Going through my personal highlights of Arabs: A 3000 year history of peoples, tribes, and empires by Tim Mackintosh-Smith, with a focus on pre-Islamic / the ancient part. 

I do go off on a tangent on the Mongols (for comparisons sake). Dan Carlin's passionate and excellent account of their exploits can be found here:

Buy directly from him - https://www.dancarlin.com/product/hardcore-history-wrath-of-the-khans-series/ 

Apple Music - https://music.apple.com/gb/album/episode-43-wrath-of-the-khans-i/1099352667 

Or listen on Pocket Casts (smart phones only) - https://pocketcasts.com/

Charities for Yemen:

Save the Children - https://www.savethechildren.org.uk/how-you-can-help/emergencies/yemen-crisis

UNICEF UK - https://www.unicef.org.uk/donate/yemen/

We look at the poem "End of the conversation with a jailer" and why Samih Al-Qasim was jailed for the first (but not last) time; Breaking the covenant of blood. 

  Music: Theme for Autumn by Franz Gordon - Via EpidemicSound.

Samih Al-Qasim is a member of the Druze ethno-religious minority. In this poem, we explore the history of that part of his identity, as well as some of the religious ideas of the Druze people. This may have had an effect on his short but thought-provoking poem "A Boring Orbit." 

Music is Fadfada by Ali Sabah, via Epidemic Sound. 

We take a look at Samih Al-Qasim, a Palestinian from the Druze minority, who shares some parallels with the poet Mahmoud Darwish in his inspirations and experiences. The poem "travel tickets" is one of this classics - Short, but with a beautiful flow and profound. 

Music is by: 

Monasterium Imperi - Sanguis Divinus via Prometheus Records 

Ali Sabah - Fadfada via Epidemic Sound 

We take a look at Darwish's poem "When the Martyrs Go To Sleep" and have a think about the idea of martyrdom in relation to Palestine and its society. 

Music is "Sanguinis Divinus" by Monaterium Imperi, visit here: https://monasteriumimperi.bandcamp.com/album/sanguis-divinus

Jon Snow (the journalist, not a certain popular character in a certain popular series) has stepped down as journalist and news-presenter after 32 years of incredible work. This episode is a little tale, as told by Robert Fisk, on a rescue operation that "Snowy" was part of, in which he showed humanity and bravery. 

You can see Jon Snow's moving farewell speech here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKPzRuWU1Ww

You can see the original news dispatch regarding the rescue here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnLpsvpj6ig

In the previous part, we looked at some encounters that Fisk had with Soviet soldiers as well as Afghan rebels. It was discovered that, among those rebels, were outsiders from the Arabic speaking world. In this part, we look at certain interviews that Fisk did with their leader - Osama bin Laden - As well as how faith can be a powerful factor. We get a brief idea of Afghanistan in the post-Soviet period. Needless to say, it is not a happy one. 

If you wish to help the people of Afghanistan today then below are some possible options:

Afghan Aid - https://www.afghanaid.org.uk/

Refugee Council - https://act.refugeecouncil.org.uk/donation/refugee-crisis-appeal

Women for Women - https://www.womenforwomen.org/

The British Red Cross - https://donate.redcross.org.uk/appeal/afghanistan-crisis-appeal

Music - Theme for Autumn by Franz Gordon, via Epidemic Sound. 

With background and context established in the last episode, this part will focus on some close encounters that Fisk had with Soviet soldiers and the elusive Afghan rebels or Mujahideen (holy warriors), as well as a moral dilemma that he himself faced during his time in Afghanistan. 

If you wish to help the people of Afghanistan today then below are some possible options:

Afghan Aid - https://www.afghanaid.org.uk/

Refugee Council - https://act.refugeecouncil.org.uk/donation/refugee-crisis-appeal

Women for Women - https://www.womenforwomen.org/

The British Red Cross - https://donate.redcross.org.uk/appeal/afghanistan-crisis-appeal

Recent events in Afghanistan have captured the world's attention. We look at the experiences of a distinguished, dedicated and passionate war journalist in Afghanistan as described in his tome and testament. This first part will cover the context and beginnings of the Soviet invasion in 1979. 

If you wish to help the people of Afghanistan today then below are some possible options: 

Afghan Aid - https://www.afghanaid.org.uk/

Refugee Council - https://act.refugeecouncil.org.uk/donation/refugee-crisis-appeal

Women for Women - https://www.womenforwomen.org/

The British Red Cross - https://donate.redcross.org.uk/appeal/afghanistan-crisis-appeal

Identity and its meaning, especially for Darwish, is central to everything. We take a look at one of the poet's more iconic works, and at a facet of daily life for many Palestinians - The identity card. 

Music is Theme For Autumn by Franz Gordon - Via EpidemicSound