Episode 52

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Published on:

3rd Feb 2026

Ukrainian Battlefield Medic (Alina Sarnatska; ft. The Leleka Foundation)

In this episode, the guys collaborate with the Leleka Foundation on the four-year anniversary of Russia’s latest invasion of Ukraine. Leleka’s Head of Strategic Communications, Iryna Solomko, provides insight on the background and current issues of the conflict. Also on this episode is Alina Sarnatska, a former battlefield medic. She provides a unique insight with personal stories of the heartache, tragedy, and perseverance that defines the reality of the situation in Ukraine.

The Leleka Foundation is an American-Ukrainian charitable partnership dedicated to helping medics in Ukraine save lives on the front lines. Its mission is to help medics in Ukraine save lives on the front lines. The roots of Leleka Foundation trace back to spring of 2014, when Russia launched its initial invasion of Ukraine, illegally annexing Crimea and occupying parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. From a grassroots fundraising effort to a fully operational system, Leleka Foundation has remained steadfast in its mission: to equip Ukraine’s frontline medics with the tools they need to save lives. To support Leleka and its cause, visit their website at Leleka.care to donate.

Music provided by Quincy Ledbetter (https://www.qledbetter.com/).

Artwork provided by Megan Weaver (https://meganweaverart.com/).

Special thank you to our premium members. If you’d like to support the show and listen ad free, you can become a premium member by clicking subscribe in your Apple podcast app or visit https://thebaggagepodcast.com/support to sign up or to gift a membership to someone. A percentage of all proceeds go to charity.

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About the Podcast

Baggage

Everyone has a story.

Baggage is a podcast showcasing a collection of compelling, unique, and sometimes traumatic stories from people of all walks of life. These stories typically only get heard by the storyteller’s friends, family, or co-workers. Now there is a platform for everyday individuals to share their experiences with a larger audience as well as how they cope with the emotional and mental baggage that sometimes follows those events. Once a month, the show’s hosts—Eric Shaw (doctor), Ryan Frank (prosecutor), Adrian Bonenberger (journalist/author), and Ryan Conner (comedian)—hear a different set of stories bringing their own distinct perspectives. Sometimes serious and sometimes humorous, it’s sure to always be interesting.

The show is a unique vehicle to highlight and donate to charities who contribute to trauma and mental needs. Collaborating charities include the Dear Jack Foundation (https://www.dearjackfoundation.org/ ) and Canine Companions (https://canine.org/ ), among others. The ultimate goal of the show is to donate profits directly to these charities, as well as give them a platform to get their message out. If you are interested in helping the show achieve this goal, please donate to help with marketing and growth.

To share your story or ask a question, email us at thebaggagepodcast@gmail.com.

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About your hosts

Eric Shaw

Eric is a pediatrician in Denver, Colorado. He started his medical career as a volunteer EMT in Blacksburg, Virginia. He practiced professionally as a Cardiac Tech for Richmond Ambulance Authority. He attended VCU Medical School and completed his pediatrics training at The Children's Hospital of the King's Daughter's in Norfolk. He currently is a partner at Pediatrics West, and an associate professor at Rocky Vista University.

Ryan Frank

Ryan Frank has prosecuted criminal cases since graduating law school in 2012. He's handled everything from petit theft to homicides with a focus on child-victim crimes. Before going to law school, he served in the Marine Corps with two combat tours in Iraq.

Adrian Bonenberger

Adrian Bonenberger is an essayist, writer, and poet. In addition to publishing his war memoirs and co-editing an anthology of veteran fiction, his writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Foreign Policy, Commonweal Magazine, The New Republic, Forbes, and other outlets. He co-founded and edits fiction for The Wrath-Bearing Tree. Several of his books can been found here.

Ryan Conner

Ryan Conner is a writer/comedian who has been on the Late Late Show with James Corden and was a Top-10 finalist on NBC’s Last Comic Standing. View his website, https://ryanconnercomedy.com/, for his latest tour dates. His debut novel, The Party, is available for purchase on Amazon.