Habibi House Podcast

Sarah Bahbah is a Palestinian visual artist and director whose work has reached hundreds of millions around the world. Her signature style blends film photography with raw, confessional text capturing the thoughts people feel but rarely say out loud.In this episode, we sit down with Sarah to talk about healing, identity, and what it means to turn pain into something powerful. We get into growing up between cultures, navigating shame, reclaiming her voice, and how her art became both survival and transformation.She breaks down her creative process, from writing intrusive thoughts in her notes to building cinematic worlds that allow her (and others) to process trauma. We also dive into her independent journey, walking away from the traditional art system, and building a model that made her work accessible while reaching tens of thousands globally.This conversation goes deep into emotional regulation, relationships, spirituality, and what it really means to heal not just as an artist, but as a person.Subscribe for more conversations like this.Powered by Podeo — Listen to this episode

What is the “Epstein Class”?In this episode of Habibi House, Rolla joins the conversation to unpack one of the most controversial ideas circulating today... the existence of an interconnected global network of powerful figures across finance, media, politics, tech, and entertainment.The discussion explores how elite power networks operate, how information flows are controlled, and how modern technology, including AI and media platforms, shapes public perception and political narratives.We also dive into the broader cultural impact of propaganda, the role of Hollywood in shaping geopolitical narratives, and how independent platforms may be opening space for alternative perspectives.Topics covered include:• The idea of a “ruling class” operating across industries• Why elite power networks protect each other• Media influence and cultural narrative shaping• The impact of AI on information and critical thinking• Hollywood’s role in shaping political narratives• Why independent media platforms are becoming importantThe conversation also touches on how power, culture, and storytelling intersect... particularly for Arab and Palestinian creators trying to reclaim their narratives in media.As Rolla explains during the episode, one of the biggest concerns today is how easily centralized platforms can shape what people believe and how they interpret events. 0:00 Intro & studio setup2:10 Palestinian diaspora and identity5:30 Watermelon Pictures and independent film9:00 Palestinian folklore and storytelling12:40 AI, media technology and creativity17:00 AI and the future of information control23:00 The Epstein files and elite power networks27:40 The idea of a “ruling class” across industries33:00 Media narratives and propaganda systems39:30 Secret societies and historical power networks44:00 Gaza, media exposure and global reaction50:00 Hollywood narratives and Arab representation56:00 Final thoughts: reclaiming our storiesepstein classelite power networkshabibi house podcastmedia power structuresglobal elitesindependent mediaAI and mediapalestinian diasporaarab representation hollywoodpower and propagandapolitics and mediaelite influencePowered by Podeo — Listen to this episode

In this gem of an episode at the Habibi House, we break down the idea of a “No State Solution”  and why the future of Palestine may lie beyond both the one-state and two-state frameworks.Our guest Charles McBryde returns after traveling to the West Bank, Lebanon,  Ramallah, Nablus, T*l Av*v, and Bethlehem while finishing his upcoming documentary on UNRWA and the war on Palestinian identity. From collapsing in the Church of the Nativity to navigating the West Bank hospital system, he shares firsthand experiences inside occupied Palestine and why he believes the war on Gaza and the war on UNRWA are part of the same political project.We go deep into:• Why the two-state solution is collapsing• The rise of Israel’s far-right political generation• UNRWA and the erasure of Palestinian refugee identity• The difference between supporting a government and supporting a people• Ukraine vs Russia and the geopolitics of resistance• NATO, imperialism, and mineral politics• Borders, sovereignty, and the limits of the nation-state• AI, tech monopolies, and the future of digital powerThis conversation challenges mainstream narratives about Israel, Palestine, Gaza, Zionism, imperial power, and global conflict. If you’re looking for nuance beyond slogans... this is it.Resistance, sovereignty, and identity are not simple binaries. We unpack the gray areas.Subscribe for long-form conversations on Palestine, the MENA diaspora, geopolitics, media, and cultural power.—#Palestine #Gaza #UNRWA #Israel #Ukraine #Zionism #TwoStateSolution #MiddleEast #Geopolitics #HabibiHousePowered by Podeo — Listen to this episode

For years, he believed in Zionism.He defended it. He built relationships around it.Then everything changed.Now Streaming on Watermelon Plus!Use code HABIBI15!https://watch.watermelonpictures.com/habibi-houseIn this episode of Habibi House, we sit down for an honest conversation about ideology, accountability, and what happens when your worldview shifts in public. From personal loss to activism, this is a story about unlearning, consequences, and choosing to speak out.We discuss:• Growing up inside a belief system• The moment perspectives began to change• Losing friends and community after speaking out• The Gaza flotilla experience• Detention and interrogation• The emotional cost of taking a stance• What accountability and growth actually look likePowered by Podeo — Listen to this episode

She’s half Irish. She’s half Palestinian. And she’s done pretending that doesn’t matter.In this episode, Sarah Alami talks about breaking into Hollywood, booking major roles, joining SAG… and then watching doors slowly close once she started speaking openly about Palestine. We get into what it’s like growing up between Catholic school and Muslim identity, being told you don’t belong, and then trying to survive in an industry that wants you marketable, not honest.We talk about propaganda, BrownFace, losing representation, organizing inside SAG for a ceasefire, and why staying quiet was never an option. This isn’t a polished PR story. It’s about identity, grief, faith, family, and the price of telling the truth when it’s inconvenient.If you’ve ever felt split between worlds  or punished for saying what you believe...this conversation will hit.Powered by Podeo — Listen to this episode

Season 3 Premiere: Habibi House x Lauren JaureguiFifth Harmony’s Lauren Jauregui joins Habibi House for a raw, soul-baring season premiere. From pop machine survivor to independent rebel, Lauren opens up about reclaiming her voice, navigating an industry that rewards silence, and creating art that speaks truth without apology.We dive deep into:Her Cuban-American identity and global activismBreaking out of the Fifth Harmony boxHow Dancing with the Stars reintroduced her to the worldHer powerful new single “Ego” and the vulnerability behind itThe price of integrity in the music industryIf you’ve ever felt boxed in by expectations or silenced by systems, this episode is for you.Stream “Ego” everywhere.Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more radical storytelling.Sponsored by Stitch4Pali — Free Palestine streetwear made with heart. Get yours at stitch4pali.com with promo code HABIBIHOUSE0:00 – Emotional opening and Lauren’s arrival1:17 – Fifth Harmony, pop stardom & “the machine”2:04 – Stitch for Pali sponsor segment3:28 – Dancing with the Stars & public reinvention12:09 – Going independent & industry censorship13:00 – “Integrity isn’t rewarded”14:00 – Being a Black sheep in pop culture40:00 – New era, new sound: “Ego”44:00 – Live acoustic performance of “Ego”46:00 – Gift unboxing & Stitch for Pali shoutout47:13 – Free Palestine momentPowered by Podeo — Listen to this episode

Rania Khalek joins Habibi House for one of the most powerful, unapologetic deep dives we’ve ever had...covering U.S. imperialism, Israel’s global influence, media manipulation, and the rise of independent Arab voices in journalism.From her recent spinal surgery recovery to her fearless commentary on Gaza, Syria, and the American political divide, Rania opens up about her life, her career, and the contradictions of power that define the modern world.Topics Covered:The right-wing fracture over Israel and U.S. politicsHow Israel and the U.S. share imperialist interestsThe myth of “progressive except for Palestine”The media’s complicity in global oppressionArab representation in independent journalismWomen in liberation movementsFitness, discipline, and resilience as political actsAbout the Guest:Rania Khalek is a Lebanese-American journalist and host at BreakThrough News, known for her fearless reporting on Palestine, U.S. foreign policy, and global imperialism. Her work has appeared in The Electronic Intifada and BreakThrough News, where she hosts Dispatches.About Habibi House:Habibi House is the unapologetic voice of the Arab & MENA diaspora in global media — where culture, politics, and art collide. We’ve hosted guests like Cenk Uygur, Maz Jobrani, Abby Martin, and Ana Kasparian.YouTube:  @BreakThroughNews  Instagram: @raniakhalekTwitter: @RaniaKhalekListen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all platforms:https://linktr.ee/habibihousepodcastSupport Independent Arab Media. Subscribe, share, and comment to help us grow.Hashtags#RaniaKhalek #HabibiHouse #Palestine #Syria #Gaza #IndependentMedia #USImperialism #Lebanon #ArabVoices #BreakthroughNews #MENA #Politics #Podcast #LeftistMediaTimestamps00:00 – Rania Khalek joins Habibi House00:15 – Recovering from spinal surgery like a superhero02:00 – Has Israel lost the American right?04:00 – The media war and control over public opinion05:00 – U.S. capitalism, fascism, and media monopoly06:00 – “Palestine as a laboratory” — how oppression is tested and exported08:00 – Tucker Carlson, the MAGA split, and anti-imperialist contradictions09:00 – The Democratic Party’s collapse and corporate capture13:00 – The symbiotic relationship between U.S. empire and Israel17:00 – Dual citizenship and U.S.-Israel power networks19:00 – White supremacy and imperial ideology in the West27:00 – American imperialism, sanctions, and global mafia politics29:00 – The Arab Spring, Syria, and Western intervention35:00 – Being labeled an “Assadist” for anti-intervention views37:00 – Western double standards on democracy in the Middle East42:00 – Women in media and liberation movements45:00 – Representation and resilience as an Arab woman journalist48:00 – Independent media, fitness, and leftist strength51:00 – Closing thoughts: outlive RFK and ZionismPowered by Podeo — Listen to this episode

Alone in Congress. Targeted by AIPAC. Silenced for speaking truth. But still standing.In this raw and fearless episode of Habibi House, we sit down with Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib—the only Palestinian-American in U.S. Congress—for a conversation you won’t hear anywhere else. From surviving House censure to confronting Zionism, genocide, and the weaponization of antisemitism, Tlaib opens up like never before.Topics we cover:Why speaking up for Gaza made her a targetThe difference between Judaism and ZionismThe U.S. role in genocide and settler colonialismBeing silenced by Democrats and censured by CongressWhat Palestinian liberation and solidarity actually look likeThe emotional toll of watching her people suffer—from inside the systemhis is not your average political interview. This is truth, unfiltered.Who Is Rashida Tlaib?First Palestinian woman in U.S. CongressFierce advocate for justice, indigenous rights, and accountabilityOne of the few in Congress to call out Israeli apartheid and U.S. complicitySubscribe for more unfiltered voices:We spotlight the culture, comedy, and courage of the Arab, Muslim, and MENA diaspora.New episodes weekly → @HabibiHousePodcastFollow us everywhere: @habibihousepodcastWant to support Palestinian creatives?Keywords for SEORashida Tlaib interview, Gaza genocide, Zionism vs Judaism, Congress Palestine, Free Palestine, Rashida Tlaib podcast, Habibi House, Palestinian voices, ceasefire now, antisemitism, Israel PalestinePowered by Podeo — Listen to this episode

This episode of Habibi House is unlike anything we've done before. We’re joined by acclaimed filmmaker Justin Mashouf and the courageous star of his new documentary Hamzah Furqani, who imprisoned in the U.S. for decades navigating the corrupt, exploitative, "for profit" prison system.🛍️ MERCH SUPPORT: https://thehabibihouse.com 📺 Subscribe Hit the Bell for more unfiltered conversations. 🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple all major platforms.Their new film 17.74 explores the post-9/11 surveillance state, FBI entrapment tactics, and the criminalization of young Muslim men. It also draws powerful parallels between U.S. carceral systems and the occupation of Palestine — revealing how imperial structures replicate themselves across borders.🗣️ In this powerful conversation:- Hamzah opens up about surviving solitary confinement, institutional betrayal, and the faith that got him through it.- Justin details how his documentary became a viral TikTok movement, building momentum around the intersection of Islamophobia, prison abolition, and Free Palestine.- We examine how the U.S. targets Muslim communities, how media controls our narratives, and why standing up for Palestine is non-negotiable.📌 Topics include:- FBI entrapment post-9/11 Muslim repression- Islamophobia in liberal vs conservative circles- The connection between prison and settler colonialism- Reclaiming Muslim identity and faith under attack- Building alliances between abolitionists and Palestinian activists- Viral media as resistance🎞️ Watch the full documentary 17.74 now at:#Palestine #FreePalestine #Islamophobia #MuslimVoices #PrisonAbolition #JustinMashouf #HamzahFurqani #1774 #FBIEntrapment #HabibiHouse #DocumentaryFilm #ResistanceMediaPowered by Podeo — Listen to this episode

In this episode of Habibi House, comedian Sammy Obeid sits down to unpack the complicated relationship between cancel culture, free speech, and how it impacts comedians, activists, and Palestine advocates.From his experience in the comedy industry to his outspoken views on Gaza, Sammy shares what it's like to perform while navigating politically charged topics. He opens up about getting unbooked from comedy shows, feeling pressure to self-censor, and the business risks of standing in solidarity with Palestine.Topics covered include:The double standard in comedy when it comes to PalestineWhy many comedians stay silent about genocideWhether cancel culture has become good or bad for businessHow activism can impact creative careers — for better or worseComedy as resistance in a time of silenceWhether you're a fan of political comedy, fighting censorship, or exploring where business and ethics collide, this episode brings sharp insight and raw honesty.Watch, like, and share — because free speech only works if we use it.Jimmy Kimmel, Disney, Charlie Kirk, MAGA, Free Speech, Habibi House, Arab, Middle East, Anti Zionist, Comedian, Sammy ObeidPowered by Podeo — Listen to this episode