Encountering with Dr. Suzanne Simpson The Power of Seeing Differently: A Conversation with Daoud Kuttab on Truth, Media, and Perspective
The Power of Seeing Differently: A Conversation with Daoud Kuttab on Truth, Media, and Perspective
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We all see the world through a lens—but what if we don’t even know we’re looking through one?
In this powerful episode of Encountering, I speak with award-winning Palestinian-American journalist Daoud Kuttab about the urgent need to recognize that there are different ways of seeing—and how our assumptions, biases, and blind spots can shape (and misshape) the truth.
From his early days reporting in the West Bank to his detention for exposing corruption, Daoud has devoted his life to telling authentic stories from the Arab world—especially the stories Western audiences rarely hear. We explore the cultural contrasts between Western individualism and Arab communal values, how media filters impact global perception, and why the key to real understanding is listening to people tell their own stories.
This conversation isn’t just about journalism—it’s about parenting, empathy, connection, and teaching the next generation to think beyond their default lens.
In this episode, you will learn:
• How culture shapes the way we define truth, freedom, and identity
• What most Western media leaves out about Gaza and Palestinian life
• Why stereotypes thrive in the absence of direct voices
• How honor and shame shape Arab family dynamics
• Why social media is shifting global awareness—especially for young people
• How parents can help kids grow up with curiosity and cultural humility
⏱️ Chapters
00:00 We don’t even know what we don’t know: Changing your lens
01:05 Meet Daoud Kuttab: Palestinian-American journalist and bridge-builder
02:45 Speaking truth to power—what real journalism looks like
06:00 Interviewing Yasser Arafat and being detained for asking hard questions
09:30 What journalists owe the public: Integrity over comfort
13:00 East vs. West: Individual rights vs. family and community
15:30 Honor, shame, and cultural identity in Arab society
19:30 How 9/11 reshaped Western views of Arabs and Muslims
24:35 Understanding Gaza: The history you won’t see on the news
27:45 The media blackout: Why Western journalists are barred from Gaza
30:50 The rise of social media as a tool for truth and direct voices
34:00 Seeing people, not headlines: How to start shifting your perspective
You can watch this episode on my YouTube channel Encountering:
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Please note that the contents of this website are not a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. My scope of practice is as an educator, and this work is intended to provide information for educational purposes only. Testimonials of lived experiences are opinion only and have not been scientifically evaluated.