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The Pre-Made PodcastAuthor: Matthew C Collins
In this podcast, you'll hear stories primarily from my Amherst College Class of 1994 classmates as we reflect on life 30 years removed from graduation day. What have we been up to all these years? How has Amherst and a liberal arts education impacted our lives? What college memories have stayed with us? How are we thinking about the next 20 years? Language: en Genres: Arts, Performing Arts, Society & Culture Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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John Haskell Chose Russia, And One Forged Signature Changed Everything
Tuesday, 10 February, 2026
John Haskell has spent over 20 years living in Russia, a decision that began as a calculated professional bet in the post-Soviet 1990s and became, almost accidentally, a permanent life. John walks us through what it has meant to build a family, a business, and a sense of home in a place most Americans only know through headlines, and why the reality on the ground often looks very different from what we imagine from afar. We talk about the moment that anchored him there: a near-surreal episode involving forged documents, vanished partners, and a company secretly sold out from under him. Out of that chaos came an improbable outcome: John salvaged thousands of acres of farmland and eventually built a cattle operation that he still operates to this day. Along the way, he offers rare, thoughtful context about personal safety, perceived risk, and what daily life in Russia actually feels like for an American who has chosen to stay. John also reflects on the enduring value of a liberal arts education—especially language learning—as preparation for an uncertain future. Highlights include: What it’s really like to live in Russia as an American during decades of political and social upheaval How a near-fraud and forged signature unexpectedly rooted John there Why perceived danger and lived security often don’t line up The long-term value of language learning and a liberal arts toolkit The Amherst classmates he wants me to interview next. Email John at johnhhaskell@gmail.com or find him on Facebook. Big thanks to Evan Wollen for nominating John.
