Intergalactic Tarboush

Iyad and Ahmed delve into the relationship between language and thought, discuss ideas about a potential Arabic-language podcast, and even pivot to modern discoveries about the Earth's mantle; in true Intergalactic Tarboush form.Episode Timetags:00:00 - Does language affect thought?03:30 - Arabic & translating vs. rewriting05:50 - The decline of the Arabic-language public sphere07:45 - An Arabic-language Kawaakibi Foundation podcast?08:20 - How Iyad's son navigates being quadrilingual11:30 - Is Hisham Matar an "Arabic writer"?16:00 - Strange blobs in the Earth's mantle20:30 - The Quran on the moon "splitting"

Iyad and Ahmed continue talking about why the long-term prospects and strategic situation of Egypt are so depressing, why Steven Seagal is such an asshole and ideological polical opposition in Saudi Arabia.Episode Timetags:00:00: Egypt's troubles04:20: 'Syriana,' the movie06:30: Alaska and global trade07:30: Why is Steven Seagal such an asshole?10:00: The privilege to insulate yourself from self-awareness15:40: A new study on Universal Basic Income: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/new-leaf-project-results-1.575271419:00: Saudi political parties and ideological opposition22:00: Mustafa Akyol's book, 'Islam without Extremes'

In this episode, Iyad and Ahmed discuss changes in world order and the relationship between citizenry and government in traditional versus modern 'great power' political structures.Episode Timetags:00:50 - great power politics & world change04:40 - how do we defend human rights in the "new world"06:00 - the influence of modern citizenry on political power09:10 - The future of Egypt & its water security14:30 - Egypt & "mega projects"17:00 - The Toshka project & corruption

In this episode, Iyad and Ahmed discuss how a broad range of political and economic factors can impact democracy, and how the concept of a 'public sphere' can either strengthen or weaken democratic nations.Episode Timetags:05:00 - Centralisation of political and economic activity & weakened democracy06:00 - Economic inequality as a threat to democracy07:00 - APPGs in the UK, captured by the private sector - article referenced: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/feb/17/lobbying-fears-as-mps-interest-groups-receive-13m-from-private-firms10:00 - French colonial censorship in Syria11:00 - "Public sphere" theory & democracy (+ shout-out to Belabbes Benkredda!)12:30 - Jurgen Habermas - German philosopher of the public sphere14:30 - Disinformation in the public sphere & the destruction of Arabic Twitter15:30 - What is the impact of a shared public sphere on nationalism?17:30 - Two public languages in The Middle East: Indo-European & Semitic

In this episode, Iyad and Ahmed discuss advancements in the world of technology and communication, and how they have impacted politics and humanity as a whole.Episode Timetags:00:55 - Consuming information via podcasts03:55 - Tweets & threads as sources of information05:55 - Expansion of humanity via social media & communication09:25 - Global divides & scientific racism11:10 - Putin & how age affects decision making15:15 - Bitcoin mining as part of national policy

In this episode, recorded prior to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Iyad and Ahmed discuss Putin's politics and its significance both regionally and globally.Episode Timetags:01:00 - Predictions on Russia & Ukraine04:50 - US foreign policy - Obama, Assad & chemical weapons09:00 - Geopolitics & Russian motivations for the invasion14:45 - Recent books - 'Red Notice' & 'The Man Without A Face'18:00 - Putin not being ideological, only understanding hard power21:00 - What is cancel culture?

In this episode, recorded last year, Iyad and Ahmed switch gears a little and hone in on issues of religion. Topics include separating "life" from religious acts, and glorifying the divine through honouring the human being.Episode Timetags:01:00 - Muslim leadership & human rights03:40 - Charity fundraising & religious identity versus morality08:00 - Spirituality versus religiosity12:05 - A chance encounter with Raed Jarrar13:50 - Gratitude for working in human rights14:50 - Breaking down the meaning of Surah Al-Ikhlas20:00 - Looking at Surah Al-Fatiha23:00 - Tribalism & lessons from the story of Prophet Ibrahim25:55 - Fiqh as a product of its time

In this episode, Iyad and Ahmed discuss the revolutionary nature and potential of Bitcoin, sectarianisation in Yemen and around the region, and reframing perspectives on mental health.Episode Timetags:01:00 - Human rights use cases of Bitcoin05:50 - Financial situation in Libya08:00 - Alex Gladstein's work on Bitcoin (article links below)09:50 - 'Sectarianization' - Danny Postel and Nader Hashemi12:20 - Summarising Yemen's process of sectarianisation15:50 - Mental health paradigm20:10 - Iyad thinks Koalas are stupidAlex Gladstein's articles:https://bitcoinmagazine.com/culture/bitcoin-replacing-us-super-imperialismhttps://bitcoinmagazine.com/culture/the-hidden-costs-of-the-petrodollarhttps://bitcoinmagazine.com/culture/check-your-financial-privilegeCartoon - 'Young Koala With a Mental Health Problem':https://www.madinamerica.com/2019/05/young-koala-mental-health-problem

In this episode, Iyad and Ahmed discuss productivity and novel sleeping concepts, European imperialism and its impacts on various languages and races, and the future of cryptocurrency in and outside of the United States.Episode Timetags:0:28 – Sleep routines and productivity06:35 – Imperialism, language & Native American DNA across the Americas12:47 – The origin of Urdu as ‘the camp language’14:20 – WWI, WWII & the end of colonialism15:25 – Cryptocurrency & American versus global economies20:00 – Shifting power and world order

In this episode, Iyad and Ahmed discuss the concept of futurism and its relation to our work, as well as optimism versus pessimism in the spheres of religion, politics and human rights activism.Episode timetags:00:30 - Futurism - tradition and modernity05:50 - Pessimism in the Muslim community08:45 - China's growth - birth rates, power and risk15:10 - Genetic supremacy - Germanic germ theory17:00 - Britain & colonialist nostalgia19:00 - France & the nationalism of decline