Most news coverage focuses on the same major headlines. In this episode, we take a look at two stories that haven't gotten nearly as much attention but could tell us a lot about where politics in the region is headed.

First, we discuss India's so-called "Cockroach Janta Party," a satirical movement that has captured the frustration of many young Indians with the country's political system. Then, we turn to Cairo, where Palestinian factions have reportedly been meeting with Egyptian and Qatari mediators to discuss one of the most difficult questions facing post-war Gaza: the future of armed groups and who should control weapons.

Join us as we break down what these developments mean, why they're happening now, and what they reveal about the broader political dynamics shaping South Asia and the Middle East.

What does everyday life in Iran actually look like? In this episode, we speak with an Iranian-American medical and public policy student about the people behind the politics. We discuss his travels across Iran, the beauty of Persian culture and architecture, the realities of inflation and healthcare access, and the misunderstandings that often shape how Americans and Iranians view each other. Most importantly, we explore the resilience and hope that persist amid uncertainty.

While racing in Egypt as a Division I athlete, Yasmine lined up beside competitors running barefoot in 105-degree heat — including one athlete who would ultimately beat her in the race. The moment forced her to confront how differently people experience sport. When she returned home to the US, she began noticing similar barriers keeping kids from participating in sports simply because they lacked basic athletic gear. That realization led her to found Sunbundle, a nonprofit that empowers underserved children and youth through fitness and sport by giving new life to gently used athletic equipment. In this episode, we talk about the moments that reshape perspective, the courage to pursue an unconventional path, and how empathy can become action.

Sam traded a pre-med track for one that took him across conflict zones — literally. After stumbling on a Guardian article about Free to Run, an organization bringing running camps to Afghanistan and Iraq, he never looked back. We dig into the messy, important work of engaging in conflict regions responsibly and why sport is one of the most underrated tools for human connection.

We also zoom out to something closer to home: the quiet crisis in youth sports — the hyper-specialization, the elitism, a culture that's become increasingly expensive and unforgiving. From blind cricketers in India to girls running in Bamiyan, Sam's work teaches us about the universal need to play.

As war escalates in Lebanon, one student watches from the U.S. while her family races to evacuate.

In the first episode of Next in Command, we explore the emotional reality of distance—the guilt of being safe, the fear of what’s happening back home, and the strange ways people learn to live alongside conflict. What begins as a surreal detail—restaurants offering “missile views”—opens into a deeper conversation about what it feels like to watch your country in crisis from thousands of miles away.