Mike Azar interviews me on Clubhouse about storytelling, my WalkBeirut tour and podcasting.

We debate fundamental obstacles facing stability and long-term reform in Lebanon.

0:00 Intro

3:04 Are the big answers outside?

16:04 Multiple Assassinations

21:23 Sovereignty

30:12 Long-Term Investment

40:01 What can be done?

55:21 Media

1:07:53 My Father

We're with Mouafac Harb for Episode 248 of The Beirut Banyan.

Click to watch:

https://youtu.be/qlObTi8-s5Y

We discuss his recent The Daily Star piece "Victory Lap for Tehran in Lebanon" and lay out domestic components to the current political and economic crisis vs regional and international posturing that may be conducive to restoring Lebanon's sovereignty.

We also talk about Iran's long-term investment vis-a-vis Hezbollah, the shifting media landscape from conventional outlets to independent voices, and reflections of Mouafac running into my father weeks before his assassination.

Mouafac Harb is an advisor to MTV Lebanon and a contributor to The Daily Star.

The article referenced in this episode is accessible below:

https://www.dailystar.com.lb/Opinion/Commentary/2021/Feb-22/517681-virtual-victory-lap-by-tehran-in-lebanon.ashx

Help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal:

https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut

Or donating through our Patreon page:

https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan

Subscribe to our podcast from your preferred platform.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter:

@thebeirutbanyan

And check out our website:

www.beirutbanyan.com

Music by Marc Codsi. Logo design by Sara Tarhini. Animation & illustration by Sana Chaaban.

0:00 Intro

3:35 Getting the Vaccine

9:50 mRNA

24:42 Basic Differences

29:18 Corruption

38:11 Misinformation Campaign

44:45 Numbers Today

49:12 Bizarre Policies

55:39 Precautions

We're with Zakia Dimassi for Episode 247 of The Beirut Banyan.

Click to watch:

https://youtu.be/SiOF9q6KvfA

We discuss the experience of getting vaccinated for COVID-19, basic differences among various vaccines, and the basics of mRNA technology.

We also discuss the misinformation / disinformation campaign doctors and scientists are battling against, where the infection / mortality rates in Lebanon stand today, and necessary precautions that need to be taken post-vaccination.

Zakia Dimassi is a Physician and Assistant Professor at Saint George University.

The article referenced in this episode is accessible below:

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/science/coronavirus-vaccine-tracker.html

Help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal:

https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut

Or donating through our Patreon page:

https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan

Subscribe to our podcast from your preferred platform.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter:

@thebeirutbanyan

And check out our website:

www.beirutbanyan.com

Music by Marc Codsi. Logo design by Sara Tarhini. Animation & illustration by Sana Chaaban.

0:00 Intro

4:52 Fed Up

10:03 Historic Story

15:18 Classroom to Street

21:57 Fondness to Disgruntled'ness'

30:31 Struggling

38:52 Focus on Truth

47:49 False Narrative

59:30 Worst Version of Falsehood

1:08:55 Knowing the Truth

1:18:00 The Need to End War

We're with Hani Hassan Episode 246 of The Beirut Banyan.

Click to watch:

https://youtu.be/1IAiOMJKyVs

We discuss competing mythologies and historical narratives, the communal comfort of false logic and a determination to focus and empower truth over falsehood.

We also talk about taking conversations from the classroom to the street, the pendulum swinging between hope and despair since the October 17 Uprising, and a firm belief in the need to end political violence.

Hani Hassan is a Civilization Studies and Philosophy Instructor at The American University of Beirut.

Help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal:

https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut

Or donating through our Patreon page:

https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan

Subscribe to our podcast from your preferred platform.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter:

@thebeirutbanyan

And check out our website:

www.beirutbanyan.com

Music by Marc Codsi. Logo design by Sara Tarhini. Animation & illustration by Sana Chaaban.

0:00 Intro

2:48 Void

16:21 Driving the Story

20:48 Last Name

25:28 Shielding Emotions

35:32 Trying not to Think

40:28 The Crime Itself

44:29 Pointing the Finger

57:13 Make Peace

We're with Ghena Hariri Episode 245 of The Beirut Banyan.

Click to watch:

https://youtu.be/5Z_je2kTzi0

We discuss the feeling of void that comes with untimely and unjust loss, and shared tragedy that brings victims of political assassinations together.

We also talk about emotions that resurface when news of new assassinations take hold, narrative battles that take hold within minutes of learning of the targeted individual and a shared commitment to pursuing justice and holding criminals to account.

Ghena Hariri is a PhD researcher at Birkbeck, University of London.

Help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal:

https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut

Or donating through our Patreon page:

https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan

Subscribe to our podcast from your preferred platform.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter:

@thebeirutbanyan

And check out our website:

www.beirutbanyan.com

Music by Marc Codsi. Logo design by Sara Tarhini. Animation & illustration by Sana Chaaban.

I share my thoughts on attending Lokman Slim's funeral, meeting his family and the scar tissue we live with.

Click to watch:

https://youtu.be/GWBx1cezxDM

Help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal:

https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut

Or donating through our Patreon page:

https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan

Subscribe to our podcast from your preferred platform.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter:

@thebeirutbanyan

And check out our website:

www.beirutbanyan.com

Music by Marc Codsi. Logo design by Sara Tarhini.

0:00 Intro

3:40 Six Month Marker

7:14 Paralysis

11:04 Curtailed Progress

17:28 Chernobyl Moment

27:56 Core Issue

40:12 Assassination

52:02 Will of the People

We're with Bachar El Halabi Episode 243 of The Beirut Banyan.

Click to watch:

https://youtu.be/R06-xHrrj9w

We discuss the six month marker following the Beirut port blasts, the limbo / paralysis state we're living through and a "Chernobyl Moment" for Lebanon.

We also talk about core issues impacting reform, Lokman Slim's assassination and a firm belief in the will of the people and a constant battle to preserve freedom of expression.

Bachar El Halabi is a research analyst focusing on geopolitical issues impacting Lebanon and the region.

Help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal:

https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut

Or donating through our Patreon page:

https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan

Subscribe to our podcast from your preferred platform.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter:

@thebeirutbanyan

And check out our website:

www.beirutbanyan.com

Music by Marc Codsi. Logo design by Sara Tarhini. Animation & illustration by Sana Chaaban.

I share my thoughts on the assassination of Lokman Slim, state paralysis and the only way forward for Lebanon.

Click to watch:

https://youtu.be/9aYQPYv2hcY

I also read a section of my father's 'Open Letter to Rouhani', released two days following his assassination (see link below):

https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304483804579286723620835720

Help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal:

https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut

Or donating through our Patreon page:

https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan

Subscribe to our podcast from your preferred platform.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter:

@thebeirutbanyan

And check out our website:

www.beirutbanyan.com

Music by Marc Codsi. Logo design by Sara Tarhini.

0:00 Intro

0:34 Dalal Mawad

10:36 Joey Ayoub

25:50 Carmen Geha

38:36 Samer Makarem

Click to watch:

https://youtu.be/KJLAvaeGNMQ

We're joined by Dalal Mawad, Joey Ayoub, Carmen Geha and Samer Makarem for Episode 241 of The Beirut Banyan.

We discuss the sixth month marker following the Beirut blasts, and the assassination of Lokman Slim.

Help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal:

https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut

Or donating through our Patreon page:

https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan

Subscribe to our podcast from your preferred platform.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter:

@thebeirutbanyan

And check out our website:

www.beirutbanyan.com

Music by Marc Codsi. Logo design by Sara Tarhini.

0:00 Intro

1:50 Misinformation

5:11 Win this Battle

8:10 Messaging

13:29 Policies

Click to watch:

https://youtu.be/FXLQn4ws274

We're with Dr. Hanina Abi Nader Episode 240 of The Beirut Banyan.

We discuss COVID-19, the need to continue to take precautions and battling widespread misinformation against vaccines.

Dr. Hanina Abi Nader is a general practitioner.

Help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal:

https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut

Or donating through our Patreon page:

https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan

Subscribe to our podcast from your preferred platform.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter:

@thebeirutbanyan

And check out our website:

www.beirutbanyan.com

Music by Marc Codsi. Logo design by Sara Tarhini.