ...

★★★★★

reddkat63 2025/07/11

This is fun!

Was looking for a pod that shared short stories. This is a winner. Looking forward to more stories.

★★★★★

LiteraryLover📚 2025/06/26

Whimsical and Wonderful

The narrator tells these delightful Slavic tales in an engaging and whimsical way, and I found myself binging this one! Five star recommend to anyone ...

★★★★★

Tricksyloo 2025/06/08

Bravo!

The care that’s put into telling these tales is evident. Kotar does an amazing job transporting the listener to a new realm. Our family loves this!

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