Sumud Podcast: Inspired by Palestine

🎙️ This week on the Sumud Podcast, we’re joined by Sereen Haddad, a Palestinian student activist who helped lead the VCU Gaza solidarity encampment before police violently dismantled it! In the days leading up to graduation, Sereen had been pepper-sprayed, beaten, and sent to the ER with head trauma as VCU and Virginia State Police stormed the encampment. Three days before graduation, she received an email from the university stating that she could walk the stage, but her degree would not be conferred due to her involvement in the protest. Sereen’s story is not only about repression but also resilience. She experienced firsthand the violence facing student organizers across the U.S.—and yet, she insists: Palestinians refuse to remain quiet. Instead of breaking her, these moments only strengthened her resolve. With the help of Palestine Legal, she fought back and won her degree—showing that student movements have power and that universities are not neutral but complicit. 🔑 In this conversation, we explore: ➡ What it means to be Palestinian in a world that dehumanizes your people ➡ Police repression at VCU’s Gaza encampment ➡ The loss of her family members in Gaza and why they are people, not statistics ➡ Why the divestment movement matters and terrifies universities ➡ Advice to other students facing repression on campus ➡ The resilience, pride, and love at the heart of Palestinian identity This video is for educational purposes only. It provides historical and political analysis to inform and educate viewers. 📌 Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction 01:42 – VCU Withheld Her Degree & the Days After October 7 10:02 – The VCU Encampment: Police Violence & Repression 16:07- The Haddad Legacy: Refusal & Resistance 20:47- Graduation Blocked: Student Conduct vs. Palestine Solidarity 29:00- Morals 101 & Calling in Backup: Palestine Legal 36:53- Why Silence is Not an Option 41:56- Final Reflections: Pride, Struggle & Speaking Out 📲 Follow: @sereen_haddad_ 🎙 Follow our host: @dredhasan 🌐 Explore more: https://sumudpod.com #Palestine #SumudPod #FreePalestine #DivestFromGenocide #Gaza #StudentProtests #CampusEncampments #EndTheOccupation #Divest #BDS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the Sumud Podcast, we’re joined by Hannah Moushabeck, a Palestinian American author, editor, and book marketer. Born into a family of publishers and raised in western Massachusetts, Hannah grew up in the world of books. Today, she carries that legacy forward at Interlink Books, one of the only Palestinian-owned publishing houses in the U.S. Her acclaimed debut, "Homeland: My Father Dreams of Palestine" (Chronicle Books, 2023), is a lyrical picture book inspired by her father’s memories of Palestine. With warmth and humor, it offers young readers both a window into a beloved homeland and a mirror for displaced families everywhere. In this conversation, Hannah shares her journey growing up surrounded by stories, the challenges of representing Palestine in children’s literature, and the backlash she’s faced, including censorship and soft bans. She also reflects on reclaiming her identity, creating community for emerging Palestinian authors, and why storytelling for children is a vital act of resistance. 🔑 In this episode, we explore: ➡ Why representation in children’s books is survival, not just storytelling ➡ The story of Interlink Books & resisting cultural erasure ➡ The rise of censorship and soft suppression of Palestinian voices ➡ Building community through Palestinians in Kid Lit ➡ Homeland as an act of love, memory, and joy This video is for educational purposes only. It provides historical and political analysis to inform and educate viewers. Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction 01:21 – Growing Up in the Only Palestinian Publishing House in the U.S. 06:21 –The Faces of Interlink Books 9:56- How to Approach Interlink or Hannah About an Idea? 11:38- Childhood Erasure & Reclaiming Palestinian Identity 15:31 – Discovering Naomi Shihab Nye & the Power of Children’s Books 21:11- Writing Homeland & Sparking Questions Through the Story 26:52 – Soft Censorship, Library Bans & Resilience 29:35- Main Takeaway from Wondering About Palestine 31:25- Claiming My Identity: The Moment I Said, “I’m Palestinian" 33:33 – Messages to young Palestinians & aspiring writers 📲 Follow Hannah Moushabeck: @hannahmoushabeck, @interlinkbooks 🎙 Follow our host: @dredhasan 🌐 Explore more at: https://sumudpod.com Check out: https://interlinkbooks.com/ 📕 Hannah’s Book: Homeland: https://bookshop.org/p/books/homeland-my-father-dreams-of-palestine-hannah-moushabeck/18788705?ean=9781797202051&next=t #Palestine #SumudPod #PalestinianStories #Books #Author #Kidsbook #Homeland #Stories #Storytelling Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

🎙️This week on the Sumud Podcast, we’re joined by Ibrahim Awada, a US-based trial lawyer, founder of The Awad Law Firm, and unapologetic voice for Palestine. Known for securing record-breaking verdicts and training trial lawyers across the country, Ibrahim has also emerged as a fearless advocate for his community, refusing to stay silent even when colleagues and judges turned away. From Georgia’s courtrooms to his nonprofit Palistory, dedicated to preserving Nakba survivor testimony, Ibrahim blends legal excellence with moral clarity. His story is one of sacrifice, faith, and the painful realization that some “progressive” allies were never truly allies at all. In this powerful conversation, Ibrahim reflects on what it means to confront injustice, whether in the courtroom or in Gaza, and why silence is complicity. He reminds us: the work is ours, the outcome is God’s. 🔑 In this conversation, we explore: ➡ Why sacrifice is inevitable and why it must be ours, not our children’s ➡ The Georgia judge who said, “There are no innocents in Gaza.” ➡ How October 7 unmasked false allies in the legal profession ➡ Growing up Palestinian in the U.S. & the impact of Muhammad al-Durrah’s killing ➡ Founding Palistory to preserve Nakba survivor stories ➡ Faith, courage, and why speaking up is easier now than ever This video is for educational purposes only. It provides historical and political analysis to inform and educate viewers. 📌 Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction 1:58- Identity & Representing His Community 04:56 – Commitment to Faith & Palestinian Identity 08:46 – Why ‘Karate Attorney’? 14:45 – Confronting Judge Stacey Hydrick’s Gaza Comments 21:42 – Trial Lawyers College & the “Defense of the Damned” 28:43- Frames of Effort 32:05- Founding Palistory & Preserving Nakba Testimonies 34:10 – Message to CEOs, Professionals & Silent Allies 38:22- Why Zionism is Supremacy, Not Judaism 41:19- What It Means to Ibrahim to Be Palestinian 44:50- Take Action & Don’t Wait 46:30 – A Final Word: No Good Deed Goes Unrewarded 📲 Follow: @karateattorney, @palistory.usa 🎙 Follow our host: @dredhasan 🌐 Explore more: https://sumudpod.com Check out: https://theawadlawfirm.com/ https://palistory.com/ #Palestine #SumudPod #FreePalestine #GazaGenocide #JusticeForPalestine #StandWithPalestine #IndependentMedia #Gaza #Nakba Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

🎙️This week on the Sumud Podcast, we’re joined by Mehdi Hasan—Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Zeteo, the independent media platform built to challenge power and amplify silenced voices. Known worldwide for his fearless debate style and sharp fact-checking, Mehdi has spent 25 years exposing propaganda and holding leaders to account. His layered identity—son of Indian immigrants, a Shia Muslim growing up in the UK as a “minority within a minority,” and now an immigrant navigating life across the U.S. and U.K.—has shaped his worldview. These experiences of being both insider and outsider inform his politics, his journalism, and his commitment to journalistic integrity in an era of disinformation. From Win Every Argument to his viral TV debates, Mehdi’s work blends storytelling with accountability. He reflects on what it means to live between worlds—and how identity, politics, and media intersect in today’s polarized climate. Beyond his career highlights, Mehdi opens up about the struggles of independent journalism, the dangers faced by Palestinian reporters in Gaza, and why disinformation remains one of the greatest threats to truth. 🔑 In this conversation, we explore: ➡ Why Mehdi built Zeteo to rival corporate media ➡ How lies and propaganda became his “antagonist” ➡ Growing up Muslim in the West ➡ Lessons from Win Every Argument on debate & persuasion ➡ Advice for Palestinian and pro-Palestinian students facing attacks ➡ The murder of Gaza’s journalists and why their voices matter This video is for educational purposes only. It provides historical and political analysis to inform and educate viewers. 📌 Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction 01:28 – The Birth of Zeteo & Challenging Power 03:19 – Propaganda, Lies & Mehdi’s “Antagonist” 07:09 – Growing Up Shia Muslim in the West 10:24 – Sectarianism, Geopolitics & Divide-and-Rule 13:23 – Debate Lessons from Win Every Argument 19:54 – Advice for Palestinian & Pro-Palestinian Students 24:56 – Rapid Fire Questions 32:52- Final Message: Support Independent Media 📲 Follow: @mehdirhasan & @Zeteo 🎙 Follow our host: @dredhasan Shop his book: https://bookshop.org/p/books/win-every-argument-the-art-of-debating-persuading-and-public-speaking-mehdi-hasan/18308276?ean=9781250853462&next=t 🌐 Explore more: https://sumudpod.com Check out: https://zeteo.com/ #Palestine #Sumudpod #MehdiHasan #FreePalestine #IndependentMedia #WinEveryArgument #Gaza #Journalism Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the Sumud Podcast, we’re joined by journalist and BreakThrough News host Rania Khalek for a special episode diving into her latest documentary, Israeli Terror in Lebanon: Inside the Pager Attacks. The documentary uncovers the untold story behind the September 17th pager explosions in Lebanon—a years-long covert Israeli operation that left civilians maimed and silenced. 📺 Watch Rania’s full documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mqqDTIs4vE From the hidden manufacturing sabotage to the horrific injuries, Rania takes us through the political, human, and media dimensions of the attack and why Western coverage gave airtime to Mossad agents while denying a platform to the victims, including children. As a Lebanese journalist, Rania offers a deeply personal perspective on the resilience of communities under siege and the friendships and humor that survive even in the aftermath of violence. 🔑 In this conversation, we explore: ➡ How the pager attacks were planned and executed ➡ The human cost: stories of survivors like Ali and Hussein ➡ Anti-Shia sentiment and blocked access to Iranian medical aid ➡ The role of Western media in shaping narratives ➡ The resilience and resistance of Lebanon’s most targeted communities This video is for educational purposes only. It provides historical and political analysis to inform and educate viewers. 📌 Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction & Rania’s Background 04:15 – How the Pager Explosions Happened 11:32 – Human Stories: Ali, Hussein, and Life After Injury 19:47 – Media Silence and Mossad’s Airtime 27:58 – Anti-Shia Sentiment & Blocked Medical Aid 42:52- Behind the Edits: What Was Left Out 45:53- A Scary New Reality for Lebanon 52:06- The One Message to Carry Forward Reach out to raniaKhalek@gmail.com, to connect with the people involved. 📲 Follow: @BreakThroughNews 🎙 Follow our host: @dredhasan Check out Rania's episode: https://sumudpod.com/episodes/rania-khalek/ 🌐 Explore more: https://sumudpod.com #Palestine #Sumudpod #Lebanon #FreePalestine #EndTheOccupation #LebanonUnderAttack #HumanRights #WarCrimes #InternationalLaw Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

🎙️This week on the Sumud Podcast, we’re joined by Karmel Abufarha from Canaan Palestine—a Palestinian brand rooted in the land, the olive tree, and the power of community. Representing generations of farmers, Canaan shares how olive oil connects Palestinian families to the world and why farming in Palestine is both a daily routine and a quiet act of resistance. Karmel has spent his life building Canaan Palestine alongside his father, Nasser Abufarha, to preserve Palestinian heritage through food and farming. As a Palestinian American who moved from Madison, Wisconsin, to live full-time in Palestine, Karmel brings a rare perspective on how environment and culture reshape our values. But beyond abundance lies injustice. We discuss the obstacles farmers face under Israeli occupation—checkpoint delays, permit restrictions, and blocked access to their groves—and how Canaan is working to ensure these stories are heard across the globe. 🔑 In this conversation, we explore: ➡ Farming as a cultural and political inheritance ➡ Why even professionals return to the land ➡ Olive oil as a link between Palestine and the world ➡ The everyday logistics of farming under occupation ➡ How global fair trade often excludes Palestine This video is for educational purposes only. It provides historical and political analysis to inform and educate viewers. 📌Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction & Karmel's Upbringing 04:29 – Canaan's Origin & What Farming Means in Palestine 10:05 – Key Terms: Fair Trade, Sustainability, & Biodiversity 25:41- A Message from the Land: What Farmers Would Say 31:19 – Farming as a Form of Resistance 33:44 – From Generation to Generation: The Wisdom of Palestinian Farming 47:45- Modern Life, Palestinian Roots: The Vision of Hayat Canaan 52:24 – Dignity, Markets, and the Next Chapter for Canaan 📲 Follow: @canaanpalestine 🎙 Follow our host: @dredhasan 🌐 Explore more: https://sumudpod.com 📘 Read Canaan’s 2024 Reflection: https://canaanpalestine.com/pages/2024report #Palestine #SumudPod #Oliveoil #Olivetree #Palestinianfood #Canaan #Palestinianculture #Freepalestine #Holyland Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

🎙️This week on the Sumud Podcast, we’re joined by Ibtihal Aboussad, a Moroccan-born software engineer, educator, and No Azure for Apartheid campaign organizer. A Harvard graduate and former Microsoft employee, Ibtihal made headlines earlier this year when she publicly confronted Microsoft’s CEO for the company’s role in Israel’s genocide against the Palestinian people, resulting in her being fired from her job. In this powerful conversation, Ibtihal shares the story behind that viral moment and the years of quiet resistance that led to it. From grassroots education initiatives in Morocco to building ethical technologies and manning suicide hotlines, her journey is a rare fusion of tech, spirituality, and social justice. She reflects on how Islam grounds her commitment to collective liberation, what it meant to grow up under cultural imperialism in North Africa, and why she believes that true resistance is never just personal; it’s organized, intentional, and deeply principled. 🔑 In this conversation, we explore: ➡ Tech complicity in genocide and organizing from inside Big Tech ➡ Growing up under neocolonialism in Morocco ➡ Faith as resistance to individualism and apathy ➡ Why she threw a kufiya on stage at Microsoft ➡ The emotional toll of working for a company enabling genocide This video is for educational purposes only. It provides political, cultural, and ethical insight into corporate complicity, worker resistance, and the Palestinian liberation struggle. 📌 Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction: Who is Ibtihal Aboussad? 05:44 – Growing Up in Morocco & Early Tech Education 11:28 – Harvard, Islam & Countering Individualism 17:30 – Working at Microsoft, Discovering Complicity & Organizing from Within 31:54 – The Protest, Kufiya Toss & Resignation 54:52 – What Comes Next: Collective Liberation & Tech That Heals 🇵🇸 Follow Ibtihal: @ibtihal.aboussad 🎙 Follow our host: @dredhasan Don’t miss it—tune in now at https://sumudpod.com 🌐Check out: https://noazureforapartheid.com/ #Palestine #SumudPod #Tech #Microsoft #PalestineUnderAttack #FreePalestine #VoicesFromGaza #EndTheOccupation #GazaUnderSiege Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

🎙️This week on the Sumud Podcast, we’re joined by Dana Dajani—award-winning Palestinian-American poet, actress, and humanitarian. Known for her fusion of spoken word and theater, Dana uses performance as a form of resistance, remembrance, and radical love. In this powerful conversation, Dana reflects on what it means to choose to be Palestinian—as an identity, an inheritance, and a calling. She shares the story of her grandmother Aida, whose exile became Dana’s compass. She opens up about the deeply personal project The Poor Millionaires, an archival film and fashion journey born from family footage, memory, and loss. From navigating third culture identity to coping with survivor’s guilt, Dana brings rare emotional honesty to questions of creativity, trauma, and legacy. This episode is a tribute to the storytellers who came before—and the stories we must carry forward. 🔑 In this conversation, we explore: ➡ What it means to choose to be Palestinian in diaspora ➡ Preserving her grandmother’s dresses, films, and history ➡ Theater as embodied resistance and poetic healing ➡ The mental and emotional toll of witnessing genocide ➡ How art creates space for empathy, conversation, and transformation This video is for educational purposes only. It provides historical, cultural, and political insight to inform and inspire viewers. 📌 Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction: Theatre Roots & Being a Narrator 06:26 – Childhood, Pursuing a Fine Art Degree & The Human Spirit Project 11:17 – Choosing Art Over Expectations, Third Culture Identity & Discovering Family History 24:50 – The Poor Millionaires, the Legacy of Aida Dajani & Love Letters to the Land 38:39 – Dana’s Creative Process & Trauma 50:37 – Creating Space for Justice & Finding Purpose Again 01:00:47 – Legacy, Loss & Carrying the Stories Forward 01:06:47- Final Message & Performing 🇵🇸 Follow Dana: @DanaDajanipoetry 🎙 Follow our host: @dredhasan Dr.Cornel West episode: https://sumudpod.com/episodes/dr-cornel-west/ 🌐 Learn more at: https://sumudpod.com #Palestine #SumudPod #FreePalestine #Gaza #Poetry #PerformanceArt #Resistance #Storytelling #Artivism #HumanRights #CeasefireNow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

🎙️This week on the Sumud Podcast, we’re joined by Alana Hadid—creative director, activist, and storyteller. As the force behind Watermelon Pictures and host of The Seeds Podcast, Alana is working to reimagine media through a justice-centered lens. From launching the groundbreaking streaming platform Watermelon+ to preserving her family’s Palestinian legacy, Alana weaves creativity and resistance into every part of her life. In this deeply personal conversation, Alana opens up about her childhood, her grandmother’s displacement during the Nakba, and the emotional journey of visiting her father’s birthplace in Safed. She shares the joys and heartbreak of advocacy, what it means to show up for Palestine through media, and why self-love is an act of defiance. As the conversation unfolds, Alana also reflects on her mixed Palestinian-Irish identity, her path through political education and entrepreneurship, and the mental and emotional labor of public-facing advocacy. From her stepmother role to navigating online hate, she offers an honest and grounded portrait of what it means to live one's politics with love, purpose, and clarity. 🔑 In this conversation, we explore: ➡ Creating Watermelon+, a streaming platform by and for Palestinians ➡ Visiting her family's home in Safed and honoring intergenerational memory ➡ Why Alana sees liberation as her religion ➡ The mental toll of advocacy & the importance of therapy and healing ➡ Building a life rooted in justice, joy, and storytelling This video is for educational purposes only. It provides historical and political analysis to inform and educate viewers. 📌Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction: Boycotts, Safe Platforms & Watermelon+ 04:05 – Growing Up Palestinian-Irish in the DMV 08:29 – Family, Nakba Stories & Visiting Safed 17:34 – Identity, Religion & Liberation as Faith 24:44 – Cultural Power & Creative Resistance 33:41 – Self-Worth, Mental Health & Surviving the Spotlight 41:55 - Watermelon Pictures, Boycotting & The Seeds Podcast 52:09 – Reflection: Cooking, Sisterhood & Living a Grounded Life 📲 Follow Alana: @lanzybear 🇵🇸 Support and subscribe to: @watermelonpicturesco 🎙 Follow our host: @dredhasan 🌐 Learn more at: https://sumudpod.com 📺 Stream Watermelon+: https://watermelonpictures.com #Palestine #SumudPod #AlanaHadid #WatermelonPictures #TheSeedsPodcast #FreePalestine #PalestinianVoices #CreativeResistance #Storytelling #Nakba #MentalHealth Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the Sumud Podcast, we’re joined by powerhouse attorney and civil rights advocate Amir Makled. As managing partner at Hall Makled, Amir is one of the most formidable legal voices defending Arab and Muslim communities in the U.S. From police brutality to the criminalization of pro-Palestine protests, his cases speak to a deeper story: what it means to resist injustice within the system. Amir reflects on his journey from growing up post-9/11 in suburban Michigan to tackling police abuse and taking on the Michigan Attorney General, Dana Nessel, herself—and winning. His clients range from working-class families to student organizers, and his advocacy is rooted in dignity, law, and unwavering solidarity. 🔑 In this conversation, we explore: ➡ Navigating identity and discrimination after 9/11 ➡ Building a law firm rooted in justice and access ➡ Holding power to account—whether police or prosecutors ➡ Defending Palestine through the First Amendment ➡ Why are some cases bigger than the courtroom This episode reminds us that courage takes many forms—and sometimes, it wears a suit and walks into court. Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction & The Irony of a Muslim Defending 05:41 – Post-9/11, Football, and Fighting Racism in High School 11:55- From Collision Shops to Courtrooms: Why Law? 21:52 – Suing Police for Beating a Disabled Arab Man 31:48- Taking Unpopular Cases & Defending the Accused 38:17- Pro Palestine: The U-M Protester Case & Dana Nessel Drops the Case 01:00:00- Stopped at the Airport: Navigating Challenges and Practical Advice 01:14:50- Reflection & Continuing the Fight for Justice and Civil Rights 📲 Follow Amir Makled: @AttorneyMakled 📲 Follow our host: @dredhasan 🌐 Explore more at: https://sumudpod.com 🌐Check out: https://www.hallmakled.com/ #Palestine #SumudPod #LegalResistance #ArabAmerican #CivilRightsAttorney #MuslimRights #FreePalestine #CeasefireNow #JusticeForAll #CivilRights Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

🎙 This week on the Sumud Podcast, we’re joined by Constanza Eliana Chinea—a Boricua journalist, producer, and activist reshaping the narrative from within. Born in New York, raised in Borinquen (Puerto Rico), and coming of age in the U.S. Midwest, Constanza grew up confronting erasure, assimilation, and White comfort. Now based in Los Angeles, her more recent work includes reporting on pro-Palestine protests and student encampments at UCLA and USC through a historical, contextual, and factual lens. Her bylines include The L.A. Times, Spotify, The Young Turks, Latino Rebels, and LA Public Press. In 2024, she founded Malcriá Media, an independent platform that centers on social justice, politics, and decolonial praxis, amplifying the voices of marginalized communities. She also hosts the podcast Political Pendejadas, where she unpacks power and politics alongside movement builders and cultural critics. Constanza has completed a disinformation fellowship through DDIA’s (the Digital Democracy Institute of the Americas) Capacity-Building Program and is currently a politics reporter through UC Berkeley Journalism’s California Local News Fellowship. 🔑 In this episode, we explore: ➡ What it means to be a colonial refugee ➡ The illusion of inclusion in DEI and wellness spaces ➡ Why is not all activism decolonial ➡ Media bias, Palestine, and challenging White discomfort ➡ Her pivot from yoga to journalism—and the price of truth-telling 🎬 This video is for educational purposes only. It offers historical, cultural, and political analysis to deepen understanding and inspire justice. ⏱ Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction: Meet Constanza Eliana 05:25 – From Puerto Rico to Illinois: A colonial refugee’s identity crisis 08:46 –Assimilation, Colonial Erasure, and Reclaim Our Name 16:32 – Yoga, Wellness, and Blogging 23:35 – “Not all activism is decolonial.” 28:56 – Palestine, media bias, and rejecting White savior “experts” 33:32 – Anti-Oppression Social Club & Embody Inclusivity 37:34 – Pivoting to independent journalism & media truth-telling 42:06 – Decolonizing Media & Solidarity with Palestine 48:33 – Her podcast: Political Pendejadas 53:44 – The price of integrity in journalism 59:00 – Final message: “Only we can save ourselves.” 📲 Follow Constanza Eliana Chinea: @ElianaChinea 🎙 Follow our host: @dredhasan Watch Dr. Butch Ware episode: https://sumudpod.com/episodes/dr-butch-ware-black-liberation-zionism-and-the-spiritual-fight-for-justice-sumud-podcast/ 🌐 More from the podcast: https://sumudpod.com 🌐Check out: https://www.embodyinclusivity.com/ #Palestine #SumudPod #Decolonize #MalcriaMedia #Latine #Colonial #IndependentMedia #FreePalestine Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the Sumud Podcast, we’re joined by Emmy-nominated filmmaker, writer, and actress Cherien Dabis—a bold storyteller whose life and work explore the power of identity, resistance, and the stories we carry. Born in Nebraska to Palestinian parents and raised in small-town Ohio, Cherien came of age during the first Gulf War, a time when neighbors turned on her family overnight. This political awakening eventually shaped her groundbreaking work, from Amreeka and May in the Summer to directing award-winning episodes of Only Murders in the Building and starring in Netflix’s Mo. Her latest feature, All That’s Left of You, tells the Palestinian origin story through the lens of one family across generations. Filmed during the current war, the production was forced to flee Palestine mid-shoot. But what emerged, as Cherien tells it, was “a film made from grief, love, and sheer determination.” 🔑 In this episode, we explore: ➡ Growing up Arab in America post-Gulf War ➡ Turning generational trauma into cinematic truth ➡ The fight to humanize Palestinians in Western media ➡ Acting in Mo, directing Meryl Streep, and resisting Hollywood erasure ➡ The making of All That’s Left of You 🎬 This video is for educational purposes only. It provides historical, cultural, and political analysis to inform and inspire. ⏱ Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction: Cherien’s Journey 02:44 – Death Threats & Racism During the Gulf War 05:21 – Making Amreeka: From Family Trauma to Sundance 09:07 – First Visit to Palestine & Strip Searches at Age 8 16:39 – Columbia Film School, Stereotypes & Censorship 22:16 – Creating Make-A-Wish in Ramallah 30:54 – Filming All That’s Left of You During War 40:05 –The Emmy Nomination 44:50 – May in the Summer 48:41 – Mo Amer’s Show: Improvisation, Comedy & Catharsis 55:40– Legacy, Visibility, and Love for the Community 📲 Follow Cherien Dabis: @cheriendabis, @allthatsleftofyoufilm 🎙 Follow our host: @dredhasan Mo Amer Show: @moamer 🌐 More from the podcast: https://sumudpod.com #Palestine #SumudPod #CherienDabis #AllThatsLeftOfYou #Storytelling #MoAmer #Netflix #NetflixMENA #DecolonizeHollywood #ArabVoicesMatter #Palestinian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the Sumud Podcast, we're joined by Aminah Musa, a visionary designer, entrepreneur, and co-founder of PaliRoots—the beloved Palestinian streetwear brand born of resistance and stitched with purpose. From growing up on food stamps in South Side Chicago to helping build a brand that has fed nearly 4 million meals in Gaza, Aminah’s story is one of family, faith, creativity, and commitment to her roots. Raised by Palestinian parents who instilled in her the values of humility, community, and pride in her heritage. In this deeply personal and powerful episode, she opens up about navigating high school as the only visibly Muslim girl, learning business from her father (who left medicine to pursue purpose), and launching PaliRoots with her brother to ensure Palestine would never be forgotten. Their brand became more than fashion—it became a movement grounded in dignity, storytelling, and direct impact. 🔑 In this conversation, we explore: ➡ Fashion as a tool for resistance and cultural memory ➡ Growing up Palestinian in America ➡ The family values that shaped her leadership ➡ What it takes to build a mission-driven brand ➡ Hospitality, Feeding millions, and staying rooted in Palestine This video is for educational purposes only. It offers a personal narrative and political context to inform and inspire viewers. 📌Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction & Aminah’s Palestinian Roots 04:20 – Growing Up & Building Family Bonds 14:20 – Choosing Kindness & Lessons from Her Father 19:43 – Entrepreneurship & Launching PaliRoots 27:13 – Returning to Palestine & Legacy of Her Grandfather 33:30 – Fashion as Resistance and Connection 42:55 – Hospitality & Social Responsibility 50:02—Calling Out Influencers & Centering Palestine Boldly 01:04:43 – PaliRoots Future & a Collection Rooted in Story 1:31:00 – Reflections to Her Past & Future Self 📲 Follow Aminah Musa: @goldenmuseco & @paliroots 🎙 Follow our host: @dredhasan 🌐 Explore more at: https://sumudpod.com 🛍 Shop PaliRoots: https://paliroots.com Feed a family in Gaza: https://www.paliroots.com/pages/philanthropy #Palestine #SumudPod #PaliRoots #PalestinianVoices #FreePalestine #GazaRelief #SocialImpact #Fashiondesigner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the Sumud Podcast, we’re joined by poet, psychologist, professor, and author Hala Alyan. With roots in Palestine, Syria, and Lebanon, Hala shares her remarkable journey navigating displacement, identity, and creative expression—from surviving war and immigration to becoming a published author and clinical psychologist. In this deep episode, Hala opens up about motherhood, addiction, vulnerability, and the messy beauty of transformation. From crafting stories as a child to integrating psychology and poetry in her adult life, her reflections offer powerful insight into what it means to survive and evolve. In this conversation, we explore: ➡ The fluid meaning of “home” and identity ➡ How trauma, displacement, and storytelling intersect ➡ Her path through addiction, healing, and radical honesty ➡ What it means to parent, write, and love with accountability This video is for educational purposes only. It provides psychological, cultural, and political reflections intended to inform and empower. Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction & Embracing Vulnerability 04:30 – Displacement, Identity & Early Storytelling 10:03- Writing, Psychology & Teaching 22:52 – Writing About Taboo Topics & Protecting Others 29:56 – Vulnerability, Motherhood & Speaking Honestly 44:33 – Takeaways, Lineage & Advice to the Next Generation 📚 Book by Hala Alyan: ➡️ I'll Tell You When I'm Home Available at major bookstores and academic publishers. You can also check them out here: https://bookshop.org/shop/sumudpod Published by: @simonandschuster 🌐 Learn more at: https://sumudpod.com 🎙 Follow our host: @dredhasan 🌐Check out Hala's website: https://halaalyan.substack.com/ #Palestine #SumudPod #Healingthroughwords #PalestinianVoices #Vulnerability #Poetry #FreePalestine #MentalHealthMatters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the Sumud Podcast, we’re joined by Mussab Ali - a cancer survivor, civil rights advocate, and one of the youngest Muslim elected officials in U.S. history. Born in Pakistan and raised in Jersey City, Mussab’s story is one of grit, public service, and fearless truth-telling. At just 20 years old, Mussab became the youngest-ever elected official in Jersey City, eventually rising to president of the Board of Education. Where he advocated for clean water access, increased teacher pay, and halal food and Eid holidays for Muslim students. While studying at Harvard Law, Mussab battled cancer, completed chemotherapy, and still graduated while serving his community. Now, he’s running for mayor of Jersey City - not just to lead, but to represent. In a political moment where speaking up for Palestine is often seen as a career-ender, Mussab has done the opposite: calling out injustice, demanding a ceasefire, and getting thrown out of city hall for refusing to stay silent. 🔑 In this conversation, we explore: ➡ Surviving cancer, chairing the school board, & attending Harvard Law ➡ How loyalty to your hometown shapes bold leadership ➡ The power of showing up authentically in politics ➡ Running for office and standing up for Palestine ➡ How Trump’s Islamophobic lies inspired Mussab’s first campaign ➡ Creating the Ali Leadership Institute and investing in youth power This video is for educational purposes only. It provides historical and political analysis to inform and educate viewers. 📌Chapters: 00:00 – Mussab’s Introduction & Early Life 03:10 – Growing Up Muslim in New Jersey 07:28 – Becoming Jersey City’s Youngest Elected Official 14:48 – Wins for the Muslim Community & Equity in Schools 20:15 – Mussab's Academic Journey in China and at Harvard 24:56 – Cancer Diagnosis &Interning During Chemotherapy 30:28 – Starting the Ali Leadership Institute 32:35 – Running for Mayor & Speaking Truth to Power 42:26 – One-State vs. Two-State & Lessons from Visiting Palestine 49:31 – Supporting his Campaign & Final Reflections 🌐 Explore more at: sumudpod.com 🎙 Follow our host: @dredhasan 🎙 Follow Mussab: @mussabaalijc, @aliforjc 📢 Check out Mussab's work: Campaign Website: www.ali2025.com Ali Leadership Institute: www.alileadership.com #Palestine #SumudPod #MuslimVoices #YouthInPolitics #FreePalestine #EndTheOccupation #CeasefireNow #HumanRights Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the Sumud Podcast, we’re joined by Lebanese-American baker, mother, and outspoken advocate Connie Kazan. Known for her viral desserts, unforgettable appearance on The Great Chocolate Showdown, and unfiltered voice for justice. A mother of four, social media personality, and outspoken advocate for Palestinian and Arab communities, Connie brings fierce love, deep-rooted cultural pride, and relentless compassion to everything she touches, from cake decorating to calling out injustice on a global scale. In this raw conversation, Connie takes us on a journey through her life: from growing up in Dearborn to becoming a prominent voice for Arab and Muslim women. She opens up about the challenges of being a hijabi woman in the public eye, navigating racism and cultural erasure in both media and everyday life, and the emotional weight of watching her people suffer. Connie also shares powerful reflections on her time in Egypt, where she worked directly with displaced Gazan families, offering aid, empathy, and unwavering solidarity in these difficult times. 🔑 In this conversation, we explore: ➡ Growing up Arab in the U.S. ➡ Family, faith, and hijab in the face of judgment ➡ Food as identity, resistance, and reclamation ➡ Her work with displaced Gazans and mutual aid ➡ Why Connie refuses to be silent about Palestine, colonization, or stolen land This video is for educational purposes only. It provides cultural, historical, and political reflections to inform and inspire viewers. 📌Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction & Connie’s Backstory 02:03 – Growing Up in Dearborn & Family Bakery Roots 08:13 – Identity, Faith & Rejecting Sectarian Divides 12:37 - The Great Chocolate Showdown & Arab Representation 19:24 – Speaking Truth, & Support Gazans in Egypt 25:01 – Final Reflections 26:30 – Supporting Displaced Gazans in Egypt 31:00 – Speaking Truth to Power & Refusing to Stay Silent 34:50 – Final Reflections 📲 Follow Connie Kazan: @conniekazan13 🎙 Follow our host: @dredhasan 🌐 Explore more at: https://sumudpod.com Learn more and register for the Gaza 5K: http://gaza5k.org #Palestine #SumudPod #ConnieKazan #PalestinianLiberation #ArabAmericanVoices #HijabiRepresentation #FreePalestine #EndTheOccupation #CeasefireNow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hello friends, Just a note before we get started that the guest of this episode, Maya Abdallah, was hospitalized just hours after this interview. We share this with her full consent and in deep solidarity. ⚠️ Disclaimer: This episode contains a discussion of sensitive topics, including self-harm and mental health. Listener and viewer discretion is advised. If you or someone you know is struggling, please seek professional support. Dial 988 in the US for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. This week on the Sumud Podcast, we’re joined by Maya Abdallah, an artist and activist. Maya’s work unearths the depths of generational trauma, resilience, and identity, and her viral poetry has created a space for Palestinian voices in places that often silence them. She is also a writer and filmmaker, using storytelling across mediums to amplify her community’s truth. In this powerful conversation, Maya shares her hunger strike journey as a student at @UCLA, where she launched her hunger strike demanding the university divest from genocide and support Palestinian liberation. From the physical and emotional toll to the unwavering clarity, it gave her about Palestinian resistance. She opens up about her mental health, confronting the stigma around mental health, especially in our communities. This episode is raw, unfiltered, and deeply grounded in love with her people. 🔑 In this conversation, we explore: ➡ The personal and political cost of hunger striking ➡ How poetry becomes a tool of healing and resistance ➡ The impact of social media visibility on artists of conscience ➡ Arab womanhood, mental health, and inherited grief ➡ Holding joy and mourning in the fight for Palestinian liberation This video is for educational purposes only. It provides historical and political analysis to inform and educate viewers. 📕Chapters: 00:00 – Content Warning & Introduction 02:53 –Physical & Emotional Toll of Not Eating 07:42 – UCLA’s Response and Zionist Harassment Tactics 11:47 – Hiding the Strike & Family Impact 15:53 – The Pain of Palestinian Mothers Under Siege 17:54 – Navigating Arab Identity in America 34:12 – Battling Depression and the Arab Mental Health Stigma 41:50 – Turning Grief into Resistance Through Art & Ayooni 50:11 – Clarifying Intentions: Activism, Courage, and Community Support 01:08:13- Final Message 🎥Watch the full episode: https://sumudpod.com 📲Follow Maya: @mayaayooni 📲Follow our host: @dredhasan 🌐Checkout Maya's line where art meets action: https://ayoonibymaya.com/ Learn more and register for the Gaza 5K at http://gaza5k.org/ #Palestine #PalestineSolidarity #SumudPod #EndTheGenocide #EndTheSiege #MentalHealth #HungerStrike #PalestinianYouth #DecolonizeNarratives #FreePalestine Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the Sumud Podcast, in commemoration of Nakba, we’re joined by Ahmad Abuznaid, the Executive Director of the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights & USCPR Action. Prior to joining USCPR, Ahmad co-founded the Florida-based Dream Defenders after the killing of Trayvon Martin, serving as Legal & Policy Director and COO during his time there. Ahmad went on to lead the National Network for Arab American Communities as the Executive Director from 2017 to 2019. Ahmad shares his insights on the intersection of Palestinian liberation and global justice movements in this thought-provoking conversation. He reflects on the role of youth in reshaping the narrative of resistance, the importance of international solidarity, and the profound impact of grassroots organizing in challenging imperialism and colonialism. Ahmad also discusses the moral imperative of resisting injustice and why standing for Palestinian freedom is crucial to the broader struggle for human rights. 🔑 In this conversation, we explore: ➡ The link between Palestinian liberation and global justice movements ➡ The power of youth-led activism in resistance ➡ The role of international solidarity in the fight for freedom ➡ Why resisting injustice is a moral duty, not a choice ➡ The importance of amplifying Palestinian voices in the global struggle This video is for educational purposes only. It provides historical and political analysis to inform and educate viewers. Chapters: 00:00 - Remembering the Nakba & Honoring Palestinian Struggle 00:42 - Introduction & Ahmad’s Roots in Advocacy 10:26 – Trayvon Martin, Miami, and the Birth of Dream Defenders 18:31 – From Burnout to Institution Building 23:27 – First Trip to Palestine: A Homecoming 28:32 – Building Palestinian Power in the U.S. 34:18 – Messaging, Ceasefires, and the Fight for Justice 40:09 – Faith, Family, and Daily Practices for Grounding 46:55 – Liberation Is a Shared Struggle 🌐 Explore more at: https://sumudpod.com 📲 Follow Ahmad Abuznaid on IG: @ahmadabuznaid, @uscpr 🎙 Follow our host: @dredhasan https://uscpr.org/ https://www.youtube.com/user/USCampaign https://www.notmytaxdollars.org/ https://www.uscpraction.org/ https://dreamdefenders.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the Sumud Podcast, we're joined by author, educator, and longtime activist Nora Lester Murad. Nora has spent decades working at the intersections of aid, justice, and Palestinian liberation. From co-founding Aid Watch Palestine to raising Palestinian children as a Jewish mother, her journey speaks to the power, and cost of solidarity. Nora shares moving reflections on parenting under occupation, including the stark contrasts between safety in the U.S. and Palestine, and the painful reality of watching her daughters face military interrogations as teenagers. She also unpacks the harm caused by organizations like the ADL, and why she believes that true anti-racism must be principled, consistent, and rooted in the dignity of all people. 🔑In this conversation, we explore: ➡️ What it means to choose solidarity and identity ➡️ The limits of “progressive except for Palestine” ➡️ Parenting, identity, and anti-racism as lived experience ➡️ Why radical honesty and storytelling are acts of resistance This video is for educational purposes only. It provides historical and political analysis to inform and educate viewers. 📲 Follow Nora Lester Murad: @nora_lester_murad, @droptheadlfromschools, @interlinkbooks 🎙 Follow our host: @dredhasan 🌐 Explore more at: https://sumudpod.com 📚 Explore Nora’s work: https://aidwatchpalestine.org, http://www.droptheadlfromschools.org/, http://www.noralestermurad.com/ 📕Nora’s Book: http://www.bit.ly/IdaRaffle 🏃‍♂️ Learn more and register for the Gaza 5K by visiting http://gaza5k.org/ 📌 Chapters: 0:00 – Introduction & Anti-Racism as a Jewish Value 02:10 – Raising Palestinian Children & Safety in Palestine vs. the U.S. 07:45 – First Interrogations & Parenting Under Occupation 11:20 – Why Nora Left the ADL 16:55 – Distorted Statistics & Zionism in Disguise 22:30 – Solidarity Beyond Identity Politics 27:15 – What Liberal Zionists Get Wrong 31:40 – Jewish Identity, Responsibility & Political Transformation 36:55 – How She Co-Founded Aid Watch Palestine 42:25 – Advice for Allies & the Stakes of Silence #JewishVoiceForPalestine #PalestinianChildren #AntiRacism #SolidarityIsPersonal #MotherhoodAndResistance #SumudPod #NotInMyName #HumanRightsForAll #EndApartheid #PalestineLiberation #Palestine Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this first live episode of the Sumud Podcast, we welcome back renowned law professor, civil rights advocate, and author Khaled Beydoun. Khaled shares his reflections on Gaza's genocide, the use of law and writing as tools of resistance, and the evolution of global consciousness in the digital age. Drawing from his personal experiences growing up during Lebanon’s civil war and his legal expertise, he discusses the intersection of Islamophobia, colonialism, and Palestine advocacy today. This video is for educational purposes only. It provides historical and political analysis to inform and educate viewers. We also dive into his two impactful books: 📚American Islamophobia: Understanding the Roots and Rise of Fear 📚Eyes on Gaza: Witnessing Annihilation Find them through our affiliate link: https://bookshop.org/shop/sumudpod In this conversation, we explore: ➡️ Practicing resistance through law, advocacy, and writing ➡️ How Gaza revealed the media’s role in genocide denial ➡️ Social media’s double-edged role in advocacy ➡️ The weaponization of Islamophobia in U.S. policy ➡️ Redefining what real activism looks like today ➡️ Honoring Palestinian resilience and global solidarity Khaled also discusses the broader political moment in the U.S., campus crackdowns, the war on higher education, and the urgent need for strategic endurance in activism. 🎧 Listen now and be part of the movement for justice. 🔗 For all things Sumud: https://sumudpod.com/ 📲 Follow Khaled Beydoun: @khaledbeydoun 🎙️ Follow our host: @Dredhasan Thanks to @busboysandpoets 📌 Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction & Practicing Resistance Through Action 03:00 – Growing Up During War and Ties to Palestine 06:00 – Language Matters: Freedom Fighters vs. Terrorists 10:57 – Writing as Resistance and the Power of Words 13:00 – Gaza and the First Digital Genocide 15:05 – Global Solidarity and Rising Conscience 18:44 – Legal Definitions: Genocide vs. Ethnic Cleansing 23:21 – Reclaiming Palestinian Humanity and Media Bias 31:23 – Campus Crackdowns and Islamophobia in Higher Ed 35:05 – Questions and Answers #KhaledBeydoun #EyesOnGaza #GazaGenocide #FreePalestine #Islamophobia #CriticalRaceTheory #PalestinianRights #ResistanceThroughWriting #SocialJustice #SumudPodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices