Global Voices Podcast

Originally published on Global Voices

The podcast Are You Listening? takes a look at some of the stories that have recently come out of the Global Voices newsroom. In this episode, we’ll hear about the tragic ways in which Venezuela is changing; the injustice that residents of Indian-administered Kashmir face; the fierce pride Nigerians have for their jollof rice recipe; the apparent criminalization of certain Facebook friendships in Thailand; and the institutionalized racism that exists within Brazil's justice system.

Many thanks to Kat Batuigas for editing this episode together and Laura Vidal, Mariana Parra, and Raphael Tsavkko Garcia for helping us with narration. Also, a shout-out to Global Voices contributors Luis Carlos Diaz, Nwachukwu Egbunike, Mong Palatino, Mariana Parra, and Raphael Tsavkko Garcia and our partner VideoVolunteers for the stories we featured in this podcast.

In this episode, we featured Creative Commons licensed music from the Free Music Archive, including Let's Start at the Beginning by Lee Rosevere (CC BY 4.0); The Sun Is Scheduled to Come Out Tomorrow by Chris Zabriskie (CC BY 4.0); Oldie Song by David Szesztay (CC BY-NC 3.0); Aurora Borealis by Lee Rosevere (CC BY-NC 3.0); Backed Vibes Clean by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 3.0); Skeptic by Podington Bear (CC BY-NC 3.0); and Resiste! by el zombi flash (CC BY 4.0).

The image featured in the SoundCloud thumbnail is a cartoon by Eduardo Sanabria (Edo Ilustrado). Used with permission.

Originally published on Global Voices

When you first encounter people who come from countries or who speak languages that aren't your own, you might think that your differences are greater than your similarities. But spend a little time together, and you'll start to see that you have more in common than you first thought.

These global connections are important because they challenge our beliefs, they broaden our perspective, and they remind us that it might just be a small world after all.

In this edition of Into the Deep, the Global Voices podcast where we take a closer look at one topic that isn’t getting the media coverage it deserves, we are digging deep into global connections.

We speak with five Global Voices contributors who recall a moment in which they felt connected to someone across borders and across language. Veroniki Krikoni talks about the similarities between Greek and Turkish; Tori Egherman explains how a hiking trip cemented her affection for Iranian culture; Violeta Camarasa remembers how a love of music overcame a lack of a shared language while traveling in rural China; Adriana Macias speaks about her time working with people from around the world in London; and Joey Ayoub looks back on his experience living in a small village in Madagascar.

A special shout-out to Kat Batuigas, who helped us produce this episode.

In this episode, we featured Creative Commons licensed music from the Free Music Archive, including Bir Demet Yasemen by Turku, Nomads of the Silk Road (CC BY 4.0); the songs Ray Gun – FasterFasterBrighter (CC BY-NC 4.0) and Discovery Harbor by Blue Dot Sessions (CC BY-NC 4.0); Rite of Passage by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 3.0); Make a Life (Instrumental) by Nick Jaina (CC BY-NC 3.0); Terminal Two by Cory Gray (CC BY-NC 3.0); and Pieces of the Present by Scott Gratton (CC BY-NC 4.0).

The SoundCloud thumbnail image is by Flickr user Jonas Bengtsson, CC BY 2.0.

Originally published on Global Voices

The podcast Are You Listening? takes a look at some of the stories that have recently come out of the Global Voices newsroom. In this episode, we break down the curious case of coffee culture in Jamaica; a historic visit to the biggest Muslim country in the world; and what it's like to be jailed by ISIS and live to tell the tale. We also introduce you to an iconic Macedonian folk singer who fell into obscurity and lastly, we take you more than a hundred years back to the battle where Ethiopia fought off white colonizers. In this episode, what’s old is new.

Many thanks to Kat Batuigas for helping us produce this episode and to Global Voices contributors Emma Lewis and Endalk for assisting us with narration, and for reporting — along with Filip Stojanovski, Juke Carolina,Joey Ayoub, and Elias Abou Jaoude —  the stories that we featured in this podcast.

In this episode, we featured Creative Commons licensed music from the Free Music Archive, including Please Listen Carefully by Jahzaar (CC BY-SA 4.0); Good Riddance by Ars Sonor (CC BY-SA 4.0); Flute Fleet by Podington Bear (CC BY-NC 3.0); Vintage Frames by Kai Engel (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0); Backward by David Szesztay (CC BY-NC 3.0); and Modulation of the Spirit by Little Glass Men (CC BY 3.0 US).

The feature image used in this story is “Church Steps” taken in front of St. Mary of Zion Church in Axum, Ethiopia. Photo by Flickr user A.Davey (CC BY 2.0).

Originally published on Global Voices

You might be thinking, wait a minute. I thought this podcast was called The Week That Was at Global Voices. You’re right. We’ve revamped the name to Are You Listening?, a sort of wink at Global Voices of yore when our tagline was ‘The world is talking, are you listening?’ But don’t fret. It still takes a look at some of the stories that have recently come out of the Global Voices newsroom.

And in this episode, we take you to India, Japan, Australia, Mexico and Trinidad and Tobago to introduce you to the Face of Resistance in a globalized world.

Specifically, we dig into the history of Princess Leia's famous hair buns and explain why women in more than 30 Indian cities rallied; we tell you about a commercial in Australia that asks, “aren't we all boat people?” and introduce you to an Afghan resident of Okinawa, Japan, who gets caught in a vicious game of fake news and fear of “Muslims“. We wrap with a personal essay by our Trinidad-based managing director Georgia Popplewell who narrates how unnerving and difficult it is to enter the US as a foreigner.

In this episode, we featured stories by Vishal Manve, Nevin Thompson, Gabriela Garcia Calderon and Kevin Rennie, and we featured Creative Commons licensed music from the Free Music Archive, including Please Listen Carefully by Jahzzar (CC BY-SA 4.0); Anniversary Song by Blanket Music (CC BY-NC 3.0); Day Bird by Broke For Free (CC BY 3.0); Parody 3 and Chords by David Szesztay (CC BY-NC 3.0); We Always Thought the Future Would Be Kind of Fun by Chris Zabriskie (CC BY 4.0); and Perceptible Shift by Andy G. Cohen (CC BY 4.0).

The feature image used in this story is an edited version of a photo by Flickr user Marx Dixon, taken in Washington DC, during the Women's March on January 21, 2017. CC BY 2.0.

Originally published on Global Voices

The scale of the crisis and destruction in Syria is mind-numbing. The country is “a slaughterhouse, a complete meltdown of humanity, the apex of horror, “ according to one United Nation’s official.

The war has killed close to half a million people; half of the country’s 22 million population has been forced from their homes. The Syrian Centre for Policy Research says a total of 11.5% of the entire Syrian population has either been wounded or killed. Recently, Amnesty International released a report saying 13,000 Syrians had been hanged in a military prison between 2011-2015. They were doctors, lawyers, activists, fathers, husbands and sons.

In this edition of Into the Deep, the Global Voices podcast where we dig deep into one topic that isn’t getting the media coverage it deserves, we are digging deep into the resistance in Syria.

The Syrian civil war, now in its sixth year, may be the most documented war in history. But to people outside the country, it may also be the most confusing.

We see heart-breaking tweets from a 7-year old Syrian girl named Bana in besieged Eastern Aleppo, and then we see our friends sharing a news article telling us that Bana doesn’t exist and is a propaganda tool created by the West.

Bana does exist. Her videos were verified by comparing them to satellite imagery. And trusted activists and doctors working in eastern Aleppo also confirmed to the Guardian and the New York Times via Skype and WhatsApp, that Bana and her mother are who they say they are. Millions of images, videos, blogs, tweets and audio files about the war have been shared on social media. Some have been contextualized by news organizations and some have been de-contextualized by propaganda machines. 

When we want to truly understand what’s going on in Syria, we, at Global Voices, always turn to Marcell Shehwaro. She’s a 32-year-old blogger and activist from Aleppo, Syria.

Marcell has been writing an evocative series for Global Voices since 2014, called “Dispatches From Syria”, where she describes her life in Aleppo and her eventual exile outside of Syria. In 2015, the series won a 2015 Online Journalism Award. The judges praised her “intensely personal writing” for finding “the gray areas in a war usually told from polar extremes.”

In this episode, Marcell is joined by Joey Ayoub, the Global Voices Middle East and North Africa editor, who helps us understand what viewing the Syrian resistance through Marcell's eyes and pen means.

The inspiring work of all our Global Voices authors, translators and editors made this episode possible. So, a big thank you to all of you out there.

In this episode, we featured Creative Commons licensed music from the Free Music Archive, including The Telling (CC BY-NC 4.0) and Parissi (CC BY-NC 4.0), both by Blue Dot Sessions.

Originally published on Global Voices

Mangal Shobhajatra is an annual procession of thousands of people that takes over the streets of Bangladesh’s capital city Dhaka. It marks the start of the Bengali New Year in April.

Recently, UNESCO named this parade Intangible Cultural Heritage. But what might look like just a street party is actually a creative stand for unity — and against the forces of intolerance who seek to divide and oppress Bangladeshis.

In this episode of Into the Deep, a Global Voices podcast that digs deep into one topic that isn’t getting the media coverage it deserves, Global Voices contributors Pantha and Rezwan tell us all about Mangal Shobhajatra.

At a time when xenophobia is seemingly on the rise in Europe, the United States and elsewhere in the world, perhaps Bangladesh and its unique New Year’s procession can offer some inspiration on how to take a stand against those trying to sow the seeds of division.

In this episode, we featured Creative Commons licensed music from the Free Music Archive, including Ray Gun – FasterFasterBrighter by Blue Dot Sessions (CC BY-NC 4.0); Dramamine by Podington Bear (CC BY-NC 3.0); Tribal by David Szesztay (CC BY-NC 3.0); Stuck Dream by Podington Bear (CC BY-NC 3.0); and Ally Pally Happy Clappy by krackatoa (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US).

We also featured Duur Deshi Shei Rakhaal Chhele (Acapella) – Rabindrasangeet – Anirban Chakraborty (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0) from SoundCloud and audio from YouTube videos published by users Azim Khan Ronnie and nazmulsoft.

The feature photo in this story is from Flickr by Aaapon (CC BY-NC 2.0).

Originally published on Global Voices

The Week That Was podcast takes a look at some of the stories that have recently come out of the Global Voices newsroom. We introduce you to people, places and events from around the world that aren’t getting the media coverage they deserve.

This week, we hear tales from Paraguay, Iran, Qatar and the Caribbean that challenge commonly held perspectives.

Special thanks to Trinidadian actor Michael Cherrie, University of Trinidad and Tobago music student Janelle Xavier and acting students Tenisha Richards-Weekes and Karian Forde for coordinating and voicing the #LifeInLeggings segment. We're also grateful to Global Voices contributor Andrea Arzaba for helping us with the music.

And of course, many thanks to Global Voices Iran editor Mahsa Alimardani, Global Voices Caribbean editor Janine Mendes Franco, and all our authors, translators and editors who helped make this episode possible.

In this episode, we featured Creative Commons licensed music from the Free Music Archive, including Please Listen Carefully by Jahzaar (CC BY-SA 4.0); Co-Creators (Instrumental) by Nick Jaina (CC BY-NC 3.0); Westside Chillers by Little Glass Men (CC BY 4.0); Bind thy wings by krackatoa (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US); Tiptoe (Instrumental) by YEYEY (CC BY-NC 3.0); and The Bears just for show by krackatoa (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US).

The feature photo is Flickr user Wendy, CC BY-NC 2.0.

Originally published on Global Voices

This week, we start in the US where Omar Mohammed narrates his piece, “America I used to love you” and then we take you to Cuba, Syria, and Taiwan, for stories of love and free expression in times of adversity and even hate.

The Week That Was podcast takes a look at some of the stories that have recently come out of the Global Voices newsroom. Here we introduce you to people, places and events from around the world that aren’t getting the media coverage they deserve.

Many thanks to Omar Mohammed, I-Fan Lin, Budour Hassan, Andrea Chong Bras and Sara Holmes and Firuzeh Shokooh Valle and all our authors, translators and editors who helped make this episode possible.

In this episode, we featured Creative Commons licensed music from the Free Music Archive, including Please Listen Carefully by Jahzaar (CC BY-SA 4.0); I’m what you’d be without her by Doctor Turtle (CC BY-NC 4.0); Solitude by Jahzaar (CC BY-SA 4.0); Crying Earth by Kai Engel (CC BY-NC 4.0); and I fell too much in love by Nick Jaina (CC BY-NC 3.0).

Special thanks to Global Voices contributor Andrea Arzaba for helping us with the music.

The feature photo is from a Trump protest in New York on November 12, 2016. Photo by B.C. Lorio (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0).

Originally published on Global Voices

He’s called the Pope a son of a whore. He’s called US President Obama a son of a whore. He's been compared to Trump. He’s cracked jokes about rape and is open about being a womanizer. His war on drugs has killed thousands of alleged drug dealers and addicts in four months.

But that’s only half of the story when it comes to the President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte.

In this week's episode of Into the Deep, a new Global Voices podcast that digs deep into one issue that isn’t getting the media coverage it deserves, Global Voices contributors Mong Palatino and Karlo Mongaya help us unravel the other side of Duterte.

In this episode, we featured Creative Commons-licensed music from the Free Music Archive, including songs by Blue Dot Sessions called Ray Gun – FasterFasterBrighter (CC BY-NC 4.0) and Under Suspicion by Lee Rosevere (CC BY 4.0).

The feature photo in this story is a screenshot from the popular mobile game Fighting Crime.

Originally published on Global Voices

The Week That Was at Global Voices podcast takes a look at some of the stories that have recently come out of the Global Voices newsroom. This week, we introduce you to women seeking or achieving justice in Poland, Uruguay, Russia and Syria.

Many thanks to Kasia Odrozek, Fernanda Canofre, Isaac Webb, Marcell Shehwaro and Lara AlMalakeh and all our authors, translators and editors who helped make this episode possible.

In this episode, we featured Creative Commons licensed music from the Free Music Archive, including Please Listen Carefully by Jahzaar (CC BY-SA 4.0); Mario Bava Sleeps In a Little Later Than He Expected To by Chris Zabriskie (CC BY 4.0); City Night Line by Cobra (avec logo panthère) (CC BY-NC 4.0); Clover by Little Glass Men (CC BY 4.0); Vintage Frames by Kai Engel (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0); and Am I The Devil (Instrumental) by YEYEY (CC BY-NC 3.0).

The feature photo in this story is of women and men wearing black as a sign of opposition in the #BlackProtest in Berlin. Photo by Kasia Odrozek, CC BY.