“Budget Talks” Podcast
“Budget Talks” is a podcast by the Fiscal Policy Research Center where we explain complex topics in simple terms: how budgets are formed, how expenditures are monitored, and how the public finance system works in Ukraine.
We invite people who work directly with these processes to share real, insider perspectives.
TOP Episodes
2026-03-06 · Podcast · 🎧 Season 3 · 👁 54.6K views · 🏷 Public administration, Public Finance, Social policy
Minister of Social Policy Denys Uliutin: Social Support Cannot Be Permanent
Podcast on Ukraine’s social policy: discusses IDPs, social payments, and reforms to ensure efficient and targeted support during wartime.
2026-05-13 · Podcast · 🎧 Season 3 · 👁 52.9K views · 🏷 Recovery
Deputy Minister of Finance Oleksandr Kava: There’s no point in redoing everything from scratch, but we definitely need to integrate into the European system
A podcast on Ukraine’s roads, railways, Euro-gauge integration, and transport infrastructure recovery during wartime.
2025-08-01 · Podcast · 🎧 Season 2 · 👁 50.6K views · 🏷 Public administration, Public Finance, Tax policy
Acting Head of the State Tax Service: “A tax return reflects human lives”
Podcast on taxes in Ukraine: revenues, tax policy changes, and the role of the Tax Service during wartime.
2025-03-04 · Podcast · 🎧 Season 2 · 👁 46.3K views · 🏷 Public administration, Public Finance, Tax policy
Hetmantsev: We have demolished most of the “schemes” that cost the budget billions
Podcast on Ukraine’s tax policy: shadow economy, tax reforms, and budget decisions affecting revenues and economic stability.
2026-04-02 · Podcast · 🎧 Season 3 · 👁 41.8K views · 🏷 Education, Public administration, Social policy
KSE Rector Tymofii Brik: Higher education in Ukraine is an industry in a constant state of crisis
Podcast on higher education in Ukraine: discusses funding, competition for students, and challenges facing universities during war and recovery.
Season 3 (2026)
Special Projects
Season 2 (2025)
2025-06-25 · Podcast · 🎧 Season 2 · 👁 20.5K views · 🏷 Economics, International partners, Local governance
Mayor of Mykolaiv: The hardest part of being a mayor is the daily battle against temptation.
Podcast on frontline Mykolaiv: budget constraints, recovery efforts, international support, and resilience of the city during war.
2025-05-26 · Podcast · 🎧 Season 2 · 👁 7.9K views · 🏷 Education, International partners, Local governance
School Meal Reform: Why upgrading school kitchens is not only - and not so much - about food
Podcast on school nutrition reform in Ukraine: modernization of kitchens, procurement transparency, and efficient use of public funds.
2025-04-18 · Podcast · 🎧 Season 2 · 👁 13.4K views · 🏷 Local governance, Public administration, Public Finance
How does Ukraine’s State Audit Service operate during wartime?
Podcast on Ukraine’s State Audit Service: audits of recovery projects, procurement monitoring, and challenges in ensuring transparency during war.
Season 1 (2024)
2024-09-11 · Podcast · 🎧 Season 1 · 👁 8.6K views · 🏷 Local governance, Public administration, Recovery
On “indestructible hubs,” library reform, and Lenin
How a frontline city operates: Zaporizhzhia’s budget, business, shelters, and community resilience during war.
2024-06-24 · Podcast · 🎧 Season 1 · 👁 22.5K views · 🏷 Local governance, Public administration, Recovery
On War, Decentralization, and Bidding Farewell to the Soviet Past
How does decentralization work in wartime? What is life like for communities without "military" personal income tax?