Podcasts about bengali muslim

Zadie Smith's White Teeth marked its 25th anniversary in January. The now canonical novel tells the story of an unlikely friendship between a shy Englishman named Archie Jones and his friend Samad Iqbal, a devout Bengali Muslim. Both men are trying to pass on their religious and moral beliefs to their children. In today's episode, we revisit a conversation between Smith and NPR's Liane Hansen that aired shortly after White Teeth's release. Then, we'll hear some of Smith's conversation last month on NPR's Wild Card with Rachel Martin in which Smith reflects on the novel's anniversary. The two discuss the author's distance from the person she was when she wrote White Teeth and the novel's place among the canon of books for teenagers.To listen to Book of the Day sponsor-free and support NPR's book coverage, sign up for Book of the Day+ at plus.npr.org/bookofthedayLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

In this special travel episode of the Unknown Nations Podcast, Greg Kelley records live from the field in southern Bangladesh, sharing raw, firsthand insights. Greg discusses the urgent need for multiplying leaders to reach the Bengali Muslim people—the world's largest unknown nation. He highlights the unique cultural and spiritual dynamics of Bangladesh, including current political unrest and challenges facing the Christian minority. Discover Unknown Nations' vision to establish a training center and collaborate with local churches to spread the gospel. Join us in prayer and support to make Jesus known in Bangladesh. Learn more about Unknown Nations by visiting www.UnknownNations.com.

Maria joins us from NYC, she's Bengali/Muslim and her boyfriend is Hispanic. She's working up the courage to tell her family but shares the struggles of feeling responsible for others' well being, managing all the "what ifs" and brown girl guilt, and doing the internal work of building up the confidence to take her next step Support the Show.BWWPS Book Club Form share your thoughts on what we're reading!BWWPS Guest ApplicationAnonymous Suggestion/Request Box DishaMazepa.comSHOP: Disha Mazepa Designs on Etsy Code FESTIVE6 (buy 5 get 1 free)Be sure to SUBSCRIBE & LEAVE US A REVIEW if you enjoyed the show. Follow me on Instagram @Disha.MazepaLike the show on FB here. Music by: Crexwell Episodes available on iTunes, Spotify, Google Podcast, Stitcher, and Overcast.

In this episode, I sit down with Vivek Bald, a filmmaker, writer, and scholar dedicated to uncovering the hidden histories of the South Asian diaspora. For the past twenty-five years, Vivek has explored the migration patterns and cultural impact of South Asians in the US and Britain through his documentaries, books, and academic work at MIT's Comparative Media Studies Department. His latest documentary, “In Search of Bengali Harlem,” with actor and playwright Alaudin Ullah, which premiered in early March, reveals the forgotten history of Bengali migrants who settled in Harlem during the 1920s, integrating into Black and Hispanic communities. Key Takeaways History of South Asian Migration: Overview of South Asian migration to the United States. Experiences of early South Asian immigrants. Impact of immigration laws on the South Asian community. Personal and Family Experiences: Vivek Bald's upbringing and influences. His mother's activism and its impact on his perspectives. Development of his interest in documentary filmmaking. In Search of Bengali Harlem: The undocumented migration of Bengali Muslim men to the US in the early 20th century. Intermarriages with African American and Puerto Rican women. Challenges faced by these communities. Personal stories and the research process behind the documentary. The intersection of Race, Class, and Identity: How these elements have shaped the experiences of South Asian immigrants. The cultural influence of South Asians in cities like New York. Political undertones in the narratives of South Asian migration. Additional Links: To learn more about In Search of Bengali Harlem, http://bengaliharlem.com  The film is available to stream on PBS as part of the documentary series America ReFramed:  On PBS/WORLD's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=os-PxQ2q3Ig Using the PBS App on your TV or Mobile Device: https://www.pbs.org/pbs–app/ At America ReFramed: https://worldchannel.org/episode/america-reframed-in-search-of-bengali-harlem/  http://bengaliharlem.com/watch   Immigrantly is a weekly podcast that celebrates the extraordinariness of immigrant life. We do this by providing our listeners with authentic, accurate insights into the immigrant identity in America. Immigrantly has garnered significant recognition and has been featured in renowned media outlets such as the Nieman Storyboard, The Guardian, The Slowdown, and CNN. Join us as we create new intellectual engagement for our audience. You can get more information at http://immigrantlypod.com. Please share the love and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify to help more people find us!  You can connect with Saadia on Twitter @swkkhan Email: saadia@immigrantlypod.com Host & Producer: Saadia Khan I Content Writer: Saadia Khan & Adiba Hussain I Editorial review: Shei Yu I Sound Designer & Editor: Paroma Chakravarty I Immigrantly Theme Music: Simon Hutchinson | Other Music: Epidemic Sound Immigrantly podcast is an Immigrantly Media Production. For advertising inquiries, you can contact us at info@immigrantlypod.com Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast for more insightful episodes. Follow us on social media for updates and behind-the-scenes content.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek.”—Joseph Cambell (1904 – 1987)Every journey is a tapestry of experiences, and Urmi Hossain's story weaves a vibrant pattern of culture, identity and self-discovery that stretches across continents. Our conversation peels back the layers of Urmi's life, from her early years in Italy to her adventures in Canada, illuminating the bittersweet nature of frequent relocations. She recounts the challenges of being a Bengali Muslim in Catholic schools and the complexity of being a third culture kid caught between worlds. With each move, Urmi faced the daunting task of bidding farewell to friendships and adapting to new surroundings, yet she found a way to embrace the excitement of exploration and the richness of Canada's multicultural milieu.Digging deeper into the heart of immigration, Urmi reflects on her parents' brave leap from Bangladesh to Italy—perhaps influenced by Italy's permissive Martelli's law—a journey made not for work but for the promise of a better future. This chapter of Urmi's life paints an intriguing portrait of identity struggles, as she feels more anchored to her Italian and Bengali roots than to her Canadian citizenship. Urmi likens the move to Canada to Joseph Campbell's “cave you fear to enter,” which holds “the treasure you seek.”  The analogy captures both the risks and the rewards of diving into the unknown, a country where even the language, Quebecois, created a formidable hurdle to acceptance. Her adventurous spirit is a testament to the power of taking chances and the profound impact such decisions have on shaping one's life narrative.In the final stretch of our intimate dialogue, we traverse the landscape of Urmi's personal growth and the resilience she has honed over the years. Becoming a Toastmaster has helped her in pursuing her ultimate quest for giving a coveted TED Talk. She is a dedicated mentor to other women and girls through her volunteer work in Canada, and Urmi shares how her commitment to fitness, particularly boxing, has fortified her mental and physical strength. As we wrap up, we contemplate the paradoxical relationship between joy and sadness and the adaptability that is carved from life's hurdles. Urmi's journey from Palermo to Montreal exemplifies the transformative process that many of us navigate, reminding us that the essence of our shared human experience is as unpredictable as it is beautiful. Join us for this heartfelt exploration that is sure to resonate with anyone who has ever sought their place in the world.Highlight Timestamps(03:08 - 04:27) Exploration and Self-Discovery Through Moving(10:17 - 12:06) Immigration Experiences of Bangladeshi Family(14:54 - 15:52) Questioning Ethnicity and Accents(21:08 - 22:18) Journey of Personal Transformation(29:50 - 30:55) Exploring Career Paths and Personal Accomplishments(32:23 - 33:06) The Importance of Taking RisksPlaces mentioned in this episode:PalermoBangladeshItalyU.K. MontrealCanadaAbout Urmi HossainUrmi Hossain is Bengali by blood and Italian by birth. She is the author of Discovering Your Identity: A Rebirth from Interracial Struggle. She works in the financial services industry in Montreal, Canada, where she currently resides. Blogger, speaker, mentor and polyglot, she is fluent in Italian, Bengali, French and English. Urmi is an advocate of women's empowerment and very passionate about teaching and mentoring other girls and women. She is part of the organization called Women In Leadership for the Victoria Chapter in Canada as the social media lead. She enjoys being a promoter of self-investing and personal development. In her free time, she enjoys reading books and boxing.Contact Urmi at her blog: https://www.myways.ca/Urmi's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZoiI0SGU0Xo9_lNjtLWtggUrmi's book on Amazon: Discovering Your Identity: A Rebirth from Interracial StruggleUrmi Hossain on LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/urmi-hossain CREDITSHost and creator: Christi CassidyContact: christi@movingalongpodcast.comArtwork by Phyllis BusellMusic by Eve's Blue. Show notes written with assistance from Podium.page. LINKS:More information and to listen to past episodes: https://movingalongpodcast.comPast episodes are here too: https://moving-along.simplecast.com/Tag and like Moving Along episodes on Facebook and Instagram!

Learn what Roshni's family experienced during the partition of India, the Bangladesh genocide, and the lessons for today. ____________________________ SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR: GALACTIC FED I use Galactic Fed for SEO and CRO on The Maverick Show website, but they are an end-to-end digital marketing agency that also offers social media, website design, paid media and more. Get Your Free Marketing Plan at www.GalacticFed.com and mention "Maverick" for 10% off your first month of services. ___________________________  Roshni and Matt start off talking about Philadelphia, and why it is one of the most underrated cities in the U.S.  Roshni then opens up about the experience of her Bengali Muslim family during the 1947 partition of India.  She then shares stories about her family's experience during the Bangladesh Liberation War and the Bangladesh Genocide of 1971.  Roshni emphasizes how, despite a litany of horrors—from civilian massacres to rape camps—there were also shining examples of humanity at every turn, including cross-community love and assistance by individuals willing to help their neighbors escape death and violence.  Roshni draws out profound moral lessons which inform her political activism and worldview today.  She encourages people to always “look for the helpers” to find the humanity in any situation.  And, finally, Roshni talks about her grandfather's progressive commitment to the education of women and girls, his work on building schools in Bangladesh, and the legacy of that work today.  FULL SHOW NOTES AVAILABLE AT:  www.TheMaverickShow.com ____________________________________ Subscribe to The Maverick Show's “Monday Minute” Newsletter where I personally send you an email with 3 short items of value to start each week that you can consume in under 60 seconds: www.TheMaverickShow.com/Newsletter See My “Top 10 Apps For Digital Nomads” www.TheMaverickShow.com/Apps See My “Top 10 Books For Digital Nomads” www.TheMaverickShow.com/Books See My “7 Keys For Building A Location-Independent Business” (Even In A Space That Is Not Traditionally Virtual) www.TheMaverickShow.com/Keys  Watch My Video Training On “Stylish Minimalist Packing” and Learn How to Travel the World with Carry On Luggage: http://www.TheMaverickShow.com/Packing See The Travel Gear I Use And Recommend: https://ww.TheMaverickShow.com/Gear Learn How You Can Buy Turnkey Rental Properties In The Best U.S. Real Estate Markets From Anywhere: http://www.TheMaverickShow.com/RealEstate See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The Equipment, Services And Vendors I Use): https://www.TheMaverickShow.com/Production FOLLOW THE MAVERICK SHOW ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/MaverickShowPod/ Twitter: https://www.Twitter.com/MaverickShowPod Tiktok: https://www.TikTok.com/@MaverickShowPod Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/MaverickShowPodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/MaverickShowPod/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@themaverickshow874 BUY ME A COFFEE: Enjoying the show?  Espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes!  Now you can support The Maverick Show by buying me a coffee:  https://www.buymeacoffee.com/TheMaverickShow  

In this episode, we're joined by Hamza Abdallah, a rising star in the world of entrepreneurship. Hamza is a proud Bengali Muslim and a two-time founder. He kick-started his 2nd venture by founding CataLeads Systems, a real estate marketing company that experienced explosive growth, catapulting it into a seven-figure business within just 24 months.To connect with Hamza, visit https://cataleads.com/

First, Indian Express' Tora Agarwala joins us to talk about the recent spate of eviction drives in Assam and how the government is criticised for allegedly targeting the Bengali Muslim community through these eviction drives. Second, Indian Express' Arun Janardhanan explains the latest conflict between the Tamil Nadu government and Governor RN Ravi over the state's name. (13:08)Lastly, we talk about RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat's interview with the RSS-affiliated magazines, Organiser and Panchjanya. (24:05)Hosted by Rahel Philipose Scripted and produced by Utsa Sarmin and Rahel Philipose Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

TWO CULTURES. TWO FAMILIES. TWO PEOPLE. Established South African media personality and bestselling author Joanne Joseph chats with Monica Ali about this exquisite gorgeous, layered and immersive tale of a Bengali Muslim family. Yasmin Ghorami has a lot to be grateful for: a loving family, a fledgling career in medicine, and a charming, handsome fiancée, fellow doctor Joe Sangster. But as the wedding day draws closer and Yasmin's parents get to know Joe's firebrand feminist mother, both families must confront the unravelling of long-held secrets, lies and betrayals. As Yasmin dismantles her assumptions about the people she holds most dear, she's also forced to ask herself what she wants in a relationship and what a 'love marriage' actually means. Love Marriage is a story about who we are and how we love in today's Britain - with all the complications and contradictions of life, desire, marriage and family. What starts as a charming social comedy develops into a heart-breaking and gripping story of two cultures, two families and two people trying to understand one another.

TWO CULTURES. TWO FAMILIES. TWO PEOPLE. Established South African media personality and bestselling author Joanne Joseph chats with Monica Ali about this exquisite gorgeous, layered and immersive tale of a Bengali Muslim family. Yasmin Ghorami has a lot to be grateful for: a loving family, a fledgling career in medicine, and a charming, handsome fiancée, fellow doctor Joe Sangster. But as the wedding day draws closer and Yasmin's parents get to know Joe's firebrand feminist mother, both families must confront the unravelling of long-held secrets, lies and betrayals. As Yasmin dismantles her assumptions about the people she holds most dear, she's also forced to ask herself what she wants in a relationship and what a 'love marriage' actually means. Love Marriage is a story about who we are and how we love in today's Britain - with all the complications and contradictions of life, desire, marriage and family. What starts as a charming social comedy develops into a heart-breaking and gripping story of two cultures, two families and two people trying to understand one another.

Canadian Common Sense - Jagmeet Singh breaks COVID rules Charles describes why Jagmeet Singh won't have to hear about this incident for long  Are your parents hesitant to get the COVID-19 vaccine? Yeah, mine too -- Personal Story of Toronto man, Sadi Muktadir. To vaccinate or not to vaccinate, it’s a question that has caused quite the divide amid the COVID-19 pandemic… and for some, it’s also caused some strain within family relationships.  Guest - Sadi Muktadir - A second-generation Bengali Muslim who lives in Toronto, and he’s experienced some difficult conversations within his family and community when it comes to vaccinations. Which professions and Institutions do Canadians trust? Which professions do Canadians trust? A new survey released today by Maru Public Opinion on behalf of the Canada’s Most Respected Award Program, found that out of 28 professions, firefighters, nurses and farmers rose to the top of the ranks. After a tumultuous year, teachers sit just above the halfway mark at number 10, and journalists just below at 17. But at the bottom of the pack, owners of social media platforms. Guest - John Wright - Executive Vice President of Maru Public Opinion Canada wants to put a rover on the moon in the next 5 years Space exploration is reaching new heights in Canada… in fact, we’re looking to put a rover on the moon in the next 5 years!  Guest - Erik Dupuis - Canadian Space Agency Director in Space Exploration Development Subscribe to the Charles Adler Tonight podcast to hear more: https://curiouscast.ca/podcast/135/charles-adler-tonight/.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Bushra and Raida discuss Mukbangs, Raida leaving her job, the recent wacky-ass Instagram updates, and their thoughts on a particular Bengali, Muslim influencer. Also, the duo, as stupid as ever, talk about where they see themselves in a decade. -------Happy one year anniversary to your favorite dumbasses. You don't know why they do what they do, but don't worry, they also don't know why they do what they do. Was that hard to read? Good. Also, sorry we took a month and a half off. We thought we'd have more content after a month but then realized we don't do anything extraordinary with our lives except be brown. Ok.

Welcome to part two of…. MUSLIMS ON TV!!!! (now featuring an echo effect, naturally). We’re focusing on a web-series made with an antiracist model from Break the Room, Muslim Anti-Racism Collaborative, and Powderkeg Media. “East of La Brea” focuses on Black and Bengali Muslim women in a context of a rapidly changing Los Angeles. Sameer Gardezi of Break the Room and Margari Aziza of Muslim Anti-Racism Collaborative join us to discuss how they made the show. Patrons this month get access to additional conversation with Sameer and Margari for an insider perspective on Ramy, Patriot Act, and how the industry grapples with critique around gender and race. Find us at patreon.com/ahmedaliakbar. Thanks to our patrons for supporting the show. Watch “East of La Brea” on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CBvXTgzp3DK/?hl=en Follow Sameer @sameergardezi Follow Margari @Margari_Aziza Follow SSSS on Twitter and Facebook @seesomething. Our music is by the Kominas. Our editor this month is Basim Usmani  

In this episode, we sat down with Nusrat Jahan, a fresh graduate from NUS. We talked about her unique experiences as a Bengali Muslim living in a society of Muslims who are mostly Malays. Also, she shared with us stories from her past about how she navigated her way in this world being a minority of minorities.

Aman Wadud is a human rights lawyer, who provides support to people who are at risk of being stripped of their citizenship rights in the northeastern state of Assam. As a result of his work as a lawyer and criticism of the authorities for not following due process of law during the exercise of the NRC, Aman Wadud has been facing serious threats (both from the authorities and from anonymous users online), harassment, surveillance and stigmatization.1.What is it like to be an Asamese Kid?2.Journey of becoming a Lawyer?3.Stigmatization faced as a Bengali Muslim and how it shaped thining?4.What is Assamese Culture?5.Why did Assam Accord came into existence?6.How Assam changed after Assam Accord?7.Why was Assam chosen as the first state of NRC8.How is the current mood in Assam?9.Do people in Assam know about Detention centres and its horror stories?10.NRC – Foreigner's Tribunal-Detention Centre. How does this work?11.Issues with Foreigner's Tribunal12.Stories from Detention centresअमन वदूद एक मानवाधिकार वकील हैं, जो उन लोगों को सहायता प्रदान करता है, जिन्हें पूर्वोत्तर राज्य असम में अपने नागरिकता के अधिकार छीन लिए जाने का खतरा है। एनआरसी के अभ्यास के दौरान कानून की उचित प्रक्रिया का पालन नहीं करने के लिए एक वकील और अधिकारियों की आलोचना के परिणामस्वरूप उनके काम के परिणामस्वरूप, अमन वदूद को गंभीर खतरों का सामना करना पड़ रहा है (अधिकारियों से और ऑनलाइन गुमनाम उपयोगकर्ताओं से), उत्पीड़न, निगरानी और कलंक।1. असम किड होना क्या है?2. वकील बनने का सफर?3. कलंक का सामना एक बंगाली मुसलमान के रूप में हुआ और यह कैसे आकार देने लगा?4. असमी संस्कृति क्या है?5. असम समझौता अस्तित्व में क्यों आया?6. असम समझौते के बाद असम कैसे बदल गया?7. असम को NRC के पहले राज्य के रूप में क्यों चुना गया8. असम में वर्तमान स्थिति कैसी है?9. क्या असम के लोग डिटेंशन सेंटर और इसकी डरावनी कहानियों के बारे में जानते हैं?10. एनआरसी - विदेशी ट्रिब्यूनल-डिटेंशन सेंटर। यह कैसे काम करता है?11. विदेशी ट्रिब्यूनल के साथ मुद्दे12. डिटेंशन सेंटर्स की कहानियां

What do you imagine when you hear Republican? - If you're the average college student I'd imagine the key traits would be old and Caucasian. Well, that's not the case at all in this interview with the current President of Stony Brook College of Republicans. Fuad Faruque is from a Bengali Muslim family in New York and he is an active Republican. In today's political environment it seems as though assumptions are made too easily with little support and picking sides has become easier than picking facts. My conversation with Fuad discusses his upbringing, his role in politics and his thoughts on current Trump era policies. I've linked an article about him below, check it out! Age: 21 Occupation(s): Undergraduate // President of Stony Brook College of Republicans Newsday Article About Fuad

In November and December, we will be doing a mercifully short series entitled “The Last Minute.” Because that’s what it is--the last minute for finishing up most college applications and getting them submitted. Of course, some colleges have Regular Decision deadlines beyond the first of the year (especially some large public universities), and some colleges have rolling admissions (meaning that they take in and decide about applications virtually year-round). And some teenagers have just brushed off their hands and submitted Early Action or Early Decision applications--but that doesn’t mean they don’t need to be ready with some back-up applications just in case they are not admitted to the college that they (and perhaps their parents) hoped for. In any case, I think we can say that November and December qualify as “the last minute” for many teenagers. That’s especially true for those who have put off doing the hard and sometimes tedious work of applying until now. Personally, I have been knee deep in college applications lately. I have been helping some kids work on the entirety of their applications (and there are some glitches I would like to talk to you about, Common App staffers). But, in addition, I have been reviewing, advising on, and editing the application essays of about 50 more kids. Man, what I could tell you. In fact, I am going to tell you about those essays in today’s episode and in our next episode. Think of it as a wake-up call to many of you parents and your seniors. My remarks are based on working with the essays of these 50-plus kids, who attend excellent top-ranked high schools, almost all public high schools. This week, we are going to talk about the content of the college application essays I have been reading, and next week we are going to talk about the mechanics--that is, the grammar, the punctuation, the word choice, etc. By the way, an essay must be great both in terms of content and in terms of mechanics in order to be noticed approvingly by the college admissions officers, who are swamped with thousands of them. Just think about what that would be like. Now, we have talked about college application essays before at USACollegeChat. We chatted way back in Episode 22, and again in Episode 49, and most recently in Episode 80 at the beginning of the summer. I wish we could stop talking about this topic, but we can’t do that until your teenagers learn to write. As I said to a class of students at an elite high school a week ago, “You write like third graders.” Soon, I will explain to you why I said that. 1. The Common Application Main Essay Though not all colleges require essays, most applicants will find themselves writing the Common App’s 650-word main essay or “personal statement” inasmuch as over 600 colleges take the Common App. The Common App’s five essay prompts are the same as last year’s and, therefore, as we said back in June, we can tell you what percentage of last year’s applicants chose each prompt. So let’s look at those figures and at the prompts themselves again (quoted from The Common Application website):   1. "Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.” This prompt is the most general and most adaptable to any kid’s circumstances. Perhaps that is why it was also the most popular prompt, chosen by 47 percent of applicants last year. I feel as though your teenager might be at a disadvantage in choosing it, precisely because it was the most popular one (and, I am going to guess, will be again); thus, college admissions officers have to read it over and over again. How many times can they read an essay about scoring the winning point in the big game because a teenager thinks his or her super-meaningful talent is soccer? Now, I am not saying not to write on this prompt if your teenager’s background, identity, interest, or talent is truly meaningful and hopefully a bit different, but I am saying to think twice and take a look at the other prompts first. One of the most legitimate uses of this prompt, I think, is by kids who have come to the U.S. from another country or by kids whose parents had previously come from another country and still speak their native language at home. Those kids probably do have a background that defines them, at least in part. But one of the best essays I ever read on this prompt was written by a kid who has a form of autism spectrum disorder that makes it very difficult for him to speak easily to others and who now has conquered most of its effects through an amazing amount of therapy and hard work. His essay made me want to cheer at the end. 2. "The lessons we take from failure can be fundamental to later success. Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?” Even though only 17 percent of applicants wrote on this last year, I have read a few essays on this prompt lately, perhaps because I have been suggesting to kids that they try one of the less popular prompts. Here is what I then had to explain to quite a few kids: If you are robbed on the street or if you are bullied in school, that is not a time when “you experienced failure.” You didn’t fail at anything; society failed you. When something miserable is done to you, you didn’t fail. Yes, you might have learned a lesson of some kind that helped you be a success later. But, still, you did not fail. My heart just about broke for kids who wrote that. 3. "Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?” This is likely the hardest of the five prompts to write about when you are 17 years old. My view is supported by the fact that only 4 percent of applicants last year chose it. Part of the problem is that it is hard to figure out the scale of the belief or idea that should be challenged. Is it capitalism or is it the dress code at the kid’s high school? It’s hard to challenge a big idea when you are 17, but the small ones can seem inconsequential. Recently, I spoke to an intelligent young man from a different cultural background; he was considering writing about the time he challenged his culture’s tradition of arranged marriages. In the end, he didn’t write on that, but I thought it would have been a great choice. 4. "Describe a problem you’ve solved or a problem you’d like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma--anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.” Oddly, only 10 percent of applicants wrote to this prompt last year, but I believe it is a relatively easy choice. The prompt is helped by the fact that it includes the words “anything of personal importance, no matter the scale”; so the problem can truly be something in the writer’s personal or family life. The writer does not have to solve social injustice, and it would be naïve to expect that a 17-year-old could say something unique or unusual about a problem of epic proportions, especially in just 650 words. I recently read the essay topics of several girls who attend a prestigious high-tech high school and who wrote about speaking up for women entering STEM fields. I explained to them that they were not the first females to be working on that problem, though they naïvely sounded as though they thought they might be. A smaller version of that problem--like some bias the female student had to cope with at her STEM-oriented high school--might have worked. So, choosing a problem that is closer to home--something a kid actually has a chance of solving, at least for himself or herself--could make this unpopular prompt a good way to help an essay stand out to the readers. 5. "Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.” Interestingly, this is the second-most-popular prompt, chosen by 22 percent of applicants last year. I have noticed that quite a few responses to this prompt have been about the illness or death of a parent, which caused the writer to have to take on more adult responsibilities at home. Of course, I found some of these quite moving, and I imagine that the college admissions officers will, too.   After reading the essays from two classes of seniors at a well-known, top-ranked New York City high school, I made these points (among others) to the classes, and you should make them now with your own teenager: Make a memorable first impression--Tell your teenager to write a great first sentence, which makes the admissions officer want to continue reading the essay (when he or she has hundreds more to read). Many kids write the most boring opening sentence you can imagine. Back in Episode 80, we told you the most common (and boring) ways that students in the U.K. started their college application essays. We begged your teenagers not to do that. Some kids, however, do a great job of that opening sentence (tell your teenagers that they are, in fact, the competition). Here are some: “In the beginning, it was unidentified.” “ ‘En los primer diez años de mi vida, yo no sabia como hablar.’ That was Spanish for ‘In the first ten years of my life, I didn’t know how to speak.’ ” “For a typical Bengali Muslim girl, it is a given to learn how to read the Quran.” “They look so comfortable, floating motionless with their eyes closed.” Make a memorable last impression--Tell your teenager to write an extraordinary final sentence, which is his or her last chance to make an impression. I found that, while some kids had a great opening sentence, almost no kid had a great closing sentence. In fact, almost no kid had a great ending at all. While kids could start out with an interesting personal anecdote, they could not end on a similar note. Many tried to end their essays on a grand scale; they trailed off with platitudes and abstract, vague sentences that sounded as though they were on their way to ridding the world of hunger. It is often said that you have just one chance to make a great first impression. Well, your teenager has just one chance to make a great last--and, therefore, lasting--impression, too. As a sportswriter in college, I learned to end each story with some clincher--a line that was clever or funny or surprising or something else. It was one of the most useful writing skills I ever learned. Remember what the point is--If your teenager is telling a story as part of the essay, the story is not the point. What is the point? It’s what your teenager learned from the story or experience or how the experience impacted his or her life. The story is a means to an end; the point is the end. The point is very likely the answer to the question posed in the prompt. Make sure that your teenager doesn’t get bogged down in the details of the story; the reader doesn’t need to know every single thing that happened.       For example, if the essay is about that over-used championship game (even though I have already said that a championship game might not be the best essay choice), then the reader doesn’t need every play in the last five minutes of the game. I am not making this up. Make every word count-- For the main essay in the Common App, there is a limit of 650 words, which is not really a lot. Make sure that your teenager doesn’t waste them. I think kids should use all 650 words, if possible.       However, tell your teenager not to write 650 words if he or she has only 550 words to say. Just leave it at 550. Extra sentences that duplicate thoughts that have already been stated will simply weaken the writing and make it less impressive rather than more. As I have written before, here is some insightful advice that I don’t believe anyone will take. I gave it again recently and am still waiting for a first taker: Tell your teenager to try writing about a few different ideas to see which one works best. I know that sounds like more work—and, in a way, it is—but all writers know that, all too often, many attempts have to be started and abandoned before a piece of good writing takes shape. I had an English teacher once who reminded the class that the word “essay” comes from the Old French “essai”—meaning a trial, attempt, or effort. So, it is perfectly reasonable to write several essays—that is, to make several attempts—before finding the one that actually works best. In other words, kids, you might think that Prompt #2 is for you, until you try Prompt #3 and you see how well that one turns out! 2. Supplemental Essays Let’s turn briefly to supplemental essays. These are required by quite a few colleges, especially by highly selective colleges. Some of the topics for these essays are, in a word, ridiculous. I can’t imagine why they were chosen, but I guess someone believed that they would show an applicant’s creative side. When given a choice among essay topics, I rarely recommend that a kid choose one of the more outlandish ones--unless that kid is particularly creative. However, there are three often-used topics that your teenager should already be thinking and writing about: “Why are you a good fit for this college” or some version of that--I think that this topic virtually requires your teenager to read up about the college and somehow reference, in the essay, what he or she has learned from that research. For example, an applicant could reference the college’s diversity or academic strengths or research opportunities for students or community outreach efforts or faith-based mission or something else. This is an essay that is not easily used from college to college, so tell your teenager to be careful about trying to get double duty out of it. “Why are you interested in the field of study you are proposing to major in” or some version of that--I frequently see applicants write a version of this topic for the main Common App essay. That is a mistake. Tell your teenager to save any talk about his or her field of academic interest for this supplemental essay. For example, what led to his or her interest in computer science or music or biology or whatever--all of that is fair game for this topic. This is the place that I suggest pre-med majors write about why they are drawn to the field of medicine, and the story should be a good one. Pre-med majors are a dime a dozen, but if an applicant has a compelling story, then the pre-med choice seems more genuine. For example, I recall a young woman who explained that her mother has the breast cancer gene (which she and her sisters have a 50 percent chance of inheriting) and that her brother has a genetic disorder, perhaps related to the breast cancer gene (just now the subject of new research). This young woman made a truly compelling case for her interest in studying genetics and then medicine. “Describe an activity that is important to you” or some version of that--I frequently see applicants write a version of this topic for the main Common App essay. Again, that is a mistake. Tell your teenager to save any talk about an activity that is especially meaningful or significant to him or her for this supplemental essay. This is the place for the story about playing on the championship softball team or tutoring in after-school programs for underserved populations or writing for the literary magazine or playing the violin or doing gymnastics or whatever it is your teenager does. One recent essay I read was about participating in an improvisational comedy tournament. That was a new one for me. Parents of younger students, I am speaking to you now: This likely supplemental essay topic is just one more reason that your kid should have at least one activity that really means something to him or her and that he or she works really hard to excel at--rather than just a bunch of various random activities that fill after-school time and change from one year to the next. The Kindle ebook version of our book, How To Find the Right College, is on sale for $0.99 through 2016! Read it on your Kindle device or download the free Kindle app for any tablet or smartphone. The book is also available as a paperback workbook. Ask your questions or share your feedback by... Leaving a comment on the show notes for this episode at http://usacollegechat.org/episode98 Calling us at (516) 900-6922 to record a question on our USACollegeChat voicemail if you want us to answer your question live on our podcast Connect with us through... Subscribing to our podcast on Google Play Music, iTunes, Stitcher, or TuneIn Liking us on Facebook or following us on Twitter Reviewing parent materials we have available at www.policystudies.org Inquiring about our consulting services if you need individualized help Reading Regina's blog, Parent Chat with Regina

Being an Asian professional footballer. Anwar Uddin is the Diversity and Campaign manager for Football Supporters Federation, he is also an ex-professional for West Ham, Sheffield Wednesday, Bristol Rovers, Dagenham and Redbridge, Barnet, Sutton United and Eastbourne. He’s also a Bengali Muslim. Flav is joined by James in the absence of Matt. We talk to Anwar about his experiences as a pro footballer from an ethnic minority. He cut his teeth at West Ham during one of the greatest generation of youth players ever seen. He shared the dressing room with Ian Wright, Joe Cole, Rio Ferdinand, Michael Carrick, Leon Britton, and Frank Lampard. It wasn't always easy, but Uddin was a big part of the atmosphere at the club and has amazing stories to tell. Oh and there's the usual stories of horrendous injuries that will turn your stomach... See you at the far post. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Vivek Bald, an Associate Professor in CMS/W and member of the MIT Open Documentary Lab, discusses his transmedia project documenting the lives of Bengali Muslim ship workers and silk peddlers who entered the United States at the height of the Asian Exclusion Era, between the 1890s and 1940s, and quietly settled and intermarried within African American and Puerto Rican neighborhoods from Harlem to Tremé in New Orleans and Black Bottom, Detroit. The project consists of a book, Bengali Harlem and the Lost Histories of South Asian America (2013), a linear documentary film, In Search of Bengali Harlem (currently in production), and a community-sourced, web-based documentary and oral history project, “The Lost Histories Project” (in development). Bald’s talk and demo presented a new iteration of the online project and newly edited material from the documentary.

In the week in which David Cameron set out his 5 year plan to combat Islamist extremism, Edward Stourton asks what do Muslims in Britain think about the PM's proposals? In a special programme from the East London Mosque, Salman Farsi takes Edward from the main prayer hall to the bee hives, to give him an insight into running a 21st century Mosque. On the way he visits it's archives, an historic collection which documents the history of one of the UK's oldest mosques. Inter-faith dialogue used to be about theological debates between the 'religious elite.' Trevor Barnes reports on the Near Neighbours Programme which tries to build trust between communities in East London. Ed Kessler from the Woolf Institute and Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari from the East London Mosque discuss the effectiveness of the efforts made so far to break down barriers and build greater understanding between faiths. We are out and about with community hero - Sister Christine Frost - a catholic nun who has spent the last 45 years living and working on a largely Bengali Muslim estate in Tower Hamlets. Imam Yunus Dudhwala, head of Chaplaincy Services at Barts NHS Trust, explains why Muslims have to wait on average a year longer than non-Muslims for a transplant. Producers David Cook Dan Tierney Editor Amanda Hancox.