Jerusalem Unplugged Podcast
I am Roberto Mazza and this is Jerusalem Unplugged Podcast.
Jerusalem Unplugged is the only podcast dedicated exclusively to Jerusalem, its rich history, and its diverse people. Through in-depth conversations with scholars, activists, politicians, artists, journalists, religious figures, and community members, the podcast explores the complex layers of one of the world's most significant cities.
Our conversations are designed to be intellectually challenging, moving beyond surface narratives to examine the nuanced realities of Jerusalem's past and present. Each episode provides substantive material for serious discussion, encouraging listeners to engage with the city's multifaceted stories from historical, political, cultural, and social perspectives.
From archaeological discoveries and urban development to religious practices and daily life, Jerusalem Unplugged uncovers the Jerusalem you may never have heard of—offering fresh insights into a city where ancient history and contemporary life intersect in extraordinary ways.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- Update frequency
- every day
- Average duration
- 57 minutes
- Episodes
- 131
- Years Active
- 2025
Islamic Jerusalem, its history and legacy with Suleiman Mourad
The opening of season 3 is dedicated to the history and legacy of Islamic Jerusalem with Professor Suleiman Mourad. What does it mean Islamic? How did Jerusalem become an Islamic city and how was the…
A view of Jerusalem from the Hebrew University with Abigail Jacobson
In the last episode of season 2, Abigail Jacobson, Senior Lecturer at the Hebrew University, shares with us the view of the city from Mount Scopus. The Hebrew University has in the last decade or so …
The Nabi Musa Festival with Awad Halabi
The Nabi Musa festival dates back centuries, an Islamic celebration of the Prophet Moses that started at the end of the Crusader period. While the festival was abolished by the British during the Man…
The deal of the century? Cemal Pasha's attempt to sell the Western Wall in 1916
In this special episode of Jerusalem Unplugged with no guest, I will tell you the story of a neglected and forgotten event that took place during the First World War in Jerusalem and might have chang…
British urban planning of Jerusalem with Noah Hysler Rubin
McLean, Ashbee and Geddes may not be household names for many in Jerusalem and those who are in various way interested in, or attached to the city.
Yet, these British urban planners had a major influ…
The Palestine Exploration Fund with Felicity Cobbing
The Palestine Exploration Fund is a familiar name to many who work or visited Jerusalem. While the general sense is that it was a branch of British colonialism in the region, its origin and instituti…
Nine Quarters of Jerusalem with Matthew Teller
Matthew Teller, writer, documentary maker and BBC Radio contributor, tells us about his personal journey and experience in Jerusalem and of Jerusalem. Matthew has recently finished a new book on the …
Greek Jerusalem, its history and politics with Kostantinos Papasthatis
How many people would know that there was a Greek Jerusalem? In fact there is still a Greek Jerusalem buried in the multilayered society of the city. Kostantinos Papasthatis brings back the history a…
Architecture and urban plans in Jerusalem with Nadi Abusaada
Nadi Abusaada, architect, urbanist and historian, discussed the role of British urban planning for Jerusalem in the early 1920s, particularly the work of Charles Ashbee. Architecture and urban planni…
Lives in common, everyday life in Jerusalem with Menachem Klein
In the first episode of 2022, Professor Menachem Klein, author of the acclaimed book 'Lives in Common', takes us through the changing politics of Jerusalem since the 1990s. Prof. Klein has been invol…
Building Jerusalem and Palestine: a short history of cement with Nimrod Ben Zeev
Jerusalem, Palestine and Israel have been built with cement, a material that carries an important and heavy socio-political history. In this episode Nimrod Ben Zeev tells about this material and its …
Jerusalem's Old Past (part 3): Medieval Jerusalem with Valentina Covaci
In this third installment of the Jerusalem's Old Past series, Dr Valentina Covaci takes us back to medieval Jerusalem, mostly in the period when the city was under Mamluk rule. We first discussed wha…
Refugees, business cards and the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem with Maria Chiara Rioli
In this episode Maria Chiara Rioli, author of the wonderful work A Liminal Church, Refugees, Conversions and the Latin Diocese of Jerusalem 1946-1956 (Brill), tells us about her personal path that br…
Beitar Jerusalem and the politics of Football with Nicholas Blincoe
Author, critic, screenwriter and former Bethlehem resident, Nicholas Blincoe takes us through an amazing journey in history and sport. In the first part of the episode Nicholas laid out for us a shor…
A day trip from Jerusalem: Bethlehem and its Merchants with Jacob Norris
In this third episode dedicated to a day trip from Jerusalem, Jacob Norris takes us to Bethlehem. The city at the very center of the story of Christmas has been a center attracting pilgrims from all …
A day trip from Jerusalem: Nazareth in the 20th century with Leena Dallasheh
In this second episode dedicated to a day trip from Jerusalem, Prof. Leena Dallasheh takes us to Nazareth. This very important Palestinian center, mostly known for its connection with the story of Je…
A day trip from Jerusalem: Gaza in Ottoman times with Dotan Halevy
In this first episode dedicated to a day-trip outside Jerusalem, Dotan Halevy takes to late-Ottoman Gaza. While today Gaza can be certainly considered the largest open air jail, or at least most secu…
Jerusalem's Old Past (part 2): the city and its libraries with Merav Mack
In the second episode dedicated to the pre-Ottoman history of Jerusalem, Merav Mack, Jerusalemite and scholar, takes us through the street of medieval Jerusalem, discussing the libraries and the book…
Jerusalem's Old Past (part 1): the Crusades with Adrian Boas
In this first episode dedicated to the early history of Jerusalem, Prof. Adrian Boas takes us back the Crusader era when Jerusalem fell in the hands of the Crusaders in 1099. Adrian tells about the l…
Arab Jewish relations in Jerusalem from 1929 to post 1967 with Hillel Cohen
Acclaimed scholar and Jerusalemite Hillel Cohen shared with us the stories of his childhood in Jerusalem, how he became interested in the history of the city and particular in establishing a personal…