Controlling the Narrative

Lynne O’Donnell talks with Mina Sharif, author, activist, women’s rights campaigner, educator and mentor. They discuss who controls the narrative and who speaks for Afghanistan’s people when the Taliban appear to have seized control not only of the country but of the message, too.

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Media Meltdown

Lynne O'Donnell talks with Zahra Joya, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Rukhshana Media, the independent news organisation she established  and now runs in exile. She talks about the Taliban's strangulation of free speech and media in Afghanistan, the collusion of media owners, and the role of the exiled media in keeping the world's attention on her homeland. Have a listen

Terror Inc

Lynne O’Donnell talks with conflict consultant Scott Richards about the Taliban’s transformation of Afghanistan into a nexus of extremism and terrorism, the group’s relationship with Al Qaeda, Hamas, Hezbollah, and the danger they present to a world that just isn’t interested in facing up to the reality.

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Busting Stereotypes

Lynne talks with Bushra Gohar, a former member of Pakistan's parliament. She is active in Pashtun politics, and speaks out for the rights of women and other repressed groups. She talks vehemently about the damaging impact of historic stereotyping of Pashtuns as warriors, and the traditional de-humanisation of women dressed up as respect. She uses a gentle voice to deliver harsh admonitions.

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Media Matters

Lynne O'Donnell talks with Waliullah Rahmani, a media entrepreneur and press freedom advocate who talks about the Taliban's ideology-driven transformation of Afghanistan into a surveillance state.

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What Goes Around Comes Around

Lynne O’Donnell talks to Sima Samar, who has written a book about her extraordinary life of service to the people, and particularly the women, of Afghanistan. Let down by their own leaders, and by the international community, she says, now they have to start again on their own terms.

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Screaming Into Silence

On the Insights Podcast, Lynne O'Donnell is joined by Lauryn Oates, Executive Director of Right To Learn Afghanistan, to discuss the impact of the Taliban's education policy -- bans for girls, extremism for boys.

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History Repeats

Lynne O’Donnell is joined from Kabul by Abid Humayun, a development and peace-building expert who has worked in Afghanistan's charity sector for more than a decade. He talks about the effectiveness of international aid and the  agenda of the aid sector, and the devastating impact that half a century of war has had on the Afghan people. And his belief that Afghans can rebuild their country on their own terms. Have a listen

Risky Business

Lynne is joined by Jeff Grieco, President and CEO of the Afghan-American Chamber of Commerce. He’s just made his third visit to Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover, and talks about the good, the bad and the utterly unacceptable. 

Digging Deep into Afghanistan's Mining Sector

Lynne O'Donnell is joined by Javed Noorani, the premier expert on Afghanistan's minerals and mining sector. His research and analysis has been ground-breaking, and there is little he doesn't know about the potential and the pitfalls of the country's vast natural resources.