1 00:00:13,280 --> 00:00:16,239 Speaker 1: Let me tell you a little something about Afghan music. 2 00:00:17,440 --> 00:00:21,560 Speaker 1: Back in the day. It was mainly classical and folk tunes, 3 00:00:22,079 --> 00:00:26,920 Speaker 1: influenced by traditional music from places like India and Persia. 4 00:00:27,680 --> 00:00:32,599 Speaker 1: It was poetic and romantic. You know what you need 5 00:00:32,640 --> 00:00:39,559 Speaker 1: to hear it? Can I get some percussion? I'm thinking tabla. 6 00:00:40,920 --> 00:00:43,240 Speaker 1: Now give me a little down, down, down, down on 7 00:00:44,200 --> 00:00:55,480 Speaker 1: the rhubarb. Yeah, that's it. Now layer in some harmonium. Ooh, 8 00:00:55,560 --> 00:01:06,640 Speaker 1: that's sweet. So music sounded like that for a while, 9 00:01:07,600 --> 00:01:10,440 Speaker 1: but then this guy came along and he started mixing 10 00:01:10,480 --> 00:01:14,360 Speaker 1: it up. His name was Akhmad Sayer and he came 11 00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:18,319 Speaker 1: from a prestigious Afghan family, the son of a prime minister. 12 00:01:19,520 --> 00:01:22,720 Speaker 1: So music that wasn't supposed to be his career path 13 00:01:23,760 --> 00:01:32,160 Speaker 1: shoved off, but Akhmad Zahir didn't care. He rocked a 14 00:01:32,280 --> 00:01:36,680 Speaker 1: pompadour and sideburns. He traveled the world seeking out musicians. 15 00:01:36,920 --> 00:01:41,480 Speaker 1: He met saxophonists and trumpeters. He learned to play accordion. 16 00:01:41,760 --> 00:01:44,880 Speaker 1: He listened to rock and jazz and flamenco, and he 17 00:01:45,000 --> 00:01:48,480 Speaker 1: started to write songs that were like mad mashups of 18 00:01:48,480 --> 00:02:12,360 Speaker 1: different genres Indian raga and Western pop, folk and rock, 19 00:02:12,800 --> 00:02:17,280 Speaker 1: jazz and poetry. He sang in Dari and Pashto and 20 00:02:17,440 --> 00:02:22,040 Speaker 1: Russian and Urdu and even English, and the more people 21 00:02:22,120 --> 00:02:26,239 Speaker 1: heard Akmanzayre's music, the more they fell in love. Women 22 00:02:26,320 --> 00:02:30,840 Speaker 1: with Jane Fonda hairstyles, dangly earrings and mini skirts would 23 00:02:30,880 --> 00:02:39,240 Speaker 1: shimmy and twist, and he sold out concerts. People would 24 00:02:39,240 --> 00:02:42,440 Speaker 1: line up outside record stores to hear his latest release. 25 00:02:51,200 --> 00:02:55,480 Speaker 1: Kabul in the seventies was Akiman Zahir's city, and he 26 00:02:55,560 --> 00:03:00,960 Speaker 1: became known as something else. The sideburns, the leather jacket 27 00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:19,120 Speaker 1: he transformed into the Afghan elvis. And then in nineteen 28 00:03:19,240 --> 00:03:24,400 Speaker 1: seventy nine, on his thirty third birthday, Zahir died. He 29 00:03:24,440 --> 00:03:28,720 Speaker 1: got into a car crash. Mini and Afghanistan think he 30 00:03:28,800 --> 00:03:33,000 Speaker 1: was murdered, murdered by the newly installed Soviet backed government 31 00:03:33,280 --> 00:03:36,400 Speaker 1: who did not appreciate his songs about freedom, his vision 32 00:03:36,440 --> 00:03:41,160 Speaker 1: of the future. And on this tragic night, instead of 33 00:03:41,200 --> 00:03:45,480 Speaker 1: fans flooding the street to celebrate their idol's birthday, they 34 00:03:45,560 --> 00:03:55,080 Speaker 1: marched through the city carrying his body. But Afghans never 35 00:03:55,320 --> 00:04:00,200 Speaker 1: stopped listening. Even years later under the Taliban, when it 36 00:04:00,200 --> 00:04:03,840 Speaker 1: had been outlawed by the religious police, people would gather 37 00:04:04,120 --> 00:04:08,520 Speaker 1: together in secret rooms and dance to Akhmad Zahir's music, 38 00:04:13,200 --> 00:04:16,760 Speaker 1: Dance with their shirts sticking to their bodies, dance as 39 00:04:16,800 --> 00:04:20,120 Speaker 1: if the only thing that mattered at that moment was dancing. 40 00:04:25,240 --> 00:04:28,760 Speaker 1: And although Akhmed Zahir would never know it, he became 41 00:04:28,920 --> 00:04:33,320 Speaker 1: a beacon, an inspiration to a new generation of Afghans, 42 00:04:34,120 --> 00:04:39,240 Speaker 1: a spark that lived inside them that could not be extinguished, 43 00:04:39,800 --> 00:04:56,200 Speaker 1: however hard the Taliban try. I'm John Legend and from 44 00:04:56,279 --> 00:05:20,200 Speaker 1: Kaleidoscope and iHeart Podcasts, this is Afghan Stock. Previously Daud 45 00:05:20,200 --> 00:05:24,160 Speaker 1: Sidiki is hired to produce a show unlike any Afghanistan 46 00:05:24,240 --> 00:05:30,040 Speaker 1: has ever seen. It's a nationwide singing competition for Afghans. 47 00:05:30,680 --> 00:05:34,080 Speaker 2: I'm so thirsty and so angry and so exhausted that 48 00:05:34,120 --> 00:05:35,719 Speaker 2: I can't think about anything. 49 00:05:36,160 --> 00:05:38,640 Speaker 1: He works day and night to get the show on air, 50 00:05:39,560 --> 00:05:43,440 Speaker 1: convincing judges to take part and traveling all around the 51 00:05:43,440 --> 00:05:52,400 Speaker 1: country to audition singers Zindigiicasafer, But he has no idea 52 00:05:52,520 --> 00:05:56,000 Speaker 1: if the public is ready for something like this, if 53 00:05:56,040 --> 00:06:00,800 Speaker 1: they'll be outraged or excited. It was just a few 54 00:06:00,880 --> 00:06:04,600 Speaker 1: years ago making a show like Afghan Star could get 55 00:06:04,640 --> 00:06:24,240 Speaker 1: you killed. Chapter one Cinema Paradiso. 56 00:06:25,720 --> 00:06:25,880 Speaker 3: Un. 57 00:06:25,920 --> 00:06:29,080 Speaker 1: Daoud Sidiki, the man who is the host and producer 58 00:06:29,200 --> 00:06:33,320 Speaker 1: of Afghan Star, sits alone in his home office in America. 59 00:06:33,880 --> 00:06:37,680 Speaker 1: He often pulls an Akhma Zahir cassette and slots it 60 00:06:37,760 --> 00:06:54,599 Speaker 1: into the player on his desk models for hours, he 61 00:06:54,760 --> 00:06:58,400 Speaker 1: just sits and listens and thinks of his old life 62 00:06:58,480 --> 00:07:00,480 Speaker 1: in Kabble by. 63 00:07:01,880 --> 00:07:06,440 Speaker 4: Card Zitch. 64 00:07:09,320 --> 00:07:12,960 Speaker 1: As a kid, Daoud was obsessed with music and movies. 65 00:07:13,320 --> 00:07:16,640 Speaker 1: He would spend all day either listening to tapes or 66 00:07:16,680 --> 00:07:17,640 Speaker 1: glued to the screen. 67 00:07:33,080 --> 00:07:36,600 Speaker 2: The VCR was kind of a magical box fermit. 68 00:07:38,720 --> 00:07:42,160 Speaker 1: Daoud tore through every record and VHS tape in his 69 00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:47,320 Speaker 1: family's collection multiple times. But when he wasn't watching or 70 00:07:47,360 --> 00:07:52,239 Speaker 1: rewatching videos, you could find him at the local cinema. 71 00:07:52,800 --> 00:07:57,320 Speaker 1: He remembers the short walk from his house, the bustling shops, 72 00:07:58,320 --> 00:08:01,000 Speaker 1: the neighbors who would wave or give him a little 73 00:08:01,040 --> 00:08:06,280 Speaker 1: pat on the back, and he remembers the cinema itself, 74 00:08:06,600 --> 00:08:10,559 Speaker 1: big windows, heavy curtains, and ice cream shop next door. 75 00:08:11,520 --> 00:08:22,040 Speaker 1: It's his favorite place in the world. With his feet 76 00:08:22,080 --> 00:08:25,080 Speaker 1: barely touching the floor, this is where Daoud would see 77 00:08:25,080 --> 00:08:29,680 Speaker 1: his first Bollywood movie. Captivated for three straight hours by 78 00:08:29,720 --> 00:08:34,880 Speaker 1: the colorful saris and plot twists and perfectly choreographed dance numbers, 79 00:08:36,400 --> 00:08:39,439 Speaker 1: And in years that followed, each time he emerged from 80 00:08:39,440 --> 00:08:41,320 Speaker 1: that little cinema he'd been. 81 00:08:49,320 --> 00:08:52,200 Speaker 2: I grew up watching lots of Bollywood movies and I 82 00:08:52,320 --> 00:08:57,240 Speaker 2: loved him. I love Amitabachan movies. I love like Metan 83 00:08:57,320 --> 00:09:01,760 Speaker 2: Chickut renting movies big stars like and and we will 84 00:09:01,760 --> 00:09:04,240 Speaker 2: talk about it for the entire week. Maybe Manson, we 85 00:09:04,280 --> 00:09:07,120 Speaker 2: will buy the music and go and buy the posters 86 00:09:07,160 --> 00:09:11,280 Speaker 2: and find the clothes and style. And still sometimes I 87 00:09:11,360 --> 00:09:15,840 Speaker 2: believe like I kind of imagine myself as a Bollywood actor, 88 00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:19,400 Speaker 2: or I hear it in a movie. 89 00:09:19,720 --> 00:09:23,840 Speaker 1: So that's Daoud's cobble. It's Bollywood have sensed. But it 90 00:09:23,920 --> 00:09:27,959 Speaker 1: isn't just Hindi music that fills his memories. To hear 91 00:09:28,040 --> 00:09:32,520 Speaker 1: Daoud tell it, afternoons were scored by harmoniums wafting from 92 00:09:32,520 --> 00:09:40,199 Speaker 1: the playground, kids played drums in the streets. Open shop 93 00:09:40,240 --> 00:09:43,600 Speaker 1: windows piped the sounds of the Afghan elvis to the 94 00:09:43,640 --> 00:09:50,160 Speaker 1: delight of passers by. But it isn't long before those 95 00:09:50,280 --> 00:09:55,160 Speaker 1: magical sounds that Daoud loves so much are replaced. 96 00:10:06,440 --> 00:10:09,800 Speaker 2: When the bullets camped. It has a very interesting sounding 97 00:10:10,040 --> 00:10:12,720 Speaker 2: zip zip zip zip. 98 00:10:18,480 --> 00:10:21,400 Speaker 1: By the time Daoud is in his early teens, he's 99 00:10:21,440 --> 00:10:25,480 Speaker 1: grown accustomed to falling asleep to the sound of bullets 100 00:10:25,520 --> 00:10:31,560 Speaker 1: being sprayed into the night, the sounds of civil war. 101 00:10:32,800 --> 00:10:35,640 Speaker 2: The war was a kind of a jungle low war. 102 00:10:37,000 --> 00:10:39,840 Speaker 1: In the nineties, war had broken out between groups of 103 00:10:39,920 --> 00:10:42,000 Speaker 1: rebel fighters called the Mujahideen. 104 00:10:42,640 --> 00:10:45,720 Speaker 5: These are the mujah Hadeen, the fighters of the Jihad, 105 00:10:45,880 --> 00:10:51,400 Speaker 5: the Muslim Holy War. They are men of faith of Islam. 106 00:10:51,480 --> 00:10:54,560 Speaker 1: The Mujahadeen was made up of regular people who rose 107 00:10:54,640 --> 00:10:57,680 Speaker 1: up to defend their country against a Soviet invasion. 108 00:10:59,320 --> 00:11:03,400 Speaker 5: Almost of Soviet bloodshed and battle into five minutes ahead 109 00:11:03,440 --> 00:11:05,800 Speaker 5: of schedule as the Soviet army completed this. 110 00:11:05,960 --> 00:11:09,760 Speaker 1: Retreat, but then the Mujahideen fighters turned on each other. 111 00:11:10,320 --> 00:11:13,680 Speaker 5: Early this morning, the airport was shelved. Throughout the day, 112 00:11:13,800 --> 00:11:16,800 Speaker 5: heavy artillery thundered in the hills around Kabo. 113 00:11:17,120 --> 00:11:20,160 Speaker 1: And the streets descended into a battlefield. 114 00:11:21,000 --> 00:11:24,040 Speaker 2: Kobl was not a safe place to live. You will 115 00:11:24,120 --> 00:11:27,040 Speaker 2: be killed very easily. Just someone will come and should you. 116 00:11:28,240 --> 00:11:32,000 Speaker 5: Some shops have reopened today, however, most people are staying 117 00:11:32,040 --> 00:11:35,480 Speaker 5: off the streets, saying it's still too dangerous to leave home. 118 00:11:36,160 --> 00:11:40,520 Speaker 5: Even that is risky. Many rockets are landing in residential neighborhoods. 119 00:11:42,120 --> 00:11:46,079 Speaker 1: Families across Kable were terrified. They couldn't lead their homes 120 00:11:46,120 --> 00:11:49,720 Speaker 1: for fear of getting caught in the crossfire. So anyone 121 00:11:49,760 --> 00:11:52,480 Speaker 1: with means moved to a different part of the city, 122 00:11:52,520 --> 00:11:57,439 Speaker 1: trying to outrun the fighting. But as Daoud's family quickly discovered, 123 00:11:57,880 --> 00:12:00,640 Speaker 1: the war was always right behind them them. 124 00:12:01,280 --> 00:12:05,480 Speaker 2: No one is talking. There's no conversation that house. Even 125 00:12:05,520 --> 00:12:09,679 Speaker 2: the kids were quite. Everyone was quite. This quietness was 126 00:12:09,760 --> 00:12:13,480 Speaker 2: kind of a hardest time of my life. 127 00:12:13,720 --> 00:12:19,120 Speaker 1: The days are long, no one really talks. Plus there's 128 00:12:19,160 --> 00:12:23,880 Speaker 1: nothing more to talk about. A silence fills the house. 129 00:12:41,160 --> 00:12:44,560 Speaker 1: Thou doesn't have much to keep him occupied, so most 130 00:12:44,640 --> 00:12:50,480 Speaker 1: days he sits by a small window in the attic alone. 131 00:12:51,160 --> 00:12:54,160 Speaker 1: From the right angle, he can just about see into 132 00:12:54,240 --> 00:13:00,040 Speaker 1: his favorite cinema, the chairs, the curtains. It feels so 133 00:13:00,240 --> 00:13:02,920 Speaker 1: close he could just about touch it. 134 00:13:05,000 --> 00:13:08,840 Speaker 2: I was watching the sword from the small window. That 135 00:13:09,400 --> 00:13:13,320 Speaker 2: rocket came from the mountain. I can see this rocket 136 00:13:13,360 --> 00:13:19,319 Speaker 2: with like a fire behind it. He came and hit 137 00:13:19,400 --> 00:13:19,959 Speaker 2: the cinema. 138 00:13:26,240 --> 00:13:29,280 Speaker 1: Daoud leaps forward to get a better look. His forehead 139 00:13:29,320 --> 00:13:32,280 Speaker 1: pressed hard against the window, his breath fogging up the. 140 00:13:32,240 --> 00:13:36,520 Speaker 2: Glass, and I saw the inside the window there fire started. 141 00:13:36,679 --> 00:13:40,440 Speaker 2: Maybe if it gets the curtains, it will destroy the 142 00:13:40,559 --> 00:13:53,360 Speaker 2: entire cinema. Sits paralyzed, and I'm watching, just watching my 143 00:13:53,520 --> 00:13:59,560 Speaker 2: memories the city. The seat that I grew up. The 144 00:13:59,600 --> 00:14:03,800 Speaker 2: cinema was kind of an image that I can't forget 145 00:14:03,880 --> 00:14:07,640 Speaker 2: that I always in my heart. It was kind of 146 00:14:08,040 --> 00:14:16,760 Speaker 2: symbol of art, music, cinema. Just it was so painful 147 00:14:16,800 --> 00:14:21,680 Speaker 2: to see my past life was destroyed in front of 148 00:14:21,720 --> 00:14:22,160 Speaker 2: my eyes. 149 00:14:35,400 --> 00:14:42,640 Speaker 1: Chapter two, Angels of Peace. It's nineteen ninety six and 150 00:14:42,720 --> 00:14:47,440 Speaker 1: Cabo has suffered years of civil war. To Doude, everything 151 00:14:47,520 --> 00:14:51,640 Speaker 1: feels lost. His home has been destroyed by rockets, his 152 00:14:51,880 --> 00:14:55,920 Speaker 1: town reduced to rubble. And that's when a group of 153 00:14:55,960 --> 00:15:00,160 Speaker 1: people come barreling down the dusty streets. 154 00:15:07,080 --> 00:15:10,640 Speaker 2: People called Toliban Angels of Peace. 155 00:15:11,920 --> 00:15:15,920 Speaker 1: Taliban means students in Pashta, and its members are quite 156 00:15:15,920 --> 00:15:19,400 Speaker 1: literally students from traditional religious. 157 00:15:18,880 --> 00:15:23,960 Speaker 6: Schools, Muslim seminarists trained in the madrasas the Kuranic Institute 158 00:15:24,040 --> 00:15:25,880 Speaker 6: of Western Pakistan. 159 00:15:25,880 --> 00:15:31,200 Speaker 1: Formed in Kandahar. The Taliban resisted the Mujahideen and took control. 160 00:15:31,200 --> 00:15:34,440 Speaker 6: After sweeping across the country. The Taliban now controlled three 161 00:15:34,560 --> 00:15:37,720 Speaker 6: quarters of Afghanistan and have long claimed to be the 162 00:15:37,760 --> 00:15:40,720 Speaker 6: only force to bring stability to a country to rent 163 00:15:40,720 --> 00:15:42,360 Speaker 6: asunder by factional fighting. 164 00:15:43,440 --> 00:15:47,080 Speaker 1: And now here they are wearing white and wielding white flags. 165 00:15:47,480 --> 00:15:49,200 Speaker 1: Come to save Kabu. 166 00:15:49,880 --> 00:15:54,160 Speaker 7: Taliban militia moved into the city shortly after one o'clock 167 00:15:54,240 --> 00:15:58,080 Speaker 7: this morning. They just swept into the city. Most government 168 00:15:58,200 --> 00:16:01,920 Speaker 7: soldiers and commanders led to the north. 169 00:16:02,760 --> 00:16:06,040 Speaker 2: People were so high. People my god, Western forgot the 170 00:16:06,160 --> 00:16:06,600 Speaker 2: one son. 171 00:16:08,280 --> 00:16:11,560 Speaker 1: The Taliban promised to restore peace and law and to 172 00:16:11,680 --> 00:16:13,720 Speaker 1: rid the city of corruption and crime. 173 00:16:14,280 --> 00:16:18,880 Speaker 4: So people are incredibly tired and want and into the fighting. 174 00:16:18,920 --> 00:16:21,680 Speaker 4: I've talked to dozens of people so far today on 175 00:16:21,720 --> 00:16:24,280 Speaker 4: the street, and they just keep saying, maybe this seems 176 00:16:24,400 --> 00:16:25,720 Speaker 4: is an end to the fighting. 177 00:16:28,000 --> 00:16:31,680 Speaker 1: Like so many people in the region, Daoud is overjoyed. 178 00:16:32,000 --> 00:16:34,720 Speaker 1: He's just finished school and can finally go back to 179 00:16:34,760 --> 00:16:37,880 Speaker 1: being a teenager obsessing over how to style his hair 180 00:16:38,000 --> 00:16:41,000 Speaker 1: and what to study at university, and for a while, 181 00:16:41,400 --> 00:16:49,040 Speaker 1: life actually feels normal. Daoud's family has food on the table. 182 00:16:49,400 --> 00:16:52,920 Speaker 1: They aren't dodging bullets or cowering in the basement, and 183 00:16:53,120 --> 00:17:06,239 Speaker 1: everyone is obsessed with a new movie called Titanic. There 184 00:17:06,280 --> 00:17:09,760 Speaker 1: are Titanic shaped wedding cakes on sale, gum packets with 185 00:17:09,840 --> 00:17:13,679 Speaker 1: photos of the movie on it, and long lines of 186 00:17:13,720 --> 00:17:18,440 Speaker 1: boys wanting a floppy haircut like Leonardo DiCaprio trailing out 187 00:17:18,480 --> 00:17:26,520 Speaker 1: of barbershop doors. Everyone loves Leo, but Daoud quickly realizes 188 00:17:26,880 --> 00:17:35,119 Speaker 1: that these angels of peace aren't quite what they see. 189 00:17:35,800 --> 00:17:42,240 Speaker 2: What tollibuns bring with them pure religious fanaticism. 190 00:17:42,280 --> 00:17:45,000 Speaker 1: They execute the former president. 191 00:17:44,920 --> 00:17:50,840 Speaker 4: The halt of the un compound and to the Presidential Palace, 192 00:17:51,000 --> 00:17:56,280 Speaker 4: and he was beaten and there were several bullets booths 193 00:17:56,320 --> 00:17:57,760 Speaker 4: to his lower body. 194 00:17:58,680 --> 00:18:02,960 Speaker 1: They bring in their own leader, and before long they 195 00:18:03,040 --> 00:18:07,320 Speaker 1: remodel the country around their own interpretation of Islam. 196 00:18:08,160 --> 00:18:10,800 Speaker 2: They say, you need to have a long here, very 197 00:18:10,840 --> 00:18:13,879 Speaker 2: long or very sharp. This is a two wist. 198 00:18:14,440 --> 00:18:18,000 Speaker 1: They don't want any fancy hairstyles, no fades, no perms, 199 00:18:18,040 --> 00:18:21,879 Speaker 1: no pompadoors, and absolutely no Leonardo DiCaprio cuts. 200 00:18:22,240 --> 00:18:25,000 Speaker 2: You need to have a long beer, traditional clothes. 201 00:18:25,200 --> 00:18:30,680 Speaker 1: They start banning everything fun kite flying, pigeon racing, dancing. 202 00:18:31,040 --> 00:18:34,399 Speaker 1: Before long, Daoud's sisters are pulled out of school because 203 00:18:34,440 --> 00:18:38,960 Speaker 1: women are no longer allowed access to an education. They 204 00:18:39,000 --> 00:18:43,680 Speaker 1: can't even go outside without a male chaperone. And then 205 00:18:43,800 --> 00:18:48,760 Speaker 1: Daoud hears the latest band. The Taliban declares. 206 00:18:49,000 --> 00:18:52,919 Speaker 2: No TV, no music, no sound. 207 00:18:58,920 --> 00:19:02,160 Speaker 1: Daoud feels like all the air has been knocked out 208 00:19:02,200 --> 00:19:06,560 Speaker 1: of him. He realizes this means no more Afghan Elvis, 209 00:19:06,600 --> 00:19:12,879 Speaker 1: no more Bollywood movies. The music which once was his 210 00:19:13,000 --> 00:19:17,600 Speaker 1: lifeblood has been replaced by the constant drone of Taliban chants, 211 00:19:18,160 --> 00:19:24,520 Speaker 1: hymns in praise of the Taliban's leaders and cars. To Daude, 212 00:19:25,320 --> 00:19:28,560 Speaker 1: this band feels heavy, stifling. 213 00:19:28,960 --> 00:19:39,080 Speaker 3: Taliberhasan Kisu, the sory fucker money Bestudo Sada, sunny sunny 214 00:19:40,240 --> 00:19:43,080 Speaker 3: dena sound. 215 00:19:50,680 --> 00:19:54,159 Speaker 1: Daoud watches as the Taliban set up checkpoints to stop 216 00:19:54,280 --> 00:19:56,600 Speaker 1: cars and carry out inspections. 217 00:19:56,880 --> 00:19:58,960 Speaker 2: They will come and check the dash forth you have 218 00:19:59,000 --> 00:20:01,600 Speaker 2: a tip and and if they do, they will beat 219 00:20:01,680 --> 00:20:04,880 Speaker 2: the driver or the passenger in the car. 220 00:20:04,760 --> 00:20:08,439 Speaker 1: And then they'll confiscate the cassette, unspool the black tape 221 00:20:08,520 --> 00:20:11,520 Speaker 1: and string it up like Christmas lights for all to see. 222 00:20:11,880 --> 00:20:18,120 Speaker 2: Music instruments like guitar, tabla, roubaub TVs VCRs, they will 223 00:20:18,160 --> 00:20:21,440 Speaker 2: break them and hang them above their checkpoint. 224 00:20:21,720 --> 00:20:26,639 Speaker 1: Anything that produces sound or provides entertainment is gutted and 225 00:20:26,760 --> 00:20:29,200 Speaker 1: hung from trees by its internal wiring. 226 00:20:29,560 --> 00:20:32,240 Speaker 2: That was kind of a symbol of their achievement. 227 00:20:32,880 --> 00:20:36,359 Speaker 1: Daoude keeps his head down, terrified of bumping into the 228 00:20:36,400 --> 00:20:41,440 Speaker 1: Taliban in the street and being assaulted. He spends most 229 00:20:41,520 --> 00:20:45,440 Speaker 1: days studying for his medical degree at university and then 230 00:20:45,520 --> 00:20:49,880 Speaker 1: going straight home as fast as he can, until one 231 00:20:49,960 --> 00:20:52,520 Speaker 1: day when he sees a crowd in the middle of 232 00:20:52,560 --> 00:20:53,080 Speaker 1: the square. 233 00:20:53,720 --> 00:20:57,119 Speaker 2: I was coming from the university and everyone is watching 234 00:20:57,720 --> 00:21:09,600 Speaker 2: up happening in the sky. 235 00:21:09,680 --> 00:21:11,960 Speaker 1: He weaves his way through, trying to get a peek. 236 00:21:12,359 --> 00:21:15,200 Speaker 1: The people around him are muttering to each other, their 237 00:21:15,280 --> 00:21:17,560 Speaker 1: necks extended, trying to get a better view. 238 00:21:19,520 --> 00:21:23,960 Speaker 2: I'm also watching the sky. I tried to find what's 239 00:21:24,000 --> 00:21:29,200 Speaker 2: going on. I can't see anything. Then I realized, oh 240 00:21:29,280 --> 00:21:32,680 Speaker 2: my god, people are watching something hanging. 241 00:21:35,400 --> 00:21:38,400 Speaker 1: THOU can't quite figure out what he's looking at. 242 00:21:39,240 --> 00:21:40,919 Speaker 2: I just saw a glimpse of it. 243 00:21:41,560 --> 00:21:46,679 Speaker 1: He squints a little harder, and then his stomach twists. 244 00:21:47,560 --> 00:21:57,240 Speaker 2: Feets and hands are hanging. Catted feets and hands. Maybe 245 00:21:57,240 --> 00:22:00,560 Speaker 2: I watched it for five or ten second and then 246 00:22:00,600 --> 00:22:01,320 Speaker 2: I left. 247 00:22:06,960 --> 00:22:11,640 Speaker 1: The image of the severed limbs is etched into Daoud's brain. 248 00:22:15,119 --> 00:22:18,200 Speaker 1: It's a warning to him of what can happen if 249 00:22:18,240 --> 00:22:25,000 Speaker 1: someone tries to break the rules. Fundamentalist groups like the 250 00:22:25,040 --> 00:22:27,840 Speaker 1: Taliban will give a load of reasons why they bring 251 00:22:27,880 --> 00:22:32,400 Speaker 1: in bands like these bands on television and blue jeans 252 00:22:32,440 --> 00:22:37,159 Speaker 1: and music. I've seen something like it myself. When I 253 00:22:37,200 --> 00:22:40,080 Speaker 1: was a kid, I wasn't allowed to listen to secular 254 00:22:40,200 --> 00:22:42,960 Speaker 1: music for a time because it was considered to be 255 00:22:43,280 --> 00:22:46,520 Speaker 1: the devil's music by the Pentecostal church I belong to. 256 00:22:47,080 --> 00:22:54,160 Speaker 1: They wanted us to be different, distinct, sanctified. The generous 257 00:22:54,160 --> 00:22:59,080 Speaker 1: interpretation is that they want you to be holy. But really, 258 00:22:59,640 --> 00:23:03,680 Speaker 1: I think all of these fundamentalist religious groups recognize how 259 00:23:03,840 --> 00:23:09,040 Speaker 1: powerful music can be, and it might scare them a little. 260 00:23:11,080 --> 00:23:15,919 Speaker 1: It's all about control, controlling the information you get, controlling 261 00:23:15,920 --> 00:23:20,359 Speaker 1: how you express yourself, because they don't want to lose 262 00:23:20,400 --> 00:23:30,080 Speaker 1: you to the world. In Kabbo, Daoud watches as the 263 00:23:30,119 --> 00:23:34,760 Speaker 1: Taliban set up checkpoints to stop cars and carry out inspections. 264 00:23:37,880 --> 00:23:41,520 Speaker 1: When Daoud gets home, he sees his neighbors getting ahead 265 00:23:41,560 --> 00:23:47,640 Speaker 1: of any suspicion, showing that they are following the Taliban code. 266 00:23:47,880 --> 00:23:51,359 Speaker 2: They destroyed and burned their own media stuff in front 267 00:23:51,359 --> 00:23:51,959 Speaker 2: of the people. 268 00:23:53,840 --> 00:23:58,160 Speaker 1: The fire crackles as it devours cassette tapes and violin. 269 00:24:00,040 --> 00:24:06,199 Speaker 1: Dude watches as everything melts, the smell stinging in his nostrils. 270 00:24:08,840 --> 00:24:09,159 Speaker 8: Liked. 271 00:24:09,160 --> 00:24:12,840 Speaker 2: They just get rid of them. We cannot take this risk, 272 00:24:13,119 --> 00:24:15,760 Speaker 2: And some families put them under the ground, or some 273 00:24:15,920 --> 00:24:19,479 Speaker 2: there that no one can find them. 274 00:24:20,520 --> 00:24:25,159 Speaker 1: The ground becomes a graveyard of Afghan culture. Everything that 275 00:24:25,280 --> 00:24:33,320 Speaker 1: Daoud loves most is buried six feet under. Radios, TVs, vhs, tapes, cassettes, 276 00:24:34,280 --> 00:24:38,680 Speaker 1: all covered in dirt and purged from their owner's minds. 277 00:24:41,480 --> 00:24:46,680 Speaker 1: But Daoud, he isn't interested in bearing his identity. He's 278 00:24:46,720 --> 00:24:58,600 Speaker 1: got a plan. Hey, it's John Legend. If you've been listening, 279 00:24:58,840 --> 00:25:02,040 Speaker 1: you already know that Afghan Star is a tale of 280 00:25:02,200 --> 00:25:07,439 Speaker 1: resistance and hope. For fifteen years, Afghan Star was a beacon. 281 00:25:08,040 --> 00:25:11,159 Speaker 1: But when the Taliban returned to power, they shut the 282 00:25:11,200 --> 00:25:15,280 Speaker 1: show down along with so many Afghan rights. They ban 283 00:25:15,520 --> 00:25:19,439 Speaker 1: music education for girls and women, and they continue to 284 00:25:19,520 --> 00:25:23,800 Speaker 1: clamp down on everyone's freedoms. But there are ways to 285 00:25:23,880 --> 00:25:27,840 Speaker 1: show your support. We've teamed up with a WA Studios 286 00:25:27,920 --> 00:25:31,479 Speaker 1: and their incredible graphic artists to illustrate some of the 287 00:25:31,480 --> 00:25:36,280 Speaker 1: most extraordinary moments in this podcast. There is a unique 288 00:25:36,320 --> 00:25:40,679 Speaker 1: print for each episode, bringing to life powerful moments that 289 00:25:40,760 --> 00:25:46,119 Speaker 1: are moving and inspiring. And there's an unforgettable print based 290 00:25:46,160 --> 00:25:50,480 Speaker 1: on a painting from superstar artist Raza that represents the 291 00:25:50,520 --> 00:25:55,200 Speaker 1: spirit of hope embodied by the show. Art and music 292 00:25:55,440 --> 00:25:59,240 Speaker 1: have the power to uplift us all, and ordering a 293 00:25:59,320 --> 00:26:03,600 Speaker 1: work for yourself or as a gift help support Afghans. 294 00:26:03,960 --> 00:26:07,359 Speaker 1: With every purchase, we'll be donating to the Nore Initiative, 295 00:26:07,600 --> 00:26:11,800 Speaker 1: a nonprofit working to ensure that every Afghan girl has 296 00:26:11,840 --> 00:26:17,720 Speaker 1: access to education and opportunity. For more information on our 297 00:26:17,760 --> 00:26:22,600 Speaker 1: collaboration with AWA, the artworks available to listeners, and to 298 00:26:22,720 --> 00:26:26,960 Speaker 1: learn more about the Nore Initiative's efforts to educate, support 299 00:26:27,040 --> 00:26:31,639 Speaker 1: independent media, and transform lives across the region, head to 300 00:26:31,720 --> 00:26:41,240 Speaker 1: the link in our show notes below. Chapter three the 301 00:26:41,240 --> 00:26:47,200 Speaker 1: Rebels Handbook, How to Get Away with Music and Movies 302 00:26:47,280 --> 00:26:51,800 Speaker 1: under the Taliban. It's a cultural wasteland out here. If 303 00:26:51,840 --> 00:26:54,840 Speaker 1: you miss flying kites and blasting music until three am, 304 00:26:54,880 --> 00:26:57,080 Speaker 1: like da who does? This is how you do it 305 00:26:57,119 --> 00:27:01,600 Speaker 1: without being killed or tortured? One get a group of 306 00:27:01,600 --> 00:27:05,119 Speaker 1: friends together. Friends you can trust, rebels who want to 307 00:27:05,200 --> 00:27:08,320 Speaker 1: party and find a secret clubhouse. 308 00:27:10,119 --> 00:27:14,120 Speaker 2: We have this area in Kabul called Mcruraean. There are 309 00:27:14,400 --> 00:27:18,359 Speaker 2: apartment buildings six floor, seventh floor, eighth floor. 310 00:27:19,200 --> 00:27:22,040 Speaker 1: A lot of these apartments are empty since residents fled 311 00:27:22,080 --> 00:27:25,000 Speaker 1: the country to escape the Mujaiden, so it's a good 312 00:27:25,040 --> 00:27:28,720 Speaker 1: spot for a clubhouse. Plus, the apartments are so high 313 00:27:28,840 --> 00:27:32,000 Speaker 1: up that you can blast music without fear of getting caught. 314 00:27:33,359 --> 00:27:36,200 Speaker 2: I listened to live music a lot. I partied a lot. 315 00:27:38,880 --> 00:27:41,919 Speaker 2: We went to this building and we were have live music. 316 00:27:42,400 --> 00:27:44,959 Speaker 2: We have preparing a food for us. That was party. 317 00:27:46,080 --> 00:27:49,520 Speaker 2: If I tell you that I listened to more live 318 00:27:49,640 --> 00:27:52,280 Speaker 2: music during the Taller One than my entire life, you 319 00:27:52,320 --> 00:27:52,840 Speaker 2: will laugh. 320 00:27:58,520 --> 00:28:02,600 Speaker 1: Step two, make friends with a smuggler. If you love movies, 321 00:28:02,680 --> 00:28:05,399 Speaker 1: you're gonna need a guy on the inside. You can't 322 00:28:05,480 --> 00:28:08,040 Speaker 1: just go out and buy VHS tapes from the store. 323 00:28:08,640 --> 00:28:12,840 Speaker 2: People were bringing it from Bostan, mostly moving a VC 324 00:28:13,040 --> 00:28:16,359 Speaker 2: or moving a TV. It was kind of like you 325 00:28:16,560 --> 00:28:20,560 Speaker 2: moving a truck full of drugs in the United States. 326 00:28:20,640 --> 00:28:22,119 Speaker 2: That's how hard it was. 327 00:28:22,880 --> 00:28:27,320 Speaker 1: Dawoods friends put him on to a smuggler. They tell him. 328 00:28:27,359 --> 00:28:30,000 Speaker 2: Here's a house you need to go to the evening times. 329 00:28:30,160 --> 00:28:35,080 Speaker 2: Knock the door. Special v you have had like secret 330 00:28:35,119 --> 00:28:37,120 Speaker 2: word password correct. 331 00:28:39,480 --> 00:28:42,640 Speaker 1: Go into the smuggler's house and shut the door behind you. 332 00:28:43,120 --> 00:28:44,200 Speaker 1: He'll give you the movie. 333 00:28:44,880 --> 00:28:48,880 Speaker 2: You put the cassette behind your belt, put the shirt 334 00:28:48,960 --> 00:28:51,560 Speaker 2: about it, give the guy the money. 335 00:28:51,680 --> 00:28:53,960 Speaker 1: You might think that's the hardest part of the whole thing. 336 00:28:54,440 --> 00:28:58,040 Speaker 1: Well you'd be wrong. What comes next is the hard part. 337 00:28:58,360 --> 00:29:01,840 Speaker 1: You need to get home without being caught by the Taliban. 338 00:29:02,320 --> 00:29:05,800 Speaker 2: These VCR tapes were so big, and when you walk, 339 00:29:05,920 --> 00:29:08,000 Speaker 2: it has some purses, makes noise. 340 00:29:08,360 --> 00:29:11,080 Speaker 1: Tighten your belt around the tape. You don't want it 341 00:29:11,120 --> 00:29:14,120 Speaker 1: to slip out. It's going to make a sound every 342 00:29:14,160 --> 00:29:18,120 Speaker 1: time you take a step. Walk fast, but not too fast. 343 00:29:18,320 --> 00:29:20,040 Speaker 1: You don't want to look like you're in a hurry 344 00:29:20,080 --> 00:29:23,120 Speaker 1: to get somewhere. If a member of the Taliban spots 345 00:29:23,160 --> 00:29:42,120 Speaker 1: you run step three infiltrate the smuggler network. Daud is 346 00:29:42,160 --> 00:29:45,840 Speaker 1: an electronics guy, and the Resistance needs more of them. 347 00:29:46,000 --> 00:29:48,320 Speaker 1: Dude has been fixing stuff since he was in high 348 00:29:48,320 --> 00:29:52,080 Speaker 1: school and since the Taliban have been destroying TV antennas 349 00:29:52,280 --> 00:29:55,760 Speaker 1: and VCRs always break. Having a guy like him around 350 00:29:55,880 --> 00:29:59,640 Speaker 1: is pretty handy. The smuggler hooks Daoud up with his customers, 351 00:29:59,760 --> 00:30:02,600 Speaker 1: and just like that, he's got a thriving business. 352 00:30:03,440 --> 00:30:07,040 Speaker 2: We have our own style of doing business, like how 353 00:30:07,120 --> 00:30:09,280 Speaker 2: what times you should come, how you should come. 354 00:30:09,920 --> 00:30:12,400 Speaker 1: You need to give your clients a cover story just 355 00:30:12,400 --> 00:30:14,280 Speaker 1: in case they're questioned by the Taliban. 356 00:30:14,880 --> 00:30:17,720 Speaker 2: You should just know my name of my father, my brother, 357 00:30:17,840 --> 00:30:20,280 Speaker 2: and if someone comes you should say this, yeah, he 358 00:30:20,360 --> 00:30:22,320 Speaker 2: is my relative. I'm coming to my reltive house. It's 359 00:30:22,360 --> 00:30:24,880 Speaker 2: not a big deal or something like. This was the situation, 360 00:30:25,000 --> 00:30:27,160 Speaker 2: like it was so scary, honestly. 361 00:30:33,880 --> 00:30:41,640 Speaker 1: Step four, Stay cool. Things are gonna get hairy. Like 362 00:30:41,840 --> 00:30:44,719 Speaker 1: one day you might be in your repair then surrounded 363 00:30:44,720 --> 00:30:47,960 Speaker 1: by VCRs and broken cassettes and you hear a pounding 364 00:30:47,960 --> 00:30:48,480 Speaker 1: at the door. 365 00:30:53,600 --> 00:31:03,200 Speaker 8: Don't panic, Oh my god, there's no time for me 366 00:31:03,360 --> 00:31:05,000 Speaker 8: to clean up this mess. 367 00:31:05,440 --> 00:31:11,960 Speaker 2: It's no time, just impossible. When this happened, I went 368 00:31:12,000 --> 00:31:14,560 Speaker 2: to a shock. I don't know what to do and 369 00:31:14,720 --> 00:31:18,720 Speaker 2: what happened to me? Now I imagine O come and take me, 370 00:31:18,960 --> 00:31:21,800 Speaker 2: destroy everything but me and the jail kill me. What 371 00:31:22,040 --> 00:31:28,280 Speaker 2: happens I'm thinking about this second time? The door is 372 00:31:28,360 --> 00:31:32,880 Speaker 2: kind of like crazy knocking. I'm lost. I am here. 373 00:31:33,160 --> 00:31:39,720 Speaker 2: I accepted the consequence of my work and said, I 374 00:31:39,760 --> 00:31:43,040 Speaker 2: can't move. Even I can move, run put, go to 375 00:31:43,080 --> 00:31:46,360 Speaker 2: the neighborhouse, something, do something, run at least, but I 376 00:31:46,360 --> 00:31:47,000 Speaker 2: can't do it. 377 00:31:57,240 --> 00:32:00,960 Speaker 1: So that would sit ready to accept this. Paid the handcuffs, 378 00:32:01,080 --> 00:32:08,880 Speaker 1: the lashes, all of it. But when the door opens, 379 00:32:09,000 --> 00:32:16,760 Speaker 1: he hears giggling. It's not the Taliban, it's his kid nephews. 380 00:32:17,240 --> 00:32:19,440 Speaker 2: You're so eager to come to our house. Both of 381 00:32:19,480 --> 00:32:22,040 Speaker 2: them with hand them and foot. They are knocking out 382 00:32:22,040 --> 00:32:29,760 Speaker 2: our door. Oh my god. When my hair, yes, sah. 383 00:32:30,240 --> 00:32:33,160 Speaker 2: I became with my own switt and I said for 384 00:32:33,400 --> 00:32:38,400 Speaker 2: thirty minutes without moving. 385 00:32:37,600 --> 00:32:54,600 Speaker 1: Like I said, don't panic. Chapter four Freedom. It's November 386 00:32:54,640 --> 00:32:58,320 Speaker 1: two thousand and one, six am. The food is startled 387 00:32:58,320 --> 00:33:03,640 Speaker 1: by the commotion outside. It's music. Someone is playing music 388 00:33:03,760 --> 00:33:07,880 Speaker 1: in the streets. No one has played music in the 389 00:33:07,920 --> 00:33:13,400 Speaker 1: streets for five years. Daoud rips the covers off, gets dressed, 390 00:33:13,600 --> 00:33:16,600 Speaker 1: and practically tumbles down the stairs to see where the 391 00:33:16,640 --> 00:33:22,920 Speaker 1: noise is coming from. 392 00:33:23,040 --> 00:33:27,040 Speaker 2: They had this big giant cars with the big speakers, 393 00:33:27,120 --> 00:33:28,320 Speaker 2: high quality speakers. 394 00:33:28,600 --> 00:33:31,880 Speaker 1: People are hanging out of their car windows blasting tunes 395 00:33:31,920 --> 00:33:34,600 Speaker 1: while they drive through the city music daoud used to 396 00:33:34,680 --> 00:33:37,640 Speaker 1: listen to in secret alone. 397 00:33:37,920 --> 00:33:41,000 Speaker 2: Lots of people on the street. People are celebrating your 398 00:33:41,080 --> 00:33:44,960 Speaker 2: music are loud. Some people are shaving their beards, They're 399 00:33:45,000 --> 00:33:46,440 Speaker 2: making their rear styles. 400 00:33:47,160 --> 00:33:50,480 Speaker 1: Daoude feels disoriented. It's like he's woken up in a 401 00:33:50,480 --> 00:33:54,760 Speaker 1: different country. What on earth is going on? Where are 402 00:33:54,800 --> 00:33:55,400 Speaker 1: the Taliban? 403 00:33:55,960 --> 00:33:59,520 Speaker 2: I see some people with jeans. Most of the restaurants 404 00:33:59,520 --> 00:34:02,320 Speaker 2: and store are playing loud music. 405 00:34:03,560 --> 00:34:06,520 Speaker 1: He walks around in a daze. Speakers are hooked up 406 00:34:06,520 --> 00:34:10,319 Speaker 1: in the streets competing for attention. Radio sit proudly on 407 00:34:10,440 --> 00:34:11,320 Speaker 1: window ledges. 408 00:34:11,640 --> 00:34:17,440 Speaker 2: I was enjoying going outside, cobble and see the city 409 00:34:17,520 --> 00:34:22,359 Speaker 2: that was coming back to life. 410 00:34:23,600 --> 00:34:27,400 Speaker 1: And that's when he figures out what's happening. They're gone, 411 00:34:28,480 --> 00:34:33,560 Speaker 1: the Taliban are gone, and only from don sing in 412 00:34:33,600 --> 00:34:38,560 Speaker 1: the city last night last night. This is good, no problem, 413 00:34:38,800 --> 00:34:47,319 Speaker 1: it's nice. And if the Taliban are really gone, if 414 00:34:47,320 --> 00:34:52,000 Speaker 1: they've really fled like everyone says, then it's finally safe 415 00:34:52,360 --> 00:34:54,719 Speaker 1: to do the thing he's been waiting to do. 416 00:34:56,719 --> 00:35:00,200 Speaker 2: I tried to shave my there, but I didn't know 417 00:35:00,200 --> 00:35:00,839 Speaker 2: how to do it. 418 00:35:01,400 --> 00:35:06,239 Speaker 1: He runs straight home and grabs a razor. Daoud was 419 00:35:06,280 --> 00:35:08,759 Speaker 1: only a kid when the Taliban came to power with 420 00:35:08,880 --> 00:35:12,160 Speaker 1: barely a few whiskers on his chin, and ever since 421 00:35:12,360 --> 00:35:15,920 Speaker 1: he's been forced to grow out his beard. But now 422 00:35:16,239 --> 00:35:19,440 Speaker 1: he can finally shave it off. The only problem is 423 00:35:19,880 --> 00:35:22,480 Speaker 1: he's never learned how to work a razor. I mean, 424 00:35:22,640 --> 00:35:25,239 Speaker 1: dud could line up at the local barbershop, but he 425 00:35:25,280 --> 00:35:27,840 Speaker 1: doesn't have the patience for that. So he stands in 426 00:35:27,880 --> 00:35:31,720 Speaker 1: front of the mirror, razor in hand and starts running 427 00:35:31,719 --> 00:35:32,719 Speaker 1: it all over his face. 428 00:35:34,520 --> 00:35:40,919 Speaker 2: And I like cutted my face so many visa when 429 00:35:40,920 --> 00:35:44,160 Speaker 2: I went outside, my friends were laughing at me, what 430 00:35:44,320 --> 00:35:47,520 Speaker 2: you did to your face? Oh my god, why you're 431 00:35:47,600 --> 00:35:50,319 Speaker 2: not going to a barber shop or Sandia or what 432 00:35:50,400 --> 00:35:54,120 Speaker 2: you did to your face? You just almost killed yourself. 433 00:35:56,719 --> 00:36:00,000 Speaker 1: But Doud doesn't care. He just wants to walk around 434 00:36:00,320 --> 00:36:05,719 Speaker 1: and drink in the sounds of freedom. The chatter in 435 00:36:05,760 --> 00:36:12,160 Speaker 1: the barbershop lives, the laughter and squeals as friends reunite 436 00:36:12,200 --> 00:36:16,600 Speaker 1: in the street, the shouts of parents as their kids 437 00:36:16,680 --> 00:36:23,560 Speaker 1: run off into the playground to play again. Daoud is 438 00:36:23,640 --> 00:36:28,160 Speaker 1: reveling in it all, a huge smile plastered across his face. 439 00:36:28,840 --> 00:36:32,959 Speaker 1: He closes his eyes and lets the music lead him 440 00:36:33,280 --> 00:36:34,400 Speaker 1: down the street. 441 00:36:37,239 --> 00:36:44,640 Speaker 2: People are running toward freedom. 442 00:36:44,840 --> 00:36:50,400 Speaker 1: In the absence of the Taliban, music seeps through. Before 443 00:36:50,520 --> 00:36:54,640 Speaker 1: long there will be concerts and radio shows. And yes, 444 00:36:55,360 --> 00:37:00,000 Speaker 1: Afghan Star Kabbo is on the cusp of a culture 445 00:37:00,520 --> 00:37:05,560 Speaker 1: revolution and Daou doesn't know it yet, but he'll be 446 00:37:05,600 --> 00:37:09,960 Speaker 1: the face of that revolution. He'll change the country. 447 00:37:10,400 --> 00:37:12,759 Speaker 2: Yesterday I was driving in the streets and no one 448 00:37:13,400 --> 00:37:17,160 Speaker 2: noticed me. But today everyone is talking about my show 449 00:37:17,239 --> 00:37:19,799 Speaker 2: and me, and they even recognized me. 450 00:37:20,800 --> 00:37:25,360 Speaker 1: But he'll also put the lives of everyone he knows 451 00:37:25,680 --> 00:37:30,160 Speaker 1: at risk. The bomb was placed in a taxi which 452 00:37:30,239 --> 00:37:37,000 Speaker 1: then crashed into the minibus. Definitely this bomb, that's next 453 00:37:37,000 --> 00:37:55,080 Speaker 1: time on Afghan Star. Afghan Star is a Kaleidoscope production 454 00:37:55,360 --> 00:38:01,880 Speaker 1: in collaboration with iHeart Podcasts, produced by Thomas and hosted 455 00:38:01,920 --> 00:38:06,920 Speaker 1: by me John Legend from Samizdat Audio. The series producer 456 00:38:07,040 --> 00:38:11,400 Speaker 1: is Meera Kumar. Our executive producers are Joe Sykes and 457 00:38:11,480 --> 00:38:19,160 Speaker 1: Dasha Lisitsina. Mix and sound designed by Jeff Emtman, story 458 00:38:19,280 --> 00:38:24,000 Speaker 1: editing by Joe Sykes, with original composition by Kyle Murdoch, 459 00:38:25,160 --> 00:38:30,680 Speaker 1: Recording engineer Tim McClain. Chapter artwork by A w A 460 00:38:30,840 --> 00:38:37,240 Speaker 1: Studios from Kaleidoscope, The executive producers are Kate Osborn, Mangesh 461 00:38:37,320 --> 00:38:43,280 Speaker 1: Hattikudur Oz Wololshyn and Costas Linos. From iHeart, the executive 462 00:38:43,280 --> 00:38:47,880 Speaker 1: producers are Ali Perry and Katrina Norvell. Social Media by 463 00:38:48,000 --> 00:38:53,360 Speaker 1: Dara Potts and Vahini Shori . Special thanks to Tom Freston, 464 00:38:53,680 --> 00:38:59,000 Speaker 1: Lizzie Jacobs, Will Pearson, Carrie Lieberman, Nikki Etore, Bob Pittman, 465 00:38:59,360 --> 00:39:03,640 Speaker 1: John Sykes, Conal Byrne, Saad Mohseni and the Mohseni Family, 466 00:39:04,080 --> 00:39:06,719 Speaker 1: Matthew Anderson and Axel Alonzo.