The Beirut Banyan

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...

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,...

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...

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 disc...

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://y...

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...

0:00 Intro 1:27 Why are you here? 10:13 Policy & planning 19:27 Not in parliament 29:16 Vertical farming 36:59 Solar energy 39:20 Medical coverage 49:27 Research center 1:02:26 Q&A 1:28:18 Incentive 1:38:22 The system We're with Ziad Abi Chaker for Episode 350 of The Beirut Banyan, and the second of a live series at Aaliya's Books. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/KQKaqNhqENo Our conversation cove...

0:00 Intro 4:15 Gemmayze 11:23 Roman Beirut 24:39 Late Ottoman Era 54:30 1950-1970 1:16:58 Pop Quiz 1:27:21 Q&A We're with Charles al-Hayek for Episode 349 of The Beirut Banyan, and the first of a live series at Aaliya's Books. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/gxNpGaQCKUk Our conversation covers three different eras encompassing Beirut's role in history as a regional hub for trade, knowledge and a...

We're with Marie Jo Sader & Monika Borgmann for Episode 348 of The Beirut Banyan. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/wh2lH3z3vBc We discuss the two year anniversary of Lokman Slim's assassination, the role of investigative journalism in pursuing accountability and justice, and whether the written word is a challenge to the criminals committing political violence. We also talk about the Lokman Slim p...

We're with Bachir Ramadan for Episode 347 of The Beirut Banyan. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/u5yRAHHMo8k We discuss near fatal injury following the August 4, 2020 port blast, his gradual recovery and a passionate pursuit for drumming against all odds. We also talk about the metal scene in Lebanon and the wider story of music appreciation and performance. Bachir Ramadan is a drummer. For in-per...

Click to watch: https://youtu.be/c3ILmIEV3dE I share my thoughts on the situation evolving between Tarek Bitar and Ghassan Oueidat's jurisdiction, the realization that a local investigation into the port blast simply will not yield tangible results, Wissam Eid’s important legacy and reflections on my earlier conversation with Melhem Khalaf and Najat Aoun Saliba during their fifth night in parliame...

In memory of Aimee Daou Click to watch: https://youtu.be/NC25udsI63o Listen to our earlier conversation (Ep.334: Life in a Time of Cholera, Corona & Cancer): www.soundcloud.com/thebeirutbanyan/ep334 And check out Warren Zevon's final performance of Mutineer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShB7zbHu9X4 Help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut Or do...

We're with Najat Aoun Saliba & Melhem Khalaf for Episode 344 of The Beirut Banyan. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/PqTrgZd23NU Apologies for the poor audio. This was taken from an Instagram Live session filmed in parliament during their fifth night sleeping there, and the internet connection was sub-standard. The quality improves as the discussion progresses. We discuss Tarek Bitar's sudden retur...

We're with William Noun for Episode 343 of The Beirut Banyan. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/bVpSOiGjNDk We discuss his recent interrogation and arrest. Our conversation includes ongoing protests aimed at protecting Tarek Bitar's role as investigative judge looking into the August 4 port blast. We also talk about recent escalation from families and whether street protests can, in effect, help Bi...

I share my thoughts on Tarek Bitar's predicament, protestors' demands at the Justice Palace and an insistence on proactive diplomacy that focuses on Iran's security interests in Lebanon while discrediting pandering voices seeking accommodation with Hezbollah's weapons. Help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut Or donating through our Patreon page:...

We're with George Wardini for Episode 341 of The Beirut Banyan. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/sUhmyviJG7M And like last time, we switch roles between host and guest. We discuss the reasons both of us cover political developments in Lebanon, the art of persuasion through content creation and a wider pursuit for decency, fairness and justice. George Wardini is a content creator. Help support The...

This happened by accident. Gabrielle Elia and I had just finished recording Al Wadi (Part 2), and my mom wanted to speak with her for a moment. The cameras, microphones and Zoom kept recording. With their permission, they let us listen and turn this into an anniversary episode. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/kHGDRpzWgjo In memory of those across generations and communal lines that paid the ultim...

In memory of Mohamad Bahaa Chatah 7 March 1951 - 27 December 2013 https://youtu.be/-jQlvqrh2CQ

Video version: https://youtu.be/AgfKUejHnkg Al Wadi (Part 2) catches up with Gabrielle Elia, author of 'Impressions of My Youth in Lebanon'. We dive deep into Wadi Abu Jmeel's history - a bygone neighborhood once central to downtown Beirut - and the Lebanese Jewish community's position in a time of post-independence uncertainty for Lebanon. Our discussion explores Gabrielle's childhood, full of an...

0:00 Intro 3:01 Michel & Michel 29:48 Architecture 40:12 Moawad & Baroud 55:11 Leverage We're with George Wardini for Episode 337 of The Beirut Banyan. And, at times, we switch roles between host and guest. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/RKdAGJs3UeI We discuss Michel Moawad's presidential candidacy, the 'Change' bloc's Baabda-elections voting record, looking at local politics through three dimen...

0:00 Intro 2:50 Career 10:19 Social media 18:24 Not visible 31:06 Silos 36:45 L'Orient 40:51 St. George 44:38 Holiday Inn 1:01:22 Burj El Murr 1:09:37 Grand Theater 1:16:03 Martyrs Square statue 1:23:54 The fist 1:28:55 The egg 1:33:24 Connection 1:39:07 Beit Beirut 1:43:46 National museum 1:48:36 Generational shift We're with Zaven Kouyoumdjian for Episode 336 of The Beirut Banyan. Click to watch...

0:00 Intro 3:03 Four years ago 12:02 'West Beirut' 21:12 Storytelling 27:39 Twelve years ago 47:23 Anxiety & depression 59:51 Change 1:05:39 Personal favorites 1:13:09 Satisfaction 1:23:28 Favorite movie(s) We're with Anit Tabet for Episode 335 of The Beirut banyan. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/quyly6uhD_c We discuss cinema culture, movie reviewing, contrasting classic films with newer series,...

A conversation about a friend's incredible strength in fighting stage three breast cancer, going through double mastectomy surgery, coping with cancer's temporary remission followed by recurrence and spread into bone marrow, proactively maintaining mental health despite being bed-ridden for over three months and how she is an inspiration to anyone handling immense personal pain in a time of collap...

0:00 Intro 0:24 Complications 21:21 Next phase 31:34 Michel Moawad 48:47 Taif 58:27 Sectarianism 1:07:20 Hostage We're with Ibrahim Mneimneh for Episode 333 of The Beirut Banyan. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/bn0M5vwcziI We discuss complications surrounding the ‘Change’ bloc’s fracturing, the next political phase and how to approach Baabda elections, defending the Taif Agreement and addressing...

0:00 Intro 2:11 What's happening 18:14 Mechanism 30:22 Pragmatism 42:45 Baabda 52:29 Michel Moawad 1:04:52 Long battle We're with Gistelle Semaan, Iman Tabbara & Ghiya El Asaad for Episode 332 of The Beirut Banyan. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/lCYHieBqEDs We discuss the fracturing of the 'Change' bloc, an internal mechanism needed that takes voting and consensus into account when needed, popul...