The Beirut Banyan

0:00 'Pilgrim' & Intro 6:27 Storytelling 26:53 Our Homes Are Broken 37:18 Betting On The Future 49:18 Paralysis 55:42 Tripoli 1:17:33 Back To Beirut We're with Zeina Hashem Beck for Episode 216 of The Beirut Banyan. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/Jp7RsErQ_Z8 We discuss a shared passion for storytelling, and the emotional inspiration and injury when trying to share Beirut's current pain. We talk...

0:00 Intro 5:18 Late Summer 2020 10:55 Pissed Off 27:00 Rigorous Argument 46:17 Going Rogue 56:12 Joe Rogan 1:06:29 Self-Publishing 1:25:00 What to Think 1:31:33 Tricksters & Joe Rogan 1:43:88 Sardonically Speaking We're with Mahmoud Rasmi for Episode 215 of The Beirut Banyan. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/JAhxZP_35h0 We discuss taking philosophy - and other academic endeavors - to the marketpl...

0:00 Intro 2:00 Last Chance for Serious Reform 10:23 Affecting Change in Lebanon 18:36 Early 1990s 25:21 Real Possibility for Breakdown 32:15 Can Anything Else Be Done? 37:58 External Players & Reform 45:37 Persistent Pressure We're with Alia Moubayed and Jessica Obeid for Episode 2143 of The Beirut Banyan. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/YcPGpKJM5Co We discuss key components necessary for reform...

0:00 Intro 2:26 Macron's Speech 13:35 Expiration 22:35 Demons 39:33 1970 1:05:21 Financial Incentive Click to watch: https://youtu.be/Y8ixcsXGsvU We're with Joseph Kéchichian for Episode 213 of The Beirut Banyan. We discuss his recent Foreign Policy piece, "Partition is the Only Solution to Lebanon's Woes" and what in his mind is an inevitable consequence should the Lebanese state continue down it...

0:00 Intro 4:49 Paralysis 13:38 Justice 22:05 Irrational Optimism 30:44 'We Wait for their Return' 43:59 Resilience We're with Sara Mourad for Episode 212 of The Beirut Banyan. We discuss her recent AlJumhuriya and Rusted Radishes personal essays and reflect on the cycle of prosperity and ruin that came to define modern Lebanon. The conversation delves into the aftermath of the recent Beirut blast...

0:00 Intro 5:49 Sanctions 24:54 Beyond Symbolic Gestures 32:21 Irreversible 44:05 Model Paralysis 1:08:04 Neutrality & Lebanon 1:20:42 Neutrality in Perspective 1:34:12 Bleak Trajectory We're with Drew Mikhael and Nadim Shehadi for Episode 211 of The Beirut Banyan. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/CVPKblGRCsk We discuss US sanctions against Lebanese officials and French involvement in pushing for...

0:00 Intro 3:24 Sanctions 14:41 Reforming the State 18:14 Organization & Structure 32:52 Deeply Embedded 40:00 Letting Go 44:48 Purpose 50:52 A Feminist Movement 56:15 Optimism 1:02:58 Away from the Story Click to watch: https://youtu.be/Q4xHAl6Tlbw We're with Dalal Mawad for Episode 210 of The Beirut Banyan. We discuss recent US sanctions against Lebanese politicians and the wider domestic and re...

0:00 Intro 2:22 Personal Well-Being 4:43 The Bubble 8:45 A Unique Tragedy 12:08 Beirut's DNA 16:52 Political Pressure We're with Dion Nissenbaum for Episode 209 of The Beirut Banyan. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/rowid3IXogw We discuss his recent essay reflecting on the Beirut blasts and how reminders of the tragedy persist. We also talk about US foreign policy vis-a-vis sanctions and a wider p...

0:00 Intro 4:45 No Return 19:09 Shared Pain 32:58 Autopilot 45:19 Collective Loss 51:10 Post-War Perspective We're with Mike Azar for Episode 208 of The Beirut Banyan. We discuss public and personal pain in the aftermath of the Beirut blasts, and how collective loss is shaping the post-civil war generation. We also talk about going into 'autopilot' following shock, dealing with trauma and an inabi...

0:00 Intro 4:09 Surprise and Disappointment 15:45 Wider Story of Accountability 24:33 International Investigation 29:58 Expectations 34:43 Subsidies 43:36 Silver Lining We're with Houshig Kaymakamian for Episode 207 of The Beirut Banyan. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/gACljKIAxVE We discuss three of her most recent The Daily Star pieces that reflect on the aftermath of the Beirut blasts, the gov...

0:00 Intro 2:24 Justice 17:33 Decisions Made Early On 27:20 The Regional Story 37:20 Accountability 47:58 Too Late For Reform We're with Emile Hokayem for Episode 206 of The Beirut Banyan. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/FMBK8reqySU We reflect on the STL's verdict issued earlier today and the pursuit for justice following Rafik Hariri's death. We also discuss the decisions made early on in the UN...

4:03 Tipping Point 18:12 Paralysis 31:50 Accountability 42:05 Get them Out 47:48 Reporting on the Ground Click to watch: https://youtu.be/HDdoKkgyf_U We're with Julie Kebbi for Episode 205 of The Beirut Banyan. We reflect on the Beirut blasts last week and whether this is the tipping point for systemic change in Lebanon. We also discuss state paralysis and protestor frustrations, and the durabilit...

0:00 Intro 3:28 Reflections from Afar 18:00 Symbolic Shock 42:48 'Chernobyl Moment' 1:02:53 Thirty Years Ago 1:11:58 Lebanon's Curse 1:40:11 Forget Resiliency 1:51:06 Principled Views We're with Joey Ayoub for Episode 204 of The Beirut Banyan. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/5A3rUTcG3nE We share reflections on the Beirut blasts from afar, and the complicated emotions of shared suffering at a dist...

0:00 Intro 1:55 Beirut Blasts 9:49 Forced Change 21:38 Oligarchy of Dictators 32:33 Identity & Citizenship 38:08 The Aftermath 44:35 The Problem 55:48 'Chernobyl Moment' 1:02:53 Thirty Years Ago We're with Nafez Zouk for Episode 203 of The Beirut Banyan. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/f63C1t-ME4o We address the weekend protests that culminated in the Prime Minister's resignation earlier today. W...

For Episode 202, I reflect on the aftermath of Tuesday's blasts, the protests taking place in Martyrs Square and across downtown Beirut and the hostage-like situation facing Lebanon. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/D9WnzAill3E Click below to donation links for NGOs involved in the aftermath of Tuesday's Beirut blasts. Lebanese Red Cross: https://www.supportlrc.app/donate/ Impact Lebanon / Just Gi...

For Episode 201 I speak with Charbel Bassil, owner of Le Chef restaurant in Gemmayze. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/hSMFr_6e88Y Charbel shares his experience surviving the blast while at Le Chef and the injuries he sustained. He also expresses the immense difficulties and shared pain of Beirut's residents. We share memories of Le Chef and what the restaurant means to Beirut. If you'd like to do...

Click to watch: https://youtu.be/CGjfd0U3pGg Links referenced in this episode to help donate to the victims of yesterday's explosions in Beirut. Lebanese Red Cross: https://www.supportlrc.app/donate/ Impact Lebanon / Just Giving: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/lebanon-relief?utm_term=re7R78DA2/ Ahla Fawda: https://www.just-help.org/c/AhlaFawda/ Beit El Baraka: https://beitelbaraka.net/don...

Links referenced in this episode to help donate to the victims of yesterday's explosions in Beirut. Lebanese Red Cross: https://www.supportlrc.app/donate/ Impact Lebanon / Just Giving: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/lebanon-relief?utm_term=re7R78DA2/ Ahla Fawda: https://www.just-help.org/c/AhlaFawda/ Beit El Baraka: https://beitelbaraka.net/donation/pay/ Live Love Lebanon: https://www.giv...

0:00 Intro 2:46 Explosions in Beirut 11:06 Back to the Beginning 21:50 Expectations 38:09 Hesitation? 1:00:11 Disappointment 1:09:27 Incentive 1:19:35 A Long Time 1:24:43 The Lesser Known 1:33:04 Personal Loss 1:40:25 Memories of my Father We're with Olga Kavran for Episode 198 of The Beirut Banyan. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/Z9EqQInrBtM We address the explosions that shattered Beirut's port...

0:00 Intro 1:30 Catching up with Carmen 7:42 Day to Day Life in Beirut 19:20 Cancer 23:39 Neoliberal Capitalism 25:23 Structural Racism 29:20 Politics of Fear 33:47 Day by Day Mode 40:26 IMF Negotiations 47:36 Confessional Power Sharing 59:28 Lecturing in time of Covid We're back with Carmen Geha for Episode 197 of The Beirut Banyan. We discuss her recent 'The New Arab' pieces tackling the Lebanes...

0:00 Intro 1:50 Day to Day Routine 6:54 Personal Evolution 24:38 The Wider Story 39:00 'Uniqueness' 54:45 Political Reform 1:00:54 Localism Click to watch: https://youtu.be/XNfcJ-Db5mk We're with Tamer Aboul-Hosn for Episode 196 of The Beirut Banyan. We discuss his recent Medium piece "On the Arab Identity and Its Discontents: A Personal Reflection and a Survey of Christian Perspectives" and dive...

2:00 Day to Day Life in Beirut 8:24 Back to 2005 10:20 Taef Accord 46:08 The Banking Sector 1:03:56 The Middle Class 1:16:53 Civil War Legacy 1:25:32 Freedom of Expression 1:34:01 Army & Internal Security 1:42:33 Light at the End of the Tunnel Click to watch: https://youtu.be/1Cq-ftnQyLA We're with Maha Yahya for Episode 195 of The Beirut Banyan. We discuss her recent piece "All Fall Down" that ap...

0:00 Intro 3:17 Memories & Music 24:41 Competing Narratives 32:22 'Lebanonism' 40:00 Arab Nationalism 47:24 Palestine and The Civil War 57:28 Singing the 20th Century Click to watch: https://youtu.be/AEtfmjqu1i4 We're back with Deeba Shadnia for Episode 194 of The Beirut Banyan. We discuss a range of topics that include nostalgia and nationalism, identity and the arts, and how Fairuz' music fits i...

0:00 Intro 2:25 Life in Beirut 10:48 Learning through Podcasting 17:20 Is consensus-driven governance the core problem? 23:04 Reflections 44:28 The Ultimate Stumbling Block 1:01:42 Freedom of Expression Click to watch: https://youtu.be/sDm5PSdUeOc We're with the Lebanese Politics Podcast for Episode 193 of The Beirut Banyan. We discuss life today in Beirut; the benefits of getting the wider story...

0:00 Intro 2:25 Did resignation serve its purpose? 11:34 More dangerous today than 1975? 17:20 Is consensus-driven governance the core problem? 35:35 Is it too late to reform confessional power-sharing? 52:12 What are the conditions today for an IMF deal? 1:06:45 Will you return to your advisory roles? 1:11:05 Memories of My Father Click to watch: https://youtu.be/fYOQI_nN09s We're with Alain Bifa...