Best Aaron Weintraub Podcasts (2024)

1
April Cuenca 50:10

11M ago50:10

50:10

April Cuenca is from the Philippines. She moved two Erbil about two years ago and is a grants manager in Shareteah Humanitarian Organisation (SHO). She is also a certified yoga teacher, certified in trauma informed yoga, sound healing and therapy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By KurdistanIN

1
Director Sahim Omar Kalifa 37:07

12M ago37:07

37:07

We met the Kurdish-Belgian director Sahim Omar Kalifa in Zakho and we talked about his movies Baghdad Messi and Land of heroes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By KurdistanIN

1
Stella Martany 34:50

1y ago34:50

34:50

Stella Martany is a fixer and journalist based out of Erbil. Like many fixers in KRI, she got her start covering the war against ISIS in Mosul, but she joins me today to talk about how she's developed since then, explaining the differences between reporting during and after the war and the challenges with both. See omnystudio.com/listener for priva…

1
"The Post-War Political Economy" (with Isadora Gotts) 40:26

1y ago40:26

40:26

Isadora Gotts is a Ph. D. student whose background is primarily focused around Mosul's shifting economy after the 2017 liberation. She has now expanded her research towards focusing on the city's economic and cultural outlook as whole, with a particular emphasis towards its municipal planning and layout as well as how its economy affects and intera…

1
LGBTQ+ History in Kurdistan, Iraq, Syria and the Middle East (with Lilith) 47:26

1y ago47:26

47:26

It's an Inside Kurdistan Pride extravaganza! Today we're joined by Lilith, an advocate and KRI transplant to come give us some of the best stories fun facts of past civilizations' queer icons. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By KurdistanIN

1
Nasir SK 36:28

1y ago36:28

36:28

In the second episode of our fixer series, Nasir talks about his background growing up in and leaving Iran, his work in Syria during the war from 2014-2018 and his continued work in KRI, specifically with his work as a translator and remote fixer during the past year's uprising in his home country. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informatio…

1
Halan Akoiy 33:40

1y ago33:40

33:40

Halan Akoiy is a fixer and producer in KRI and Iraq. He began his career covering the ISIS conflict in Mosul and has since branched out into delving into the cultural relations and history that defines contemporary Iraq and Kurdistan. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By KurdistanIN

1
Dr. Nesreen Barwari 45:07

1y ago45:07

45:07

Dr. Barwari is a former KRG and Iraqi Federal Government Minister whose work in public planning after the fall of the Ba'athist regime in the country helped to define both Iraq and KRI in the following decades. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By KurdistanIN

1
Genvalues (with Carwan Rasoal) 25:21

1y ago25:21

25:21

With job recruiting becoming more decentralized and the influence of Artificial Intelligence growing, it's important to examine how the cultural values of a region may affect a vital aspect like employment. Carwan Rasoal is the founder and CEO of Genvalues, a job recruitment site that puts an emphasis on the ethical values of an employee- specifica…

1
Meditation for Trauma and Conflict Survivors (with Brenda Hershey) 38:34

1y ago38:34

38:34

Brenda Hershey is the president and founder of TRY Global- be sure to check out their information below. https://www.tryglobal.org/ Upcoming training in Erbil (May 26-27): https://www.tryglobal.org/iraq Donate to Syria project: https://gogetfunding.com/help-folks-in-northeast-syria-bring-trauma-recovery-yoga-to-their-communities/ Our research study…

1
PLAY 97.1 (89.1 in Erbil) and Electronic Music in KRI (with Rasan Nawzad/Kurdoz) 27:53

1y ago27:53

27:53

Below are some of PLAY 97.1's programs, check them out here: "The Morning Show" is live three times a week at 8 AM and brings both local and global updates on entertainment and the media world alongside new music releases and artist updates, presented in local, easy-to relate-to Kurdish. Every week the show is joined by an interesting guest and the…

1
Suli Football Friends (with Artin Barawi) 27:23

1y ago27:23

27:23

Artin Barawi is the club manager and founder of Suli Football Friends. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By KurdistanIN

1
Addressing Kurdistan's Water Crisis (with Nabil Musa) 37:07

1+ y ago37:07

37:07

Water is one of the most important growing topics in Iraq and KRI, and the most important aspect of understanding the water crisis of the region is understanding the historical decisions, from both the public and private sectors, that has allowed for pollution, drought and disease to spread and affect hundreds of communities whose futures are now a…

1
Intersectionality and Climate Change (with Enje Jawher) 36:33

1+ y ago36:33

36:33

Understanding the importance of climate change is difficult without understanding the larger economic political and cultural systems that have allowed the planet to get to the point where it is today. Intersectionality is a philosophical approach toward understanding the relationship between an unlimited number of different factors that indicate wh…

1
Mental Health for Survivors of Conflict 45:06

1+ y ago45:06

45:06

While we've touched on mental health through many different perspectives in the region, we've never actually covered one of the chief perpetrators of mental health issues in Iraq and KRI. The past 20 years of conflict has touched every single person in this region and the effects of first and second-hand trauma are complicated and vary on each indi…

1
The Rights of a Child in Iraq and KRI (with Noor Musa) 41:05

1+ y ago41:05

41:05

Children's rights is a difficult topic to cover in this region. This is largely due to a lack of centralized legislation around the topic. There are labor laws, education laws and criminal laws, but there is no centrally codified legislation that protects children in Iraq. This leads to a variety of different human rights infringements here, child …

1
Sustainable Housing in KRI (with Muslim Mohammed) 19:21

1+ y ago19:21

19:21

There are three major categories to focus on with regards to real estate in Iraq and KRI. The first two are financial and infrastructural, the money that changes hands here and the development plans that have rapidly changed certain areas of the cities in the region. But the third category - environmental sustainability - often goes overlooked. Whi…

1
The Current Situation with Peshmerga Training (with Lelo Majeed) 26:19

1+ y ago26:19

26:19

Lelo majeed is the first woman to complete the Sandhurst Military Training Program for international military personnel. We discuss her training as well as the current situation with the Peshmerga forces and the political developments of the past six months due to the uprising in Iran See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

1
Passivehouse Construction (with Muslim Mohammad) 19:21

1+ y ago19:21

19:21

There are three major factors to consider when discussing real estate in Iraq: money and infrastructural issues often dominate the conversation. But the importance of environmentally sustainable construction is increasingly dominating the conversation around development in the country. Passive House construction is based around the concept of a sin…

1
Digitalizing the KRG (with Dep. Minister Hiwa Afandi) 30:00

1+ y ago30:00

30:00

The idea of digital records is a fundamental cornerstone for well established, developed democracies all around the world. It's easy to take digitalization for granted. But the struggle to implement a digital system for areas such as migration, education and health is Deputy Minster Hiwa Afandi's task in the Kurdistan Regional Government. We discus…

1
Real Estate, Development and Safety in Erbil (with Mohamad Shwany) 32:59

1+ y ago32:59

32:59

Mohammad Shwany is the CEO and founder of the Real Estate company Malumulk here in Erbil. In our conversation we talk about the economic system that has allowed for development, real estate and property ownership to skyrocket in this city. But we also focus on the weak points of that system, for example the lack of incentive to focus on safety, in …

1
Namo Socks! (with Namo Rasul) 20:52

1+ y ago20:52

20:52

There's not really much of a description to write for Namo Socks. We just liked the socks and decided to do a quick podcast interview. Check out Namo's website below, as well as our video below. https://kurdistanin.net/blog/namo-socks https://namosocks.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

1
Migrant Worker Exploitation in Iraq and KRI II (with "Brenda" from Ghana) 34:44

1+ y ago34:44

34:44

In this second interview concerning abuse and exploitation committed against migrant workers, we speak with Brenda, who focuses on the issues workers from Ghana face in Erbil, KRI and Iraq. Specifically, we focus on the consequences of expired residency (iqama) that traps many Ghanaians in the country after their work contracts have expired. See om…

1
Sustainability for the Next Generation (with Naseem Azeez) 24:47

1+ y ago24:47

24:47

Naseem Azeez is an activist focusing on sustainable development goals in Iraq and Kurdistan. She's specializing in climate action, gender equality and Below, she's provided information on the Hurricane Island Project and how to vote for her: 1. Open the link: https://upglive.org/vote-naseem 2. Click on "Register to vote" and fill in the data. 3. Su…

1
Transgender Issues in Iraq and Kurdistan (with Kween B) 46:12

1+ y ago46:12

46:12

With anti-advocacy legislation still in play in the Kurdistan Regional Government's Parliament, the situation for the queer community in Iraq and Kurdistan is more uncertain than it has been in decades. In this first of two episodes with guest Kween B, we explore the complicated nature of gender and politics in the region, as well as the issues the…

1
Director Mano Khalil 34:12

1+ y ago34:12

34:12

In the last interview from the Duhok International Film Festival, Mano Khalil discusses his film: Neighbors, a film that explores a Syrian village's Arabization as Assad's Baathist regime begins to assert it's influence in the northern Kurdish region of the country. The story focuses on 6-year-old Sero, as he observes his classes change with a new …

1
Director Sean Wang 21:31

1+ y ago21:31

21:31

Sean Wang's film: A Marble Travelogue, may not seem like it has much to do with the Kurdistan Region on it's surface. The documentary follows China's growing demand for marble, specifically marble sourced from an economically struggling Greece. The film explores the complicated nature of modern globalized capitalism. Different aspects of the indust…

1
Director Kae Bahar 39:32

1+ y ago39:32

39:32

In this first of three different director interviews from the Duhok International Film Festival, Kurdish Director, Actor and Documentarian Kae Bahar talks about the needs of Kurdish media in the future, as well as his own short film submission: Where Was I? Kae Bahar's Website, Joka Films: https://www.jokafilms.com/English/ Where Was I? Trailer: ht…

1
Teaching the Next Generation of Kurdish Filmmakers (with Muriel Aboulrouss) 19:01

1+ y ago19:01

19:01

In this episode, the first of a series of different conversations collected from the Duhok International Film Festival, I sat down with cinematographer Muriel Aboulrouss. She serves as a jury at the festival this year, as well as an instructor in the festival's Nuhat program. We discuss her own artistic approach to film, as well as her insight into…

1
Migrant Worker Exploitation in KRI (with Christine Chatto Luna) 35:32

1+ y ago35:32

35:32

The Kurdistan Region of Iraq sits in a very precarious position when it comes to international diplomacy, and one of the consequences of this position is the inability for migrant workers to access proper legal aid and safety from abusive and exploitative employers. Christine Chatto Luna is a business owner and president of the Filipino overseas co…

1
Environmental and Economic Sustainability in KRI (with Jaco Beerends) 35:21

1+ y ago35:21

35:21

Jaco Beerends is the Consul General for the Netherlands in KRI. His agenda contains five different pillars, including focusing on local economics and security to ensure growth in the Kurdistan region as well as with Dutch-Kurdish relations in the future. In particular, we focus on agricultural sustainability and conservation as a cornerstone for th…

1
The Problems with Mental Healthcare in KRI (with Dr. Mohammed Khoshnaw) 39:59

1+ y ago39:59

39:59

The Kurdistan Region has a series of different challenges with healthcare in general, as discussed in previous episodes (Min. Saman Barzinji). These problems often manifest themselves through logistical challenges, such as space available in public hospitals, and the availability of certain medications throughout the region. These problems exist in…

1
David Hunt 30:50

1+ y ago30:50

30:50

David Hunt is the Consulate General representing the United Kingdom in Erbil. Among a variety of different responsibilities Hunt has with navigating the political differences in KRI and Iraq as well as implementing projects ranging from digitalization to environmental sustainability in Kurdistan. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

1
Education for displaced children (with Jessica Prentice) 36:28

1+ y ago36:28

36:28

In 2014, as families were fleeing from their homes because of the threat of the Islamic State and relocating to camps, not much emphasis was put on the continuation of proper education for the children in these communities. Jessica Prentice has specialized in developing educational groundwork in KRI for the Yezidi communities that have still not be…

1
LGBTQ Rights in Kurdistan and Iraq 40:28

1+ y ago40:28

40:28

Today two guests from the queer community in Kurdistan come to talk about issues ranging from isolation and mental health issues to the recent spike in violence towards gay, trans and other individuals in the LGBTQ community. We also discuss the new legislation currently being proposed regarding expression, advocacy and coverage of queer identity a…

1
Sangar Khaleel- Part 2 32:39

1+ y ago32:39

32:39

Since 2014, Sangar Khaleel has played a key role in helping develop some of the most important stories in Iraq and KRI as a fixer for international reporters coming to the region. He got his start during Mosul's liberation, the city where he grew up, and has since become one of the most prominent and highly skilled fixers in Iraq and KRI. In the se…

1
Sangar Khaleel 27:32

2y ago27:32

27:32

Since 2014, Sangar Khaleel has played a key role in helping develop some of the most important stories in Iraq and KRI as a fixer for international reporters coming to the region. He got his start during Mosul's liberation, the city where he grew up, and has since become one of the most prominent and highly skilled fixers in Iraq and KRI. In the fi…

1
Xeyal Qertel 28:31

2y ago28:31

28:31

Xeyal Qertel grew up in Turkey. Her parents, school and community imparted on her from a young age that her Kurdish identity must be kept a secret. After moving to New York and embracing her heritage more outside of the Kurdistan region, she decided to establish the New York Kurdish Film Festival in 2017. The 2022 festival will begin on October 14t…

1
Public and Private Schools in Kurdistan (with Azhin Sayd Abdullah) 31:39

2y ago31:39

31:39

The past decade of education in Kurdistan has been defined by budgetary struggles and a lack of resources for both students and teachers. Education being an enormous topic for any discussion, so for this episode, we've focused on the difference between public and private schools in Kurdistan. Azhin Sayd Abdullah has had experience teaching at both …

1
Noor Matti 26:25

2y ago26:25

26:25

Noor Matti doesn't require much of an introduction in Erbil. The longtime host of Babylon FM has played an active media role in Kurdistan and Iraq for a decade since he helped found the radio station. He is now stepping back to focus more on his NGO, Shlama Foundation, which focuses primarily on developing housing and infrastructure projects for co…

1
Dr. Mohamed Ihsan 31:33

2y ago31:33

31:33

Following the Barzan genocide in 1983, no one knew what happened to the thousands men who were executed. Dr. Mohammed Ihsan began his work on recovering their bodies over thiry years ago and to this day remains an advocate and scholar in the field of human rights in Kurdistan, Iraq and on the global stage. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy in…

1
Dr. Randall Rhodes 23:36

2y ago23:36

23:36

Randall Rhodes is the President of the American University in Kurdistan. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By KurdistanIN

1
Bilind Dilshad 25:42

2y ago25:42

25:42

The rising gym culture in Erbil has lead to an increased emphasis on steroid and hormone use for workouts. This, coupled with a lack of consistent regulation, has lead to new health crisis in Kurdistan, spurred on by a plethora of protein stores that sell illegal and dangerous supplements to whoever might be interested. BIlind Dilshad is a register…

1
Minister of Health Saman Barzinji 32:47

2y ago32:47

32:47

Minister of Health, Dr. Saman Barzinji discusses the current obstacles and improvements of Kurdistan's health sector, with specific focus on the differences between public and private hospitals and their capacity in the KRI. He also discusses the discrepancy between rural and urban healthcare and the availability of vital medication in remote areas…

1
Representing Kurdistan in DC (with Bayan Sami Abdul Rahman) 30:20

2y ago30:20

30:20

The KRI is in a unique diplomatic position, operating as an autonomous region rather than a sovereign country. Bayan Sami Abdul Rahman has spent nearly a decade in Washington DC. She's operated as the KRG's chief diplomat in the United States. Representative Abdul Rahman has served as Kurdistan's ambassador through multiple presidential administrat…

1
Kurdish Music and Musicology (with Boran Zaza) 28:33

2y ago28:33

28:33

Within all forms of Western Classic music there are regional variations. Most Western composers can differentiate Viennese and Italian composers, and in the Middle East, Oriental composition has the same diversity. Kurdish music has a long history of appropriating and being appropriated from Turkish, Iranian, Iraqi and Levantine classic composition…

1
Archeology and Preservation (with Professors Glenn Schwartz and Zainab Bahrani) 39:16

2y ago39:16

39:16

With the Mesopotamian Region's rich and deep history, it's a given that the fields of archeology and heritage preservation would take root in Iraq and Kurdistan. But with the current and past political developments in the region, coupled with a recent pandemic, excavation and preservation projects have run into numerous obstacles. Professors Schwar…

1
The Importance of Research in a Young Democracy (with Dlawar Ala'Aldeen) 31:15

2y ago31:15

31:15

Dlawar Ala'Aldeen has worked as a researcher, a professor and a minister in the KRG throughout his career. But his work can all be tied to a common theme of merging the partisan world of policy with the objective, data-based, peer-reviewed one of scientific research. His current institute, MERI (Middle East Research Institute) is dedicated to towar…

1
Animal Rights and Abuse in Kurdistan (with Ashti Falakadin) 25:25

2y ago25:25

25:25

In this episode we examine the development of animal rights in Kurdistan and Iraq with Ashti Falakadin, who is an animal rights activist based out or Erbil. In the past ten years, the culture of pets has shifted dramatically in the region, as has the treatment of livestock and working animals. Falakadin has been on the forefront of advocacy, now he…

1
Culture and the Coalition (with Tanya Aziz) 24:21

2y ago24:21

24:21

Tanya Aziz is the Coalition Commanding General's special advisor for cultural affairs and politics. She talks about the personal stake of working between cultures in a military capacity, the loss of her friend and colleague, Husham al- Hashimi, who was murdered in 2019, and the current and future state of the Coalition as it continues to combat ter…

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