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

S4 | E6 - Aiding and Abetting: How Australia's Government Serves Israel & Washington, Not Aussies

In this episode of Reel Talk, I sit down with Australian Greens Senator David Shoebridge to confront one of the most urgent questions facing Australia today: Is Australia still acting in its own national interest, or has it become an extension of Washington's foreign policy agenda? Australia says it supports international law. Australia says it supports human rights. Australia says it supports peace. But while publicly backing these principles, Australia's sovereign wealth fund has increased investments in companies linked to Israel's military operations, signed billion-dollar contracts with Israeli weapons manufacturers, and committed tens of billions more to military spending through AUKUS. At the same time, Australians are facing rising living costs, pressure on public services and growing concerns about government priorities. Beneath the headlines lies a much bigger question: Who is really shaping Australia's future — the Australian people, or powerful interests operating far beyond its borders? WHAT WE UNCOVER IN THIS CONVERSATION: – Australia's sovereign wealth fund investments in companies linked to Israel's military operations – Palantir, surveillance technology and concerns over national sovereignty – The Albanese government's contracts with Israeli weapons manufacturers – Elbit Systems and Australia's growing military relationship with Israel – The influence of Washington on Australian foreign policy – AUKUS and the multi-billion-dollar expansion of military spending – Why disability support and public services are facing cuts while defence spending grows – The debate over anti-Semitism funding and anti-racism policy – Islamophobia, discrimination and political double standards – The role of lobbying groups in shaping public policy – Palestine, Gaza and the suppression of protest movements – Why governments fear mass demonstrations – Australia's relationship with the United States and questions of national independence – Whether Australia's political system still serves the public interest TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 — Introduction: Australia's Contradictions on Palestine and Israel 03:10 — Following the Money: The Future Fund and Weapons Companies 08:30 — Palantir, Surveillance and the Erosion of Sovereignty 14:45 — Elbit Systems and Australia's Billion-Dollar Military Contracts 21:00 — Why Canberra Keeps Backing Israeli Defence Companies 27:40 — Anti-Semitism Funding and the $604 Million Budget Allocation 35:20 — Islamophobia, Double Standards and Australia's Missing Anti-Racism Strategy 43:00 — The Power of Protest and Why Governments Fear It 49:15 — Gaza, Palestine and the Battle Over Public Narratives 55:30 — America's Influence on Australian Politics 1:03:00 — AUKUS and Australia's $53 Billion Defence Expansion 1:11:00 — Who Is Australia Preparing to Fight? 1:18:00 — China, Fear Politics and Manufactured Threats 1:25:00 — Lobbying, Power and Influence in Canberra 1:32:00 — Australia's Future: Independence or Dependency? This is not about left versus right. This is about power, influence, sovereignty and who ultimately benefits from the decisions being made in Canberra. Watch until the end. Because the questions raised in this conversation affect every Australian whether they realise 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://buymeacoffee.com/daizygedeon] Subscribe and turn on notifications so you DON’T miss a video: https://shorturl.at/qrjGx [https://shorturl.at/qrjGx]

S4 | E5 - Israel isn't coming for Hezbollah, it's coming for South Lebanon

In this episode of Reel Talk, Daizy Gedeon sits down with former Lebanese ambassador, political analyst and former presidential candidate Tracy Chamoun for a confronting and deeply personal conversation about the destruction unfolding in southern Lebanon. As Washington announces “productive ceasefire talks” between Lebanon and Israel, villages in the south continue to be bombed, demolished and emptied. Families displaced. Farmland destroyed. Entire communities erased. Together, Daizy and Tracy unpack the contradiction at the heart of this moment: How can peace negotiations happen while destruction continues on the ground? This episode explores: – The devastation across southern Lebanon – Why Tracy Chamoun calls it “ecocide” – The destruction of farmland, infrastructure and historic villages – The use of white phosphorus and glyphosate – Israel’s expanding buffer zones and fears of permanent occupation – Hezbollah, resistance and Lebanon’s internal divisions – The psychological trauma of war and displacement – International hypocrisy and the failure of global institutions – Whether Lebanon can still protect its sovereignty and future TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 — Introduction & The Washington/South Lebanon Contradiction 01:45 — The True Scale of the Displacement Crisis 04:15 — What is Ecocide? 09:30 — White Phosphorus & Scorched Earth Tactics 13:15 — Israel’s Expansion Strategy 17:00 — Surviving the Pager Explosions 22:30 — Censorship, Propaganda & Israel’s Global Image 27:15 — The Ceasefire Contradiction 32:00 — Lebanon’s National Defense Crisis 38:30 — Hezbollah & Lebanon’s Internal Divide 43:00 — Trump, Macron & International Influence 48:30 — Final Thoughts & Lebanon’s Future This is not a conversation built on slogans. It’s built on facts, history and lived experience. ABOUT TRACY CHAMOUN: Tracy Chamoun is a former Lebanese ambassador to Jordan, political analyst and former presidential candidate. She is the granddaughter of former Lebanese President Camille Chamoun and the daughter of Dany Chamoun, who was assassinated alongside his wife and two sons during the Lebanese Civil War. Known for her outspoken positions on Lebanese sovereignty, Hezbollah’s weapons and regional geopolitics, Tracy remains one of Lebanon’s most prominent political voices today. #Lebanon #TracyChamoun #MiddleEast #SouthLebanon #Politics #Geopolitics #ReelTalk #DaizyGedeon

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.