The sectarian violence in Sweida, Southern Syria has genuinely been keeping me up at night. The images, stories, and potentials for further violence is just really hard to process. There's also a lot of confusion as to what exactly is happening, how did this start, and how does it end. In this episode I try to provide some overview of the situation, but mostly talk about my thoughts and feelings watching this unfold and seeing all the discourse online, and denounce in as strong of terms as possi...
Jul 19, 2025•33 min
I've never slept well. But of course the political catastrophes around all of us make it even harder. I talk about my issues with sleep, what I've been doing/not doing, and ask you how you've been dealing sleep and sleeplessness. --- --- Give me a tip: ko-fi.com/aymanmak Become a member of the FTP Patreon: patreon.com/fromtheperiphery
Jul 04, 2025•28 min
I'm making a few changes and wanted to keep you all up to date. Hope to see you all on my Youtube Channel. Note: This is not announcing the end of this podcast. It's more of an expansion, but in a slightly different direction. Subscribe to my Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_d8-WfM5gyULH5zL0_e89A Love and solidarity, Ayman
Jun 21, 2025•9 min
I left twitter last year, soon after Musk took it over. It's no longer a safe place to be. So I moved to Bluesky, which has its own set of problems, but nowhere near as problematic as twitter. But on saving grace is the few brilliant accounts I've encountered while there. In this episode I talk to the person behind one such account, Emissary of Night. A queer lefty Arab intellectual in predominantly English speaking spaces, we definitely had a lot to talk about. So over an hour and a bit we talk...
Jun 15, 2025•1 hr 16 min
In this episode, I talk with Peggy, someone whose wisdom and approach I've found really nourishing in this time of depleting catastrophe. I just like talking to her and she always comes up with really interesting insights. We initially met in the Palestine watch party, which I hosted, and many of the things she said in those discussions are still with me. We talk about a wide-range of topics and so its hard to sum up. If there's anything that's said that sparks your interest, let me know in the ...
Jun 08, 2025•1 hr 4 min
The Israeli blockade on Gaza will kill 14,000 babies in 48 hours if it is not lifted. This was announced today by the UN. It has been 79 days since the total blockade was placed on Gaza, after Israel unilaterally ended the ceasefire agreement they signed with Hamas. It is impossible to deny what is being painfully and maliciously enacted on a daily basis: a genocide, mass extermination and annihilation. Two million Palestinians in Gaza are being starved and bombed. This has to stop. I don't know...
May 20, 2025•16 min
Elon Musk is one of the most dangerous men alive today. But he didn't come out of nowhere. In this episode I talk about one thing that he's done, that I think most people don't even know he did. To me, it's amongst the worst of it all. Note: When I list some of the wort things he's done, I forget to mention his creation and involvement in DOGE, which I know is a pretty huge thing to miss, but alas. Also, this was recorded on Tuesday May 13 (3 days ago). Since then the podcast 'Syria: The Inconve...
May 16, 2025•25 min
I've been a bit absent from this podcast the last couple of weeks. I share why - which amounts to some pretty good, interesting news. One thing I forgot to mention in the episode is that I've also been arranging a few interviews for this podcast by really really cool people, so stay tuned for that. Anyway, I guess the crunch is over, so I'll go back to releasing episodes on the weekly. Film Club: https://www.patreon.com/posts/lebanon-wars-126557915 New Video Essay: https://youtu.be/W1pKLk-E6J0 -...
May 06, 2025•19 min
This is a special announcement episode broadcast on all FTP channels. We at FTP are hosting a series of weekly film screenings and discussions on the Lebanese wars starting this Sunday April 20. In this short episode, Elia and Ayman go through the list of films they selected, what you can expect from the screenings, and how you can participate. To sign up and join the watch parties head over to our Patreon where you'll find this post with the invitation link . Invites are immediately availab...
Apr 18, 2025•25 min
Going back to basics for this episode. I talk about how sad I've been, how so many of us are unwell, and how we should talk about it more. -- -- Leave me a tip in my Tip Jar Become a member of the Patreon Follow me on Instagram Follow me on Bluesky...
Apr 16, 2025•41 min
I'm just so damn mortified by the daily massacres. The images. The wailing screams. The f*scist apologia. This was recorded on Wednesday, April 3th. -- -- Leave me a tip in my Tip Jar Become a member of the Patreon Follow me on Instagram Follow me on Bluesky...
Apr 07, 2025•32 min
Joy at others misfortunes. It's fine when it's punching up, but I've noticed it too often be used to punch down. I talk about it. Headlines: - Israel kills two more journalists in Gaza: Hussam Shabbat and Mohammad Mansour - Protests seize Turkey after Erdogan's latest power grab -- -- Leave me a tip in my Tip Jar Become a member of the Patreon Follow me on Instagram Follow me on Bluesky...
Mar 26, 2025•39 min•Season 2Ep. 7
I talk about the idea that I have for the next video essay. -- -- Support Ali's Go Fund Me -- -- Leave me a tip in my Tip Jar Become a member of the Patreon Follow me on Instagram Follow me on Bluesky...
Mar 18, 2025•59 min•Season 2Ep. 6
There were numerous massacres that happening in the Syrian coast over the last week. I talk about them, share some information that I have about them and the reactions to them. I also provide some context to recent developments in Syria which I think too many are confused by and even more are coopting for ideological purposes. Here's some additional resources on the coast massacres: Article by Robin Yassin-Kassab Report by the Syrian Network for Human Rights Short video by Megaphone News -- -- N...
Mar 13, 2025•45 min•Season 2Ep. 5
Just a personal rant about feeling sad that my therapist can no longer do sessions with me. I also share some thoughts about why therapy was so useful/helpful for me, especially in this present moment of despair and gloom. Headlines: Zelensky v. Trump, Vance; Israeli aggression on Syria. -- -- Leave me a tip in my Tip Jar Become a member of the Patreon Follow me on Instagram Follow me on Bluesky...
Mar 03, 2025•44 min•Season 2Ep. 4
A LOT has happened in Lebanon (and the region) in the last few months. This is the first of many episodes where I try to unpack not just the situation of Lebanon but the situation of the region as a whole from a Lebanese (leftist) perspective. There's a lot of moving pieces, a lot of history, and most important, a lot of seismic shifts that I think needs to be accounted for in our analysis, discussions, and actions. I'll be doing a live-stream for this episode (where you can ask your questions, ...
Feb 21, 2025•57 min•Season 2Ep. 3
On Feb 16, 2013, the revolutionary Syrian anarchist Omar Aziz was martyred by the Assad regime. His legacy and actions, specifically around the local councils during the Syrian revolution, will be commemorated in events and talks held around the world on Feb 16, 2025. Here is a link with texts, resources, and dates: https://rememberomaraziz.net/ Here is the comic I did on the Syrian rev + local councils: Comic on Syrian Revolution As part of the new series, I'll be hosting a live-stream discussi...
Feb 10, 2025•39 min
New season! Same format! Not much will change with breaking up this podcast into seasons, it's just more helpful for planning/organizing. I am going to take the opportunity to try to regularise some of the formats I was playing with towards the end there. Announcement: - New Podcast: Mutual Aid Podcast Headlines: - Musk and 4chan - Lebanon ceasefire: displaced force their way back home - War on Jenin - Egypt and Jordan reveal their hypocrisy Main topic: - Personal baggage in political organizing...
Feb 05, 2025•42 min•Season 2Ep. 1
It's finally happening. I finished the video essay. There's a live drop happening on Patreon on Sunday 26th at 8pm CET. Ayman will be in the live chat. Join us! Link to the Video Essay Free for members, available for one-time purchase for anyone else!
Jan 24, 2025•14 min
Even when things feel pointless, we have to keep going. We have to give our actions meaning. Whether it's our own individual contributions or the movements we participate in, we can't completely lose hope in their possible impact and meaning. I think doing so is giving our enemies an unnecessary victory over us. --- --- Leave me a tip in my Tip Jar Become a member of the Patreon Follow me on Instagram Follow me on Bluesky...
Jan 05, 2025•32 min
Today it is officially one year exactly since I started this podcast. I look back and reflect on this year and talk about the year ahead. What has changed, what has stayed pretty much the same, what has gotten much worse? I ask these questions at the political, personal and polito-personal (to coin a term) level. Thank you to everyone who has listened over the last year. I appreciate every single one of you. May we mark the 2nd year of this podcast with new achievements, new breakthroughs, new r...
Dec 28, 2024•35 min
So I got rejected from yet another writing grant. But I persist. From now I'm gna focus on doing my work and hoping those listening/reading appreciate enough/are able to support me. This episode is basically a free-association personal ramble about stuff I've been thinking about re my work and what I'm reluctantly calling 'diasporic discomforts'. Very little politics in this one, except brief talk about the "ceasefire" in Lebanon. -- -- Want to give me a small tip? --> Pe...
Dec 19, 2024•28 min
It's finally happened. After 13 years of struggle, the Syrian people emerge victorious. What started as military operations in the north quickly escalated into country-wide revolt, built on decades of resentment, organising and, counter-revolutionary violence. Prisons liberated, Assad fled, and for the first time, in over a decade, Syrians are celebrating. They know, more than any of us, the work that comes now, but for now, let's celebrate with them. This episode is dedicated to Omar Aziz, to R...
Dec 09, 2024•29 min
These horrible two months seem to have come to an end. At least for the time being. A brief bittersweet moment amongst all the horribleness. I share they thoughts and reflections about the ceasefire deal that was announced just two days ago. -- -- Want to give me a small tip? --> Tip Jar Want to become a member of our Patreon? --> Patreon...
Nov 28, 2024•30 min
I've been doing terribly. All of us are. But I can't go on like this. I will not cede them this victory. This is possibly my most personal episode yet as I try to make sense of it all. -- -- Want to give me a small tip? --> Tip Jar Want to become a member of our Patreon? --> Patreon
Nov 22, 2024•32 min
What was meant to be a reflection on The Peoples Want festival ended up being a long discussion of how insane Germany has become. Doqsi (Egyptian living in Berlin) shares their experience and analysis of the current situation of the Palestine solidarity movement in Berlin as well as the intense and white supremacist crackdown from the state, the media, and liberal organizations. We do talk a bit about the festival but end up really lamenting that the safety we both sought in Europe is increasing...
Nov 14, 2024•1 hr 29 min
I had the extreme pleasure of spending the last week discussing and organizing with a group of activists and revolutionaries from across the global south. This happened at a conference hosted by The Peoples Want, a collective working on building genuine, strong internationalist bonds between struggles across the globe. Holding these conversations was intense but full of inspiration, especially at a time where I'm witnessing my world being destroyed, while everything feels empty of meaning, let a...
Oct 31, 2024•1 hr 8 min
What is liberalism? Who are liberals? Where do they stand in relation to the colonies? Where do they on genocide? I think the answer to the last question is pretty obvious to anyone paying attention over the last year. But regardless, I thought I'd do an episode sharing my reflections and understanding of liberalism, as a historical movement and political tendency that is riddled top to bottom with contradictions. History has shown that liberals are much friendlier to fascism than they are to an...
Oct 15, 2024•40 min
A question people have asked over the last year (and half a century). A constant mark of shame for the entire 'arab world' but also the beginning into a very serious inquiry - which I would contest has radical potentials that have yet to be fully explored. As I develop my next video essay, on this very topic, I'm doing this episode to just explore the things I'm thinking about out loud. I also provide some - incomplete - highlights on the latest developments in Lebanon and Palestine. One thing I...
Oct 09, 2024•1 hr 4 min
It's so difficult to speak. Confirming in words what we know, but cannot believe, is happening. Lebanon, my home, has been subjected to an unfathomable aggression by Israel over the last week. Over 1600 people have been killed, thousands more injured, and approximately 1 million people internally displaced! Almost all of this in almost two weeks. In this episode I share my reflections as a Lebanese, but also my bitter analysis based on what Palestinians have been showing us over the last year. I...
Sep 30, 2024•24 min
