A Tale of Cancellation: A Conversation with Meg Smaker (Episode
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- Опубликовано: 4 окт 2024
- Sam Harris speaks with Meg Smaker about the controversy around her documentary, "The Unredacted (Jihad Rehab)." They discuss her background as a firefighter; the effect that 9/11 had on the firefighting community; her subsequent adventures in Afghanistan, Yemen, and Somalia; the deprogramming of jihadists; the organized campaign to silence her film; the capitulations of Sundance, SXSW, and other festivals; and other topics.
Before becoming a filmmaker, Meg Smaker served as a firefighter for over a half-decade. She spent almost 10 years living and working in the Middle East, five of them in Yemen, where she learned Arabic and studied Islam while teaching firefighting to Yemeni men.
As a filmmaker, Meg explores controversial subjects from unorthodox viewpoints. Her films have won numerous awards, including Best Short Documentary at SXSW (South By Southwest) and a Student Academy Award. Her film, Boxeadora, received critical acclaim as “one of the best boxing films of all time” by Paste Magazine. Meg was also featured in the Hollywood Reporter’s “Next Gen” issue as one of the film industry's most promising new nonfiction filmmakers, and just this year Filmmaker Magazine named her one of the “25 New Faces of Independent Film.” Meg’s most recent film, Jihad Rehab-her début feature-length documentary-premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.
Websites:
jihadrehab.com
gofundme.com/f/the-unredacted-jihad-rehab
Fairforall.org
Twitter:
@Meighon
Released: October 12, 2022
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Thanks for the full episode
And on utube it actually plays through right. Not like on his website
This was one of the most eye-opening podcasts I have ever listened to. There is so much I could say about how awesome this woman is and on the topic in general. Suffices to say I am sharing this with everyone I know including the local fire department. You have allies in places you didn't know.
She makes a great point, around the hour mark, how it is better to have plenty of time to interview someone, to ask about the persons backstory (or things that aren't even considered necessarily relevant). Versus a journalist that has to dive right into tough questions because they are limited by a deadline.
I think that's a hindrance to traditional journalism, hitting the tough questions right off the bat. Getting to know the subject beforehand gives you context as to why someone may think the way they do. Better yet, it saves the interviewer from potentially asking questions in a way that offends the interviewee, or causes them to shut down. Plus it shows empathy, rather than just treating a person like their the next story to be capitalized on.
It seems like it's a minor thing, but i bet establishing a good rapport with someone first, goes a long ways towards gathering information and for overall honesty.
I will ask both Netflix and HBO to acquire the documentary. I want to see it and I’m a paying customer…
Don’t, EVER apologize, Meg. You are amazing.
As a retired firefighter I can identify my Meg on that level. But she is an extraordinary brilliant person 👏 and her bravery is exemplary.
Full respect to Sam for interviewing Meg and to her to do this documentary
Incredible woman. Kudos to Sam for stepping in.
As bad as her situation is she's a breath of fresh air . Let's hope these polluted institutions are paying attention.
One of the best episodes ever!
amazing interview, amazing woman. I plan to see the movie asap.
Is Netflix paying attention? They absolutely should!! I would love to see this film here in Europe!!
I appreciate your attempts to keep her on track and moving forward towards the point. It was difficult to have the constant sidebars and trying to get back on track. Certainly, she’s very interesting but it was all over the place.
This was a fascinating and sad story. It’s unfortunate that so many people who didn’t even mother to watch the film participated in preventing it from a larger audience.
Donated, what a cool lady, courageous and humble, a rare combination. Thank you Sam for having her on.
Donated. Your releasing it as a full episode made the difference, so thank you for that.
Took me a few sittings to get through it, probably in the top 5 podcasts Sam has ever done. She's an incredible woman.
What a human you are Meg. Clearly, one of the best of us. Loved the interview and all side tracks. I look forward to hearing the next chapter in your film making journey.
Meg Smaker deserves her own documentary, about her!
She said they made one and she didn’t like it 😂
She definitely does. What an amazing woman.
it would have too much swearing in it
Amazing life and so many more chapters to go. Many interesting layers and contradictions in this Woke story.
She sure should be allowed to show her film at Sundance,Cannes and every other film festival. She only should stop saying fucking for dramatic effect all the time.
A very important story to share at a crucial point in time. Thank you Sam & Meg.
As someone who struggles to maintain concentration I was daunted by a 3h+ interview but that was so captivating I listened to the entire thing without interruption, what a well balanced and respectful discussion between the both of you. Respect for great content and massive kudos to Meg for the perseverance, sticking to her guns and executing with such a humble approach!
Meg, this was an amazing podcast. And I hope you can still distribute your film somehow, because I'm dying to see it.
Also you would be a great guest on the JRE!
This podcast is hands down the best I’ve heard in a long time. Meg is an extraordinary human being and we all need to hear her out. Thank you Sam for introducing Meg to us all
Holy crap thank you Sam for letting us know about this incredible person.
Here is a person who can say at the end of life they lived a full meaningful life. Thank you for the full show.
WOW! She had $3k when interviewed and now over $140k.... Thank you Mr Harris. Wonderful interview and I can't wait to see this film!
25k from Sam himself, he does put his money where his mouth is. I hope she'll have some more freedom now to give the film the treatment it deserves.
Now over $215k
@@jimmybaggs5342 where to see it?
Given the number of times she mentions money, I'm sure it's not accidental.
Almost $250k!!
Damn this woman knows how to live! It's so rare and exciting to see someone who wants to have adventures in the real world, instead of the virtual world these days. I'm so glad these folks still exist.
Genuinely floored by how amazing Meg is. Absolute balls of steel.
Very sexist comment. Its labia of lead in 2022
Unbelievable woman. Absolutely had to donate to her cause. I HAVE TO SEE THIS FILM.
Hopefully those arms are made out of steel otherwise she’s going to break them patting yourself on the back.
Now this is someone I'd like to have a beer with. Great storyteller, apparently fearless, as real as it gets.
This woman is amazing.
very sweet of Sam to put his money where his mouth is, so proud to be a supporter of his and now Meg too, thank you both so much for shining a light into those dark corners ❤
I don’t understand: years ago I saw a documentary ( in Israel) about the rehab of Jihad fighters in a rehab prison in Saudi Arabia. At the end they said that many of those rehab people went back to fight for Jihad ( Al Kaeda) maybe the film now is more personal, but for sure it is not the first documentary on that subject.
Good people do bad things bec bad ideas.
So grateful to Sam Harris for helping a regular person learn something extraordinary. Amazed with Meg, an honor to support!
I´m 45 minutes in, they´re talking about every BUT the topic of the conversation and I think it´s one of the best podcasts you ever did Sam :D. Amazingly interesting woman!
Such a brave and tenacious woman that should be applauded. For me at least, Sundance's and SXSW's judgement should be what the debate centers around. I thought these two organizations represented what was suppose to be the pinnacle or "ground breaking" art. For them to have made these collective decisions says to me they are no longer willing to risk being credible.
This podcast was amazing. Somebody needs to do a movie about this lady's life. One of the best lines by Sam after hearing about her kidnapping in Columbia "..so you just wiped the blood of your passport and headed to Mogadishu?". Donating now to her GFM page.
Absolutely love you Sam Harris. I've been following you for awhile now. You and Christopher Hitchens were very influential at a time I was questioning my Christian faith. I have made peace with my decision since then. I wish you the very best. Stay true to your principles Sam. You give such an eloquent voice to so many.
Remember, he did call Hitchens's treatment of the Forbidden Knowledge" of Charles Murray morally and intellectually dishonest and driven by ideology
She’s great 👍. Interesting life and interesting person.
Wokeness ruins the day once again.
Over sensitive religious people overreact (many of which didn't even watch it), sundance reciprocates the ill advised outrage, and in turn, pull a film that had no reason to be pulled. This is why people hate the softie left. Good job, you have put a massive dent in your credibility for anyone that cares.
She sounds like a wonderful person. Made so many good, intelligent points, and articulated them well. Good for her, hate to see her get the rug pulled. Hope she pulls through.
Listening to this thoroughly engrossing, compelling conversation, I'm now desperate to see the doco itself.
MEG, genuine suggestion: get the film before Werner Herzog's eyes. As you likely know, he really helped get the word out on "The Act of Killing". If your film is as good as it sounds, he might be able to add some weight to whatever campaign is necessary to get the film distributed.
A film that disproves Harris's proposition that Islam is the motherload of bad ideas and that his country's interventions are well intentioned
I saw the movie in Waterloo earlier this week. Sam's phrase of "this isn't even a close call" is absolutely right. This is a really good movie from a technical perspective, it also tells incredible stories of these men in a really empathetic way. Not even close to bigoted against Muslims, quite the contrary.
Certainly top 5 Making Sense episode for me! Couldn't stop listening.
Amazing to see all the donations and support for Meg and this film. 500k at the go fund me page, truly inspiring!
WOW! Sam donated $25,000 on gofundme.
Unsurprised and proud in equal measure.
@@bertrandrussell894 Yes, felt the same way!
It's up to $600k
What a remarkable woman! Funny how much common sence, wisdom and energy comes from someone calling herself 'nobody'. Now it's time to watch the movie.
Great episode Sam. You should consider having Graham Linehan, writer of some of the best British Comedy (Father TED, IT crowd etc). He was cancelled for speaking up about women's rights and protecting children.
Wow this woman is amazing, and what a story! So glad that some kind of justice is being made with her go fund me page doing well
I'm a subscriber but pleased the full version was made public. Great job Sam 🤟
Wow. She's already lived three lifetimes.
Fascinating and inspiring interview. I listened to all of it in one go. Integrity and honesty are vital.
They are vital, which is why it was so crazy to sell out for a clearly demented politician.
@@blooper6543 please clarify. Who sold out for which politician?
@@davidkeeton215 See if you can guess.
@@blooper6543 Trump is a clearly demented politician, and I could list hundreds or, with research, thousands of people who sold out for him, but I don't see the relevance of that to this video.
@@davidkeeton215 Just guessing here. Perhaps she voted for him ?
I keep going back to listen again her anecdotes. What a wonderful human being this woman is! Thank you Sam.
Thank you, Sam for bringing this injustice to light. Proud to have donated. Hope Meg succeeds in every way possible going forward. Trying my best to get to London . . . .
Did you make it to London?
Thank-you Sam, I will contact the Detroit Institute of Art Film Thestre and talk to the curator Elliot Wilhelm
I am awestruck at the things Meg has done in her life! Her accomplishments and experiences would take 10 ordinary lifetimes to achieve.
One of the best episodes ever.
Same old cancellation bullshit. Where do they touch on the subjects of the film being denied their right to due process?
@@jmc5335 I wouldn't know since I cannot view the film. Have you been able to view it?
I hope to see this documentary soon available everywhere
35:00 I really don't understand why that shift would be surprising.
Sam, your a first class dude. I'm proud to be a monthly supporter of your podcast.
Meg, you are a warrior for the working day. Thank you.
He absolutely is!!
@@mariadelmardospasos Until he spits the dummy out over getting criticised. Then that decade long pilgrimage to meditation retreats goes out the window.
@@jmc5335 Did you just used your window to went? Or have not learn to meditate yet? If you heard mindfulness: check, you may missed something in yourself. Just saying.... With compassion...
Hypocrisy pushes my buttons.
Bie. Closing my window, too windy. Time to put on my new, meditation music.
@@tahwsisiht Then your buttons must certainly get pushed when Harris cites Dr Martin Luther King
@@jmc5335 seek help
20 min into it, I understand why Sam released the full episode 😂
Wow, she's so dang smart, brave and adventurous! I hope the film world changes it's collective mind and allows her to succeed.
@@arnoldlueders7500 Haw, yeah exactly! People are so funny.
@@arnoldlueders7500 What does swearing have to do with smarts?
@@arnoldlueders7500
People are saying she's smart largely because she knows about unusual things and is great at improvising, in many ways far up and beyond most people .
@@arnoldlueders7500 That is a Non sequitur. She swears so what?
I can't thank Sam Harris enough! I can't donate to the Gofundme (so broke right now) but I think this really matters. Really hope this film sees the light!
Wow do they give Emmy’s for podcast ??? Sam this was amazing so much insight actually into the entertainment industry which is more than I expected - wow I hope she gets 300k on GoFundme and can do this properly wow so inspirational
Nearly at $300k right now!
Over $600k now! Yay
People refuse to watch the film, but they criticize it and want it banned. Total lack of logic and reason. Pure emotion. Pathetic. Then others give into the pressure knowing that that the groups pressuring them HAVE NOT WATCHED THE FILM! What has happened to this world?
The confidence she has is amazing!
Thank you Sam for sharing this! I enjoy all of your podcasts, but this one is so much more raw than anything I had the pleasure to listen to. I'm not from the U.S. nor American, but I feel compelled to donate to Meg's cause. What an amazing human.
This was maybe the best Making Sense episode I have ever heard.. Meg is incredible.
Very cool of Sam to allow the full interview to be played on RUclips. That's a big boost to get this film noticed.
Steel buildings may not collapse but burning jet fuel will melt steel. Most buildings don't contain that much fuel.
This is so fucking sad and dangerous. This talented, smart, brave badass woman didn't deserve this cancel culture bullshit.
Full disclosure I've not seen the film yet from listening to this woman for 3 hours its obvious to me she wasn't going to make an anti Islamic film.
I admire her courage and her huge heart.
Thank you Sam for giving her some more exposure. I will absolutely donate to her gofundme.
Good for you Sam for giving Meg a much needed platform to tell her story.
Damn Sam... huge thanks for bringing this to light. There's not a chance in the world I would've ever heard about this, and though seemingly small and insignificant in the world of everything that is going on, is actually super important.
I will be donating and hope Meg can get this film out there. Such a good bit of gold in all this and prime example of what the world needs to see, hear, and accept, even if they don't agree.
I listen to literally all of Sam's podcasts and I can firmly say this was one of the most educational, enjoyable and eye-opening. Here's to hoping this film makes it onto a large platform like Netflix and Meg can make it to the Oscars.
This interview was in fact like an excellent documentary courtesy of you of course, but really because of the wonderful testimony of this woman
A multilevel understanding of the problem we are having with all of our institutions, public life, and to tell you from experience, it also happens to Jane Doe-s when they unknowingly wonder into very toxic environments.
The pattern of narcissism (or worse) in different scales and intensity.
This was truly excellent, thank you!
So pleased for you getting the support on your gofundme, hope it continues. Well done Sam for raising awareness.
Thank you for releasing the full version of this episode. It was riveting! Probably my all-time favorite. Meg is a remarkable woman; I hope to see her doc one day. I also hope she becomes among the most powerful in her industry. It’s refreshing to witness integrity.
To those who care so much about cultural appropriation: the reaction to this film arguably did more harm to minorities than good by being canceled. Next time, please watch or read the thing you’re protesting.
Donated immediately after listening. I look forward to seeing the film some day, hopefully a major distributor grows a spine, or at least pretends to.
Amazing podcast. But well worth it. Wonderful to see the GoFundMe number soaring. This podcast could be the one that breaks the dam. Hopefully other big name podcasters will interview her now - Jordan P, Josh R, Lex F. Get her on !!!!!
I wanted know more about who instigated the unjust campaign against her.
I've never been more excited watching a go fund me number go up.
Please help get Meg onto Rogan's podcast. Please!
What an amazing episode and what a badass this woman is.
Thanks Sam for bringing attention to this and helping her with this super unfair situation.
And the episode was super interesting, she had so many incredible stories!
For almost a decade now Sam is my reliable go to voice amidst the online rabble. My first click”subscribe.” Always a student. Learn. Respect.
One of the most emotional episodes of Sam's podcast.
How do I support Meg and purchase a viewable version of this film!?
what a crazy story, thanks Sam for having her on and posting the full thing. important stuff
I’m still listening and as Sam says she is an extraordinary person. I’m really enjoying this conversation. I will seek out the documentary and pay to watch it. And yeah I think she’s a really impressive person.
Mjr
Tokyo
Superb. Well done Sam. Meg Smaker I support you.
Just donated to her Go Fund Me. It's now at $530k!!! That's just incredible and I wish her the best
After reading Amanda Lindhout's memoir of capture and torture, I don't know if someone like Meg is courageous, foolish, or both.
Just donated to the gofundme; wishing much luck to Meg and hope to see the film soon!
My laptop mysteriously stopped working and I have to find someone to restart it from scratch. The error message says that I will lose my files, and have to reinstall the programs. I only do simple things on my phone online and don't want to download apps etc.
Can't check Go found me, but I am overly excited to know that Meg, her crew and their documentary will have a chance to find the rightful audience. I love good endings and justice at work!
Amazing Lady - Thanks for this
Thank you for making this podcast in particular full format. I've been listening to 30m bits of this for the past week when i wake up, and it truly makes a difference in how I spend my day.
This is amazing and Meg sounds like such a wholesome person. Thie way this cancelation was done is utterly gross
What hope do we have when the gate keepers of entertainment deny it, and say there’s no such thing. They say cancel culture is just accountability.
Killing hitler is cancel culture.. stopping stalin was cancel culture.. destroying the kkk = cancel culture XD by your standards.
Which Harris is thrilled with as long as it takes down Trump.
Please do an episode on Ukraine . Bring some reason to this mess thx.
Meg's GoFundMe is pushing $480k right now. That's what I call a win for critical thinking. A Sam Harris win.
Excellent episode! Thanks Sam! I would pay to watch the movie (whether or not a trailer is made)
Giving a platform to anyone who is cancelled is a very good thing to do.
Uh nah. Some people truly deserve to be shunned by society. The issue is that net has become increasingly elastic. That net should still exist though
So Sam should have Alex Jones on?
Not always in my opinion. Alex Jones and Andrew Tate are better off off these platforms
Dividing the world into the people you should be cancelled and the people you shouldn't be cancelled has no integrity. So yes he should have Alex Jones on.
I would be interested to hear what Sam thinks of a court giving Jones a billion dollar penalty for a speech act. That's a lot of hurt feelings. From the same brutal "justice" system that imprisons people for multiple lifespans.
Wow I started listening at bed time and could not stop listening. Meg you are a force of nature and deserve better, life can be so unfair and unjust. But it can be a better world when people like you do things that are important and challenge groups and powerful interests. I will be donating to your site when I wake up after my much delayed sleep it’s nearly 3am so goodnight and thank you again for your story and struggle.