Time correspondent Simon Shuster has been interviewing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy since 2019, when Zelenskyy was still a famous entertainer and satirist. Shuster talks about Zelenskyy's rise to power, the infamous call with Trump that led to Trump's first impeachment, and how the war with Russia has changed him. Shuster's new book is The Showman. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy
On the Ted radio hour, linguist Ann Curzan says she gets a lot of complaints about people using the pronoun they to refer to one person.
I sometimes get into arguments with people where they will say to me, but.
It can't be singular.
And I will say, but it is.
The history behind words causing a lot of debate.
That's on the Ted radio hour from NPR.
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I'm Dave Davies.
Now and then in the affairs of nations, a celebrity entertainer becomes a prominent political leader.
Think Ronald Reagan.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, Eva Perrone.
In Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy made an unlikely transition from actor and comedian to president and is now one of the most recognizable heads of state in the world, known for his fearless leadership as his country fights to repel the russian invasion.
Our guest, Time magazine senior correspondent Simon Shuster, is perhaps uniquely qualified to tell Zelenskyy's story.
He was born in Moscow, the son of a ukrainian father and a russian mother.
His family emigrated to the United States when he was six, and after graduating from Stanford, he went into journalism.
He's been reporting from Russia and Ukraine for 17 years for Reuters, the Associated Press, and since 2009 for Time.
His new book is a revealing look at Zelenskyy's life and career, drawn in significant part from Schuster's own time with Zelenskyy in the presidential compound in Kyiv and and traveling with Zelenskyy to sites of combat and atrocities.
Schuster also did extensive interviews with Zelenskyy's associates, allies, family and adversaries.
His account is full of information and insights that were new to me.
He finds that Zelenskyy's background as an entertainer was valuable training for his role in convincing western leaders and their citizens to support Ukraine's fight for independence.