In which Ursula and Marcia discuss how much innocence American can claim when abroad, and the urge to write expatriate diaries in one’s twenties; they also talk about the new collection Marrakech Noir; and about the never-ending debate over Classical versus Colloquial Arabic. Show notes:Ursula’s “Innocence Abroad” responds primarily to Suzy Hansen’s Notes on ... Show More
Jul 16
Books by Rabih Alameddine, May Ziadeh, Samar Yazbek, Lamia Ziadé and More
Marcia is publishing the first English translation of early 20th century woman of letters and feminist icon May Ziadhe; Ursula has been working on a review of the award-winning Lebanese novelist Rabih Alameddine. We also talk about a devastating book based on interviews with Gaz ... Show More
1h 2m
Apr 2026
Unlocking Palestine: Sara Yasin on editing The Key
The Key is a new online publication dedicated to covering Palestine as “the core issue at the heart of the modern world.” We’re joined by its editor-in-chief, Sara Yasin, former managing editor of the LA Times. The Key is an outgrowth of PalFest, an annual traveling literature f ... Show More
1h 15m
Oct 2015
011: We’re Here for the Anal Probe
In this episode we talk to WSJ journalist Ahmed Al-Omran and uber new media geek Lou Kay. We talk about journalism in the Middle East and Saudi, the future of newspapers in Saudi, news consumption, the ‘filter bubble,’ WhatsApp journalism, and many other new media topics. Oh and ... Show More
1h 29m
Jan 2022
Series 2 - 3ala el Maydan (Trailer)
<p>Putting fieldwork at the heart of the conversation, <b>3ala el Maydan</b> invites researchers, journalists, and art practitioners from the Middle East and North Africa region and beyond, to talk about their experiences, discoveries, challenges, and surprises when carrying out ... Show More
1m 13s