The Orientalist Express Podcast

Why Are We Here, Episode III: The Israel-Iran War

Just hours before the United States bombed Iranian nuclear facilities, Nicholas, Stephen, and Matthew joined to talk about the major escalation between Israel and Iran. Special guest Hannah joined as the team discusses U.S. involvement in Iran, what could happen next, and why we continue to get pulled into conflicts in the Middle East.

Why Are We Here, Episode II: Attack of the DOGE

In “Why Are We Here, Episode II: Attack of the DOGE,” we continue our theme of blatantly ripping off episode titles based on Star Wars movies, and will now turn to taking a critical look at America’s international development program. For nearly 75 years, a central piece of American foreign policy has been that U.S. international development aid works hand in hand with military defense and State Department diplomacy to advance America’s interests around the world. How should we evaluate and re-evaluate America’s international development aid in lights of the dismantling of USAID. LINKS We Need USAID [https://orientalistexpress.com/blog/needusaid] KARE11 Interview on USAID Cuts [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIYlacwFbcY&t=66s&ab_channel=KARE11] Foreign Assistance Tracker [https://foreignassistance.gov]

Why Are We Here, Episode 1: The Phantom Presence

As we begin a new administration in Washington, it’s clear that the old way of doing things in American foreign policy needs to be critically evaluated and reconsidered. Core assumptions about why America is involved around the world and why it matters can no longer be taken for granted. The American people have spoken, and it’s time those of us committed to the “traditional” view of American foreign policy need to adapt. So that’s why we’ve decided to shift gears on this podcast with a new series that seeks to challenge long-held beliefs and worldviews about the international order and the “Washington Consensus.” “Why Are We Here” will take a critical look at America’s engagement in places all over the world and try to understand where it makes sense for America to engage, and where it makes sense to pull back our involvement. In “Why Are We Here, Episode I: The Phantom Presence,” we take a very broad look at the U.S.-led international order that has been in place for over 75 years. The “Liberal International Order” as it’s known, is the set of global organizations like the U.N. and rules like “freedom of trade on the ocean” that America has, for the most part, tried to uphold (as opposed to just letting the strongest country do whatever it wants, they have to follow the rules we all agree to). Was this system really to our benefit? Was it all just an illusion of power?

Episode 41, Catching Up On American Foreign Policy

On this episode, Nicholas is joined joined once again by Stephen and Matthew in our first episode since the 2024 election. In fact, this is our first regular recording in about two and a half years! On this episode, we’ll engage in wild speculation about what American foreign policy might look like for the incoming administration and why it matters to the average American.

Sudan & South Sudan with Lift Up the Vulnerable

On this episode, Nicholas is joined by Sasha Nicolle, founder of the nonprofit Emanate International and currently the Advancement Officer for the local nonprofit Lift Up the Vulnerable (LUV). They are an international NGO working primarily in Sudan and South Sudan to prevent the trafficking and oppression of vulnerable children and women. Sasha also appeared on a previous podcast episode a couple years ago which focused on Emanate International and the critical need for us to change the way we think about international development. She has joined today to talk more about LUV, the status of international development in Sudan and South Sudan, and why international development is important for us here at home. LINKS Lift Up the Vulnerable [https://liftupthevulnerable.org] LUV Event [https://liftupthevulnerable.org/luv-minn-2024/] The Case for Foreign Aid [https://orientalistexpress.com/blog/foreignaid] Emanate International Podcast Episode [https://orientalistexpress.com/podcast/episode32] Power of Community to Affect Change [https://emanateinternational.org/development_amidst_conflict/]