TopPodcast.com
Menu
  • Home
  • Top Charts
  • Top Networks
  • Top Apps
  • Top Independents
  • Top Podfluencers
  • Top Picks
    • Top Business Podcasts
    • Top True Crime Podcasts
    • Top Finance Podcasts
    • Top Comedy Podcasts
    • Top Music Podcasts
    • Top Womens Podcasts
    • Top Kids Podcasts
    • Top Sports Podcasts
    • Top News Podcasts
    • Top Tech Podcasts
    • Top Crypto Podcasts
    • Top Entrepreneurial Podcasts
    • Top Fantasy Sports Podcasts
    • Top Political Podcasts
    • Top Science Podcasts
    • Top Self Help Podcasts
    • Top Sports Betting Podcasts
    • Top Stocks Podcasts
  • Podcast News
  • About Us
  • Podcast Advertising
  • Contact
Not in our directory?
Add Show Here
Podcast Equipment
Center

toppodcastlogoOur TOPPODCAST Picks

  • Comedy
  • Crypto
  • Sports
  • News
  • Politics
  • True Crime
  • Business
  • Finance

Follow Us

toppodcastlogoStay Connected

    View Top 200 Chart
    Back to Rankings Page
    Arts

    The afikra Podcast

    The afikra Podcast is our flagship series featuring experts from academia, art, media, urban planning and beyond, who are helping document and shape the histories and cultures of the Arab world through their β€Žwork. Our hope is that by having the guest share their expertise and story, the community walks away with a newβ€Žfound curiosity, and recommendations about new nerdy rabbit holes to dive into head first. β€Ž

    Advertise

    Copyright: Β© 2020 - "The afikra Podcast" - afikra LLC

    • Apple Podcasts
    • Google Play
    • Spotify

    Latest Episodes:
    Architecture & Identity in the Gulf | Sumaya Dabbagh, Award Winning Architect Oct 19, 2026
    Show notes

    Shaping space goes far beyond physical structures, it deeply impacts people's lives and connects to the human spirit. Renowned, award-winning Saudi architect Sumaya Dabbagh shares her journey navigating the evolving architectural landscape of the Gulf, shifting away from commercial real estate focus to cultivate authentic, contextual architecture. She delves into her unique design philosophy of creating continuity by blending modern elements with historical fabric, as seen in landmark projects like the Mleiha Archaeological Centre and the Al Ain Museum. The conversation also highlights the intangible elements of design, exploring how thoughtful materials and sensory details bring a sacred sense of space to life.
    00:00 Introduction
    01:38 Returning to the Gulf in the Early '90s
    06:22 Real Estate vs. Architecture
    11:34 Turning Points in Gulf Building Standards
    14:52 Establishing a Practice & Contextual Architecture
    19:11 Understanding the Architectural Fabric of Cities
    25:15 Looking Beyond Soulless Towers to the Human Spirit
    29:53 Redefining Al Ain Museum
    36:03 Showcasing History at Mleiha Archaeological Centre
    40:51 Materiality & Setting
    42:26 Designing Places of Worship & Sacred Spaces
    44:56 A Broader Movement Towards Cultural Identity
    46:31 Recommended Reading for Aspiring Architects
    Sumaya Dabbagh is the founder and principal architect of Dabbagh Architects in Dubai. Born in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, she studied architecture at the University of Bath under the guidance of the late Peter Smithson and Sir Ted Happold. She began her career in London and Paris before returning to the Gulf region in 1993. In 2008, she founded Dabbagh Architects, one of the first women-led architectural practices in the UAE and one of the first in the Gulf region to be registered as a RIBA Chartered Practice (2015). Her multi-award-winning projects include the Mleiha Archaeological Centre in Sharjah (2016), nominated for the Aga Khan Award for Architecture, and the Gargash Mosque in Dubai (2021), making her one of the first women architects to design a mosque in the UAE. The Al Ain Museum in Abu Dhabi is currently under construction. She was a founding member of the RIBA Gulf Chapter (2009) and served as its Chair from 2015 to 2019. Her work is driven by the notions of memory, identity, and belonging, and she has been shortlisted for the Tamayouz Excellence Award for Woman of Outstanding Achievement (2019 and 2024) and named Principal of the Year at the Middle East Architects Awards (2019).

    Connect with Sumaya Dabbagh πŸ‘‰ https://instagram.com/dabbagharchitects_

    Hosted by:
    Mikey Muhanna πŸ‘‰ https://www.instagram.com/mikey_mu/?hl=en-gb
    FOLLOW & RATE THE AFIKRA PODCAST:
    Β» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/lb/podcast/the-afikra-podcast/id1529437743
    Β» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5nafoF1Zs7F48mGZjlhrze
    Β» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1014643869
    THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK
    Explore all episodes in this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl5xaTkBDrUKLCulvoCE8ubX&feature=shared
    ABOUT AFIKRA
    afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.
    πŸ“ Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters
    🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts
    ⚑ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership
    πŸ”— Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_
    πŸ”— Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official
    πŸ”— Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.


    Marie al-Khazen: Pioneer Lebanese Photographer, 1899 to 1983 | Art Historian, Dr. Yasmine Nachabe Taan Oct 12, 2026
    Show notes

    A collection of black-and-white photographs from 1920s mandate Lebanon completely flips traditional regional history on its head. Dr. Yasmine Nachabe Taan takes us on a fascinating journey behind her PhD research into the life and legacy of Marie al-Khazen, a pioneer Lebanese photographer. Dr. Taan, a professor and director at LAU, utilizes a gender-focused lens to decode al-Khazen's meticulously staged compositions of active, unconventional women driving cars, smoking cigarettes, and going on armed hunting trips. This engaging discussion explores agency, cultural cross-dressing, and the striking parallels with other early female Arab photographers like Karimeh Abbud, demonstrating how these archival treasures continue to challenge established regional histories.
    00:00 Introduction
    02:03 The Discovery in Canada and an Unconventional Re-entry
    09:11 Aristocracy, Feudal Backdrops, and Staged Patriarchs
    17:39 Anecdotes of a Village Outcast
    21:22 Viewfinders from Above and Interrupted Legacies
    31:12 The Stone Under the Steering Wheel
    34:15 Trends of Fluidity and Cultural Cross-Dressing
    37:33 The Working Woman vs. The Documentarian
    41:58 The True Landscape of Palestine
    43:01 Self-Orientalizing and the Trend of the Bowl
    48:43 Scratched Faces and Pre-Photoshop Erasure
    53:06 White Eggs and the Mysterious Wife of Bonfils
    Dr. Yasmine Nachabe Taan is Associate professor of Design and Design History at the Lebanese American University (LAU) in Beirut.
    She holds a PhD in Art History and Communications Studies from McGill University. Her research focus is on design writing and research, visual culture and gender representation, design, media, photography and visual culture in the Middle East and North Africa. She publishes articles on visual culture in a number of international journals. She has illustrated more than twenty children’s books and has participated in a number of residencies in Berlin, Cairo, Beirut and Bratislava. Her artwork has been exhibited in New York, Berlin and Beirut.

    Connect with Yasmine Nachabe Taan πŸ‘‰ https://instagram.com/yastaan

    Hosted by:
    Mikey Muhanna πŸ‘‰ https://www.instagram.com/mikey_mu/?hl=en-gb
    FOLLOW & RATE THE AFIKRA PODCAST:
    Β» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/lb/podcast/the-afikra-podcast/id1529437743
    Β» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5nafoF1Zs7F48mGZjlhrze
    Β» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1014643869
    THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK
    Explore all episodes in this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl5xaTkBDrUKLCulvoCE8ubX&feature=shared
    ABOUT AFIKRA
    afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.
    πŸ“ Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters
    🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts
    ⚑ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership
    πŸ”— Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_
    πŸ”— Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official
    πŸ”— Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.


    Human Rights & Accountability in the Arab World: 15 Years After the Uprisings | Mai El-Sadany, TIMEP Executive Director Oct 05, 2026
    Show notes

    Reimagining the future of policy and human rights across the Middle East and North Africa requires moving past broken international systems and broadening our collective imagination. Executive Director of the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy (TIMEP), Mai El-Sadany, explores how centering those most impacted can drive meaningful legal advocacy, creative accountability, and systemic change. Grounded in the enduring legacy of the 2011 Arab uprisings, the discussion addresses the evolution of civil society organizations, navigating global funding crises, and overcoming systemic inertia.
    00:00 Introduction
    01:55 Decentering the Old Guard in Policy Advocacy
    08:44 Finding Your Strategic Space
    13:30 15 Years of Tectonic Shifts
    17:46 Operationalizing Ethical Policy and Community Building
    21:40 Navigating Systemic Inertia and Regional Realignment
    28:44 Bending the Arc: Mobilization Beyond Complacency
    33:37 Pluralistic Justice and Strategic Legal Alliances
    38:14 Strategic Resilience Amid Non-Profit Funding Shifts
    44:13 Differentiating Core Values from Institutional Decay
    50:10 Constructing Alternate Frameworks
    54:58 Investing in Grassroots Alliances and Independent Media
    Mai El-Sadany is the Executive Director of the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy (TIMEP). She is a human rights lawyer with a focus on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Throughout her career, she has worked to expand creative pathways to accountability, to leverage international and regional mechanisms to advance human rights, and to publish accessible analysis and scholarship on legal, judicial, and constitutional issues. She was previously TIMEP's Managing Director and Legal and Judicial Director. Prior to that, she worked at the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, among other organizations. She is a Steering Committee member of the World Movement for Democracy, a member of the Working Group on Egypt, and a Board Member of HuMENA for Human Rights and Civic Engagement. Mai holds a J.D. and certificate in refugees and humanitarian emergencies from the Georgetown University Law Center, and a B.A. in political science from Stanford University.

    Connect with Mai El-Sadany πŸ‘‰ https://x.com/maitelsadany?lang=en

    Hosted by:
    Mikey Muhanna πŸ‘‰ https://www.instagram.com/mikey_mu/?hl=en-gb
    FOLLOW & RATE THE AFIKRA PODCAST:
    Β» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/lb/podcast/the-afikra-podcast/id1529437743
    Β» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5nafoF1Zs7F48mGZjlhrze
    Β» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1014643869
    THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK
    Explore all episodes in this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl5xaTkBDrUKLCulvoCE8ubX&feature=shared
    ABOUT AFIKRA
    afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.
    πŸ“ Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters
    🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts
    ⚑ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership
    πŸ”— Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_
    πŸ”— Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official
    πŸ”— Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.


    Lebanon's Electricity Crisis is Not New - It Started in 1952! | Prof. Ziad Abu-Rish Sep 28, 2026
    Show notes

    The history of electricity in Lebanon serves as a vibrant arena for struggles over political economy, foreign corporate ownership, and the very definition of national sovereignty. Associate Professor Ziad Abu-Rish unpacks this evolution, tracking public utilities from early regional monopolies to the eventual creation of Γ‰lectricitΓ© du Liban (EDL). Rather than viewing popular protests and boycotted utility bills as signs of state disintegration, this conversation explores how these collective actions actively built and legitimized Lebanese state institutions. This deep dive ultimately reframes daily encounters with state infrastructure as fundamental practices of modern politics and national identity.
    00:00 Introduction
    04:00 Monopolies and Regional Boundaries
    12:07 The Myth of Free Market Competition
    17:30 Decolonizing Public Infrastructure
    23:26 The Spark of the Boycott Movement
    27:31 Redefining State Legitimacy through Protests
    32:34 Concrete Boundaries and Popular Sovereignty
    38:01 Tracing State Growth and Formations
    46:44 The Persistence of Institutions
    51:57 Invisible Walls and Controlled Movement
    54:49 History on Stage
    Ziad Abu-Rish is Associate Professor of Human Rights and Middle East Studies at Bard College, where he also directs the MA Program in Human Rights and the Arts. A scholar of the modern Middle East and North Africa, his research centers around state formation, economic development, and popular mobilizations, particularly in Lebanon and Jordan. He earned his PhD in History from UCLA and his MA in Arab Studies from Georgetown University. Abu-Rish is the author of The State of Lebanon: Popular Politics and Institution Building in the Wake of Independence (Stanford University Press, forthcoming), and co-editor of The Dawn of the Arab Uprisings: End of an Old Order? (2012). He is the co-creator (with Tania El Khoury) of The Search for Power, an interactive installation and lecture performance on the history of electricity in Lebanon. He serves as Co-Editor of Arab Studies Journal and Jadaliyya, as well as Co-Director of the Lebanon Dissertation Summer Institute.

    Connect with Ziad Abu-Rish πŸ‘‰ https://instagram.com/ziadaburish

    Hosted by:
    Mikey Muhanna πŸ‘‰ https://www.instagram.com/mikey_mu/?hl=en-gb
    FOLLOW & RATE THE AFIKRA PODCAST:
    Β» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/lb/podcast/the-afikra-podcast/id1529437743
    Β» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5nafoF1Zs7F48mGZjlhrze
    Β» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1014643869
    THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK
    Explore all episodes in this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl5xaTkBDrUKLCulvoCE8ubX&feature=shared
    ABOUT AFIKRA
    afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.
    πŸ“ Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters
    🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts
    ⚑ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership
    πŸ”— Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_
    πŸ”— Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official
    πŸ”— Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.


    Islam Became a Racial Category in French Colonial Algeria | Prof. Muriam Haleh Davis Sep 21, 2026
    Show notes

    Algeria's complex colonial landscape serves as the backdrop for a deep dive into the intersection of race, Islam, and capitalism. Dr. Muriam Haleh Davis unravels how the French colonial state weaponized Islam as a racial category to structure economic inequalities. The conversation expands into the enduring legacy of Frantz Fanon, exploring the complex dynamics of national liberation and third-world revolutionary aspirations. Uncovering a rich, often-overlooked intellectual history, the discussion highlights the Algerian scholars and philosophers who actively fought to define their own nationhood.
    00:00 Introduction
    01:43 An Intellectual Journey to Algeria
    04:40 Connecting Religion and Capitalism
    06:50 Defining Racial Capitalism
    10:59 Ideological Threats in the Cold War
    12:50 Citizenship and the Colonial Status of Islam
    17:22 Economic Policies of Settler Colonialism
    23:05 Early Strains of Algerian Nationalism
    28:36 Beyond the Mythology of Frantz Fanon
    39:05 An Accident of History
    43:31 Theory Production from the Global South
    45:35 The Circuits of Intellectual Production
    48:54 Highlighting Overlooked Algerian Scholars
    Muriam Haleh Davis is Associate Professor of History at the University of California, Santa Cruz, where she directs the Center for the Middle East and North Africa. She is the author of Markets of Civilization: Islam and Racial Capitalism in Algeria (Duke University Press, 2022) and the co-editor of North Africa and the Making of Europe: Governance, Institutions, and Culture (Bloomsbury Press, 2018). She is currently working on a second book, Decolonizing Sociology: State-Building and Knowledge Production in the Maghreb, which examines how intellectuals in North Africa appropriated and transformed the discipline of sociology after independence. She is co-chair of the editorial committee for MERIP (Middle East Research and Information Project) and co-editor of the Maghreb Page for Jadaliyya. She holds an MA in Arab Studies from Georgetown, an MA in Culture and Theory from UC Irvine, and a PhD in History from NYU (2015). She has been a Max Weber Postdoctoral Fellow at the European University Institute in Florence and a fellow at IMΓ©RA in Marseille.

    Connect with Muriam Haleh Davis πŸ‘‰ https://instagram.com/muriamhaleh

    Hosted by:
    Mikey Muhanna πŸ‘‰ https://www.instagram.com/mikey_mu/?hl=en-gb
    FOLLOW & RATE THE AFIKRA PODCAST:
    Β» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/lb/podcast/the-afikra-podcast/id1529437743
    Β» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5nafoF1Zs7F48mGZjlhrze
    Β» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1014643869
    THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK
    Explore all episodes in this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl5xaTkBDrUKLCulvoCE8ubX&feature=shared
    ABOUT AFIKRA
    afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.
    πŸ“ Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters
    🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts
    ⚑ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership
    πŸ”— Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_
    πŸ”— Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official
    πŸ”— Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.


    US Destruction of Iraq's Healthcare System | Omar Dewachi Sep 14, 2026
    Show notes

    Iraq experienced one of the most comprehensive sanctions regimes ever imposed on a country in the 20th century. Dr. Omar Dewachi explores the concept of medical anthropology and traces the history of the Iraqi healthcare system from the British mandate to the post-2003 era. This exploration highlights how political interventions and conflicts disrupted medical infrastructure and population health. Ultimately, the conversation examines the profound breakdown of the political, medical, and social systems that led to the death of the clinic and a collapse of trust.
    00:00 Introduction
    01:21 The Concept of Medical Anthropology
    04:52 Dual Trajectories in Health and Social Contexts
    06:31 A Career Shift Rooted in Wartime Experience
    10:19 The True Toll of the Comprehensive Sanctions Regime
    12:56 Infrastructure and the Early Construction of the State
    17:53 Systemic Vulnerabilities and the Scales of Destruction
    22:25 Healthcare Expansion as an Instrument of Statecraft
    28:21 The Rhetoric of Progress and the Framing of Pathologies
    31:47 Moving Beyond Conventional Battlefields
    37:13 Bearing Witness to Systemic Ruination and Personal Loss
    43:09 Challenging Michel Foucault's Framework
    49:44 Unequal Knowledge and Visibility on the Global Stage
    51:57 The Erosion of Sacred Alliances and the Shift to Commerce
    53:41 The Geography of Regional Wounds
    Omar Dewachi is an Associate Professor of Medical Anthropology and Global Health at Rutgers University. His work examines the social, medical, and environmental fallouts of decades of war and violence in Iraq and the broader Middle East. Before joining Rutgers in 2018, Dewachi co-founded the Conflict Medicine Program at the American University of Beirut, where he taught social medicine and global health. His award-winning book Ungovernable Life: Mandatory Medicine and Statecraft in Iraq (Stanford University Press, 2017) documents the untold history of the rise and fall of Iraq's healthcare system under decades of US-led interventions. His ongoing project 'When Wounds Travel' weaves almost two decades of ethnographic research with his personal experience of displacement and his medical and public health practice across Iraq, Lebanon, and Syria. He holds an MD from Baghdad University, an MPH from the American University of Beirut, and a PhD in Anthropology from Harvard University.

    Connect with Omar Dewachi πŸ‘‰ https://instagram.com/omar_dewachi

    Hosted by:
    Mikey Muhanna πŸ‘‰ https://www.instagram.com/mikey_mu/?hl=en-gb
    FOLLOW & RATE THE AFIKRA PODCAST:
    Β» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/lb/podcast/the-afikra-podcast/id1529437743
    Β» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5nafoF1Zs7F48mGZjlhrze
    Β» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1014643869
    THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK
    Explore all episodes in this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl5xaTkBDrUKLCulvoCE8ubX&feature=shared
    ABOUT AFIKRA
    afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.
    πŸ“ Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters
    🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts
    ⚑ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership
    πŸ”— Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_
    πŸ”— Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official
    πŸ”— Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.


    France's Nuclear Toxicity in the Algerian Sahara | Samia Henni Sep 07, 2026
    Show notes

    Algeria's pivotal role as a historic center for revolutionary and independence movements is frequently overlooked, leaving a gap in public understanding of its complex history. Architectural historian Samia Henni unpacks how the French army utilized architecture and urban planning as tools of counterinsurgency and control. The discussion exposes the shocking and lasting realities of colonial toxicity, detailing how France conducted underground and atmospheric nuclear weapons testing in the Algerian Sahara. By challenging the harmful myth that deserts are empty, this episode confronts enduring colonial legacies and the protocols of history writing.

    00:00 Introduction

    01:51 Addressing the Historical Knowledge Gap Around Algeria

    03:51 Growing Up with the Mythology of the Revolution

    05:45 Unpacking the Complexities & Duality of Scholarly Narratives

    08:30 Language as a Weapon: Architecture of Counterrevolution

    14:19 The Reality Behind Centers of Regroupment and Mass Relocation

    19:21 From Secret Camps to Satellite Towns

    25:51 Direct Contact & the Deliberate Intent to Pacify

    28:46 The Design Philosophy of Colonial Housing Projects

    34:34 Unmasking the Haunting Realities of Colonial Toxicity

    41:17 The Epistemic Violence of Restricted Archives

    45:12 Deserts Are Not Empty

    49:27 Agitation, Political Space & Transnational Solidarity

    She is a historian and an exhibition maker of the built, destroyed, and imagined environments. Her work addresses questions of colonization, wars, resource extraction, deserts, forced displacement, and gender dynamics. She is the author of the multi-award-winning Architecture of Counterrevolution: The French Army in Northern Algeria (gta Verlag 2017, EN; Editions B42, 2019, FR), which received the 2020 Spiro Kostof Book Award from the Society of Architectural Historians, and Colonial Toxicity: Rehearsing French Radioactive Architecture and Landscape in the Sahara (2024). She is also the editor of Deserts Are Not Empty (Columbia Books on Architecture and the City, 2022) and War Zones (gta Verlag, 2018), and the maker of exhibitions including Performing Colonial Toxicity (2023–), Discreet Violence: Architecture and the French War in Algeria (2017–2022), Archives: Secret-DΓ©fense? (2021), and Housing Pharmacology (2020). She received her PhD (with distinction, ETH Medal) in the history and theory of architecture from ETH Zurich and has taught at Princeton University, Cornell University, ETH Zurich, and Geneva University of Art and Design. In August 2024, she joined the faculty of McGill University's Peter Guo-hua Fu School of Architecture. She was born and raised in Algiers.

    Connect with Samia Henni πŸ‘‰ https://instagram.com/samia.henni

    Hosted by:
    Mikey Muhanna πŸ‘‰ https://www.instagram.com/mikey_mu/?hl=en-gb
    FOLLOW & RATE THE AFIKRA PODCAST:
    Β» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/lb/podcast/the-afikra-podcast/id1529437743
    Β» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5nafoF1Zs7F48mGZjlhrze
    Β» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1014643869
    THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK
    Explore all episodes in this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl5xaTkBDrUKLCulvoCE8ubX&feature=shared
    ABOUT AFIKRA
    afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.
    πŸ“ Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters
    🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts
    ⚑ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership
    πŸ”— Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_
    πŸ”— Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official
    πŸ”— Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.


    Syrian Diaspora's Role in the Great Syrian Revolt of 1925 | Reem Bailony Aug 31, 2026
    Show notes

    Hidden dynamics of anti-colonialism come to light when exploring the Syrian revolt of 1925 through a transnational lens. Associate Professor & Author Reem Bailony shares insights from her book, examining how the diaspora politics of the Syrian migrant community in the US connected to homeland politics and redefined identity during the French mandate. By centering on the often-overlooked diasporic story and the role of the Arabic press, the conversation unpacks the intense debate around the rebellion's virtues, goals, and shifting meanings. Ultimately, this episode reveals how exiled and migrant figures significantly shaped the international discourse surrounding the modern Middle East.

    00:00 Introduction

    00:52 Formative Academic Encounters with a Milestone Year

    04:36 From Imperial Collapse to the Partitioning of a Region

    07:30 Fragmented Visions & the Contested Landscape of Identity

    10:08 Archival Discoveries & Cross-Generational Reflections

    12:34 The Global Power of a Dispersed Press

    16:13 The Mechanics of Petitioning an International Order

    20:12 Ideological Divides in the Early Arabic Press

    22:26 Mapping the Global Hubs of the Transnational Story

    24:28 Borderland Crises & the Politics of Transnational Aid

    28:32 The Realities of Local Support

    33:35 De Facto Diplomacy & the Pen of an Exile

    36:34 Petitions, Surveillance, & the Struggle to Define a Diaspora

    46:44 Recommended Readings for Closer Investigation

    Reem Bailony is an Associate Professor of History at Agnes Scott College. She is a historian of the modern Middle East with a focus on Middle East migrations and transnationalism. Her book, Syria's Transnational Rebellion: Diaspora Politics and the Revolt of 1925-1927 (Edinburgh University Press, 2025) explores the diasporic and transnational dimensions of the Syrian Revolt of 1925-1927, a watershed moment in anti-colonialism during the French Mandate era. Professor Bailony is also interested in the history of Syrian-Lebanese transnational family dynamics after World War I, and how migrant families parented their children in the diaspora. She holds a BA from UC San Diego and MA and PhD from UCLA.

    Connect with Reem Bailony πŸ‘‰ https://www.agnesscott.edu/directory/faculty/bailony-reem.html

    Hosted by:
    Mikey Muhanna πŸ‘‰ https://www.instagram.com/mikey_mu/?hl=en-gb
    FOLLOW & RATE THE AFIKRA PODCAST:
    Β» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/lb/podcast/the-afikra-podcast/id1529437743
    Β» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5nafoF1Zs7F48mGZjlhrze
    Β» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1014643869
    THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK
    Explore all episodes in this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl5xaTkBDrUKLCulvoCE8ubX&feature=shared
    ABOUT AFIKRA
    afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.
    πŸ“ Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters
    🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts
    ⚑ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership
    πŸ”— Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_
    πŸ”— Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official
    πŸ”— Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.


    1001 Nights, the Arab Novel & the Age of Decay That Never Was | Prof. Muhsin al-Musawi Aug 24, 2026
    Show notes

    Arabic culture and literature hold a vastly rich classical history that continues to captivate scholars and readers worldwide. Renowned literary critic and Columbia University professor, Dr. Muhsin Al-Musawi, explores the depths of this heritage, from the global allure of the Arabian Nights to the historical dynamic of Baghdad's intellectual hubs. The discussion delves into how translation served as a window between cultures, the contested notion of an age of decay, and the brilliant prose of modern artists like Jabra Ibrahim Jabra. Reflecting on his own career of writing out of love and devotion rather than mere scholarship, Dr. Al-Musawi critiques how literary prizes can drive trendy imitation instead of a genuinely creative mind.

    00:00 Introduction

    01:57 The Roots of Passionate Scholarship

    05:19 Baghdad's Layered Intellectual Landscapes

    09:51 Cultural Solace & the Ambition of Translation

    12:26 Confronting the Global Legacy of the Arabian Nights

    14:55 Literary Taste & the Metamorphosis of Translation

    19:40 The Romantic Search for Spaces Without Borders

    26:27 The Vastness of Classical Traditions & the True Renaissance

    28:53 Intellectual Intersections & the Republic of Letters

    33:15 Challenging the Conventional Notion of an Age of Decay

    39:45 Jabra Ibrahim Jabra & the Topography of an Artist

    44:58 Curating a Diverse Core Arabic Fiction Curriculum

    49:33 Trendy Prizes & the Necessity of the Creative Mind

    Muhsin Jassim al-Musawi is Professor of Classical and Modern Arabic Literature, Comparative and Cultural Studies at Columbia University. A renowned scholar and literary critic, his teaching and research interests span several periods and genres. He is the author of 39 books (including 6 novels) and over 60 scholarly articles. He has been editor of the Journal of Arabic Literature since 2000. His publications cover theory, postcolonial discourse, the Arabic novel, poetry, Orientalism, the Arabian Nights, medieval Islamic knowledge and modern Arabic poetics. He taught for over two decades at universities in the Arab world before moving to Columbia University. He is the recipient of the Owais Award in Literary Criticism (2002), the Kuwait Prize in Arabic Language and Literature (2018), the King Faisal International Prize for Arabic Literature in English (2022), and the Sheikh Zayed Book Award (2022).

    Connect with Muhsin al-Musawi πŸ‘‰ https://mesaas.columbia.edu/faculty-directory/muhsin-al-musawi/

    Hosted by:
    Mikey Muhanna πŸ‘‰ https://www.instagram.com/mikey_mu/?hl=en-gb
    FOLLOW & RATE THE AFIKRA PODCAST:
    Β» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/lb/podcast/the-afikra-podcast/id1529437743
    Β» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5nafoF1Zs7F48mGZjlhrze
    Β» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1014643869
    THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK
    Explore all episodes in this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl5xaTkBDrUKLCulvoCE8ubX&feature=shared
    ABOUT AFIKRA
    afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.
    πŸ“ Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters
    🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts
    ⚑ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership
    πŸ”— Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_
    πŸ”— Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official
    πŸ”— Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.


    East & East: Arab Craft Meets Japanese Minimalism | Nada Debs: Founder, Studio Nada Debs Aug 17, 2026
    Show notes

    A unique personal journey spanning from a third-generation textile merchant family in Japan to a thriving design studio in Beirut serves as the foundation for iconic designer Nada Debs’ universal message of collaboration. The intricate world of Levantine woodwork, the philosophy of repetitive geometry, and the complex balance between handmade craft and modern scaling highlight the depth of her artistic vision. This narrative of personal heritage and local production illustrates how design can become a powerful tool to restore civic pride and challenge traditional mindsets.

    00:00 Introduction

    01:35 A Message of Oneness & Overcoming Conflict

    04:01 Roots Across the Silk Road

    10:39 Post-War Devastation & the Surge of Homegrown Pride

    18:25 Dismantling the Western Complex & Embracing Equality

    20:05 Finding Acceptance in the Search for Personal Identity

    24:33 Embracing the Warmth of Beirut & the Value of Antiques

    29:21 The Path to Design

    33:17 Shifting the Mindset on Local Production

    38:24 The Genesis of "East and East" & Establishing a Studio

    44:48 Reclaiming Pride in Lebanese Craft

    46:46 Deciphering the Levantine Vernacular

    53:13 Hand Craftsmanship vs. Modern Scaling

    01:02:04 Expanding the Language of Harmony

    Nada Debs is a Lebanese designer living and working in Beirut. Her work spans scale and discipline: from product and furniture design to one-off commissions across craft, art, fashion and interiors. What ties her work together is her ability to distil culture and craftsmanship to create pieces of emotional resonance. Nada grew up in Japan, studied design at the Rhode Island School of Design in the United States and has spent significant periods of time living and travelling the world, finding connections between different cultures. She calls her approach: handmade and heartmade. Her grandfather travelled the Silk Route to Japan; her own personal Silk Route led her back to Lebanon, where she founded her studio in 2002. Her 'East & East' philosophy fuses Islamic geometry with Far Eastern minimalism.

    Connect with Nada Debs πŸ‘‰ https://instagram.com/nadadebs

    Hosted by:
    Mikey Muhanna πŸ‘‰ https://www.instagram.com/mikey_mu/?hl=en-gb
    FOLLOW & RATE THE AFIKRA PODCAST:
    Β» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/lb/podcast/the-afikra-podcast/id1529437743
    Β» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5nafoF1Zs7F48mGZjlhrze
    Β» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1014643869
    THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK
    Explore all episodes in this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl5xaTkBDrUKLCulvoCE8ubX&feature=shared
    ABOUT AFIKRA
    afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.
    πŸ“ Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters
    🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts
    ⚑ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership
    πŸ”— Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_
    πŸ”— Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official
    πŸ”— Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.


    1 2 3 51 Next

    Related Podcasts

    Fresh Air

    1

    Fresh Air Arts
    Twenty Thousand Hertz

    2

    Twenty Thousand Hertz Arts
    The Black Tapes

    3

    The Black Tapes Arts
    Snap Judgment

    4

    Snap Judgment Arts
    Here’s The Thing with Alec Baldwin

    5

    Here’s The Thing with Alec Baldwin Arts
    The NoSleep Podcast – Creative Reason Media Inc.

    6

    The NoSleep Podcast – Creative Reason Media Inc. Arts
    footer-logo

    Contact Us

    Toll Free: 844-670-7747

    Links

    • Home
    • Top Charts
    • Networks
    • Apps
    • Independents Podcasts
    • Podcast Advertising
    • Podcast News
    • Contact Us
    • About Us
    • Analytics & Insights

    Stay Connected

      Privacy, Terms of Use & Our Code of Ethics Protecting Content Creators Copyrights