Aslan Media: INTERSECTION

We're back after a week off last week; and this week is our 40th episode! Thanks to our followers for helping to make that happen.On this week's podcast, host Michael Brooks speaks with Rafia Zakaria a columnist for the Dawn newspaper and Al Jazeera America on the parallels between Nigeria and Pakistan, the conundrums of global media activism, getting to the context and causes of issues- not just the symptoms- and where India and Pakistan relations are headed after the election of Narende Modi as Prime Minister. Follow Rafia Zakari on Twitter @rafiazakaria ***This media is brought to you with underwriting from The Monterey Institute of International Studies. Learn more about educational career opportunities focused on the Middle East at: http://bit.ly/1ald1KV

This week, host Michael Brooks and Aslan Media Executive Director Roshi Pejhan take you on a tour of the news from the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia with an hour long discussion on the latest issues facing the region. They discuss what to expect from from India's next Prime Minister Narende Modi, Turkey's mine disaster and the staying power of Prime Minister Erdogan, continuing domestic political tensions in Iran, and more! Don't forget you can keep up with the news in the region by following the Aslan Media Tweetwire on Twitter @AslanMedia This media is brought to you with underwriting from The Monterey Institute of International Studies. Learn more about educational career opportunities focused on the Middle East at: http://bit.ly/1ald1KV

On this week's podcast, host Michael Brooks speaks with Think Progress National Security Editor, Benjamin Armbruster on the next stage of the Iran P5+1 nuclear negotiations, how close we are to a deal, and the cottage industry that opposes a deal. They also touch on the Republicans' latest Benghazi fervor.Michael also gives his comment about a content pick from the Aslan Media Facebook Page, about street art in Cairo.You can follow Armbruster on Twitter @benjaminja This media is brought to you with underwriting from The Monterey Institute of International Studies. Learn more about educational career opportunities focused on the Middle East at: http://bit.ly/1ald1KV

This week, host Michael Brooks speaks with Sharad Joshi, Assistant Professor of Nonproliferation and Terrorism Studies at The Monterrey Institute. They discuss Boko Haram's recent deplorable news headlines in Nigeria, PR and terrorism, the Pakistani governments push to negotiate with the Pakistani Taliban, and why those negotiations might be doomed. Aslan Media News Team member Dina Yazdani brings you this week's News Brief and Michael also gives his view on how we can- and must- get real about the collapse of the Middle East peace process. Make sure to visit our blog at http://aslanmedia.Tumblr.comYou can also follow Michael on Twitter @_MichaelBrooks This media is brought to you with underwriting from The Monterey Institute of International Studies. Learn more about educational career opportunities focused on the Middle East at: http://bit.ly/1ald1KV

On this weeks's podcast, host Michael Brooks speaks with Wajahat Ali, Co-Host of Al Jazeera America's The Stream. This is one of our longer podcasts, and you won't be disappointed! They chatted on how Wajahat became a writer, the struggles of creating authentic work, the role of combating bigotry and connecting communities through art, and exploring the role of new media in the future.  Michael also gives his perspective on the likely election of far right Hindu nationalist Narendra Modi as India's next Prime Minister and his role in anti Muslim mass killings. And, Aslan Media News Team member Dinza Yazdani gives you this week's News Brief. Follow Wajahat Ali on Twitter: @WajahatAli

This week, host Michael Brooks is taking a little Spring break. But, we've still got great content for you. News Team member Dina Yazdani is here with this week's MENASA News Brief for you. And, we've got an audio clip of our latest Book Salon Book Chat video (on youtube). Reza Aslan sat down with the authors of the book, Sons of Abraham. This podcast includes the 10 minute part 1 audio from that interview. And, on Saturday, April 26th, you'll be able to find Part 2 on our Youtube Page. Don't forget to visit us at our Tumblr page:aslanmedia.tumblr.comAnd, LIKE us on Facebook! 

On this week's podcast, host Michael Brooks caught up with Nabil Rahman, a photo journalist and curator of the Eyes on Bangladesh exhibit in New York. They discuss the power of photo journalism in modern media, what inspired the exhibit, the art scene in Bangladesh and how social change is happening in that country. Also, Michael gives his perspective on the NYPD disbanding its Muslim spying unit and the future balance of civil liberties and security.News Team member Dina Yazdani gives you this week's News Brief from the MENA region.

On this week's INTERSECTION podcast, Michael speaks with Will Picard, Co-founder and Executive Director of The Yemen Peace Project. They dive deeply into a variety of aspects about Yemen, including the post revolution politics of Yemen and the different factions that make up Yemeni politics,  the nature of Al Qaeda in the country, as well as - of course- the toll of drones on Yemen. Michael also gives his view on the corruption conviction of the former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and the state of the Israeli left.Dina Yazdani gives you this week's News Brief. You can follow The Yemen Peace Project on Twitter: @YemenPeaceNews

On this week's INTERSECTION podcast, host Michael Brooks speaks with Iranian-American author and journalist Hooman Majd on his new book The Ministry of Guidance Invites You to not Stay.  They delve deep into on how Iran's economic inequality has undermined faith in the Iranian revolution,the progress of the Rouhani Administration and whether or not the west and Iran will achieve a deal....and why sulking matters in Iranian politics.Michael also gives his view on Chris Christie begging Republican mega donor Sheldon Adelson for forgiveness. And Aslan Media News Team member Dina Yazdani gives you this week's News Brief. 

On this week's podcast, host Michael Brooks speaks with sustainable energy expert Amer Barghouth of the Regional Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency about what the MENA region is doing to improving energy efficiency, create sustainable energy streams, and how a renewable economy could employ millions across the region. Michael also gives his view on President Obama's defense of the invasion of Iraq. And, Dina Yazdani of the Aslan Media News Team gives you this week's News Brief. Don't forget to check out our newly relaunched TUMBLR PAGE! [aslanmedia.tumblr.com]We've got great daily content and commentaries on there for you. 

Happy Norouz to all our friends celebrating the Persian New Year around the world!We're doing something a little different this week. We've got our usual News Brief for you from Dina Yazdani and our News Team. Then, we urge you to check out this podcast hosted by our Arts and Music Editor, Safa Samiezade'-Yazd. As part of an even by ALOUD down in LA, she sat down with lecturer and journalist Hisham Aidi, to talk "Rebel Music: Race, Empire, and the New Muslim Youth Culture". It's a great one, so listen here at this link. 

On this weeks podcast, Michael explores our global usage of the term "terrorism" with Remi Brulin, a Research Fellow at the Journalism Institute at New York University and terrorism historian. They dive into the etymology and roots of "terrorism", how our current War on Terrorism was born in Latin America, how Henry Kissinger covertly supported human rights abuses in Latin America and Reagan overtly supported them.Also Dina Yazdani of the News Team brings you this week's News Brief. Connect with Remihttps://twitter.com/RBrulin

On this weeks INTERSECTION, host Michael Brooks caught up with journalist Willem Marx author of Baluchistan at a Crossroads, who explains the importance of the Baluchistan region, the distinct ethnic and political identities there, and how the Pakistani government conflates the war on terrorism with the Baluchistan's search for autonomy.  And Dina Yazdani of the Aslan Media News Team gives you this week's News Brief. **We greatly apologize for the less than optimal sound issues in the interview. Stay with it, it greatly improves about 8 minutes in. 

On this week's podcast, host Michael Brooks welcomes blogger, radio show host and activistHassan Dennaoui(a.ka. BIG HASS). They chat about Hip Hop culture in the Middle East, bringing authentic alternative music to Saudi Arabia, and building a space for independent music culture in the region.And Dina Yazdani with this week's News Brief from the MENA region.More from Hassan Dennaoui:http://revoltradio.blogspot.com/https://twitter.com/BIG_HASS

On this weeks show, host Michael Brooks welcomesUCLA Law Professor and analyst Khaled Beydounto discuss the future of Arab and Islamic civil rights in the United States. They explore the diversity of the American Arab and Muslim community, the relationship with LGBT identities, and the connections between domestic American politics and the Arab uprisings of 2011 (and ongoing turmoil in Egypt).Dina Yazdani of the Aslan Media News Team also gives us this week's News Brief from the MENA region.