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CONFLICTED

Message Heard
Yemen
Iran
Houthis
Ali Abdullah Saleh
Arab Spring
Hamas
Gaza War
Al Qaeda
Middle East
Conflicted Community
Middle East Geopolitics
Israel Defense Forces
Qatar
Middle Eastern Diplomacy
Saudi Arabia
Saddam Hussein
Children Casualties
Ebrahim Raisi
Israel
Salafism

An ex-Al Qaeda jihadi turned MI6 spy and a former monk turned filmmaker, have been embedded at the heart of conflicts in the Middle East. Together Aimen Dean and Thomas Small unpack the realities of war, fundamentalism and their global implications through first-hand experience.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes188Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Religion & SpiritualityHistory

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Artwork for CONFLICTED

Latest Episodes

In this Conflicted Conversation, Thomas speaks to journalist and author Anand Gopal about his wonderful new book Days of Love and Rage, a profoundly moving and intellectually stimulating history of the Syrian revolution told from the perspective of t... more

As all sides in the Iran War escalate their attacks, another spectre looms on the horizon: Iran-backed sleeper cell agents across the world launching terrorist attacks against strategic assets — including in the West. Aimen opens the lid on this lit... more

Aimen's back after a few days away uncovering the secret info and true motivations behind the Iran War.

Today he and Thomas focus on the Lebanon front in the war, telling the story of how the Lebanese state was progressively undermined over several ... more

Aimen has been called away for important last-minute insider meetings, so sitting in for him on today's episode is Nadwa Al-Dawsari, veteran researcher, conflict analyst, and policy advisor with 20 years of field experience in Yemen and the broader ... more

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Recent Guests

Nadwa Dawsari
Researcher, conflict analyst, policy advisor for the Middle East Institute
Middle East Institute
Episode: When Will Iran Play the Houthi Card?
Sven Beckert
Laird Bell Professor of History at Harvard University
Harvard University
Episode: Capitalism Is Not What You Think
Ali Ansari
Professor of Modern Middle Eastern History, University of St Andrews
University of St Andrews
Episode: Iran: The Long Road to War
Tom Tugendhat
British MP, former Chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee; former Security Minister
Conservative Party, United Kingdom
Episode: The Iran War: British Uncertainty vs. French Resolve
Aimen Dean
Ex-Al Qaeda jihadi turned MI6 spy; guest on Conflicted
Conflicted podcast guest
Episode: Conflicted Revisited: Spying for Saudi
Yossef Rapoport
Professor of Islamic History at Queen Mary University in London
Queen Mary University
Episode: The People Who Became Arabs
Shawn VanDiver
U.S. Navy veteran and the founder of AfghanEvac
AfghanEvac
Episode: How the US is Abandoning its Afghan Allies
Kishore Mahbubani
Former Singaporean ambassador to the UN and author
Author of 'Living the Asian Century'
Episode: Why China’s Rise Cannot Be Stopped
Paul Kenyon
Veteran war reporter with extensive field experience
BBC
Episode: Paul Kenyon: 30 Years Under Fire as a BBC War Reporter

Hosts

Thomas Small
Co-host with expertise in historical analysis and filmmaking, focusing on the intersections of religion, politics, and conflict.
Aimen Dean
Co-host and former MI6 spy with a background in counter terrorism and deep insights into jihadism and Middle Eastern affairs.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 2.9k ratings
  • An Important Pod (with a Mossad agent as co-host)

    Please note at the start: I am using the word “agent” in the British sense of an asset, not in the American sense of an officer of an intelligence service.

    This is one of the most extraordinary shows in the podverse, certainly for those of us who follow international affairs The main host, Thomas, is a Mid-Atlantic man. Bluff and hearty at times bringing out the American in him and then formal, stilted and prissy in his use of the English language, an American’s idea of an Englishman, which he... more

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    sidneyhart
    United Statesa month ago
  • Very biased coverage coverage on global affairs

    Historical content is well researched, but the presenters have a HEAVY bias towards western interests. Very little exploration towards the Iranian people.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    g52jixtg
    United Statesa month ago
  • Iran /US conflict coverage

    I am a huge fan of this and find it very informative. The Iran conflict coverage however is myopic, what about the other players such as China and Russia. There was no mention of how their actions will influence the outcome in the next few weeks .

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Proreason2022
    United States2 months ago
  • Excellent bc Human

    The first season was great for understanding the Mideast in broad strokes. Later seasons got even better. I like that they look at the entire Mideast, including Africa and Turkey, not just an excessive focus on Israel.

    I see reviews here criticizing Thomas or Aimen and their views, but the reality is that this is the only podcast where you have a devout orthodox Christian and Sunni who are 1) friends 2) deeply knowledgeable about the region.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Certaminis Princeps
    United States2 months ago
  • Thomas sucks

    Thomas is an antisemitic Islamist mouth piece

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Historynutt3000
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Some criticism arises due to perceived biases in how certain geopolitical events are presented.
Overall, the podcast garners respect for its depth of analysis and the caliber of guest contributions.
The hosts are highlighted for their unique backgrounds, providing a compelling blend of perspectives and insights.
Listeners praise the podcast for its informative deep dive into complex topics surrounding Middle Eastern conflicts.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#88
United States/History
Spotify
#43
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#28
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#61
Canada/History
Apple Podcasts
#40
Australia/History
Apple Podcasts
#51
Germany/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

CC: Burcu Ozcelik – The End of the PKK & Turkey’s Great Game
Q: Tell us what drew you to research on the Kurdish issue and the PKK.
Burcu explains that studying the Kurdish issue is essential to understanding Turkey's domestic policies and foreign relations, given the longstanding struggle, the evolution from militant activity to rights-based claims, and the ways in which Kurds interact with NATO partners and regional powers.
Capitalism Is Not What You Think
Q: Can you maybe just tell us one of those stories, like an illustrative account of how capitalist or market development and state development went hand in hand?
The Industrial Revolution stands as a pivotal example where state policies, tariffs, and mercantilist approaches supported domestic production, while the East India Company and colonial trade linked global supply chains, illustrating how state power and capitalist expansion were deeply intertwined.
IRGC Sleeper Cells: The Inside Story
Q: What are Iranian sleeper cells, and how do they operate globally?
Dean describes sleeper cells as a five-part ecosystem—religious, diplomatic, espionage, money-laundering/business fronts, and active terrorists—interconnected to create a global network that funds, recruits, and activates operatives across continents.
Iran: The Long Road to War
Q: How has Iran's alliance behavior shifted since the 2010s, particularly regarding Russia and Europe?
Iran attempted a balancing strategy with Europe and the US, but aligning more closely with Russia during the Ukraine conflict damaged perceived credibility with Western partners and reduced the hope of a broad-based diplomatic reconstruction of the JCPOA.
Iran: The Long Road to War
Q: What went wrong with the JCPOA, and why did Trump's withdrawal complicate matters further?
The deal was technically strong on centrifuges and enrichment but weak on sanctions relief and economic integration; it depended on access to the US dollar and ongoing Western support, which was undermined by internal Iranian constraints and later by Trump's withdrawal, making a return to the agreement much harder.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About CONFLICTED

What is CONFLICTED about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A unique exploration of conflict, fundamentalism, and the complex dynamics involved in warfare is at the heart of this podcast. The hosts, coming from vastly different backgrounds—one a former Al-Qaeda operative turned MI6 spy and the other a prior monk and filmmaker—offer listeners firsthand insights into the realities faced in the Middle East. Their discussions frequently span a variety of topics, including the rise of Islamist movements, geopolitical shifts, and the personal narratives of those directly impacted by conflict. This perspective is likely to fascinate anyone interested in understanding the multifaceted nature of modern warfare and the cultural implications therein, as the hosts not only share expert analysis but also engage ... more

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1. Empire: World History
2. The Rest Is Classified
3. The Red Line
4. The Rest Is History
5. Conflicted: A History Podcast

How many episodes of CONFLICTED are there?

CONFLICTED launched 7 years ago and published 188 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on CONFLICTED?

Recent guests on CONFLICTED include:

1. Nadwa Dawsari
2. Sven Beckert
3. Ali Ansari
4. Tom Tugendhat
5. Aimen Dean
6. Yossef Rapoport
7. Shawn VanDiver
8. Kishore Mahbubani

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