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This podcast is currently inactive and not releasing new episodes.

Where can I listen to this podcast?

This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.

What's The Word?

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by Aidóni

5.0(2 reviews)

12 episodes

Updated Inactive

Accepts GuestsHas Sponsors

Podcast Overview

This is a podcast about all things language and media. This first season of our podcast explored how media reports about certain countries or regions around the world, and how words and terminology used to talk about those regions impact the larger understanding of the regions, and very often perpetuate misinformed stereotypes. In the second season, we turn our attention to the language of conflict, and ask what really happens when the words we use to report on conflict start shaping how it’s remembered, and even how it’s justified.

Language

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Publishing Since

10/17/2023

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Recent Episodes

May 20, 2026

S02E06: Unpacking 'Terrorism' - Who gets called a 'terrorist' and why Ft. Meenakshi Ravi

In the sixth and final episode of What’s the Word? Season 2, we take a look at a set of words: Terrorism. Terrorist. Militant. Insurgent.Who gets called what? Who escapes these labels? And what happens when these words are used to delegitimise struggles or flatten complex histories into good versus evil?To unpack this, host Shriya Roy is joined by Meenakshi Ravi. Meenakshi is a senior journalist and executive producer at Al Jazeera English, where she works on The Listening Post—a programme deeply invested in media critique and narrative analysis. In addition, she works on All Hail - a series dedicated to explaining the social, economic, and political forces that hold power in our everyday lives. She has been a journalist for close to 20 years. Important links: Producer: Shriya RoyHost: Shriya RoyConcept: Shriya Roy

May 6, 2026

S02E05: Unpacking the politics behind a ‘Ceasefire’ Ft. Hager Hesham Mustafa

In the fifth episode of What’s the Word? Season 2, we’re unpacking a word that often sounds neutral - Ceasefire. Words like ceasefire, truce, humanitarian pause, and de-escalation sound neutral, even hopeful. They suggest restraint. Relief. A step toward peace.But in many conflicts, these words don’t actually mean safety. They don’t mean justice. They don’t even always mean that violence has stopped.Instead, they often signal something narrower — a temporary slowing of visible violence, while structural violence continues: siege, displacement, occupation, starvation, surveillance, restricted movement.So today we’re asking:Who benefits when violence is described as “paused”?What realities disappear when diplomacy sets the vocabulary?And how does language lower — or raise — the bar for accountability?To unpack this, host Shriya Roy speaks with Hager Hesham Mustafa. Hager is an award-winning data journalist based in Cairo. She is the founder of Anmat, an independent research and journalism initiative working at the intersection of artificial intelligence, media accountability, and social justice in the MENA region.With her expertise spanning investigative reporting, data analysis, and applied AI, Hager specializes in uncovering hidden narratives, bias, and power dynamics within social and economic systems. Her work at Amat combines explainable AI methods with community-centered approaches to build open, reusable data infrastructures that support journalists, researchers, and civil society organizations. Important links: Anmat media website: https://www.anmat.media/Framing Gaza project: https://www.anmat.media/framing-gaza Producer: Shriya RoyHost: Shriya RoyConcept: Shriya Roy

April 23, 2026

S02E04: Unpacking 'Unrest' - the language that shapes dissent Ft. Muda Tariq

In the fourth episode of What’s the Word? Season 2, we’re unpacking a word that we hear so often that it barely registers anymore: Unrest.It appears in headlines, government statements, and international reports. It sounds factual, even restrained. But restraint in language often hides a great deal.The word unrest has a way of flattening political struggle. It removes cause, blurs responsibility, and makes resistance seem like a spontaneous disruption rather than a response to something deeper. To unpack this, host Shriya Roy speaks with Muda Tariq. Muda covers South Asia for the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), where her mandate covers civic space. As a researcher, she is also interested in the intersection of language, narratives, and civic space, particularly how governments weaponise terminology to criminalise dissent; how journalism, international bodies, and big tech often reinforce or reproduce these narratives; and how this shapes international response, advocacy, and documentation. Producer: Shriya RoyHost: Shriya RoyConcept: Shriya Roy

12 total episodes available

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Frequently asked questions

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What is What's The Word??: This is a podcast about all things language and media. This first season of our podcast explored how media reports about certain countries or regions around the world, and how words and terminology used to talk about those regions impact the larger understanding of the regions, and very often perpetuate misinformed stereotypes.

In the second season, we turn our attention to the language of conflict, and ask what really happens when the words we use to report on conflict start shaping how it’s remembered, and even how it’s justified.
How often does this podcast release new episodes?: This podcast updates inactive.
Where can I listen to this podcast?: This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
Does this podcast accept guests?: Information about guest appearances is not available.

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