PODCAST · society
Politically Depressed
by Ayman Makarem
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? Cover Photo by the incredibly talented Hisham Rifai.To support this podcast, become a member of our Patreon: patreon.com/fromtheperipheryOne time donations at: buymeacoffee.com/poldep
Episodes
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S3E2 - Northern Syria: Where Are We Going?
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,...
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S3E1 - Palestine and Queer Arab Liberation /w Tareq Baconi
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...
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S2E19- Getting People to Care About Sudan /w Sarah al-Hassan
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...
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Returning to a Broken Community w/ Rawand Issa - S2E18
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…
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I Saw The Best Minds of My Generation Destroyed By Madness: Back From Beirut - PolDep Podcast S2E17
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...
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Sectarianism Kills the Nation: Sweida Under Siege
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...
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How Did You Sleep Last Night? S2E15 - Solo
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/aymanmak Become a member of the…
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Announcement - I'm Moving to Youtube (mostly)
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:...
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Edward Said, Bluesky, and Liberal Hypocrisies /w Leila a.k.a Emissary of Night
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…
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Death, Indigeneity, and Nourishment - An Interview with Peggy (gwi-seok hong)
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...
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14,000 Babies - S2E12
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…
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The Worst Thing Elon Musk Ever Did - S2E11
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...
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It's Been a Minute - S2E10
I've been a bit absent from this podcast the last couple of weeks. I share why - which amounts to some pretty good, interesting news. One thing I forgot to mention in the episode is that I've also been arranging a few interviews for this podcast by really really cool people, so stay tuned for…
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Announcement - Lebanese Films Screenings
This is a special announcement episode broadcast on all FTP channels. We at FTP are hosting a series of weekly film screenings and discussions on the Lebanese wars starting this Sunday April 20. In this short episode, Elia and Ayman go through the list of films they selected, what you can expect...
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We Are All Deeply Unwell - S2E9
Going back to basics for this episode. I talk about how sad I've been, how so many of us are unwell, and how we should talk about it more. -- -- Leave me a tip in my Tip Jar Become a member of the Patreon Follow me…
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Self-Defence, Pre-emptive Strikes, and Human Shield - S2E8
I'm just so damn mortified by the daily massacres. The images. The wailing screams. The f*scist apologia. This was recorded on Wednesday, April 3th. -- -- Leave me a tip in my Tip Jar Become a member of the Patreon…
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Schadenfreud is bad politics
Joy at others misfortunes. It's fine when it's punching up, but I've noticed it too often be used to punch down. I talk about it. Headlines: - Israel kills two more journalists in Gaza: Hussam Shabbat and Mohammad Mansour - Protests seize Turkey after Erdogan's latest power grab -- -- Leave me a...
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My Next Video Essay - S2E6
I talk about the idea that I have for the next video essay. -- -- Support Ali's Go Fund Me -- -- Leave me a tip in my Tip Jar Become a member of the Patreon Follow me on Instagram Follow me on Bluesky
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What's Really Happening in Syria
There were numerous massacres that happening in the Syrian coast over the last week. I talk about them, share some information that I have about them and the reactions to them. I also provide some context to recent developments in Syria which I think too many are confused by and even more are...
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My Therapist Broke Up With Me - S2E4
Just a personal rant about feeling sad that my therapist can no longer do sessions with me. I also share some thoughts about why therapy was so useful/helpful for me, especially in this present moment of despair and gloom. Headlines: Zelensky v. Trump, Vance; Israeli aggression on Syria. -- --...
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S2E3 - Lebanon: Sovereignty without Liberation
A LOT has happened in Lebanon (and the region) in the last few months. This is the first of many episodes where I try to unpack not just the situation of Lebanon but the situation of the region as a whole from a Lebanese (leftist) perspective. There's a lot of moving pieces, a lot of history, and...
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S2E2 - Arab Anarchism: Remembering Omar Aziz
On Feb 16, 2013, the revolutionary Syrian anarchist Omar Aziz was martyred by the Assad regime. His legacy and actions, specifically around the local councils during the Syrian revolution, will be commemorated in events and talks held around the world on Feb 16, 2025. Here is a link with texts,...
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S2E1 - When The Political is Personal
New season! Same format! Not much will change with breaking up this podcast into seasons, it's just more helpful for planning/organizing. I am going to take the opportunity to try to regularise some of the formats I was playing with towards the end there. Announcement: - New Podcast: Mutual Aid...
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Video Essay Announcement
It's finally happening. I finished the video essay. There's a live drop happening on Patreon on Sunday 26th at 8pm CET. Ayman will be in the live chat. Join us! Link to the Video Essay Free for members, available for one-time purchase for anyone else!
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Existentialism in the Age of Genocide
Even when things feel pointless, we have to keep going. We have to give our actions meaning. Whether it's our own individual contributions or the movements we participate in, we can't completely lose hope in their possible impact and meaning. I think doing so is giving our enemies an unnecessary...
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54. One Year of Politically Depressed
Today it is officially one year exactly since I started this podcast. I look back and reflect on this year and talk about the year ahead. What has changed, what has stayed pretty much the same, what has gotten much worse? I ask these questions at the political, personal and polito-personal (to…
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53. Sometimes the personal isn't political
So I got rejected from yet another writing grant. But I persist. From now I'm gna focus on doing my work and hoping those listening/reading appreciate enough/are able to support me. This episode is basically a free-association personal ramble about stuff I've been thinking about re my work and…
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52. Long Live the Syrian Revolution
It's finally happened. After 13 years of struggle, the Syrian people emerge victorious. What started as military operations in the north quickly escalated into country-wide revolt, built on decades of resentment, organising and, counter-revolutionary violence. Prisons liberated, Assad fled, and…
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51. Ceasefire in Lebanon
These horrible two months seem to have come to an end. At least for the time being. A brief bittersweet moment amongst all the horribleness. I share they thoughts and reflections about the ceasefire deal that was announced just two days ago. -- -- Want to give me a small tip? -->...
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50. Hitting Rock Bottom or: How to Resist Despair
I've been doing terribly. All of us are. But I can't go on like this. I will not cede them this victory. This is possibly my most personal episode yet as I try to make sense of it all. -- -- Want to give me a small tip? --> Tip Jar Want to become a member of our...
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S1E49 - Germany is Doing Fascism (Again) /w Doqsi
What was meant to be a reflection on The Peoples Want festival ended up being a long discussion of how insane Germany has become. Doqsi (Egyptian living in Berlin) shares their experience and analysis of the current situation of the Palestine solidarity movement in Berlin as well as the intense…
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S1E48 - The Peoples Want: Building Internationalism From Below
I had the extreme pleasure of spending the last week discussing and organizing with a group of activists and revolutionaries from across the global south. This happened at a conference hosted by The Peoples Want, a collective working on building genuine, strong internationalist bonds between...
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S1E47 - The Genocidal Limits of Liberalism
What is liberalism? Who are liberals? Where do they stand in relation to the colonies? Where do they on genocide? I think the answer to the last question is pretty obvious to anyone paying attention over the last year. But regardless, I thought I'd do an episode sharing my reflections and...
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S1E46 - Where are the Arabs?
A question people have asked over the last year (and half a century). A constant mark of shame for the entire 'arab world' but also the beginning into a very serious inquiry - which I would contest has radical potentials that have yet to be fully explored. As I develop my next video essay, on…
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S1E45 - The End-Game is Apocalypse
It's so difficult to speak. Confirming in words what we know, but cannot believe, is happening. Lebanon, my home, has been subjected to an unfathomable aggression by Israel over the last week. Over 1600 people have been killed, thousands more injured, and approximately 1 million people internally...
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S1E44 - Queer Mutual Aid Lebanon
The criminal and vile escalation of Israel's aggression in Lebanon has forced 10s of thousands to flee the South. In lieu of a government, organizations, grassroots groups, and local communities have been stepping in and doing, essentially, the government's work - to provide for and protect its...
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S1E43 - Israel Wages War on Lebanon
569 people killed in 2 days in Lebanon by the same people committing genocide in Gaza and moving to annex the West Bank. The Israelis are truly unhinged. Their aggression on the south of Lebanon has steadily increased over the last year. But yesterday was different. I provide an overview of what...
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S1E42 - Israel Escalates Aggression on Lebanon
In the last 4 days, Israel has essentially declared war on all of Lebanon. With its mass electronic terrorist attack on Sept 17, followed by similar attacks the following down, and yesterday, Sept 20, they attacked the southern suburbs of Beirut with a bunker buster bomb. All told, Israel has...
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S1E41 - The Sabra and Shatila Massacre
42 years ago today, far-right anti-Palestinian Christian militias in Lebanon committed the most horrendous massacre of the 15-year long Lebanese civil wars. With the heavy support of Israeli forces, who were occupying Beirut at the time, these militias (most notably the Lebanese Forces) killed up...
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S1E40 - Against Against Hate
'Hate' is a terrible way of understanding fascism and all forms of bigotry. Claiming to be against it seems to be more of a balm for the already protected subject, but does nothing for those that are violating, persecuting, and targeting by these violent structures. It is a moral statement, a...
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S1E39 - What is Self-Marginlization?
Its a genuine question. Is it even a thing? Or is there a better term/framework?I also talk about how it seems that tankies have finally realized Sudan exists and ofc are producing the worst takes - with it creating harm and distractions. -- -- Want to give me a small tip? --> Tip...
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S1E38 - Comradery as a Verb
'Organize' is one of those words thats used a lot but needs to be critically examined for each respective situation, space, struggle etc. In building strong, long-lasting, and powerful movements, we need to make sure that the human connections within are built on trust, respect, and duty -...
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S1E37 - Is it Impossible to Make People Care?
I'm so tired. -- -- Tip Jar: https://buymeacoffee.com/poldep Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/fromtheperiphery
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S1E36 - Massacre in the Occupied Golan Heights
It's becoming increasingly difficult to talk about things, my feelings, my thoughts. --- --- Want to give me a small tip? --> Tip Jar Want to become a member of our Patreon? --> Patreon
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S1E35 - Zionism from the Standpoint of its Victims
In preparation for a video essay I'm developing, I decided to do an episode where I talk about the themes, arguments, and histories I've been examining and trying to synthesize. Definitely a ramble, but a potentially interesting one. Also, I have this weird tendency to emulate people's manner of...
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S1E34 - What are 'Tankies'? (and why we oppose them)
The world, especially the global south, desperately needs a strong internationalist left. There are some who think they're part of it, but are in fact doing incredible amounts of harm to communities that they de-facto erase in their analysis. These are the 'Tankies'. Is it white supremacy on the...
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S1E33 - We Cannot Normalize Genocide
It feels like fewer people are talking about Palestine. Has the supression of protests worked? Are people burntout, or have they lost interest? The unfathomable amount of violence cannot normalized. If it is, then its all doomed for sure. In this episode, I of course talk about G*z* as well as…
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S1E32 - There is no President of the United States of America
I watched the 'debate'. I watched U.Sians (esp liberals) freaking out. Even the NYT is turning against Biden. It truly is a shitshow, but one in which all of our fates are attached. We need bold movements to counter both rising fascism and this privelaged resignation (e.g. 'we're so cooked'). I...
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S1E31 - Why Israel Can Never Defeat Hezbollah (or Hamas)
With the grim prospects of an expanded war in Lebanon, I share my grim Lebanese analysis. --- --- --- Want to give me a small tip? --> Tip Jar Want to become a member of our Patreon? --> Patreon
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S1E30 - 'Death of Bed #12' by Ghassan Kanafani
I've known this story for years. It has deeply affected my ways of thinking and understanding both myself and the world around me. I'll let it speak for itself for now, but I will probably discuss in a future episode what it means to me. I hope you appreciate this reading and apologize in advance...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
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? Cover Photo by the incredibly talented Hisham Rifai.To support this podcast, become a member of our Patreon: patreon.com/fromtheperipheryOne time donations at: buymeacoffee.com/poldep
HOSTED BY
Ayman Makarem
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Politically Depressed have?
Politically Depressed currently has 79 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Politically Depressed about?
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? Cover Photo...
How often does Politically Depressed release new episodes?
Politically Depressed has 79 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Politically Depressed?
You can listen to Politically Depressed on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Politically Depressed?
Politically Depressed is created and hosted by Ayman Makarem.
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