Shows
Survivors - Stories of Hope Live On.S5 E20 Her parents were slave labor in WWII. Why aren't we talking about that more?Oksana's parents were both 'conscripted' into being slave labor for the Nazis. They weren't in a concentration camp, so we've never heard of them. But there were more people forced into slave labor during the war than were killed in camps. This is a side of the war rarely (if ever) discussed. It's time that changed.
Get this author’s book:
https://www.amazon.com/shop/detailedpieces/list/IVJ5YU6UP2ZS?ref_=aip_sf_cur_spv_ofs_d
Find this guest online:
https://sunflowersrarelybreak.com/htt...2025-01-1428 min
Creativity Found: finding creativity later in lifeOksana Kukurudza – storytelling in times of conflictOksana Kukurudza is currently immersed in a deeply personal writing project titled Sunflowers Bend But Rarely Break, which explores her parents' harrowing experiences as forced labourers in Nazi Germany during World War II. Oksana's motivation for writing stems not only from her parents' stories but also from the striking parallels she observes between their experiences and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.Born and raised in Western Ukraine, which was part of Poland before the war, Oksana's mother, just 17 years old in 1941, and her father, 20 at the time, fell victim to Nazi propaganda and coercion that led many Slavs...2024-11-1035 min
Wickedly Smart WomenThe Fight Against Exploitation: Oksana Kukurudza - EP285We are excited to bring you our latest episode featuring a deeply moving conversation with Ukrainian American author, speaker, and management consultant, Oksana Kukurudza. Oksana shares her powerful story and insights on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the historical significance of her homeland, and the pressing need for global support. Tune in now to hear this enlightening episode. Let's stand in solidarity and work towards a future that learns from its history. What You Will Learn 1. How does Oksana Kukurudza draw parallels between the forced labor experiences during World War 2 and current events, a...2024-08-1429 min
Jason Zuk, The Social Psychic™We Stand With Ukraine: Sunflowers Bend, Her Stories Endure: Special Guest Oksana Kukurudza, Writer, and Daughter of Ukrainian Refugees who survived the Nazi forced labor camps during World War IIBiography for Special Guest Oksana Kukurudza Oksana Kukurudza is the daughter of Ukrainian refugees who survived Nazi forced labor camps during WWII and then spent years in Displaced Person Camps in Europe before finding a home in the USA. Our guest earned her CPA and MBA and she has worked internationally in Ukraine and Italy during her thirty-year career. Today, Oksana works as a Manhattan based Managing Director of a global consulting, technology and outsourcing firm, while beginning a second career as a writer. She has written about her story in two anthologies, Going Against The Grain, an...2024-07-1051 min
The Audacious Living PodcastSunflowers Never Break! Featuring Oksana Kukurudza“Sunflowers are very hardy flowers that need much sun... They reach for
the sun, bend but rarely break."
Oksana Kukurudza
Author | Storyteller | Advocate for Social Responsibility & Equity
_____________________
Oksana Kukurudza is a storyteller and advocate for social responsibility
and equity. With a background in finance and consulting, Oksana's
journey was deeply influenced by her family's experience during World
War Two, inspiring her to share their untold stories.
Through her upcoming book, "Sunflowers Rarely Break," Oksana aims to
shed light on the experiences of those who endured hardship and trauma,
emphasizing the importance of remembering history and promoting a
socially responsible fu...2024-07-0330 min
Going North PodcastEp. 856 – The Bestselling Planner Pivot with Dr. Nicole Janz (@drnicolejanz)"Trust that you are worthy to be seen." – Dr. Nicole Janz Today’s featured author is a former academic and journalist turned mindset and book coach, Dr. Nicole Janz. Dr. Nicole and I had a chat about her book, “The Write Habit: The #1 Undated Annual Planner and Workbook for Busy Writers to Set Better Goals, Optimise Your Flow, and Write Daily With Ease”, the role that fears and self-doubt plays in hindering writers, her thoughts on AI, and more!!!Key Things You’ll Learn:What prompted Dr. Nicole to leave academia a...2024-06-2843 min
SaturdayjavawithjasonTalking with Oksana Kukurudza, her parents struggles in WWIIOksana Kukurudza is the daughter of Ukrainian refugees and is a former consulting managing director of Accenture in New York, USA. Oksana has written about her story in two anthologies, Going Against The Grain, and Think Limitlessly and is now writing a narrative non-fiction, "Sunflowers Bend but Rarely Break".
Oksana talks about in detail what they went through and what WWII was like for her parents.2024-06-2732 min
Word of Mom RadioOksana Kukurudza & Sunflowers Rarely Break The Authors Alley with Dori DeCarloOksana Kukurudza is a Ukrainian American author, speaker, and management consultant born in Rochester, NY and currently living in New York City. She is a first-generation American, born to Ukrainian immigrant parents. Oksana attended Boston University and Emory’s Gozuieta Business School, earning a BSBA and MBA. Her specialty areas are accounting, finance, and management consulting.
Inspired by the events of the Russo-Ukraine War and her own parents’ story of surviving slave camps of the Third Reich during WWII, Oksana is writing a narrative non-fiction called Sunflowers Bend But Rarely Break. This will be Oksana’s first major literary work.
Join h...2024-06-0737 min
Break Your Bullsh*t Box330: Telling the Important Stories with Oksana KukurudzaToday's Guest: Oksana Kukurudza Oksana Kukurudza is a Ukrainian American author and management consultant living in New York City. She is a first-generation American, born to Ukrainian immigrant parents, and is the youngest of twelve siblings. Through her work, Oksana spent eighteen months in Ukraine. Inspired by the events of the Russo-Ukraine War and her own parents’ story of surviving slave camps of the Third Reich during WWII, Oksana is writing her first major literary work.Episode Quotes:"I graduated in 93' when companies were making it...2024-05-2045 min
Immigrant SquaredSeason 2 Episode 71 -Embrace all of you- Don’t try to be too AmericanizedOksana is the youngest of 12 children, and a daughter of Ukrainian refugees. Growing up in Rochester, NY Oksana was immersed into the Ukrainian culture at home but had to
follow the American culture outside. Hence she did not feel like she fit into either.
In college being surrounded by multicultural students helped her understand herself better and that it was ok to be a blend. As she got older she embraced the Ukrainian side more than her siblings. In her mid twenties, she had an opportunity to go to Ukraine and spend time working there.
O...2024-04-2927 min
AMERIKINIZEDSaving Sunflowers with Oksana KukurudzaOksana is a Ukrainian-American author and activist who shares her advocacy work through her upcoming narrative non-fiction, "Sunflowers Bend but Rarely Break". Her book uncovers the overlooked historical and traumatic events experienced by her parents, two among 13 million forced laborers in Nazi Germany.
"Sunflowers Bend but Rarely Break" illustrates "the resilience and strength of the Ukrainian people".
CALL TO ACTION :)
Oksana's book: https://sunflowersrarelybreak.com/
Ukraine Aid: https://www.razomforukraine.org/
Gaza Aid:
https://ceasefiretoday.com/
taxpayersforpeace.org
afsc.org
Make...2024-04-0234 min
Living the Dream with CurveballLiving the dream with author and activist Oksana KukurudzaSend us a textFrom the echoes of World War II to the current conflict in Ukraine, join us on the Living the Dream podcast with Curveball as we dive into a gripping narrative with Oksana Kukurudza. Discover her family's harrowing journey from Nazi slave camps to success in America, and how history's shadows loom over today's geopolitical struggles. Oksana's tale is a testament to resilience, a reminder of the past, and a call to action for the future. Tune in to be inspired by a story of survival and triumph against all odds.2024-03-1830 min
The Stuph File Program#0759: Raymond Benson; Alan Hustak; & Stuart NulmanThe Stuph File Program
Featuring Raymond Benson, author of James Bond: The Raymond Benson Years; journalist Alan Hustak, author of One Long Line Of Marvel: 200 Years Of Montreal's St. Patrick's Parade; & Stuart Nulman with Book Banter
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Raymond Benson was the first American to write an original James Bond novel. He wrote six of them, and now they are all about to be rereleased in an omnibus edition for the Kindle called James Bond: The Raymond Benson Years.
Alan Hustak is the author of One Long Line Of Marvel: 200 Years Of Montreal's St. Patrick's Parade.
Stuart Nulman with another edition of B...2024-03-0457 min
𝑰𝒎𝒎𝒊𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝑴𝒂𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒏 𝑰𝒎𝒑𝒂𝒄𝒕E. 45 Reardless of our background and culture, we are the same people'Regardless of our culture, background, and experiences, we are essentially the same people. It is the ritual that differs and the way we express what is important to us' - Oksana Kukurudza - People move because they want to, many people do that out of necessity. So be kind. Many flee violence and terrible situations at home and they want to do well, contribute, and work hard in the new country' - Oksana Kukurudza - ' I never felt quite American and never felt Ukrainian. I always felt as i...2024-03-0341 min
WPRN Public RadioInterview with Oksana Kukurudza2024-02-1209 min
Conversations with Rich BennettFrom Ukrainian Refugee Roots to Authorship with Oksana KukurudzaIn this episode titled "From Ukrainian Refugee Roots to Authorship with Oksana Kukurudza," sponsored by "Maryland Pro Wash," Oksana Kukurudza shares her compelling journey from her family's Ukrainian refugee origins to becoming a successful author. She delves into her book, "Sunflowers Bend, but Rarely Break," which explores her family's harrowing experiences during World War II and the Cold War, shedding light on Ukrainian history and identity. The episode also covers Oksana's career achievements and her insights on current Ukrainian events, reflecting her deep connection to her heritage. Here are links for you to bookmark, save, f...2024-01-221h 10
Soraya -Be Convinced! Sharing Lifechanging Stories of HopeEp. #156 - Author Oksana Kukurudza Shares the Struggles and Triumphs of Her Ukrainian FamilyMy guest Oksana Kukuruzda is a management consultant. But, for our podcast, we will talk about her role as an author and a proud daughter of Ukrainian parents. She has written a non-fiction book titled Sunflowers Bend but Rarely Break, where she invites readers to learn about Ukrainian history and national identity through her parents’ experiences and struggles during World War II and its aftermath. Sunflowers are the national flowers of Ukraine. She tells us about the approximately 12 million Eastern European slave workers during that war who endured many hardships. These facts are not readily known to us, but she has...2024-01-0130 minThe Stuph File Program#0743: Oksana Kukurudza; Kalee Boisvert; & Stuart NulmanThe Stuph File Program
Featuring Oksana Kukurudza, author of Sunflowers Bend But Rarely Break; Kalee Boisvert, author of MoneyWise Mabel’s Bursting Bank; & Stuart Nulman with Book Banter
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Oksana Kukurudza is an American-born Ukrainian-American who is writing a non-fiction narrative about her Ukrainian parents and their experience in Nazi slave camps. The book will be called Sunflowers Bend But Rarely Break.
Kalee Boisvert is a financial planner who has written a book about money managing for children called MoneyWise Mabel’s Bursting Bank. She's also the author of a money managing book for women called Make Money Your Thing: Ditch t...2023-11-1357 min
No Need to Explain with the Mental Health MamasSunflowers Bend but Rarely Break with Oksana Kukurudza We continue our theme of immigrant culture and assimilation this week. Immigrants have family history and culture deeply rooted in their country of origin. Our guest this week is Oksana Kukurudza whose parents were Ukrainian refugees. She shares stories of the Ukrainian struggles past and present and growing up with immigrant parents and their struggles. Listen in to hear how she has been affected by her history and how she is being intentional about how she is raising her daughter. https://sunflowersrarelybreak.com/Facebook: Oksana KukurudzaInstagram: OksanaKukarudza2Visit our website for more con...2023-10-3132 min
Going North PodcastEp. 743 – “Sunflowers Bend But Rarely Break” with Oksana Kukurudza (@KukurudzaOksana)“Human beings, as much as we say we evolve in many ways, we make the same mistakes over and over and over again with history repeating itself.” – Oksana KukurudzaToday’s featured author is a mom, world traveler, and management consultant, Oksana Kukurudza. Oksana and I had a chat about her upcoming book "Sunflowers Bend But Rarely Break", the importance of our roots, and more!! Key Things You’ll Learn:What fuels her writingWhat it was like growing up with family on the other side of the Iron Curtain...2023-10-2645 min
The Future of LeadershipFighting for independence - the Ukrainian perspective from Oksana KukurudzaOksana Kukurudza is a Ukrainian American author, speaker and management consultant who joins me from upstate New York to share her remarkable family history and her perspective on what’s happening today in Ukraine. We time-jump almost 100 years and yet many things remain or resonate for people who have already lived through unimaginable conflict, displacement and hardship. We navigate through Oksana’s parents' journey from being slaves in Nazi Germany to finding a home in the USA. It's remarkable how their enduring spirit enabled them to overcome the challenges of poverty and insecurity. It serves as a remin...2023-10-1052 min
The Lean to the Left PodcastOksana Kukurudza: Comparing WWII & the Russo-Ukraine WarHouse Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s deal to prevent shutting down the government omitted a $6 billion request for aid to support Ukraine in its war with Russia.Today on the Lean to the Left podcast we have a guest who will describe her parents’ experience in Nazi slave camps and who is writing a book drawing parallels between WWII and the Russo-Ukraine war today.Oksana Kukurudza’s parents were in Nazi slave camps during WWII, then liberated by the U.S. Army, placed in refugee camps, and then finally settled in America where they raised their 12 children.2023-10-0830 min
I Am Refocused RadioOksana Kukurudza - "Sunflowers Bend but Rarely Break"Oksana Kukurudza, the daughter of Ukrainian refugees, is now the managing director of Accenture in New York, USA. She has written about her story in two anthologies, Going Against The Grain, and Think Limitlessly and is now writing a narrative non-fiction, "Sunflowers Bend but Rarely Break".In it, she delves into the poignant stories of her family's experiences during World War II and the Cold War era. Oksana explores the hardships faced by her mother, Sofya, and father, Mykhaylo, uncovering historical events often overlooked. With her captivating writing style, she invites readers to understand Ukrainian history and national...2023-09-3028 min
Apollo Papyrus PodcastInterview with Oksana Kukurudza, author of Sunflowers Bend but Rarely BreakFor the 100th episode of The Heartland Author Podcast, host Aaron Apollo Camp interviews Oksana Kukurudza. Oksana is the author of the soon-to-be-released narrative nonfiction book Sunflowers Bend but Rarely Break, which is about the atrocities Oksana's ancestors suffered at the hands of the Nazis, their liberation by the U.S. Army, and their emigration to the United States.
The website for Sunflowers Bend but Rarely Break is https://sunflowersrarelybreak.com/.2023-08-2621 min
Late BoomersFrom Ukraine to the USA: A Journey Through Generations with Oksana KukurudzaJoin us on our remarkable journey with Author Oksana Kukurudza, the child of Ukrainian immigrants, as she unveils a narrative that spans generations. She talks about the war in Ukraine today and her book Sunflowers Bend But Rarely Break where she weaves together her parents' survival stories of Russian Oppression, the horrors of World War II Nazi slave camps, their immigration to America and her own her own experience as the child of immigrants.Check out Oksana's site for her book hereThank you for listening. Please check out @lateboomers on Instagram and our website lateboomers...2023-08-2344 min
The My Future Business™ ShowOksana Kukurudza2023-08-2240 min