In this episode, I interview my father, Sammy, about our family’s escape from the Soviet Union in 1979. He recounts the tense journey from Leningrad to Vienna, where we first experienced the abundance of the West, before secretly entering Italy with the help of some locals. Along the way, he reflects on the fear of Soviet bureaucracy, the surreal transition to freedom, and the challenges of starting over. We also reminisce about my childhood mischief, including the time I drank ink and another when I accidentally caused household chaos with a web of string.