Podcasts about Kathmandu

Six months after youth-led protests in Nepal ousted the government, voters have elected 35-year-old Balendra Shah. After defeating former prime minister KP Sharma Oli, the former Kathmandu mayor is now poised to lead the country. Listen to a report on how the rapper-turned-politician rose to power. - गत सेप्टेम्बरमा जेन-जी युवा प्रदर्शन पछि भएको आम-निर्वाचनमा नेपाली मतदाताले ३५ वर्षीय बालेन्द्र शाहलाई विजयी बनाएका छन्। पूर्व प्रधानमन्त्री केपी शर्मा ओलीलाई पराजित गर्दै काठमाण्डूका पूर्व मेयर शाह देशको प्रधानमन्त्री बन्ने तरखरमा रहेका छन्। ‘र्‍यापर'बाट राजनीतिज्ञ बनेका शाह को हुन् र कसरी छोटो समयमा नै उनले नेपालको राजनीतिमा यति ठुलो फड्को मारे त? सुनौँ यो रिपोर्टमा।

Six months after the protests initiated by Nepal's youth, the majority of the country chose 35-year-old rapper and politician Balendra Shah for prime minister. He clearly defeated former prime minister K.P. Sharma Oli. Balendra Shah, the former mayor of Kathmandu, stands for the continued strength of the youth movement. - Sechs Monate nach den von der Jugend initiierten Protesten hat Nepal neu gewählt. Die Mehrheit entschied sich für den 35-jährigen Rapper und Politiker Balendra Shah. Er besiegte den früheren Premierminister K.P. Sharma Oli deutlich. Der ehemalige Bürgermeister von Kathmandu steht damit für die anhaltende Stärke der Jugendbewegung.

Sáu tháng sau các cuộc biểu tình do giới trẻ dẫn đầu ở Nepal lật đổ chính phủ, cử tri đã bầu chọn rapper 35 tuổi chuyển sang làm chính trị gia Balendra Shah. Đánh bại cựu Thủ tướng KP Sharma Oli, chiến thắng áp đảo của cựu thị trưởng Kathmandu cho thấy sức mạnh bền bỉ của phong trào do giới trẻ lãnh đạo.

Six months after youth-led protests in Nepal ousted the government, voters have elected 35-year-old rapper turned politician Balendra Shah. Defeating former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, the landslide victory of the former mayor of Kathmandu shows the lasting strength of the youth-led movement.

Nepal's latest general election appears to mark one of the most significant political shifts in the country's recent history. For decades, Nepal's politics has been dominated by a handful of established parties and veteran leaders, with governments frequently changing and coalition politics shaping the country's governance. But the results of this election suggest that many voters particularly younger voters were ready for something different. The Rastriya Swatantra Party, a relatively new political force, is heading towards a sweeping victory, signalling a potential disruption of the traditional political order.
 At the centre of this political moment is Balendra Shah, popularly known as Balen a rapper-turned-politician and former mayor of Kathmandu who has emerged as one of the most prominent faces of a new generation in Nepali politics. His rise reflects a broader mood of dissatisfaction with entrenched political elites and a growing demand for generational change in leadership. The strong performance of his party suggests that many voters are willing to place their trust in newer political actors who promise governance reforms and a break from the country's long-standing cycle of unstable governments.
 This election also comes in the aftermath of the youth-led protests that forced the resignation of Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli last year, highlighting deep public frustration over corruption, governance failures and political stagnation. With Nepal having witnessed 14 governments in the past 18 years, the results are widely being interpreted as a moment of political reckoning for traditional parties such as the Nepali Congress and the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist).
 At the same time, developments in Nepal are being closely watched in the region, particularly in India, which shares deep political, economic and cultural ties with its Himalayan neighbour. Nepal's political trajectory has often had broader regional implications, not least because of its position between India and China, and the delicate balance it has historically maintained between the two.
 In this episode, we explore what Nepal's election results signal about the country's evolving political landscape. Sanjeev Satgainya offers insights into the forces behind this electoral surge, the decline of traditional political parties and the challenges that Nepal's next government will face.
 Guest: Sanjeev Satgainya Host: Shikha Kumari A Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What a week PJ & Jim have had! While Jim returned refreshed from his sun, sea and pina coladas holiday on Tuesday, PJ's trip back from Nepal was understandably delayed after Israel & Iran started flinging missiles around, causing thousands of flight cancellations! As he says himself... Kathmandu? More like Kathman-don't! Anyway - in this weeks (slightly shorter) podcast episode, he tells some of the story of his epic journey, going the wrong way home. The podcast will be back in its full-fat format with show best bits & more next week! If you like what you hear, tune in to Radio Nova 100 to hear this pair of mad yolks- PJ Gallagher & Jim McCabe on Dublin's NUMBER 1 music radio breakfast show "Morning Glory", Monday to Friday from 6 to 10am. The multi-IMRO Radio Award-winning show also features news, sport, weather, traffic & competitions alongside these two having the craic every day AND the most seriously addictive music in town! Brought to you thanks to Merlin Car Auctions (www.merlin.ie) Hear it across Ireland via the free Radio Nova app on Android & iPhone, online at www.nova.ie, via the Irish Radio Player, via your smart speaker (“Play Radio Nova 100”) on 100.3FM in Dublin & Meath, 100.5FM in Kildare, 95.7FM in Wicklow, 100.1FM in Balbriggan & on Virgin Media TV channel 937. PLUS: find us on socials:- @radionova100 on Instagram & Facebook and on TikTok as @radionova100fm! https://www.nova.ie/radio-schedule/morningglory/ #PJGallagher #JimMcCabe  #GloryDaze #MorningGlory  #SeriouslyAddictive #RadioNova #RadioNova100

Some voters in Kathmandu were unable to travel to their home constituencies to vote in Nepal's recently held election, despite a three-day public holiday. Speaking to Nepal correspondent Pratichya Dulal, they said work and other practical constraints kept them in the capital, with some wishing online voting had been an option. - नेपालमा हालै सम्पन्न प्रतिनिधि सभा सदस्य निर्वाचनकै लागि भनेर सरकारले तीन दिनको बिदा दिएता पनि केहि मतदाताहरू काठमाण्डूबाट आफ्नो निर्वाचन क्षेत्रसम्म जान सकेनन्। आफ्नो व्यवसाय र अन्य व्यवहारिक बाध्यताहरूका कारण घर जना नसकेको बताउने उनीहरूले अनलाइनबाट भोट गर्न पाएको भए हुन्थ्यो भनेका छन्। नेपाल संवाददाता प्रतिक्षा दुलालले उनीहरूसँग गर्नु भएको कुराकानी सुन्नुहोस्।

SBS Nepali spoke with with SBS News International Correspondent Aaron Fernandes, who travelled to Kathmandu to report on Nepal's general elections held on Thursday, 5 March 2026. - नेपालको निर्वाचनबारे रिपोर्ट गर्न काठमाण्डू पुगेका एसबीएस न्युजका अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय संवाददाता एरन फर्नान्डेजसँग एसबीएस नेपालीले गरेको कुराकानी सुन्नुहोस्।

Most people believe success follows a straight line. Study hard. Get a degree. Get a stable job. Climb the ladder.   But what happens when life doesn't follow that script?   At 22, he was driving night buses between Bhairahawa and Kathmandu. At 47, he led Nepal's largest ISP as CEO.   In this conversation, Keshav Nepal shares why he has no regrets about the road he took — and why trying to plan your entire life at 20 might be the biggest mistake you can make.   After losing his father at 17, responsibility came early. Driving buses wasn't a setback. It was a season. And every season has its own job.   We talk about:   – Why you can't live your 40s in your 20s – Why career growth is not linear – The danger of over-planning your future – What success actually means after 40+ years – Why he chose to step down at the peak – And what young people get wrong about ambition   This isn't a motivational story. It's a perspective shift.   If you're in your 20s, confused about career, feeling behind, or overthinking your future — this episode will change how you see time, ambition, and growth.   Career is lived forward. Understood later.   Watch till the end.   Timestamps 0:00 – Episode Intro 2:24 – From Night Bus Driver to CEO of WorldLink 12:38 – “Educated People Ruined Nepal” : What Did He Mean? 13:14 – Does He Still Stand by That Statement Today? 17:39 – If Education Built the West, Why Not Nepal? 20:24 – What 6 Years on the Highway Taught Him About Leadership 20:51 – The “Never Give Up” Mindset Built on Mugling Roads 36:30 – Why Caring for People Solves Bigger Problems 39:26 – Bachelor's Dropout to Suing the Government for Education 43:26 – The Courtroom Argument That Changed Everything 55:17 – Why Being CEO Feels “Normal” to Him 55:50 – The Real Reason He's Stepping Down 59:15 – How Much Time Does He Have Left as CEO? 1:31:42 – If Starting Over, Would He Still Choose Nepal? _______________________________________________________________________________________________ If you love reading, don't miss our newsletter on Substack Link: https://substack.com/@doersglobal?    Want to join us live in the studio as an audience member? Fill out this form: https://forms.gle/xZi8yptyoxkkc6aa8    ✉ Reach out to us at partners@doersnepal.com  

Anthony Ha joins us to discuss the first half of the book The Best of Kim Stanley Robinson. Stories discussed: “Venice Drowned” (10:53), “Ridge Running” (19:25), “Before I Wake” (26:55), “Black Air” (34:18), “The Lucky Strike” (44:23), “A Sensitive Dependence on Initial Conditions” (55:29), “Arthur Sternbach Brings the Curveball to Mars” (1:09:15), “The Blind Geometer” (1:17:30), “Our Town” (1:25:25), “Escape from Kathmandu” (1:28:54), “Remaking History” (1:44:05). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Jaiya John was orphan-born on ancient Indigenous Anasazi and Pueblo lands in the high desert of New Mexico, and is an internationally recognized ancestral Baba, freedom worker, medicine poet, and keynote speaker. Jaiya is the founder of Soul Water Rising, a global rehumanizing mission to eradicate oppression. The mission has donated thousands of Jaiya's books in support of social healing, and offers grants to displaced and vulnerable youth. He is the author of numerous books, including Daughter Drink This Water, We Birth Freedom at Dawn, Fragrance After Rain, and Freedom: Medicine Words for your Brave Revolution. Jaiya writes, narrates, and produces the podcast, I Will Read for You: The Voice and Writings of Jaiya John, and is the founder of The Gathering, a global initiative and tour reviving traditional gathering and storytelling practices to fertilize social healing and liberation. Jaiya is a former professor of social psychology at Howard University, and has spoken to over a million people worldwide and audiences as large as several thousand. He holds doctorate and master's degrees in social psychology from the University of California, Santa Cruz, where he was a National Science Foundation Fellow with a focus on intergroup and race relations. As an undergraduate, he attended Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon, and lived in Kathmandu, Nepal, where he studied Tibetan Holistic Medicine through independent research with Tibetan doctors and trekked to the base camp of Mt. Everest. He is a Lewis & Clark College Distinguished Alumni Award recipient. Jaiya's Indigenous soul dreams of frybread, sweetgrass, bamboo in the breeze, and turtle lakes whose poetry is peace.Jaiya WebsiteLeah Website

Nineteen people have died after a packed bus heading from the resort city of Pokhara to Kathmandu plunged off the Prithvi highway and crashed on the banks of the Trishuli river. Listen to the latest weekly update from Nepal, including communal tensions in Gaur that led to a curfew, authorities asking health institutions to report injuries from Gen Z protests and Nepal's seven-wicket win over Scotland in the ongoing men's T20 World Cup. - पोखराबाट काठमाण्डू जाँदै गरेको बस दुर्घटना हुँदा १९ जनाको मृत्यु भएको छ। बस सडकबाट तल खसेर त्रिशूली नदीको किनारमा पुगेको बताइएको छ। यस लगायत, गौर नगरपालिमा साम्प्रदायिक तनाव सुरु भएर ठुलो आकार लिँदै गएपछि त्यसलाई रोक्न जिल्ला प्रशासन कार्यालयद्वारा कर्फ्यु आदेश, जेन-जी प्रदर्शनका क्रममा घाइते भएकाहरूको विवरण तत्काल उपलब्ध गराउन सरकारको स्वास्थ्य संस्थाहरूलाई निर्देशन र जारी टी२० विश्वकप अन्तर्गत गत मङ्गलवार आफ्नो अन्तिम खेलमा नेपालले स्कटल्यान्डलाई सात विकेटले पराजित गरेको लगायत गत सात दिनका नेपालका प्रमुख समाचारहरू सुन्नुहोस्।

Sebuah bus yang penuh penumpang terjatuh ke jurang di Benighat, Nepal, menewaskan 19 orang dan melukai 25 lainnya. Kejadian terjadi saat bus dalam perjalanan dari Pokhara menuju Kathmandu dan tergelincir di jalan raya Prithvi setelah tengah malam. Bus jatuh ke lereng gunung dan berhenti di tepi Sungai Trishuli yang berarus deras. Beberapa korban telah diidentifikasi, termasuk warga negara Inggris dan China. Tim penyelamat segera mengevakuasi korban dan membawa mereka ke rumah sakit terdekat.

Passport Panic: Why UK Travel Just Got Harder for Aussies. Travelling to the UK after tomorrow might feel like turning up to the airport blindsided. From 25 February 2026, new rules kick in that could derail trips for Australians with British or Irish dual citizenship, unless they have the right documentation. Find out what you need to know and how much it will cost. And in headlines today, British police have arrested Peter Mandelson over alleged misconduct linked to his past ties with Jeffrey Epstein; A bus travelling from Pokhara to Kathmandu in Nepal crashed, killing 19 people; The Trump Organisation will build a Trump International Hotel & Tower on the Gold Coast; The BBC has apologised after a racial slur shouted during the BAFTA Awards was broadcast live; Lily Collins is set to play Audrey Hepburn in a new film about the making of the 1961 classic Breakfast at Tiffany’s. THE END BITS Support independent women's media Check out The Quicky Instagram here GET IN TOUCHShare your story, feedback, or dilemma! Send us a voice note or email us at thequicky@mamamia.com.au CREDITS Hosts: Taylah Strano Tahli Blackman & Claire Murphy Guest: Ruth Devine Audio Producer: Lu Hill Group Executive Producer: Ilaria BrophyBecome a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join Angus and Richard for a comprehensive review of the Kathmandu Coast to Coast. This episode is split into two halves: This is Part 1Part 1: The Race Review: A deep dive into the 2-day team experience, the impact of the adjusted course over Arthur's Pass, and the standout performances of the weekend.Part 2: The Finish Line: On-the-ground interviews featuring race winners, finishers from all walks of life, and insights from Race Director Glen Currie.

Join Angus and Richard for a comprehensive review of the Kathmandu Coast to Coast. This part 2 - The Finish LinePart 1: The Race Review: A deep dive into the 2-day team experience, the impact of the adjusted course over Arthur's Pass, and the standout performances of the weekend.Part 2: The Finish Line: On-the-ground interviews featuring race winners, finishers from all walks of life, and insights from Race Director Glen Currie.

This is the second part of a conversation with Alaura O'Dell / Mistress Mix, formerly known as Paula P-Orridge. In the first part, we traced Alaura's journey from meeting the musician and cultural provocateur Genesis P-Orridge, as a 15-year-old schoolgirl in East London, to becoming a central actor in the underground art band Psychic TV and the occult network Thee Temple ov Psychick Youth (TOPY).  While public accounts often focus on TOPY's founder, Genesis P-Orridge, we heard about Alaura's role in the organisation — not just as a participant, but as an organiser and practitioner, the one “who handled the workings”: the practical magick behind the grand metaphysical ideas.   In this episode, we rejoin Alaura and Genesis as they are in Kathmandu with their kids. Caress and Genesse. Back in Britain, the police have raided their home, prompted by unfounded accusations of moral deviance and child abuse in the media, during the infamous 'satanic panic'of the 1980s.  We hear how they embarked on a life in exile in California, finding unexpected refuge with the family of Winona Ryder and entering a new West Coast countercultural milieu that included encounters with Timothy Leary and Terence McKenna. before hearing about Alaura's life after Psychic TV, TOPY and Genesis. Psychic TV, was a multimedia art and music project that blurred boundaries between performance, ritual, and experimentation in sound and imagery, imbued with a sense of magick (in both the occult and transformative senses) Thee Temple ov Psychick Youth (TOPY),was  a loosely structured global network of artists, occultists, and seekers that emerged in the 1980s.  #AlauraODell #PaulaP'Orridge #GenesisP'Orridge #TempleOvPsychicYouth #Counterculture #SacredSites #PersonalReinvention #SpiritualAwakening #TraumaAndHealing #CreativeExpression #ExileAndResilience #TimothyLeary #terencemckenna #PsychicTVHistory  

KATHMANDU COAST TO COAST S7 E6 : POWERED BY CP MEDIAThe start line is in sight and we're kicking off our final Kathmandu Podcast before race day with 4 guests this episode :Toby Brookes -Last year's fastest paddler on the Waimak and the anchor of Richard & Angus' Coast to Coast team. We chat:- What does the new boat look like?- How's he shaping up heading into the big day?- What it really takes to be fastest when it countsMegan Welch – CEO, Kathmandu - A passionate leader who truly walks (and runs) the talk. Megan shares:- How Kathmandu has helped shape the feel and future of Kathmandu Coast to Coast 10 years of partnership — and what's next.- Training updates for the Mountain Run (even when weather throws a curveball)- The special connection between Kathmandu and her Coast to Coast goalThis is about more than racing — it's about people, purpose, and what Coast to Coast truly stands for.Helen Gillespie -Six years on from significant health challenges, Helen has the Longest Day firmly in her sights. After having to pull out before the kayak last time, 2026 is different : The preparation has been done. The belief is there. This is her moment. An inspiring reminder of why we toe the line.Glen Currie – Race DirectorThe man steering the ship as race day approaches. Glen shares:- Key messages for athletes heading into the big day- Final race-week remindersWho to keep an eye on when it comes to podium contendersTune in now and get one step closer to your best Coast to Coast yet.TEAMCPNZ MEDIA HOSTSAngus Petrie – @thecollabcreativeRichard Greer – @ric.greerhttp://www.coasttocoast.co.nzhttp://www.kathmandu.co.nzhttps://www.teamcp.co.nz@teamcpnzhttps://www.facebook.com/teamcpnzrichard@teamcp.co.nz

Listen to the latest weekly update from Nepal, including a high-level organising committee formed for the 12th Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) global conference said to be held from March 14 to 16 in Kathmandu, President Ram Chandra Paudel's Japan visit during the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between two countries and a 15-member squad announced for the 2026 ACC Asia Cup Rising Stars Women's under the leadership of Puja Mahato. - गैर आवासीय नेपाली सङ्घ (एनआरएनए) को १२औँ विश्व सम्मेलनका लागि परराष्ट्र मन्त्री बालानन्द शर्माको अध्यक्षतामा उच्चस्तरीय आयोजक समिति गठन भएको परराष्ट्र मन्त्रालयले जनाएको छ। उक्त सम्मेलन मार्च १४ देखि १६ सम्म काठमान्डूमा हुने बताइएको छ। त्यस्तै, नेपाल र जापानबिचको कूटनीतिक सम्बन्ध स्थापनाको ७० औँ वर्षगाँठको अवसरमा राष्ट्रपति रामचन्द्र पौडेल राष्ट्रपति जापान प्रस्थान, आचार संहिता उल्लङ्घन सम्बन्धि स्पष्टीकरण, ‘ग्रे लिस्ट'बाट बाहिर निस्कने गरी काम गर्न अर्थमन्त्रीको आग्रह र एसीसी राइजिङ स्टार्स वीमेन्स एसिया कपका लागि पूजा महतोको कप्तानीमा १५ सदस्यीय टोली घोषणा लगायत गत सात दिनका नेपालका प्रमुख समाचारहरू सुन्नुहोस्।

Cycling in Nepal is more than just transportation—it is a cultural, legal, and intellectual movement. In this in-depth podcast, renowned Nepali scholar and author Dr. Tara Lal Shrestha, writer of Cycle Aesthetics (Cycle Saundarya), discusses the Cycle Act in Nepal, the lack of clear cycle law, and why cycling has long been ignored in national transport policy. The conversation explores what falls under the Cycle Act, why it was almost implemented, and how road infrastructure continues to marginalize cyclists. Dr. Shrestha also shares his personal journey into cycling, Nepal's rich cycling history and culture, and the idea of intellectualizing cycling through aesthetics, language, and philosophy. Key topics include whether Kathmandu can become a cycling city, how safe cycling is in urban Nepal, the role of research in retaining knowledge, listening to music while cycling, and why sustainable transport matters for Nepal's future. This podcast is essential for anyone interested in urban cycling, bicycle rights, road safety, and sustainable transportation in Nepal. GET CONNECTED WITH Dr. Tara Lal Shrestha: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/p/Tara-Lal-Shrestha-100063579727015/  

Does multilateralism still matter - and what would change if global cooperation were built for today's world, not yesterday's?Marking the 80th anniversary of the United Nations General Assembly, this episode of Our World, Connected explores whether multilateralism can still deliver in a world shaped by geopolitical rivalry, global crises and declining trust in institutions. As the international system faces growing pressure, the episode asks what does global cooperation look like now - and who is it serving?Host Christine Wilson is joined on this episode by Jane Kinninmont, Chief Executive of the United Nations Association-UK. Drawing on her experience across diplomacy, policy and civil society, Jane reflects on the UN's founding purpose, the realities of power and compromise in international decision-making, and why multilateralism often works quietly, perhaps imperfectly, and out of the spotlight. Together, they discuss the tensions between principle and pragmatism, the challenges of legitimacy and reform, and what it would take for global institutions to remain relevant in a multipolar world.We also hear a personal perspective from Juhi Adhikari, a Kathmandu-based youth leader and Youth Consultant at UNESCO. Juhi shares her experiences navigating international institutions as a young person, and reflects on why multilateralism can feel distant or opaque to many - particularly those most affected by global decisions. Her story highlights the gap between global policymaking and lived experience, and why youth participation must go beyond symbolism to shape real outcomes.From global governance and power dynamics to youth voice and institutional reform, this episode asks whether multilateralism can evolve to meet today's challenges - and what must change if international cooperation is to remain credible, inclusive and effective.Listen to Our World, Connected, the award-winning podcast from the British Council, exploring culture, communication, and the power of collaboration in a changing world.

I hope you guys enjoy my Investor Audibles series with these three Q4 2025 letters: Laughing Water CapitalPlural InvestingKathmandu Capital Ideas discussed include: NN, THRY, LFCR, PAR, WOSG.LN, LOGC, VICR, LITEPLEASE NOTE THAT NOTHING IS INVESTMENT ADVICE. DO YOUR OWN WORK. NOTHING IS ADVICE ON THIS PODCAST.

In this episode, filmed on location in Kathmandu, Nepal, I am joined by Buddhist nun Guruma Dhamma Vijaya. Guruma recalls her childhood in Kathmandu Valley, the religious life of her Newar Vajrayāna family, and why she turned to Theravāda Buddhism and took ordination as a nun. Guruma recounts her extensive training in Mahasi and Goenka meditation styles, compares tantric techniques to ānāpānassati, and offers her understanding of the essence of Buddhist teaching. Guruma details her educational journey, describes her life-changing encounter with feminism while studying in the USA, and tells the story of obtaining a PhD on the subject of Buddhist Feminism. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep344-nepali-buddhist-nun-guruma-dhamma-vijaya Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast'.
 … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 00:50 - Homage to Buddha, Dhamma, Saṅgha 01:54 - Blessing and welcome 02:33 - Question etiquette in different cultures 03:17 - Guruma's Newar childhood in Kathmandu Valley 06:11 - Guruma's education pathway to PhD 06:36 - Family dynamics 07:30 - First meeting with Buddhist nuns 09:46 - From Vajrayāna to Theravāda 11:12 - Desire to be a nun 12:48 - Attending a teaching by the Dalai Lama in Bodhgaya 13:54 - The loss of the bhikkhunī ordination lineage 14:28 - Becoming a nun 17:54 - 4 years of study in Taiwan 19:20 - Meditation and further studies in Burma and India 20:02 - Studying meditation under Mahasi Sayadaw and S.N. Goenka 26:37 - Mahasi vs Goenka 27:37 - 4 points of Goenka meditation 29:10 - Ānāpānassati meditation is the Buddha's teaching 29:55 - Guruma's practie 30:51 - Vajrayāna vs Theravāda 36:27 - Body mantras and Vajrayāna threats 39:15 - Choosing Ānāpānassati over Vajrayāna 43:23 - Freedom from suffering 45:38 - The essence of Buddhist teaching 47:25 - Encountering feminism 54:58 - Messy status of nuns in Nepal 01:03:02 - Theravāda revival 01:05:39 - Tragic reason why Guruma's teacher became a nun 01:08:14 - Buddhist pilgrimage sites 01:08:54 - Life is precious and exhortation to practice 01:1341 - Dedication prayer and blessing … Kathmandu Interviews playlist: - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlkzlKFgdknwvU82dU487LhF_mF4AkGek&si=4U8rRVEHKA4Z28oF Find out more about Guruma here: - http://tartaruspress.com/russell-rampa.html - https://www.arthurmachen.org.uk/ For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - https://www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi' by Steve James

Sudeep Bhaju is a Kathmandu-based filmmaker, best known for his documentary “Dimag Ghochne Manche” a powerful documentary chronicling the life and legacy of Ujjwal Thapa. Joining him is Aalok Subedi, a Nepali legal-tech entrepreneur and the CEO of MeroAdda, Nepal's leading legal platform which provides free legal Q&A services, practical legal guides, and compliance tools for SMEs.

I hiked to Everest Base Camp to commemorate my 65th birthday.  In Part I of this two part series, I cover how I prepared and trained, what I packed and what I carried with me in my Day Pack, Lukla flight tips, tea houses (that's where you sleep along the EBC trail), porters, guides a bit about Kathmandu and more.  Part II covers more of the actual trek experience.  You can download it here. COMPLETE SHOW NOTES  See important links for planning your EBC adventure, photos, videos and more cool info about today's show. Get FREE Travel Planners, Checklists and Packing Lists for ATA adventures (and each month you will get an email from Kit with links to all future Travel Planners (no spam promise!).  Get the monthly newsletter here. CONTACT KIT Resources  RECOMMENDED TOUR COMPANIES ******* EMAIL ME FOR PROMO DISCOUNT CODES***** Saily Affordable eSIM Overseas Mobile Phone Plans - No need to insert a physical SIM card when you travel.  Buy just the data you need to avoid expensive roaming charges.  Use Promo Code SPECIAL5 to save 5% Travel Insurance:  Quickly and easily compare rates and policies from different companies - no need to give any identifying information unless you decide to buy!  The best way to find the right policy for your adventures.  High Altitude Travel Insurance: Most insurance policies do NOT cover high altitude adventures.  Check out Rise & Shield for your next mega adventure! Train For Your Adventure  Ask Becki at Trailblazer Wellness to customize an at home, online personal training program for your upcoming adventure using whatever equipment you already have!  You'll get phone consultations, instruction videos and a plan to give you the best chance of success.  Becki offers a FREE initial phone consultation to see if you are a good fit.  AND she offers ATA listeners a 10% discount! Buy Me a Beer Want to support the program?  You can always buy me a coffee or beer - thanks! Amazon Kit's Picks   Please use my Amazon link to access your Amazon account.  Even if you don't purchase any of my recommendations, I get credit for anything you DO purchase - at no additional cost to you, you'll be helping to support the show and keeping it AD FREE:) SUBSCRIBE to Active Travel Adventures (fantastic adventure destinations) Join the Active Travel Adventures Facebook Group Follow ATA on Instagram Follow ATA on Pinterest (C) Active Travel Adventures, LLC - All Rights Reserved  

Pradip Paudel is a Nepali Congress politician and Member of Parliament for Kathmandu-5. A former president of the Nepal Student Union and central committee member since 2014, he served as Minister of Health and Population (2024–2025), implementing health-sector reforms, expanding public cancer care, and rolling out nationwide vaccination programs.

Prithvi Narayan Shah & Nepal Unification Explained | Hari Prasad Sodari. Hari Prasad Sodari, a renowned Nepali author and social media personality from Kathmandu, joins this in-depth podcast to discuss the life, vision, and legacy of Prithvi Narayan Shah, the founder of modern Nepal. This episode examines the unification journey of Nepal, the strategic brilliance behind the Gorkha Kingdom, and the historical significance of Divyopadesh in shaping Nepal's national identity. The conversation delves deep into Nepal's history, including conflicts among writers, debates over Prithvi Narayan Shah's good and bad decisions, and whether the capture of the Kathmandu Valley was a Gorkha victory or a national one. Hari Prasad Sodari explains how Prithvi Narayan Shah understood regional geopolitics involving India and China, when the idea of unification truly began, and how he emerged as the central figure in Nepal's political history. This Nepali history podcast also reflects on lessons modern Nepal can learn from Prithvi Narayan Shah's leadership, discipline, respect for elders, and long-term vision. Whether you are interested in Nepal unification, nationalism, or historical leadership, this episode offers valuable insights grounded in research and storytelling. GET CONNECTED WITH Hari Prasad Sodari: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/hariprasad.sodari/  

Send us a textNavigating AI and Security Assurance with Pukar C HamalIn this episode of The Wireless Way, host Chris Whitaker sits down with Pukar C Hamal, founder and CEO of SecurityPal AI, a company that addresses security assurance bottlenecks affecting enterprise deals. Pukar shares his journey from Kathmandu to Silicon Valley, emphasizing the potential of leveraging global talent and the transformative power of technology. The discussion delves into the complexities of AI, the importance of cybersecurity, and the evolving landscape of technical talent. They also explore how AI can enhance efficiency in businesses and discuss the future of work in an AI-driven world. Despite several technical hiccups during the recording, the episode is a compelling conversation about technological advancement, security challenges, and human ingenuity.00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome00:59 Pukar's Background and Journey01:20 The Value and Impact of AI02:02 Building a Tech Company in Silicon Valley04:11 Silicon Peaks: Bridging Silicon Valley and Kathmandu05:24 Pukar's Early Fascination with Technology09:16 Founding Security Pal AI15:11 The Growing Importance of Security Assurance18:30 Challenges and Opportunities in Cybersecurity19:56 Pukar's Startup Experience20:33 Hiring Elite Technical Talent21:13 Debunking the Myth of Technical Talent23:27 The Future of Jobs in the Age of AI27:20 Introducing SecurityPal AI's New Product29:04 The Role of AI in Enhancing Human Work32:57 Final Thoughts and Future Outlook38:25 Closing Remarks and Technical DifficultiesMore on Pukar C HamalMore on SecurityPal AI Support the showCheck out my website https://thewirelessway.net/ use the contact button to send request and feedback.

Biraj Bhakta Shrestha is a Nepali politician from the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), elected to the House of Representatives from Kathmandu‑8. He serves as Deputy Leader of the RSP Parliamentary Party and previously held the position of Minister of Youth and Sports. Shrestha is known for his focus on legislative strategy, party coordination, and reform-oriented politics.

Ranju Darshana is a Nepali politician and social activist, known for making history as the youngest female mayoral candidate in Kathmandu in 2017. She served as General Secretary of the Bibeksheel Sajha Party, which formally merged into the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) in late 2025 as part of a consolidation of alternative political forces ahead of the 2026 elections.

In this episode of the P3 Project for Diverse Entrepreneurs, host Shelton A. Russell speaks with Anup Tamrakar, founder and CEO of Urban Infraconstruction, and the cover story subject of the latest issue of American DBE Magazine. Anup Tamrakar's story reflects the modern immigrant entrepreneur journey in America's infrastructure and construction economy. Born and raised in Kathmandu, Nepal, Anup came to the United States at just 18 years old to pursue education, opportunity, and long-term growth. He began his career working for contractors in Texas before eventually founding Urban Infraconstruction, a firm focused on delivering high-quality work in complex infrastructure environments. Throughout the conversation, Anup shares how a simple lesson from his father, work hard, stay busy, and never look for shortcuts, became the cornerstone of his leadership philosophy. In an industry where reputation, performance, and trust determine success, Anup explains why discipline, consistency, and effort remain non-negotiable for entrepreneurs building companies that last. This episode explores: The immigrant entrepreneur's experience in U.S. infrastructure and construction How Anup Tamrakar built Urban Infraconstruction through credibility and performance Leadership lessons for founders operating in competitive, compliance-driven industries Why work ethic still outperforms hype, shortcuts, and trends Building company culture, trust, and long-term value in construction and engineering Listeners interested in construction entrepreneurship, infrastructure leadership, DBE firms, immigrant-led businesses, and public-private project delivery will find valuable insights throughout this discussion. Anup also reflects on the personal responsibility of leadership, the importance of mentorship, and the mindset required to scale a business while maintaining integrity.

Air Pollution in Nepal. Why Kathmandu's Air Is So Toxic. Air pollution has become one of Nepal's biggest public health and environmental challenges, and in this episode, Environmental Engineer & Researcher Trailokaya Raj Bajgain breaks it all down with clarity and data. From understanding Kathmandu air pollution to explaining PM2.5, AQI in Nepal, and how pollution levels can feel equivalent to smoking 20 cigarettes a day, this conversation dives deep into the science behind polluted air. We discuss whether Kathmandu is the most polluted city, the role of vehicle pollution, dust particles, and cross-border pollution from India and China. Trailokaya also explains how air quality sensors, funding, and air pollution data in Nepal work, and why accurate data is critical for effective pollution control strategies. The episode explores the health effects of air pollution, the World Bank air pollution report, and whether wearing a mask is truly effective against PM2.5. We also touch on the future of clean air through AI and technology, personal protection methods, and how youth activism and research can drive change. If you want a clear, science-based explanation of Nepal's air crisis and practical insights on what can be done, this episode is a must-watch. GET CONNECTED WITH Trailokaya Raj Bajgain: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/trailokaya Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/StoryOfAnOrdinaryHumanBeing/?locale=hi_IN Website - https://trailokaya.com.np/ Email - trailokayaraj@gmail.com | trailokaya.bajgain@duke.edu  

Hear stories from riding a motorcycle in Egypt, Thailand, India, Nepal, Vietnam and becoming an Emmy-winning filmmaker. _____________________________ Subscribe to The Maverick Show's Monday Minute Newsletter where I email you 3 short items of value to start each week that you can consume in 60 seconds (all personal recommendations like the latest travel gear I'm using, my favorite destinations, discounts for special events, etc.). Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram ____________________________________ In Part 2 of this interview, Emmy-winning filmmaker and motorcycle adventurer Alex Chacon reflects on what years of extreme overland travel have taught him about life, creativity, and meaning. From riding across Egypt at sunrise to navigating the chaos of Vietnam, India, and Kathmandu, to experiencing radical hospitality in Pakistan and Argentina, to pushing physical limits in brutal heat across Thailand, Alex shares powerful stories from the road and the metaphors they reveal about resilience, risk, and growth. He also dives deep into his evolution as a storyteller—how his viral 3 Year Epic Selfie video changed his life, why he shifted from cinematic travel montages to vulnerable narrative filmmaking, and how travel continues to shape his artistic and entrepreneurial journey. This episode is a meditation on adventure, purpose, and why travel, at its best, is not just about destinations—but about becoming the next version of yourself. FULL SHOW NOTES WITH DIRECT LINKS TO EVERYTHING DISCUSSED ARE AVAILABLE HERE. ____________________________________ See my Top 10 Apps For Digital Nomads See my Top 10 Books For Digital Nomads See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that's not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn  See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ____________________________________ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Please Leave a Rating and Review. It really helps the show and I read each one personally.  You Can Buy Me a Coffee. Espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes! :)

Becky was diagnosed with Crohn's disease at 15 and thought her life was basically over. Spoiler: it wasn't. In this episode we talk about what Crohn's actually looks like day-to-day (fatigue, pain, planning your life around toilets…), the mindset shift that helped her stop shrinking her dreams, and why success sometimes looks like getting out of bed and having a shower — not “hustling” yourself into the ground.We also get into Becky's Everest Base Camp trek attempt, the reality of doing big adventures with an unpredictable body, and the one comment from a stranger that perfectly sums up why invisible illness is such a minefield.Key takeawaysCrohn's isn't “a dodgy tummy” — it's an autoimmune disease with physical and mental load.You can still build a full life, but you may need to do it differently (and that's not failure).The fatigue is real even in remission — “slept 9 hours, feel like 3” levels of real.Invisible illness comes with invisible planning: toilets, timing, travel anxiety, the whole mental spreadsheet.You're allowed to redefine success — especially when your body is fighting you.Turning back isn't quitting. Sometimes it's the bravest, smartest decision you can make.People will judge what they don't understand (“you can't be that sick…”) — don't let that rewrite your reality.Kindness matters more than most people realise. “Be kind” isn't cringe — it's necessary.Timestamps00:00 Intro + “How have you dared and won?”00:14 Diagnosed at 15: believing life was “over”02:22 The pressure of school + the long road to diagnosis/remission04:24 Quitting A-levels, finding snowboarding, becoming an instructor (the pivot)05:43 The biggest misconception: “it's just a tummy issue”06:32 The day-to-day reality: exhaustion, pain, urgency, immunosuppressants08:39 Everest Base Camp planning + how Crohn's derailed it (and why she still went)28:00 Turning back at altitude + hospital in Kathmandu (ego vs survival)33:44 Fundraising wins + choosing your life anyway48:17 Misconception: “you can control it with diet” + the wider symptoms (arthritis, mouth ulcers)49:58 “You can't be that sick…” — the invisible illness moment that stuckMentionedCrohn's & Colitis UK (resources, support, info for patients + employers)Join Dare Club: https://stan.store/shewhodareswinswww.shewhodareswins.com - Code POD10 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Dr. Joëlle Hivonnet joins the podcast to discuss her four-year tenure as the EU's deputy head in Seoul from 2016, a tumultuous era in inter-Korean relations defined by both tensions and diplomacy. Hivonnet talks about how U.S. President Donald Trump's threats against North Korea transformed into summit talks between leader Kim Jong Un, South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Trump, and how those developments ushered in a period of optimism for the EU. She also challenges the notion that Europe has a limited role in the peninsula's affairs, particularly after North Korea's direct involvement in the war in Ukraine. The EU's agenda is being “totally dominated” by the Ukraine-Russia war, and North Korea's deployment of troops and munitions in support of Moscow's invasion is clear evidence that issues involving the DPRK now relate to the 27-member state organization, she said. Hivonnet, now retired, worked in EU postings for over 30 years, including in Geneva and Kathmandu. Prior to working for the EU, she was a senior lecturer at the University of Northumbria in England.  About the podcast: The North Korea News Podcast is a weekly podcast hosted by Jacco Zwetsloot exclusively for NK News, covering all things DPRK — from news to extended interviews with leading experts and analysts in the field, along with insight from our very own journalists. NK News subscribers can listen to this and other exclusive episodes from their preferred podcast player by accessing the private podcast feed. For more detailed instructions, please see the step-by-step guide at nknews.org/private-feed.

This year marks the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Australia and Nepal. To mark the occasion, the Australian Embassy in Nepal hosted an event in Kathmandu on Saturday, 15 November. Australia's Ambassador to Nepal Leanne Johnston and Nepal's Prime Minister Sushila Karki were among the attendees. Our Nepal correspondent Pratichya Dulal spoke with several participants, including Tribhuvan University's Assistant Professor of Journalism Lekhnath Pandey, University of Technology Sydney (UTS) alumni Anshmi Sharma, Senior Program and Research Assistant at the Institute for Integrated Development Studies (IIDS) Sneha Ghimire, UTS graduate and entrepreneur Bidhan Sharma, University of Sydney graduate and entrepreneur Arushree Sharma Khatiwada and Khem Lakai, a member of the Australian Embassy Business Advisory Group, about how they view the diplomatic relationship between the two countries. - यो वर्ष, अस्ट्रेलिया र नेपाले दौत्य सम्बन्ध कायम गरेको ६५ वर्ष पुगेको छ। यस अवसरमा नेपालस्थित अस्ट्रेलियन दूतावासले शनिवार, १५ नोभेम्बरका दिन काठमाण्डूमा एक कार्यक्रम आयोजना गरेको थियो। नेपालका लागि अस्ट्रेलियाकी राजदूत लियन जन्स्टन र नेपाली प्रधानमन्त्री सुशीला कार्की उक्त अवसरमा उपस्थित थिए। सोही कार्यक्रममा भाग लिन आएका र हाल त्रिभुवन विश्वविद्यालयमा पत्रकारिताका उपप्राध्यापक रहेका लेखनाथ पाण्डे लगायत अस्ट्रेलियाको युनिभर्सिटी अफ सिड्नी (युटीएस)मा पढेर नेपाल फर्किएकी अंश्मी शर्मा, सर्वाङ्गीण विकास अध्ययन केन्द्र (आइआइडीएस)की एक सिनियर प्रोग्राम एन्ड रिसर्च एसिस्टेन्ट स्नेहा घिमिरे, युटीएसमै पढेर हाल नेपालमा विद्युतीय सवारीसाधनको क्षेत्रका एक उद्यमी विधान शर्मा, युनिभर्सिटी अफ सिड्नीमा पढाइ पछि नेपाल फर्किएकी उद्यमी आरुशी शर्मा र अस्ट्रेलियन एम्बेसी बिज्नेस एडभाइजरी ग्रुपका सदस्य खेम लकाईसँग नेपाल संवाददाता प्रतिक्षा दुलालले दुइ देशको दौत्य सम्बन्धलाई कसरी हेर्नु हुन्छ भनी गरेको कुराकानी सुन्नुहोस्।

What does it take to turn decades of clinical experience into a movement that reshapes therapy around the world? Dr. Julie Schwartz Gottman joins Michael Fulwiler to share her personal and professional journey behind co-founding The Gottman Institute and co-developing the Gottman Method.Julie recounts the pivotal decisions that led her from private practice to co-creating a global clinical training business with her husband, Dr. John Gottman. She also opens up about growing up in a family shaped by generational trauma, navigating early challenges in the mental health field, and why she's always gravitated toward serving clients in deep pain.Tune in to learn how Julie balanced a mission-driven mindset with the realities of running a business, and why therapists should protect their values even as their practices grow.In the conversation, they discuss:Building a sustainable private practice rooted in serviceHow the Gottman Method evolved from research to widely taught clinical frameworkWhat every therapist needs to remember when navigating visibility and legacyConnect with the guest:The Gottman Institute on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gottmaninstitute/ The Gottman Institute on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-gottman-institute/ Visit The Gottman Institute website: https://www.gottman.com/ Connect with Michael and Heard:Michael's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelfulwiler/ Newsletter: https://www.joinheard.com/newsletter Book a free consult: joinheard.com/consult Jump into the conversation:(00:00) Welcome to Heard Business School(00:25) Meet Dr. Julie Schwartz Gottman(01:26) How generational trauma shaped Julie's early life(03:51) Childhood suicide attempt that changed her path(05:05) Visiting concentration camps and reclaiming Jewish identity(06:52) Creating a crisis hotline during the Vietnam War(13:09) Polio, pain, and finding empathy through suffering(15:21) Living in India and feeding street children(17:21) Journey from Kathmandu to grad school in 36 hours(22:15) Meeting John Gottman and instant recognition(28:41) Launching the Gottman Institute from a dining table(31:09) Developing the Gottman Method(35:53) Working 40 clinical hours while building a business(42:51) Upholding standards for the Gottman Referral Network(47:16) Facing constant sexism while building a global brand(52:39) Rapid-fire questions on legacy, joy, and hopeThis episode is to be used for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, business, or tax advice. Each person should consult their own attorney, business advisor, or tax advisor with respect to matters referenced in this episode.

Listen to the latest weekly update from Nepal, including 8,37,094 new voters added for the election of the House of Representatives scheduled to be held in March, three options presented to the Nepal Government to enable Nepalis living overseas to vote, and the historic wooden arch, stolen 26 years ago from the Kumari Ghar in Kathmandu, returns home. - आगामी मार्चमा हुने भनिएको प्रतिनिधिसभाको चुनावको लागि ८ लाख ३७ हजार ९४ नयाँ मतदाता थपिएको निर्वाचन आयोगको भनाई, विदेशमा रहेका नेपालीलाई मतदान गराउन नेपाल सरकार समक्ष तीन विकल्प सहितको सुझाव प्रस्तुत, र २६ वर्ष अगि चोरी भएको तोरण काठमानण्डूस्थित कुमारी घर फिर्ता लगायत गत सात दिनका नेपालका प्रमुख समाचारहरू सुन्नुहोस्।

Born in a remote village in Kavre, Nepal, Dorje Lama Sir grew up amid simplicity and hardship. At just eleven years old, he left his home and made the brave journey to Kathmandu in search of work and a better future. With no formal education and little guidance, Dorje took on every opportunity he could find, each experience shaping his resilience, adaptability, and unwavering determination.His journey eventually led him to Pokhara, where his entrepreneurial spirit truly took root. Today, Dorje Lama Sir is the proud owner of two thriving ventures — Moondance Restaurant & Bar and Dorje's Resort & Spa — both renowned for their warmth, quality, and authenticity.Dorje's story is one of courage, grit, and vision — a remarkable example of how perseverance and purpose can turn even the most modest beginnings into extraordinary success.Tune in now to hear Dorje Lama Sir's inspiring journey and the leadership lessons behind his remarkable rise. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen to the latest weekly update from Nepal, including an event in Kathmandu to mark 65 years of Nepal-Australia relations, claims of record-breaking tourists entering Nepal in October, Nepal being awarded for reducing carbon emissions, and the second season of Nepal Premier League (NPL) to begin from Monday, 17 November. - अस्ट्रेलियासँग नेपालको दौत्य सम्बन्ध विस्तार भएको ६५ वर्ष भएको अवसरमा काठमाण्डूमा एक कार्यक्रम आयोजना, अक्टोबर महिनामा हालसम्मै सबैभन्दा धेरै पर्यटक नेपाल आएको एक मन्त्रीको भनाई, कार्बन उत्सर्जन घटाए बापत नेपाल पुरस्कृत र नेपाल प्रिमियर लीग क्रिकेट प्रतियोगिताको दोस्रो सिजनको तयारी पुरा लगायत गत सात दिनका नेपालका प्रमुख समाचारहरू सुन्नुहोस्।

Episode 67: Show Notes When longtime traveler Michael Rubiano arrived in Kathmandu, he expected another bucket-list trip built on miles, status perks, and curiosity. Instead, he found himself trapped in a city on fire. In this unforgettable Travel Stories episode, Michael retraces how a points-fueled getaway turned into a life-threatening crisis as political protests erupted across Nepal. He shares the eerie calm before the chaos, the moment hotel staff fled the kitchen, and the tension of watching fires burn from his 14th-floor room. Michael also reflects on the experiences that shaped his calm under pressure, what it was like being in a hotel under lockdown, his harrowing trip to the airport, and how he navigated the escalating danger. From the professionalism of Hyatt staff who sheltered guests, to the quiet fear of watching smoke rise from his window, his story reveals how trust, adaptability, and human kindness can carry us through the unexpected. Tune in to hear about Michael's unbelievable experience and a powerful reminder of how fragile and profound travel can be. Key Points From This Episode: [00:42] Introducing Michael Rubiano, the concept of a MegaDo (an in-person gathering of travel aficionados), and the type of trips they do together. [04:13] An overview of Flyertalk, its history, and how it was created for flyer communities. [08:01] Reaching lifetime elite status, Michael's first experiences of MegaDos, the most valuable loyalty programs, and how being on the West Coast influences his travel choices. [15:52] What drove Michael's decision to travel to Nepal, including Hyatt loyalty incentives and his four travel principles. [20:14] He explains his route via Cathay Pacific and how Nepal fit all his travel criteria. [24:29] Arriving in Kathmandu and reflections on privilege and safety abroad. [29:56] Michael's experience exploring Kathmandu, getting a feel of the city, and taking a flight over the Himalayas, before the crisis. [36:23] A timeline of the protests in Nepal: Michael recounts the start of the unrest, how the protests quickly escalated, fires erupted, and curfews began. [45:59] Michael's hotel lockdown experience, the escalating crisis, and his mindset throughout. [51:53] Preparations to evacuate and his detailed planning of what to carry and what to leave. [58:29] Rebooking his flight, his failed attempts to leave, and his tense journey to the airport. [01:10:50] The exceptional support shown by the Hyatt staff during the crisis, the relief Michael felt when he was in the air, and his surreal experience in Bangkok. [01:13:16] Reflections on the human side of travel and how crises like these reshape your perspective. [01:19:34] Learn about Michael's work as a luxury travel advisor and how to get in touch. Quotes: “[A MegaDo] is a gathering of frequent flyer aficionados talking about miles points and going behind the scenes in places that you don't normally get to see in an airplane, in an airport, in a hotel.” — Michael Rubiano [03:51] “I've been lots of places, not everywhere, but lots of places, and I'm always seeking the new and the novel.” — Michael Rubiano [18:03] “I get an email from the STEP program, saying, ‘Beware that there are protests in the southern part of the city, near Parliament, and you might want to avoid the area.' Okay, I wasn't anywhere near there. I was in the southwest part of the city. I wasn't getting involved in any protests.” — Michael Rubiano [40:58] “In the protests that were taking place on that Monday, — 19 people were killed, which set everything ablaze.” — Michael Rubiano [42:30] “A mob mentality takes on a life of its own. What started out as protests about corruption and nepotism and lack of job opportunities, lack of economic opportunity blew up, and all of a sudden you don't know which end is up.” — Michael Rubiano [48:53] “In my mind, if hotel staff are bolting out of the kitchen, I'd better get up back to my 14th-floor room. That is the first time that I said, ‘Okay, the danger is getting close to home.'” — Michael Rubiano [49:59] “When I went down to breakfast the next day at the hotel, I made sure to take my backpack, because what happens if something happens and I can't get back up to the 14th floor? So that backpack went with me everywhere.” — Michael Rubiano [58:14] “The hotel staff of the Hyatt Centric [were still] taking care of us when they had their own families and other worries to be concerned with. They were always making sure that we had food. They were still doing room service!” — Michael Rubiano [01:11:07] Links Mentioned in Today's Episode: Michael Rubiano email Michael Rubiano on Instagram Flyertalk The Flight Deal Hyatt Centric Cathay Pacific Thomas Kim on X Trevor Mountcastle on X The Milenomics Podcast Network

This week, the show has two segments. Pittsburgh Anarchist Book Fair First up, you'll hear a brief interview with M, an organizer of the first Pittsburgh anarchist book fair, happening October 24-26 across a few venues in the Steel City A list of events (still being updated): https://pizz.ation.ist/ Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1327126225660995 As is anarchist book fair tradition, everything will be free. We're renting a few spaces, and expecting a few other costs. Sharing that info here so folks can get a sense of what that looks like. If you/others are inclined and able to support, would be grateful for that. Attached is an image of the break down as of today, and below is a link we'll update live time as to what costs look like. https://pad.riseup.net/p/r.ca0a70f3bd595bb58b9daab4e6d9a576 You can buy a beautiful book fair shirt (design by the illustrious N.O. Bonzo), or simply donate. Venmo: @pghbookfair. (If you'd like a shirt, indicate size in the note - S-3XL; if yr just donating, any emoji or strange note is fine!) Feel free to message for other ways to donate. "Gen Z" Uprising In Nepal Then, an interview that I conducted with Anarcho, a member of the Black Book Distro collective out of Kathmandu, Nepal, about the protests and aftermath of the September 2025 “Gen Z” anti-corruption protests that ousted the prime minister, released prisoners and left the parliament in smoldering ruins. Because we don't follow a strict chronology of events, we're including a few articles linked in our show notes for further study. We worked heavily off the interview with members of the Black Book Distro and CrimethInc, which is among those in our show notes. https://www.anarchistcommunism.org/2025/09/13/nepal-a-grassroots-uprising/ https://organisemagazine.org.uk/2025/09/09/nepal-communications-international/ http://www.srilankaguardian.org/2009/12/anarchism-in-nepal-2006-2009.html https://www.gofundme.com/f/black-book-distro-anarchist-library-in-nepal https://kathmandupost.com/columns/2025/09/15/welcome-to-the-eros-effect-gen-z https://open.spotify.com/episode/464iPIxwdVLT3BVLoepsKj https://crimethinc.com/2025/09/22/nepali-anarchists-on-the-toppling-of-the-government-an-interview-with-black-book-distro . ... . .. Featured Track: Go Anarchist Go! by Rai Ko Ris from Ungovernable Mountains

At the beginning of September 2025, within 48 hours, Nepal's government had been toppled, and more than 70 people had been killed, with many more injured. The trigger for all of this had been a government ban on 26 social media platforms, but the primary reasons ran much deeper. Nepal became a republic in 2008, following a decade long civil war, but since then, the promised stability and prosperity have failed to materialise. The country has been subjected to short term coalition governments, resembling a game of musical chairs between certain political parties. And it was Nepal's Gen Z, who decided to make their frustrations over the lack of opportunities, the social inequality and the existing political system known, with their digitally driven anti-corruption protests. In the aftermath, the protestors gave their approval to a new interim prime minister and demanded new elections, set for March next year.Asia is increasingly witnessing a mood for change amongst its young people, from Indonesia to Sri Lanka and last year's student-led revolution in Bangladesh. But very few protests of this nature have translated into fundamental social change. And it remains to be seen if the decision by Nepal's Gen Z, to place their trust in 73-year-old Sushila Karki as the new Interim Prime Minister, reflects their own political maturity. So, on this week's Inquiry we're asking, ‘Can Gen Z shape a new Nepal?'Contributors: Prof Jeevan Sharma, Chair of South Asia and International Development, University of Edinburgh, UK Pranaya Rana, Journalist and Writer, Kalam Weekly, Kathmandu, Nepal Prof Sreeradha Datta, International Affairs, O.P. Jindal Global University, Haryana, India Dr Rumela Sen, Lecturer and Faculty Director, Master's in International Affairs programme, Columbia University, USAPresenter: Charmaine Cozier Producer: Jill Collins Researcher: Maeve Schaffer Production Co-ordinator: Tim Fernley Technical Producer: James Bradshaw Editor: Tom Bigwood(Photo: Anti government protest in Kathmandu. Credit: Sunil Pradhan/Anadolu via Getty Images)

It was a whirlwind 48 hours that began with thousands of young people taking to the streets of Nepal's capital, Kathmandu, in protest and ended with iconic government buildings smouldering and the country's prime minister cast out. The dizzying speed with which the country's younger generation toppled Nepal's ruling government, using social media sites such as TikTok and Discord to organize, is still something those who were calling for change are processing. Travel to Greece with me ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠ Travel to Thailand with me ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Check out our sister podcast the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mystery of Everything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Coffee Collab With The Lore Lodge ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠COFFEE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bonus episodes as well as ad-free episodes on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Find us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Join us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Submit your relatives on our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

⁠Watch this week's Look At This Photograph on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Zach, Amin and Mayes are Kathmandu drifting down an icy 40% grade during a quest to scatter Gurty's ashes on Mount Everest. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CINEPHOBE MERCH STORE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Check it out here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the Count The Dings Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for Rewatchingtons, Ad-Free Episodes, Extended Cold Opens and more at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ www.patreon.com/CountTheDings⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Cinephobe is on Youtube!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe and check out CT5s and Look At This Photograph on video. Subscribe to Cinephobe! Then Rate 5 Stars on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Apple⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Follow Cinephobe on Twitter, Instagram & Threads: CTD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @countthedings⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ IG:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @cinephobepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Threads:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @cinephobepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Zach Harper⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @talkhoops⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ IG:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @talkhoops⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Threads:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @talkhoops⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Amin Elhassan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @darthamin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ IG:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @darthamin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Threads:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @darthamin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Anthony Mayes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @cornpuzzle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ IG:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @cornpuzzle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Threads:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @cornpuzzle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email: cinephobepodcast@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Set the context for a joyful, exuberant day with a short, powerful message from Sadhguru. Explore a range of subjects with Sadhguru, discover how every aspect of life can be a stepping stone, and learn to make the most of the potential that a human being embodies.  Conscious Planet: ⁠https://www.consciousplanet.org⁠ Sadhguru App (Download): ⁠https://onelink.to/sadhguru__app⁠ Official Sadhguru Website: ⁠https://isha.sadhguru.org⁠ Sadhguru Exclusive: ⁠https://isha.sadhguru.org/in/en/sadhguru-exclusive⁠ Inner Engineering Link: isha.co/ieo-podcast Yogi, mystic and visionary, Sadhguru is a spiritual master with a difference. An arresting blend of profundity and pragmatism, his life and work serves as a reminder that yoga is a contemporary science, vitally relevant to our times. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we talk about corruption, influencers, and pro-monarchy protests.We also discuss Nepalese modern history, Gen Z, and kings.Recommended Book: Superagency by Reid Hoffman and Greg BeatoTranscriptThe Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, usually referred to as just Nepal, is a country located in the Himalayas that's bordered to the northeast by China, and is otherwise surrounded by India, including in the east, where there's a narrow sliver of India separating Nepal from Bhutan and Bangladesh.So Nepal is mostly mountainous, it's landlocked, and it's right in between two burgeoning regional powers who are also increasingly, in many ways, global powers. Its capital is Kathmandu, and there are a little over 31 million people in the country, as of 2024—more than 80% of them Hindu, and the country's landmass spans about 57,000 square miles or 147.5 square kilometers, which is little smaller than the US state of Illinois, and almost exactly the same size as Bangladesh.Modern Nepal came about beginning in the mid-20th century, when the then-ruling Rana autocracy was overthrown in the wake of neighboring India's independence movement, and a parliamentary democracy replaced it. But there was still a king, and he didn't like sharing power with the rest of the government, so he did away with the democracy component of the government in 1960, making himself the absolute monarch and banning all political activities, which also necessitated jailing politicians.The country was modernized during this period, in the sense of building out infrastructure and such, but it was pulled backwards in many ways, as there wasn't much in the way of individual liberties for civilians, and everything was heavily censored by the king and his people. In 1990, a multiparty movement called the People's Movement forced the king, this one ascended to the throne in 1972, to adopt a constitution and allow a multiparty democracy in Nepal.One of the parties that decided to enter the local political fray, the Maoist Party, started violently trying to shift the country in another direction, replacing its parliamentary system with a people's republic, similar to what was happening in China and the Soviet Union. This sparked a civil war that led to a whole lot of deaths, including those of the King and Crown Prince. The now-dead king's brother stepped in, gave himself a bunch of new powers, and then tried to stomp the Maoist Party into submission.But there was a peaceful democratic revolution in the country in 2006, at which point the Maoists put down their arms and became a normal, nonviolent political party. Nepal then became a secular state, after being a Hindu kingdom for most of their modern history, and a few years later became a federal republic. It took a little while, and there was quite a bit of tumult in the meantime, but eventually, in 2015, the Nepalese government got a new constitution that divided the country into seven provinces and made Nepal a federal democratic republic.What I'd like to talk about today is what has happened in the past decade in Nepal, and how those happenings led to a recent, seemingly pretty successful, series of protests.—In early 2025, from March through early June, a series of protests were held across Nepal by pro-monarchy citizens and the local pro-monarchy party, initially in response to the former King's visit, but later to basically just show discontentment with the current government.These protests were at least partly politically motivated, in the sense of being planned and fanned into larger conflagrations by that pro-monarchy party—not truly grassroots sort of thing—but they grew and grew, partly on the strength of opposition to the police response to earlier protests.That same distaste carried through the year, into September of 2025, when the Nepalese government announced a ban on 26 social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, and Youtube, because the companies behind these platforms ostensibly failed to register under the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology's new rules that required, among other things, they have local liaisons that the government could meet with in person, and complain to if a given network failed to remove something they didn't like quickly enough.The general sense about that ban is that while this failure to properly register was used as justification for shutting down these networks, which are incredibly popular in the country, the real reason the government wanted to shut them down at that moment was that a trend had emerged online in which the rich and powerful in the country, and especially their children, many of whom have become online influencers, were being criticized for their immense opulence and for bragging about their families' vast wealth, while everyone else was comparably suffering.This became known as the Nepobaby or Nepo Kid trend, hashtag Nepobaby, which was a tag borrowed from Indonesia, and the general idea is that taxpayer money is being used to enriched a few powerful families at the expense of everyone else, and the kids of those powerful families were bragging about it in public spaces, not even bothering to hide their families' misdeeds and corruption.This, perhaps understandably, led to a lot more discontent, and all that simmering anger led to online outcries, the government tried to stifle these outcries by shutting down these networks in the country, but that shut down, as is often the case in such situations, led to in-person protests, which started out as peaceful demonstrations in Kathmandu and surrounding areas, but which eventually became violent when the police started firing tear gas and rubber bullets at the crowds, causing 19 deaths and hundreds of injuries.The ban was implemented on September 4 and then lifted, after the initial protests, on September 8, but the government's response seems to have made this a much bigger thing than it initially was, and maybe bigger than it would have become, sans that response.It's worth mentioning here, too, that a lot of young people in Nepal rely on social media and messaging apps like Signal, which was also banned, for their livelihood. Both for social media related work, and for various sorts of remittances. And that, combined with an existing 20% youth unemployment rate, meant that young people were very riled up and unhappy with the state of things, already, and this ban just poured fuel on that flame.On that same note, the median age in Nepal is 25, it's a relatively young country. So there are a lot of Gen Zers in Nepal, they're the generation that uses social media the most, and because they rely so heavily on these networks to stay in touch with each other and the world, the ban triggered a mass outpouring of anger, and that led to huge protests in a very short time.These protests grew in scope, eventually leading to the burning of government buildings, the military was called in to help bring order, and ultimately the Home Minister, and then the Prime Minister, on September 8 and 9, respectively, resigned. A lot of the burning of government buildings happened after those resignations; protestors eventually burned the homes of government ministers, and the residences of the prime minister and president, as well.The protestors didn't have any formal leadership, though there were attempts during the protests by local pro-monarchy parties and representatives to position the protests as pro-King—something most protestors have said is not the case, but you can see why that might have worked for them, considering those pro-monarchy protests earlier this year.That said, by September 10, the military was patrolling most major cities, and on the 11th, the president, head general, and Gen Z representatives for the protestors met to select an interim leader. They ended up using Discord, a chat app often used by gamers, to select a former Supreme Court Justice, Sushila Karki, as the interim prime minister, and the first woman to be prime minister in Nepalese history. Parliament was then dissolved, and March 5 was set as the date for the next election. Karki has said she will remain in office for no more than six months.As of September 13, all curfews had been lifted across Nepal, the prime minister was visiting injured protestors in hospitals, and relative calm had returned—though at least 72 people are said to have been killed during the protests, and more than 2,000 were injured.There are currently calls for unity across the political spectrum in Nepal, with everyone seeming to see the writing on the wall, that the youths have shown their strength, and there's a fresh need to toe the new line that's been established, lest the existing parties and power structures be completely toppled.There's a chance that this newfound unity against government overreach and censorship will hold, though it's important to note that the folks who were allegedly siphoning resources for their families were all able to escape the country, most without harm, due to assistance from police and the military, and that means they could influence things, from exile or after returning to Nepal, in the lead-up to that March election.It's also possible that the major parties will do more to favor the huge Gen Z population in Nepal from this point forward, which could result in less unemployment and freer speech—though if the King and the pro-monarchy party is able to continue insinuating themselves into these sorts of conversations, positioning themselves as an alternative to the nepotism and corruption many people in the area have reasonably come to associated with this type of democracy, there could be a resurgent effort to bring the monarchy back by those who have already seen some success in this regard, quite recently.Show Noteshttps://restofworld.org/2025/nepal-gen-z-protest/https://apnews.com/article/nepal-ban-social-media-platform-3b42bbbd07bc9b97acb4df09d42029d5https://apnews.com/article/nepal-new-prime-minister-protests-karki-0f552615029eb12574c9587d8d76ec46https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crkj0lzlr3rohttps://kathmandupost.com/visual-stories/2025/09/08/gen-z-protest-in-kathmandu-against-corruption-and-social-media-banhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Nepalese_Gen_Z_protestshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Nepalese_pro-monarchy_protestshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nepal This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit letsknowthings.substack.com/subscribe

Nepal finds new calm this weekend with the appointment of an interim prime minister, following an extraordinary week of violence. More than 70 people died after anti-corruption protests led to police clashes and government buildings being set aflame. Lisa Desjardins speaks with Alex Travelli, a South Asia business correspondent for The New York Times, about the situation in Kathmandu. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Ralph welcomes Timothy Whitehouse, executive director of Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) to speak about how federal workers across all government agencies are being unfairly denigrated and summarily fired by the Trump Administration to clear the way for corporate corruption. Plus, we are joined by Toby Heaps, Editor-in-Chief of “Corporate Knights” magazine to talk about the benefits of the cooperative business model over the corporate shareholder model.Timothy Whitehouse is executive director of Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). Prior to joining PEER, he was a senior attorney at the Environmental Protection Agency and was head of the Law and Policy Program at the North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation in Montreal.The time to stigmatize federal workers is over. It's time to start rallying for unions for federal workers and what they do, and to support the idea that government plays an important role and that government (the civil service) must be as non-political as possible. Our country will be much better for it.Timothy WhitehouseThat's a good way to describe it: supersonic. We knew things were going to be really bad, but they are much worse than bad because there's no check and no balance on this President's madness. And some of the people and institutions we had hoped would stand up a little bit are collapsing one by one.Timothy WhitehouseOur foreign enemies could not have devised a better way to grind our system to a halt, and that's what's happening.Timothy WhitehouseToby Heaps is the CEO and co-founder of Corporate Knights, and Editor-in-Chief of Corporate Knights magazine. He spearheaded the first global ranking of the world's 100 most sustainable corporations in 2005, and in 2007 coined the term “clean capitalism.” Toby has been published in the Financial Times, Wall Street Journal, and the Globe and Mail, and is a regular guest speaker on CBC.I think in the co-op movement, the biggest bugaboo holding it back (in North America, that is) is people's perception that it's not a significant force. And it is already a significant force. In many cases, we're not familiar that the company might be a co-op (such as Associated Press or Ocean Spray) but in the United States alone, the turnover of co-op enterprises sales in 2023 was $324 billion US. And so, it's a significant part of the economy already.Toby HeapsI can't underline enough that if you care about a sustainable economy that works for people and planet, that the operating model is not just the clean economy (the environmentally friendly economy), it's the cooperatively-run economy.Toby HeapsThe principal obstacle to co-ops is the inadequate engagement of consumers to know about the huge benefits— to control the local economy from multinational corporations (absentee), who are pulling strings in ways that are very damaging, and basically to assume the purchasing power of the consumer.Ralph NaderNews 9/12/2025* Several major stories surrounding the Jeffrey Epstein case have emerged in the past week. First, Democrats on the House Oversight Committee have released a note written by President Trump to Epstein included in the latter's “birthday book” from 2003. In this note, Trump refers to Epstein as his “pal” and writes “May every day be another wonderful secret," according to Reuters. Trump has denied that this letter even existed, going so far as to sue the Wall Street Journal for defamation over their reporting in July. Trump continues to deny that he wrote the letter, though his signature is a perfect match, and he has sought to tamp down the matter, calling it a “dead issue,” per NBC.* In Congress, Republican allies of Donald Trump are seeking to quash the Epstein issue as well. On Tuesday, Republicans on the House Rules Committee “shot down a bid to put the Epstein Files Transparency Act—which would compel the Justice Department to release all unclassified records related to Jeffrey Epstein—to a floor vote,” in an 8–4 party-line vote, the New Republic reports. However, despite this setback, dissident Republican Thomas Massie continues to press the issue. Speaking about the birthday note, Massie said “It's…indicative of the things that might come out if we were to release all of the files…embarrassing, but not indictable. And I don't think avoiding embarrassment is a reason to avoid justice,” per CNN. Massie added in an interview on ABC that "I think it's going to be embarrassing to some of the billionaires, some of the donors who are politically connected to [Trump's] campaign. There are probably intelligence ties to our CIA and maybe to other foreign intelligence." Democrat Ro Khanna insisted in this same interview that he and his allies, including Massie, will be able to pull together a House majority of 218 members to force a vote on releasing the files.* Our final Epstein story for the week concerns James O'Keefe. Former leader of Project Veritas, O'Keefe continues to carry out far-right hidden-camera sting operations. In a rare move targeting conservatives, O'Keefe engineered a date between Joseph Schnitt, a deputy chief of staff at the Office of Enforcement Operations at DOJ, and an operative in his employ wherein Schnitt admitted that the Trump administration will “redact every Republican or conservative person in those files, [and] leave all the liberal, Democratic people.” In this video, Schnitt also implies that Epstein's lieutenant, Ghislaine Maxwell was relocated to a lower security prison to “keep her mouth shut,” as part of a deal with the government. This according to the Hill. One should certainly take revelations from O'Keefe with a heavy dose of salt, but these troubling comments should also raise suspicions about the government's possible plans to manipulate information related to this case for political ends.* Aside from the Epstein affair, the Trump administration continues to issue destructive policy directives in all directions. AP reports the federal Department of Transportation has scrapped a Biden-era rule that required airlines to “compensate stranded passengers with cash, lodging and meals for flight cancellations or changes caused by a carrier.” This rule, which sought “compensation starting at $200…[and] as high as $775…for delays of nine hours or more,” was consistent with European aviation consumer protections. Unsurprisingly, airlines – represented by lobbyists in the employ of the industry trade group Airlines for America – bitterly resisted the rule and celebrated the administration's abandonment of this basic consumer protection. The Biden Transportation Department had also been weighing rules that would have required airlines to provide, “free rebooking on the next available flight, including flights on rival airlines, as well as meals and lodging when passengers are stranded overnight.”* At the same time, the Trump administration's Federal Trade Commission is abandoning its rules banning noncompete clauses for employees. An eye-popping 1 in 5 workers are bound by noncompetes, approximately 30 million Americans, and experts estimated that banning such clauses could boost wages to the tune of nearly $300 billion per year and help create 8,500 new businesses, per NPR. The FTC voted 3-1 to vacate its defense of the rule, with Chair Andrew Ferguson and Melissa Holyoak, both Republicans, issuing a joint statement. Rebecca Kelly Slaughter, the lone remaining Democrat on the commission after Trump purged the FTC earlier this year, voted no.* Turning to foreign affairs, the Guardian reports two ships in the Gaza aid flotilla have been struck by drone attacks while docked in Tunisia. The first struck the Family Boat, which carries activist Greta Thunberg, though she was not on board at the time. The second struck the Alma, a ship bearing British flags while docked in the port of Sidi Bou Said. In a video, one can see, “a luminous object hitting the boat and fire erupting on board.” Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories, is quoted saying, ‘‘Authoritative sources suggest the attack involved an incendiary grenade, wrapped in plastic materials soaked in fuel, which may have ignited before even hitting the vessel.” These attacks come amidst a renewed Israeli bombing campaign against its neighbors, including bombing the Qatari capital of Doha and the Yemeni capital Sanaa. Trump says he is “very unhappy” about the strikes; Israel's ambassador to the United States however says the world will “get over it.” This from Al Jazeera.* Meanwhile, Drop Site is out with yet another bombshell report, this time on Israel's propaganda push to cover up the scale of the hunger crisis in Gaza. According to this report, the Netanyahu government signed a previously unreported $45 million deal with Google to push false propaganda through the massive platform. One video, viewed more than 6 million times, asserts “There is food in Gaza. Any other claim is a lie.” Israel also reportedly paid $3 million for an ad campaign on X, formerly Twitter, and another $2 million on a French platform called Outbrain. This report also cites other examples of Israeli propaganda campaigns in recent years, including against UNRWA and regarding the illegal strikes in Iran.* In more positive news, the pro-Palestine campaign in Hollywood continues to grow. This week, Variety reports a group of over 3,900 filmmakers, actors and other industry professionals signed a new pledge to boycott working with “Israeli film institutions and companies that are ‘implicated in genocide and apartheid against the Palestinian people.'” This group includes many household names, such as Mark Ruffalo, Joaquin Phoenix, Jonathan Glazer, Tilda Swinton, Javier Bardem, Emma Stone, Boots Riley, Ayo Edebiri, and many, many more. The list continues to grow as this pledge circulates. According to the Hollywood Reporter, this campaign is led by Film Workers for Palestine, which explicitly modeled their strategy after Filmmakers United Against Apartheid. That group, founded by eminent filmmakers like Martin Scorsese, demanded that the film industry refuse distribution in apartheid South Africa.* Beyond Israel/Palestine, events are rocking Nepal, the small Himalayan nation that lies between India and China. The BBC reports “Fierce protests against corruption and nepotism spiralled into arson and violence on Tuesday. The prime minister resigned as politicians' homes were vandalised, government buildings torched and parliament set ablaze. Twenty-nine people have died since Monday.” The "Gen Z" youth groups leading the protests have distanced themselves from these acts of destruction, claiming their movement was "hijacked" by "opportunists". Nepal's military has been deployed in the capital of Kathmandu in an attempt to restore order and enforce a curfew. The government of Nepal, led by now-ousted Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli, sought to cultivate a closer relationship with China to offset Nepal's historical dependence on India. For the time being, China seems to be taking a wait and see approach to the situation in Nepal, with foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian calling for all parties to “properly handle domestic issues and restore social order and national stability as soon as possible,” per the South China Morning Post.* Finally, Democracy Now! reports that in an apparent fit of retaliation, the Trump administration is now threatening to redeport Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the American green card holder recently returned from his wrongful deportation to El Salvador's CECOT mega-prison. This time, instead of sending him to El Salvador, the government plans to send Garcia to the tiny African kingdom of Eswatini, formerly Swaziland. Garcia had previously expressed fear of being deported to Uganda. This move would surely be punitive, capricious and just plain bizarre, but that is hardly a deviation from the course of the Trump administration. We express solidarity with Garcia, who stands practically alone against the juggernaut of the United States' deportation apparatus.This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe

Subscribe now to skip the ads and get more content! While Danny remains in talks with Russia, Alex Jordan again helps Derek bring you the headlines. This week: Israel targets Hamas negotiators in a Doha strike (3:30), effectively ending ceasefire talks (8:43); the IDF orders the evacuation of Gaza City (13:11) while reports emerge that the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation hired an anti-Islam biker gang for “security” (15:42); in Russia-Ukraine, Russian drones entered Polish airspace, prompting an Article 4 NATO meeting (18:36); Iran and the IAEA announce a tentative deal to resume inspections (22:41); Nepal sees mass protests over a social media ban, leading to the resignation and disappearance of its prime minister and the army being deployed in Kathmandu (25:42); Donald Trump suggests he will repair ties with India amid tariff disputes and fallout over a Russian oil deal (30:15); Japan's prime minister Ishiba resigns after electoral losses (33:23); ICE raids a Hyunda-LG plant in Georgia, detaining hundreds of South Korean workers (36:41); In Mali, JNIM militants blockade fuel routes to Bamako (42:22); France ousts yet another prime minister over austerity, with Macron appointing Sébastien Lecornu and facing mass protests (44:38); Brazil awaits a Supreme Court verdict on former president Jair Bolsonaro's coup case, and Trump threatens retaliation if he's convicted (49:26); and in these United States, the Department of Defense changes its name to the Deaprtment of War (53:34), a New York Times report reveals covert attacks on fishermen in a failed North Korea operation in 2019 (56:16), and new details emerge about last week's strike on a Venezuelan boat (62:12).  Don't forget to purchase our Welcome to the Crusades: The First Crusade miniseries!Catch Alex and Courtney Rawlings on the Quincy Institute's Always at War podcast! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices