Ask Haviv Anything

Author: Haviv Rettig Gur

"Ask Haviv Anything" is a podcast about history, a podcast you, dear listener, will help to shape and direct, focusing not just on what I want to talk about but on what you want to learn and discuss. Nothing is off limits. We're going to talk about big and painful things, and also beautiful and fascinating things, wars and identities and painful history. And also more light-hearted things. Humor matters, especially when facing tough subjects. Join me on this journey. A podcast by Haviv Rettig Gur
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Language: en

Genres: History

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Episode 95: The idea that broke the Middle East, with Dr. Micah Goodman
Episode 95
Thursday, 5 March, 2026

In the middle of war sirens and missile attacks, Haviv Gur sits down with Israeli philosopher Micah Goodman for a sweeping conversation about one of the biggest questions of our time: Why have some societies declined while others thrive? They trace the ideological roots of modern Islamist movements, the “politics of blame” that has hollowed out regimes like Iran, and the deep miscalculation that led Israel’s enemies to believe a liberal democracy would collapse under pressure. Instead, Israel revealed a strange and powerful formula—combining fierce individualism with tribal solidarity—that produced both technological strength and extraordinary willingness to sacrifice. The result, they argue, may be more than a military victory: It could be the collapse of an entire ideology.--This episode was sponsored by Glenn Bergenfield, who asked to dedicate the episode to “my quirky and loving wife, Sarah, who has studied our past, considered the present, met my family and is converting anyway. Mazal tov and welcome home.” Glenn also asked us to say, “And I’m grateful to you, Haviv, for your clarity, your relentless curiosity and your generosity of spirit in these hard times.”Thank you, Glenn, for this wonderful dedication.--If you like what we do here, please join our Patreon community at https://www.patreon.com/c/AskHavivAnything. There you can ask the questions that guide the topics we cover on the podcast, join in our great discussions where listeners share news and valuable resources, and take part in our monthly livestreams where Haviv answers your questions live.If you would like to sponsor an episode, please email us at haviv@askhavivanything.com⁠.Musical intro by Adam Ben Amitai.