

The Take
Al Jazeera
The Take is a daily interview-driven international news podcast hosted by award-winning journalist Malika Bilal. Each episode focuses on conversations with journalists and people directly impacted by the news of the day, offering our listeners the context necessary to understand what's in the headlines.
With millions of global listens, it's clear the conversations we're having on The Take are worth hearing. And critics think so too. The show has won the Online Journalism Awards, the Signal Awards, Lovie Awards, and Anthem Awards, among others.
With millions of global listens, it's clear the conversations we're having on The Take are worth hearing. And critics think so too. The show has won the Online Journalism Awards, the Signal Awards, Lovie Awards, and Anthem Awards, among others.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 12, 2023 • 7min
Brief: Al Shifa Hospital goes dark, UN bombed, West Bank raids continue
We are bringing you updates on Saturday and Sunday as Israel's ground invasion of Gaza continues. In this episode: Updates from Al Shifa Hospital and Gaza City, the Occupied West Bank, Lebanon, the US and Tel Aviv. Episode credits: This episode was produced and mixed by David Enders, with our guest host Kevin Hirten. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio. Connect with us: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Nov 11, 2023 • 6min
Brief: Tens of thousands trapped in Gaza hospital sieges
We are bringing you updates on Saturday and Sunday as Israel's ground invasion of Gaza continues. In this episode: Updates from Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza City and Khan Younis in southern Gaza. Episode credits: This episode was produced and mixed by David Enders, with our guest host Kevin Hirten. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio. Connect with us: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Nov 10, 2023 • 17min
Arrests and harassment threaten Palestinians in Israel
Prominent Palestinians in Israel were arrested on Thursday for planning a small anti-war protest. For the last month, people have grappled with rising threats, harassment, and restrictions. Where does the post-October 7 world leave Palestinians? In this episode: Amjad Iraqi (@aj_iraqi), +972 Magazine Senior Editor Episode credits: This episode was produced by Khaled Soltan, Miranda Lin and our host Malika Bilal. Fahrinisa Campana fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Nov 9, 2023 • 21min
Gaza hospitals on the brink of collapse
As Israel’s bombardment of the Gaza Strip shows no signs of abating, humanitarian organizations warn of an imminent and total collapse of Gaza’s healthcare system. In this episode: Dr. Tanya Haj-Hassan (@tee_haj), Pediatric Intensive Care and Humanitarian Doctor, Médecins Sans Frontières Episode credits: This episode was produced by Sonia Bhagat, Chloe K. Li and our host Natasha Del Toro, in for Malika Bilal. Fahrinisa Campana fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Nov 8, 2023 • 25min
Diaries of the war on Gaza
Al Jazeera Correspondent Youmna ElSayed and Al Jazeera Journalist Safwat al Kahlout discuss their experiences reporting from Gaza during the war. They highlight the challenges faced by journalists and residents, the impact of constant bombardment, and the uncertainty of living in a war-torn Gaza. The podcast also includes personal accounts of residents, their fear and violence experienced, and the scarcity of basic resources in Gaza. Ultimately, it sheds light on the devastating effects of the conflict on the people and their hopes for it to end.

Nov 7, 2023 • 21min
US protestors show up for Palestine. What will Biden do next?
US President Joe Biden’s support for Israel’s war on Gaza has prompted the biggest protests in support of Palestine in US history, all while support in the polls for Biden appears to have dropped. But will US support for the war change? In this episode: Ali Harb (@Harbpeace), Al Jazeera Senior Producer Episode credits: This episode was produced by Khaled Soltan, David Enders and our host, Kevin Hirten, in for Malika Bilal. Fahranisa Campana fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio. Connect with us: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Nov 6, 2023 • 24min
A history of Gaza’s worst and best days
Explore the history and resilience of Gaza amidst ongoing attacks, from its religious and strategic significance to the impact of occupation. Learn about the challenges faced by Palestinian refugees, Hamas' rise to power, and the international response that led to the blockade and wars on Gaza.

Nov 5, 2023 • 7min
Brief: Demonstrations in US as Gaza refugee camps bombed again
We are bringing you updates on Saturday and Sunday as Israel's ground invasion of Gaza continues. In this episode: Updates from Gaza, the Occupied West Bank, Washington, D.C. and Tel Aviv. Episode credits: This episode was produced and mixed by David Enders, with our guest host Kevin Hirten. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio. Connect with us: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Nov 4, 2023 • 7min
Brief: Palestinians in Gaza say nowhere is safe
We are bringing you updates on Saturday and Sunday as Israel's ground invasion of Gaza evolves. In this episode: Updates from Gaza, the occupied West Bank, Lebanon and Jordan. Episode credits: This episode was produced and mixed by David Enders, with our guest host Kevin Hirten. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio. Connect with us: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Nov 3, 2023 • 22min
Inside the West Bank’s surging settler violence
‘Wait for the Great Nakba’ – a warning of forced mass displacement that vigilante settlers have been spreading, as Israeli violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank reaches levels not seen in decades. The Take speaks to Palestinian activist Issa Amro, who was kidnapped, tortured, and assaulted by armed settlers and soldiers in the city of Hebron. In this episode: Issa Amro (@Issaamro), Activist and Human Rights Defender Nida Ibrahim (nida_journo), Al Jazeera Correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by Sarí el-Khalili, Sonia Bhagat, and our host Natasha Del Toro in for Malika Bilal. Fahrinisa Campana and Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik, and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube