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CONFLICTED

Message Heard
Yemen
Iran
Houthis
Ali Abdullah Saleh
Arab Spring
Hamas
Gaza War
Al Qaeda
Middle East
Conflicted Community
Israel Defense Forces
Middle East Geopolitics
Middle Eastern Diplomacy
Qatar
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 weeklyEpisodes182Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Religion & SpiritualityHistory

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Latest Episodes

In this Conflicted Conversation, Thomas speaks with Ali Ansari, Professor of Modern Middle East History at the University of St Andrews.

Prof. Ansari discusses:

• The depth and antiquity of Iranian culture

• His childhood experiences inside th... more

Iran has chosen its new Supreme Leader: Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the recently assassinated Ayatollah Khamenei. Who is he? What does he believe? And most importantly, is his coming to power the fulfilment of ancient prophecy?

Aimen and Thomas discuss... more

In this Conflicted Conversation, Thomas speaks to two friends of the show about how Europe is responding to the war with Iran. In the first half, the Rt Hon Tom Tugendhat MP — former chair of the UK Foreign Affairs Select Committee and former UK Secu... more

With missiles streaking across Middle Eastern skies and the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader sending shockwaves through the region, Aimen joins Thomas from a Dubai under fire to unpack a historic turning point.

They discuss:

• Iran’s unprec... more

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Recent Guests

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
James McDougall
Professor of modern and contemporary history at Oxford University, and author of Worlds of Islam, A Global History.
Episode: Re-Thinking Islam’s Global History
Jakub Jajcaj
Former NATO officer who volunteered to fight in the conflict in Ukraine.
Episode: Inside the Trenches of Ukraine
Lorenzo Vidino
Director of the Programme on Extremism at the George Washington University
George Washington University
Episode: What the U.S. Gets Wrong About the Muslim Brotherhood
Tom Tugendhat MP
British politician and member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
Episode: Has the Muslim Brotherhood Infiltrated the UK?
Martin Plaut
Distinguished journalist, expert in African conflicts
Episode: Conflicted Revisited: Ethiopia’s Overlooked Conflict

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
  • 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 States25 days 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 Statesa month ago
  • Thomas sucks

    Thomas is an antisemitic Islamist mouth piece

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Historynutt3000
    United Statesa month ago
  • This podcast provides so much insight into politics and culture in the Middle East. Dean brings so much valuable perspective on how these conflicts originate. Small and Dean work really well together.

    Podchaser
    5
    Abby
    2 months ago
  • Hussein Mansour

    The interview with Hussein Mansour on Third Worldism was brilliant. More of these voices please.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Fourpointo
    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
#47
United States/History
Spotify
#38
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#215
United Kingdom/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#26
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#34
Canada/History
Apple Podcasts
#224
Australia/Top Podcasts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

African Slavery: The Untold Story
Q: What is the present-day relevance of this history according to Plaut?
Slavery persists in modern forms in various African states and the region, underscoring that the history is not merely in the past but a continuous, global issue requiring ongoing awareness and action.
African Slavery: The Untold Story
Q: What role did religious authorities and empires play in shaping slavery across Islamic and Christian contexts?
The discussion shows that both Islamic and Christian worlds had regimes and injunctions related to slavery, with examples of both tolerance and attempts at manumission, illustrating a complex, context-dependent history rather than a simple binary judgment.
African Slavery: The Untold Story
Q: How does the book reframe the origin of slavery in Africa beyond the Atlantic focus?
Plaut explains that slavery in Africa predates European involvement, with roots tracing back to ancient Egypt and the trans-Saharan networks, and that Africans themselves were active participants and agents within these systems.
Conflicted Revisited: Spying for Saudi
Q: What was the Saudis' plan regarding Jamal Khashoggi according to your analysis?
The operation aimed to kidnap him rather than kill him, with a plan for medical relocation that went wrong, leading to a murder cover-up and lengthy diplomatic fallout.
Trump, Netanyahu, and the Iran Endgame
Q: What do you think Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to Washington was all about?
The discussions were far from being totally conciliatory towards Iran, if anything. It addressed the importance of having a defined objective in terms of U.S. strategy regarding Iran and managing the ambiguous political landscape.

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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Which podcasts are similar to CONFLICTED?

These podcasts share a similar audience with CONFLICTED:

1. The Rest Is History
2. The Rest Is Classified
3. Empire: World History
4. Dan Snow's History Hit
5. Battleground

How many episodes of CONFLICTED are there?

CONFLICTED launched 7 years ago and published 182 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. Aimen Dean
2. Yossef Rapoport
3. Shawn VanDiver
4. Kishore Mahbubani
5. James McDougall
6. Jakub Jajcaj
7. Lorenzo Vidino
8. Tom Tugendhat MP

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