Anna Leonidovna Khachiyan (; born 1985) is a Russian-American cultural critic, writer, and co-host of the podcast Red Scare based in New York City.
Early life
Khachiyan was born in Moscow, USSR, on August 23, 1985. In 1990, she immigrated to the United States with her parents and was raised in New Jersey. She is the daughter of the Soviet mathematician and Rutgers University professor Leonid Khachiyan and Olga Pischikova Reynberg. She is of Armenian, Russian and Ashkenazi Jewish descent.
Khachiyan received the Patrick J. Quigley memorial scholarship from Rutgers University in 2006, studying economics and art history and graduating with honors. She went on to pursue a master's degree in art history at New York University, as well as a PhD in Soviet architecture, completing the former and dropping out of the latter.
Before Red Scare, Khachiyan worked odd jobs as a restaurant hostess, illustrator and actress.
Career
On March 29, 2018, Khachiyan started the cultural commentary podcast Red Scare, with co-host and actress Dasha Nekrasova. The show has been associated with both the dirtbag left and the new right as well as the subculture surrounding Dimes Square. It covers current topics in American culture and politics in both a comedic and serious tone.
Khachiyan's commentary and critique of neoliberalism and feminism are heavily influenced by historian Christopher Lasch and social critic Camille Paglia. She has also been influenced by Mark Fisher and Michel Houellebecq.
Khachiyan has been interviewed by Eric Weinstein and by Bret Easton Ellis on their respective podcasts. She has also appeared on i24NEWS to discuss Russian-born convicted fraudster Anna Delvey, and as a speaker as part of Art Toronto's PLATFORM Speak Series.
Personal life
Khachiyan is in a relationship with percussionist and visual artist Eli Keszler. On the February 13, 2021 episode of The Tim Dillon Show, Khachiyan announced she was eight months pregnant. Her son was born on March 28, 2021.