144. We Stand With Ukraine: Sunflowers Bend, Her Stories Endure: Special Guest Oksana Kukurudza, Writer, and Daughter of Ukrainian Refugees who survived the Nazi forced labor camps during World War II.

Jason Zuk, The Social Psychic™

Biography for Special Guest Oksana Kukurudza

Oksana Kukurudza is the daughter of Ukrainian refugees who survived Nazi forced labor camps during WWII and then spent years in Displaced Person Camps in Europe before finding a home in the USA. Our guest earned her CPA and MBA and she has worked internationally in Ukraine and Italy during her thirty-year career. Today, Oksana works as a Manhattan based Managing Director of a global consulting, technology and outsourcing firm, while beginning a second career as a writer. She has written about her story in two anthologies, Going Against The Grain, and Think Limitlessly, and she also has a new narrative non-fiction, called “Sunflowers Bend but Rarely Break.” In it, our guest delves into the poignant stories of her family's experiences during World War II and the Cold War era. Oksana explores the hardships faced by her mother, Sofya, and father, Mykhaylo, uncovering historical events often overlooked such as their experience as two of 13 million forced laborers in Nazi Germany. With her captivating writing style, she invites readers to understand Ukrainian history and national identity. Oksana's upcoming book is a testament to the resilience and strength of the Ukrainian people.

In this episode of The Social Psychic Radio Show, host Jason Zuk features his conversation with Special Guest Oksana Kukurudza, a writer and daughter of Ukrainian refugees who survived Nazi forced labor camps during World War II. Oksana shares her family's harrowing experiences, the motivation behind her book 'Sunflowers Bend But Rarely Break,' and her advocacy work for Ukraine amid the current war with Russia. Co-host Dr. Sergei Borisov joins to discuss the impact of Western aid and the importance of continued support for Ukraine. The discussion emphasizes the resilience of the Ukrainian people and the critical need for global awareness and legislative support to make sure that aid for Ukraine continues from the United States and the rest of Ukraine's Allies.

Timeline of Episode:

00:00 Welcome to the Social Psychic Radio Show

01:11 Introduction to the Episode and Guest

01:28 Oksana’s Family History and Writing Journey

04:09 Parallels Between Historical and Current Events

08:19 Advocacy and Outreach for Ukraine

16:23 Challenges and Resilience of Ukrainian Forced Laborers

36:33 The Importance of Community and Cultural Preservation

43:16 Final Thoughts and Call to Action

49:21 Closing Remarks

Send Audience To:

https://sunflowersrarelybreak.com

Book landing page is up and running.

https://sunflowersrarelybreak.com/

Download the first chapter of Sunflowers Bend but Rarely Break

The debut narrative non-fiction from Oksana Kukurudza: a daughter of Ukrainian refugees who made a successful life for herself in New York City. In Sunflowers Bend but Rarely Break, Oksana shares her Ukrainian parents' experiences growing up in Ukraine in the 1920s and 1930s, being duped into going to Germany to work as slaves for the Third Reich and becoming displaced person refugees in Germany after liberation before finally making a home in the United States to raise their twelve children. Oksana also details the loss of loved ones from war and what it was like for her family to be separated for fifty plus years from their families behind the iron curtain until their bittersweet reunion that started Oksana on her own unforgettable journey.

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