The honeymoon phase ends quickly for newlywed Svetlana as she chafes against communal life at Taliesin — and its overbearing leader.

The honeymoon phase ends quickly for newlywed Svetlana as she chafes against communal life at Taliesin — and its overbearing leader.

In 1967, Joseph Stalin’s daughter braved her way over the Iron Curtain, secret memoir in tow, and landed in America as the Cold War’s most famous defector. At 40 years old, Svetlana had left everything behind for a new life in the West and the chance to finally share her story. What she found instead — a controversial commune in the Arizona desert built by Frank Lloyd Wright, a whirlwind marriage dictated by destiny, and a Montenegrin matriarch with dreams of immortality — was far more complicated. In Svetlana! Svetlana! neurotic playwright Dan Kitrosser unravels the weird and wild life of his greatest muse.

In 1967, Joseph Stalin’s daughter braved her way over the Iron Curtain, secret memoir in tow, and landed in America as the Cold War’s most famous defector. At 40 years old, Svetlana had left everything behind for a new life in the West and the chance to finally share her story. What she found instead — a controversial commune in the Arizona desert built by Frank Lloyd Wright, a whirlwind marriage dictated by destiny, and a Montenegrin matriarch with dreams of immortality — was far more complicated. In Svetlana! Svetlana! neurotic playwright Dan Kitrosser unravels the weird and wild life of his greatest muse.

Svetlana! Svetlana!

Mother Knows Best

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/118ca7cd-5d8c-4ff0-9c61-afc1017da048/transcript

After pinballing around the world for two decades, the only thing Svetlana has left is her story. But what will it take for the world to hear it?

After pinballing around the world for two decades, the only thing Svetlana has left is her story. But what will it take for the world to hear it?

The Last Laugh

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/05c55d03-a235-4a9c-a703-afde00ffc78d/transcript

Svetlana keeps searching for a place that feels like home. Could it be America? Could it be England? Could it be… Russia and the children that she left behind 18 years ago?

Svetlana keeps searching for a place that feels like home. Could it be America? Could it be England? Could it be… Russia and the children that she left behind 18 years ago?

Back to the USSR

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/041ff89e-ee77-47c5-b06c-afd601682009/transcript

Svetlana reaches a breaking point at Taliesin. But as she tries to move forward into the next chapter of her life, her past continues to haunt her.

Svetlana reaches a breaking point at Taliesin. But as she tries to move forward into the next chapter of her life, her past continues to haunt her.

Divorce Taliesin Style

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/3e673c5c-3f72-42a5-8bdb-afcf01454ed2/transcript

Mother Knows Best

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Svetlana! Svetlana!

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