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CONFLICTED

Message Heard
Iran
Israel
Middle East
Syrian Civil War
Syria
Islam
ISIS
Yemen
United States
Hamas
Gaza
Russia
Ethiopia
Hezbollah
Saudi Arabia
Sudan
China
Houthis
Ukraine
Arab Spring

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 weeklyEpisodes205Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Religion & SpiritualityHistory

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Artwork for CONFLICTED

Latest Episodes

Because Aimen is still away, we’re taking this opportunity to introduce you all to our executive producer Jake Warren. A journalist and programme-maker, Jake not only had the idea for Conflicted, he is also the founder of Message Heard, the company t... more

In this latest Conflicted Conversation, Thomas talks with Tory MP Sir Jeremy Hunt. Over fourteen years of Conservative government, Hunt served as Culture Secretary, Health Secretary, Foreign Secretary and Chancellor of the Exchequer. But in this disc... more

Is Donald Trump mad? Or is he a practitioner of the Madman Theory — and therefore not mad at all?

James D. Boys, author of ⁠⁠U.S. Grand Strategy and the Madman Theory: From Nixon to Trump⁠⁠, argues that the Madman Theory is not madness, but the perf... more

Aimen is back with a huge amount of behind-the-scenes information on what’s been happening in the Middle East in the past three weeks—especially on the real reasons the UAE withdrew from OPEC, and what’s been going on inside Donald Trump’s head as he... more

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Recent Guests

Jake Warren
Executive producer of Conflicted and founder of Message Heard
Message Heard / Conflicted
Episode: My Road to Conflicted (with Jake Warren)
Sir Jeremy Hunt
Former Foreign Secretary and Chancellor of the Exchequer
UK Government
Episode: Jeremy Hunt: Democracy’s Defeat Is Not Inevitable
James D. Boys
Senior Research Fellow at University College London; author of US Grand Strategy and the Madman Theory from Nixon to Trump
University College London
Episode: The Madman Theory from Nixon to Trump
Marc David Baer
Professor of International History, London School of Economics
London School of Economics
Episode: Utopia or Dystopia? The Truth About Jewish-Muslim History
Sir Vince Cable
Former leader of the Liberal Democrats; economist
House of Commons / Liberal Democrats
Episode: Sir Vince Cable: The Crisis of Liberal Democracy
Elizabeth Tsurkov
Russian-Israeli scholar, researcher
ThinkThings (Israel) and Princeton University (field research)
Episode: Iraq: Anatomy of a Broken State
Tim Weiner
Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist, author of The Mission
Penguin Random House / The Mission author
Episode: The CIA: What is It For?
Jack Carr
Best-selling novelist, former Navy SEAL sniper
Author and public speaker
Episode: Jack Carr: My Journey Through America’s Long War
Jason Burke
Journalist and author of The Revolutionists
Author, The Revolutionists
Episode: The True Origins of Modern Terrorism

Hosts

Thomas Small
Host of Conflicted with a focus on geopolitics and regional conflicts; shares lived experience in security and policy commentary.
Aimen Dean
Co-host with geopolitical expertise; ex-MI6 asset providing regional insight and insider perspectives on Middle East conflicts.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 3.1k ratings
  • Uneven

    Thomas Small is without question an erudite and earnest commentator with a good faith mission to bring understanding to the region. His interview with Anand Gopal on Syria was an absolute standout. Aiman Deen, on the other hand seems to lack any moral compass. His comments on “letting Bibi finish the job” in Iran were shocking. His vanity and boastfulness are hard to take, and his predictions are mostly wrong. Please, can we have more episodes that focus on actual research and scholarship rathe... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    We’re better than this
    Australia14 days ago
  • Only Aimen Dean Worth Listening To

    This is 2 stars to acknowledge the contribution by Aimen Dean. Other than that the guests are not worth listening to for a conservative listener. Just listened to one with Sir Vince Cable about the dangers of the U.S. abandoning the world order as it was until Trump, and especially abandoning Europe - instead of acknowledging the parasitic nature of that relationship on the side of Europe, and the swift kick off the couch European socialists needed badly in order to contribute their share to th... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Smilingpilgrim
    Canada16 days ago
  • Good but centric

    Nice to hear another perspective, but a little too Gulf and Israeli centric. Just because of our historical meddling and support of certain regimes, this should not dictate our future course. Support of certain countries and deployments of troops has created targets of opportunities and vulnerabilities that are then used to justify further military actions. This in turn creates a dependence of certain countries and an expectation that they don’t have to do the heavy lifting in their own backyard... more

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    magpieclark
    United States19 days ago
  • Biased & Inaccurate

    I listened to most of its episodes because of my research interests and long-standing passion for the Middle East. While I found many discussions engaging, I also came away feeling that both hosts — especially Aimen — often approach issues with a strong ideological lens. In several episodes, their analysis seemed biased and, at times, lacking accuracy or nuance.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Sher Mehryar
    United States25 days ago
  • Thomas has incurable TDS

    The 5 different IRGC sleeper cells breakdown episode was excellent (and terrifying), as was the deep dive with your guest about Houthi tribes. Keep these interesting and informative episodes coming!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Original_Owl
    United Statesa month ago

Listeners Say

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

Thoughtful, data-driven geopolitics with firsthand insight.
Strong guests and rigorous discussion, though occasional bias draws mixed reviews.
Great deep-dives into complex conflicts; sometimes polarizing viewpoints, but consistently informative.
Engaging, sometimes provocative takes that push for deeper understanding of Middle East dynamics.
High-quality analysis with impactful storytelling and historical context.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#169
United States/History
Apple Podcasts
#52
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#122
Canada/History
Apple Podcasts
#68
Australia/History
Apple Podcasts
#176
Germany/History
Apple Podcasts
#128
United Arab Emirates/Top Podcasts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Utopia or Dystopia? The Truth About Jewish-Muslim History
Q: How do modern nationalist and liberal ideas influence perceptions of this history?
Modern ideologies have introduced new lenses—nationalism and liberalism—that sometimes rewrite or mythologize past interactions, intensifying either utopian expectations or perceived perpetual conflict.
Utopia or Dystopia? The Truth About Jewish-Muslim History
Q: What is the central thesis of the book about Jewish–Muslim relations?
The book argues that Jewish–Muslim history is not a simple tale of constant conflict or constant harmony; it is a nuanced, long-running interaction with cycles of cooperation and tension shaped by political, religious, and social contexts.
Sir Vince Cable: The Crisis of Liberal Democracy
Q: What is the difference between a super state and a superpower, and is China more of a super state than India?
Cable explains that super states are economically massive and influential but not necessarily militarily dominant, with China and India as central examples; he highlights that China seeks global reach and economic influence while maintaining different levels of military power compared to the US, and argues for a vocabulary that reflects this new geopolitical reality.
Sir Vince Cable: The Crisis of Liberal Democracy
Q: Hello, Sir Vince. It's so nice to meet you.
Cable discusses his background, including his early career in Kenya and post-colonial development, and explains how those experiences ground his views on global economics and democracy.
The True Origins of Modern Terrorism
Q: Why did different militant movements converge around a common repertoire of violence in the 1960s and 1970s?
They shared a global moment of revolutionary energy, embraced media to amplify their messages, and were shaped by both local grievances and international ideologies, which led to overlapping tactics across left-wing and Islamist groups.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About CONFLICTED

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

A geopolitics-focused show featuring in-depth conversations between a former MI6 asset and a former monk-turned-filmmaker as they analyze war, terrorism, and regional power dynamics in the Middle East. Across episodes, topics span covert diplomacy, intelligence history, and the social and political forces shaping conflict in Iraq, Syria, Iran, and the broader Islamic world, often backed by firsthand experience and on-the-ground observations. Notable strengths include high-signal guest expertise from former operatives, journalists, and scholars, plus candid takes on regional alliances, sanctions, and statecraft that help listeners understand complex crises beyond simplistic narratives.

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Which podcasts are similar to CONFLICTED?

These podcasts share a similar audience with CONFLICTED:

1. TRIGGERnometry
2. Middle East Focus
3. Conflicted: A History Podcast
4. The Rest Is Classified
5. UnHerd with Freddie Sayers

How many episodes of CONFLICTED are there?

CONFLICTED launched 8 years ago and published 205 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. Jake Warren
2. Sir Jeremy Hunt
3. James D. Boys
4. Marc David Baer
5. Sir Vince Cable
6. Elizabeth Tsurkov
7. Tim Weiner
8. Jack Carr

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