Yalla! Let's Talk.

For International Women’s Day, we talk about something people rarely say out loud: giving birth is still dangerous. This episode explores why maternal health is still a global issue and how we can do better for women everywhere.Joining us is the CEO of Every Pregnancy, Isra Chaker. You can learn more about Every Pregnancy at www.everypregnancy.org In this episode: 00:00 Intro02:50 Why Giving Birth Is Still Dangerous Today08:50 The Most Common Complications During Childbirth11:00 Why Where You’re Born Can Determine If You Survive Pregnancy14:30 What Can Actually Be Done to Save Mothers20:40 Inside Every Pregnancy: A New Global Approach26:28 Debunking the Myth: This Would Never Happen to Me27:50 The Reality of Maternal Healthcare Around the World36:15 Untold Stories From Pakistan to the United States39:00 A New Model for Supporting Mothers Globally48:55 The Stigma and Pressure Around Pregnancy55:25 Advice for Men: How to Be Better Allies58:58 How We Can All Help

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 Different06:50 The Moment Basel Felt Islam Was Actually Personal10:25 If You’re Questioning Your Faith — Listen to This11:50 How Do You Believe in God When There’s So Much Evil?14:45 The Real Peer Pressure No One Talks About in Ramadan18:20 Did Islam Really Spread Peacefully? Let’s Be Honest.22:05 Why the First Mosque Was a Power Move24:34 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’an34:28 Life Before Alarm Clocks: The Musa7arati Era36:50 What We Hope You Actually Take From This40:00 Archives Islamic App Quick +Muslim Pop Culture QuizDownload the Muslim Archives App to learn more about Islamic History : https://archiveszone.appIf 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 Intro02:08 What’s new with Noor lately04:50 From child actor in Jordan to AlRawabi09:15 Playing the “villain” and being bullied in real life13:44 Layan vs Regina George: who would actually win14:35 Is Layan really the villain or just misunderstood18:55 Playing a heavy role: honor, culture, and family contrast21:21 What AlRawabi taught Noor about herself23:35 The pressure young girls face today and Noor’s advice26:30 The conversations our culture avoids and bringing back “3eib”29:45 Living with epilepsy and breaking the stigma40:30 A hard truth Noor learned the long way43:23 What people romanticize that isn’t actually that great45:35 Advice Noor would give herself five years ago46:08 What Noor hopes listeners take away from this conversationIf 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 Intro0:42 The One Thing People Get Wrong About Ebraheem6:10 Who Is the Real Narcissist on Dubai Bling?12:10 Body Image for Men & Family Weight Conversations26:22 If Ebraheem Were Cancelled Today34:00 Why Dubai Changed How the World Sees Arabs44:18 What Dubai Bling Gets Right (and Wrong)46:00 Favourite Cast Member & Who He’d Cut47:40 The Villain Edit & Season 456:21 Staying Unbothered1:02:20 Arab Man Archetypes in Dubai1:06:55 Americans vs Brits in Dubai1:09:30 Palestine, Faith & Resilience1:13:48 The DMs He Gets1:17:50 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 - Intro01:58 - Why 1936 Matters: The History We’ve Never Been Taught07:30 - The People of Palestine Back Then… and the Truth Behind Their Lives09:37 - How “Palestine 36” Evolved From the Director’s Original Vision12:13 - How October 7 Shifted Everything for This Film24:23 - The Real Lives and Real Footage That Shaped This Film31:00 - British Cruelty, Resistance, and the Human Side We Don’t Hear About44:00 - Her #1 Hope for Anyone Who Watches This Film50:00 - Straightforward Advice for Filmmakers and Creatives Everywhere55:00 - 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 Intro01:42: 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 different31:53 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 Eilish47:38 Conclusion48:40 Najwa's best piece of advice in relationshipNajwa 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.comIf 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

I sat down with journalist Samira Mohyeddin to talk about how Western media straight-up lies — not just about Iran, but about the entire Middle East, from Palestine to Iraq. We get into the "playbook": how narratives are crafted, who benefits, and why “freedom” is only allowed when it fits their agenda. From Zionist Iranians to foreign interference, Samira breaks down why true liberation for Iranians won’t come from the West — it has to come from within.****Our guest today***Samira Mohyeddin is an award-winning Iranian-Canadian journalist, radio producer, and one of the most fearless voices challenging mainstream narratives on the Middle East. Samira is also the founder of On The Line Media,.