The Take (Al Jazeera)

Lara Bitar, a Lebanese journalist, has been reporting on the toxic waste that’s been in Lebanon since the country’s civil war – reporting that took on a new meaning in the wake of Beirut’s 2020 port explosion. This March, she and another journalist were summoned by the government over stories they had written. What does Lara’s story mean for the future of journalism in Lebanon?

In this episode: 

• Lara Bitar (@LaraJBitar), editor-in-chief of The Public Source

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Amy Walters with Chloe K. Li and host, Kevin Hirten. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. 

Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on August 3, 2023. None of the references from that time have been changed.

In a Texas maximum security prison, Dennis Wayne Hope has served 27 years in solitary confinement – more than half his life. On any given night in the US, more than 120,000 prisoners are isolated just like him. United Nations experts have strongly urged a global ban on solitary confinement that lasts more than 15 days, denouncing it as a form of psychological torture. Today, the story of how Dennis set out to change that and what it says about prison in the United States.

In this episode: 

• Rhana Natour (@RNatourious), correspondent for Al Jazeera's Fault Lines

Episode credits:

This episode was updated by Sarí el-Khalili. The original production team was Khaled Soltan, Miranda Lin, and our host, Kevin Hirten, in for Malika Bilal. 

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer.

Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

The last time Iran faced the United States at the World Cup, back in 1998, the streets of Tehran erupted in celebration after Iran won. This time around, feelings are much more complicated. Iranians are entering a third month of protests after 22-year-old Mahsa Jina Amini died in police custody in September. Since then, foreign-based rights groups say hundreds have been killed by security forces and thousands arrested. In this episode, we look at the role athletes are playing in Iran’s protests.

In this episode: 

• Reza H. Akbari (@rezahakbari), PhD candidate and program manager at Institute for War and Peace Reporting

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Negin Owliaei with Chloe K. Li and our host, Halla Mohieddeen. Our production team includes Chloe K. Li, Alexandra Locke, Ashish Malhotra, Negin Owliaei, Amy Walters, and Ruby Zaman.  Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our engagement producers are Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

The conversation around US President Joe Biden among Democrats has been nonstop since the first debate with his opponent, Donald Trump. Will he step down? And if he does, how much would it change the course of the Democratic party?

In this episode: 

• Ali Harb (@Harbpeace), Al Jazeera English Journalist

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by David Enders and Duha Mosaad, with Mohammed Zain Shafi Khan, Veronique Eshaya, and our host Malika Bilal. 

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers.

Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, And Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

We are bringing you updates on Saturday and Sunday as Israel's ground invasion of Gaza continues.

In this episode:

Updates from Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza City and Khan Younis in southern Gaza.

Episode credits:

This episode was produced and mixed by David Enders, with our host Kevin Hirten in for Malika Bilal.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer.

Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio. 

Connect with us:

Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Last May, Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was killed by Israeli forces. Since then, her family has pushed the United States government for one thing: an independent investigation into her killing that leads to real accountability. The Take looks into the push for justice in the US and why it has been so difficult to achieve.  

In this episode:

• Lina Abu Akleh (@LinaAbuAkleh), niece of Shireen Abu Akleh
• Katherine Gallagher (@katherga1), Human Rights Attorney, Center for Constitutional Rights (@theCCR)
• Said Arikat (@SMArikat), journalist

Episode credits:

Host: Halla Mohieddeen

This episode was produced by Negin Owliaei and Amy Walters with Ruby Zaman, Chloe K. Li, and Alexandra Locke. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our engagement producers are Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad. Ney Alvarez is our Head of Audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

During the Trump administration, large numbers of militia members and vigilantes flocked to the southern border of the United States. They pledged to stop undocumented border crossings and started patrols with that in mind. But the residents of the small border town of Arivaca, Arizona had seen these groups before and had no interest in handling them again. Author and journalist Patrick Strickland spent a year reporting there and tells us what he found.

In this episode:

• Patrick Strickland (@P_Strickland_) Author, The Marauders: Conspiracy Theories, Militias and Violence on the US Border

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Amy Walters with Alexandra Locke, Ruby Zaman, Chloe K. Li, Negin Owliaei, Ney Alvarez, and Malika Bilal. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our engagement producers are Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

The Wagner Group is shadowy and illegal, but it has been tracked to Ukraine, Syria, Libya, the Central African Republic, Mali, and elsewhere. It is known as a deadly fighting force of mercenaries with a goal of furthering Russia’s military interests around the world. One Wagner fighter is now speaking out about what life is like as a soldier for hire.

In this episode: 

• Niko Vorobyov, British and Russian journalist for Al Jazeera
• Marat Gabidullin, Former member of The Wagner Group in Ukraine and Syria

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Amy Walters with Alexandra Locke and our host Halla Mohieddeen.

It was fact-checked by Ruby Zaman. The production team includes Chloe K. Li, Alexandra Locke, Ashish Malhotra, Negin Owliaei, Amy Walters, and Ruby Zaman. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our engagement producers are Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

This week, we continue revisiting and updating some of our favorite episodes on The Take.

The year 2021 was the deadliest year to be a Palestinian child since 2014. As many as 86 children were killed, and Defense for Children International Palestine (DCIP) documented each of them. One of them was Obaida Jawabra. This week, we tell Obaida’s story, one of our most memorable on The Take, and hear about why it is getting harder for DCIP to do their job.

In this episode:

• Farah Bayadsi, Human Rights Attorney (@DCIPalestine)
• Ayed Abu Qtaish, Accountability programme director for Defense for Children International
• Yuval Abraham, Journalist at 972 Magazine (@yuval_abraham)

Connect with The Take: 

Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

As the year wraps up, we're looking back at ten of the episodes that defined our year at The Take. This originally aired on February 1.

ChatGPT is taking the world by storm with AI-generated text that rivals actual literature – but there’s a price. For its parent company, OpenAI, to get this quality product, human beings are paid to help teach it to identify the bad stuff: hate speech and violence of all kinds. We hear about the good, the bad, and the ugly of ChatGPT, including from one person who did the job and has real questions about whether it’s worth the price.

Note: This episode contains elements that were generated using ChatGPT.

In this episode: 

• Nanjala Nyabola (@Nanjala1), author of Digital Democracy, Analogue Politics: How the Internet Era Is Transforming Politics in Kenya
• Michael Kearns (@mkearnsupenn), author of "The Ethical Algorithm"
• Mophat Ochieng, former AI content moderator 

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Amy Walters with our host, Malika Bilal. Ashish Malhotra, Chloe K. Li, Miranda Lin and Alexandra Locke fact-checked this episode.

Our production team includes Chloe K. Li, Miranda Lin, Ashish Malhotra, Negin Owliaei, and Amy Walters. 

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

There are two objectives in phase two of Israel’s war on Gaza, according to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: the destruction of the military and governmental capabilities of Hamas, as well as the release of the captives, some of which were seen in a Hamas video on Monday. But how will the hostages affect Israel's calculus, and how much of a priority are they?

In this episode: 

• Haggai Matar (@Ha_Matar), +972 Executive Director
• Oren Ziv (@OrenZiv_), +972 News Journalist and Photographer

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Fahrinisa Campana, Miranda Lin and our host Natasha del Toro, in for Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer.

Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

After six months, a Brazilian Senate investigative committee has recommended for President Jair Bolsonaro to be indicted for nine crimes related to his handling of the coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than 600,000 people in the South American country. But who decides the president’s fate, and will he be impeached or even jailed like his predecessors?

In this episode: 

• Monica Yanakiew (@MonikaKiev), reporter for Al Jazeera English in Brazil
• Claudio Couto (@claudio_couto), political scientist and professor at the Getulio Vargas Foundation in Sao Paulo 

Connect with The Take: 

Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

West African nations have imposed sanctions on Niger’s new military leaders following a coup to overthrow President Mohamed Bazoum last week. Coup leaders have warned against any foreign attempts to extract the democratically elected Bazoum, and they’ve accused former colonial ruler France of plotting a military intervention - which France denies. And now there are growing concerns of an escalation on the ground, which could have broader implications for peace and security in the region. So what’s driving this power struggle in Niger, and what happens next?

In this episode: 

• Ahmed Idris (@Ahmedtj66), Al Jazeera Correspondent in Nigeria

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Sonia Bhagat and Chloe K. Li with Miranda Lin and our host Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera AlDosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers.

Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

This week we have been revisiting and updating some of our favorite episodes on The Take. This is the last episode of the series.

Egypt’s low-tech, high-energy mahraganat music blasted out of the shantytowns to top the global charts on SoundCloud and rack up hundreds of millions of views on YouTube. But it’s been dogged by controversy, throwing the entire genre’s future into question.

In this episode:

• Mina Girgis (@minagirgis), an Egyptian ethnomusicologist based in the United States

For more:

Listen to Bent el Geran / ‘The Neighbors’ Daughter'

Listen to the "Mahraganat" playlist on Spotify

Connect with The Take: 

Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has been arrested for a second time, on a second charge, and is barred from running in the next elections. Khan has blamed a US-led conspiracy for his fall from power, and a new report of a leaked diplomatic cable from the US news outlet The Intercept suggests the US State Department did encourage Pakistani officials to move on from Khan. This political drama adds to Pakistan’s troubles as it faces growing economic and security challenges under an interim government and a meddling military establishment. 

In this episode: 

• Abid Hussain (@AbidHussayn), Al Jazeera digital correspondent in Pakistan
• Murtaza Hussain (@MazMHussain), national security reporter for The Intercept

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Miranda Lin and our host Kevin Hirten, in for Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera AlDosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers.

Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

We are coming to you on Sundays with weekly roundups as Israel's war on Gaza continues. Israel struck Yemen. Polio was detected in Gaza. The International Court of Justice said Israel's occupation of Palestinian land is illegal. Benjamin Netanyahu is set to travel to Washington. It is day 289 of the war. More than 38,900 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed.

In this episode:

• Hamdah Salhut, (@hamdahsalhut), Al Jazeera Correspondent
• Akram Al Satarri, Journalist in Gaza
• Nida Ibrahim (@nida_journo), Al Jazeera Correspondent
• Kimberly Halkett (@KimberlyHalkett), Al Jazeera White House Correspondent

Episode credits:

This episode was produced and mixed by David Enders. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Locals are fighting to reclaim their city from tourism in a mass demonstration in Barcelona on July 6. The tourism boom has impacted local life, housing, and culture, pushing the city to the brink. 

In this episode: 

• Carme Arcarazo (@carmearcarazo), Speaker of Barcelona’s tenant union (@sindicatlloguer), housing researcher at La Hidra 

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Marcos Bartolomé, with Amy Walters, Mohammed Zain Shafi Khan, Manahil Naveed, Veronique Eshaya, Ashish Malhotra, Duha Mossad, and our host, Malika Bilal. 

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers.

Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

On September 30, Captain Ibrahim Traore led a coup to become Burkina Faso’s new leader, deposing Paul Henri-Damiba, who had only come to power in January through his own coup. So, what are the conditions that allowed for the West African nation to face two coups in just eight months?

In this episode: 

• Nicolas Haque, (@nicolashaque), Al Jazeera’s West Africa correspondent

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra with Amy Walters, Negin Owliaei, Ruby Zaman, Chloe K. Li, Alexandra Locke, and Halla Mohieddeen. Alex Roldan is our sound designer. Tim St. Clair mixed this episode.

Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

While hundreds of sick and wounded Palestinians are actively seeking shelter at al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza, Israeli forces have launched a full-scale military raid. We ask what, if anything, is under the hospital, and as global outcry for a ceasefire grows louder, what will it take for the fighting to end? 

In this episode: 

• Zoran Kusovac (@zkusovac), Military Analyst

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Khaled Soltan, Zaina Badr and Amy Walters with our host Kevin Hirten, in for Malika Bilal. Fahrinisa Campana fact-checked this episode.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer.

Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

What would a second Trump presidency look like? One possible vision is laid out in Project 2025, a plan by the Heritage Foundation that’s ringing alarm bells with celebrities, activists, and the Biden administration. It aims to transform the federal government. What vision does it lay out for the future of US democracy?

In this episode: 

• Reed Galen (@reedgalen), Co-founder of The Lincoln Project 

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Tamara Khandaker, Chloe K. Li, and Ashish Malhotra, with Duha Mosaad, Manahil Naveed, Mohammed Zain Shafi Khan, Veronique Eshaya, and our host Malika Bilal. 

Alex Roldan is our sound designer. Joe Plourde mixed this episode. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers.

Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

The Taliban had promised teenage girls in Afghanistan would get to return to school for the first time since August. But on March 23, schools had only been open for a few hours before the Taliban shut them down indefinitely — plunging Afghan girls' futures back into limbo.

In this episode: 

• Pashtana Durrani, Executive Director of LEARN Afghanistan (@BarakPashtana)
• Heather Barr, Associate Women’s Rights Director, Human Rights Watch (@heatherbarr1)

Connect with The Take: 

Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

There is cautious optimism as Bangladesh grapples with the aftermath of its student-led protests. Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus now leads a hopeful interim government tasked with securing elections. Will Bangladesh achieve true stability, or will a tumultuous political saga enter a new phase?

In this episode:

• Tanvir Chowdhury (@tanvirbengal), Al Jazeera Bangladesh Correspondent/Producer

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Tamara Khandaker, Chloe K. Li, and Sonia Bhagat with Amy Walters, Khaled Soltan, Duha Mosaad, Veronique Eshaya, Shraddha Joshi, Hagir Saleh, Manahil Naveed, and our host Malika Bilal.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers.

Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

New York City is the wealthiest city in the United States – by some counts, the world. But after three years of pandemic, it has yet to build back better: rents are skyrocketing, concern about crime is at an all-time high, and the focus has landed on people living on the streets and the subways.

There's been a high-profile effort by the city's mayor, Eric Adams, to clear the streets, including controversial sweeps of encampments and hospitalizations by police, even when people don't want to go.

So how can the city protect the most vulnerable New Yorkers?

In this episode:

• Peter Malvan, Homeless Advocate, Urban Justice Center
• Max Rivlin-Nadler (@MaxRivlinNadler), Co-publisher of @HellGateNY

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Alexandra Locke with Chloe K. Li and our host, Halla Mohieddeen, in for Malika Bilal. Ashish Malhotra fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Andy Greiner and Adam Abou Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take's executive producer and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

It’s the Donald Trump trial made for the tabloids. Accused of an affair with an adult film star and a payment allegedly made to cover it up ahead of the 2016 US election. Eight years later, Trump is seeking the presidency again. What’s the impact of the scandal this time?

In this episode: 

• Kristen Saloomey (@KSaloomey), Al Jazeera Correspondent 

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra, Sarí el-Khalili, and Zaina Badr, with Manahil Naveed, Marcos Bartolomé and our host Malika Bilal. 

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer.

Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited the Middle East this week for the fifth time since October 7. There were hopes he could seal a truce for Gaza. But by the end of his trip, Israel had stepped up attacks on Palestinians in southern Gaza, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed no end to the war without ‘victory.’ So what progress has the US made?

In this episode: 

• Ali Harb (@Harbpeace), Al Jazeera Senior Producer
• Kimberly Halkett (@KimberlyHalkett), Al Jazeera White House Correspondent 

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Sarí el-Khalili and Miranda Lin with our host, Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan and Sonia Bhagat fact-checked this episode.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer.

Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Shein is one of the most successful start-ups in the world, and the fast fashion company’s rise parallels the global spread of the shopping holiday Black Friday. It has reportedly been valued at $100bn and it has been ranked the top shopping app in dozens of countries. But Shein is still full of unknowns, including big questions about its working conditions and its materials. So what we know about its success – and what we don’t – tell us about the future of fast fashion.

In this episode: 

• Terry Nguyen (@terrygtnguyen), journalist at Dirt Newsletter
• Sheng Lu (@shenglu27), professor at the University of Delaware

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Alexandra Locke with Chloe K. Li, Ruby Zaman, Amy Walters, Negin Owliaei, Ashish Malhotra, and Halla Mohieddeen. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alex Roldan is our sound designer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Black farmers have lost 98 percent of their land over the past century due to factors that include discrimination from the United States Department of Agriculture. Now, with a growing food crisis that disproportionately affects them, a new generation of farmers and organisers are acquiring back that lost land to provide a reliable food source for their communities.

In this episode:

• Kofi Boone (@KBbop), professor of landscape architecture at North Carolina State University
• Kenya Crumel, director of Black Land & Power Initiative at the National Black Food & Justice Alliance
• Cam Terry, owner and farmer with Garden Variety Harvests

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Chloe K. Li, with Alexandra Locke, Ashish Malhotra, Ruby Zaman, Amy Walters, Negin Owliaei, and Halla Mohieddeen. Alex Roldan is our sound designer. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Usually all quirky music and fun, Eurovision this year has been marked by protests over Israel’s participation during its ongoing war on Gaza. Will it overshadow an event meant to unite?

In this episode: 

• Nils Adler (@nilsadler1), Al Jazeera Journalist 

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra and Chloe K. Li with our host Malika Bilal. Catherine Nouhan fact-checked this episode.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer.

Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

A lot of Canadians are frustrated with the 600-million-dollar pandemic election that took place earlier this week and resulted in an almost identical parliament. But the five weeks of electioneering did raise a lot of issues and highlight some trends that could define Canada’s future.

In this episode: 

Fatima Syed (@fatimabsyed), host of BackBench podcast (@backbenchcast) and reporter at The Narwhal (@thenarwhalca).

Connect with The Take: 

Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

We are coming to you on Sundays with weekly roundups as Israel's war on Gaza continues. U.S. President Joe Biden said an immediate ceasefire was necessary in Gaza, where people were preparing for the end of Ramadan.

Israel's further use of AI in choosing military targets was revealed. The war is in its 184th day. More than 33,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed.

In this episode:

• Kimberly Halkett (@KimberlyHalkett), Al Jazeera Correspondent
• Akram Al Satarri, Freelance journalist
• Hind Al Khoudary (@Hind_Gaza), Journalist for Al Jazeera
• Hamdah Salhut (@hamdahsalhut), Al Jazeera Correspondent

Episode credits:

This episode was produced and mixed by David Enders.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer.

Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

It’s hard to convey just how fast and how much Europe has changed, including at its borders. More than a million people fled from Ukraine to the EU in just over a week. But in Ukraine, residents from Africa and Asia have reported racism as they fled. On the EU side of the border, Ukrainian refugees have been granted an unprecedented legal status. After years of hardening its borders, EU migration had become largely a story of limbo. Is what we’re seeing now a new chapter – or is there fine print? 

In this episode: 

• Franck Duvell (@fduvell), Senior Researcher, Institute for Migration Research and Intercultural Studies, Osnabrück University 

• Alexander Somto Orah (@nzekiev), student at State University of Telecommunications Kyiv

• Erik Edman (@edmantweet), Political Director, DiEM25 (@DiEM_25) 

Connect with The Take: 

Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Venezuela’s referendum to annex oil-rich territory in Guyana has created tension in Latin America not seen this century. But does the referendum signal possible annexation? Or is it political posturing by Nicolas Maduro, the country’s president, ahead of elections next year? 

In this episode: 

• Alessandro Rampietti (@rampietti), Al Jazeera Reporter
• Orin Gordon (@oringordon), Analyst

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Amy Walters and our host Malika Bilal. Fahrinisa Campana fact-checked this episode.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer.

Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Kamala Harris has breathed new life into the Democratic Party, serving as a much-needed jolt after US President Joe Biden’s exit from the race. With her new vice president pick Tim Walz by her side, on top of strong grassroots support and viral social media presence, Harris's campaign is resonating. But can the duo turn the political momentum into votes in November? 

In this episode: 

• Carri Twigg (@carritwigg), Culture House Co-Founder and Former Obama Staffer

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Chloe K. Li, Tamara Khandaker, and Sonia Bhagat with Manahil Naveed, Doha Mosaad, Veronique Ishaya, and our host, Malika Bilal

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers.

Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

In the Gulf, normalisation with Israel is paying off: there’s a major free trade deal, Israeli tourism to the United Arab Emirates is booming, and the prospect is brewing of normalisation with Saudi Arabia, the largest Arab economy. The occupation is still center stage to Palestinians, and for decades, Israel’s relationship with the Arab world has been at most a cold peace. What does it mean for that to change?

In this episode: 

Gregg Carlstrom (@glcarlstrom), Middle East correspondent, The Economist

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Alexandra Locke with Ney Alvarez, Negin Owliaei, Ruby Zaman, Amy Walters, and Malika Bilal. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our engagement producers are Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

The World Cup is around the corner. Hundreds of the best football players across the planet will have the honour of competing for their country. But to become one of those players requires a huge amount of dedication, hard work and luck. Today, we’re sharing the story of one man trying to reach the top tiers of his sport.

In this episode: 

• Benjamin Chevallier, co-director of Diaby: The Away Game

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Negin Owliaei with our host, Malika Bilal. It was fact-checked by Ruby Zaman.

Our production team includes Chloe K. Li, Alexandra Locke, Ashish Malhotra, Negin Owliaei, Amy Walters and Ruby Zaman. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

We are coming to you on Sundays with weekly roundups as Israel's war on Gaza continues. Ten Israeli soldiers died on Saturday. Refugees in Gaza weathered another heat wave. Ceasefire negotiations appear to have reached an impasse. Ceasefire negotiations appear to have reached an impasse. Today is Sunday, June 16. It is day 254 of the war. More than 37,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed.

In this episode:

• Akram Al Satarri, Freelance journalist
• Imran Khan, (@ajimran), Al Jazeera Senior Correspondent
• Zeina Khodr, (@ZeinakhodrAljaz), Al Jazeera Correspondent

Episode credits:

This episode was produced and mixed by David Enders. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Gas prices around the world have soared in the weeks since Russia invaded Ukraine. But the fuel supply in many places hasn’t actually changed yet, so what’s causing the rise in prices?

In this episode: 

• Kareem Chehayeb (@chehayebk), Beirut correspondent for Al Jazeera
• Amy Westervelt (@amywestervelt), a climate reporter
• Nelson Bocaranda (@bocaranda20), journalist in Caracas
• Maziar Motamedi (@MotamediMaziar), Tehran correspondent for Al Jazeera

Connect with The Take: 

Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

We are bringing you updates on Saturday and Sunday as the war on Gaza continues. Palestinian Christians began holding subdued Christmas celebrations as Israeli strikes in Gaza killed hundreds. The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire despite a UN resolution calling for more aid, and Christians in southern Lebanon prepared to celebrate elsewhere as fighting continued.

In this episode: 

• Nida Ibrahim (@nida_journo), Al Jazeera Correspondent in Occupied West Bank 
• Anas Al Sharif, Al Jazeera Correspondent in Gaza
• Hani Mahmoud, Al Jazeera Correspondent in Gaza
• Zeina Khodr (@ZeinakhodrAljaz), Al Jazeera Correspondent in Lebanon 

Episode credits:

This episode was produced, mixed and hosted by David Enders, in for Malika Bilal. 

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer.

Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Peter Kalmus is a US climate scientist who’s fed up with inaction. In April 2022, he chained himself to a bank in protest with a group called Scientist Rebellion. Now, during yet another hot summer, with Russia’s war in Ukraine and the ensuing global energy crisis, are growing protests like Peter’s the future? We hear from people demanding – and taking – radical action from around the globe.

In this episode: 

• Peter Kalmus (@ClimateHuman), climate scientist at NASA
• Anote Tong, former president of Kiribati
• Lucia Newman (@lucianewman), Latin America editor for Al Jazeera English  
• ​​Monica Villamizar (@monica_vv), journalist with Al Jazeera’s Fault Lines
• Karim Elgendy (@NomadandSettler), fellow at Chatham House
• Saleemul Huq (@SaleemulHuq), Director of the International Centre for Climate Change and Development
• Nisar Majid, research associate at the London School of Economics

To hear more from the people in this episode, check out our climate playlist on Spotify.

Episode credits:

This episode was updated by Alexandra Locke, who produced this episode in August 2022 with Chloe K. Li, Negin Owliaei, Amy Walters, Ruby Zaman, Ney Alvarez, and Malika Bilal.

Alex Roldan is our sound designer. Tim St. Clair mixed this episode. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera AlDosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers.

Alexandra Locke is The Take's executive producer and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Ramadan is a time of reflection, but in Jerusalem, the month is often accompanied by violence. This year, overlapping holidays for Christians, Jews and Muslims have shone a light on Israel and Palestine’s fault lines, particularly at holy sites in Jerusalem where Palestinian Christians and Muslims have fought Israeli restrictions on access. In this episode, we look at one month in the holy land through Palestinian eyes.

In this episode: 

• Diana Buttu (@dianabuttu), analyst and former legal adviser to Palestinian negotiators
• Dr. Samah Jabr (@drsamahjabr), Head of the Mental Health Unit, Palestine Ministry of Health 

This episode was produced by Alexandra Locke with Amy Walters, Negin Owliaei, Ruby Zaman, Ney Alvarez, and Malika Bilal. Alex Roldan is our sound designer. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. 

Connect with us at @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Now trending: the ‘digital guillotine.’ It’s a campaign known as Blockout 2024 to block celebrities on social media. Launched after the Met Gala in New York, it’s meant to hurt celebrities’ ad revenue. Will it have an impact?

In this episode: 

• Ahmed Shihab-Eldin (@ASE), Journalist 
• Dr. Marcus Collins (@marctothec), Assistant Professor of Marketing, University of Michigan

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Sarí el-Khalili and Khaled Soltan with our host Malika Bilal. Catherine Nouhan and Manahil Naveed fact-checked this episode.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer.

Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

What does ‘Prevent’ prevent? The UK government says the program is key to counterterrorism and protecting vulnerable people. Human rights organizations and Muslim groups say it’s surveillance and counterproductive. After years, the government will release an independent review of Prevent – but it's been boycotted by hundreds of organizations. Instead, many participated in a ‘people’s review’ of Prevent. So what does a tale of two reviews tell us about the future of Prevent?

In this episode: 

• Layla Aitlhadj, Director of Prevent Watch
• John Holmwood, author, “Countering Extremism in British Schools?: The Truth about the Birmingham Trojan Horse Affair”

Credits:

This episode was produced by Alexandra Locke and Negin Owliaei, with Ney Alvarez, Ruby Zaman, Amy Walters, and Halla Mohieddeen, in for Malika Bilal. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan and our engagement producers are Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad. 

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

As water from the decimated Kakhovka Dam floods the areas surrounding the Dnipro river, both Russia and Ukraine blame each other for the destruction. For months now, we’ve been hearing news about Ukraine’s pending counteroffensive to push back against Russia’s invasion. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been trying to fortify the response by asking for weapons training and financing from NATO members in preparation. Now, Zelenskyy has announced the counteroffensive has begun. The dam has broken, but will this get either side closer to the end of the war?

In this episode: 

• Charles Stratford (@stratfordch) Al Jazeera English senior correspondent

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Amy Walters and Sonia Bhagat, with David Enders, Chloe K. Li, Negin Owliaei, Ashish Malhotra and Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan and Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Tim St. Clair mixed this episode.

Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers.

Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

It’s a story that brings together two powerful families in the Middle East. Musa al-Sadr, a revered figure in Lebanon’s Shia community, met with then-Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi on August 31, 1978. He was never seen again. His mysterious disappearance has sparked decades of theories and accusations. In the hopes of finally forcing an answer, Lebanon has held Gaddafi’s youngest son, Hannibal, in prison since 2015 – though he’s never been tried. He’s now gone on a hunger strike, but Sadr’s family and devoted followers say there should be no concessions until they find out what happened to the ‘vanished Imam’.

In this episode: 

• Ali Hashem (@alihashem_tv), Al Jazeera correspondent 

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Khaled Soltan, David Enders and our host Kevin Hirten, in for Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. This episode was mixed by Tim St. Clair. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers.

Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

As internet connections gradually come back online in Bangladesh after deadly protests sparked a shutdown, we hear what students experienced and why they say the protests are not over.

In this episode: 

• Nazifa Zahnat, student protester
• Prapti Taposhi, student protester
• Tasneem, student protester

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Tamara Khandaker, Amy Walters, and Sonia Bhagat, with Duha Musaad, Veronique Eshaya, Manahil Naveed, and our host Malika Bilal.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers.

Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Israeli forces have seized control of Gaza’s Rafah border crossing, cutting off a vital route for humanitarian aid and potential sanctuary for civilians from a building offensive. What's next for the people stranded there?

In this episode: 

• Sara Khairat (@sarakhairat), Journalist

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Sarí el-Khalili and Khaled Soltan with our host Malika Bilal. Catherine Nouhan and Fahrinisa Campana fact-checked this episode.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer.

Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Captagon, a stimulant mainly produced in Syria that has become particularly popular with users in Gulf countries, has received a lot of press. While it seems clear that the trade is now one of the Syrian government’s main sources of income, less understood is its effects on users. Ever-larger seizures by authorities from Beirut to Abu Dhabi are daily occurrences. Now Captagon is part of the discussion as part of normalization talks following Syria’s readmission to the Arab League. How severe is the captagon problem in Syria and the Middle East? And will stopping the trade speed peace with Syria?  

In this episode: 

• Caroline Rose (@CarolineRose8), director of Strategic Blind Spots Portfolio at the New Lines Institute 
• Elie Aaraj (@eaaraj), director of the Middle East and North Africa Harm Reduction Association

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by David Enders, with Chloe K. Li and our host Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera AlDosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers.

Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

We are coming to you on Sundays with weekly roundups as Israel's war on Gaza continues. Israeli attacks in Gaza continued amidst reports of possible progress in peace talks. The director of Al Shifa Hospital was released from Israeli prison. The Israeli government approved the appropriation of more land in the occupied West Bank. It is day 275 of the war. More than 38,150 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed.

In this episode:

• Mohammad Jamjoom, (@MIJamjoom), Al Jazeera Senior Correspondent 
• Akram Al Satarri, Journalist in Gaza
• Mahmoud Alshawa, (@mahmoud.alshawa), Journalist in Gaza
• Nida Ibrahim, (@nida_journo), Al Jazeera Correspondent

Episode credits:

This episode was produced and mixed by David Enders. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

On July 16, US President Joe Biden and UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed met in Saudi Arabia. The meeting was part of Biden’s much-publicized trip to the Middle East. And as it ended, reporters had a question for the two leaders that went unanswered: why was the UAE detaining an American lawyer who once represented the slain Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi? The Take looks into the case of the US civil rights lawyer Asim Ghafoor.  

In this episode: 

• Nihad Awad, Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Negin Owliaei with Amy Walters, Alexandra Locke, Ney Alvarez, Ruby Zaman, Chloe K. Li and Malika Bilal. Alex Roldan is our sound designer. Adam Abou-Gad and Aya Elmileik are our engagement producers.

Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi has been killed in a helicopter crash, along with the foreign minister and six others. Now, the government will have to carry out elections during a turbulent moment for Iran and the region. How will Raisi’s death play out?

In this episode: 

• Resul Serdar Atas (@ResulSerdarAtas), Senior International Correspondent, Al Jazeera English
• Maziar Motamedi (@MotamediMaziar), Al Jazeera Journalist

For more:

The Take: What will happen to Julian Assange if he is extradited?

The Take: Are Israeli officials under threat of ICC prosecution?

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by David Enders, Zaina Badr, Manahil Naveed, and Chloe K. Li, with Catherine Nouhan and our host, Malika Bilal. 

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. 

Alexandra Locke is the Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Sixteen years of Angela Merkel in Germany have ended in an election with a three-way split, and nothing yet is settled – including the legacy of Merkel, whose stability helped reshape a continent. The possible next chancellor, Olaf Scholz, is famously boring, but still has a scandal percolating around him. As the parties haggle it out, it’s left Germany and the world with one question – what’s next?

In this episode:

Ruairi Casey (@Ruairi_Casey), reports on Germany for aljazeera.com

Connect with The Take: 

Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

After dealing with an 11-year war and the Ebola epidemic, Sierra Leoneans are now - like the rest of us - facing the COVID-19 pandemic. But for many, this can be particularly triggering. So what happens to people faced with generations of untreated collective trauma, and what can be done to help Sierra Leoneans heal?

In this episode: 

• Rawya Rageh (@RawyaRageh), Senior Crisis Adviser for Amnesty International
• Yusuf Kabba, President of the Sierra Leone Association of Ebola Survivors

Connect with The Take: 

Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

As the war on Gaza rages, we’re looking at how the media covers it, in conversation with three people in the US, UK and Canada, all with media experience in those countries. We discuss the struggles they’ve faced when it comes to accurate information and narratives on Palestine and Israel, and what has and has not changed in this latest escalation of violence.

You can find this on YouTube here.

In this episode:

• Omar Baddar (@OmarBaddar), Political analyst
• Ash Sarkar (@AyoCaesar), Contributing Editor, Novara Media
• Pacinthe Mattar (@Pacinthe), Asper Fellow in Media at Western University, former CBC journalist

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra, Fahrinisa Campana, Sonia Bhagat and our host Malika Bilal. Sonia Bhagat fact-checked this episode.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer.

Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook

In November, Russia joined the small club of nations that have conducted anti-satellite missile tests. That test created a huge cloud of space debris. Ever since, the issue of trash in space has been inching its way into the headlines, and figuring out what to do about it is surprisingly political. 

In this episode:

• Moriba Jah (@moribajah), Associate Professor, University of Texas at Austin
• Alice Gorman (@drspacejunk), Associate Professor, Flinders University

Episode credits:

This episode was updated by Negin Owliaei. The interviews for this episode were produced by Al Jazeera's Start Here team. The original production team was Negin Owliaei, Priyanka Tilve, Ruby Zaman, Alexandra Locke, Ney Alvarez, Amy Walters, Tom Fenton, Stacey Samuel, and Malika Bilal. Alex Roldan is our sound designer. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers.

Connect with us at:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Five months ago, Russia invaded Ukraine. Since then, we have heard President Vladimir Putin’s claim on the country and his pledge to fight Nazis there but what do Russians think? We hear from some voices you may not have heard from before: one Russian "Super Putin" fan and creator and another who is wholly against the war.

In this episode: 

• Niko Vorobyov (@Narco_Polo420), freelance journalist covering Russia
• Sergey Kalenik (@SergeyKalenik), public relations specialist in Russia
• Ilya Matveev (@IlyaMatveev_), anti-war political scientist formerly based in St Petersburg, Russia

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Amy Walters, Chloe K Li, Alexandra Locke, Negin Owliaei, Ney Alvarez, and Malika Bilal. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our engagement producers are Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Clashes erupted in Senegal after opposition figure Ousmane Sonko was sentenced to two years in prison on June 1. He was accused of raping a woman who worked in a massage parlor; the court cleared Sonko of rape but found him guilty of a separate offense, immoral behavior towards individuals younger than 21. Sonko’s supporters have reacted with violent protests in the streets and at least 15 people have died. They claim charges against Sonko are a ploy to prevent him from running in the 2024 presidential elections.

In this episode: 

• Nicolas Haque (@nicolashaque), Al Jazeera correspondent

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Amy Walters with Sonia Bhagat and our host, Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Tim St. Clair mixed this episode.

Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers.

Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Meta’s controversial plan to train AI on social media posts is now paused in Europe following a public backlash. Some users are complaining that what they put on Facebook and other social media is being used without their permission - and asking why it is so hard to opt-out.

In this episode: 

• Luca Bertuzzi (@BertuzLuca), Senior AI Correspondent at MLex

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Sarí el-Khalili, Tamara Khandaker and Sonia Bhagat, with Chloe K. Li, Khaled Soltan, Mohammed Zain Shafi Khan, and our host Natasha Del Toro. 

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer.

Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

We are coming to you on Sundays with weekly roundups as Israel's war on Gaza continues. Israel ordered further mass evacuations across Gaza. Peace negotiations continued. Ceasefire negotiations continued. Israel will get more weapons from the US. It is day 317 of the war. More than 40,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed.

In this episode:

• Akram Al Satarri, journalist in Khan Younis
• Hamdah Salhut, (@HamdahSalhut) Al Jazeera Correspondent
• Kimberly Halkett, (@KimberlyHalkett), Al Jazeera White House Correspondent
• Nida Ibrahim, (@nida_journo), Al Jazeera Correspondent

Episode credits:

This episode was produced and mixed by David Enders. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on June 9th, 2023. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed. 

Korean “sea women,” or the Haenyeo, have made a living freediving off Jeju Island for centuries. Many of them supported entire families with their harvest and became part of an ancient tradition of female breadwinners in Korea since the 17th century. They played a vital role in the island’s recovery through colonialism and the Cold War. But now, with rising sea temperatures and decreasing harvests, will we see this tradition disappear? 

In this episode: 

• Anna Kook, (@annakook), AJ+ Field Reporter
  

Episode credits:

This episode was updated by Fahrinisa Campana and Joe Plourde. The original production team was Khaled Soltan with Miranda Lin and host Kevin Hirten, in for Malika Bilal

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer.

Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Before the escalation of hostilities in the Middle East, headlines in Israel were dominated by protests at the Sde Teiman detention center. Nine soldiers were arrested, suspected of abusing a Palestinian detainee. Far-right protesters, including members of the Knesset, stormed the facility’s gate in support of the soldiers and clashed with police. As Sde Teiman’s notoriety continues to grow, what does it reveal about Israel’s treatment of Palestinian prisoners?

In this episode: 

• Nida Ibrahim (@nida_journo), Al Jazeera Correspondent

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Sarí el-Khalili, Khaled Soltan, Ashish Malhotra, and Sonia Bhagat, with Veronique Ishaya, Doha Mosaad, Manahil Naveed, and our host Malika Bilal. It was edited by Alexandra Locke.

The Take production team is Amy Walters, Ashish Malhotra, Catherine Nouhan, Chloe K. Li, Duha Mosaad, Khaled Soltan, Manahil Naveed, Marcos Bartolomé, Sarí el-Khalili, Sonia Bhagat, Tamara Khandaker, and Veronique Eshaya.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Greece is gearing up for a vote on May 21, but several major scandals could pave the way for other political parties to gain ground from the ruling New Democracy party. From a tragic train collision to a government wiretapping, some argue this may be the most unpredictable election in over a decade. To make things more uncertain, an estimated 440,000 young people are set to vote for the first time. How decisive will their vote be?

In this episode: 

• Moira Lavelle (@Alohamoira), Athens-based journalist

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Sonia Bhagat with Negin Owliaei and our host Natasha Del Toro, in for Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan.

Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers.

Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

A local politician’s comments connecting a rise in male suicide attempts to women being in the workforce is part of a broader backlash to a feminist awakening in South Korea. The fight against rampant sexism and gender-based violence includes the growing 4B movement, which calls for women to refuse marriage, childbirth, dating, and sex with men.

In this episode: 

• Haein Shim, (@HaeinShim) Freelance Journalist 
• Lee Yeeun, 4B Movement Activist and Escape The Corset Movement Activist 

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Tamara Khandaker, Chloe K. Li, and Ashish Malhotra, with Duha Mosaad, Manahil Naveed, Mohammed Zain Shafi Khan, Veronique Eshaya, and our host Malika Bilal. 

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Joe Plourde mixed this episode. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers.

Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al-Jazeera’s head of audio. 

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

From the resurrection of dead leaders, to cloned voices of politicians and Bollywood stars, political campaigns are shaking up India’s general election by heavily investing in AI technology. Could it be a blueprint for elections everywhere? 

In this episode: 

• Nilesh Christopher, (@nilchristopher), Technology Journalist

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra, Chloe K. Li and Sonia Bhagat with our host Malika Bilal. Catherine Nouhan and Manahil Naveed fact-checked this episode.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer.

Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

We are coming to you on Sundays with weekly roundups as Israel's war on Gaza continues. Israel's military said it would slow operations in Gaza but didn't. Israel is holding Palestinian prisoners in Guantanamo Bay-like conditions. Hezbollah demonstrated its capability to evade Israeli air defenses. It is day 261 of the war. More than 37,550 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed.

In this episode:

• Akram Al Satarri, Journalist in Gaza
• Hamdah Salhut, (@hamdahsalhut), Al Jazeera Correspondent

Episode credits:

This episode was produced and mixed by David Enders. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Thousands of asylum seekers in the UK may soon find themselves expelled to Rwanda. It’s a plan that has been tied up in court since June 2022, but Rishi Sunak’s government has signed a new treaty with Rwanda and is pursuing legislation in the UK to make the deportations happen. What are the chances this latest move will materialize?

In this episode: 

• Qays Sadiqi (@QaysSediqi), Human Rights Lawyer

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Sarí el-Khalili, Sonia Bhagat, and our host Malika Bilal. Chloe K. Li fact-checked this episode.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik, and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer.

Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

It looked to many Iraqis like the beginning of a civil war, but the fighting that broke out last week was over almost as quickly as it started. But there's a difference between stable and stuck, and Iraq is still in the same political stalemate that sparked the violence. And at the center of it all is Shia leader Muqtada al-Sadr and his unexpected retirement from politics. Is Iraq in the calm before the storm, or will cooler heads prevail once again? 

In this episode:

• Imran Khan (@ajimran), Al Jazeera senior correspondent
• Ali Hashem (@alihashem_tv), Al Jazeera senior journalist

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Alexandra Locke with Chloe K. Li, Ruby Zaman, Amy Walters, Negin Owliaei and Halla Mohieddeen. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our engagement producers are Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera English’s head of audio.

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@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Will the war in Ukraine hinge on Bakhmut? It’s been almost one year since the fight for the town began. Now, Russia state media is finally claiming victory in the battle, but Ukrainian military officials say the war may soon turn. Newly supplied by NATO countries, Ukraine is preparing for a counteroffensive that might strike a territory at the heart of Russia’s interests. As for Bakhmut, which was largely captured by Russian mercenaries with the Wagner Group, they will be withdrawing – leaving the Russian military to take their place. So what’s next for Ukraine?

In this episode: 

• Mansur Mirovalev (@mirovalev), journalist covering Ukraine for Al Jazeera 
• Charles Stratford (@stratfordch), Al Jazeera correspondent

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Amy Walters, with Chloe K. Li and our host, Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Tim St. Clair mixed this episode.

Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers.

Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Every Friday, we're bringing you one episode of the series ‘Degrees of Abuse’ produced by Al Jazeera’s Investigative Unit.

Four women delivered separate complaints to Glasgow University about the behaviour of the same lecturer.  Their experiences were strikingly similar but the University found the only person to have done anything wrong, wasn’t the accused, but the accuser.

*Please note some listeners may find these accounts upsetting. 

Connect with The Take: 

Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

On August 15, the Taliban took over the Afghan capital of Kabul, entered the presidential palace, and declared an end to the 20-year war. But before that declaration, as the armed group rapidly advanced throughout the country, we spoke with Pashtana Durrani.

She's an Afghan activist who was witnessing it all first-hand. In this episode of The Take, we hear her story.

In this episode: 

Pashtana Durrani (@BarakPashtana), founder and executive director of LEARN Afghanistan (@LEARNAfg)

Connect with The Take: 

Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Americans are wasting about $408bn in food every year, but the biggest consequence of food waste is not financial. Pollution from methane gas generated at landfills accounts for about 8 to 10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Today, we explore food waste — how to avoid it, and what steps local and national governments in the United States are taking to solve the problem.

In this episode: 

• Madeline Keating, City Strategist, Healthy People and Thriving Communities Program at NRDC (@NRDC)
• Kristyn Oldendorf, Chief of the Office of Waste Diversion for the Department of Public Works, Baltimore (@BaltimoreDPW)
• Marvin Hayes, Youth Program Manager, Baltimore Compost Collective (@bmorecompost)

Connect with The Take: 

Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Ukraine might not look like a good financial investment after a year at war with no end in sight, but Harvard, Saudi Arabia, a handful of oligarchs, and Vanguard Group see it differently. They are just a few of the investors who have been buying up Ukrainian land – and its rich, fertile soil – en masse, while many Ukrainian farmers argue it should stay in Ukrainian hands.

In this episode: 

• Frederic Mousseau, Policy Director, Oakland Institute 
• Anuradha Mittal (@Mittaloak), Founder, Oakland Institute
• Lorina Fedorova, expert on sustainable agriculture, Ekodiya
• Roman Gryshyna, CEO of Travelite MICE&Travel Ukraine 

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Amy Walters and our host, Malika Bilal. Chloe K. Li, Miranda Lin and Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Munera al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. 

Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

In Sudan, if nothing changes, it’s projected that 2.5 million people could die by September. Yet the international community has funded less than 15% of the aid that is needed. Aid that does arrive may be blocked or looted. So what are Sudanese doing to fill the gap? 

In this episode: 

• Hiba Morgan (@hiba_morgan), Al Jazeera Correspondent  
• Mohanad El Balal (@mohanadelbalal), Founder, Khartoum Kitchen

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra, Chloe K. Li and Sonia Bhagat with Duha Mossad and Sarí el-Khalili, and our host Malika Bilal.  

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer.

Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

The monikers attracted by Iran’s network of allies in the Middle East are snapshots of a geopolitical alliance that shapes the region. As Israel seeks to shore up its own side of the chessboard and tensions rise, we take a deep dive. Who are the groups? And why did Iran back them in the first place?

In this episode:

• Imran Khan (@ajimran), Al Jazeera English Senior Correspondent

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Marcos Bartolomé and Veronique Eshaya with Shraddha Joshi, Tamara Khandaker, Manahil Naveed, Hagir Saleh and me, Natasha Del Toro, in for Malika Bilal.

The Take production team is Amy Walters, Ashish Malhotra, Catherine Nouhan, Chloe K. Li, Duha Mosaad, Hagir Saleh, Khaled Soltan, Manahil Naveed, Marcos Bartolomé, Noor Wazwaz, Sarí el-Khalili, Shraddha Joshi, Sonia Bhagat, Tamara Khandaker, and Veronique Eshaya.

I’m your host, Natasha del Toro. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Alexandra Locke is the Take’s Executive Producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio. 

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

In New Zealand, thousands of animals died after two ships transporting them sank. All export of live animals was banned, and now the ban is becoming a symbol of urban-rural divide. In one sinking in 2020, 41 crew members and 6,000 cattle on board the ship Gulf Livestock 1 all died. Now, animal rights activists are celebrating the ban, but farmers and rural communities are concerned over the economic impact. The opposition National Party argues it could reduce GDP by up to $472 million. Now, it’s becoming an issue ahead of this year’s elections.

In this episode: 

• Adrian Brown, Al Jazeera correspondent

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Khaled Soltan with Miranda Lin and host Kevin Hirten, in for Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Adam Abou-Gad and Munera Al Dosari are our engagement producers. 

Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

It took fifteen rounds of voting for the US House of Representatives to elect Republican Congressman Kevin McCarthy as its leader in January. It was the longest vote for Speaker of the House since the US Civil War and it was fraught with political divisions. Nine months later, McCarthy’s tenuous leadership came crashing down this week, as he became the first Speaker of the House to be voted out. The move was led by members of his own party. So how did things get to this point, and what does it mean for American politics?

In this episode: 

• Ali Velshi (@AliVelshi), MSNBC Chief Correspondent and host of “Velshi”

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Sonia Bhagat, Ashish Malhotra, Chloe K. Li and our host Malika Bilal. Sarí el-Khalili and Amy Walters fact-checked this episode.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer.

Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook

They’re the deadliest wildfires the United States has seen in over a century. Cutting through the Hawaiian island of Maui, the fires started on August 8 and have killed over 100 people. But with some 1,000 people still missing, the death toll is expected to rise. Among the destroyed areas is Lahaina, a historic city that served as the Kingdom of Hawaii’s capital in the 1800s. Wildfire experts and ecologists say factors related to climate change – high winds and drought – and other man-made changes to Hawaii’s landscape caused the fires. Such conditions could lead to similar disasters – so how will Hawaii protect its heritage for the future? 

In this episode: 

• Kaniela Ing (@KanielaIng), National Director of Green New Deal Network and Co-Founder of Our Hawaii 

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra, Chloe K. Li and our host Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan and Zaina Badr fact-checked this episode.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera AlDosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers.

Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Videos of the mysterious migrating herd of elephants in China became an internet sensation earlier this year, but their very existence points to a deeper environmental problem, one that we're seeing escalate wherever elephants roam. 

In this episode:

• Dr. Josh Plotnik (@CCCAnimals), assistant professor of psychology at Hunter College of City University of New York (CUNY)

Connect with The Take: 

Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Bollywood has lost its sparkle - some 20 films that have come out this year have lost money, including movies from big names like Aamir Khan. That's said to be double the pre-pandemic failure rate. And other Indian films, particularly from the south, are coming to the fore. So what will it take to revive Bollywood fever?

In this episode:

• Pavni Mittal (@pavnimittal), Al Jazeera correspondent
• Aseem Chhabra (@chhabs), director of New York Indian Film Festival 

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Alexandra Locke with Ashish Malhotra, Ruby Zaman, Chloe K. Li, Amy Walters, Negin Owliaei, and Halla Mohieddeen. Alex Roldan is our sound designer. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. We'll be back on Wednesday.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

It's been two weeks since Russia launched its invasion in Ukraine. People within Russia are finding themselves more isolated with every passing day, whether that's thanks to actions from foreign countries and companies, or from their own leaders. Independent Russian media outlets are shutting down, and a human rights monitor says more than 10,000 people have been arrested in anti-war protests across the country. Meanwhile, foreign governments are also trying to cut Russia off from the rest of the world financially. So what can Russians expect as the country’s war on Ukraine continues?

In this episode: 

Dorsa Jabbari (@DorsaJabbari), Al Jazeera correspondent

Connect with The Take: 

Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Vinicius Junior, a star footballer for Real Madrid, says Spain’s top league “now belongs to racists.” The Afro-Brazilian player’s declaration comes after a match in which opposing fans from Valencia were filmed chanting the racial epithet “monkey” at him after an altercation on the pitch. This isn’t the first time Vinicius has been targeted by racial abuse this season, and he’s called out Spain’s La Liga for being complicit. Will this latest incident prompt the league to act? 

In this episode: 

• Moha Gerehou (@MohaGerehou) Journalist and anti-racism activist
• Tim Vickery (@Tim_Vickery) Football journalist based in Brazil

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Sonia Bhagat with Ashish Malhotra and our host, Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Tim St. Clair mixed this episode.

Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers.

Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

It was the deadliest attack on a house of worship in Canada’s history. Six people lost their lives when a gunman opened fire on a mosque in Quebec City in 2017. In the five years since, hate incidents have not stopped. Some of them have been deadly. And it has led to questions about how Canada treats its Muslim population.

In this episode: 

• Jillian Kestler-D’Amours (@jkdamours), Al Jazeera online editor
• Jasmin Zine (@JasminZine), professor in sociology and religion and culture at Wilfrid Laurier University

Connect with The Take: 

Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

As Israel’s bombardment of the Gaza Strip shows no signs of abating, humanitarian organizations warn of an imminent and total collapse of Gaza’s healthcare system. 

In this episode: 

• Dr. Tanya Haj-Hassan (@tee_haj), Pediatric Intensive Care and Humanitarian Doctor, Médecins Sans Frontières

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Sonia Bhagat, Chloe K. Li and our host Natasha Del Toro, in for Malika Bilal. Fahrinisa Campana fact-checked this episode.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer.

Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

The United States space agency NASA launched the James Webb Space Telescope, the largest telescope ever put into space, just over a year ago. Since then, we have been given a whole new picture of the universe – image after image of stars, planets and galaxies, farther into the universe than humans have ever seen. We talk to those who helped put together the telescope about what they have learned and find out how close it really is to detecting signs of life on other planets.

In this episode: 

• Stuart Clark (@DrStuClark), astronomer and consultant at New Scientist
• Knicole Colón (@super_knova), deputy project scientist for exoplanet science at NASA James Webb Space Telescope
• Chris Gunn (@ChrisGunnPhoto), photographer at NASA

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Chloe K. Li with Negin Owliaei, Ruby Zaman, Alexandra Locke, Amy Walters, Ashish Malhotra and Halla Mohieddeen. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alex Roldan is our sound designer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

We are coming to you on Sundays with weekly roundups as Israel's war on Gaza continues. The war is in its 177th day. Palestinians in Gaza again died seeking aid. The U.S. approved further arms for Israel. Israel intensified strikes in Syria and Lebanon. More than 32,700 Palestinians in Gaza have now been killed. 

In this episode:

• Akram Al Satarri, Freelance journalist
• Kimberly Halkett (@KimberlyHalkett), Al Jazeera Correspondent
• Zeina Khodr (@ZeinakhodrAljaz), Al Jazeera Correspondent
• Imran Khan (@ajimran), Journalist for Al Jazeera

Episode credits:

This episode was produced and mixed by David Enders.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer.

Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

It’s not just the southern US border that’s changed policy this year – it’s also happening at the border with Canada. For decades, border crossings like Roxham Road near Quebec have allowed migrants to enter Canada from the United States to seek asylum. In March, the two countries extended a deal known as the Safe Third Country Agreement, which allows Canada to send asylum seekers back to the United States. The deal had previously only applied to official border points. So what will a harder border mean for Canada, and for the people trying to get there?

In this episode: 

• Naqib Sarwary (@SarwaryNaqib), Philanthropy Officer, Amnesty International Canada, and Afghan refugee
• Alex Neve (@AlexNeve24), Former secretary-general, Amnesty International Canada

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra with Sonia Bhagat and our host, Natasha Del Toro, in for Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Tim St. Clair mixed this episode.

Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers.

Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Seeking traditional healers in South Africa has grown as a popular method for dealing with mental health issues. They have come a long way - from being criminalized to being preferred by many today over psychologists. An Al Jazeera reporter discovers and experiences the methods of traditional healers and what it means for mental health.

In this episode: 

• Drew Ambrose (@drewambrose), Presenter and Series Producer

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Khaled Soltan with Sarí el-Khalili and Kevin Hirten, in for Malika Bilal. It was edited by Amy Walters. 

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer.

Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Iranians are voting for a new president – but the first round of the election saw the lowest voter turnout in the country’s history. Will more people turn out on Friday for the final round of the vote, or will this trend continue? And why has turnout been so low? 

In this episode: 

• Maziar Motamedi (@MotamediMaziar), Journalist

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by David Enders, Duha Mossad and Marcos Bartolomé. With Amy Walters, Manahil Naveed, Mohammed Zain Shafi Khan, Veronique Eshaya, and our host Kevin Hirten in for Malika Bilal.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers.

Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

As Hamas announced agreeing to a ceasefire proposal, questions remain about Israel’s next steps in the war on Gaza. Israel has ordered thousands of Palestinians to flee Rafah sheltering more than one million displaced people, sparking fears of a full-blown Israeli military assault on the southern Gaza city. 

In this episode: 

• Willem Marx (@WillemMarx), Journalist 

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Khaled Soltan and Sarí el-Khalili with our host Kevin Hirten, in for Malika Bilal. Catherine Nouhan and Fahrinisa Campana fact-checked this episode.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer.

Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

The World Cup is about to head to the Middle East for the first time. Ever since it was announced back in 2010 that the tournament would be held in Qatar, the country has been getting ready to host the world’s biggest sporting event. In this episode, the first in The Take’s coverage of the World Cup, we look at some of the preparations for the tournament, their associated controversies, and a preview of what we might expect after kickoff. 

In this episode: 

• Tony Karon (@TonyKaron), editorial lead at AJ+
• Sohail Malik (@SohailAJE), sports reporter, Al Jazeera

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Negin Owliaei with Chloe K. Li and our host, Malika Bilal. Ruby Zaman fact checked this episode. 

Our production team includes Chloe K. Li, Alexandra Locke, Ashish Malhotra, Negin Owliaei, Amy Walters, and Ruby Zaman. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our engagement producers are Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Every Saturday, we revisit a story that’s in the news again. Portugal is holding its general election on Sunday.

This originally aired on October 7, 2020. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed. 

Portugal’s antiracist movement had its largest protest in recent memory after George Floyd was killed by US police. The protest wasn’t only about an injustice an ocean away, but part of an ongoing struggle in a country that looks back fondly on its colonial past. What’s behind Portugal’s rosy view of history, and how does that affect Black activists fighting for their rights today?

In this episode: 

• Cristina Roldão, Sociologist and Activist 
• Helena Vicente (@helenavicente__), Researcher and Activist with Grupo EduCAR (@grp.educar)

Episode credits:

This episode was updated by Sarí el-Khalili. The original production team was Negin Owliaei, Ney Alvarez, Dina Kesbeh, Alexandra Locke, Priyanka Tilve, Amy Walters, Stacey Samuel, Natalia Aldana, and our host Malika Bilal.. 

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer.

Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.

Every Saturday, we revisit a story that’s in the news again. 

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin seems set to win his fifth term as president as voters head to the polls this weekend. Days before the voting began, Putin confirmed that Russia was prepared for nuclear war. Today, we’re going back to an episode digging into similar statements made by Putin.

It originally aired on October 21st, 2022. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed. 

In this episode: 

• Alex Gatopoulos (@alexgatopoulos), Al Jazeera Defence Editor 
• Gerhard Mangott (@gerhard_mangott), Professor of International Relations, University of Innsbruck 

Episode credits:

This episode was updated by Amy Walters. The original production team was Ashish Malhotra, Chloe K. Li, Ruby Zaman, Negin Owliaei, Amy Walters, Alexandra Locke, Ney Alvarez, and our host, Halla Mohieddeen in for Malika Bilal. Tim St. Clair mixed this episode. 

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer.

Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.

When two major earthquakes hit the Turkey-Syria border region on February 6, 2023, there was some hope that the catastrophe would bring renewed attention and aid to war-torn northwestern Syria. But almost a year later, those on the ground say the situation has only grown more dire and they feel more alone and desperate than ever. 

In this episode: 

• Ahmad Hallak (@ahmadkhallak), Aid Worker in Northwest Syria
• Hiba Ezzideen (@EzzideenHiba), Equity and Empowerment CEO 

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Miranda Lin with our host Kevin Hirten. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. This episode was mixed by Joe Plourde. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer.

Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

On June 15, the friends and families of Bruno Pereira and Dom Phillips had their worst fears realized. The men had gone missing ten days earlier. After days of searching, police announced that a local fisherman had confessed to killing the two men. But there are still so many unanswered questions about why this happened. The Take looks into the push for justice in their case. 

In this episode:

• Monica Yanakiew (@MonikaKiev), reporter for Al Jazeera English in Brazil

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Negin Owliaei with Ruby Zaman, Ney Alvarez, Amy Walters, Alexandra Locke, and Natasha Del Toro, in for Malika Bilal. The Take’s sound designer is Alex Roldan. The Take’s engagement producers are Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on January 26, 2022. None of the dates or references from that time have been changed. 

Julian Assange has waged a long fight against extradition from the UK to the US, and after years, a final decision is imminent. But when UN Special Rapporteur on Torture Nils Melzer was asked to look into his case in 2018, he found himself surprisingly uninterested. One allegation after another had come to cloud the narrative of Assange, liberator of state secrets. But Melzer has since investigated them all – and he discovered that the level of deception is staggering.

In this episode: 

Nils Melzer, (@NilsMelzner) author of “The Trial of Julian Assange”

Episode credits:

This episode was updated by Sonia Bhagat with Tamara Khandaker. 

The original production team was Alexandra Locke, Amy Walters, Negin Owliaei, Priyanka Tilve, Ruby Zaman, Ney Alvarez, Tom Fenton, Stacey Samuel, and Malika Bilal. 

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer.

Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.

An estimated four million children in Turkey were affected by the earthquakes in February. The disaster forced them to see death and tragedy up close - many for the first time. As the new school year begins, there’s hope that the classroom will bring back a sense of routine and normalcy. But the trauma of the past eight months has not gone away, with children continuing to deal with displacement, grief, and anxiety. Experts warn that if the mental health of these children is not handled carefully, there could be long-term consequences.

In this episode: 

• Ceyda Yelkalan (@SaveChildrenTR), Save the Children Advocacy and Communications Manager

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Miranda Lin and our host Malika Bilal, with contributions from Stefania D’Ignoti. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer.

Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Want to hear your voice on The Take? Record a voice message for International Podcast Day about why you listen and it could be featured on the show.

The United States redeployed its ground troops in small numbers to Somalia in May 2022, but its air war has been going on for much longer. For 12 years, the US denied any civilian casualties from air attacks, admitting just five deaths so far. In this episode, we hear from three people who uncovered the reality of the civilian death toll and laid the disconnect bare.

In this episode:

• Mohamed Osman Abdi (@mohamedosma4), Somali journalist
• Abdullahi Hassan (@abdullahisom1), Amnesty International researcher
• Chris Woods (@chrisjwoods), founder of Airwars

Episode credits:

This episode was updated by Alexandra Locke. The original production team was Alexandra Locke, Amy Walters, Priyanka Tilve, Ney Alvarez, Dina Kesbeh, Natalia Aldana, Stacey Samuel, Graelyn Brashear, and Kevin Hirten in for Malika Bilal. Alex Roldan is the sound designer. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Behind Spain’s push to recognize the state of Palestine, along with Ireland and Norway, was years of support for the Palestinian cause. Some Spaniards draw parallels between their fight against fascism during the civil war and Palestinian resistance against Israeli occupation. But what does recognition mean in reality?

In this episode: 

• Itxaso Domínguez de Olazábal (@itxasdo), Professor, Geopolitics of the Middle East at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid
• Mohammed Hamarsheh (@mohamedhemish), Journalist

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Sarí el-Khalili and Khaled Soltan with Tamara Khandaker, Manahil Naveed and our host Malika Bilal. 

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer.

Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

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Libya and Israel have no formal diplomatic relations – in fact, under Libyan law it’s illegal to hold any unauthorized discussions with Israeli officials. Yet in August, Libyan Foreign Minister Najla al-Mangoush met with Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen in Rome, in what she thought was a secret meeting. Then the news got out. Protests erupted in several cities across Libya, Mangoush was fired, and she fled the country, stating security reasons. So what does what happened in Libya say about the next wave of normalization with Israel?

In this episode: 

• Malik Traina (@libyanmind), Al Jazeera English reporter

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Fahrinisa Campana and Kevin Hirten, in for Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera AlDosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers.

Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Protesters stormed the Parliament of Kenya on Tuesday as gunshots rang out in the capital, and at least five people were killed. The violence erupted over a new bill to increase taxes. According to protesters, it could have a devastating effect on many Kenyans' lives. What ignited these protests, and why are young people leading them?

In this episode: 

• Zein Basravi (@virtualzein), Al Jazeera Journalist 

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Tamara Khandaker and Chloe K. Li with Mohamed Zain Shafi Khan, Veronique Eshaya, and our host Malika Bilal. It was edited by Amy Walters.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer.

Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Ukraine’s grain, 10% of the global supply, is stopped at Ukraine’s ports. The EU’s chief of foreign affairs is calling it a war crime by Russia but Russia says Ukraine is to blame.  What is causing the stoppage?  We hear from farmers harvesting the grain and the people trying to feed the world about what happened to Ukrainian grain and what can be done about it.

In this episode:

• Dr. Oleg Nivievskyi (@oniviev1), Vice-president for economics education at Kyiv School of Economics
• Tamara Demuria (@Tamara_shuka), Chief Humanitarian Officer @Corus Int. 
• Raj Patel (@_RajPatel), Research Prof @TheLBJSchool, author of "Stuffed and Starved," co-director of "The Ants & The Grasshopper" (http://antsandgrasshopper.org), co-author "Inflamed"

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Amy Walters, Alexandra Locke, Ruby Zaman, Ney Alvarez, Negin Owliaei, and Malika Bilal. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our engagement producers are Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook