RedCircle VERIFY_TOKEN_61957215-b0aa-4ab7-8a8f-cca9e1b4c775 -- Rendered At Sat, 30 May 2026 08:35:58 +0000 Steppe Ahead - The Central Asia Podcast https://redcircle.com/shows/steppe-ahead-the-central-asia-podcast en-US All rights reserved. Jonas Prien, Thorsten Gutmann & Thomas Baier Steppe Ahead – The Central Asia Podcast Insights from the heart of Eurasia By Jonas Prien, Thorsten Gutmann and Thomas Baier Central Asia is one of the world’s most dynamic and most overlooked regions. With ambitious young people, rapidly growing economies, dynamic investments, and some of the world’s most strategic trade routes and natural resources crossing its vast landscape, the region is becoming increasingly important to global business and geopolitics. Still, it receives the attention it deserves. Steppe Ahead aims to change that! Each episode explores key developments shaping Central Asia from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Azerbaijan. The podcast breaks down markets, politics, and regional trends through the perspectives of regional experts. For anyone who wants to understand Central Asia before it becomes impossible to ignore. New episodes? Whenever the region gives us something worth talking about! 61957215-b0aa-4ab7-8a8f-cca9e1b4c775 Steppe Ahead – The Central Asia Podcast

Insights from the heart of Eurasia

By Jonas Prien, Thorsten Gutmann and Thomas Baier

Central Asia is one of the world’s most dynamic and most overlooked regions. With ambitious young people, rapidly growing economies, dynamic investments, and some of the world’s most strategic trade routes and natural resources crossing its vast landscape, the region is becoming increasingly important to global business and geopolitics. Still, it receives the attention it deserves.

Steppe Ahead aims to change that! 

Each episode explores key developments shaping Central Asia from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Azerbaijan. The podcast breaks down markets, politics, and regional trends through the perspectives of regional experts.

For anyone who wants to understand Central Asia before it becomes impossible to ignore.

New episodes? Whenever the region gives us something worth talking about!

]]> episodic no Jonas Prien, Thorsten Gutmann & Thomas Baier baier@tcbservice.net no full Football Revolution: Uzbekistan Leads Central Asia to the World Stage Football Revolution: Uzbekistan Leads Central Asia to the World Stage Jonas Prien, Thorsten Gutmann & Thomas Baier Jonas and Thomas record a special football-focused Steppe Ahead podcast. They discuss Uzbekistan qualifying for its first World Cup in the expanded 2026 tournament and preview Group K. The conversation frames football as a tool for national branding and highlights upcoming events such as the 2027 U20 World Cup in Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan. They review Central Asian talent and transfers, including Manchester City’s Huzanov and Chelsea’s 17-year-old Satpayev, revisit Bunyodkor Tashkent’s 2008–2011 experiment with stars like Rivaldo and coaches like Zico and Scolari, and cover Kazakhstan’s club momentum led by Kairat Almaty’s Champions League success and stadium expansion, plus major regional venues such as Ashgabat’s Olympic Stadium.

]]> <p>Jonas and Thomas record a special football-focused Steppe Ahead podcast. They discuss Uzbekistan qualifying for its first World Cup in the expanded 2026 tournament and preview Group K. The conversation frames football as a tool for national branding and highlights upcoming events such as the 2027 U20 World Cup in Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan. They review Central Asian talent and transfers, including Manchester City’s Huzanov and Chelsea’s 17-year-old Satpayev, revisit Bunyodkor Tashkent’s 2008–2011 experiment with stars like Rivaldo and coaches like Zico and Scolari, and cover Kazakhstan’s club momentum led by Kairat Almaty’s Champions League success and stadium expansion, plus major regional venues such as Ashgabat’s Olympic Stadium.</p> 5fbc1612-422b-4cc6-81f1-b987d2814d98 https://redcircle.com/shows/61957215-b0aa-4ab7-8a8f-cca9e1b4c775/episodes/de407201-1884-4c23-8ca4-8089e64f48a7 Wed, 20 May 2026 22:28:38 +0000 2006 no full Team Astana: Successful Sports Branding & Humboldt in Central Asia Team Astana: Successful Sports Branding & Humboldt in Central Asia Jonas Prien, Thorsten Gutmann & Thomas Baier In this episode of the Steppe Ahead Podcast, Jonas and Thomas discuss Alexander von Humboldt’s 1829 expedition through Russia and into Kazakhstan and Kazakhstan’s cycling team Astana as a global branding project. Jonas outlines how Humboldt, traveled for months from St. Petersburg via Moscow, the Urals and Altai toward northeastern Kazakhstan near the Chinese border to study geology, climate and natural resources, while facing censorship and constant supervision. Thomas then shares his first personal connection to Kazakhstan through Tour de France coverage and rider Alexander Vinokurov, explaining the creation, state funding, successes, and controversies of Team Astana and why the focus was on promoting the capital’s name worldwide.

]]> <p>In this episode of the Steppe Ahead Podcast, Jonas and Thomas discuss Alexander von Humboldt’s 1829 expedition through Russia and into Kazakhstan and Kazakhstan’s cycling team Astana as a global branding project. Jonas outlines how Humboldt, traveled for months from St. Petersburg via Moscow, the Urals and Altai toward northeastern Kazakhstan near the Chinese border to study geology, climate and natural resources, while facing censorship and constant supervision. Thomas then shares his first personal connection to Kazakhstan through Tour de France coverage and rider Alexander Vinokurov, explaining the creation, state funding, successes, and controversies of Team Astana and why the focus was on promoting the capital’s name worldwide.</p> be8b71bf-ef91-4543-9e43-2508b404ae73 https://redcircle.com/shows/61957215-b0aa-4ab7-8a8f-cca9e1b4c775/episodes/23924dd1-6907-42b6-9ff2-183186fd605b Mon, 27 Apr 2026 13:29:32 +0000 2274 no full Nazerke Kalidolda on Leaving Google, Failing Forward & Investing in Central Asia Nazerke Kalidolda on Leaving Google, Failing Forward & Investing in Central Asia Jonas Prien, Thorsten Gutmann & Thomas Baier She won coding olympiads as a teenager, published robotics research at 20, landed at Google, quit to found a startup that failed, built a mentorship platform for Kazakh students, and now invests in Central Asian startups from Paris. Nazerke Kalidolda has packed several careers into her late twenties. In this episode we talk about what pulls Kazakh talent abroad and what could bring it back, and what the Central Asian startup scene actually looks like.

]]> <p>She won coding olympiads as a teenager, published robotics research at 20, landed at Google, quit to found a startup that failed, built a mentorship platform for Kazakh students, and now invests in Central Asian startups from Paris. Nazerke Kalidolda has packed several careers into her late twenties. In this episode we talk about what pulls Kazakh talent abroad and what could bring it back, and what the Central Asian startup scene actually looks like.</p> 389c5496-974e-44c6-87ef-b23b2988a046 https://redcircle.com/shows/61957215-b0aa-4ab7-8a8f-cca9e1b4c775/episodes/1054aa75-699f-4b07-9d5f-3e2abe4f7a65 Sun, 19 Apr 2026 10:57:45 +0000 2281 no full Tourism Boom, Missing Central Asian Foods & Middle Corridor Trucking Tourism Boom, Missing Central Asian Foods & Middle Corridor Trucking Jonas Prien, Thorsten Gutmann & Thomas Baier In this episode of the "Steppe Ahead" podcast, Jonas Thorsten and Thomas talk about Easter traditions and Thomas's trip to a Mix Markt in Germany, where he found almost no Central Asian products. The hosts develop a wish list of their favorite Central Asian products. They also talk about Kazakhstan’s commercial vehicle market and the growing importance of the Middle Corridor, including the Comtrux trade fair in Astana (May 5–7), aging truck fleets, rising vehicle production, and increasing Chinese, EU, and Uzbek industry involvement. Thomas also finally shares Central Asia's tourism records and plans, including visitor numbers for Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan; the Caspian Riviera project near Aktau; and a major hotel boom in Tashkent featuring brands like Ritz-Carlton.

]]> <p>In this episode of the &#34;Steppe Ahead&#34; podcast, Jonas Thorsten and Thomas talk about Easter traditions and Thomas&#39;s trip to a Mix Markt in Germany, where he found almost no Central Asian products. The hosts develop a wish list of their favorite Central Asian products. They also talk about Kazakhstan’s commercial vehicle market and the growing importance of the Middle Corridor, including the Comtrux trade fair in Astana (May 5–7), aging truck fleets, rising vehicle production, and increasing Chinese, EU, and Uzbek industry involvement. Thomas also finally shares Central Asia&#39;s tourism records and plans, including visitor numbers for Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan; the Caspian Riviera project near Aktau; and a major hotel boom in Tashkent featuring brands like Ritz-Carlton.</p> 939c3f98-48f1-4df1-9169-081cc38a9c08 https://redcircle.com/shows/61957215-b0aa-4ab7-8a8f-cca9e1b4c775/episodes/8426b71e-0049-4927-aeec-f19c5efb0c94 Wed, 15 Apr 2026 17:54:39 +0000 2423 no full Kazakhstan’s Car Market Goes Chinese & The Rise of Local Language Apps Kazakhstan’s Car Market Goes Chinese & The Rise of Local Language Apps Jonas Prien, Thorsten Gutmann & Thomas Baier In this episode of the Steppe Ahead podcast, Jonas Thorsten and Thomas talk about the Kazakh car market and how Thorsten’s viral video highlighted the rapid change and what it means for German cars. They also discuss the absence of Kazakh on Duolingo, the rise of local AI-based apps like Alim and growing interest in learning Kazakh, and the ongoing debate over Latinization versus Cyrillic.


00:00 Welcome to Steppe Ahead

00:46 Today’s Topics Preview

01:39 Viral Kazakh Car Market

06:08 Why Chinese Cars Win

10:37 Prices and Models Compared

16:10 Local Production and Investment

18:37 Old Cars and Fleet Changes

21:03 Language Apps in Central Asia

26:21 Kazakh Learning Boom

30:14 Alphabet Latinization Debate

31:56 Episode Wrap Up and Next Topics

]]> <p>In this episode of the Steppe Ahead podcast, Jonas Thorsten and Thomas talk about the Kazakh car market and how Thorsten’s viral video highlighted the rapid change and what it means for German cars. They also discuss the absence of Kazakh on Duolingo, the rise of local AI-based apps like Alim and growing interest in learning Kazakh, and the ongoing debate over Latinization versus Cyrillic.</p><p><br></p><p>00:00 Welcome to Steppe Ahead</p><p>00:46 Today’s Topics Preview</p><p>01:39 Viral Kazakh Car Market</p><p>06:08 Why Chinese Cars Win</p><p>10:37 Prices and Models Compared</p><p>16:10 Local Production and Investment</p><p>18:37 Old Cars and Fleet Changes</p><p>21:03 Language Apps in Central Asia</p><p>26:21 Kazakh Learning Boom</p><p>30:14 Alphabet Latinization Debate</p><p>31:56 Episode Wrap Up and Next Topics</p> de111526-5bc8-4305-85b7-1853149108b1 https://redcircle.com/shows/61957215-b0aa-4ab7-8a8f-cca9e1b4c775/episodes/0cde40a1-246b-413b-959b-bc28193c6402 Thu, 09 Apr 2026 14:53:33 +0000 2038 no full Central Asian Literature, Alatau City & EU–Central Asia Cooperation Central Asian Literature, Alatau City & EU–Central Asia Cooperation Jonas Prien, Thorsten Gutmann & Thomas Baier In this episode of the Steppe Ahead podcast, Jonas shares impressions from the Leipzig Book Fair, noting 300,000 visitors and discussing Central Asian literature, including classic writers Mukhtar Auezov and Chingiz Aitmatov, and the Kazakh Library translation project, The conversation then shifts to Kazakhstan’s plan to build Alatau City near Almaty to relieve overcrowding, traffic, and pollution, with ambitions for a finance and business hub, special economic zone incentives, major construction partners, earthquake-mitigation technology, and targets of millions of residents, tourists, and jobs by 2050. They also discuss innovative mobility ideas such as air taxis linking Almaty, mountain resorts, and Alatau. Finally, the hosts examine EU–Central Asia relations, contrasting EU free trade momentum elsewhere with enhanced partnership agreements in Central Asia and highlighting visa facilitation talks, while noting hurdles like differing regulations and Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan’s membership in the Eurasian Economic Union.


00:00 Mic Check and Welcome

00:26 Leipzig Book Fair Highlights

01:44 Central Asian Authors to Know

03:52 Book Picks and Kazakh Library

06:56 Why Central Asia Is Underrepresented

09:06 Alatau City Vision

11:27 How Alatau Will Work

16:01 Funding Targets and Realism

17:53 Almaty Traffic and Air Taxis

21:16 EU and Central Asia Trade Talks

26:23 Visa Facilitation and Fairness

32:07 Wrap Up and Goodbye

]]> <p>In this episode of the Steppe Ahead podcast, Jonas shares impressions from the Leipzig Book Fair, noting 300,000 visitors and discussing Central Asian literature, including classic writers Mukhtar Auezov and Chingiz Aitmatov, and the Kazakh Library translation project, The conversation then shifts to Kazakhstan’s plan to build Alatau City near Almaty to relieve overcrowding, traffic, and pollution, with ambitions for a finance and business hub, special economic zone incentives, major construction partners, earthquake-mitigation technology, and targets of millions of residents, tourists, and jobs by 2050. They also discuss innovative mobility ideas such as air taxis linking Almaty, mountain resorts, and Alatau. Finally, the hosts examine EU–Central Asia relations, contrasting EU free trade momentum elsewhere with enhanced partnership agreements in Central Asia and highlighting visa facilitation talks, while noting hurdles like differing regulations and Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan’s membership in the Eurasian Economic Union.</p><p><br></p><p>00:00 Mic Check and Welcome</p><p>00:26 Leipzig Book Fair Highlights</p><p>01:44 Central Asian Authors to Know</p><p>03:52 Book Picks and Kazakh Library</p><p>06:56 Why Central Asia Is Underrepresented</p><p>09:06 Alatau City Vision</p><p>11:27 How Alatau Will Work</p><p>16:01 Funding Targets and Realism</p><p>17:53 Almaty Traffic and Air Taxis</p><p>21:16 EU and Central Asia Trade Talks</p><p>26:23 Visa Facilitation and Fairness</p><p>32:07 Wrap Up and Goodbye</p> b6d99335-5310-4004-84de-63c798ddad7a https://redcircle.com/shows/61957215-b0aa-4ab7-8a8f-cca9e1b4c775/episodes/e8276f0e-fbf5-4099-a7a4-c5b3f69ab47c Thu, 02 Apr 2026 09:12:46 +0000 1982 no full Nowruz Traditions Explained & Uzbekistan's Next Steps Towards the WTO Nowruz Traditions Explained & Uzbekistan's Next Steps Towards the WTO Jonas Prien, Thorsten Gutmann & Thomas Baier Jonas, Thorsten, and Thomas discuss Nowruz, the Persian “new day” spring festival, its 3,000-year-old origins, Soviet-era public ban, and current Kazakh traditions such as Nauryz kozhe, yurts, wearing traditional clothes, settling debts, and making peace before the holiday, alongside its timing near the end of Ramadan and its spread across Iran, Central Asia, and nearby regions. They then cover Uzbekistan’s long WTO accession process, including bilateral talks with 34 parties and expectations of joining in 2026, weighing risks to protected industries against benefits like higher standards, investor confidence, and a cited German Economic Team estimate of +0.4% real GDP growth per year from liberalization.



01:01 What Is Nowruz

04:17 Traditions and Food

07:23 Nowruz and Ramadan

09:22 Why It Spreads

13:30 Uzbekistan WTO Push

17:58 Risks and Benefits

23:50 GDP Study Findings

26:49 Tourism Teaser Wrap

]]> <p>Jonas, Thorsten, and Thomas discuss Nowruz, the Persian “new day” spring festival, its 3,000-year-old origins, Soviet-era public ban, and current Kazakh traditions such as Nauryz kozhe, yurts, wearing traditional clothes, settling debts, and making peace before the holiday, alongside its timing near the end of Ramadan and its spread across Iran, Central Asia, and nearby regions. They then cover Uzbekistan’s long WTO accession process, including bilateral talks with 34 parties and expectations of joining in 2026, weighing risks to protected industries against benefits like higher standards, investor confidence, and a cited German Economic Team estimate of +0.4% real GDP growth per year from liberalization.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>01:01 What Is Nowruz</p><p>04:17 Traditions and Food</p><p>07:23 Nowruz and Ramadan</p><p>09:22 Why It Spreads</p><p>13:30 Uzbekistan WTO Push</p><p>17:58 Risks and Benefits</p><p>23:50 GDP Study Findings</p><p>26:49 Tourism Teaser Wrap</p> 7ab91c9b-fea7-44a9-9784-8584b00b4464 https://redcircle.com/shows/61957215-b0aa-4ab7-8a8f-cca9e1b4c775/episodes/17f4db90-de0a-471e-acc7-4eae6c0137e5 Sun, 22 Mar 2026 18:26:27 +0000 2428 no full Kazakhstan Constitutional Referendum, Uzum's Rise, and a New Fast-Food Chain in Kyrgyzstan Kazakhstan Constitutional Referendum, Uzum's Rise, and a New Fast-Food Chain in Kyrgyzstan Jonas Prien, Thorsten Gutmann & Thomas Baier In this episode, Thorsten, Jonas and Thomas discuss Kazakhstan’s referendum on a new constitution that would take effect July 1, dissolve the current parliament, and trigger new elections. They also cover Uzbekistan’s super app Uzum, which secured a huge investment from Oman’s sovereign wealth fund plus investment from Tencent, reaching a $2.3 billion valuation. Finally, they examine Russia’s McDonald’s successor, “Vkusno i Tochka”, expanding into Kyrgyzstan as a test market.

]]> <p>In this episode, Thorsten, Jonas and Thomas discuss Kazakhstan’s referendum on a new constitution that would take effect July 1, dissolve the current parliament, and trigger new elections. They also cover Uzbekistan’s super app Uzum, which secured a huge investment from Oman’s sovereign wealth fund plus investment from Tencent, reaching a $2.3 billion valuation. Finally, they examine Russia’s McDonald’s successor, “Vkusno i Tochka”, expanding into Kyrgyzstan as a test market.</p> 8b3e245c-220f-4511-b673-f5838a4c0114 https://redcircle.com/shows/61957215-b0aa-4ab7-8a8f-cca9e1b4c775/episodes/9d66b424-4ca6-4327-8987-6b527fca6c69 Sat, 14 Mar 2026 11:48:09 +0000 2428 no full Central Asia Amid the Iran Crisis, Middle Corridor & Aral Sea Disaster Central Asia Amid the Iran Crisis, Middle Corridor & Aral Sea Disaster Jonas Prien, Thorsten Gutmann & Thomas Baier The hosts Jonas, Thorsten, and Thomas discuss how landlocked Central Asian economies rely on transit routes such as the Turkmenistan–Iran rail link and warn that disrupted oil supply could push prices above $200 per barrel, worsening inflation for energy importers like Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan while creating mixed, risky effects for exporters such as Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. The conversation highlights growing importance of the Middle Corridor logistics route and notes Kazakhstan’s continued dependence on food imports despite some export potential. Jonas reviews the Aral Sea disaster caused by Soviet-era irrigation and cotton projects, describing partial recovery since the 2005 Kok-Aral dam, including rising water levels, reduced salinity, and returning fish species.

00:00 Welcome to the Podcast

00:34 Iran Conflict Impact

03:05 Show Format and Topics

03:43 Aral Sea Story Setup

04:40 Central Asia Business Case

08:10 Oil Shock and Region Risks

16:13 Middle Corridor Logistics

18:16 Food Imports and Security

21:13 Aral Sea History and Recovery

29:11 Wrap Up and Takeaways


]]> <p><span>The hosts Jonas, Thorsten, and Thomas discuss how landlocked Central Asian economies rely on transit routes such as the Turkmenistan–Iran rail link and warn that disrupted oil supply could push prices above $200 per barrel, worsening inflation for energy importers like Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan while creating mixed, risky effects for exporters such as Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. The conversation highlights growing importance of the Middle Corridor logistics route and notes Kazakhstan’s continued dependence on food imports despite some export potential. Jonas reviews the Aral Sea disaster caused by Soviet-era irrigation and cotton projects, describing partial recovery since the 2005 Kok-Aral dam, including rising water levels, reduced salinity, and returning fish species.</span></p><p><span>00:00 Welcome to the Podcast</span></p><p><span>00:34 Iran Conflict Impact</span></p><p><span>03:05 Show Format and Topics</span></p><p><span>03:43 Aral Sea Story Setup</span></p><p><span>04:40 Central Asia Business Case</span></p><p><span>08:10 Oil Shock and Region Risks</span></p><p><span>16:13 Middle Corridor Logistics</span></p><p><span>18:16 Food Imports and Security</span></p><p><span>21:13 Aral Sea History and Recovery</span></p><p><span>29:11 Wrap Up and Takeaways</span></p><p><br></p> 63f325f6-42e6-4f94-b29b-a5d3cd82fd69 https://redcircle.com/shows/61957215-b0aa-4ab7-8a8f-cca9e1b4c775/episodes/c94dfbbb-5985-41ef-bc7f-fa14d3c4bff1 Thu, 12 Mar 2026 08:09:16 +0000 1918 no