The Beirut Banyan

Ronnie Chatah
  • 5.0 (6)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
  • UPDATED DAILY
The Beirut Banyan

Storytelling and conversations, from Beirut and beyond. Subscribe from your preferred podcast platform. Support us through Paypal or Patreon.

  1. Dominant Narratives & Ideologies - hosted by Ralph Baydoun w/George Wardini & Ronnie Chatah (Ep.410)

    3 DAYS AGO

    Dominant Narratives & Ideologies - hosted by Ralph Baydoun w/George Wardini & Ronnie Chatah (Ep.410)

    Recorded Thursday, 5 December 2024. Three days before the Assad regime's fall. An episode for Syria & Lebanon. Hosted by Ralph Baydoun (founder of Influeanswers) with George Wardini (director of PolyBlog) and Ronnie Chatah (host of The Beirut Banyan). Ralph Baydoun leads the discussion and posits 'resistance'-focused counter narratives to neutrality and sub-state disarmament discourse. The conversation includes the potential for Israeli settlements in southern Lebanon, communities allegedly abandoned by the state, liberation as a so-called just means for continued armed struggle, the Lebanese army's limits in offensive and defensive measures, and how ideology and misinformation leads to false assumptions. Make sure to check out and support Ralph Baydoun's Patreon channel: https://www.patreon.com/Perspectiveleb Follow Ralph Baydoun on IG: [at]perspectiveleb and George Wardini on IG: [at]polyblog.lebanon The podcast is only made possible through listener and viewer donations. Please help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut Or donating through our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan Subscribe to our YouTube channel and your preferred audio platform. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter: @thebeirutbanyan And check out our website: www.beirutbanyan.com Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 2:48 Up to the Litani 8:17 Ultranationalism 13:03 Settlement literature 17:25 Vulnerability 22:18 Dreams & religion 28:40 Constant war in Lebanon 30:02 Indefensible borders 37:13 Abandoned by the state 42:27 Sectarianism & sacrifice 51:45 The Syrian regime 53:47 Foreign involvement 1:00:21 Expansion & retreat 1:03:51 Liberation in itself 1:07:14 In the name 1:11:59 Warlike reasons to fight 1:14:45 The Lebanese army 1:16:41 A winning argument 1:21:51 Resistance

    1h 24m
  2. Dust Over Dahiyeh - An interview

    NOV 21

    Dust Over Dahiyeh - An interview

    Outtakes from an interview on my New Lines piece following Hassan Nasrallah's death titled "Dust Over Dahiyeh". Link to article: https://newlinesmag.com/spotlight/hassan-nasrallah-the-killing-of-a-killer/ The podcast is only made possible through listener and viewer donations. Please help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut Or donating through our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan Subscribe to our YouTube channel and your preferred audio platform. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter: @thebeirutbanyan And check out our website: www.beirutbanyan.com Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 0:05 Why did you title your recent piece in New Lines Magazine, "The Killing of a Killer"? 0:59 Why is there no feeling of satisfaction? 2:16 Is this a particularly Lebanese experience? 2:37 How do you see Lebanon right now? 4:13 Is this a long war? 6:26 What do you think of Netanyahu's comments to Lebanese? 8:51 Is Netanyahu's rhetoric dangerous for Lebanese? 10:10 Can you criticize this war without risk? 11:44 Do you sense an atmosphere of intimidation? 14:06 Can you differentiate security problems from politics? 15:44 What are 'red flags' for criticism? 16:30 Is Hezbollah popular today in Lebanon? 18:22 Can Israel eradicate Hezbollah? 19:57 Is Lebanon's destiny doomed to failure?

    22 min
  3. Trump, 1982 & civil strife with Bashshar Haydar & Michael Young

    NOV 11

    Trump, 1982 & civil strife with Bashshar Haydar & Michael Young

    POINT COUNTERPOINT - Episode 2 An exchange on political affairs impacting Lebanon and the Middle East, with a unique vantage point from Beirut. Co-hosted by Bashshar Haydar (professor of philosophy at AUB) and Michael Young (senior editor at Carnegie’s Middle East Center and editor of Diwan) - both Beirut-based analysts sharing their nuanced perspectives while honing in on disagreements. Episode 2 covers three topics: (1) Trump's election win and what that means for US policy towards Lebanon; (2) the example of 1982 and drawing parallels between Western support for Bachir Gemayel's presidency and Joseph Aoun's current status as a potential consensus candidate; and (3) examining preconditions for internal strife and why the likelihood for a return to civil war is low. Michael Young's articles discussed during this episode include: "Trump or Harris? It's pointless to ask who's better for the Middle East" - The National https://www.thenationalnews.com/opinion/comment/2024/11/06/donald-trump-kamala-harris-middle-east-foreign-policy-israel-gaza/ and "Is Hezbollah Moving In?" - Diwan https://carnegieendowment.org/middle-east/diwan/2024/10/coming-to-a-neighborhood-near-you?lang=en Stay tuned for more episodes. The podcast is only made possible through listener and viewer donations. Please help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut Or donating through our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan Subscribe to our YouTube channel and your preferred audio platform. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter: @thebeirutbanyan And check out our website: www.beirutbanyan.com Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 1:53 Donald Trump's election win 20:16 The Example of 1982 43:04 The Potential for Civil Strife 1:04:34 Outro

    1h 5m
  4. Neutrality & Lebanon by Mohamad Chatah

    AUG 2

    Neutrality & Lebanon by Mohamad Chatah

    From a panel that took place in late November 2013, with the presence of Switzerland and Austria’s then-ambassadors to Lebanon. Including some of my father’s last words on the fundamental need for neutrality, 1701’s necessity, what neutralization actually means and how it worked (albeit briefly) in the 1950s & 60s. We should have no role in regional war other than shielding ourselves from its rippling effects. There are ideological voices today ranging from frustrated academics with fringe access to politics to propaganda-fuelled journalists blinded by hate that are insisting our fate should remain tied to Gaza while making their case for Hezbollah. Ignore them.

    11 min
  5. Tragedy & Absurdity (Ep.409)

    JUL 31

    Tragedy & Absurdity (Ep.409)

    On all that is happening in Beirut's southern suburbs, southern Lebanon and the region vis-a-vis Israel and Iran. Along with absent Lebanese diplomacy and the upcoming port blast anniversary. The podcast is only made possible through listener and viewer donations. Please help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut Or donating through our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan Subscribe to our YouTube channel and your preferred audio platform. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter: @thebeirutbanyan And check out our website: www.beirutbanyan.com

    12 min
  6. Summer & War Part 3 with Georges Haddad & Giulia Cingolani (Ep.408)

    JUL 30

    Summer & War Part 3 with Georges Haddad & Giulia Cingolani (Ep.408)

    Recorded Monday, 29 July. Reflecting on escalation between Hezbollah and Israel and deliberately staying in Beirut throughout the conflict. With predictions on post Majd Al Shams retaliation by Israel and a potential response by Hezbollah, along with thinking through worst case scenarios and red lines that have yet to be crossed. Also includes a look part on August 4, 2020 and the upcoming port blast's fourth year anniversary. With Georges Haddad & Giulia Cingolani - both employed in the humanitarian and development field. The podcast is only made possible through listener and viewer donations. Please help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut Or donating through our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan Subscribe to our YouTube channel and your preferred audio platform. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter: @thebeirutbanyan And check out our website: www.beirutbanyan.com Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 2:47 The airport 7:29 False comfort 12:27 ‘Here’ is fine 18:30 The red line 25:54 Messages to the contrary 31:16 Worst-case scenario 33:34 Buildup to 2006 40:09 Port explosion 44:45 Palestine 52:52 Connect to Gaza

    1h 2m
  7. Summer & War (Part 2) with George Wardini (Ep.407)

    JUL 25

    Summer & War (Part 2) with George Wardini (Ep.407)

    Reflecting on the ongoing Hezbollah-Israel war in southern Lebanon and its impact on daily life away from the battlefield. Looking back on periods of relative calm vs manageable instability, the long-term political and societal impact of failed governance, false economies and tourism destinations like Batroun, and an acceptance of impunity and injustice on the port blast's upcoming anniversary. With George Wardini - director of PolyBlog. The podcast is only made possible through listener and viewer donations. Please help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut Or donating through our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan Subscribe to our YouTube channel and your preferred audio platform. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter: @thebeirutbanyan And check out our website: www.beirutbanyan.com Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 0:47 Relative normalcy 4:51 Relative anxiety 10:13 Targeted strikes 13:16 Familiar terrain 16:51 Failed state 19:42 Batroun 22:32 Static 26:37 Regime survival 31:47 The long term 34:58 Violence wins 37:13 Port blast & paralysis 39:36 Hezbollah undeterred

    43 min
  8. Three (Updated) Scenarios

    JUN 26

    Three (Updated) Scenarios

    Three updated scenarios for what could play out in the near term for Lebanon.

    8 min
See All (473)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Storytelling and conversations, from Beirut and beyond. Subscribe from your preferred podcast platform. Support us through Paypal or Patreon.

Information

  • Creator
    Ronnie Chatah
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2024
  • Episodes
    473
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    The Beirut Banyan

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