This Ramadan we talk about what it feels like to drift and slowly find your way back. Basel Gazi joins me to unpack Islamic history in a way that feels honest and real and shares how his app Archives is helping a new generation reconnect with Islam.

00:00 Intro

02:15 The Man Who Hated Islam… and Became a Lesson Forever (Abu Lahab)

06:00 Why Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) Story Hits Different

06:50 The Moment Basel Felt Islam Was Actually Personal

10:25 If You’re Questioning Your Faith — Listen to This

11:50 How Do You Believe in God When There’s So Much Evil?

14:45 The Real Peer Pressure No One Talks About in Ramadan

18:20 Did Islam Really Spread Peacefully? Let’s Be Honest.

22:05 Why the First Mosque Was a Power Move

24:34 The Persian Man Who Crossed the World for Truth (Salman Al-Farsi)

28:30 The Best Way to “Start Over” This Ramadan (Qur’an + ChatGPT?)

31:45 Why Olives Are Mentioned in the Qur’an

34:28 Life Before Alarm Clocks: The Musa7arati Era

36:50 What We Hope You Actually Take From This

40:00 Archives Islamic App Quick +Muslim Pop Culture Quiz

Download the Muslim Archives App to learn more about

Islamic History : https://archiveszone.app

If you enjoyed this episode, it would mean a lot if you can follow and share with a friend.

Join Hani in the studio for an interview with Noor Taher! Noor unpacks what it was like playing a complex character in Netflix's Alrawabi in 2021, the hard conversations our culture tends to avoid, and advice for young girls today. She also opens up about life with epilepsy and why she decided to raise awareness. Enjoy!

00:00 Intro

02:08 What’s new with Noor lately

04:50 From child actor in Jordan to AlRawabi

09:15 Playing the “villain” and being bullied in real life

13:44 Layan vs Regina George: who would actually win

14:35 Is Layan really the villain or just misunderstood

18:55 Playing a heavy role: honor, culture, and family contrast

21:21 What AlRawabi taught Noor about herself

23:35 The pressure young girls face today and Noor’s advice

26:30 The conversations our culture avoids and bringing back “3eib”

29:45 Living with epilepsy and breaking the stigma

40:30 A hard truth Noor learned the long way

43:23 What people romanticize that isn’t actually that great

45:35 Advice Noor would give herself five years ago

46:08 What Noor hopes listeners take away from this conversation

If you enjoyed this conversation, it would mean a lot if you can please follow the podcast and rate it

In this episode, Hani sits down with Ebraheem from Dubai Bling for an honest conversation beyond the cameras. Ebraheem tells Hani what viewers don’t see on the show, the struggle of body image for men, Palestine, faith, and the art of staying unbothered. Hope you enjoy the episode!

0:00 Intro

0:42 The One Thing People Get Wrong About Ebraheem

6:10 Who Is the Real Narcissist on Dubai Bling?

12:10 Body Image for Men & Family Weight Conversations

26:22 If Ebraheem Were Cancelled Today

34:00 Why Dubai Changed How the World Sees Arabs

44:18 What Dubai Bling Gets Right (and Wrong)

46:00 Favourite Cast Member & Who He’d Cut

47:40 The Villain Edit & Season 4

56:21 Staying Unbothered

1:02:20 Arab Man Archetypes in Dubai

1:06:55 Americans vs Brits in Dubai

1:09:30 Palestine, Faith & Resilience

1:13:48 The DMs He Gets

1:17:50 Advice for Life & Success

In this episode, I sit down with Annemarie Jacir, director of the film Palestine 36, to uncover the erased history of Palestine in 1936 and the year that shaped everything happening today. We talk about why she made a film about the 1936 revolt, the shocking truths she discovered in archives, how British colonization shaped Palestinian life, and the real people and stories woven into the film.

This is an episode about Palestinian excellence you do not want to miss!

00:00 - Intro

01:58 - Why 1936 Matters: The History We’ve Never Been Taught

07:30 - The People of Palestine Back Then… and the Truth Behind Their Lives

09:37 - How “Palestine 36” Evolved From the Director’s Original Vision

12:13 - How October 7 Shifted Everything for This Film

24:23 - The Real Lives and Real Footage That Shaped This Film

31:00 - British Cruelty, Resistance, and the Human Side We Don’t Hear About

44:00 - Her #1 Hope for Anyone Who Watches This Film

50:00 - Straightforward Advice for Filmmakers and Creatives Everywhere

55:00 - Where to Follow Annemarie and Stay Updated on “Palestine 36”

Though Palestine has existed for thousands of years, decades of occupation have made it nearly impossible to take part in global events like Miss Universe. This year, Nadeen Ayoub made history as the first-ever Miss Palestine to compete.

But this isn’t just about pageants or crowns. It’s about what it means to represent a country that’s been silenced, and to do it with courage and grace. In this episode, Nadeen shares her journey, the significance of representation in today’s world, and what it truly means to rise. Yalla! Let’s Talk.

Everyone talks about love, but no one teaches you how to choose the right person. In this episode, poet, author, and relationship coach Najwa Zebian shares how to know if you’ve found the right partner... AND how to stop settling for the wrong ones.

00:00 Intro

01:42: Is your relationship boring or healthy?

02:55 What is "attunement" and why is it important in dating?

07:06 Is doubt actually a good thing when dating?

10:40 Let's talk about the nuance of culture & parent's expectation/approval

21:18 When your partner becomes someone different

31:53 Do you ACTUALLY want to be in a relationship or just the idea of it?

34:35 Melodies and Mindsets, let's talk about

(a) Lose You to Love Me by Selena Gomez

(b) Wildflower by Billie Eilish

(c) TV by Billie Eilish

47:38 Conclusion

48:40 Najwa's best piece of advice in relationship

Najwa has become a Yalla regular and I can't thank her enough for her healing words and advice to help our growing community navigate relationships. You can learn more about Najwa by visiting https://najwazebian.com

If you enjoyed this episode, it would mean a lot if you shared it with a friend!

#dating #mindset #relationships #talkingstage

For the very first time, Bisan sits down for a podcast to share what is really happening on the ground in Gaza.

We talk about Israel's plan to "take over" Gaza, the journalists that have been killed, and the resilience of a civilization that existed in the world for more than 6000 years in Gaza.

Her message to the world is simple: Freedom for Palestinians and all the oppressed people in the world. As she puts it: "Time in Gaza is not measured by days....it's measured by blood".

This episode is about music — but also about something deeper: identity, belonging, and being seen. I sat down with Danny Hajjar, a brilliant music journalist and the Editor-in-Chief of Rolling Stone MENA, who’s been amplifying the voices of Arab artists across the Middle East, North Africa, and the global diaspora. He’s written for The New York Times, Rolling Stone, and GQ Middle East, and is the co-host the Shik Shak Shook Ones podcast on the Afikra network. We talk about the rise of Arabic music, what it really means to represent a culture, and why sometimes, telling your story is the most powerful thing you can do.

00:00 Intro

01:43 Danny Hajjar’s Hot Takes: Speed Round

07:55 How to Get a Music Journalist’s Attention

10:18 Why Now Is the Moment for Arabic Music

22:03 Arabic Music: What’s Working vs What’s Not

25:40 Mohamed Ramadan, Coachella, and Using Your Platform to Speak Up

33:30 When Identity Becomes the Story: Is That Enough?

35:45 Star Academy, Arabic Dialects, and Remembering Massari

45:43 Underrated Arabic Artists You Need to Hear 🎧

49:25 Advice for Artists