Mikes on Mic welcomes political strategist-turned-humanitarian Bruce Barcelo for a gripping, behind-the-scenes look at how one nonprofit transformed overnight when war broke out in Ukraine.

When Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Bruce—an American pollster with three decades of ties to the country—didn’t just watch the headlines. He answered the call. Alongside his team at P4 for Open Democracy, Bruce pivoted from democratic reform and polling to urgent, life-saving aid in one of the world’s most dangerous war zones.

In this episode, Bruce shares:

• The moment he knew his mission had changed forever
• How his team used Signal, Salesforce, and LinkedIn to build a war-time aid network
• Why micro-solutions—like a cheesemaking kit or a beauty school—made the biggest impact
• The challenges of sending relief into a live conflict zone under the radar
• What this experience taught him about democracy, resilience, and human connection

This is not just a story about war. It’s about improvisation, humanity, and the radical power of showing up when institutions fail.

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