The Beirut Banyan

We're joined by Zahra Hankir for Episode 69 of The Beirut Banyan, and we discuss the lead up to the October Revolt, and the central role of women shaping Lebanon's future. Zahra Hankir is a London-based Lebanese journalist who writes about the intersection of politics, culture, and society in the Middle East. She is the editor of Our Women on the Ground, a collection of essays by Arab women journa...

Voices from the Square, Part 19 with Elia Haber for The Beirut Banyan, bringing conversations directly from Martyrs Square. Elia speaks to Semaan Khawam - 45-year old painter and writer, and Roger Ghanem, 45-year old artist, producer and coach. Semaan and Roger reflect on protesters' abilities to block enough MPs from reaching parliament (thereby preventing minimum quota for legislation). They als...

We're joined by Zeid Hamdan for Episode 67 of The Beirut Banyan, and we discuss artistic expression during the revolution, hopes for the country and what this moment means to him personally and for Lebanese history. Zeid is a founding member of SoapKills. His band 'Zeid and the Wings' released 'General Suleiman', the song referenced and included in small cuts during the middle of the episode and t...

Voices from the Square, Part 18 with Elia Haber for The Beirut Banyan, bringing conversations directly from Martyrs Square. Elia speaks to Sabine Kassouf, 45-year old organic food and health expert. Sabine shares her reflections on previous protests and why this time is fundamentally different. She also talks about the failure of the current political class, and why voices demanding accountability...

We're joined by Joyce Karam for Episode 65 of The Beirut Banyan, and we discuss regional protests erupting in Iraq and Iran, and how their demands relate to Lebanese calls for upending the status quo and an end to rampant corruption. Joyce is the Washington, DC correspondent for The National and an adjunct professor at George Washington University. If you're enjoying these episodes, help support T...

Voices from the Square, Part 17 with Elia Haber for The Beirut Banyan, bringing conversations directly from Martyrs Square. Elia speaks to Zeinab Dirani, 22-year old project's officer who shares how political discussions with her immediate family members have changed since the uprising began. If you're enjoying these episodes, help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing to our Patreon page: htt...

We're joined by Mira Minkara for Episode 63 of The Beirut Banyan, and we discuss the protests, celebrations and hopes of the residents of Tripoli. Mira also reflects on local initiatives, youth empowerment and women playing a central role in the revolution. Mira is a licensed tour guide and conducts her 'Mira's Guided Tours' on a weekly basis. Check our her schedule and tour details by clicking be...

Voices from the Square, Part 16-2 with Elia Haber for The Beirut Banyan, bringing conversations directly from downtown Beirut. The second installment of Part 16, Elia continues her conversation in Martyrs Square with Lama Tabbara, 34-year old entrepreneur who spent twenty years in Canada and returned to Lebanon for the revolution. Lama reflects on Alaa Abou Fakher's death and what it means for pro...

We're joined by Ishac Diwan for Episode 61 of The Beirut Banyan, and we discuss the The Economic Rescue Plan for Lebanon released a week ago. The meeting that led to the document's publication was organized by the Lebanese Center for Policy Studies, the Political Economy Observatory on the Middle East and the Arab Reform Initiative. Ishac helped contribute and is a signatory to the paper (accessib...

Voices from the Square, Part 16-1 with Elia Haber for The Beirut Banyan, bringing conversations directly from downtown Beirut. Elia is joined by several voices in Martyrs Square, reflecting on Alaa Abou Fakher's death in Khalde and the next steps needed for protestors to persevere in their demands. If you're enjoying these episodes, help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing to our Patreon pag...

We're joined by Oussama Himani for Episode 59 of The Beirut Banyan, and we discuss the Economic Rescue Plan released by the Lebanese Center for Policy Studies. Oussama Himani is an economist and CIO at Parkview. He shares his thoughts on the recommendations floated by the authors of the paper to stabilize the economy, and reflects on calls for government controls, hesitation towards privatization...

We're joined by Jad El Khoury for Episode 58 of The Beirut Banyan, and we discuss art and urban intervention, and attempts at post-civil war healing through various types of expression. Jad is best known for his Burj El Hawa installation and his caricature contributions alongside the former Holiday Inn's eastern wall. He is currently active in the uprising and adding more of his work throughout do...

Voices from the Square, Part 15 with Elia Haber for The Beirut Banyan, bringing conversations directly from Martyrs Square. Elia discusses medical efforts in downtown Beirut with Bilal Baadarani, a 25-year old registered nurse volunteering as a first aid medic in Martyrs Square. Bilal shares his hopes for political reform, an end to pervasive corruption, and the national unity that's persisted int...

Voices from the Square, Part 14 with Elia Haber for The Beirut Banyan, bringing conversations directly from Martyrs Square. Elia tackles the difficult aftermath of the President’s recent speech and a protester’s death in Khalde, and the emotions resonating throughout the country. She heads straight to Martyrs Square at a vigil set up to honor the protestor’s life and speaks with five people from d...

We're joined by Walid Fakherddine for Episode 55 of The Beirut Banyan, and we discuss Haki Thawra at Samir Kassir Garden and the momentum behind leaderless demonstrations entering their fifth week. Walid is a media analyst and scholar. He reflects on previous demonstrations and their limitations, and why this uprising is particularly unique in modern Lebanese history. If you're enjoying these epis...

We're joined by Joey Ayoub for Episode 54 of The Beirut Banyan, and we discuss the role of new media and citizen journalism, as well as the images of unity that have defined the demonstrations over the past four weeks. Joey shares his reflections of events that took hold last night, coinciding with the President's speech and death of a protestor in Khalde. Joey is the co-host of Hummus for Thought...

Voices from the Square, Part 13 with Elia Haber for The Beirut Banyan, bringing conversations directly from Martyrs Square. Elia interviews Maria Akl - 31-year old architect protesting into the fourth week of the uprising. Maria shares her reflections on unemployment, social mobility and hopes for economic reform. If you're enjoying these episodes, help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing to...

We're joined by Jean Kassir for Episode 52 of The Beirut Banyan, and we discuss political activism, calls for social change and the role of citizen journalism. Jean Kassir is the managing editor and co-founder of Megaphone News. If you're enjoying these episodes, help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing to our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan And subscribe to our podcast...

Voices from the Square, Part 12 with Elia Haber for The Beirut Banyan, bringing conversations directly from the streets of downtown Beirut. Elia interviews Pierre Madani - 47-year old financial anaylst. Pierre shares his views on the Central Bank's approach to the current financial crisis, disillusionment with the policies so far and recommendations on a more suitable way forward to manage potenti...

We're joined by Professor Samir Khalaf for Episode 50 of The Beirut Banyan, and we discuss Martyrs Square and the role of the 'Bourj' in modern Beirut's story. Professor Khalaf offers his perspective on the central problems with post-civil war urban planning and why Beirut did not reemerge the way many designers and architects had hoped. He also shares his childhood memories of Ras Beirut and a re...

Voices from the Square, Part 11 with Elia Haber for The Beirut Banyan, bringing conversations directly from the streets of downtown Beirut. Elia interviews Joy Bassil - 22-year old international management student at NDU; and Ramzi Shamaa - 55-year old self-employed market researcher. Joy and Ramzi share their admiration of unity throughout the country, reflections on the past four weeks and what...

We're joined by Jessica Semaan for Episode 48 of The Beirut Banyan, and we discuss the role of poetry and prose during the uprising, and ways of collective healing through art and expression. Jessica Semaan is a published poet who wrote 'Child of the Moon', available for purchase via the following link: https://www.amazon.com/Child-Moon-Jessica-Semaan/dp/144949448X The poem she shares during the e...

We're joined by Nadim Houry for Episode 47 of The Beirut Banyan, and we discuss calls for unity, protestors ability to reclaim public space, and demands for social change taking hold throughout Lebanon. Nadim Houry is the executive director of Arab Reform Initiative in Paris and previously served as the director of Human Rights Watch office in Beirut. The Economic Rescue Plan Nadim signed on to ca...

Elia Haber captures the uprising directly from the streets of downtown Beirut in Voices from the Square, Part 10. Elia interviews Fares Attieh - 29-year old financial analyst; Georges Gemayel - 28-year old banker; and Charelle Abdallah - 23-year old filmmaker. They share their reflections on the past four weeks of demonstrations, and what what they expect in the near future as calls for reform con...

We're joined by Nadim Shehadi for Episode 45 of The Beirut Banyan, and we discuss the country's power-sharing structure and its durability throughout modern Lebanese history. He offers his view from New York and the diaspora's ongoing role in Lebanon's post-war economy and politics. Nadim Shehadi is the Executive Director of Lebanese American University's New York campus and previously served as D...