The Beirut Banyan

We're joined by Rania Matar for Episode 121 of The Beirut Banyan, and we discuss her photography, women in Lebanon and a wider story of shared identity.

Rania's work has been widely published and exhibited in museums worldwide, including the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, the Carnegie Museum of Art, and National Museum of Women in the Arts.

Rania is an associate professor of photography at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design. She has published three books:

L’Enfant-Femme, 2016; A Girl and Her Room, 2012; Ordinary Lives, 2009.

They can be purchased via her website:

www.raniamatar.com

If you're enjoying these episodes, help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal:

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Music by Marc Codsi. Graphics by Sara Tarhini.

We're joined by Mohamad Bazzi for Episode 120 of The Beirut Banyan, and we discuss domestic attempts for political reform in Iraq and Lebanon and the geopolitical constraints facing protestors throughout the region.

Mohamad Bazzi is an associate professor of journalism at New York University, where he teaches international reporting. From 2009 to 2013, he served as an adjunct senior fellow for Middle East studies at the Council on Foreign Relations.

Mohamad was the Middle East bureau chief at Newsday from 2003 to 2008. His essays and commentaries on the Middle East have appeared in The New York Times, London Review of Books, Foreign Affairs, The Atlantic, The Nation, The Guardian, Boston Review, Reuters, and other publications.

The articles referenced at the end of the episode can be accessed by clicking below:

'Donald Trump has blundered into a crisis of his own making with Iran' for The Guardian:

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/jan/03/us-airstrikes-iran-donald-trump-foreign-policy-iranian-middle-east

'The Long-Term Consequences of Trump’s Middle East Blundering' for The Nation:

https://www.thenation.com/article/world/trump-iran-iraq-isis/

'The New Lebanon is the Old Lebanon' for The New York Times:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/29/opinion/lebanon-crisis.html

If you're enjoying these episodes, help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal:

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Music by Marc Codsi. Graphics by Sara Tarhini.

We're joined by Joseph Haboush for Episode 119 of The Beirut Banyan, and we discuss the difficulties facing traditional media outlets like The Daily Star - Lebanon, and the determination of news reporters to deliver content despite financial woes.

Joseph reflects on The Daily Star's continued tradition of training younger journalists covering the region who have gone on to work for renowned international outlets, and why long-form articles still matter in light of social media's power giving citizen journalists their own separate platform.

Joseph is the former online desk editor at The Daily Star - Lebanon and is a reporter at The Telegraph's Middle East desk. He is a non-resident fellow at The Middle East Institute.

The September 2019 article referenced in this episode 'Is it Too Late to Save Lebanon from Financial Collapse' can be found below:

https://www.mei.edu/publications/it-too-late-save-lebanon-financial-collapse

Follow Joseph on Twitter: @jhaboush

If you're enjoying these episodes, help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal:

https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut

Or donating through our Patreon page:

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Music by Marc Codsi. Graphics by Sara Tarhini.

We're joined by Thanassis Cambanis for Episode 118 of The Beirut Banyan, and we discuss the dilemma of weapons beyond state control and the challenges to political and economic reform.

Thanassis shares his views on the political calculations that brought Lebanon to its current economic breakdown, and the potential for a citizenry and social pact that respects universal rights and ensures the protection of various identities throughout the region.

Thanassis is a senior fellow at The Century Foundation. He is the author of 'A Privilege to Die: Inside Hezbollah's Legions and Their Endless War Against Israel' and co-author of 'Citizenship and Its Discontents: The Struggle for Rights, Pluralism, and Inclusion in the Middle East Michael Wahid Hanna'.

Both books are referred to in the episode, and can be purchased via the following links:

A Privilege to Die:

https://www.amazon.com/Privilege-Die-Hezbollahs-Legions-Endless/dp/1439143617

Citizenship and its Discontents:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0870785567/ref=x_gr_w_bb_sout?ie=UTF8&tag=x_gr_w_bb_sout-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0870785567&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2

And check out The Century Foundation's podcast hosted by Thanassis:

https://tcf.org/content/tag/podcast/

If you're enjoying these episodes, help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal:

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Music by Marc Codsi. Graphics by Sara Tarhini.

We're joined by Joey Ayoub for Episode 117 of The Beirut Banyan, and we discuss the links Lebanese share to regional demonstrators and wider international movements.

Joey reflects on the internationalization of the moment, and shares his views on regional and international dynamics at play that link Lebanon to a wider story of calls for dignity and reform.

The Arab Tyrant Manual podcast episode referred to in our conversation titled 'The Left's Tribal Anti-imperialism' can be listened to by clicking here:

https://arabtyrantmanual.com/atm-033-the-lefts-tribal-anti-imperialism/

Follow Joey on Twitter through his handle: @joeyayoub

If you're enjoying these episodes, help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal:

https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut

Or donating through our Patreon page:

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And subscribe to our podcast from your preferred platform.

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Website: www.beirutbanyan.com

Music by Marc Codsi. Graphics by Sara Tarhini.

We're joined by Nemr Abou Nassar for Episode 116 of The Beirut Banyan, and we discuss his personal contribution to the spread of stand-up comedy in Lebanon and the Middle East and a wider appreciation for the power of humor in bringing diverse communities together.

Nemr is a stand-up comedian currently performing his 'The Future is Now' set. I saw him perform in New York and highly recommend catching him while on tour. His schedule and links to ticket purchases are updated on his website:

https://www.nemrcomedy.com

Also be sure to check out 'The Initiative' website discussed in this episode by clicking here: https://initiativelb.com

And follow Nemr on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter through the handle: @nemrcomedy

If you're enjoying these episodes, 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

And subscribe to our podcast from your preferred platform.

Follow us on Instagram: thebeirutbanyan

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Website: www.beirutbanyan.com

Music by Marc Codsi. Graphics by Sara Tarhini.

We're joined by Kamel, Feryal and Faleh Taha for Episode 115 of The Beirut Banyan, and we discuss food and Lebanese identity, and what it takes to run a family-owned shop like Feryal Boutique celebrating local produce.

We reflect on the ongoing revolt amidst economic uncertainty, and the immense challenges corruption poses to small businesses across the country.

Visit Feryal Boutique's website: https://www.feryalboutique.com/boutique

And follow them on Instagram: @feryal.boutique

If you're enjoying these episodes, 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

And subscribe to our podcast from your preferred platform.

Follow us on Instagram: thebeirutbanyan

Twitter: beirut_banyan

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Website: www.beirutbanyan.com

Music by Marc Codsi. Graphics by Sara Tarhini.

We're joined by Luna Safwan for Episode 114 of The Beirut Banyan, and we discuss citizen journalism, stumbling blocks to political reform and the role of women during the ongoing revolt.

Luna is an independent journalist and a freelance writer for Vice News Arabia.

Follow her on Twitter: @LunaSafwan and check out her website:

http://www.lunasafwan.com

If you're enjoying these episodes, 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

And subscribe to our podcast from your preferred platform.

Follow us on Instagram: thebeirutbanyan

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Website: www.beirutbanyan.com

Music by Marc Codsi. Graphics by Sara Tarhini.

We're joined by Amer Bisat for Episode 113 of The Beirut Banyan, and we discuss the economic policies that led to the financial collapse we're witnessing.

Amer shares his views on various demonstrations over Lebanese history and the political and societal components within Lebanon that prevent fundamental change despite repeated attempts at reform.

Amer is a senior fund manager at a global asset management company and a former senior economist at the International Monetary Fund.

A recent 'A Citizens' Initiative for Lebanon' piece he contributed to for Annahar can be found through the following link:

https://en.annahar.com/article/1118837-capital-controls-and-the-stabilization-of-the-lebanese-economy

If you're enjoying these episodes, 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

And subscribe to our podcast from your preferred platform.

Follow us on Instagram: thebeirutbanyan

Twitter: beirut_banyan

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Website: www.beirutbanyan.com

Music by Marc Codsi. Graphics by Sara Tarhini.

We're joined by Carmen Geha for Episode 112 of The Beirut Banyan, and we discuss the ongoing momentum behind the October 17 revolt and the 'triangle of weapons, banks and religious courts' protestors are up against.

Carmen is an Assistant Professor of Public Administration at the American University of Beirut. She is a regular contributor to The New Arab.

Click on the following link to read her recent The New Arab article referenced in this episode:

https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/comment/2020/1/31/the-lebanese-revolution-is-totally-winning-and-heres-why

If you're enjoying these episodes, 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

And subscribe to our podcast from your preferred platform.

Follow us on Instagram: thebeirutbanyan

Twitter: beirut_banyan

Facebook: The Beirut Banyan

Website: www.beirutbanyan.com

Music by Marc Codsi. Graphics by Sara Tarhini.