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

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. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN Kyiv under fire: A first-hand account of air-raid sirens, evacuations, and working through missile strikes The Soviet shadow: How post-Soviet distrust fuels Ukraine’s self-organising spirit, entrepreneurial drive, and digital-first approach to governance. Comedy as translation: How Gil uses humour to bridge the empathy gap and make the war relatable to those far removed from it. Misleading headlines: What “billions in aid” actually looks like and why surface-level stats breed hostility and misinformation. Peace through deterrence: Iryna’s uncompromising vision for peace in strength TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Botox for Burping – the weirdest opening ever 01:13 Meet Iryna Gil 02:45 Growing up in post-Soviet Ukraine 10:13 Starting stand-up in Kyiv 14:18 Ukraine’s hustle culture and distrust of government 21:04 24 Feb 2022: missiles hit Kyiv 28:54 Leaving home under fire 32:10 Zoom calls from bomb shelters and hiding behind two walls 39:47 Losing safety, leaving Kyiv 43:52 Starting over in Scotland 48:45 Grieving a life left behind 50:38 Comedy, trauma, and fighter jets 53:55 What "billions in aid" actually means 57:00 The real cost of headlines and public perception 1:01:48 Has Ukraine faded from public attention? 1:04:32 Genocide Olympics and comparative advocacy 1:05:38 What peace really looks like 1:06:47 Closing thanks LINKS Follow Iryna Gil – https://www.instagram.com/gil_iryna Follow David – https://www.instagram.com/davidmcintoshjr Support verified Ukrainian charities – (Add specific links) Support on Patreon – Patreon.com/davidmcintoshjr Buy Origin Story merch – originstoryclub.co.uk Support verified Ukranian charities - Save Life: https://savelife.in.ua/en/projects/military-en/status/active/ U24: https://u24.gov.ua/projects ABOUT ORIGIN STORY WITH DAVID MCINTOSH 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.