Today we talk about the book The Crisis of Narration by the philosopher Byung Chul Han. We talk about the history of storytelling. Walter Benjamins distinction between a Paris fire and a revolution in Madrid. The effects of social media on memory. Story telling vs story selling. AI as pure Intelligenz lacking Geist. The ability for stories to give shape to s ... Show More
Sep 13
Episode #236 ... Meditations - Marcus Aurelius
Today we talk about the collection of journals known as Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. We mark the differences between Stoicism, modern Stoic ethics, and the journals of Marcus Aurelius. We talk about the divine logos, indifferents, and how metaphysical assumptions ladder up int ... Show More
36m 57s
Sep 12
Hikmat Wehbi Tore Up a $20K Check, Dropped Out, and Reinvented Storytelling Through Podcasting
What happens when one of the Arab world’s most beloved podcast hosts finally trades seats and becomes the guest? In this captivating episode of Luca’s Insight Track, the mic is flipped on Hikmat Wehbi—a renowned visual artist turned podcasting legend—whose 225+ episodes and 40M+ ... Show More
1h 15m
Aug 23
LEPHT HAND - Myth, Nostalgia, and Liberation: Federico Campagna’s 'Otherworlds: Mediterranean Lessons On Escaping History'
Can myth itself serve as a material force in struggles for liberation? Federico Campagna joins me to discuss how myth—too often dismissed as escapism or co-opted by reaction—can instead become a practice of imagination, solidarity, and survival. We look at myth’s place in anti-ca ... Show More
1h 8m
Apr 2025
#9 - The Levant Through War & Words: Mishka Mourani on Culture, Identity & Exile
In this episode of Tak on the Pod, Andrea sits down with Mishka Mourani, a writer, educator, and storyteller whose life has been deeply shaped by the history of the Levant. Born in Alexandria and rooted in Beirut, Mishka has lived through war, displacement, and resilience, using ... Show More
50m 38s
Dec 2024
Episode Eight - Unscripted: Navigating a Dark World As an Artist
In this unscripted episode, Nadia has a heartfelt conversation with Hayat Abu Samra, a Palestinian Jordanian Actor, screenwriter and filmmaker who’s been using her voice to spread awareness to her audience on Palestine. They share their thoughts on direct and indirect resistance ... Show More
32m 11s
Aug 22
Update: Autocrat interview and Vintage Egyptologist online classes
Howdy folks. In lieu of a narrative episode this week (while I recover from the quadruple-length Battle of Kadesh), I wanted to alert you to an interview I did for the Autocrat podcast (available on Spotify, YouTube, and the Autocrat website). In a lengthy conversation, we explor ... Show More
16m 2s
Dec 2024
Episode Seven - Scripted: What's the Point? (When the World Is Dark)
Amid personal and global turmoil, in this special episode of Scripted/Unscripted, Nadia confronts the question, "What's the point?". She reflects on how writing serves as a tool for emotional expression, resistance, and connection, highlighting its power to humanize the dehumaniz ... Show More
23m 57s
Apr 2025
#7 - Art, Culture & The Arab Narrative: Rima Nasser of Selections Magazine
In this episode of "Tak on the Pod", Andrea sits down with Rima Nasser, founder of Selections Magazine, a platform dedicated to showcasing the richness of Arab art, design, and culture. Through Selections and initiatives like Cultural Narratives, Rima has created a space for arti ... Show More
29m 51s