Afghan Star, hosted by John Legend
Hosted by John Legend this is the story of a TV show that changed a country. When the Taliban banned music in Afghanistan the country was plunged into silence. But there were people who fought back. Who smuggled cassette tapes and VCRs into the country. Who danced at secret house parties. And risked death just to watch their favorite Bollywood movies. And then those same people set up a radical new tv show. It was called AFGHAN STAR– an American Idol, but for Afghanistan. The show sparked a cultural revolution. People marched through the streets campaigning for their favorite contestants. In villages, they’d huddle around a single tv to watch. And the country changed: women took the spotlight and danced and sang on stage. But AFGHAN STAR was so successful the show became a lightning rod for a resurgent Taliban. The Taliban hated everything the show represented. The singing, the dancing, the women. And so they started a campaign against AFGHAN STAR. They threatened the contestants, they issued fatwas and eventually placed a bomb on a bus filled with the show's producers. This is the story of a tv show that transformed a country and group of young producers faced with an impossible choice …between protecting the show they built and staying alive.
Episodes
In Afghanistan, a cultural revolution was televised through a musical talent show, and this is its story.
To purchase original Afghan Star artwork visit www.awastudios.com/afghanstar — proceeds go to support The Noor Initiative, who are on a mission to ensure every Afghan girl has access to education and opportunity.
Like what you hear? Follow us @kscope_nyc on Twitter and Instagram.
See omnystudio.com/listener for p...
A young radio producer in Afghanistan is given an impossible task: to create a brand new, revolutionary talent show in just two months.
Music at the end of this episode from Afghan musician Qais Maroof, contestant on The Voice of Afghanistan.
To purchase original Afghan Star artwork visit www.awastudios.com/afghanstar — proceeds go to support The Noor Initiative, who are on a mission to ensure every Afghan girl has access to educat...
Daoud Sediqi grows up in an Afghanistan full of music and movies. Then the Taliban arrive and Daoud becomes a revolutionary on the frontline of the cultural war.
To purchase original Afghan Star artwork visit www.awastudios.com/afghanstar — proceeds go to support The Noor Initiative, who are on a mission to ensure every Afghan girl has access to education and opportunity.
Like what you hear? Follow us @kscope_nyc on Twitter and Ins...
As the sole breadwinner for his family, Shakib Hamdard struggles to provide for his mom and sisters. But everything changes when the young taxi driver finds himself at the very first audition for Afghan Star.
To purchase original Afghan Star artwork visit www.awastudios.com/afghanstar — proceeds go to support The Noor Initiative, who are on a mission to ensure every Afghan girl has access to education and opportunity.
Setara Hussainzada is one of the first women to make it to the final rounds of Afghan Star. It’s a triumph. And then she does something that puts her life – and the lives of everyone who makes the show – at risk.
To purchase original Afghan Star artwork visit www.awastudios.com/afghanstar — proceeds go to support The Noor Initiative, who are on a mission to ensure every Afghan girl has access to education and opportunity.
Like wha...
As the show’s producers take a dangerous trip to recruit talent from across the country, Afghan Star becomes a target for a resurgent Taliban.
...
To purchase original Afghan Star artwork visit www.awastudios.com/afghanstar — proceeds go to support The Noor Initiative, who are on a mission to ensure every Afghan girl has access to education and opportunity.
Like what you hear? Follow us @kscope_nyc on Twitter and Instagram
See omny...
Afghanistan’s biggest popstar leads the fight against the Taliban. And then one January day, a bomb goes off on a bus in Kabul, and nothing about the show– or the country– will ever be the same again
...
To purchase original Afghan Star artwork visit www.awastudios.com/afghanstar — proceeds go to support The Noor Initiative, who are on a mission to ensure every Afghan girl has access to education and opportunity.
Like what you hear...
Aryana Sayeed is doubling down on her life in Kabul while all around her, the Taliban are closing in.
...
To purchase original Afghan Star artwork visit www.awastudios.com/afghanstar — proceeds go to support The Noor Initiative, who are on a mission to ensure every Afghan girl has access to education and opportunity.
Like what you hear? Follow us @kscope_nyc on Twitter and Instagram
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informatio...
As the Taliban returns, Massood Sanjer - the head of TOLO TV - has to make a decision. Should he do what they want and take Afghan Star off the air, or keep fighting for the revolution he helped start.
...
To purchase original Afghan Star artwork visit www.awastudios.com/afghanstar — proceeds go to support The Noor Initiative, who are on a mission to ensure every Afghan girl has access to education and opportunity.
Like what you h...
Popular Podcasts
Two Guys (Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers). Five Rings (you know, from the Olympics logo). One essential podcast for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Bowen Yang (SNL, Wicked) and Matt Rogers (Palm Royale, No Good Deed) of Las Culturistas are back for a second season of Two Guys, Five Rings, a collaboration with NBC Sports and iHeartRadio. In this 15-episode event, Bowen and Matt discuss the top storylines, obsess over Italian culture, and find out what really goes on in the Olympic Village.
The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina are here and have everyone talking. iHeartPodcasts is buzzing with content in honor of the XXV Winter Olympics We’re bringing you episodes from a variety of iHeartPodcast shows to help you keep up with the action. Follow Milan Cortina Winter Olympics so you don’t miss any coverage of the 2026 Winter Olympics, and if you like what you hear, be sure to follow each Podcast in the feed for more great content from iHeartPodcasts.
Listen to the latest news from the 2026 Winter Olympics.
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com