How the Taliban Took Control of Swat Valley

In this episode, Louis speaks with Nobel laureate and education activist Malala Yousafzai. Joining Louis at Spotify HQ, the pair discuss misrepresentations of Islam, the Taliban’s 'gender apartheid', and her views on the institution of marriage. Plus, Malala shares a traumatic drug experience at university that changed her outlook on life. 

Warnings: adult themes and some discussion points which could be upsetting. If you’ve been affected by the topics discussed in this episode, Spotify have a website for information and resources. Visit spotify.com/resources    

Links/Attachments:

Book: Finding My Way, Malala Yousafzai (2025) 

https://www.waterstones.com/book/finding-my-way/malala-yousafzai/9781399637770  

Book: I Am Malala, Malala Yousafzai (2013) 

https://www.waterstones.com/book/i-am-malala/malala-yousafzai/christina-lamb/9781399608992  

Class Dismissed (2009) - New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/video/world/asia/100000001835296/class-dismissed-malala-yousafzais-story.html  

Article: Malala’s shooting  

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pakistani-teen-girls-activist-malala-yousufzai-shot-on-school-bus-by-taliban-gunman/  

Article: Charlie Kirk killed 

https://news.sky.com/story/what-we-know-about-how-charlie-kirk-was-killed-13428871  

Article: Afghanistan's restrictions on women https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/08/1165622  

Article: Southport riots  

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c99v90813j5o  

Article: Pakistan child marriage laws  

https://www.walkfree.org/news/2025/pakistan-takes-step-to-end-child-marriage-as-calls-grow-for-national-reform/  

Malala Fund: 

https://malala.org/  

Mukhtar Mai profile:  

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-13163169  

Survey of worst countries for women:  

https://www.amnestyusa.org/blog/the-worlds-worst-places-to-be-a-woman/  

Credits: 

Producer: Millie Chu  

Assistant Producer: Maan al-Yasiri

Production Manager: Francesca Bassett  

Music: Miguel D’Oliveira  

Audio Mixer: Tom Guest 

Video Mixer: Scott Edwards  

Shownotes compiled by Elly Young 

Executive Producer: Arron Fellows  

A Mindhouse Production for Spotify  

www.mindhouse.co.uk  

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