East and West

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).