In the second part of this two-segment conversation, Sayed asks Dr. Sarmast about his upbringing, the inspiration to build a music school for the most disadvantaged kids, and why the country's art scene was so prolific when he grew up during th...

In this two-part conversation, Sayed talks to Ahmad Naser Sarmast, the founding director of the Afghanistan National Institute of Music, now based in Portugal. They discuss how the school ended up in Portugal...

Sayed speaks with Malaiz Daud about non-violent movements in the Pashtun belt across Afghanistan-Pakistan borders. They discuss the historical resilience of movements such as PTM, their impact so far, and what it would take for Pashtuns in Afgh...

Sayed talks with climate and water expert Najibullah Sadid about climate change in Afghanistan, its socio-economic impacts, and potential policy interventions to address it.Najibullah Sadid, PhD, is an Associate Researcher at the Federa...

Sayed talks with the author and historian, Dr. Waleed Ziad, about how complex Sufi networks in the Durrani empire connected south and Central Asia during the times of turmoil. The episode brings to the fore what thes...

In this episode, we'll dive into Central Asia, a region teeming with enormous potential and global importance. Join us as we explore the ever-shifting geopolitical landscape, dissect the ramifications of the Ukraine conflict, and delve into the...

From his first arrival in Afghanistan days before the Soviets' withdrawal to his encounter with Osama bin Laden to his walk into Kabul with the Northern Alliance forces in November 2001, John Simpson shares his love for the country, its people,...

Shaharzad Akbar is an activist, the Executive Director of Rawadari, and the former Chair of Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission. She reflects on her personal story, shares her thoughts on the current situation in Afghanistan, and di...

Damon Wilson is the President and CEO of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED). In this interview, he talks about what inspired him to do what he does, reflections on what happened in Afghanistan, and the way ahead for its future.<...

Robert Grenier is the former the CIA's Director of Counter-Terrorism Centre and Station Chief in Islamabad. After 911 attacks, the then Director of the CIA, George Tennet, tasked Grenier to formulate America's strategy on fighting the Taliban.<...

Dr Hassan Abbas’s The Return of the Taliban gives an insight into the inner workings of the Taliban, its leaders and why they do what they do. From power rivalries to resettling thousands of Pakistani Taliban’s fighters in the north of Afghanis...

Dr Sima Samar tells her incredible story. From a village in the central highlands of Hazarajat to studying medicine in Kabul University, to building hospitals and schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan, to becoming a government minister and champi...

Kathy Gannon is a multi-award-winning Canadian journalist and author who has been reporting from Afghanistan since 1986. She was in Kabul during the civil war of the 1990s, present when the Taliban first captured the city in 1996, and witnessed...

Sir Nick Kay is the former British Ambassador in Afghanistan, 2017 to 2019. He first traveled to the country in 1976 as an 18 year old tourist. Sir Nick was among the very small number of Western diplomats to visit Kandahar in 1995, and the fir...

In our first episode, we interview Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan, and discuss his views on the state of human rights under the Taliban and the group's abuses. From his early life in New Zealand to swimming in Bamiyan...