Seriously?

What happens when a country tries to transform itself while the region around it moves closer to a much larger war?In this episode, I speak with Patrick El-Cheikh, whose life has moved between Sweden, Lebanon, Algeria and Saudi Arabia. At just 26, Patrick was sent to Riyadh to lead the local office of the Swedish Trade Council, now Business Sweden. What he expected to be a short assignment became eight years in the Kingdom, through 9/11, the Iraq War and the terrorist attacks inside Saudi Arabia.We talk about the Saudi Arabia we both encountered, including diplomacy, business, private lives behind public restrictions and some situations that could only have happened in Riyadh. We also return to my own unexpected conversation with King Abdullah and the advice I received beforehand: speak to him like a farmer.The conversation then moves into the present. Can Vision 2030 succeed while investment, regional security and Saudi Arabia’s relationship with Yemen, Iran and the West remain under pressure? Patrick explains why the Kingdom’s transformation is about more than oil, tourism or major events. It is also a project of nation-building and an attempt to redefine the relationship between the Saudi leadership and its people.We also discuss Oman’s distinctive regional role, the risks of underestimating Yemen, the disappearance of social liberalism in Sweden, Patrick’s work in film and creative industries, and why cultural intelligence and empathy may matter more than ever in the age of AI.A personal and wide-ranging conversation about Saudi Arabia, identity, power and a Middle East at a critical crossroads.

This episode goes straight into territory that most politicians, journalists and plenty of ordinary people would rather avoid.I sit down with Hadas and Elik, two Jewish anti-Zionist voices with very different backgrounds but a shared willingness to challenge the stories they grew up with. We talk about Germany's relationship with guilt and memory, the use of antisemitism as a political weapon, the growing gap between public opinion and political elites, and why so many people are starting to question narratives that only a few years ago seemed untouchable.We also discuss something that is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore: how even left-wing parties in countries like Germany and Sweden can find themselves smeared as "antisemitic" simply for expressing support for Palestinian rights and stating facts about the ongoing genocide and ethnic cleansing. What happens to public debate when people become afraid to speak at all.One of the most powerful parts of the conversation is hearing how fear is manufactured. Hadas and Elik talk about growing up being afraid of Arabic and how learning the language became part of breaking that conditioning. We discuss identity, propaganda, political myths, collective trauma, and what happens when people decide that truth matters more than belonging to the tribe.We also get into the uncomfortable questions. Has criticism of Israel become easier? Is the accusation of antisemitism losing its power? Why are some of the strongest critics of Israeli policy Jewish themselves? What happens when people can no longer separate politics, religion, ethnicity and state power?Hadas Emma Kedar is a Media Arts and Media Studies scholar, born in Haifa. She used to volunteer as alternative news moderator in Tel Aviv. More recently, she coordinated the Jewish Anti Zionist Congress in Dublin (JAZIC). She is a devoted activist in the Palestinian solidarity and liberation movement, publicly speaking, organising, and moderating. She is working on an art-activism performance titled Together We Łose | Reflections amid Genocide, which is planned to premiere in Germany in May 2027. SUPPORT HADAS HERE: https://www.startnext.com/en/togetherwelose/Find Hadas here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hadas.emma/ Elik Harpaz - Jewish Israeli musician, performance artist, podcaster, anti-Zionist activist music teacher, living in Occupied Palestine. Find Elik here: https://www.instagram.com/elik_harpaz?stkn=MTFueXNrNnlrbXp4OA==https://youtube.com/@elik_harpaz?si=Y9G_MGToAJfe2MAKhttps://open.spotify.com/artist/4epi3kLnZpagAT5VX5ba1W?si=fgHboqcmS1683RHVZxbGdw

In this episode of Seriously?, I sit down with my longtime friend Hiram, who left the United States for a new life in Cologne, Germany. Our conversation moves through love, friendship, personal responsibility and the importance of respecting boundaries, before turning to race, identity, freedom of speech and Hiram's experiences as a Black American living between two cultures.We also discuss Palestine, the shifting political consciousness about, censorship, activism and the responsibility of public figures to speak out against injustice and gen&side. Later, we explore Michael Jackson's legacy, the darker side of the entertainment industry, and the theories and controversies that continue to surround his life and death, including discussions about powerful interests, exploitation and Epstein.Above all, this is an honest conversation between two old friends who are willing to challenge one another, disagree openly and still meet with respect, humour and affection.

Beyond Left and Right: An Israeli Anti‑Zionist on Power, Propaganda, and Moral ResponsibilityWhat happens when an Israeli‑born musician rejects Zionism from inside Israel — and says the quiet parts out loud?In this episode, Elik, an anti‑Zionist Israeli living in Tel Aviv, takes on the questions most commentators avoid:Is Zionism itself a form of antisemitism?Why do spiritual and “mindfulness” communities stay silent — or worse, serve power?What makes figures like Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens threatening to parts of the left — even when they’re right on Israel?And why do Israelis call equality “genocide” while supporting actual mass killing?Elik explains how ideology works as a psychological filter — how ordinary people learn to see extermination as self‑defence, and dissent as betrayal. He argues that Zionism survives by needing antisemitism, not ending it — and collapses when that lie is exposed.The conversation cuts straight through tired binaries:Left vs rightJudaism vs ZionismSpirituality vs ethicsCriticism vs conspiracyNo safe lanes. Just a sober warning: when power shifts, stories change — and someone always tries to escape responsibility.If you’ve followed Tucker’s break from consensus, Brianna’s pushback against ideological comfort zones, or Finkelstein’s unease with who is now telling the truth — this episode goes straight to the fault line.Not comfortable. Not neutral. Hard to unhear.

Alon Nissan Cohen, a brilliant fearless soul living in Haifa, Israel, or as he calls the holy land, "Palestine under fascist rule"Alon is a strong Jewish voice against apartheid, genocide and all forms of oppression. Follow Alon and his friend Elik Harpaz!Alon's YouTube channel The Hebrew Canaanite:https://youtube.com/@hebrewcanaaniteAlon on Instagram:@roble_viajeroAlon's Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/HebrewCanaaniteElik's YouTube channel Sound of Anarchy:https://youtube.com/@elik_harpazElik's Kickstarter project:https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1300759177/elik-vs-the-collective-unconscious-docu-film

Gaia Dan is 24 years old, born and raised in Haifa, Israel to a Zionist-leftist family. She enlisted in the military to a combat unit only to get kicked out after 4 months because she was "not suitable" for combat service. After another year in the IDF, or "IOF" as Gaia calls the Israeli army (Israeli Occupation Forces) she ran away andstarted her re-education process which brought her to the realisation that there is no legitimacy to the "IOF" or even to the state of Israel, as a proxy to the US. Gaia is currently a student of political science and sociology at the University of Haifa, where she is tryingto raise a voice against the genocide and Zionism from within. Gaia speaks fearlessly against the occupation ofPalestine, against the ongoing genocide in Gaza, and the continuous dehumanization and murder of the people living in the occupied "West bank".Gaia is not alone, not in Israel, not in the world, but she is undoubtedly one of only few young women on this planet that has chosen a journey most women would not touch, even in their dreams. She deserves the utmost support, respect and LOVE... but she is not asking for it. Her path is walked for the oppressed...Follow Gaia on IG:_gaiadan

Dan Ben Yishai was born in Israel in 1989 to recent immigrants from the Soviet Union. He was raised as a far-right Zionist and served in the Israeli military as a combat soldier and as an officer. Yet by the end of his military service, he began to experience doubts - initially only viscerally - about Zionist society and about his role within it. After a decade of studying philosophy in Israel and in Germany - while suffering from addiction and depression - Dan accidently came across Marxist historiography in the German language that radically changed his life. He decided to return to Israel and study the history of the Zionist project while joining the struggle for Palestinian liberation. "Our sanity is in jeopardy" says Dan... with words from Israeli leaders like; "let them rot in their filth" and; "Getting them out of here is the end goal" One of few crystal clear voices coming from Israel is Dan Ben Yishai. Dan is humble, soft spoken, unassuming, enlightened and a brilliant educator. Dan shares his story from growing up with a father who was a strong influence on him becoming a hard-core Zionist, dreaming of a lasting career in the Israeli military. Leaving Zionism for Dan, is a journey we all can and need to learn from. Not least western government officials and their ambassadorial civil servants. It takes a lot for any human to go against the tide in a “condition” like Israel. He has lost friends and family through the process. FOLLOW DAN! https://youtube.com/@radixdby?si=VWhPBW03_XAhTq52 https://www.instagram.com/radix_dby?igsh=MWVkYWFycmplNHM0NQ== This episode was recorded while the legendary musician Eric Clapton posted the following words supporting Palestine; "Along with my dear friend Roger Waters, I stand in support of Andrew Feinstein, independent candidate for Holborn and St Pancras, in his fight for the children of Gaza, for the freedom of the people of Palestine, and for the soul of the human race... Against the genocide in Gaza... For love and Truth... Eric C"

Alon Nissan-Cohen is a brilliant, almost singular, passionate, independent, charming, funny, fearless voice coming straight from the heart of Israel, or as he prefers to call the holy land, occupied Palestine under fascist rule... Alon brings clear and necessary thoughts on the urgent need for the dismantling of Zionism.He shares his journey of "awakening" in his homeland, which is not an easy thing to do.We touch on several topics related to what is going on in Israel, including comments by Alon related to recent Seriously? episode with Danny Felsteiner, whom he calls a "spiritual liberal"What is fake leftism? Is liberalism really a different form of fascism? How can a "virus deep in their souls" be healed? What are the possible outcomes of the current trajectory Israel is on? Would Ben Gvir respond favorable to non-violnet communcation?PLEASE FOLLOW ALON AND HIS PODCAST PARTNER ELIK ON THEIR PODCASTS. THEIR VOICES ARE AMONG FEW COMING OUT OF ISRAEL WITH AN ANTI-ZIONIST EDUCATIONAL AGENDA. One State Solution podcast:https://www.youtube.com/@HebrewCanaanite/featuredYalla podcast:https://www.youtube.com/@elik_harpaz/featuredAlon on IG: roble_viajero

Danny Felsteiner teaches and facilitates workshops in music, mindfulness and nonviolent communication, to promote empathy, understanding and compassion, hoping to inspire nonviolent action towards peace across all sectors and communities in Israel.

"Hope is a question of being active" says musician and social activist Laura Hassler. Laura shares insight from a life born into social activism, peacebuilding and music. As a young woman during the 60's, Laura was inspired by the many pivotal events of that time, and by her parents. Her father Al Hassler, worked for Dr. Martin Luther King and collaborated for many years with Thich Nhat Hanh, vietnamese buddhist monk, peace activist, author and teacher known as the father of mindfullness. Laura Hassler is Founder and Director of Musicians Without Borders, an organization that uses the power of music to bridge divides, build community and heal wounds of war. Born in New York and a long-time resident of the Netherlands, Laura combined a background in civil rights and peace activism with her diverse musical network to found Musicians Without Borders in 1999, persuaded of music’s unique power to contribute to peacebuilding and social change. With long-term projects in the Balkans, the Middle East, Eastern Africa, Central America and Europe, Musicians Without Borders is now a global leader in an increasingly recognized field. A frequently invited speaker, writer, and presenter, Laura has received international recognition for her work, including numerous awards from Dutch, US and international cultural, humanitarian and academic institutions.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOcprjBm2L4&ab_channel=PlumVillageApp https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wbj7czyHHLs&ab_channel=PlumVillageApp https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrB_zRl3di0&ab_channel=PlumVillageApp