Anger & Thirst by Rea Gemayel Rea is an actress and appeared in Memory Box, Echoes & Le Départ. Click to watch video version: https://youtu.be/mqLU-7CT_G8 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...
Sep 12, 2023•7 min
GENXZ wraps up its first season with comedian John Achkar in a conversation that covers his personal journey from student-led politics to stand-up comedy, free expression that takes the written word on stage, the comfort & healing of performance-based art, & the importance of following your passion & pursuit no matter the cost. The episode includes a reflection of this Friday’s third commemoration of the August 4, 2020 port blast, October 17 & March 14 uprisings in retrospect, &a...
Aug 02, 2023•1 hr 9 min
Episode 370: 'The Architect' with George Wardini, taped live at Aaliya's Books. Click to watch video version: https://youtu.be/2BQ83aSzC7w A conversation with digital content creator George Wardini that covers the design process behind the Instagram page PolyBlog & its opinion-based narrative born out of political activism, as well as a look at other platforms he helped produce including Wassil Sawtak, The Happy Hour Show, PolyTalks & The Square. The discussion includes a look at particu...
Jul 29, 2023•2 hr
GENXZ is a miniseries hosted by Sarah Al Asmar that tackles Lebanese political, economic and social issues from a youth perspective. For this episode Sarah is joined by Elias Hankach, MP Metn District and member of Kataeb. Click to watch video version: https://youtu.be/ytcMIS_SvnA The discussion covers a deep dive into Roumieh and rethinking its prison location, a retrospective on Kataeb's role during the civil war, Syrian occupation and post-2005 politics, navigating ongoing paralysis amidst fi...
Jul 23, 2023•1 hr 9 min
In memory of Milan Kundera. Episode 369: 'Einmal ist keinmal' with Ambassador Andreas Kindl, taped live at Aaliya's Books. Click to watch video version: https://youtu.be/4kTJ34QGw9c A conversation that explores the day-to-day affairs of Germany's Ambassador to Lebanon, divergency between local expectations and the job description at hand, communication with local actors on the one side and Germany's foreign ministry on the other (and how wider narratives are shaped when formulating policy and di...
Jul 22, 2023•2 hr 20 min
Episode 368: Meeting of Minds with Nadim Shehadi & Hicham Bou Nassif, taped live at Iris Domain. Click to watch video version: https://youtu.be/KyIs_EBz5qY Delving into childhood & academic experiences in retrospect, communitarianism, supranational identities, systemic paralysis & potential solutions to failed governance, geopolitical infringement on sovereignty, sub-state security & the collapse we’re living through. Audience Q&A included in the episode, with special thanks ...
Jul 16, 2023•3 hr 16 min
Episode 367: Ten Thousand Stories in One with Rawi Hage, taped live at Aaliya's Books. A conversation that brings childhood memories of Geitaoui, Rmeil and a bygone Achrafieh back to life. Click to watch video version: https://youtu.be/2X5InI_nCEs Rawi's experiences in the early years of the civil war, his brief move to Cyprus followed by a short return and an eventual departure to New York and Montreal are all covered, including his pursuit of photography and the inception for writing De Niro's...
Jul 10, 2023•2 hr 27 min
GENXZ is a miniseries that tackles Lebanese political, economic and social issues from a youth perspective. For this episode Amira Kazoun joins as co-host and we introduce Wael Taleb to the podcast, a reporter and features writer at L'Orient Today and a gifted journalist. Click to watch video-version: https://youtu.be/GfVximIb3jM The discussion covers Wael's personal journey into journalism, how to best handle fake news and misinformation, neutral coverage vs narrative divergency and three recen...
Jul 09, 2023•1 hr 26 min
GENXZ is a miniseries hosted by Sarah Al Asmar that tackles Lebanese political, economic and social issues from a youth perspective. For this episode Sarah is joined by Jad Shahrour, spokesperson for the Samir Kassir Foundation. Click to watch video version: https://youtu.be/4pv2AHv6cPY The discussion covers the Samir Kassir Foundation's work in defending journalist rights and the wider struggle against impunity that transcends politics and the written word. The conversation includes Samir Kassi...
Jul 02, 2023•1 hr 2 min
Episode 366: ‘Beirut is a River’ with Camille Ammoun, taped live at Aaliya's Books. Click to watch video version: https://youtu.be/GGFMulaHEl4 A conversation that covers writing styles and technique, psycho-geography and urban planning, a look back at civil society's role in 2005 and 2019, a reading of 'Beirut is a River' and the universality within Beirut. The discussion includes expectations from the Change bloc and whether new and old names entering parliament share the same political hurdles...
Jun 30, 2023•2 hr 10 min
GENXZ is a miniseries hosted by Sarah Al Asmar that tackles Lebanese political, economic and social issues from a youth perspective. For this episode Sarah is joined by Chrystine Mhanna, a journalist and human rights advocate. Click to watch video version: https://youtu.be/b2HRIqtg_OQ The discussion covers digital media trends, differentiating 'alternative' from 'activist' descriptions, narrative trends when covering marginalized communities and the wider struggle for human rights advocacy. The ...
Jun 25, 2023•1 hr 37 min
Episode 365: ‘This Place Called Home’ with Tom Young, taped live at Aaliya's Books. A conversation that covers painting Lebanon’s ever-changing landscape, a process of healing personal wounds through art, overcoming immensely challenging moments through creativity and camaraderie, and a lifelong quest for meaning and truth. The discussion includes shared tales of the Holiday Inn hotel and experiences of brushing with fate. Tom Young is a painter. You can find him on Instagram [at]tomyoungart and...
Jun 24, 2023•2 hr 27 min
GENXZ is a miniseries hosted by Sarah Al Asmar that tackles Lebanese political, economic and social issues from a youth perspective. For this episode Sarah is joined by Antoine Habchi, MP Lebanese Forces. Click to watch video-version: https://youtu.be/BzEzxzSj9d8 The discussions dives into cannabis legislation, a draft law yet to be implemented on its medicinal and industrial use, social attitudes surrounding its potential decriminalization and the general taboo of its recreational use. Help sup...
Jun 18, 2023•56 min
0:00 Intro 2:36 What brought you to journalism? 7:07 Attention span 9:34 Narrative 13:49 Media's role 22:43 Preconceived notions 27:34 Public-funded media 32:52 Why are you going to Doha? 36:12 Baabda 49:19 Doing what you're doing 53:07 Friendly argument vs journalist grilling 58:28 Appreciation for audio 1:03:23 Q&A 1:28:41 Accountability 1:41:48 Ireland & sectarianism We're with Imogen Kimber for Episode 364 of The Beirut Banyan, recorded live at Aaliya’s Books. Click to watch: https:/...
Jun 16, 2023•1 hr 54 min
GENXZ is a miniseries hosted by Sarah Al Asmar that tackles Lebanese political, economic and social issues from a youth perspective. For this episode Sarah is joined by Amira Kazoun, USJ MA graduate in clinical psychology and president of the university's mental health club. Click to watch video-version: https://youtu.be/DpNx8zpGXdw Help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut Or donating through our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutba...
Jun 11, 2023•1 hr 4 min
0:00 Intro 2:22 The last three years 16:33 Tourism & narrative 24:27 Lebanon's role 32:56 Consequential to stability 37:24 Expression 42:31 Branding 48:00 Cosmopolitanism 56:39 Q&A 1:25:38 History of wine in the region We're with Michael Karam for Episode 363 of The Beirut Banyan, recorded live at Aaliya’s Books. Click for video version: https://youtu.be/gcNOVWJ830k We reflect on the past three years of political instability, economic collapse and rampant impunity, and the general viabil...
Jun 05, 2023•1 hr 43 min
GENXZ is a miniseries hosted by Sarah Al Asmar that tackles Lebanese political, economic and social issues from a youth perspective. For her first episode, Sarah is joined by William Noun, political activist and younger brother of Joe Noun. Click to watch video-version: https://youtu.be/nE6ja6THLUE 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 ...
Jun 04, 2023•59 min
A new miniseries hosted by Sarah Al Asmar, covering all things youth-related in Lebanon. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/tOeUz6M2Mfc For this introduction Sarah sits with me and outlines what she hopes to achieve with her new role as a host on The Beirut Banyan, and the topics she intends to focus in on. Stay tuned for weekly episodes beginning this June! Help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut Or donating through our Patreon page: https://www...
May 29, 2023•16 min
0:00 Intro 1:51 One year after the election 10:57 Research & political psychology 37:28 Defining sectarianism 1:01:11 National identity 1:23:23 Q&A We're with Ramzi Abou-Ismail for Episode 362 of The Beirut Banyan, recorded live at Aaliya’s Books. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/qIiLdcpx9XI We reflect on a year following parliamentary elections best defined by paralysis and Ramzi's political psychology research focusing on behavior, attitude and collective violence that pervades modern ...
May 27, 2023•2 hr 7 min
0:00 Intro 0:51 Finding the castle 14:29 Refugee influx 28:41 David Saad 47:57 Sensitivity 54:25 Q&A 1:08:05 Relics that survived We're with Mohamad El Chamaa for Episode 361 of The Beirut Banyan, recorded live at Aaliya’s Books. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/Ebjl3XrlyKk We discuss three articles of his long-form articles, including a piece on a forgotten crusader castle, European Jewish refugees arriving to Beirut in the 1930s and a sports history story dating back to the 1970s about a L...
May 21, 2023•1 hr 54 min
0:00 Intro 2:22 Two different opinions 6:11 Recent trip 13:02 Left to the margins 20:23 2006-2008 26:08 Back to the process 31:51 No IMF deal & no port blast investigation 37:25 Baabda 48:08 A third candidate 52:25 Municipal elections 59:17 Q&A 1:33:29 "Largest militia in the world" We're with Najat Aoun Saliba for Episode 360 of The Beirut Banyan, recorded live at Aaliya’s Books. Click to watch :https://youtu.be/JEbMyUvm6lU We discuss the necessity for international action and protectio...
May 13, 2023•1 hr 50 min
0:00 Intro 0:45 Childhood in Philadelphia 7:49 News bulletin 21:19 Darkly funny 26:51 A place full of weird people 32:13 Israeli invasion 45:09 Azar & Arafat 58:32 The boy in Martyrs Square 1:03:28 Transition 1:11:44 Robert Fisk 1:17:04 Q&A We're with George Azar for Episode 359 of The Beirut Banyan, recorded live at Aaliya’s Books. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/WfLoa1iz58M We discuss a childhood in Philadelphia and university student journey to Beirut, and the civil war years that de...
May 06, 2023•1 hr 59 min
0:00 Intro 1:53 What brought you to journalism? 9:19 Linkage 14:08 The written word 21:52 Donations 25:09 Editorial 30:47 Cybercrime bureau case 42:31 Local vs regional issues 48:24 Intimidation 54:33 Switching roles 1:01:18 Radical 1:08:43 Q&A We're with Lara Bitar for Episode 358 of The Beirut Banyan, recorded live at Aaliya’s Books. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/2KZhlFMGi9A We discuss her journey into journalism, creating The Public Source, an emphasis on marginalized communities and p...
Apr 30, 2023•1 hr 42 min
0:00 Intro 2:07 Targeting Megaphone 5:40 A sign of success? 9:11 A divided movement 19:40 March 14 24:40 The Lebanese Forces 29:06 Two ways to address 35:17 Leftist movement 40:32 Diaspora 44:30 Megaphone & the digital age 49:14 Q&A 1:06:43 Why Lebanon fell apart 1:23:20 'Sectarian' We're with Jean Kassir for Episode 357 of The Beirut Banyan, recorded live at Aaliya’s Books. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/HrvC8JSlSAM We discuss his recent summoning, protestor pushback and state retract...
Apr 22, 2023•1 hr 35 min
0:00 Intro 4:01 Thirty years ago 8:52 Today's ceiling 19:07 Inaccessible 23:24 Production house 38:22 A step back 44:01 Retraction 48:42 Sectarianism & March 14 59:40 What destroyed Lebanon? 1:04:25 Q&A 1:27:52 The role that we play We're with Diana Moukalled for Episode 356 of The Beirut Banyan, recorded live at Aaliya’s Books. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/Tz1NGf2FR2Q We discuss the evolution of Daraj Media into a competitive media outlet, recent journalist summonings and attempts a...
Apr 16, 2023•1 hr 48 min
0:00 Intro 2:07 Sectarianism 10:24 Metropole 23:23 Sovereignty 35:18 Falling apart 42:39 System 57:22 Dubai 1:04:22 Traumatized 1:19:27 Perspective 1:28:43 Q&A 1:35:43 Ras Beirut 1:51:03 Uncertainty about the future We're with Nadim Shehadi for Episode 355 of The Beirut Banyan, recorded live at Aaliya's Books. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/2LwriUwm4_k We discuss communal power sharing in time, debate the importance of sovereignty over a set of ideas and consensus, a society slowly degradi...
Apr 09, 2023•2 hr 8 min
0:00 Intro 1:52 A return to sectarian discourse 7:46 Senate & federalism 23:00 'Change' & sectarianism 29:28 Post-elections 38:14 Culture & infrastructure 46:28 Resignation & boycott 1:01:11 Port blast investigation 1:10:24 Media figure 1:29:08 Q&A 1:58:36 Nine years ago We're with Albert Kostanian for Episode 354 of The Beirut Banyan, recorded live at Aaliya's Books. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/AYj36wcmKFQ We discuss the post-October 17 political and economic landscape,...
Apr 01, 2023•2 hr 10 min
0:00 Intro 5:15 How would you define yourself? 11:05 'Lebanon Shot Twice' 22:34 'Beirut Guilty Pleasures' 38:39 Television 54:40 Freedom 1:03:23 Career 1:13:19 Q&A 1:35:22 Prime We're with Zaven Kouyoumdjian for Episode 353 of The Beirut Banyan, recorded live at Aaliya's Books. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/MACRiI2FpO8 A bittersweet, emotionally intense and exceptionally honest episode. We discuss two of Zaven's books, 'Lebanon Shot Twice' and 'Beirut Guilty Pleasures' and reflect on his ...
Mar 25, 2023•1 hr 45 min
0:00 Intro 6:21 Post-elections 16:21 Independent 25:47 Social media 32:20 Jamil Al Sayyed 41:02 Charbel Nahas 1:02:56 Curiosity in politics 1:08:29 Syria in the background 1:16:52 2000 1:24:53 2005 1:28:56 July 2006 1:38:11 May 2008 1:41:13 2019 1:48:45 The last chapter 2:02:02 Q&A We're with Jad Ghosn for Episode 352 of The Beirut Banyan, recorded live at Aaliya's Books. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/RJFu2kRmgrg The discussion we shared is exactly why I podcast. We covered our thoughts o...
Mar 17, 2023•2 hr 31 min
0:00 Intro 3:28 Exhausting for you? 8:02 Psychology 13:29 Responsibility 18:21 Measuring success 23:33 Limit 30:12 Young men 39:40 Communal anxiety 48:40 Positive trend 52:25 Q&A 1:23:14 Suffer in silence We're with Mia Atoui for Episode 351 of The Beirut Banyan, and the third of a live series at Aaliya's Books. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/gRfx6ySwj-4 Our conversation covers mental health and men's health awareness, a positive trend of accessibility towards psychology and therapy's bene...
Mar 12, 2023•1 hr 32 min
