The Deep Map
The Deep Map is a weekly podcast that explores the hidden religious and cultural forces driving headlines in the Near East and around the world. Your host, Robert Nicholson, takes on a new topic each month, peeling back the layers of world events in dialogue with a wide range of guests, looking for answers and challenging his own beliefs along the way.
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Lessons from October 7th
12/26/2023
Lessons from October 7th
In this Season Three recap, Robert and Dominique reflect on the podcast’s original trajectory and significant transition following 10/7. Season Three’s guests walked our listeners through topics addressing antisemitism in the U.S., Hamas’s ideology, and the generational gap in support for Israel. One of our biggest takeaways is that perhaps more than ever, the need for Christian advocacy is being realized. But where do we start galvanizing Christian engagement, education, and activism? Join Robert and Dominique to hear their personal takeaways and get a glimpse of Season Four.
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Is There Still Hope in the Holy Land? (Todd Morehead and Justin Kron)
12/21/2023
Is There Still Hope in the Holy Land? (Todd Morehead and Justin Kron)
We produced a movie. A few years ago, Philos partnered with Todd Morehead and Justin Kron to discover the human experiences and stories caught in the tension of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Hope in the Holy Land follows Todd’s journey through Israel and Palestine, where he explores the biblical, religious, and historical narratives that shape the beliefs on both sides of the conflict. Along the way, he discovers the painful struggles of Jews, Muslims, and Christians. The result is an enlightening journey that exposes viewers to perspectives rarely seen in the media and a challenge to a man’s heart to love his enemy. In this podcast, Robert and Dominique revisit themes from the documentary and ask the challenging question: Is there still hope for pluralism, peace, and prosperity for Jews, Muslims, and Christians in the Holy Land?
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Christian Zionism in the 21st Century (Motti Inbari and Kirill Bumin)
12/13/2023
Christian Zionism in the 21st Century (Motti Inbari and Kirill Bumin)
The strongest predictor of evangelicals' support for Israel in the U.S. is the age of the believer. After October 7, Harvard found that 45% of 18–24-year-olds side more with Hamas. Today, war views and attitudes towards Israel are defined by generations rather than religious beliefs or political parties. Motti Inbari and Kirill Bumin join Robert and Dominique to discuss their book, "Christian Zionism in the Twenty-First Century," and their findings on the growing generational divide supporting Israel. 18–29-year-olds are the first-generation post-information revolution, with access to both news and misinformation at their fingertips, resulting in Generation Z as the first outwardly anti-Semitic and pro-Hamas generation since the Holocaust. These trends can be attributed to two compounding factors: decreased regular church attendance and a surge in popular teaching of Supersessionism from the pulpit. Will young evangelicals return to the views of their parents with age or remain an outlier in their diverging beliefs? Time will tell.
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A Future for Protestantism (Mark Tooley)
12/06/2023
A Future for Protestantism (Mark Tooley)
Mark Tooley is president of the Institute on Religion and Democracy and editor of IRD’s foreign policy and national security journal, Providence: A Journal of Christianity & American Foreign Policy. Mark joins Robert and Dominique to discuss the division in the United Methodist Church and the challenges Protestantism faces in an age of radical secularism.
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40 years of terrorism, faith, and memory from Beirut to Gaza
11/30/2023
40 years of terrorism, faith, and memory from Beirut to Gaza
Rabbi Arnold Resnicoff joins Robert and Dominique to discuss his long naval career and eyewitness testimony of the October 23, 1983, Beirut attack. He tells of hope in the face of loss and the need to combat hate with compassion for all humanity. Rabbi Resnicoff reminds the audience that there is strength in diversity and encourages interfaith friendship to promote pluralism and respect for our neighbors and enemies. Rabbi Resnicoff is a retired U.S. Navy Chaplain who started his career in Vietnam. His report of the October 23 terror attack in Beirut and its aftermath, written at the request of the White House, was read as a keynote speech by President Ronald Reagan. He has also worked to create the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and lobbied the U.S. military to participate in the U.S. Days of Remembrance of the Victims of the Holocaust. President Reagan's keynote speech on the Beirut attack:
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Music and Art in Preserving Culture (Nikos Michailidis)
11/24/2023
Music and Art in Preserving Culture (Nikos Michailidis)
Dr. Nikos Michailidis is a social-cultural anthropologist; his work focuses on the history of the ancient Pontics and modern Greek culture. Nikos speaks with Robert and Dominique about the importance of art, literature, and language in preserving memory and transmitting culture. For the Pontic Greeks, music helped preserve their ethnic identity during Ottoman persecution and the brutality of Communism under Stalin. Nikos talks about the importance of music as a mechanism to preserve culture through the generations, speaking to the power of art in shaping civilizational identities.
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Covering U.S Protests and Marches after October 7th (Mary Margaret Olohan)
11/21/2023
Covering U.S Protests and Marches after October 7th (Mary Margaret Olohan)
Mary Margaret Olohan joins Robert and Dominique to reflect on the culture and analyze how recent protests and rallies following October 7th mirror the current political climate. Mary Margaret is a Senior Reporter at The Daily Signal where she covers the cultural and political stories of the moment through both video and print journalism.
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The Crisis of Christianity in the Middle East (Gia Chacón)
11/14/2023
The Crisis of Christianity in the Middle East (Gia Chacón)
Gia Chacón is the founder of For the Martyrs, a Christian non-profit seeking to raise awareness about the crisis of Christian persecution, advocate for religious freedom, and aid victims of persecution worldwide. Gia speaks with Robert and Dominique about her work with the persecuted church and the crisis of Western Christianity. Gia reminds the audience about Israel’s importance as a safe haven for Christians in the Middle East who face persecution and forced migration from their ancient homelands.
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9/11 to 10/7: American Intervention in the Middle East (Garrett Exner)
11/08/2023
9/11 to 10/7: American Intervention in the Middle East (Garrett Exner)
Garrett Exner joins Robert and Dominique in analyzing the changing Middle Eastern landscape and Israel’s counter-offensive following the October 7th attack. Exner is the executive director of the Public Interest Fellowship in Washington, D.C. He previously served as a staffer to Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), as a counterterrorism policy adviser in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and as a special operations officer in the Marine Corps with deployments to Iraq, North Africa, East Africa, and the South Pacific. His life exemplifies what strong Christian leadership should look like in the face of crisis and conflict.
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Witness to Hamas’ Terror (Emily Schrader)
11/03/2023
Witness to Hamas’ Terror (Emily Schrader)
Israeli journalist Emily Schrader joins The Deep Map to share her eyewitness account of the aftermath of Hamas’ October 7th terror attack. Covering a wide range of topics, from the Iranian regime’s support of terrorism to what it’s like working in a bomb shelter when the air raid sirens blare, Schrader delivers a heartfelt and clear testimony as to why Israel won’t back down — and why the West should stand up and lend greater support.
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Answering Audience Questions on the Israel-Hamas War
11/01/2023
Answering Audience Questions on the Israel-Hamas War
In this episode of The Deep Map, Robert and Dominique answer audience frequently asked questions and address media misinformation from a historic and Christian perspective.
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Palestine: The Symbol of Arab Moral Identity (Hussein Aboubakr Mansour)
10/28/2023
Palestine: The Symbol of Arab Moral Identity (Hussein Aboubakr Mansour)
Hussein Aboubakr Mansour speaks with Robert Nicholson and co-host Dominique Hoffman to provide a unique Arab perspective to the conflict. The anti-Semitic rhetoric sweeping the West is all too familiar to Hussein, who grew up in Egypt during the Second Intifada. He is willing to say what most are not. Although uncomfortable for many, Mansou addresses the deep-rooted antisemitism of the Arab world. For the Arab world, the Palestinian question was never simply a geopolitical issue. “Free Palestine” is a unifying symbol both for religious and Arab nationalist aims. Hussein explains the surprising ideological origins of modern Arab political thought and the religious fascist vision Hamas has for the region.
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Hamas Ideology is Nazism (Fleur Hassan-Nahoum)
10/23/2023
Hamas Ideology is Nazism (Fleur Hassan-Nahoum)
Fleur Hassan-Nahoum, Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem, speaks with Robert and Dominique about developments in Israel. She discusses how events unfolded on October 7th, her work in helping the families of hostages, and the threat of Hamas to Israelis and Palestinians. Her message is clear: anti-Zionism is antisemitism. She is not only a government official but a mother whose heart hurts for her people and nation. Fleur has spent her career working with her Arab neighbors to promote pluralism in Jerusalem and the region. She is resolute about Israel’s right to defense and rebukes the growing condemnation of justified military action. Her optimism about Israel's future and standing in the region in a time of great darkness and uncertainty is refreshing. It should inspire all who listen.
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An American Jewish Perspective on the War in Israel (Jonathan Silver)
10/19/2023
An American Jewish Perspective on the War in Israel (Jonathan Silver)
With violence against Jews surging 1200% since October 7th, this conversation with Jonathan Silver from the Tikvah Fund is more pertinent than ever. In this episode, Robert, Dominique, and Jonathan delve into the repercussions of the events on October 7th for American Jews. Jonathan candidly shares his feelings of isolation, sorrow, and bewilderment following the Hamas terrorist attack. He emphasizes that this tragic event will have a lasting impact on Jewish history. Jonathan also advocates for reform within the Jewish community and highlights the importance of Israel embracing its military strength. Jonathan Silver is editor of Mosaic, a magazine of Jewish ideas, history, and public affairs. He is also Senior Director at the Tikvah Fund, co-chair of the Jewish Leadership Conference, and host of the Tikvah Podcast. He was educated at Tufts University, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and holds a Ph.D. from the Department of Government at Georgetown University. Tikvah Fund classes: Pathfinder:
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9 Days Later: Reporting from Israel (Andrew Doran)
10/17/2023
9 Days Later: Reporting from Israel (Andrew Doran)
When Hamas carried out its campaign of terror on October 7th, many of us woke up to text messages blowing up our phones. For Andrew Doran, who was in Jerusalem when the attack started, the gravity of the situation on the ground was all that more real. Andrew, Director of Philos Catholic, talks with Robert and Dominique from Jerusalem about first-hand observations of Israel's collective trauma and move to support the war front. Andrew raises concerns over rising antisemitism, the Biden administration's foreign policy, and the threat of Hamas and Hezbollah. Andrew Doran served on the Policy Planning Staff at the U.S. Department of State from 2018-21. He previously served as Deputy Director of the U.S. National Commission for UNESCO at the State Department. He is a cofounder of In Defense of Christians. He has published extensively on U.S. foreign policy and human rights in the Middle East. He is an Army veteran and attorney.
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How to Think about Civilian Casualties in Gaza (Marc LiVecche)
10/13/2023
How to Think about Civilian Casualties in Gaza (Marc LiVecche)
Over the last week, news coverage and political commentators have rushed to make arguments of moral equivalence and proportionality to justify Hamas' terror attack and call for the restraint of the IDF within Gaza. What is the Christian response to political evil, and how does the Hebraic tradition inform concepts of war and justice? Robert and Dominique are joined by Marc LiVecche, McDonald Distinguished Scholar of Ethics, War, and Public Life at Providence Magazine. He is also a non-resident research fellow at the US Naval War College in the College of Leadership and Ethics.
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News and Reactions on the last 72 hours in Israel
10/10/2023
News and Reactions on the last 72 hours in Israel
Season 3 kicks off much differently than we imagined...72 hours after Hamas invaded Israel, Robert is joined by Luke Moon and Dominique Hoffman to share reactions and new updates. Robert also shares context on the religious and cultural mindsets of Hamas and its members, while also shedding light on some of the recent polling from the .
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Season 3: Intro
10/09/2023
Season 3: Intro
Your host, Robert Nicholson, gives insights into the original plan for Season 3 and why it’s changed now, given the current events in Israel.
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Season Two Recap: Stability in a Changing World
07/19/2023
Season Two Recap: Stability in a Changing World
Looking back on Season 2 of The Deep Map, Robert and his co-host Dominique Hoffman reflect on the rapid changes in the Near East even during the lifetime of the podcast. Diving deeper into the invisible factors driving those changes, they discuss the declining ability of the US to influence any of it. Is the West in decline? Where are our young people at in 2023? Will China take our place in the Near East? Why are Israel and other allies willing to entertain the idea? How should we, people of faith, respond? And how should Christians respond in particular? At the end of the episode, Robert and Dominque reveal some exciting new changes in the run-up to Season 3.
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"A Kind of Spiritual Evil" (Andrew Doran)
06/05/2023
"A Kind of Spiritual Evil" (Andrew Doran)
The role of religion and culture is the most overlooked yet most important dimension of Near Eastern affairs. In this episode, Robert talks with Philos Senior Research fellow and former State Department policy expert Andrew Doran about the way religion and politics manifests in advocacy for Eastern Christians and in issues related to Israel and antisemitism. Andrew Doran is the Director of Philos Catholic and a Senior Research Fellow at the Charles Malik Institute. Prior to joining Philos, he served on the Policy Planning Staff at the U.S. Department of State from 2018-21. He previously served as Deputy Director of the U.S. National Commission for UNESCO at the State Department. He is a co-founder of In Defense of Christians. He has published extensively on U.S. foreign policy and human rights in the Middle East. He is an Army veteran and attorney.
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Black America, Africa, and Israel (Krystal Bracy)
05/22/2023
Black America, Africa, and Israel (Krystal Bracy)
Black Christians in America have three homelands — a national homeland in the US, an ethnic homeland in Africa, and a spiritual homeland in Israel — but the distances and disparities between these places can create confusion. This week, Robert sits down with Krystal Bracy, the Director of Philos Black, to talk through Black identity in 2023 and how it relates to justice issues at home and abroad. What is the significance of the Black church to African-Americans? How do they think about Africa, America, and Israel (and the Palestinians)? And what does global leadership look like for a community still facing local challenges? For more information about Philos Black and its upcoming Global Leaders Summit visit . Krystal Bracy is the Director of Philos Black. A native of Oakland, CA, Bracy earned a BA in Political Science from UC Berkeley and an MDiv degree from Duke University with concentrations in Homiletics, Black Church Studies and African and African American Studies. A licensed Evangelist Missionary of the Church of God in Christ, Krystal has traveled throughout Africa, Europe, South America and the continental United States. She is passionate about social justice and improving the spaces in which people of color study, work, worship and live.
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Evangelicalism and Zionism in Latin America (Jesse Rojo)
05/15/2023
Evangelicalism and Zionism in Latin America (Jesse Rojo)
America is facing a crisis of faith; Latin America, meanwhile, is seeing revival. In one of the least reported phenomena of the 21st century, evangelicalism has been sweeping the Spanish-speaking world and transforming its societies from the ground up — and not just its societies. In addition to the social effects of this revival are its political and geopolitical effects, as Latin American countries take a new interest in the land and people of Israel. This week, Robert sits down with Jesse Rojo, one of the founding members of The Philos Project, to discuss the evangelicalization of Latin America and its spillover effects among US Hispanics. Weaving together demographic trends with the rich history of Hispanic-Jewish relations, Robert and Jesse explore the causes and effects of one of the world’s most fascinating cultural encounters. Along the way they reminiscence over a decade of friendship and work promoting positive Christian engagement in the Near East through Philos.
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The Ukraine Dilemma (Damir Marusic)
05/09/2023
The Ukraine Dilemma (Damir Marusic)
It is no secret that a liberal messianic approach to US foreign policy has fueled a number of unproductive wars over the years. But could our latest effort to defend Ukraine in the face of a Russian invasion actually be one of those wars? It's a question many Americans, both Democrat and Republican, are asking. With US aid to Ukraine nearing $100 billion -- and with thousands of nuclear warheads within arm's reach of Vladimir Putin's desk -- it's a good question. And it's one that got Florida governor and 2024 presidential candidate Ron DeSantis in trouble in March of this year. This week, Robert sits down with Damir Marusic, opinion editor at the Washington Post, to work through the dilemma of Ukraine. As a realist, Damir looks skeptically on talk of "democracy versus tyranny," preferring to analyze political conflicts through the lens of power and interests. But as a Croatian-American, Damir can't help but sympathize with a small nation fending off a hostile invasion, drawing parallels with the collapse of his native Yugoslavia in the 1990s. What is really at stake in Ukraine, and what does victory look like? What are America's interests and obligations there? And how should we evaluate those interests in light of the moral and humanitarian questions raised by Putin's invasion? In addition to his position at the Washington Post, Damir Marusic is also co-founder of the Wisdom of Crowds podcast and publishing platform. He was previously a resident senior fellow with the Atlantic Council’s Europe Center, where he worked with the Balkans Forward Initiative, an effort to foster a democratic, secure, and prosperous Western Balkans integrated in the transatlantic community. Marusic has written extensively on US politics, polarization, US foreign policy, and European affairs, specifically relating to the Balkans and Russia. He received an MA in international relations from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies and a BA in philosophy from Johns Hopkins University.
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The (Spiritual) Crisis of the West (Simone Rizkallah)
05/01/2023
The (Spiritual) Crisis of the West (Simone Rizkallah)
It only takes one look at the news to see the disturbing state of Western civilization in 2023. Soaring levels of anxiety, a mental health crisis, and an epidemic of loneliness have exacerbated the crisis of identity that is eating our societies from within. Among the hardest hit are teenage girls, victims of both the old-line women's lib movement and third-wave feminist ideology that is pushing the definition of womanhood ever further from its biblical origins. To talk about these alarming trends, Robert sits down with Simone Rizkallah, an Armenian-American Catholic and Director of Program Growth for Endow Groups, who isolates one of the key contributors to Western decline as the “crisis of the feminine genius.” Born to Armenian immigrants from Cairo, Egypt, Simone brings a unique East-West perspective to femininity in the Church and why it’s so necessary to repair our broken culture. In addition to her role at Endow, Simone has previously worked as Theology Department Chair and Senior Theology Teacher at St. Mary's Catholic High School in Phoenix, Arizona, and as the Director of Religious Education for youth and adults at St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Annandale, Virginia. She is the host of The Endow Podcast, which serves as a forum for women to foster conversations about the intellectual life and intentional community for the cultivation of the feminine genius.
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The Butcher of Damascus is Back (Hadeel Oueis)
04/24/2023
The Butcher of Damascus is Back (Hadeel Oueis)
In a surprising turn of events, the Arab world looks ready to bring Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in from the cold after suspending him from the Arab League 12 years ago for his bloody crackdown on civilian protests in 2011. But why are US allies like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates suddenly extending the olive branch to the butcher of Damascus – and why now? How does all of this relate to the massive geopolitical realignment now sweeping the region, and what should the US do in response? In this episode, Robert talks with someone who knows the brutality of the Assad regime firsthand. Hadeel Oueis is a Philos senior research fellow and Syrian Christian who was imprisoned by Assad in the early days of the Arab Spring before she managed to escape Syria for the US. Drawing on a trove of insider knowledge, Hadeel explains the background of the civil war, its devastating effect on Syria’s Christian community, the emergence of the breakaway Kurdish region in the country’s northeast, the reasons behind the push for Arab normalization, and the failure of American policymakers to articulate a clear response to any of this. In addition to her role at Philos, Hadeel Oueis analyzes Near Eastern affairs for BBC Arabic, Deutsche Welle Arabic, Al-Hurrah, and other major Arabic networks. She also has advocated for the rights of Sephardi and Mizrahi Jews through JIMENA, and lobbied for peace and pluralism on a variety of other platforms.
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Christian. Palestinian. Peacemaker? (Khalil Sayegh)
04/17/2023
Christian. Palestinian. Peacemaker? (Khalil Sayegh)
Ninety-nine percent of the people who live in the Holy Land are Jewish or Muslim, as are 99 percent of the violent incidents that take place there. But what about the 1 percent who are Christian? What role do they play? To answer that question, Robert talks with his colleague and friend Khalil Sayegh, a Palestinian Christian from Gaza who recently finished five years with The Philos Project. In a heartfelt conversation that veers from analysis and debate to personal reflection, Robert and Khalil discuss the causes of recent violence in the land, the internal dynamics of Israeli and Palestinian politics, the role of religion, the prospects for peace, and the real value of peacemaking efforts between the two sides. Khalil Sayegh worked with Philos as an advocacy fellow, research fellow, and Rami Ayyad Scholar while earning an MA in Comparative Politics at American University. Before moving to America, Khalil led Philos’s grassroots efforts in the West Bank where he organized support programs for Palestinian Christians, facilitated dialogue between young Israelis and Palestinians, and spoke to visiting delegations about the local situation. He now lives in Washington, DC.
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Is Iranian Democracy Possible? (Farhad Rezaei)
04/10/2023
Is Iranian Democracy Possible? (Farhad Rezaei)
We would all like to see a secular, democratic Iran – but is it really possible in a place long governed by kings and strong men? How could democracy ever rise so long as the ayatollahs control the levers of state power? And are we sure the Iranian people even want it? In this episode, Robert sits with Philos Senior Research Fellow Farhad Rezaei to ask these questions in light of widespread protests sweeping the country since September 2022. Farhad, an outspoken critic of the regime and a political asylee, believes that these protests offer a window into changing sentiments on the Iranian street – changes he sees as part of a slow-motion revolution – and insists that the goal of US policy should be nothing short of toppling the regime. He also discusses Iran’s nuclear ambitions and paramilitary activity around the region, and, as a Kurdish convert to Christianity, explains how religion and culture shape the geopolitical situation. Farhad Rezaei is a senior research fellow at The Philos Project, where his work focuses on Iran and its violations against religious minorities in the Near and Middle East. He is the author of numerous books and articles on Iran's foreign and defense policy, and his research has appeared in many prestigious magazines and journals. His latest Philos publication is .
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Following Jesus in Iran's Most Notorious Prison (Marziyeh Amirizadeh)
04/03/2023
Following Jesus in Iran's Most Notorious Prison (Marziyeh Amirizadeh)
“Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief,” proclaims Article 18 of the UN Declaration of Human Rights. But while the Islamic Republic of Iran is party to the UNDHR, religious freedom inside the country is elusive and only partial at best. Of special concern is Iran’s total restriction on the changing of one’s religious belief and its policy that abandoning Islam is not just apostasy but betrayal of the body politic. With popular unrest still simmering in Iranian streets following the September 2022 murder of Mahsa Amini, Robert sits down with Marziyeh Amirizadeh, an Iranian convert to Christianity, to talk about her 2009 arrest for the crime of evangelism and her subsequent incarceration in the infamous Evin Prison, where she experienced months of intense interrogation and physical hardship until international lobbying efforts secured her release. In a heartfelt conversation, Robert and Marziyeh discuss the regime’s religious oppression, the underground church, and the importance of outside advocacy for religious minorities inside the country. Marziyeh Amirizadeh is an Iranian immigrant born just a few months before the 1979 Iranian Revolution, which toppled the Shah of Iran and brough a radical Islamic regime into power. Marziyeh grew up as a Muslim under this authoritarian regime, but converted to Christianity more than twenty years ago and began sharing her faith with fellow Iranians. After her release from prison, she immigrated to the United States where she earned a Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in International Affairs from Georgia Tech University. Today, she is a speaker and author who continues to her testimony in order to shed light on the situation in Iran and to inspire faith in others. Her latest book, A Love Journey with God: From Pain to Love, Captivity to Freedom, Iran to the US, details how God can turn any situation into triumph.
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Israel on the Brink at 75 (Benny Morris)
03/27/2023
Israel on the Brink at 75 (Benny Morris)
What on earth is happening in Israel right now? Widespread protests, political clashes, and rising violence in the West Bank paint a grim picture as the country approaches its 75th anniversary. In this episode, Robert visits controversial Israeli scholar Benny Morris to talk about this chaotic moment in historical context, and specifically about the ongoing battle between Israel’s various tribes over the meaning and purpose of a Jewish state. Benny Morris is a journalist and historian of the Arab-Israeli conflict who served in the Israel Defense Forces as an infantryman from 1967 to 1969 where he was wounded in combat during the War of Attrition. In his 12 years as a correspondent for the Jerusalem Post, Benny covered Israel’s conflicts with Arab states, notably the 1982 Lebanon War. He was also a longtime professor of Middle East Studies at Ben-Gurion University and Goldman Visiting Israeli Professor at Georgetown University's Department of Government. His work on the Arab-Israeli conflict has won him praise and criticism from both sides.
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The Iraq War, 20 Years Later: What Went Wrong? (Col. Darren Duke, USMC (ret.))
03/20/2023
The Iraq War, 20 Years Later: What Went Wrong? (Col. Darren Duke, USMC (ret.))
The invasion of Iraq on March 30, 2003, initiated a sea change in U.S. foreign policy. In this first episode of season 2, Robert sits down with Darren Duke, a retired U.S. Marine Corps intelligence officer who was on the ground and saw the War in Iraq firsthand. In a wide-ranging conversation, Darren reflects on the civilizational barriers of American soldiers fighting an Islamic insurgency, struggling to make sense of the cultural limits on their mission. Together, Robert and Darren reflect on the legacy of Iraq 20 years on. Darren Duke is a non-resident Senior Research Fellow at The Philos Project. He is currently a graduate student studying Semitic languages at The Catholic University of America. Prior, Darren spent 30 years as a Marine Corps officer, serving in both military and diplomatic assignments in the Near East, Africa, and the Far East. He served as a military attaché to Israel during the Second Lebanon War (2006) and later as a member of the U.S. Roadmap for Peace security sector negotiating team (2008-2009). He also led a U.S. special operations task force in support of African Union counter-insurgency operations against the Lord's Resistance Army in 2014-2015. He holds a BS in Political Science from the U.S. Naval Academy and a MA in National Security Studies from the Naval.
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