Episodios

  • UNLOCKED: Bonus Episode 17 - The Christians of Syria
    Jan 8 2026

    This episode was originally recorded in 2024, shortly after the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime, and released on our Patreon that Christmas. https://www.patreon.com/c/whathappenedtosyria?vanity=user

    Apologies for the terrible audio quality on my end, I'm having a lot of issues with my computer and my mic, right now. Turning up the volume will probably help. Will try to have these tech issues fixed as soon as possible. -Sean

    Beshr, a Christian supporter of the Syrian Revolution originally from Homs, joins us to talk about Syria's Christian community and their long, storied history as one of Syria's oldest religions. We talk about everything from the Apostle Paul meeting Jesus on the road to Damascus and how Syrian Christians were treated by several Islamic empires over 1,400 years to their relationship with the Assad regime and the Syrian Revolution.

    The conversation takes some dark turns as Beshr describes historic persecution and recent horrors in Syria but we also try to inject positivity by looking at how Christians flourished during the Umayyad and Abbasid caliphates as well as how Syrians celebrate Christmas.

    You won't want to miss this one, despite the dismal audio quality.

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    1 h y 13 m
  • UNLOCKED: BONUS EPISODE 16 - Christmas in Syria
    Dec 25 2024
    Milad majid! Did you know that Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on January 7th? This episode examines the millennia-long history of Christianity in Syria, the ways that Christians have participated in both the Syrian Revolution and Syrian Civil War, and ending with an overview of the country's Christmas traditions. This one's got everything from empires and caliphates to revolutionaries protesting against a dictator and even an immortal camel who brings presents to children once a year. Sources / Quotes: https://www.worldofchristmas.net/christmas-world/syria.html https://countrystudies.us/syria/34.htm https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-22270455 https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/syrias-christians-personal-story-stolen-legacy https://minorityrights.org/minorities/christians-armenians-and-assyrians/ https://international.la-croix.com/news/politics/christian-communities-in-iraq-and-syria-are-still-very-fragile/17807 https://www.hart-uk.org/blog/the-religious-landscape-in-syria-part-1/ https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/syria-war-anniversary-christians-assad-manipulation https://erlc.com/resource-library/articles/why-christian-communities-in-northeastern-syria-may-soon-be-gone/ https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/we-must-defend-ourselves-christian-fighters-warpath-raqqa https://www.chicagotribune.com/opinion/commentary/ct-opinion-christmas-syria-homs-20211223-fec7pqar7jde7myh3qv77dsxny-story.html https://www.middleeasteye.net/discover/christmas-middle-east-traditions https://www.damascena.co.uk/posts/how-christmas-is-celebrated-in-damascus https://www.newarab.com/news/youth-exodus-takes-joy-out-syria-christmas-celebrations https://syriacpress.com/blog/2020/12/27/first-ever-erected-christmas-tree-in-kobani-deliberately-burnt/ https://time.com/4617957/aleppo-christians-christmas-syria/ https://csi-usa.org/there-were-about-1300-christians-in-idlib-but-now-only-two-remain/ https://npasyria.com/en/89664/ https://syriafreedomforever.wordpress.com/2013/12/25/christmas-in-liberated-saraqeb-idlib-provence-syria/ https://syriadirect.org/hts-looks-to-idlibs-christians-and-druze-to-whitewash-violations/ https://www.newarab.com/news/syrian-christians-reopen-church-hts-dominated-idlib https://www.duo.uio.no/handle/10852/16181 https://www.thebyzantinelegacy.com/early-christian https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7nfOGsuo2I https://syriadirect.org/syrian-christians-exploited-or-protected-minority/ https://www.ncronline.org/news/christian-activists-say-militias-target-religious-minorities-syria https://www.newarab.com/news/syrian-christians-reopen-church-hts-dominated-idlib https://npasyria.com/en/89664/ https://syriadirect.org/hts-looks-to-idlibs-christians-and-druze-to-whitewash-violations/ https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/christmas-middle-east-santa-sahlab-dabke-photos https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2017/03/03/muslim-syrian-refugees-converting-christianity/98685852/ https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN1RS19E/ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/01/30/muslim-refugees-converting-christianity-find-safety/ https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/life-under-isis-led-these-muslims-christ-n963281 https://www.newsweek.com/evangelical-christian-church-muslim-converts-syria-isis-1398210 https://syriacpress.com/blog/2020/07/19/christianity-in-syria-a-policy-of-persecution-or-deliberate-attempts-to-eliminate-it-once-and-for-all-part-2/ https://syrianobserver.com/features/51332/kurds-embrace-christianity-and-kobani-celebrates-inauguration-of-church.html
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    1 h y 8 m
  • 2023 Christmas Special (aka “Don’t Cut Aid to Syria! And other countries!”)
    Dec 25 2023
    Merry Christmas! Sadly, the World Food Program has had their funding cut by 60 percent. Also, we are currently listed among the Top Five Syria-related podcasts on Feedspot.com (https://podcasts.feedspot.com/syria_podcasts/). Check us out there and help us get up to the #1 spot. Sources / Quotes: https://www.wfp.org/news/wfp-forced-scale-down-operations-syria-donors-gather-brussels-ahead-major-conference https://www.wfp.org/news/tight-funding-forces-wfp-reduce-food-assistance-syrian-refugees-jordan-including-camps https://www.unhcr.org/us/emergencies/venezuela-situation https://www.unhcr.org/us/emergencies/dr-congo-emergency https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/a-record-6-9-million-people-have-been-displaced-in-congos-growing-conflict-the-u-n-says https://www.iom.int/news/record-high-displacement-drc-nearly-7-million https://www.cfr.org/blog/catastrophic-displacement-democratic-republic-congo https://www.unhcr.org/us/emergencies/syria-emergency https://www.unhcr.org/us/emergencies/ukraine-emergency https://www.unhcr.org/us/emergencies/rohingya-emergency https://www.unhcr.org/us/emergencies/afghanistan-emergency https://www.refugeecouncil.org.au/how-many-refugees/2/ https://www.kiva.org/blog/where-do-refugees-come-from-and-where-do-they-go https://www.statista.com/statistics/272999/refugees-by-source-country/ https://www.worldvision.org/refugees-news-stories/forced-to-flee-top-countries-refugees-coming-from https://www.unhcr.org/refugee-statistics/ https://concernusa.org/news/largest-refugee-crises/ https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20230620-key-figures-record-high-numbers-of-refugees-and-displaced-people-worldwide https://www.unrwa.org/resources/reports/unrwa-situation-report-44-situation-gaza-strip-and-west-bank-including-east-Jerusalem?__cf_chl_tk=jT9ELr.V5lDgrzvo7UkBg1AN_dvJ8Gin0VBYa_LtOR4-1703204552-0-gaNycGzNIVA https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/israel-hamas-war-gaza-tent-city-rafah-bombardment-sheets-buckets-rcna129543 https://www.worldvision.org/refugees-news-stories/rohingya-refugees-bangladesh-facts https://www.unhcr.org/us/emergencies/rohingya-emergency https://www.wfp.org/news/rohingya-refugees-bangladesh-face-grim-choices-more-cuts-food-assistance-imminent
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    1 h y 11 m
  • Episode 15 (Full) - Crimes Against Humanity (June 24 to July 31, 2011)
    Dec 24 2023

    The Assad regime starts to crack under the pressure of increasingly large, passionate, cross-sectarian protests. Millions of people are taking to the streets and voicing dissent for the first time in their lives, putting the regime's legitimacy in doubt for the first time in decades. This prompts Bashar al-Assad to authorize a campaign of repression across Syria, among the earliest of his crimes against humanity.

    Also, we are currently listed among the Top Five Syria-related podcasts on Feedspot.com (https://podcasts.feedspot.com/syria_podcasts/). Check us out there and help us get up to the #1 spot.

    Sources / Quotes:

    Civil War in Syria by Baczko, et. al

    The Impossible Revolution by Yassin al-Haj Saleh

    We Crossed a Bridge and It Trembled by Dr. Wendy Pearlman

    Assad or We Burn the Country by Sam Dagher

    Burning Country: Syrians in Revolution and War by Robin Yassin-Kassab and Leila al-Shami

    A Woman in the Crossfire by Samar Yazbek

    Syria by Dr. David Lesch

    Shatter the Nations by Mike Giglio

    “Syrian Revolution Song,” The Arabic Student

    http://www.thearabicstudent.com/2012/02/syrian-revolution-song.html

    Syrian Revolutionary Dabke - YouTube (“Yalla Erhal ya Bashar” by Ibrahim Qashoush)

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCS8SsFOBAI

    “Amnesty accuses Syria of crimes against humanity,” BBC News

    https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-14032765

    “Syria: Assad no longer legitimate, says Clinton,” BBC News

    https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-14115762

    “At least 30 killed in factional fighting in Syria” by Mariam Karouney and Oliver Holmes, Reuters

    https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-syria-idUKTRE76F26V20110718?edition-redirect=uk

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    2 h y 52 m
  • Episode 15D - Seven Million Protestors
    Dec 15 2023

    We're breaking up Episode 15 - Crimes Against Humanity (June 24 to July 31, 2011) into four smaller episodes before putting out the full thing.

    The Assad regime starts to crack under the pressure of increasingly large, passionate, cross-sectarian protests. Millions of people are taking to the streets and voicing dissent for the first time in their lives, putting the regime's legitimacy in doubt for the first time in decades.

    Also, we are currently listed among the Top Five Syria-related podcasts on Feedspot.com https://podcasts.feedspot.com/syria_podcasts/. Check us out there and help us get up to the #1 spot.

    Sources / Quotes:

    Civil War in Syria by Baczko, et. al

    The Impossible Revolution by Yassin al-Haj Saleh

    We Crossed a Bridge and It Trembled by Dr. Wendy Pearlman

    Assad or We Burn the Country by Sam Dagher

    Burning Country: Syrians in Revolution and War by Robin Yassin-Kassab and Leila al-Shami

    A Woman in the Crossfire by Samar Yazbek

    Syria by Dr. David Lesch

    Shatter the Nations by Mike Giglio

    “Syrian Revolution Song,” The Arabic Student

    http://www.thearabicstudent.com/2012/02/syrian-revolution-song.html

    Syrian Revolutionary Dabke - YouTube (“Yalla Erhal ya Bashar” by Ibrahim Qashoush)

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCS8SsFOBAI

    “Amnesty accuses Syria of crimes against humanity,” BBC News

    https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-14032765

    “Syria: Assad no longer legitimate, says Clinton,” BBC News

    https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-14115762

    “At least 30 killed in factional fighting in Syria” by Mariam Karouney and Oliver Holmes, Reuters

    https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-syria-idUKTRE76F26V20110718?edition-redirect=uk

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    1 h y 3 m
  • Episode 15C - Crimes Against Humanity
    Dec 8 2023

    We're breaking up Episode 15 - Crimes Against Humanity (June 24 to July 31, 2011) into four smaller episodes before putting out the full thing.

    The Assad regime starts to crack under the pressure of increasingly large, passionate, cross-sectarian protests. Millions of people are taking to the streets and voicing dissent for the first time in their lives, putting the regime's legitimacy in doubt for the first time in decades.

    Sources / Quotes:

    Civil War in Syria by Baczko, et. al

    The Impossible Revolution by Yassin al-Haj Saleh

    We Crossed a Bridge and It Trembled by Dr. Wendy Pearlman

    Assad or We Burn the Country by Sam Dagher

    Burning Country: Syrians in Revolution and War by Robin Yassin-Kassab and Leila al-Shami

    A Woman in the Crossfire by Samar Yazbek

    Syria by Dr. David Lesch

    Shatter the Nations by Mike Giglio

    “Syrian Revolution Song,” The Arabic Student

    http://www.thearabicstudent.com/2012/02/syrian-revolution-song.html

    Syrian Revolutionary Dabke - YouTube (“Yalla Erhal ya Bashar” by Ibrahim Qashoush)

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCS8SsFOBAI

    “Amnesty accuses Syria of crimes against humanity,” BBC News

    https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-14032765

    “Syria: Assad no longer legitimate, says Clinton,” BBC News

    https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-14115762

    “At least 30 killed in factional fighting in Syria” by Mariam Karouney and Oliver Holmes, Reuters

    https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-syria-idUKTRE76F26V20110718?edition-redirect=uk

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    39 m
  • Episode 15B - Ibrahim Qashoush’s Revolutionary Song
    Jan 14 2023

    We're breaking up Episode 15 - Crimes Against Humanity (June 24 to July 31, 2011) into four smaller episodes before putting out the full thing.

    The Assad regime starts to crack under the pressure of increasingly large, passionate, cross-sectarian protests. Millions of people are taking to the streets and voicing dissent for the first time in their lives, putting the regime's legitimacy in doubt for the first time in decades.

    Sources / Quotes:

    Civil War in Syria by Baczko, et. al

    The Impossible Revolution by Yassin al-Haj Saleh

    We Crossed a Bridge and It Trembled by Dr. Wendy Pearlman

    Assad or We Burn the Country by Sam Dagher

    Burning Country: Syrians in Revolution and War by Robin Yassin-Kassab and Leila al-Shami

    A Woman in the Crossfire by Samar Yazbek

    Syria by Dr. David Lesch

    Shatter the Nations by Mike Giglio

    “Syrian Revolution Song,” The Arabic Student

    http://www.thearabicstudent.com/2012/02/syrian-revolution-song.html

    Syrian Revolutionary Dabke - YouTube (“Yalla Erhal ya Bashar” by Ibrahim Qashoush)

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCS8SsFOBAI

    “Amnesty accuses Syria of crimes against humanity,” BBC News

    https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-14032765

    “Syria: Assad no longer legitimate, says Clinton,” BBC News

    https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-14115762

    “At least 30 killed in factional fighting in Syria” by Mariam Karouney and Oliver Holmes, Reuters

    https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-syria-idUKTRE76F26V20110718?edition-redirect=uk

    Más Menos
    20 m
  • Episode 15A - Lost Legitimacy
    Jan 6 2023

    We're breaking up Episode 15 - Crimes Against Humanity (June 24 to July 31, 2011) into four smaller episodes before putting out the full thing.

    The Assad regime starts to crack under the pressure of increasingly large, passionate, cross-sectarian protests. Millions of people are taking to the streets and voicing dissent for the first time in their lives, putting the regime's legitimacy in doubt for the first time in decades.

    Sources / Quotes:

    Civil War in Syria by Baczko, et. al

    The Impossible Revolution by Yassin al-Haj Saleh

    We Crossed a Bridge and It Trembled by Dr. Wendy Pearlman

    Assad or We Burn the Country by Sam Dagher

    Burning Country: Syrians in Revolution and War by Robin Yassin-Kassab and Leila al-Shami

    A Woman in the Crossfire by Samar Yazbek

    Syria by Dr. David Lesch

    Shatter the Nations by Mike Giglio

    “Syrian Revolution Song,” The Arabic Student

    http://www.thearabicstudent.com/2012/02/syrian-revolution-song.html

    Syrian Revolutionary Dabke - YouTube (“Yalla Erhal ya Bashar” by Ibrahim Qashoush)

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCS8SsFOBAI

    “Amnesty accuses Syria of crimes against humanity,” BBC News

    https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-14032765

    “Syria: Assad no longer legitimate, says Clinton,” BBC News

    https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-14115762

    “At least 30 killed in factional fighting in Syria” by Mariam Karouney and Oliver Holmes, Reuters

    https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-syria-idUKTRE76F26V20110718?edition-redirect=uk

    Más Menos
    49 m