Podcasts · Government · History

Matter File

W!ZARD Studios

30 episodes

Matter File presents the stories of individual countries to help understand the context behind their current state. It is a journey through history to explore what led to their current geopolitical and socio-economic landscape; because each country is a story worth telling.

Episodes

  1. Episode 29: Anush Ghavalyan on Nagorno-Karabakh

    · 42 min · S1 E29

    In this episode, we look at the story of the heavily contested region of Nagorno Karabakh. Ms. Anush Ghavalyan served as the former advisor to the president of the national assembly of the Republic of Artsakh. With her…

  2. Episode 28: Armenia's Economy and Foreign Relations

    · 23 min · S1 E28

    In our final episode of the year, we look at the international relations and economic landscape of the Republic of Armenia. The episode distills the reasons for Armenia's ties with its geographic neighbours and looks…

  3. Episode 27: Armenia's Grievous Recent History

    · 34 min · S1 E27

    In this episode, we take a closer look at how the relationship of Armenia with its neighbours shaped its present political state. We cover the horrifying numbers behind the Armenian genocide and the continuous…

  4. Episode 26: Marcin Piatkowski on Poland's Economic Growth

    · 42 min · S1 E26

    In this episode, we explore Poland's economy with the author of the book "Europe's Growth Champion: Insights from the Economic Rise of Poland", Professor Marcin Piatkowski. We analyse Poland's economic transition…

  5. Episode 25: Shintaro Hara on Thailand's Deep South

    · 49 min · S1 E25

    We've hit 25 episodes and this one is an incredibly interesting interview on the insurgency in the south of Thailand! Mr. Shintaro Hara is an analyst and a translator who lives in Patani and has been interacting with…

  6. Episode 24: Elana DeLozier and a Stakeholder Analysis of Yemen

    · 1 h 01 min · S1 E24

    In this episode, we speak with Ms. Elana DeLozier on the incentives and roles of various actors involved in the Yemeni Conflict. The conversation follows on from her publication of the Yemen Matrix…

  7. Episode 23: Armenia and an Early Struggle for Sovereignty

    · 21 min · S1 E23

    In the first of three episodes on Armenia, we take a look at the ancient and medieval history of the Armenian plateau. The episode covers Stone and Iron age cultures on the plateau and the early regional influences of…

  8. Episode 22: Subhash Ghimire on Nepal's Media and Democracy

    · 48 min · S1 E22

    In this episode, we speak with Mr. Subhash Ghimire, the editor in chief of the daily newspaper Republica Nepal. The conversation covers the political dissatisfaction with the current Oli government in Nepal and their…

  9. Episode 21: Zaid Basha on Agriculture and Drainage in Yemen

    · 1 h 07 min · S1 E21

    In this episode, we speak with the management consultant Mr. Zaid Basha. Zaid has authored several papers and been on projects that explore the mismanagement of Yemen's public infrastructure and look at Yemen's public…

  10. Episode 20: Maysaa Shuja Al-Deen on the Houthi Movement

    · 55 min · S1 E20

    In this episode, we speak with Ms Al-Deen who is a non-resident fellow at the Sana'a Centre for strategic studies on the evolution of the Houthi Movement in Yemen. We cover how the Houthi's have impacted the…

  11. Episode 19: Andrew MacGregor Marshall on the Thai Monarchy

    · 56 min · S1 E19

    In this episode, we were delighted to have with us the author of the book A Kingdom in Crisis: Thailand's Struggle for Democracy in the Twenty-First Century, Andrew Marshall. The conversation covers the public…

  12. Episode 18: Dr Pramod Jaiswal on Nepal's Foreign Relations

    · 37 min · S1 E18

    In this incredibly topical episode, we are joined by the research director of NIICE, Nepal, Dr Pramod Jaiswal in discussing Nepal's foreign policy, primarily in regard to its large neighbours in India and China. The…

  13. Episode 17: Claudio Sopranzetti on Thai Migration and Movements

    · 1 h 03 min · S1 E17

    In this episode, we spoke to Dr. Claudio Sopranzetti, anthropologist and author of the book Owners of the Map: Motorcycle Taxi Drivers, Mobility, and Politics in Bangkok. We cover Thailand's urbanisation and urban…

  14. Episode 16: Andrew Nickson on Paraguay's Political Economy

    · 1 h 02 min · S1 E16

    In this episode, we talk to the editor and author of "The Paraguay Reader" and "The Transition to Democracy in Paraguay" Mr. Andrew Nickson. The conversation spans several key areas around socio-economic development in…

  15. Episode 15: Baraa Shiban on the Peace Building in Yemen

    · 48 min · S1 E15

    In this episode, we had the pleasure of talking to Mr. Baraa Shiban. Mr. Shiban is a caseworker at the NGO Reprieve, a vocal human rights activist and the first Yemeni to be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Mr.…

  16. Episode 14: Paul Chambers on Thai Military and Security

    · 55 min · S1 E14

    In the first of several interviews to gain greater depth in the structure and organization of the Thai State, we talk to Dr. Paul Chambers. Dr. Chambers is the author of several manuscripts and articles on…

  17. Episode 13: Thailand Expand and Export

    · 24 min · S1 E13

    In the final episode of Thailand, we trace its economic progress from the 1950s till today. The episode examines the phases of import substitution and export promotion that helped catalyze growth in the latter half of…

  18. Episode 12: Thailand of Coups and Constitutions

    · 34 min · S1 E12

    This episode looks at the contemporary history of Thailand. Starting in the early 20th Century, we trace the origins of their constitutional monarchy, chronicling the constant constitutional turnover. The episode looks…

  19. Episode 11: Thailand and the Development of Monarchy

    · 23 min · S1 E11

    This episode looks at the historic roots of present-day Thailand. It explores the Funan dynasty and the founding of Sukhothai. It further elaborates on the Ayutthaya kingdom and the foundation of the Chakkri dynasty.…

  20. Episode 10: Paraguay's Macroeconomic Stability

    · 24 min · S1 E10

    In the last of three episodes on Paraguay, we discuss the geography and economy of this country in the heart of South America. The episode analyses how the Paraguayan economy, despite political instability, has managed…

  21. Episode 9: Paraguay Another Dictatorship and the Colorado Party

    · 20 min · S1 E9

    In our second episode on Paraguay, we explore the state of the country after the Chaco War. In particular, we take a look at Stroessner's dictatorship, their alliance with the USA and Paraguay's current geopolitical…

  22. Episode 8: Paraguay the Colony and Dictatorship

    · 21 min · S1 E8

    In this episode, we head to the heart of South America to explore the past of a country that has an ongoing Marxist insurgency. We explore the past of Paraguay as a colony of Spain and its interaction with Jesuit…

  23. Episode 7: Poland and How to Avoid Recession

    · 21 min · S1 E7

    The last of three episodes on Poland, this takes a quick look at Poland's geography and economy. It focusses on the transition of the Polish economy in a post-communist state and on the market conditions that underline…

  24. Episode 6: Poland the Roots of Neo-Populism

    · 26 min · S1 E6

    In this week's episode, we explore the causes of the rise of neo-populism in a post-communist Poland. The episode begins in the run-up to World War II and walks through the history of Poland as part of the Warsaw pact,…

  25. Episode 5: Poland the History up until WWI

    · 28 min · S1 E5

    This week we begin with the first of three episodes on Poland. This episode traces the history of the Polish state from the Bronze Age and Antiquity, through the period, leading up to the first World War. It looks…

  26. Episode 4: Yemen a Managerial Drought

    · 19 min · S1 E4

    This episode looks at the economic and geographic profile of Yemen. It highlights the lack of water resources, explicates the debilitating effect the humanitarian crisis has had on its economy, and touches on why its…

  27. Episode 3: Yemen The Background of Destitution

    · 35 min · S1 E3

    In this episode, we turn our attention to the Arabian Peninsula and Yemen, the country experiencing the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. The episode traces the history of religiopolitical conflict from the…

  28. Episode 2: Nepal Trade and Terrain

    · 20 min · S1 E2

    This episode primarily looks at the geography and economy of Nepal. It briefly explores the consequences of its geographic landscape on its biodiversity and climate, while also browsing through the statistics and…

  29. Episode 1: Nepal Past and Present

    · 32 min · S1 E1

    This week we take a look at the story of the landlocked country of Nepal. The episode explores the ancient, medieval, and contemporary history of Nepal and how that has shaped youth protests in the country and…

  30. Introducing Matter File

    · 5:38 · S1 E1 · Trailer

    Matter File presents the stories of individual countries to help understand the context behind their current state. It is a journey through history to explore what led to their current geopolitical and socio-economic…

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