Shows
Geopulse: Guns - Gadgets - Genes - GermsEpisode 7. Firewalls and Frontiers: Dr. Edward Lemon on his book and Eurasia’s Rebellion Against Chinese Authoritarian Tech and Subtle Algorithmic RuleIn this episode of Geopulse, host Tamim Asey sits down with Professor Edward Lemon — one of the world’s leading experts on authoritarianism, security, and geopolitics in Central Asia and beyond. Currently a Research Assistant Professor at Texas A&M’s Bush School and President of the Oxus Society, Professor Lemon has long been at the forefront of research on transnational repression, digital surveillance, and authoritarian legalism.We dive deep into his groundbreaking new book, Backlash: China’s Struggle for Influence in Central Asia, co-authored with Bradley Jardine and Niva Yau. Far from the narrative of unstoppable Chinese...2025-07-2448 minGeopulse: Guns - Gadgets - Genes - GermsEpisode 6. The Empire Report: Yaroslav Trofimov on Ukraine, the Middle East, Books authored and the Grand Arc of HistoryIn this riveting episode of Geopulse, award-winning journalist and bestselling author Yaroslav Trofimov joins host Tamim Asey for an extraordinary journey through the frontlines of history, empire and global upheaval.From the trenches of Ukraine to the deserts of the Middle East, Trofimov’s reporting has captured the pulse of collapsing regimes, rising authoritarian powers, and the unfinished wars that continue to shape our world. We dive into his latest book, Our Enemies Will Vanish, alongside his earlier works The Siege of Mecca and Faith at War, to trace the fault lines of global power and the hu...2025-07-2459 minGeopulse: Guns - Gadgets - Genes - GermsEpisode 5. Echoes from the Steppe: Bruce Pannier on Central Asia’s Cartographic Curse, Water Wars and Quest for Geopolitical IdentityFew voices have captured the pulse of Central Asia with the clarity, depth and integrity of Bruce Pannier. As a widely respected journalist and veteran analyst, Bruce has long served as a trusted chronicler of the region—offering grounded, unbiased insights into one of the world’s most strategically overlooked landscapes.In this special episode of Geopulse, Bruce joins host Tamim Asey to explore how the legacies of Soviet-imposed borders, forced demographics and imperial politics continue to shape the region’s modern identity and geopolitics.Together, they dive into:•The lingering impact of Stalinist border-m...2025-07-221h 08
Talibanology: Power, People and PoliciesEpisode 7. Mapping the Shadow Caliphate: Dr. Amira Jadoon on ISKP, the Taliban and the South Asian Militant MazeIn this episode of Talibanology, host Tamim Asey is joined by Professor Dr. Amira Jadoon, Associate Professor at Clemson University and one of the foremost authorities on terrorism and insurgency dynamics in South and Central Asia.Drawing from her groundbreaking book The Islamic State in Afghanistan and Pakistan: Strategic Alliances and Rivalries (2023), Dr. Jadoon guides us through the complex and shifting landscape of jihadist militancy across the region. We delve into the rise of the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), its evolving strategy, and its fierce rivalry with the Taliban, as well as the broader militant ecosystem...2025-07-2157 minGeopulse: Guns - Gadgets - Genes - GermsEpisode 4. Between Legacy and Liberation: Dr. Anna Jordanova on Central Asia’s Geometry to Pivot from Imperial ShadowsIn this episode of Geopulse, host Tamim Asey is joined by Dr. Anna Jordanova — a rising voice on Central Asian geopolitics, Associate Fellow at the Association of International Affairs (AMO), and PhD candidate at Charles University in Prague — to unpack the region’s evolving strategic architecture in a rapidly shifting global landscape.As traditional power dynamics are disrupted by Russia’s overstretch, China’s deepening economic reach, and the cautious engagement of Western actors, Central Asian states are quietly recalibrating their foreign policies. Dr. Jordanova brings fresh insight into how domestic elites, anti-corruption campaigns, and multivector diplomacy are shapin...2025-07-1854 minGeopulse: Guns - Gadgets - Genes - GermsEpisode 3. Power, Paranoia and Proxy Wars: Michael Kugelman Maps the Strategic Storms of South AsiaIn this explosive episode of Geopulse, host Tamim Asey sits down with Michael Kugelman, former Director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Center, to dissect the geopolitical powder keg that is modern South Asia.The conversation spans five strategic theatres:•India–Pakistan Rivalry: From Modi’s muscular populism to General Munir’s military reset, we explore how leadership styles, internal crises, and a fresh bout of cross-border conflict are redefining bilateral tensions.•China’s Regional Manoeuvres: How Beijing is recalibrating its power projection in South Asia—quietly shaping the India–Pakistan...2025-07-1759 minTalibanology: Power, People and PoliciesEpisode 6. Abandoning the Frontlines: Annie Pforzheimer on U.S. Diplomacy, Taliban Rule and the Struggle for Afghan FuturesIn this powerful episode of Talibanology, host Tamim Asey is joined by Ambassador Annie Pforzheimer — former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Afghanistan and South Asia, and former Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul.Drawing on her three decades in U.S. diplomacy, Annie offers a candid and insightful critique of America’s engagement with the Taliban—from flawed assumptions to policy missteps—and explores what’s next for U.S. strategy in the region.The conversation dives deep into:•The long-term viability of the Taliban Emirate•U.S. policy opti...2025-07-1456 minTalibanology: Power, People and PoliciesEpisode 5. The Shadow Rulers: Inside the Lives and Legends of the Taliban EmirsIn this episode - Tamim Asey is joined by the world-renowned Taliban expert and Afghanistan historian Professor Michael Semple for a deep dive into the lives, leadership and legacy of the Taliban’s three Emirs: Mullah Omar, Mullah Akhtar Mansoor and Sheikh Hibatullah Akhundzada.Together, they explore how the Taliban craft myths around their leaders, the role of secrecy and decentralised governance and whether there’s any space for reform within the movement. The discussion also covers the worldviews of various Taliban Emirs, the prospects of a succession crisis, economic control and the group’s enduring oppression of wom...2025-07-101h 01Geopulse: Guns - Gadgets - Genes - GermsEpisode 2. A World in Flux: Ambassador Ronald Neumann on Conflict, Diplomacy and the Future of PowerIn this episode of Geopulse, the host Tamim Asey sits down with Ambassador Ronald Neumann—former U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan, Algeria and Bahrain, and currently the President of the American Academy of Diplomacy—to explore some of the most urgent geopolitical questions shaping our world.Our conversation spans:🔸 The collapse of the Afghan Republic and the future of the Taliban’s Emirate🔸 Prospects for international engagement with Afghanistan without recognition🔸 Middle East realignments, the Israel–Iran confrontation, and Saudi Arabia’s transformation🔸 China’s expanding influence in the Gulf and global power politics🔸 The...2025-07-0749 minGeopulse: Guns - Gadgets - Genes - GermsEpisode 1. The War You Don’t See: Kathy Gannon on Conflict, Power and TruthIn this inaugural episode of Geopulse, host Tamim Asey sits down with legendary journalist Kathy Gannon, whose decades of fearless reporting from Afghanistan, Pakistan and across the region have shaped how the world understands war, resilience and power.From the fall of Kabul to the shifting sands of geopolitics in South Asia and the Middle East, Kathy shares hard-earned insights on conflict, authoritarianism and the evolving role of journalism in an age of disinformation and global uncertainty.Together, they explore:•Lessons from decades on the frontlines of conflict•The rise of global stro...2025-07-031h 00Talibanology: Power, People and PoliciesEpisode 4. Taliban Rule Rewired: Social Engineering, Surveillance and the New Regional ChessboardIn this episode of Talibanology, podcast host Tamim Asey sits down with Emeritus Professor William Maley of the Australian National University—renowned scholar and author of The Afghanistan Wars, Rescuing Afghanistan, and What is a Refugee?Drawing on decades of expertise, Professor Maley offers a sharp and sobering comparison between the Taliban’s first regime in the 1990s and their current rule. Has the group truly transformed from an ideological insurgency into a functioning government—or is it a return to authoritarian basics under a more polished facade?The discussion goes beyond day-to-day Taliban rule dynami...2025-06-2857 minTalibanology: Power, People and PoliciesEpisode 3. The Emir’s Iron Fist: War, Surveillance and the Taliban’s Secret StateIn this episode of Talibanology, we are joined by leading insurgency expert Dr. Antonio Giustozzi, author of The Taliban at War, The Islamic State in Khorasan, and Empires of Mud, to dissect the secretive architecture of Taliban power—its military evolution, intelligence apparatus, and internal security logic.We explore five critical themes:1.Militia in Uniform? The Myth and Reality of Taliban Military TransformationHas the Taliban truly transformed from a fragmented militia into an organised national army—or is it still a network of local commanders and fighters draped in the façade of a pro...2025-06-161h 04Talibanology: Power, People and PoliciesEpisode 2: The Cloak and Kalashnikov Diplomacy - Mullahs, Militias and the Making of the Taliban Emirate Foreign PolicyIn this episode of Talibanology, host Tamim Asey sits down with the brilliant Dr. Jennifer Murtazashvili, Director of the Center for Governance and Markets at the University of Pittsburgh and author of Informal Order and the State in Afghanistan. A leading thinker on governance and post-conflict statecraft, Dr. Murtazashvili brings deep insight into the intersection of local authority, foreign engagement and Afghan political futures.Together, they explore the Taliban’s evolving foreign policy and ask:•Does the Taliban have a grand strategy—or is it just playing whack-a-mole with the world?•Who truly drives external...2025-06-1259 minTalibanology: Power, People and PoliciesEpisode 1. Inside the Taliban’s Black Box: Power, Paranoia and the Road AheadIn the debut episode of Talibanology, host Tamim Asey sits down with Dr. Hassan Abbas—renowned scholar of the Taliban and South Asian security—for a gripping conversation on the internal dynamics of the Taliban regime. We unpack rival power centres within the Emirate, governance challenges, economic sustainability, and the group’s regional strategy and ties to terrorist networks.We also explore provocative questions: What would happen if the Taliban Emir were assassinated? How does the normalization of former jihadists like Ahmad Sharaa impact Taliban thinking? Is internal revolt brewing, and can the Afghan diaspora play a meanin...2025-06-0854 minTalibanology: Power, People and PoliciesThe TrailerWelcome aboard!2025-05-1901 minGeopulse: Guns - Gadgets - Genes - GermsThe TrailerWelcome aboard!2025-05-1902 min