Kurdistan in America

Send us a text

In this episode of the "Kurdistan in America" podcast, host Delovan Barwari talks with Rick Hall, Co-Founder and Educational Director of Prairie Rose Agricultural Institute, and Jihan Brifki, Executive Director of Hanasa Plus. They discuss the environmental challenges in the Kurdistan Region and how the Earth Partnership program can address these issues through education.

The Earth Partnership program, started at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1991, focuses on restoring native habitats to promote community learning and land stewardship. Rick shares how these ideas can be applied in Kurdistan, while Jihan highlights ways to involve local communities and manage resources effectively.

Together, Delovan, Rick, and Jihan are working on a project to introduce the Earth Partnership program into the KRG’s K-20 education system, aiming to teach these principles and raise environmental awareness across Kurdish society.

Tune in to learn about the future of environmental education in Kurdistan.

Send us a text

Welcome back to the "Kurdistan in America" podcast, the official podcast of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Representation in the United States, hosted by Delovan Barwari, Director of Academic Affairs and Strategic Initiatives.

In this episode, we delve into the harrowing events of 3 August 2014, when ISIS launched a brutal genocidal campaign against the Yezidi community in Sinjar. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Yezidi Genocide, a tragic event that has left deep scars. 

Around 250,000 Yezidis, nearly half of their community, remain displaced, with about a quarter having fled the country. Over 2,600 Yezidi women are still missing, and many mass graves are yet to be uncovered. The security situation in Sinjar and its surrounding areas remains unstable, with approximately 70 percent of Sinjar's infrastructure in ruins. Additionally, the absence of a special international tribunal for ISIS crimes has resulted in a significant lack of justice and accountability.

In this sixth episode of season five, we are honored to welcome Ms. Sozan Safar, President of the DAK Organization for Yazidi Women Development. Based in Sharia, Duhok, DAK has been dedicated to supporting Yezidi women since June 2015, with the overarching goal of empowering and aiding all vulnerable women. 

Ms. Safar discusses the current situation of the Yezidi community, the unstable security and infrastructure in Sinjar, and the urgent need for justice and accountability.

Stay tuned for this insightful and timely conversation with Ms. Suzan Safar.

Send us a text

Welcome to 'The Kurdistan in America' podcast, the official podcast of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Representation in the United States. Hosted by Delovan Barwari, the main objective of this podcast is to delve into the rich ties between Kurdistan and the United States.

In the fifth episode of season five, we are honored to host Dr. Carolyn Melby, Co-Founder and Treasurer of the Kurdistan Nursing and Midwifery Development Foundation. Carolyn is a distinguished nurse educator and philanthropist with a remarkable career in global health, serving as a teacher, administrator, and policy maker. She holds a PhD and is an RN, ANP, and CCH Global Health Consultant.

This episode features an in-depth discussion on the mission and vision of the Kurdistan Nursing and Midwifery Development Foundation, the pressing challenges facing the nursing sector in Kurdistan, and Carolyn's own NGO, The Carl and Enga Melby Charitable Foundation. Carolyn also shares her reflections and experiences on the Kurds and Kurdistan.

Tune in for an insightful and essential conversation with Dr. Carolyn Melby, as we explore the critical work being done to advance nursing and midwifery in Kurdistan and beyond.

Send us a text

Welcome to 'The Kurdistan in America' podcast, the official podcast of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Representation in the United States.

In this fourth episode of season five, host Delovan Barwari welcomes Mr. Stephen Fox, a PhD student at the University of Kentucky's Department of Anthropology, where he also serves as a Graduate Teaching Instructor. Stephen's primary focus is on Cultural Anthropology with a particular interest in Kurdish culture and history. 

This episode centers on anthropology, inspired by the recent discovery by University of Cambridge scientists of the Neanderthal woman, Shanadar Z, found in Kurdistan's Shanadar Cave. The two delve into the historical significance of anthropology for the Kurds, its role in shaping Kurdish cultural identity, and its impact on contemporary Kurdish society.

Stephen also shares insights from his recent visit to the Kurdistan Region for his PhD research, along with reflections from his Masters research and personal experiences with the Kurds.

Stay tuned for this timely and much-needed conversation with Mr. Stephen Fox.

Send us a text

Welcome to 'The Kurdistan in America' podcast, the official podcast of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Representation in the United States. In this episode, host Delovan Barwari welcomes Professor David Romano, the Thomas G. Strong Chair in Middle East Politics at Missouri State University.

Dr. Romano is the author of "The Kurdish Nationalist Movement" and the co-editor of "Conflict, Democratization, and the Kurdish Issue in the Middle East" and "The Kurds in the Middle East: Enduring Problems and New Dynamics." His work has also appeared in prestigious journals.

In this episode, we delve into the impact of the conflict between Israel and Iran on Kurdistan and Iraq, as well as the Erbil-Baghdad disputes, with a particular focus on the Iraqi Supreme Court rulings. We also discuss potential avenues for US intervention to mitigate these disputes. Professor Romano shares personal reflections on his experiences visiting Kurdistan.

Stay tuned for this informative conversation with Dr. David Romano.

Send us a text

Welcome to 'The Kurdistan in America' podcast, the official podcast of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Representation in the United States. In this second episode of season five, hosted by Delovan Barwari, we are honored to have a very special guest, Mr. Falah Mustafa.

Mr. Falah Mustafa, Special Assistant for Foreign Affairs to the President of Kurdistan Region, His Excellency Nechirvan Barzani, delves into the recent visit of the Kurdistan Region Presidency delegation to Washington DC. From navigating the complexities of Erbil-Baghdad relations to discussing potential US intervention to mitigate disputes, this conversation offers invaluable insights into Kurdistan's geopolitical dynamics.

Moreover, Mr. Mustafa shares personal reflections on his birthplace and memorable experiences visiting Washington DC, providing a unique blend of personal narrative and diplomatic analysis.

Join us on 'The Kurdistan in America' for engaging dialogue, expert analysis, and a deeper understanding of US-Kurdistan relations, along with valuable insights about the political situation in Iraq, Kurdistan, and the broader region.

Send us a text

Welcome to 'The Kurdistan in America' podcast, the official podcast of the KRG Representation in Washington DC, hosted by Delovan Barwari. In the Season Five kickoff episode, we are honored to welcome Dr. Yerevan Saeed, the Mustafa Barzani Scholar in Residence at American University and a Non-Resident Fellow at the Arab Gulf States Institute.

In this episode, Dr. Saeed shares his academic journey, including his impressive accomplishment of earning a PhD in Peace and Conflict Resolution from George Mason University. We'll also explore his role as the Mustafa Barzani Scholar in Residence.

We delve into Dr. Saeed's recent thought-provoking article in The Hill, titled 'America must stop treating the Kurds like temporary allies.' Our conversation goes deep into topics such as Iran's ballistic attack on Erbil, the U.S. response to these attacks, and the broader implications of America’s approach to Kurdish relations, all of which are highlighted in his article. Dr. Saeed also reflects on his hometown and his experience as a four-time refugee.

Join us for this enlightening discussion on Kurdish-American relations and the pressing geopolitical challenges of our time. Tune in now!

Send us a text

Welcome to a new episode of the 'Kurdistan in America' podcast, marking our twelfth and final episode of Season Four. We are honored to feature Ms. Bonnie Carroll, the president and founder of the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), a non-governmental organization dedicated to supporting families affected by military losses.

As we approach the new year, we'd like to take a moment to extend our warm wishes to our audience for a joyous holiday season and a New Year filled with hope and positivity.

Ms. Carroll, the surviving spouse of Brigadier General Tom Carroll, also served in the military, retiring as a Major in the US Air Force Reserve.

In her earlier civilian career, she served three Presidents in senior policy positions in Washington, D.C., lobbied on Defense and Aerospace issues, and was posted in Baghdad, Iraq from '03 to '04 during Operation Iraqi Freedom as an Advisor to the Ministry of Communications.

Her experiences in Iraq inspired a global network offering hope and healing to all those grieving a military loss. The connections she forged among widows and mothers of the Peshmerga and Iraqi Army laid the foundation for TAPS' research on supporting the enduring legacies of service and sacrifice—the families left behind.

Ms. Carroll was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama, the highest civilian recognition in the United States, in 2015.

In this episode, Ms. Carroll shares her experiences in the U.S. military, her time in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, the inspiration behind establishing TAPS International, and her perspectives on the Kurdish people.

Join us on this enlightening journey as she shares her remarkable life story. 

Send us a text

Welcome to a new episode of the 'Kurdistan in America' podcast, marking our eleventh episode of Season Four. We are honored to feature retired Brigadier General Ernest C. Audino, a renowned strategic military leader and a seasoned expert in national security and foreign policy.

General Audino serves as the District Director for U.S. Congressman Michael Waltz and as a Senior Military Fellow at the Gold Institute for International Strategy. He is the only U.S. general officer to have served a full year as a combat advisor embedded inside a Kurdish Peshmerga brigade in Iraq and is authoring a book about this experience, emphasizing the Kurdish resilience and quest for freedom.

With a Bachelor of Science from West Point, two master's degrees, and a Juris Doctor, General Audino retired from the Army in 2011. 

In this episode, he discusses his motivations in Middle Eastern and Kurdish military affairs, the impact of the Israel-Gaza conflict on Kurdistan, U.S. deterrence in the region, and his perspectives on Kurdish Peshmerga forces. He also recommends policies for U.S. support of the Peshmerga and KRG.

Join us on this enlightening journey as General Audino shares his experience and knowledge, guiding us through the complex geopolitical landscape of the Middle East, with a focus on Kurdistan and Iraq.

Send us a text

Welcome to another insightful episode of the "Kurdistan in America" podcast, our tenth episode of Season Four. We are privileged to have Dr. Michael Knights, a renowned Middle East expert from The Washington Institute, join us.

Dr. Knights is the Jill and Jay Bernstein Fellow at The Washington Institute, specializing in the military and security affairs of Iraq, Iran, and the Gulf states. He also co-founded the Militia Spotlight platform, offering in-depth analysis of the Iranian-backed militias in Iraq and Syria.

He earned his PhD from the Department of War Studies at King's College London.

In this episode, Dr. Knights discussed the challenges facing Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. He offered his take on the potential role Washington can play in addressing the disputes between Erbil and Baghdad. Additionally, he shared his personal perspectives on the Kurdish people and stressed the importance of Kurdish unity.

Join us on this enlightening journey as Dr. Michael Knights shares his comprehensive knowledge, guiding us through the ever-evolving geopolitical landscape of the Middle East.