“Bad Cousins” Podcast Launch and Public Discussion

events Programme

On 1 November 2025, LABA Berlin held an event in Berlin that created a space for discussing contemporary challenges in Jewish–Muslim relations and the impact of cultural narratives on social life. During the gathering, the new podcast series Bad Cousins was presented, exploring the symbolic and political functions of Abrahamic heritage and showing how memory, myth, and geopolitical context shape contemporary identities and perceptions between communities.

The event followed a structure combining a communal listening session, a moderated panel discussion, and an open conversation with participants. The audience first listened to excerpts introducing the main themes of the series, followed by a discussion featuring the podcast creators, invited artists, and scholars: Matan Kaminer, Ben Schuman-Stoler, Yael Attia, Muhammad Jabali, and Guli Dolev-Hashiloni. The panellists addressed topics such as narrative construction, the functioning of cultural memory, and the political instrumentalisation of religious figures, while the moderation ensured that audience questions were contextualised and meaningfully connected to the discussion.

A significant part of the event was devoted to reflecting on the challenges of intercultural cooperation following the events of 7 October and the invasion of Gaza. The discussion addressed rising social polarisation, tensions in personal and professional relationships, heightened sensitivities within Jewish–Muslim collaborations, and the need for new dialogical spaces where complex emotions and political realities can coexist. This approach ensured that the event remained responsive to a rapidly shifting social context and enabled honest, constructive exchanges.

The event delivered concrete results: it introduced the public to an innovative artistic research format, deepened understanding of how Abrahamic symbolism is used in contemporary narratives, and generated substantive dialogue on Jewish–Muslim relations in Europe today. It also provided artists and cultural professionals with a structured framework to discuss shifts in relationships between communities after 7 October, engaging a wide Berlin-based audience that included artists, activists, educators, and community members.

This activity further strengthened the programme’s medium-term impact by fostering media literacy around religious and cultural narratives, reinforcing networks within postmigrant cultural production, and creating a space for difficult but necessary conversations. Of particular added value was the opportunity to openly address interpersonal and communal challenges that have emerged in the wake of recent geopolitical events—issues that often remain unspoken in formal settings.

The event increased the visibility of the LABA Berlin programme through social media outreach, photographic documentation, and the involvement of recognised cultural practitioners. The podcast itself (thediasporist.de/podcast/bad-cousins/) continues to serve as a dissemination tool, extending the programme’s themes to audiences far beyond the participants of the event.

📸 Sofie Szabo