Quick Update!

After the turmoil of Hurricane Sandy, Ahmed finally enrolls in high school and learns how to navigate academic life like other American teenagers. After switching schools, he is encouraged and supported to learn and perform music, and becomes curious about forming a band....

Hear both of Ahmed and Eric's experiences with Hurricane Sandy on the 11th anniversary of the most infamous storm in New York City's history.

"The ride from my town to the city hospital was a 6-7 hour ride..." Ngawang Tseten is another example of just how amazing the human spirit can be. Overcoming a near fatal accident, Ngawang is lucky to be alive. Hear the thrilling story from our friend of the major event that would change his life's path, one that would eventually lead here with Ahmed.

“I think it was the biggest decision I ever made in my life” Ahmed makes one last difficult life decision, and meets his first close friend Ngawang.

(Become a Patron!) "And as the plane took off, I was thinking - is this the last time I'm gonna be here?" July 26, 2012. Ahmed has made it. After much work and pleading, Ahmed finally gets to travel back to the U.S. at the age of 15, this time with his mother. Relive the story of the full trip from Iraq to New York and all the details in between. 

The Ahmed: In Retrospect Podcast is back! Season 2 begins with a new episode on New Years Day 1/1 23! Included is a brief update on our whereabouts, what's in store for the new season and more! 

"The government is not supportive of me.... (Living in Iraq) if you have a disability, or mentally ill, it's better for you to die..." Sensing the chance to finally leave Iraq again, Ahmed describes the back and forth struggle getting the proper arrangements completed to return to the U.S. and get the life and care he desires.

An update on the podcast hiatus. Be back soon!

"I got knocked out. Really, really sharp pain and nobody was in the house...because of the pain I could not even scream."   An unexpected circumstance takes hold of Ahmed's body, leaving him with pain worse than anything he has previously felt.    Also, Happy New Year to all our listeners and thank you for tuning in this 2021. Thank you for your patience with this final episode of the year, we have many more in store for 2022!

"Dealing with that, you get turned down like that throughout your whole life, people just trying to break you - it's hard. Before I was blind and after I've been blind, it was difficult." The teenage years of Ahmed's life begin tumultuously, dealing with more neglect from his family. But could there be a way out soon?...