REEL TALK with Daizy Gedeon

S4 | E4 - Minister Defends Oracle Deal and Fears Over Who Controls Lebanon's Digital Future

In this episode of Reel Talk, I sit down with Kamal Shehadeh to confront one of the most controversial decisions Lebanon has made in its digital future: the Memorandum of Understanding with Oracle. At first glance, it’s framed as opportunity training 50,000 Lebanese in AI and cloud computing.But beneath the surface, a far more urgent question emerges: What happens when a nation at war begins aligning its digital future with a company deeply embedded in global intelligence networks and closely tied to power structures that do not serve it? WHAT WE UNCOVER IN THIS CONVERSATION: – The government’s position: Why this deal is about talent, not data– The fear many Lebanese are voicing and why it cannot be dismissed– The truth about Larry Ellison and Oracle’s global influence – The U.S. Cloud Act and what it means for YOUR data no matter where it’s stored– Why countries like Switzerland rejected similar partnerships – How France tried to protect its sovereignty… and still became dependent – Whether Lebanon is building capacity or quietly entering digital dependency TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12Pj1uOLdfE] — Introduction & Why This Conversation Matters 01:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12Pj1uOLdfE&t=60s] — The Oracle Deal Explained 03:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12Pj1uOLdfE&t=180s] — Talent vs. Control: The Government’s Argument 07:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12Pj1uOLdfE&t=420s] — “There Is No Data Transfer” — Fact or Framing? 11:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12Pj1uOLdfE&t=660s] — The Lebanon–Israel Context & Public Fear 15:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12Pj1uOLdfE&t=900s] — Switzerland’s Rejection of US Tech Sovereignty Risks 18:30 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12Pj1uOLdfE&t=1110s] — France’s Dependency Trap 22:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12Pj1uOLdfE&t=1320s] — The Cloud Act: Who Really Owns Your Data? 27:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12Pj1uOLdfE&t=1620s] — Can Lebanon Actually Protect Its Digital Infrastructure? 31:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12Pj1uOLdfE&t=1860s] — War, Instability & The Future of Lebanon’s Tech Vision 36:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12Pj1uOLdfE&t=2160s] — Final Thoughts: Opportunity or Irreversible Risk?This is not about being for or against technology. This is about understanding who controls it and who it ultimately serves.Watch until the end.Because this conversation affects every single Lebanese citizen whether they realize it yet or not. If you are enjoying our podcasts please consider a small contribution of $5 a month to allow us to keep you informed:https://buymeacoffee.com/daizygedeon [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbXAtTDRrVExvbXlRUC1qNm1ndjFJYUJMVTJSd3xBQ3Jtc0tsM3I2NUpqVW1sVGRjbVFGZHBReHcxMWZYcDlNQXZsdUhfcGhoOGktTnE4NjNiZjY1dUc5N01lUDhQaEt1RHM3LVhXUDB5dGVaS2xmTWJ2VVFZb1ZoaWNnMGZMdzkxZmVWUzItNlZhalhjZmdMSXExUQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fbuymeacoffee.com%2Fdaizygedeon&v=12Pj1uOLdfE] Subscribe and turn on notifications so you DON’T miss a video:https://shorturl.at/qrjGx [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa0ZHQW5Ed3hxSHpkai12ZmJLcDN3TnR4ajRxUXxBQ3Jtc0trVTF1SzV2eHZST2ZsVWI4dnJvck1GMl9FR2J6TjFEeVRxbUItd0tVUE1BRFpYaUp2Q1EzVlhIUkZhUUFhY2ctdXd6XzlWU0U0T2h5ZS1wY0hyZDdvNGRSMWF2LU5YVDBUbEFzQ2IwWkVpbW5NSEdJZw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fshorturl.at%2FqrjGx&v=12Pj1uOLdfE]

S4 | E3 - When the World Breaks - Marianne Williamson on Navigating Collective Trauma

Are we living through the beginning of World War III or the collapse of everything we thought we knew about the world? In this urgent and deeply human conversation, bestselling author and spiritual teacher Marianne Williamson joins me to explore how we navigate fear, grief, and collective trauma as global crises escalate. From war tensions to the collapse of faith in institutions, millions of people are experiencing a profound psychological and spiritual rupture. So how do we stay grounded when the world feels like it’s unraveling? Drawing from the teachings of A Course in Miracles, Marianne shares how inner work, forgiveness, and radical compassion can become tools for clarity, courage, and action even in the darkest times. In this episode we explore: • Why so many people feel like reality itself is collapsing • How collective trauma is reshaping the global psyche • Processing grief, fear, and anger without being consumed • The difference between spiritual awakening and spiritual bypassing • Why meditation and spiritual practice are essential for real-world action • How to choose love over fear when everything feels uncertain If the headlines have left you feeling overwhelmed, heartbroken, or disillusioned, this conversation might help you understand why and what we can do about it. Sometimes the most radical act in a world of chaos… is staying conscious. About Marianne Williamson Marianne Williamson is the bestselling author of multiple books including A Return to Love and a long-time teacher of A Course in Miracles. She also founded Project Angel Food and ran for U.S. president in 2020 and 2024. Topics: War • Collective Trauma • Spiritual Awakening • Global Crisis • Consciousness • Healing • Fear vs Love

S4 - Special 2 - SHOULD 'THIS IS BEIRUT' BE INVESTIGATED FOR TREASON FOR ILLEGAL CONTACT WITH ISRAEL?

SHOULD THE LAW APPLY TO EVERYONE OR ONLY TO THE POWERLESS? In this episode, we examine what happened at the 2026 Munich Security Conference, where Lebanese media outlet This Is Beirut co-hosted a panel with MIND Israel founded by former Israeli military intelligence chief Amos Yadlin. The discussion reportedly covered: • Regional integration • Hezbollah disarmament • The post-Gaza landscape • Lebanon–Israel indirect talks All of this while Israel continues daily violations against Lebanon. Just weeks before the conference, Lebanon filed a formal complaint to the United Nations Security Council documenting thousands of ceasefire violations. UNIFIL has independently recorded more than 10,000 violations. Under Lebanon’s 1955 Boycott Law and Articles 273–275 of the Criminal Code, contact with the “enemy entity” is criminalized. So we ask: If ordinary Lebanese citizens have faced prosecution for far less… If journalist Maria Maalouf was charged… If filmmaker Ziad Doueiri was detained… Why is this different? We also examine the role of banker Antoun Sehnaoui, the primary funder of This Is Beirut, his public political positions, and the legal scrutiny he has faced in Lebanon related to the banking collapse. When a country remains under bombardment and sovereignty is repeatedly challenged, the question becomes unavoidable: Who gets investigated? And who gets immunity? Lebanon’s Minister of Justice, Adel Nassar, the law is in your hands. Does it apply to everyone? Or only to those without power? Listen to the full investigation and decide for yourself.

S4 - Special 1 - From Cricket to Classroom - Inside the Alsama Project in Beirut

In Beirut, Lebanon, Syrian refugees are finding an unexpected way to heal from war and displacement: cricket. This special audio report takes you inside Alsama Project, an education initiative founded in 2020 by former McKinsey London partner Richard Verity, German journalist and author Meike Ziervogel, and their Syrian partner Kadria Hussein. What started as a desire to do more has grown into a powerful model of transformation. Today, more than 1,000 students are enrolled, moving from total illiteracy to university-bound in just six years. Through education, sport, and community, they’re rebuilding confidence, discipline, and hope. From zero to hero, this is the story of young people proving that trauma doesn’t define destiny and that the sky, AlSama, truly is the limit. 🎧 Listen to the full report. #Lebanon #SyrianRefugees #Alsama

S3 | E10 - Who Killed Shireen? The Documentary That Exposed Israel’s Crime and the U.S. Cover-Up

When Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was shot dead in Jenin in May 2022, Israel blamed “crossfire.” The Biden administration called it “tragic circumstances.” No names. No charges. No accountability. In this episode of Reel Talk, Daizy Gedeon speaks with veteran Wall Street Journal correspondent Dion Nissenbaum about the investigation behind the documentary “Who Killed Shireen?” — the film that did what governments claimed was impossible. Together, they unpack how a small team of journalists traced the killing to an Israeli sniper, uncovered a pattern of impunity, and exposed a wider war on journalists — from Gaza to Lebanon to the West Bank. This is not just about one journalist. It’s about press freedom, power, and accountability. 🎧 Listen now. Timestamps: 00:00 – Who Was Shireen Abu Akleh 02:21 – From “Tragic Circumstances” to a Cover-Up 06:18 – Meet Dion Nissenbaum 13:37 – Why the Official Story Didn’t Add Up 20:34 – Making Who Killed Shireen? 27:13 – Naming the Shooter 36:43 – Targeting Journalists 41:33 – The U.S. Military Whistleblower 01:13:19 – Why Gaza Still Matters 🔔 Follow Reel Talk with Daizy Gedeon on Spotify so you don’t miss an episode.