We don’t usually think of reality shows as a civilizing force. But when Afghan Star, a television singing competition, premiered in 2005, it provided a joyous, liberating oasis in Afghanistan—a country that remained religious and conservative even after the Taliban were chased out in 2001. This new and eponymous podcast, hosted by the singer John Legend, captures how daring and improbable the project was when Saad Mohseni returned to Kabul to create the country’s first modern television network, Tolo TV. Along with so many other pleasures, the Taliban had outlawed music, but Mohseni wanted to program a reality show like American Idol and insisted from the start that women be included, and be allowed to perform without burkas. It’s a funny and exhilarating tale, but one that ends in heartbreak after the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. —Alessandra Stanley