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.