The Pakistan Experience

Uzair Younus is the  Director of Pakistan Initiative at Atlantic Council South Asia and the host of the podcast Pakistanomy.  Salaar Khan is a Lawyer and a Columnist for The News.   We discuss what is happening on the legal and political front in Pakistan.   The Pakistan Experience is an independently produced podcast looking to tell stories about Pakistan through conversations. Please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thepakistanexperience And Please stay in touch: https://twitter.com/ThePakistanExp1 https://www.facebook.com/thepakistanexperience https://instagram.com/thepakistanexpeperience The podcast is hosted by comedian and writer, Shehzad Ghias Shaikh. Shehzad is a Fulbright scholar with a Masters in Theatre from Brooklyn College. He is also one of the foremost Stand-up comedians in Pakistan and frequently writes for numerous publications.    Instagram.com/shehzadghiasshaikh Facebook.com/Shehzadghias/ Twitter.com/shehzad89

Professor Ahmet. T. Kuru comes on The Pakistan Experience to discuss Authoritarianism and Underdevelopment in Islamic Countries. We get into a deep dive on whether Secularism is Islamic, the Ulema-State nexus and Modernity.  Ahmet T. Kuru (PhD, University of Washington) is the director of Center for Islamic and Arabic Studies and Bruce E. Porteous Professor of Political Science at San Diego State University. He was a postdoctoral scholar at Columbia University. Kuru is the author of Secularism and State Policies toward Religion: The United States, France, and Turkey (Cambridge University Press, 2009), which received Society for the Scientific Study of Religion (SSSR)’s Book Award. He is also the co-editor (with Alfred Stepan) of Democracy, Islam, and Secularism in Turkey (Columbia University Press, 2012). Kuru’s articles appeared in various journals including World Politics, Comparative Politics, and Political Science Quarterly. His recent book, Islam, Authoritarianism, and Underdevelopment: A Global and Historical Comparison (Cambridge University Press, 2019) became the co-winner of the American Political Science Association's International History and Politics Section Book Award and received honorable mention of SSSR’s Book Award. Kuru’s works have been translated into Arabic, Bosnian, Chinese, French, Indonesian, Malay, Persian, and Turkish.  Chapters: 0:00 Secularists vs Islamists 12:00 Is Islam against Secularism? 20:00 Is there evidence for Secularism? 32:30 Abrogation Principle and understanding Verses 37:30 The Ulema-State unison in Sunni history 47:30 Why did Islamic societies not progress? 53:30 Is Modern Islam compatible with Modernity? 1:01:00 Democracy and Underdevelopment in Islamic countries 1:15:30 Peoples Q&As The Pakistan Experience is an independently produced podcast looking to tell stories about Pakistan through conversations. Please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thepakistanexperience And Please stay in touch: https://twitter.com/ThePakistanExp1 https://www.facebook.com/thepakistanexperience https://instagram.com/thepakistanexpeperience The podcast is hosted by comedian and writer, Shehzad Ghias Shaikh. Shehzad is a Fulbright scholar with a Masters in Theatre from Brooklyn College. He is also one of the foremost Stand-up comedians in Pakistan and frequently writes for numerous publications.    Instagram.com/shehzadghiasshaikh Facebook.com/Shehzadghias/ Twitter.com/shehzad89

Joyeeta Dutta comes on the podcast to discuss Bollywood, Shahrukh Khan, her process, a Suitable boy, socializing and more!  Joyeeta is an Indian actor who has worked in television and theatre. In July 2020, Joyeeta made her screen debut in BBC One’s A Suitable Boy, a series directed by Mira Nair on a screenplay by Andrew Davies. Released on BBC One and Netflix, A Suitable Boy is an adaptation of Vikram Seth’s novel of the same name. Prior to this Joyeeta was also a part of Mira Nair’s Monsoon Wedding Musical in 2019, a stage adaptation of her BAFTA - winning movie. Joyeeta has trained in a 2-year acting program under the tutelage of director N.K. Sharma as part Act One, a New Delhi based theatre group. She has also briefly trained with actor Adil Hussain. Before being bitten by the acting bug, Joyeeta worked at McKinsey and Co. after having graduated in Political Science from Lady Shri Ram College for Women, New Delhi. The Pakistan Experience is an independently produced podcast looking to tell stories about Pakistan through conversations. Please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thepakistanexperience And Please stay in touch: https://twitter.com/ThePakistanExp1 https://www.facebook.com/thepakistanexperience https://instagram.com/thepakistanexpeperience The podcast is hosted by comedian and writer, Shehzad Ghias Shaikh. Shehzad is a Fulbright scholar with a Masters in Theatre from Brooklyn College. He is also one of the foremost Stand-up comedians in Pakistan and frequently writes for numerous publications. Instagram.com/shehzadghiasshaikh Facebook.com/Shehzadghias/ Twitter.com/shehzad89 Chapters: 0:00 Turning it on for the camera 4:40 Getting into Acting: Joyeeta's Tamasha moment 12:30 Getting noticed in Bollywood 17:00 Meeting Shahrukh Khan 24:00 Dealing with Fame 26:00 The Acting Process 30:00 Commercial Cinema vs Parallel Cinema 35:30 Networking and Socializing 42:00 Shahrukh Khan obsession part 2 45:20 Rang De Basanti and Highway 51:00 Wokeness, Representation and being critical of the past 57:30 What are we watching? 1:02:30 Tabu obsession 1:09:30 What's your journey? 1:14:00 People we want to work with 1:18:00 Chilling

Michael Kugelman is the Deputy director of the Asia Program, South Asia senior associate at TheWilsonCenter and Writer of the Foreign Policy's weekly South Asia Brief. Michael Kugelman comes on the podcast to discuss India launching a missile into Pakistan, Global Power Politics, US, Russia-Ukraine war, Imran Khan's statements and anti-Americanism in Pakistan. Was the missile launch an accident?  Is the United States being hypocritical?  Why does Biden not call Imran Khan?  Find out this and more on this week's episode of The Pakistan Experience. The Pakistan Experience is an independently produced podcast looking to tell stories about Pakistan through conversations. Please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thepakistanexperience And Please stay in touch: https://twitter.com/ThePakistanExp1 https://www.facebook.com/thepakistanexperience https://instagram.com/thepakistanexpeperience The podcast is hosted by comedian and writer, Shehzad Ghias Shaikh. Shehzad is a Fulbright scholar with a Masters in Theatre from Brooklyn College. He is also one of the foremost Stand-up comedians in Pakistan and frequently writes for numerous publications. Instagram.com/shehzadghiasshaikh Facebook.com/Shehzadghias/ Twitter.com/shehzad89 Chapters: 0:00 India's Missile Launch into Pakistan 8:30 Pakistan's Image problem and Global Politics 13:00 Return of McCarthyism? 17:30 The 'Putin is a big bad guy' narrative in US Politics 23:30 Putin's Response 28:00 US's Hypocrisy 38:00 Are we headed for WWIII? 45:00 Double Standards and Hypocrisy 50:30 The Media's portrayal of the war 54:30 The Nuclear option 57:30 Imran Khan's statements and US's reaction 1:06:30 Imran Khan's visit to Russia 1:12:00 Anti-American populism used 1:19:30 People's Questions

Wajahat Saeed Khan, is an Emmy Award-nominated Pakistani multimedia journalist based in New York City who is currently an editor and correspondent at Nikkei Asia. Khan has produced, reported and anchored for Pakistan's major cable networks, as well leading U.S., U.K. and Indian publications.  Wajahat S. Khan comes on The Pakistan Experience for a deep dive on the role of the Pakistani military in politics. From Zia-ul-Haq to Musharaf to the current political climate, we discuss how we got to where we are.  Does the Establishment want to oust Imran Khan?  What are the inner workings of the Military Establishment?  What does it mean to report on the Military?  Find out this and more on this week's episode of The Pakistan Experience  The Pakistan Experience is an independently produced podcast looking to tell stories about Pakistan through conversations.   Please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thepakistanexperience   And Please stay in touch: https://twitter.com/ThePakistanExp1 https://www.facebook.com/thepakistanexperience https://instagram.com/thepakistanexpeperience   The podcast is hosted by comedian and writer, Shehzad Ghias Shaikh. Shehzad is a Fulbright scholar with a Masters in Theatre from Brooklyn College. He is also one of the foremost Stand-up comedians in Pakistan and frequently writes for numerous publications.    Instagram.com/shehzadghiasshaikh Facebook.com/Shehzadghias/ Twitter.com/shehzad89     Chapters: 0:00 No Confidence and Extension 11:00 General Kiyani and General Musharraf 15:00 Extensions 20:30 The Current Situation and how we got here 25:00 Imran Khan's Grooming and rfits with the Establishment 33:30 The Army's role in Politics 40:00 The Opposition's Calculations 44:00 Reporting on the Military vs Reporting for the MIlitary 50:30 Lying in the Prime Minister's bathtub and Musharraf's Mahaz 1:02:30 Laughing with Musharaf  1:07:30 The Soldier and The Institution 1:21:00 Bloody Civilians 1:26:00 Peoples QandAs

Pooja Mishra is an actor, host, author and producer. She is the Pooja behind the 'Pooja, What is this behaviour' viral sensation.  Pooja - what is this podcast?  Well, watch it if it bothers you  Pooja Mishra opens up about Mental Health, Fame, Big Boss, Big Bad Bollywood families and THAT meme!  The Pakistan Experience is an independently produced podcast looking to tell stories about Pakistan through conversations.   Please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thepakistanexperience  And Please stay in touch: https://twitter.com/ThePakistanExp1 https://www.facebook.com/thepakistanexperience https://instagram.com/thepakistanexpeperience  The podcast is hosted by comedian and writer, Shehzad Ghias Shaikh. Shehzad is a Fulbright scholar with a Masters in Theatre from Brooklyn College. He is also one of the foremost Stand-up comedians in Pakistan and frequently writes for numerous publications.    Instagram.com/shehzadghiasshaikh Facebook.com/Shehzadghias/ Twitter.com/shehzad89     Chapters: 0:00 Did she kick it by mistake? 4:00 The Youtube Rants 7:30 Being defined by your lowest moment 9:00 Mooching off of me 12:15 The virality of the Pooja, What is this behaviour meme 19:00 Reality Shows: Lock Up and Big Boss 22:30 "How did I become Comfortably Numb" 27:00 Rapid Fire 35:00 Talking about Pakistan 38:21 Advice to those trying for reality shows

Mariam Shafqat Goraya, Sajeer Shaikh, Preh Memon, Tazeen. Tehreem Azeem and Maria Amir join us for a special behtak on feminist discourses.  The Pakistan Experience is an independently produced podcast looking to tell stories about Pakistan through conversations.       Please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thepakistanexperience     And Please stay in touch: https://twitter.com/ThePakistanExp1 https://www.facebook.com/thepakistanexperience https://instagram.com/thepakistanexpeperience     The podcast is hosted by comedian and writer, Shehzad Ghias Shaikh. Shehzad is a Fulbright scholar with a Masters in Theatre from Brooklyn College. He is also one of the foremost Stand-up comedians in Pakistan and frequently writes for numerous publications.      Instagram.com/shehzadghiasshaikh Facebook.com/Shehzadghias/ Twitter.com/shehzad89

Author, Producer, Storyteller, CEO, Nikhil Taneja joins us for a lovely cathartic conversation on this week's episode of The Pakistan Experience. We discuss Mental Health, Masculinity, Social Media, Cancel Culture, Coke Studio, Our love for Sharukh Khan, Social issues driven content and Pakistan-India dosti! Nikhil Taneja is a Mumbai-based writer, producer, storyteller, teacher, entrepreneur, and youth mental health advocate. He's the co-founder and CEO of India's first Gen Z-driven youth media and insights organisation called Yuvaa (@weareyuvaa), that works on creating impact in the lives of young Indians through meaningful content and conversations. Nikhil also serves on the Global Advisory Board of The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's community, Goalkeepers, and is the Festival Creative Director of the India Film Project. He hosts Main Hoon Yuvaa, a podcast that listens to the Gen Z, and is writing his first book, Be A Man, Yaar, that attempts to take the toxic out of masculinity. The Pakistan Experience is an independently produced podcast looking to tell stories about Pakistan through conversations. Please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thepakistanexperience And Please stay in touch: https://twitter.com/ThePakistanExp1 https://www.facebook.com/thepakistanexperience https://instagram.com/thepakistanexpeperience The podcast is hosted by comedian and writer, Shehzad Ghias Shaikh. Shehzad is a Fulbright scholar with a Masters in Theatre from Brooklyn College. He is also one of the foremost Stand-up comedians in Pakistan and frequently writes for numerous publications. Instagram.com/shehzadghiasshaikh Facebook.com/Shehzadghias/ Twitter.com/shehzad89 Chapters: 0:00 Cross-border conversations and Coke Studio 5:30 Shahrukh Khan Love 11:45 Nikhil's journey and Inspiring the Youth 19:00 Mental Health, Empathy and Self-Care 28:30 Healing the inner child 32:30 Setting boundaries and learning to say no 38:30 Imposter Syndrome and Gender Roles 44:00 Psychedelics, Consciousness and Being Drugged 1:00:00 Awaam ko kaisa content chaiye? 1:09:00 Problematic Content, Products of Time and Nuance 1:19:30 Cancel Culture vs Consequence Culture on Social Media 1:41:00 Item Numbers, Sexism and Content conditioning people 1:58:00 Jab Mil Jaye Gai Teen Dost

Mariam Shafqat Goraya, Sajeer Shaikh, Ekta Shaikh, Sana Jafri, Zoya Rehman, Maria Amir, Qurrat Mirza and Laiba Zainab join us for a special behtak reflecting on the 5 years of Aurat March in Pakistan; the sucesses, the fatigue, the fear, the accomplishments and the future.  The Pakistan Experience is an independently produced podcast looking to tell stories about Pakistan through conversations.       Please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thepakistanexperience    And Please stay in touch: https://twitter.com/ThePakistanExp1 https://www.facebook.com/thepakistanexperience https://instagram.com/thepakistanexpeperience    The podcast is hosted by comedian and writer, Shehzad Ghias Shaikh. Shehzad is a Fulbright scholar with a Masters in Theatre from Brooklyn College. He is also one of the foremost Stand-up comedians in Pakistan and frequently writes for numerous publications.      Instagram.com/shehzadghiasshaikh Facebook.com/Shehzadghias/ Twitter.com/shehzad89

Dr. Suraj Yengde comes on The Pakistan Experience for a deep dive on Caste in India; how Dalits are discriminated against systematically in India.   On this week's episode, we get into Identity politics, Modi's India, "Hinduphobia", Neoliberalism, the Dalit genocide, politics and activism.  Dr. Suraj Yengde is one of India’s leading scholars and public intellectuals. Named as one of the "25 Most Influential Young Indian" by GQ magazine and the "Most influential Young Dalit" by Zee, Suraj is an author of the bestseller Caste Matters and co-editor of award winning anthology The Radical in Ambedkar. Caste Matters was recently featured in the prestigious "Best Nonfiction Books of the Decade" list by The Hindu. Caste Matters is being translated in seven languages.   Suraj holds a research associate position with the department of African and African American Studies. Suraj's recent appointment was Senior Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School, a non-resident fellow at the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research, and was part of the founding team of Initiative for Institutional Anti-Racism and Accountability (IARA) at Harvard University.   The Pakistan Experience is an independently produced podcast looking to tell stories about Pakistan through conversations.  Please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thepakistanexperience And Please stay in touch: https://twitter.com/ThePakistanExp1 https://www.facebook.com/thepakistanexperience https://instagram.com/thepakistanexpeperience The podcast is hosted by comedian and writer, Shehzad Ghias Shaikh. Shehzad is a Fulbright scholar with a Masters in Theatre from Brooklyn College. He is also one of the foremost Stand-up comedians in Pakistan and frequently writes for numerous publications.   Instagram.com/shehzadghiasshaikh Facebook.com/Shehzadghias/ Twitter.com/shehzad89   Chapters: 0:00 How did Dr Suraj get to Harvard 5:00 Dalit Representation 25:00 Caste, Class and Identity Politics 33:00 History, Fascism and the Reassertion of Identity 49:20 Hinduphobic and Dehumanization of Dalits 1:00:00 Neoliberalism and Identity wars 1:15:00 Tone Policing 1:19:00 Peoples Q&A