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The Afghanistan Project Podcast

The Afghanistan Project Podcast

Mikael Cook 172 episodes Latest Jun 1, 2026

The Afghanistan Project Podcast, hosted by Mikael Cook and Beth Bailey, focuses on the struggles of Afghans living under Taliban rule and the efforts of individuals from various backgrounds and political affiliations who have stepped up to support the people of Afghanistan after the U.S. withdrawal.

Episodes

Yaser Yarghal, former ANA Major, talks Unsabotaged Book - The Afghanistan Project Podcast Ep 144 Jun 8, 2026 01:01:11 Welcome to Episode 144 of The Afghanistan Project, where we cover all topics related to two decades of war in Afghanistan, and the fallout of our Afghanistan withdrawal. Today, former ANA Major Yaser Yarghal talks about his upbringing and education in Afghanistan, and how he made his way to the Afghan National Military Academy.We talk about his service, and his participation in Ranger School and A
Shawn VanDiver on Camp As Sayliyah Future, Legal Updates - The Afghanistan Project Podcast Ep. 143 Jun 1, 2026 00:49:19 Welcome to Episode 143 of The Afghanistan Project, where we cover all topics related to two decades of war in Afghanistan, and the fallout of our Afghanistan withdrawal. Today, I've got a familiar returning guest, #AfghanEvac president Shawn VanDiver. We talk about not only the Afghans at Camp As Sayliyah whom the administration was recently considering sending to the Democratic Republic of th
Gold Star Father Mark Schmitz & The Freedom 13 Healing Camp - The Afghanistan Project Podcast Ep 142 May 25, 2026 01:09:28 Welcome to Episode 142 of The Afghanistan Project, where we cover all topics related to two decades of war in Afghanistan, and the fallout of our Afghanistan withdrawal. Today, Gold Star Father Mark Schmitz shares the story of his son, Marine Corps Lance Corporal Jared Schmitz, who perished on August 26, 2021 alongside 12 U.S. service members and 160 Afghans.Mark shares the story of The Freedom 13
Ellen Smith of Keeping Our Promise brings a good news story - The Afghanistan Project Podcast Ep 141 May 18, 2026 01:07:16 Welcome to Episode 141 of The Afghanistan Project, where we cover all topics related to two decades of war in Afghanistan, and the fallout of our Afghanistan withdrawal. Today, Ellen Smith, the founder and Executive Director of Keeping Our Promise, brings a great news story about being able to reunite an Afghan ally and his wife with the baby they were forced to leave behind when making their way
Preserving the stories of advocacy heroes - The Afghanistan Project Podcast Ep. 140 May 11, 2026 00:35:13 Welcome to Episode 140 of The Afghanistan Project, where we cover all topics related to two decades of war in Afghanistan, and the fallout of our Afghanistan withdrawal. Today, I'm talking about a project that I began over a year ago to preserve the stories of the volunteers, advocates, and other supporters who have been part of the effort to keep Afghans safe and supported in the leadup to an
Terror in Afghanistan with Colin Smith, Graham Aikin - The Afghanistan Project Podcast Ep. 139 May 4, 2026 01:30:59 Welcome to Episode 139 of The Afghanistan Project, where we cover all topics related to two decades of war in Afghanistan, and the fallout of our Afghanistan withdrawal. Today, I'm thrilled to bring on two incredible experts on the expansion of terrorism in the Taliban's Afghanistan, Colin Smith, and Graham Aikin. We discuss how terror groups have found safe haven in the Taliban's Afgh
Spencer Sullivan and Abdulhaq Sodais' 'Not Our Problem' - The Afghanistan Project Podcast Ep. 138 Apr 27, 2026 01:01:46 Welcome to Episode 138 of The Afghanistan Project, where we cover all topics related to two decades of war in Afghanistan, and the fallout of our Afghanistan withdrawal. Today, I'm thrilled to introduce Spencer Sullivan and Abdulhaq Sodais, coauthors of 'Not Our Problem: The True Story of an Afghan Refugee, an American Promise, and the World Between Them.'We talk about the deployment i
Write an Afghanistan op-ed ft. Daniel Salazar, Sonia Norton - The Afghanistan Project Podcast Ep 137 Apr 23, 2026 01:16:37 Welcome to Episode 137 of The Afghanistan Project, where we cover all topics related to two decades of war in Afghanistan, and the fallout of our Afghanistan withdrawal. Today, I'm thrilled to bring back Daniel Salazar and Sonia Norton for a discussion on updates for Afghans in various U.S. programs and pathways, and the long-awaited discussion on how to write, pitch, and promote an op-ed on A
Kieran Ramsey on wrongful detentions in Afghanistan, Iran - The Afghanistan Project Podcast Ep. 136 Apr 13, 2026 01:02:05 Welcome to Episode 136 of The Afghanistan Project, where we cover all topics related to two decades of war in Afghanistan, and the fallout of our Afghanistan withdrawal. Today, I'm thrilled to host Kieran Ramsey, Chief Investigative Officer at Global Reach. Kieran talks about the support Global Reach provides to the families of those wrongfully detained by overseas regimes, and discusses the T
ODA 595 and VF-213 in 2001 Afghanistan - Part 3 - The Afghanistan Project Podcast Ep. 135 Apr 6, 2026 01:45:30 Welcome to Episode 135 of The Afghanistan Project, where we cover all topics related to two decades of war in Afghanistan, and the fallout of our Afghanistan withdrawal. This is the third segment in a special sub-series of the podcast in conjunction with The Fighter Pilots' Guide to Living.Today’s guests are three Green Berets from ODA 595, Mark Nutsch, Paul Evans, and Mike Elmore, and three m
ODA 595 and VF-213 in 2001 Afghanistan - Part 2 - The Afghanistan Project Podcast Ep. 134 Mar 30, 2026 01:21:28 Welcome to Episode 134 of The Afghanistan Project, where we cover all topics related to two decades of war in Afghanistan, and the fallout of our Afghanistan withdrawal. This is the second segment in a special sub-series of the podcast in conjunction with The Fighter Pilots' Guide to Living.Today’s guests are three Green Berets from ODA 595, Mark Nutsch, Paul Evans, and Mike Elmore, and three
ODA 595 and VF-213 in 2001 Afghanistan - Part 1 - The Afghanistan Project Podcast Ep. 133 Mar 23, 2026 01:11:07 Welcome to Episode 133 of The Afghanistan Project, where we cover all topics related to two decades of war in Afghanistan, and the fallout of our Afghanistan withdrawal. This is a special sub-series of the podcast in conjunction with The Fighter Pilots' Guide to Living.Today’s guests are three Green Berets from ODA 595, Mark Nutsch, Paul Evans, and Mike Elmore, and three members of VF-213, Nat

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