Best Servant Group International Podcasts (2024)

1
Sledgehammer: The Wagner cult in Syria 54:52

7d ago54:52

54:52

Send Alia a Text Message Host and Nonresident Senior Fellow Alia Brahimi chats with the defence researcher Jack Margolin about his new book on the Wagner Group. They focus on its operations in support of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, and the central place of Syria within the Wagner subculture. They also discuss the ever-present profit motive for…

1
"Borrowed servants"? PMCs and sadism at Abu Ghraib 1:02:30

1M ago1:02:30

1:02:30

Send Alia a Text Message Alia is joined by the international criminal lawyer Katherine Gallagher to explore her litigation against a prominent PMC for war crimes at Abu Ghraib. Katherine talks us through the sixteen-year legal fight on behalf of former Iraqi detainees, the various defences invoked by CACI Premier Technology Inc., and the decision-m…

1
I was a Blackwater mercenary in Iraq 59:48

3M ago59:48

59:48

Send Alia a Text Message Alia is joined by former Blackwater contractor Morgan Lerette. In a wide-ranging conversation about Morgan's experiences, they look at Blackwater’s lax vetting procedures, the tense relationship on the ground between private contractors and the US military, the absence of long-term benefits or a support system for former Bl…

1
Mercenary meatgrinder: The price of Bakhmut 1:01:48

4M ago1:01:48

1:01:48

Send Alia a Text Message Alia is joined by the Russian reporter and photojournalist, David Frenkel, to consider the staggering toll of the “Bakhmut meatgrinder”– Russia’s bloodiest battle since the Second World War. They talk through his latest report from independent Russian news platform Mediazona and the BBC Russian Service, “The Price of Bakhmu…

1
What makes Colombian mercenaries so interesting? 47:05

5M ago47:05

47:05

Send Alia a Text Message Host Alia Brahimi speaks with Dr Andrés Macías, a Bogota-based expert on Colombian mercenaries. They begin by discussing the explosive case of 26 Colombian nationals arrested for their part in the 2021 assassination of Haitian president Jovenel Moïse. Andrés goes on to look at the thousands of Colombians who enlist under th…

1
American hit-squad in Yemen 48:17

6M ago48:17

48:17

Send Alia a Text Message In the season two opener of the Guns for Hire podcast, Alia chats with Emmy award-winning BBC investigative journalist Nawal Al-Maghafi about her film exposing American mercenaries in Yemen. One of the few journalists to report from Yemen first-hand, Nawal discusses the Delaware-registered PMC contracted by the UAE to kill …

1
Kurdish History with Erik 32:28

8M ago32:28

32:28

Between Iraq and a Hard Place: Episode 62 We're back with Erik! And he shares a more thorough walk through the old history of the Kurds. Learn more over at www.ServantGroup.org and email Hannah with questions at hannah@servantgroup.org. Here's a Rough Transcript!Hannah: Welcome to between Iraq and a Hard Place. I'm Hannah. Colleen: And I'm Colleen.…

1
Mercenaries and Gaza 49:04

10M ago49:04

49:04

Send Alia a Text Message In Episode 10 of the Guns for Hire podcast, host Alia Brahimi is joined by Renad Mansour, an expert on Iraq, Iran and allied groups. As the region convulses from the war in Gaza, they begin by assessing reports that the Wagner Group has been tasked with transferring a Russian air defence system from Syria to Hizballah in Le…

1
What's Charlie Sheen got to do with it? 1:02:05

12M ago1:02:05

1:02:05

Send Alia a Text Message In episode nine of the Guns for Hire podcast, host Alia Brahimi speaks with the Russia analyst Sergey Sukhankin about the 2019 arrest in Libya of the Wagner Group political operative Maksim Shugaley and the Russian propaganda campaign to free him. They discuss Russian political and media operations in Africa, from Libya to …

1
Prosecuting the Wagner Group 47:53

1y ago47:53

47:53

Send Alia a Text Message Lawfare is the use of legal systems for strategic advantage. One of its pioneers, the international human rights lawyer Jason McCue, joins host Alia Brahimi on episode eight of the Guns for Hire podcast. Jason describes how he first began pursuing the IRA through private civil actions in the 1990s and goes on to outline the…

1
Car Crashes and Kurdish Culture 26:50

1y ago26:50

26:50

Between Iraq and a Hard Place: Episode 61 Part 2 of our interview with Erik about life and culture in Iraq. Also, an amazing story of how he survived a 100mph crash on a highway! Learn more over at www.ServantGroup.org and email Hannah with questions at hannah@servantgroup.org. Here's a Rough Transcript! Hannah: Welcome to Between Iraq and a Hard P…

1
Tracking mercenaries 37:22

1y ago37:22

37:22

Send Alia a Text Message As humans share more of their experiences online for the world to see, the blank zones are shrinking. In episode seven of the Guns for Hire podcast, host Alia Brahimi is joined by Eliot Higgins, an award-winning journalist and founder of the independent investigative collective, Bellingcat. Eliot, who was personally sued by…

1
Semtex teddy bear: The mercenary build-up in Libya 48:23

1y ago48:23

48:23

Send Alia a Text Message Host Alia Brahimi is joined by the Libyan security expert and Atlantic Council Nonresident Senior Fellow Emadeddin Badi. They discuss the surge of African, Syrian and Russian mercenaries in Libya since 2019, the major value-add of Wagner Group contractors in terms of utilising Libya's Soviet-era weapons and mortar and snipi…

1
Mercenary bloodline: The war in Sudan 1:06:05

1+ y ago1:06:05

1:06:05

Send Alia a Text Message In this bumper episode on the war in Sudan, host Alia Brahimi speaks with the former US government expert on Sudan, Cameron Hudson, about the mercenary pedigree of the Rapid Support Forces and its transformation from a ragtag Arab militia into an institutional juggernaut. Cameron argues that this mercenary history has had a…

1
“What just happened?” The Wagner Group mutiny 40:57

1+ y ago40:57

40:57

Send Alia a Text Message Host Alia Brahimi speaks with renowned Russia expert Mark Galeotti about the striking developments which saw mutinous mercenary forces from the Wagner Group take over two Russian cities and march towards Moscow. Mark argues that the plot was not picked up in a timely manner precisely because the Wagner Group is a mercenary …

1
What's so bad about mercenaries? 38:31

1+ y ago38:31

38:31

Send Alia a Text Message Alia is joined by the philosopher Professor Tony Coady, who examines the key characteristics of mercenaries, including the motivation for private gain. They discuss the Geneva Conventions definition of mercenaries, the gray area of military contractors in support roles, and whether it’s possible to base a moral or legal jud…

1
Being a Single Guy in Iraq 30:40

1+ y ago30:40

30:40

Between Iraq and a Hard Place: Episode 60 Hannah and Colleen interview our friend and teammate, Erik, about his life and experiences teaching and living in Iraq as well as his studies of Kurdish history and culture. Learn more over at www.ServantGroup.org and email Hannah with questions at hannah@servantgroup.org. Also, here's a link to the book Er…

1
What Russian mercenaries tell us about Russia 50:39

1+ y ago50:39

50:39

Send Alia a Text Message Host Alia Brahimi talks to the Russian defense analyst Dr Pavel Luzin about what the proliferation of Russian mercenaries abroad tells us about Russia at home. They explore the domestic forces that gave rise to the Kremlin’s co-optation of Russian mercenaries, how they are funded by the Russian federal budget, and the effec…

1
Parks and Rec Iraq Department 28:54

1+ y ago28:54

28:54

Between Iraq and a Hard Place: Episode 59 Hannah and Colleen embark on the many uses of the Iraqi Kurdish Park and the many varieties of Recreation available in Kurdish parks. There's workout equipment, food carts, fairs, amusement parks, roller skating, strange statues and more! Come take a walk with us through our favorite and least favorite park…

1
Defeating the Wagner Group 52:23

1+ y ago52:23

52:23

Send Alia a Text Message In the launch episode of the Guns for Hire podcast, host Alia Brahimi speaks with the author and former mercenary Dr Sean McFate about his three-pronged strategy for defeating the Wagner Group. They also discuss internal dynamics within the Kremlin-linked private military company, the dangerously outsized influence of its l…

1
Helping After Another Earthquake in Turkey 14:59

1+ y ago14:59

14:59

Between Iraq and a Hard Place: Episode 58 This is a special update episode! Hannah and Colleen interview Robin, who helped SGI rebuild schools in Turkey after the big earthquakes in 1999. Those connections and relationships have opened up paths for us to serve in relief work and hopefully with rebuilding after these more recent earthquakes. We're s…

1
Promo 5:58

1+ y ago5:58

5:58

Send Alia a Text Message Introducing a new podcast series from the Atlantic Council in Washington DC. Taking Libya as its starting point, the Guns for Hire podcast explores the causes and implications of the growing use of mercenaries in armed conflict. Hosted by Dr Alia Brahimi. The Guns for Hire podcast is written, produced and hosted by Dr Alia …

1
Visiting the Team in Iraq 29:41

1+ y ago29:41

29:41

Between Iraq and a Hard Place: Episode 57 Learn more at www.ServantGroup.org/Iraq and email Hannah at hannah@servantgroup.org with questions, comments, or suggestions! Here's a rough transcript! Hannah: Welcome to Between Iraq and a Hard Place. I'm Hannah. Colleen: And I'm Colleen. And we're here to tell you a little bit about life in Iraq. Hannah:…

1
Tourism in Iraq (Dohuk Region) 11:19

2+ y ago11:19

11:19

Between Iraq and a Hard Place: Episode 56 Learn more at www.ServantGroup.org/Iraq and email Hannah at hannah@servantgroup.org with questions, comments, or suggestions! Hannah: A special mini episode for you! It's the last ten minutes of the previous episode about tourism in northern Iraq. This one is just about Duhok, baby! We realized that we were…

1
Tourist Sites in Iraqi Kurdistan (Suly and Erbil) 39:48

2+ y ago39:48

39:48

Between Iraq and a Hard Place: Episode 55 Learn more at www.ServantGroup.org/Iraq and email Hannah at hannah@servantgroup.org with questions, comments, or suggestions! Here's a rough transcript! Hannah: Welcome to between Iraq and a Hard Place! I'm Hannah! Colleen: And I'm Colleen! And we're here to tell you a little bit about life in Iraq! Hannah:…

1
28 Days in Kurdistan (Not a Horror Movie) 31:08

2+ y ago31:08

31:08

Between Iraq and a Hard Place: Episode 54 Hannah and Colleen have a conversation with Victoria, who went on our teacher training trip back in August of 2021. Hear her reactions, culture shock, what she learned, and whether or not she'd ever go back! Also find out about what to do when you break your ankle on a mountain hike! Lear more at www.Servan…

1
What is the Chaldean Church? - Part 3 31:00

3y ago31:00

31:00

Between Iraq and a Hard Place: Episode 53 Here's a rough transcript! Hannah: Welcome to "Between Iraq and a Hard Place". I'm Hannah! Colleen: And I'm Colleen. Hannah: And we're going to tell you about our life in Iraq. Colleen: It's going to be fun. Hannah: I hope so. Hannah: All right, part three. Modern Chaldean Church history, Colleen: Which you…

1
What is the Chaldean Church - Part 2 30:01

3y ago30:01

30:01

Between Iraq and a Hard Place: Episode 52 Hannah teaches Colleen more on the history and beliefs of the Chaldean Church in this, part two, of a three part series. This episode covers the re-unification of the Chaldean Catholic Church with Roman Catholic Church along with some of the distinguishing features of the Chaldean Catholic Church liturgy an…

1
What is the Chaldean Church - Part 1 31:30

3+ y ago31:30

31:30

Between Iraq and a Hard Place: Episode 51 Here's a rough transcript! Hannah: Welcome to Between Iraq and a Hard Place. I'm Hannah. Colleen: And I'm Colleen. Hannah: And we're going to tell you about our life in Iraq. Colleen: It's going to be fun. Hannah: I hope so. Colleen: As promised, this episode is going to be about the Chaldean Church. Hannah…

1
Ways Iraq Changed Us 31:27

3+ y ago31:27

31:27

Between Iraq and a Hard Place: Episode 50 Learn more over on our Iraq page! And send us questions and comments to Hannah@servantgroup.org. How have you been shaped by where you live? Here's a rough transcript of our episode on how Iraq changed us. Hannah: Welcome to "Between Iraq and a Hard Place." It's our fiftieth episode, Colleen! Colleen: I can…

1
Racism in Northern Iraq 27:21

3+ y ago27:21

27:21

Between Iraq and a Hard Place: Episode 49 Hannah and Colleen describe how they observed different skin colors and nationalities are treated and valued in Northern Iraq. How were our black teammates treated? Asian-looking ones? Is there a difference between how men and women of color are treated? We answer these questions and more! Learn more on our…

1
Going to the Movies in Iraq 28:37

3+ y ago28:37

28:37

Between Iraq and a Hard Place: Episode 48 Hannah and Colleen take a trip around the world and into a Middle Eastern movie theater. Sometimes watching a movie in Iraq is like a short visit to the United States, but other times it's more like visiting a different country… or a different planet where the spoken language is Arabic but the written langu…

1
Kim Stories 28:32

4y ago28:32

28:32

Between Iraq and a Hard Place: Episode 47 Here's a rough transcript! Hannah: Welcome to "Between Iraq and a Hard Place". I'm Hannah. Colleen: And I'm Colleen! Hannah: And we're going to tell you about our life in Iraq. Colleen: It's going to be fun! Hannah: I hope so. Colleen: All right. So today we get to talk to our office manager and so much mor…

1
Getting Exercise in Iraq - Work it Out 23:15

4y ago23:15

23:15

Between Iraq and a Hard Place: Episode 46 Hannah and Colleen talk about how they found ways to exercise in Iraq and the cultural stereotypes that accompany men's and women's opportunities to exercise. Should you bring a Wii? Should you plan to run a marathon? Contact us to learn more or with questions! Hannah@servantgroup.org Here's a rough transcr…

1
Church, People! 24:02

4y ago24:02

24:02

Between Iraq and a Hard Place: Episode 45 Here's a rough transcript! Hannah: Welcome to "Between Iraq and a Hard Place". I'm Hannah. Colleen: And I'm Colleen. Hannah: And we're going to tell you about our life in Iraq. Colleen: It's going to be fun. Hannah: I hope so. Let's talk about church, Colleen. Colleen: Sounds like a little bit of an imposin…

1
Iraq in the time of COVID 21:27

4y ago21:27

21:27

Between Iraq and Hard Place: Episode 44 Here's a rough transcript! Hannah: Welcome to Between Iraq and a Hard Place. I'm Hannah. Colleen: And I'm Colleen. Hannah: And we're going to tell you about our life in Iraq. Colleen: It's going to be fun. Hannah: I hope so. Colleen: For today, our topic is unlike most of our topics, because most of the time …

1
Super Sour Surprise! 20:11

4+ y ago20:11

20:11

Between Iraq and a Hard Place: Episode 43 Lemon, sumac, unripe fruit, pickles… sour food is overwhelmingly popular in Kurdistan. Hannah and Colleen chat about all the foods that make your mouth pucker and water in Kurdistan. Go grab your jar of pickles and join us in the culinary journey through sour foods in Iraqi Kurdistan! Learn more about joini…

1
Gender Rules in the Middle East - Men and Women in North Iraq 25:58

4+ y ago25:58

25:58

Between Iraq and a Hard Place: Episode 42 Hannah and Colleen share their experiences of the roles and rules around what it means to be a man or a woman (or boy or girl) in Kurdish culture. Expectations and limitations for both men and women are a bit different than our experiences in the United States and anyone thinking to visit would do well to k…

1
Social Media in the Middle East 26:25

4+ y ago26:25

26:25

Between Iraq and a Hard Place: Episode 41 Hannah and Colleen explore the difficult and sometimes humorous world of social media in Iraq. If you've never had a new Facebook friend go through all ten years of your photos and comments and like or comment on every single one, you should check this out! If you have… join us anyway to see your social med…

1
Cleanliness is Next To Godliness - Being Clean in Iraq 27:11

4+ y ago27:11

27:11

Between Iraq and a Hard Place: Episode 40 Colleen and Hannah talk about how the idea of cleanliness has some interesting cultural rules and expectations in Northern Iraq that make people mop their patios daily but throw trash in the street. What is clean and what is not? How important is being clean? How did we adapt our lives and practices to thei…

1
HospitaliTEA - Kurdish Hospitality 35:02

4+ y ago35:02

35:02

Between Iraq and a Hard Place - Episode 39 Hannah and Colleen talk about the beautiful extravagance of Kurdish hospitality and walk you through what it's like to go on a visit to a Kurdish or Middle Eastern home. Hospitality is a key cultural value and is both generous and overwhelming in Northern Iraq and sometimes even when we visit our Middle Ea…

1
Crisis, Isis, and Corona Virus! 29:35

4+ y ago29:35

29:35

By Servant Group International

1
The Cash Economy in Iraq 31:09

5y ago31:09

31:09

Between Iraq and a Hard Place: episode 37 In the US we're pretty used to using our credit cards to pay for things and we're adding all sorts of new electronic payment methods. But in Northern Iraq, nearly everything is still done in cash. Hannah and Colleen discuss a few of the multitude of reasons for this, but more about the effect it has on ever…

1
Sherma and Shame in Iraqi Kurdistan 25:49

5y ago25:49

25:49

Between Iraq and a Hard Place: episode 36 Hannah and Colleen chat about several key terms in Kurdish language and culture: sherma, aiba, and haram. All have meanings that connect to honor, shame, and what is allowable and what is forbidden. Cultural expectations and norms are part of what can be a challenge for a westerner. This podcast explores th…

1
Taking the Kids to Iraq - An Interview with Robin 22:39

5y ago22:39

22:39

Between Iraq and a Hard Place: episode 35 Hannah and Colleen interview Robin, who (with her husband, Dave) took her two kids to live in Iraq. What did this do to her kids? Her family and their relationships? Listen to us ask her all about her stories and adventures from when she and her family lived in Iraq. Learn more at www.ServantGroup.org or as…

1
Getting a Visa in Kurdish Iraq 35:30

5y ago35:30

35:30

Between Iraq and a Hard Place: episode 34 Hannah and Colleen chat about the various steps to the ever changing process of getting residency in the Kurdish region of northern Iraq. This isn't the nuts and bolts, just the experiences from our perspective of foreign bureaucracy and how to walk through it. We are so grateful for our Kurdish friends who…

1
Living on a Prayer - the blessings and challenges of living on support 32:57

5y ago32:57

32:57

Between Iraq and a Hard Place: Episode 33 Hannah and Colleen talk about the blessings and challenges of living on support and what that is. How do we deal with fear, trust, and other people's perceptions? How do we thrive in community as part of the body of Christ and what is the holy handshake? This episode is a personal look at many years of livi…

1
What's Age Got to Do With It? 23:29

5y ago23:29

23:29

Between Iraq and a Hard Place: Episode 32 Hannah and Colleen bemoan their grey hairs but also wish they'd had some more of them while living in Iraq. They discuss the pros and cons of being younger or older while living abroad, and how you don't have to be one or the other to serve with us in Iraq! Ask questions or contact us at Hannah@servantgroup…

1
How to Tell Your Parents You are Moving Overseas 26:31

5+ y ago26:31

26:31

Between Iraq and Hard Place: Episode 31 In this episode of our podcast, Between Iraq and a Hard Place, Hannah and Colleen tell the stories of how they told their parents that they were applying to go with Servant Group International to go to Iraq. Ask questions or contact us at Hannah@servantgroup.org Episode Transcript Hannah: Hey Colleen. Colleen…

1
It's a Wedding! 30:28

5+ y ago30:28

30:28

Between Iraq and a Hard Place: Episode 30 Hannah and Colleen just got back from a wedding, and it's June! So they chat about their various wedding experiences in Northern Iraq, complete with fireworks, cars, photographs, and loud music! To learn more check us out at www.ServantGroup.org! Also, look there for a full transcript! Ask questions by emai…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Servant Group International Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

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