East and West

Journalist Hazal Sipahi recalls the origin story of her podcast Mental Klitoris, and the term's meaning (6:10); why a family member’s negative reaction was a good thing (7:25); making a sexual revolution (12:47); being called a slut at age 7 (16:45); how abortion is semi-banned in Turkey (30:00); why Mental Klitoris is unlikely to be censored (33:10); coerced consent and the sexiness of approval (34:25) and reclaiming the label of pornographer (39:40).

Mohamed Amin Ahmed launched a counter-extremism organization in 2014, as Somalis in the US began leaving to join ISIS; to compete with slickly produced ISIS videos, he made cartoon videos of Average Mohamed (5:00); why funding is better than big awards, like State Department’s 2020 Citizen Diplomat (10:45); how he hopes to reach up to 200 million people (12:55) and deals with death threats (17:20); why research always trumps anti-Muslim hyperbole (20:45); the problem of bullying and hate crimes against Muslim women (25:48); why younger Somalis today self-identify as black before Arab (28:30); and bringing Average Mohamed to EU, Africa and beyond (32:05).

Indian affairs analyst Mohamed Zeeshan talks about his new book, Flying Blind, examines how India underestimates its own international standing (2:00); how India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru was ahead of his time yet spread India too thin (9:20); India’s shockingly low diplomatic presence and international influence (12:20); the importance of consistency for a rising power (20:15), why Kashmir is taboo in Indian politics (26:15), the India Story and how it is under threat (34:35) and the best way to restore legitimacy in the face of mass protests (43:50).

Analyst Selim Koru on sanctions pressure building thanks to EU’s more hawkish wing toward Turkey, President Biden unlikely to pressure Erdogan on rule of law (10:30), doubting the AKP’s recent weak polling numbers (17:30), Istanbul Mayor Imamoglu’s uninspiring politics (27:40), the presidential system has ended politics in Turkey (31:15), and AKP corruption has driven Turks from traditional Islam (43:35).

Energy analyst John Bowlus explains why EU sanctions on Turkey would be a bad idea, reveals a possible objective of Erdogan’s Canal Istanbul project (5:20), why Eastern Mediterranean gas is superfluous (10:55), when we can expect to enjoy a more amiable renewables era (14:15), the new shape of regional energy after the Abraham Accords and Turkey’s possible return from the dead (21:45) and how Turkey has emulated China’s approach to maritime energy (30:00).