The Beirut Banyan

0:00 Intro 1:37 How We Met 6:07 Where We Are Today 18:41 Appetite for Change 23:57 Politics as Usual 30:49 Hope 35:38 Special Tribunal for Lebanon 40:51 Secularism & Sectarianism 47:02 Online Tirades Click to watch: https://youtu.be/1jBBGEq44-Y We're with Mazen El-Hassan for Episode 191 of The Beirut Banyan. We discuss the symbolism of how we met; political developments in recent weeks; whether th...

0:00 Intro 1:40 Local Longevity 16:24 Local & Regional Overlap 22:30 Tipping Point 28:46 Caesar Act 38:04 Mystery Attacks 46:40 The Geopolitical Story Click to watch: https://youtu.be/_JVqd4C3tzQ We're with Deeba Shadnia for Episode 190 of The Beirut Banyan. We discuss the longevity of the Lebanese protest movement; how local aspirations and regional politics overlap; whether Lebanon has crossed a...

0:00 Intro 2:45 Telecoms Today 8:55 Field Offices 18:58 Unlocking Bandwidth 23:12 Cryptocurrency 29:20 Bridging the Gap 37:09 Personal Reflection Click to watch: https://youtu.be/rc-RjXtaKzY We're with Georgio Nicolas for Episode 189 of The Beirut Banyan. We discuss the telecoms sector in Lebanon, and long-term problems associated with reduced bandwidth and slow internet speeds. We also talk about...

0:00 Intro 3:50 "Why the hell do you care about Lebanon?" 12:16 Against the Odds 16:26 Personal Quest 19:18 Bel Lebnene 25:53 Bottom Up 32:00 Long-Form Conversations 37:57 How it Started 45:52 Storytelling 53:04 Dawle 53:51Individual Philosophy 1:04:11 Academia 1:15:53 Local & Global 1:20:29 Evolving Thoughts We're with Mahmoud Rasmi for Episode 188 of The Beirut Banyan. Click to watch: https://yo...

0:00 Intro 2:39 Mina Today 19:39 Economic Pain 32:56 The Way Forward 50:37 Vanishing Middle Class 56:45 Commitment to Lebanon Click to watch: https://youtu.be/k1lHD0U_eLs We're with Alison Meuse for Episode 187 of The Beirut Banyan. We discuss El Mina and the challenges of running a small business today; how differing political views are often 'geographic'; shared economic pain throughout the coun...

0:00 Intro 2:18 Life Today in Beirut 11:05 The Core Problem 22:30 The Structure 40:08 Societal Constraints Click to watch: https://youtu.be/h8GDfyegcE4 We're with Mona Salem for Episode 186 of The Beirut Banyan. We discuss difficulties of day-to-day life at the moment in Beirut; the core governing and societal factors preventing immediate political change; why the term 'sectarianism' ushers debate...

0:00 Intro 2:44 The Need to Organize 25:48 From Protest to Power 36:16 The Source of the Problem 43:23 Politicians & Population 52:32 Consequences of Covid-19 Click to watch: https://youtu.be/cnnfLhJL2Jg We're back with Nasser Yassin for Episode 185 of The Beirut Banyan. We discuss the necessity for grassroots organization when it comes to transitioning the protest movement into a long-term politi...

0:00 Intro 2:49 Resignations & Reactions 14:35 The Missing 'Peace' 23:13 Is Sectarianism the Root Cause? 31:37 Diaspora Lifeline 36:37 (Re)creating a Social Pact 45:19 Recent Resignations Click to watch: https://youtu.be/HSzJq5D8A1E We're back with Walid Sinno for Episode 184 of The Beirut Banyan. We discuss the recent public resignations and reactions; the need for post-civil war reconciliation a...

0:00 Intro 6:11 State Response to Covid-19 28:48 Public Response to Covid-19 35:12 Healthcare System Reform 47:07 Recommendations vs Decision-Making 59:29 Covid-19 & Economic Crisis 1:12:14 Contextual Factors & Covid-19 We're back with Fatima Al Sayah for Episode 183 of The Beirut Banyan. We discuss the Lebanese state's response to the Covid-19 pandemic; public behavior that has changed since the...

0:00 Intro 2:32 Hyperinflation & Politics as Usual 22:55 Missing Information 34:03 Responsibility 41:43 The Sinking Ship 49:07 Taking Lebanon to Hell 1:06:16 Moving Forward We're back with Henri Chaoul for Episode 182 of The Beirut Banyan. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/uvBxkqRT7U4 We discuss his recent resignation letter and his four-months long experience serving as a finance advisor to the Mi...

0:00 Intro 3:11 American Policy in the Middle East 23:09 Women & Political Representation 38:17 Sanctions & Impact 47:17 Accountability & Justice We're back with Jomana Qaddour for Episode 181 of The Beirut Banyan. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/m0k1bwamCQk We discuss her experience as a foreign policy advisor to the Pete Butiggieg campaign and American engagement in the Middle East; political d...

0:00 Intro 2:27 Defamation, Interrogation & Detainment 37:43 IMF Package & Human Rights 45:07 'Kafala' (Sponsorship) System 1:01:59 Refugees & Human Rights We're back with Aya Majzoub for Episode 180 of The Beirut Banyan. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/ZUbrWdwCfcY We discuss several topics pertaining to human rights issues in Lebanon including recent interrogations and detainment vis-a-vis 'anti...

I share an audio clip by my father at a Brookings Doha Center event on 31 January 2013 titled "Lebanon & its Multiple Challenges". Click to watch: https://youtu.be/NLp5F3-tYEs Words about problem solving at a time most needed. Happy Father's Day, Dad. My father's blogspot page is: http://mohamadchatah.blogspot.com Help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/wal...

I read one of my father's previous blog posts, "The Baabda Declaration Revisited" for Episode 178 of The Beirut Banyan. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/_sdqC4TXiG8 And I reflect on the power of overcoming fear, championing free expression against all forms of intimidation, and looking back at a Declaration signed eight years ago yet never implemented, and perhaps the one attempted post-civil war...

0:00 Intro 4:04 Longevity of the Problem 18:26 The Usual Suspects & IMF Negotiations 29:04 Parallel Ideas & Parallel Institutions 40:41 State Sovereignty & Authority We're back with Mike Azar for Episode 177 of The Beirut Banyan. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/PC03MMDJMj0 We discuss accountability and lack of transparency across the board in Lebanon and the economic consequences of political dec...

Part 15 of "On the Move" with Elia Haber wraps up her latest mini-series with thoughts on anniversaries and markers worth sharing. Wishing her the best on her blossoming career in science journalism, and hoping to have her voice return to this podcast down the road. Each episode of "On the Move" tackled a different subject impacting Lebanon that also played a role in her life abroad. Elia is a rec...

0:00 Intro 2:09 Rioting 14:28 Rapid Inflation 26:32 Splintering Protests We're back with Mohamad Faour and Waël Atallah for Episode 175 of The Beirut Banyan. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/v_s-CaTFlWw We discuss the past week's events including the recent rioting in downtown Beirut, the rapid decline in the Lira's value within a two-day period that set off renewed demonstrations, and ways to avo...

Click to watch: https://youtu.be/GEj9PuA3VYs Part 14 of "On the Move" with Elia Haber discusses relationship changes with confinement gradually ending, and online connections that 'accelerate' and circle back to Lebanon. Each episode of "On the Move" tackles a different subject impacting Lebanon that also plays a role in her life abroad. Elia is a recent Master's degree graduate in science journal...

I read one of my father's previous blog posts, "False (and Sometimes Dangerous) Ideas" for Episode 173 of The Beirut Banyan. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/k5OZ_n-URCs And I reflect on the importance of confronting all issues facing Lebanon, and the mistake of avoiding certain topics out of fear, sensitivity or worry that it would diminish the protest movement. My father's blogspot page is: http...

Click to watch: https://youtu.be/6-sVgfrl8sU Part 13 of "On the Move" with Elia Haber discusses the disadvantages of the gig economy, and how freelance work and other ways of supplementing additional income is a challenge regardless of economic crisis and Covid-19. Each episode of "On the Move" tackles a different subject impacting Lebanon that also plays a role in her life abroad. Elia is a recen...

Part 12 of "On the Move" with Elia Haber explores the disadvantages of continuous balancing acts in Lebanon, and other ways of looking at social cohesion and prejudice. Each episode of "On the Move" tackles a different subject impacting Lebanon that also plays a role in her life abroad. Elia is a recent Master's degree graduate in science journalism from Concordia University. She is the founder of...

Click to watch: https://youtu.be/MHnUHdz1OQ4 ‘Al Wadi’ refers to the Wadi Abu Jmeel neighborhood of downtown Beirut, the city’s old Jewish quarter. This episode brings three Lebanese Jewish voices from different generations together, each sharing their own memory and complex relationship to Lebanon. ‘Al Wadi’ is designed for both the audio and video enthusiast in mind. No need to watch if you pref...

Click to watch: https://youtu.be/gI6_11krQKs Part 11 of "On the Move" with Elia Haber talks about independently educating ourselves and experiences with recommendations sent her way. Each episode of "On the Move" tackles a different subject impacting Lebanon that also plays a role in her life abroad. Elia is a recent Master's degree graduate in science journalism from Concordia University. She is...

0:00 Intro 4:08 Reflections on Covid-19 12:11 Emotional Rollercoaster 22:24 Civil War Memories 32:57 'Violence' & Priority 42:33 Hesitation & Reluctance 55:22 Hunger 1:08:38 Ponzi We're back with Lina Mounzer for Episode 168 of The Beirut Banyan. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/gpfBdQlNPWY We compare Covid-19 experiences in Beirut and New York, and dive into her recent LitHub piece about growing...

I reflect on fifteen years since Samir Kassir's assassination. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/Y9-Kk13wJOk 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 Watch these episodes via our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/c/thebeirutbanyan Subscribe to our podcast from your preferr...