The Atlas Brothers: Around the World in a Podcast

Dubbed 'the Switzerland of the Middle East' for its neutrality and stability through difficult decades in the surrounding region, Jordan is a seldom-mentioned nation in comparison to the likes of Israel and Iraq, which it borders. A lack of oil in the country helps this status, as does a monarch keen to prevent politicians from getting any sort of foothold. Away from the modern day, the Bedouin people retain their cultural heritage, and Jordan is home to Petra, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. [Recorded before Covid 19 got out of hand] Get in touch on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/theatlasbrothers/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TheAtlasBrothers/ or email [email protected] Thanks to Jonny Ward for the music https://www.instagram.com/jward.music/  https://soundcloud.com/jward-music and to Adelaide Place Baptist Church for equipment.

On this week's podcast, we look at Zambia, a nation whose circumstance has often followed the success of their copper exports. Although imperfect, Zambia seems to have enjoyed some political stability recently, but we discuss whether this may be changing in a new time of unfamiliarity led by huge debt and in-achievable promises. Elsewhere, is one of the world's biggest waterfalls drying up? And what was Zambia's role in the space race? Get in touch on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TheAtlasBrothers/ or email [email protected]  Thanks to Jonny Ward for the music https://www.instagram.com/jward.music/  https://soundcloud.com/jward-music and to Adelaide Place Baptist Church for some equipment.

Our planet's largest country and one of the political superpowers for the last couple of centuries, this episode was bound to be a big one! Being the noble men that we are, we took up the challenge and relished it. Aside from being big and political, we chat about great novelists, iconic composers, intriguing sports and weird taxes, plus much much more. Oh, and Dan finally gets his chance to explain his fear of communism. Get in touch on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TheAtlasBrothers/ or email [email protected]  Thanks to Jonny Ward for the music https://www.instagram.com/jward.music/  https://soundcloud.com/jward-music and to Adelaide Place Baptist Church for some equipment.

A lot of people might get a lot of their Ugandan knowledge from movies. We discuss The Last King of Scotland and Queen of Katwe on this episode but set aside Hollywood in favour of reality in exploring Uganda. Among the conversations are a huge bird population, a President who might not be as bad as he looks and Kony 2012, the viral documentary about the atrocities of the LRA in Uganda. Get in touch on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TheAtlasBrothers/ or email [email protected]  Thanks to Jonny Ward for the music https://www.instagram.com/jward.music/  https://soundcloud.com/jward-music and to Adelaide Place Baptist Church for some equipment.

There's a lot of interest to say about Liechtenstein. It's tiny, one of only two doubly-landlocked countries in the world, with a jail that can only hold 20 prisoners. It's in the Alps, which mean the whole nation is at altitude and helps when it comes to skiing - the reasons that Liechtenstein has the most Olympic medals per capita. It's rich, mostly thanks to the billionaire monarchy and monopoly on false teeth. It's amazing! Get in touch on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TheAtlasBrothers/ or email [email protected]  Thanks to Jonny Ward for the music https://www.instagram.com/jward.music/  https://soundcloud.com/jward-music to Adelaide Place Baptist Church for some equipment and to Fulwood Free Methodist Church for letting us record there.

Probably one of the most obscure nations that we've covered up to this point, Comoros is a group of islands off the east coast of Africa, near Madagascar. The islands have seen their role on the global scene deteriorate in the last couple of centuries and watched as one of their closest neighbours voted to be part of France rather than be independent. There's also colonisation, coups and communism to get your teeth into. Get in touch on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TheAtlasBrothers/ or email [email protected]  Thanks to Jonny Ward for the music https://www.instagram.com/jward.music/  https://soundcloud.com/jward-music to Adelaide Place Baptist Church for some equipment and to Fulwood Free Methodist Church for letting us record there.

Aside from being the largest nation to come out of what was Yugoslavia, Serbia has quite a few cultural claims to its name. They may not all be true or accurate, but they're at least still noteworthy. Amongst them are a key figure in electricity, 'the Inventor of Time', a crucial image of peace in the Cold War and a surprising number of Roman Emperors. Get in touch on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TheAtlasBrothers/ or email [email protected]  Thanks to Jonny Ward for the music https://www.instagram.com/jward.music/  https://soundcloud.com/jward-music to Adelaide Place Baptist Church for some equipment and to Fulwood Free Methodist Church for letting us record there.

Ethiopia is home to some of the world's fastest runners, the most recent recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, the man who gave his name to Rastafarianism and maybe Moses' ten commandments. In episode 12, we find that there has been a lot of change in the last 50 years of Ethiopian history through the end of a monarchy, a socialist regime and now, a hopeful future in spite of ethnic tensions. Get in touch on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TheAtlasBrothers/ or email [email protected]  Thanks to Jonny Ward for the music https://www.instagram.com/jward.music/  https://soundcloud.com/jward-music to Adelaide Place Baptist Church for some equipment and to Fulwood Free Methodist Church for letting us record there.

Syria is a nation steeped in history, but sadly, with a difficult situation in the present. This week, we go all the way back to 700,000 BC, learn about some of the earliest human civilisations, discover how culture in ancient Syria might have shaped Christianity and chat about a modern sporting great. The civil war, ongoing since 2011, also brings about plenty of talking points. Get in touch on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TheAtlasBrothers/ or email [email protected]  Thanks to Jonny Ward for the music https://www.instagram.com/jward.music/  https://soundcloud.com/jward-music and to Adelaide Place Baptist Church for some equipment.

For our last episode before Christmas, we look at a country that has another reason to remember December 25th. Aside from reminders of a communist regime, we look at the man who inspired Bram Stoker's Dracula, a girl who helped to define perfection and an athlete who became 'The Ape Man'. Merry Christmas to all our listeners and we'll see you in 2020! Get in touch on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TheAtlasBrothers/ or email [email protected]  Thanks to Jonny Ward for the music https://www.instagram.com/jward.music/  https://soundcloud.com/jward-music and to Adelaide Place Baptist Church for some equipment.