Next in Command

Most news coverage focuses on the same major headlines. In this episode, we take a look at two stories that haven't gotten nearly as much attention but could tell us a lot about where politics in the region is headed. First, we discuss India's so-called "Cockroach Janta Party," a satirical movement that has captured the frustration of many young Indians with the country's political system. Then, w...

What does everyday life in Iran actually look like? In this episode, we speak with an Iranian-American medical and public policy student about the people behind the politics. We discuss his travels across Iran, the beauty of Persian culture and architecture, the realities of inflation and healthcare access, and the misunderstandings that often shape how Americans and Iranians view each other. Most...

While racing in Egypt as a Division I athlete, Yasmine lined up beside competitors running barefoot in 105-degree heat — including one athlete who would ultimately beat her in the race. The moment forced her to confront how differently people experience sport. When she returned home to the US, she began noticing similar barriers keeping kids from participating in sports simply because they lacked...

Sam traded a pre-med track for one that took him across conflict zones — literally. After stumbling on a Guardian article about Free to Run, an organization bringing running camps to Afghanistan and Iraq, he never looked back. We dig into the messy, important work of engaging in conflict regions responsibly and why sport is one of the most underrated tools for human connection. We also zoom out to...

As war escalates in Lebanon, one student watches from the U.S. while her family races to evacuate. In the first episode of Next in Command , we explore the emotional reality of distance—the guilt of being safe, the fear of what’s happening back home, and the strange ways people learn to live alongside conflict. What begins as a surreal detail—restaurants offering “missile views”—opens into a deepe...