logo
episode-header-image
Dec 2024
33m 45s

Killing hope: Iran's mind wars

The Observer
About this episode

The fall of Assad in Syria is a disaster for Iran, so much so that people are beginning to ask if this might finally be the moment when Iran’s pro-democracy movement breaks through. This is the story of one activist’s 25 year fight against the Islamic regime in Iran, a story of courage and despair.


Reporter: Ceri Thomas

Producer: Katie Gunning

Sound design: Dominic Delargy

Artwork: Jon Hill

Show's Executive Producer: Matt Russell


To find out more about Tortoise:


Download the Tortoise app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists


Subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content


Become a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and more


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Feb 10
Mismatch: Bumble vs the men’s rights activists
The dating app Bumble built its identity on a promise: women make the first move. In this episode, The Observer uncovers a legal campaign by men’s rights activists that helped dismantle that premise.Reporter: Patricia ClarkeProducer: Jonathan LewisSound design: Dominic DelargyArt ... Show More
42m 57s
Feb 3
Russia's shadow war at sea
There are over a thousand oil tankers at sea that are helping finance Russia's war in Ukraine in plain sight. And they're not just trading in sanctioned oil, they're sabotaging the very infrastructure we all rely on. The UK and EU know about them, they pass right by our coasts, b ... Show More
30m 51s
Jan 27
The God complex: Part 2
Rachel hears the shocking story of “Patient A”, who explains that patients are at risk too. Her testimony raises more questions about the way sexual misconduct cases are handled in healthcare, as victims — both doctors and patients — call for change.Reporter: Rachel SylvesterProd ... Show More
41m 11s
Recommended Episodes
Jun 2025
WW3 Countdown? U.S. Bombs Iran | ’I Told Iran to Build the Bomb’ – George Galloway Unfiltered
<p>🚨 The war has officially begun.</p> <p>U.S. bombers have struck Iran’s nuclear facilities. Iran has answered with a direct missile assault on Israel. With the Middle East in chaos and the global balance shifting fast, some say this moment is even more dangerous than Iraq.</p> ... Show More
1h 32m
Aug 2025
Engaging Iran with Michael Young (Ep.427)
An episode looking at the possibilities for state-to-state engagement, direct diplomacy and constructive dialogue between Lebanon and Iran. With Michael Young - senior editor at Carnegie’s Middle East Center and editor of Diwan. Articles mentioned in this episode include "Israel ... Show More
27m 20s
Apr 2024
STOP! Fmr Israeli PM says NO MORE STRIKES ON IRAN - With Rula Jebreal on The Don Lemon Show
Iran and Israel traded blows over the weekend, threatening to draw the Middle East into a broader conflict as the war in Gaza rages on. We speak with former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Rula Jebreal, an award-winning journalist and visiting professor at The University o ... Show More
39m 13s
Feb 2025
372. Syria, al-Sharaa, and the future of the Middle East
What does al-Sharaa's rise to power mean for Syria? Given his surprise takeover, how will today’s CIA analysts be changing the way they think about the country and what happens next? Will Syria be the next Libya? Join Rory and Alastair as they discuss Syria’s rapidly shifting po ... Show More
1h 6m
May 2025
U.S. and Iran Talks: Is War Imminent?
The U.S. and Iran are headed into a new round of negotiations to address the standoff over Iran’s nuclear program. Will it avert a military confrontation that seems closer than ever?Reports this week indicated that Israel was preparing military assets in anticipation of a direct ... Show More
51m 32s
Jun 2025
DEBATE: Was Trump Right to Bomb Iran? - Glenn Greenwald
Glenn Greenwald is an American journalist, author, and former lawyer best known for his work on civil liberties and national security issues. | SPONSOR. We use Ground News to escape the echo chamber and stay fully informed. Go to https://ground.news/triggernometry to save 40% on ... Show More
1h 33m
Dec 2024
Who Is the Rebel Leader Who Ousted Assad?
<p>On December 8, 2024, Syrian rebels stunned the world when they seized Damascus and toppled the government of Bashar al-Assad, more than 13 years into the country’s brutal war.  </p><p>Spearheading the rebel offensive was Abu Muhammad al-Jolani, the leader of the Syrian militan ... Show More
19m 31s
Jun 2025
Iran Pt. 1: A Socialist Introduction w/ Séamus Malekafzali [BONUS]
<p>As seems to be the case with most of the countries that the United States goes to war with—much of the population here doesn't know very much about those countries. And what they do know is usually Western propaganda, misinformation, or outright lies. This couldn't be more tru ... Show More
1h 45m