JihadPod

By Aaron Y. Zelin

What's JihadPod about?

The show is hosted by Aaron Zelin, founder of Jihadology.net and will feature interviews with experts in the field of jihadi studies and analysis of jihadi primary source material.

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JihadPod episodes:

03.16.2020
XXXII. Y'all Know Me, Still The Same O.G.
JihadPod is back. In light of the Coronavirus, I'm going to teach myself how to edit and produce this. Be patient if the quality is not perfect, but I know people are looking for content now.
02.29.2016
XXXI. Nashids: History and Cultural Meaning with Behnam Said
Behnam Said comes on the show to talk about nasheeds. Some of the topics covered include: The role of music in Islam and how it relates to nasheeds A modern history of the use of nasheeds Differences between Sufi,...
02.02.2016
XXX. al-Qaeda’s Franchising Strategy with Barak Mendelsohn
Barak Mendelsohn comes on the show to discuss his new book, The al-Qaeda Franchise: The Expansion of al-Qaeda and Its Consequences. Some of the topics covered include: How organizations expand Why AQ decided to branch out and the strategy behind that...
01.20.2016
XXIX. Islamic State Networks In Turkey with Aaron Stein
Aaron Stein comes on the show to talk about IS networks in Turkey. Some of the topics covered include: How IS developed its network inside Turkey Recent attacks in Ankara and Istanbul and the networks behind them How these...
01.12.2016
XXVIII. The Malian Jihadi Landscape with Andrew Lebovich
Andrew Lebovich comes on the show to discuss the various jihadi groups that have been active in Mali over the past few years. Some of the topics covered include: The political process in Mali after the French intervention Why...
12.21.2015
XXVII. A History of Lebanese Sunni Jihadism with Bernard Rougier
Bernard Rougier comes on the show to discuss Lebanese Sunni jihadism. Some of the topics covered include: How Lebanese first got involved in jihadism in Afghanistan in the 1980s How the Lebanese scene became connected to the European and...
12.15.2015
XXVI. Reality of The Islamic State’s Finances and Economy with Aymenn al-Tamimi
Aymenn al-Tamimi comes on the show for an in-depth discussion of the Islamic State’s finances and economic situation. Some of the topics covered include: IS funding prior to 2013 How IS funding compares to AQ Current funding streams, particularly...
12.07.2015
XXV. Americans in the Islamic State with Lorenzo Vidino and Seamus Hughes
Lorenzo Vidino and Seamus Hughes come on the show to talk about their new report ISIS in America: From Retweets to Raqqa. Some of the topics covered include: Background on the American jihadi scene The demographics of Americans who’ve traveled to...
12.01.2015
XXIV. The History, Legacy, and Relevance of Algerian Jihadism Today with Dalia Ghanem-Yazbeck
Dalia Ghanem-Yazbeck comes on the show to talk about jihadism in Algeria. Some of the topics covered include: Background and history of jihadism in Algeria The growth of GIA networks in Europe and its legacy Why there haven’t been...
11.23.2015
XXIII. The Syrian Jihad: A History with Charles Lister
Charles Lister comes back on the show for an in-depth discussion on jihadism in Syria. Some of the topics covered include: Islamism and jihadism in Syria prior to the 2011 uprising The entrance and evolution of Jabhat al-Nusra, Ahrar...
11.16.2015
XXII. Emergency Pod: Background on The Paris Attacks with Timothy Holman
In light of the recent attacks in Paris, Timothy Holman comes on the show to discuss the history of French and Belgian jihadi networks. Some of the topics covered include: How those networks have been repurposed over time depending...
11.11.2015
XXI. Islamist Militancy in Bangladesh: Then & Now with C. Christine Fair
C. Christine Fair comes on the show to talk about Islamism in Bangladesh. Some of the topics covered include: History of Islamism in Bangladesh and its intersection with mainstream politics The role of Bangladeshi Islamists with Rohingya refugees History...
11.02.2015
XX. The State of Jihadism in Somalia: al-Shabab and The Islamic State with Harun Maruf
Harun Maruf comes on the show to discuss jihadism in Somalia. Some of the topics covered include: What al-Shabab has been up to since the Westgate Mall attack in Kenya Background on al-Shabab’s leader Ahmad Umar and how he...
10.26.2015
XIX. Jihadism in the Land of the Pharaohs with Mokhtar Awad
Mokhtar Awad comes on the show to discuss jihadism in Egypt. Some of the topics covered include: The development of jihadism in the Sinai prior to the Egyptian uprising in January 2011 What jihadi individuals and movements were doing...
10.14.2015
XVIII. Jihadi Governance 101 with Will McCants
Will McCants comes on the show to talk about jihadi governance. The conversation is based on a chapter in his new book The ISIS Apocalypse: The History, Strategy, and Doomsday Vision of the Islamic State. Aaron and Will discussed numerous cases...
10.07.2015
XVII. The Khurasan Group: Myth and Reality with Thomas Joscelyn
Thomas Joscelyn comes on the show to talk about the so-called “Khurasan group.” Some of the topics covered include: Why the group came into being and when its members arrived in Syria Who are the key players and what...
09.28.2015
XVI. Don’t Call It a Comeback, AQAP’s Been Here for Years with Katherine Zimmerman
Katherine Zimmerman comes on the show to talk AQAP. Some of the topics covered include: AQAP since the death of Awlaqi and their withdrawal from territory in southern Yemen in 2012 The effect of the rise of the Huthis...
09.17.2015
XV. Saddam’s Regime: From Ba’athism to Salafism with Kyle Orton
Kyle Orton comes on the show to discuss Islam in Saddam Hussein’s Iraq. Some of the topics covered include: Saddam’s Islamist foreign policy reorientation in the 1980’s The Faith Campaign after the Gulf War Salafism in Iraq in the...
08.31.2015
XIV. Turkish Jihadism at Home and in Syria with North Caucasus Caucus
North Caucasus Caucus comes on the show to talk about his recent research trip to Turkey. He and Aaron discussed the evolution of Turkish governmental policy towards jihadis, Turks’ role in jihadi groups and IS in Syria and Turkey, Turkey’s...
08.17.2015
XIII. Palestinians and Global Jihad with Samar Batrawi
This episode features an interview with Samar Batrawi on Palestinians and the global jihadi movement. Some of the topics Aaron and Samar discussed include: Tensions, or lack thereof, between Palestinian nationalism and global jihadi ideology Background and history of...
08.10.2015
XII. The Islamic State and Attacks in the West with Thomas Hegghammer
Thomas Hegghammer talks to Aaron about his new paper, “Assessing the Islamic State’s Commitment to Attacking the West,” in Perspectives on Terrorism, co-authored with Petter Nesser. This episode also features our #SocialMedia segment, covering posts from August 3rd to August 9th....
08.04.2015
XI. ‘Boko Haram’ Transitions to The Islamic State in West Africa with Jacob Zenn
In this episode Aaron talks to Jacob Zenn about the group commonly referred to as Boko Haram. They covered a variety of topics including: Background on Wilayat Gharb Ifriqiyya Misuse of the term Boko Haram to describe what is...
07.30.2015
X. Emergency Pod: The Death of Mullah Omar and It's Implications with J.M. Berger
In this emergency podcast Aaron talks to J.M. Berger about the confirmed death of Mullah Omar. They covered a variety of topics related to his death and what it could mean for the broader Islamic State – Al Qaeda war....
07.23.2015
IX. The Emergence of the Islamic State in AfPak with Don Rassler (Part 2)
This episode features part 2 of Aaron’s conversation with Don Rassler. If you haven’t heard part 1 you can find it here. This two part series is based on Don’s article, “Situating the Emergence of the Islamic State of Khorasan,” in the CTC...
07.20.2015
VIII. The Emergence of the Islamic State in AfPak with Don Rassler (Part 1)
This episode features part one of an interview with Don Rassler based on his article “Situating the Emergence of the Islamic State of Khorasan,” for the CTC Sentinel. This part of the conversation covers the development of the Islamic State’s...
07.14.2015
VII. The Western Women of ISIS with Erin Saltman
This episode of the Jihadology Podcast features an interview with Erin Saltman on the report she co-authored with Melanie Smith, “‘Till Martyrdom Do Us Part’: Gender and the ISIS Phenomenon” (PDF). The conversation covered a variety of topics related to female participation...
07.01.2015
VI. Jihadi Ideology and History with Nelly Lahoud
This episode features a discussion of jihadi primary sources from June, an interview with Nelly Lahoud, and a new segment: #SocialMedia. This episode covers jihadi primary source releases related to: Anti-Islamic State messages IS state-building efforts Caliphate declaration anniversary...
06.23.2015
V. Syria Status Update with Charles Lister
Charles Lister comes on the show to discuss a wide range of topics related to the current situation in Syria: The background and evolution of Jaysh al-Fatah What Jaysh al-Fatah has meant to rebel and Jabhat al-Nusra victories in...
06.16.2015
IV. Emergency Pod: Caucasus Jihadis in Disarray with Joanna Paraszczuk
Welcome to an emergency Jihadology Podcast about the fluid situation amongst Caucasus jihadis in Syria and back at home. On this episode Aaron interviewed Joanna Paraszczuk, a journalist for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s ‘Under the Black Flag’ blog. They discussed the recent controversies within...
06.08.2015
III. Islamic State Strategy in Iraq and Syria with Jessica Lewis McFate
Welcome to the first episode of the Jihadolgy podcast! The first part of this episode covers primary sources released between May 10th – June 1st: Pledges of baya to the Islamic State (ISIS) Anti-IS messages from al-Qaeda Jihadis vs....
06.02.2015
II. JihadPod 2.0 Preview
The Jihadology Podcast is almost here! The show will feature analysis of recent jihadi primary source material and interviews with experts in the jihadi studies field. The show is hosted by Aaron Zelin, founder of Jihadology.net, and will be released...
05.16.2011
I. History of American Jihadism with J.M. Berger
Earlier this morning, I had the opportunity to talk with J.M. Berger the author of the recently released book Jihad Joe: Americans Who Go to War in the Name of Islam. We discussed a variety of topics: The evolution of...

What's JihadPod about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

JihadPod episodes:

XXXII. Y'all Know Me, Still The Same O.G.

XXXI. Nashids: History and Cultural Meaning with Behnam Said

XXX. al-Qaeda’s Franchising Strategy with Barak Mendelsohn

XXIX. Islamic State Networks In Turkey with Aaron Stein

XXVIII. The Malian Jihadi Landscape with Andrew Lebovich

XXVII. A History of Lebanese Sunni Jihadism with Bernard Rougier

XXVI. Reality of The Islamic State’s Finances and Economy with Aymenn al-Tamimi

XXV. Americans in the Islamic State with Lorenzo Vidino and Seamus Hughes

XXIV. The History, Legacy, and Relevance of Algerian Jihadism Today with Dalia Ghanem-Yazbeck

XXIII. The Syrian Jihad: A History with Charles Lister

XXII. Emergency Pod: Background on The Paris Attacks with Timothy Holman

XXI. Islamist Militancy in Bangladesh: Then & Now with C. Christine Fair

XX. The State of Jihadism in Somalia: al-Shabab and The Islamic State with Harun Maruf

XIX. Jihadism in the Land of the Pharaohs with Mokhtar Awad

XVIII. Jihadi Governance 101 with Will McCants

XVII. The Khurasan Group: Myth and Reality with Thomas Joscelyn

XVI. Don’t Call It a Comeback, AQAP’s Been Here for Years with Katherine Zimmerman

XV. Saddam’s Regime: From Ba’athism to Salafism with Kyle Orton

XIV. Turkish Jihadism at Home and in Syria with North Caucasus Caucus

XIII. Palestinians and Global Jihad with Samar Batrawi

XII. The Islamic State and Attacks in the West with Thomas Hegghammer

XI. ‘Boko Haram’ Transitions to The Islamic State in West Africa with Jacob Zenn

X. Emergency Pod: The Death of Mullah Omar and It's Implications with J.M. Berger

IX. The Emergence of the Islamic State in AfPak with Don Rassler (Part 2)

VIII. The Emergence of the Islamic State in AfPak with Don Rassler (Part 1)

VII. The Western Women of ISIS with Erin Saltman

VI. Jihadi Ideology and History with Nelly Lahoud

V. Syria Status Update with Charles Lister

IV. Emergency Pod: Caucasus Jihadis in Disarray with Joanna Paraszczuk

III. Islamic State Strategy in Iraq and Syria with Jessica Lewis McFate

II. JihadPod 2.0 Preview

I. History of American Jihadism with J.M. Berger