“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 · 👁 54.5K 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.
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 · 👁 41.7K 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.
2026-03-19 · Podcast · 🎧 Special project · 👁 39.3K views · 🏷 Education, International partners, Public administration
Deputy Head of the SASU V. Marushevskyi: When a country says there are no violations – that is a bad signal for the EU
Podcast on Ukraine Facility implementation: procurement rules, audits, and transparency challenges in managing recovery funds.
Season 3 (2026)
2026-04-02 · Podcast · 🎧 Season 3 · 👁 41.7K 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.
2026-03-06 · Podcast · 🎧 Season 3 · 👁 54.5K 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.
Special Projects
2026-03-19 · Podcast · 🎧 Special project · 👁 39.3K views · 🏷 Education, International partners, Public administration
Deputy Head of the SASU V. Marushevskyi: When a country says there are no violations – that is a bad signal for the EU
Podcast on Ukraine Facility implementation: procurement rules, audits, and transparency challenges in managing recovery funds.
2024-04-24 · Podcast · 🎧 Special project · 👁 8.6K views · 🏷 Public administration
Member of the Accounting Chamber K. Klymenko: At the core of the reform is the issue of the inability to provide adequate funding for everyone
Podcast on civil servant salaries in Ukraine: wage reform, bonuses, and how pay levels affect the quality of public governance.
2024-03-30 · Podcast · 🎧 Special project · 👁 14.5K views · 🏷 Public administration, Public Finance
Money and power: analysis of salaries in the civil servic
Podcast on civil servant salaries during war: wage reform, bonuses, and disparities affecting fairness and efficiency in public administration.
Season 2 (2025)
2025-12-14 · Podcast · 🎧 Season 2 · 👁 29.2K views · 🏷 Economics, International partners, Public administration
First Deputy Governor of the NBU: The IMF does not come to countries that are doing well
Podcast on NBU policy and hryvnia stability: IMF cooperation, reserves, and exchange rate risks during war.
2025-09-25 · Podcast · 🎧 Season 2 · 👁 32.2K views · 🏷 International partners, Public administration, Recovery
Alyona Shkrum: “Right now, we are fighting for every $15 million for reconstruction”
Podcast on Ukraine’s recovery: investments, housing, infrastructure, and financing challenges for rebuilding during war.
2025-09-08 · Podcast · 🎧 Season 2 · 👁 27.2K views · 🏷 International partners, Public administration, Public Finance
Head of the Budget Committee of the VRU, Roksolana Pidlasa: “I don’t understand why some parliamentary factions vote out of spite”
Podcast on Ukraine’s state budget: funding, salaries, pensions, and international support amid wartime fiscal challenges.
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.
2025-06-25 · 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.
Season 1 (2024)
2024-10-03 · Podcast · 🎧 Season 1 · 👁 24.6K views · 🏷 Economics, Public Finance, Tax policy
On the budget gap, economic mobilization and tax increases
Ukraine’s budget deficit, tax policy, and economic mobilization: how to finance war and sustain the economy.
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.
2024-08-05 · Podcast · 🎧 Season 1 · 👁 12.4K views · 🏷 Economics, Public administration, Recovery
About macroeconomic indicators, inflation and "black swans"
About macroeconomic indicators and their impact on the daily life of every Ukrainian. Why is inflation important?
2024-07-11 · Podcast · 🎧 Season 1 · 👁 7.3K views · 🏷 Public administration, Social policy
On social security, digitalization and benefits for veterans
Social protection of Ukrainians during the war. Why is the issue of inclusion not only and not so much about payments?
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?
2024-05-13 · Podcast · 🎧 Season 1 · 👁 20.5K views · 🏷 Economics, Public administration
Budget Talks - On public procurement, "eggs for 17" and DOT
Podcast on public procurement in Ukraine: Prozorro reforms, wartime changes, and transparency challenges in managing public funds.