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Law professor Kerem Gulay was minding his own business in Istanbul when the fall of Kabul reminded him of a dynamic Afghan law student (1:30) he’d met in an online competition — and moved him to act. He reached out to family, friends, activists, diplomats and journalists (7:00), built a virtual rescue network, thanks to several kind-hearted Italians (10:30), and helped dozens of Afghans get out of the country (16:15) and out of danger.  

Bangladeshi-British writer Tharik Hussain on bringing his family along for the Balkan journey detailed in his bestselling new book; the trauma of growing up Muslim in the UK (4:15); why Europe’s Muslim/Ottoman history has been marginalized, minimized and largely forgotten (17:05); the value of Evliya Celebi’s writing and the lasting power of Mimar Sinan (22:35); and experiencing the Muslim custom of aiding travelers (33:00). 

Kashmir-born, US-based linguist Sadaf Munshi talks about the subtle tensions and divisions in pre-insurgency Kashmir (2:15), the early-90s imposition of conservative Islam by a sort of female Taliban (11:15), working amid  corruption at state-run Doordarshan (19:30), researching the mysterious Burushaski language (25:15), finding a friend on a trip to Gilgit (36:05), the total internet shutdown after revocation of Article 370 (44:10), and India’s betrayal and growing anger in Kashmir (52:20). 

Mustafa Akyol of the Cato Institute talks about his new book, Reopening Muslim Minds, and the value of questioning Islamic theology (1:30), the problematic thinking of some Islamist leaders contradicts the early days of Islam (9:20), the majestic moral failure of Turkish Islamists and the AKP (22:30), the real reason for under-development in the Muslim world (35:35), fixing the crisis in Islam and the wrong-headed approach of leaders like French President Macron (45:40). 

Asli Aydintasbas of the European Council on Foreign Relations talks about Turkey’s troubling third wave of covid-19, democratic backsliding and the anti-Western shift among Turkish nationalists (4:50), Turkey’s elite as out of touch and President Erdogan needing to pivot  (9:10), shutting down the pro-Kurdish HDP as problematic for the ruling AKP (17:30), why Erdogan is worried about Biden’s “cold shoulder” (23:25), particularly amid looming financial troubles and the shaky Turkish economy (37:00), and reasons for hope for Turkish activists and opposition figures (41:55). 

Journalist Hazal Sipahi recalls the origin story of her podcast Mental Klitoris, and the term's meaning (6:10); why a family member’s negative reaction was a good thing (7:25); making a sexual revolution (12:47); being called a slut at age 7 (16:45); how abortion is semi-banned in Turkey (30:00); why Mental Klitoris is unlikely to be censored (33:10); coerced consent and the sexiness of approval (34:25) and reclaiming the label of pornographer (39:40). 

Mohamed Amin Ahmed launched a counter-extremism organization in 2014, as Somalis in the US began leaving to join ISIS; to compete with slickly produced ISIS videos, he made cartoon videos of Average Mohamed (5:00); why funding is better than big awards, like State Department’s 2020 Citizen Diplomat (10:45); how he hopes to reach up to 200 million people (12:55) and deals with death threats (17:20); why research always trumps anti-Muslim hyperbole (20:45); the problem of bullying and hate crimes against Muslim women (25:48); why younger Somalis today self-identify as black before Arab (28:30); and bringing Average Mohamed to EU, Africa and beyond (32:05).

Indian affairs analyst Mohamed Zeeshan talks about his new book, Flying Blind, examines how India underestimates its own international standing (2:00); how India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru was ahead of his time yet spread India too thin (9:20); India’s shockingly low diplomatic presence and international influence (12:20); the importance of consistency for a rising power (20:15), why Kashmir is taboo in Indian politics (26:15), the India Story and how it is under threat (34:35) and the best way to restore legitimacy in the face of mass protests (43:50).

Analyst Selim Koru on sanctions pressure building thanks to EU’s more hawkish wing toward Turkey, President Biden unlikely to pressure Erdogan on rule of law (10:30), doubting the AKP’s recent weak polling numbers (17:30), Istanbul Mayor Imamoglu’s uninspiring politics (27:40), the presidential system has ended politics in Turkey (31:15), and AKP corruption has driven Turks from traditional Islam (43:35). 

Energy analyst John Bowlus explains why EU sanctions on Turkey would be a bad idea,  reveals a possible objective of Erdogan’s Canal Istanbul project (5:20), why Eastern Mediterranean gas is superfluous (10:55), when we can expect to enjoy a more amiable renewables era (14:15), the new shape of regional energy after the Abraham Accords and Turkey’s possible return from the dead (21:45) and how Turkey has emulated China’s approach to maritime energy (30:00).

Media analyst Sarphan Uzunoglu talks about social media giants calling Erdogan’s bluff; the over-politicization of Turkey’s news outlets and poor reporting balance (6:15) and how his media academy aims to change this (14:50); Turkey’s state-run wire service killed the reporting profession (25:00); independent outlets in Turkey have lost their readership by ignoring their audience (28:15); and social media platforms made fake news king and need to be held accountable (37:15). 

Dr. Hay Eytan Cohen Yanarocak explains how a Biden presidency, and its three ticking time bombs for Turkey, are not good news for Mr. Erdogan, breaks down the three alliances dominating today’s Middle East (16:20) and how Turkey and Israel maintain strong ties despite tensions, lays out his story of growing up Jewish in Istanbul (22:10) and how the rise of Turkish Islamism and the AKP revealed Turkish Jews’ true identity (30:45), and finally details Turkey’s increased involvement in Yemen (37:00) and use of hard power in the eastern Mediterranean to force Greece into talks (42:15). 

Shadi Hamid of the Brookings Institution on the ways in which alarmist American commentators were wrong; whether Trumpism will get its revenge in 2024 (7:35); failures of the Democratic Party, despite victory (15:15); the most important takeaway from this election (24:30); French leader Macron’s absurd and offensive statements on Islam (29:00); how France could accommodate, rather than alienate, its Muslims (36:50); and why Turkish leader Erdogan’s rhetoric is beyond the pale (43:30). Buy Shadi’s book Islamic Exceptionalism on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2IgaRWz

Ahmet Erdi Ozturk of London Metropolitan University details how the projection of Islam emerged as a key element of Turkish policy at home and abroad, the extent to which Turkish exiles are in the crosshairs of the state they fled, and how Turkish imams in the EU do the bidding of Turkey.