An episode looking at the possibilities for state-to-state engagement, direct diplomacy and constructive dialogue between Lebanon and Iran.

With Michael Young - senior editor at Carnegie’s Middle East Center and editor of Diwan.

Articles mentioned in this episode include

"Israel can inflict even more damage if Hezbollah doesn't disarm"

https://www.thenationalnews.com/opinion/comment/2025/08/13/how-much-damage-can-israel-cause-if-hezbollah-doesnt-disarm/

"Hezbollah’s Margin is Tightening - The Lebanese government’s efforts to secure a monopoly over weapons are advancing, but can it ignore Iran?"

https://carnegieendowment.org/middle-east/diwan/2025/08/hezbollahs-margin-is-tightening?lang=en

The podcast is only made possible through listener and viewer donations.

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Timestamps:

0:00 Intro

1:12 Diplomacy with Iran

4:56 What Iran wants

7:53 What the Iranians and Americans are discussing

8:47 The Lebanese Forces' rejection to Larijani's visit

11:57 Lebanese state as interlocutor

13:15 Deadline for disarmament

14:34 Comparisons to earlier attempts at militia disarmament

15:37 Israeli entry into the fight

17:10 Betting on time

20:48 US goals vis-a-vis dialogue with Iran

21:52 A normal relationship with Iran

25:05 Letter to Rouhani

For the victims of August 4, 2020. May justice prevail.

The podcast is only made possible through listener and viewer donations.

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Rida Mawla returns for a special conversation on the personal, including the challenges of physical intimacy, limited sensation, the desire for companionship and elevation of emotions, and the strength through confidence that comes with acceptance.

The podcast is only made possible through listener and viewer donations.

Please help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal:

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Timestamps:

0:00 Intro

2:37 In the beginning

4:27 Spinal cord injury

6:40 Muscle mass

10:04 Physical intimacy & sensation

18:48 The sexual element

26:02 Relationship

28:41 Emotions

35:25 Acceptance

38:36 Positivity

With Elissa Samaha in a conversation about the benefits of physical therapy, addressing mental health through recovery and needed patience during post-injury rehabilitation.

Special thanks to Centre de Réhabilitation Laetitia Hatem - Hopital Mgr Cortbawi - Réseau USJ - HDF for supporting this episode.

The podcast is only made possible through listener and viewer donations.

Please help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal:

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Timestamps:

0:00 Intro

2:04 Background

3:13 What is physiotherapy?

4:41 "Movement is key"

5:37 Why did you choose physiotherapy?

9:12 Psychological aspect

10:37 "It's a very long procedure"

11:24 Mental & physical

13:10 Necessity

14:59 Consequences of not doing physiotherapy

17:24 "It's a recovery session"

18:41 How do you see my progress?

22:11 Your hair

With Monika Borgmann in a conversation about dramatic changes impacting Lebanese politics & judicial process, victims' coalition related to political assassinations, a recent Lokman Slim Foundation event held at the Beirut Bar Association and reopening cases otherwise shelved for years on end.

The podcast is only made possible through listener and viewer donations.

Please help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal:

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Timestamps:

0:00 Intro

3:09 Lokman Slim event

5:34 Expectation

8:36 Manara for Justice

10:30 Backwards vs Forwards

12:06 Ministry of Justice

14:51 Beirut Bar Association

16:33 Hezbollah in 2025

21:20 Victims coalition

22:05 Reopening cases

25:56 Hassan Nasrallah’s death

28:06 Peace through details

With Giulia Cingolani in a conversation about dependence and immobility, trying to remain positive through post-surgery difficulty, navigating Beirut and an acceptance of life-changing circumstance.

The podcast is only made possible through listener and viewer donations.

Please help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal:

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Timestamps:

0:00 Intro

1:01 Post-surgery

3:10 Staying positive

6:19 Recovery

7:33 Beirut

10:03 Blame

12:53 Scooters

15:08 Rehabilitation vs Hospital

19:27 Interruption dance

19:53 Acceptance

With Najat Aoun Saliba in a conversation about friendship, loss, resolve & recovery.

The podcast is only made possible through listener and viewer donations.

Please help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal:

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Timestamps:

0:00 Intro

1:45 Reflection & friendship

8:24 Commuting & risk

9:38 Lawlessness

10:43 Losing a loved one

13:08 Determining your future

14:40 Raison d’etre in life

16:59 Minister vs MP

19:44 Competency

22:17 New voices

With Nadim Shehadi in a conversation about his recent Arab News piece:

"Reviving May 17 Agreement could be a solution for Lebanon"

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2607526

The podcast is only made possible through listener and viewer donations.

Please help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal:

https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut

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Timestamps:

0:00 Intro

2:37 Lokman Slim event

5:21 1983

7:20 May 17 Agreement in retrospect

16:46 No push for internal disarmament

21:50 Tom Barrack's speech

With Rida Mawla in a conversation about looking at life differently and ongoing recovery.

The podcast is only made possible through listener and viewer donations.

Please help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal:

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Timestamps:

0:00 Intro

3:59 What happened

14:28 A journey

16:36 Looking at life differently

23:17 Mental stability

28:10 Physical pain

32:09 Immobility

35:15 Help

40:09 From bed to chair

A discussion on Beirut's municipal elections and Beirut Madinati 2025's platform.

With Lama Wazzan, Lina Jarrous, Kristy Asseily & George Kyriakos.

Co-hosted with Charbel Al Khoury.

The podcast is only made possible through listener and viewer donations.

Please help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal:

https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut

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