In this episode of The afikra Podcast, Professor Natalie Koch – the author of "Arid Empire: The Entangled Fates of Arizona and Arabia" – helps us dive into the unexpected connections between the deserts of Arizona and the Arabian Peninsula, beginning with the story of Hi Jolly and the camel experiments of the mid-19th century. The discussion explores how the ... Show More
Yesterday
1001 Nights, the Arab Novel & the Age of Decay That Never Was | Prof. Muhsin al-Musawi
Arabic culture and literature hold a vastly rich classical history that continues to captivate scholars and readers worldwide. Renowned literary critic and Columbia University professor, Dr. Muhsin Al-Musawi, explores the depths of this heritage, from the global allure of the Ara ... Show More
54m 3s
Apr 2023
Saudi Arabia’s Thirst for Arizona’s Water
As Arizona grapples with looming cuts to its allocation of Colorado River water, the arid state is taking a hard look at how its groundwater is used and who has access to it. Dr. Natailie Koch, author of “Arid Empire: The Entangled Fates of Arizona and Arabia,” joins Ray Suarez t ... Show More
26 m
Dec 2020
Like Water in the Desert
Over the past century, we've transformed the arid lands of the American west into year-round, well-irrigated agricultural powerhouses. Today, fruits, nuts, and nearly all of our leafy greens are grown in the desert, using water diverted, stored, and supplied at taxpayer expense. ... Show More
53m 22s
May 2024
Arizona: The White Desert
A city we knew through its limited appearance in films and series, and we thought it was just a barren desert that doesn’t have much to see, but the reality is completely different, as it is an artistic painting rich in details!With its charming white sand, its rocks that are som ... Show More
20m 56s
Mar 2024
Photography and Making Bedouin Histories in the Naqab, 1906-2013:: An Anthropological Approach
In Photography and Making Bedouin Histories in the Naqab, 1906-2013:: An Anthropological Approach (Routledge, 2023), Emilie Le Febvre takes us to the Naqab Desert where Bedouin use photographs to make, and respond to, their own histories. She argues Bedouin presentations of the p ... Show More
49m 33s
Oct 2022
How the US Used Saudi Arabia to Fuel Fanaticism & Fight Progressive Movements Worldwide, w/ As’ad Abukhalil
<p><b>To discuss the history of the Arab Gulf states as Western imperial outposts and the damage they have done and continue to do to the left and progressive movements around the world, Rania Khalek was joined by As’ad Abukhalil, a Lebanese-American professor of political scienc ... Show More
1h 17m
Jun 2025
Azza Aboualam: Food, culture, architecture.
In the this episode of the A is for Architecture Podcast, Emirati architect and co-founder of Holesum Studio, Azza Aboualam discusses her curation of Pressure Cooker, the National Pavilion of the United Arab Emirates' 2025 contribution to the 19th International Architecture Exhib ... Show More
40m 11s
<p>An immigration reporter’s chance encounter in the desert reveals how borders shape our actions, our beliefs, and the way we see the world around us.</p><p><a href="https://99percentinvisible.org/?p=45072" target="_blank">Open Borders</a></p><p>If you're new to the show (thanks ... Show More
