Semicolons and Teardrops in the Middle East

Aktham Alwany was born in Saudi Arabia, but returned to his homeland of Syria as a child. Through his life in Syria he lived under the Assad Dynasty and ISIS control, before leaving for France where he still resides. He describes his time in Syria as a researcher and journalist, as well as his experience as a newcomer to France. His story is one of perseverance and survival, above all. 

In this episode, Nathan speaks with Aya Almadhon, a 22-year-old computer systems engineering student and full-stack developer at Al-Azhar University in Gaza. Aya shares what it means to pursue an education and career while living through war, describing the challenges of studying without reliable electricity, internet, or classrooms, walking long distances to find charging stations and internet access, and navigating displacement and ongoing violence. Despite repeatedly losing hope and facing professional barriers because she lives in Gaza, Aya continues to study, build her career, and push forward. At the heart of her story is a simple hope: to have safety, stability, and one normal day for herself, her family, and her community.

Manal Daddah has spent her life in Amsterdam but her summers in Morocco. In this episode, she reflects on her Moroccan-Dutch identity and how she - and the people she meets - understand the many parts of who she is. She takes us through her travels to Morocco and her semester studying in the United States, weaving these experiences into a deeper exploration of identity, belonging, and the ways we understand the world around us. She opens and closes the episode with poems, offering a glimpse into her creativity, depth, and unique perspective.

Saeede Mokhtarzade studied law in her native Iran before moving to Europe in 2019. Living in Germany and Ireland, she has added two degrees, and is onto the third, a PHD on Human Rights. In this episode, she explains her PHD topic of marriage and divorce contradictions across religious and secular legal systems. She also addresses Islamic Feminism, authoritarian regimes, separating people from their government, and how media coverage is unproportional. She conveys her understanding thoughtful and delicately, without hiding how she feels.

In this special episode, the microphone turns to the person usually behind the scenes. Producer Aviva Gould joins host Nathan Brown to reflect on the experiences that shaped her understanding of Israel, Palestine, and Jewish identity: from a gap year in Tel Aviv and studying Arabic in Jordan to navigating campus after October 7th and finding community through social justice work in New York. Together, they explore what it means to hold complexity, resist easy labels, and keep asking difficult questions. It's an honest conversation about belonging, curiosity, and why listening across divides still matters.