Jaja

If you don't know... now you know. There are few people on Stanley's level, and you only have to listen to him play to know why. For video performances of all of the songs heard in the piece, visit: JahanSharif.com

Welcome to the dungeon. Mistress Justine Cross is the most in-demand Dominatrix in Los Angeles. She's so busy that she owns two dungeons (available to rent) in the city. I came in for a taste of this world, and left with a whole meal... ;) For more information about Mistress Justine, visit: http://www.losangelesdominatrix.com/ For more Jaja, visit: JahanSharif.com

"There comes a time when silence is betrayal." -- Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Each day we allow injustices to go unacknowledged and unaddressed, is another day that we violate the morality of humanity. In this, Part 2, of my interview with Larry Campbell, he explains how he built Corners Outreach into million-dollar a vehicle that fights against exploitation, empowers us with the tools to make a difference, and then challenges us to put that awareness into action. To learn more about Larry, visit cornersoutreach.org And for more Jaja, visit jahansharif.com

With the immigration debate dominating domestic politics, I wanted to know what life is like for those who stand to be directly affected by immigration policy. Originally, we'd planned to have an undocumented person share their story, but out of an abundance of caution, we decided that Larry Campbell, the executive director of Corners Outreach, would speak on their behalf. Larry has served his neighbors for decades, and for the last five years he has dedicated his life to fighting the injustices suffered by this vulnerable community. He shares stories from some of the lives that have touched him, takes us inside an ICE detention center, and gives us many reasons for hope. This is part 1 of our two part interview. To learn more about Larry, Corners Outreach, and this community visit cornersoutreach.org. For more Jaja, visit jahansharif.com

You know when you meet someone new and after a short while you’re pretty sure you’ve made a new friend? That’s was Amir and me. Our first conversation went on for three hours, and finished with us agreeing to be on each other’s budding podcasts! I went first, joining Amir and his co-host, Ryan, on their show “Let’s Tawk About It” (debuting this month!). While our conversation was mostly about building community, this idea of “emotional privilege” came up, and that’s where Amir and I started our chat. Pretty soon though, this concept led us down the rabbit hole of identity, and Amir ended up telling me about how figuring out how to be Muslim, Persian, queer, and so much more all at the same time, might have saved his life. Amir on Instagram: @amir_yassai Link to the Body Positive pool party!: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/thicc-gurlz-bois-pool-party-tickets-61328573414

Press outlets across the country have called EVERYBODY “the most radically inclusive gym in America.” And founder, Sam Rypinski says that was exactly his intention. As a lifelong athlete, Sam spent many years in gyms and found the culture toxic and oppressive to people who didn’t fit a specific mold. And so, in 2016, when Sam and his co-founder, Lake Sharp, founded EVERYBODY they deliberately and thoughtfully built inclusive values and protocols into their mission, vision, and execution. As a result, EVERYBODY is a unique space in that is truly respectful of the diversity and variety of people in Los Angeles. In this piece, Sam breaks down what inclusivity means, why it’s important, and how he’s working everyday to truly build a space that achieves those values.

On Tuesday, my mom testified in Congress about the impact climate change is having on our public health. She is extremely accomplished as a physician, academic, and community leader and so, I have to confess, this is the first time in a few years that I’ve really been surprised by something my she has done, or was invited to do! (The last time was when she was inducted as a fellow of the American College of Physicians, which is an honor reserved for only the most accomplished physicians in America.) I posted a short clip of Representative Ocasio-Cortez (yes, the AOC) asking my mom a question. And it went viral in my social media universe. The video has been viewed almost 2,000 times just on Facebook and hundreds more on Instagram! Dozens of you have been asking to meet or to learn more about my mom. Well, since this is the first time I’ve ever had direct requests to feature someone on the blog, I figured I’d try to make it happen! So here we go! Please enjoy this special edition of Jaja In featuring my Mama. ”May the Fourth be with you” — My mom

I met Vasilios Papapitsios last year at a mutual friend’s birthday dinner. We were perched on the roof of a restaurant in downtown Los Angeles, and Vas was telling me the story of the pool party he went to the day before, which then turned into a nighttime jacuzzi party, and ended with him staying at the host’s (whom he didn’t know until that day) house the whole next day. He came to dinner in his swim trunks and a tank top. I liked him immediately and we became friends. Vas is a multidisciplinary artist based in Los Angeles who uses his experience living with HIV to inform his art and bring awareness around HIV to a conversational level. His work wrestles with the challenge of transmuting fear into love. He seroconverted during the summer of 2010 and lived for almost five years before seeking treatment. When he arrived at the Duke University Medical Center, he had full blown AIDS and was facing death. Fortunately, he survived, and today he’s using his voice to chip away at the stigma around HIV and reminding all us to #transmitlove. Follow Vas @basil.ios and @hivirl Follow me @JahanSharif or jahansharif.com

How does someone who traces his family lineage to Plymouth Rock, become the most prolific Al-Qaeda recruiter in history? And then, how does he come back from it? It’s a story that’s as riveting as it is insightful-- made all the more unbelievable by the fact that it actually happened. This week, I spoke with Jesse Morton, the man who founded the extremist and propagandist organization Revolution Muslim. At its height, officials say that at least half of all of the terror plots disrupted in the English-speaking world were connected to Jesse and his organization. He tells me how he got there, why he did it, and how he’s using those same tools now toward positive ends. He joined me by phone from Jordan. Visit jahansharif.com for more.

This week, I found myself at a very special coffee shop in Renton, WA called Boon Boona. It was founded this year by Efrem Fasaha (@boonboonacoffee), and he shows us how success in business comes down to your community.