Radio Live - Podcasts - Keen On America - Elisabeth Leake on How the Soviet and American Invasions of Afghanistan Are Comparable

Elisabeth Leake on How the Soviet and American Invasions of Afghanistan Are Comparable

Author: Andrew Keen July 8, 2022 Duration: 36:20

Podcast episode

Keen On America

Society Commentary Culture News

Keen On America is a sharp, fast-moving podcast hosted by author and commentator Andrew Keen. Known for asking impertinent questions, Keen cross-examines some of the world’s most thoughtful voices on politics, economics, history, culture, the environment, and technology. Each episode digs beneath headlines and hype to uncover what is really shaping America today and how those forces connect to global change. Listeners can expect challenging conversations rather than easy talking points, as Keen presses guests to explain not just what is happening, but why it matters and what might come next. Whether you are trying to make sense of polarized politics, rapid technological disruption, or shifting social norms, this show offers a bracing, critical lens. Tune in and listen episodes of Keen On America to hear Andrew Keen interrogate the ideas and assumptions that define contemporary American life.

Hosted by Andrew Keen, Keen On features conversations with some of the world’s leading thinkers and writers about the economic, political, and technological issues being discussed in the news, right now.

In this episode, Andrew is joined by Elisabeth Leake, author of Afghan Crucible: The Soviet Invasion and the Making of Modern Afghanistan.

Elisabeth Leake is Associate Professor of International History at the University of Leeds. She is the author of The Defiant Border: The Afghan-Pakistan Borderlands in the Era of Decolonization, 1936-65.

More episodes

Was Henry Kissinger Evil? Tom Wells on the Kissinger Tapes

27.02.2026 Duration: 34:04

"He lied more than I thought he did—and I thought he lied a lot." — Tom Wells on Henry KissingerIn our Epstein age, everyone seems to have access to everyone else's dirtiest secrets. But half a century ago, in the Waterg…

Episode page

Trump-Epstein: Jason Pack on the Axis of Disorder

26.02.2026 Duration: 40:10

"They are fundamentally bound at the hip, because the Trump age is a conspiratorial age and a backlash against global wealth inequality... Epstein facilitated the rise of Trump." — Jason PackLate last year, Disorder podc…

Episode page

Stuck, Stuck, Stuck, Stuck: Maya Kornberg on Congress as a Four-Alarm Fire

25.02.2026 Duration: 41:32

"The House hasn't reorganized committee jurisdictions since the early 70s—before the internet existed." — Maya KornbergAmerica is stuck stuck stuck stuck. Almost exactly a year ago, I interviewed the Atlantic's Yoni Appl…

Episode page

No, It's Not Only Social Media: Ross Greene on Why Our Kids Aren't Okay

24.02.2026 Duration: 35:07

"We didn't have to grow up with that." — Ross Greene, on school shootingsOne of the most persistent worries these days is that our kids aren't okay. With most of the blame, of course, now being placed on the ubiquity of…

Episode page

Fresh Hell at 3 AM: Peter Bale on the View of America From Down Under

23.02.2026 Duration: 38:57

"I wake up at 3 AM, check my phone to see what fresh hell has come out, and it's usually two words: 'Trump threatens.'" — Peter BaleWe're reversing the lens today. Rather than examining America from the inside, we're pee…

Episode page

Different Minds Are Great: David Oppenheimer on the Diversity Principle

22.02.2026 Duration: 36:54

"Great minds think alike? It's completely wrong. It's not that great minds think alike; it's that different minds are great." — David OppenheimerIt's diversity week. Yesterday, Brian Soucek argued in favor of what he cal…

Episode page

The Silicon Gods Must Have Their Blood: How Public Venture Capital Might Kill Venture Capitalism

21.02.2026 Duration: 38:19

"They are changing venture capital from a 30% tax to 0% tax. If Robinhood succeeds, it makes Sequoia and Andreessen's business model untenable." — Keith TeareThe Silicon Gods must have their blood. And they've finally co…

Episode page

The Dangerous Myth of Neutrality Brian Soucek on Why Universities Should Take Sides

21.02.2026 Duration: 32:09

"150 universities have adopted neutrality policies just since October 7th. I'm on the losing end of this trend." — Brian SoucekUniversities keep claiming what they see as the moral high ground of neutrality. But Brian So…

Episode page

Progressive Populism Prevails: Charles Derber on How to Fight the Oligarchy

20.02.2026 Duration: 36:45

"72% of Americans say they hate big corporations—including Republicans." — Charles DerberIt's not just the right that's reacting against liberal democracy. Some progressives are also embracing populism. Charles Derber, l…

Episode page

He Was Somebody: David Masciotra Remembers Jesse Jackson

19.02.2026 Duration: 40:51

"American culture likes martyrs, not marchers." — David Masciotra, quoting Jesse JacksonA couple of days ago, a great American died. Jesse Jackson was 84. He was somebody. Even Donald Trump acknowledged the passing of "a…

Episode page

Books Are Dying (Again): Bethanne Patrick on the Enshittification of the Book Biz

18.02.2026 Duration: 38:08

"It truly is becoming a desert right now for book publicists." — Bethanne PatrickA couple of weeks ago, there was an "absolute bloodbath" at The Washington Post with hundreds of workers laid off and the book section tota…

Episode page

Protesting the Protesters: Bruce Robbins on the Protests over Vietnam, Gaza and Minneapolis

17.02.2026 Duration: 39:06

"I'm much more likely to protest when I feel responsible—when violence is being done in my name." — Bruce RobbinsAs always, the media is full of stories about political protest. A Columbia University Gaza protester held…

Episode page

Mercy Costs Money: Emily Galvin Almanza on the Price of Criminal Justice in America

16.02.2026 Duration: 39:41

"We are still dealing with a system which tolerates rampant abuse of accused people." — Emily Galvin AlmanzaBack in April 2024, we interviewed Thelton Henderson, one of the first African American federal judges in Americ…

Episode page

Two Years Till We're Cooked: The Death of White Collar Work and Other Human Things

15.02.2026 Duration: 43:14

"Two years from now, all white-collar jobs may be gone." — Dario Amodei (via Keith Teare)Keith Teare leads this week's tech roundup with a video he made on Google's Veo: one glass half-full of water, another half-full of…

Episode page

What is Love? Paul Eastwick on the New Science of Attraction

14.02.2026 Duration: 38:11

"She's a ten to me and that's the part that matters." — Paul EastwickIf it's Valentine's Day, we must be talking about love. Paul Eastwick studies attraction and relationships at UC Davis, and his new book Bonded by Evol…

Episode page