The Afghanistan Project Podcast

Mikael Cook
  • 5.0 (9)
  • HISTORY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to The Afghanistan Project Podcast, where hosts Mikael Cook and Beth Bailey highlight the struggles of Afghans living under Taliban rule, and the efforts of individuals from a variety of backgrounds and political affiliations who have stepped up to provide support to the people of Afghanistan in the chaos that followed the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

  1. 1D AGO

    Danilo Zak from Church World Service on Afghan refugees - The Afghanistan Project Podcast Ep. 129

    Welcome to Episode 129 of The Afghanistan Project, where we cover all topics related to two decades of war in Afghanistan, and the fallout of our Afghanistan withdrawal. Today, my guest is Danilo Zak, the Director of Policy at Church World Service.We discuss the value refugees add to society, the successes of the Pacito v Trump lawsuit in forcing the restarting of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, and the suite of changes for Afghans that have taken place in recent months.We also discuss new legislation that may have a positive impact for those impacted by processing pauses.About Danilo Zak:Danilo Zak is the Director of Policy at Church World Service. In this role, he leads the CWS Policy Team on strategic engagement with policymakers to advance pro-refugee, pro-immigrant policies and neutralize harmful proposals. Danilo is responsible for managing and executing a strategic plan to advance a refugee resettlement, asylum, and immigration framework that strengthens U.S. leadership and has a positive impact on people’s lives.About the host: Beth Bailey worked in support of Afghanistan operations as a civilian intelligence analyst for the Department of the Army between 2010 and 2013. She is a freelance contributor to Fox News Digital and the Washington Examiner. Follow Beth: on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bwbailey85/ on Twitter: https://x.com/BWBailey85 on Substack: https://substack.com/@bwbailey85 on the web: https://bethwbailey.com/

    1h 4m

  2. FEB 16

    Afghan operator 'Noori' on life as an ANASOC JTAC - The Afghanistan Project Podcast Ep. 128

    Welcome to Episode 128 of The Afghanistan Project, where we cover all topics related to two decades of war in Afghanistan, and the fallout of our Afghanistan withdrawal. Today, my guest is 'Noori,' a joint terminal attack controller (JTAC) in the Afghan National Army Special Operations Command.Noori talks about how he was selected for ANASOC, training to become a JTAC, and the ground missions that left him wounded on three different occasions.After becoming a trainer for other ANASOC units, Noori was evacuated from Kabul and talks about adjusting to life in the U.S.About the host: Beth Bailey worked in support of Afghanistan operations as a civilian intelligence analyst for the Department of the Army between 2010 and 2013. She is a freelance contributor to Fox News Digital and the Washington Examiner. Follow Beth: on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bwbailey85/ on Twitter: https://x.com/BWBailey85 on Substack: https://substack.com/@bwbailey85 on the web: https://bethwbailey.com/

    1h 52m

  3. FEB 9

    Former SIGAR team lead Jordan Kane on aid diversion report - The Afghanistan Project Podcast Ep. 127

    Welcome to Episode 127 of The Afghanistan Project, where we cover all topics related to two decades of war in Afghanistan, and the fallout of our Afghanistan withdrawal. Today, my guest is Jordan Kane, who was the team lead for the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) report on aid diversion by the Taliban in Afghanistan. Jordan and I discuss the changes that SIGAR underwent following the Taliban's takeover and the difficulties Jordan had with censorship as she worked to highlight the Taliban's aid diversion practices through SIGAR.About Jordan:Jordan holds a Bachelors degree from Pomona University and a Masters from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. Jordan has worked for the Department of State, Booz Allen Hamilton, USAID, DT Global, and SIGAR.About the host: Beth Bailey worked in support of Afghanistan operations as a civilian intelligence analyst for the Department of the Army between 2010 and 2013. She is a freelance contributor to Fox News Digital and the Washington Examiner. Follow Beth: on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bwbailey85/ on Twitter: https://x.com/BWBailey85 on Substack: https://substack.com/@bwbailey85 on the web: https://bethwbailey.com/

    1h 17m

  4. FEB 2

    Mark Flanigan reunites with Afghan students in withdrawal - The Afghanistan Project Podcast Ep. 126

    Welcome to Episode 126 of The Afghanistan Project, where we cover all topics related to two decades of war in Afghanistan, and the fallout of our Afghanistan withdrawal. Today, my guest is Mark Flanigan. Mark spent the 2016-17 academic year teaching at a women's liberal arts college in Bangladesh. Four years later, when he was helping Afghans who had been moved to Ft. McCoy following the Taliban's August 2021 takeover, kismet brought him back in contact with several of his Afghan students, who have taken off to a number of prestigious universities since being welcomed into the U.S.Mark talks about the impact that his experience has had on his life.About Mark:Mark Flanigan is a U.S. Army veteran, Rotarian, and educator in Northern Virginia. He previously served as a National Operations Officer with IOM, aiding in the resettlement of Afghan evacuees across the U.S. under Operation Allies Welcome. He completed additional short-term refugee resettlement assignments in Qatar, Bangladesh, Ecuador, and Costa Rica. Mark’s diverse experience includes roles as an AmeriCorps VISTA, a HillVets fellow, a Rotary Peace Fellow in Japan and Thailand, a Presidential Management Fellow (PMF), and a JET Program teacher in Nagasaki. He holds an M.A. in Peace Studies from International Christian University in Tokyo, an M.S. in Public Policy from George Mason University, and a B.A. in Political Science from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania.About the host: Beth Bailey worked in support of Afghanistan operations as a civilian intelligence analyst for the Department of the Army between 2010 and 2013. She is a freelance contributor to Fox News Digital and the Washington Examiner. Follow Beth: on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bwbailey85/ on Twitter: https://x.com/BWBailey85 on Substack: https://substack.com/@bwbailey85 on the web: https://bethwbailey.com/

    56 min

  5. JAN 26

    Hasht-e Subh editor Hussain Haidari on refugee journey - The Afghanistan Project Podcast Ep. 125

    Welcome to Episode 125 of The Afghanistan Project, where we cover all topics related to two decades of war in Afghanistan, and the fallout of our Afghanistan withdrawal. Today, my guest is Hasht-e Subh editor Hussain Haidari, who discusses his journey fleeing Afghanistan and becoming a refugee inside the U.S. We talk about Hussain's advocacy for the refugee community, the safety and stability his family has found in the U.S., and his hopes for his homeland.About Hussain:In Afghanistan, Hussain Ali Haidari was an executive officer for former Afghan president Ashraf Gani and a reporter for 8am media. He now continues to write for the site, is an intake and outreach specialist at Minneapolis nonprofit Emerge, and is the reporter and editor for New Home, a weekly refugee newsletter. Hussain is currently pursuing a Masters degree in Social Work at the University of Minnesota.About the host: Beth Bailey worked in support of Afghanistan operations as a civilian intelligence analyst for the Department of the Army between 2010 and 2013. She is a freelance contributor to Fox News Digital and the Washington Examiner. Follow Beth: on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bwbailey85/ on Twitter: https://x.com/BWBailey85 on Substack: https://substack.com/@bwbailey85 on the web: https://bethwbailey.com/

    43 min

  6. JAN 19

    NOLB's Andrew Sullivan on Senate Judiciary Vetting Hearing - The Afghanistan Project Podcast Ep. 124

    Welcome to Episode 124 of The Afghanistan Project, where we cover all topics related to two decades of war in Afghanistan, and the fallout of our Afghanistan withdrawal. Today, my guest is Andrew Sullivan, Executive Director of nonprofit No One Left Behind. Andy talks about the Jan. 14 Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on vetting practices for Afghan allies, including OIG revelations about vetting suggestions that were not heeded by the Biden or Trump administrations, and the panel of speakers talking about our allies. Andy also talks about the current state of the SIV program, which is suspended to the detriment of the allies who worked shoulder-to-shoulder with U.S. forces during nearly two decades of war.Find No One Left Behind via: Twitter: https://twitter.com/n1leftbehindWebsite: http://nooneleft.org/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-one-left-behind/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nooneleftbehindus/About the host: Beth Bailey worked in support of Afghanistan operations as a civilian intelligence analyst for the Department of the Army between 2010 and 2013. She is a freelance contributor to Fox News Digital and the Washington Examiner. Follow Beth: on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bwbailey85/ on Twitter: https://x.com/BWBailey85 on Substack: https://substack.com/@bwbailey85 on the web: https://bethwbailey.com/

    46 min

  7. JAN 12

    Joe Burdick on remembering HKIA fallen with Ohio SB 244 - The Afghanistan Project Podcast Ep. 123

    Welcome to Episode 123 of The Afghanistan Project, where we cover all topics related to two decades of war in Afghanistan, and the fallout of our Afghanistan withdrawal. Today, my guest is veteran Joe Burdick, who has spent much of the last four and a half years making sure that we remember the sacrifices of the 13 U.S. service members who died at Abbey Gate at Hamid Karzai International Airport on August 26, 2021.We talk about how Joe became an advocate for the fallen, and the effort to pass Ohio SB 244 to create a day of memory in their honor.About Joe:Joe Burdick is a veteran-driven entrepreneur and podcast host whose work centers on service, honor, and impact. Drawing from his military background, Joe founded Burdick Custom Flags, crafting handmade wooden flags that stand as symbols of sacrifice and pride. His podcast amplifies authentic voices—veterans, leaders, athletes, and creators—through honest, long-form conversations. Beyond business and media, Joe is committed to philanthropy, using his platform to support causes that serve veterans, first responders, and military families. His mission is simple: serve, create, and give back.About the host: Beth Bailey worked in support of Afghanistan operations as a civilian intelligence analyst for the Department of the Army between 2010 and 2013. She is a freelance contributor to Fox News Digital and the Washington Examiner. Follow Beth: on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bwbailey85/ on Twitter: https://x.com/BWBailey85 on Substack: https://substack.com/@bwbailey85 on the web: https://bethwbailey.com/

    47 min

  8. JAN 5

    Filmmaker Brishkay Ahmed on documentary 'In the Room' - The Afghanistan Project Podcast Ep. 122

    Welcome to Episode 122 of The Afghanistan Project, where we cover all topics related to two decades of war in Afghanistan, and the fallout of our Afghanistan withdrawal. Today, my guest is incredible filmmaker Brishkay Ahmed, who is discussing her documentary film, 'In the Room,' which tells the stories of five tremendous Afghan women whose activism has forced them to flee their homeland. About Brishkay:Brishkay Ahmed is known for her feature documentaries In the Rumbling Belly of Motherland (2021), Unveiled: The Kohistan Video Scandal (2016) and Story of Burqa (2012). Throughout her years as a documentary filmmaker, her projects have been supported by the NFB, CBC, Super Channel, RTA, Bravo and Cinema Politica. Her last feature documentary, In the Rumbling Belly of Motherland, a nominee for the 2021 DGC Allan King Award for Excellence in Documentary, won the Outstanding Feature Film Award at the 2021 Reelworld Film Festival. Her short film Fatima in Kabul (2021) was a Canadian Screen Award nominee for Best Web Program and a Banff Rockie Award nominee for Short Non-Fiction Program. Beyond documentaries, Brishkay is the creator and co-director of the Afghan prime-time legal drama Between You and Me for Tolo TV, Afghanistan. She also worked as a writer and director on several police and legal procedurals in Kabul, Afghanistan (2011–2019). Brishkay studied film production at NYU and is an alumna of the Canadian Film Centre.About the host: Beth Bailey worked in support of Afghanistan operations as a civilian intelligence analyst for the Department of the Army between 2010 and 2013. She is a freelance contributor to Fox News Digital and the Washington Examiner. Follow Beth: on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bwbailey85/ on Twitter: https://x.com/BWBailey85 on Substack: https://substack.com/@bwbailey85 on the web: https://bethwbailey.com/

    1h 8m
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5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

Welcome to The Afghanistan Project Podcast, where hosts Mikael Cook and Beth Bailey highlight the struggles of Afghans living under Taliban rule, and the efforts of individuals from a variety of backgrounds and political affiliations who have stepped up to provide support to the people of Afghanistan in the chaos that followed the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

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