{"podcast":{"title":"The Shadow Sessions","slug":"the-shadow-sessions-7629928","podcast_index_feed_id":7629928,"rss_url":"https://feeds.megaphone.fm/TPG2074943060","website_url":"https://www.theshadowsessionspodcast.com","image_url":"https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/508c7f04-d53c-11f0-b71b-e3c48ce77e6b/image/197508254b9c224e2d1fc897170e5141.png?ixlib=rails-4.3.1&max-w=3000&max-h=3000&fit=crop&auto=format,compress","author":"Hiba Balfaqih","episode_count":31,"summary":"The Shadow Sessions is hosted by Hiba Balfaqih, an unconventional psychologist and trauma alchemist. We explore the stories that most people bury—particularly those tied to shame, trauma, and identity. Our goal is to shed light on the hidden corners of human experience, allowing listeners to hear stories that challenge societal norms and spark deep,introspective conversations.","last_synced_at":"2026-07-30T16:19:48.311441+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-shadow-sessions-7629928"},"episode":{"title":"“I Was A Jihadi Spy”","slug":"i-was-a-jihadi-spy","published_at":"2026-04-16T07:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-shadow-sessions-7629928/i-was-a-jihadi-spy","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-shadow-sessions-7629928","url":"https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/tracking.swap.fm/track/tcQd6Q6C0RUUlOHq1Ytj/mgln.ai/e/51/pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.megaphone.fm/TPG6001496114.mp3?updated=1776234000","audio_url":"https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/tracking.swap.fm/track/tcQd6Q6C0RUUlOHq1Ytj/mgln.ai/e/51/pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.megaphone.fm/TPG6001496114.mp3?updated=1776234000","summary":"What creates a terrorist? Not the headline, the attack, or the manifesto. Before violence, there is always a story. In this episode of The Shadow Sessions, Hiba Balfaqih speaks with Mubin Sheikh, a former Islamist extremist who later became a counter‑terrorism expert working to prevent radicalization. This conversation explores how people are drawn into extremist ideology—not because they are born hateful, but because they are searching for belonging, identity, and purpose. It examines how grievance, certainty, and “us versus them” thinking can transform vulnerability into radical belief. But the story does not end with extremism. Mubin shares what it took to question the ideology that once defined his identity, and how he eventually dedicated his life to counter‑terrorism and de-radicalization work. This episode examines the psychology of belief, the mechanics of radicalization, and what it actually takes for someone to walk away from violent ideology.","meta_description":"What creates a terrorist? Not the headline, the attack, or the manifesto. Before violence, there is always a story. In this episode of The Shadow Sessions…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":4914,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-shadow-sessions-7629928/episodes/i-was-a-jihadi-spy/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-shadow-sessions-7629928/i-was-a-jihadi-spy.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}