Sarde had me hooked from the get-go, and let me inform you, it’s not simply because Mouin and I’m going manner again, or the truth that Medea has been in my ride-or-die shut circle for the previous few years.
As Sarde’s inaugural non-host visitor, I discovered myself caught within the whirlwind of early pandemic lockdowns, the relentless tempo of life underneath a besieged Sulta, and my very own dance with the authorities courtesy of these numerous and recurring unlawful detentions and intimidation.
Quick ahead by 100 episodes, and my love for the Sarde After Dinner podcast has advanced past my friendship with Medea and Mouin. It’s develop into a weekly ritual — a pleasant shock each Thursday as I eagerly test the teaser for what I’ll be watching (and infrequently incomes from) come Sunday afternoon (even when I often get an insider scoop on the following visitor).
When you haven’t checked out a Sarde episode but, do your self a favor and swing by their YouTube channel and provides their video library a fast scroll, and I do know you’ll discover loads of friends with tales you’ll positively need to hear.
The previous three years have been one hell of a rollercoaster for me. Stability? Yeah, that was just about off the desk. Identical to everybody else, I had a ton to course of and work by. Plus, adjusting to life removed from Lebanon and embracing that diaspora vibe positively took some getting used to.
So, I really feel this episode got here on the proper time. After over two years of soul-searching, writing, studying, and interesting in powerful but significant conversations, I feel I’ve received an thought about what’s coming subsequent — or not less than what I hope will. I really feel like I see the hits, the misses, and the could-have-beens higher, however extra importantly, what we have to do subsequent.
We dove into a big selection of matters which were on my thoughts for some time, and paired with the readability that comes from some the pressured distance, and fewer distractions (just like the limitless sport of cat-and-mouse with the Sulta’s corrupt judges and safety forces), all of it simply clicked. Mouin and Medea had been on the town, and as luck would have it, 100 episodes later.
I hope you get pleasure from listening to it. I feel you’ll be able to inform how completely satisfied (and bittersweet) it was to see them reside in any case this time. I hope that this episode paints reveals who I’m and what I feel and really feel once I’m not reeling from tear fuel or consumed by righteous fury in direction of the warfare criminals who snatched away our lives, livelihoods, financial savings, and the long run all of us deserved in Lebanon.
Under are the time stamps for every section of our dialog:
00:00 | Processing the blast from overseas.
8:40 | Gino the expat’s advanced understanding of Lebanese politics.
12:31 | Lebanese expats, missed alternatives and potential for influence.
14:28 | False hope & lack of political expertise pushed us to oversimplify the issues & options.
19:20 | Who leads the change? The elite, the consultants or the grassroots?
21:37 | Lebanon’s options & beginning factors between principle & implementation.
25:48 | Radical speedy change vs pragmatic cumulative progress
38:04 | Is H.A. the foundation of all of Lebanon’s issues?
42:05 | Is H.A. in the present day weaker or stronger than we predict?
50:13 | How do we start to deal with the various issues in Lebanon?
58:34 | How oppression & intimidation pressured Gino to develop into an expat.
1:07:08 | How Gino used his voice to interrupt obstacles of concern, in his personal manner!
1:14:51 | The ruling class, Idiots or geniuses?
1:18:15 | The helpful idiots principle.
1:21:15 | Constructing and strengthening various & free media platforms.
1:25:55 | The issue with change & opposition MPs
1:30:30 | Is there hope?
A lot like to all of you ❤
