Excellent - insightful and impactful

To understand a little better what few in the west can or want to understand. Ultimately, we are reminded dichotomies are mostly false, good vs evil is perspective in large part, and a story of human and individual suffering. There are no happy endings for most touched by war. Thank you for sharing the story and to Russell sharing so openly.

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Great story!

How could you not help get the out!!!!
Those camps are horrible and a woman and two children are there ,
How could you not try to get them out.

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a fascinating dark tale

What is really intriguing to me is this guy's motivations, an extreme reaction to always feeling misunderstood and on the outskirts? why does he share his story? as surely such detailed personal account is really useful to governments trying to understand how someone becomes radicalised and the inner workings of ISIS so he is creating an act of betrayal to the very religious ideas he states are so important. I hear a guy who though intelligent is very naive and really wrapped up in his own bizarre ego trip.
I binged this series. Well presented and thought out .

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attention seeker

As important as it is to document and to try to understand why someone from a normal western upbringing would decide to follow such an extreme form of islam i believe russel thought that his life story would serve as an inspiration for future jihadis.
it is almost cringe worthy the way he tries to mimic an arabic mans way of speech.
he was obviously a true believer to dedicate his life to islam but the reasons behind his decision to follow such an extreme path only he will know.was it genuine? was it a cry for help? was it attention seeking? or we he just a young confused man with a sense of adventure who wanted to dedicate his life to a percieved noble cause to leave some form of historic legacy behind?
overall he is a despicable human being who try as i may i cannot have any sympathy for as he chose to allign himself with a destructive perversion of islam
that being said this was an intresting pod on the subject as i have listened to various pods on the subject the music is spot on painting a sinister enviroment and subject matter and it is well narrated by the author

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*******brainwashed edited*******

a have listened to this umpteen times Russell was brainwashed and his first wife is from the UK she returned back to the UK got 6, years in jail but done a few radaclisation course if the top of my head her name is mentioned in here and in the news he was described as a one legged fighter

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Deeply moving

An incredible listen. Saddening, frustrating, disturbing... Many more descriptions.

The narrator is excellent. He gets across the thoughts and perspectives of the subject while remaining scrupulously non-judgemental. Naïveté, pathos, inevitable tragedy.

My only winge, and why I couldn't give it 5* overall, is how little of Russell's recordings are actually included. Most of it is duplicated, perhaps because of the format? Still, Mr Aaronson talks about the hours and hours of recordings he received. It would be interesting to hear more of them.

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Overwhelmingly Sad

Sad, but interesting. Highlights the often misguided search for belonging and meaning that quite often manifests itself in tragedy and is at the root of many extreme actions

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My first audible's book

A great journalism story about a world that we've usually spoken, without know it.

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A gripping story

The story has been masterfully woven together based on voice recordings sent from Dennison to Aaronson over the course of many months. Excellent journalism, offering a rare glimpse into the life of a complex and misguided man who sadly made some terrible choices contributing to the suffering of many. Could not recommend this enough.

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Compelling from start to finish!

This podcast has been invaluable at giving captivating insight into the life of a jihadist living in a terrorist state. Every question i had during the 8 episode podcast was answered with detail, understanding & compassion by the narrator Trevor Aaronson. He achieves a connection with Russell Dennison that is unnerving, yet beautiful. He masterfully provides the listener with a look into the ideologies, structures & framework that made ISIS infamous throughout the world. I will never forget this story.

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