Kalam

65. The Jewish Movement that Defied Zionism with Molly Crabapple

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 03:00:00 GMT

Molly Crabapple is an artist and author from New York. She’s the author of the forthcoming book "Here Where We Live is Our Country: The Story of the Jewish Bund".

The Bund was a secular, progressive Jewish labour movement that existed in the first half of the 20th century in eastern and central Europe. The Bund, simply meaning organisation in Yiddish, was exactly the opposite of Zionism. They promoted the idea of hereness, which is to say that they did not need to go oppress Palestinians in a far off land to gain their freedom: They would stay and fight and liberate themselves. In the end, of course, the movement was destroyed by Hitler and Stalin.

But today the movement serves as a powerful and important counterweight to the traditional Zionist narrative. Jews were not weak! They did not go like lamb to the slaughter! They fought back, and did everything they could to preserve Jewish dignity, Jewish life and Jewish progress, and their memory lives on.

To listen to the episode ad-free subscribe to our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/kalampodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

64. Power Gays & Muscle Jews with Fredrik "Apollo" Asplund

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today's episode is a kind of theoretical journey through concepts like Homonationalism, Muscular Judaism and Power Gays. Our illustrious guest, Fredrik "Apollo" Asplund has spotted a similarity between the gays who were embraced by mainstream society in the early 2000's and the hardline Zionist conception of the strong and powerful Jew. Both archetypes exist as a kind of counterweight to less desirable gays, and less desirable Jews. These two concepts have today synthesised into the Tel Aviv Power Gay.

To listen to the episode ad-free subscribe to our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/kalampodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trump Asks for Help – No One Answers: Kalam Digest 46

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 07:18:10 GMT

Sam and Edgar give you an update on the latest developments in the Iran War. The killing of Ali Larijani – amazingly a scholar of Immanuel Kant – could blow up in Israel's face as a more hardline figure may replace him. We also detail how Syria and Iraq are faring in the midst of this war.

To listen to the episode ad-free subscribe to our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/kalampodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

63. Umm Kulthum Forever: Kalam Live!

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 09:09:10 GMT

"El Sett" is the new Egyptian biopic about the great Arab diva, Umm Kulthum. After an exclusive screening of the film in Stockholm, Edgar invited Egyptian curator, Mariam Elnozahy, and Egyptian multidisciplinary artist, Amr Hamid, for a conversation about the film, reactions to it in Egypt and about the icon Umm Kulthum herself.

To listen to the episode ad-free subscribe to our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/kalampodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Will Oil Prices Stop the War? Kalam Digest 45

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 11:52:21 GMT

The US' lack of exit strategy from Iran becomes apparent as oil prices soar and Trump vacillates between talking about an "excursion" which will be "wrapped up very soon" and threatening to make it impossible "to recover that section of the world". To solve the problem of oil the US would have to take control of the Strait of Hormuz, but will that be possible without boots on the ground? Trump seems to think so but Sam and Edgar are sceptical.

Also on this episode:

–Israel renews blockade of Gaza as genocide continues.

–Heavy fighting in Lebanon amid looming government collapse.

–Tenuous calm in Syria as the US hands over control of army bases in the north-east to Damascus government and Assad-loyalists continue attacks in Latakia.

To listen to the episode ad-free subscribe to our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/kalampodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

62. Trump and Bibi's Endgame in Iran with Rami Khouri

Sat, 07 Mar 2026 07:00:00 GMT

Rami Khouri is a Palestinian-American author and analyst and a Distinguished Public Fellow at the American University of Beirut.

In today's episode, Edgar speaks with Rami about the US-Israeli war on Iran, why they're waging it and what it could mean for the region at large.

To listen to the episode ad-free subscribe to our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/kalampodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Khamenei is Killed as Region Goes to War: Kalam Digest 44

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 11:01:45 GMT

Once again the unprecedented has occurred as the US and Israel strike Iran, sparking the closest we've come to an all-out regional war since October 7. The Iranian Supreme Leader, Ali Khamanei, has been killed in an airstrike. Iran is retaliating with unprecedented force, against Israel and various Gulf Arab countries.

More than 500 Iranians have been killed, a dozen or so Israelis and less than ten Americans and Gulf residents.

To listen to the episode ad-free subscribe to our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/kalampodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

61. The US and Israel Will not Save Iran with Sahar Delijani

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 11:00:00 GMT

We are joined today by award-winning Iranian author Sahar Delijani. Sahar was born in the notorious Evin prison. A prison in Iran which has become synonymous with political oppression. Her debut novel, Children of the Jacaranda Tree, is partially inspired by her own family history, and recounts one of the bloodiest and most repressive phases of Iranian history: the mass executions in 1988.

The most recent wave of protests in Iran last month were met with violent repression not seen since the days of 1988. Thousands, possibly tens of thousands, of Iranians have been killed by the Islamic Republic regime. In recent days, protests have resurfaced and there is once again rumours of possible American military intervention.

Sahar was kind enough to speak to us, I interviewed her last week, about the nature of the protests, what it means that the US and Israel support them, and why so many Iranians support the seemingly incompetent son of a king who hasn’t been to the country in decades?

To listen to the episode ad-free subscribe to our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/kalampodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

60. Iran – Protests that Shook a Nation with Rouzbeh Parsi

Sat, 07 Feb 2026 09:02:38 GMT

The latest wave of protests in Iran shook the country to the core. Clearly, the Islamic Republic regime felt squeezed to the point of using excessive violence. Many thousands have likely lost their lives, with exact estimations varying greatly. The Middle Eastern expert and analyst, Rouzbeh Parsi, joins Edgar for a conversation about the background to this cycle of protests in Iran, about what makes it different but also what similarities it has with previous waves.

To listen to the episode ad-free subscribe to our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/kalampodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is Syria falling apart (again)? Kalam Digest 43

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 14:00:00 GMT

In Syria localised clashes around Aleppo have deteriorated into all out war between Kurdish and government forces, as Perfidious Columbia declared that it's alliance with the former has "largely expired". So far the initiative seems to be squarely with the government, but will it be possible to reach an agreement which can stabilise Syria for the long term, or will disintegration and ethnic strife become permanent?

Kalam Digest brings you the latest news from the Middle East.

To listen to the full episode subscribe to our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/kalampodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

59. Ali Esbati – En prins i Teheran? (Swedish)

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 06:00:00 GMT

This episode is in Swedish, featuring politician and analyst Ali Esbati.

I det här särskilda crossoveravsnittet av Kalam Podcast och Viljans optimism pratar Ali Esbati om vad som pågår i Iran, varför militär intervention vore dödsstöten för de folkliga viljornas möjlighet att faktiskt få genomslag, och vad omvärlden och vänster däremot faktiskt kan bidra med. Dessutom: vad är Iran International egentligen för något och varför är Reza (III) Pahlavi en reaktionär pajas?

Om du inte redan följer Viljans optimism, gör det här: shows.acast.com/viljans-optimism.

För att stötta oss, bli gärna medlem på patreon.com/kalampodcast.

För mer nyheter och avsnitt, följ oss på Instagram på @kalampodcast.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

58. Shora Esmailian – Vad pågår i Iran? (Swedish)

Mon, 19 Jan 2026 08:08:37 GMT

This episode is in Swedish, featuring the journalist and writer Shora Esmailian.

Att stora demonstrationer skakat Iran de senaste veckorna och att regimens repression har varit fruktansvärt brutal står klart. Men vad är egentligen bakgrunden till den här omgången av protester? Vilka olika aktörer finns inne i Iran, och kommer att avgöra utfallet? Och hur ska vänstern förhålla sig till utländska krafters försök att styra utvecklingen?

För att stötta oss, bli gärna medlem på patreon.com/kalampodcast.

För mer nyheter och avsnitt, följ oss på Instagram på @kalampodcast.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kurdish and Syrian Gov't Forces Clash in Aleppo: Kalam Digest 42

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 07:07:56 GMT

Last week, the armed forces of the Syrian government clashed with and largely defeated the Kurdish-led SDF in the city of Aleppo. This comes as negotiations have broken down between the Kurdish governing body in the Northeast of the country and the central government in Damascus. Edgar and Sam discuss what this means for the future of the country and the civilians caught in the middle.

Kalam Digest brings you the latest news from the Middle East.

To listen to the full episode subscribe to our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/kalampodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What's Behind the Protests in Iran? Kalam Digest 41

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 07:52:03 GMT

Thousands have reportedly been killed and tens of thousands arrested in a protest movement shaking Iran. The Islamic Republic faces its biggest challenge in years, as extreme inflation sparked economic protests that rapidly evolved into calling for political freedoms and an end to the regime. Edgar and Sam take you through all aspects of this revolt, including what it means for the US and Israel to actively back the protesters. Does the movement lose legitimacy if Mossad agents are on the ground in Tehran?

Kalam Digest brings you the latest news from the Middle East.

To listen to the full episode subscribe to our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/kalampodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Israel Cleared for Eurovision: Kalam Digest 40

Sun, 07 Dec 2025 04:00:00 GMT

A trial is underway to establish justice for the victims of the deadly pogroms agains Syrian minorities earlier this year; the genocide in Gaza is ongoing while Israel and the US draw up plans for Gaza's future without the input of a single Palestinian; the Pope visits Lebanon in a significant symbolic gesture.

Kalam Digest brings you the latest news from the Middle East.

To listen to the full episode subscribe to our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/kalampodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anwar Sadat: The Last Pharoah Part 3 (Trailer)

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 06:20:12 GMT

In part three of this special series on Anwar Sadat we cover his:

•⁠ Failed attempts to «liberalise» the Egyptian economy.

•⁠ Suprise success in the October 1973 war.

•⁠ Decision to follow this up by making peace with Israel.

•⁠ His sudden end at the hands of forces he himself had helped create.

To listen to the full episode subscribe to our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/kalampodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anwar Sadat: The Last Pharoah Part 2 (Trailer)

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 04:30:00 GMT

In Part 2 of this Patreon-exclusive series we track Sadat’s coming of age:

•⁠ ⁠Sadat as a Gamal Abdel Nasser loyalist and chief communicator of his regime.

•⁠ ⁠⁠Sadat as the quiet observer of Nasser’s failures, shaping his later thinking.

•⁠ ⁠⁠Sadat being groomed for the presidency, those around him thinking they could control him. They were wrong.

To listen to the full episode subscribe to our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/kalampodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

57. Palestinian Rap Group DAM on Their 26 Year Legacy

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 03:00:00 GMT

In the late 1990's, the Palestinian rap group DAM released their breakout single Meen Erhabi? (Who is the terrorist?) interrogating Israel and the Western World's accusations of terrorism against the Palestinian people, "While we are living in our own country". All members of the group are Palestinian citizens of Israel and hold Israeli passports, giving them a unique insight into Israeli society. Today, 26 years later, the issues are the same but the members of the rap group are older. Tamer al Nafar, Mahmood Jrere and Maysa Daw sit down with Edgar of Kalam Podcast ahead of their gig at the Maxim Theatre in Stockholm. They speak about the differences between Palestinian and Egyptian rap, what having an Israeli passports means in the Arab world and if they are sick of rapping Meen Erhabi.

To support us, go to patreon.com/kalampodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anwar Sadat: The Last Pharoah Part 1 (Trailer)

Sun, 16 Nov 2025 04:00:00 GMT

Anwar Sadat was born in the Egyptian Sultanate, came of age during the Egyptian Monarchy, and became president of the Egyptian Republic. He was killed by Egyptian islamists. But who was he? In this Kalam Shorts series, exclusively available for our Patreon subscribers, we delve deep into the man who is known as the last Pharoah of Egypt, and the circumstances that created him.

To support us, go to patreon.com/kalampodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Munadama 5 (Trailer)

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 07:59:01 GMT

Edgar and Sam are in Egypt! Join us for a podcast session at a bar in downtown Cairo, serenaded by the sweet sounds of Umm Kulthum in the background. Subscribe to the Kalam Podcast patreon page to listen to the full episode.

To support us, go to patreon.com/kalampodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

56: Syria after al-Assad with Leila al-Shami

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 14:00:00 GMT

Almost 10 months have passed since the unexpected collapse of the Assad regime last December. Since then Syria has passed through several sectarian flareups, relentless terrorising from Israel, as well as attempted to take its place in a “New Middle East”, under the leadership of Ahmed al-Sharaa.

A couple of months ago, Edgar spoke to Leila al-Shami, activist and author of “Burning Country: Syrians in Revolution and War”, on these topics and more. Despite the time that has passed since the recording, we still find al-Shami’s comments and analyses highly relevant, and hope that you will too.

To support us, go to patreon.com/kalampodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

55. A Fatal Ceasefire with Muhammad Shehada

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 04:00:00 GMT

Trump calls it a peace plan. For Palestinians in Gaza, it's a fatal farce. More than 100 Palestinians have been killed in the last two days as Israel conducted air strikes, ostensibly as a retaliation against Hamas' alleged violations of the ceasefire. But the reality is different. Muhammad Shehada is a Palestinian analyst, a visiting fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations and a dear friend of the pod. We speak about Netanyahu's long leash and the complex nature of reality in Gaza.

To support us, go to patreon.com/kalampodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Ceasefire" Analysis: Kalam Digest 39

Sat, 25 Oct 2025 04:30:59 GMT

There is an alleged ceasefire in Gaza, despite the fact that Israel has continued to bomb the strip. Sam and Edgar analyse the Israeli, US and Palestinian positions in this situation.

Image: Palestinians using bulldozers to dig out the bodies of Israeli captives presumed killed in air strikes.

To support us, go to patreon.com/kalampodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

54. Göran Rosenberg – Live från Bokmässan (Swedish)

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 03:00:00 GMT

This episode is in Swedish, featuring the journalist and writer Göran Rosenberg.

I dagens avsnitt, som spelades in den 25 september 2025 inför en publik på Bokmässan, berättar författaren och journalisten Göran Rosenberg om sin syn på dagens utvecklingen i Israel och Palestina. Hans bok Det förlorade landet utkommer på engelska – "Israel, a Personal History" den 7 oktober 2025. Rosenberg är inte optimistisk inför framtiden och hävdar att det inte finns något alternativ till att israeler och palestinier arbetar tillsammans för en gemensam framtid.

To support us, go to patreon.com/kalampodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CEASEFIRE IN GAZA – What does it mean? Kalam Digest 38

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 10:23:32 GMT

A ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas has taken effect. Israeli forces have withdrawn to an agreed upon borderline and a hostage/prisoner exchange will commence within 72 hours. While we are overjoyed at the prospect of some respite for the suffering population of Gaza, we dedicate this episode to answering the prescient question of, What now? Sam and Edgar analyse the ceasefire agreement and the day after.

To support us, go to patreon.com/kalampodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

53. Gen Z Revolts in Morocco with Tahani Brahma

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 03:00:00 GMT

From Nepal to Peru to Morocco, Gen Z'ers are rising up – and yes, they are connected. In September 2025, 8 women died in childbirth in an badly funded hospital in the southern coastal city of Agadir. This sparked outrage, especially since Morocco is currently investing millions if not billions in building stadiums and arenas for the upcoming football World Cup. The climate crisis and the genocide in Gaza also play into this popular eruption. Tahani Brahma is a Moroccan human rights activist and was kind enough to speak to us to explain what is going on.

Cover photo: Christine Leuhusen.

To support us, go to patreon.com/kalampodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emperor Trump & Bibi Vader Declare “Eternal Peace”

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 03:00:00 GMT

The leaders of Israel and the US have concocted a 20 point peace deal for Gaza. The US president Donald Trump has said that Hamas has 72 hours to accept the proposal or he will let his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu, do whatever he wants – a terrifying prospect. In today's episode, Sam and Edgar examine the deal and analyse its impact.

*We are aware of the fact that “Bibi Vader” makes no sense but it simply sounds much funnier than “Darth Bibi

To support us, go to patreon.com/kalampodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Israel Invades Gaza City (again): Kalam Digest 36

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 04:00:00 GMT

Several European countries have threatened to boycott Eurovision if Israel is permitted to participate, the Israeli economy is suffering from the genocidal war, Israeli military personnel estimates that 10% of Gaza's population are casualties of the war and the ground invasion of Gaza has officially begun. Sam and Edgar discuss these developments and their political implications.

To support us, go to patreon.com/kalampodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Israel Bombs Qatar: Kalam Digest 35

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 03:00:00 GMT

Israel targeted the Hamas leadership residing in US ally of Qatar in an airstrike which killed several low level members of Hamas but largely failed in its mission. What does this mean for the larger regional conflict and how will the US react? Sam and Edgar discuss these issues, as well as a piece of very funny Swedish news.

To support us, go to patreon.com/kalampodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

52. Deconstructing Palestine with Ahmed al-Alaqra

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 03:00:00 GMT

What is the role of Palestinian artists during the genocide in Gaza? For Palestinian curator Ahmed al-Alaqra it is not about glorifying cultural symbolism like the watermelon. In fact, artistic institutions should shut their doors.

"Burn the thawbs, destroy the watermelon."

This episode was recorded in the summer of 2024 in Sirdab studios in Ramallah, on the occupied West Bank.

If you enjoy Kalam Podcast and want to support the show, there is an excellent way to do so - by signing up to our Patreon. For just $3/month you'll gain access to full length interviews with all our guests and lots of bonus material - including our series Kalam Shorts: 10-15 explainers of concepts like Zionism and Orientalism. Join at patreon.com/kalampodcast (https://www.patreon.com/kalampodcast)

For continuous updates on the podcast and content about Palestine and the Middle East, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast (https://www.instagram.com/kalampodcast/)

Please subscribe to Kalam Podcast in whatever podcast application you're listening to right now - and give us a rating. It helps other people find out about us.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Identity as Resistance and Constraint with al-Harah Theater.

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 04:00:00 GMT

Theater has been central to the formation of Palestinian national consciousness for almost a century. One of the foremost Theater troupes active today is Betlehem’s al-Harah. Before summer of this year, the visited Sweden’s Tribunalen theater, touring their play Meramieh (Sage), a powerful staging of a number of personal testimonies of al-Nakba.

Earlier this year Samuel Carlshamre had the honour of recording an episode with Nicola Zreineh and Marina Barham from al-Harah Theater, live on stage. The conversation ranged from the conditions of theater under occupation and genocide, the educational and artistic challenges confronting Palestinian art today, to Palestinian identity as a source of pride and inspiration, as well as a cage and a constraint.

For continuous updates on the podcast and content about Palestine and the Middle East, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

Please subscribe to Kalam Podcast in whatever podcast application you're listening to right now - and give us a rating. It helps other people find out about us.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What Genocide? Kalam Digest 34

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 09:08:46 GMT

Kalam Podcast is back in business, today with a news update on the genocide in Gaza and all those who continue to deny its existence. Sam and Edgar also speak about Israel's intensification of its ground invasion of Gaza as well as increasingly bold military raids on West Bank cities like Ramallah. Sam tells us about Israeli politics and the so-called opposition to Netanyahu.

If you'd like to support this podcast you can, by joining our patreon at patreon.com/kalampodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ziad Rahbani Forever

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 04:00:00 GMT

On the 26th of July, 2025 the great Ziad Rahbani left us. Survived by his mother, the Lebanese icon Fairuz, Ziad Rahbani was an icon in his own right. A legendary figure of the modern Arabic music as well as cynical, satirical leftist thought. Kalam Podcast dissects his music and politics and pays tribute to his unmatched legacy. Rest in peace and power Ziad! We love you.

A special thank you to Mariam Kirollos for her beautiful words and to Sune Haugbolle for his great research on Ziad's importance.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"...likely due to a misunderstanding": Kalam Digest 33

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 04:00:34 GMT

Sam and Edgar give you the latest, horrific news on Israels genocidal war on Gaza now in it's 94th week. Also: last week's sectarian fighting in southern Syria and the US seemingly throwing the Kurds under the bus.

To support Kalam Podcast, head to patreon.com/kalampodcast and subscribe for all episodes ad-free and loads of bonus materials.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Simulacrum Intensifies: Kalam Digest 32

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 04:00:00 GMT

In the aftermath of the war between Iran and Israel/USA the fight continues over what actually took place. As the actions of the IDF in Gaza grows more horrific by the day, Western media are outraged by the statements of a punk band a music festival. In today's episode Sam and Edgar discuss the irreality of the Middle East, and what might come next.

To support Kalam Podcast, head to patreon.com/kalampodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Israel Strikes Iran: Kalam Digest 31

Thu, 19 Jun 2025 07:56:06 GMT

Israel has hit several targets in Iran and Iran has retaliated with waves of ballistic missile barrages on Israeli targets. Hundreds of civilians have been killed, the overwhelming majority of them Iranian. In today's episode Sam and Edgar discuss the consequences of this dangerous escalation.

To support Kalam Podcast, head to patreon.com/kalampodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the Tide Turns on Gaza: Kalam Digest 30

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 09:40:51 GMT

Global public opinion has shifted dramatically in favour of the Palestinian cause in the last few weeks. The likes of Piers Morgan and Ehud Olmert would have called themselves anti-Semites just a few weeks ago. Edgar and Sam discuss these developments as well as the political ongoings in Syria.

To support the show, go to patreon/kalampodcast.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Just Another World Historic Event: Kalam Digest 29

Tue, 13 May 2025 05:00:00 GMT

On this week's news summary, Samuel and Edgar discuss the world historic decision made at last weeks PKK congress, and what it will mean for the Middle East. Also: The relentless killing and starving of Gaza shows no sign of letting up, but the souring relationship between Netanyahu and Trump does not bode well for Israels hopes for regional domination. How will Israel survive a multi-polar world order?

Kalam Podcast depends on your support. If you like what were doing, please head over to patreon.com/kalampodcast and sign up to Klub Kalam for just 3 US$/month – for all episodes ad-free as well as lots of excellent bonus material. For continuous updates, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast.

Image: PKK fighters playing volleyball in the Zagros Mountains.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kalam Suedi 2: Assads ogräs med Lama Alshehaby (Teaser)

Sat, 10 May 2025 05:00:00 GMT

This episode is in Swedish, apologies to all our non-Swedish speakers.

Det här är avsnitt två i serien Kalam Suedi, Kalam Podcast på svenska, i samarbete med tidningen Flamman.

Hela avsnittet går att höra på https://www.flamman.se/podd/kalam-suedi/

Det här avsnittet handlar om Syrien – där en diktatur på över 50 år har fallit. Efter att den islamistiska milisen HTS störtat diktatorn Bashar al-Assad har religiösa och etniska minoriteter varit rädda för repressalier från den sunnimuslimska majoriteten.

I början på mars månad blev deras värsta farhågor sanning, när extremistiska milismän utförde en pogrom mot syriska alawiter, den etnisk-religiösa minoritet som Assadfamiljen tillhörde. Uppemot tusen civil massakrerades på bara några dagar. Lama Alshehaby, född och uppvuxen i Damaskus, berättar om den etnisk och religiösa mångfalden i Syrien – och de motsättningar som giriga och hänsynslösa politiker länge utnyttjat. Avsnittet spelades in den 11 mars i år.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

51. Hebron and "The Settlers" With Issa Amro

Wed, 07 May 2025 06:27:19 GMT

The human rights veteran Issa Amro recently featured in Louis Theroux's documentary "The Settlers", where he showed the absurdity of Israeli apartheid in his hometown of Hebron, Khalil in Arabic. Palestinians are forbidden to walk down high street in the old city of Hebron to provide security for Israeli settlers who are living in the city illegally.

This episode was recorded in December 2024, when Issa Amro was visiting Sweden to receive the prestigious Right Livelihood Award, but his telling of the story of Hebron and how apartheid ruined it is as relevant as ever.

If you'd like to support Kalam, listen to the podcast without ads and gain access to lots of great bonus content, sign up to Klub Kalam on Patreon! And follow us on Instagram for continuous updates.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Israel Destabilising Lebanon and Druze Conflict in Syria Looming: Kalam Digest 28

Thu, 01 May 2025 05:52:34 GMT

On this week's news summary, Sam and Edgar discuss the unrest in both Syria and Lebanon, caused by Israeli interference as well as sectarian tensions.

If you enjoy Kalam Podcast and would like to make a donation, you can do so. Head to patreon.com/kalampodcast and sign up for just 3 USD/month.

For continuous updates, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

50. Att spränga ett getto (Swedish)

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 11:02:57 GMT

This episode is in Swedish, apologies to our international listeners and features the Swedish journalist and pro Palestine activist Shora Esmailian

Shora Esmailian har bevakat och varit involverad i Palestinarörelsen i 20 år. Förra året skrev hon boken Gaza: Att spränga ett getto, om den palestinska historian och Israels ockupation. Sedan den 7 oktober har delar av kultursverige tolkat Shoras uttalanden som antisemitiska och anklagat henne för att stödja terrorism. I dagens avsnitt talar Edgar och Shora om allt detta och mycket mer.

Vill du stödja Kalam Podcast? Gå med i våran Patreon för bara 3 dollar i månaden.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Arab Socialism Part II: Nasserism (Teaser)

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 07:50:40 GMT

Arab Socialism is deeply intertwined with Arab Nationalism, to the extent that they are sometimes used interchangeably.

On this second episode in our series on Arab Socialism Samuel and Edgar discuss the man who more than any other has come to define the term Arab Socialism, as well as this particular combination of social revolution and national liberation: Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser.

How did he rise to power, what did his ideas mean to ordinary Arabs, and how did his politics relate to Socialism?

To listen to the full episode, sign up to our Kalam Podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/kalampodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sweeping Arrests for Palestine Advocacy in the US: Kalam Digest 27

Sat, 19 Apr 2025 04:00:00 GMT

The genocide in Gaza is still ongoing, but there are slivers of hope – the US and Israel could become increasingly isolated as European powers move to recognise the Palestinian state. In other news the crackdown on dissent in Turkey leaves critics of Erdogan disillusioned, while our colleague Joakim Medin languishes in a Turkish jail cell – Free Joakim now! Journalism is not a crime.

Also on the show – Syria's government has taken form, with one (1!) single woman in the cabinet.

For continuous updates on the podcast and content about Palestine and the Middle East, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

Please subscribe to Kalam Podcast in whatever podcast application you're listening to right now - and give us a rating. It helps other people find out about us.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

49. Israel's War on Palestinian Journalists with Lama Ghosheh (Arabic)

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 06:00:00 GMT

This episode is in Arabic. Head over to the Kalam Podcast YouTube page to watch the full conversation with English subtitles.

In the wake of the killing of 23-year-old Gazan journalist Hossam Shabat in an Israeli airstrike, we want to publish our conversation with the Palestinian journalist Lama Ghosheh.

Lama Ghosheh has been in and out of the Israeli prison and correctional system after Israeli authorities accused her of inciting violence and supporting terrorism. She, and many journalism advocates, say that Israel is trying to make an example out of her in order to scare her Palestinian colleagues into obedience.

For continuous updates on the podcast and content about Palestine and the Middle East, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

Please subscribe to Kalam Podcast in whatever podcast application you're listening to right now - and give us a rating. It helps other people find out about us.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

48. Why Did Israel Break the Ceasefire? with Muhammad Shehada

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 06:00:00 GMT

In the early hours of March 18 Isreal broke the ceasefire that had held between them and Hamas since January. Although, Israel killed over 150 Palestinians during the ceasefire itself, in various attacks – nothing the Western media felt compelled to report.

At the moment of writing, nearly 1,000 Palestinians have been killed in airstrikes – many of them women and children.

Muhammad Shehada is a Palestinian analyst originally from Gaza. He joins Kalam Podcast for a discussion about why Israel decided to unilaterally break the ceasefire right now.

For continuous updates on the podcast and content about Palestine and the Middle East, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

Please subscribe to Kalam Podcast in whatever podcast application you're listening to right now - and give us a rating. It helps other people find out about us.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

War Returns to Gaza: Kalam Digest 26

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 08:00:00 GMT

In a shocking surprise attack Israel breaks the ceasefire and resumes its genocidal war on Gaza, killing at least 320 people overnight. This comes as Gazans celebrate the holy month of Ramadan.

We're joined by 22-year-old student Tala Herzallah who expresses her shock to us as the sound of drones sound above. What does this mean for Israel, Palestine and the region? Listen to our analysis.

For continuous updates on the podcast and content about Palestine and the Middle East, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

Please subscribe to Kalam Podcast in whatever podcast application you're listening to right now - and give us a rating. It helps other people find out about us.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pogroms in Syria and Historic Kurdish Treaty: Kalam Digest 25

Sat, 15 Mar 2025 08:00:00 GMT

The Kalam team speak about the massacres against the Alawite minority in Syria and discuss the historic treaty between the Kurds and Damascus.

For continuous updates on the podcast and content about Palestine and the Middle East, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

Please subscribe to Kalam Podcast in whatever podcast application you're listening to right now - and give us a rating. It helps other people find out about us.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

46. Alawite Civilians Massacred in Syria with Orwa Ajjoub

Tue, 11 Mar 2025 06:00:00 GMT

Over the past few days close to 1,000 civilians, overwhelmingly from the Awalite minority, have been killed in Syria.

Beginning when clashes erupted between remnants of Assad loyalists and the new HTS-led government, mainly Sunni Muslim militias and civilians descended on Northwestern Syria and committed unspeakable crimes against their Alawite neighbours.

Orwa Ajjoub is a Syrian analyst and friend of the show. He is born and raised in Damascus but currently lives in Malmö, Sweden.

For continuous updates on the podcast and content about Palestine and the Middle East, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

Please subscribe to Kalam Podcast in whatever podcast application you're listening to right now - and give us a rating. It helps other people find out about us.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

No Other Land, Clashes in Syria and Ramadan in Gaza: Kalam Digest 24

Fri, 07 Mar 2025 08:00:00 GMT

In this week's Kalam Digest, Edgar, Sam and Nora discuss the Israeli-Palestinian documentary "No Other Land" winning an Oscar, the violent clashes in Syria as well as Ramadan in war-torn Gaza.

For continuous updates on the podcast and content about Palestine and the Middle East, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

Please subscribe to Kalam Podcast in whatever podcast application you're listening to right now - and give us a rating. It helps other people find out about us.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

45. Being Queer in Syria with Khaled Elesmael (Live)

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 05:00:00 GMT

This is a live show where I speak to the Syrian author Khaled Elesmael about queer rights in Syria, gay desire in Arab literature some exciting news at the end of the episode.

Khaled Elesmael’s books Salemlike and Gateway to the Sea are seminal works of literature and are a must-read if you want to understand modern-day Syria as well as the refugee tragedy following the war.

Today, Assad has fallen and Khaled and millions of Syrians are considering returning to their homeland. This episode was recorded at Medelhavsmuseet, The Meditarranean Museum in Stockholm.

For continuous updates on the podcast and content about Palestine and the Middle East, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

Please subscribe to Kalam Podcast in whatever podcast application you're listening to right now - and give us a rating. It helps other people find out about us.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

44. An Attack on Books with Mahmoud Muna of the Educational Bookshop

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 06:00:00 GMT

In February 2025 Israeli forces raided the Educational Bookshop in East Jerusalem. The bookstore is one of the oldest in the city and is frequented by Palestinians, Israelis and international patrons.

It is a staple in Jerusalem, and the Israeli raid prompted international outcry. The Israelis claimed that the bookstore was promoting violence – something which is abjectly false. The Educational Bookshop sells books on a wide range of topics from Palestinian liberation to Zionism to English literature. It features authors from Palestine and Israel and beyond.

For continuous updates on the podcast and content about Palestine and the Middle East, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

Please subscribe to Kalam Podcast in whatever podcast application you're listening to right now - and give us a rating. It helps other people find out about us.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

43. Biking in Palestine with Mohammad Zarour

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 06:00:00 GMT

Biking in Palestine is virtually impossible. Not for a lack of interest – but for the hostile Israeli occupation and indiscriminate settler violence. The longest biking route is 20km, before one runs into a military checkpoint or veers too close to an illegal Israeli settlement.

Mohammad Zarour was instrumental in launching and running several Palestinian biking initiatives – to support those passionate about biking and promote biking to interested Palestinian youth.

Most of these initiatives, however, are not able to operate anymore as the occupation has clamped down on most Palestinian organising, especially since the 7th of October 2023.

Israel routinely employs sportswashing to present itself in a preferable light. It hosts many biking events and has built biking trails in the state of Israel – many of which exist on the ruins of Palestinian villages that were depopulated during the Nakba of 1948.

For continuous updates on the podcast and content about Palestine and the Middle East, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

Please subscribe to Kalam Podcast in whatever podcast application you're listening to right now - and give us a rating. It helps other people find out about us.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

War on the West Bank: Kalam Digest 23

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 06:00:00 GMT

Israel's military operations in the West Bank has lead to 40,000 Palestinians being displaced – the largest number since the 1967 war.

In Gaza, Trump's plans on constructing a Middle Eastern "riviera" seems far-fetched, as hundreds of thousands of Gazans return to their destroyed neighbourhoods. Tala Emad Herzallah, 22-year-old student from Gaza, speaks to us directly from Northern Gaza where she has returned.

In Syria, there is relative stability with the new HTS-government taking form, while in Lebanon chaos erupted at the airport when Hezbollah loyalists clashed with the army.

For continuous updates on the podcast and content about Palestine and the Middle East, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

Please subscribe to Kalam Podcast in whatever podcast application you're listening to right now - and give us a rating. It helps other people find out about us.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

KALAM SUEDI 1: Vad är Israel? Med Göran Rosenberg (Teaser)

Wed, 12 Feb 2025 08:00:00 GMT

This podcast episode is in Swedish.

Välkommen till Kalam Suedi, Kalam Podcast på svenska! I samarbete med tidningen Flamman. Följ länken för att lyssna på hela avsnittet. Det går att låsa upp avsnittet gratis genom att uppge en mailadress! https://www.flamman.se/podd/kalam-suedi/1-vad-ar-israel-med-goran-rosenberg/

– Israel begår folkmord, säger Kalam Suedis första gäst, Göran Rosenberg.

I dagens avsnitt försöker vi svara på VAD staten Israel är för något, och vad det har varit. För att bättre kunna svara på vart landet är på väg.

Vi får även höra om Göran Rosenbergs resor i Israel och Palestina sedan Hamas krigsbrott den 7 oktober, 2023.

Vi diskuterar även Tyskland och övriga Europas fortsatt problematiska förhållande till judar.

För att stödja Kalam Podcasts arbete kan ni gå med i vår Patreon. Gå till www.patreon.com/kalampodcast.com och prenumerera för bara 35 kronor i månaden. Då får ni tillgång till massa spännande bonusmaterial.

Följ oss på Instagram, @kalampodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

42. Assad's Torture Chambers with Hiba Dlewati

Thu, 06 Feb 2025 08:00:00 GMT

Hiba Dlewati is a Syrian living in the US, since she was forced to leave her homeland in 2012 due to her political activity. A former medical student and journalist, Dlewati joined the anti-regime student movement and began protesting against the regime. Until she was caught.

Listen to Dlewati's harrowing story exclusively on Kalam Podcast. To watch the full interview with her, head to our YouTube page.

For continuous updates on the podcast and content about Palestine and the Middle East, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

Please subscribe to Kalam Podcast in whatever podcast application you're listening to right now - and give us a rating. It helps other people find out about us.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jordan Ready for War if Gazans are expelled: Kalam Digest 22

Wed, 05 Feb 2025 08:00:00 GMT

The reactions to Trump's inflammatory statements have the Middle East reeling. Earlier this week, the US president said that Palestinians "have no alternative" but to relocate to Egypt and Jordan. This is a huge taboo and a red line for the Arab states that have peace treaties with Israel.

For continuous updates on the podcast and content about Palestine and the Middle East, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

Please subscribe to Kalam Podcast in whatever podcast application you're listening to right now - and give us a rating. It helps other people find out about us.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Palestinians Return to Northern Gaza: Kalam Digest 21

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 08:00:00 GMT

Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians return to a more or less completely destroyed northern Gaza. Meanwhile, the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas seems to be holding, with a few exceptions in the form of Israeli violations leading to the deaths of several Palestinian individuals.

The hostage-prisoner exchange is proceeding more or less as planned as well.

However, the war in the West Bank is ratcheting up, with serious concern for ethnic cleansing.

Meanwhile in Syria and Lebanon, the situation seems to be stabilising, with the US reentering as the dominant party and Lebanon getting on with the politics of politics.

For continuous updates on the podcast and content about Palestine and the Middle East, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

Please subscribe to Kalam Podcast in whatever podcast application you're listening to right now - and give us a rating. It helps other people find out about us.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

41. The Palestinian Hostages with Milena Ansari

Fri, 24 Jan 2025 08:00:00 GMT

A lot has been made of the terminology applied to Israeli "hostages" or "captives" and Palestinian "prisoners" or "terrorists".

While the Israelis certainly are hostages and captives, thousands of Palestinians are languishing in Israeli prisons without a trial or formal charge. Many are tortured and sexually violated, and many are children and minors.

Milena Ansari is the Israel-Palestine researcher for Human Rights Watch and specialises in documenting and analysing testimonies from Palestinian prisoners.

For continuous updates on the podcast and content about Palestine and the Middle East, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

Please subscribe to Kalam Podcast in whatever podcast application you're listening to right now - and give us a rating. It helps other people find out about us.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Arab Socialism Part I: Origins – Kalam Shorts (Teaser)

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 09:00:00 GMT

Arab-socialism is deeply intertwined with arab nationalism – to the extent that they are sometimes used interchangeably: Pan-arabism, Arab Nationalism and Arab Socialism, to talk about especially its most well known movements, of the 1950s-1970s.

In this series however, we will focus specifically on the rise of a peculiar "arab socialism", as a part of understanding the back story of the regime that so recently fell in Damascus.

In this introductory episode, Sam and Edgar explore the origins of Arab socialism from the late 1800's up until the end of WWII.

This is a teaser, to hear the full episode please subscribe to Kalam Podcast on patreon.com/kalampodcast for just $3/month.

KALAM NADWA:

We are delighted to announce some good news to start of the new year. Starting from the end of January Kalam will branch out and start an online study group, with monthly seminars, and readings complete with study questions and background. The topic of the first semester so to speak will be Arab socialism. Starting from today then we will begin a special series of Kalam Shorts on this topic.

To be able to participate in this new endeavour we will ask for 7$/month, but the first session will of course be avaliable to all Patreons. Leading these study sessions will be Samuel Carlshamre, PhD-student in Semitic languages and specialised in the intellectual history of the Arabs.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

LIVEPODD: Det brittiska mandatet i Palestina (Swedish)

Fri, 17 Jan 2025 08:00:00 GMT

Direkt från Teater Tribunalen pratar Edgar och Sam om det brittiska mandatet i Palestina under mellankrigsåren. Vad var det för system, och hur bidrog det till Israels bildande och Nakba?

Samtalet är inspelat inför en uppsättning av pjäsen Mandatet som behandlar samma tidsperiod, som sålt ut Teater Tribunalen i Stockholm i flera veckor.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CEASEFIRE IN GAZA – Kalam Digest 20

Thu, 16 Jan 2025 08:00:00 GMT

At long last it seems we have a ceasefire in Gaza, after over a year of war and genocide. But just as we were all breathing a collective sigh of relief, the Netanyahu regime seemed to sabotage the deal in the last minute. What does this mean?

In the 20th instalment of Kalam Digest, Edgar, Sam and Nora take us through the implications of the ceasefire agreement and how the f*ck it took this long to bring about.

For continuous updates on the podcast and content about Palestine and the Middle East, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

Please subscribe to Kalam Podcast in whatever podcast application you're listening to right now - and give us a rating. It helps other people find out about us.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

40. The Music of Palestine with singer & actress Reem Talhami

Tue, 14 Jan 2025 05:00:00 GMT

Music has long been central to Palestinian culture in general and specifically to the culture of resistance. Reem Talhami is a Palestinian actress and singer who gained recognition for her singing during the First Intifada in the late 1980's.

Today, she continues to sing and act, despite the situation for Palestinians deteriorating rapidly. During our conversation we speak about Palestinian folklore and political expressions of music – as well as what has been lost in today's generation.

You can find Reem's music via her Youtube channel.

Like all episodes from our Ramallah Series, this was recorded in the summer of 2024 in Sirdab Studio on the Occupied West Bank.

For continuous updates on the podcast and content about Palestine and the Middle East, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

Please subscribe to Kalam Podcast in whatever podcast application you're listening to right now - and give us a rating. It helps other people find out about us.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trump pledges to "unleash hell" in Gaza: Kalam Digest 19

Thu, 09 Jan 2025 05:00:00 GMT

Minor military operations are still ongoing in Syria as HTS attempts to root out Assad loyalists in the city of Homs.

In Gaza the genocide is ongoing, and Israel has forcibly disappeared doctor Hossam Abu Safiya, Director of the Kamal Adwan Medical Complex.

Trump has promised to unleash hell in Gaza if hostages are not released – this comes just over a week before his inauguration on January 20.

For continuous updates on the podcast and content about Palestine and the Middle East, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

Please subscribe to Kalam Podcast in whatever podcast application you're listening to right now - and give us a rating. It helps other people find out about us.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Bedouin Behind the Curtain: Munadama 4 (Unlocked)

Tue, 07 Jan 2025 05:00:00 GMT

In the fourth instalment of Munadama, where the team behind Kalam "shoot the shit over alcoholic beverages", Sam, Nora, Edgar and Arthur discuss everything from Arabic grammar to dive bars in Damascus.

These episodes are usually exclusively available for our Patreon subscribers, but in the (belated) spirit of the holidays we're unlocking this episode for all our listeners.

For continuous updates on the podcast and content about Palestine and the Middle East, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

Please subscribe to Kalam Podcast in whatever podcast application you're listening to right now - and give us a rating. It helps other people find out about us.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

39. The World is Syrianised with Yassin al-Haj Saleh

Sun, 05 Jan 2025 08:00:00 GMT

The Syrian writer and political theorist, Yassin al-Haj Saleh, has lived a remarkable life. As a student activist affiliated with one of Syria's communist parties, Yassin spent 16 years in Hafez al Assad's prisons.

Then, shortly after the revolution of 2011, Yassin's wife, Samira Khalil, was abucted by the Islamist militia Jaysh al Islam. Samira was also an activist and hasn't been heard from in over ten years.

Yassin was kind enough to speak to us about the fate of his wife and the others abducted, the "Douma 4" and about his thoughts on Syria's past, present and future.

For continuous updates on the podcast and content about Palestine and the Middle East, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

Please subscribe to Kalam Podcast in whatever podcast application you're listening to right now - and give us a rating. It helps other people find out about us.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

38. The Children of Gaza with Renad Qubbaj

Thu, 19 Dec 2024 04:00:00 GMT

Why are Palestinians among the most educated populations in the world? Many people cite community education initiatives that came out of the non-violent resistance movement in the late 80's, the First Intifada.

One such organisation is Tamer Institute and earlier this year we had the pleasure of speaking to the General Director of Tamer, Renad Qubbaj.

In 2023, Tamer Institute won the prestigious Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (ALMA) for children and young peoples' literature.

This episode, along with all of our Ramallah series, is video recorded. If you'd like to see the full video of Renad and Edgar speaking in Sirdab Studio in Ramallah then head over to our Youtube channel.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Clashes Between Palestinians on the West Bank: Kalam Digest 18

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 08:00:00 GMT

The Palestinian Authority is cracking down on non-state militias in Jenin on the occupied West Bank – find out why Fatah is fighting Fatah.

Israel is making incursions into Syria and bombing its weapons arsenal to bits – why is it doing this, and what does it mean?

Finally, the Kurdish-controlled area in northeastern Syria is coming into question. Raqqa, for example, is a majority sunni Arab city under Kurdish control. How will this be resolved in a new Syria?

For continuous updates on the podcast and content about Palestine and the Middle East, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

Please subscribe to Kalam Podcast in whatever podcast application you're listening to right now - and give us a rating. It helps other people find out about us.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

37. Who are HTS – The New Rulers of Syria? with Orwa Ajjoub

Mon, 16 Dec 2024 08:00:00 GMT

The Islamist militia HTS (Hay't Tahrir al-Sham≈Committee for the Liberation of Syria) has toppled the dictatorial Assad regime. Its leader, 42-year-old Ahmed al-Sharaa, better known by his nom de guerre, Abu Mohammed al-Julani, started his career under the leadership of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, head of ISIS.

This extremist jihadist background is worrisome, but al-Julani has proven to be a pragmatist. How far will this pragmatism go, however? Orwa Ajjoub, a PhD candidate at Malmö University, where he researches Sunni jihadi rhetoric, was kind enough to share his insights on al-Julani and HTS with us on Kalam Podcast.

For continuous updates on the podcast and content about Palestine and the Middle East, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

Please subscribe to Kalam Podcast in whatever podcast application you're listening to right now - and give us a rating. It helps other people find out about us.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

36. The Assad Family – Rulers of Syria With Sune Haugbølle

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 08:00:00 GMT

When Bashar al Assad’s government fell just a couple of days ago, after a two week whirlwind campaign by opposition forces which surprised the entire world, it signalled the end of more than 54 years of rule by the Assad family and it’s the so called Ba’th-party.

While it has been no secret that Syria under Assad was a repressive and violent state, the images and stories of the prisoners released after decades in it’s notorious Sednaya prison as have raised awareness global to the plight of the Syrian people.

But what was this peculiar beast we called the Assad-regime? How did the Assad family come to power, and manage stay in power for so long? And what does it’s sudden collapse signal, for Syrians suddenly freed from its yoke, as well as for the future of the Middle East in general?

With us today to answer these questions is Sune Haugbølle, professor of Global Political Sociology at Roskilde University, and author of numerous books and articles on The Middle East and Syria. He has spent years living and traveling in the country and studied it’s regime, writing amongst other things on its infamous prison system and secret services.

For continuous updates on the podcast and content about Palestine and the Middle East, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

Please subscribe to Kalam Podcast in whatever podcast application you're listening to right now - and give us a rating. It helps other people find out about us.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

35. Genocide in Gaza: Amnesty International with Agnes Callamard

Tue, 10 Dec 2024 08:00:00 GMT

It's official, at least if you ask the world's leading human rights organisation, Amnesty International: Israel is guilty of committing the crime of genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza.

In today's episode the Secretary General of Amnesty International herself, Agnes Callamard, walks us through the organisation's damning report on the genocide in Gaza.

We know there’s a lot going on in Syria right now, and we are working on bringing you a special series on the developing situation there. But the war on Gaza is ongoing and this report from Amnesty International is historic. So please take the time to listen to the head of Amnesty, Agnes Callamard.

If you enjoy Kalam Podcast and want to support the show, there is an excellent way to do so - by signing up to our Patreon. For just $3 a month you'll gain access to full length interviews with all our guests and lots of bonus material - including our series Kalam Shorts: 10-15 explainers of concepts like Zionism and Orientalism. Join at patreon.com/kalampodcast

For continuous updates on the podcast and content about Palestine and the Middle East, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

Please subscribe to Kalam Podcast in whatever podcast application you're listening to right now - and give us a rating. It helps other people find out about us.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Syria: What Now? Kalam Digest 17

Mon, 09 Dec 2024 08:00:00 GMT

The regime of Bashar al Assad has fallen and Syrians around the world are celebrating. So what happens now?

Anything is possible in such times, and we must hope for the best for the people of Syria who so desperately deserve freedom, dignity and the right to choose their government.

In today's episode we look at what recent events mean for regional and global players like Turkey, Israel, Russia, Saudi Arabia, the US and Iran as well as what the group who has taken over Syria says it wants to do moving forward.

For continuous updates on the podcast and content about Palestine and the Middle East, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

Please subscribe to Kalam Podcast in whatever podcast application you're listening to right now - and give us a rating. It helps other people find out about us.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

34. The Fall of Assad with Dr. Neil Quilliam

Sun, 08 Dec 2024 05:00:00 GMT

The Syrian conflict has reignited as opposition forces under the leadership of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) broke out of Idlib, capturing key cities like Aleppo, Hama and finally Damascus, with minimal resistance. What does the apparent fall of the Assad Family's half-century hold on power mean for the country?

In today's episode, Nora Adin Fares interviews Dr. Neil Quilliam, an analyst and associate fellow at Chatham House as we dive deeper into what this means for the Syrian people. Are they welcoming this development, or is there more to the story? What does it mean for the region?

For continuous updates on the podcast and content about Palestine and the Middle East, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

Please subscribe to Kalam Podcast in whatever podcast application you're listening to right now - and give us a rating. It helps other people find out about us.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Syrian Rebels Take Aleppo: Kalam Digest 16

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 08:00:00 GMT

The ripple effects of Israel's wars in the Middle East are spinning out of control. Just last week, the Islamist Syrian rebel group Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) retook the city of Aleppo, the second-largest city in Syria. How did they manage to do so, and how does the severe weakening of Hezbollah play into it? Will this spell the end of Bashar al Assad's regime?

In other news we speak about the fragile ceasefire in Lebanon and the on-going killing of Gaza.

For continuous updates on the podcast and content about Palestine and the Middle East, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

Please subscribe to Kalam Podcast in whatever podcast application you're listening to right now - and give us a rating. It helps other people find out about us.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Likud – Party of Netanyahu – Part 2: Kalam Shorts (Teaser)

Sat, 30 Nov 2024 08:00:00 GMT

In the second part of this miniseries Samuel and Edgar discuss the development of the Likud Party since its landslide victory in 1977. What demographic and political shifts cause its rise to dominance.

How did the party of Benjamin Netanyahu come to dominate Israeli politics as massively as it has done for the last couple of decades? How did it achieve this position, who are its voters and support today, and how does its future look?

This is a teaser. To listen to the full episode: join us on patreon.com/kalampodcast for only $3/month.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ceasefire in Lebanon: Kalam Digest 15

Wed, 27 Nov 2024 08:00:00 GMT

A lot has happened since our last news summary on Kalam Podcast. The ICC has officially issued an arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant and as of today, a ceasefire deal has taken effect in Lebanon.

For continuous updates on the podcast and content about Palestine and the Middle East, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

Please subscribe to Kalam Podcast in whatever podcast application you're listening to right now - and give us a rating. It helps other people find out about us.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

33. The Palestinian Theatre with Iman Aoun

Sun, 24 Nov 2024 04:00:00 GMT

Palestinian theatre has been around for thousands of years through the tradition of the Hakawati, the storyteller. In modern times, the Palestinian theatre has inevitably served as an liberatory artistic platform. Palestinian theatre cannot be separated from the Palestinian struggle more generally.

But as today’s guest, Iman Aoun argues, there’s a more universal dimension to this: Palestinian theatre serves not only to liberate Palestine but all of humanity, from the evils of colonialism, oppression and racism.

Iman Aoun and her husband Edward Muallam founded Ashtar Theatre in 1991, riding the wave of the highly inspirational popular First Intifada. An innovative, non-violent, women and grassroots-led revolt against Israeli domination. In today’s episode, Iman reflects on the particularities of Palestinian theatre as well as the abyss of our current moment.

For continuous updates on the podcast and content about Palestine and the Middle East, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

Please subscribe to Kalam Podcast in whatever podcast application you're listening to right now - and give us a rating. It helps other people find out about us.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

32. (Arabic) Cinema of Palestine with Ola Salama

Sun, 10 Nov 2024 08:00:00 GMT

This episode is in Arabic! Sorry to all our non-Arabic speakers. You can watch the full episode with English subtitles on Youtube.

Is there such thing as Palestinian cinema? And what has the genoc!de in Gaza meant for film in the strip?

Ola Salama, herself from Gaza, is the Executive Director of Film Lab Palestine, an organisation aimed at revitalising the culture of films in Palestine, liberating it from the grasp of conventional European filmmaking industries and Hollywood.

In this episode, Ola and Edgar speak about the war in Gaza and the destruction it has wrought on the strip's cultural life.

For continuous updates on the podcast and content about Palestine and the Middle East, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

Please subscribe to Kalam Podcast in whatever podcast application you're listening to right now - and give us a rating. It helps other people find out about us.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trump Wins – What Does this Mean for the Middle East? Kalam Digest 14

Wed, 06 Nov 2024 08:00:00 GMT

What will a Trump presidency mean for the war in Gaza and Lebanon and for the Middle East more broadly? Probably complete disaster, but still worth a discussion.

Sam and Edgar spend the lion's part of the 14th installment of Kalam Digest speaking about Trump's stunning and decisive victory. As well as the crucial Arab vote which mostly sided with the man who last time around implemented the "Muslim Ban".

We also mention the firing of former Israeli Defence Minister, Yoav Gallant. What does this mean for the future of the Middle Eastern wars?

For continuous updates on the podcast and content about Palestine and the Middle East, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

Please subscribe to Kalam Podcast in whatever podcast application you're listening to right now - and give us a rating. It helps other people find out about us.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Destruction of Gaza Continues: Kalam Digest 13

Sat, 02 Nov 2024 04:00:00 GMT

Unbelievably, the destruction and killing of Gaza continues and is, in fact, escalating. Israel's relentless and genocidal war seems to know no bounds.

In this week's news summary, Sam, Edgar and Nora speak about the impending doom that is the US elections. Muslims for Trump and floating piles of garbage aka Rudy Giuliani.

The political opposition in Israel, Yair Lapid of the party Yesh Atid, admits to higher casualty figures than has been previously reported. Lapid also chastised Netanyahu for NOT going after more targets in the latest strike on Iran.

For continuous updates on the podcast and content about Palestine and the Middle East, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

Please subscribe to Kalam Podcast in whatever podcast application you're listening to right now - and give us a rating. It helps other people find out about us.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

31. The Politics of Resistance with Abdaljawad Omar

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 04:00:00 GMT

What are the politics of Palestine, who can take over a Palestinian state when it is conceived?

Aboud Hamayel, also known under his pen name Abdaljawad Omar is a writer and theorist and a Lecturer of Philosophy at Bir Zeit University on the Occupied West Bank. Abdaljawad gives us a detailed outline of the history of different political currents in Palestine. Interestingly, he does not give as much credence to the idea of an Islamist-secular split as other scholars of this field.

This episode was recorded, as usual, in Sirdab Studio in Ramallah in the summer of 2024.

For continuous updates on the podcast and content about Palestine and the Middle East, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

Please subscribe to Kalam Podcast in whatever podcast application you're listening to right now - and give us a rating. It helps other people find out about us.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Likud – Party of Netanyahu – Part 1: Kalam Shorts (Teaser)

Mon, 28 Oct 2024 08:00:00 GMT

In this the first part of a miniseries Samuel and Edgar discuss the origins of Likud Party. For the last 30 years the Likud has dominated Israeli politics, and thus set the tone for the international politics of the region, not to mention the question of Palestine.

Today it is an ultra-conservative party with neoliberal economics, bent on making the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories permanent, but what are the roots of the Likud Party? What leading figures shaped its policy, and what does its founding charter actually say about its charachter?

This is part one of a two part series on this political party. To hear the full episode head to patreon.com/kalampodcast and sign up for just $3/month.

For continuous updates, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

30. Israel's End Goal in the Middle East with Ralph Baydoun

Sun, 27 Oct 2024 08:00:00 GMT

Once again we are delighted to have Lebanese political analyst and researcher Ralph Baydoun on the show. Ralph joins us live from Beirut, a city under constant Israeli bombardment.

In today's episode Ralph and Edgar speak about Israel's plan to redraw the map of the Middle East, and how this can have unintended consequences as other powerful actors in the region attempt to take advantage – namely Erdogan's Turkey.

For continuous updates on the podcast and content about Palestine and the Middle East, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

Please subscribe to Kalam Podcast in whatever podcast application you're listening to right now - and give us a rating. It helps other people find out about us.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Redrawing the Map of the Middle East: Kalam Digest 12

Thu, 24 Oct 2024 08:00:00 GMT

The attack in the Turkish capital, Ankarra, considered by Turkish authorities to be a terrorist attack, seems to have been carried out by Kurdish militants affiliated with PKK. This has led to Turkey striking Kurdish positions in Syria and Iraq.

At the same time, Israel is attempting to redraw the map of the Middle East - something Turkey wants to benefit from, many analysts believe.

The war in Lebanon and Gaza is intensifying, Sam and Edgar look at a remarkable piece of journalism, where CNN interviewed Israeli soldiers openly admitting to have committed war crimes - where we are supposed to feel bad about them.

For continuous updates on the podcast and content about Palestine and the Middle East, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

Please subscribe to Kalam Podcast in whatever podcast application you're listening to right now - and give us a rating. It helps other people find out about us.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sectarianism in Lebanon Part II: Kalam Shorts (teaser)

Wed, 16 Oct 2024 08:00:00 GMT

There are 18 recognised religious "sects" in Lebanon, including various Christian denominations, Shia and Sunni Muslims, the Druze and Jews. Sects in this context does not refer to a kind of cult but rather different religious groupings.

How did the Lebanese republic organise itself and how did the sectarian system contribute to the bloody civil wars fought in the mid to late 20th century?

Find out in part two of a two-part series for Kalam Shorts about sectarianism in Lebanon, available exclusively for our Patreon subscribers. Sign up at patreon.com/kalampodcast for just $3/month.

For continuous updates on the podcast and content about Palestine and the Middle East, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

Please subscribe to Kalam Podcast in whatever podcast application you're listening to right now - and give us a rating. It helps other people find out about us.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Israel Strikes Tent Hospital in Gaza: Kalam Digest 11

Tue, 15 Oct 2024 08:00:00 GMT

This week we saw harrowing images of Gazans literally burning alive when Israel struck a makeshift hospital in Northern Gaza. One person was in a hospital bed hooked up to an IV when the flames engulfed and ultimately killed him.

Why are we seeing this brutal escalation, and how is this affecting the front in Lebanon?

Israel demanded that the UN peacekeeping troops in Lebanon be removed "from harms way", after several UN soldiers were injured as a result of Israeli fire. This request was denied by the governments of France, Spain and Ireland.

For continuous updates on the podcast and content about Palestine and the Middle East, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

Please subscribe to Kalam Podcast in whatever podcast application you're listening to right now - and give us a rating. It helps other people find out about us.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

29. Asbestos in Gaza with Nora Adin Fares

Fri, 11 Oct 2024 08:00:00 GMT

The United Nations estimates that 800,000 of bombed-out debris in Gaza may be contaminated with the toxic mineral asbestos. Asbestos is a mineral that poses little threat to humans when undisturbed, but is highly carcinogenic - that is, it leads to severe forms of cancer, mainly in the lungs - when it is released into the atmosphere and inhaled by humans.

In today's programme Edgar speaks with Nora about this terrifying piece of news and what it could mean for the future of Gaza's population, already suffering under what an increasing number of legal scholars are calling a genocide.

For continuous updates on the podcast and content about Palestine and the Middle East, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

Please subscribe to Kalam Podcast in whatever podcast application you're listening to right now - and give us a rating. It helps other people find out about us.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One Year Since October 7: Kalam Digest

Thu, 10 Oct 2024 08:00:00 GMT

It's been a year since Hamas launched its attack on October 7, 2023 prompting Israel to commence what a growing number of legal scholars consider to be a genocide.

In today's episode, Edgar and Sam discuss the failure of Israel's war on Gaza since Hamas managed to launch rockets at Tel Aviv on the literal one year anniversary.

We also discuss the latest developments in the Lebanese front and the impending sense of doom we all are feeling.

For continuous updates on the podcast and content about Palestine and the Middle East, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

Please subscribe to Kalam Podcast in whatever podcast application you're listening to right now - and give us a rating. It helps other people find out about us.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sectarianism in Lebanon Part I: Kalam Shorts (teaser)

Tue, 08 Oct 2024 08:00:00 GMT

How is it that such a diverse religious and ethnic mix of people came to live in so close proximity to each other in and around Mount Lebanon? And why did the French colonial authorities decide to organise their mandate in Lebanon by dividing the country across "sectarian" lines?

Find out in part one of a two-part series for Kalam Shorts about sectarianism in Lebanon, available exclusively for our Patreon subscribers. Sign up at patreon.com/kalampodcast for just $3/month.

For continuous updates on the podcast and content about Palestine and the Middle East, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

Please subscribe to Kalam Podcast in whatever podcast application you're listening to right now - and give us a rating. It helps other people find out about us.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Munadama 3 (teaser)

Sun, 06 Oct 2024 08:00:00 GMT

"There are decades when you fuck around, there are weeks when you find out."

This is our third Munadama session when Edgar, Sam and Arthur - the creators of Kalam Podcast - sit down for a relaxed discussion of the last few weeks' events.

To listen to the full episode, go to patreon.com/kalampodcast

For continuous updates, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Iran Strikes Back at Israel with Nora Adin Fares (Welcome to the show!) and Sam Carlshamre – Kalam Digest 9

Fri, 04 Oct 2024 08:00:00 GMT

Earlier this week, Iran retaliated against Israel for the killing of the leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah, Ismael Haniyeh and Hassan Nasrallah respectively, by launching the largest ballistic missile barrage in history.

It is still unclear what was hit and how much damage was inflicted, due to heavy Israeli military censorship. We do know that the Iron Dome did not intercept all of the missiles, and many did hit their intended target.

We are so delighted to announce the newest addition to the Kalam team, Swedish-Iraqi freelance journalist, Nora Adin Fares, who joins us directly from Amman, and as always Sam Carlshamre from Stockholm.

If you enjoy Kalam Podcast and want to suppor the show, there is an excellent way to do so - by signing up to our Patreon. For just $3 a month you'll gain access to full length interviews with all our guests and lots of bonus material - including our series Kalam Shorts: 10-15 explainers of concepts like Zionism and Orientalism. Join at patreon.com/kalampodcast

For continuous updates on the podcast and content about Palestine and the Middle East, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

Please subscribe to Kalam Podcast in whatever podcast application you're listening to right now - and give us a rating. It helps other people find out about us.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hassan Nasrallah Assassinated by Israel - Kalam Digest 8

Tue, 01 Oct 2024 08:00:00 GMT

Last week the Secretary General of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, was killed in an Israeli airstrike. This marks the most high profile political assassination Israel has ever carried out. What does this mean for Lebanon and the broader region?

In more news, Israel has launched its ground invasion of Southern Lebanon following airstrikes and heavy artillery bombardment of alleged Hezbollah positions. Sam and Edgar discuss this and more in this week's news summary.

Hezbollah is considered a terrorist organisation by large parts of the Western World, while for many Lebanese and Arabs in general it is considered to be a resistance group.

For continuous updates on the podcast and content about Palestine and the Middle East, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

Please subscribe to Kalam Podcast in whatever podcast application you're listening to right now - and give us a rating. It helps other people find out about us.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

28. Live från Bokmässan med Amer Sarsour (Swedish)

Mon, 30 Sep 2024 04:00:00 GMT

The Swedish-Palestinian author Amer Sarsour published his much praised debut novel Medan vi brinner earlier this year. At the Gothenburg Book Fair, Edgar had a chance to interview Amer for a live show (in Swedish) about the book and about being Palestinian in Sweden.

This episode is in Swedish as the book hasn't yet been translated, apologies to everyone who doesn't speak the language! We plan on speaking to Amer in English soon.

For continuous updates on the podcast and content about Palestine and the Middle East, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

Please subscribe to Kalam Podcast in whatever podcast application you're listening to right now - and give us a rating. It helps other people find out about us.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

27. Lobbying for Palestine with Inès Abdel Razek

Thu, 26 Sep 2024 04:00:00 GMT

It is no longer viable to advocate for Palestinian liberation with Western politicians and diplomats. Palestinian advocacy networks like the Palestinian Institute for Public Diplomacy (PIPD) is now looking to affect change with cultural figures, Generation Z and the Global South in order to pressure the Global North to change its position on Israel and Palestine.

In this conversation, Inès Abdel Razek, co-Director of PIPD, speaks with Edgar about the challenges faced by those who advocate for Palestinian liberation. Not only from the Israeli occupation and its lobbying groups, but also from the Palestinian Authority which sometimes sees groups operating outside of its organisation as a threat.

For continuous updates on the podcast and content about Palestine and the Middle East, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

Please subscribe to Kalam Podcast in whatever podcast application you're listening to right now - and give us a rating. It helps other people find out about us.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lebanon: Hundreds killed in Israeli strikes - Kalam Digest 7

Tue, 24 Sep 2024 08:00:00 GMT

The deadliest day since the 1975-1990 civil war in Lebanon - over 500 people have been killed in 24 hours of Israeli bombardment.

We dedicate the majority of today's news summary to the ongoing war in Lebanon. What does Israel wish to achieve? What is life like for Lebanese civilians?

For continuous updates on the podcast and content about Palestine and the Middle East, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

Please subscribe to Kalam Podcast in whatever podcast application you're listening to right now - and give us a rating. It helps other people find out about us.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

26. Lebanon in Crisis with Ralph Baydoun

Sat, 21 Sep 2024 04:00:00 GMT

This is a special edition of Kalam Podcast due to the dramatic events in Lebanon, effectively escalating the already intense regional tensions in the Middle East.

In this conversation, Lebanese journalist Ralph Baydoun joins Edgar for a frank conversation about the precarious state of Lebanon. A country that went from being a top exporter of arts and culture to a place mired in devastating conflict and economic crisis.

For continuous updates on the podcast and content about Palestine and the Middle East, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

Please subscribe to Kalam Podcast in whatever podcast application you're listening to right now - and give us a rating. It helps other people find out about us.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lebanon Pager Terror Attack - Kalam Digest 6

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 04:00:00 GMT

Terror struck large swathes of Lebanon yesterday as hundreds of explosions went off all over the country. Hezbollah members' pagers (the communication device of choice since Israel easily hacks into smartphones) suddenly exploded in their pockets.

This left nearly 3,000 people injured - 200 in critical condition - and killed at least 11 people, including an 8-year-old girl, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.

This comes in the midst of a dangerous escalation between Israel and Hezbollah, nearly one year into the war on Gaza sparked by the October 7 attack.

For continuous updates on the podcast and content about Palestine and the Middle East, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

Please subscribe to Kalam Podcast in whatever podcast application you're listening to right now - and give us a rating. It helps other people find out about us.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hamas Part III - What do They Believe in? - Kalam Shorts (teaser)

Sat, 14 Sep 2024 04:00:00 GMT

This is a teaser for the final episode of our three-part series on Hamas for Kalam Shorts.

Hamas wrote what they refer to as a "covenant" in 1988 with some.. let's say problematic content.

In 2017 they released a policy document with wildly different values and ideas. So what do they actually believe in?

Listen to the full episode on patreon.com/kalampodcast

For continuous updates follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast and TikTok @kalam_podcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

25. "Jerusalem is not a City" with Abed Alrahman Shabaneh

Thu, 12 Sep 2024 07:00:00 GMT

Abed Alrahman Shabaneh is a Palestinian writer and curator. In addition to writing novels and essays, Abed also worked on urban planning in Jerusalem. From this experience he gained invaluable insights into how colonialism and occupation is constructed.

In his conversation with Edgar, Abed speaks about his ideas about where the technological future will take us, expressed through his slightly dystopian literary work.

For continuous updates on the podcast and content about Palestine and the Middle East, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

Please like and subscribe if you enjoy Kalam Podcast! It helps other people find out about us.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Israel Kills 40 Palestinians in Refugee Camp: Kalam Digest 5

Wed, 11 Sep 2024 04:00:00 GMT

In this week's news summary, Edgar and Sam discuss the latest deadly airstrikes on Gaza, follow up on the Polio vaccine and the conditions for back to school season in Gaza.

In other news, a Jordanian truck driver gunned down three Israeli border police and the culture wars in Israel deepen while the economy is in free fall. These are some of the headlines spoken about in today's episode.

For continuous updates on the podcast and content about Palestine and the Middle East, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

Please subscribe to Kalam Podcast in whatever podcast application you're listening to right now - and give us a rating. It helps other people find out about us.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kalam Live from Zita! With Bernt Hermele and Sarah Dahman Hallgren

Tue, 10 Sep 2024 04:00:00 GMT

After a screening of the documentary Where the Olive Trees Wheep Edgar sits with the Swedish writer Bernt Hermele and the Palestinian-French curator of books, Sarah Dahman Hallgren for a conversation about trauma and resistance.

Thank you to everyone who came to see us live!

For continuous updates on the podcast and content about Palestine and the Middle East, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

Please subscribe to Kalam Podcast in whatever podcast application you're listening to right now - and give us a rating. It helps other people find out about us.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

24. The Palestinian Museum with Amer Shomali

Sat, 07 Sep 2024 04:00:00 GMT

Today's guest, Amer Shomali, was appointed as the General Director of the Palestinian Museum on October 5, 2023. Two days later, we all know what happened.

Amer Shomali is a visual artist who directed one of the most innovative documentaries we have seen as of late. The Wanted 18 follows a number of "Israeli" cows gifted to the Palestinian town of Bayt Sahur.

Over the course of our conversation, we touch on the documentary I just mentioned, running a museum during a war, Amer’s upbring in Syria, the disillusionment he felt when he first saw Palestine as a teenager, Western romanticisation of Palestine and PLO children’s books.

For continuous updates on the podcast and content about Palestine and the Middle East, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

Please subscribe to Kalam Podcast in whatever podcast application you're listening to right now - and give us a rating. It helps other people find out about us.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

23. Mariam Barghouti on Being a Palestinian Journalist: Kalam Ramallah

Thu, 05 Sep 2024 04:00:00 GMT

We are delighted to announce the first episode in our 13 part series from Ramallah on the occupied West Bank.

Today's guest is an icon of Palestinian journalism and advocacy, Mariam Barghouti.

In this episode, Mariam speaks about the hypocrisy of Western media, the pain she feels in reporting on resistance fighters and about being targeted herself by the Israeli military.

This episode is video recorded and available on YouTube, youtube.com/@KalamPodcast972

For continuous updates on the podcast and content about Palestine and the Middle East, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

Please subscribe to Kalam Podcast in whatever podcast application you're listening to right now - and give us a rating. It helps other people find out about us.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nationwide Strikes Paralyse Israel: Kalam Digest 4

Tue, 03 Sep 2024 13:15:00 GMT

On today's weekly news summary, Edgar and Sam discuss Israel's incursion into the West Bank, as well as the latest on the distribution of the Polio vaccine in Gaza, the Houthi's latest operations and the UK cutting 10% of its arms sales to Israel.

Our main story concerns the general strike that began today in Israel - paralysing large parts of the country including the airports. The Israeli Labour Court ordered for the strike to end even before it began, signalling the gravity of the situation.

As always, to support the show head to patreon.com/kalampodcast and sign up for just $3/month. For continuous updates follow us on Instagram and TikTok.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Munadama 2 (teaser)

Mon, 02 Sep 2024 04:00:00 GMT

This is a teaser, to hear the full episode head over to patreon.com/kalampodcast and sign up for just $3/month and gain access to lots of great bonus content.

It's closing in on half a year of Kalam Podcast! Edgar, Sam and Arthur sit down for a reflection session on a balcony in Stockholm.

We want to begin by thanking everyone who has listened to the podcast and shared our content and especially to everyone who has signed up to our Patreon. Your support means everything!

How has the process been since launching the podcast in late May? Edgar vents about his angst over the situation in Palestine and being forced into the field of activism, Sam tries to comfort him and teaches him how to snap his fingers while Arthur comes up with a brilliant new series for the show.

As always follow us on Instagram and TikTok for continuous updates on the show and the Middle East.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

22. From Sápmi to Palestine with Salem Barahmeh

Sun, 01 Sep 2024 04:00:00 GMT

On today's episode of Kalam Podcast Edgar speaks with the founder of Uncivilized Media, Salem Barahmeh. Uncivilized is a channel that tells stories about people and places that are unrepresented, silenced or erased. Very similar to what we do here at Kalam Podcast.

Edgar first met Salem on a cold, rainy day in Stockholm several years ago. At the time, he was working with PIPD, the Palestinian Institute for Public Diplomacy. He was traveling the Western World, lobbying for the Palestinian cause with politicians, diplomats and grassroots organisers.

Since then he has pivoted into storytelling and political education, catering largely to the masses on social media. And he’s been very successful. We’ll get back to Salem Barahmeh and his storytelling that connects stories of struggle from Northern Sweden to Palestine to Taiwan.

If you enjoy Kalam Podcast and want to suppor the show, there is an excellent way to do so - by joining Klub Kalam on patreon. For just $3 a month you'll gain access to full length interviews with all our guests and lots of bonus material - including our series Kalam Shorts: 10-15 explainers of concepts like Zionism and Orientalism. Join at patreon.com/kalampodcast

For continuous updates on the podcast and content about Palestine and the Middle East, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

Please subscribe to Kalam Podcast in whatever podcast application you're listening to right now - and give us a rating. It helps other people find out about us.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Polio documented in Gaza: Kalam Digest 3

Tue, 27 Aug 2024 11:00:00 GMT

In this week's news summary, Sam and Edgar discuss the failing ceasefire negotiations and the recent escalation between Israel and Hezbollah.

In addition, we look at the Israeli Minister for National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, and his violent settler supporters who recently stormed the Al Aqsa Mosque compound, harassing Palestinian worshippers and proclaiming the building of the third temple.

In horrific news from Gaza, the first case of Polio has been detected among a population whose suffering has not ended for the better part of a year.

Kalam Podcast is made possible through listeners like you. If you enjoy listening to Kalam, please subscribe to the show in whatever podcast application you’re listening to right now, and please give us a rating - it helps other people find out about us.

If you’d like to support the show with a small donation, consider signing up to Kalam Podcast on Patreon for just $3/month. In addition to supporting the show, you’ll gain access to lots of great bonus content. Go to patreon.com/kalampodcast

For continuous updates follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hamas Part II - Rulers of Gaza: Kalam Shorts (Teaser)

Wed, 21 Aug 2024 04:00:00 GMT

What does Hamas do when it takes over Gaza? It implements an Islamist agenda and mobilises the population for resistance against Israel.

In Part 2 of our series on Hamas for Kalam Shorts, Edgar and Sam discuss how Hamas act once they gain formal political power. They also discuss Hamas' international appeal with parts of the Western Left.

This is a teaser, to hear the full episode head over to patreon.com/kalampodcast and sign up for $3/month. In addition to this episode, you'll gain access to lots of other bonus content.

For continuous updates on the Middle East and the podcast, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is Blinken up to the Task? - Kalam Digest 2

Tue, 20 Aug 2024 04:00:00 GMT

This week has seen massive upheaval on the West Bank - a new pogrom-style burning of a village as well as settler encroachment at the Gaza border.

Edgar and Sam discuss the possibilities of an Iranian strike as the US Foreign Secretary, Antony Blinken, visits Tel Aviv.

In related news, the Democratic National Convention is kicking off in Chicago where tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters are expected to rally against the administrations endorsement of genoc!de.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

21. Majdal Shams Massacre with Wael Tarabieh

Thu, 15 Aug 2024 04:00:00 GMT

On 27 July, 2024 a rocket hit a football pitch in the village of Majdal Shams in the occupied Golan Heights. 12 children and teenagers were killed and it has yet to be determined who is responsible.

In today's episode, Edgar speaks with artist and activist Wael Tarabieh, born and raised in Majdal Shams. The conversation ranges from the history of the Druze in southern Syria to the politics of occupation and why the people of Majdal Shams refused Israeli citizenship.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kalam Live - Unstraight Stories from Egypt with Dawood and Nayuk

Wed, 14 Aug 2024 04:00:00 GMT

In this feature episode, recorded live at the Swedish night club Trädgården, Edgar sits with Dawood, a Swedish-Lebanese photographer who recently exhibited his project Unstraight Stories from Egypt. This is a collection of photographs and stream of consciousness anecdotes depicting queer life in the Arab World's most populous country.

Special guest feature is Nayuk, a non-binary queer activist from Turkey, who is involved in Unstraight Stories from Turkey.

Both projects are made in partnership with the Swedish Unstraight Museum, a mobile museum showcasing queer life around the world.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Will Iran Strike? - Kalam Digest 1

Tue, 13 Aug 2024 05:45:00 GMT

This is the first installment of Kalam Digest, a weekly news summary bringing you the latest political developments in the Middle East.

In today's episode, Edgar and Sam speak about Israel's new wartime strategy of striking schools in Gaza, while the US delivers $3.5 billion in fresh aid.

According to leaks from within Israeli intelligence, Iran is expected to strike Israel within the next few days. What shape will this attack take, and what are its implications for the region?

All the while, the negotiations for a ceasefire and a hostage deal are ongoing - Sam and Edgar discuss whether or not the two sides want to reach an agreement before or after Iran strikes.

Finally, the West Bank is still under extreme strain from both Israeli raids and settler violence. How does this situation tie into the rest of the picture?

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hamas Part I - Rise to Power: Kalam Shorts (Unlocked)

Tue, 30 Jul 2024 04:00:00 GMT

What is Hamas? Depending on who you ask, a resistance group or a terrorist organisation. For the people of Gaza, oftentimes, authoritarian thugs.

This is part one of a three part Kalam Shorts series on Hamas - on their founding as an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood in the 60's and 70's, and their rise to power in the aftermath of the failure of the Oslo Process.

If you would like to hear parts 2 and 3 of this series, please consider signing up to our Patreon community for just $3/month, at patreon.com/kalampodcast. With such a subscription, you'll gain access to full length interviews with all our guests as well as lots of bonus content. That's at patreon.com/kalampodcast

For continuous updates on the Middle East and the podcast, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Hannibal Directive: Kalam Shorts (Teaser)

Sun, 28 Jul 2024 04:00:00 GMT

The Israeli military, the IDF, ordered the Hannibal Directive on October 7 to Prevent Hamas Taking Soldiers Captive, according to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz. The IDF has long denied the existence of such a directive, although leaks and ex-soldier testimonies seems to prove otherwise.

So what is the Hannibal Directive? On this episode of Kalam Shorts, Sam speaks to Edgar about the origins of the directive and why it was created.

This is a teaser, to listen to the full episode sign up to Klub Kalam at patreon.com/kalampodcast. For just $3/month you'll gain access to this episode and lots of other bonus content.

For continuous updates about the podcast and the Middle East, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

20. Netanyahu is a War Criminal with Abdelghany Sayed

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 04:00:00 GMT

Earlier this week, the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received standing ovations as he spoke at the US Congress in Washington DC.

He was applauded, while he is accused of a series of war crimes by the International Criminal Court in the Hague, which is imminently expected to issue an arrest warrant against Netanyahu.

Abdelghany Sayed is an expert on International Law and a teacher of it at Kent University in London. In this episode, he speaks to Edgar about the role of International Law when it comes to the Palestinian issue, and whether or not we should put our faith into it.

For continuous updates on the podcast and content about Palestine and the Middle East, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

Please subscribe to Kalam Podcast in whatever podcast application you're listening to right now - and give us a rating. It helps other people find out about us.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Street Food in Cairo with Mariam Nezar: Kalam 5asa

Tue, 23 Jul 2024 04:00:00 GMT

Mariam Nezar, who goes by Mia, is co-founder of Bellies en-Route, which provides food tours of Cairo as well as cooking classes.

Together, Edgar and Mia eat their way through the streets of downtown. Foul, taameya, molokheyya, koshary, and even cow brain are on the menu today!

Get a feel for the street food of Cairo, as well as the history behind many of the city's most iconic dishes and restaurants.

To see much of the food spoken about in this episode, follow Kalam Podcast on Instagram @kalampodcast

If you would like to support us there is an excellent way to do so! By joining Klub Kalam on Patreon. For just $3/month you'll gain access to full length interviews with all our guests, as well as unique bonus material. Sign up at patreon.com/kalampodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

19. Queer as in Free Palestine with Fredrik "Apollo" Asplund

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 12:00:00 GMT

"How can you be gay and support Palestine?" is a question that bugs Swedish club icon Fredrik "Apollo" Asplund. For him, it's obvious - the 1969 Stonewall Riots (protesting New York police harassing the city's queer communities) and the Palestinian Intifada are about the same struggle for freedom and dignity.

In the 80's and 90's gay people were killed in the millions by AIDS. Today, the people of Gaza are subjected to genoc!de. For Apollo - the solidarity is clear.

Listen to Edgar speak to his old friend Apollo - born in Kiruna but who made his way to New York, Paris, Mexico, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan.

Read Apollo’s essay in Parabol Press about his solidarity with Palestine here: https://www.parabol.press/varfor-jag-som-gay-stodjer-gaza/

For continuous updates on the podcast and content about Palestine and the Middle East, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

Please subscribe to Kalam Podcast in whatever podcast application you're listening to right now - and give us a rating. It helps other people find out about us.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

18. We are not Afraid with Hanan Ashrawi

Tue, 09 Jul 2024 11:00:00 GMT

We proudly present Dr. Hanan Ashrawi – one of the foremost Palestinian activist and politicians of the last half century. On this episode she speaks to Edgar about the First Intifada, of which she was a guiding spirit and a crucial player. And the Oslo Peace Process – which was the fruit of much of her labour, while resulting in catastrophe.

So what does this Palestinian political veteran think about our current moment? Find out on this Kalam Podcast EXCLUSIVE - Hanan Ashrawi is not giving interviews currently, but made an exception for us.

If you’d like to support the work we’re doing at Kalam Podcast you can do so, by joining Klub Kalam on patreon.com/kalampodcast - for just $3/month you’ll gain access to full length interviews with all our guests as well as awesome bonus content.

For continuous updates follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Kufiyya: Kalam Shorts (teaser)

Sun, 30 Jun 2024 20:00:00 GMT

What is the Kuffiyeh, known by many simply as the “Palestine scarf”? How did this humble piece of clothing come to take on the political overtones it does today – and what more exactly does it signify?

In this episode, Sam speaks to Edgar about the origins, both historical and etymological, of this iconic scarf.

The sound above is a teaser, to listen to the full episode sign up to Klub Kalam at patreon.com/kalampodcast.

For continuous updates, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

17. War is Inevitable with Diana Buttu

Thu, 27 Jun 2024 07:15:00 GMT

Diana Buttu speaks to Edgar in the city of Haifa in historic Palestine, today's Israel. The impending war with Lebanon and the genocide in Gaza is strongly felt in this mixed city of Israelis and Palestinians.

Diana speaks about what it is like to be a Palestinian citizen of Israel in this moment - living in a "sick society".

For continuous updates, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

If you like the show, please rate and subscribe to Kalam Podcast wherever you're listening right now.

And if you want to support us you can do so, by joining Klub Kalam and patreon.com/kalampodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Suez Canal: Kalam Shorts

Sun, 23 Jun 2024 08:00:00 GMT

Since its inauguration in 1869 the Suez Canal has played an immensely important part in the history, politics and economics of the Middle East and the World.

In this episode Sam and Edgar discuss its role in both the occupation of Egypt by the British and its liberation from imperialist domination, as well as the latest developments since October 7th, with the Houthis of Yemen establishing a de facto blockade of the canal.

This is a free episode in the Kalam Shorts series, where we introduce important concepts and phenomena. For all future Kalam Shorts please join Klub Kalam at patreon.com/kalampodcast. For just $3/month you'll gain access to lots of bonus content and full-length interviews with all our guests.

 Pictured: The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower transits the Suez Canal en route to the Mediterranean Sea.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

16. The Jews of Iraq with Avi Shlaim

Thu, 20 Jun 2024 05:15:00 GMT

The renowned Israeli-British historian Avi Shlaim speaks to Edgar about the Jews of Iraq and the Arab-Jews in general - an identity that was largely destroyed in the wake of the creation of the State of Israel in 1948.

Avi Shlaim, Professor of International Relations at the University of Oxford, speaks to Edgar about the Jews of Iraq, who numbered 130,000 in 1948, and what led to every single one of them leaving. It is a candid conversation in which Avi Shlaim answers difficult questions about his own past. He was born in Baghdad in 1945 to a prosperous, upper-middle class family. At the age of five they left Iraq and arrived in Israel as impoverished second class citizens.

If you want to learn more about the Iraqi Jews and their tragic plight, please check out Avi Shlaim's brilliant book Three Worlds: Memoirs of an Arab-Jew.

The video recorded version of this interview is available at the Kalam Podcast Youtube channel.

If you enjoy Kalam Podcast and would like to support the show you can do so, by joining our Patreon community at patreon.com/kalampodcast. For just $3/month you'll gain access to lots of bonus content and full-length interviews with all our guests.

Please like and subscribe to this channel - it helps other people find out about us. For continuous updates on Kalam Podcast follow us on Instagram, @kalampodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

MUNADAMA 1 (Teaser)

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 11:15:00 GMT

We are delighted to announce the first instalment of our series, Munadama. For the full length episode, sign up at patreon.com/kalampodcast

In Arabic, the meaning of Munadama is akin to a hearty discussion session with accompanied drinks. In these episodes, the team behind Kalam Podcast, Edgar Mannheimer (host), Sam Carlshamre (research & production) and Arthur Mannheimer (sound design) sit down for a drink and a talk.

In this first episode, we introduce ourselves and reflect on the first few episodes of Kalam. In the future, we hope to invite other guests to sit with us.

As always, follow us on Instagram for continuous updates @kalampodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

15. German Madness with Salah Said

Fri, 14 Jun 2024 08:30:00 GMT

Germany has descended into madness as its security apparatus violently attacks peaceful Palestinian protesters, accusing them of anti-Semitism. This happening in parallell to the far right and not-so-subtly anti-Semitic political party AfD is surging in the polls.

In this episode, Edgar speaks with Palestinian activist from Germany, Salah Said about the conditions for pro-Palestinian activism in the country, and about the twisted anti-anti-Semitism bureaucracy.

For continuous updates on the show, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

We recently launched our Youtube page - check that out here!

If you want to support independent journalism about Palestine and the Middle East, you can do so! By joining Klub Kalam on Patreon. For just $3/month you'll gain access to full length interviews and bonus material.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

14. History of Arabic Poetry with Mosab Abu Toha (video)

Thu, 13 Jun 2024 10:30:00 GMT

On this video recorded episode of Kalam, Edgar sits with the Gazan poet and very much a friend of the podcast, Mosab Abu Toha, for a discussion about, among other things, the history of Arabic poetry.

Why are poets so venerated in the Arab world, and what did poetry sound like before Islam?

As always, follow us on Instagram for continuous updates @kalampodcast

If you want to support independent journalism about Palestine and the Middle East, you can do so! By joining Klub Kalam on Patreon. Sign up for just $3/month and gain access to full length interviews with all our guests and loads of bonus content.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

13. Lament of an Egyptian Revolutionary with Aida Seif El-Dawla

Fri, 07 Jun 2024 12:30:00 GMT

Why aren't we seeing massive pro-Palest!ne demonstrations in Egypt, when we know an overwhelming majority of its people support the liberation of Palest!ne?

Dr. Aida Seif El-Dawla, a retired psychiatrist and human rights defender conveys the sense of defeat and tragedy many progressives in Egypt feel. The revolution of 2011 came so close to achieving the change Egypt so desperately needs - and it also came very close to changing Egypt's policy toward its neighbour Israel. But in the end it failed.

Today's episode can be sen as a lament of the Egyptian revolution, specifically as it pertains to the issue of Palest!ne.

For continuous updates and posts about Middle Eastern history, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast. If you want to support us, you can do so by joining the Kalam Community at patreon.com/kalampodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nakba Museum with Bernt Hermele: Kalam 5asa

Tue, 04 Jun 2024 12:45:00 GMT

In this Kalam Podcast special, Edgar speaks with the journalist and author Bernt Hermele, who recently opened an exhibition on the Nakba at Medelhavsmuseet in Stockholm, Sweden.

Bernt Hermele is Jewish, and his mother was killed in a terrorist attack in Israel during the Second Intifada in 2002. This tragic moment changed Bernt's life. He left the world of business reporting and began documenting eyewitness accounts of the Holocaust. He then did the same with survivor's of the Nakba.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

12. Watermelon Pictures with Munir Atalla

Thu, 30 May 2024 11:00:00 GMT

Why are Palestinians, Arabs and Muslims so often portrayed as violent and stupid savages in American film, and how can we change that?

Munir Atalla is the head of production and acquisition at Watermelon Pictures, the newly founded film production and distribution company rooted in Palestinian culture and creativity.

An old friend of Edgar's, Munir speaks about the limits of representation in cinema and the need to produce films that empower and mobilise the Palestinian community.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zionism: Kalam Shorts (Teaser)

Mon, 27 May 2024 12:30:00 GMT

Zionism, the political movement to create a Jewish state in Palestine, has had an immense impact on the modern history of the Middle East. But what were its theoretical foundations, and in what political context did it take shape?

In this new episode of Kalam Shorts, Sam and Edgar discuss the roots of Zionism, starting from Theodor Herzl’s (1860-1904) The Jewish State (Der Judenstaat) from 1896 — the book which launched Zionism as a political movement. This episode will be the first of several exploring the different forms of Zionism which have appeared over the last 130 years.

To gain access to the full episode, join the Kalam Community at patreon.com/kalampodcast for just $3 a month.

For continuous updates on the podcast and historic perspectives on the Middle East, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Settler Colonialism: Kalam Shorts (Teaser)

Fri, 24 May 2024 10:45:00 GMT

What is Settler Colonialism, and can it be applied to Israel? In this instalment of Kalam Shorts, Sam and Edgar explore this terminology and talk about the French Jewish scholar, Maxime Rodinson, and his seminal 1967 work, "Israel: A Settler Colonial State?"

To gain access to the full episode, join the Kalam Community at patreon.com/kalampodcast for just $3 a month.

For continuous updates on the podcast and historic perspectives on the Middle East, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

11. Women in War with Donia Ashour

Thu, 23 May 2024 11:00:00 GMT

The death and destruction, wrought by Israel's bloody war in Gaza has been highly publicised and discussed, rightly so. But what about the day to day lives of those who survive?

How do women manage menstrual cycles when fleeing bombardment and living in refugee camps with tens of thousands of strangers?

In today's episode, Edgar speaks with 23 year old Donia Ashour, a translator from Gaza who had recently graduated with a degree in English Literature when the war began on October 7.

Back in October, Edgar interviewed Donia for Swedish Radio when she was still living in a refugee camp in Khan Younis. Today, she and her family managed to escape to Cairo.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Malmövision with Bashar Murad: Kalam 5asa

Sun, 19 May 2024 12:30:00 GMT

The Eurovision finals were held in Malmö on May 11 2024, and because of Israel's participation huge demonstrations were organised. Tens of thousands are estimated to have marched in Malmö on the days preceding the finals.

An alternative song contest was also organised, Falastinvision: "The genocide free song contest". Edgar travelled to Malmö and attended Falastinvision, where the Palestinian pop artist Bashar Murad performed.

This is a KALAM 5ASA instalment, a feature episode of the Kalam podcast. The regularly scheduled episodes released on Thursdays will not be affected.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

10. The Road to Cairo Runs Through Gaza With Nihal El Aasar

Thu, 16 May 2024 10:00:00 GMT

A democratic Egypt is impossible without a liberated Palestine and vice versa. This is the argument put forth by the Egyptian writer, researcher and DJ, Nihal El Aasar. Nihal is a member of the London branch of the Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM), where she lives.

In today's episode, Nihal speaks to Edgar about why the West has a vested interest in keeping Egypt's government authoritarian and anti-Democratic, as well as the ecumenical nature of the term Arab - before the creation of the state of Israel.

For continuous updates on Kalam, as well as biographical introductions to historical figures in the Middle East, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

If you'd like to support Kalam you can do so by joining our Patreon community at patreon.com/kalampodcast for just 3 USD a month. There, you'll gain access to full length interviews with all our guests and our new series, Kalam Shorts - 10 to 15 minute explainers of important terminology like Orientalism, Zionism and Settler Colonialism.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Orientalism: Kalam Shorts

Sun, 12 May 2024 12:45:00 GMT

Are Edgar and Sam, the two white men behind Kalam, actually orientalists? Listen to find out!

In this first instalment of Kalam Shorts, Middle Eastern scholar Samuel Carlshamre discusses Edward Said's seminal book Orientalism. What is it about, and what do his critics say?

Kalam Shorts are 10-15 minute explainers of terminology important to understand when studying and learning about the Middle East. This first episode is free but coming Kalam Shorts will only be available for our Patreon supporters (subscribe via patreon.com/kalampodcast). Upcoming shorts will look at topics like Settler Colonialism, the Kuffieh and Zionism.

Included in the shorts is a literature guide for further study!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

9. Students Rise Up for Palestine with Sinan Antoon

Thu, 09 May 2024 11:00:00 GMT

Across the United States and increasingly in Western Europe, students are establishing encampments on university campuses. Encampments in solidarity with Palestine. Students want to protest against the ongoing war on Gaza and to demand that their institutions divest from Israel.

In today's episode Iraqi writer, poet and literary scholar, Sinan Antoon, speaks to Edgar about this movement and its implications for the broader movement to liberate Palestine. Sinan is an Associate Professor at NYU in New York City and was arrested by the NYPD for peacefully protesting.

For continuous updates on the podcast and on all things Palestine and Middle East, follow us on instagram @kalampodcast

If you want to support independent, in-depth journalism on Palestine and the Middle East, you can do so by joining our Patreon community, at patreon.com/kalampodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

8. Reporting on Gaza with Youmna El Sayed

Thu, 02 May 2024 11:00:00 GMT

The Palestinian-Egyptian journalist Youmna El Sayed was for many people the media face of the war on Gaza.

Soon she found herself in the surreal position of reporting on the same calamities she was facing herself. She and her husband and children have been displaced several times and at times did not have enough food or water. She has since chosen to evacuate Gaza for the sake of her kids. At the moment, she’s travelling the Western world, advocating for the Palestinian cause.

Support independent journalism about the Middle East and Palestine by joining our Patreon community. For just 3 USD a month you will gain access to full length interviews and bonus content.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

7. What if all Palestinians Disappeared? With Ibtisam Azem

Thu, 25 Apr 2024 11:00:00 GMT

What if all the Palestinians would disappear? Not in a figurative sense, or even through ethnic cleansing or genocide. What if they simply vanished out of thin air? What would that do to israeli society? This is the premise of the Palestinian author Ibtisam Azem’s Book of Disappearance, first published in Arabic in 2014.

It’s a truly fascinating read, and Ibtisam Azem, who grew up as a Palestinian citizen of Israel, masterfully portrays the hard truths and complexities of Israeli society.

This episode can be seen as a sequel to Episode 1 with Suad Amiry, as her novel talks about the very real disappearance of Palestinians during the 1948 Nakba.

To support independent journalism about Palestine and the Middle East more broadly, join our Patreon community at patreon.com/kalampodcast.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

6. GAZA with Mosab Abu Toha

Thu, 18 Apr 2024 11:00:00 GMT

It's been six months since the October 7 attack. Since then, over 33,000 Palestinians have been killed as a result of Israel's bombing campaign and ground invasion of Gaza, nearly 14,000 of whom are children.

The renowned Gazan poet Mosab Abu Toha joins Edgar today for a discussion about what it means to grow up in what Masha Gessen likens to a Nazi concentration camp.

We would like to dedicate this episode to all the murdered poets of Gaza.

As always, follow us on social media:

Instagram

Facebook

Twitter

If you want to support independent journalism on the Middle East and Palestine, please consider joining our Patreon community.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

5. The Second Intifada with Sahar Francis

Thu, 11 Apr 2024 11:00:00 GMT

The Second Intifada (~2000-2008) came out of the failure of the Oslo Accords, the failure of the PLO to create a Palestinian state, the crippling of the Palestinian economy through Israeli restrictions and Israel’s increasingly aggressive and violent settler expansion and colonial oppression.

In contrast to the First Intifada, the Second Intifada was marked by a series of bloody terrorist bombings against Israeli civilians. The renowned Palestinian historian Rashid Khalidi laments this dark development in his book “The 100 Years’ War on Palestine”, describing how different Palestinian armed factions from Hamas to Fatah expressed their rivalry through a kind of competition in suicide bombings. Part of it was desperation, part of it was blind revenge against the Israeli population for the Israeli Occupation Forces’ heavy handed response to Palestinian protests - where thousands of Palestinians throwing rocks were gunned down down by Israeli soldiers.

It was always the case however, and still is, that far more Palestinians were killed than Israelis. During this uprising, Khalidi estimates that 4,916 Palestinians and 1,100 Israelis were killed.

Episode 5 of the Kalam podcast explores this difficult period, with the General Director of the Palestinian prisoner support organisation, Addameeer, Sahar Francis.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

4. The First Intifada with Islah Jad

Thu, 04 Apr 2024 11:00:00 GMT

In Late 1987 Palestine erupted. The Israeli occupation was closing in on 20 years and getting comfortable. But seemingly out of nowhere, a mass movement of protests, strikes and boycotts shook Israel and the world. For the first time, the West gained sympathy for Palestine, as images of heavily armed Israeli soldiers brutalising Palestinian women and children were broadcast on TV screens around the world.

Today, Associate Professor Islah Jad joins Edgar for a conversation about the First Intifada. Islah has written the book, Palestinian Women’s Activism: Nationalism, Secularism, Islamism and was an active participant in the First Intifada.

For full length episodes, poetry and reading lists and bonus episodes, please consider donating to us at Patreon.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

3. Six Days in June 1967 with Khaled Fahmy

Thu, 28 Mar 2024 11:00:00 GMT

In June of 1967 Israel launched an attack against its immediate neighbours, the combined Arab armies of Egypt, Syria and Jordan. In a flash it managed to dismantle Egypt's entire air force, and defeated the Arab forces in just six days. This led to the occupation of Egypt's Sinai peninsula, Syria's Golan Heights and the occupation of all Palestinian territories in the West Bank and Gaza. This is where the occupation of Palestine begins.

The seminal historian Dr Khaled Fahmy, Edward Keller Professor of North Africa and the Middle East at Tufts University, joins Edgar in a discussion about the war, focusing on the popular culture at the time. How is it that the Israeli and Arab public believed the Arab forces were superior while the military elite on both sides knew the opposite was true?

Towering figures like Umm Kulthum and Abdel Halim Hafez played their part in egging on the war. Equally, they played a huge part in trying to understand the defeat.

For full length episodes, poetry and reading lists and bonus episodes, please consider donating to us at Patreon.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2. Nakba (Part two) with Gideon Levy

Thu, 21 Mar 2024 08:00:00 GMT

In the previous episode of the Kalam Podcast, Suad Amiry walked us through the horrors of the 1948 Nakba. In this episode we try to answer the question of who those early Zionists who carried out the Nakba were, and they were motivated by. And what exactly Israelis celebrate when they commemorate the Nakba as their Independence Day.

The Israeli journalist and political dissident Gideon Levy joins Edgar to try to explain these phenomena.

For full length interviews, poetry and reading lists and bonus episodes, please consider joining our Patreon club.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1. Nakba (Part one) with Suad Amiry

Thu, 21 Mar 2024 08:00:00 GMT

In 1948 an estimated 750,000 Palestinians were displaced as Zionist militias paved the way for the establishment of the state of Israel. Many historians refer to this ethnic cleansing. For Palestinians, it is known as the Nakba, Arabic for catastrophe.

In this episode, the renowned Palestinian author and architect, Suad Amiry, speaks to host Edgar Mannheimer about what the Nakba means to the Palestinians. Her 2022 novel, Mother of Strangers, follows several characters in Jaffa between 1947-1951.

For full length interviews, poetry and reading lists and bonus episodes, please consider joining our Patreon club.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.