Best Yasmin Aliya Khan Podcasts (2024)

1
Will Ireland Ever Reunite? Part Two 36:35

1M ago36:35

36:35

We continue our story of the history of Ireland, exploring the Easter Rising, the Irish Free State, the Troubles, and finally, independence. But the story doesn't end with independence... is reunification possible by the end of the decade?By Yasmin Aliya Khan

1
Will Ireland Ever Reunite? Part One 23:48

2M ago23:48

23:48

Ireland is a place that's full of lore, culture, and history, and many Americans can trace their roots back to the island. However, the island is also known for enduring centuries of political turmoil, most (or all?) of which came from their neighbors, the English. After suffering through colonization efforts, cultural erasure, exploitation, and ev…

1
The Duniverse, Storytelling, and The Meaning of Life 24:10

3M ago24:10

24:10

I've been reading Dune lately, and while the capitalistic undertones of the story are hardly subtle, it got me thinking about the ways stories and mythologies inform culture and society. In this episode, we'll explore the meaning of life and the way fiction can help us unravel the mysteries of our own existence.…

1
Valentine's Day, Lupercalia, and Spiritual Symbolism 22:24

3M ago22:24

22:24

Many people believe the modern holiday of Valentine's Day originated in the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia. That may or may not be true, but as religion, governments, and other power systems evolved across Europe and the Middle East, we also saw the roots of a few other modern phenomena emerge.…

1
Ecuador: A Paradise Lost to Cartel Violence 28:16

4M ago28:16

28:16

Ecuador was once the most peaceful country in South America even though it was bordered by two of the world's largest cocaine producers. However, despite political and economic instability throughout the years, things took a violent turn in Ecuador once a Colombian ceasefire between the government and the cocaine-peddling guerrillas left a power va…

1
A Look Back at Ten Episodes 26:24

5M ago26:24

26:24

Happy New Year, everyone. To kick off 2024, I thought it'd be a good idea to look back at the first ten episodes of the Modern Context podcast and get some updates on the stories we covered. Before we can move forward, we have to understand where we came from. And so, onward into the future!By Yasmin Aliya Khan

1
I Believe All Will Be Forgiven 25:56

5M ago25:56

25:56

Welcome to the Christmas season, to the nights of Hanukkah, and the days of Yule. It's officially the Winter Solstice and with that comes a litany of winter-related celebrations. Regardless of what you choose to celebrate or how you celebrate, there's one thing that underlies each holiday -- belief. In this episode, we explore the incessant and unc…

1
Henry Kissinger: The Man, The Legacy, The Reckoning 32:46

6M ago32:46

32:46

Henry Kissinger is dead. A servant of these United States until his quiet, well-earned death, Kissinger leaves behind a legacy that is either reprehensible and unforgivable or respectable and ingenious -- depends on who you ask. In this episode, we'll look back on the illustrious and horrifying career of a man who's been credited with protecting de…

1
Black Friday and The Undeniable Suburbia of It All 27:33

6M ago27:33

27:33

Black Friday is upon us once again. On this, an unapologetically consumerist holiday, if you want to call it that, we celebrate shopping. Commerce. Retail. Profit for the sake of... Christmas. But how did Black Friday come to be, why does it have such a chokehold on the suburbs, and how is its societal impacts and influences changing with the times…

1
Thanksgiving: Gratitude and Guilt in Trying Times 28:49

7M ago28:49

28:49

It's hard to get through a holiday season these days without hearing about the problematic histories behind some of our most cherished American traditions. With Thanksgiving just around the corner and the word "genocide" already all over the news and social media, we can expect this holiday season to be especially fraught with complex and difficult…

1
Guatemala: A Former Banana Republic's (Ongoing) Fight For Democracy 30:30

7M ago30:30

30:30

The Guatemalan people have endured centuries of colonial rule, decades of corrupt leadership, and a CIA-backed military coup. The former banana republic has had its lands and its people exploited, and it saw its indigenous Maya population decimated by cruelty and greed. But today, there's hope for a better future in Guatemala. The people have democ…

1
Speaker of the House: Who Will Replace McCarthy and What's Next For Congress? 28:31

8M ago28:31

28:31

With the historic ousting of the now-former Speaker of the House, Kevin McCarthy, who will replace him? Also, how did the Speakership find itself just two spots away from the presidency? As the world plunges into fresh chaos, the US government's legislative branch is lagging behind in terms of a response, wasting time that we no longer have on pett…

1
Armenia and Azerbaijan: A Tale of Two Territories 38:41

8M ago38:41

38:41

Last week, Azerbaijan invaded the Nagorno-Karabakh territory after a three-year-long stalemate, expelling the majority Armenian population that lived there. Technically, the land already belongs to Azerbaijan. In fact, the region exists entirely within Azerbaijan's borders. However, Armenians have a historical claim to the area as their ancestors h…

1
Existentialism and Exasperation: Coping with Global Uncertainty 31:05

9M ago31:05

31:05

Title: Existentialism and Exasperation: Coping with Global Uncertainty I think about death a lot, not in a morbid way, but in a reverent way. How about you? In a world where everything feels scary and somewhat hopeless, when the planet is literally revolting against human action, it’s easy and understandable to fall into despair. But maybe the lens…

1
Debating Debates: The Intersection of Language, Culture, and Politics 35:05

9M ago35:05

35:05

Did you catch the first Republican presidential debate last week? Full disclosure: I didn't watch it, but it got me thinking -- in a two-party system when the political spectrum has become so polarized, are debates still a necessary part of our election process? In this episode, we discuss the nature of language and communication, the ways we expre…

1
Guyana: Little Country, Big Oil 36:27

10M ago36:27

36:27

What happens when a valuable natural resource is discovered in a small, foreign nation? If history is to be believed, things don’t always work out so well for the small, foreign nation – but is there a chance that they could? Guyana sits on the Atlantic coast of South America, the only English-speaking nation on the continent, populated primarily w…

1
Introducing MODERN CONTEXT with Yasmin Aliya Khan 1:37

11M ago1:37

1:37

Context is lacking, and frankly, it’s a problem. Modern Context is a podcast that delves into the stories behind the headlines–the important people involved, but also the everyday people being affected; the socio-political landscapes influencing them, but also the geo-political landscapes; the ideas being pushed, and the thoughts and feelings those…

1
Season 2, Episode 7 | Ethiopia 39:21

2+ y ago39:21

39:21

An ancient civilization that's unfortunately come to be known for famine and civil war, the conflict in Ethiopia now threatens to destabilize the entire Horn of Africa.--- Support this podcast: https://www.patreon.com/globalthreadBy Yasmin Aliya Khan

1
Sudan [and South Sudan] 35:20

2+ y ago35:20

35:20

Sudanese Interim Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok was deposed in a military coup in October... only to be reinstated in November. The coup resulted in widespread protests, but the protests haven't stopped since Hamdok's return. Find out what the people of Sudan are protesting now and, of course, how we got to this point. --- Support this podcast: http…

1
Season 2, Episode 5 | China's Belt and Road Initiative 28:27

2+ y ago28:27

28:27

China’s Belt and Road Initiative is a massive infrastructure project that they’re rolling out across Asia, Africa, and parts of Europe. By investing in nations around the globe, China is effectively expanding its sphere of influence. What could this mean for the US and its allies, and what can be done, if anything, to counter China’s approach? --- …

1
Season 2, Episode 4 | Afghanistan, Part 2 43:50

2+ y ago43:50

43:50

We’re back with Part 2 of our coverage of the situation in Afghanistan. In this episode, we discuss the Taliban, Osama bin Laden, the post-9/11 era, and the recent removal of US troops from Afghanistan. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/global-thread/supportBy Yasmin Aliya Khan

1
Season 2, Episode 3 | Afghanistan, Part 1 33:05

2+ y ago33:05

33:05

To call the situation in Afghanistan “complex” is an understatement, so much so that I had to split this topic up into two episodes. In Part 1, we cover the history of Afghanistan, the Truman Doctrine, the Cold War, and the beginnings of the modern Afghan government. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/global-thread/support…

1
Season 2, Episode 2 | Belarus 39:46

2+ y ago39:46

39:46

Belarus is a landlocked country that sits at the apex of several larger and more powerful nations. Under the authoritarian leadership of Alexander Lukashenko, the Belarusians have suffered more than their fair share of crimes against humanity. After such a complex and sordid history, though, why is Belarus so relevant to geopolitics today? --- Supp…

1
Season 2, Episode 1 | Taiwan v. China 30:51

3y ago30:51

30:51

China is currently readying its military in anticipation of reclaiming what they believe to be theirs - the island of Taiwan. However, with the US and Japan allied with Taiwan in an effort to curb Chinese aggression and ambition, the implications of a Chinese attack on Taiwan could be huge. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/global-thread/…

1
Episode #8 | Unrest in Haiti 40:03

3y ago40:03

40:03

Haiti, a nation that's unfortunately come to be known for enduring incessant hardship, is currently experiencing political unrest primarily surrounding demands for its current president to step down amidst increased government corruption, police brutality, and kidnappings. Couple that with a citizenship/deportation issue (among other things), and y…

1
Episode #7 | Armenia vs. Azerbaijan: Nagorno-Karabakh 33:15

3y ago33:15

33:15

After decades of conflict over the contested Nagorno-Karabakh region, Armenia and Azerbaijan have recently re-ignited the fight. What led to this conflict, why are Russia and Turkey involved, and what outcome can any of us hope for? --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/global-thread/supportBy Yasmin Aliya Khan

1
Episode #6 | The Biden Administration's Attack in Syria 37:00

3y ago37:00

37:00

Last week, the Biden administration launched their first foreign attack against Iranian-backed militia based in Syria. Why did they do this, what other options did they have, and what are the foreign policy implications of the decision? --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/global-thread/support…

1
Episode #5 | Rebel Violence in the Central African Republic 27:23

3y ago27:23

27:23

The Central African Republic, or the CAR, is currently dealing with some post-election drama that was years in the making. Conflict between various rebel groups has decimated the land and displaced or killed large swaths of the population. Political unrest and instability have, in a direct way, contributed to the growing tensions over the years, wi…

1
Episode #4 | The Texas Energy Crisis and Enron 28:43

3+ y ago28:43

28:43

Last week, the Texas power grid failed horribly as the result of deregulatory energy policies, lack of oversight, and lack of preparedness. When the state was hit with frigid cold temperatures, ice, and snow, millions of Texans were left without electricity or gas to heat their homes, without a reliable water supply, and without cell service. Dozen…

1
Episode #3 | The Release of Loujain al-Hathloul 20:57

3+ y ago20:57

20:57

Women's rights activist and advocate for women's right to drive, Loujain al-Hathloul, has been released from prison in Saudi Arabia. Her release was the direct result of the Biden administration's efforts to stand up against human rights abuses taking place in Saudi Arabia, but what does her release mean, and why was she imprisoned in the first pla…

1
Episode #2 | Military Coup in Myanmar 22:44

3+ y ago22:44

22:44

The Southeast Asian nation of Myanmar has suffered its fair share of one-party military rule interspersed with periods of attempted democracy. In the latest instance, the military police has overthrown the November 2020 election results claiming widespread voter fraud with little to no evidence. The leader of the National League for Democracy Party…

1
Episode #1 | The Farmers Protest in India 25:54

3+ y ago25:54

25:54

The farmers in India are - and have been for some time - protesting against their government's recently released farming reform bills. The combined effects of the bills would make life significantly harder for the already troubled farmers while inviting large multinational corporations into India's agriculture industry. Are the bills all bad, thoug…

1
Welcome to the Global Thread Podcast 2:25

3+ y ago2:25

2:25

Hello, I'm Yasmin Aliya Khan and I'm the host of Global Thread, a podcast that seeks to understand the world by digging into the past. Here's what you can expect from the pod - keep an ear out! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/global-thread/supportBy Yasmin Aliya Khan

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