Erbil Edition
Erbil Edition is an insight into the Kurdistan Region. The host and his guests discuss various topics such as history, culture, environment, travels, books, politics, past and present.
Episodes
31 episodes
The Kurdish summer migration in search of pastures
This episode explains the old Kurdish tradition of migration from warmer lowlands to the cool uplands by herders and their livestock in search of pastures.
Understanding the cities and provinces of Kurdistan Region
The four main cities of the Kurdistan Region are each the seat of government and capital of a province of its own. They are Erbil, Slemani, Duhok and Halabja
Social Security, Climate Change, the Move to Kurdistan's Private Sector
In this episode, I sit down with Haima Askari, a consultant and a diaspora Kurd from the US, whose background in economics, public policy, and disaster management shapes his perspective on Kurdistan's evolving society. The conversation addresse...
Three decades of advocacy for Kurdistan Region
Douglas Layton first came to Kurdistan in 1991 shortly after the formation of the autonomous region, and he has ever since been advocating for tourism in the Kurdistan Region and exploration of its nature, heritage, culture and history. He coin...
Identity and longevity in Kurdish architecture
This episodes is a discussion with architect Sheenwar Siti about architecture in Kurdistan now and in the past, taking into account social, environmental, and economic factors.
Iraq's sovereignty and militia problem
The guest of this episode is Erbil-based Political Analyst Lawk Ghafuri, who sheds light on Iraq's ongoing problem of sovereignty violations and militia groups.
Kurds and their place in Middle East conflicts
This episode of Erbil Edition is a conversation with Halwest Jamal, the host of Halwest News, an online Kurdish news channel based in Erbil.
Shouting for Rivers: Waterkeepers Iraq-Kurdistan
Nabil Musa has spent the last 15 years advocating for the rivers and water sources of the Kurdistan Region through field activities, research, seminars, trainings and lobbying. He is one of the founders of Waterkeepers Iraq-Kurdistan. Based mai...
America and Kurdistan: People to people relations
In this episode former US soldier, adventurer, Amideast country director Zack Bazzi tells us about US-Kurdish military, cultural and historic ties, horse riding in Central Asia, exploring the mountains of Kurdistan, and partnerships Amideast is...
Surveying, mapmaking, understanding a place from space
MAPCOM CEO Mohammed Faisal tells us what it means to monitor the ground from space, the importance of satellite mapping, remote sensing and environmental impact assessment for development, climate work and infrastructure planning.
One man's mission to save Kurdistan's nomadic textiles
Lolan Mustafa has spent the last 35 years collecting and preserving nomadic textiles from across Kurdistan. He has put his collections on display at the Kurdish Textile Museum on top of the Erbil citadel, which he opened in 2004.
Going back in time, with UK Consul General Andrew Bizley
In this episode UK Consul General in Erbil Andrew Bizley reflects on his different trips to Shanidar Cave, the relationship between humanity and landscape, British diplomatic mission in the Kurdistan Region, illegal migration, and other topics....
Hiking in America, Halabja pomegranates and nature
Mariwan Hama is an American-Kurdish researcher and project manager. In this episode he tells us about what it is like to hike on American Vs. Kurdistan mountains while also comparing California and Halabja pomegranates. We discuss America Kurdi...
Three decades of visiting Kurdistan with Dr. David Romano
Dr. David Romano first came to the Kurdistan Region more than three decades ago and not long after the region had gained autonomy from Iraq. Since then, he has been visiting Kurdistan on numerous occasions, be it a sabbatical or speaking at a c...
From Australia to Erbil: Ticking off the ancient cities
Caden Allison traveled from Perth in Western Australia to Erbil as part of a Middle East trip to see the ancient cities of Babylon, Erbil and Damascus. He tells us about his style of traveling, impressions along the way and life on an Australia...
Climate mobility, consumerism and behavioral change
Independent consultant and specialist on climate peace and security, Abdullah J Alfayadh tells us of the correlation between consumerism and supply and demand, of behavioral change for the sake of the environment, of climate security, an more.&...
Environmental assessment: Taking people and the planet into account
A conversation with Simone Filippini, Vice Chair of Netherlands Commission for Environmental Assessment on the importance of taking people and their environment into account before carrying out any project by governments or companies. She was i...
Peace before conflict, preserving one's identity
A special new episode with Dr. Hellen Almoustafa, a cultural heritage specialist, on preserving a people or a city's cultural identity while welcoming others into your society.
From California to Kurdistan: Life on a motorcycle
After 72 countries and 80,000 kilometers on her Honda motorcycle, Crystal, who started out in California, is now exploring Kurdistan.
Kurdistan's digital journey, AI race, future outlook
In this episode Hiwa Afandi, Head of Kurdistan Region's Department of Information Technology (DIT) tells us about the Region's digitalization journey, KRDPass and MyAccount projects, our place in the AI race and future outlook.
Kurdistan through the eyes of diaspora Kurds
A group of more than one hundred students, graduates, and experts in different fields of Kurdish origin and some European friends visited the Kurdistan Region this month under the Confederation of Kurdistani Diaspora. For some, it was an explor...
A brief summer trip from Lithuania to Kurdistan
Lithuanian YouTuber Raimondas came to the Kurdistan Region for a short trip in the summer 2025 and we met in the old town of Akre. He tells us about his time in Kurdistan, his other world travels, Lithuanian winters, and the world of vlogging.&...
Water, sustainability, lessons from history
How crucial is water management for now and the future, and what we can learn from ancient wisdom to tackle water scarcity, biodiversity, and live sustainably with our greater natural world. A great conversation with Thomas Wilson, Climate Acti...
A decade of war reporting with Wladimir van Wilgenburg
Wladimir van Wilgenburg is an experienced journalist on the Middle East, particularly Iraq and Syria with a focus on Kurdish affairs. He’s covered the ISIS war and many different political and cultural stories. He’s been living in the Kurdistan...
Erbil now and in the past, with Sazan Mandalawi
Sazan Mandalawi once wished Erbil was a proper city with shopping malls, gas stations and other conveniences. Having seen the city's transformation, this writer and youth development specialist now has a different look on a few things.