The Orient Brief

In this episode of The Orient Brief, host Ahmetcan Uzlaşık talks with foreign policy expert Yusuf Can to explore how Donald Trump’s relationship with Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is reshaping Türkiye’s role in the Middle East. From shifting alliances to controversial arrests, what does Trump’s influence mean for Türkiye’s political future and regional dynamics? Dive into the hidden power moves behind the headlines.

In this episode of The Orient Brief, host Ahmetcan Uzlaşık investigates the alarming disappearance of Türkiye’s lakes and wetlands. Over the past 60 years, more than 180 lakes have dried up, threatening biodiversity, water security, and local livelihoods. Wetlands expert Burçin Yaraşlı joins the conversation to explain how mismanagement, over-irrigation, and industrial pressure-alongside climate change-are accelerating this environmental collapse. Can Türkiye still save its lakes, or are we witnessing an irreversible loss? Tune in for a deep dive into one of Türkiye’s most urgent ecological crises.

In this episode of The Orient Brief, host Ahmetcan Uzlaşık explores why access to housing in Turkey has become a growing crisis. With skyrocketing prices and soaring rents, home ownership is slipping out of reach for millions. What turned a basic human right into an unattainable dream? Economist Dr. Tansel Güçlü joins the conversation to break down the root causes—from economic inequality to housing turning into an investment tool—and discusses what must change to restore the right to shelter. Tune in for an in-depth look at Turkey’s housing emergency and where hope for solutions may lie.

Despite growing protests, femicide remains a deep-rooted crisis in Turkey. In this episode of The Orient Brief, host Ahmetcan Uzlaşık speaks with feminist sociologist Dr. Özlem Altıok to explore the systemic failures, societal norms, and political factors that enable gender-based violence.

In this episode of The Orient Brief, host Ahmetcan Uzlaşık tackles Turkey’s growing brain drain phenomenon. Why are thousands of skilled professionals and graduates leaving the country? What drives this exodus—economic instability, political uncertainty, or lack of opportunities? Drawing on the Turkey’s Brain Drain Report by Toplum Çalışmaları Enstitüsü, this episode unpacks the implications of this talent migration for Turkey’s future. With expert insights from researcher İbrahim Yağmur Uzunırmak, we explore whether brain drain is merely a loss—or a chance to foster transformation. Tune in to discover how Turkey could turn this challenge into an opportunity.

The Orient Brief is your weekly guide to the key issues shaping Türkiye and its role in the world, hosted by Ahmetcan Uzlaşık. In this week’s episode of the podcast series, the focus is on the pressing question: Is there a future for refugees? Journalist Erkin Öncan offers insights into Syria’s political uncertainty, Türkiye’s shifting policies, and the global response to the refugee crisis. Host Ahmetcan Uzlaşık explores the challenges and opportunities for rebuilding lives and creating a path forward.

Orient Brief is your weekly guide to the key issues shaping Türkiye and its role in the world, hosted by Ahmetcan Uzlaşık. This week’s episode, tells the story of Atakan, a young Turkish student caught in the Schengen visa maze. We dive into why so many Turkish citizens face rejection and what it says about the state of EU-Türkiye relations.