The Fire These Times is a podcast by Elia Ayoub, a UK-based Lebanese-Palestinian writer, journalist, researcher, and historian. Since March 2020, it offers a space for telling hard truths and finding one another through in-depth conversations and analysis. Drawing on Ayoub's background, the show explores political and social issues with a focus on the Middle East and diaspora perspectives. The podcast is supported by its listeners via Patreon.
Episodes
The Techbro Looting of Science Fiction w/ Ali Rıza Taşkale (E231)
Today we’re joined by Ali Rıza Taşkale to talk about a piece he wrote for Aeon called “the looting of science fiction.” Previous listeners of TFTT would know that I’ve talked about this a fair bit because I don’t think we can understand the ongoing dominance of techbro billionaires over our politics without understanding how they routinely ignore the core messages of works of sci-fi or fantasy tha
Mumbai: City of Sweat w/ Aruna Chandrasekhar (E230)
Today we’re joined by Aruna Chandrasekhar. Aruna is a climate and environmental journalist based out of Mumbai, and I wanted to have her on after reading an excellent essay she wrote for Equator called City of Sweat. If you’re listening to this from the UK, the US, Canada or indeed from a good chunk of the world, you experienced heatwaves this year. Very few places experienced them like India did
The State of Fascism w/ Bill Fletcher Jr (E229)
Today we’re joined by Bill Fletcher Jr. Over 2 years ago, this longtime USA-based labor and social justice activist was on TFTT to talk about the threats of what was then a theoretical disaster: a second Trump administration. I’m sorry to say that our predictions came true, and I don’t think I have to tell any of you how disastrous the 2nd Trump admin has been, even by the low standards of the fir
Left Melancholy: A Minneapolis Retrospective w/ mags and Ed (E228)
Early this year, I had Nicole Bedera, Aydin and Ed on to talk about the resistance against ICE that was happening in their town of Minneapolis and that was making headlines all around the world. Since then, enough time has passed for today’s guest, mags, to have written a powerful piece called “Will Minneapolis Choose Melancholy?” I wanted to have them on, alongside a returning Ed, to talk about t
Surviving Sisi's Egypt w/ Abdelrahman ElGendy (E227)
One thing you’ll get from this episode - and from reading Abdelrahman’s memoir Huna: A Memoir of Revolution, Prison, and Becoming recounting his six years in Sisi’s nightmarish prisons in Egypt - is a lot of empathy, not just towards what he went through, what others like Ayman Moussa - who was 19 when arrested in 2013 and is still serving a 15-year sentence - are still going through, but the sens
Arab Parenthood and Genocide (E226)
Last time, I sat down with Shui-yin Sharon Yam to talk about ambiguous loss, diasporic parenting and grieving the what-ifs. Thank you to those who sent me nice feedback about that one. As you might imagine, it wasn’t an easy one to record, but it felt necessary after I realised that we all experience ambiguous loss in one way or another. Today I’m talking to Heba Gowayed. She is a writer and assoc
Ambiguous Loss and Diasporic Parenting w/ Shui-yin Sharon Yam (E225)
Over the past few years, I’ve had to reckon with loss and grief that felt unresolved, and perhaps unresolvable. It’s something we’re all dealing with in different ways. When loved ones die, we know they’re dead. Everything that comes with that remains horrible, even maybe unbearable, but there is no ambiguity over the fact that a loss happened. That’s not the case with ambiguous loss, the reality
Fascists Really Believe It w/ Toby Buckle (E224)
Do fascists really believe in fascism? Yes, yes they do, and we need to stop pretending otherwise to better equip ourselves against them. I had the writer Toby Buckle (Political Philosophy Podcast) on to talk about his essay “Fascists Really Believe It” for Liberal Currents. Recorded 26 August 2026. Patreon release 27 August 2026 (+ video exclusive). I was previously on his podcast to talk about f
Reclaiming Land in Casiavera w/ David E. Gilbert (E223)
Two decades ago, a group of Indonesian agricultural workers began occupying the agribusiness plantation near their homes. In the years since, members of this remarkable movement have reclaimed collective control of their land and cultivated diverse agricultural forests on it, repairing the damage done over nearly a century of abuse. Countering Dispossession, Reclaiming Land, by my guest David E. G
James Baldwin and the Black Atlantic w/ John Drabinksi (E222)
This will come as a total surprise, but I really like James Baldwin. I know, it’s shocking. I always kept it subtle, like how I named this podcast after his book The Fire Next Time, and how I have been bringing him up every other episode for years, and how I have a shelf that is just for books by him and about him. The reason I like James Baldwin is that I’ve found something for me in his work, so
November Lebanon Class: Registration Open
In which I talk about the upcoming class on modern Lebanese history and politics, the 5th and last one one this year. Dates (UK Time): November 7, 2-4 pmNovember 14, 4-6 pmNovember 21, 4-6 pmNovember 28, 4-6 pmQuick links:All details here: https://thefirethesetimes.com/lebanonclass/All Patreon supporters get a discount (message me!) Email: ayoub@thefirethesetimes.com or Signal: Ayoub.02 (please in
Beyond the Apocalypse w/ Waubgeshig Rice (E221)
These days, the apocalypse has been on my mind a lot. Maybe that's not surprising, given the state of the world. This can easily descend into dread and hopelessness, which is something I try and avoid for my own sake. When I picked up Moon of the Crusted Snow and Moon of the Turning Leaves, written by my guest Waubgeshig Rice, in a bookshop in Ottawa, I didn't know what to expect. I've always been
The Ceuta 'Incident' w/ Ayman Makarem (E220)
Elia Ayoub is joined by Ayman Makarem (Politically Depressed) to talk about the Ceuta ‘incident’ which left at least 70 people dead, the political discourse in Europe, the Moroccan monarchy’s cynicism, antisemitic conspiracy theories, and the danger that is Fortress Europe – including for Europeans.Links:Hauntologies: On CeutaHarsha Walia’s commentaryBorder Violence Monitoring NetworkIf you’d l
Cosmic Dream Boogie w/ Chanda Prescod-Weinstein (E219)
For episode 219, I talk to Chanda Prescod-Weinstein about her latest book "The Edge of Space-Time: Particles, Poetry and the Cosmic Dream Boogie." Science is political. Reality is queer af. Also: race, imperialism, Star Trek (of course), Supergirl and post/colonialism.If you’d like to support The Fire These Times, the best way to do it is through Patreon.com/thefirethesetimes. In return, you’l
Solarpunk Panel 2026 w/ Luka Dowell, Ariel Kroon & Andre (E218)
For episode 218 of The Fire These Times, I talk to Luka Dowell (Solarpunk Now!), Ariel Kroon (Solarpunk Presents) and Andre (HydroponicTrash) about our changing relationships to Solarpunk given everything that's been going on in the world since the last time we all sat together (in 2023).If you’d like to support The Fire These Times, the best way to do it is through Patreon.com/thefirethese
Israel Bombed My Hometown - And I Worry About a Civil War (E217)
For episode 217, I talk about Israel bombing my hometown of Ain Saadeh yesterday, and why it worries me more than anything they've done so far. If you’d like to support The Fire These Times, the best way to do it is through Patreon.com/thefirethesetimes. In return, you’ll get early access to everything I record, exclusive videos, the mini-series all at once, access to the monthly hangout, disc
Voices from Lebanon w/ Lina Mounzer & Justin Salhani (E216)
For episode 216, I am joined by Lebanese writer and translator Lina Mounzer as well as Lebanese journalist Justin Salhani to talk about the ongoing consequences of Israel's war on Lebanon. This is an intra-Lebanese conversation that is meant to give you an idea of the sort of discussions happening in Lebanon while contextualising as much as we could so that you come out of it better informed as we
Israel's Wars Won't Be Contained (E215)
For episode 215, I talk about how Israel's wars on Iran and Lebanon will spread beyond the region, and what must be done to stop them. I also talked about the ongoing generational hauntings affecting everyone in Lebanon.Lebanon emergency reliefIf you’d like to support The Fire These Times, the best way to do it is through Patreon.com/thefirethesetimes. In return, you’ll get early access
Lebanon Haunts the World (E214)
For episode 214, I talk about how Israel's war on Lebanon haunts our world, and why Israeli impunity is creating monstrous realities that can engulf us all.If you’d like to support The Fire These Times, the best way to do it is through Patreon.com/thefirethesetimes. In return, you’ll get early access to everything I record, exclusive videos, the mini-series all at once, access to the monthly h
The War on Iran (E213)
For episode 213, I talk about the ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran, how we got here, and what this means for both Iran and Lebanon. Also: Israel's ideological opposition to the concept of accountability, Israel's decreasing popularity in the US, the Ayatollah's brutal reign, and finally Hezbollah's catastrophic decision to join the war and how this is causing a severe crisis in Lebanon.If you’d like
Iranian protesters don't owe us an explanation (E212)
In which I read my Hauntologies essay "Iranian protesters don't owe us an explanation" (00:00 to 09:50) and reflect on it (09:50-36:49).If you’d like to support The Fire These Times, the best way to do it is through Patreon.com/thefirethesetimes. In return, you’ll get early access to everything I record, exclusive videos, the mini-series all at once, access to the monthly hangout, discounts on
Organizing Against ICE w/ Nicole Bedera, Ed & Aydin (211)
Elia Ayoub is joined by three folks from Minneapolis, sociologist Nicole Bedera and From The Periphery's very own Aydin and Ed from Antidote Zine, to talk about the ongoing resistance against the federal occupation of the state of Minnesota by ICE. What is happening? How are they resisting? What can we learn from it, here in the UK and elsewhere? Nicole also explained what 'symbolic compliance' me
Another Way Out w/ William C. Anderson (210)
For episode 210, William C. Anderson comes back to The Fire These Times to talk to Elia Ayoub about the current crises in the US and how we should try and understand our current authoritarian moment.Anderson is the author of The Nation on No Map (AK Press 2021) and co-author of As Black as Resistance (AK Press 2018). He writes a column for Prism called Another Way Out and is the co-founder of Offs
Burnout, Grief and The Solidarity Apothecary w/ Nicole Rose (209)
For episode 209, Elia sits down with Nicole Rose from The Solidarity Apothecary to talk about her Overcoming Burnout series, which is also a podcast and an e-book. We talked about burnout, grief, trauma, mutual aid, herbalism, and more. Note: this was recorded in November 2025, a few days before the death of my dog Flip. This is why it took until now to publish the episode.If you’d like to support
The First Masterclass is Here! (Jan/Feb 2026)
Hey everyone, I wanted to let you all know that I’ll be giving online classes starting this January, and that I’m still accepting new people for the very first class. I recommend doing so asap as I’ve already had to open up a second class due to that amazing response I’ve received so far. All details below.The class is entitled “Beware of Small States: An overview of Lebanon from 1975 to 2025.” We
What Mamdani's Victory Means w/ Dana El Kurd (E208)
For episode 208, Elia and Dana talk about Zahrani Mamdani's victory and what it could mean for all of us. If you’d like to support The Fire These Times, the best way to do it is through Patreon.com/thefirethesetimes. In return, you’ll get early access to everything I record, exclusive videos, the mini-series all at once, access to the monthly hangout, discounts on my classes and newsletter
The Limits of Palestinian-ness w/ Pablo Abufom (E206)
For episode 206, guest host Dana El Kurd is joined by Pablo Abufom, translator, scientist, and organizer with the Coordinadora Por Palestina in Chile. We talk about the largest Palestinian diaspora population outside the Middle East, the limits of ethnic and national affinities, and what it means to organize against the backdrop of American hegemony. If you’d like to support The Fire These Times,
Warsaw Ghetto, Gaza Ghetto w/ Daniel Voskoboynik (E205)
For episode 205, Daniel Voskoboynik joins me from what used to be the Warsaw Ghetto to talk about Gaza.If you’d like to support The Fire These Times, the best way to do it is through Patreon.com/thefirethesetimes. In return, you’ll get early access to everything I record, exclusive videos, the mini-series all at once, access to the monthly hangout, discounts on my classes and newsletter, t
The Kashmir Question: What Comes Next w/ Ather Zia, Hafsa Kanjwal and Abdulla Moaswes (E204)
Guest host Abdulla Moaswes, a Palestinian scholar and old buddy of mine, is joined by two scholars of Kashmir, Ather Zia and Hafsa Kanjwal to talk about Kashmir. It’s a long episode, but that’s because we wanted to make sure to present Kashmir’s history on its own terms, a Kashmir perspective that does not center Pakistan and certainly not India (or China). This is part 3 of the Kashmir Question s
The Kashmir Question: Resistance w/ Ather Zia, Hafsa Kanjwal and Abdulla Moaswes (E203)
Guest host Abdulla Moaswes, a Palestinian scholar and old buddy of mine, is joined by two scholars of Kashmir, Ather Zia and Hafsa Kanjwal to talk about Kashmir. It’s a long episode, but that’s because we wanted to make sure to present Kashmir’s history on its own terms, a Kashmir perspective that does not center Pakistan and certainly not India (or China). This is part 2 of the Kashmir Question s
The Kashmir Question: Origins w/ Ather Zia, Hafsa Kanjwal and Abdulla Moaswes (E202)
Guest host Abdulla Moaswes, a Palestinian scholar and old buddy of mine, is joined by two scholars of Kashmir, Ather Zia and Hafsa Kanjwal to talk about Kashmir. It’s a long episode, but that’s because we wanted to make sure to present Kashmir’s history on its own terms, a Kashmir perspective that does not center Pakistan and certainly not India (or China). This is part 1 of the Kashmir Question s
This Cannot Be The New Normal (E201)
In this special episode of The Fire These Times, Elia is joined by four members of the From The Periphery media collective to talk about the ongoing famine in Gaza, Israel's genocide and the world's complicity. Despite the obviously horrific nature of this topic, we insisted on not giving in to despair. The génocidaires cannot win.The five participants connected to the Gaza genocide through their
The Rise of End Times Fascism w/ Naomi Klein & Astra Taylor (200)
For episode 200 (!) of The Fire These Times, Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor join Dana & Elia to talk about their piece "the rise of end times fascism." Naomi Klein is the author of Doppelganger, On Fire, How to Change Everything, the Shock Doctrine & No Logo, among others. Astra Taylor is the co-founder of the Debt Collector and is the author of Democracy May Not Exist, but We'll Miss It When It's G
The Stories That Fascism Fears Most w/ Jessie Gender (E199)
“Fascism isn’t just about power—it’s about controlling the stories we tell. It warps narratives to justify oppression, trapping us in cycles of dominance and despair. But stories can also resist, break those cycles, and open the door to something new.“ This is how YouTuber and hardcore Trekkie Jessie Gender starts her video essay “The Stories Fascism Fears Most“ which we highly recommend. A few we
A Liquid Convo About Venezuela w/ Laura Vidal (E198)
For episode 198, Elia Ayoub is joined by Venezuelan researcher - and old friend - Laura Vidal to talk about, and around, Venezuela. We got into why Venezuelans flee the Maduro regime, how Venezuela(ns) is often covered, and the broader discourse battles that may or may not include people who still think Maduro is a passionate defenders of the Palestinians (pause for laughter).Laura was actually on
Our Region After Samir Kassir: Special 20 Years Commemoration w/ Ziad Majed (E197)
It's been 20 years since the Assad regime assassinated Samir Kassir, the Lebanese-Syrian-Palestinian historian, journalist and writer in Beirut on June 2nd 2005. Joining Elia Ayoub and Leila Al-Shami today is Lebanese-French political researcher and academic Ziad Majed, a friend and comrade of Kassir, to talk about his legacy in the two decades that have passed given how much has changed since for
The Wars Within the War on Gaza w/ Maram Humaid, Part 2 (E196)
Palestinian journalist Maram Humaid joins us from Gaza to talk about the many layers of Israel’s genocide, the everyday of those trying to survive it. This is part 2 of the episode with Elia Ayoub and israa'. If you’d like to support The Fire These Times, the best way to do it is through Patreon.com/thefirethesetimes. In return, you’ll get early access to everything I record, exclusive videos
The Wars Within the War on Gaza w/ Maram Humaid, Part 1 (E195)
Palestinian journalist Maram Humaid joins us from Gaza to talk about the many layers of Israel’s genocide, the everyday of those trying to survive it. This is part 1 of the episode with Elia Ayoub and israa'. It is already available in full on Patreon for free.If you’d like to support The Fire These Times, the best way to do it is through Patreon.com/thefirethesetimes. In return, you’ll get ea
Intent and the Gaza Genocide w/ Amos Goldberg, Part 2 (E194)
For episode 194, I am joined by Amos Goldberg, Professor of Holocaust History at the Department of Jewish History and Contemporary Jewry at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Goldberg is among the most vocal Israeli historians of the Holocaust to have called Israel’s actions in Gaza genocide. In 2024, he wrote a paper for the Journal of Genocide Research on the question of intent, which we explor
Intent and the Gaza Genocide w/ Amos Goldberg, Part 1 (E193)
For episode 193, Elia Ayoub is joined by Amos Goldberg, Professor of Holocaust History at the Department of Jewish History and Contemporary Jewry at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Goldberg is among the most vocal Israeli historians of the Holocaust to have called Israel’s actions in Gaza genocide. In 2024, he wrote a paper for the Journal of Genocide Research exploring how the question of ‘in
Cracks in the Walls: Global Perspectives on Migration, Part 2 (192)
This is part 2 of the episode. Part 1 was released a few days ago, and you can also listen to the full version for free on our Patreon.Presented by guest hosts Michelle and Daniel, Cracks in the Walls: Global Perspectives on Migration brings together eight individuals active in migration struggles around the world (Mexico, Haiti, U.S., and Europe) for a discussion on root causes of migration, cu
Cracks in the Walls: Global Perspectives on Migration, Part 1 (192)
This is part 1 of the episode. Part 2 will be released in a few days, but you can listen to the full version for free on our Patreon.Presented by guest hosts Michelle and Daniel, Cracks in the Walls: Global Perspectives on Migration brings together eight individuals active in migration struggles around the world (Mexico, Haiti, U.S., and Europe) for a discussion on root causes of migration, curren
Introducing "Syria: The Inconvenient Revolution"
We got a new podcast! We're happy to announce that Syria: The Inconvenient Revolution (STIR) is now out on Patreon and wherever you listen to podcasts. In this episode, Leila Al-Shami (Burning Country) and Elia Ayoub (The Fire These Times, Hauntologies) introduce themselves and the podcast.What is STIR about? From the Assad regime to the Arab Spring and beyond, we will dive int
We Are the Children of the Children of War w/ Justin Salhani (E191)
Elia Ayoub and Lebanese journalist Justin Salhani have one thing in common: their parents lived through the Lebanon wars (1975-1990). Claude Salhani was a well-known photojournalist United Press International and Reuters. The photo featured in this episode shows him in the middle, injured after an Israeli strike on Beirut in 1982. We also talked about a recent gallery of Claude’s photographs publ
What Trump Sees in Bukele w/ Michael Paarlberg (E190)
For episode 190 of The Fire These Times, Dr. Michael Paarlberg talks to guest host Dana El Kurd about El Salvador’s ‘state of exception’ under Nayib Bukele, how Trump sees that as a model, the conditions of Salvadorian prisons and what happens to the Venezuelan and other refugees and migrants deported from the USA by Trump and the unaccountable state actors doing his bidding.Paarlberg is associate
Doikayt ('Hereness') Now! w/ Molly Crabapple (E189)
For episode 189 of The Fire These Times, Elia Ayoub is joined by friend of the podMolly Crabapple to talk about the Jewish Labor Bund and how their concept of Doikayt (‘Hereness’) can help us build a better world than the hellscape being proposed by techno-dystopianism and end-time fascism. Molly’s upcoming book is called “here where we live is our country: the story of the jewish labor bund.” Spe
Revolutionary Aid in Sudan w/ Eiad Husham (E188)
How did Sudanese revolutionaries organize neighborhood and resistance committees to resist state and non-state violence? What are some of the principles underpinning their worldview? What can we learn from theFor episode 188 of The Fire These Times, Elia Ayoub is joined by Sudanese journalist Eiad Husham to talk about his piece "revolutionary aid in Sudan" for The New Internationalist and try and
Announcement - Lebanese Films Screenings
This is a special announcement episode broadcast on all FTP channels. We at FTP are hosting a series of weekly film screenings and discussions on the Lebanese wars starting this Sunday April 20. In this short episode, Elia and Ayman go through the list of films they selected, what you can expect from the screenings, and how you can participate. To sign up and join the watch parties head over to o
Hauntologies 5/ Restorative vs Reflective Nostalgia
Elia reads and comments on his essay "Restorative vs reflective nostalgia" for Hauntologies.net The Hauntologies Podcast is a production of From The Periphery and part of The Fire These Times podcast. A newsletter version exists at hauntologies.net but most recordings will be for Patreon supporters only.To support us, please head out to Patreon.com/fromtheperiphery to subscribe. For More:Elia
Round table: Where are the Arabs? Part 2 (E187)
Our very own Ayman Makarem released his new video essay ‘Where Are the Arabs?’ on March 9, 2025. In this round table, he is joined by Elia and israa to expand on the topics discussed in the video, the context around it, and the need for more intellectual and class-based analysis on Arab nationalism and its many manifestations. If you haven’t watched the video yet you’ll still be able to follow t
Round table: Where are the Arabs? Part 1 (E186)
Our very own Ayman Makarem released his new video essay ‘Where Are the Arabs?’ on March 9, 2025. In this round table, he is joined by Elia and israa to expand on the topics discussed in the video, the context around it, and the need for more intellectual and class-based analysis on Arab nationalism and its many manifestations. If you haven’t watched the video yet you’ll still be able to follow thi
What Ukraine Faces w/ Romeo Kokriatski (E185)
For episode 185, Elia Ayoub is joined by Ukrainian journalist and repeated guest Romeo Kokriatski to talk about the recent developments in Ukraine, especially in light of the Trump administration's open intentions to shift USA support from Ukraine to Russia, and what this means for Ukraine, Europe and the USA. If you’d like to support The Fire These Times, the best way to do it is through Pa
Öcalan's Statement and the Future of the PKK w/ Dîlan (E184)
On Feb 27, Abdullah Öcalan, the long-time jailed leader of the PKK (Kurdish Worker’s Party), released a statement that shocked many. In the statement he called for the PKK to lay down their arms, which could spell the end of the 40-year long armed struggle against the Turkish state, and for the creation of a legal, diplomatic framework to ensure inclusion, rights, and dignity for the Kurdish commu
Navalny, A Year Later (TFTT x Obscuristan)
In this special collab episode between Obscuristan and The Fire These Times, Karena Avedissian and Anna are joined by Daniel Voskoboynik to discuss the life of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and what his death means for those of us not quite at the heart of the Russian empire.If you’d like to support The Fire These Times, the best way to do it is through Patreon.com/thefirethesetimes
Black History Month Special: Black Anarchism, Abolition and the Radical Tradition w/ William C. Anderson
This is a conversation with William C. Anderson, author of the book The Nation on No Map (AK Press 2021) and co-author of As Black as Resistance (AK Press 2018). He’s also the co-founder of Offshoot Journal and provides creative direction as a producer of the Black Autonomy Podcast.If you’d like to support The Fire These Times, the best way to do it is through Patreon.com/thefirethese
Hauntologies 4/ Punishing the Land
Elia reads and comments on his essay "Punishing the land: Israeli symbolism during the Gaza genocide" for Hauntologies.net He was also on Al Jazeera to talk about how the Israelis mark the lands they destroy (link in the newsletter).Support: You can support my work with a one-off or monthly donation on Ko-fiMasterclass on Modern Lebanon: Registration is now openNewsletter: Su
Hauntologies 3/ Lebanon's Lost Communist Future
Elia Ayoub goes into his essay for hauntologies.net in which he asks: what does it mean to lose the future?
The film explored is Maher Abi Samra's 'We Were Communists' (2011). It will be part of our upcoming movie club on the patreon.
The Hauntologies Podcast is a production of From The Periphery and part of The Fire These Times podcast. A newsletter version exists at hauntologies.net. To support
Video Essay Announcement
It's finally happening. Ayman has finished his new video essay 'Where are the Arabs?'.
'Where are the Arabs?' is a long-form video essay about the history, failures, and nostalgia of Arab Nationalism. It's one Arab leftist's attempt to sift through this trend, see its remnant today, nd dispell its myths. Today, there is no Arab solidarity in action. But was there ever?
Hauntologies 2/ This Moment. Or, Why I Cannot Mourn Gaza
Elia Ayoub reads from his Hauntologies.net piece "This Moment. Or, Why I Cannot Mourn Gaza" which is available for free.Support: You can support my work with a one-off or monthly donation on Ko-fiMasterclass on Modern Lebanon: Registration is now openNewsletter: Subscribe to HauntologiesSocial Media: I’m on Bluesky, Instagram and MastodonContact: To
Making Home in Exile: Stories from the New Syrian Diaspora w/ Wendy Pearlman (E183)
For episode 183, Leila and Elia are joined by Wendy Pearlman to discuss her newest book,The Home I Worked to Make: Voices from the New Syrian Diaspora as well as her previous bookWe Crossed a Bridge and Trembled. Note that we recorded this episode on November 9, 2024 – just weeks prior to the ousting of the Assad regime. As such, a few small details of the conversation are now ‘outdated’, however
Our Mirror Worlds w/ Naomi Klein (E182)
For episode 182, Elia, Anna, and Dana are joined by author, scholar, and activist Naomi Klein to discuss her most recent book, Doppelganger: A Trip into the Mirror World. If you’d like to support The Fire These Times, the best way to do it is through Patreon.com/thefirethesetimes. In return, you’ll get early access to everything I record, exclusive videos, the mini-series all at once, access t
Hauntologies 1/ Merry Christmas Homs
Elia Ayoub reads from his newsletter piece "Merry Christmas Homs: Tribute to Bassel Shehadeh's Last City" which is available for free. It is a reference to a short film directed by Bassel during Christmas 2011 in Homs under heavy shelling by the Assad regime. You can watch it on YouTube.Trigger warning: this audio features some sounds from the original film, including airstrikes. The
Don't Despair, We Got This w/ Margaret Killjoy (E181)
For episode 181, Elia Ayoub is joined by Margaret Killjoy to talk about her piece "The Sky is Falling; We've Got This" published on her newsletter. We recorded this shortly after Trump was announced as the winner of the US elections and many people were feeling despair, understandably so.Check out Margaret's new book and first novel "The Sapling Cage" with Feminist Press!If you’d like to support
The Golan Heights, Syria and Palestine’s Intertwined Liberations w/ Banah Ghadbian (E180)
For episode 180, Leila Al-Shami and Elia Ayoub are joined by Dr Banah Ghadbian to talk about her piece "Give Us Our Land Back: The Golan Heights, Greenwashing, Syria and Palestine’s Intertwined Revolutions" published on Spectre Journal. We spoke of the importance of the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights in the liberation of both Palestine and Syria. This was recorded before the fall of the Assad dyna
Lebanon: What Now? w/ Mohamad Bazzi (E179)
For episode 179, Beirut-based journalist Justin Salhani is joined with New York University professor and journalist Mohamad Bazzi to talk about the situation in Lebanon before and after the ceasefire with Israel.If you’d like to support The Fire These Times, the best way to do it is through Patreon.com/thefirethesetimes. In return, you’ll get early access to everything I record, exclusive vide
Roundtable on Syria (E178)
A lot has happened over the last week in Syria, so we figured we'd gather together, as members of From the Periphery, to discuss the latest developments and provide a historical and political background to help understand the current moment. We discuss a broad range of topics starting with an overview of the what's happened in the last week or so, including: the origins of the Syrian revolution, t
Mutual Aid in Lebanon Today w/ Serge and Abir (E177)
For episode 177, Leila is joined by Serge from Buzuruna Juzuruna, an agro-ecological farm and heirloom seed producer in the Bekka Valley working on food autonomy, and Abir from Hostel Beirut, a worker owned cooperative in the heart of the Lebanese capital committed to social and economic justice for all. We talk about the current situation in Lebanon following the Israeli invasion, the mutual aid
Rerun/ Commoning in Lebanon’s Palestinian Refugee Camps w/ Yafa El Masri
In this rerun of episode 131, Elia is joined by Dr Yafa El Masri to talk about her paper “72 Years of Homemaking in Waiting Zones: Lebanon’s “Permanently Temporary” Palestinian Refugee Camps” which she presented at the 2022 Pluriverse of Eco-social Justice summer school in Coimbra, Portugal, where we met. Dr El Masri spoke from first hand experience of commoning in "permanently temporary"
American Neocons, Christian Zionists & Israeli Fascism w/ Atalia Omer (E176)
For episode 176, Dana El Kurd is joined by Atalia Omer, professor of Religion, Conflict and Peace Studies, University of Notre Dame to discuss her work on the convergences between American neoconservatism, Christian Zionism, and Israeli politics, as well as how attacking Palestine is being used to advance right-wing politics around the world. Omer discusses the impact of American right-wing politi
The Mutual Aid Podcast: Ep #1 - Introductions
In lieu of an episode this week, we're pleased to announce a new podcast within the From the Periphery network. We'll return to regular TFTT releases next week.
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Welcome to The Mutual Aid Podcast. Join Ayman and israa every week as they discuss, share, and explore all things mutual aid. In this intro episode they talk about the reasons they started this project, what the project even is,
Beekeeping in the End Times w/ Larisa Jašarević (E175)
For episode 175, Elia Ayoub and Anna (co-host of Obscuristan) are joined by Larisa Jašarević to talk about her new book “Beekeeping in the End Times.” They delve into bees and Abrahamic faiths, climate change, folk tradition, and above all how we can all be connecting to the natural world while still remaining rooted in ourselves and our lives.Support: You can support my work with a one-off or
Lebanon From 1860 to the Present Day w/ Ayman Makarem (E174)
For episode 174, Elia and Ayman sit down to talk about Lebanon. As our little country is in the news for all the worst reasons, we thought it a good idea to give y'all an overview of Lebanese history.Support: You can support my work with a one-off or monthly donation on Ko-fiMasterclass on Modern Lebanon: Registration is now openNewsletter: Subscribe to HauntologiesSocial M
This Arab is Queer w/Elias Jahshan, israa' and Leila Al Shami (E173)
For episode 173, Elias Jahshan joins Elia Ayoub, israa abd elfattah and Leila Al-Shami to talk about "This Arab Is Queer" anthology, which he edited and was published by Saqi Books in 2022. Support: You can support my work with a one-off or monthly donation on Ko-fiMasterclass on Modern Lebanon: Registration is now openNewsletter: Subscribe to HauntologiesSocial Media: I’m
Premium Episode 2: Hezbollah (Sample)
Ayman sits down with Elia to discuss his article "Hezbollah: 10 Things You Need To Know" which is available for free on his newsletter, hauntologies.net. We recorded this the day before Israel's mass terror attack on Lebanon on 21st of Sept' 24 which left nearly 500 people killed and over 1,000 injured. Elia has also written about that attack for 972mag: With pager blasts and air
The Holocaust, the Nakba and Reparative Memory w/ Daniel Voskoboynik (E172)
For episode 172, Elia Ayoub and Daniel Voskoboynik talk about a very difficult topic: the Holocaust and the Nakba. The ongoing Israeli genocide in Gaza brings up urgent questions about how memory is weaponized. Elia also talks about Jonathan Glazer,'s The Zone of Interest and the haunting parallels between the everyday life of the Nazi family portrayed in that movie, and the normalization of genoc
What is Happening with Balochistan? w/ Lateef Johar Baloch and Hari Prasad (E171)
For episode 171, Elia Ayoub and guest host Hari Prasad are joined by Lateef Johar Baloch, a human rights advocate and a member of the Human Rights Council of Balochistan to talk to us about the history of Pakistani oppression and authoritarianism in Balochistan and the ongoing resistance against it. We also talked about broader issues facing Balochistan today including the role of foreign powers s
Facing the German Far Right w/ Musa Okwonga (E170)
For episode 170, returning guest Musa Okwonga talks to Elia Ayoub about a piece he wrote, "The Hatred Is Accelerating", on racism and the far right in Germany. This was recorded on 31 August 2024, a day before the fascist AfD party won top place in Thuringia and second in Saxony in the state elections.Support: You can support my work with a one-off or monthly donation on Ko-fiMasterclass o
Macronisme and the Far Right w/ Sahar Amarir & Rim-Sarah Alouane (E169)
For episode 169, Elia Ayoub is joined by returning guests Sahar Amarir and Rim-Sarah Alouane to talk about the situation in France, from the recent elections that saw a surprising victory for a Left-Green alliance to how Macronism has been actively normalizing the far right. They described the situation as grim, with far right ideology on questions of race and freedom of worship (especially Islam)
Against Multipolar Imperialism w/ Kavita Krishnan, Promise Li and Romeo Kokriatski (Rerun)
For this rerun episode, Elia Ayoub is joined by Kavita Krishnan, an Indian Marxist and Feminist who used to be a politburo member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation who resigned over Ukraine. He is also joined by Promise Li, a US-based Hong Konger organizer and part of the Left diaspora collective Lausan. Co-hosting this episode is Romeo Kokriatski, a Ukrainian-Amer
Building Transnational Solidarity w/ Chkoun? Collective and Leila Al Shami (E168)
For episode 168, Elia and Leila are joined by the Chkoun? Collective, a collective of people from "North Africa" resisting anti-Black racism and its intersections with migration and the fight for freedom of movement in the region. We discussed their statement "Solidarities are not a given, they need to be built" and how it relates to our experiences covering Syria, Israel-Palestine, and Lebanon.Su
