Podcasts about Morocco

Season 36, Episode 13 of our Serial Killers in History series. This episode examines one of North Africa's most notorious crimes and the execution that shocked the world.In the spring of 1906, authorities in Marrakesh make a discovery that will reverberate across continents. Beneath the packed-earth floor of a modest shoemaker's workshop, they uncover the remains of twenty-six women. Ten more bodies lie buried in a garden nearby. Thirty-six victims in total—women who came to a trusted craftsman for help and never walked out alive. What follows is a story of community betrayal, colonial politics, and a punishment so brutal that diplomats from New York to London demanded intervention. But the screaming from inside the marketplace walls continued for two days before...VICTIM PROFILE:The thirty-six women murdered by Hadj Mohammed Mesfewi remain largely unnamed in historical records—a final cruelty in a case dominated by its killer's infamy. They were working-class women from Marrakesh's medina, women who needed help with everyday tasks in a society where female literacy was rare. Some came to dictate letters to relatives in distant cities. Others needed shoes repaired. They were mothers, daughters, sisters who trusted a man their community trusted. They walked into his shop for legitimate business and vanished into the earth beneath his floor, their identities lost to time while their murderer's name lives in infamy.THE CRIME:Between 1902 and 1906, Mesfewi operated his shop near one of Marrakesh's public bathhouses, positioning himself perfectly to encounter women conducting business without male accompaniment. His method was consistent across all victims: he offered tea laced with narcotics, likely opium, rendering women unconscious. Once incapacitated, he killed them with a dagger and buried them beneath his workshop floor or in a garden he owned, using quicklime to accelerate decomposition. His seventy-year-old accomplice, a woman named Annah, assisted in the crimes until her capture in April 1906.KEY CASE DETAILS:The murders unraveled when families noticed a pattern—women who mentioned visiting Mesfewi's shop were never seen again. One young woman named Fatima escaped after growing dizzy from drugged tea, providing the first direct testimony against the shoemaker. When Annah was captured by a victim's family and forced to confess, she revealed the burial sites before dying from her injuries. Authorities excavating Mesfewi's workshop found twenty-six bodies, methodically buried with layers of quicklime. A second property yielded ten more victims. Forensic science in 1906 Morocco was rudimentary—no fingerprinting, no crime scene photography—so investigators relied on shovels, sketches, and eyewitness accounts to document the horror.HISTORICAL CONTEXT AND SOURCES:Mesfewi's crimes occurred during Morocco's final years of independence before European colonization. As his victims were being discovered in April 1906, diplomats gathered in Algeciras, Spain, carving up Morocco's future at an international conference. Within six years, the Treaty of Fez would establish the French Protectorate, ending twelve centuries of Moroccan sovereignty. European powers seized on Mesfewi's execution—he was sealed alive inside a wall in the Marrakesh marketplace—as evidence of "barbaric" Moroccan justice requiring European oversight. Contemporary newspapers from The Times and Democrat to the St. John Sun published detailed accounts and illustrations, framing the case within colonial narratives that justified intervention.RESOURCES AND FURTHER READING:For those who want to explore further:Wikipedia article on Hadj Mohammed Mesfewi provides comprehensive case details and contemporary source citations: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hadj_Mohammed_MesfewiMurderpedia entry includes execution details and victim count documentation: https://murderpedia.org/male.M/m/mesfewi-hadj-mohammed.htmYabiladi article examines the case from a Moroccan historical perspective: https://en.yabiladi.com/articles/details/94637/hadj-mohammed-mesfewi-morocco-serial.htmlFollow us on social media and visit mythsandmalice.com for more historical true crime.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/foul-play-crime-series/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

My guest on this episode of The Back of the Range is Adam Bresnu, one of the stars of the Texas Tech Men's Golf Team. Adam highlights the Royal Morocco Golf Federation’s comprehensive support system — including mental and physical coaching, financial backing, and access to top facilities — which enables Moroccan golfers to pursue international success.  Adam Bresnu - Texas Tech Men's Golf TeamThe Back of the Range - All Access Subscribe to The Back of the Range Subscribe in Apple Podcasts and SPOTIFY!Also Subscribe in YouTube,   Google Play , Overcast, Stitcher  Follow on Social Media! Email us:   ben@thebackoftherange.comWebsite: www.thebackoftherange.com  Voice Work by Mitch Phillips

Are we in a 'plastic moment,' an inflection point where the future of the Middle East can finally be reshaped? Veteran peace negotiator Dr. Tal Becker joins the podcast to analyze the shifting tides of regional diplomacy. Reflecting on his recent discussions in Abu Dhabi, Becker describes the Abraham Accords as an emerging "Judeo-Muslim civilization" where the focus isn't on "who the land belongs to," but the realization that "we all belong to the land."  Beyond geopolitics, Becker addresses the trauma of rising Western antisemitism—which he likens to a "zombie apocalypse"—and calls for a resurgence of liberal nationalism. This episode is a masterclass in navigating a zero-sum world to build a future of prosperity, courage, and shared belonging. Key Resources: The Abraham Accords, Explained AJC CEO Ted Deutch Op-Ed: 5 Years On, the Abraham Accords Are the Middle East's Best Hope AJC's Center for a New Middle East Listen – AJC Podcasts: Architects of Peace The Forgotten Exodus People of the Pod Follow People of the Pod on your favorite podcast app, and learn more at AJC.org/PeopleofthePod You can reach us at: peopleofthepod@ajc.org If you've appreciated this episode, please be sure to tell your friends, and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Transcript of the Interview: Manya Brachear Pashman:   As the international community looks to phase two of the cease fire between Israel and the Hamas terror group in Gaza, the American Jewish Committee office in Abu Dhabi invited Dr Tal Becker to participate in discussions about what's next for the region. Dr Becker is one of Israel's leading experts on international humanitarian law and a veteran peace negotiator with Palestinians, Lebanese and Syrians. He is currently vice president of the Shalom Hartman Institute, and he joins us now right after the conference in Abu Dhabi to share some of the insights he contributed there.  Tal, welcome to People of the Pod. Tal Becker:   Thank you very much, Manya. Manya Brachear Pashman:   So Tal, you have just returned from a conference in Abu Dhabi where you really took a deep dive, kind of exploring the nature of Arab-Israeli relations, as we are now entering the second phase of the ceasefire between Israel and Gaza.  So I'm just curious, you've been steeped in this for so long, for decades, do you sense, or did you sense a significant shift in the region when it comes to Arab-Israeli relations and the future? Tal Becker:   So I think Manya, we're at a very kind of interesting moment, and it's hard to say exactly which direction it's going, because, on the one hand, we have had very significant military successes. I think a lot of the spoilers in the region have been significantly set back, though they're still there, but Israel really has had to focus on the military side of things a lot. And it, I think, has strained to some extent, the view of what's possible because we're being so focused on the military side.  And I think it is a moment for imagining what's possible. And how do we pivot out of the tragedy and suffering of this war, make the most of the military successes we've had, and really begin to imagine what this region could look like if we're going to continue to succeed in pushing back the spoilers in this way.  Israel is a regional power, and I think it for all our vulnerability that requires, to some extent, for Israel to really articulate a vision that it has for the region. And it's going to take a little bit of time, I think, for everybody to really internalize what's just happened over these last two years and what it means for the potential for good and how we navigate that. So I really think it's kind of like what they call a plastic moment right now. Manya Brachear Pashman:   A plastic moment, can you define that, what do you mean by plastic? Tal Becker:   So what I mean by a plastic moment, meaning it's that moment. It's an inflection point right where, where things could go in one direction or another, and you have to be smart enough to take advantage of the fluidity of the moment, to really emphasize how do we maximize prosperity, stability, coexistence? How do we take away not just the capabilities of the enemies of peace, but also the appeal of their agenda, the language that they use, the way they try to present Muslim Jewish relations, as if they're a kind of zero sum game. So how do we operate both on the economic side, on the security side, but also on the imagining what's possible side, on the peace side. As difficult as that is, and I don't want to suggest that, you know, there aren't serious obstacles, there are, but there's also really serious opportunities. Manya Brachear Pashman:   So what did you sense when you were there, in terms of the perception of Israel? I mean, were people optimistic, for lack of a better term? Tal Becker:   So first of all, it was, you know, a great opportunity to be there. And having been involved, personally, very intensively in the Abraham Accords, I always feel a bit emotional whenever I'm in the Emirates in particular, and Morocco and Bahrain and so on. And to be honest, I kind of feel at home there. And so that's a lovely thing.  I think, on the one hand, I would say there's a there's a relief that hopefully, please God, the war in Gaza is is behind us, that we're now looking at how to really kind of move into the phase of the disarmament of Hamas and the removal of Hamas from governance, you know, working with the Trump team and the Trump plan. And I think they have a bunch of questions. The Emiratis in particular, are strategic thinkers. They really want to be partners in advancing prosperity and stability across the region in pushing back extremism across the region, and I think they're eager to see in Israel a partner for that effort. And I think it puts also a responsibility on both of us to understand the concerns we each have. I mean, it takes some time to really internalize what it is for a country to face a seven-front war with organizations that call for its annihilation, and all the pressure and anxiety that that produces for a people, frankly, that hasn't had the easiest history in terms of the agenda of people hating the Jewish people and persecuting them. So I think that takes a bit of appreciation.  I think we also, in the return, need to appreciate the concerns of our regional partners in terms of making sure that the region is stable, in terms of giving an opportunity for, you know, one way I sometimes word it is that, we need to prepare for the worst case scenario. We need to prevent it from being a self fulfilling prophecy.  Which really requires you to kind of develop a policy that nevertheless gives an opportunity for things to get better, not just plan for things to get worse. And I think our partners in the Gulf in particular really want to hear from us, what we can do to make things better, even while we're planning and maybe even a bit cynical that things might be very difficult. Manya Brachear Pashman:   So you mentioned the Abraham Accords, and I'm curious if you feel that Israel, I know Israel has felt isolated, at times, very isolated, and perhaps abandoned, is even the correct word.  Do you feel that is the case as we enter the second phase of the ceasefire? Do you feel that is less so the case, and do you feel that that might be less so the case because of the Abraham Accords existence? Tal Becker:   Well, so let's first talk about the Abraham Accords and their significance.So I think a lot of people present the Abraham accords as kind of an agreement that is about shared interests and shared challenges and so on, and that's definitely true. But they are, in my view, at least aspirationally, something much bigger than that. First of all, they are almost the articulation of what I call a Judeo Muslim civilization, the view that Jews and Muslims, or that all different peoples of the Middle East belong to this place and have a responsibility for shaping its future. The way I describe the Abraham Accords is that they're a group of countries who basically have said that the argument about who the land belongs to is not as important as the understanding that we all belong to the land. And as a result of that, this is kind of a partnership against the forces of extremism and chaos, and really offering a version of Israeli Jewish identity and of Muslim Arab identity that is in competition with the Iranian-Hezbollah-Hamas narrative that kind of condemns us to this zero sum conflict.  So the first thing to say is that I think the Abraham Accords have such tremendous potential for reimagining the relationship between Muslims and Jews, for reimagining the future of the region, and for really making sure that the enemies of peace no longer shape our agenda, even if they're still there. So in that sense, the opening that the Abraham Accords offers is an opening to kind of reimagine the region as a whole. And I think that's really important. And I think we have now an opportunity to deepen the Accords, potentially to expand them to other countries, and in doing so, to kind of set back the forces of extremism in the region. In a strange way, I would say Manya that Israel is more challenged right now in the west than we are in the Middle East. Because in the West, you see, I mean, there's backlash, and it's a complicated picture, but you can see a kind of increasing voices that challenge Israel's legitimacy, that are really questioning our story. And you see that both on the extreme left and extreme right in different countries across the West, in different degrees. In the Middle East, paradoxically, you have at least a partnership around accepting one another within the region that seems to me to be very promising.  And in part, I have to say it's really important to understand, for all the tragedy and difficulty of this war, Israel demonstrated an unbelievable resilience, unbelievable strength in dealing with its its adversaries, an unbelievable capacity, despite this seven front challenge, and I think that itself, in a region that's a very difficult region, is attractive. I think we do have a responsibility and an interest in imagining how we can begin to heal, if that's a word we can use the Israeli Palestinian relationship, at least move in a better direction. Use the Trump plan to do that, because that, I think, will also help our relationship in the region as a whole, without making one dependent on the other. Manya Brachear Pashman:   So I want to follow up with what you just said, that Israel faces perhaps many more challenges in the west than in the region. What about the Jewish people, would you apply that same statement to the Jewish people? Tal Becker:   Well, I think, you know, we've seen, we've seen the rise of antisemitism. And in my view, one way to think about October 7 is that October 7 marks the end of the post-Holocaust era. So there were a few decades there where, even if antisemitism existed, there were many circles in which it was socially unacceptable to give it voice. And something has shattered in the West in particular that it seems to be more socially acceptable to express antisemitism or antisemitic-adjacent type views, and that, I think has has really shocked and shaken many Jews across the western world.  I guess the thing I would say about that is, you know, some of the Jews I come across in the West were under, in my view, a bit of an illusion, that antisemitism had somehow been cured. You feel this sometimes in North America, and that essentially, we had reached a stage in Jewish history where antisemitism was broadly a thing of the past and was on the margins, and then the ferocity with which it came back on October 8 was like a trauma. And one of the definitions of trauma is that trauma is a severe challenge to the way you understand the world and your place in it.  And so if you had this understanding of your reality that antisemitism was essentially a thing of the past in North America in particular. And then all of a sudden it came back. You can see that traumatic experience. And what I want to argue or suggest is that the problem isn't that we had the solution and lost it. I think the problem was we had an illusion that there was a solution in the first place. Unfortunately, I think the Jewish people's history tells the story that antisemitism is kind of like the zombie apocalypse. It never exactly disappears. You can sometimes marginalize it more or marginalize it less. And we're now entering an era which I think Jews are familiar with, which is an era that it is becoming more socially acceptable to be antisemitic. And that to some extent, Jewish communal life feels more conditional and Jewish identity, and while being accepted in the societies in which you live also feels more conditional.  And while that is a familiar pattern, we are probably the generation of Jews with more resources, more influence, more power, more capacity than probably at any other time in Jewish history. And so it would be a mistake, I think, to think of us as kind of going back to some previous era. Yes, there are these challenges, but there are also a whole set of tools. We didn't have the F35 during the Spanish Inquisition.  So I think that despite all these challenges, it's also a great moment of opportunity for really building Jewish communities that are resilient, that have strong Jewish identity, that are that have a depth of Jewish literacy, and trying to inoculate as much as possible the societies in which we live and the communities in which we live from that phenomenon of antisemitism perhaps better than we had had done in previous iterations of this.  Manya Brachear Pashman:   I also want to go back and explore another term that you've used a couple of times, and that is enemies of peace. And I'm curious how you define the enemies of peace. Who are you talking about? And I'm asking you to kind of take a step back and really broaden that definition as much as possible. Tal Becker:   I mean, it goes back to that idea that I mentioned about the Abraham Accords, which is an understanding that there are different peoples in the Middle East that call it home, and each of those peoples deserves a place where they can nurture their identity and cultivate it and have their legitimacy respected, and in that sense, those who are engaged in a kind of zero sum competition, that feel that their exist, existence depends on the obliteration of the other. I see those as enemies of peace.  Now, I believe that both Jews and Palestinians, for example, have a right to self determination. I think that both belong in the sense that both deserve the capacity to cultivate their own identity. But the right to self determination, for example, the Palestinian right to self determination doesn't include the right to deny the Jewish right to self determination. It doesn't include the right to erase Jewish history.  In the same way that we as Jews need to come to terms with the fact that the Palestinian people feel a real connection to this place. Now, it's very difficult, given how radicalized Palestinian society is, and we have to be very realistic about the threats we face, because for as long as the dominant narrative in Palestinian society is a rejection of Jewish belongingness and self determination, we have a very difficult challenge ahead of us. But I essentially, broadly speaking, would say, the enemies of peace are those who want to lock us into a zero sum contest. Where essentially, they view the welfare of the other as a threat to themselves. Y You know, we have no conflict with Lebanon. We have no conflict with the people of Iran, for example. We have a conflict, in fact, a zero sum conflict with an Iranian regime that wants to annihilate Israel. And I often point to this kind of discrepancy that Iran would like to destroy Israel, and Israel has the audacity to want not to be destroyed by Iran. That is not an equivalent moral playing field. And so I view the Iranian regime with that kind of agenda, as an enemy of peace. And I think Israel has an obligation to also articulate what its aspirations are in those regards, even if it's a long time horizon to realize those aspirations, because the enemies are out there, and they do need to be confronted effectively and pretty relentlessly. Manya Brachear Pashman:   For our series on the Abraham Accords, Architects of Peace, I spoke with Dr Ali Al Nuami, and we talked about the need for the narrative to change, and the narrative on both sides right, the narrative change about kind of what you refer to as a zero sum game, and for the narrative, especially out of Israel, about the Palestinians to change. And I'm curious if you've given that any thought about changing, or just Israel's ability or obligation to send a message about the need for the Palestinians indeed to achieve self determination and thrive. Tal Becker:   Well, I think first, it's important to articulate how difficult that is, simply because, I mean, Israel has faced now two years of war, and the sense that I think many Israelis felt was that Palestinian society at large was not opposed to what happened on October 7, and the dominant narratives in Palestinian society, whether viewing Israel as some kind of a front to Islam, or viewing Israel as a kind of colonial enterprise to then be like in the business of suggesting a positive vision in the face of that is very difficult, and we do tend Manya, in these situations, when we say the narrative has to change, we then say, on the other side, they have to change the narrative, rather than directing that to ourselves. So I think, you know, there is an obligation for everyone to think about how best to articulate their vision.  It's a huge, I think, obligation on the Palestinian leadership, and it's a very one they've proved incapable of doing until now, which is genuinely come to terms with the Jewish people's belongingness to this part of the world and to their right to self determination. It's a core aspect of the difficulty in addressing this conflict. And having said all that, I think we as Israeli Jews also have an obligation to offer that positive vision. In my mind, there is nothing wrong with articulating an aspiration you're not sure you can realize, or you don't even know how to realize. But simply to signal that is the direction that I'm going in, you know?  I mean Prime Minister Netanyahu, for example, talks about that he wants the Palestinian people to have all the power to govern themselves and none of the power to threaten Israel. Which is a way of saying that the Palestinian people should have that capacity of self determination that gives them the potential for peace, prosperity, dignity, and security, But not if the purpose of that is to essentially be more focused on destroying Israel than it is on building up Palestinian identity. Now that I think, can be articulated in positive terms, without denying Israel's connection to the land, without denying the Jewish people's story, but recognizing the other. And yes, I think despite all the difficulties, victory in war is also about what you want to build, not just what you want to destroy. And in that sense, our ability to kind of frame what we're doing in positive terms, in other words, not just how we want to take away the capacities of the extremists, but what we want to build, if we had partners for that, actually helps create that momentum. So I would just say to Dr Ali's point that, I think that's a shared burden on all of us, and the more people that can use that language, it can actually, I think, help to create the spaces where things that feel not possible begin to maybe become possible. Manya Brachear Pashman:   Which in many ways Trump's 20 point plan does that. It doesn't just only talk about disarming Hamas. It talks about rebuilding Gaza. Are there other ways in which Israel can assure the success of the Palestinian people and push forwards. Can you envision other ways? Tal Becker:   Well, I mean, I'm sure there's lots that people can do, but there is a burden on the Palestinian people themselves, and I do find that a lot of this discourse kind of takes agency away from the Palestinian people and their leadership. In a way, there's a kind of honesty to the Trump plan and the Security Council resolution that was adopted endorsing the plan that has been missing for quite a while. The Trump plan, interestingly, says three things.  It says, on this issue of a kind of vision or pathway. It says, first of all, it basically says there is no Palestinian state today, which must have come as a bit of a shock for those countries recognizing a Palestinian state. But I think that is a common understanding. It's a little bit of an illusion to imagine that state.  The second thing is how critical it is for there to be PA reform, genuine reform so that there is a responsible function in Palestinian governing authority that can actually be focused on the welfare of its people and govern well.  And the third is that then creates a potential pathway for increasing Palestinian self-determination and moving potentially towards Palestinian statehood, I think, provided that that entity is not going to be used as a kind of terror state or a failed state. But that, I think, is a kind of honest way of framing the issue. But we don't get around Manya the need for responsibility, for agency. So yes, Israel has responsibility. Yes, the countries of the region have responsibilities.  But ultimately, the core constituency that needs to demonstrate that it is shifting its mindset and more focused on building itself up, rather than telling a story about how it is seeking to deny Jewish self determination, is the Palestinian leadership. And I do think that what's happening in Gaza at least gives the potential for that.  You have the potential for an alternative Palestinian governance to emerge. You have the potential for Hamas to be set back in a way that it no longer has a governing role or a shape in shaping the agenda. And I think if we can make Gaza gradually a success story, you know, this is a bit too optimistic for an Israeli to say, but maybe, maybe we can begin to create a momentum that can redefine the Israeli Palestinian relationship. Manya Brachear Pashman:   So I asked what can Israel do to move forward to assure the Palestinians that they are behind their success and thriving? What can Israel do to make sure that it's respected, that is not facing the challenges from the West, from that region. What can Israel do? What is Israel's obligation, or is that an unfair question, to ensure its success and its moving forward? Tal Becker:   I think it's a really difficult question, because the criticism that Israel has gotten throughout this war and the threats to its legitimacy in the way that they've erupted, I think, is a really complicated phenomena that has many moving parts. So some part of it, I think, rightly, is about Israeli policy and Israeli language and the way it has framed what it has been doing, and really the unbelievable moral dilemmas that the war in Gaza posed, and how Israel conducted itself in the way of those dilemmas. And people can have different views about that.  I think there's a misunderstanding, very significantly, of the nature of the battlefield and how impossible Hamas in its deliberate kind of weaponization of the civilian population, made that. So there's one component that has to do with Israel. There's another component that we can't ignore, that has to do with antisemitism. And that, I think, for that group right who almost define themselves through their hostility towards the Jewish people and towards the very idea of Jewish self determination, it's hard to think anything that Israel says or does that actually matters, right? These were the people who were criticizing Israel even before it responded.  And so in that sense, I think putting too much on Israel is a problem. Maybe I'll just focus on the area that I think is most interesting here, and that is, in my view, a lot of the argument about Israel in the West, we'll take the US, for example, is actually not an argument about Israel, but more an argument about the US that is channeled through Israel. In other words, a lot of people seem to be having their argument about America's story of itself channeled through their argument about Israel. And what they're actually arguing about is their vision of America.  And you can see different versions of this. There's a story of America as perhaps a kind of white Christian country that was exploited by immigrants and is exploited by other countries in the world, and that narrative kind of tends pushes you in a direction of having a certain view, in my view, mistaken, in any event, about Israel. That is more to do about your story of America than it has anything to do with what Israel is doing or saying. And then you hear this very loudly, and I'm not suggesting these are exactly even.  But on the more radical kind of progressive left, you have a story of America as essentially a country that never came over the legacy of slavery, a country that has to kind of apologize for its power, that it sees itself as a colonial entity that can't be redeemed. And when you're kind of locked in that version of America, which I kind of think is a kind of self hating story of America. Then that then projects the way you view Israel more than anything Israel says or does. So this has a lot to do with America's, and this is true of other countries in the West, that internal struggle and then the way different actors, especially in the social media age, need to position themselves on the Israel issue, to identify which tribe they belong to in this other battle.  So in my view, people who care about the US-Israel relationship, for example, would be wise to invest in this, in the battle over America's story of itself, and in that sense, it's less about Israeli public diplomacy and less about Israeli policy. It's much more about the glasses people wear when they look at Israel. And how do you influence those glasses? Manya Brachear Pashman:   I could sit here and talk to you all day, this is really fascinating and thought provoking. I do want to ask two more questions, though, and one is, I've been harping on what can Israel do? What are Israel's obligations?  But let me back up a step. What about the Arab states? What are the other neighbors in the region obligated to do to assure the Palestinians that they're going to succeed and thrive? Tal Becker:   Yeah, I mean, it's a really important question and, and I think that for many, many years, we suffered from, I would say, a basic lack of courage from Arab states. I'm generalizing, but I hope that others would advance their interests for them. And in some sense, I think the Abraham Accords really flipped that, because Abraham Accords was the Arab states having the courage and the voice to say, we need to redefine our relationship with with Israel, and in that way, create conditions, potentially for Palestinians to do, to do the same.  I would say that there are a whole set right, and, not my position to kind of be the lecturer, and each country is different in their own dynamics. I think the first from an Israeli perspective, of course, is to really push back against this attempt to delegitimize the Jewish people's belonging in the Middle East, and not to allow this kind of narrative where the only authentic way to be a Palestinian or a Muslim is to reject the idea that other peoples live in the region and have a story that connects them to it, and Israel is here to stay, and it can be a partner. You can have disagreements with it. But the idea that it's some kind of illegitimate entity, I think, needs to be taken out of the lexicon fundamentally. I think a second area is in really this expectation of Palestinian especially in the Israeli Palestinian context, of being partners in holding the Palestinians accountable not to have the kind of the soft bigotry of low expectations, and to really recognize Palestinian agency, Palestinian responsibility and also Palestinian rights, yes, but not in this kind of comic strip, victim villain narrative, where Israel has all the responsibilities and the Palestinians have all the rights. My colleague, Einat Wilf, for example, talks about Schrodinger's Palestine. You know, Schrodinger's Cat, right? So Schrodinger's Palestine is that the Palestinians are recognized for rights, but they're not recognized for responsibilities. And Israel has rights and responsibilities. And finally, I would say in terms of the the taking seriously the spoilers in the region, and working with Israel and with our partners to make sure that the spoilers in the region don't dictate the agenda and don't have the capacity to do so, not just hoping that that, you know, Israel and the US will take care of that, but really working with us. And I think a few countries are really stepping up in that regard. They have their own constraints, and we need to be respectful of that, and I understand that.  But I think that, you know, this is a strategic partnership. I sometimes joke that with the Emirates, it's a Jewish and a Muslim state, but it's a Catholic marriage. We've kind of decided to bind together in this kind of strategic partnership that has withstood these last two years, because we want to share a vision of the Middle East that is to the benefit of all peoples, and that means doing kind of three things at once. Meaning confronting the spoilers on the one hand, investing in regional integration on the other, and seeing how we can improve Israeli Palestinian relations at the same time. So working in parallel on all three issues and helping each other in the process and each other thrive. I mean, there's a whole bunch of stuff beyond the conflict. There's, you know, AI and fighting desertification and irrigation and defense tech and intelligence, and a whole host of areas where we can cooperate and empower each other and be genuine partners and strengthen our own societies and the welfare of our own peoples through that partnership for ourselves, for each other and for the region. So there's a lot to do. Manya Brachear Pashman:   And my last question – I've asked, what do the Arab states need to do? What does Israel need to do? What do Jewish advocates around the world need to do?  Tal Becker:   So I think the most important thing at this moment for me, Manya, is courage. There is a danger, because of the rise in antisemitism and the kind of hostility that one sees, that Jews in particular will become more silent. And they'll kind of hide a little bit in the hope that this will somehow pass them. And I think what our history has taught us, is generally, these are phenomena that if you don't stand up against them early, they become extremely powerful down the line, and you can't, and it becomes very, very costly to confront them.  So it takes courage, but I would say that communities can show more courage than individuals can, and in that sense, I think, you know, insisting on the rights of Jews within the societies in which they live, fighting for those kind of societies, that all peoples can prosper in. Being strong advocates for a kind of society in which Jews are able to thrive and be resilient and prosper, as well as others as well. I think is very important.  Just in a nutshell, I will say that it seems to me that in much of the world, what we're seeing is liberalism being kind of hijacked by a radical version of progressivism, and nationalism being hijacked by a version of ultra-nationalism. And for Jews and for most people, the best place to be is in liberal nationalism. Liberal nationalism offers you respect for collective identity on the one hand, but also respect for individual autonomy on the other right. That's the beautiful blend of liberal nationalism in that way, at least aspirationally, Israel, being a Jewish and democratic state, is really about, on the one hand, being part of a story bigger than yourself, but on the other hand, living a society that sees individual rights and individual agency and autonomy. And that blend is critical for human thriving and for meaning, and it's been critical for Jews as well. And so particularly across the diaspora, really fighting for liberal national identity, which is being assaulted from the extremes on both sides, seems to me to be an urgent mission. And it's urgent not just for Jews to be able not to kind of live conditionally and under fear and intimidation within the societies they live, but as we've seen throughout history, it's pretty critical for the thriving of that society itself.  At the end of the day, the societies that get cannibalized by extremes end up being societies that rot from within. And so I would say Jews need to be advocates for their own rights. Double down on Jewish identity, on resilience and on literacy, on Jewish literacy. At the same time as fighting for the kind of society in which the extremes don't shape the agenda. That would be my wish. Manya Brachear Pashman:   Making liberal nationalism an urgent mission for all societies, in other words, being a force for good. Tal Becker:   Yes, of course. Manya Brachear Pashman:   Our universal mission. Thank you so much. Thank you so much for sharing all of these thoughts with us and safe travels as you take off for the next destination. Tal Becker:   Thank you very much, Manya. I appreciate it. Manya Brachear Pashman:   As we approach the end of the year, and what a year it's been, take some time to catch up on episodes you might have missed along the way, rewind and listen to some of my more memorable interviews, such as my conversation with former Israeli hostage Shoshan Haran, abducted with her daughter, son in law and grandchildren during the Hamas terror attack on October 7, 2023. Meet doctors or hen and Ernest Frankel, two MIT professors who amid anti Israel academic boycotts, are trying to salvage the valuable research gains through collaboration with Israeli scholars. And enjoy my frank conversation with Jonah Platt, best known for playing Fiyero in Broadway's wicked who now hosts his own hit podcast Being Jewish with Jonah Platt. Hard to believe all of this and more has unfolded in 2025 alone. May 2026 be peaceful and prosperous for us all.  

In Part 1, Lee and Paul are joined by Asia correspondent John Duerden to cast a look at some huge stories across the continent – in India, Malaysia and South Korea. What on earth happened on Lionel Messi's GOAT Tour of Kolkata? And why is the world's largest country still without a top-flight league months after the season should have gotten under way? What has the fallout been from Malaysia's attempt to illegally naturalise seven players? And why did Gus Poyet resign in protest after winning the double with Jeonbuk in South Korea?In Part 2, Africa correspondent Ali Howorth drops in before flying to Morocco to give us the lowdown on AFCON 2025 and help us decide which team to support at the tournament. Then it's over to Europe to put the Ekstraklasa under the microscope. But what unique situation that we have never seen before has occurred in Poland's top flight? And finally, to mark the festive season, there is a mention for Christmas Island – an Australian overseas territory that is known for its red crabs and its football rivalry with the nearby Cocos Islands.World Soccer magazine special offer: shop.kelsey.co.uk/sweeperxmas25John Duerden's Substack newsletter: https://howfootballexplainsasia.substack.comAli Howarth's AFCON flow chart: https://x.com/ahoworth97/status/2001293214012014953Chapters00:00 – Intro00:35 – India's Super League crisis08:56 – Other leagues in limbo worldwide11:29 – Malaysia's naturalisation scandal21:47 – Gus Poyet's Jeonbuk departure27:17 – AFCON 2025 in Morocco39:55 – The crazy Polish Ekstraklasa44:25 – Mayhem & chaos across UEFA48:00 – Christmas Island and red crabs53:45 – On The Spot - The Apertura crown

AFCON kicked off in Rabat, as Morocco opened with a 2-0 over Comoros in a game that featured an incredible overhead from Ayoub El Kaabi.Musa and Ryan begin there, before chatting about Kylian Mbappé, who equalled Cristiano Ronaldo's Real Madrid record for goals in a calendar year (05:28), as well as how impressive his time at the Bernabéu has been, despite getting off to a tricky start. Next up, it's Leeds' turn to get the props (18:32), after another great result, this time to Crystal Palace, that sees a great run from Daniel Farke's side continue. There's chat about the rest of the Premier League, including Aston Villa's win over Manchester United (24:07), wins for the top two, Liverpool's win at Spurs (33:37) and much more!From now until the end of December, you can get all the extra podcasts, ad-free, by signing up for a FREE membership at patreon.com/stadio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How has Unai Emery masterminded Aston Villa's rise? Will United and Liverpool compete for Semenyo? And who are Africa's new superpower, how is Mo Salah viewed in his home continent and why has a major change been made to the African Cup of Nations?Chris Sutton, Rory Smith and Pat Nevin join Mark Chapman to discuss and debate the big questions of the week on the Monday Night Club.Guillem Balague, author of 'The Rise of the Villans: Inside Unai Emery's Aston Villa Revolution', joins the panel to provide insight into Emery's excellent work at Villa Park.The group then consider the other side of Sunday's 2-1 victory over Manchester United, who have lost talismanic captain Bruno Fernandes to injury. How can they replace him, and might it force the Reds into a transfer battle with bitter rivals Liverpool? Arne Slot's title holders are waiting for further news on Alexander Isak, with reports suggesting their record-breaking signing has suffered a leg break.African football journalist Maher Mezahi joins us from AFCON to explain a major change to the competition, how Morocco and Senegal are competing to be the continental superpower and how Mo Salah is viewed by those in his home nation and continent after controversy at Liverpool.Plus, what is Pep Guardiola's Christmas diet for his Man City players, and how does it compare to Chris and Pat's from back in the day?Timecodes: 00:12 Villa's 10-match winning streak, with Guillem Balague (Euro Leagues) explaining how Emery turned this season around 23:10 Do United and Liverpool really need to buy to replace Bruno Fernandes and Alexander Isak? 32:50 Hearts are top of the Scottish Premiership at Christmas, so what will they do in January? 39:20 AFCON — Are Morocco the new African superpower? 45:00 AFCON — How much pressure is on Salah to succeed with Egypt, and how has the controversy with Arne Slot been viewed in Africa? 47:40 AFCON — Have FIFA driven changes to the tournament schedule, from every 2 years to every 4 years? 50:30 Pep Guardiola's 'hidden' Christmas message to Man City's playersCommentaries coming up this week: Tuesday 23rd — Arsenal v Crystal Palace — 20:00 — 5 Live Saturday 27th — Arsenal v Brighton — 15:00 — 5 Live Saturday 27th — Liverpool v Wolves — 15:00 — Sports Extra Saturday 27th — Chelsea v Aston Villa — 17:30 — 5 Live

AFCON is back, and Morocco is hosting the tournament for the first time since 1988. The tournament itself began with big news on a change in calendar. We tell you about it and take you to the heart of the action, exploring the atmosphere, ticketing and visa changes, and the teams to watch.You will also hear from Mahad Mohamud, an Uber driver deported from Minneapolis in the US to Somalia, who talks about militant threats to his life and the challenge of starting over. Presenter : Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Bella Twine, Keikantse Shumba, Blessing Aderogba Technical Producer: Mbarak Abdallah Senior Producer: Daniel Dadzie Editors: Samuel Murunga and Maryam Abdalla

The American billionaire Larry Ellison has promised more than $40 billion of his money in support of Paramount to buy rival studio, Warner Bros Discovery. Where does this leave antitrust questions around a Paramount or Netflix takeover? Ed Butler hears from Phillip Berenbroick, who served as chief counsel for the US Senate's judiciary subcommittee on antitrust matters. How much money is Morocco spending as host for the African Cup of Nations? Also, we explore Yiwu, China's capital of Christmas(Photo: Paramount, Netflix and Warner Bros logos are seen in this illustration taken December 8, 2025. Credit: REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration)

Morocco opened the Africa Cup of Nations with a composed win in Rabat, setting the tone for a tournament carrying enormous expectations — and signaling how quickly the global game is evolving. Today's Morning Espresso breaks down Morocco's opener, the standout moments, and what it tells us about the hosts' path forward.We also look at a major shift in international soccer as Africa and Asia move toward Nations League formats, reshaping the calendar and the balance between club and country. What does this mean for players, federations, and the future rhythm of the game?Plus, relief at Celtic as Wilfried Nancy finally earns his first win, injury updates that could ripple across Europe and international play, and a full Refill of headlines from around the world.The game never stops — and neither do we.

It's a Reaction Monday on SDH AMWe keep an eye on AFCON Day 2 and look back at the openerWilfried Nancy wins his first match at Celtic- we look at what he has to say afterSoccerForUSPod's Bart Keeler stops by in hour 2 for cards and calls from the weekend and a look at Yanks Abroad

In this episode of What's New with ME, host Ali Mehdaoui breaks down a wide-ranging week of headlines with context, clarity, and late-night-style commentary—cutting through the noise to focus on what actually matters.We start with the TikTok investor deal that may have narrowly avoided a U.S. ban, unpacking the political pressure, national security concerns, and the massive creator economy at stake.Next, we examine the tragic Brown University shooting, following reports that the suspect was found dead—raising difficult questions about campus safety, unresolved investigations, and the emotional toll on students and families.The conversation then turns to the resurfacing of Jeffrey Epstein–related materials, including photos and names now circulating publicly. We explore what proximity means, what it does not mean, and why accountability continues to feel uneven when power is involved.On the lighter—but still revealing—side of culture, we react to Jake Paul's latest loss, what it says about hype versus credibility in modern boxing, and how influence has reshaped combat sports.Sports fans are treated to a breakdown of the Chicago Bears' dramatic divisional win over the Green Bay Packers, one of the most emotional rivalry games of the season and a reminder of why NFL football still delivers unscripted drama.We close with a powerful moment on the global stage as Morocco opens the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with a stunning 2–0 victory, a culturally rich opening ceremony featuring Gnawa music, Amazigh and Arab-Andalusian traditions, royal attendance by Crown Prince Moulay Hassan, and a standout performance by Brahim Díaz, capped by a spectacular bicycle-kick goal.From tech and justice to sports and global culture, this episode connects the dots between power, accountability, identity, and pride—without outrage, without spin.

The Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, has been booed at a ceremony in Sydney to remember the fifteen people who died in the Bondi Beach shooting. A minute's silence was held across the nation to mark the time that the attack began, and candles were lit.  Tens of thousands of people gathered at Bondi Beach to pay their respects to those who were killed when two gunmen opened fire on a Jewish celebration a week ago.Also in the programme: The US seizes another oil tanker in the Caribbean; and Morocco prepares for the start of the Africa Cup of Nations. (Photo: Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese attends the 'Light Over Darkness' vigil honouring victims and survivors of a deadly mass shooting during a Jewish Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach on December 14, in Sydney, Australia, December 21, 2025. CREDIT: REUTERS/Hollie Adams)

On Day 1 of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco defeated Comoros 2-0. Goals came in the second half by Brahim Diaz and Ayoub El Kaabi, after a frustrating first half where the hosts could not break the deadlock.

Arsenal maintain their lead at the top, but the performances have dropped. Will GID see them through to their title ahead of Man City? (8:13) Slander on Garnacho and how garbage of a player he is. (1:10:09) Mbappe's impact on the team as well as investigating Real Madrid's struggles. (1:32:52) The DR Congo ineligibility loophole that Nigeria want to try and explore to get into the World Cup playoff. (2:07:38) African Cup of Nations preview and the pressure on the hosts Morocco who have to deliver. (2:30:13) South African coach Hugo Broos's very strange comments about one of his players and how South Africans attacked your boy HH. (2:50:58)

The wait is now over for football lovers across the African continent as the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Morocco is just hours away. The 35th edition of Africa's flagship football tournament will be staged across the Christmas and New Year period for the first time ever. Hosts Morocco will kick-off the tournament THIS EVENING against Comoros at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah at 9pm. With 24 teams vying for glory across six host cities, Agadir, Casablanca, Fes, Marrakesh, Rabat, and Tangier, the tournament promises to be a spectacular showcase of a new generation of African soccer talent. Bafana Bafana travelled to Morocco on Wednesday and will kick-off their campaign against Angola TOMORROW. The game is set for 7pm at the Stade de Marrakech. A win would place Bafana in a strong position in Group B and relieve pressure ahead of tougher fixtures. Our senior sports reporter, Sifiso Ramara, was out on the streets of Marrakech to speak to some of the fans. To further unpack the AFCON 2025 tournament, Elvis Presslin spoke to Far-Post soccer journalist Mthokozisi Dube as well as former professional player and current development coach, Calvin "Soso" Sosibo...

On this episode we break down the new Epstein files dump and why Bill Clinton comes out looking the worst, from nearly naked hot-tub photos with an unidentified woman to vacation shots with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell in the UK, Brunei, Thailand, Morocco and beyond, plus cozy dinners with Mick Jagger and even Michael Jackson while the DOJ hides behind heavy redactions and an incomplete “document dump” that's already being called a violation of the Epstein Transparency Act. We talk about Clinton's team insisting this isn't about him, the aide calling it “his reckoning,” the light touch on Trump in the files, and what this all says about who gets protected. Then we dive into the brutal Nick Reiner case: his schizophrenia diagnosis, new meds that allegedly left him “out of his head,” the explosive fight with Rob Reiner at Conan O'Brien's holiday party where guests wanted to call 911 and Conan shut it down, Rob telling friends he was “petrified” of his own son, and how Nick ends up charged with murdering both parents while preparing a not-guilty plea. From there we hit a slate of stories including the disturbing details around “Pulp Fiction” actor Peter Greene's bloody apartment death, the viral breakdown of how Kevin McCallister's legendary $19.83 “Home Alone” grocery run would cost around $70 in 2025, the ugly MAGA media civil war with Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens, Ben Shapiro and Nick Fuentes tearing into each other, the internet dragging people for wearing fur-hood parkas wrong, and Pantone's new “Cloud Dancer” Color of the Year that somehow manages to make the whole world sad beige.#BillClinton#EpsteinFiles#NickReinerGet more AoA and become a member to get exclusive access to perks:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOfx0OFE-uMTmJXGPpP7elQ/joinGet Erin C's book here: https://amzn.to/3ITDoO7Get Merch here - https://bit.ly/AnthonyMerchSubscribe to the Anthony On Air Podcast here:Facebook - https://bit.ly/AntOnAirFBYouTube - https://bit.ly/AntOnAirYTApple Podcast - https://bit.ly/AntOnAirAppleSpotify - https://bit.ly/AntOnAirSpotTwitter - https://bit.ly/AntOnAirTwitterInstagram - https://bit.ly/AntOnAirInstaTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@anthonyonairpodDiscord - https://discord.gg/78V469aV22Get more at https://www.AnthonyOnAir.com.

What is a call? How does a person know if God is calling them to mission service? Join in a discussion as these and other questions are addressed.

From the BBC World Service: The Chinese owners of TikTok have signed a deal to sell the company's ‌U.S. assets to a joint venture led by American investors. This morning, we'll parse the details of the agreement. Then, Ukraine will receive a loan of more than $100 billion from the European Union to fund its war against Russia. Plus, Morocco is staging the Africa Cup of Nations soccer tournament, but not everyone's pleased about the money being spent on it.

European Union leaders have agreed to loan Ukraine $100bn to cover the cost of its military and public services, but they failed to reach on a deal on using frozen Russian assets.They instead opted to secure the oan against EU borrowing rather than Russian assets. What signal does that send to Moscow?Also in the programme: We'll hear from the Ukrainian widows cut off from compensation because their soldier husbands took their own lives; excitement builds in Morocco as it prepares to host Africa's biggest football tournament; why the boxing influencer Jake Paul may be risking more than his reputation in tonight's big fight.(Photo shows Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen, European Council president Antonio Costa, and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen at the EU Council Summit in Brussels, Belgium on 19 December 2025. Credit: Olivier Hoslet/EPA)

From the BBC World Service: The Chinese owners of TikTok have signed a deal to sell the company's ‌U.S. assets to a joint venture led by American investors. This morning, we'll parse the details of the agreement. Then, Ukraine will receive a loan of more than $100 billion from the European Union to fund its war against Russia. Plus, Morocco is staging the Africa Cup of Nations soccer tournament, but not everyone's pleased about the money being spent on it.

Before Anne Bonny. Before Grace O'Malley. There was Sayyida al-Hurra — the Pirate Queen of the Mediterranean. In this episode of For the Love of History, we uncover the extraordinary true story of Sayyida al-Hurra, a Muslim woman who rose to power in the late 1400s and became one of the most feared pirates in history. Born in Granada during the violence of the Reconquista, Sayyida was forced to flee Spain as Catholic rulers Ferdinand and Isabella expelled, enslaved, and murdered thousands of Muslims. That injustice would shape her destiny. After becoming governor of Tetouan (Tétouan), Morocco, Sayyida didn't just rule — she fought back. Partnering with the legendary Ottoman pirate Hayreddin Barbarossa (Redbeard), she launched relentless naval attacks against Spanish and Portuguese ships, dominating the Mediterranean and earning her title as the unrivaled pirate queen. Her piracy wasn't just about wealth; it was about defense, revenge, and protecting displaced Muslim communities. This episode explores: The Reconquista and the forced expulsion of Muslims from Spain How Sayyida al-Hurra became a female political leader and naval commander Her alliance with Barbarossa, one of history's most famous pirates Pirate warfare, ransom, and Mediterranean power politics How piracy rebuilt Tetouan into a thriving city Why European powers feared her — and her people adored her Her unprecedented marriage to the Sultan of Morocco on her own terms Sayyida al-Hurra's legacy lives on in the walls of Tetouan, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and in the history of women who refused to be erased. If you love pirate history, women in power, Islamic history, and stories of resistance against empire, this episode is for you. Grab your sword, your most dramatic blouse, and let's set sail. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bill Clinton did not merely cross paths with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell at the 2002 wedding of King Mohammed VI of Morocco. Multiple accounts make clear that Epstein and Maxwell were guests of Bill Clinton himself. That fact obliterates the usual escape hatches Clinton defenders rely on. This was not a случай encounter in a crowded diplomatic setting, nor Epstein freelancing his way into proximity. Clinton brought them. He vouched for them. He placed a known sexual predator and his chief fixer into the intimate, vetted circle of a royal wedding as his companions. A former president does not casually invite plus-ones to a monarch's wedding; guest lists are scrutinized, coordinated through diplomatic channels, and politically sensitive. By extending that invitation, Clinton didn't just socialize with Epstein and Maxwell — he actively conferred legitimacy on them at the highest possible level of international prestige.That choice is damning because it fits a broader pattern of behavior that Clinton has never meaningfully accounted for. Inviting Epstein and Maxwell as his guests to a foreign king's wedding occurred after Epstein was already widely known in elite circles as a deeply troubling figure, even if the full criminal case had not yet exploded publicly. Clinton's repeated insistence that he “barely knew” Epstein collapses under the weight of actions like this. You don't barely know someone you bring as your guests to a royal wedding. You don't barely know someone you help usher into diplomatic and aristocratic spaces where trust and discretion are paramount. At best, this reflects grotesque judgment and an indifference to who was being elevated under Clinton's name. At worst, it demonstrates how Epstein's access, protection, and normalization were facilitated directly by powerful figures who knew better and chose silence, convenience, and proximity over accountability.to contact me:bobbyacpucci@protonmail.comsource:Exclusive | Bill Clinton brought Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell to Moroccan king's wedding | New York Post

Please note this episode was originally produced last year and has been thoughtfully recreated this year with updated storytelling and sound design. Grab your imaginary passports and hop aboard the Culture Train, because today we are traveling to the Sahara Desert in Morocco, located in North Africa, where golden sand dunes stretch as far as the eye can see. On this immersive adventure, Kristen and Asher meet Mohammed, a local Amazigh (Berber) tour guide who grew up in the Sahara Desert and speaks seven languages. With Mohammed as our guide, we learn what daily life is like in the desert and what it means to grow up in a nomadic community. What the word “Sahara” means in Arabic Where Morocco is located and why it's known for colorful cities and vast deserts Who the Amazigh (Berber) people are and why they are the Indigenous people of North Africa The languages spoken in Morocco, including Arabic, Amazigh, French, and more Moroccan mint tea traditions, including why bubbles matter Riding dromedary camels and learning why they have one hump How desert homes are built using mud, clay, and hay to stay cool and warm Why soccer is loved by kids all over the world Desert adventures like sandboarding and watching the sunset over the dunes Through gentle conversation, sound-rich storytelling, and lots of imagination, this episode helps kids picture life in the Sahara while learning how environment, culture, and history shape the way people live. This episode features Mohammed, a local Amazigh guide who grew up in the Sahara Desert and now shares Moroccan culture, language, and desert life with families from around the world. If your family is planning a trip to Morocco and would like to experience the Sahara Desert with a local guide, you can learn more through: Positively Morocco Tours (ask for Mohammed from Culture Kids) https://positivelymoroccotours.com/ https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g293732-d16734409-Reviews-Positively_Morocco_Tours-Casablanca_Casablanca_Settat.html CREDITS Host and Produced By: Kristen Kim Co-Hosts: Asher & Arden Kim Guest: Mohammed from Positively Tours Morocco Post Production & Audio Engineer: Robin Lai Academic Consultant: Elisha Li Nonprofit Consultant:  Ami Awad, Emil Kang STAY CONNECTED WITH US! Instagram: @culturekidsproductions Website: http://culturekidsproductions.com Email / Voicemail: available through our site, we love hearing from you!

In today's Morning Espresso on the SDH Network—brought to you by Oglethorpe University—we open with a conversation about “the noise” around young players and why learning to navigate it matters in professional environments. From there, it's a full MLS SuperDraft recap, led by Atlanta United's night: trading down from No. 2, adding allocation money, and still landing Enzo Dovlo at No. 12, along with Noah James later on, plus plenty of Atlanta and Georgia connections throughout the draft.We also cover the latest MLS roster moves, including business involving Vancouver, Austin, and D.C. United, and dig into the growing standoff between the NWSL and the Players Association over proposed roster and salary-cap mechanisms. We wrap by looking ahead to a packed weekend and beyond: AFCON kicks off Sunday in Morocco, the Premier League slate brings key matchups, and there are new developments tied to the World Cup picture—from Saudi Arabia's 2034 planning to U.S. Soccer's ticket lottery process.

World news in 7 minutes. Friday19 th December 2025Today : Europe Russian funds. Belgium farmer protests. Denmark Russia cyber attacks. Russia British soldier. China free zone. Yemen Southern gains. Japan income tax. Argentina protests. US marijuana. Nigeria apology Morocco football.SEND7 is supported by our amazing listeners like you.Our supporters get access to the transcripts and vocabulary list written by us every day.Our supporters get access to an English worksheet made by us once per week.Our supporters get access to our weekly news quiz made by us once per week.We give 10% of our profit to Effective Altruism charities. You can become a supporter at send7.org/supportContact us at podcast@send7.org or send an audio message at speakpipe.com/send7Please leave a rating on Apple podcasts or Spotify.We don't use AI! Every word is written and recorded by us!Since 2020, SEND7 (Simple English News Daily in 7 minutes) has been telling the most important world news stories in intermediate English. Every day, listen to the most important stories from every part of the world in slow, clear English. Whether you are an intermediate learner trying to improve your advanced, technical and business English, or if you are a native speaker who just wants to hear a summary of world news as fast as possible, join Stephen Devincenzi, Juliet Martin and Niall Moore every morning. Transcripts, vocabulary lists, worksheets and our weekly world news quiz are available for our amazing supporters at send7.org. Simple English News Daily is the perfect way to start your day, by practising your listening skills and understanding complicated daily news in a simple way. It is also highly valuable for IELTS and TOEFL students. Students, teachers, TEFL teachers, and people with English as a second language, tell us that they use SEND7 because they can learn English through hard topics, but simple grammar. We believe that the best way to improve your spoken English is to immerse yourself in real-life content, such as what our podcast provides. SEND7 covers all news including politics, business, natural events and human rights. Whether it is happening in Europe, Africa, Asia, the Americas or Oceania, you will hear it on SEND7, and you will understand it.Get your daily news and improve your English listening in the time it takes to make a coffee.For more information visit send7.org/contact or send an email to podcast@send7.org

Scott McIntyre and Sudesh Baniya are in Doha after Morocco defeated Jordan 3-2 after extra time to be crowned FIFA Arab Cup champions. Together they discuss Jordan's run to the final, and what it means ahead of their maiden FIFA World Cup appearance in 2026. They also discuss the fortunes of Asia's other World Cup-bound nations, and what can be read into their performances in Qatar. Be sure to follow The Asian Game on all our social media channels: X: https://twitter.com/TheAsianGame IG: https://instagram.com/theasiangame Facebook: https://facebook.com/TheAsianGamePodcast   

Hear Argus' essential analysis of phosphate market in India and Pakistan, focusing on how DAP prices are developing, the status of contract negotiations, DAP exports from China, TSP exports from Morrocco and the market outlook for 1Q 2026. Join Tom Hampson, Global Editor – Phosphates, Adrian Seewald, Senior Market Reporter – Phosphates and Mike Nash, Senior Editor – Fertilizers as they discuss these topics in the latest episode of Argus' Fertilizer Matters podcast series. Key questions answered in this podcast: - What were the key market sentiments from the Fertilizer Association of India conference - How have DAP prices developed in December? - Chinese exports to India to be delayed in 2026? - How are 1Q phosphoric acid contract negotiations developing? - How has Pakistan fared with this year's high season compared with previous years? - Why has the differential between DAP cfr Pakistan and DAP cfr India fluctuated? - How could domestic DAP Pakistan prices and demand develop in 1Q 2026? - How have India and Pakistan reacted to Morocco's push to move more TSP into South Asia

Bill Clinton did not merely cross paths with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell at the 2002 wedding of King Mohammed VI of Morocco. Multiple accounts make clear that Epstein and Maxwell were guests of Bill Clinton himself. That fact obliterates the usual escape hatches Clinton defenders rely on. This was not a случай encounter in a crowded diplomatic setting, nor Epstein freelancing his way into proximity. Clinton brought them. He vouched for them. He placed a known sexual predator and his chief fixer into the intimate, vetted circle of a royal wedding as his companions. A former president does not casually invite plus-ones to a monarch's wedding; guest lists are scrutinized, coordinated through diplomatic channels, and politically sensitive. By extending that invitation, Clinton didn't just socialize with Epstein and Maxwell — he actively conferred legitimacy on them at the highest possible level of international prestige.That choice is damning because it fits a broader pattern of behavior that Clinton has never meaningfully accounted for. Inviting Epstein and Maxwell as his guests to a foreign king's wedding occurred after Epstein was already widely known in elite circles as a deeply troubling figure, even if the full criminal case had not yet exploded publicly. Clinton's repeated insistence that he “barely knew” Epstein collapses under the weight of actions like this. You don't barely know someone you bring as your guests to a royal wedding. You don't barely know someone you help usher into diplomatic and aristocratic spaces where trust and discretion are paramount. At best, this reflects grotesque judgment and an indifference to who was being elevated under Clinton's name. At worst, it demonstrates how Epstein's access, protection, and normalization were facilitated directly by powerful figures who knew better and chose silence, convenience, and proximity over accountability.to contact me:bobbyacpucci@protonmail.comsource:Exclusive | Bill Clinton brought Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell to Moroccan king's wedding | New York PostBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-moscow-murders-and-more--5852883/support.

Post Exclusive: Bill Clinton asked the King of Morocco if he could bring two uninvited guests to the monarch's 2002 wedding: Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. After 5 days, police are still looking for leads in the Brown University shooting investigation and so far they're coming up empty. Why? Subscribe to the NY POSTcast: https://app.magellan.ai/listen_links/NYP-Native Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The occupation of Western Sahara by Morocco has now lasted for half a century. The anniversary of the invasion passed at the beginning of November. It came just as the Trump administration was working at the United Nations to legitimize permanent Moroccan rule over the land and its people, including the indigenous Sahrawis. Today's episode is the first part of a two-part interview on the history of Western Sahara. Part one is going to cover the experience of Spanish colonial rule and the emergence of a movement for independence before the invasion by Morocco in 1975. Part two will carry the story up to the present day. Our guest Jacob Mundy is a professor of peace and conflict studies at Colgate University. He's the co-author of Western Sahara: War, Nationalism, and Conflict Irresolution. Read his piece for Jacobin, “For 50 Years, Morocco Has Denied Western Sahara Freedom”: https://jacobin.com/2025/11/morocco-western-sahara-freedom-colonialism Long Reads is a Jacobin podcast looking in-depth at political topics and thinkers, both contemporary and historical, with the magazine's longform writers. Hosted by features editor Daniel Finn. Produced by Conor Gillies with music by Knxwledge.

Dotun Adebayo is joined by Maher Mezahi to preview the African Cup of Nations which kicks-off in Morocco this weekend.They discuss who the favourites our, go through all the teams and discuss why this is such a big tournament for Mo Salah.  Watch this episode on youtube: https://youtube.com/live/gbesZ9WFI-U?feature=shareJoin the Brazilian Shirt Name Whatsapp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBNgO58PgsAgQXRP32T

Bill Clinton did not merely cross paths with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell at the 2002 wedding of King Mohammed VI of Morocco. Multiple accounts make clear that Epstein and Maxwell were guests of Bill Clinton himself. That fact obliterates the usual escape hatches Clinton defenders rely on. This was not a случай encounter in a crowded diplomatic setting, nor Epstein freelancing his way into proximity. Clinton brought them. He vouched for them. He placed a known sexual predator and his chief fixer into the intimate, vetted circle of a royal wedding as his companions. A former president does not casually invite plus-ones to a monarch's wedding; guest lists are scrutinized, coordinated through diplomatic channels, and politically sensitive. By extending that invitation, Clinton didn't just socialize with Epstein and Maxwell — he actively conferred legitimacy on them at the highest possible level of international prestige.That choice is damning because it fits a broader pattern of behavior that Clinton has never meaningfully accounted for. Inviting Epstein and Maxwell as his guests to a foreign king's wedding occurred after Epstein was already widely known in elite circles as a deeply troubling figure, even if the full criminal case had not yet exploded publicly. Clinton's repeated insistence that he “barely knew” Epstein collapses under the weight of actions like this. You don't barely know someone you bring as your guests to a royal wedding. You don't barely know someone you help usher into diplomatic and aristocratic spaces where trust and discretion are paramount. At best, this reflects grotesque judgment and an indifference to who was being elevated under Clinton's name. At worst, it demonstrates how Epstein's access, protection, and normalization were facilitated directly by powerful figures who knew better and chose silence, convenience, and proximity over accountability.to contact me:bobbyacpucci@protonmail.comsource:Exclusive | Bill Clinton brought Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell to Moroccan king's wedding | New York PostBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

Clement Manyathela and the listeners discuss whether they hold grudges and Bafana Bafana’s chances as they head to the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. The Clement Manyathela Show is broadcast on 702, a Johannesburg based talk radio station, weekdays from 09:00 to 12:00 (SA Time). Clement Manyathela starts his show each weekday on 702 at 9 am taking your calls and voice notes on his Open Line. In the second hour of his show, he unpacks, explains, and makes sense of the news of the day. Clement has several features in his third hour from 11 am that provide you with information to help and guide you through your daily life. As your morning friend, he tackles the serious as well as the light-hearted, on your behalf. Thank you for listening to a podcast from The Clement Manyathela Show. Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays from 09:00 and 12:00 (SA Time) to The Clement Manyathela Show broadcast on 702 https://buff.ly/gk3y0Kj For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/XijPLtJ or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/p0gWuPE Subscribe to the 702 Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/v5mfetc Follow us on social media: 702 on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TalkRadio702 702 on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@talkradio702 702 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkradio702/ 702 on X: https://x.com/Radio702 702 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@radio702 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the African Five-a-side podcast, Maher Mezahi is joined by Amine El Amri to preview the Morocco national team ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations---------------------------This podcast is brought to you by: www.africasacountry.comFollow us on social media:https://twitter.com/AfricanFiveSidehttps://www.tiktok.com/@african.fiveaside

Episode 222: Tunisian Peinture Sous Verre – A History in Reverse This lecture provides an introduction to reverse glass painting in Tunisia, a predominantly figurative form of Islamic art that is often referred to as a “popular” tradition. As very little archival material and original documentation exists, most of what we know about this painting practice comes from collections, scholarship, and stories told about it from the 1960s and on, over one hundred years after it had already been well established in Tunisia. To highlight this belated epistemology, the presentation follows a reverse chronology of the medium. After briefly introducing the technique and artistic process, it starts from the contemporary moment and moves backwards in time to the post-independence era, the Protectorate period, and earlier. It ends with some speculations about the connections between Tunisian under-glass painting and other historical or regional visual-material practices. Ava Katarina Tabatabai Hess is a PhD candidate in Art History at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). Her dissertation focuses on vernacular Islamic art from Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco, examining the proliferation of reverse glass painting and chromolithography in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries as well as their post-independence recuperations. She conducted fieldwork in Tunisia in 2022 with support from an AIMS grant, and from October 2023 to April 2025 as a FLAS research fellow and a Fulbright-Hays fellow, with additional research undertaken in Algeria, Morocco, and France. She earned her BA from Columbia University in Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies, and a master's in Visual, Material, and Museum Anthropology from the University of Oxford. Ava is also a curator, a contributing researcher with the Arabic Design Archive, and currently serves as Arts Editor of Ufahamu: A Journal of African Studies. This podcast was recorded at the Centre d'Études Maghrébines à Tunis (CEMA) on the 4th of November, 2025. We thank Mohammed Boukhoudmi for his interpretation of “Elli Mektoub Mektoub” for the introduction and conclusion of this podcast. Production and editing: Lena Krause, AIMS Development and Digital Resources Liaison.

On the latest episode of "The Standard Formula," host Rob Chaplin is joined by associates Dev Jain and Richi Kidiata for a comprehensive tour of Africa's rapidly evolving insurance landscape. The team delves into the regulatory frameworks of South Africa, Morocco, Egypt, Nigeria and Kenya — markets at the forefront of aligning with international best practices and standards such as Solvency II — and breaks down each jurisdiction's approach to capital and liquidity requirements, risk management and governance, while highlighting recent reforms, local challenges and the growing integration of African insurers into the global financial system.

This week we look ahead to the 2025 AFCON, starting in Morocco on Sunday. We go to Casablanca and find out about the expectations of fans of the host nation.We also pick out some of the teams that we think are top contenders for the title, and we highlight some of the star players to watch.And away from the AFCON we have Stuart on the EPL and whether Mohamed Salah will play again for Liverpool after the Nations Cup.

Canadian journalist Nora Loreto reads the latest headlines for Wednesday, December 18, 2025.TRNN has partnered with Loreto to syndicate and share her daily news digest with our audience. Tune in every morning to the TRNN podcast feed to hear the latest important news stories from Canada and worldwide.Find more headlines from Nora at Sandy & Nora Talk Politics podcast feed.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-real-news-podcast--2952221/support.Help us continue producing radically independent news and in-depth analysis by following us and becoming a monthly sustainer.Follow us on:Bluesky: @therealnews.comFacebook: The Real News NetworkTwitter: @TheRealNewsYouTube: @therealnewsInstagram: @therealnewsnetworkBecome a member and join the Supporters Club for The Real News Podcast today!

Austin and Amit come together for a festive season preview of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. From favorites Morocco & Senegal to second-tier contenders like Ivory Coast and Algeria and unknowns like Nigeria and DR Congo, the guys cover it all, including the drama surrounding Cameroon heading into the tournament.

World news in 7 minutes. Thursday 18th December 2025.Today: Finland racism apology. United Kingdom duke charged. European Union abortion access. Tunisia demonstrations. Nigeria mining attack. Morocco winter aid. United States Venezuela blockade. Brazil indigenous protections. Australia gun laws. India Bangladesh tensions. Oscars YouTube broadcast.With Juliet MartinSEND7 is supported by our amazing listeners like you.Our supporters get access to the transcripts written by us every day.Our supporters get access to an English worksheet made by us once per week. Our supporters get access to our weekly news quiz made by us once per week. We give 10% of our profit to Effective Altruism charities. You can become a supporter at send7.org/supportContact us at podcast@send7.org or send an audio message at speakpipe.com/send7Please leave a rating on Apple podcasts or Spotify.We don't use AI! Every word is written and recorded by us!Since 2020, SEND7 (Simple English News Daily in 7 minutes) has been telling the most important world news stories in intermediate English. Every day, listen to the most important stories from every part of the world in slow, clear English. Whether you are an intermediate learner trying to improve your advanced, technical and business English, or if you are a native speaker who just wants to hear a summary of world news as fast as possible, join Stephen Devincenzi, Niall Moore and Juliet Martin every morning. Transcripts, worksheets and our weekly world news quiz are available for our amazing supporters at send7.org. Simple English News Daily is the perfect way to start your day, by practising your listening skills and understanding complicated stories in a simple way. It is also highly valuable for IELTS and TOEFL students. Students, teachers, TEFL teachers, and people with English as a second language, tell us that they use SEND7 because they can learn English through hard topics, but simple grammar. We believe that the best way to improve your spoken English is to immerse yourself in real-life content, such as what our podcast provides. SEND7 covers all news including politics, business, natural events and human rights. Whether it is happening in Europe, Africa, Asia, the Americas or Oceania, you will hear it on SEND7, and you will understand it.For more information visit send7.org/contact or send an email to podcast@send7.org

Mark and Rob are joined on the pod by Ed Dove, Colin Udoh and Leonard Solms to discuss the impact of the Africa Cup of Nations call-ups on the Premier League teams, and to tell you everything you need to know about the tournament itself ahead of kick off in Morocco. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Search efforts for missing people continue in Morocco's Safi province after weekend flash floods. This, even as the country is set to host the African Cup of Nations - AFCON football tournament in a few days. We hear from residents in Safi, and whether the disaster has dampened the mood ahead of the continental soccer event. Also, are solar-powered vehicles the solution to transportation shortages in Benin? We speak to an entrepreneur at the forefront of bringing renewable energy to the country's transport industry. Presenter : Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Bella Twine, Basma El Atti and Ayuba Iliya Technical Producer: Jonathan Mwangi Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga Editors: Samuel Murunga and Maryam Abdalla

In this final episode of the mini series The Mentorship Sessions, we are delighted to be joined by Emily Harrington and Hazel Findlay. Both of these women have accolades and accomplishments that speak for themselves, but let go ahead and name a few to start off. Emily was the fourth woman ever to free climb El Cap in a day, and the first woman to do so via the Golden Gate route, she's summited Mount Everest, is a very accomplished comp climber, and has the first female ascent of a number of worldwide 5.14s. Meanwhile Hazel has been a pro climber for over a decade, she was the first woman to climb a trad route rated E9, she's put up multiple first ascents on big walls, she was the 3rd person to send Magic Line (5.14c) in Yosemite, and is the Founder of StrongMind which focuses on mental training and fear management. The two of them were once teammates on the North Face team and went on a number of adventures across the world including a trip to big wall in Morocco, which we get into. They both discuss how becoming a mother has changed their approach to fear and risk management, and how to trust (and when not to trust) a mentor, setting boundaries, and their own mental training. Join our Patreon!

In this episode we sit down with Azdean Elmoustaquim, of Destinations Morocco, to explore what makes Morocco one of the most immersive and misunderstood travel destinations in the world.Born and raised in Marrakech, Azdean shares how reconnecting his son with their roots sparked the creation of Destinations Morocco — a company built around custom itineraries, cultural connection, and authentic local experiences. From desert adventures and mountain villages to food, history, and hospitality, Azdean breaks down what travelers often get wrong about Morocco — and what they discover when they arrive with an open mind.We also dive into the role storytelling plays through the Destinations Morocco Podcast, helping travelers cut through misinformation and experience the country with clarity, respect, and curiosity.If you've ever wondered what it's really like to travel through Morocco — this episode is your invitation.Life in Motion is brought to you by Actual Outdoors. They help build beautiful brands that highlight the approachable and authentic parts of outdoor recreation. Said simply - they “keep it real”. Find them online at actualoutdoors.com or on Instagram at @actualoutdoors.Tweet us and let us know what you think of this episode! @illuminecollectFind more episodes at www.illuminecollect.com/blogs/life-in-motion-podcastSince 2017 Illumine has donated over $50,298 to outdoor nonprofits and shared over 253 stories on the Life in Motion Podcast.

In tonight's episode of What's New with ME, host Ali Mehdaoui breaks down the biggest global headlines with context, clarity, and late-night perspective — without the political yelling.From Mexican lawmakers emotionally breaking down on national TV, to an LA terror plot stopped before tragedy struck, to a Hollywood family tragedy shaking the industry, this episode goes deeper than the headlines.Ali also covers the Michael Walsh murder verdict, the surprising offline meeting between Erika Kirk and Candace Owens, Messi's GOAT tour chaos in India, and the quiet football dominance of Morocco, now making history across every major category as AFCON begins.This is not outrage news.This is context-driven conversation.

Tensions between Saudi Arabia and the UAE are escalating anew in Yemen. Al-Monitor senior editor Joyce Karam says the clash is real, leaving the Trump administration torn between its top regional allies.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Your daily news in under three minutes. At Al Jazeera Podcasts, we want to hear from you, our listeners. So, please head to https://www.aljazeera.com/survey and tell us your thoughts about this show and other Al Jazeera podcasts. It only takes a few minutes! Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

You can also find the video version of this episode on our YouTube channel here: "Discover a Real Morocco Cooking Class Experience"After the inspiring ideas of our last episode, 'Food Travel in Morocco: What to Order When You Visit', this week we take you a step further, into an actual Moroccan kitchen!The hosts at Riad Ghita in Fès welcome us behind the scenes for a genuine Moroccan cooking class, where we put together the ingredients for a lamb tagine, Moroccan salads, camel skewers and more. Discover the authentic, natural ingredients that go into real Moroccan cooking, all freshly sourced from the medina in Fes. You'll see Azdean and the team shopping and gathering everything they need, and then meeting in the riad's modern kitchen to start preparing. Go beyond the recipe websites and witness an actual cooking class, recorded live on location in Fes, and learn how to put the recipes together, just like a local.You can book a class like this too, whether in Fez, Marrakech, Essaouira, or anywhere else in Morocco that puts its own distinct twist on national cuisine. Cooking classes can easily be integrated into your itinerary, and leave you with lasting skills that you can put into action when you're back home, not to mention the indelible memories.Do you dream of exploring the enchanting land of Morocco?Destination Morocco is your ultimate travel experience for those seeking luxury and adventure. We specialize in crafting bespoke itineraries tailored to your unique tastes and desires.If you're a discerning traveler who values an immersive, curated adventure, visit www.destinationsmorocco.com, and let us bring your dream Moroccan vacation to life.Learn more about Azdean and Destination Morocco.Explore our Private Tours and Small Group Tours!Do you dream of exploring the enchanting land of Morocco?Destination Morocco is your ultimate travel experience for those seeking luxury and adventure. We specialize in crafting bespoke itineraries tailored to your unique tastes and desires.If you're a discerning traveler who values an immersive, curated adventure, visit www.destinationsmorocco.com, and let us bring your dream Moroccan vacation to life.Learn more about Azdean and Destination Morocco.Explore our Private Tours and Small Group Tours!

Max talks with John Fiscus, co-founder of The Flight Academy, and Director of Operations Jordan Ming to break down how one of the country's most respected Cirrus-focused training organizations was created, expanded, and refined over more than two decades. Whether you're an instructor considering the entrepreneurial leap, a pilot curious about how flight training businesses operate, or someone fascinated by the evolution of modern GA training, this conversation delivers clear, practical insights rooted in real experience. John opens with the origin story behind The Flight Academy—one shaped unexpectedly by the aftermath of 9/11. Before starting the company, John was an instructor and corporate pilot for Cirrus Aircraft, preparing for an airline career. When airline hiring collapsed overnight, he and colleague Luke realized they could not compete with furloughed, highly experienced pilots suddenly entering the market. But they also saw a growing demand: Cirrus owners nationwide needed instructors who truly understood their aircraft. Many local CFIs didn't yet have the expertise or avionics familiarity that early-generation Cirrus owners required. That gap created an opportunity. Instead of opening a traditional flight school with airplanes and an office, John and Luke launched The Flight Academy in 2002 with a completely different model. They owned no airplanes, no local training fleet, and no physical facility. Instead, they traveled around the country teaching owners in their own Cirrus aircraft. This approach dramatically reduced overhead while giving customers access to specialized training. What seemed unconventional at the time turned out to be the ideal way to enter the market, and demand steadily grew. As the business matured, the founders recognized the need for a home base and added a small office at Boeing Field. Eventually, they purchased their first aircraft—not a leaseback, but a nearly new Cirrus that offered strong depreciation benefits and made financial sense for the business. Today the school operates 13 aircraft across two locations—Seattle and the Portland area—supported by eight to ten instructors, depending on season and demand. About 70–80% of all hours flown at The Flight Academy are dual instruction, a reflection of their focus on high-quality training rather than simple aircraft rental volume. Jordan explains that this training-centric model shapes everything about how the business operates. The Flight Academy books training in full-day or half-day blocks, giving instructors and clients the freedom to adapt to weather, focus on deep learning, and avoid the churn of hourly scheduling. Their instructors also spend significant time traveling to clients, giving them a unique range of experience compared to CFIs who fly the same local routes every day. Many instructors make multiple coast-to-coast flights before reaching the airlines, which sets them apart in both skill and confidence. Beyond daily training, the school has diversified its business through multiple complementary revenue streams. John describes their history of Atlantic ferry flights, delivering both new and pre-owned Cirrus aircraft to Europe. He also recounts the dramatic ferry incident—captured on video—in which a malfunctioning transfer tank forced a ferry pilot to deploy the Cirrus parachute into the Pacific. That experience eventually led the team to discontinue Pacific ferrying, though they continue to complete many Atlantic deliveries. Another major offering is their Vision Jet program, which includes discovery flights, pre-type-rating preparation, and training support. Luke also works with Arista to support the Vision Jet pre-owned market, creating a powerful ecosystem that blends aircraft sales, owner transitions, and specialized instruction. Jordan emphasizes that this interlocking structure allows the team to provide a seamless experience for owners, from first flight through long-term advanced training. Perhaps the most distinctive part of The Flight Academy's identity is their adventure trips—all-inclusive guided flying experiences to destinations such as Alaska, Morocco, the Caribbean, Europe, and New England during fall foliage season. These trips sell out consistently and create long-lasting friendships among participating owners. Jordan notes that many pilots appreciate having experts plan the hotels, customs logistics, activities, and daily flight legs—allowing them to simply enjoy the journey and the aircraft. When it comes to hiring CFIs, John is clear: "We don't hire pilots. We hire teachers." A strong instructor mindset matters more than flight time or ratings. He looks for individuals who demonstrate genuine interest in the business, a thoughtful approach to training, and the professionalism needed to work with sophisticated clients. He also shares hard-earned lessons about policies, cancellations, contracts, and pricing—key areas where many new flight school owners struggle. The episode closes with candid advice for CFIs considering launching their own school. Jordan stresses the importance of accepting that owners will fly less and manage more, while John encourages thoughtful planning and learning from others who have successfully done it. Their message is hopeful but realistic: starting a flight school is absolutely possible if you approach it with a solid plan, a clear mission, and a commitment to delivering exceptional training. If you're getting value from this show, please support the show via PayPal, Venmo, Zelle or Patreon. Support the Show by buying a Lightspeed ANR Headsets Max has been using only Lightspeed headsets for nearly 25 years! I love their tradeup program that let's you trade in an older Lightspeed headset for a newer model. Start with one of the links below, and Lightspeed will pay a referral fee to support Aviation News Talk. Lightspeed Delta Zulu Headset $1199 HOLIDAY SPECIALNEW – Lightspeed Zulu 4 Headset $1099 Lightspeed Zulu 3 Headset $849 HOLIDAY SPECIALLightspeed Sierra Headset $749 My Review on the Lightspeed Delta Zulu Send us your feedback or comments via email If you have a question you'd like answered on the show, let listeners hear you ask the question, by recording your listener question using your phone. Mentioned on the ShowBuy Max Trescott's G3000 Book Call 800-247-6553 The Flight Academy flight school Cirrus SR22 Parachute Pull near Hawaii Check out our recommended ADS-B receivers, and order one for yourself. Yes, we'll make a couple of dollars if you do. So You Want To Learn to Fly or Buy a Cirrus seminars Online Version of the Seminar Coming Soon – Register for Notification Check out Max's Online Courses: G1000 VFR, G1000 IFR, and Flying WAAS & GPS Approaches. Find them all at: https://www.pilotlearning.com/ Social Media Like Aviation News Talk podcast on Facebook Follow Max on Instagram Follow Max on Twitter Listen to all Aviation News Talk podcasts on YouTube or YouTube Premium "Go Around" song used by permission of Ken Dravis; you can buy his music at kendravis.com If you purchase a product through a link on our site, we may receive compensation.