Podcasts about Arab Americans

On this week's episode, we get real about the advice we wish someone had given us in our 20s and 30s. From people-pleasing, burnout, friendships, dating, and career pressure to learning how to stop caring about things that truly do not matter, we talk about the lessons that took us way too long to learn and the advice our moms never gave us. Some of it is funny, some of it is painfully accurate, and some of it honestly would've saved us a lot of stress.Support the showBecome a supporter of the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1786960/supportFollow us on Instagram, TikTok, and UpScrolled @ObnoxiouslyPleasantFollow us on Twitter @TheOP_Podcast

On this week's episode, we talk about why corporate culture acts like every email is a national emergency. From fake urgency and “ASAP” messages to pointless meetings and Slack panic, we get into why so many jobs feel unnecessarily stressful. We talk burnout, hustle culture, work anxiety, and the pressure to always be available even when nothing is actually that serious. Plus, we share our own experiences with workplace chaos, dramatic coworkers, and the corporate phrases that instantly ruin your day.Support the showBecome a supporter of the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1786960/supportFollow us on Instagram, TikTok, and UpScrolled @ObnoxiouslyPleasantFollow us on Twitter @TheOP_Podcast

March 31st Governor Gordon issued an "Arab-American Heritage Month" proclamation.  Don't feel bad if you didn't know about it.  Nobody did.  The proclamation doesn't show up on his website and no announcement email was sent out.  At first, I thought the image I found on social media was a hoax.  After calling the Governor's Office, I confirmed that indeed he did sign it. I don't have a problem with any legal immigrant.  That's what this country was founded on.  I do, however, have an issue with artificially singling out individual groups based on race.  That's a big reason why we have such a problem in our country right now.  If the Gov wanted to make a splash, he should have proclaimed April "American Heritage Month" instead.

In the second segment of the first hour of The Charlie James Show on Friday, May 1, 2026, the discussion centered on Governor Henry McMaster's recent official proclamation declaring April 2026 as Arab-American Heritage Month in South Carolina.

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On this week's episode, we break down the chaos at the White House Correspondents' Dinner and whether the “shooting” was real or staged. We get into the internet reactions, the conspiracy vibes, and why so many people aren't buying it. Then we switch gears and talk about the American Girl Eid doll and why the outfit just wasn't it. We also get into the moment Anne Hathaway said “inshallah” and how the internet completely lost it.Support the showBecome a supporter of the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1786960/supportFollow us on Instagram, TikTok, and UpScrolled @ObnoxiouslyPleasantFollow us on Twitter @TheOP_Podcast

For decades, Arab American activists and allies have used film, video, and multimedia to mobilize support for the Palestinian cause in the United States. In Mainstreaming Palestine: Cinematic Activism and Solidarity Politics in the United States, a detailed history of cinema's role within the broader solidarity movement, Umayyah Cable analyzes the various strands of cinematic activism that have helped move Palestinian liberation politics from the periphery and into the mainstream. Cable is joined here in conversation with Evelyn Alsultany, Keith Feldman, and Melani McAlister.Umayyah Cable is assistant professor of American culture and film, television, and media at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and author of Mainstreaming Palestine: Cinematic Activism and Solidarity Politics in the United States.Evelyn Alsultany is professor in the Department of American Studies and Ethnicity at the University of Southern California's Dornsife College and author of Broken: The Failed Promise of Muslim Inclusion and Arabs and Muslims in the Media.Keith Feldman is associate professor in the department of ethnic studies at UC Berkeley and author of A Shadow over Palestine.Melani McAlister is professor of American Studies and international affairs and director of the Institute for Middle East Studies at the Elliott School of International Affairs at The George Washington University. McAlister is author of Promises, Then the Storm, The Kingdom of God Has No Borders, and Epic Encounters.REFERENCES:-AAUG: Association of Arab American University Graduates-Telegram/Yasser Arafat-Frameline, the San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival-Erella Shadmi, “Women, Palestinians, Zionism: A Personal View.”-Adrienne Rich, “Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence.”-Robert Mapplethorpe exhibit at Boston's Institute of Contemporary Art-Jean Baudrillard's four stages of representation-Jonathan Glazer's 2024 Oscar acceptance speech for The Zone of Interest-Film Workers for Palestine-BDS: Boycott, Divestment, and SanctionsFILM REFERENCES:David Koff's Occupied PalestineJan Haaken and Jennifer Ruth's The Palestine ExceptionMichael T. Workman and Kei Pritsker's The EncampmentsBasel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Yuval Abraham, and Rachel Szor's No Other LandMainstreaming Palestine: Cinematic Activism and Solidarity Politics in the United States by Umayyah Cable is available from University of Minnesota Press. Thank you for listening.

Ramy Youssef has spent the past decade building a career that spans TV, stand-up, film and has even landed some big awards. Now, with the release of his third comedy special, In Love, he joins Audie to reflect on what it means to tell Arab American stories today vs seven years ago and why aiming to make everyone laugh is both a choice and a challenge. Then, Audie's longtime friend and soon-to-be-coworker Ari Shapiro stops by to talk about Ramy— and also what's ahead for The Assignment. =====  Producers:  Jesse Remedios, Lori Galarreta and Graelyn Brashear Senior Producer: Dan Bloom Technical Director: Dan Dzula  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A Palestinian folk dance group is bringing their people's story to the big stage. Blending the old and the new into one struggle for freedom. And, a first generation immigrant from the Palestinian and Lebanese diaspora shares poetry. Plus, how the wrongful conviction of two Filipino-immigrant nurses inspires a dance production in San Francisco.

Have you ever felt like you had to choose between being fully yourself and being taken seriously?  During Arab American Heritage month I had the honor of chatting with Loureen Ayyoub, award-winning journalist, spoken word poet, and the first Arab American woman on air with CBS News in the Bay Area. From navigating identity in spaces where she hasn't always felt represented to using her voice to tell stories that matter, Loureen is creating impact through truth, storytelling, and presence.    The Power of Voice and Identity  Loureen opens up about what it really feels like to carry both visibility and responsibility, not just as a journalist, but as a woman representing her culture in rooms where she hasn't always seen herself reflected.  She shares how storytelling isn't just about reporting facts; it's about honoring people, experiences, and perspectives that deserve to be understood, not just seen.    What You'll Hear in This Episode:  

From MAGA losing it over Elmo speaking Arabic to the backlash around Sabrina Carpenter, it's been a busy Arab American Heritage Month. We start with the reaction to Ramy Youssef and Elmo's “habibi” moment, then get into the conversation around zaghrouta, what it actually means, and why Sabrina Carpenter's comments sparked backlash.  We also get into comedian Paul Elia after Google limited ads for his standup special over a Trump joke. And finally, we cover journalist Ahmed Shihab-Eldin, who has been detained in Kuwait for weeks after sharing publicly available videos related to the war on Iran, and why that matters for press freedom.Sign CPJ's petition: https://cpj.movements.mov/pet/kuwait-release-journalist-ahmed-shihab-eldin-from-detention Support the showBecome a supporter of the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1786960/supportFollow us on Instagram, TikTok, and UpScrolled @ObnoxiouslyPleasantFollow us on Twitter @TheOP_Podcast

April is National Arab American Heritage Month, celebrated each year in the U.S. to honor the contributions, stories, and impact of the Arab American community. In this episode, civil engineer and construction manager Ashwaq Alhammami and transportation project engineer Farrah Rawashdeh join host FY26 SWE President Inaas Darrat to explore their personal experiences as Arab American women in engineering. Hear how their identities shape the way they approach their STEM careers, along with examples of how they have navigated cultural differences in the workplace. They share the career pivots that led them to this moment — including starting over in a new country, walking away from a Ph.D. program, and adapting to a change in graduation plans — and reflect on the creation of the American Arab Engineering Society. — The Society of Women Engineers is a powerful, global force uniting nearly 45,000 members of all genders spanning 90+ countries. We are the world's largest advocate and catalyst for change for women in engineering and technology. To join and access all the exclusive benefits to elevate your professional journey, visit membership.swe.org.

In this episode, we chat with our friend Nehal, who got married again and yes, we had questions. After going through a divorce, she chose love again, but this time everything was different. We talk about second marriages, getting married again after divorce, and what it really looks like to find love after heartbreak. What changed the second time around, and what made her say yes again? f you have ever wondered whether marriage after divorce is worth it, or if finding love again is even possible, this conversation is for you.Support the showBecome a supporter of the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1786960/supportFollow us on Instagram, TikTok, and UpScrolled @ObnoxiouslyPleasantFollow us on Twitter @TheOP_Podcast

The Syrian-American rapper, poet, and peace activist Omar Offendum blends the sounds of hip hop and classical Arab music and literature into his stage works.  He has spent much of the past few years on a New York-themed work called The Little Syria Show, named after a historical neighborhood in Lower Manhattan. In a celebration of Arab-American cultural heritage, Omar Offendum shares insights on diasporic memory and performs some of the songs from The Little Syria Show, in-studio. – "Sinsyrianly" Set list: 1. Peddling Dervish 2. Mojaddareh 3. Not Quite White

Every day feels like a bad season finale and honestly we're exhausted. From genocide and ICE raids to the war on Iran and the Epstein files, it literally never stops. In this episode, we talk about feeling overwhelmed, burnt out, and stuck in high-functioning depression while life just keeps moving like everything is normal. If you've been feeling mentally drained, anxious, or just not okay lately, you're not alone. We're not okay, but we're still here.Support the showBecome a supporter of the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1786960/supportFollow us on Instagram, TikTok, and UpScrolled @ObnoxiouslyPleasantFollow us on Twitter @TheOP_Podcast

Cleo de Lasa, an information assistant at The New York Public Library, highlights a thoughtful selection of books in recognition of both National Arab American Heritage Month and National Poetry Month. Her picks celebrate the richness and diversity of Arab American culture and contributions, while also showcasing the power of poetry to illuminate identity, history, and lived experience. *Tomorrow night, there will be an event to honor the rich poetic tradition of Arab American literature at Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library at 6:30pm EST. To read the library's full list of Best New Poetry Books, visit their website here. Graphic courtesy of NYPL

In this episode, Matt & Lauren speak with Kristine Ajrouch, PhD - a new member of our CAPRA leadership team. Kristine is a Research Professor at the Institute for Social Research whose work focuses on aging, health, immigration and family in the United Statues and the Middle East; social networks over the life course; and Arab American identity and well-being. Kristine discusses a recent article that examined an intervention to improve outcomes among Arab American caregivers who provide care to a family member living with dementia. She also shares what this work teaches us about caregiving as a family system rather than the responsibility of a single individual. The transcript for this episode can be found here. Link of Interest: Kristine Ajrouch Faculty Profile Article referenced in podcast: Ajrouch KJ, Barada FM, Janevic MR, Antonucci TC. Supporting Arab-American Families Living With Dementia: Testing a Culturally Adapted Program. J Appl Gerontol. 2025 Apr;44(4):515-519. doi: 10.1177/07334648241281153. Epub 2024 Sep 23. PMID: 39313309. You can subscribe to Minding Memory on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ralph welcomes international security expert Paul Rogers to discuss the US-Israeli war on Iran. Then, Ralph speaks to constitutional law experts Bruce Fein and John Bonifaz about their upcoming impeachment symposium.Paul Rogers is Emeritus Professor of Peace Studies in the Department of Peace Studies and International Relations at Bradford University, and an Honorary Fellow at the Joint Service Command and Staff College. He is open Democracy's international security correspondent.I think if you look at the war overall, then essentially of the three (I use the term as a crude term) participants, the one that is basically doing most badly is the United States, followed by Israel, followed least by Iran. Relatively speaking, the Iranians (particularly the Revolutionary Guard Corps) are closer to where they wanted to be, which is not true of the United States and certainly isn't true to a very large extent of the Israelis as well. In other words, the war is going badly. for the people who are determined to try and defeat Iran.Paul RogersPeople tend to think Iran is on its own against these huge odds. Well, it isn't. In many ways, certainly Russia and certainly China have a real interest in what is happening. But as far as China is concerned, they will not help directly. They will not, in other words, as far as we know, arm Iran without payment. They will see them as a reasonable customer. I think (more widely than we realize) as far as you get away from D.C., then I think you see the world in a rather different way, particularly across the global south it is certainly seen in a different way…And I would come back to a point which I think is a fair point made earlier—essentially, the Iranian Republican Revolutionary Guard Corps has been working towards this time for decades. And they will not be easily dislodged. It could happen eventually, but I think it's highly unlikely.Paul RogersJohn Bonifaz is a constitutional attorney and the co-founder and president of Free Speech For People. Mr. Bonifaz previously served as the executive director and general counsel of the National Voting Rights Institute, and as the legal director of Voter Action. He is the author of Warrior-King: The Case For Impeaching George W. Bush and the co-author (with Ron Fein and Ben Clements) of The Constitution Demands It: The Case For The Impeachment of Donald Trump.Threatening to execute members of Congress is unique to Trump. Kidnapping people off the streets and sending them to foreign torture prisons is unique to Trump. Freezing public funds that have been duly appropriated by the United States Congress and not distributing those funds is unique to Trump. Attacking the United States judiciary, refusing to comply with multiple court orders issued by federal courts across the country is unique to Trump. Engaging in these murders on the high seas…these paramilitary attacks on people in the Pacific and in the Caribbean is unique to Trump. Now, it's true that there have been other violations of the War Powers Clause…But the scale of the War Powers violations today is unique to Trump. And this current new, illegal, and unconstitutional war against Iran is threatening the entire world. And so I think that whether they be Democrats or Republicans or Independents, they have to wake up and recognize they have a duty here.John BonifazBruce Fein is a Constitutional scholar and an expert on international law. Mr. Fein was Associate Deputy Attorney General under Ronald Reagan and he is the author of Constitutional Peril: The Life and Death Struggle for Our Constitution and Democracy, and American Empire: Before the Fall.Ralph, me and John have been trying to impeach Presidents—Democrat, Republican—for decades for these illegalities. The idea that we picked out Trump is absurd. Look at my history. Half of my life has been devoted to getting Presidents impeached and removed from office…So the idea that this is partisan, at least among us, is factually absurd.Bruce FeinI think we need to be even more candid about the nature of the crimes. This is not just illegal wars under the Constitution. He is committing the crime of aggression, the same crime that we sentence Nazis to death at Nuremberg for committing aggression against Poland, against Denmark, against Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, etc.Bruce FeinThis is what is defined as a dictator by any ordinary use of the English language. We need to get away from “authoritarian,” “Oh, he's pushing the envelope.” This is what dictators do. He stated, “I can do anything I want.” And he does it. He kills people. He deports them without due process. He spies on them. He suppresses free speech by using the government to penalize anyone who says anything that's critical, detracts from Mr. Trump. I mean, it is impossible to conceive of the framers thinking anyone like Donald Trump, given his words and his actions, would remain in office more than a fortnight if Congress was doing its duty.Bruce FeinNews 4/3/26* This week, the Trump administration backed down and allowed the Russian oil tanker Anatoly Kolodkin to pass through the American blockade and deliver a shipment of 730,000 barrels of oil to Cuba. The AP writes, the shipment could produce about 180,000 barrels of diesel, enough to feed Cuba's daily energy demand for nine or 10 days. Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío commented on the situation, “The arrival of an oil tanker to a country has likely never generated so much news as the Russian one to Cuba…It's a sign of the brutal siege Cubans endure with heroism and stoicism. It's a demonstration of the criminal cruelty of imperialism against a nation that refuses to be dominated.” Trump's public statements on the matter however loom ominously over the island nation. On Sunday night, Trump told reporters “Cuba's finished…whether or not they get a boat of oil, it's not going to matter.”* In more news of Trump backing down, or “chickening out” as the saying goes, the Wall Street Journal reports that Trump is telling his inner circle that he is willing to end the military operation in Iran without reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Instead, he wants the U.S. to stick to its original 4-6 week timeline and focus on “hobbling Iran's navy and its missile stocks…while pressuring Tehran diplomatically.” This report adds that if this fails, Trump plans to “press allies in Europe and the Gulf to take the lead on reopening the strait.” This aligns with Trump's recent statements on Truth Social, telling allies like the UK to “Go get your own oil!” With all of this said, Trump has sent the USS Tripoli and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit to the region, is weighing the deployment of another 10,000 ground troops, and is considering a “complex and risky mission to seize the regime's uranium,” all while calling the war an “excursion” and “a lovely stay.”* Meanwhile, 25 Senate Democrats have signed a letter by Senator Raphael Warnock of Georgia requesting that Senator Roger Wicker, the Republican Chairman of the Armed Services Committee launch a bipartisan probe – complete with hearings and a report – into the strike on Shajareh Tayyebeh Elementary School for girls in Minab, Iran at the beginning of the war. This letter notes that the majority of those killed were girls between ages seven and 12. Moreover, this letter implies that the Pentagon chose this target based on wildly outdated intelligence, raising grave questions about the competence of the military apparatus. While several high-ranking Democrats signed this letter, including Dick Durbin and Cory Booker, along with progressives like Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's name is nowhere to be found.* Elsewhere in the region, the Israeli Knesset has passed a new law effectively proscribing the death penalty exclusively to Palestinians. Human Rights Watch states “the bill imposes the death penalty for the deliberate killing of a person with the intention of negating the existence of the State of Israel.'” HRW adds that the new law “mandates execution by hanging, restricts access to legal counsel and visits from family members, limits external oversight, and grants immunity to those involved in carrying out executions.” In a piece calling for the immediate repeal of this law, Erika Guevara-Rosas of Amnesty International writes “By authorizing military courts, which have a conviction rate of over 99% for Palestinian defendants and which are notorious for disregarding due process and fair trial safeguards, to impose effectively mandatory death sentences and ordering the execution within just 90 days of the final ruling, Israel is brazenly granting itself carte blanche to execute Palestinians while stripping away the most basic fair-trial safeguards.” In an interview with CNN, Mustafa Barghouti said this law “confirms very serious fascist tendencies in Israel” and “consolidates further the system of apartheid.”* Anti-Palestinian extremism continues to grow within the United States as well. Al Jazeera reports that last week, domestic law enforcement “foiled a plot against prominent Palestinian activist Nerdeen Kiswani in New York City.” Kiswani is the founder of Within Our Lifetime, a pro-Palestine and anti-Zionist group active in the City. The suspect, apprehended by the FBI in an undercover operation, has been identified as a New Jersey man named Andrew Heifler, a young man affiliated with an offshoot of the far-right Jewish Defense League (JDL), described as an extremist group with a history of violent attacks targeting Arab American activists during the 1970s and 1980s. Heifler was reportedly planning to target Kiswani's home with Molotov cocktails. Mayor Zohran Mamdani condemned the plot, saying “We will not tolerate violent extremism in our city. No one should face violence for their political beliefs or their advocacy…Our city must meet hate with solidarity, and meet fear with an unshakable commitment to justice and to one another.” Kiswani vowed that she “will not stop speaking up for the people of Palestine.”* Also in New York, Congresswoman and possible 2028 presidential candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez held a private meeting with the powerful local branch of the Democratic Socialists of America. During this meeting AOC was asked whether she would support the imposition of an arms embargo on Israel. According to City and State NY, AOC affirmed that she would and stated that “The Israeli government should be able to finance their own weapons if they seek to arm themselves.” Pressed on whether she would vote against so-called defensive capabilities – namely the Iron Dome – Rep. Ocasio-Cortez definitively answered “yes.” This marks an evolution of her position; AOC previously voted “present” on a bill to provide $1 billion in funding for the Iron Dome in 2021. Many read this as an acknowledgment from AOC that the politics of this issue have shifted, particularly on the Left, and in order to shore up her progressive support she needs to stake out a bold position now.* Turning to the international progressive movement, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who has led Spain in a Leftward direction since 2018 despite the rise of the European Right is convening a summit of progressive forces in Barcelona slated for April 17th and 18th. Sánchez, who has chaired the Socialist International since 2022, emphasized that the Right has “for years woven a network of alliances to propagate their national populist discourses adapted to each country,” and stressed that the Left must do the same to remain politically viable, per El País. Notable attendees include Brazilian President Lula, outgoing Colombian President Gustavo Petro and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. There have been many attempts to unite the international Left, with mixed results, but it is never too late to try.* In our final story on the international Left, the New Democratic Party of Canada – the country's third largest and most progressive major party – has selected former journalist and activist Avi Lewis as their new leader, the BBC reports. This story notes that Lewis' elevation comes in the context of the NDP suffering a steep decline in recent years, going from the main opposition party in 2011, to holding just six seats in Canada's House of Commons today. Lewis – grandson of one of the party's founding members and son of Stephen Lewis, who led the Ontario NDP and served as the Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations – ran on a platform designed to revive the struggling party by “prioritising worker rights in the age of artificial intelligence, ending new oil and gas pipelines and projects, and exploring state-owned, non-profit grocery stores.” Despite his illustrious lineage, Lewis holds no seat in parliament and therefore cannot participate in official debates. The NDP faces an uphill climb not only back to power but even to relevance. According to this story, “a quarter of past voters…see the party as ‘irrelevant'...and 40% say its best days are behind it.”* In Los Angeles, a shocking new poll shows City Councilmember Nithya Raman, who entered the race at the last possible moment, in a commanding lead. In this poll, Raman drew 33% support, with incumbent Mayor Karen Bass trailing at 17%, statistically tied with another insurgent progressive candidate, Rae Huang. Other candidates – tech executive Adam Miller and former reality television personality and registered Republican Spencer Pratt – round out the field with 13% and 12% respectively. This poll appears to be an outlier. Other recent polls have shown Bass at 20% to Raman's 9%, and Bass at 25% with Raman at 17%. But, if this poll is accurate, it would be a stunning testament to the success of Raman's campaign thus far and a massive warning signal to Bass. If the Mayor slips any further, she could find herself locked out of the general election by Los Angeles' top-two “jungle primary” structure. This from the LA Times.* Finally, we turn to the world of professional sports. This week, Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Greg Casar introduced the Home Team Act, which, if passed, would require the owners of major league sports teams to allow local communities the option to buy a team before unilaterally relocating across state lines or to a different metro area. This announcement sent ripples through the sports world, with many fans excited by the prospect of keeping their home teams at home. ABC7 Chicago notes that “Sanders specifically mentioned the Bears' threat to leave Chicago,” while the San Diego Union-Tribune believes this bill could keep the Padres in San Diego despite multiple offers to sell. San Diego has been particularly sensitive to this threat since the Chargers left for LA in 2017. In the press conference announcing this bill, Bernie unsubtly displayed the jerseys of the Brooklyn Dodgers, his hometown team, which famously relocated to Los Angeles ahead of the 1958 baseball season.This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe

On our first episode back after a long break, we talk about where we've been and why the podcast took a break. We share a bit about what life has looked like behind the scenes lately. Hanan opens up about losing her dad to cancer and what the grieving process has been like for her.Support the showBecome a supporter of the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1786960/supportFollow us on Instagram, TikTok, and UpScrolled @ObnoxiouslyPleasantFollow us on Twitter @TheOP_Podcast

As the daughter of the renowned intellectual Edward Said, Najla Said discusses the unique pressures of navigating her family's legacy while forging her own creative voice in the shadow of his immense influence. The conversation explores her journey from attempting to assimilate into American culture as a youth to confronting her heritage during a pivotal trip to Palestine and Lebanon. Said details her entry into professional theater and the development of her acclaimed one-woman show, Palestine, which grew from an intimate journal entry. She also offers a personal perspective on her father's moral backbone, the impact of recent global events on her sense of safety in New York, and the evolution of her activism through new collaborative theater projects. The discussion touches on the enduring intimacy of her memoir, Looking for Palestine, and how sharing her inner monologue has helped her find a community based on genuine solidarity.    0:00 Introduction 1:37 Childhood Stories and Typewritten Plays  2:54 Growing Up in the Shadow of Intellectual Giants  7:23 The Weight of Family Legacy  10:00 Journaling and the Discovery of a Personal Voice  12:47 Acting, Identity, and Hollywood Reality Checks  20:36 Defining "Arab" through Theater  22:10 Navigating Identity Shifts: Lebanon, Palestine, and New York  33:32 Misunderstandings and the Moral Backbone of Edward Said  36:58 Current Work: Dialogue in a Time of Hostility  44:30 Erasing Legacy: Columbia University and Global Activism  47:40 Politics and Perception  52:14 Looking for Palestine: The Vulnerability of Memoir  56:56 Shedding the Need to Be Liked  58:07 Solidarity as the Greatest Expression of Love  Najla Said is a Palestinian-Lebanese-American actress, playwright, author, and activist, recognized for her memoir Looking for Palestine: Growing Up Confused in an Arab-American Family (2013), which chronicles her struggles with cultural identity amid a privileged New York City upbringing as the daughter of prominent Palestinian intellectual Edward W. Said and his Lebanese-born wife Mariam Cortas Said. Said initially distanced herself from her Arab heritage, assimilating into American and Jewish social circles while attending elite institutions like Dalton School and Princeton University, before a transformative trip to the Middle East prompted her to embrace Palestinian roots more fully. Said's career spans theater and performance, including her solo show Palestine, which she has presented at over 25 high schools, colleges, and universities worldwide since its off-Broadway debut, addressing themes of diaspora, stereotyping, and Arab-American experiences. She has worked with New York institutions such as New York Theatre Workshop, The Public Theater, and Second Stage, and maintains affiliations like a "Usual Suspect" at NYTW. As an activist, Said advocates for Palestinian self-determination, drawing on her father's legacy of critiquing Western orientalism, though her public engagements, including support for campus protests, reflect a personal evolution from identity confusion to vocal solidarity with causes tied to her heritage.  Connect with Najla Said

An armed private security guard at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, MI. shot and killed an attacker who rammed his vehicle into the synagogue and opened fire, preventing what could have been a mass casualty event last week, authorities and witnesses said. The incident, which occurred Thursday, March 12, left the attacker dead and one security guard injured, but no congregants, staff or the 140 children attending the synagogue's early childhood learning center were harmed. The attacker, identified by federal authorities as Ayman Mohamad Ghazali, 41, a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Lebanon and resident of Dearborn Heights, drove a Ford F-150 through the building's doors around 12:30 p.m., entered a hallway and began firing through his windshield, according to Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard and FBI officials. Security personnel, including the synagogue's in-house armed team, engaged the suspect. Ghazali was fatally shot during the exchange; some reports indicate he may have inflicted a self-inflicted wound as well. The vehicle caught fire, filling the area with smoke. Temple Israel credited its enhanced security measures — implemented last June in response to rising antisemitism and threats to Jewish institutions — with averting disaster. The synagogue hired Danny Phillips, a former police lieutenant with 28 years of experience, including as an advanced firearms instructor, to lead its armed security team. “In response to the evolving realities facing Jewish communities,” the temple said at the time of Phillips' hiring, it took proactive steps to protect members. In an interview following the attack, Jewish firearms instructor Aaron Tobin told journalist Alan Skorski that beefed-up security and armed response were key to stopping the assault. Tobin, who trains members of the Jewish community in the Detroit metro area, said Jews across the region are increasingly arming themselves and seeking proper firearms training amid heightened threats. “Jews across Detroit's Metro area are getting armed and trained in proper gun use,” Tobin said. He issued a stark warning to potential attackers from Dearborn, a city with a large Arab American population: “Stay away from the Jewish community if they know what's good for them.” The FBI is leading the investigation into the incident, which Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Runyan described as “a targeted act of violence against the Jewish community.” Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer condemned the attack as “hate, plain and simple,” and expressed relief that swift action by security prevented further harm. Temple Israel, one of the largest Reform synagogues in the U.S. with over 12,000 members, has been a focal point for the local Jewish community. No additional injuries beyond the security guard were reported, though some first responders were treated for smoke inhalation. Subscribe to Alan Skorski Reports: www.youtube.com/@AlanSkorskiReports Alan Skorski Reports 26MAR2026 - PODCAST

“. . . There's this sense that [Left-leaning candidates] have to essentially be apologizing for their policy prescriptions and their stances. Mamdani has not done that . . . For the most part, he very much embraces who he is and what his policy prescriptions are.” - Felipe De La Hoz This show is made possible by you! To become a sustaining member go to LauraFlanders.org/donate Description [original air date Oct 31, 2025]:  Wherever you are in the country, you've probably heard the name “Zohran Mamdani”. New York City's mayoral race is a national story, and it's hard to overstate the significance of the leading candidate in this moment. If elected, Mamdani would become the first Muslim-American and only the second Democratic Socialist Mayor of the largest city in the U.S. His victory, on a promise to make New York affordable for working people, would have implications for politics everywhere. The race is already garnering both excitement and anxiety. President Trump is threatening to withhold federal funding for New York City if Mamdani wins. From Chicago to Dearborn, Michigan, journalists are watching. In this installment of “Meet the BIPOC Press”, Laura Flanders speaks with Felipe De La Hoz, investigative immigration and policy reporter whose work has been featured in The Intercept, The Washington Post, New York Mag and The Nation; Osama Siblani, publisher and founder of The Arab American News, the largest Arab American newspaper in the U.S., and Asha Ransby-Sporn, organizer and writer for In These Times and co-founder of Black Youth Project 100, where she led the group's national organizing program. Join us as we explore what a Mamdani victory would signal for the nation. Guests: • Felipe De La Hoz: Immigration & Policy Reporter, Epicenter NYC • Asha Ransby-Sporn: Writer & Political Strategist; Columnist, In These Times • Osama Siblani: Publisher, The Arab American News   Watch the special report on YouTube; PBS World Channel Sundays 11:30am ET, and on over 300 public stations across the country (check your listings, or search here via zipcode). Listen: Episode airs on community radio across the country  (check here to see if your station is airing the show) & is available as a podcast.   The full uncut conversation is also available to podcast subscribers thanks to our member supporters. RESOURCES: Related Laura Flanders Show Episodes: •  Farm Workers to Farm Owners- Watch / Listen:  Episode •  These Films Keep People Out of Prison- Watch / Listen:  Episode •  Jacqueline Woodson & Catherine Gund: Breathing Through Chaos & the  “Meanwhile”- Watch / Listen:  Episode and Full Uncut Conversation •  Mamdani, Black Farmers, USDA & ICE: The Stories BIPOC Journalists Uncover-  Watch / Listen:  Episode and Full Uncut Conversation Related Articles and Resources: • California City Residents Denounce Plan to Build State's Largest Immigrant Detention Center, by ACoM, August 4, 2025, American Community Media •  Dolores Huerta Leads Protest Against California's Largest Planned ICE Detention Center, by Steve Virgen, CA Neighborhood Reporter, July 30, 2025, 23ABC News KERO • Forbes Power Women's Summit 2025:  Building What's Next, September 25, 2025, Forbes •  About el Teatro Campesino's Luis Valdez, Founding Artistic Director   Full Episode Notes are located HERE. Music Credit: "Libertango” by Stephan Wrembel's from the ‘Django New Orleans II  Hors Série'' courtesy of the artist, "Steppin" by Podington Bear and original sound design by Jeannie Hopper Support Laura Flanders and Friends by becoming a member at https://www.patreon.com/c/lauraflandersandfriends Laura Flanders and Friends Crew: Laura Flanders-Executive Producer, Writer; Sabrina Artel-Supervising Producer; Jeremiah Cothren-Senior Producer; Veronica Delgado-Video Editor, Janet Hernandez-Communications Director; Jeannie Hopper-Audio Director, Podcast & Radio Producer, Audio Editor, Sound Design, Narrator; Sarah Miller-Development Director, Nat Needham-Editor, Graphic Design emeritus; David Neuman-Senior Video Editor, and Rory O'Conner-Senior Consulting Producer. FOLLOW Laura Flanders and FriendsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraflandersandfriends/Blueky: https://bsky.app/profile/lfandfriends.bsky.socialFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/LauraFlandersAndFriends/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lauraflandersandfriendsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFLRxVeYcB1H7DbuYZQG-lgLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lauraflandersandfriendsPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/lauraflandersandfriendsACCESSIBILITY - The broadcast edition of this episode is available with closed captioned by clicking here for our YouTube Channel

“I hate giving labels. I don't look at Mandani as a progressive. I look at him as representing the anger and anguish of people who have been left behind with the political apparatus.” - Osama Siblani, Publisher, The Arab American News This show is made possible by you! To become a sustaining member go to LauraFlanders.org/donate Description [Original air date Oct 31, 2025]: Wherever you are in the county, you've probably heard the name “Zohran Mamdani”. New York City's mayoral race is a national story, and it's hard to overstate the significance of the leading candidate in this moment. If elected, Mamdani would become the first Muslim-American and only the second Democratic Socialist Mayor of the largest city in the U.S. His victory, on a promise to make New York affordable for working people, would have implications for politics everywhere. The race is already garnering both excitement and anxiety. President Trump is threatening to withhold federal funding for New York City if Mamdani wins. From Chicago to Dearborn, Michigan, journalists are watching. In this installment of “Meet the BIPOC Press”, Laura Flanders speaks with Felipe De La Hoz, investigative immigration and policy reporter whose work has been featured in The Intercept, The Washington Post, New York Mag and The Nation; Osama Siblani, publisher and founder of The Arab American News, the largest Arab American newspaper in the U.S., and Asha Ransby-Sporn, organizer and writer for In These Times and co-founder of Black Youth Project 100, where she led the group's national organizing program. Join us as we explore what a Mamdani victory would signal for the nation. “More so than I am concerned with Black people being pulled to the Right or being pulled in by Trump . . . I think what we see are people who are disengaged and feel like our political system isn't going to deliver for them at all. Who feel let down by the establishment Democratic party that has sold all of us out for decades, and Black people have borne an enormous amount of the brunt of that impact.” - Asha Ransby-Sporn Guests: • Felipe De La Hoz: Immigration & Policy Reporter, Epicenter NYC • Asha Ransby-Sporn: Writer & Political Strategist; Columnist, In These Times • Osama Siblani: Publisher, The Arab American News Full Conversation Release: While our weekly shows are edited to time for broadcast on Public TV and community radio, we offer to our members and podcast subscribers the full uncut conversation. These audio exclusives are made possible thanks to our member supporters. Watch the special report on YouTube; PBS World Channel Sundays 11:30am, and on over 300 public stations across the country (check your listings, or search here via zipcode). Listen: Episode cut airs on community radio across the country  (check here to see if your station is airing the show) & as a podcast. RESOURCES: Related Laura Flanders Show Episodes: •  Farm Workers to Farm Owners- Watch / Listen:  Episode •  These Films Keep People Out of Prison- Watch / Listen:  Episode •  Jacqueline Woodson & Catherine Gund: Breathing Through Chaos & the  “Meanwhile”- Watch / Listen:  Episode and Full Uncut Conversation •  Mamdani, Black Farmers, USDA & ICE: The Stories BIPOC Journalists Uncover-  Watch / Listen:  Episode and Full Uncut Conversation Related Articles and Resources: • California City Residents Denounce Plan to Build State's Largest Immigrant Detention Center, by ACoM, August 4, 2025, American Community Media •  Dolores Huerta Leads Protest Against California's Largest Planned ICE Detention Center, by Steve Virgen, CA Neighborhood Reporter, July 30, 2025, 23ABC News KERO • Forbes Power Women's Summit 2025:  Building What's Next, September 25, 2025, Forbes •  About el Teatro Campesino's Luis Valdez, Founding Artistic Director   Full Episode Notes are located HERE. Music Credit:  'Thrum of Soil' by Bluedot Sessions, and original sound design by Jeannie Hopper Support Laura Flanders and Friends by becoming a member at https://www.patreon.com/c/lauraflandersandfriends Laura Flanders and Friends Crew: Laura Flanders-Executive Producer, Writer; Sabrina Artel-Supervising Producer; Jeremiah Cothren-Senior Producer; Veronica Delgado-Video Editor, Janet Hernandez-Communications Director; Jeannie Hopper-Audio Director, Podcast & Radio Producer, Audio Editor, Sound Design, Narrator; Sarah Miller-Development Director, Nat Needham-Editor, Graphic Design emeritus; David Neuman-Senior Video Editor, and Rory O'Conner-Senior Consulting Producer. FOLLOW Laura Flanders and FriendsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraflandersandfriends/Blueky: https://bsky.app/profile/lfandfriends.bsky.socialFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/LauraFlandersAndFriends/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lauraflandersandfriendsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFLRxVeYcB1H7DbuYZQG-lgLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lauraflandersandfriendsPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/lauraflandersandfriendsACCESSIBILITY - The broadcast edition of this episode is available with closed captioned by clicking here for our YouTube Channel

Send a textCan a progressive outsider defeat the corporate establishment in Michigan's 2026 Senate race?In this episode of the MotivateMe313 Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Abdul El-Sayed to discuss his run for U.S. Senate. Facing off against well-funded opponents like Rep. Haley Stevens and State Sen. Mallory McMorrow, Abdul explains why he refuses to take a single dime of corporate PAC money and how he plans to win with a grassroots strategy.We dive deep into the issues that matter most to Detroiters: from Environmental Justice and the specific infrastructure needs of the 313, to the polarizing debate around immigration and his stance on abolishing ICE. Plus, as a former Health Director, Abdul breaks down how he plans to sell "Medicare for All" to Michigan voters in this economy.Whether you're a progressive voter or just want to know who is fighting for Michigan's future, you can't afford to miss this conversation. IN THIS EPISODE: 0:00 - Intro-The 2026 Senate Race 02:15 - The Strategy: Beating the "Establishment" Machine 08:30 - Why Refusing Corporate PAC Money Matters 14:45 - Healthcare Check-up: Medicare for All vs. The Economy 21:00 - The "Hot Button": Immigration & Abolishing ICE 27:30 - Foreign Policy & Representation for Arab-Americans 34:15 - Detroit First: Environmental Justice & Infrastructure 40:00 - Final Message to Michigan Voters SUBSCRIBE TO OZ MEDIA: Support independent media in the 313! Click subscribe and hit the bell so you never miss a MotivateMe313 update. CONNECT WITH US: Website:Ozmedia313.comFollow us on social media:- Instagram: @motivateme313 or @ozmedia313- Website: ozmedia313.com- Facebook: ozmedia313-TikTok: @ozmedia313-Apple Podcast: ozmedia-Spotify Podcast: ozmediaThis show was sponsored by:-The Family Doc https://thefamilydocmi.com/-Juice Box Juiceboxblend.com-Holy Bowly http://www.myholybowly.com-Wingfellas thewingfellas.com-Hanley International Academy https://www.hanleyacademy.com-Malek Al-Kabob malekalkabob.com-Bayt Al Mocha https://baytalmocha.com/-Chill Box https://www.chillboxstore.com/-Royal Kabob https://www.royalkabob.com/-GEE Preparatory Academy https://www.gee-edu.com/schools/geepreparatory/index #AbdulElSayed #MichiganSenate2026 #DetroitPolitics #MedicareForAll #MotivateMe313 #OZMedia #MichiganPrimary

Dr. James Zogby, deputy campaign manager and senior advisor to Rev. Jesse Jackson for his historic presidential campaigns in 1984 and 1988, reminds us how Jacksons run was a turning point for Arab American empowerment. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

"Brand is your story. That's the one thing that is unique about you." -Nick Usborne   Abe Kasbo is the Founder and CEO of Verasoni, a global marketing communications advisory and agency that delivers integrated strategies for Fortune 500, middle-market, and startup clients, and he serves as a trusted advisor to C-suite leaders on branding, communications, and public relations. He is the author of Irresponsibly Digital, a call to action challenging businesses to rethink digital-first strategies with greater purpose, creativity, and measurable impact, and he has been featured in major outlets including The New York Times, Forbes, PBS, and Fox Business. Abe is an award-winning entrepreneur and humanitarian, including the 2025 Small Business Council of America Humanitarian Award, a documentary filmmaker whose PBS-distributed film The Arab Americans explores 150 years of cultural impact, and a founder of multiple philanthropic initiatives. He is a Seton Hall University Entrepreneur Hall of Fame inductee and holds advanced degrees in public administration, political science, and international relations. Website: https://verasoni.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abe-kasbo-3828913/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/verasoni   Nick Usborne is a veteran copywriter, trainer, and digital marketing pioneer with over 40 years of experience helping brands and writers create clear, human-centered content. He trains digital marketers, copywriters, and content teams to protect authentic brand stories while using AI responsibly to generate content at scale, through his "AI + Emotional Intelligence" approach. Nick has written for global brands including Apple, Reuters, The New York Times, and Citibank, spoken at leading industry conferences, and led in-house trainings for organizations such as Intuit, Merck, and Walt Disney Attractions. He is widely recognized by industry leaders for his clarity of thought and continues to teach writers how to future-proof their work in the age of AI. Website: https://storyaligned.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickusborne/    In this episode, we discover expert insights on blending AI, brand storytelling, and authentic marketing.   Apply to join our marketing mastermind group: https://notypicalmoments.typeform.com/to/hWLDNgjz   Follow No Typical Moments at: Website: https://notypicalmoments.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-typical-moments-llc/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4G7csw9j7zpjdASvpMzqUA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notypicalmoments Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NTMoments

"Brand is your story. That's the one thing that is unique about you." -Nick Usborne   Abe Kasbo is the Founder and CEO of Verasoni, a global marketing communications advisory and agency that delivers integrated strategies for Fortune 500, middle-market, and startup clients, and he serves as a trusted advisor to C-suite leaders on branding, communications, and public relations. He is the author of Irresponsibly Digital, a call to action challenging businesses to rethink digital-first strategies with greater purpose, creativity, and measurable impact, and he has been featured in major outlets including The New York Times, Forbes, PBS, and Fox Business. Abe is an award-winning entrepreneur and humanitarian, including the 2025 Small Business Council of America Humanitarian Award, a documentary filmmaker whose PBS-distributed film The Arab Americans explores 150 years of cultural impact, and a founder of multiple philanthropic initiatives. He is a Seton Hall University Entrepreneur Hall of Fame inductee and holds advanced degrees in public administration, political science, and international relations. Website: https://verasoni.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abe-kasbo-3828913/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/verasoni   Nick Usborne is a veteran copywriter, trainer, and digital marketing pioneer with over 40 years of experience helping brands and writers create clear, human-centered content. He trains digital marketers, copywriters, and content teams to protect authentic brand stories while using AI responsibly to generate content at scale, through his "AI + Emotional Intelligence" approach. Nick has written for global brands including Apple, Reuters, The New York Times, and Citibank, spoken at leading industry conferences, and led in-house trainings for organizations such as Intuit, Merck, and Walt Disney Attractions. He is widely recognized by industry leaders for his clarity of thought and continues to teach writers how to future-proof their work in the age of AI. Website: https://storyaligned.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickusborne/    In this episode, we discover expert insights on blending AI, brand storytelling, and authentic marketing.   Apply to join our marketing mastermind group: https://notypicalmoments.typeform.com/to/hWLDNgjz   Follow No Typical Moments at: Website: https://notypicalmoments.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-typical-moments-llc/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4G7csw9j7zpjdASvpMzqUA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notypicalmoments Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NTMoments

Many Christians struggle through each day, striving for a perfection they genuinely believe is expected of them. After years of doing exactly this, Mike Nappa gave up. Then he discovered something incredible: that load was never his to bear. Mike Nappa's It Doesn't Have to Be This Hard: How We Are Transformed by the Holy Spirit explains just how much the Holy Spirit does for us and what is left for us to do (not so much) so we can live satisfying and authentic Christian lives with confidence and joy. Mike Nappa Mike Nappa (M.A.B.T, M.A.E., B.A.C.E.)is an award-winning theologian known for writing “coffee-shop theology” and insightful Christian Living books. A bestselling and award-winning author of numerous books and over 1,000 articles, his works have been translated into many languages, with millions of copies sold worldwide.Mike is proud to be a person of color (Arab-American) active in the Christian publishing industry. Learn more about Mikey by Googling his name or checking him out on Wikipedia.WebsiteInstagramX

 What's the secret to a happy, long-lasting relationship? Marital and family psychologist Dr. Michael Tobin believes it's mutual respect for one another. He's been with his life partner, soulmate, and wife, Deborah, for 47 years, and in practice as a psychologist for more than 45 years.   Dr. Tobin's book, "Riding the Edge, A Love Song to Deborah," chronicles a six-month transformative journey in 1980 when Deborah, an Arab American, and Michael, an American Jew, bicycled across Europe, Lebanon, and Israel where they confronted the challenges of love, war, and identity. Today he discusses ways to work through trying times, even when life-transforming situations such as illness or marital infidelity occur. He is also a life-long writer, and has written extensively on marriage and family relationships, aging, health, fitness, and travel. Info: drmichaeltobin.com. 

Join host Dr. Mario Espinoza-Kulick for a conversation with Cal Poly historian Dr. Farah Al-Nakib, about Mawtini, a Central Coast oral history and community archive documenting Arab American life through stories of home, memory, and belonging. Along with Mawtini narrators Vicki Tamoush and Iyad Jamaly, we'll explore why oral history matters as a tool for community storytelling and advocacy, what it means to speak your story into the record, and how this project helps build recognition and solidarity across Central Coast communities. View the collection at mawtinislo.org.

Dr. Atef Gawad lead a high-stakes discussion examining the newly proposed “Board of Peace.” While presented as a solution for Gaza , Ukraine , and beyond, the initiative faces immediate scrutiny regarding the legitimacy of its members and its ultimate political objectives. The conversation tackled three critical pillars: Feasibility: Can a board realistically engineer an end to active, entrenched warfare? Credibility: How do allegations of past involvement in occupations or atrocities by certain members impact the board's moral authority? Strategy: Is this a genuine humanitarian mechanism or a calculated move to secure a Nobel Peace Prize and solidify a "peacemaker" legacy for President Trump ? Featured Guests Khalil E. Jahshan: Is a Palestinian American political analyst and media commentator. He serves as Executive Director of Arab Center Washington DC. Previously, Jahshan served as Executive Vice President of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) and Director of its government affairs affiliate, National Association of Arab Americans (NAAA)-ADC. Dr. Hani Bawardi: Dr. Hani Bawardi is an associate professor of history and Arab American studies at the University of Michigan, Dearborn. He is a specialist in Middle Eastern studies and related fields, such as early Arab American life and literature and immigration. He is a board member of Washington Street Historical Society in New York, and owns a sizable manuscript collection considered to be one of the most important of its kind in the country. He teaches a range of courses and has developed two new courses recently: Arabs and the West Arabs and Muslims in the media and Palestine and the Palestinians. The episode was broadcast on January 30, 2025 US Arab Radio can be heard on wnzk 690 AM. Please visit: www.facebook.com/USArabRadio/ Web site : arabradio.us/ Online Radio: www.radio.net/s/usarabradio Twitter : twitter.com/USArabRadio Instagram : www.instagram.com/usarabradio/ Youtube : US Arab Radio

Vince Fakhoury Horn reflects on his experiences within the Insight meditation tradition, as an authorized teacher in the lineage, arguing that its senior leaders have remained complicit, through their silence, on the genocide of Palestinians in Gaza.

Tensions in Dearborn, Michigan are boiling over, and today we break down why. Todd walks through the clash between a local Christian pastor and Mayor Abdullah Hammoud after the city put up street signs honoring Arab American publisher Osama Siblani, whose past quotes appear to praise violent “resistance” against Israel. We listen to the fiery city council exchange, including the mayor telling the pastor he's “not welcome” in his own city, then zoom out to talk about Islamic call-to-prayer broadcasts, Sharia law, and what all of this means for free speech, religious liberty, and America's Christian heritage. Todd contrasts coexistence rooted in truth with dangerous ideologies that openly call the U.S. the “great Satan” and warns why ignoring these trends won't make them go away.

Tensions in Dearborn, Michigan are boiling over, and today we break down why. Todd walks through the clash between a local Christian pastor and Mayor Abdullah Hammoud after the city put up street signs honoring Arab American publisher Osama Siblani, whose past quotes appear to praise violent “resistance” against Israel. We listen to the fiery city council exchange, including the mayor telling the pastor he's “not welcome” in his own city, then zoom out to talk about Islamic call-to-prayer broadcasts, Sharia law, and what all of this means for free speech, religious liberty, and America's Christian heritage. Todd contrasts coexistence rooted in truth with dangerous ideologies that openly call the U.S. the “great Satan” and warns why ignoring these trends won't make them go away.

Hanan and Lina are back with a catch-up episode. They discuss the new dating trend “date them till you hate them,” break down how “67” became Dictionary.com's slang term of the year, and Lina shares her scary encounter with a garden snake. Tune in...it's a good one.Support the showBecome a supporter of the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1786960/supportFollow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook @ObnoxiouslyPleasantFollow us on Twitter @TheOP_Podcast

Suhaila Salimpour, of Sicilian-Greek and Kurdish-American heritage, is a second-generation belly dancer and a pioneering figure in the global dance community. A former house dancer at the legendary Byblos nightclub in Beverly Hills, she toured internationally for over a decade, performing across the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and North America. As the visionary creator of the first codified pedagogy and certification system in belly dance, she transformed both performance and teaching, building a worldwide network rooted in discipline, anatomy, and cultural respect. Now directing the Salimpour School of Dance, she continues her mother's legacy through global online education, choreography, and community leadership. A recipient of the Gerbode Foundation's 2024 dance award and the Isadora Duncan Special Award (2023/24), she also serves on multiple dance boards and is completing her MFA in Dance at Saint Mary's College of California.In this episode you will learn about:- Suhaila's decision to pursue an MFA in Dance after decades on stage- The need for Arab and immigrant voices in academia- Her research on how colonization codified cultural dance forms, and the idea of “outside and inside colonization”- The growth of the Salimpour School into a full online institute- Three generations of Salimpour women carrying the dance forward.Show Notes to this episode:Find Suhaila Salimpour on Instagram, FB, YouTube, TikTok, and website.Previous interview with Suhaila Salimpour: Ep 156. Suhaila Salimpour: Renegotiating Your Dance IdentityDetails and training materials for the BDE castings are available at www.JoinBDE.comFollow Iana on Instagram, FB, and Youtube . Check out her online classes and intensives at the Iana Dance Club.Find information on how you can support Ukraine and Ukrainian belly dancers HERE.Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit zeteo.comMainstream Democrats appear to have little to no plan on how to win back Michigan's Arab American voters, after losing them in record numbers during last year's election.However, Michigan's Progressive US Senate Candidate Abdul El-Sayed may have an answer.In this ‘Mehdi Unfiltered' interview, the Bernie-backed candidate tells Mehdi why he believes he is the “only” Democrat who can win Michigan's US Senate seat in next year's midterms and what it will take to win back those who abandoned Democrats last year due to the party's support for Israel's war in Gaza.“The way that we get back the people that we lost is to have a galvanizing fight…one where we understand that the same system that is corrupting our politics to send our money abroad to buy other countries' tanks and wage a genocide is the same system that's corrupting out healthcare system,” El-Sayed says to Mehdi.Mehdi and El-Sayed cover a wide range of issues in their discussion, including:* Whether El-Sayed is worried about AIPAC targeting him (“Michiganders are sick and tired of being told who they can and cannot vote for”)* Democrats failure to have a full reckoning over Gaza's role during last year's election (“It didn't go far enough”)* El-Sayed's “Medicare for All” campaign (“We have to do the work of persuasion”)Oh, and don't miss out on hearing which Democratic president encouraged El-Sayed to consider a career in politics.Paid subscribers can watch the full interview. Free subscribers can watch a 5-minute preview. Consider becoming a paid subscriber today to skip the paywall every time.Check out more from Zeteo:

Improving+Healthcare+for+Coptic+Egyptian+MigrantsOpening cultural doors: Providing culturally sensitive healthcare to Arab American and American Muslim patients - American Journal of Obstetrics & GynecologyCultural Competence in the Care of Muslim Patients and Their Families - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf No content or comments made in any TIPQC Healthy Mom Healthy Baby Podcast is intended to be comprehensive or medical advice. Neither healthcare providers nor patients should rely on TIPQC's Podcasts in determining the best practices for any particular patient. Additionally, standards and practices in medicine change as new information and data become available and the individual medical professional should consult a variety of sources in making clinical decisions for individual patients. TIPQC undertakes no duty to update or revise any particular Podcast. It is the responsibility of the treating physician or health care professional, relying on independent experience and knowledge of the patient, to determine appropriate treatment.

What a Mamdani Win Would Mean for Local Communities**: As the mayoral race heats up, we examine how a Mamdani administration would impact working-class families in New York City, with a focus on affordable housing, policy prescriptions, and the potential shift in national politics, featuring insights from Laura Flanders and journalists working around the country for this month's Meet the BIPOC Press.This show is made possible by you! To become a sustaining member go to LauraFlanders.org/donateDescription:  Wherever you are in the county, you've probably heard the name “Zohran Mamdani”. New York City's mayoral race is a national story, and it's hard to overstate the significance of the leading candidate in this moment. If elected, Mamdani would become the first Muslim-American and only the second Democratic Socialist Mayor of the largest city in the U.S. His victory, on a promise to make New York affordable for working people, would have implications for politics everywhere. The race is already garnering both excitement and anxiety. President Trump is threatening to withhold federal funding for New York City if Mamdani wins. From Chicago to Dearborn, Michigan, journalists are watching. In this installment of “Meet the BIPOC Press”, Laura Flanders speaks with Felipe De La Hoz, investigative immigration and policy reporter whose work has been featured in The Intercept, The Washington Post, New York Mag and The Nation; Osama Siblani, publisher and founder of The Arab American News, the largest Arab American newspaper in the U.S., and Asha Ransby-Sporn, organizer and writer for In These Times and co-founder of Black Youth Project 100, where she led the group's national organizing program. Join us as we explore what a Mamdani victory would signal for the nation.Guests:• Felipe De La Hoz: Immigration & Policy Reporter, Epicenter NYC• Asha Ransby-Sporn: Writer & Political Strategist; Columnist, In These Times• Osama Siblani: Publisher, The Arab American News Watch the special report on YouTube; PBS World Channel October 26th, and on over 300 public stations across the country (check your listings, or search here via zipcode). Listen: Episode airing on community radio October 29th  (check here to see if your station is airing the show) & available as a podcast.   The full uncut conversation is also available to podcast subscribers.RESOURCES:Related Laura Flanders Show Episodes:•  Farm Workers to Farm Owners- Watch / Listen:  Episode•  These Films Keep People Out of Prison- Watch / Listen:  Episode•  Jacqueline Woodson & Catherine Gund: Breathing Through Chaos & the  “Meanwhile”- Watch / Listen:  Episode and Full Uncut Conversation•  Mamdani, Black Farmers, USDA & ICE: The Stories BIPOC Journalists Uncover-  Watch / Listen:  Episode and Full Uncut ConversationRelated Articles and Resources:• California City Residents Denounce Plan to Build State's Largest Immigrant Detention Center, by ACoM, August 4, 2025, American Community Media•  Dolores Huerta Leads Protest Against California's Largest Planned ICE Detention Center, by Steve Virgen, CA Neighborhood Reporter, July 30, 2025, 23ABC News KERO• Forbes Power Women's Summit 2025:  Building What's Next, September 25, 2025, Forbes•  About el Teatro Campesino's Luis Valdez, Founding Artistic Director Full Episode Notes are located HERE.Music Credit: "Libertango” by Stephan Wrembel's from the ‘Django New Orleans II  Hors Série'' courtesy of the artist, "Steppin" by Podington Bear and original sound design by Jeannie HopperSupport Laura Flanders and Friends by becoming a member at https://www.patreon.com/c/lauraflandersandfriends Laura Flanders and Friends Crew: Laura Flanders-Executive Producer, Writer; Sabrina Artel-Supervising Producer; Jeremiah Cothren-Senior Producer; Veronica Delgado-Video Editor, Janet Hernandez-Communications Director; Jeannie Hopper-Audio Director, Podcast & Radio Producer, Audio Editor, Sound Design, Narrator; Sarah Miller-Development Director, Nat Needham-Editor, Graphic Design emeritus; David Neuman-Senior Video Editor, and Rory O'Conner-Senior Consulting Producer. FOLLOW Laura Flanders and FriendsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraflandersandfriends/Blueky: https://bsky.app/profile/lfandfriends.bsky.socialFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/LauraFlandersAndFriends/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lauraflandersandfriendsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFLRxVeYcB1H7DbuYZQG-lgLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lauraflandersandfriendsPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/lauraflandersandfriendsACCESSIBILITY - The broadcast edition of this episode is available with closed captioned by clicking here for our YouTube Channel

When it comes to John Carpenter's iconic franchise, Halloween, most people may be familiar, in the abstract, with the name Moustapha Akkad as his name is the first to appear in the opening credits for every movie. What fans of the series may not be familiar with is how integral Moustapha was to bringing the story of Michael Myers to life, producing all 8 original movies, even after John Carpenter, himself, left the series. To celebrate Halloween, Brian Santana joins me to talk about the life of Moustapha Akkad, the man born to a customs officer in Syria, who came to Hollywood to bring the story of Islam to life on the big screen. From his movie, The Message, to becoming the silent force behind one of the horror genre's greatest franchises, Moustapha Akkad's life was rich with creativity until his violent death at the hands of suicide bombers in Amman, Jordan. This is the story of his life and his enduring legacy, honoring the man who was so pivotal in making Michael Myers and the season what it is today. Get A Murder On Campus: The Professor, The Cop, and North Carolina's Most Notorious Cold Case hereCheck out Chapter 91 with Brian and Cameron Santana hereCheck out Chapter 105: Summer's Almost Gone with Brian Santana and J.T. Townsend hereCheck out Chapter 114: The Devil in the Details-The Unsolved Death of Jeannette DePalma w/ Brian Santana hereConnect with us on Social Media!You can find us at:Instagram: @bookofthedeadpodX: @bkofthedeadpodFacebook: The Book of the Dead PodcastTikTok: BookofthedeadpodOr visit our website at www.botdpod.comAkkad, Moustapha (1930–2005) | Encyclopedia.com. (n.d.). https://www.encyclopedia.com/international/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/akkad-moustapha-1930-2005Al-Atraqchi, F. (2007, September 2). Halloween producer's epic plan. Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2007/9/2/halloween-producers-epic-planBrayson, J. (2018, October 18). Who is Moustapha Akkad? ‘Halloween' is dedicated to someone who shaped the franchise. Bustle. https://www.bustle.com/p/who-is-moustapha-akkad-halloween-is-dedicated-to-someone-who-shaped-the-franchise-12576403CNN.com - Jordan confirms al Qaeda behind hotel blasts - Nov 12, 2005. (n.d.). https://web.archive.org/web/20080527142122/http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/11/12/jordan.blasts/index.htmlCole, J. (2005, November 15). Strange death of Moustapha Akkad. Informed Comment. https://www.juancole.com/2005/11/strange-death-of-moustapha-akkad.htmlDossey, E. (2018, November 6). No Sleep October: The Halloween Franchise - Midwest Film Journal. Midwest Film Journal. https://midwestfilmjournal.com/2018/10/31/no-sleep-october-the-halloween-franchise/Film Comment. (2017, January 19). Keeping the faith. https://www.filmcomment.com/article/moustapha-akkad/Hollywood producer, daughter died in bombing. (2005, November 11). NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna10002363Mattar, S. (2005, November 5). “Halloween” Producer Akkad Dies in Jordan. Backstage. https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/halloween-producer-akkad-dies-jordan-38743/Moustapha Akkad - Arab America. (2015, June 2). Arab America. https://www.arabamerica.com/arabamericans/moustapha-akkad/Nov 12, 2005, page 42 - The Pantagraph at Newspapers.com. (n.d.). Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/75766674/?match=1&terms=moustapha%20akkadO'Scannlain, D. F. (2015). BOYER v. CHAPPELL. In United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2015/07/16/13-99006.pdfPeople v. Boyer -  S029476 - Thu, 05/11/2006 | California Supreme Court Resources. (n.d.). https://scocal.stanford.edu/opinion/people-v-boyer-33625People v. Boyer (1989). (n.d.). Justia Law. https://law.justia.com/cases/california/supreme-court/3d/48/247.htmlSpinner, J. (2005, November 15). Motive Glimpsed in Jordan Attack. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/14/AR2005111400230.htmlTCF Staff. (2005, November 9). Deadly Bombings Hit Jordan. The Street. https://www.thestreet.com/personal-finance/deadly-bombings-hit-jordan-10252100The Associated Press. (2005a, November 12). Moustapha Akkad, 75, producer of “Halloween” films. Asbury Park Press, A13.The Associated Press. (2005b, November 12). Moustapha Akkad, 75, Who Produced Religious and Horror Films, Is Dead. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/12/obituaries/moustapha-akkad-75-who-produced-religious-and-horror-films-is.htmlThompson, S. (2020, October 18). Inside the legacy of the Multimillion-Dollar ‘Halloween' franchise as the original returns to theaters. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/simonthompson/2020/10/18/inside-the-legacy-of-the-multimillion-dollar-halloween-franchise-as-the-original-returns-to-theaters/Tüfekçi̇, A. (2020, November 25). Understanding Moustapha Akkad through ‘The Message' he left. Daily Sabah. https://www.dailysabah.com/arts/cinema/understanding-moustapha-akkad-through-the-message-he-leftTwair, S. (2009, August 31). Moustapha Akkad (1933-2005). Washington Report on Middle East Affairs. https://www.wrmea.org/2006-january-february/moustapha-akkad-1933-2005.htmlVoa. (2009, October 30). Arab-American filmmaker Mustafa Al Akkad Killed in Jordan Terrorist Attack. Voice of America. https://www.voanews.com/a/a-13-2005-11-18-voa23/391281.htmlIf you enjoyed the episode, consider leaving a review or rating! It helps more than you know! If you have a case suggestion, or want attention brought to a loved one's case, email me at bookofthedeadpod@gmail.com with Case Suggestion in the subject line.Stay safe, stay curious, and stay vigilant.

In his new solo show "Other," Tony Award-winning actor Ari'el Stachel explores the challenges of navigating his background as both an Arab American and a Jewish American. Stachel joins to discuss the show, which runs through December 6.

Synopsis:  The mayoral candidate who's got the nation talking, Zohran Mamdani, is on track to make history as New York City's first Muslim-American and second Democratic Socialist mayor.This show is made possible by you! To become a sustaining member go to LauraFlanders.org/donateDescription:  Wherever you are in the county, you've probably heard the name “Zohran Mamdani”. New York City's mayoral race is a national story, and it's hard to overstate the significance of the leading candidate in this moment. If elected, Mamdani would become the first Muslim-American and only the second Democratic Socialist Mayor of the largest city in the U.S. His victory, on a promise to make New York affordable for working people, would have implications for politics everywhere. The race is already garnering both excitement and anxiety. President Trump is threatening to withhold federal funding for New York City if Mamdani wins. From Chicago to Dearborn, Michigan, journalists are watching. In this installment of “Meet the BIPOC Press”, Laura Flanders speaks with Felipe De La Hoz, investigative immigration and policy reporter whose work has been featured in The Intercept, The Washington Post, New York Mag and The Nation; Osama Siblani, publisher and founder of The Arab American News, the largest Arab American newspaper in the U.S., and Asha Ransby-Sporn, organizer and writer for In These Times and co-founder of Black Youth Project 100, where she led the group's national organizing program. Join us as we explore what a Mamdani victory would signal for the nation.“. . . There's this sense that [Left-leaning candidates] have to essentially be apologizing for their policy prescriptions and their stances. Mamdani has not done that . . . For the most part, he very much embraces who he is and what his policy prescriptions are.” - Felipe De La Hoz“I hate giving labels. I don't look at Mandani as a progressive. I look at him as representing the anger and anguish of people who have been left behind with the political apparatus.” - Osama Siblani“More so than I am concerned with Black people being pulled to the Right or being pulled in by Trump . . . I think what we see are people who are disengaged and feel like our political system isn't going to deliver for them at all. Who feel let down by the establishment Democratic party that has sold all of us out for decades, and Black people have borne an enormous amount of the brunt of that impact.” - Asha Ransby-SpornGuests:• Felipe De La Hoz: Immigration & Policy Reporter, Epicenter NYC• Asha Ransby-Sporn: Writer & Political Strategist; Columnist, In These Times• Osama Siblani: Publisher, The Arab American NewsFull Conversation Release: While our weekly shows are edited to time for broadcast on Public TV and community radio, we offer to our members and podcast subscribers the full uncut conversation. These audio exclusives are made possible thanks to our member supporters.Watch the special report on YouTube; PBS World Channel October 26th, and on over 300 public stations across the country (check your listings, or search here via zipcode). Listen: Episode airing on community radio October 29th  (check here to see if your station is airing the show) & available as a podcast.RESOURCES:Related Laura Flanders Show Episodes:•  Farm Workers to Farm Owners- Watch / Listen:  Episode•  These Films Keep People Out of Prison- Watch / Listen:  Episode•  Jacqueline Woodson & Catherine Gund: Breathing Through Chaos & the  “Meanwhile”- Watch / Listen:  Episode and Full Uncut Conversation•  Mamdani, Black Farmers, USDA & ICE: The Stories BIPOC Journalists Uncover-  Watch / Listen:  Episode and Full Uncut ConversationRelated Articles and Resources:• California City Residents Denounce Plan to Build State's Largest Immigrant Detention Center, by ACoM, August 4, 2025, American Community Media•  Dolores Huerta Leads Protest Against California's Largest Planned ICE Detention Center, by Steve Virgen, CA Neighborhood Reporter, July 30, 2025, 23ABC News KERO• Forbes Power Women's Summit 2025:  Building What's Next, September 25, 2025, Forbes•  About el Teatro Campesino's Luis Valdez, Founding Artistic Director Full Episode Notes are located HERE.Music Credit: original sound design by Jeannie HopperSupport Laura Flanders and Friends by becoming a member at https://www.patreon.com/c/lauraflandersandfriends Laura Flanders and Friends Crew: Laura Flanders-Executive Producer, Writer; Sabrina Artel-Supervising Producer; Jeremiah Cothren-Senior Producer; Veronica Delgado-Video Editor, Janet Hernandez-Communications Director; Jeannie Hopper-Audio Director, Podcast & Radio Producer, Audio Editor, Sound Design, Narrator; Sarah Miller-Development Director, Nat Needham-Editor, Graphic Design emeritus; David Neuman-Senior Video Editor, and Rory O'Conner-Senior Consulting Producer. FOLLOW Laura Flanders and FriendsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraflandersandfriends/Blueky: https://bsky.app/profile/lfandfriends.bsky.socialFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/LauraFlandersAndFriends/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lauraflandersandfriendsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFLRxVeYcB1H7DbuYZQG-lgLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lauraflandersandfriendsPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/lauraflandersandfriendsACCESSIBILITY - The broadcast edition of this episode is available with closed captioned by clicking here for our YouTube Channel

In this episode of Dimensions of Diversity we revisit a conversation Lloyd Freeman had during a webinar earlier this year celebrating Arab American Heritage Month. Lloyd welcomes three Arab American leaders from the legal community: Judge Shalabi, Rami Jabara, and Sandra Frantzen.The panelists discussed the origins and purpose of both local and national Arab American Bar Associations, which were founded in response to community needs, discrimination, and a lack of representation. They shared personal experiences that motivated their advocacy, including facing FBI interrogations, navigating the post-9/11 climate, and enduring tragic hate crimes.Dimensions of Diversity is a podcast created by Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, highlighting diversity in the workplace. Hosted by Lloyd Freeman, Chief Experience Officer, the podcast features meaningful conversations with industry and community leaders working to advance D&I. 

Israel has begun a ground offensive in Gaza City that promises a new round of horror in an already existing humanitarian disaster. Despite widespread global condemnation, Netanyahu continues doing what he is doing to carry out his Right Wing messianic vision for Israel. Unfortunately, with Trump - just as with Biden - the U.S. continues to send financial support for the Israeli effort. While our Secretary of State Marco Rubio says “It's their war,” many would argue it is Israel's war - and ours. In my interview today with Arab-American political advocate Raed Jarrar, he argues that without our help Israel could not do what they are doing. According to Jarrar, one phone call from Trump could stop all this. It's a bit of a mystery why President Trump is not willing to make it. Whatever his reason, the war continues to be an unending source of pain and suffering or the Palestinian people. In the Declaration of Independence, it says that “all men are created equal.” And I don't think that means just all Americans. I believe God created us as One and loves us as One. Our job on earth is to learn to love as God loves. I hope my conversation with Raed gives you much to consider. I look forward to hearing your thoughts. Subscribe to Marianne's Substack: MarianneWilliamson.Susbtack.com

Trump's win exposed political tensions between Arab-American voters — who were critical of Democratic support of Israel's war in Gaza, and Black voters — who remain the Democrats' most loyal supporters. That friction is especially pronounced in the majority Arab city of Dearborn, Michigan, and its majority Black neighbor, Detroit. This week, we go to a testy iftar dinner where Arab and Black folks sat down to begin having tough conversations.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy