Minority Views Podcast

In a gripping conversation, Imran Khan, the former prime minister of Pakistan and the nation's most beloved leader, discusses his tumultuous political journey while under house arrest. He reveals the deep-rooted struggles between military and political powers, along with alarming human rights abuses. Khan passionately calls for a commitment to genuine democracy, highlighting the youth's disillusionment and the need for peaceful protests. This eye-opening dialogue sheds light on the precarious state of Pakistan's future.

Omer sits down with Josh Paul, former Director in the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs at the U.S. State Department, who was responsible for U.S. weapons transfers to other countries. Paul resigned in late October 2023, after working for the U.S. government for 11 years. They discuss U.S. arms transfers, the process of sending weapons to Israel, how Joe Biden sees Palestinians, Israeli-Saudi backroom diplomacy,  prospects for a ceasefire, the day after the war ends, and other topics. Books mentioned in this episode:The Atlas of the Conflict: Israel-Palestine, by Malkit Shoshan Image and Reality of the Israel Palestine Conflict, by Norman Finkelstein Victory for Us is to See You Suffer, by Philip C. WinslowMore about Omer's Book, Brown Boy: A Memoir, here. Subscribe to Omer's newsletter, Notes From The Margins, here.Twitter: @omeraziz12 and @MinorityViews_Instagram: @o.maz12 and @minorityviewspodcast

Rashid Khalidi, Edward Said Professor of Modern Arab Studies at Columbia University, discusses the war in Gaza, the history of Palestine and Israel, Western guilt, Biden vs. Trump, the disconnect between political elites and the public, and how ordinary people can make their voices heard.

On the eve of the launch of his debut book, Brown Boy: A Memoir, Omer sat down with award-winning journalist Lee Hawkins for a candid conversation on writing the memoir, growing up Muslim, race and American history, Canada and colonialism, the Brown and Black experiences in North America, the notion of 'privilege,' how life can change in an instant, living in Paris, the differences between Harvard and Yale, intergenerational stories, and other topics. At the end of this episode, Omer reads from his bestselling-memoir, Brown Boy.You can order Omer's book here. Books mentioned in this episode: Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison Black Boy by Richard Wright Native Son by Richard Wright The History of White People by Nell Irvin Painter The Qur'an Subscribe to Omer's newsletter, Notes From The Margins, here. More Conversations in Color coming your way. Twitter: @omeraziz12 and @MinorityViews_Instagram: @o.maz12 and @minorityviewspodcast

Omer sits down with Jameel Jaffer, Executive Director of the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University. They discuss free speech on campus, when free speech turns to hate speech, the First Amendment, 'cancel culture' and conservatives, social media companies, censorship, the Israel-Gaza war, and other topics. Jameel's book recommendations: State of Silence by Sam Lebovic Guantánamo Diary by Mohamedou Ould Slahi Learn more about Omer's book hereSubscribe to Omer's newsletter hereTwitter: @omeraziz12 and @MinorityViews_Instagram: @o.maz12 and @minorityviewspodcast

Omer sat down with Jason Furman, formerly President Obama's top economic advisor and currently a professor at Harvard. Jason served as Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers in the White House from 2013 to 2017. In this conversation, Omer and Jason talked about economic inequality, inflation, Silicon Valley Bank, working in the White House, the best advice he ever gave President Obama, and being roommates with Matt Damon. More about Omer's book.  Jason's book recommendations:The Myth of the Rational Voter by Bryan CaplanThe WEIRDest People in the World: How the West Became Psychologically Peculiar and Particularly Prosperous by Joseph HeinrichThinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel KahnemanTwitter: @omeraziz12 and @MinorityViews_Instagram: @o.maz12 and @minorityviewspodcastTwitter: @omeraziz12 and @MinorityViews_Instagram: @o.maz12 and @minorityviewspodcast

Omer Aziz sits down with legendary Washington Post journalist Bob Woodward to talk about Donald Trump, the presidency, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, the craft of journalism, and other topics. More about Brown Boy: A Memoir. More about Omer's work at Harvard. Twitter: @omeraziz12 and @MinorityViews_Instagram: @o.maz12 and @minorityviewspodcast

Omer sits down with Vijay Vaitheeswaran of The Economist magazine. They discuss climate change, innovation, the Inflation Reduction Act, clean energy, China, the future of journalism, and other topics.  More about Omer’s book, BROWN BOY: A MEMOIR. More about Vijay’s book, POWER TO THE PEOPLE.  More about Vijay’s work at The Economist.  More about Omer’s research at Harvard. Twitter: @omeraziz12 and @MinorityViews_Instagram: @o.maz12 and @minorityviewspodcast

Omer speaks with with Shahzad Younas, Founder and CEO of MUZZ, the world's largest Muslim dating app.  They talk about leadership, management, starting a company, the story of MUZZ, Islam and love, investment banking, and  more. More about Omer's book.  More about Omer's research at Harvard. Twitter: @omeraziz12 and @MinorityViews_Instagram: @o.maz12 and @minorityviewspodcast

Omer Aziz talks to Sumbul Siddiqui, Mayor of Cambridge, Massachusetts, about city government, her political journey, the tension between progressive cities and high rents, mental health initiatives, and how local government can support working-class families.  More about BROWN BOY: A Memoir can be found here. More about Omer's research at Harvard can be found here. Twitter: @omeraziz12Instagram: @o.maz12 Twitter: @omeraziz12 and @MinorityViews_Instagram: @o.maz12 and @minorityviewspodcast