Podcasts about Central Asia

1 Hour and 52 MinutesPG-13Dr. J. Otto Pohl received his PhD in History from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. He has taught at the American University Iraq Sulaimani, University of Ghana, and American University of Central Asia. He is the author of Ethnic Cleansing in the USSR, 1937–1949 (Greenwood, 1999), The Stalinist Penal System (McFarland & Co., 1997), and The Years of Great Silence The Deportation, Special Settlement, and Mobilization into the Labor Army of Ethnic Germans in the USSR, 1941–1955 (Columbia University Press, 2022). His articles have appeared in, among other journals, The Russian Review, Journal of Genocide Research, Human Rights Review, and Studies in Ethnicity and Nationalism.This is a combination of two episodes:Episode 1062: Who Was the Most Persecuted Group Under the Soviet Regime? w/ J. Otto PohlEpisode 1166: An Overview of the Soviet Regime Pre- and Post-War w/ J. Otto PohlThe Years of Great SilenceDr. Pohl's SubstackDr. Pohl's PatreonDr. Pohl's TwitterPete and Thomas777 'At the Movies'Support Pete on His WebsitePete's PatreonPete's Substack Pete's SubscribestarPete's GUMROADPete's VenmoPete's Buy Me a CoffeePete on FacebookPete on TwitterBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-pete-quinones-show--6071361/support.

The C919, China's domestically developed narrowbody passenger jet, will begin its first scheduled international commercial service next month, a step industry experts said will test the aircraft's ability to operate beyond domestic markets and help build confidence for wider overseas expansion.中国自主研发的窄体客机C919将于下月开启首条国际定期商业航线。业内专家表示，此举将检验该机境外运营能力，也有助于为后续更大规模海外拓展积累信心。The daily round-trip service, operated by Air China, will connect Beijing Capital International Airport and Ulaanbaatar's Chinggis Khaan International Airport in Mongolia from Aug 12, the airline said.国航方面透露，这条每日往返航线将于8月12日起通航，往返北京首都国际机场与蒙古国乌兰巴托成吉思汗国际机场。According to the schedule, outbound flight CA723 will depart Beijing at 3 pm Beijing time and arrive in Ulaanbaatar at 5:15 pm local time. The return flight, CA724, will leave Ulaanbaatar at 6:30 pm local time and arrive in Beijing at 8:35 pm Beijing time.根据航班计划，出境航班CA723北京时间15时从北京起飞，当地时间17时15分抵达乌兰巴托；返程航班CA724当地时间18时30分从乌兰巴托起飞，北京时间20时35分落地北京。The route marks the first time the C919, manufactured by Commercial Aircraft Corp of China, will enter a regular international commercial passenger aviation market.该航线是中国商飞制造的C919客机首次投入常态化国际客运商业运营。Previously, the aircraft has operated mainly on Chinese mainland routes, as well as services connecting the mainland with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. China Eastern Airlines launched the aircraft on scheduled flights between Shanghai and Hong Kong in January 2025, while Air China began regular C919 services between Beijing and Hong Kong in November.在此之前，C919主要执飞中国大陆境内航线，以及内地往来香港特别行政区的航班。东方航空已于2025年1月用该机开通沪港定期航线，国航则在同年11月开通京港C919常态化航班。"Choosing Ulaanbaatar as the first regular international destination is not a move to lower the entry barrier or test the waters," said Zhu Keli, founding director of the China Institute of New Economy.中国新经济研究院创始院长朱克力表示：“选择乌兰巴托作为首条国际定期航线目的地，并非为了降低准入门槛、浅尝辄止。”Zhu said the decision reflected a combination of factors including aviation cooperation between China and Mongolia, airworthiness cooperation arrangements, operational safety and route economics.朱克力称，这一决定是多重因素综合考量的结果，涵盖中蒙航空合作、适航协作机制、运营安全以及航线经济效益。"China and Mongolia have maintained stable civil aviation cooperation, with a relatively mature framework for airworthiness cooperation," Zhu said. "The airport environment is relatively straightforward, the flight distance is moderate and the aircraft can complete a round trip within a day, allowing domestic technical support to respond quickly if operational issues arise."朱克力表示：“中蒙民航合作长期稳定，双方拥有较为成熟的适航协作体系。当地机场运行环境简单，航程适中，客机可当日往返，一旦出现运行故障，国内技术保障力量能快速响应处置。”The route also has established business and tourism demand, making it suitable for regular commercial operations rather than serving only as a demonstration flight, Zhu said.他表示，该航线拥有稳定的商务、旅游客流需求，适合常态化商业运营，而非仅作为示范航班。He said the first international route is aimed at validating the full process of cross-border operations, including overseas maintenance support, international air traffic coordination and customs procedures.他表示，首条国际航线的核心目的是完整验证跨境运营全流程，包括境外维修保障、国际空管协调、海关通关流程等环节。"Ulaanbaatar is more like a low-risk practical training ground where the C919 can accumulate real overseas operating data and build a replicable model for future international expansion," Zhu said.朱克力称：“乌兰巴托更像一处低风险实操试验场，C919可以在这里积累真实海外运营数据，为后续国际化拓展打造一套可复制的运营模式。”Guo Jia, a civil aviation expert and professor at Guangdong University of Foreign Studies' South China Business College, said safety considerations were the primary factor behind the selection of the first international destination.广东外语外贸大学南国商学院民航专家郭佳教授表示，安全考量是选定首个国际通航点的首要因素。He said Air China's previous experience operating the C909 regional jet to Ulaanbaatar, along with the airline's assessment of airport handling and maintenance capabilities, also supported the route choice.他介绍，国航此前长期使用ARJ21支线客机执飞乌兰巴托航线，同时航司对当地机场地面保障、维修维护能力进行过充分评估，这也助推了这条航线落地。For the Chinese aviation industry, the significance of the route extends beyond the flight itself, experts said.专家指出，对中国航空产业而言，这条航线的意义远不止航班运营本身。"Previously, C919 operations were mainly based on China's domestic airspace and supporting infrastructure," Zhu said. "This scheduled international route means the aircraft is entering a regular commercial passenger aviation system between countries."朱克力表示：“此前C919的运行完全依托国内空域与配套保障体系，这条国际定期航线，标志着该机正式进入跨国常态化商业客运体系。”The operation will help establish overseas support capabilities, including maintenance cooperation, spare parts arrangements and international operating procedures, Zhu said.朱克力称，此次通航将助力搭建境外配套保障体系，涵盖维修合作、备件储备、跨境运营流程等多个方面。Guo said international expansion would require more than aircraft performance. "Aircraft sales, international operations and market expansion all need to comply with the airworthiness standards of different countries and regions," Guo said, adding that broader international communication and certification efforts would be necessary.郭佳表示，国际化拓展不只是考验飞机性能。“飞机销售、跨境运营、市场开拓都必须符合各国各地区的适航标准，还需要开展大量国际沟通与适航认证工作。”Guo added that overseas maintenance, aircraft support and route support capabilities would be among the key challenges for international operations.郭佳补充，境外维修、整机后勤保障、航线配套能力，将是该机开展国际运营的核心难点。Looking ahead, experts expect the C919's international expansion to be gradual. "C919's internationalization will not follow an aggressive model of rapidly launching a large number of routes," Zhu said.展望未来，专家认为C919的国际化进程将循序渐进。朱克力表示：“C919不会采取激进模式，短时间内密集开通大量国际航线。”After validating operations in Ulaanbaatar, the aircraft will likely expand first into short-haul international markets in Central Asia and Southeast Asia, allowing it to accumulate experience under different operating conditions, Zhu said.朱克力表示，在乌兰巴托航线完成运营验证后，C919大概率会先拓展中亚、东南亚短途国际市场，在多样运行环境中积累运营经验。"The priority is to complete the transition from zero to one — making the first international route operate safely and accumulating experience," Guo said. "Only after establishing overseas safety operation and maintenance standards should the C919 move from one route to multiple routes.郭佳称：“当下首要任务是完成从0到1的突破，保障首条国际航线安全运行、沉淀实操经验。只有建立成熟的境外安全运营与维修标准后，C919才能从单条航线拓展至多条国际航线。”"Airworthiness certification is indeed one of the biggest barriers for the C919 entering mainstream European and US markets," Zhu said.朱克力表示：“适航认证，确实是C919进入欧美主流市场最大阻碍之一。”He said certification by authorities such as the European Union Aviation Safety Agency and the US Federal Aviation Administration would be essential, while airlines' familiarity with the aircraft, maintenance networks, leasing systems and market recognition would also influence adoption.他表示，获取欧盟航空安全局、美国联邦航空管理局等机构的适航认证至关重要；同时航司对机型的熟悉度、全球维修网络、飞机租赁体系以及市场认可度，都会影响各国引进该机的意愿。narrowbody /ˈnærəʊbɒdi/窄体客机airworthiness /ˈeəwɜːðinəs/适航性certification /ˌsɜːtɪfɪˈkeɪʃn/认证infrastructure /ˈɪnfrəstrʌktʃə(r)/基础设施short-haul /ˌʃɔːt ˈhɔːl/短途的maintenance /ˈmeɪntənəns/维修，维护

In Asia she was asked, "Is there a difference in what your GOD believes about the STATUS OF WOMEN and what the CHRISTIANS practice?" Good News? There were many conversions in Central Asia after EVANGELISM became possible 30 years ago. Bad News? Sadly, the new believers were taught a HIERARCHICAL message as well. Dr. Leslie and Dr. Chad Segraves are bringing a NEW WAVE OF GOOD NEWS of unity in the Body of Christ. Their focus is on countries in the 10/40 window.  These two missiologists co-founded and co-direct the 10/40 Connections Ministry. Their website is https://www.1040connections.org/ The Tru316 Foundation (www.Tru316.com) is the home of The Eden Podcast with Bruce C. E. Fleming where we “true” the verse of Genesis 3:16. The Tru316 Message is that “God didn't curse Eve (or Adam) or limit woman in any way.” Once Genesis 3:16 is made clear the other passages on women and men become clear too. You are encouraged to access the episodes of Seasons 1-11 of The Eden Podcast for teaching on the seven key passages on women and men. Are you a reader? We invite you to get from Amazon the four books by Bruce C. E. Fleming in The Eden Book Series (Tru316.com/trubooks). Would you like to support the work of the Tru316 Foundation? You can become a Tru Partner here: www.Tru316.com/partner

Headline: Roman Stability, the Horse, and the Fragility of Empires Guest: Professor Peter Frankopan Book Title:The Earth Transformed: An Untold History During the Roman Warm Period, Rome benefited from nearly 300 years of environmental stability, which Frankopan characterizes as "getting lucky." This period of low volcanic activity allowed for predictable budgets, institutional growth, and the city's transformation from brick to marble. However, the narrative shifts to the "magical" role of the horse in Central Asia. Frankopan describes horses as sacred animals and military assets that allowed humans to cover vast distances, ultimately enabling the Huns to dismantle the Roman infrastructure. He emphasizes that large, specialized empires are often brittle; a single failure in trade or water systems can lead to a "doom spiral" of famine and disease. Modern cities like Dubai, with only 24 hours of water reserves, mirror the fragilities of ancient Uruk or Nineveh. Finally, Frankopan reflects on biblical stories, like the Garden of Eden and the flood, as early lessons on the need for humans to live sustainably within a potentially hostile environment. (3)1930 CALDWELL IDAHO DUSTBOWL

Nina Alvarez joins Dr. Sandie Morgan to unpack a question raised after The New York Times published images from Figueroa Street: was legal consent enough to prevent harm? Together they explore the ethical duty of care journalists owe survivors, the lasting life of images, and why covering trafficking responsibly takes more than good intentions.Chapters(00:00) - Introduction: welcoming journalist Nina Alvarez (03:46) - What "ethical duty of care" means for journalists (06:00) - Consent, trauma, and the limits of a release form (16:42) - Why "rescue" is the wrong word for trafficking recovery (22:14) - What editors and organizations should ask before publishing (28:44) - Power, images, and protecting sources long after publication (38:03) - Media narratives, public misunderstanding, and what needs to change (43:14) - Closing thoughts and how to get involved About Nina AlvarezNina Alvarez is a journalist, documentarian, video photographer, and the CBS Assistant Professor of International Journalism at Columbia Journalism School. She has spent more than twenty-five years reporting breaking news, feature stories, radio reports, broadcast segments, and long-form documentaries around the world.Alvarez began her career at ABC News, working on the documentary series Turning Point before covering the southeast U.S. and Latin America from ABC's Miami Bureau and helping establish the network's Mexico City Bureau in 1997. Her work has aired on World News Tonight with Peter Jennings, Good Morning America, Nightline, and 20/20, earning three national Emmy Awards.Since 2001, she has reported and produced for Univision, NBC, CNN, NPR, MTV News, and Al Jazeera, with work spanning the Middle East, Africa, Central Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. She produced, directed, and photographed Very Young Girls, a Showtime documentary following New York City girls who had been sexually exploited and trafficked domestically, and was a producer on the Oscar-nominated Which Way Home.Key Points• Nina Alvarez explains that the ethical duty of care means weighing the lasting impact a story will have on the person in it, since a published story is permanent and the subject may not fully grasp what that means when they agree to participate.• Consent is not the same as a signed release form; Alvarez describes consent as an ongoing process that journalists have to revisit before, during, and after a story is published.• Alvarez points out that turning 18 makes someone legally able to consent, but it doesn't erase the effects of years of trauma, so journalists still have to weigh whether a survivor's "yes" is solid.• Morgan and Alvarez agree that "rescue" is the wrong frame for trafficking recovery, since most survivors leave and return to their situations multiple times before they're fully out.• Alvarez explains that rescue-centered narratives draw more funding and legislative attention toward policing, while recovery-centered approaches that give survivors housing and health resources get less support.• Alvarez says editors should be asking why minors' first names and identifying details were included in a story at all, and whether a survivor understood that their words to police would end up published nationally.• Alvarez encourages organizations to set ground rules with journalists, including reviewing the story and images in advance, and warns that survivors who depend on an organization for access may feel pressure to say yes.• Alvarez reflects that Very Young Girls, made in 2007, didn't anticipate how permanently images would circulate online, and the women in that documentary now say they can never fully escape those images.Resources• Figueroa Street and the Ethical Duty of Care (Columbia Journalism Review)• Very Young Girls (documentary)• GEMS (Girls Educational and Mentoring Services)• Humanitarian Initiative Bridges• Columbia Journalism School

What started as a dream of working in international intelligence turned into something straight out of a movie.To watch this episode in studio, visit: https://youtu.be/893hj4NnaC0Zach Hansen lived throughout Russia and Central Asia, worked alongside the U.S. Department of State, traveled the world, survived being detained overseas, and eventually woke up in an ambulance after allegedly being poisoned with rat poison by someone he trusted.In Episode 120 of the Wild Chaos Podcast, Zach shares the unbelievable story of surviving betrayal, navigating foreign countries, experiencing Russian culture firsthand, nearly pursuing a career in intelligence, and ultimately discovering what really matters most—faith, family, fatherhood, and purpose. Along the way we discuss:• Being poisoned overseas• Living in Russia• Trying to become an intelligence officer• Russian culture vs. American media• Organized crime encounters• AI before it became mainstream• Why college isn't always the answer• Homeschooling• Fatherhood• Faith• Building a meaningful life after failureIf you enjoyed Zach's story, be sure to check out his book at www.zacharyhanson.me, where he shares more of his experiences living overseas, pursuing purpose, and the lessons that shaped his life. You can also follow Zach on Instagram @letmedielearning for insights on faith, family, leadership, and lifelong learning.

The second day, when we were in the hospital, I asked the doctor, “Will my daughter survive?”“We're going to try our best,” he replied.                                                               ----------------Today's story is told by Helen Castillo, AFM career missionary on the Himadri Project in Central Asia.Subscribe and leave us a review if you enjoyed listening to today's story!

In early 2022, protests rocked Kazakhstan. Initially peaceful demonstrations turned violent after brutal government crackdowns, leaving at least 238 dead during "Bloody January." Many feared the unrest might fracture the country along ethno-linguistic lines—yet ethnicity played little role. It was deep socio-economic grievances and anti-regime sentiment that brought people onto the streets. In What Does It Mean to Be Kazakhstani?: Nation-Building in Post-Soviet Central Asia (Oxford University Press, 2024), Diana T. Kudaibergen asks why. Building on unpublished archival materials and hundreds of interviews, she examines how Kazakhstan developed a relatively stable inter-ethnic framework where others fractured, how regime elites and ordinary citizens have pulled that identity in different directions, and how Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, and the Russian immigration it has prompted, is once again transforming what it means to call oneself Kazakhstani. Cholpon Ramizova is a London-based creator and researcher. She holds a Master's in Migration, Mobility and Development from SOAS, University of London. Her thematic interests are in migration, displacement, identity, gender and nationalism—and in the ways these intersect within the Central Asia context.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

In early 2022, protests rocked Kazakhstan. Initially peaceful demonstrations turned violent after brutal government crackdowns, leaving at least 238 dead during "Bloody January." Many feared the unrest might fracture the country along ethno-linguistic lines—yet ethnicity played little role. It was deep socio-economic grievances and anti-regime sentiment that brought people onto the streets. In What Does It Mean to Be Kazakhstani?: Nation-Building in Post-Soviet Central Asia (Oxford University Press, 2024), Diana T. Kudaibergen asks why. Building on unpublished archival materials and hundreds of interviews, she examines how Kazakhstan developed a relatively stable inter-ethnic framework where others fractured, how regime elites and ordinary citizens have pulled that identity in different directions, and how Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, and the Russian immigration it has prompted, is once again transforming what it means to call oneself Kazakhstani. Cholpon Ramizova is a London-based creator and researcher. She holds a Master's in Migration, Mobility and Development from SOAS, University of London. Her thematic interests are in migration, displacement, identity, gender and nationalism—and in the ways these intersect within the Central Asia context.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/political-science

In early 2022, protests rocked Kazakhstan. Initially peaceful demonstrations turned violent after brutal government crackdowns, leaving at least 238 dead during "Bloody January." Many feared the unrest might fracture the country along ethno-linguistic lines—yet ethnicity played little role. It was deep socio-economic grievances and anti-regime sentiment that brought people onto the streets. In What Does It Mean to Be Kazakhstani?: Nation-Building in Post-Soviet Central Asia (Oxford University Press, 2024), Diana T. Kudaibergen asks why. Building on unpublished archival materials and hundreds of interviews, she examines how Kazakhstan developed a relatively stable inter-ethnic framework where others fractured, how regime elites and ordinary citizens have pulled that identity in different directions, and how Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, and the Russian immigration it has prompted, is once again transforming what it means to call oneself Kazakhstani. Cholpon Ramizova is a London-based creator and researcher. She holds a Master's in Migration, Mobility and Development from SOAS, University of London. Her thematic interests are in migration, displacement, identity, gender and nationalism—and in the ways these intersect within the Central Asia context.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/central-asian-studies

In this episode, Markus meets Norwegian brewing pioneer Kjetil Jikiun for a very special “beer cast” recorded in the car. Kjetil looks back on an extraordinary journey that led him from life as an airline pilot to becoming one of the key figures of the modern Norwegian beer revolution. He shares how homebrewing, American craft beer, and a deep curiosity for flavor inspired him to co-found Nøgne Ø and help introduce bold styles like IPA, saison, and imperial stout to Norway. The conversation also takes some remarkable detours: from brewing what may be the highest-altitude beer in the world on a mountain pass in Central Asia, to building a brewery project in Crete and discovering how different beer cultures can be. Kjetil reflects on innovation, responsibility, and the balance between brewing as science and brewing as art. A fascinating episode about adventure, flavor, and the courage to keep reinventing yourself.

In early 2022, protests rocked Kazakhstan. Initially peaceful demonstrations turned violent after brutal government crackdowns, leaving at least 238 dead during "Bloody January." Many feared the unrest might fracture the country along ethno-linguistic lines—yet ethnicity played little role. It was deep socio-economic grievances and anti-regime sentiment that brought people onto the streets. In What Does It Mean to Be Kazakhstani?: Nation-Building in Post-Soviet Central Asia (Oxford University Press, 2024), Diana T. Kudaibergen asks why. Building on unpublished archival materials and hundreds of interviews, she examines how Kazakhstan developed a relatively stable inter-ethnic framework where others fractured, how regime elites and ordinary citizens have pulled that identity in different directions, and how Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, and the Russian immigration it has prompted, is once again transforming what it means to call oneself Kazakhstani. Cholpon Ramizova is a London-based creator and researcher. She holds a Master's in Migration, Mobility and Development from SOAS, University of London. Her thematic interests are in migration, displacement, identity, gender and nationalism—and in the ways these intersect within the Central Asia context.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/russian-studies

Nine post-Soviet states now sell residency to foreign investors, and Belarus could soon become the first in the former USSR to sell citizenship outright. IMI covers all nine, from the EU passport routes in the Baltics to an underperforming program in Moscow to newer golden visa options in Central Asia.Read the full analysis here.Access a suite of powerful tools and the world's #1 private investor community as an IMI Sovereign. Use code SOV10 for 10% off your first month.

In early 2022, protests rocked Kazakhstan. Initially peaceful demonstrations turned violent after brutal government crackdowns, leaving at least 238 dead during "Bloody January." Many feared the unrest might fracture the country along ethno-linguistic lines—yet ethnicity played little role. It was deep socio-economic grievances and anti-regime sentiment that brought people onto the streets. In What Does It Mean to Be Kazakhstani?: Nation-Building in Post-Soviet Central Asia (Oxford University Press, 2024), Diana T. Kudaibergen asks why. Building on unpublished archival materials and hundreds of interviews, she examines how Kazakhstan developed a relatively stable inter-ethnic framework where others fractured, how regime elites and ordinary citizens have pulled that identity in different directions, and how Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, and the Russian immigration it has prompted, is once again transforming what it means to call oneself Kazakhstani. Cholpon Ramizova is a London-based creator and researcher. She holds a Master's in Migration, Mobility and Development from SOAS, University of London. Her thematic interests are in migration, displacement, identity, gender and nationalism—and in the ways these intersect within the Central Asia context. 

Investigative journalist Tim Mak, who has been stationed in Ukraine since 2022, joins Max and Maria for a discussion about life in Kyiv, the processes and challenges driving innovation in Ukraine's dynamic civilian defense combat hubs, and the impact of AI and information integration on the battlefield. Mentioned:  The Counteroffensive by Tim Mak, Substack  The Arsenal, Tim Mak  Build Back Ukraine, Tim Mak  Feedback? Suggestions? Ideas to help us improve? Email us at erep@csis.org.  If you love Russian Roulette, let us know by subscribing and leaving a review wherever you get your podcasts.   Listen to our sister podcast, covering all things Europe through a Washington lens: CSIS Podcasts | The Eurofile  

Help us expand our Muslim media project here: https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/membershipDonate to our charity partner Baitulmaal here: http://btml.us/thinkingmuslimFrance is home to one of the largest Muslim populations in Europe. Yet for many Muslims, practising Islam has become increasingly difficult. From restrictions on religious expression to the growing influence of the far right, many are asking a question that would have seemed unthinkable a generation ago: is there still a future for Muslims in France?In this episode of The Thinking Muslim, Muhammad Jalal is joined by Marwan Muhammad, one of the most prominent voices on Islamophobia and civil rights in France. Together they examine how the French state views Islam, the reality of Muslim life under laïcité, the controversy surrounding the government's report on the Muslim Brotherhood, the targeting of Muslim women, and whether Muslims can organise politically to defend their rights.This is an essential conversation for anyone seeking to understand the changing relationship between France and its Muslim population.About Marwan Muhammad:Marwan Muhammad is a French-Egyptian author, statistician and human rights advocate. He is the former director of the Collective Against Islamophobia in France (CCIF) and has worked with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) supporting Muslim communities across Europe, Central Asia and North America. He also led the first nationwide survey of Muslims in France and now works as a human rights consultant for international organisations.You can find Marwan Muhammad here:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marwan-muhammad-9049553b?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_iosInsta: https://www.instagram.com/diplomathics/X: @Diplomathics Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarwanMuhammadOfficiel/Become a member here: https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/membershipOr give your one-off donation here: https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/donateListen to the audio version of the podcast:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7vXiAjVFnhNI3T9Gkw636aApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-thinking-muslim/id1471798762Purchase our Thinking Muslim mug: https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/merchFind us on: X: https://x.com/thinking_muslimLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-thinking-muslim/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Thinking-Muslim-Podcast-105790781361490Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thinkingmuslimpodcast/Telegram: https://t.me/thinkingmuslimBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/thinkingmuslim.bsky.socialThreads: https://www.threads.com/@thinkingmuslimpodcastFind Muhammad Jalal here:X: https://twitter.com/jalalaynInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/jalalayns/Sign up to Muhammad Jalal's newsletter: https://jalalayn.substack.comWebsite Archive: https://www.thinkingmuslim.comDisclaimer: The views expressed in this video are those of the individual speaker(s) and do not represent the views of the host, producers, platform, or any affiliated organisation. This content is provided for lawful, informational, and analytical purposes only, and should not be taken as professional advice. Viewer discretion is advised. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Dr Elle Wadsworth talks to Dr Nikolay Lunchenkov, medical doctor, a global health specialist, and a doctoral candidate in Global Health at the Technical University of Munich, Germany. The interview covers Nikolay's research article analysing chemsex trajectories among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men in Almaty, Kazakhstan.What is chemsex? [01:00]The wider context of drug use in Kazakhstan [01:58]The trajectories of chemsex [03:16] The methods used, and the use of a life course framework [05:36]The five trajectory stages developed: initiation, maintenance, escalation, dependence, and disengagement [07:30]The realistic and idealistic implications of the findings for treatment in Kazakhstan [17:00]The take-home messages [19:09]About Elle Wadsworth: Elle is an academic fellow with the Society for the Study of Addiction. She is based at the University of Bath with the Addiction and Mental Health Group and her research interests include drug policy, cannabis legalisation, and public health. Elle holds a voluntary role at The Loop, a non-profit service provider of drug checking in the UK. About Nikolay Lunchenkov: Nikolay, MD, MSc is a doctoral candidate in Global Health at the Technical University of Munich (TUM School of Social Sciences and Technology). His research focuses on HIV prevention, PrEP implementation, chemsex and harm reduction among key populations in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. His fieldwork focuses on Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, combining qualitative and epidemiological methods to understand how marginalised communities navigate health systems under restrictive political conditions. He also teaches graduate seminars on authoritarian regimes and global health, as well as cross-cultural qualitative research methods, at TUM.Declarations of interest: None Original article: ‘Emptiness filled with love': A reflexive thematic analysis of chemsex trajectories among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men in Almaty, Kazakhstan, using a life course framework https://doi.org/10.1111/add.70454The opinions expressed in this podcast reflect the views of the host and interviewees and do not necessarily represent the opinions or official positions of the SSA or Addiction journal.The SSA does not endorse or guarantee the accuracy of the information in external sources or links and accepts no responsibility or liability for any consequences arising from the use of such information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we're heading to the heart of the Silk Road. Uzbekistan, full of ancient caravan cities, turquoise domes, and golden desert sands hold centuries of history that shaped the the world as we know it today. Joining me are two guests who know this region intimately. Bekhruz Kurbanov is an archaeologist and guide born and raised in Uzbekistan, Luca Lasser who has nearly 20 years of experience working in Central Asia and who runs Kalpak Travel with his wife, a native of Kyrgyzstan.  We talk about everything from the conquerors who left their mark on this land, to the secrets hidden in thousand year old metalwork, to an evening spent making the national dish with locals in their homes.  So pour yourself a cup of tea, and enjoy this fascinating episode of Luxury Travel Insider.   Looking to book a luxury hotel? Get special perks and support the podcast by booking here: https://www.virtuoso.com/advisor/sarahgroen/travel/luxury-hotels If you want our expert guidance and help planning a luxury trip with experiences you can't find online, tell us more here and we'll reach out: https://bellandblytravel.com/book-a-trip/   Learn more at www.luxtravelinsider.com   Connect with me on Social:  Instagram LinkedIn  

The therapy conversation we don’t have enough. Dr. Sabrina N’Diaye shares a holistic approach to healing that blends spirituality, therapy, ancestral wisdom, and community connection. Together, we explore the transformative power of writing, forgiveness, and intentional rituals, while discussing how self-love, collective healing, and honoring every emotion can help us reconnect with ourselves and move through trauma with greater compassion and resilience. “Each day, I commit to loving myself more deeply than the day before. And I’m loving the journey.” – Dr. Sabrina N’Diaye Time Stamps for Healing Through Spirituality, Writing, and Connection with Dr. Sabrina N’Diaye (304) 02:37 The significance of spirituality in therapy 05:16 The power of writing and journaling 07:48 Exploring ancestral connections 10:36 Lessons from Big Mama 13:14 Forgiveness as a path to healing 18:37 The role of imagery in therapeutic practice 21:14 Connecting with ancestors and spiritual figures 33:49 Exploring Genograms for healing 36:52 The body as a resource in healing 38:49 Challenging patriarchy and racism in therapy 45:22 The importance of community healing 51:11 Creating circles of connection About our Guest – Dr. Sabrina N’Diaye  Dr. Sabrina N’Diaye is a pioneering thought leader in integrating spirituality with psychotherapy. As an integrative therapist, storyteller, and peacebuilder, she blends ancient spiritual practices with the latest scientific research and wisdom to guide others on their healing journeys. She holds a PhD in Mind-Body Medicine from Saybrook University, where her research focused on the use of guided imagery as a healing tool for African-American women with chronic STIs. She is also the founder of The Heart Nest Center for Peace and Healing, where she lovingly serves women, couples, and small groups. A passionate storyteller, Dr. Sabrina is a strong advocate for the power of narrative in the healing process. She believes that sharing stories is a powerful tool for connecting with others and fostering community healing. This belief is central to her workshops and public speaking engagements, where she encourages participants to explore and share their own stories as pathways to personal and collective healing. Sabrina has taught trauma healing and self-care to healthcare professionals and community leaders around the globe, and spent 13 years as a Lead Clinician for community-wide trauma programs in the Middle East, Africa, Central Asia, and all over the U.S. In 2022, she co-launched Embracing Buffalo, a project specifically designed to address the aftermath of the May 14th massacre of African-Americans in East Buffalo. Dr. Sabrina is a highly-respected member of the treatment community, frequently lecturing on topics such as peacebuilding, spirituality, self-care for healers, imagery, writing, and the transformative power of connection. Her many audiences include police departments, correctional facilities, school systems, flight attendants, healing artists, peacebuilders, and aspiring writers. Her first book, Big Mama Speaks: Love Lessons from a Harlem River Swan, draws on her maternal grandmother's resilience in overcoming trauma and chronic illness. Dr. Sabrina is deeply passionate about mentoring other therapists in creating fulfilling careers while serving humanity. Resources for Healing Through Spirituality, Writing, and Connection with Dr. Sabrina N’Diaye (304) The Heart Nest Institute – Additional resources, information, programs, group opportunities, and more Big Mama Speaks: Love Lessons from a Harlem River Swan – Sabrina’s book, purchase your copy today! Psychotherapy Networker – Articles and other content from Sabrina Beyond Attachment Styles course is available NOW!   Learn how your nervous system, your mind, and your relationships work together in a fascinating dance, shaping who you are and how you connect with others. Online, Self-Paced, Asynchronous Learning with Quarterly Live Q&A’s! Earn 6 Continuing Education Credits – Available at Checkout As a listener of this podcast, use code BAS15 for a limited-time discount.       You are invited!  Join our exclusive community to get early access and discounts to things we produce, plus an ad-free, private feed. In addition, receive exclusive episodes recorded just for you. Sign up for our premium Neuronerd plan!! Click here!!  Get your copy of Secure Relating here!!

Professor Donald Rayfield picks up Crimea's story in spring 1942, when Germany turns south for the Black Sea and oil. Some Tartars can't imagine anyone worse than Stalin. Some can't imagine anyone worse than Hitler. Tragically, they are both right though in different ways.Donald explains the realities of the German occupation, from the early “orderly” phase to the arrival of SS units whose mission is extermination of the Jews. Astonishingly some Jews are spared as the ever 'scientific' Nazis rule they are not Jews at all. Then comes one of the great crimes of world history. Stalin decides to deport the entire Crimean Tatar nation to Central Asia. Donald tells the story of the cattle trains, the scale of death and the uncertain welcome for survivors in Uzbekistan. Crimea itself is stripped of Tatar presence through renamed towns and seized homes. We bring things up to date with the 1990s return and the brief cultural revival under Ukraine . But the post-2014 Russian annexation brings renewed repression. As Donald says 'History can always get worse'. It is a fascinating episode.

SPONSORSHIP: FROM DR. GORD ARBESS: Mazel Tov to Josh Arbess and Georgia Gardner on their upcoming wedding. And to Sharon Neiss-Arbess on her latest book "How I learned to pee in the Forest" available at Indigo, Type Books and on Amazon. https://www.amazon.ca/How-Learned-Pee-Forest-life-changing/dp/B0FY5ML1K6 ELI RUBENSTEIN: 'Thank you to my synagogue, Congregation Habonimi, for being so supportive of efforts that also benefit the wider community." DR. MICHAEL SILVERMAN: For Marcy Silverman who always had a wonderful sense of adventure, courage and bravery to follow her dreams." _____________________________________________________________________ Hello, and welcome to The Avrum Rosensweig Show. There are scholars who preserve history by writing about it. There are adventurers who search the world for hidden treasures. And then there are those extraordinary individuals who do both—turning ancient mysteries into living reality and ensuring that entire chapters of Jewish civilization are never forgotten. Today, I am deeply honored to welcome Dr. Ari Greenspan. By profession, he is a dentist. By calling, an educator. But by passion, he is something far more unusual: what he describes as a halachic adventurer. For more than four decades, Dr. Greenspan has crossed deserts, climbed mountains, explored forgotten synagogues, scuba-dived beneath the Mediterranean, and traveled to some of the world's most remote Jewish communities—from Morocco and Yemen to Ethiopia, India, Portugal, Tunisia, Central Asia, and beyond. He has searched for disappearing customs before they vanish forever, preserved ancient kosher traditions, documented endangered Jewish communities, and helped revive one of Judaism's greatest mysteries: the rediscovery of the biblical techelet, the sacred blue dye absent from Jewish life for nearly 1,300 years. As co-founder of the Ptil Tekhelet Association, Dr. Greenspan has combined Torah scholarship with archaeology, biology, chemistry, linguistics, and history to breathe new life into commandments many believed had been lost forever. Dr. Ari is also a mohel, a shochet, a sofer, an international lecturer, and the creator of legendary kosher dinners featuring birds and traditions preserved from Jewish communities scattered across the globe. His personal museum houses artifacts collected over forty years of travel—each one telling a story of a people who refused to disappear. During today's conversation, you'll hear astonishing stories from Ethiopia, where he trained Jewish communities in kosher slaughter; from Croatia, where ancient menorahs hidden in stone still whisper of forgotten Jewish craftsmen; from Portugal, where Crypto-Jewish traditions survived centuries of persecution; and from the depths of the Mediterranean, where the search for the elusive chilazon became one of the most remarkable adventures in modern Jewish history. Yet beneath every journey lies a deeper question. As Dr. Greenspan himself has shown through his life's work: Every forgotten synagogue, every ancient manuscript, every disappearing custom asks the same question: "Will anyone remember us?" 1. 00:04:45 – Dr. Greenspan's Extraordinary Mission in Ethiopia "Teaching a Jewish Community to Keep Kashrut Alive" Dr. Greenspan recounts returning to Ethiopia to teach Jewish leaders the ancient laws of shechitah and nikur (removing forbidden fats and the sciatic nerve), ensuring that isolated Jewish communities could once again prepare kosher meat according to halachah. 2. 00:15:52 – The Emotional Bond with Jews Across the Centuries "I Feel Like They Were My Brothers" One of the interview's most moving moments. Dr. Greenspan explains how handling centuries-old manuscripts, praying in forgotten synagogues, and retracing the journeys of medieval Jewish travelers creates a profound connection with Jews who lived hundreds of years ago. 3. 00:39:38 – Rediscovering the Lost Blue Thread of the Torah "The Search for Techelet After 1,300 Years" Dr. Greenspan tells the remarkable story of scuba diving for the elusive chilazon snail and helping revive the biblical techelet—one of Judaism's greatest lost mitzvot after thirteen centuries. ——

SPONSORSHIP: FROM DR. GORD ARBESS: Mazel Tov to Josh Arbess and Georgia Gardner on their upcoming wedding. And to Sharon Neiss-Arbess on her latest book "How I learned to pee in the Forest" available at Indigo, Type Books and on Amazon.  https://www.amazon.ca/How-Learned-Pee-Forest-life-changing/dp/B0FY5ML1K6 ELI RUBENSTEIN: 'Thank you to my synagogue, Congregation Habonimi, for being so supportive of efforts that also benefit the wider community." DR. MICHAEL SILVERMAN: For Marcy Silverman who always had a wonderful sense of adventure, courage and bravery to follow her dreams." _____________________________________________________________________ Hello, and welcome to The Avrum Rosensweig Show. There are scholars who preserve history by writing about it. There are adventurers who search the world for hidden treasures. And then there are those extraordinary individuals who do both—turning ancient mysteries into living reality and ensuring that entire chapters of Jewish civilization are never forgotten. Today, I am deeply honored to welcome Dr. Ari Greenspan. By profession, he is a dentist. By calling, an educator. But by passion, he is something far more unusual: what he describes as a halachic adventurer. For more than four decades, Dr. Greenspan has crossed deserts, climbed mountains, explored forgotten synagogues, scuba-dived beneath the Mediterranean, and traveled to some of the world's most remote Jewish communities—from Morocco and Yemen to Ethiopia, India, Portugal, Tunisia, Central Asia, and beyond. He has searched for disappearing customs before they vanish forever, preserved ancient kosher traditions, documented endangered Jewish communities, and helped revive one of Judaism's greatest mysteries: the rediscovery of the biblical techelet, the sacred blue dye absent from Jewish life for nearly 1,300 years. As co-founder of the Ptil Tekhelet Association, Dr. Greenspan has combined Torah scholarship with archaeology, biology, chemistry, linguistics, and history to breathe new life into commandments many believed had been lost forever. Dr. Ari is also a mohel, a shochet, a sofer, an international lecturer, and the creator of legendary kosher dinners featuring birds and traditions preserved from Jewish communities scattered across the globe. His personal museum houses artifacts collected over forty years of travel—each one telling a story of a people who refused to disappear. During today's conversation, you'll hear astonishing stories from Ethiopia, where he trained Jewish communities in kosher slaughter; from Croatia, where ancient menorahs hidden in stone still whisper of forgotten Jewish craftsmen; from Portugal, where Crypto-Jewish traditions survived centuries of persecution; and from the depths of the Mediterranean, where the search for the elusive chilazon became one of the most remarkable adventures in modern Jewish history. Yet beneath every journey lies a deeper question. As Dr. Greenspan himself has shown through his life's work: Every forgotten synagogue, every ancient manuscript, every disappearing custom asks the same question: "Will anyone remember us?" 1. 00:04:45 – Dr. Greenspan's Extraordinary Mission in Ethiopia "Teaching a Jewish Community to Keep Kashrut Alive" Dr. Greenspan recounts returning to Ethiopia to teach Jewish leaders the ancient laws of shechitah and nikur (removing forbidden fats and the sciatic nerve), ensuring that isolated Jewish communities could once again prepare kosher meat according to halachah. 2. 00:15:52 – The Emotional Bond with Jews Across the Centuries "I Feel Like They Were My Brothers" One of the interview's most moving moments. Dr. Greenspan explains how handling centuries-old manuscripts, praying in forgotten synagogues, and retracing the journeys of medieval Jewish travelers creates a profound connection with Jews who lived hundreds of years ago. 3. 00:39:38 – Rediscovering the Lost Blue Thread of the Torah "The Search for Techelet After 1,300 Years" Dr. Greenspan tells the remarkable story of scuba diving for the elusive chilazon snail and helping revive the biblical techelet—one of Judaism's greatest lost mitzvot after thirteen centuries. ——

“Your daughter has acute respiratory distress. Her blood oxygen levels are not good,” the doctor said, then paused before adding, “She might die.”With shaking hands, an aching heart and tears in my eyes, I signed the hospital admittance forms while thinking of our missionary journey so far. Finding it hard to pray, “God, let your will be done,” I said, “Whatever happens, God, may your name be glorified.”                                                               ----------------Today's story is told by Nathan and Helen Castillo, AFM career missionaries on the Himadri Project in Central Asia.Subscribe and leave us a review if you enjoyed listening to today's story!

Can Europe afford to stand back as China rewrites the global electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem? In this episode, Julie Yu-Wen Chen at the University of Helsinki talks to United Nations Senior Adviser Matthew Gray for Europe and Central Asia Markets, who discusses the rapid international expansion of Chinese EVs. The conversation highlights how Chinese brands have moved beyond public buses to growing passenger car markets in the Nordic region and Central Asia through superior technology, lower price points, and patient policy. While European markets face limited model availability due to protectionism and strategic caution, Central Asian nations have seen an immediate and total transformation of their transport infrastructure with far higher and lower end Chinese EVs than in Europe - and dramatic new challenges in electrification capacity. Based in Copenhagen, with 20+ experience in the regions, Gray is speaking freshly with us after two recent months in Tajikistan and China. He compares EV and soft power growth in Scandinavia vs Central Asia, and explains that modern EVs act as geopolitical infrastructure, shifting the focus from simple manufacturing to long-term digital service ecosystems, data control, and entry into more vertical industries. As the West maintains protective barriers, China's control over the battery supply chain and hybrid innovations will likely force a global shift in both consumer and freight industries. Listeners can find Gray's fact-finding recap of Chinese EVs in Tajikistan here. Julie Yu‑Wen Chen is Professor of Chinese Studies and Director of the Master's Programme in Area and Cultural Studies at the University of Helsinki in Finland. Her new book, Global Knowledge Production about China, explores how the practice of “China‑watching” has evolved over the decades. The book is freely accessible online. The Nordic Asia Podcast is a collaboration sharing expertise on Asia across the Nordic region, brought to you by the following academic partners: Asia Centre, University of Tartu (Estonia), Asian studies, University of Helsinki (Finland), Centre for Asian Studies, Vytautas Magnus University (Lithuania), Centre for East Asian Studies, University of Turku (Finland), Centre for East and South-East Asian Studies, Lund University (Sweden) and Centre for South Asian Democracy, University of Oslo (Norway). We aim to produce timely, topical and well-edited discussions of new research and developments about Asia. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/technology

Can Europe afford to stand back as China rewrites the global electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem? In this episode, Julie Yu-Wen Chen at the University of Helsinki talks to United Nations Senior Adviser Matthew Gray for Europe and Central Asia Markets, who discusses the rapid international expansion of Chinese EVs. The conversation highlights how Chinese brands have moved beyond public buses to growing passenger car markets in the Nordic region and Central Asia through superior technology, lower price points, and patient policy. While European markets face limited model availability due to protectionism and strategic caution, Central Asian nations have seen an immediate and total transformation of their transport infrastructure with far higher and lower end Chinese EVs than in Europe - and dramatic new challenges in electrification capacity. Based in Copenhagen, with 20+ experience in the regions, Gray is speaking freshly with us after two recent months in Tajikistan and China. He compares EV and soft power growth in Scandinavia vs Central Asia, and explains that modern EVs act as geopolitical infrastructure, shifting the focus from simple manufacturing to long-term digital service ecosystems, data control, and entry into more vertical industries. As the West maintains protective barriers, China's control over the battery supply chain and hybrid innovations will likely force a global shift in both consumer and freight industries. Listeners can find Gray's fact-finding recap of Chinese EVs in Tajikistan here. Julie Yu‑Wen Chen is Professor of Chinese Studies and Director of the Master's Programme in Area and Cultural Studies at the University of Helsinki in Finland. Her new book, Global Knowledge Production about China, explores how the practice of “China‑watching” has evolved over the decades. The book is freely accessible online. The Nordic Asia Podcast is a collaboration sharing expertise on Asia across the Nordic region, brought to you by the following academic partners: Asia Centre, University of Tartu (Estonia), Asian studies, University of Helsinki (Finland), Centre for Asian Studies, Vytautas Magnus University (Lithuania), Centre for East Asian Studies, University of Turku (Finland), Centre for East and South-East Asian Studies, Lund University (Sweden) and Centre for South Asian Democracy, University of Oslo (Norway). We aim to produce timely, topical and well-edited discussions of new research and developments about Asia. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Can Europe afford to stand back as China rewrites the global electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem? In this episode, Julie Yu-Wen Chen at the University of Helsinki talks to United Nations Senior Adviser Matthew Gray for Europe and Central Asia Markets, who discusses the rapid international expansion of Chinese EVs. The conversation highlights how Chinese brands have moved beyond public buses to growing passenger car markets in the Nordic region and Central Asia through superior technology, lower price points, and patient policy. While European markets face limited model availability due to protectionism and strategic caution, Central Asian nations have seen an immediate and total transformation of their transport infrastructure with far higher and lower end Chinese EVs than in Europe - and dramatic new challenges in electrification capacity. Based in Copenhagen, with 20+ experience in the regions, Gray is speaking freshly with us after two recent months in Tajikistan and China. He compares EV and soft power growth in Scandinavia vs Central Asia, and explains that modern EVs act as geopolitical infrastructure, shifting the focus from simple manufacturing to long-term digital service ecosystems, data control, and entry into more vertical industries. As the West maintains protective barriers, China's control over the battery supply chain and hybrid innovations will likely force a global shift in both consumer and freight industries. Listeners can find Gray's fact-finding recap of Chinese EVs in Tajikistan here. Julie Yu‑Wen Chen is Professor of Chinese Studies and Director of the Master's Programme in Area and Cultural Studies at the University of Helsinki in Finland. Her new book, Global Knowledge Production about China, explores how the practice of “China‑watching” has evolved over the decades. The book is freely accessible online. The Nordic Asia Podcast is a collaboration sharing expertise on Asia across the Nordic region, brought to you by the following academic partners: Asia Centre, University of Tartu (Estonia), Asian studies, University of Helsinki (Finland), Centre for Asian Studies, Vytautas Magnus University (Lithuania), Centre for East Asian Studies, University of Turku (Finland), Centre for East and South-East Asian Studies, Lund University (Sweden) and Centre for South Asian Democracy, University of Oslo (Norway). We aim to produce timely, topical and well-edited discussions of new research and developments about Asia. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/central-asian-studies

Can Europe afford to stand back as China rewrites the global electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem? In this episode, Julie Yu-Wen Chen at the University of Helsinki talks to United Nations Senior Adviser Matthew Gray for Europe and Central Asia Markets, who discusses the rapid international expansion of Chinese EVs. The conversation highlights how Chinese brands have moved beyond public buses to growing passenger car markets in the Nordic region and Central Asia through superior technology, lower price points, and patient policy. While European markets face limited model availability due to protectionism and strategic caution, Central Asian nations have seen an immediate and total transformation of their transport infrastructure with far higher and lower end Chinese EVs than in Europe - and dramatic new challenges in electrification capacity. Based in Copenhagen, with 20+ experience in the regions, Gray is speaking freshly with us after two recent months in Tajikistan and China. He compares EV and soft power growth in Scandinavia vs Central Asia, and explains that modern EVs act as geopolitical infrastructure, shifting the focus from simple manufacturing to long-term digital service ecosystems, data control, and entry into more vertical industries. As the West maintains protective barriers, China's control over the battery supply chain and hybrid innovations will likely force a global shift in both consumer and freight industries. Listeners can find Gray's fact-finding recap of Chinese EVs in Tajikistan here. Julie Yu‑Wen Chen is Professor of Chinese Studies and Director of the Master's Programme in Area and Cultural Studies at the University of Helsinki in Finland. Her new book, Global Knowledge Production about China, explores how the practice of “China‑watching” has evolved over the decades. The book is freely accessible online. The Nordic Asia Podcast is a collaboration sharing expertise on Asia across the Nordic region, brought to you by the following academic partners: Asia Centre, University of Tartu (Estonia), Asian studies, University of Helsinki (Finland), Centre for Asian Studies, Vytautas Magnus University (Lithuania), Centre for East Asian Studies, University of Turku (Finland), Centre for East and South-East Asian Studies, Lund University (Sweden) and Centre for South Asian Democracy, University of Oslo (Norway). We aim to produce timely, topical and well-edited discussions of new research and developments about Asia. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/chinese-studies

Can Europe afford to stand back as China rewrites the global electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem? In this episode, Julie Yu-Wen Chen at the University of Helsinki talks to United Nations Senior Adviser Matthew Gray for Europe and Central Asia Markets, who discusses the rapid international expansion of Chinese EVs. The conversation highlights how Chinese brands have moved beyond public buses to growing passenger car markets in the Nordic region and Central Asia through superior technology, lower price points, and patient policy. While European markets face limited model availability due to protectionism and strategic caution, Central Asian nations have seen an immediate and total transformation of their transport infrastructure with far higher and lower end Chinese EVs than in Europe - and dramatic new challenges in electrification capacity. Based in Copenhagen, with 20+ experience in the regions, Gray is speaking freshly with us after two recent months in Tajikistan and China. He compares EV and soft power growth in Scandinavia vs Central Asia, and explains that modern EVs act as geopolitical infrastructure, shifting the focus from simple manufacturing to long-term digital service ecosystems, data control, and entry into more vertical industries. As the West maintains protective barriers, China's control over the battery supply chain and hybrid innovations will likely force a global shift in both consumer and freight industries. Listeners can find Gray's fact-finding recap of Chinese EVs in Tajikistan here. Julie Yu‑Wen Chen is Professor of Chinese Studies and Director of the Master's Programme in Area and Cultural Studies at the University of Helsinki in Finland. Her new book, Global Knowledge Production about China, explores how the practice of “China‑watching” has evolved over the decades. The book is freely accessible online. The Nordic Asia Podcast is a collaboration sharing expertise on Asia across the Nordic region, brought to you by the following academic partners: Asia Centre, University of Tartu (Estonia), Asian studies, University of Helsinki (Finland), Centre for Asian Studies, Vytautas Magnus University (Lithuania), Centre for East Asian Studies, University of Turku (Finland), Centre for East and South-East Asian Studies, Lund University (Sweden) and Centre for South Asian Democracy, University of Oslo (Norway). We aim to produce timely, topical and well-edited discussions of new research and developments about Asia. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/european-studies

Can Europe afford to stand back as China rewrites the global electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem? In this episode, Julie Yu-Wen Chen at the University of Helsinki talks to United Nations Senior Adviser Matthew Gray for Europe and Central Asia Markets, who discusses the rapid international expansion of Chinese EVs. The conversation highlights how Chinese brands have moved beyond public buses to growing passenger car markets in the Nordic region and Central Asia through superior technology, lower price points, and patient policy. While European markets face limited model availability due to protectionism and strategic caution, Central Asian nations have seen an immediate and total transformation of their transport infrastructure with far higher and lower end Chinese EVs than in Europe - and dramatic new challenges in electrification capacity. Based in Copenhagen, with 20+ experience in the regions, Gray is speaking freshly with us after two recent months in Tajikistan and China. He compares EV and soft power growth in Scandinavia vs Central Asia, and explains that modern EVs act as geopolitical infrastructure, shifting the focus from simple manufacturing to long-term digital service ecosystems, data control, and entry into more vertical industries. As the West maintains protective barriers, China's control over the battery supply chain and hybrid innovations will likely force a global shift in both consumer and freight industries. Listeners can find Gray's fact-finding recap of Chinese EVs in Tajikistan here. Julie Yu‑Wen Chen is Professor of Chinese Studies and Director of the Master's Programme in Area and Cultural Studies at the University of Helsinki in Finland. Her new book, Global Knowledge Production about China, explores how the practice of “China‑watching” has evolved over the decades. The book is freely accessible online. The Nordic Asia Podcast is a collaboration sharing expertise on Asia across the Nordic region, brought to you by the following academic partners: Asia Centre, University of Tartu (Estonia), Asian studies, University of Helsinki (Finland), Centre for Asian Studies, Vytautas Magnus University (Lithuania), Centre for East Asian Studies, University of Turku (Finland), Centre for East and South-East Asian Studies, Lund University (Sweden) and Centre for South Asian Democracy, University of Oslo (Norway). We aim to produce timely, topical and well-edited discussions of new research and developments about Asia.

Can Europe afford to stand back as China rewrites the global electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem? In this episode, Julie Yu-Wen Chen at the University of Helsinki talks to United Nations Senior Adviser Matthew Gray for Europe and Central Asia Markets, who discusses the rapid international expansion of Chinese EVs. The conversation highlights how Chinese brands have moved beyond public buses to growing passenger car markets in the Nordic region and Central Asia through superior technology, lower price points, and patient policy. While European markets face limited model availability due to protectionism and strategic caution, Central Asian nations have seen an immediate and total transformation of their transport infrastructure with far higher and lower end Chinese EVs than in Europe - and dramatic new challenges in electrification capacity. Based in Copenhagen, with 20+ experience in the regions, Gray is speaking freshly with us after two recent months in Tajikistan and China. He compares EV and soft power growth in Scandinavia vs Central Asia, and explains that modern EVs act as geopolitical infrastructure, shifting the focus from simple manufacturing to long-term digital service ecosystems, data control, and entry into more vertical industries. As the West maintains protective barriers, China's control over the battery supply chain and hybrid innovations will likely force a global shift in both consumer and freight industries. Listeners can find Gray's fact-finding recap of Chinese EVs in Tajikistan here. Julie Yu‑Wen Chen is Professor of Chinese Studies and Director of the Master's Programme in Area and Cultural Studies at the University of Helsinki in Finland. Her new book, Global Knowledge Production about China, explores how the practice of “China‑watching” has evolved over the decades. The book is freely accessible online. The Nordic Asia Podcast is a collaboration sharing expertise on Asia across the Nordic region, brought to you by the following academic partners: Asia Centre, University of Tartu (Estonia), Asian studies, University of Helsinki (Finland), Centre for Asian Studies, Vytautas Magnus University (Lithuania), Centre for East Asian Studies, University of Turku (Finland), Centre for East and South-East Asian Studies, Lund University (Sweden) and Centre for South Asian Democracy, University of Oslo (Norway). We aim to produce timely, topical and well-edited discussions of new research and developments about Asia. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/science-technology-and-society

I'm delighted to welcome author and explorer Levison Wood to Highclere, where we talk about my great love; trees and his book, The Great Tree Story: how forests have shaped our world. Levison shares how studying the Grand Tour at university inspired his lifelong passion for travel and storytelling, from hitchhiking across Europe and Central Asia to serving as an officer in the Parachute Regiment and deploying to Afghanistan. He recalls founding a production company and undertaking extraordinary long-distance walks, including nine months walking the White Nile from its farthest source to the Mediterranean, followed by the length of the Himalayas and other epic routes. We explore what drew him to write about trees, especially an experience with the Asháninka in the Amazon and we discuss ancient yews, cedars, redwoods, Highclere's planting of 22,000 trees and his plans to adapt The Great Tree Story into a feature documentary.01:05 Grand Tour Roots03:26 Modern Travel Risks04:56 Army Years and Afghanistan05:49 From Soldier to Storyteller07:31 Walking the Nile09:06 More Epic Expeditions10:33 Planning and Logistics12:31 Highclere Explorer Heritage14:30 Why Trees Matter17:32 Ancient Trees and Estate Planting19:42 Redwoods and Tree Lore23:29 Trees in Culture and Craft24:33 Green Man and Next FilmYou can hear more episodes of Lady Carnarvon's Official Podcasts at https://www.ladycarnarvon.com/podcast/New episodes are published on the first day of every month. 

Is the Middle East entering a new golden age? Loulou sits down with one of the most well-connected geopolitical economists working today for a structural read on the region recorded as the US-Iran 60-day MOU process opened, Strait of Hormuz traffic restarted, the IMEC corridor returned to the working-group table and Saudi Arabia pivoted NEOM capital into AI infrastructure. The episode is built to hold whether the ceasefire holds or slips: Middlebrook's read is 10 to 20 years out, not week to week. Dr. Peter Middlebrook is the CEO of Geopolicity and has advised the World Bank, the European Union, the United Nations, the British Government, the Iraqi Prime Minister's office, and governments across the Middle East, Africa and Central Asia. He is the author of two new books in 2026: "How to Make Britain Great Again" and "Rich Student, Poor Student." Subscribe for weekly conversations on business, investing, leadership and what is actually happening in the Arab world. Chapters: 1:43 The US-Iran ceasefire, the Hormuz reopening and the return to business 3:58 Why Dubai is a replacement for New York 9:40 Why the Gulf is no longer a single bloc 16:34 IMEC explained: Mumbai to Jebel Ali to Piraeus 19:02 MENA youth unemployment: NEET and the 30% problem 21:20 White-collar work, debt, social protection and the climax of capitalism 25:20 Hybrid governance: phones, governments and the Sixth Estate 33:48 Saudi's pivot from megaprojects to AI data centers 36:41 Why society itself has to change 41:16 China, state capitalism and the West losing the critical raw materials race 46:15 Albania appointed an AI minister: why the Gulf is next 47:10 Closing: a long-term investor's case for the Middle East Follow Loulou Khazen Instagram: /louloukhazen LinkedIn: /louloukhazen X (Twitter): /louloukhazen Follow the guest Dr. Peter Middlebrook Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-middlebrook-14477018/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Creation CovenantGenesis 1-3 The Creation Covenant: Genesis 1-3 Chris Moore Message SlidesFor the bulletin in PDF form, click here. Good News: “God created man in His own image” -Relationship with God as sons & daughters -Relationship with God's creation Bad news: “You shall surely die” -Broken relationship with God -Broken relationship with God's creationReally Good News: “He shall bruise your head” -Restored relationship with God -Restored relationship with God's creation Resources:Kingdom Through Covenant by Gentry & Wellum (900 pages)God's Kingdom Through God's Covenants by Gentry & Wellum (300 pages)Theology for the Church Podcast (especially episodes on 7/7/25-8/25/25)Pray for the Unreached: The Middle-Eastern Turkmen in IraqThe Turkmen of Iraq are a large Turkic people group with roots stretching back to migrations from Central Asia and the Ottoman era. Most identify with either Sunni or Shia Islam, and their communities are often divided by religious and clan loyalties. Although Scripture and gospel resources are available in their language, very few have placed their faith in Christ. Pray that the Turkmen would find their identity in Jesus, that believers would have boldness and protection, and that a growing movement of disciples would spread throughout their communities.FinancesWeekly Budget 34,615Giving For 06/14 37,554Giving For 06/21 34,075YTD Budget 1,765,385Giving 2,078,709 OVER/(UNDER) 313,324 Automate the ImportantWe understand that the summer months can be a whirlwind of new schedules and travel. To ensure the continuous growth of Fellowship's ministry, we encourage you to simplify your giving process by automating it. It's a straightforward and hassle-free process. Just visit fellowshipconway.org/give, click “Ready to Give?” then “Recurring,” and fill out the necessary information. If you need any assistance, feel free to reach out to John in our office at 501-327-3444 between 8:30 and 4:30, Monday through Thursday.New to Fellowship?We are so glad that you chose to worship with our Fellowship Family this morning. If you are joining us for the first time or have been checking us out for a few weeks, we are excited you are here and would love to meet you. Please fill out the “Connect Card” and bring it to the Connection Center in the Atrium, we would love to say “hi” and give you a gift. Fellowship Women's Watercolor NightPut Wednesday, July 29th at 6 pm on your calendar! Please bring yourself and a friend. All materials are supplied. We will all be practicing different watercolor techniques and participating in some fun watercolor activities! This will be fun for participants of all levels of experience. Remember: it's about the process, not the product! Register at fellowshipconway.org/register. RSVP to Shanna at 501-336-0332 for childcare.Fellowship Women's Recipe Swap Sunday, July 12th, at 6 pm, join us at the home of Gale Allen: 63 Moseley Lane, Conway, for a fun evening of sharing favorite recipes, delicious food, and great fellowship! Tara Brown will be there to do a cooking demo! Bring a dish to share and a copy of your recipe. Feel free to invite a friend! Register at fellowshipconway.org/register.Widows' America 250 Luncheon Wear your red, white, or blue as we enjoy our special guests Colonel C. Jason Carter, USA Retired and Rebecca Carter Thursday, July 16 at noon, 3680 Gresham Dr. RSVP by July 2 to Judy, 501-329-3535 or Ambra, 501-730-6795.Men's Discussion GroupMen's Discussion Group starts back up July 2 with “Making Sense of God” by Timothy Keller. This book discussion will both strengthen your own faith and enhance your ability to productively engage with nonbelievers. We'll gain an understanding of how God makes so much more sense of identity, freedom, purpose, evil, and other experiences than a secular view does. We invite all men to join us; just get a copy of the book and join us for discussion in the FBC Library on Thursdays. Contact Andy at 501-314-9121 for information. Prayer During ServiceWe love to pray for one another. Our prayer team will have people at the front of the Auditorium under the signs Hope and Love to pray for you after the message. Please feel free to walk up to them for prayer or encouragement during the first worship song after the message. Czech Team Departs TuesdayFellowship is excited to see how God will use our team of 23, 7 of whom are college students and 11 are high school students, as they serve and advance His Kingdom in the Czech Republic. Please join us in praying for the team as they travel and minister, and for their families while they are away. Pray that God will work through them in powerful ways and that lives will be transformed by the Gospel.

节目简介 | Episode Description | エピソード紹介中文这次中亚旅行，阿拉木图是最让我惊喜的城市之一。吸引我的不是某一个景点，而是这座城市整体带给我的感觉。这一期，我想和大家分享为什么阿拉木图会让我想多住几天。EnglishAlmaty was one of the biggest surprises of my trip to Central Asia. What impressed me wasn't a single attraction, but the overall feeling of the city. In this episode, I share why Almaty made me want to stay longer.日本語今回の中央アジア旅行で、アルマトイは特に印象に残った街の一つでした。魅力を感じたのは、特定の観光地ではなく、街全体の雰囲気です。今回は、なぜアルマトイでもっとゆっくり過ごしたいと思ったのか、お話しします。#阿拉木图 #哈萨克斯坦 #中亚旅行 #城市与自然 #Almaty #Kazakhstan #CentralAsia #UrbanNatureSend us Fan MailSupport the show如果您喜欢我的播客，欢迎通过下方方式表达您的支持。您的支持对我来说是巨大的鼓励。但无论如何，我都很感激有您作为听众。能够每周与您分享几分钟的时光，对我来说是莫大的荣幸。❤️If you enjoy my podcast, you're welcome to show your support through the options below. Your support means a great deal to me and is a huge source of encouragement. But no matter what, I'm truly grateful to have you as a listener. It's an honor to share a few minutes with you each week!❤️ ☕

Max and Maria sit down with Kate Bondar, Senior Fellow at CSIS's Wadhwani AI Center and expert on autonomous warfare, to discuss the role of drones in combat in Ukraine, including Russia's innovation tactics and takeaways from the recent increase in strikes on Moscow and Kyiv.   Mentioned:  How Russia Is Building a Sovereign Drone Ecosystem for AI-Driven Autonomy | CSIS report by Kate Bondar  Defining Autonomy: Why Software, Not Drones, Will Decide the Next War | CSIS report by Kate Bondar and Matt Mande  Russia Is Building Tomorrow's War Machine | Kate Bondar in The New York Times  Feedback? Suggestions? Ideas to help us improve? Email us at erep@csis.org.  If you love Russian Roulette, let us know by subscribing and leaving a review wherever you get your podcasts.   Listen to our sister podcast, covering all things Europe through a Washington lens: CSIS Podcasts | The Eurofile  

Radhika Das, IFN Journalist, interviews Nurym Ayazbayev, Executive Director of the Directorate of Lending to Financial Institutions at the Eurasian Development Bank, on Islamic finance in Central Asia, the bank's Islamic window and Sukuk plans

Faith Cha's mother and grandmother fled North Korea for their lives. Miraculously, they survived the violence when many around them did not. Not only did they survive, but God crossed their paths with Christians who helped them.These believers—normal people of no renown—played huge roles in the lives of these women by small acts of kindness and grace. These blessings not only helped these women fleeing North Korea, but also the next generation. Faith herself was richly blessed by kind Christians who loved and encouraged her as a refugee kid, confused in a strange, new country.Through this journey and divine interactions, a spiritual legacy was born. In time, Faith and her husband carried forth that spiritual legacy in surprising, but fitting, ways. They crossed the globe to make Christ known to Muslims in Central Asia. And today they help others minister to refugees, just as others once helped her frightened mom and grandma.Be encouraged. This testimony reminds us that even our smallest acts of kindness can make powerful impacts in the lives of others. God can use them to transform lives, families, communities and even generations.To learn more about resources mentioned in this episode, see the following.Crescent Project (Ministry): https://www.crescentproject.org/Christian Emergency Alliance: https://www.christianemergency.com/Follow the Christian Emergency Alliance on Twitter: @ChristianEmerg1Follow the Christian Emergency Alliance on Facebook: @ChristianEmergencyThe Christian Emergency Podcast is a production of the Christian Emergency Alliance.Soli Deo Gloria

Katy and Alan spent five years dreaming about this adventure and then went ahead, put their careers on pause and spent a full year cycling 20,000km around the world. Halfway through the adventure, a monotonous desert section through Central Asia nearly broke them, so they threw out their initial planned route and let the trip become something even better.These are the key lessons from their journey:You don't need to wait for retirement to take a big adventureA plan is a starting point but it's ok to change and adapt themThe less you know about a place, the more it can surprise youPeople will help you, almost everywhere, almost every time.Asking for help is a strength, not a weakness.Fear of the unknown is usually worse than the unknown itself.Shared goals matter more than shared stats.Hard days don't last, but you will have hard days on big adventuresYou don't need a year to have an adventure.Be sure to give Katy and Alan a follow via their account @CycleTheLongWayHome Check out the Manzanita Cradle from Old Man Mountain Support the showBuy me a coffee!I'm an affiliate for a few brands I genuinely use and recommend including:

How can we adapt to new cultures when we are travelling or working aboard?In this episode we look at culture from the perspective of being an international visitor or someone working in another culture. Being immersed in another culture gives us a unique opportunity to see how other people live. It also gives us a great opportunity to see what it feels like to be a visitor. You may find yourself leading people from different cultures, putting yourself in the position of being the visitor can be a valuable way of understanding things from their perspective.Joining Chris and Jordy in this episode to discuss how we can better adapt to new cultures is Patrick Barrow. Patrick Barrow has been guiding around the globe for 20 years, toggling between adventure travel and outdoor education. Pat is an ACMG Hiking Guide who has worked extensively in Central Asia, Western China, Southeast Asia, Russia, the Himalayas, Australia, Europe and Canada.This is another engaging conversation that offers practical strategies on how we can integrate into new cultures.Key TakeawaysTo adapt to new cultures, we can:Observe: This is where we we watch behaviours and habits, looking for what is normal for them.Integrate: This is where we participate, join in and interact on the level they are interacting in.Manipulate: This is where we copy what people are doing, mirroring behaviours.Amalgamate: This is where we put everything together to the point where we get a level of acceptance within the group or culture.Respect Ego: This means being aware of not causing others to lose face by challenging their ego. Not respecting the ego of others can cause serious relationship damage.Guest BioPatrick Barrow has been guiding around the globe for 20 years, toggling between adventure travel and outdoor education.A student of anthropology, originally from Australia, Pat's path into adventure guiding came through travel. Pat has worked across Europe and Australia, parts of the Indian and Nepalese Himalaya, the Stans and the Silk Road of Central Asia and West China, jungles of South East Asia, on the Yamal Peninsular of Arctic Russia with Indigenous Reindeer Herders, and most recently Canada.Pat's career focus has been on facilitating formative expeditions for both youth and adults in culturally remote locations around the world. In particular living a decade between Kyrgyzstan and Russia, and guiding locally in Kyrgyzstan across the Tienshan Mountains. Guiding locally has given a unique perspective in working across cultures and what it takes to manage international teams.In Canada Pat is an ACMG hiking guide and an Outdoor Council of Canada Instructor.In Australia Pat has Cert IV in Outdoor Recreation, Cert IV in Outdoor Leadership, Cert IV Trainer & Assessor and is an Associate Fellow of the Academy of Extreme Environment Medicine.Guest LinksTengrie Expeditions: www.tengriexpeditions.comPatrick Barrow Contact: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-barrow-83712b36Patrick Barrow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tengriexpeditions?igsh=MTI4dnlmZTNrZWNheg==Resource LinksFeedspot Top 30 Pacific Northwest Adventure Podcasts: LinkFollow or SubscribeDon't forget to follow the show!Share & Social Linkshttps://linktr.ee/deliveringadventure

In "How to Predict the 2026 Intermodal Rebound with IANA's Andrew Sibold" Joe Lynch and Andrew Sibold, Director of Economics and Freight Policy at the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA), discuss how IANA's new predictive Intermodal Volume Index (IVI) helps logistics leaders navigate shifting market capacity and operational friction to successfully forecast the 2026 freight recovery.  About Andrew Sibold Andrew Sibold is the Director of Economics and Freight Policy at the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA), where he leads market analysis, research, and economic forecasting that informs both private capital strategy and public policy. Before IANA, he spent five years at the Federal Highway Administration as a financial and economic analyst, where his benefit-cost and net present value modeling helped adjudicate more than $12.1 billion in federal infrastructure grants. He came to economics through the U.S. Army, serving as an Armor officer who led logistics and operations on deployments across Europe and Central Asia. Andrew holds a Master of Public Policy from the University of Tennessee, as well as advanced degrees in economics, econometrics, and international relations. He lives in Bethesda, Maryland, with his wife and four children. About Intermodal Association of North America (IANA) The Intermodal Association of North America (IANA) is the leading industry trade association representing the combined interests of the intermodal freight community. Its membership spans the full ecosystem that moves containerized freight across modes — railroads, ocean carriers, ports and terminals, drayage and motor carriers, intermodal marketing companies, and equipment providers. IANA promotes the efficiency, safety, and growth of intermodal transportation through industry standards, professional education, government affairs, and data services. As the connective tissue of a sector that handles a substantial share of North American freight, IANA gives members a unified voice on policy and a shared infrastructure for operations. Increasingly, it also serves as a source of market intelligence, equipping members with the economic data and forecasting they need to navigate a volatile freight cycle. Key Takeaways: How to Predict the 2026 Intermodal Rebound In "How to Predict the 2026 Intermodal Rebound with IANA's Andrew Sibold" Joe Lynch and Andrew Sibold, Director of Economics and Freight Policy at the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA), discuss how IANA's new predictive Intermodal Volume Index (IVI) helps logistics leaders navigate shifting market capacity and operational friction to successfully forecast the 2026 freight recovery.  IANA as the "Conductor" of the Intermodal Ecosystem: The Intermodal Association of North America (IANA) serves as the critical connective tissue and unified voice for a fragmented freight community. By connecting railroads, ocean carriers, ports, drayage motor carriers, and 3PLs, IANA acts as an industry "conductor" to harmonize operations across multiple transportation modes that handle a substantial share of North American freight. Eliminating Blind Spots with the Intermodal Volume Index (IVI): Historically, intermodal freight data has been fragmented and heavily lagging—with rail data delayed by a week and port data lagging by two to three months. Launched publicly in May, IANA's new IVI solves this industry pain point by acting as a real-time, seasonally adjusted "pulse check" on North American freight activity. Shifting from Lagging to Predictive Capacity Planning: Unlike traditional freight indicators that only look backward (like GDP or older equipment data), the IVI functions as a predictive bridge. By utilizing a mathematical process to bring historical data into the present and factoring in seasonal fluctuations, it provides mid-market shippers, 3PLs, and asset-based carriers with a forward-looking forecast to confidently adjust capacity planning. Unconventional Market Strength in 2026: The IVI is currently printing quite strong—tracking right around 106 for June, which is 6% higher than the pre-COVID baseline. While total import container volumes (TEUs) have softened due to tariff effects, intermodal volumes are rebounding rapidly due to a surge in high-value domestic manufacturing freight, driven heavily by investments in data centers and infrastructure built to support modern AI. Reducing Operational Friction via Standardization: Intermodal logistics inherently suffers from handoff friction between different actors, leading to costly demurrage, detention, and lost productivity. IANA mitigates this administrative nightmare by managing standardized operational frameworks—most notably the Uniform Intermodal Interchange and Facilities Agreement (UIIA)—which serves as a single, universal contract that lowers industry insurance costs and streamlines driver registrations. Navigating Volatility and Truck-to-Rail Conversion: Global supply chains remain highly volatile due to geopolitical factors, international conflicts, and oil infrastructure damage keeping global energy prices elevated. When diesel prices spike and over-the-road trucking capacity tightens due to shifting domestic regulatory and immigration policies, the IVI helps transportation managers identify exactly when and where rail capacity is tightening so they can strategically lock in contractual rates. The Competitive Advantage of Modal Conversion: Beyond operational efficiency, IANA empowers its members to turn modal conversion into a measurable economic and environmental advantage. Because rail transport is significantly cleaner and greener than over-the-road trucking—with a single stacked rail car capable of moving the equivalent of multiple trucks—shippers are increasingly leveraging intermodal data to hit corporate sustainability mandates as the 2026 market recovers. Learn More About How to Predict the 2026 Intermodal Rebound Andrew Sibold | Linkedin IANA | Linkedin Intermodal Association of North America (IANA) Scale: The Search for Simplicity and Unity in the Complexity of Life, from Cells to Cities, Companies to Ecosystems by Geoffrey West The Box (Levinson book) – Wikipedia The Logistics of Logistics Podcast If you enjoy the podcast, please leave a positive review, subscribe, and share it with your friends and colleagues. The Logistics of Logistics Podcast: Google, Apple, Castbox, Spotify, Stitcher, PlayerFM, Tunein, Podbean, Owltail, Libsyn, Overcast Check out The Logistics of Logistics on Youtube

Brandon Langley talks with two missionaries with the IMB in Central Asia. They discuss current gospel work and regional needs in Central Asia, missiological principles guiding the work, how churches can partner in global missions, and more. 

From Shipping in Paraguay to Photojournalism in Kyrgyzstan: Luke Oppenheimer's Journey & the Making of Ottuk

Interview with Gavin Ferrar, CEO of Central Asia MetalsOur previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/central-asia-metals-lsecaml-beats-cash-forecasts-pays-dividends-9808Recording date: 12th June 2026Central Asia Metals (CAML) has announced the proposed acquisition of ASX-listed Cygnus Metals in an all-share transaction aimed at strengthening its project pipeline and adding a development-stage asset to its portfolio. The deal, expected to complete in September, will see Cygnus shareholders receive approximately 0.06 CAML shares per share, resulting in ownership of about 30% of the combined entity, with existing CAML shareholders retaining 70%. The structure preserves CAML's debt-free balance sheet and allows continued funding of operations, exploration, and dividends.The acquisition centers on the Chibougamau copper-gold project in Quebec, Canada, a brownfield asset comprising five deposits and an existing processing facility. Under Cygnus's ownership, the project's measured and indicated resource increased by 78% to 6.4 million tonnes at roughly 3% copper equivalent, with over 8 million tonnes of inferred resources and significant exploration potential across an 18-kilometre strike length. Existing infrastructure, including an idle mill and permitted tailings facilities, is expected to reduce development costs and timelines compared to a greenfield project.CAML plans to advance the project through an updated preliminary economic assessment followed by a feasibility study, targeting a construction decision within four to five years. The company intends to leverage its operational and tailings management expertise from its Sasa mine, while retaining Cygnus's local management team and community relationships to support permitting and development.Strategically, the acquisition fills a long-standing gap between CAML's exploration assets and producing operations in Kazakhstan and North Macedonia. These existing mines are performing strongly, supporting ongoing dividends of 30–50% of free cash flow. The transaction also reflects a broader industry trend of larger, cash-generative miners acquiring development-stage assets from smaller explorers to unlock value and accelerate project timelines.Learn more: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/central-asia-metalsSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

What does it mean, three decades after the demise of the USSR, to inhabit cities built for a future that has never arrived? In pursuit of the question—what is left of the socialist city?—this book aims not only to trace the material and mnemonic remains of the socialist city,  but to show how the Soviet discourse of the city at times engendered radical ideas that challenged the narrow confines of state socialism itself. These ideas are, for instance, the efforts of Esperanto-speaking internationalists from Czechoslovakia to build the internationalist city from below in the Central Asian steppe, the quest of Armenian Futurists to root the architectural style of Soviet Armenia in the country's Persianate heritage, or a Jewish-Kyrgyz philosopher's vision of turning a science town in the hinterland of Moscow into the first ecopolis of the USSR. In an effort to rethink the life and afterlife of the Soviet city from its geographical South, The Death and Life of Southern Soviet Cities: Urban Futures and Their Afterlives (Routledge, 2026) explores the material and immaterial legacies of socialist-era urbanization in Central Asia and the Southern Caucasus. To this end, it embarks on a historical and ethnographic journey to urban sites in Armenia and Kyrgyzstan. In a quest to reconstruct competing visions of urbanity that emerged from within the Soviet South, using varied empirical sources in Armenian, Czech, Kyrgyz, and Russian, the book outlines four urban visions: bottom-up urbanity, rooted urbanity, polycentric urbanity, and ecocentric urbanity. By understanding the social vision of a "socialist city of the future" beyond the political center in its trans-local independence, the book highlights the cultural and linguistic diversity of the Soviet South and its historical embeddedness within the regional dynamics of the Global South. David Leupold is a sociologist, scholar of memory wars and research fellow in the ERC-funded research project REVENANT: Revivals of Empire. He is the author of the prize-winning book Embattled Dreamlands: The Politics of Contesting Armenian, Turkish, and Kurdish Memory (2021), the former principal investigator of the DFG-funded research project Future Images of the Past (2021–2025), and a current resource scholar for the Monterey Initiative in Russian Studies (Middlebury Institute of International Studies). He lives in Berlin.  This interview was conducted by Ernest Lee, PhD student at the University of Chicago. He researches the history of postcolonial energy through the lens of development, infrastructure and environment, with a focus on West Africa and Southeast Asia.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

What does it mean, three decades after the demise of the USSR, to inhabit cities built for a future that has never arrived? In pursuit of the question—what is left of the socialist city?—this book aims not only to trace the material and mnemonic remains of the socialist city,  but to show how the Soviet discourse of the city at times engendered radical ideas that challenged the narrow confines of state socialism itself. These ideas are, for instance, the efforts of Esperanto-speaking internationalists from Czechoslovakia to build the internationalist city from below in the Central Asian steppe, the quest of Armenian Futurists to root the architectural style of Soviet Armenia in the country's Persianate heritage, or a Jewish-Kyrgyz philosopher's vision of turning a science town in the hinterland of Moscow into the first ecopolis of the USSR. In an effort to rethink the life and afterlife of the Soviet city from its geographical South, The Death and Life of Southern Soviet Cities: Urban Futures and Their Afterlives (Routledge, 2026) explores the material and immaterial legacies of socialist-era urbanization in Central Asia and the Southern Caucasus. To this end, it embarks on a historical and ethnographic journey to urban sites in Armenia and Kyrgyzstan. In a quest to reconstruct competing visions of urbanity that emerged from within the Soviet South, using varied empirical sources in Armenian, Czech, Kyrgyz, and Russian, the book outlines four urban visions: bottom-up urbanity, rooted urbanity, polycentric urbanity, and ecocentric urbanity. By understanding the social vision of a "socialist city of the future" beyond the political center in its trans-local independence, the book highlights the cultural and linguistic diversity of the Soviet South and its historical embeddedness within the regional dynamics of the Global South. David Leupold is a sociologist, scholar of memory wars and research fellow in the ERC-funded research project REVENANT: Revivals of Empire. He is the author of the prize-winning book Embattled Dreamlands: The Politics of Contesting Armenian, Turkish, and Kurdish Memory (2021), the former principal investigator of the DFG-funded research project Future Images of the Past (2021–2025), and a current resource scholar for the Monterey Initiative in Russian Studies (Middlebury Institute of International Studies). He lives in Berlin.  This interview was conducted by Ernest Lee, PhD student at the University of Chicago. He researches the history of postcolonial energy through the lens of development, infrastructure and environment, with a focus on West Africa and Southeast Asia.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/central-asian-studies

What does it mean, three decades after the demise of the USSR, to inhabit cities built for a future that has never arrived? In pursuit of the question—what is left of the socialist city?—this book aims not only to trace the material and mnemonic remains of the socialist city,  but to show how the Soviet discourse of the city at times engendered radical ideas that challenged the narrow confines of state socialism itself. These ideas are, for instance, the efforts of Esperanto-speaking internationalists from Czechoslovakia to build the internationalist city from below in the Central Asian steppe, the quest of Armenian Futurists to root the architectural style of Soviet Armenia in the country's Persianate heritage, or a Jewish-Kyrgyz philosopher's vision of turning a science town in the hinterland of Moscow into the first ecopolis of the USSR. In an effort to rethink the life and afterlife of the Soviet city from its geographical South, The Death and Life of Southern Soviet Cities: Urban Futures and Their Afterlives (Routledge, 2026) explores the material and immaterial legacies of socialist-era urbanization in Central Asia and the Southern Caucasus. To this end, it embarks on a historical and ethnographic journey to urban sites in Armenia and Kyrgyzstan. In a quest to reconstruct competing visions of urbanity that emerged from within the Soviet South, using varied empirical sources in Armenian, Czech, Kyrgyz, and Russian, the book outlines four urban visions: bottom-up urbanity, rooted urbanity, polycentric urbanity, and ecocentric urbanity. By understanding the social vision of a "socialist city of the future" beyond the political center in its trans-local independence, the book highlights the cultural and linguistic diversity of the Soviet South and its historical embeddedness within the regional dynamics of the Global South. David Leupold is a sociologist, scholar of memory wars and research fellow in the ERC-funded research project REVENANT: Revivals of Empire. He is the author of the prize-winning book Embattled Dreamlands: The Politics of Contesting Armenian, Turkish, and Kurdish Memory (2021), the former principal investigator of the DFG-funded research project Future Images of the Past (2021–2025), and a current resource scholar for the Monterey Initiative in Russian Studies (Middlebury Institute of International Studies). He lives in Berlin.  This interview was conducted by Ernest Lee, PhD student at the University of Chicago. He researches the history of postcolonial energy through the lens of development, infrastructure and environment, with a focus on West Africa and Southeast Asia.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/russian-studies

David Hunsicker spent two decades at USAID building the institutional capacity for what came to be called Strategic Religious Engagement. That work culminated in the 2023 policy Building Bridges in Development, a framework for partnering with religious communities and faith-based organizations around shared goals. In this conversation, Hunsicker traces the path from a Pennsylvania Dutch upbringing, through conversion to Islam and graduate study in Central Asia, to an unexpected pull into US government work after September 11. We discuss the policy work that followed, what was lost when USAID was closed in 2025, and the new Strategic Religious Engagement Hub at Georgetown's Berkley Center. Show Notes:Building Bridges in Development: USAID's Strategic Religious Engagement Policy (https://berkleycenter.georgetown.edu/publications/building-bridges-in-development-usaid-s-strategic-religious-engagement-policy/)Send us Fan Mail

Hear about travel to Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan and the annual Amateur Traveler trip as host Chris Christensen and guest Bill Abbott talk about a tour to 2 of the 5 'Stans in Central Asia. This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Why should you go to Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan? Chris says, "In this area, you can stand in these beautiful cities that date back over two thousand years. This is a trip through some of the great crossroads of world history: Persian empires, Silk Road merchants, Turkic tribes, Mongol armies, Timurid architects, Russian generals, Soviet planners, and two very different modern countries. This is not the edge of the map as we tend to view it, but historically, it's the middle of the map." In this episode of Amateur Traveler, we celebrate episode 1,000 with a trip through Central Asia to Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. The episode follows a G Adventures trip, Best of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, with a small group of Amateur Traveler listeners. ... https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-uzbekistan-and-turkmenistan/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Max and Maria sit down with Dr. Nina Khrushcheva, Professor of International Affairs at the New School and one of the world's leading experts on Russia, to discuss her new Russian‑language book Nikita Khrushchev: Vozhd vne sistemy (“Nikita Khrushchev: An Outlier of the System”) and her experience as one of the few scholars still traveling to and from Russia. As Nikita Khrushchev's great‑granddaughter and adoptive granddaughter, she offers a rare, personal view of how Russian culture, politics, and society are evolving. Mentioned:  No Exit from Stalin | by Nina L. Khrushcheva in Project Syndicate (April 2026)  Russia's Descent Into Tyranny: How Four Years of War Have Remade Society | by Nina L. Khrushcheva in Foreign Affairs (Dec. 2025)  Nikita Khrushchev: Vozhd vne sistemy (Nikita Khrushchev: An Outlier of the System) | Book by Nina L. Khrushcheva  Feedback? Suggestions? Ideas to help us improve? Email us at erep@csis.org.  If you love Russian Roulette, let us know by subscribing and leaving a review wherever you get your podcasts.   Listen to our sister podcast, covering all things Europe through a Washington lens: CSIS Podcasts | The Eurofile 

Ralph Goff is a retired senior CIA officer and former intelligence executive, best known as a six-time CIA Chief of Station with a 35-year career in U.S. intelligence. His overseas service included postings and operational work across Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, South Asia, and several war zones. He later served as Chief of Operations for Europe and Eurasia and as head of the CIA's National Resources Division, where he worked with senior U.S. private-sector figures in finance, banking, and security.Before joining the CIA, Goff served in the U.S. Army as a Russian linguist and signals intelligence officer on the East German border during the late Cold War, monitoring Soviet forces. After retiring from the CIA in October 2023, he became a public commentator on intelligence, Russia, Ukraine, and great-power competition. He has traveled regularly to Ukraine, met with Ukrainian officials, and argued that Western support for Kyiv has often been too cautious. In a 2025 interview, he said the West had given Ukraine “enough weapons to bleed, not to win,” criticising fear of escalation as a strategic constraint. In 2025, Goff was reportedly selected by CIA Director John Ratcliffe to become Deputy Director for Operations, the post overseeing human intelligence and covert action, but the appointment was later withdrawn. Reporting by Politico and The Washington Post said the reversal surprised many intelligence professionals and was linked by sources to political concerns, including Goff's public support for Ukraine. Today, Goff is known as a forthright advocate for rebuilding U.S. clandestine capabilities, strengthening Western intelligence posture, and supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression. His public persona combines old-school operations experience, Atlanticist conviction, and a blunt critique of risk-aversion in Western policy.----------LINKS:https://www.thecipherbrief.com/experts/ralph-goffhttps://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ex-cia-chief-we-gave-ukraine-enough-weapons-to-bleed-not-to-win-r3q0r2fcghttps://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/02/cia-drops-agency-veteran-clandestine-operations-00267346----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Car4Ukrainehttps://car4ukraine.com/en-US/campaignsDzyga's Pawhttps://dzygaspaw.com/projectsSuperhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/----------PLATFORMS:Substack: https://substack.com/@siliconcurtainTwitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSiliconLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqm----------