The afikra Podcast
1) Deep History of the Fertile Crescent to the Tigris & Euphrates Under the Ottomans | Faisal Husain
Historian Faisal Husain wrote the book "Rivers of the Sultan: The Tigris and Euphrates in the Ottoman Empire" and in this episode, helps us explore the history of the Tigris and Euphrates. He argued f...Show More
2) Graphic Design & the Arab Creative Inflection Point | Ruba Abu-Nimah
Award-winning creative director Ruba Abu-Nimah (known to many as @ruba on Instagram) discusses the state of creativity in the Arab world, the importance of young Arab talent embracing their culture, a...Show More
3) The Science of Teaching: Addressing the Global Education Crisis | Dr Asyia Kazmi
We delve into the stark realities of learning inequality, the crucial role of the science of teaching, and the transformative power of education, even in the face of conflict. Dr. Asyia Kazmi, CEO of ...Show More
4) Innovation Rooted in Culture: On Deep Tech, Brain Drain & Impact | Rama Chakaki
The president of the Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP), discusses her unique vision for innovation in the Arab world, emphasizing the crucial need to tie technological advancement to our roots,...Show More
5) Founder of Mille World Sofia Guellaty | Fashion, Soft Power & the New Arab Identity
We examine the unifying youth culture across the Arab region is characterized by a proud new Arab identity and the changing standards of beauty with the rise of "Arab beauty" (A beauty), which celebra...Show More
6) A History of Algeria & the Worlds of Islam | Professor James McDougall
The conversation covers the historical emergence of Algeria as a political and territorial unit, starting in the Ottoman period in the 16th century. Key pivotal moments in Algerian history are highlig...Show More
7) Textile Workers & the Syrian-American Working Class | Stacy D. Fahrenthold
Discover the interconnectedness of peddling and factory work, the surprising origins of the Aloha shirt, and the key role Syrian workers played in major labor actions like the 1912 Bread and Roses str...Show More
Textile Workers & the Syrian-American Working Class | Stacy D. Fahrenthold
51:30 | Dec 22nd, 2025
8) Julia Elyachar | On the Semicivilized: Coloniality, Finance & Embodied Sovereignty in Cairo
The discussion covers the evolving role of debt as an instrument of empire, the emergence of sovereign wealth funds, and the ways financial instruments and flows of money subtly shape political realit...Show More
9) Iraq: Eras of Rupture & the Illusions of Nostalgia | Zainab Saleh
The discussion delves into the complex historical eras of Iraq, challenging binary understandings of its past and present. A professor at Haverford College and author of "Political Undesirables: Citiz...Show More
10) Art Doesn't Lie | Basel Dalloul on Archiving Arab Art & Decolonizing the Art Market
We visit Basel Dalloul at the Dalloul Artist Collective to discuss the genesis of the Dalloul Art Foundation and the mission of the new artist collective. A technologist and lawyer by training, Basel ...Show More