Best Middle East PThe History Podcasts (2025)

1
Mongol Invasion of the Middle East: Destruction, Resistance, and Legacy 46:57

2M ago46:57

46:57

Send us a text The Mongol invasion of the Middle East was one of the most cataclysmic events in the region’s history, leading to the destruction of cities, the fall of the Abbasid Caliphate, and a transformation of the Islamic world. But how did a nomadic empire from the Eurasian steppes rise to power and bring down the greatest centers of Islamic …

1
WWI in the Middle East: Empires Collapse, Nations Rise 40:44

3M ago40:44

40:44

Send us a text World War I wasn’t just a European conflict—it was a turning point that completely reshaped the Middle East, leading to the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, the rise of new Arab nationalisms, and the imposition of European colonial rule. In this episode we sit down with Professor James Gelvin, a leading historian of the modern Middle …

1
Ottoman Arab Provinces: Power, Decline, and Legacy 51:49

4M ago51:49

51:49

Send us a text In this episode of we dive into the final years of Ottoman rule in the Arab provinces and the complex road to independence. The Ottoman Empire once controlled large territories across the Middle East, but by the late 19th and early 20th centuries, internal struggles, European intervention, and rising Arab nationalism began to unravel…

1
North Africa’s Fatimid Caliphate: An Empire of Power and Pluralism 1:01:52

9M ago1:01:52

1:01:52

Send us a text We explore the history of the Fatimid Caliphate with Dr. Shainool Jiwa, a historian and Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Ismaili Studies. The Fatimid Caliphate, a North African empire that thrived from the 10th to the 12th centuries, is known for its remarkable approach to governance, cultural inclusivity, and intellectual …

1
The Syrian Revolt of 1925: Shaping the Post-Ottoman Middle East 45:53

9M ago45:53

45:53

Send us a text We explore one of the most significant yet often overlooked uprisings in Middle Eastern history—the Syrian Revolt of 1925-1927 - with Professor Michael Provence, a Professor on modern Middle Eastern history from the University of California, San Diego, and author of The Great Syrian Revolt and the Rise of Arab Nationalism. We discuss…

1
The Rise and Legacy of the Umayyad Caliphate: From China to Cordoba 1:04:03

10M ago1:04:03

1:04:03

Send us a text We explore the Umayyad Caliphate, an empire that stretched from the Iberian Peninsula to the borders of India. Professor Khalid Blankinship, a renowned historian specializing in Islamic history, joins us to discuss the origins of the Umayyads, their military conquests, administrative innovations, and the enduring legacy they left beh…

1
From 9/11 to January 6 25:53

4+ y ago25:53

25:53

Guests Jeremy Courtney is the founder and CEO of Preemptive Love. He has lived and worked on the frontlines of conflict for over a decade, serving families who’ve been terrorized by violence, poverty, and disease. He’s the author of the book Love Anyway: An Invitation Beyond a World That’s Scary as Hell. Jeremy lives in Iraq with his wife Jessica a…

1
After the Capitol Attack: A Way Forward 21:54

4+ y ago21:54

21:54

GUESTS Jeremy Courtney is the founder and CEO of Preemptive Love. He has lived and worked on the frontlines of conflict for over a decade, serving families who’ve been terrorized by violence, poverty, and disease. He’s the author of the book Love Anyway: An Invitation Beyond a World That’s Scary as Hell. Jeremy lives in Iraq with his wife Jessica a…

1
US Election: Voices From the Other Side of War 22:53

4+ y ago22:53

22:53

Many worry about the risk of violence after the US election. But most Americans have no idea what it’s like to live through political unrest or what to about it. We asked members of our team who've lived through political violence and war what Americans should know.By Preemptive Love

1
SPECIAL: Put Your Bodies On The Line 36:24

5y ago36:24

36:24

In the US, our Black brothers and sisters, whose forced physical, mental, and emotional labor built so many of our communities, are asking for presence from those of us who aren’t Black. And this isn’t new. They've been asking. They’ve been fighting for their lives for four hundred years—four hundred years too long. As host Erin Wilson shares in th…

1
Unexpected Empathy: Finding Ourselves in Our Global Neighbors 17:50

5y ago17:50

17:50

What does empathy have to do with emergency aid? In this final episode of Season 4, Erin Wilson, podcast host and senior field editor, sits down with Jessica Courtney, Preemptive Love's vice president of international programs, for an honest look at what they've learned about themselves as they've cared for others. This episode: Invites you into a …

1
After Ahmaud Arbery's Killing, Will We Change? 34:03

5y ago34:03

34:03

We’ll be back next week with our last regularly scheduled episode of season four. But this conversation is too important to wait. Ahmaud Arbery, a Black man, was jogging in a southern Georgia neighborhood on February 23 when he was chased, gunned down, and killed by two white men. (Only after a graphic video of his killing was recently posted onlin…

1
When We Gather Again, Who Will We Be? 26:18

5y ago26:18

26:18

In this episode, Vjolca Capri gives her first-hand experience of attending a Love Anyway Gathering in central Florida. As a hijab-wearing Muslim woman, she wasn't sure what to expect when Saadia Qureshi invited her to join a roomful of community members, most of whom didn't look or worship like her. Could they really have meaningful conversations? …

1
It Starts With a Meal: Healing All That's Tearing Us Apart 23:55

5y ago23:55

23:55

Remember when we used to eat together? In this episode, we travel everywhere from Atlanta to Iraq for a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like to gather around the table with strangers. War begins in our heads and hearts long before it reaches our hands. But that also means the solution can begin with us. And sometimes, healing all that’s tearing…

1
BONUS: Stay Home For Us 15:54

5y ago15:54

15:54

COVID-19 anywhere is a threat to everyone, everywhere. In this special bonus episode, Preemptive Love team members call in from around the world to share why they are staying home—and exactly who you are helping when you do the same. Because the choices we make in this moment could mean life or death for someone else. And as you'll hear in this spe…

1
Off Book: Writing About War, Forgiveness, and The More Beautiful World (And Book Giveaways!) 32:07

5y ago32:07

32:07

In this episode, Jeremy and senior field editor Erin Wilson share a candid conversation about the themes Jeremy explores in his latest book, Love Anyway. He answers never-before-asked questions, uncovers his writing process, and shares the why behind his vision of how we can heal all that’s tearing us apart. Visit our show notes to enter to Win a s…

1
Why Violence Is a Virus (We Can Stop the Spread) 23:25

5y ago23:25

23:25

Hear how late last year, before the coronavirus started it’s deadly spread across the world, Preemptive Love founder Jeremy Courtney was noticing striking parallels between the process for stopping the spread of infectious disease and stopping the spread of violence. Travel back in time to 2016 with host Erin Wilson, when she met two Iraqi doctors …

1
On the Road With Preemptive Love (And You're Invited to Our New Tour!) 27:03

5y ago27:03

27:03

This first episode of season four takes you behind the scenes of the Love Anyway tour that took place last fall. Peek behind the curtain into the making of the Love Anyway film, a short documentary we created to explore the ideas around how we can heal what’s tearing us apart. We let you in on some of the conversations that happened before and duri…

1
Looking for the Helpers During COVID-19 30:55

5y ago30:55

30:55

Who are the helpers in times of the COVID-19 pandemic? They might be closer than we think. In today’s special episode, we talk with people across the U.S. to explore what it looks like for all of us to not only look for the helpers — but to be the helpers — even in a global pandemic hitting very close to home. Many of us are familiar with Mr. Roger…

1
BREAKING: Coronavirus is Affecting Refugees—Here’s What We’re Doing 10:23

5y ago10:23

10:23

By Jessica Courtney, Preemptive Love

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NEW: Listener Survey and Giveaway (And a Season 4 Spoiler!) 1:45

5+ y ago1:45

1:45

By Preemptive Love

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Iraq Crisis: When All You've Known is War 18:08

5+ y ago18:08

18:08

By Preemptive Love

1
BREAKING: Assassinations in Iraq 12:31

5+ y ago12:31

12:31

By Preemptive Love

1
INSIDE LOOK: Refugees Face Violence at US-Mexico Border 22:32

5+ y ago22:32

22:32

We're in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, responding to the refugee crisis on the US-Mexico border. Earlier this year, we began showing up just across the border in El Paso, Texas, listening, learning, and lending a hand where we could, thanks to many of you. We distributed emergency backpacks and listened to leaders on the ground. US protocols have rapidly …

1
JUST IN: On the Ground in Syria (A Firsthand Look) 17:28

5+ y ago17:28

17:28

This breaking episode features firsthand accounts of what's happening on the ground in Syria. After our team heard updates from Erin Wilson and Jen Meyerson about what they saw displaced people facing weeks after the US troop withdrawal in northeastern Syria, we knew we had to pause our regularly-scheduled Love Anyway podcast episodes. What they to…

1
Crisis in NE Syria (And the Ceasefire That Wasn't) 18:07

5+ y ago18:07

18:07

Preemptive Love is on the ground in Northeastern Syria. This is the biggest crisis we’ve seen at one time...and it’s getting worse. In this breaking episode, hear from our colleagues in the Middle East, who share what they’re seeing unfold. Some of our team members delivering emergency aid have been shot at. Upwards of 300,000 people are running fo…

1
US Withdraws from Syria (And it Could Lead to War) 17:49

5+ y ago17:49

17:49

It’s been a difficult week across the Middle East, from protests in Iraq to the recent news that the US administration is withdrawing its presence from northeastern Syria. On this breaking episode of the Love Anyway podcast, we hear from our Preemptive Love team about how the decision by the US to pull out of northeastern Syria could have reverbera…

1
Unrest in Iraq (And What We Can Do About It) 8:58

5+ y ago8:58

8:58

Iraq is facing its biggest emergency since the rise of ISIS. Protests have erupted in Baghdad and other parts of the country, as young people, fed up with political corruption and a lack of opportunity, take to the streets. At the time of recording, the numbers have grown to more than one hundred protesters killed in Baghdad and cities across Iraq.…

1
Bonus: How 9/11 Changed Us 25:48

5+ y ago25:48

25:48

September 11, 2001 changed everything. And each year as this day arrives, we pause to remember. We remember when we heard the news, where we were, how we felt. We remember the fear that rose in our throats, the fear the began to change the way we walked in the world, the way we saw each other. On this episode, we ask some of our colleagues from Ira…

1
Mirrors and Windows 29:33

6y ago29:33

29:33

What are mirrors and windows? And why are they important in our lives and the lives of our families? In our season two finale, we talk with Saira Siddiqui of Confessions of a Muslim Mom, along with Shawn Smucker, author of When We Were Strangers. Saira and Shawn share personal stories exploring how, despite our differences, hope for our children an…

1
Talking to Kids About Race 26:54

6y ago26:54

26:54

Babies begin to notice race at six months old. Children are paying attention. And as we’ve learned this season, what they hear the adults in their lives say and do⁠—or not say and do⁠—deeply influences the people they are⁠—and who they’ll become. Rapper and Preemptive Love's artist-in-residence Propaganda (Jason Petty), and his wife, university pro…

1
Talking with Kids about War, Violence, & Politics 28:47

6y ago28:47

28:47

Learn more.By Preemptive Love

1
Family Values 21:35

6y ago21:35

21:35

How much should kids be involved in shaping our communities? Should we shield children from news about violence and war? In this episode, we attend a vigil with the Oestreich family, who believes community involvement is a core family value. Diana Oestreich has been the key relationships officer with Preemptive Love for nearly four years. Before th…

1
Love Beyond Borders 27:48

6y ago27:48

27:48

Immigration is a complicated topic, even for adults. Some of us are afraid to say the wrong thing. Others of us fear those who are different. How do we talk about immigration with family members? With kids? On this episode, we start by listening. On our second episode of the season, we hear from José Chiquito, a college student who came to the US w…

1
Raising Peacemakers 22:50

6y ago22:50

22:50

Can kids be peacemakers? Preemptive Love founders Jeremy and Jessica Courtney share how living in Iraq has influenced how they raise their children. With host Erin Wilson, they explore how culture, technology, and war changed their perception of parenting—and invite us all to enter into difficult conversations with the young people in our lives. Th…

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Sneak Peek: Season Two 2:21

6y ago2:21

2:21

In the trailer for season two of the Love Anyway podcast, host Erin Wilson and Preemptive Love founder Jeremy Courtney share why it’s important to enter into hard conversations with all kinds of people—including kids. In season two, we’ll explore the fears and questions kids—and the adults in their lives—have about violence, racism, media, cultural…

1
Bonus: Season 1 Recap 24:02

6y ago24:02

24:02

We're inviting you to a behind-the-scenes look at the people and stories behind the Love Anyway podcast. Host Erin Wilson joins Ben Irwin, director of communications, for a casual conversation recapping season one with producer Kayla Craig. Hear Erin share her favorite episode and what she finds most challenging about hosting a podcast. (And experi…

1
Bonus: Border Response 13:05

6y ago13:05

13:05

They fled some of the world’s worst violence. Their future is uncertain. How can you stand in the gap for asylum seekers at the border? This special bonus episode of Love Anyway features behind-the-scenes staff calls with Preemptive Love’s programs manager Jennifer Meyerson and donor relations coordinator Matt Malcom, discussing Preemptive Love’s t…

1
The Way Home 30:06

6y ago30:06

30:06

What makes home feel like home? As our work has shown us, restoring homes ruined by war is a first step to bringing whole communities back to life. Preemptive Love co-founder Jessica Courtney shares stories of her Iraqi and Syrian friends who have been displaced and are now remaking their homes. We also hear never-before-heard stories from the fiel…

1
The Millennials of Iraq 35:04

6y ago35:04

35:04

Most of us have a very Western idea of what it means to be a millennial. But we’re all more than stereotypes. We categorize each other into neat and tidy labels because, well, it’s easy. It’s a way to organize cultural ideas. Our social constructs act a way to help us try to understand the world. In this episode, we set those stereotypes aside for …

1
The Border Wall 25:29

6y ago25:29

25:29

When we’re afraid, we build walls around ourselves. We yearn for protection. To feel safe. We hem ourselves in. And keep others away. But what happens when our felt safety comes at a cost? What happens when our fear of “the other” contributes to others not being protected...or safe? Who is “the other," anyway? How do we start deconstructing the wal…

1
The Mosque Visit 25:25

6y ago25:25

25:25

How do we move past fear? Travel with producer Kayla Craig and her pastor husband Jonny as they visit a mosque in the middle of Iowa. Saadia Qureshi, Frontline Coordinator with Preemptive Love, shares her experience as a Muslim woman, chatting with Kayla about what to expect when visiting a mosque. Kayla talks with Shahed, a leader from their local…

1
The Enemy 29:06

6y ago29:06

29:06

It’s easy to say love anyway. It’s a lot more challenging to live it. We might not all come face-to-face with a literal enemy who wants to kill us, but we all have chances to risk something on behalf of another, by stepping out in love, every single day.In this episode, we ask the questions: Is love worth the risk? And what does it really look like…

1
The Longest Night 34:16

6y ago34:16

34:16

What happens when ISIS attacks your team’s aid delivery truck in the middle of the Iraq desert? And what do you do when, that same night, another aid vehicle bringing basic necessities to desperate people, gets shot at in the middle of a US airstrike—mistaken for the very ISIS fighters attacking your team? Travel with us back to 2016 to experience …

1
Sneak Peek: Season One 2:28

6y ago2:28

2:28

Jeremy Courtney, co-founder of Preemptive Love, and host Erin Wilson look ahead to episode one and share the vision behind the first season of Love Anyway. What can you expect when listening? Creating peace between communities at odds. Remaking what was broken. Ending war. Healing hearts across enemy lines, beginning with our own. And discovering t…

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Coming Soon: Love Anyway 1:54

6y ago1:54

1:54

This season, Love Anyway will push beyond a simple story. It’d be easy to paint a one-dimensional picture of people and places in the Middle East. But that’s not why we’re here. We’re here to share where we find hope. Where we find possibility and beauty. Because we believe that all of us could use a better story right about now. Join us for the jo…

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