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Beyond the Headlines

The National News
Gaza
Israel
Hamas
Iran
Syria
Hezbollah
Lebanon
United States
Palestinian Authority
Donald Trump
Middle East
Civil War
West Bank
Yemen
Palestine
International Court Of Justice
Humanitarian Crisis
United Nations
ISIS
Beirut

Dive deeper into the week’s biggest stories from the Middle East and around the world with The National’s multi-award-winning podcast, Beyond the Headlines — winner of two Signal Awards and the New York Festivals Radio and TV Awards. Nuances are often missed in day-to-day headlines. We go Beyond the Headlines by bringing together the voices of experts and those living the news to provide a clearer... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes499Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsNews CommentaryPolitics

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Artwork for Beyond the Headlines

Latest Episodes

When the US, Canada and Mexico were selected as joint hosts of the 2026 World Cup, they were supposed to be the “safe choice” for Fifa.

Football’s global governing body had been criticised for previous picks. There had been allegations of bribery an... more

In its first report to the UN Security Council, the Board of Peace this month said Hamas’s refusal to disarm was the main obstacle to the reconstruction of Gaza.

The board's leader, Nickolay Mladenov, also called on Israel to honour its commitments ... more

It took the Houthis at least a month to enter the Iran conflict in late March and early April and the Yemeni rebels have been largely restrained since a Pakistan-brokered truce began last month.

But they haven’t exactly been idle either. A new repor... more

YouTube

Trade ties and tariff relief were supposed to be the key issues on the agenda during US President Donald Trump's visit to China this week. But with the Iran war unresolved and the Strait of Hormuz still blocked, the conflict is to take precedence.

C... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Gregory Papanikos
President of the Athens Institute for Education and Research
Athens Institute for Education and Research
Episode: The limits of soft power: America’s war and its World Cup
Simon Chadwick
Professor of Afro-Eurasian sports
Emlyon Business School
Episode: The limits of soft power: America’s war and its World Cup
Nagham Mohanna
National reporter covering Gaza security and militias
The National
Episode: Replay: Who will fill the security vacuum in Gaza?
Hamze Attar
Palestinian defense and security journalist
Independent/Media
Episode: Replay: Who will fill the security vacuum in Gaza?
Rob Hunter-Perkins
CAR report author
Conflict Armament Research
Episode: More weapons, less action: What are the Houthis up to?
Jovan Ilijev
Terrorism Research and Analysis Consortium analyst
Terrorism Research and Analysis Consortium
Episode: More weapons, less action: What are the Houthis up to?
Chuchu Zhang
Deputy Director at the Centre for Middle Eastern Studies at the Fudan University
Fudan University
Episode: Where does China stand in US-Iran conflict?
Steven Wills
Navalist for the Centre for Maritime Strategy at the Navy League of the United States
Navy League of the United States, Centre for Maritime Strategy
Episode: Your move: What next in battle for Strait of Hormuz?
Hisham A. Hellyer
Senior Associate Fellow at RUSI for Defence and Security Studies
RUSI
Episode: Your move: What next in battle for Strait of Hormuz?

Host

Nada AlTaher
Host of Beyond the Headlines

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 40 ratings
  • Would give zero stars if I could

    The bias is breathtaking.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Nancy Pol
    United States9 months ago
  • Great Mideast news podcast

    An informative and well produced podcast that explores the most important stories in the Middle East.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sophietremblay
    Canada6 years ago
  • Podcast lover

    Astounding

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jazz114
    United States8 years ago
  • Lover of Podcasts

    Astounding

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Lover of podcasts 239328913459
    United Arab Emirates8 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise the depth and breadth of geopolitical analysis.
Some listeners perceive a bias in coverage on highly sensitive regional issues.
Guests are typically expert voices with strong regional and security credentials.
Episodes are well-produced and data-informed, aiding sponsorship decisions.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#129
Saudi Arabia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#167
United Arab Emirates/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#204
Japan/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

More weapons, less action: What are the Houthis up to?
Q: Can you walk us through how these missiles and drones are assembled and what the labeling tells us about the design origin?
The components arrive as assembled kits that include color-coded labels and serializations, allowing investigators to map specific modules to Iranian designs and show how Yemeni assembly would complete the weapon systems once in country, highlighting external dependency.
More weapons, less action: What are the Houthis up to?
Q: First of all, how much are we talking here, and how did we know that they were intended for the Houthis? How are these items concealed on the ship?
CAR investigators traced thousands of components across international shipments, linking them to Iran and other suppliers, and demonstrated how parts were concealed within industrial equipment to evade interception, revealing a highly interconnected,massive supply chain.
Can Iraq shake off the grip of foreign influence?
Q: How are the US and Iran leveraging veteran Iraqi politicians like al-Maliki and al-Sudani to influence outcomes?
Al-Maliki is seen as closer to Iran while al-Sudani has developed closer ties with the US; both are used as leverage by their respective backers to push agenda and secure favorable access to power.
Can Iraq shake off the grip of foreign influence?
Q: So why is it taking so long to choose a prime minister, and who are the main candidates?
The process operates as a consociational power-sharing system where many actors must approve decisions, leading to paralysis and a preference for a consensus candidate who can balance external and internal interests.
Making sense of Palestine’s local elections
Q: What did these candidates campaign on in Deir el-Balah, and what can they actually deliver under current conditions?
Campaigns focused on practical municipal improvements like rehabilitation of services and roads, but the reality of blockade and limited municipal capacity means promises are unlikely to be fully deliverable, and loyalties often hinge on reputational capital and local ties rather than broad ideological platforms.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Beyond the Headlines

What is Beyond the Headlines about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This program consistently covers Middle East security, geopolitics, and regional power dynamics, with a heavy emphasis on how external actors and civilian realities intersect with policy. Episodes frequently analyze conflicts, diplomacy, arms proliferation, and disinformation, drawing on expert guests and on-the-ground reporting to provide context beyond daily headlines. Noteworthy are its rigorous, globally sourced perspectives and willingness to tackle controversial topics, making it a valuable listening choice for stakeholders who want depth, nuance, and a regional lens on international affairs.

Where can I find podcast stats for Beyond the Headlines?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Beyond the Headlines. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Beyond the Headlines and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Beyond the Headlines get?

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What are the audience demographics for Beyond the Headlines?

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How many subscribers and views does Beyond the Headlines have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Beyond the Headlines has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Beyond the Headlines?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Beyond the Headlines:

1. Trending Middle East
2. Middle East Focus
3. Hold Your Fire!
4. The Inside Story Podcast
5. Economist Podcasts

How many episodes of Beyond the Headlines are there?

Beyond the Headlines launched 9 years ago and published 499 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Beyond the Headlines?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Beyond the Headlines?

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What guests have appeared on Beyond the Headlines?

Recent guests on Beyond the Headlines include:

1. Gregory Papanikos
2. Simon Chadwick
3. Nagham Mohanna
4. Hamze Attar
5. Rob Hunter-Perkins
6. Jovan Ilijev
7. Chuchu Zhang
8. Steven Wills

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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