7 episodes

Strongman figures--those who rule by threats, force, and violence--are found at all levels of society: from an abusive romantic partner, to corrupt cops, terrorist leaders, and authoritarian governments. A series of intimate narratives from across the globe, about power and control. Hosted by Hind Hassan.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Strongman VICE

    • Society & Culture
    • 4.8 • 71 Ratings

Strongman figures--those who rule by threats, force, and violence--are found at all levels of society: from an abusive romantic partner, to corrupt cops, terrorist leaders, and authoritarian governments. A series of intimate narratives from across the globe, about power and control. Hosted by Hind Hassan.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Forced Silence

    Forced Silence

    Sexual Violence is endemic around the world, and frequently used to silence women. Egypt is no exception. But some women in the country have started to speak up about their experiences of sexual harassment and assault. 
    In this final episode, Hind goes to Egypt and reports out a story that includes an exclusive account of the infamous Fairmont rape case.
    For resources on sexual harassment and assault go to https://www.rainn.org/ in the U.S. and http://ecwronline.org/ in Egypt.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    • 42 min
    Policing

    Policing

    In 2020 social unrest led to a renewed focus on how the criminal justice system is used to oppress Black people in the United States. 
    In Kenya, the country has tried to combat its own problems with policing, but unchecked violence has continued.
    Journalist Asha Mwilu tells the story of Evans Njoroge who was killed by a police officer in 2018 while examining how policing in Kenya is a legacy of colonial oppression.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    • 41 min
    Hierarchy

    Hierarchy

    Growing up, Sujatha Gidla didn’t think much about India’s centuries old caste system. But then in college something happened that forced Sujatha to reckon with the fact that she was Dalit, the lowest place in India’s caste hierarchy. 
    Hind hosts as Sujatha tells the story of her life before and after this revelation and how it shaped the course of her life.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    • 34 min
    Separation

    Separation

    As a teenager, VICE journalist Adreanna Rodriguez was given a choice that would alter the course of her life. Later, she started to wonder if she made the right decision... a decision that many of her Native American ancestors had been denied. 
    In this collaboration with Snap Judgment, Adreanna travels from California to the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation in North Dakota, and she looks at what it meant to be separated from her mother and her tribe.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    • 39 min
    Indoctrination

    Indoctrination

    When writer Lurgio Gavilan was 12, the terrorist group Shining Path recruited him as a child soldier.
     
    Journalist Marco Aviles takes us through Lurgio’s experience--and what it reveals about indoctrination

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    • 43 min
    Obedience

    Obedience

    When author Reema Zaman married her husband, she was dazzled by his charm. Then she started noticing all the ways he was trying to control her life.  
    New York Times Columnist Amanda Taub talks with Hind about domestic violence, authoritarianism--and how mechanisms used by dictators are used to exploit power at all levels. 
    For resources on domestic violence call the national domestic hotline at 1-800.799.SAFE or go to https://www.thehotline.org/.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    • 26 min

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5
71 Ratings

71 Ratings

Majo1969 ,

Hind Hassan is a courageous woman!

Thank you for this insightful, raw, informative, honest, truthful Podcast. As usual VICE NEWS delivers high caliber news. Seems like VICE is one of the few news outlet delivering independent unbiased news. Please continue. And thank you Hind Hassan for such an incredible job reporting the news!

xxbabyvampxx ,

Insightful and deeply human

Strongman was recommended to me by my friend, Sam Eagan. The creators and producers deliver on the premise, exploring various systems of power in an overarching meditation on humanity’s thirst for domination and control. What kept me listening until the end were the nuanced and deeply human accounts of the interviewees’ firsthand experiences of these power structures. Kudos to the team for telling the interviewees’ stories with great care and compassion. My favorite episode was Hierarchy (though Policing was a close second). Overall, this was a great listening experience. I can’t recommend Strongman enough.

Taralainee ,

Interesting

This podcast is super interesting. A lot of history has been hidden, and told and re-told to skew it favorably to certain people. I’m so happy to have found it.

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