Career Confessions with Lawrence Abu Hamdan

This special episode of BaytCast features a thought-provoking conversation with Lawrence Abu Hamdan, a pioneering artist, researcher, and activist often described as a “private ear” for his groundbreaking work in acoustic investigation.

Join Rabea Ataya as he explores how Lawrence’s interdisciplinary practice, merging audio forensics and the subtle nuances of earwitness testimony, has helped surface evidence in some of the most high-profile cases in recent years. From investigating the tragic case of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, to analyzing the destruction of Al-Ahli Hospital, giving voice to the heartbreaking final moments of Hind Rajab, and even reconstructing the harrowing realities within Syria’s notorious Saydnaya prison through the echoes of its enforced silence, Lawrence’s work reshapes how we “listen” to justice.

Beyond human rights reports and courtrooms, Lawrence drives his organization, Earshot, which equips journalists and human rights advocates with tools for audio investigation, while also transforming his findings into immersive art installations showcased at the Guggenheim, Tate Modern, and other major institutions.

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🎧 Listen on:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7sTLIVz8cTQBgCqSdxrZLb?
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/4jJu4wm
Anghami: https://open.anghami.com/x3F7yekycTb

00:00 – Intro
02:23 – From music to activism: A career evolution
10:20 – Rubber bullets vs live rounds: audio evidence that cracked a case
16:03 – Earwitness vs eyewitness: building a language for acoustic memory
19:04 – Reconstructing Saydnaya through echoes and memory
24:29 – The role of sound in documenting Hind Rajab’s heartbreaking story
29:31– The mental toll of dealing with traumatic subject matter
34:40 – Earshot: Empowering journalists and activists with audio tools
48:04 – Navigating suppression and censorship in the art world
56:21– The unique skills and talent sought by the Earshot team

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