In this episode of Beyond the Tigris, I speak with Louis Blin, former French ambassador to the Middle East, about the deep historical ties between Europe and the Arab world.

We unpack how figures like Napoleon Bonaparte were influenced by the East, and how centuries of cultural exchange shaped everything from food and language to political thought.

The conversation also dives into how colonial history reshaped perceptions of the Middle East, and why those narratives still affect how we see identity and modernity today.

This episode invites you to rethink where cultures begin and end, and whether those boundaries ever truly existed.

In this episode, I speak with Louis Blin, former French ambassador and expert on the Middle East, about the deep historical ties between Europe and the Arab world.

We unpack how figures like Napoleon Bonaparte were influenced by the East, and how centuries of cultural exchange shaped everything from food to language to political thought.

The conversation also dives into how colonial history reshaped perceptions of the Middle East, and why those narratives still affect how we see identity and modernity today.

This episode invites you to rethink where cultures begin and end, and whether those boundaries ever truly existed.

Dr. Alissa Walter - an associate professor of history at Seattle Pacific University - has spent over a decade working on her book Contested City, and now that it's finally out, I had the opportunity to sit down and discuss it with her. This powerful work offers a research-driven and fresh lens on Baghdad. The complexities, transformations, and the lived realities that are often overlooked in mainstream narratives.

In our conversation, we explored a wide range of topics, including:

- How urban planning and housing policies in mid-20th century Baghdad reflected and reshaped social and political life.

- The human cost and societal shifts brought on by the Iran-Iraq War and the Gulf War.

- The impact of the rationing system and petitions under Saddam Hussein’s regime, and how these mechanisms both limited and empowered Iraqi citizens.

- What daily life looked like under dictatorship and how people navigated state power.

- The roots of feminism in Iraq, and how women’s roles evolved in public and private life throughout key historical periods.

- And the importance of preserving local voices and everyday histories when telling the story of modern Iraq.

Every so often, we meet someone who reminds us that travel is not just about crossing borders — it’s about crossing into the hearts and stories of others.

I’m honored to welcome Vincenzo Morelli and Claudio lodice who are working on **Macondo Expeditions** — a project born from a deep belief that the world’s most powerful tales are not found in monuments or headlines, but in the quiet resilience of everyday people, in forgotten villages, and in the ancient landscapes that still hum with life.

Through his journeys, Vincenzo and Claudio invite us to see the world with more compassion — to move slowly, listen deeply, and remember that every place, no matter how scarred by history, holds a soul worth honoring.Now, they find themselves in Iraq — a land of layered memories and immense beauty — working on a documentary that seeks not to explain Iraq, but to feel it, to witness it, and to share its hidden light with the world.

In this episode, contemporary artist Louis-Cyprien Rials shares his journey exploring Iraq through art, memory, and transformation. Known for his work in landscapes marked by conflict and cultural erasure, Rials recounts his arrival in Iraq on a motorbike, a birthday spent with the Peshmerga, and seeking refuge there during the pandemic. He discusses Iraq as a land of opportunity, his proximity to ISIS-controlled areas, and the role of art in Iraqi society. The conversation delves into Mesopotamian identity, the layered history of places like Mosul, the Le Corbusier Stadium, and the Tower of Babel, offering a unique perspective on Iraq’s past and present.

• Introduction to Louis-Cyprien Rials (00:00)

• Challenging the Iraq Narrative (01:35)

• Arriving in Iraq on a Motorbike (04:16)

• A Birthday with the Peshmerga (05:24)

• Returning to Iraq (07:27)

• Experiencing COVID-19 Restrictions & Seeking Refuge in Iraq (10:05)

• The Iraqi Way of Doing Things (12:23)

• Iraq as a Land of Opportunity (15:30)

• Being 7 Kilometers from ISIS (17:04)

• Iraqis and Their Relationship with Art (19:52)

• A City Built Around the Shrine (28:26)

• The Mesopotamian Identity (29:20)

• How Things Function in Iraq (39:39)

• Doors of Mosul (44:47)

• Le Corbusier's Stadium in Baghdad (56:11)

• The Tower of Babel and Its Legacy (01:06:00)

In this episode of Beyond the Tigris, we sit down with Sung Kwan Ma, a Korean traveler, photographer, and aspiring YouTuber, who has spent years exploring cultures beyond mainstream narratives. We discuss his journey to Iraq, the interplay of politics and identity, and how national borders shape who we are. Sung shares his perspective on Iraqi and Korean cultural similarities, the concept of independence, and the media’s role in shaping perceptions of places like Iraq. Through his travels, he questions societal structures, challenges preconceived notions, and highlights the power of firsthand experience in understanding the world.

We covered:

- Sung's Childhood Aspiration to Visit Iraq

- His experiences in North Korea

- The Relationship Between Language and Concepts Like Freedom and Love

- How News Media Shapes Human Perception

- Contrasting Media Portrayals with the Reality of Iraq

- The Difference Between Hearing About a Place and Experiencing It Firsthand

- Korean Culture and Its Similarities with Other Asian Cultures

- Embracing Humility and Letting Go of Ego When Traveling

- Iraq as a Melting Pot of Diverse Cultures

- Exploring the Definition of 'Iraqi' and National Identity

- Living Within A Bubble In Your Community

In this thought-provoking episode, we dive deep into Iraq's violent past and its lasting impact on the identity of its people. From collective trauma to the complexities of how Iraq has processed its history, we draw parallels between the struggles of Baghdad and Berlin. Our guest, Catherine, shares her journey of investigating the fake news and propaganda that has shaped perceptions of Iraq, revealing the challenges of truth in the media. We explore Iraq's unique hospitality, the tension between Hollywood's portrayal of freedom and the reality of Iraqi resilience, and the power of the Iraqi Museum to reclaim cultural heritage. From tourism's potential impact to the unifying force that binds Iraqis together, we ask what makes Iraqis truly come together as a nation. Amidst a backdrop of historical and political challenges, we also find a story of realistic optimism and the strength of Iraqi spirit.

The topics we discussed:

• The impact of Iraq’s violent past on individual identity
• The role of fake news and propaganda in shaping perceptions of Iraq
• Iraq’s generosity and resilience in the face of adversity
• Parallels between Baghdad’s and Berlin’s historical trauma
• The unifying force that brings Iraqis together as a nation
• The impact of tourism and the Iraqi Museum in shaping Iraq’s image

n this captivating episode of Beyond the Tigris, we sit down with Matteo Mantovani, an Italian who spent over a decade in Iraq. From his early days navigating cultural shocks to leading impactful projects and writing his book Iraq Untold, Matteo shares a unique perspective on Iraq's opportunities and challenges.

Enjoy!

elcome to Beyond the Tigris! In this episode, we sit down with Safa Sultani, a Chevening scholar from Iraq who pursued her master's in Emerging Economics and International Development at King's College London. Safa opens up about her journey to winning the prestigious Chevening Scholarship, the challenges of studying abroad, and the invaluable life lessons she gained along the way.

بهذه الحلقة، نحجي وية منار حداد عن تجربتة بالتقديم لمنحة جيففنك، رحله دراسته ببرطانية والتحديات الي واجهه. يأخذنه الكلام الى التحديات الي يواجهه الشاب العراقي من يتخرج من السادس الى رحلة البحث عن العمل, راح نحجي ايضا على المجتمع البرطاني والاختلافات الي شافهه منار بين الحياة ببريطانية والعراق