Instant Coffee

By LSE Middle East Centre

Society & Culture Arts Technology History Food

What's Instant Coffee about?

This is Instant Coffee, your quick fix of everything Middle East. This podcast, brought to you by the LSE Middle East Centre, features 20-minute conversations with activists, artists, journalists and more from the region.

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Instant Coffee episodes:

06.06.2024
3.10 The Power of Radio
How did the radio, a major technological development in the history of sound and music, change the social, cultural and political landscape of the region? In this last episode of the season, we speak to audio curator Hazem Jamjoum, and Elias...
05.21.2024
3.9 War Tech and Nationalism in Turkey and Israel
This episode explores the link between technology, warfare and nationalism. Turkey and Israel are two countries in the region who have developed their technological capabilities for both domestic and international conflict. We speak to two researchers who have been tracing...
05.07.2024
3.8 Data for Development with Nagla Rizk
What does the era of 'big data' mean for development technologies in MENA? How can data be used for good, to ensure projects working with vulnerable communities such as informal workers and women are seen and supported? What kind of...
04.23.2024
3.7 Living in the Future with Rahel Aima
Writer and art critic, Rahel Aima, who grew up and currently lives in Dubai, talks to us about living in the Gulf, a region rapidly developing itself as the place to be for smart cities and high-tech living. Rahel explores a...
04.09.2024
3.6 Art Meaning and Art Making with Nadim Choufi
How can art complicate claims of progress, innovation and the use of rapidly developing emerging technologies in MENA? In this episode, Cima Chehab speaks to visual artist Nadim Choufi about how he incorporates technology into his artwork both as subject...
03.26.2024
3.5 Archiving and Mapping Technologies in Palestine and Syria
Majd Al-Shihabi of 'Palestine Open Maps' and Sana Yazigi of the 'Creative Memory of the Syrian Revolution' talk to us about how they have centered their archiving processes around maps, and what digital archiving can do for Palestinian and Syrian...
03.12.2024
3.4 Fintech, Crypto and Sanctions in Iraq and Iran
Iraq's engagement with fintech is new but rapidly developing, amidst a contemporary economic history that has struggled with foreign intervention and internal corruption, while Iranians have been engaging with a form of fintech - alternative digital currencies - for some...
02.27.2024
3.3 Re-Appropriating Technologies with and for Refugees and Migrants
Smartphones, food-only debit cards, biometric data checks at border crossings, these are some of the ways refugees and migrants interact with technology in their daily lives both in the region and the diaspora. This episode unpacks the benefits, ambivalences and concerns...
02.13.2024
3.2 Knowledge Production Across Empires
The Abbasid and British Empires are the nexus through which our two guests, Dr Ahmed Ragab and Dr Katayoun Shafiee explore technology, knowledge production and power. This episode charts medieval paper production and Abbasid-era hospitals to the "discovery" of oil...
01.30.2024
3.1 Digital Rights and Big Tech in MENA
What kinds of obstacles are people in MENA facing with regards to access to technological opportunity and concerns around digital rights abuses? How are they tied to global challenges? Dr Nakeema Stefflbauer, tech executive, investor and digital rights advocate shares...
11.23.2021
2.10 A Brief History of Wine with Farrah Berrou
From Tlmecen through to Bethlehem and the Bekaa Valley, we chart the history of wine production in the Middle East and North Africa. Farrah Berrou talks us through her journey of wine writing for a Western audience and what the...
10.26.2021
2.9 An A-Z of food names with Salma Serry
Have you ever thought about the names behind the dishes you're eating? Salma Serry, an Egyptian born filmmaker and interdisciplinary foodways researcher, gave us the lowdown on how many of the foods we know and love came to be named....
10.12.2021
CALLOUT: We want your stories of food names
No new episode this week, but we're working on something that requires your help. Do you know any interesting facts, stories or folk tales about the names of dishes from the region? If so we want to hear from you!...
09.28.2021
2.8 The Sudanese Kitchen(s) with Omer Eltigani
Camel milk, mushrooms, ta'miyah, agashe, aseeda, tarkeen, these are just some of the foods and dishes that make up Sudan's intricate network of cuisines. We spoke with Omer Eltigani, cook, archivist and founder of 'The Sudanese Kitchen' to talk more...
09.14.2021
2.7 Migrant Cuisine in the Expat City with Vidya Balachander
Is there such a thing as a Dubai cuisine? What role do the migrants and expats of the Emirate play in curating this food culture? On episode 7 we see if Vidya Balachander can help us find some answers. The episode...
08.31.2021
2.6 Behind 'The Iranian Vegan' with Mana Shamshiri
In this episode, we speak about veganism both around the world and in Iran with Mana Shamshiri. Mana is a philosophy graduate and creator of the website and Instagram platform 'The Iranian Vegan'. She wanted to showcase the diversity of...
08.03.2021
2.5 Food as a human right with Michael Fakhri
'UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food' - who wouldn't want that job title? When we read about Michael, we knew we had to interview him to learn about what he had to do to get this cool job...
07.20.2021
2.4 Sowing Solidarity with Vivien Sansour
On episode 4, Nadine Almanasfi speaks with artist, storyteller and conservationist Vivien Sansour. Nadine has been trying to grow her own food and vegetable in her small allotment in north London and was very excited to speak with Vivien, who...
07.06.2021
2.3 Iraqi Cuisine from Mesopotamia to Mosul with Nawal Nasrallah
On episode 3, Taif Alkhudary speaks with Nawal Nasrallah about the history and development of Iraqi cuisine from Mesopotamia to modern day through her own cookbook 'Delights from the Garden of Eden' and her translation of the medieval Arabic cookbook...
06.22.2021
2.2 Yemen's Coffee Revolution with Faris Sheibani
On episode 2, Professor Madawi Al-Rasheed speaks with Faris Sheibani about the history and culture of coffee in Yemen, and how the drink can be used to connect with, and sustainably support, Yemeni farmers. Faris is a British Yemeni social...
06.08.2021
2.1. Beetroot Hummus and Culinary Appropriation with Fadi Kattan
In this first episode, Fadi Kattan speaks with Sara Masry about everything from Palestinian cuisine in Chile and Haiti to why you shouldn't make chocolate and beetroot hummus. Fadi is a Franco-Palestinian chef from Bethlehem. He opened his own restaurant,...
12.11.2020
1.12. Food of the Middle East with Claudia Roden & Sami Zubaida
On this special episode of Instant Coffee as part of our 10-year anniversary celebrations, we spoke with renowned food writers Claudia Roden and Sami Zubaida reflecting on all things gastronomic in the Middle East! Claudia Roden is a food writer...
10.16.2020
1.11. Keeping the memories of Syria's disappeared alive with Wafa Mustafa
On the final episode of this season's Instant Coffee, Co-producer of Instant Coffee, Ribale Sleiman-Haidar, talks to Wafa Mustafa about her father's enforced disappearance and why the world should be doing more to help. Wafa is a Syrian activist, campaigner...
10.09.2020
1.10. Between Africa and the Arab World, Sudan's arts and culture with Omnia Shawkat
On this episode of Instant Coffee, Co-producer of Instant Coffee, Nadine Almanasfi, talks to Omnia Shawkat about arts and culture in Sudan, and the country's unique position between Africa and the Arab World. Omnia is co-founder of Andariya, a bilingual...
10.02.2020
1.9. Independent media in Iraq in the age of disinformation with Aida Al-Kaisy
On this episode of Instant Coffee, Sandra Sfeir, Projects Manager at the LSE Middle East Centre, talks to Aida Al-Kaisy about the growth of independent media in Iraq in the age of disinformation. Aida Al-Kaisy is a media development consultant...
09.25.2020
1.8. Resistance politics during a global pandemic with Ghiwa Sayegh
On this episode of Instant Coffee, Sara Salem talks to Ghiwa Sayegh about resistance politics during a global pandemic. Ghiwa Sayegh is a feminist writer and researcher. She is editor-in-chief of Kohl, a journal for body and gender research produced...
09.18.2020
1.7. Locating Afghanistan in the 'Middle East' with Moshtari Hilal
On this episode of Instant Coffee, Marral Shamshiri-Fard talks to Moshtari Hilal about locating Afghanistan in the 'Middle East', as well as her own artistic practice. Moshtari Hilal is a visual artist and researcher working from Hamburg and Berlin. Website:...
09.11.2020
1.6. Feminism in Kurdistan with Houzan Mahmoud
On this episode of Instant Coffee, Isabel Käser talks to Houzan Mahmoud about the state of feminism in Kurdistan and Culture Project, a platform for writers, feminists, artists and activists from Kurdistan and the Kurdish diaspora to freely express their...
08.21.2020
1.5. Technology and activism in Palestine with Salem Barahmeh
On the fifth episode of Instant Coffee, LSE Middle East Centre's Muna Dajani talks to Salem Barahmeh about technology and activism in Palestine. Salem is Executive Director of the Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy (PIPD) and an advocate for Palestinian...
08.14.2020
1.4. The Future of the Israeli Left with Alon-Lee Green
On the fourth episode of Instant Coffee, LSE Middle East Centre's Jack McGinn talks to Alon-Lee Green about the future of the Israeli Left. Alon-Lee is National Director of Standing Together, a Jewish-Arab grassroots movement organising in Israel. You can...
07.24.2020
1.3. Challenges of researching in Yemen with Hafez Al-Bukari
In episode 3 of Instant Coffee, Rasha Obaid Ba Sabih (@Rasha7Rasha) talks to Hafez Al-Bukari of the Yemen Polling Centre (@yemenpolling)about the challenges of researching in Yemen. The Yemen Polling Centre is an independent research centre which aims to impact...
07.17.2020
1.2. Arts under occupation with Ahmed Masoud
On the second episode of Instant Coffee, Sinéad Murphy (@DrS1neadMurphy) talks to Ahmed Masoud (@masoud_ahmed) about 'Obliterated', the play that never happened. Ahmed is a Palestinian & British writer from Gaza, living in London/UK. Author of the mystery novel Vanished...
07.10.2020
1.1. Reporting the Lebanese Thawra with Megaphone's Jean Kassir
On this first episode of Instant Coffee, Omar al-Ghazzi (@omar_alghazzi) talks to Jean Kassir about covering the Lebanese revolution in times of Coronavirus. Jean is co-founder of Megaphone news, an independent media platform covering Lebanon and the region. You can...

What's Instant Coffee about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Instant Coffee episodes:

3.10 The Power of Radio

3.9 War Tech and Nationalism in Turkey and Israel

3.8 Data for Development with Nagla Rizk

3.7 Living in the Future with Rahel Aima

3.6 Art Meaning and Art Making with Nadim Choufi

3.5 Archiving and Mapping Technologies in Palestine and Syria

3.4 Fintech, Crypto and Sanctions in Iraq and Iran

3.3 Re-Appropriating Technologies with and for Refugees and Migrants

3.2 Knowledge Production Across Empires

3.1 Digital Rights and Big Tech in MENA

2.10 A Brief History of Wine with Farrah Berrou

2.9 An A-Z of food names with Salma Serry

CALLOUT: We want your stories of food names

2.8 The Sudanese Kitchen(s) with Omer Eltigani

2.7 Migrant Cuisine in the Expat City with Vidya Balachander

2.6 Behind 'The Iranian Vegan' with Mana Shamshiri

2.5 Food as a human right with Michael Fakhri

2.4 Sowing Solidarity with Vivien Sansour

2.3 Iraqi Cuisine from Mesopotamia to Mosul with Nawal Nasrallah

2.2 Yemen's Coffee Revolution with Faris Sheibani

2.1. Beetroot Hummus and Culinary Appropriation with Fadi Kattan

1.12. Food of the Middle East with Claudia Roden & Sami Zubaida

1.11. Keeping the memories of Syria's disappeared alive with Wafa Mustafa

1.10. Between Africa and the Arab World, Sudan's arts and culture with Omnia Shawkat

1.9. Independent media in Iraq in the age of disinformation with Aida Al-Kaisy

1.8. Resistance politics during a global pandemic with Ghiwa Sayegh

1.7. Locating Afghanistan in the 'Middle East' with Moshtari Hilal

1.6. Feminism in Kurdistan with Houzan Mahmoud

1.5. Technology and activism in Palestine with Salem Barahmeh

1.4. The Future of the Israeli Left with Alon-Lee Green

1.3. Challenges of researching in Yemen with Hafez Al-Bukari

1.2. Arts under occupation with Ahmed Masoud

1.1. Reporting the Lebanese Thawra with Megaphone's Jean Kassir

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