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CONFLICTED

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

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 weeklyEpisodes233Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HistoryReligion & Spirituality

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Artwork for CONFLICTED

Latest Episodes

To commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Aimen and Thomas take a deeper, wider look at the historical, ideological, and geopolitical context on either side of that momentous world-changing event.

Join the CONFLICTED COMMUNITY here: ⁠... more

Where did the nation-state come from—and what happens if the conditions that made it powerful are now disappearing?

Thomas discusses these questions and much more in this wide-ranging Conflicted Conversation with award-winning novelist and essayist ... more

In this Conflicted Conversation, journalist Chris Horton talks about his new book Ghost Nation: The Story of Taiwan and Its Struggle for Survival.

Chris explains:

• Why China wants Taiwan and why the island is vital to control of the western Paci... more

Aimen's prediction on 4 August came true, and in the intervening weeks the United States have ramped up the economic pressure on the Iranian regime. The question is: how with the IRGC react? The war re-escalated over the weekend, and as the Iranian p... more

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Recent Guests

Chris Horton
Author of Ghost Nation, The Story of Taiwan and Its Struggle for Survival
Author/Journalist
Episode: The Battle for Taiwan
Ian Kumekawa
Historian of Imperial Britain, author of Empty Vessel
Harvard University
Episode: The Rise of the Offshore World
Nicholas Morton
Associate Professor in History at Nottingham Trent University, author of The Crusader Storm, A Global History of the Wars for the Middle East
Nottingham Trent University
Episode: The Crusades: What Was Really Going On?
Justin Marozzi
Historian and author of Captives and Companions: A History of Slavery and the Slave Trade in the Islamic World
Author and Historian
Episode: Slavery and Islam: The Whole Story
Thant Myint-U
Historian, former UN peacekeeper, grandson of U Thant
Author of Peacemaker, U Thant and the Forgotten Quest for a Just World
Episode: U Thant: The Diplomat Who Defined the 1960s
Laura Spinney
Author of Proto, How One Ancient Language Went Global
Author, Proto project
Episode: Indo-European: The Language Family That Went Global
Yaakov Katz
Former editor-in-chief of The Jerusalem Post; author of While Israel Slept
Book author, Journalist
Episode: How Netanyahu Failed to Prevent October 7
Ben Hodges
Retired Lieutenant General; former commander of US Army Europe
United States Army Europe (retired)
Episode: Ben Hodges: Russia Can Be Defeated
Clifton Crais
Author of The Killing Age, How Violence Made the Modern World
Emory University
Episode: Guns, Greed and the Making of Modernity

Host

Thomas Small
Host of Conflicted; frequently guides high-level geopolitical analysis and interviews guests across history, security, and policy.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 3.1k ratings
  • How the modern Middle East was made

    So interesting, I had no idea of this history, my sum knowledge was Laurence of Arabia and Gertrude bell, and a vague memory of the Iranian embassy siege, I hadn’t even appreciated the geography till the recent eruption in the gulf. I’m definitely buying the book.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Dr LSP
    United Kingdom13 days ago
  • The Rise of the Offshore World

    This quality of the podcast is becoming very poor. The episode on the Rise of the Offshore World is possibly the worst podcast I have ever listened to in my life. What was the point or conclusion of this episode? A 16 year old high school student who has studied elementary economics or history could have told me everything in this podcast. And yet you present it as though it’s some sort of revelation or a piece of ground breaking academic research?

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Alec Trevelyan (006)
    United Kingdom21 days ago
  • Disappointed in the political direction of this show

    I really used to enjoy this podcast but recently the hosts particularly Aimen have taken an extremely pro Israel pro America pro UAE stance. The discussions are now biased and one sided which is a real shame .

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Rayyan Jamal
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Disgusting defence of Islamic slavery

    Just horrid. Discussing slavery but only the parts where slaves had a better deal. Even then, never discussing the impact of castration. Just vile. Gutless. Cowardly. Sick…

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Jimini666
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Good except for it’s blind spot…

    Such a pity Thomas has joined the ranks of those with Trump Derangement Syndrome. Just becoming like every other borecast now.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Jimini666
    United Kingdom2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise deep, expert analysis and firsthand guest insight.
Some reviews note perceived bias; quality and depth remain strong for many listeners.
A few critics call out bias or a narrow regional focus, but many find episodes highly informative.
Guests and hosts are described as knowledgeable, with high production and storytelling quality.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#147
United States/History
Apple Podcasts
#54
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#138
Canada/History
Apple Podcasts
#75
Australia/History
Apple Podcasts
#103
Germany/History
Apple Podcasts
#248
Italy/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Trump's Strangulation Strategy
Q: What factors are argued to be influencing U.S. policy decisions in the near term?
Factors include upcoming midterm elections, the Venezuela oil deal to restock SPR, internal White House dynamics, and the push to keep oil prices in check while ensuring regional stability—leading to a sometimes more restrained but still persistent pressure campaign.
The Battle for Taiwan
Q: Why does Taiwan matter so much beyond its own borders?
Taiwan matters because of its strategic location, its advanced tech sector, and the role its democracy plays in shaping regional and global stability; control over Taiwan would alter power dynamics in the Pacific and threaten the existing liberal order.
Simon Sebag Montefiore: How the Modern Middle East Was Made
Q: What, if any, alternate historical path might have avoided some of today's tensions, such as a different outcome for post-Ottoman state borders or the handling of the Arab-Israeli question?
The guest points to the Ark of missed opportunities around mandates and borders—imagining scenarios where different early decisions might have preserved multi-ethnic, plural identities in some states, potentially reducing later nationalist consolidation and conflict.
Simon Sebag Montefiore: How the Modern Middle East Was Made
Q: Why do monarchies in the Gulf and elsewhere seem to endure more stably than republics in the region, according to your discussion?
The hosts suggest monarchies benefited from deep-rooted legitimacy, long-standing social contracts, and a degree of stability that comes from hereditary authority, enabling them to navigate modernization and reform more smoothly than some republican regimes.
Simon Sebag Montefiore: How the Modern Middle East Was Made
Q: Is the American Imperium in the Middle East something that was planned strategically or was it more a series of haphazard moves driven by anti-communism and realpolitik?
Montefiore argues that while there were strategic goals, much of the US involvement was pragmatic, opportunistic, and often inconsistent, shaped by the struggle against communism and the desire to influence outcomes rather than a single, coherent empire-building plan.

Audience Metrics

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

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CONFLICTED launched 8 years ago and published 233 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. Chris Horton
2. Ian Kumekawa
3. Nicholas Morton
4. Justin Marozzi
5. Thant Myint-U
6. Laura Spinney
7. Yaakov Katz
8. Ben Hodges

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