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Gaza
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Real Talk is a Middle East Eye interview series hosted by Mohamed Hashem that explores the unique stories and experiences of a diverse range of guests — from artists, to musicians, to politicians and more.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes48Founded2 years ago
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Society & Culture

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Latest Episodes

"You got me to talk about things I don't talk about normally."

Daniel Levy is a former Israeli negotiator who served under two prime ministers Yitzhak Rabin and Ehud Barak.

Today, the British-born analyst and president of the US Middle East Projec... more

'Hundreds of people are coming to my events, many of them Jewish, and they tell me I gave them their ancestors back'

Molly Crabapple is an Emmy Award-winning artist, author and journalist. Her new book, Here Where We Live Is Our Country, tells the l... more

YouTube

‘I regret losing my job. Not what I said’

Mark Bonnick worked at Arsenal for 22 years. Then on Christmas Eve 2024, the former kitman was fired over posts he made on X criticising Israel over the genocide in Gaza.

Arsenal accused him of bringing th... more

"The left loves to lose. They can't get enough of it."

Ana Kasparian has been an influential and prominent voice in US independent media for nearly two decades.

The co-host and executive producer of The Young Turks speaks with Mohamed Hashem on Rea... more

YouTube

"Mom, I'm at our house."

Yousra Elbagir is Sky News UK's Africa correspondent. She has been highly praised for her reporting on a war that's been largely absent from mainstream news coverage: Sudan.

As the fighting enters its fourth year, Sudan has... more

"My commanders liked the fact I was a Nazi. They saw it as making me a better warrior."

Matt Kennard is a British investigative journalist who co-founded Declassified UK, and is also the author of Irregular Army. It’s a book that uncovers how the US... more

Peter Oborne spent decades at the heart of the British establishment.

The award-winning journalist and author of ‘Complicit’ sits down with Mohamed Hashem on Real Talk to break down how the Iraq war set the template for Gaza, and why there is a dir... more

YouTube

"I don't feel safe with my own people."

Ariana Jasmine is one of the biggest Iranian-American political content creators, whose videos on Iran's history, the US-Israeli war on the country, and US politics have been widely shared online.

In this co... more

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Recent Guests

Molly Crabapple
Acclaimed and Emmy Award-winning artist and author
Author of Here Where We Live Is Our Country
Episode: Molly Crabapple spent 7 years recovering the Jewish history Zionism tried to erase
Mark Bonnick
Arsenal kit man, 22 years with Arsenal
Arsenal Football Club
Episode: Arsenal fired me on Christmas Eve for opposing Israel | Mark Bonnick
Yousra Elbagir
Africa correspondent for Sky News UK, renowned Sudan war reporter
Sky News UK
Episode: ‘Mom, I’m at our house’: How this war reporter covered the horrors of Sudan’s war | Yousra Elbagir
Matt Kennard
Investigative journalist and author of Irregular Army
Episode: Did the US military turn a blind eye to recruiting neo-Nazis? | Matt Kennard
Peter Oborne
Journalist and author
Real Talk guest
Episode: Why this lifelong Conservative turned on the British establishment | Peter Oborne
Ariana Jasmine
One of the largest Iranian American content creators and journalists online
Independent creator, Iranian American
Episode: She spoke against the Iran War. Her community turned on her | Ariana Jasmine | Real Talk
Murtaza Hussain
National Security and Foreign Affairs reporter at Drop Site, investigating ties between Jeffrey Epstein and Israeli intelligence.
Drop Site
Episode: Inside Jeffrey Epstein’s ties to Israel | Murtaza Hussain | Real Talk
Karen Hao
Investigative journalist and author of the book 'Empire of AI'.
Author
Episode: She's an insider now exposing OpenAI. Here's why you should be concerned | Karen Hao | Real Talk
Yasemin Acar
A leading activist from Germany and member of the Global Sumud Flotilla Steering Committee.
Episode: Facing Ben Gvir: I was stripped, beaten and detained in Israel | Yasemin Acar | Real Talk

Host

Mohamed Hashem
Host of Real Talk

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Arsenal fired me on Christmas Eve for opposing Israel | Mark Bonnick
Q: How did Arsenal respond or handle the case publicly?
Arsenal issued statements referencing anti-Semitism and disrepute, while the FA reportedly found no anti-Semitism; the interviewee argues the club used a political framing and secrecy around the process, leading to a perceived lack of transparency.
‘Mom, I’m at our house’: How this war reporter covered the horrors of Sudan’s war | Yousra Elbagir
Q: How has covering Sudan's war affected your sense of duty and your approach to reporting?
It has intensified the sense that sharing civilians' experiences matters most, driving a careful balance between bearing witness and pushing for accountability, while continually adapting to dangerous logistics and the evolving political landscape.
Why this lifelong Conservative turned on the British establishment | Peter Oborne
Q: Why did you decide to resign from The Telegraph, and what did you hope to achieve by speaking out later on issues like advertising influence?
I resigned because editors blocked reporting on advertiser leverage over editorial content; I believed the newspaper should be independent from advertisers, and I aimed to expose those conflicts publicly to push for accountability.
Why this lifelong Conservative turned on the British establishment | Peter Oborne
Q: What moment signaled a turning point in your political outlook?
The two pivotal moments were the Hutton judgment questioning David Kelly's death and the MI6 missteps alongside the Iraq War, which together shattered confidence in the British establishment and mainstream narratives.
Facing Ben Gvir: I was stripped, beaten and detained in Israel | Yasemin Acar | Real Talk
Q: What did Ben Gvir say to you?
Ben Gvir called me a terrorist and said I would be treated as one.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Real Talk

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

Real Talk curates long, in-depth conversations with a diverse set of guests who push for critical examination of geopolitics, media, and culture in the Middle East and beyond. Episodes span historical deep-dives into movements like the Bund, frontline reporting from war zones, investigations into military and tech policies, and candid discussions about diaspora dynamics, censorship, and human rights. The show often features journalists, activists, artists, and thought leaders who challenge mainstream narratives, advocate for accountability, and connect global issues to personal stories. A standout thread is the willingness to address hard questions about power, media bias, and policy with nuance and bold perspectives, making it a strong fit... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Real Talk?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Real Talk:

1. UNAPOLOGETIC with Ashfaaq Carim
2. The Katie Halper Show
3. The Chris Hedges Report
4. Bad Hasbara - The World's Most Moral Podcast
5. Drop Site News

How many episodes of Real Talk are there?

Real Talk launched 2 years ago and published 48 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 Real Talk?

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What guests have appeared on Real Talk?

Recent guests on Real Talk include:

1. Molly Crabapple
2. Mark Bonnick
3. Yousra Elbagir
4. Matt Kennard
5. Peter Oborne
6. Ariana Jasmine
7. Murtaza Hussain
8. Karen Hao

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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