Zeina Azzam

✨Big thanks to our sponsors:  Palestine Drinks Shop: https://www.palestinedrinksshop.com/ | @palestinedrinks_shop on Instagram Visualizing Palestine: https://visualizingpalestine.org/ | @visualizing_palestine on Instagram On this episode of #SumudPodcast, we uplift, empower, and amplify Dr. Lara Sheehi, an internationally recognized psychoanalytic therapist, author, and professor.  Dr. Sheehi is the Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, Qatar, and a Research Fellow at the University of South Africa's Institute for Social and Health Sciences. She is also the Founding Faculty Director of the Psychoanalysis and the Arab World Lab. In this episode, Dr. Sheehi shares her experiences growing up in Lebanon during the civil war, navigating the complexities of identity and mental health in the diaspora, and her influential work in psychoanalysis. She delves into the role of psychoanalysis in Palestine, the psychological warfare faced by Palestinians, and the profound concept of one’s soul or psyche as a form of resistance. Join our hosts, @DrEdHasan and @ZeinaAshrawi, as they explore Dr. Sheehi's unique insights on the intersection of psychology, politics, and justice.   Chapters:  00:00 - Introduction 12:27 - Reflecting on the 2006 Evacuation from Lebanon  17:20 - Rethinking Mental Health Stigma Beyond Cultural Determinism 25:08 - Breaking Barriers: Normalizing Mental Health in Arab Communities 29:19 - Institutional Limitations in Addressing Political Trauma in the U.S. 34:26 - Personal Experiences Shaping Her Professional Approach 40:16 - Our Sponsors 43:33 - Unique Approaches to Palestinian Trauma in Psychoanalysis 51:13 - The Physical and Psychological Violence of Zionism 59:05 - Exploring the Concepts of Soul, Resilience, and Sumud 01:02:41 - Palestinian Therapists’ Challenges Under Israeli Occupation 01:13:27 - State-Sponsored Psychological Warfare as a Tool of Oppression 01:14:44 - Understanding Zionist Supremacy Narratives 01:20:26 - Witnessing Violence from Afar: The Psychological Toll 01:26:48 - Navigating Backlash for Speaking Out on Palestine 01:41:20 - Final Reflections: Closing Words from Dr. Sheehi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

✨Big thanks to our sponsors:  Palestine Drinks Shop: https://www.palestinedrinksshop.com/ | @palestinedrinks_shop on Instagram Visualizing Palestine: https://visualizingpalestine.org/ | @visualizing_palestine on Instagram 🎧On this episode of #SumudPodcast, we uplift, empower, and amplify Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories. As an international lawyer, researcher, and author, Francesca has emerged as a powerful voice advocating for human rights, inspiring a global audience to critically examine international systems of justice. ➡️ Francesca shares her personal experiences living in Palestine for 3 years, and offers insights into the UN's role, the systemic challenges she faces, and the immense pressures exerted by the U.S. and Israel on those who investigate Israel’s violations of international law. 🎙️ Join our hosts, @DrEdHasan and @ZeinaAshrawi, for this insightful conversation. 🔗 Find out more about Sumud: https://linktr.ee/sumudpod Thumbnail Photo Credit: Ned Mansour Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 02:55 Growing up in Southern Italy: Gender roles and power dynamics 08:15 Francesca’s first encounter with Palestine 12:44 Her family’s connection to Palestine and her mother’s revealing visit 24:23 Israel's laws targeting international organizations 27:07 How Israel undermines the UN’s agency 33:39 The UN's role, challenges, and Francesca’s unique position.  41:51 Barriers to gathering information for reports 46:00 U.S. and Israeli pressures on international officials 53:47 Her book: Reflections and updates she would make today 01:01:03 Western feminism and intersectionality amidst genocide 01:06:06 The UN’s definition of genocide 01:12:31 Scholasticide in Gaza: The destruction of education systems 01:20:14 The ICJ’s provisional measures and enforcement challenges 01:28:30 Closing statements Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

🎙️ On today’s episode of #SumudPodcast, we’re honored to amplify Palestinian-American Tariq Habash, a former policy advisor at the Department of Education. Tariq was the first political appointee in the Biden administration to publicly resign in protest over the U.S. response to the genocide in Gaza. Join our hosts @DrEdHasan and @ZeinaAshrawi as they delve into: ✅ Tariq’s efforts to reform a broken student loan system. ✅ The challenges of navigating his Palestinian identity in the U.S. ✅ What led to his resignation and the reactions that ensued. ✅ The foundation of A New Policy, an organization advocating for a U.S. foreign policy aligned with liberty, democracy, and human rights toward Palestine and Israel. 📲 Stay connected for more transformative voices: 👉 Follow our hosts: @DrEdHasan | @ZeinaAshrawi 👉 All podcast updates: https://linktr.ee/sumudpod  👉 Follow Tariq's work: @tariqhabash_ | @anewpolicy 👉 Check out A New Policy: https://anewpolicy.org/  🌟 Join the conversation in the comments! 📍 Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 01:30 Tariq’s Background and Family History in Palestine 06:40 Facing Discrimination in the U.S. 09:10 Embracing His Palestinian Identity Post 9/11 12:47 Censoring His Politics for Career Opportunities 14:25 Tariq’s Work in Biden’s Administration Pre- and Post-October 7 25:55 Progress on Student Loan Forgiveness vs. Funding Genocide 39:19 Tokenization of Palestinians in U.S. Politics 43:55 Working in the Department of Education Post-October 7 50:05 Resigning from the Biden Administration and the Aftermath 1:12:26 Advocating for Change with A New Policy 1:19:56 Accountability and Future Goals of A New Policy #Palestine #Gaza #HumanRights #Activism #ForeignPolicy #PalestinianRights #StudentLoan #StudentLoanForgiveness #StudentLoanReform Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode of #SumudPodcast, we uplift, empower, and amplify Palestinian-American Zeina Azzam. Zeina is a poet, writer, editor, community activist, and currently the selected Poet Laureate of the City of Alexandria, Virginia.  Having published a variety of books, essays, and poems, Zeina’s work reflects her bicultural identity, resonating with the experiences of many Palestinians in the diaspora. Join us as our hosts, Dr. Ed Hasan and Zeina Ashrawi, discuss Azzam’s views on writing as an act of resistance, the complexities of Palestinian-American identity, and persisting to spread awareness amidst the ongoing genocide in Gaza.  Zeina highlights how her heritage shapes her work and how her bond with Palestinian youth as a mentor at We Are Not Numbers empowers her activism.  Stay tuned for all things Sumud on our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/sumudpod   Follow our hosts on Instagram: @dredhasan | @zeinaashrawi Follow Zeina Azzam on X: @zeina3azzam Chapters: 00:00 Introduction: Meet Zeina and Her Journey 02:01 Zeina Discusses Her Family's History and Immigration to the U.S. 07:08 Reflections on College Years and Early Career Challenges 18:21 Recounting Childhood Memories of Displacement and Loss 21:30 An Outsider Arriving in the U.S. 24:40 Her Bi-Cultural Identity and Its Influence on Her Literary Work 34:17 Using Poetry as an Act of Resistance Against Oppression 48:00 Zeina's Writing Process: Crafting Words with Purpose 54:55 Mentoring Youth in Gaza: The Impact of We Are Not Numbers 56:00 Identity Dissonance: A Palestinian-American Amid the Genocide 01:09:00 Zeina's Experience as a Poet Laureate 01:20:55 Building Community Through Protest and Activism 01:26:08 What's Next for Zeina: Future Goals and Projects  #PalestineStories #VoicesOfChange #WeAreNotNumbers #PalestinianIdentity #WritingForChange #Inspiration #Poetry Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode of the Sumud Podcast, we empower, uplift, and amplify the voice of Palestinian-American activist Linda Sarsour. Linda is widely known for her role as co-chair of the 2017 Women's March, where she championed social justice, Palestinian rights, and racial equality. She uses her platform to fight Islamophobia and white supremacy, standing firm for marginalized communities. A prominent figure in grassroots organizing, Linda has been instrumental in advocating for Muslim and immigrant rights. Despite facing significant backlash, her ongoing commitment to Palestinian rights and systemic change continues to inspire activism and solidarity worldwide. 🎧 Listen to the full episode via the link in our bio. Follow our hosts: @dredhasan | @zeinashrawi Connect with Linda Sarsour: Instagram & X: @lsarsour Facebook: @linda.sarsour TikTok: @lindasarsour Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 1:38 Linda Sarsour responds to a hate tweet about Gaza by a democratic fan 4:16 Linda Sarsour talks about her Delta flight experience 12:08 Linda Sarsour gives guidance to Arab and Muslim communities on their future political route 17:23 Linda Sarsour explains her relationship with the democratic party 27:09 Linda Sarsour gives a short background on her growing up in America 43:42 Linda talks about her approach to teaching her children about their homeland, Palestine 01:01:02 Linda talks about Women's March and how Zionist influence broke up the movement 01:10:13 Linda Sarsour talks about how Arab and Muslim communities can join spaces to rally for their causes 01:21:01 Linda talks about the late Basma Atwa, an influential figure in her life 01:31:53 Linda sends her younger self a message Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s episode of the Sumud Podcast, we are honored to feature Dr. @abdulhadirabab, a distinguished Palestinian scholar, activist, and educator, as we highlight her powerful work advocating for Palestinian and Arab diasporas, particularly in the areas of race, gender, and colonialism. Dr. Abdulhadi is the founding director of the Arab and Muslim Ethnicities and Diasporas Studies program at San Francisco State University, where she also holds the position of Associate Professor of Ethnic Studies. An influential voice in both academia and activism, Dr. Abdulhadi has authored numerous publications and is a strong critic of U.S. foreign policy and its effects on the Middle East, while actively working to decolonize academic spaces. Stay connected with Sumud Podcast on our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/sumudpod Follow the hosts of Sumud Podcast on social media: @dredhasan and @zeinasharawi Connect with Dr. Rabab Abdulhadi on Instagram and X: @abdulhadirabab Episode Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction 01:40 - Dr. Rabab reflects on her experiences living under Israeli occupation in Palestine 16:39 - Dr. Rabab discusses why she believes King Abdullah of Jordan betrayed the Palestinian cause 20:25 - A historical overview of Egypt's late president, Jamal Abdel Nasser 36:48 - Dr. Rabab talks about the profound influence of her aunt on her life 49:17 - Dr. Rabab critiques Kamala Harris' 'colonial feminism' and her unfulfilled promises 59:39 - Dr. Rabab shares her personal experiences with attacks and cancellations over her pro-Palestinian work 01:15:18 - Dr. Rabab discusses the role of religion in the Palestinian struggle 01:19:36 - Dr. Rabab’s message to the Palestinian diaspora Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We've got exciting news for you today! Zeina Ashrawi is joining #sumudpodcast as a cohost. As many of our listeners know from her episode a few months ago, Zeina is a Palestinian American rights activist, political analyst, writer, and mother of two. She actively leads public dialogues through webinars, debates, and discussions and has written extensively on topics such as racial justice reform, housing, and foreign policy—especially in relation to Palestine, while also giving numerous interviews on these issues. As we continue to raise our voices against oppression and document our narrative through the eyes and voices of Palestinians and allies, we are incredibly grateful to welcome Zeina to the Sumud Podcast team. As a co-host, Zeina aims not only to contribute to our mission of uplifting, empowering, and amplifying the voices of those who stand for justice and liberty for the Palestinian people but also to create a space for healing, vulnerability, and opportunities for women. #StayTuned for this week's episode to hear @dredhasan and @zeinaashrawi's interview with Dr. Rabab Abdelhadi. 00:00 Introduction 1:45 Zeina on why she agreed to co-host the Sumud podcast 13:15 Zeina on how motherhood influenced her activism 16:20 Zeina on her experience as a co-host #Podcast #Sumud #DrEdHasan #GazaGenocide #ZeinaAshrawi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode of #SumudPodcast, we uplift, empower, and amplify Lebanese-American journalist Rania Khalek. Rania is an award-winning journalist whose work appeared on several news networks such as Al Jazeera, the Grayzone, The Intercept, The Nation, Vice, and more. She became well-known for standing up against the Zionist propaganda and defending the Palestinian and Lebanese right to resistance and liberation. Join us as Dr. Ed Hasan & Rania Khalek take us on a journey of exploring the deeper workings of the #MiddleEast, #Palestine, #Lebanon #America, #Israel, and what's happening around the world right now. We'll be diving into topics like the Axsis of Resistance, how the Oct. 7th has impacted daily life as an Arab American, and Rania's appearance on the Piers Morgan show. Make sure to watch the full episode and stay tuned with all things Sumud on our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/sumudpod Connect with Dr. Ed Hasan on Instagram @dredhasan or LinkedIn to join the conversation. Connect with Rania on Instagram, X, and YouTube @raniakhalek and on Facebook @raniakhalek1 Chapters 1:20 Rania talks about how she got into journalism 7:04 Rania talks about how Oct. 7th affected her as an Arab American 16:47: Rania on Lebanon's religious, political, and societal structures 29:27: Rania on Hezbollah, Syria, and Iran coalition 42:32 Rania talks about the pager attack in Lebanon 54:02 Rania explains why she was deeply criticized on the Syrian issue even by some of her community 1:06:54 Rania on Lebanon's support of Palestine post Oct. 7th 1:09:43 Host Dr. Ed Hasan asks Rania about her appearance on Pierce Morgan's show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode of #SumudPodcast, we uplift, empower, and amplify pro-Palestinian and New York Jewish native Jacob Berger. Jacob is a TV and film actor, comedian, rapper, content creator, and social media influencer. He is well-known for his strong and unwavering pro-Palestinian stances. Although he could greatly benefit from being on the other side, Jacob chose to be on the right side of history after a prolonged research into the truth. In today's interesting episode, host Dr. Ed Hasan talks with Jacob about why and how he became pro-Palestinian. We also discuss #Israel's attempts to lure Jewish Americans into becoming pro-Israeli as well as his thoughts on what's happening in #Gaza and #Lebanon among other things. Make sure to listen to the full episode and stay tuned with all things Sumud on our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/sumudpod Connect with Dr. Ed Hasan on Instagram @dredhasan or LinkedIn to join the conversation. Connect with Jacob on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok @jacobbergeractor Chapters 2:32 Jacob talks about his acting career 6:41 Jacob's flashback to his 'birthright visit' to Israel as a Jewish-born man 11:26 Jacob receives death threats and hate for his pro-Palestinian stance after Oct. 7th 14:01 Jacob explains what he means by "People's revolution to start in our minds" 34:46 Jacob and Ed discuss American presidential candidates 37:33 Jacob Berger sends a heartfelt message to the Palestinian people Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the #SumudPodcast, we uplift, empower, and amplify Palestinian American writer, human rights activist, and animal advocate Susan Abulhawa. Susan Abulhawa is best known for her novel Mornings in Jenin, which sold over 1 million copies and was translated into 27 languages, making Susan the most widely-read Palestinian writer of all time. In today’s episode, Dr. Ed and Susan talk about her growing up, the start of her writing career, her visits to Jenin and Gaza, and lastly her intake on the upcoming American presidential election. Stay tuned with all things Sumud on our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/sumudpod Connect with Dr. Ed Hasan on Instagram @DrEdHasan or LinkedIn to join the conversation. Connect with Susan on Instagram, X, Linkedin, and threads @susanabulhawa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices