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Kurdistan in America

Kurdistan Regional Government Representation in the United Stateswww.buzzsprout.com

The Kurdistan in America podcast is the official voice of the Kurdistan Regional Government Representation in the United States, headquartered in Washington, DC. Hosted by Delovan Barwari, the show explores the enduring ties between Kurdistan and the United States.


Now in its fifth season, this English-language podcast focuses on U.S. foreign policy and the Kurdistan Region, covering key topics such as security, politics, humanitarian affairs, economic development, culture, and the arts.


We’re proud to share that Kurdistan in America was ranked the #1 Kurdish podcast of 2025 by Feedspot and was previously listed among the 20 Best Government Relations Podcasts of 2021 by Welp Magazine.


Learn more at us.gov.krd

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Episodes

S5-Episode 10 - Inside the Lincoln-Duhok Sister City Initiative: A Conversation with Working Group Members

Send us a text In this episode of the Kurdistan in America podcast, brought to you by the KRG Representation in the US, host Delovan Barwari explores the Lincoln-Duhok Sister City initiative. This collaboration through university partnerships focuses on key areas like education, healthcare, cultural exchange, and community development, all while emphasizing the importance of unity within both communities to build a stronger future. Joining Delovan are four members of Lincoln’s Yazidi and Kurdish...

Dec 06, 202425 minSeason 5Ep. 10

S5-Episode 9 - Interview with Dr. Mohammedali Yaseen Taha, former Kurdistan MP & adviser to the KRG PM

Send us a text In this episode of the Kurdistan in America podcast, brought to you by the Kurdistan Regional Government Representation in the United States, host Delovan Barwari takes a closer look at the recent parliamentary elections in Kurdistan, held on October 20th. Delovan is joined by Dr. Mohammedali Yaseen Taha, a former Kurdistan Parliament member, academic, and current adviser to the KRG Prime Minister. With his background in political science, Dr. Taha shares valuable insights into ho...

Nov 05, 202426 minSeason 5Ep. 9

S5-Episode 8 - Interview with Emma DeCaro and Dr. Karwan Al-Dosakee

Send us a text In this episode of the Kurdistan in America podcast, host Delovan Barwari is joined by Emma DeCaro and Dr. Karwan Al-Dosakee to discuss the Kurdistan Deaf Human Rights Initiative, a transformative project aimed at advancing the rights and services for the deaf community in Kurdistan. They shed light on the challenges faced by deaf individuals, such as the lack of access to sign language education beyond the 9th grade and the very limited opportunities available from 1st to 9th gra...

Oct 07, 202426 minSeason 5Ep. 8

S5-Episode 7 - Interview with Rick Hall, Co-Founder and Educational Director of Prairie Rose Agricultural Institute, and Jihan Brifki, Executive Director of Hanasa Plus.

Send us a text In this episode of the "Kurdistan in America" podcast, host Delovan Barwari talks with Rick Hall, Co-Founder and Educational Director of Prairie Rose Agricultural Institute, and Jihan Brifki, Executive Director of Hanasa Plus. They discuss the environmental challenges in the Kurdistan Region and how the Earth Partnership program can address these issues through education. The Earth Partnership program, started at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1991, focuses on restoring na...

Sep 10, 202426 minSeason 5Ep. 7

S5-Episode 6 - Interview with Ms. Sozan Safar, President of the DAK Organization for Yazidi Women Development

Send us a text Welcome back to the "Kurdistan in America" podcast, the official podcast of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Representation in the United States, hosted by Delovan Barwari , Director of Academic Affairs and Strategic Initiatives. In this episode, we delve into the harrowing events of 3 August 2014, when ISIS launched a brutal genocidal campaign against the Yezidi community in Sinjar. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Yezidi Genocide, a tragic event that has left d...

Aug 03, 202430 minSeason 5Ep. 6

S5-Episode 5 - Interview with Dr. Carolyn Melty, Co-Founder and Treasurer of the NMDC Foundation.

Send us a text Welcome to 'The Kurdistan in America' podcast, the official podcast of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Representation in the United States. Hosted by Delovan Barwari, the main objective of this podcast is to delve into the rich ties between Kurdistan and the United States. In the fifth episode of season five, we are honored to host Dr. Carolyn Melby, Co-Founder and Treasurer of the Kurdistan Nursing and Midwifery Development Foundation. Carolyn is a distinguished nurse edu...

Jun 29, 202426 minSeason 5Ep. 5

S5-Episode 4 - Interview with Mr. Stephen Fox, Cultural Anthropologist PhD Student and Graduate Teaching Instructor

Send us a text Welcome to 'The Kurdistan in America' podcast, the official podcast of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Representation in the United States. In this fourth episode of season five, host Delovan Barwari welcomes Mr. Stephen Fox, a PhD student at the University of Kentucky's Department of Anthropology, where he also serves as a Graduate Teaching Instructor. Stephen's primary focus is on Cultural Anthropology with a particular interest in Kurdish culture and history. This episo...

May 20, 202432 minSeason 5Ep. 4

S5-Episode 3 - Interview with Dr. David Romano, Chair of Thomas G. Strong in Middle East Politics at MSU

Send us a text Welcome to 'The Kurdistan in America' podcast, the official podcast of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Representation in the United States. In this episode, host Delovan Barwari welcomes Professor David Romano, the Thomas G. Strong Chair in Middle East Politics at Missouri State University. Dr. Romano is the author of "The Kurdish Nationalist Movement" and the co-editor of "Conflict, Democratization, and the Kurdish Issue in the Middle East" and "The Kurds in the Middle Ea...

Apr 17, 202429 minSeason 5Ep. 3

S5-Episode 2 - Interview with Mr. Falah Mustafa, Special Assistant to the President Nechirvan Barzani

Send us a text Welcome to 'The Kurdistan in America' podcast, the official podcast of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Representation in the United States. In this second episode of season five, hosted by Delovan Barwari, we are honored to have a very special guest, Mr. Falah Mustafa. Mr. Falah Mustafa, Special Assistant for Foreign Affairs to the President of Kurdistan Region, His Excellency Nechirvan Barzani, delves into the recent visit of the Kurdistan Region Presidency delegation to ...

Mar 04, 202437 minSeason 5Ep. 2

S5-Episode 1-Interview with Dr. Yerevan Saeed, Mustafa Barzani Scholar in Residence at the AU

Send us a text Welcome to 'The Kurdistan in America' podcast, the official podcast of the KRG Representation in Washington DC, hosted by Delovan Barwari. In the Season Five kickoff episode, we are honored to welcome Dr. Yerevan Saeed, the Mustafa Barzani Scholar in Residence at American University and a Non-Resident Fellow at the Arab Gulf States Institute. In this episode, Dr. Saeed shares his academic journey, including his impressive accomplishment of earning a PhD in Peace and Conflict Resol...

Jan 31, 202428 minSeason 5Ep. 1

S4 - Episode 12 - Interview with Ms. Bonnie Carroll, President and Founder of TAPS International

Send us a text Welcome to a new episode of the 'Kurdistan in America' podcast, marking our twelfth and final episode of Season Four. We are honored to feature Ms. Bonnie Carroll, the president and founder of the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), a non-governmental organization dedicated to supporting families affected by military losses. As we approach the new year, we'd like to take a moment to extend our warm wishes to our audience for a joyous holiday season and a New Year fill...

Dec 31, 202324 minSeason 4Ep. 12

S4 - Episode 11 - Interview with retired Brigadier General Ernest C. Audino

Send us a text Welcome to a new episode of the 'Kurdistan in America' podcast, marking our eleventh episode of Season Four. We are honored to feature retired Brigadier General Ernest C. Audino, a renowned strategic military leader and a seasoned expert in national security and foreign policy. General Audino serves as the District Director for U.S. Congressman Michael Waltz and as a Senior Military Fellow at the Gold Institute for International Strategy. He is the only U.S. general officer to hav...

Nov 28, 202330 minSeason 4Ep. 11

S4 - Episode 10 - Interview with Dr. Michael Knights, Fellow at The Washington Institute

Send us a text Welcome to another insightful episode of the "Kurdistan in America" podcast, our tenth episode of Season Four. We are privileged to have Dr. Michael Knights, a renowned Middle East expert from The Washington Institute, join us. Dr. Knights is the Jill and Jay Bernstein Fellow at The Washington Institute, specializing in the military and security affairs of Iraq, Iran, and the Gulf states. He also co-founded the Militia Spotlight platform, offering in-depth analysis of the Iranian-...

Oct 31, 202328 minSeason 4Ep. 10

S4 - Episode 9 - Interview with Myles Caggins, Spokesperson for APIKUR

Send us a text Welcome to another engaging episode of the Kurdistan in America podcast: our ninth episode of Season Four. We're honored to host a seasoned guest, Myles B. Caggins III. Myles, a retired U.S. Army colonel, has transitioned into a crucial role as the spokesperson for The Association of the Petroleum Industry of Kurdistan, known as APIKUR. His shift from a military realm to a pivotal voice in Kurdistan's oil sector is truly remarkable. In this episode, we discuss the impactful halt i...

Sep 25, 202330 minSeason 4Ep. 9

S4 Episode 8 - Interview with Dr. Nahro Zagros, Editor-in-Chief of Kurdistan Chronicle

Send us a text Welcome to the eighth episode of Season Four of the Kurdistan in America podcast. We are delighted to have Dr. Nahro Zagros, the Editor-in-Chief of Kurdistan Chronicle, as our distinguished guest. Dr. Zagros, previously the Vice President of Soran University, currently serves as a Senior Fellow at the Gold Institute for International Strategy in Washington, D.C. Beyond his academic achievements, he shares his insights on politics and culture through various local and international...

Aug 28, 202329 minSeason 4Ep. 8

S4 Episode 7 - Interview with KRG's Foreign Minister, Mr. Safeen Dizayee

Send us a text Welcome to the seventh episode of Season Four of the Kurdistan in America podcast. We are honored to have Minister Safeen Muhsin Dizayee, Kurdistan Region's top diplomat and head of the Department of Foreign Relations, as our special guest. With an impressive track record, Minister Dizayee previously served as the Chief of Staff to the former KRG Prime Minister, as well as the Spokesperson and Head of the Department of Media and Information, and the Minister of Education. He also ...

Jul 26, 202327 minSeason 4Ep. 7

S4 Episode 6 - Interview with the KRG Representative to the US, Ms. Bayan Abdul Rahman

Send us a text The Kurdistan in America podcast is honored to have Bayan Sami Abdul Rahman, the Kurdistan Regional Government Representative to the United States, as its guest in episode 6 of season four. Ms Abdul Rahman was appointed the KRG envoy to the United States in 2015 and is about to embark on a new chapter of her career in public service by taking on the role of advisor to Prime Minister Masrour Barzani for foreign affairs and climate change. In this interview, Ms Abdul Rahman recounts...

Jun 30, 202333 minSeason 4Ep. 6

S4 Episode 5 - Interview with Ariel Sabar, Author of "My Father's Paradise," and his father Prof. Yona Sabar: Unveiling the Legacy

Send us a text The Kurdistan in America podcast is proud to present an interview with two special and distinguished guests, a father and son, in the fifth episode of Season Four. We are honored to have Ariel Sabar, an acclaimed author, and Professor Yona Sabar, the central figure of Ariel’s book, ‘My Father's Paradise.’ In this episode, we hope to deepen our understanding of the history of the Jews in Kurdistan and explore the vibrant diversity and cultural heritage of Kurdistan, with its variou...

May 29, 202339 minSeason 4Ep. 5

S4 Episode 4 - Interview with Minister Dr. Mohammad Shukri and Ms. Carez Dargallay: Economic Potential of Kurdistan

Send us a text The Kurdistan in America podcast is proud to present an interview with two distinguished guests in the fourth episode of Season Four. We are honored to have on our show Minister Mohammad Shukri, Chairman of the Kurdistan Board of Investment, and Ms. Carez Dargallay, Head of the Board’s Foreign Direct Investment Unit. Through our discussion, we hope to gain a deeper understanding of Kurdistan’s economic potential and the efforts being made to attract investment to the region, inclu...

Apr 27, 202329 minSeason 4Ep. 4

S4 Episode 3 - 20th Anniversary of Liberation of Iraq - A Special Interview with Lt. Col. Eric Howard

Send us a text The Kurdistan in America podcast is honored to have Lieutenant Colonel Eric Howard as our guest in the third episode of Season Four. In this special episode, we commemorate the 20th anniversary of the liberation of Iraq. March 20th, 2003 marked the beginning of the Second Gulf War. For the Kurdish people and the vast majority of Iraqis, it was a moment of hope as they looked to the future with optimism. As the former commander of Advanced Operations Base 040 in the Erbil sector, L...

Mar 27, 202330 minSeason 4Ep. 3

Season 4 Episode 2 - Interview with Mr. John Cooper, Mayor of Nashville

Send us a text The Kurdistan in America podcast is honored to have Nashville Mayor John Cooper as our guest in the second episode of Season Four. Nashville is often referred to as Little Kurdistan for its large and vibrant Kurdish community. Mr. Cooper was elected Mayor of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County in 2019, having previously served as an At-Large Member of Metro Council from 2015. He holds a bachelor's degree from Harvard University and a master's degree in bus...

Feb 25, 202328 minSeason 4Ep. 2

S4 Episode 1 - Interview with Ms. Jennifer Gavito, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Iran, Iraq, and Public Diplomacy at the State Department Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs

Send us a text The Kurdistan in America podcast is honored to have Ms. Jennifer Gavito as our guest in the first episode of Season Four. Ms. Gavito is the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Iran, Iraq, and Public Diplomacy at the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs. She previously served as the Minister-Counselor for Political Affairs at the US Embassy in London. She has spent most of her Foreign Service career working in and on the Middle East. The discussion is centered on her role at the Department of...

Jan 23, 202334 minSeason 4Ep. 1

S3 Episode 12 - Interview with Mr. Martin Manna, President of the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce and Chaldean Community Foundation

Send us a text The Kurdistan in America podcast is honored to have Mr. Martin Manna as our guest in the twelfth episode of Season Three. Mr. Martin Manna is the President of the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce and Chaldean Community Foundation. The Chaldean Chamber of Commerce represents the estimated 25,000 Chaldean-owned businesses in Michigan. The Chaldean Community Foundation provides social services to more than 40,000 New Americans annually. Mr. Manna shares his personal story and fa...

Dec 24, 202233 minSeason 3Ep. 12

S3 Episode 11 - Interview with Mr. Jonathan Lord, Senior Fellow and Director of the Middle East Security Program at CNAS

Send us a text The Kurdistan in America podcast is honored to have Mr. Jonathan Lord as its guest in the eleventh episode of Season Three. Mr. Lord is a Senior Fellow and Director of the Middle East Security Program at the Center for a New American Security. He previously served as the Iraq country director in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy as well as a political-military analyst in the Department of Defense. He holds an M.A. in security studies from Georgetown Universit...

Nov 29, 202237 minSeason 3Ep. 11

S3 Episode 10 - Interview with Dr. Marianna Charountaki, Expert on U.S. Foreign Policy toward Kurds

Send us a text The Kurdistan in America podcast is honored to have Dr. Marianna Charountaki as its guest in the tenth episode of Season Three. Dr. Charountaki is an expert on U.S. Foreign Policy toward Kurds. She is currently a Research Fellow at Soran University in the Kurdistan Region and a Senior Lecturer in International Politics at the University of Lincoln. She is a BRISMES trustee and convenor of the BISA Foreign Policy Working Group. Previously, she was the Director of the Kurdistan Inte...

Oct 26, 202226 minSeason 3Ep. 10

S3 Episode 9 - Interview with Dr. Lori Mason, Senior Technical Expert for IREX

Send us a text The Kurdistan in America podcast is honored to have Dr. Lori Mason as its guest in the ninth episode of Season Three. Dr. Lori Mason is a Senior Technical Expert for IREX, a global development and education organization. She has over twenty years of experience leading a wide range of education programming, with nearly a decade in the Kurdistan Region. Dr. Mason has designed programs to improve the overall relevance of higher education, institutionalizing changes within the current...

Sep 25, 202222 minSeason 3Ep. 9

S3 Episode 8 - Interview with Ms. Xeyal Qertel, President and Founder of the New York Kurdish Cultural Center

Send us a text The Kurdistan in America podcast is honored to have Ms. Xeyal Qertel as its guest in the eighth episode of Season Three. Ms. Qertel is the President and Founder of the New York Kurdish Cultural Center. She founded the organization in 2017 to provide a safe space for diaspora Kurds in New York to reclaim and celebrate their cinema, poetry, literature, and music—and to introduce non-Kurds to Kurdish culture and art. She directs the annual New York Kurdish Film and Cultural Festival ...

Aug 25, 202233 minSeason 3Ep. 8

Season 3 Episode 7 - Interview with Mr. Hadi Pir, Vice-President of Yazda

Send us a text The Kurdistan in America podcast is honored to have Mr. Hadi Pir as its guest in the seventh episode of Season Three. This special episode comes just one week before the 8th anniversary of the genocide committed by ISIS, or Daesh, against the Yazidis in 2014. On August 3, 2014, members of the terrorist organization Daesh, also known as ISIS, unleashed a savage attack against Yazidis in the Sinjar district, massacring 5,000 Yazidi men and abducting about 7,000 Yazidi women and girl...

Jul 25, 202236 minSeason 3Ep. 7

Season 3 Episode 6 - Interview with General Hazhar Ismail, Senior Advisor at the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs

Send us a text The Kurdistan in America podcast is honored to have Brigadier General Hazhar Ismail as our guest in the sixth episode of Season Three. General Hazhar Ismael is a Senior Advisor at the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs. He followed in his father's footsteps by joining the peshmerga forces three decades ago. He helped establish the Freedom Battalion, the first Iraqi battalion created after the liberation of Iraq in 2003. He is also a co-founder and member of the Management Board of the ...

Jun 26, 202226 minSeason 3Ep. 6

Season 3 Episode 5 - Interview with Dr. Adhid Miri, a member of the Chaldean American Community in Michigan

Send us a text The Kurdistan in America podcast is honored to have Dr. Adhid Miri as our guest in the fifth episode of Season Three. Dr. Miri is the Director of Projects at the Chaldean Community Foundation, the non-profit arm of the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce in Michigan. He has had leadership roles across various programs, including the resettlement and integration of refugees. Dr. Miri shares his experience living in Iraq and migrating to the United States and sheds light on the si...

May 25, 202246 minSeason 3Ep. 5
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