Chatting With Slava The Jordanian

Send us a text In this inspiring episode, Driany Cruz shares her journey of resilience, determination, and transformation as a female immigrant in the United States. From working odd jobs to entering the dental field as an assistant, Driany carved her path forward with persistence and vision—eventually rising to become a coach for dental practices. She reflects on the sacrifices her parents made to ensure she received an education, the importance of embracing bilingualism and multicultural co...

Send us a text In this heartfelt conversation, sisters Elizabeth and Dalal Shahid share their deeply personal journey as second-generation Lebanese-Palestinian American women navigating life between two worlds. Raised in Alabama, they reflect on their grandparents’ courageous decision to leave their homeland in the early 1960s, the cultural richness they carried with them, and the challenges of reconciling traditional Arab gender role expectations with modern American life. As licensed marria...

Send us a text In this rich and riveting panel discussion, Dr. Slava is joined by her cohost JD Yusef and returning guest Dr. Ihab to unpack one of the most captivating and often misunderstood elements of Arab cultural and theological tradition: the unseen world of jinn, angels, demons, and spiritual companions. From pop culture’s portrayal of Jeannies in bottles to ancient Arabian stories of jinn, this episode explores how myth, religion, and mysticism converge in Arab thought. The panel bre...

Send us a text In this powerful episode of Chatting with Slava the Jordanian, we’re joined by Tarek Abu-Jabarah, an electrical engineer by trade and a community organizer by heart. With over two decades of experience in robotics and automation — from building assembly lines for Ford and GM to leading programs at Motorola, Amazon, Google, and Symbotic — Tarek’s career is as impressive as his passion for people. But beyond the engineering world, Tarek is committed to humanitarian impact. As the...

Send us a text In this deeply personal solo episode, Dr. Slava invites listeners into the intimate corners of her memory, painting a reflective and emotionally rich portrait of her childhood in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦. Told through the lens of a second-class citizen, this episode unpacks the cultural contrasts between Jordan 🇯🇴 and Saudi Arabia, navigating a complex dance of identity, belonging, and nostalgia. From the feeling of being "in between" to the subtle ways societal hierarchy shaped...

Send us a text In this enlightening episode of Chatting with Slava the Jordanian, Dr. Slava is joined by co-hosts JD Yusef and Dr. Ihab Abdelrehim to take us on a historical journey through the origins of the world’s first hospitals—the Bimaristan—born from the medical brilliance of the Islamic Golden Age. Far beyond mere places of rest, these institutions were groundbreaking centers of healing, innovation, and compassionate care. Together, the panel explores how these early Islamic medical c...

Send us a text In this heartfelt episode of Chatting with Slava the Jordanian, we sit down with Naomi—a proud first-generation Dominican American—who opens up about her powerful journey of resilience, love, and transformation. Becoming a mother at just 16, Naomi shares how she navigated early motherhood while pursuing her education, chasing her dreams, and eventually finding a career she loves. Naomi reflects on what brought her family to the United States, how her circumstances impacted fami...

Send us a text In this deeply personal solo episode of Chatting with Slava the Jordanian, Dr. Slava steps into the spotlight—not just as your host, but as the story herself. With unfiltered honesty, she shares her powerful journey as an Arab American immigrant woman who transformed struggle into legacy. From growing up with undiagnosed dyslexia and overcoming academic barriers, to navigating cultural expectations and family pressures, Dr. Slava takes us through the grit and grace that defined...

Send us a text Despite our shared language, heritage, and values, the Western narrative has too often cast Arab Christians and Muslims as opposing forces—divided by faith and destined for conflict. But that narrative doesn’t tell the full story. In this episode, Dr. Slava, Dr. Ihab and JD Yusef break through the misconceptions to spotlight the deep-rooted cultural and spiritual bonds that unite us. From shared traditions and family values to a mutual love for community and peace, we explore w...

Send us a text In this inspiring episode of Chatting with Slava the Jordanian, Dr. Slava sits down with Palestinian American dentist Dr. Nour Alzubaidi, a remarkable woman whose journey bridges continents, cultures, and callings. Born and raised in Jordan, Dr. Nour brought with her a strong sense of community and purpose when she moved to the United States to pursue her dental career. Now based in South Boston, she shares how she navigated cultural adaptation, language barriers, and professio...

Send us a text In this special milestone episode, Dr. Slava and her husband, Dr. Ihab, sit down for an intimate conversation — just the two of them — to share the untold story of their entrepreneurial journey. From humble beginnings as newlywed graduate students navigating life in a new country, to building not just one, but three successful dental practices across two states, and launching a national franchise brand, their story is one of grit, vision, partnership, and relentless mindset. Th...

Send us a text In this insightful episode, Dr. Slava is joined by her co-hosts, JD Yusef and Dr. Ihab, for a candid discussion on how traditional Arab gender role expectations shaped the mindsets of their parents—and how those beliefs, in turn, influenced their own immigrant journeys. Together, they reflect on questions such as: How did these cultural expectations impact their sense of identity and belonging?In what ways did these inherited mindsets either help or hinder their integration int...

Send us a text "My name is Nada Abukishk, and this is my story…" In this powerful and deeply personal episode, Dr. Slava Abdelrehim sits down with Palestinian Jordanian American epidemiologist Nada Abukishk, a global health scholar with a remarkable story of resilience, intellect, and global impact. Nada reflects on her earliest memories as a child growing up in a refugee camp in the 1980s, and the defining moment when she realized she wanted her life to be about creating change. Through cour...

Send us a text What happens when your heart belongs to two worlds? In this deeply personal and reflective episode, Dr. Slava peels back the emotional and cultural layers of what it really means to be an immigrant navigating life between your "home world" values and the expectations of a "new world" society. From gender roles and generational pressures to faith, family, and freedom—this episode speaks directly to the internal tug-of-war many immigrants silently endure. Dr. Slava explores: 💔 Th...

Send us a text In Episode #16 of Chatting with Slava the Jordanian, host Dr. Slava Abdelrehim invites listeners into a heartfelt and necessary conversation about mental well-being within the Arab immigrant experience. Joined by her cohost JD Yusef and special guest co-host Dr. Ihab Abdelrehim, the trio dives into how emotional health is shaped—and often silenced—by cultural norms, spiritual foundations, and traditional belief systems. Together, they explore: How mental health was (or wa...