Unapologetic: The Third Narrative

From a young age, Mahdi refused to let judgment or limitation define him. Where others saw barriers, he instinctively looked for ways forward, creating solutions in the spaces that needed them most. That same determination drives his work today as Co-founder of Harmony Network, a platform uniting the Arab minority in Israel to cultivate a powerful community of skilled professionals. The network provides opportunities for the roughly 21% of the population who face systemic barriers.Mahdi’s proactive spirit also led to the launch of the Harmony SOS app, developed in a moment of urgency during the recent war with Iran to support and safeguard his community.In this conversation, Mahdi shares how he transformed criticism into determination, why he chose to channel his activism into building networks and tools, and what it means to take action differently in pursuit of long-term change. Tune in for more on his vision, persistence, and belief that strength grows through connection.Follow us on Instagram: @⁠⁠⁠thirdnarrative⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to us on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/ThirdNarrative⁠ ⁠⁠For more info on UTTN, visit ⁠⁠uttn.net⁠⁠ or our ⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠ Disclaimer: This episode was recorded on August 17th, 2025. The facts presented in this episode reflect what was known at the time, but new information may have since come to light. Similarly, the opinions expressed by the hosts were shaped by our perspectives at the time of recording and may have evolved as events unfolded. Please note that engagement with our guests does not imply endorsement, and the views expressed by our guests do not necessarily represent our beliefs, either on or off our platform. What has not changed is our commitment to a just and united future.Credits​Sponsored by: ⁠B8 of Hope⁠ with the support of ⁠Albi World⁠​Hosts / Executive Producers: ⁠Amira Mohammed⁠ & ⁠Ibrahim Abu Ahmad⁠​Associate Producer / Supervising Editor: ⁠Evelyn Uzan⁠​Original Music: ⁠Layan Hawila⁠ – Support her journey as a music therapy student at Berklee​Filming & Editing: ⁠Nissan Film Production⁠​Branding: ⁠Sophie Cooke⁠​Animation: ⁠Santiago Gomez

From the hills of Dura to the heart of Gaza, Yara moves with conviction, turning care into action. Shaped by loss and love, she leads by example — creating spaces where children can learn, play, and hold onto hope amid uncertainty. As the Deputy Executive Director of The Gaza Children’s Village and a volunteer with Wallah We Can, she dedicates herself to nurturing the next generation and opening doors, no matter what new challenge presents itself. In this episode, Yara reflects on the moments that shaped her path and the revolution found in education, resilience, and a better future.Follow us on Instagram: @⁠⁠⁠⁠thirdnarrative⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to us on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/ThirdNarrative⁠ ⁠⁠⁠For more info on UTTN, visit ⁠⁠uttn.net⁠⁠ or our ⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Disclaimer: This episode was recorded on September 28th, 2025. The facts presented in this episode reflect what was known at the time, but new information may have since come to light. Similarly, the opinions expressed by the hosts were shaped by our perspectives at the time of recording and may have evolved as events unfolded. Please note that engagement with our guests does not imply endorsement, and the views expressed by our guests do not necessarily represent our beliefs, either on or off our platform. What has not changed is our commitment to a just and united future.Credits​Hosts / Executive Producers: ⁠⁠Amira Mohammed⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠Ibrahim Abu Ahmad⁠⁠​Associate Producer / Supervising Editor: ⁠⁠Evelyn Uzan⁠⁠​Original Music: ⁠⁠Layan Hawila⁠⁠ – Support her journey as a music therapy student at Berklee​Filming & Editing: ⁠⁠Nissan Film Production⁠⁠​Branding: ⁠⁠Sophie Cooke⁠⁠​Animation: ⁠⁠Santiago Gomez

In Episode 2, we sit down with Lana Ikelan—Co-Educational Director at Kids4Peace, alum of Tomorrow’s Women, and a speaker with Solutions Not Sides. Lana shares her experiences as an East Jerusalemite and reflects on her complex Palestinian identity, navigating a city full of unseen boundaries and hidden challenges. She opens up about her path into activism, the work she does to empower young people, and the bridges she’s building in a divided world. For in-depth information on the status of Jerusalem, the Reunification Law, and related legal, social, and municipal issues, you can visit a very thorough resource center here. Follow us on Instagram: @⁠⁠⁠thirdnarrative⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to us on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/ThirdNarrative⁠ ⁠⁠For more info on UTTN, visit ⁠⁠uttn.net⁠⁠ or our ⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠ Disclaimer: This episode was recorded on August 24th, 2025. The facts presented in this episode reflect what was known at the time, but new information may have since come to light. Similarly, the opinions expressed by the hosts were shaped by our perspectives at the time of recording and may have evolved as events unfolded. Please note that engagement with our guests does not imply endorsement, and the views expressed by our guests do not necessarily represent our beliefs, either on or off our platform. What has not changed is our commitment to a just and united future.Credits​Sponsored by: ⁠B8 of Hope⁠ with the support of ⁠Albi World⁠​Hosts / Executive Producers: ⁠Amira Mohammed⁠ & ⁠Ibrahim Abu Ahmad⁠​Associate Producer / Supervising Editor: ⁠Evelyn Uzan⁠​Original Music: ⁠Layan Hawila⁠ – Support her journey as a music therapy student at Berklee​Filming & Editing: ⁠Nissan Film Production⁠​Branding: ⁠Sophie Cooke⁠​Animation: ⁠Santiago Gomez

After Season 1 wrapped last November, we didn’t stop. We released a bonus episode in February, hosted four international events, led countless workshops and speaking engagements, recorded three episodes abroad, and sat down with policymakers around the world—all alongside our on-the-ground activism.While we’ve always been Unapologetic: The Third Narrative, we’ve now shortened our name to UTTN—keeping our mission the same while distinguishing ourselves from another entity with a similar name. We’re also building a full website at uttn.net, where you can learn more about who we are, our story, and our values.To bring Season 2 to life, we had to grow: fundraising, spreading the word beyond the podcast, and shifting our focus. Season 1 centered on stories of identity on this land. Season 2, while still engaging with personal identities, spotlights the actions of our incredible guests who are working on the ground to make change.In Episode 1, Amira & Ibrahim dive into the new format, the vision behind the changes, and the heart of UTTN’s work moving forward.We ask you to listen with an open ear and an open heart. The voices you’ll hear this season aren’t just stories—they’re pathways to action, courage, and possibility.Welcome to Season 2. Let’s dive in.Follow us on Instagram: @⁠⁠thirdnarrative⁠⁠ Subscribe to us on Patreon: ⁠⁠Patreon.com/ThirdNarrative⁠ ⁠For more info on UTTN, visit ⁠⁠uttn.net⁠⁠ or our ⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠ Disclaimer: This episode was recorded on August 17th, 2025. The facts presented in this episode reflect what was known at the time, but new information may have since come to light. Similarly, the opinions expressed by the hosts were shaped by our perspectives at the time of recording and may have evolved as events unfolded. Please note that engagement with our guests does not imply endorsement, and the views expressed by our guests do not necessarily represent our beliefs, either on or off our platform. What has not changed is our commitment to a just and united future.Credits​Sponsored by: B8 of Hope with the support of Albi World​Hosts / Executive Producers: Amira Mohammed & Ibrahim Abu Ahmad​Associate Producer / Supervising Editor: Evelyn Uzan​Original Music: Layan Hawila – Support her journey as a music therapy student at Berklee ​Filming & Editing: Nissan Film Production​Branding: Sophie Cooke​Animation: Santiago Gomez

In the final episode of our international mini-series, we spotlight the student perspective through a powerful conversation with Reine and Leo—outgoing and incoming board members of the MENA Initiative at the Graduate Institute in Geneva. They share their experiences, the successes of organizing student-led events, and the realities of balancing activism with academic life—perspectives we believe deserve a seat at the table.This episode also reflects on our own journey. Back in Season 1, Episode 19 – “Let’s Talk Protests,” we discussed student-led demonstrations with the limited knowledge we had at the time. Today, we know that 97% of student-led pro-Palestine demonstrations remain peaceful (ACLED report). While we are not journalists, we are individuals with a platform—and when we learn better, we strive to do better.Throughout this series, we’ve explored three entry points into activism and politics:1️⃣ Grassroots organizing2️⃣ Political activism3️⃣ Student initiativesEach offers a unique lens into building a just and inclusive future. We wish this conversation could have been longer, as there was so much more to unpack, but we hope you enjoyed listening.If these discussions make you uncomfortable, we invite you to lean in. Dialogue over debate helps us humanize rather than demonize—even when we disagree. Because at the end of the day, we all deserve better!✨ Stay tuned for Season 2 next month! We’ve got big changes ahead! Join us on Patreon for early access to episodes, community Zoom calls, and exclusive one-on-one sessions with Amira and Ibrahim.Follow us on Instagram: @⁠⁠thirdnarrative⁠⁠ Subscribe to us on Patreon: ⁠⁠Patreon.com/ThirdNarrative⁠ ⁠For more info on Third Narrative, visit our ⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠uttn.net⁠Thank you for supporting this work and community!Disclaimer: This episode was recorded on May 6th, 2025. The facts presented in this episode reflect what was known at the time, but new information may have since come to light. Similarly, the opinions expressed by the hosts were shaped by our perspectives at the time of recording and may have evolved as events unfolded. Please note that engagement with our guests does not imply endorsement, and the views expressed by our guests do not necessarily represent our beliefs, either on or off our platform. What has not changed is our commitment to a just and united future, because we all deserve better.

Though this is the second episode of our international series, Amsterdam was actually the very first stop on this trip. At the Joods Museum, we sat down with city council members Sheher Khan (DENK) and Itay Garmy (Volt) — two leaders whose politics and identities often place them on opposite sides: Sheher, a Muslim and pro-Palestinian voice; Itay, a Jewish Israeli representative.And yet, in the wake of October 7th, they came together to propose a new kind of politics — one rooted in dialogue. Their joint initiative, “Bekend maakt Bemind” (“To Be Known is To Be Loved”), had been introduced earlier that year in May. Just three days after October 7, 2023, it was unanimously adopted by the Amsterdam City Council. The proposal has since been embedded in the city’s anti-discrimination strategy, with tangible actions already underway — including public dialogues at City Hall and the mayor’s residence, and programs across Amsterdam schools.In this episode, Sheher and Itay speak candidly about polarization, pain, and the quiet courage required to choose dialogue over division — and what a Third Narrative might look like when lived out through local leadership.📅 Coming up on August 3rd: Tier 3 & 4 Patreon members are invited to an exclusive live call with Dana Rentenaar (25), a Palestinian-Dutch political scientist and peace activist and one of the key people behind organizing this event. Don’t miss the chance to connect directly and hear more from behind the scenes! Follow us on Instagram: @⁠⁠thirdnarrative⁠⁠ Subscribe to us on Patreon: ⁠⁠Patreon.com/ThirdNarrative⁠⁠ For more info on Third Narrative, visit our ⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠uttn.net⁠⁠Thank you for supporting this work and community!Disclaimer: This episode was recorded on April 9th, 2025. The facts presented in this episode reflect what was known at the time, but new information may have since come to light. Similarly, the opinions expressed by the hosts were shaped by our perspectives at the time of recording and may have evolved as events unfolded. Please note that engagement with our guests does not imply endorsement, and the views expressed by our guests do not necessarily represent our beliefs, either on or off our platform. What has not changed is our commitment to a just and united future, because we all deserve better.

We know it's been a while, and we've missed you! So much has happened since our last release, but we have great news to share soon. In the meantime, we’re thrilled to return with the first of three new episodes in our international series!In this episode, Amira sits down with our lovely guest, Mehra Rimer, in the heart of B8 of Hope to get to know both the person and the powerful work behind the organization. From grassroots initiatives to cross-border connections, Mehra brings depth, compassion, and hope to a moment that calls for all three.B8 of Hope is a Swiss-registered non-profit association promoting peace-building and transformative grassroots initiatives within both Palestinian and Israeli civil societies. “Beit” resonates with the meaning of “home” in both Arabic and Hebrew, forging a bridge between languages and cultures. The number 8 represents the eight co-founders of this extraordinary alliance, whose roots span Swiss, Canadian, Indian, Iranian, Israeli, and Palestinian backgrounds.👉 Click here to learn moreThis episode wouldn’t have been possible without the generous support of Chahut Média, who helped us capture this conversation.🎥 Check out their workWith the Israel/Iran war now under a tentative ceasefire, we release this episode with cautious hope and deep intention. We chose to lead this series with Mehra’s story, and we think you’ll understand why as soon as you tune in.📅 Coming up on July 13: Join us on Patreon for a follow-up conversation with Mehra, available exclusively to Tier 3 & 4 members.🎧 You’ll also have the chance to ask questions, so make sure to mark your calendars!Follow us on Instagram: @⁠thirdnarrative⁠ Subscribe to us on Patreon: ⁠Patreon.com/ThirdNarrative⁠ For more info on Third Narrative, visit our ⁠Linktree⁠ or ⁠uttn.net⁠Thank you for supporting this work and community!Disclaimer: This episode was recorded on May 5th, 2025. The facts presented in this episode reflect what was known at the time, but new information may have since come to light. Similarly, the opinions expressed by the hosts were shaped by our perspectives at the time of recording and may have evolved as events unfolded. Please note that engagement with our guests does not imply endorsement, and the views expressed by our guests do not necessarily represent our beliefs, either on or off our platform. What has not changed is our commitment to a just and united future, because we all deserve better.

After a long hiatus, co-hosts Ibrahim and Amira return with a heartfelt bonus episode, sharing their mixed emotions about the recent hostage release and ceasefire agreement. They unpack the bittersweet reality of this moment and share exciting news about their upcoming event in London on February 6th—a fundraiser dedicated to making Season 2 of the podcast a reality. Tune in for an honest conversation and all the details!Link to event/donation: link.outsavvy.com/uttneventlondonFor more info on Third Narrative, visit our ⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠ or ⁠uttn.net⁠

In our season finale, Ibrahim and Amira reflect on a year marked by loss, resilience, and the ongoing struggle in Palestine and Israel. Joined by our Unapologetic producer Evelyn, they take a moment to look back on the stories we've shared, the complexities we've navigated, and the road ahead. This episode marks not just the end of a season, but a pivotal moment of reflection for all of us at the Third Narrative team. We also share a glimpse of the next steps and the destinations we’ll be exploring in future episodes.A heartfelt thank you to our supporters who have stood with us through this journey. Your support means everything, and we need it more than ever. If you haven’t already, please consider joining us on Patreon to ensure we can continue our work and bring these important conversations to a wider audience.We look forward to connecting with you again in the next season, where we’ll continue to dive deep into the nuanced conversations that matter most.Follow us on Instagram: ⁠@thirdnarrative⁠Subscribe to us on Patreon: ⁠ThirdNarrative⁠For more info on Third Narrative, visit our ⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠ or ⁠uttn.net⁠Disclaimer:This episode was released on Nov 10, 2024. The facts presented in this episode reflect what was known at the time, but new information may have since come to light. Similarly, the opinions expressed by the hosts were shaped by our perspectives at the time of recording and may have evolved as events unfolded. Please note that engagement with our guests does not imply endorsement, and the views expressed by our guests do not necessarily represent our beliefs, either on or off our platform. What has not changed is our commitment to a just and united future—because we all deserve better.

As the one-year mark since October 7th approaches, we sat down with Yonatan Zeigen—father, social worker, and mediator. Yonatan is the son of the late Vivian Silver, a renowned Israeli peace advocate who dedicated her life to bridging the divide between Israelis and Palestinians. Tragically, Vivian was killed in the Hamas attack on Kibbutz Be'eri last year. In the aftermath of her death, Yonatan has continued her legacy, advocating for peace and justice with renewed purpose.We explore his emotional journey, from the deep loss of his mother to his determination to carry forward her mission of building partnerships between people divided by decades of violence. Yonatan shares his reflections on Israeli society, the occupation, and the possibilities for a peaceful future, offering profound insights into the personal and collective cost of conflict. Don’t miss this heartfelt and thought-provoking conversation.Follow us on Instagram: ⁠@thirdnarrative⁠Subscribe to us on Patreon: ⁠ThirdNarrative⁠For more info on Third Narrative, visit our ⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠ or ⁠uttn.net⁠Disclaimer:This episode was released on Oct 4, 2024. The facts presented in this episode reflect what was known at the time, but new information may have since come to light. Similarly, the opinions expressed by the hosts were shaped by our perspectives at the time of recording and may have evolved as events unfolded. What has not changed is our commitment to a just and united future—because we all deserve better.