Kim Ghattas, veteran journalist and author, recently launched the podcast “People Like Us” from Beirut, examining topics involving Middle Eastern culture, society, and politics as well as international relations. Her most recent book was a compelling deep dive into the rivalry that has arguably done more to shape realities in the Gulf than any other single factor, “Black Wave: Saudi Arabia, Iran, and the Forty–Year Rivalry That Unraveled Culture, Religion, and Collective Memory in the Middle East.” AGSIW was pleased to host a conversation on this important new podcast and review significant developments in the region regarding U.S. foreign policy, the role of Iran, and the politics and strategic thinking of Gulf countries. The discussion also explored what it’s like to live in and podcast from a Beirut in profound crisis.