Send me a Text Message!Strange are the times when news outlets are constantly under scrutiny for how they are (or are not!) covering the news.I sit down with content creator, Maureen Johnson, a.ka. '@realgodivagodess', and we talk about how questioning news narratives got her and other content creators into hot water with big news media outlets.And that ignited her fire to create news content on social media, as an alternative to what is out there in the mainstream.And she has been a thorn in...
Send me a Text Message!Spooky season is upon us and we are all out there looking for a good fright. But is Critical Race Theory one of them?That is what I try to find out by sitting with, Aja Martinez, a multi-award winning author of multiple books on CRT.We discuss what it actually is, why is there so much fear around it and is thatfear based on any facts?So, come join us around the podcast fire as we dispel some myths and tell you about the real socio-political demons you should be afraid o...
Send me a Text Message!Humanity is literally stuck in the WORST movie remake of "Groundhog Day", where we keep doing the same things and in this version things start to get worse!I started my podcast in 2020, which was also a presidential election year, and here we are again four years later, but this time add the active genocide to the mix...I know I sound negative, but the truth is the truth. But that doesn't mean that nothing can be done. This episode explores what we are up against and wh...
Send me a Text Message!In the last Presidential elections one-in-three Americans did not vote. That is an alarming number! And with the upcoming elections in November, I sit down with Marlón Duran, the Texas Regional Field Organizer for the Jill Stein campaign, and we discuss the reasons why so many Americans do not vote and what can be done about it.Tune in to this episode on the importance of exercising your right of self-determination, even when everything around us seems like one huge dum...
Send me a Text Message!For this seasons very first Gift of the Gab, I interview my friend Jessica Elgamil, who is a certified yoga teacher by trade, and she just returned from an aid mission to Egypt.She recounts how the opportunity came about to help Palestinian refugees, who had escaped the genocide in Palestine through the Rafah border in Egypt. But escaping the war is only the first step for refugees, in the very difficult process of rebuilding their lives.I discuss with her the...
Send me a Text Message!In this week's episode we tackle a subject that has long been a subject of political discourse, especially when it relates to the carceral system within the United States.I've covered the subject of addiction before on the podcast, but in this episode I interview, Ustadh Tabari Zahir, the founding director of the "Lamps of Light Project". A project dedicated to helping Muslims overcoming addictions through their services and one that also serves to eliminate the stigma ...
Send me a Text Message!The Summer is over and I am BAAAACK! Season 10 has begun, and unfortunately the world is still on fire...But don't worry, all hope is NOT lost because it is election year and guess what?! People are sick and tired of the madness and they are rising up for what matters to them and they are demanding better from their elected officials.So, this season will be dedicated to helping my listeners make informed choices about WHAT they want from their elected officials.So, stay...
Send me a Text Message!This is it! My 100th episode and having y'all as my audience for four years now! I can't thank y'all enough for being there with me, during the evolution of my podcast AND me!And that's the recap I do for this episode, sort of taking a trip down memory lane about how all this started, how my segments developed, and a look back at some of my more memorable episodes!Use this link to watch this episode on my YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/XPmEX2QBu7oYou can view some of...
Send me a Text Message!Summer has begun! And you know that means so many of us will be traveling on vacation! Heck, I just came back from Japan! And the experience got me thinking about how we can make travel more than just a chance to unwind. It can also be a chance for us to learn from different cultures and break a lot of preconceived notions.This solo episode breaks down how travel and becoming a better person can and should go hand-in-hand!Support the showPlease don't forget to follow me...
Send me a Text Message!When doing the work of activism for a cause, it sometimes happens that we experience tunnel vision; assuming that it is the only thing that is important. That is what sort of happened to me, I lost sight for a bit of the bigger picture.Ever since October 7th, the World at large has been raising its voice for a free Palestine and as important as that is, we shouldn't forget that that isn't the only major atrocity that is happening in the world. The same demons of of corp...
Send me a Text Message!For this The Whole Muslim segment I interview one of my FAV returning guest, Khalidah Bilal, (you can watch my first interview with her on her work with domestic violence victims here) who is a licensed Life Coach and the founder of Kindred Barakah.Kindred Barakah is an initiative through which Khalidah helps provide transitional services to all, like, individual and group coaching sessions, financial assistance, end-of-life services and more! Kindred Barakah helps peop...
Send me a Text Message!You might think that a henna studio and a comedy stage can't ever come together, but my guest this week, Marena Riyad, would prove you wrong!I talk to Marena, who founded the Haus of Henna AND Kufiya Comedy right here in the DFW Metro area and we discuss how she came into such unusual professions to begin.I explore her passion for bringing to the forefront her Palestinian heritage through the art of story-telling and comedy AND how that has translated to her holding a m...
Send me a Text Message!The world is topsy turvy and we gotta do what we can to make it right! That's why as a part of my 4 year and 100 episodes celebration, I will be creating a video series called "100 Good Things", in an effort to bring a sense of hope to the ongoing effort to bring collective liberation to all those who are oppressed.Find details of that in this episode and as always you can watch this episode on YouTube as well: https://youtu.be/NtWuQrH77aYAnd to watch this series of vid...
Send me a Text Message!In this Gift of the Gab, I discuss collective liberation with my guest, Tai, a Sudanese-Canadian activist, writer and the founder of, The Red Ma'at Collective.She opens up about how her past as an asylum seeker really shaped her journey to heal her trauma through the practice of yoga. And how that led her to create circles of healing and collective liberation for other people.We talk about the importance of collective liberation and how it is the means of free...
Send me a Text Message!When life presents to you your favorite Muslim children's story-book author, you gotta interview him!In this episode I interview the renowned creator of the "Ilyas and Duck" children's story books, Omar Khawaja and it was an absolute pleasure being able to find out how this dynamic boy and duck duo came into being, and why it has such great appeal amongst kids!We go into the reason behind the creation of Ilyas and Duck and how it has grown into a complete Ilyas and Duck...
Send me a Text Message!The very first Gift of the Gab of the season and I could not be more honored than to have my first guest on, singer-songwriter, Leila Hegazy!Her protest cover-versions of popular songs are a hit, and a ray of light in a social-media scape that still seems to be denying what is happening in Palestine. We deep dive into how she got into creating these thought-provoking covers, the process and the reaction to them from her audience.You can also watch this episod...
Send me a Text Message!Opening this season with a bang with a guest I've been wanting have on for FOREVER!In the very first episode of 'The Whole Muslim' for this season, I feature, Sarah Albassri or "Instructor Sarah" as she is known on social media.Sarah is a 3rd year Ph.D student, but her claim to fame online is for being a Tae Kwando instructor, who got famous showing off all her amazing moves while being VERY pregnant!But life hasn't always been smooth sailing for Sarah and we delve deep...
Send me a Text Message!Your favorite podcaster is BACK! And I am 4 years and 9 seasons in (please, don't ask me the math, I'm just making this up as I go :D)But I have been in a bit of an emotional rut, I had really looked forward to celebrating my 4 years and upcoming 100 episode. But with how the situation is in Palestine, I cannot bring myself to do so...So, for now I will just be bringing you more episodes, more interviews and more perspectives as usual. And maybe if the situation changes...
Send me a Text Message!***TRIGGER WARNING*** This episode discusses sexual assaultIn this episode, I talk to content creator and a recent convert to Islam, Clarke Jones.We trace her tumultuous Faith journey, and how she came to Islam, a few short weeks after October 7th, and the beginning of the relentless Israeli aggression against Palestinians. How that inspired her to be a content creators, and raise awarenessabout the atrocities in Palestine. And how her novel "makeup tutorials" are a cle...
Send me a Text Message!In this episode, I talk to fellow podcaster from the 'Mommying While Muslim' podcast,Dr. Uzma Jafri.Not only is she a Physician and co-hosts an award-winning podcast, but she isactually trained in civil protest protocols!And at this time when protesting for the rights of the people of Palestineis so important, she gives important pointers on how to do it safely!The Mommying While Muslim podcast is also dedicating their December series to highlight the situation in Pales...