Sumud Podcast: Inspired by Palestine

🎙️This week on the Sumud Podcast, we’re joined by Alana Hadid—creative director, activist, and storyteller. As the force behind Watermelon Pictures and host of The Seeds Podcast, Alana is working to reimagine media through a justice-centered lens. From launching the groundbreaking streaming platform Watermelon+ to preserving her family’s Palestinian legacy, Alana weaves creativity and resistance into every part of her life. In this deeply personal conversation, Alana opens up about her childhood, her grandmother’s displacement during the Nakba, and the emotional journey of visiting her father’s birthplace in Safed. She shares the joys and heartbreak of advocacy, what it means to show up for Palestine through media, and why self-love is an act of defiance. As the conversation unfolds, Alana also reflects on her mixed Palestinian-Irish identity, her path through political education and entrepreneurship, and the mental and emotional labor of public-facing advocacy. From her stepmother role to navigating online hate, she offers an honest and grounded portrait of what it means to live one's politics with love, purpose, and clarity. 🔑 In this conversation, we explore: ➡ Creating Watermelon+, a streaming platform by and for Palestinians ➡ Visiting her family's home in Safed and honoring intergenerational memory ➡ Why Alana sees liberation as her religion ➡ The mental toll of advocacy & the importance of therapy and healing ➡ Building a life rooted in justice, joy, and storytelling This video is for educational purposes only. It provides historical and political analysis to inform and educate viewers. 📌Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction: Boycotts, Safe Platforms & Watermelon+ 04:05 – Growing Up Palestinian-Irish in the DMV 08:29 – Family, Nakba Stories & Visiting Safed 17:34 – Identity, Religion & Liberation as Faith 24:44 – Cultural Power & Creative Resistance 33:41 – Self-Worth, Mental Health & Surviving the Spotlight 41:55 - Watermelon Pictures, Boycotting & The Seeds Podcast 52:09 – Reflection: Cooking, Sisterhood & Living a Grounded Life 📲 Follow Alana: @lanzybear 🇵🇸 Support and subscribe to: @watermelonpicturesco 🎙 Follow our host: @dredhasan 🌐 Learn more at: https://sumudpod.com 📺 Stream Watermelon+: https://watermelonpictures.com #Palestine #SumudPod #AlanaHadid #WatermelonPictures #TheSeedsPodcast #FreePalestine #PalestinianVoices #CreativeResistance #Storytelling #Nakba #MentalHealth Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the Sumud Podcast, we’re joined by powerhouse attorney and civil rights advocate Amir Makled. As managing partner at Hall Makled, Amir is one of the most formidable legal voices defending Arab and Muslim communities in the U.S. From police brutality to the criminalization of pro-Palestine protests, his cases speak to a deeper story: what it means to resist injustice within the system. Amir reflects on his journey from growing up post-9/11 in suburban Michigan to tackling police abuse and taking on the Michigan Attorney General, Dana Nessel, herself—and winning. His clients range from working-class families to student organizers, and his advocacy is rooted in dignity, law, and unwavering solidarity. 🔑 In this conversation, we explore: ➡ Navigating identity and discrimination after 9/11 ➡ Building a law firm rooted in justice and access ➡ Holding power to account—whether police or prosecutors ➡ Defending Palestine through the First Amendment ➡ Why are some cases bigger than the courtroom This episode reminds us that courage takes many forms—and sometimes, it wears a suit and walks into court. Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction & The Irony of a Muslim Defending 05:41 – Post-9/11, Football, and Fighting Racism in High School 11:55- From Collision Shops to Courtrooms: Why Law? 21:52 – Suing Police for Beating a Disabled Arab Man 31:48- Taking Unpopular Cases & Defending the Accused 38:17- Pro Palestine: The U-M Protester Case & Dana Nessel Drops the Case 01:00:00- Stopped at the Airport: Navigating Challenges and Practical Advice 01:14:50- Reflection & Continuing the Fight for Justice and Civil Rights 📲 Follow Amir Makled: @AttorneyMakled 📲 Follow our host: @dredhasan 🌐 Explore more at: https://sumudpod.com 🌐Check out: https://www.hallmakled.com/ #Palestine #SumudPod #LegalResistance #ArabAmerican #CivilRightsAttorney #MuslimRights #FreePalestine #CeasefireNow #JusticeForAll #CivilRights Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

🎙 This week on the Sumud Podcast, we’re joined by Constanza Eliana Chinea—a Boricua journalist, producer, and activist reshaping the narrative from within. Born in New York, raised in Borinquen (Puerto Rico), and coming of age in the U.S. Midwest, Constanza grew up confronting erasure, assimilation, and White comfort. Now based in Los Angeles, her more recent work includes reporting on pro-Palestine protests and student encampments at UCLA and USC through a historical, contextual, and factual lens. Her bylines include The L.A. Times, Spotify, The Young Turks, Latino Rebels, and LA Public Press. In 2024, she founded Malcriá Media, an independent platform that centers on social justice, politics, and decolonial praxis, amplifying the voices of marginalized communities. She also hosts the podcast Political Pendejadas, where she unpacks power and politics alongside movement builders and cultural critics. Constanza has completed a disinformation fellowship through DDIA’s (the Digital Democracy Institute of the Americas) Capacity-Building Program and is currently a politics reporter through UC Berkeley Journalism’s California Local News Fellowship. 🔑 In this episode, we explore: ➡ What it means to be a colonial refugee ➡ The illusion of inclusion in DEI and wellness spaces ➡ Why is not all activism decolonial ➡ Media bias, Palestine, and challenging White discomfort ➡ Her pivot from yoga to journalism—and the price of truth-telling 🎬 This video is for educational purposes only. It offers historical, cultural, and political analysis to deepen understanding and inspire justice. ⏱ Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction: Meet Constanza Eliana 05:25 – From Puerto Rico to Illinois: A colonial refugee’s identity crisis 08:46 –Assimilation, Colonial Erasure, and Reclaim Our Name 16:32 – Yoga, Wellness, and Blogging 23:35 – “Not all activism is decolonial.” 28:56 – Palestine, media bias, and rejecting White savior “experts” 33:32 – Anti-Oppression Social Club & Embody Inclusivity 37:34 – Pivoting to independent journalism & media truth-telling 42:06 – Decolonizing Media & Solidarity with Palestine 48:33 – Her podcast: Political Pendejadas 53:44 – The price of integrity in journalism 59:00 – Final message: “Only we can save ourselves.” 📲 Follow Constanza Eliana Chinea: @ElianaChinea 🎙 Follow our host: @dredhasan Watch Dr. Butch Ware episode: https://sumudpod.com/episodes/dr-butch-ware-black-liberation-zionism-and-the-spiritual-fight-for-justice-sumud-podcast/ 🌐 More from the podcast: https://sumudpod.com 🌐Check out: https://www.embodyinclusivity.com/ #Palestine #SumudPod #Decolonize #MalcriaMedia #Latine #Colonial #IndependentMedia #FreePalestine Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the Sumud Podcast, we’re joined by Emmy-nominated filmmaker, writer, and actress Cherien Dabis—a bold storyteller whose life and work explore the power of identity, resistance, and the stories we carry. Born in Nebraska to Palestinian parents and raised in small-town Ohio, Cherien came of age during the first Gulf War, a time when neighbors turned on her family overnight. This political awakening eventually shaped her groundbreaking work, from Amreeka and May in the Summer to directing award-winning episodes of Only Murders in the Building and starring in Netflix’s Mo. Her latest feature, All That’s Left of You, tells the Palestinian origin story through the lens of one family across generations. Filmed during the current war, the production was forced to flee Palestine mid-shoot. But what emerged, as Cherien tells it, was “a film made from grief, love, and sheer determination.” 🔑 In this episode, we explore: ➡ Growing up Arab in America post-Gulf War ➡ Turning generational trauma into cinematic truth ➡ The fight to humanize Palestinians in Western media ➡ Acting in Mo, directing Meryl Streep, and resisting Hollywood erasure ➡ The making of All That’s Left of You 🎬 This video is for educational purposes only. It provides historical, cultural, and political analysis to inform and inspire. ⏱ Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction: Cherien’s Journey 02:44 – Death Threats & Racism During the Gulf War 05:21 – Making Amreeka: From Family Trauma to Sundance 09:07 – First Visit to Palestine & Strip Searches at Age 8 16:39 – Columbia Film School, Stereotypes & Censorship 22:16 – Creating Make-A-Wish in Ramallah 30:54 – Filming All That’s Left of You During War 40:05 –The Emmy Nomination 44:50 – May in the Summer 48:41 – Mo Amer’s Show: Improvisation, Comedy & Catharsis 55:40– Legacy, Visibility, and Love for the Community 📲 Follow Cherien Dabis: @cheriendabis, @allthatsleftofyoufilm 🎙 Follow our host: @dredhasan Mo Amer Show: @moamer 🌐 More from the podcast: https://sumudpod.com #Palestine #SumudPod #CherienDabis #AllThatsLeftOfYou #Storytelling #MoAmer #Netflix #NetflixMENA #DecolonizeHollywood #ArabVoicesMatter #Palestinian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the Sumud Podcast, we're joined by Aminah Musa, a visionary designer, entrepreneur, and co-founder of PaliRoots—the beloved Palestinian streetwear brand born of resistance and stitched with purpose. From growing up on food stamps in South Side Chicago to helping build a brand that has fed nearly 4 million meals in Gaza, Aminah’s story is one of family, faith, creativity, and commitment to her roots. Raised by Palestinian parents who instilled in her the values of humility, community, and pride in her heritage. In this deeply personal and powerful episode, she opens up about navigating high school as the only visibly Muslim girl, learning business from her father (who left medicine to pursue purpose), and launching PaliRoots with her brother to ensure Palestine would never be forgotten. Their brand became more than fashion—it became a movement grounded in dignity, storytelling, and direct impact. 🔑 In this conversation, we explore: ➡ Fashion as a tool for resistance and cultural memory ➡ Growing up Palestinian in America ➡ The family values that shaped her leadership ➡ What it takes to build a mission-driven brand ➡ Hospitality, Feeding millions, and staying rooted in Palestine This video is for educational purposes only. It offers a personal narrative and political context to inform and inspire viewers. 📌Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction & Aminah’s Palestinian Roots 04:20 – Growing Up & Building Family Bonds 14:20 – Choosing Kindness & Lessons from Her Father 19:43 – Entrepreneurship & Launching PaliRoots 27:13 – Returning to Palestine & Legacy of Her Grandfather 33:30 – Fashion as Resistance and Connection 42:55 – Hospitality & Social Responsibility 50:02—Calling Out Influencers & Centering Palestine Boldly 01:04:43 – PaliRoots Future & a Collection Rooted in Story 1:31:00 – Reflections to Her Past & Future Self 📲 Follow Aminah Musa: @goldenmuseco & @paliroots 🎙 Follow our host: @dredhasan 🌐 Explore more at: https://sumudpod.com 🛍 Shop PaliRoots: https://paliroots.com Feed a family in Gaza: https://www.paliroots.com/pages/philanthropy #Palestine #SumudPod #PaliRoots #PalestinianVoices #FreePalestine #GazaRelief #SocialImpact #Fashiondesigner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the Sumud Podcast, we’re joined by poet, psychologist, professor, and author Hala Alyan. With roots in Palestine, Syria, and Lebanon, Hala shares her remarkable journey navigating displacement, identity, and creative expression—from surviving war and immigration to becoming a published author and clinical psychologist. In this deep episode, Hala opens up about motherhood, addiction, vulnerability, and the messy beauty of transformation. From crafting stories as a child to integrating psychology and poetry in her adult life, her reflections offer powerful insight into what it means to survive and evolve. In this conversation, we explore: ➡ The fluid meaning of “home” and identity ➡ How trauma, displacement, and storytelling intersect ➡ Her path through addiction, healing, and radical honesty ➡ What it means to parent, write, and love with accountability This video is for educational purposes only. It provides psychological, cultural, and political reflections intended to inform and empower. Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction & Embracing Vulnerability 04:30 – Displacement, Identity & Early Storytelling 10:03- Writing, Psychology & Teaching 22:52 – Writing About Taboo Topics & Protecting Others 29:56 – Vulnerability, Motherhood & Speaking Honestly 44:33 – Takeaways, Lineage & Advice to the Next Generation 📚 Book by Hala Alyan: ➡️ I'll Tell You When I'm Home Available at major bookstores and academic publishers. You can also check them out here: https://bookshop.org/shop/sumudpod Published by: @simonandschuster 🌐 Learn more at: https://sumudpod.com 🎙 Follow our host: @dredhasan 🌐Check out Hala's website: https://halaalyan.substack.com/ #Palestine #SumudPod #Healingthroughwords #PalestinianVoices #Vulnerability #Poetry #FreePalestine #MentalHealthMatters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the Sumud Podcast, we’re joined by Mussab Ali - a cancer survivor, civil rights advocate, and one of the youngest Muslim elected officials in U.S. history. Born in Pakistan and raised in Jersey City, Mussab’s story is one of grit, public service, and fearless truth-telling. At just 20 years old, Mussab became the youngest-ever elected official in Jersey City, eventually rising to president of the Board of Education. Where he advocated for clean water access, increased teacher pay, and halal food and Eid holidays for Muslim students. While studying at Harvard Law, Mussab battled cancer, completed chemotherapy, and still graduated while serving his community. Now, he’s running for mayor of Jersey City - not just to lead, but to represent. In a political moment where speaking up for Palestine is often seen as a career-ender, Mussab has done the opposite: calling out injustice, demanding a ceasefire, and getting thrown out of city hall for refusing to stay silent. 🔑 In this conversation, we explore: ➡ Surviving cancer, chairing the school board, & attending Harvard Law ➡ How loyalty to your hometown shapes bold leadership ➡ The power of showing up authentically in politics ➡ Running for office and standing up for Palestine ➡ How Trump’s Islamophobic lies inspired Mussab’s first campaign ➡ Creating the Ali Leadership Institute and investing in youth power This video is for educational purposes only. It provides historical and political analysis to inform and educate viewers. 📌Chapters: 00:00 – Mussab’s Introduction & Early Life 03:10 – Growing Up Muslim in New Jersey 07:28 – Becoming Jersey City’s Youngest Elected Official 14:48 – Wins for the Muslim Community & Equity in Schools 20:15 – Mussab's Academic Journey in China and at Harvard 24:56 – Cancer Diagnosis &Interning During Chemotherapy 30:28 – Starting the Ali Leadership Institute 32:35 – Running for Mayor & Speaking Truth to Power 42:26 – One-State vs. Two-State & Lessons from Visiting Palestine 49:31 – Supporting his Campaign & Final Reflections 🌐 Explore more at: sumudpod.com 🎙 Follow our host: @dredhasan 🎙 Follow Mussab: @mussabaalijc, @aliforjc 📢 Check out Mussab's work: Campaign Website: www.ali2025.com Ali Leadership Institute: www.alileadership.com #Palestine #SumudPod #MuslimVoices #YouthInPolitics #FreePalestine #EndTheOccupation #CeasefireNow #HumanRights Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the Sumud Podcast, we’re joined by Lebanese-American baker, mother, and outspoken advocate Connie Kazan. Known for her viral desserts, unforgettable appearance on The Great Chocolate Showdown, and unfiltered voice for justice. A mother of four, social media personality, and outspoken advocate for Palestinian and Arab communities, Connie brings fierce love, deep-rooted cultural pride, and relentless compassion to everything she touches, from cake decorating to calling out injustice on a global scale. In this raw conversation, Connie takes us on a journey through her life: from growing up in Dearborn to becoming a prominent voice for Arab and Muslim women. She opens up about the challenges of being a hijabi woman in the public eye, navigating racism and cultural erasure in both media and everyday life, and the emotional weight of watching her people suffer. Connie also shares powerful reflections on her time in Egypt, where she worked directly with displaced Gazan families, offering aid, empathy, and unwavering solidarity in these difficult times. 🔑 In this conversation, we explore: ➡ Growing up Arab in the U.S. ➡ Family, faith, and hijab in the face of judgment ➡ Food as identity, resistance, and reclamation ➡ Her work with displaced Gazans and mutual aid ➡ Why Connie refuses to be silent about Palestine, colonization, or stolen land This video is for educational purposes only. It provides cultural, historical, and political reflections to inform and inspire viewers. 📌Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction & Connie’s Backstory 02:03 – Growing Up in Dearborn & Family Bakery Roots 08:13 – Identity, Faith & Rejecting Sectarian Divides 12:37 - The Great Chocolate Showdown & Arab Representation 19:24 – Speaking Truth, & Support Gazans in Egypt 25:01 – Final Reflections 26:30 – Supporting Displaced Gazans in Egypt 31:00 – Speaking Truth to Power & Refusing to Stay Silent 34:50 – Final Reflections 📲 Follow Connie Kazan: @conniekazan13 🎙 Follow our host: @dredhasan 🌐 Explore more at: https://sumudpod.com Learn more and register for the Gaza 5K: http://gaza5k.org #Palestine #SumudPod #ConnieKazan #PalestinianLiberation #ArabAmericanVoices #HijabiRepresentation #FreePalestine #EndTheOccupation #CeasefireNow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hello friends, Just a note before we get started that the guest of this episode, Maya Abdallah, was hospitalized just hours after this interview. We share this with her full consent and in deep solidarity. ⚠️ Disclaimer: This episode contains a discussion of sensitive topics, including self-harm and mental health. Listener and viewer discretion is advised. If you or someone you know is struggling, please seek professional support. Dial 988 in the US for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. This week on the Sumud Podcast, we’re joined by Maya Abdallah, an artist and activist. Maya’s work unearths the depths of generational trauma, resilience, and identity, and her viral poetry has created a space for Palestinian voices in places that often silence them. She is also a writer and filmmaker, using storytelling across mediums to amplify her community’s truth. In this powerful conversation, Maya shares her hunger strike journey as a student at @UCLA, where she launched her hunger strike demanding the university divest from genocide and support Palestinian liberation. From the physical and emotional toll to the unwavering clarity, it gave her about Palestinian resistance. She opens up about her mental health, confronting the stigma around mental health, especially in our communities. This episode is raw, unfiltered, and deeply grounded in love with her people. 🔑 In this conversation, we explore: ➡ The personal and political cost of hunger striking ➡ How poetry becomes a tool of healing and resistance ➡ The impact of social media visibility on artists of conscience ➡ Arab womanhood, mental health, and inherited grief ➡ Holding joy and mourning in the fight for Palestinian liberation This video is for educational purposes only. It provides historical and political analysis to inform and educate viewers. 📕Chapters: 00:00 – Content Warning & Introduction 02:53 –Physical & Emotional Toll of Not Eating 07:42 – UCLA’s Response and Zionist Harassment Tactics 11:47 – Hiding the Strike & Family Impact 15:53 – The Pain of Palestinian Mothers Under Siege 17:54 – Navigating Arab Identity in America 34:12 – Battling Depression and the Arab Mental Health Stigma 41:50 – Turning Grief into Resistance Through Art & Ayooni 50:11 – Clarifying Intentions: Activism, Courage, and Community Support 01:08:13- Final Message 🎥Watch the full episode: https://sumudpod.com 📲Follow Maya: @mayaayooni 📲Follow our host: @dredhasan 🌐Checkout Maya's line where art meets action: https://ayoonibymaya.com/ Learn more and register for the Gaza 5K at http://gaza5k.org/ #Palestine #PalestineSolidarity #SumudPod #EndTheGenocide #EndTheSiege #MentalHealth #HungerStrike #PalestinianYouth #DecolonizeNarratives #FreePalestine Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the Sumud Podcast, in commemoration of Nakba, we’re joined by Ahmad Abuznaid, the Executive Director of the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights & USCPR Action. Prior to joining USCPR, Ahmad co-founded the Florida-based Dream Defenders after the killing of Trayvon Martin, serving as Legal & Policy Director and COO during his time there. Ahmad went on to lead the National Network for Arab American Communities as the Executive Director from 2017 to 2019. Ahmad shares his insights on the intersection of Palestinian liberation and global justice movements in this thought-provoking conversation. He reflects on the role of youth in reshaping the narrative of resistance, the importance of international solidarity, and the profound impact of grassroots organizing in challenging imperialism and colonialism. Ahmad also discusses the moral imperative of resisting injustice and why standing for Palestinian freedom is crucial to the broader struggle for human rights. 🔑 In this conversation, we explore: ➡ The link between Palestinian liberation and global justice movements ➡ The power of youth-led activism in resistance ➡ The role of international solidarity in the fight for freedom ➡ Why resisting injustice is a moral duty, not a choice ➡ The importance of amplifying Palestinian voices in the global struggle This video is for educational purposes only. It provides historical and political analysis to inform and educate viewers. Chapters: 00:00 - Remembering the Nakba & Honoring Palestinian Struggle 00:42 - Introduction & Ahmad’s Roots in Advocacy 10:26 – Trayvon Martin, Miami, and the Birth of Dream Defenders 18:31 – From Burnout to Institution Building 23:27 – First Trip to Palestine: A Homecoming 28:32 – Building Palestinian Power in the U.S. 34:18 – Messaging, Ceasefires, and the Fight for Justice 40:09 – Faith, Family, and Daily Practices for Grounding 46:55 – Liberation Is a Shared Struggle 🌐 Explore more at: https://sumudpod.com 📲 Follow Ahmad Abuznaid on IG: @ahmadabuznaid, @uscpr 🎙 Follow our host: @dredhasan https://uscpr.org/ https://www.youtube.com/user/USCampaign https://www.notmytaxdollars.org/ https://www.uscpraction.org/ https://dreamdefenders.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices