Dissidents and Dictators

About Dissidents and Dictators

“Dissidents and Dictators” is a podcast dedicated to bringing listeners stories and analysis from those on the frontlines of the fight for democracy. Hosted by Casey Michel and Elisha Maldonado, the podcast features democracy campaigners, investigative journalists, artists, musicians, scholars, and many more targeted by authoritarian regimes around the world. Guests share their personal histories and how they’ve dedicated themselves to standing up to dictatorship. Mixing news, commentary, and humor, the podcast provides impactful, unflinching conversations from those who’ve sacrificed everything to spread democracy — and who want to share their story with the rest of us.

Publisher

Human Rights Foundation

Category

education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

18 Jun 2020

Latest episode

20 May 2026

Latest episodes

43 of 162 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   20 May 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Welcome to Power Plays - Power Plays

   Sports journalist Karim Zidan interviews guests about how authoritarian regimes weaponize sports for political influence, revealing the hidden power plays behind major sporting events.

2. 

   29 Jan 2025TRANSCRIPT

   The Troublemaker with Mark Clifford

   Casey and Elisha speak with Mark Clifford, author of a new biography of jailed Hong Kong democracy activist Jimmy Lai, about Beijing's brutality, the future of Hong Kong democracy, and how Jimmy became the face of a movement. They also talk about Jimmy's wide-ranging culinary tastes - and some of the most memorable meals Jimmy enjoyed before prison. SHOW NOTES: Link to Mark's new biography of Jimmy Lai: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Troublemaker/Mark-L-Clifford/9781668027691 Link to Mark's previous book on the history of Hong Kong: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250279170/todayhongkongtomorrowtheworld/

3. 

   19 Dec 2024TRANSCRIPT

   Is Bitcoin a lifeline for Africa?

   Casey and Elisha are joined by Togolese human rights activist Farida Nabourema to talk about her life growing up under the Gnassingbé dictatorships — Togo has been under single-family autocracy for more than 50 years — and the country's rampant crookedness. She also talks about how Bitcoin and blockchain offer solutions to Africa's longstanding issues with corruption and lack of trust in traditional financial institutions and how Bitcoin can offer a more transparent alternative.

Inside a recent episode

Welcome to Power Plays - Power Plays

Published 20 May 2026 · Transcript excerpt

[…] In this first season of Powerplays, we explore some of the different regimes that have exploited the FIFA World Cup over the last century, from the Italian fascists of 1934. To the Argentinian military Hunters in 1978, to the kleptocratic police state of Russia in 2018, na chimpiana Tmira Hifa, a welcome to Russia, and to Qatar in 2022, the Middle East monarchy built on the backs of migrant workers. You'll be proud of the Middle East, and I promise you this. And we'll also look at this year's World Cup, as well as those in 2030 and 2034, when it may be used by authoritarian regimes like Morocco and Saudi Arabia. […]

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

27 ratings

Spotify

4.9 / 5

17 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 56 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

79

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

85

Contact Dissidents and Dictators

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.