Talkin' in the Free World Transistor (https://transistor.fm) https://feeds.transistor.fm/talkin-in-the-free-world Talkin’ in the Free World is a conversation series on the future of democracy and countering the threat from resurgent authoritarianism across the globe. The series is hosted by MLI Senior Fellow Mariam Memarsadeghi and features prominent thinkers, practitioners and political leaders committed to safeguarding freedom. © 2022 Macdonald-Laurier Institute a0b78c82-c00f-5098-b035-c1adcbff4184 no en Fri, 09 Feb 2024 15:09:23 -0500 Tue, 02 Dec 2025 19:58:17 -0500 https://macdonaldlaurier.ca/talkin-in-the-free-world/ https://img.transistor.fm/CfV_fiINgGi7rlowcg9yqdlzFJsMGxKFXPhyz17xwmE/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9zaG93/LzM1OTAxLzE2Njc1/NzM5NTUtYXJ0d29y/ay5qcGc.jpg Talkin' in the Free World https://macdonaldlaurier.ca/talkin-in-the-free-world/ episodic Mariam Memarsadeghi Talkin’ in the Free World is a conversation series on the future of democracy and countering the threat from resurgent authoritarianism across the globe. The series is hosted by MLI Senior Fellow Mariam Memarsadeghi and features prominent thinkers, practitioners and political leaders committed to safeguarding freedom. Talkin’ in the Free World is a conversation series on the future of democracy and countering the threat from resurgent authoritarianism across the globe. Macdonald-Laurier Institute info@macdonaldlaurier.ca No No Talkin’ in the Free World with Hillel Neuer 10 10 Talkin’ in the Free World with Hillel Neuer full a987f5b7-3034-4401-843a-de45e2b6708b https://share.transistor.fm/s/cc4d882a Hillel Neuer has made a career out of giving a voice to the voiceless; his leadership in fighting for human rights, justice, and peace has been internationally lauded. Now, as the Executive Director of UN Watch, Neuer is focused on keeping the United Nations honest and ensuring that the international body is held accountable to its founding principles. 

Neuer joins MLI Senior Fellow and Cyrus Forum Founder and Director, Mariam Memarsadeghi, to discuss these issues and more.

]]> Hillel Neuer has made a career out of giving a voice to the voiceless; his leadership in fighting for human rights, justice, and peace has been internationally lauded. Now, as the Executive Director of UN Watch, Neuer is focused on keeping the United Nations honest and ensuring that the international body is held accountable to its founding principles. 

Neuer joins MLI Senior Fellow and Cyrus Forum Founder and Director, Mariam Memarsadeghi, to discuss these issues and more.

]]> Tue, 22 Nov 2022 15:00:00 -0500 Mariam Memarsadeghi Mariam Memarsadeghi 3099 Hillel Neuer has made a career out of giving a voice to the voiceless; his leadership in fighting for human rights, justice, and peace has been internationally lauded. Now, as the Executive Director of UN Watch, Neuer is focused on keeping the United Nations honest and ensuring that the international body is held accountable to its founding principles. Neuer joins MLI Senior Fellow and Cyrus Forum Founder and Director, Mariam Memarsadeghi, to discuss these issues and more. Hillel Neuer has made a career out of giving a voice to the voiceless; his leadership in fighting for human rights, justice, and peace has been internationally lauded. Now, as the Executive Director of UN Watch, Neuer is focused on keeping the United Nati Hillel Neuer No Azar Nafisi on Freedom vs. Totalitarian Instincts 9 9 Azar Nafisi on Freedom vs. Totalitarian Instincts full dacf9533-7f37-49f3-9aa6-ed6fa96e51de https://share.transistor.fm/s/c71c2dac Azar Nafisi, who is the critically acclaimed author of Reading Lolita in Tehran, a New York Times bestseller that is published in thirty-two languages. Nafisi reflects on the effect of education, ideology, and the corporate mentality on the preservation of democracy, focusing particularly on political divides in the US. Mariam and Azar dive into the philosophical underpinnings of freedom, democracy preservation in the US, and the fight for democracy in Iran. Nafisi is also known for her other works including, Things I’ve Been Silent About, Republic of Imagination, That Other World: Nabokov and the Puzzle of Exile, and most recently The Subversive Power of Literature in Troubled Times. She has held various teaching posts across the world including at Johns Hopkins University, Oxford University, and Free Islamic University and Allameh Tabatabai.

]]> Azar Nafisi, who is the critically acclaimed author of Reading Lolita in Tehran, a New York Times bestseller that is published in thirty-two languages. Nafisi reflects on the effect of education, ideology, and the corporate mentality on the preservation of democracy, focusing particularly on political divides in the US. Mariam and Azar dive into the philosophical underpinnings of freedom, democracy preservation in the US, and the fight for democracy in Iran. Nafisi is also known for her other works including, Things I’ve Been Silent About, Republic of Imagination, That Other World: Nabokov and the Puzzle of Exile, and most recently The Subversive Power of Literature in Troubled Times. She has held various teaching posts across the world including at Johns Hopkins University, Oxford University, and Free Islamic University and Allameh Tabatabai.

]]> Wed, 20 Jul 2022 10:48:00 -0400 Mariam Memarsadeghi Mariam Memarsadeghi 2678 Azar Nafisi, who is the critically acclaimed author of Reading Lolita in Tehran, a New York Times bestseller that is published in thirty-two languages. Nafisi reflects on the effect of education, ideology, and the corporate mentality on the preservation of democracy, focusing particularly on political divides in the US. Mariam and Azar dive into the philosophical underpinnings of freedom, democracy preservation in the US, and the fight for democracy in Iran. Nafisi is also known for her other works including, Things I’ve Been Silent About, Republic of Imagination, That Other World: Nabokov and the Puzzle of Exile, and most recently The Subversive Power of Literature in Troubled Times. She has held various teaching posts across the world including at Johns Hopkins University, Oxford University, and Free Islamic University and Allameh Tabatabai. Azar Nafisi, who is the critically acclaimed author of Reading Lolita in Tehran, a New York Times bestseller that is published in thirty-two languages. Nafisi reflects on the effect of education, ideology, and the corporate mentality on the preservation o No Olga Tokariuk with Updates on the War in Ukraine 8 8 Olga Tokariuk with Updates on the War in Ukraine full 7dbb5a8e-aee7-4f04-b5f9-eb31f14cfc68 https://share.transistor.fm/s/ab22c7f4 Independent Ukrainian journalist Olga Tokariuk joins us today to discuss her wartime journalism, stories coming from the frontline, the greater meaning of Ukraine’s fight for freedom and democracy, and to debunk Russia’s narratives about Ukraine.

]]> Independent Ukrainian journalist Olga Tokariuk joins us today to discuss her wartime journalism, stories coming from the frontline, the greater meaning of Ukraine’s fight for freedom and democracy, and to debunk Russia’s narratives about Ukraine.

]]> Tue, 07 Jun 2022 10:50:00 -0400 Mariam Memarsadeghi Mariam Memarsadeghi 1852 Independent Ukrainian journalist Olga Tokariuk joins us today to discuss her wartime journalism, stories coming from the frontline, the greater meaning of Ukraine’s fight for freedom and democracy, and to debunk Russia’s narratives about Ukraine. Independent Ukrainian journalist Olga Tokariuk joins us today to discuss her wartime journalism, stories coming from the frontline, the greater meaning of Ukraine’s fight for freedom and democracy, and to debunk Russia’s narratives about Ukraine. No Nury Turkel on the Uyghur Genocide 7 7 Nury Turkel on the Uyghur Genocide full a0e6f1d7-3d96-4910-9d5a-8748d0f91535 https://share.transistor.fm/s/928d999c Nury Turkel, author of No Escape: The True Story of China’s Genocide of the Uyghurs, speaks to us today about China’s use of technology in the Uyghur genocide and the threat of such technologies to global democracy and freedom. Turkel highlights what the international community needs to do to support the Uyghur people and hold authoritarians to account.

Turkel is a Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute and is Vice Chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. He is the first U.S.-educated Uyghur-American lawyer, foreign policy expert, and human rights advocate. He was born in a re-education camp at the height of China’s tumultuous Cultural Revolution and spent the first several months of his life in detention with his mother.

]]> Nury Turkel, author of No Escape: The True Story of China’s Genocide of the Uyghurs, speaks to us today about China’s use of technology in the Uyghur genocide and the threat of such technologies to global democracy and freedom. Turkel highlights what the international community needs to do to support the Uyghur people and hold authoritarians to account.

Turkel is a Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute and is Vice Chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. He is the first U.S.-educated Uyghur-American lawyer, foreign policy expert, and human rights advocate. He was born in a re-education camp at the height of China’s tumultuous Cultural Revolution and spent the first several months of his life in detention with his mother.

]]> Tue, 17 May 2022 10:53:00 -0400 Mariam Memarsadeghi Mariam Memarsadeghi 2945 Nury Turkel, author of No Escape: The True Story of China’s Genocide of the Uyghurs, speaks to us today about China’s use of technology in the Uyghur genocide and the threat of such technologies to global democracy and freedom. Turkel highlights what the international community needs to do to support the Uyghur people and hold authoritarians to account. Turkel is a Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute and is Vice Chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. He is the first U.S.-educated Uyghur-American lawyer, foreign policy expert, and human rights advocate. He was born in a re-education camp at the height of China’s tumultuous Cultural Revolution and spent the first several months of his life in detention with his mother. Nury Turkel, author of No Escape: The True Story of China’s Genocide of the Uyghurs, speaks to us today about China’s use of technology in the Uyghur genocide and the threat of such technologies to global democracy and freedom. Turkel highlights what the No Danielle Pletka on Pro-Democracy Foreign Policy 6 6 Danielle Pletka on Pro-Democracy Foreign Policy full 02303edf-c146-4020-99f2-dcd493196f9b https://share.transistor.fm/s/b72881bf This program was originally recorded as Democracy Matters on April 22, 2022. Danielle Pletka joins us today to discuss how the US can institute a Pro-Democracy foreign policy, which she argues has been lacking. Danielle Pletka is a distinguished senior fellow in foreign and defense policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), where she focuses on US foreign policy generally and the Middle East specifically. Until January 2020, Ms. Pletka was the senior vice president of foreign and defense policy studies at AEI. Concurrently, she also teaches US Middle East policy at Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service. Before joining AEI, Ms. Pletka was a senior professional staff member for the Middle East and South Asia for the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

]]> This program was originally recorded as Democracy Matters on April 22, 2022. Danielle Pletka joins us today to discuss how the US can institute a Pro-Democracy foreign policy, which she argues has been lacking. Danielle Pletka is a distinguished senior fellow in foreign and defense policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), where she focuses on US foreign policy generally and the Middle East specifically. Until January 2020, Ms. Pletka was the senior vice president of foreign and defense policy studies at AEI. Concurrently, she also teaches US Middle East policy at Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service. Before joining AEI, Ms. Pletka was a senior professional staff member for the Middle East and South Asia for the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

]]> Wed, 20 Apr 2022 10:56:00 -0400 Mariam Memarsadeghi Mariam Memarsadeghi 1768 This program was originally recorded as Democracy Matters on April 22, 2022. Danielle Pletka joins us today to discuss how the US can institute a Pro-Democracy foreign policy, which she argues has been lacking. Danielle Pletka is a distinguished senior fellow in foreign and defense policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), where she focuses on US foreign policy generally and the Middle East specifically. Until January 2020, Ms. Pletka was the senior vice president of foreign and defense policy studies at AEI. Concurrently, she also teaches US Middle East policy at Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service. Before joining AEI, Ms. Pletka was a senior professional staff member for the Middle East and South Asia for the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. This program was originally recorded as Democracy Matters on April 22, 2022. Danielle Pletka joins us today to discuss how the US can institute a Pro-Democracy foreign policy, which she argues has been lacking. Danielle Pletka is a distinguished senior No Jamie Kirchik on the Risk of a Dark Age for Democracy 5 5 Jamie Kirchik on the Risk of a Dark Age for Democracy full 9ab83e0d-08eb-46d1-b542-b93282ffc3ff https://share.transistor.fm/s/672a452c This program was originally recorded as Democracy Matters on March 25, 2022.

"The End of Europe" author Jamie Kirchick on rising threats to freedom in democracies.

]]> This program was originally recorded as Democracy Matters on March 25, 2022.

"The End of Europe" author Jamie Kirchick on rising threats to freedom in democracies.

]]> Tue, 22 Mar 2022 10:58:00 -0400 Mariam Memarsadeghi Mariam Memarsadeghi 2869 This program was originally recorded as Democracy Matters on March 25, 2022. "The End of Europe" author Jamie Kirchick on rising threats to freedom in democracies. This program was originally recorded as Democracy Matters on March 25, 2022. "The End of Europe" author Jamie Kirchick on rising threats to freedom in democracies. No Eli Lake on Tactics for Countering Russia 4 4 Eli Lake on Tactics for Countering Russia full 3685af4c-8113-432c-b057-a2438261ac53 https://share.transistor.fm/s/030d3d86 This program was originally recorded as Democracy Matters on February 24, 2022.

Eli Lake joins Mariam Memarsadeghi to discuss how the West can stand up to Russian aggression and stand up for its core values on the international stage. Eli Lake is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering national security and foreign policy. He was the senior national security correspondent for the Daily Beast and covered national security and intelligence for the Washington Times, the New York Sun and UPI. Lake has reported from Iraq, Iran, North Korea, China, India, Egypt and Israel.

]]> This program was originally recorded as Democracy Matters on February 24, 2022.

Eli Lake joins Mariam Memarsadeghi to discuss how the West can stand up to Russian aggression and stand up for its core values on the international stage. Eli Lake is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering national security and foreign policy. He was the senior national security correspondent for the Daily Beast and covered national security and intelligence for the Washington Times, the New York Sun and UPI. Lake has reported from Iraq, Iran, North Korea, China, India, Egypt and Israel.

]]> Tue, 22 Feb 2022 11:00:00 -0500 Mariam Memarsadeghi Mariam Memarsadeghi 2486 This program was originally recorded as Democracy Matters on February 24, 2022. Eli Lake joins Mariam Memarsadeghi to discuss how the West can stand up to Russian aggression and stand up for its core values on the international stage. Eli Lake is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering national security and foreign policy. He was the senior national security correspondent for the Daily Beast and covered national security and intelligence for the Washington Times, the New York Sun and UPI. Lake has reported from Iraq, Iran, North Korea, China, India, Egypt and Israel. This program was originally recorded as Democracy Matters on February 24, 2022. Eli Lake joins Mariam Memarsadeghi to discuss how the West can stand up to Russian aggression and stand up for its core values on the international stage. Eli Lake is a Blo No Bill Browder on Holding Oligarchs to Account 3 3 Bill Browder on Holding Oligarchs to Account full 2ce3c7fa-2c5f-43b1-bad5-9c3cbd3c2d38 https://share.transistor.fm/s/246063dc This program was originally recorded as Democracy Matters on February 8, 2022.

Mariam Memarsadeghi interviews Bill Browder, author of Red Notice, investor, and anti-corruption activist, to discuss the role of sanctions in influencing oligarchs. Mr. Browder was the largest foreign investor in Russia until 2005, when he was denied entry to the country and declared “a threat to national security” for exposing corruption in Russian state-owned companies.
 
In 2008, Mr. Browder’s lawyer, Sergei Magnitsky, uncovered a massive fraud committed by Russian government officials that involved the theft of US $230 million of state taxes. Sergei testified against state officials and was subsequently arrested, imprisoned without trial and systematically tortured, dying after one year of imprisonment in 2009. Since then, Mr. Browder has sought justice outside of Russia and started a global campaign for governments around the world to impose targeted visa bans and asset freezes on human rights abusers and highly corrupt officials. The US, Canada, the UK, the Baltic states, the European Union and most recently Australia have passed their own versions of the Magnitsky Act.

]]> This program was originally recorded as Democracy Matters on February 8, 2022.

Mariam Memarsadeghi interviews Bill Browder, author of Red Notice, investor, and anti-corruption activist, to discuss the role of sanctions in influencing oligarchs. Mr. Browder was the largest foreign investor in Russia until 2005, when he was denied entry to the country and declared “a threat to national security” for exposing corruption in Russian state-owned companies.
 
In 2008, Mr. Browder’s lawyer, Sergei Magnitsky, uncovered a massive fraud committed by Russian government officials that involved the theft of US $230 million of state taxes. Sergei testified against state officials and was subsequently arrested, imprisoned without trial and systematically tortured, dying after one year of imprisonment in 2009. Since then, Mr. Browder has sought justice outside of Russia and started a global campaign for governments around the world to impose targeted visa bans and asset freezes on human rights abusers and highly corrupt officials. The US, Canada, the UK, the Baltic states, the European Union and most recently Australia have passed their own versions of the Magnitsky Act.

]]> Sat, 05 Feb 2022 11:01:00 -0500 Mariam Memarsadeghi Mariam Memarsadeghi 1822 This program was originally recorded as Democracy Matters on February 8, 2022. Mariam Memarsadeghi interviews Bill Browder, author of Red Notice, investor, and anti-corruption activist, to discuss the role of sanctions in influencing oligarchs. Mr. Browder was the largest foreign investor in Russia until 2005, when he was denied entry to the country and declared “a threat to national security” for exposing corruption in Russian state-owned companies. In 2008, Mr. Browder’s lawyer, Sergei Magnitsky, uncovered a massive fraud committed by Russian government officials that involved the theft of US $230 million of state taxes. Sergei testified against state officials and was subsequently arrested, imprisoned without trial and systematically tortured, dying after one year of imprisonment in 2009. Since then, Mr. Browder has sought justice outside of Russia and started a global campaign for governments around the world to impose targeted visa bans and asset freezes on human rights abusers and highly corrupt officials. The US, Canada, the UK, the Baltic states, the European Union and most recently Australia have passed their own versions of the Magnitsky Act. This program was originally recorded as Democracy Matters on February 8, 2022. Mariam Memarsadeghi interviews Bill Browder, author of Red Notice, investor, and anti-corruption activist, to discuss the role of sanctions in influencing oligarchs. Mr. Bro No Kaveh Shahrooz on the Nefarious Influence of Iran’s Regime 2 2 Kaveh Shahrooz on the Nefarious Influence of Iran’s Regime full e4763ee5-202d-4f7c-83df-e46b22a456b3 https://share.transistor.fm/s/fda19e12 This program was originally recorded as Democracy Matters on November 1, 2021.

Macdonald-Laurier Institute Senior Fellow Kaveh Shahrooz on how a prison massacre was formative to his worldview and his career in pursuit of human rights, about the nefarious influence of Iran's regime in the free world, the downing of flight PS752, Oberlin College's employment of a former Iran regime official responsible for covering up rights abuses, and more.

]]> This program was originally recorded as Democracy Matters on November 1, 2021.

Macdonald-Laurier Institute Senior Fellow Kaveh Shahrooz on how a prison massacre was formative to his worldview and his career in pursuit of human rights, about the nefarious influence of Iran's regime in the free world, the downing of flight PS752, Oberlin College's employment of a former Iran regime official responsible for covering up rights abuses, and more.

]]> Sat, 30 Oct 2021 11:02:00 -0400 Mariam Memarsadeghi Mariam Memarsadeghi 2242 This program was originally recorded as Democracy Matters on November 1, 2021. Macdonald-Laurier Institute Senior Fellow Kaveh Shahrooz on how a prison massacre was formative to his worldview and his career in pursuit of human rights, about the nefarious influence of Iran's regime in the free world, the downing of flight PS752, Oberlin College's employment of a former Iran regime official responsible for covering up rights abuses, and more. This program was originally recorded as Democracy Matters on November 1, 2021. Macdonald-Laurier Institute Senior Fellow Kaveh Shahrooz on how a prison massacre was formative to his worldview and his career in pursuit of human rights, about the nefario No Alireza Nader on Holding Iran Accountable for Human Rights Abuses 1 1 Alireza Nader on Holding Iran Accountable for Human Rights Abuses full e80fc29b-3b77-40ed-8e6d-455245c044b4 https://share.transistor.fm/s/76504644 This program was originally recorded as Democracy Matters on October 28, 2021.

Iran expert Alireza Nader joins Mariam Memarsadeghi to discuss what democracies must do to hold the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps accountable for its global terror and crimes against humanity. Mr. Nader was an International Policy Analyst at the Rand Corporation and author of a number of reports for the Rand Corporation on Iran. He subsequently worked as an advisor to the Anti-Defamation League. He currently serves on the ADL's Task Force to Protect Minority Communities of the Middle East.

]]> This program was originally recorded as Democracy Matters on October 28, 2021.

Iran expert Alireza Nader joins Mariam Memarsadeghi to discuss what democracies must do to hold the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps accountable for its global terror and crimes against humanity. Mr. Nader was an International Policy Analyst at the Rand Corporation and author of a number of reports for the Rand Corporation on Iran. He subsequently worked as an advisor to the Anti-Defamation League. He currently serves on the ADL's Task Force to Protect Minority Communities of the Middle East.

]]> Mon, 25 Oct 2021 11:03:00 -0400 Mariam Memarsadeghi Mariam Memarsadeghi 2028 This program was originally recorded as Democracy Matters on October 28, 2021. Iran expert Alireza Nader joins Mariam Memarsadeghi to discuss what democracies must do to hold the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps accountable for its global terror and crimes against humanity. Mr. Nader was an International Policy Analyst at the Rand Corporation and author of a number of reports for the Rand Corporation on Iran. He subsequently worked as an advisor to the Anti-Defamation League. He currently serves on the ADL's Task Force to Protect Minority Communities of the Middle East. This program was originally recorded as Democracy Matters on October 28, 2021. Iran expert Alireza Nader joins Mariam Memarsadeghi to discuss what democracies must do to hold the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps accountable for its global terror and c No