One of the unexpected silver linings of the past decade has been the emergence of smart, accessible podcasts. Podcasts have become something like a new kind of public square. There is a Santa Claus quality to it, an almost magical abundance. Whatever you are curious about, there is someone thoughtful talking about it. Economics, law, politics, religion, philosophy, culture, psychology, history. It is all there at a high level. I became a podcast addict.

And then October 7, 2023 happened.

Suddenly, the entire ecosystem shifted. Astute observers of American social trends without grounding in the Middle East began speaking as if they did. As someone who works on the Middle East, I was puzzled. Why would people who are not experts in a region suddenly believe they have something meaningful to say about it?

The Middle East is not a topic one can parachute into. You cannot meaningfully discuss it without understanding its demographic rivalries, its religious landscapes, its colonial legacies, its internal political divisions, and its long historical arcs. Without that, what passes for “analysis” is often little more than projection.

At some point, a more uncomfortable question began to emerge. Are some of these podcasts trading careful, honest analysis for viewership? Are they chasing the shiny object, viewers, the currency of the medium? Perhaps podcasts are on the air too much and thus jonesing for topics to talk about. Human interest stories reflecting their expertise may be a solution, albeit a costly one. The people I am........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)