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PODCAST

Kalam

Edgar Mannheimer

Kalam is a podcast about the culture, history and politics of the Middle East. Hosted by seasoned radio journalist Edgar Mannheimer, Kalam aims to be a source of knowledge and understanding about a region of the world that is so often misunderstood. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

society & culture documentary

All Episodes

38:52

65. The Jewish Movement that Defied Zionism with...

Kalam ·

2026/03/31

Molly Crabapple is an artist and author from New York. She’s the author of the forthcoming book "Here Where We Live is Our Country: The Story of the Jewish Bund".The Bund was a secular, progressive Jewish labour movement that existed in the first half of the 20th century in eastern and central Europe. The Bund, simply meaning organisation in Yiddish, was exactly the opposite of Zionism. They promoted the idea of hereness, which is to say that they did not need to go oppress Palestinians in a far off

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36:08

64. Power Gays & Muscle Jews with Fredrik "Apollo"...

Kalam ·

2026/03/26

Today's episode is a kind of theoretical journey through concepts like Homonationalism, Muscular Judaism and Power Gays. Our illustrious guest, Fredrik "Apollo" Asplund has spotted a similarity between the gays who were embraced by mainstream society in the early 2000's and the hardline Zionist conception of the strong and powerful Jew. Both archetypes exist as a kind of counterweight to less desirable gays, and less desirable Jews. These two concepts have today synthesised into the Tel Aviv Power

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28:47

Trump Asks for Help – No One Answers: Kalam Digest 46

Kalam ·

2026/03/19

Sam and Edgar give you an update on the latest developments in the Iran War. The killing of Ali Larijani – amazingly a scholar of Immanuel Kant – could blow up in Israel's face as a more hardline figure may replace him. We also detail how Syria and Iraq are faring in the midst of this war. To listen to the episode ad-free subscribe to our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/kalampodcastFollow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/kalampodcast/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more

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44:30

63. Umm Kulthum Forever: Kalam Live!

Kalam ·

2026/03/13

"El Sett" is the new Egyptian biopic about the great Arab diva, Umm Kulthum. After an exclusive screening of the film in Stockholm, Edgar invited Egyptian curator, Mariam Elnozahy, and Egyptian multidisciplinary artist, Amr Hamid, for a conversation about the film, reactions to it in Egypt and about the icon Umm Kulthum herself. To listen to the episode ad-free subscribe to our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/kalampodcastFollow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/kalampodcast/ Hosted on

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39:18

Will Oil Prices Stop the War? Kalam Digest 45

Kalam ·

2026/03/10

The US' lack of exit strategy from Iran becomes apparent as oil prices soar and Trump vacillates between talking about an "excursion" which will be "wrapped up very soon" and threatening to make it impossible "to recover that section of the world". To solve the problem of oil the US would have to take control of the Strait of Hormuz, but will that be possible without boots on the ground? Trump seems to think so but Sam and Edgar are sceptical. Also on this episode: –Israel renews blockade of Gaza as

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39:48

62. Trump and Bibi's Endgame in Iran with Rami Khouri

Kalam ·

2026/03/07

Rami Khouri is a Palestinian-American author and analyst and a Distinguished Public Fellow at the American University of Beirut.In today's episode, Edgar speaks with Rami about the US-Israeli war on Iran, why they're waging it and what it could mean for the region at large. To listen to the episode ad-free subscribe to our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/kalampodcastFollow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/kalampodcast/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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27:35

Khamenei is Killed as Region Goes to War: Kalam...

Kalam ·

2026/03/02

Once again the unprecedented has occurred as the US and Israel strike Iran, sparking the closest we've come to an all-out regional war since October 7. The Iranian Supreme Leader, Ali Khamanei, has been killed in an airstrike. Iran is retaliating with unprecedented force, against Israel and various Gulf Arab countries.More than 500 Iranians have been killed, a dozen or so Israelis and less than ten Americans and Gulf residents. To listen to the episode ad-free subscribe to our Patreon at

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38:20

61. The US and Israel Will not Save Iran with Sahar...

Kalam ·

2026/02/24

We are joined today by award-winning Iranian author Sahar Delijani. Sahar was born in the notorious Evin prison. A prison in Iran which has become synonymous with political oppression. Her debut novel, Children of the Jacaranda Tree, is partially inspired by her own family history, and recounts one of the bloodiest and most repressive phases of Iranian history: the mass executions in 1988.The most recent wave of protests in Iran last month were met with violent repression not seen since the days of

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49:23

60. Iran – Protests that Shook a Nation with Rouzbeh...

Kalam ·

2026/02/07

The latest wave of protests in Iran shook the country to the core. Clearly, the Islamic Republic regime felt squeezed to the point of using excessive violence. Many thousands have likely lost their lives, with exact estimations varying greatly. The Middle Eastern expert and analyst, Rouzbeh Parsi, joins Edgar for a conversation about the background to this cycle of protests in Iran, about what makes it different but also what similarities it has with previous waves.To listen to the episode ad-free

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21:19

Is Syria falling apart (again)? Kalam Digest 43

Kalam ·

2026/01/27

In Syria localised clashes around Aleppo have deteriorated into all out war between Kurdish and government forces, as Perfidious Columbia declared that it's alliance with the former has "largely expired". So far the initiative seems to be squarely with the government, but will it be possible to reach an agreement which can stabilise Syria for the long term, or will disintegration and ethnic strife become permanent?Kalam Digest brings you the latest news from the Middle East.To listen to the full

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47:03

59. Ali Esbati – En prins i Teheran? (Swedish)

Kalam ·

2026/01/23

This episode is in Swedish, featuring politician and analyst Ali Esbati.I det här särskilda crossoveravsnittet av Kalam Podcast och Viljans optimism pratar Ali Esbati om vad som pågår i Iran, varför militär intervention vore dödsstöten för de folkliga viljornas möjlighet att faktiskt få genomslag, och vad omvärlden och vänster däremot faktiskt kan bidra med. Dessutom: vad är Iran International egentligen för något och varför är Reza (III) Pahlavi en reaktionär pajas? Om du inte redan följer Viljans

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40:47

58. Shora Esmailian – Vad pågår i Iran? (Swedish)

Kalam ·

2026/01/19

This episode is in Swedish, featuring the journalist and writer Shora Esmailian.Att stora demonstrationer skakat Iran de senaste veckorna och att regimens repression har varit fruktansvärt brutal står klart. Men vad är egentligen bakgrunden till den här omgången av protester? Vilka olika aktörer finns inne i Iran, och kommer att avgöra utfallet? Och hur ska vänstern förhålla sig till utländska krafters försök att styra utvecklingen?För att stötta oss, bli gärna medlem på patreon.com/kalampodcast

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18:49

Kurdish and Syrian Gov't Forces Clash in Aleppo:...

Kalam ·

2026/01/16

Last week, the armed forces of the Syrian government clashed with and largely defeated the Kurdish-led SDF in the city of Aleppo. This comes as negotiations have broken down between the Kurdish governing body in the Northeast of the country and the central government in Damascus. Edgar and Sam discuss what this means for the future of the country and the civilians caught in the middle. Kalam Digest brings you the latest news from the Middle East.To listen to the full episode subscribe to our Patreon

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28:10

What's Behind the Protests in Iran? Kalam Digest 41

Kalam ·

2026/01/13

Thousands have reportedly been killed and tens of thousands arrested in a protest movement shaking Iran. The Islamic Republic faces its biggest challenge in years, as extreme inflation sparked economic protests that rapidly evolved into calling for political freedoms and an end to the regime. Edgar and Sam take you through all aspects of this revolt, including what it means for the US and Israel to actively back the protesters. Does the movement lose legitimacy if Mossad agents are on the ground in

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30:44

Israel Cleared for Eurovision: Kalam Digest 40

Kalam ·

2025/12/07

A trial is underway to establish justice for the victims of the deadly pogroms agains Syrian minorities earlier this year; the genocide in Gaza is ongoing while Israel and the US draw up plans for Gaza's future without the input of a single Palestinian; the Pope visits Lebanon in a significant symbolic gesture. Kalam Digest brings you the latest news from the Middle East. To listen to the full episode subscribe to our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/kalampodcast Follow us on Instagram at

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1:32

Anwar Sadat: The Last Pharoah Part 3 (Trailer)

Kalam ·

2025/12/02

In part three of this special series on Anwar Sadat we cover his:•⁠ Failed attempts to «liberalise» the Egyptian economy.•⁠ Suprise success in the October 1973 war.•⁠ Decision to follow this up by making peace with Israel.•⁠ His sudden end at the hands of forces he himself had helped create.To listen to the full episode subscribe to our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/kalampodcastFollow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/kalampodcast/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more

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0:58

Anwar Sadat: The Last Pharoah Part 2 (Trailer)

Kalam ·

2025/11/24

In Part 2 of this Patreon-exclusive series we track Sadat’s coming of age:•⁠⁠Sadat as a Gamal Abdel Nasser loyalist and chief communicator of his regime.•⁠⁠⁠Sadat as the quiet observer of Nasser’s failures, shaping his later thinking.•⁠⁠⁠Sadat being groomed for the presidency, those around him thinking they could control him. They were wrong.To listen to the full episode subscribe to our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/kalampodcast Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/kalampodcast/

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34:24

57. Palestinian Rap Group DAM on Their 26 Year Legacy

Kalam ·

2025/11/20

In the late 1990's, the Palestinian rap group DAM released their breakout single Meen Erhabi? (Who is the terrorist?) interrogating Israel and the Western World's accusations of terrorism against the Palestinian people, "While we are living in our own country". All members of the group are Palestinian citizens of Israel and hold Israeli passports, giving them a unique insight into Israeli society. Today, 26 years later, the issues are the same but the members of the rap group are older. Tamer al

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1:05

Anwar Sadat: The Last Pharoah Part 1 (Trailer)

Kalam ·

2025/11/16

Anwar Sadat was born in the Egyptian Sultanate, came of age during the Egyptian Monarchy, and became president of the Egyptian Republic. He was killed by Egyptian islamists. But who was he? In this Kalam Shorts series, exclusively available for our Patreon subscribers, we delve deep into the man who is known as the last Pharoah of Egypt, and the circumstances that created him. To support us, go to patreon.com/kalampodcastFollow us on Instagram @kalampodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for

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1:02

Munadama 5 (Trailer)

Kalam ·

2025/11/11

Edgar and Sam are in Egypt! Join us for a podcast session at a bar in downtown Cairo, serenaded by the sweet sounds of Umm Kulthum in the background. Subscribe to the Kalam Podcast patreon page to listen to the full episode. To support us, go to patreon.com/kalampodcastFollow us on Instagram @kalampodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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143 results

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