الرئيسية البودكاست Politically Depressed
Politically Depressed

Politically Depressed

Ayman Makarem 79 episodes Latest Feb 2, 2026

A podcast about being depressed during times of political, economic, and ecological collapse. Hosted by Ayman Makarem, this blog-style weekly podcast explores politics as lived-experience and asks the question: Can we ever stop being depressed if the world remains as horrible as it is?

Episodes

S3E2 - Northern Syria: Where Are We Going? Feb 2, 2026 01:09:07 In this episode, Ayman is joined by Dara Eilo. Dara is an Assyrian activist and human rights advocate who has been involved in organising activities in Syria and Lebanon for the past decade and a half. Our conversation focused on the events that have taken place in Northern Syria since Jan 13, specifically the fighting between STG (that is, the new Syrian government) and the Kurdish-led SDF (Syria
S3E1 - Palestine and Queer Arab Liberation /w Tareq Baconi Jan 14, 2026 01:05:05 Today’s episode, the first for 2026, is a very very special one. I sit and talk with the Palestinian writer Tarek Baconi, who recently released a book entitled Fire In Every Direction. The book is a memoir that tracks Baconi’s upbringing as a queer Palestinian in Amman, Jordan, as well as the personal process of his political awakening. I can’t recommend this book enough, its so powerful, and at l
S2E19- Getting People to Care About Sudan /w Sarah al-Hassan Sep 20, 2025 01:15:14 In this episode of the Politically Depressed Podcast, I’m joined by a returning guest Sara al-Hassan. Sara is a Sudanese commentator and activist who has worked tirelessly to spread knowledge and awareness about the war in Sudan and before that the revolution and beyond. Like all the interviews I do for this podcast, this is an intimate conversation that centers Sara as a person first and foremost
Returning to a Broken Community w/ Rawand Issa - S2E18 Aug 23, 2025 01:04:17 So many things around us are collapsing all the time. Economies, political norms, communities, our ability to comprehend what the hell is happening and how to stop it and build something different. In this episode, I talk to Lebanese illustrators Rawand Issa about a series of Instagram stories she wrote a month ago about her decision to return to Beirut after leaving 3 years ago. The stories reson
I Saw The Best Minds of My Generation Destroyed By Madness: Back From Beirut - PolDep Podcast S2E17 Aug 14, 2025 00:38:25 Going back home always reminds me why I started this project. It's a constant reminder how everything is so absurd and terrifying and intense and how we're all pretty much losing our minds. I talk about my recent trip to Lebanon, share updates and talk about future episodes/video essays that i'm working on. -- -- -- Liked this episode? Become a member of the patreon: Patreon.com/fromth
Sectarianism Kills the Nation: Sweida Under Siege Jul 19, 2025 00:32:57 The sectarian violence in Sweida, Southern Syria has genuinely been keeping me up at night. The images, stories, and potentials for further violence is just really hard to process. There's also a lot of confusion as to what exactly is happening, how did this start, and how does it end. In this episode I try to provide some overview of the situation, but mostly talk about my thoughts and feelin
How Did You Sleep Last Night? S2E15 - Solo Jul 4, 2025 00:27:57 I've never slept well. But of course the political catastrophes around all of us make it even harder. I talk about my issues with sleep, what I've been doing/not doing, and ask you how you've been dealing sleep and sleeplessness. --- --- Give me a tip: ko-fi.com/aymanmakBecome a member of the FTP Patreon: patreon.com/fromtheperiphery
Announcement - I'm Moving to Youtube (mostly) Jun 21, 2025 00:09:26 I'm making a few changes and wanted to keep you all up to date. Hope to see you all on my Youtube Channel. Note: This is not announcing the end of this podcast. It's more of an expansion, but in a slightly different direction. Subscribe to my Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_d8-WfM5gyULH5zL0_e89ALove and solidarity,Ayman
Edward Said, Bluesky, and Liberal Hypocrisies /w Leila a.k.a Emissary of Night Jun 15, 2025 01:15:59 I left twitter last year, soon after Musk took it over. It's no longer a safe place to be. So I moved to Bluesky, which has its own set of problems, but nowhere near as problematic as twitter. But on saving grace is the few brilliant accounts I've encountered while there. In this episode I talk to the person behind one such account, Emissary of Night. A queer lefty Arab intellectual in pre
Death, Indigeneity, and Nourishment - An Interview with Peggy (gwi-seok hong) Jun 8, 2025 01:03:57 In this episode, I talk with Peggy, someone whose wisdom and approach I've found really nourishing in this time of depleting catastrophe. I just like talking to her and she always comes up with really interesting insights. We initially met in the Palestine watch party, which I hosted, and many of the things she said in those discussions are still with me. We talk about a wide-range of topics a
14,000 Babies - S2E12 May 20, 2025 00:16:23 The Israeli blockade on Gaza will kill 14,000 babies in 48 hours if it is not lifted. This was announced today by the UN. It has been 79 days since the total blockade was placed on Gaza, after Israel unilaterally ended the ceasefire agreement they signed with Hamas. It is impossible to deny what is being painfully and maliciously enacted on a daily basis: a genocide, mass extermination and annihil
The Worst Thing Elon Musk Ever Did - S2E11 May 16, 2025 00:24:51 Elon Musk is one of the most dangerous men alive today. But he didn't come out of nowhere. In this episode I talk about one thing that he's done, that I think most people don't even know he did. To me, it's amongst the worst of it all.Note: When I list some of the wort things he's done, I forget to mention his creation and involvement in DOGE, which I know is a pretty huge thin

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