Today, I’m so honoured to welcome Hala Alyan to the podcast. Hala is an award-winning Palestinian American writer, poet, and clinical psychologist whose work has long explored the intimate spaces between memory, home, displacement, and the inner worlds we navigate. Many readers know her through her poetry and her acclaimed novels Salt Houses and The Arsonists’ City, but her latest book, I’ll Tell You When I’m Home, brings us into an even more intimate landscape. Structured in twelve chapters - each corresponding to a month of pregnancy — the memoir unfolds at the pace of a body hoping, fearing, changing, and remembering.

In this conversation, we explore how Hala writes about belonging, grief, and the complicated terrain of family and identity. We also spend time with the memoir’s deeply personal themes: infertility, baby loss, and the ways these experiences reshape identity and belonging - how they alter one’s relationship to the body, to lineage, and to the idea of home. Hala writes with remarkable honesty about her struggle with alcohol addiction and the difficult, courageous work of recovery, and she is equally candid about the complexities of marriage: the tensions, the ruptures, and the quiet forms of repair that make long-term partnership both challenging and deeply human.

We also reflect on the past two years, and how this moment for Palestine — the grief, the witnessing, the insistence on remembering - has shaped her understanding of heritage, responsibility, and where we locate ourselves in times of collective pain.

It’s a thoughtful, layered, and profoundly honest conversation, and I’m truly grateful to share it with you.

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This week, I'm joined by Ova Ceren, whose debut novel The Book of Heartbreak is a raw, tender, and compelling exploration of love, loss, and healing amid a fantasy world of angels and the other side. With lyrical prose and unflinching honesty, Ova takes readers on a journey through the intensity of different types of love and loss, while also throwing us into a family of secrets, unspoken histories and a journey of self-discovery. 

Ova Ceren writes bittersweet tales of heartbreak and magic, often inspired by Turkish and Ottoman folklore. Blessed (or perhaps cursed) with a mathematical brain, she earned a degree in Computer Science and a master’s that led her into a career in IT, taking her from Türkiye to Britain. After years of wrestling with algorithms in corporate jungles, she finally eloped with a debut novel instead.Ova now lives in Cambridge, UK, with her husband, son, and a spirited flock of runner ducks.

In our conversation, we talk about what inspired her to write such a story, moving into writing from being a software engineer, the fantasy genre, heartbreak, Turkey and Turkish history and so much more. I'm so pleased to be sharing this conversation with you. 

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Today’s episode is part of a special mini-series called Ramadan reflections, where I talk to guests about faith, life and Ramadan.

 I’m thrilled to be joined by poet and creative producer, Imrana Mahmood for a conversation about creativity and faith, the role of Ramadan in the creative process, and the importance of Muslim representation in literature and on stage and screen.

Imrana Mahmood is a poet, curator, and creative producer who has dedicated her career to amplifying underrepresented voices in the arts. With a background in community-driven projects, she has worked extensively to create spaces for diverse creatives to thrive. Her work is deeply rooted in storytelling, activism, and faith, exploring themes of identity, belonging, and spirituality. She has collaborated with leading arts organizations and has played a key role in shaping conversations around Muslim representation in the UK’s literary and creative industries.

In this episode, we’ll be diving into Imrana’s journey—how faith informs her creativity, the challenges and opportunities for Muslim artists today, and what true representation looks like in the arts. 

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In this episode, I chat to the lovely Jyoti Patel, author of the Merky Books Young Writer's Prize for 2021. Her debut novel is a stunning, moving coming-of-age story of a British-Gujarati family living in North London. 

The Things That We Lost s told from the perspectives of 18-year-old Nik and his British Indian mother Avani, flitting between the past and present as Nik searches for answers surrounding the circumstances of his father’s death. An extract of the novel was selected as the winning submission out of over 2000 entries for the 2021 #Merky Books New Writers’ Prize.

Earlier this month, Jyoti was selected as one of The Observer's 10 Best New Novelists for 2023. She is also a graduate of the Creative Writing Prose Fiction MA from the University of East Anglia and she joins us today from London. 

In this episode, we talk about family dynamics, secrets, mental health, identity, language and being asked where we're from.

Connect with me on instagram:

www.instagram.com/thediversebookshelfpod
www.instagram.com/readwithsamia 

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In this episode, I talk to the lovely Melissa Fu about her debut novel, Peach Blossom Spring. We talk about the origins of the story, finding home, confused identities and the constant longing for belonging, acceptance and self-love.

Melissa Fu grew up in Northern New Mexico and now lives near Cambridge, UK, with her husband and children. She graduated from Rice University, cum laude, with a double major in Physics and English and went on to earn a Masters in Condensed Matter Physics at the University of Colorado, Boulder, and a Masters in English Education at Teachers College, Columbia University.  She has worked in education as a teacher, curriculum developer, and consultant.

Her first novel, Peach Blossom Spring, was a BBC Radio 2 Book Club pick in the UK and a 2022 Indies Introduce title for the American Booksellers Association. It is available in English, Dutch and Italian.  Hungarian, Romanian and German editions are forthcoming.

Peach Blossom Spring is her first novel.

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In this episode, I talk to the lovely Tasneem Abdur-Rashid about her debut novel, Finding Mr. Perfectly Fine. We talk about the struggles of modern dating for young Muslims, finding love, writing and the stories we wish we had while growing up. 

Tasneem Abdur-Rashid is a British Bengali writer born and raised in London. A mother of two, Tasneem has worked across media, PR and communications both in the UK and in the UAE. Today, Tasneem spends her days writing novels and her nights co-hosting the award-winning podcast Not Another Mum Pod – and in between, she’s busy trying (and often failing) to be super mum, super wife and super chef. Having recently completed a Master’s in Creative Writing with distinction, Tasneem’s debut rom-com Finding Mr Perfectly Fine was published by Zaffre/Bonnier in July 2022.

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In this episode, I chat to the lovely Jendella Benson about her debut novel, Hope & Glory.

We had a great chat about her writing, the messiness of family life, love, south London, class, gentrification and growing up with immigrant parents.

Jendella is author of the novel Hope & Glory and Head of Editorial at Black Ballad – the award-winning digital platform for Black British women. She is also the host of the podcast Black Ballad Presents: The Survival Guide.

She has written for The Sunday Times STYLE Magazine, Metro Online and Independent Voices, as well as previously been a columnist for Media Diversified, MTV UK, and Christian Today.

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Sabba Khan is a born and bred East Londoner. Originally trained as an architect at Central Saint Martins and The University of Westminster, Sabba frames her minimal architectural comics through the lived experience of her working class, second generation immigrant upbringing.

Sabba’s debut graphic novel ‘The Roles We Play’ has won the Jhalak Prize ’22, and Broken Frontier’s Break Out Talent ’22. Nominations include the Ignatz prize, RSL’s Ondaatje Prize, and AOI’s World Illustrations Awards, as well as being nominated for best books of 2021 in the Guardian. Collaborators for Khan’s comics work include The British Council, SOAS, NHS, London Borough of Newham, JCWI and The British Library. The Roles We Play is available in the US under the title ‘What is Home, Mum?’.  

On this episode, we had a really insightful conversation on graphic novels as a form of literature, identity, belonging, Kashmiri experiences and unpacked notions of space, belonging and identity. I loved speaking to Sabba, and hope you find much to take away from our conversation.

You can buy The Roles We Play here:

https://uk.bookshop.org/a/5890/9781912408306

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I read Shahd Alshammari's memoir, Head Above Water, a few months ago and was blown away from the first page! Shahd writes so beautifully, in a way that is poetic, raw and open. She gives us an insight into her life, living with Multiple Sclerosis. In this conversation, we talk about her diagnosis, how her illness has affected her life, what she wishes more people knew, and the field of academia. I hope you enjoy this as much as I enjoyed chatting to Shahd.

Dr. Shahd Alshammari is a Kuwaiti-Palestinian author and academic. She is the author of Notes on the Flesh (Faraxa Press, 2017) and Head Above Water (Neem Tree Press, 2022). 

Alshammari teaches literature and has written numerous stories and creative nonfiction. Her research areas include illness narratives and disability studies.

Buy 'Head Above Water' here:

https://uk.bookshop.org/a/5890/9781911107408

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On this episode, I chat to the lovely Zoulfa Katouh about her debut novel, As Long As the Lemon Trees Grow. This stunningly beautiful YA novel is the heart-breaking story of 18 year old Salama, working in a hospital in the Syria during the war. Salama witnesses unimaginable horrors, and is faced with the gut-wrenching decision of whether to stay, or to leave and seek refuge elsewhere.

Zoulfa Katouh is a Canadian writer with Syrian roots. A trilingual pharmacist, currently pursuing a master’s in drug sciences, Zoulfa is the first Syrian author to be published in both the US and the UK in the young adult category. When she's not talking to herself in the
woodland forest, she's drinking iced coffee, baking aesthetic cookies and cakes, and telling everyone who will listen about how BTS paved the way. Her dream is to get Kim Nam-joon to read one of her books. As Long As the Lemon Trees Grow is her debut novel. 

You can by the book here:

https://uk.bookshop.org/a/5890/9781526648525

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In this episode, I talk to the wonderful Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai,  author of The Mountains Sing. We talk about her beautiful debut novel as well as a whole host of things including family, story-telling, history, decolonising literature and her upcoming novel.

Dr Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai is an award-winning Vietnamese writer and journalist. She is the author of eleven books of poetry, short fiction and non-fiction. Her books in Vietnamese has received the 2010 Poetry of the Year Award from the Hanoi Writers Association, the Capital’s Literature & Arts Award, and First Prize in the Poetry Competition celebrating 1,000 Years of Hanoi. Her debut novel and first book in English, THE MOUNTAINS SING, is an International Bestseller, Finalist of the 2021 Dayton Literary Peace Prize, Winner of the 2020 BookBrowse Best Debut Award, Winner of the Blogger's Book Prize 2021, Winner of the 2021 International Book Awards, Winner of the 2021 PEN Oakland/Josephine Miles Literary Award, and Winner of the 2020 Lannan Literary Award Fellowship for "a work of exceptional quality" and for "contribution to peace and reconciliation".

She has been named by Forbes Vietnam as one of 20 inspiring women of 2021. Her second novel in English, Dust Child will be published in early 2023. 

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In this episode, I talk with Noreen Nasim about her debut book, Expelled from Uganda, which is a fictionalised account of her father's life and his forced migration from Uganda to the UK in 1972 under the orders of dictator, Idi Amin. 

We talk about the events of 1972, where over 80,000 Asians in Uganda were given just 90 days to leave Uganda, many of whom had been living in the country for centuries. It allowed us to reflect on current affairs in light of what the past teaches us. I loved speaking to Noreen, especially about the importance of capturing our stories.

Noreen is a debut author who released her father’s memoir last year. Noreen is working hard with members of the South Asian diaspora to highlight some of the lost stories within the communities affected and is hoping to inspire a new generation of storytellers. She performed her fist TEDx talk with TEDx Doncaster in October 2021 and is now working on her next book.

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Soraya Chemaly is an award-winning author and activist. She writes and speaks frequently on topics related to gender norms, inclusivity, social justice, free speech, sexualized violence, and technology. The former Executive Director of The Representation Project and Director and co-founder of the Women’s Media Center Speech Project, she has long been committed to expanding women’s civic and political participation.

Soraya is also the author of Rage Becomes Her: The Power of Women’s Anger, which was recognized as a Best Book of 2018 by the Washington Post, Fast Company, Psychology Today, and NPR and has been translated into multiple languages. She is a contributor to several anthologies, and her work is featured widely in media, documentaries, books, and academic research. 

In this episode, we talk about the gendering of emotion, how women's anger is often hidden, misunderstood, misrepresented, vilified, and yet important and deserving of attention. Soraya speaks about her research and we talk about intersectionality, the long-term impacts of not being able to own one's anger, and how we can do more to reclaim our rage. I loved every minute of speaking to Soraya, and hope you enjoy this conversation too. 

Buy 'Rage Becomes Her' here: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/5890/9781471172113 

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Today’s episode is part of a special mini-series called Ramadan reflections, where I talk to guests about faith, life and Ramadan.

I’m honoured to be speaking with Yasmin Stannard, a mother, advocate, and campaigner, who has been raising awareness and funds for brain cancer in memory of her beloved daughter, Amani.

Amani was just 22 years old when she passed away from brain cancer three years ago. Since then, Yasmin and her family have dedicated themselves to honouring Amani’s legacy—through fundraising, awareness campaigns, and by sharing their journey of love, loss, and faith. In this conversation, we reflect on grief, healing, and the ways in which faith helps navigate unimaginable loss, especially during Ramadan, a time of deep spirituality and remembrance.

This is a conversation that I hope it brings comfort and connection to anyone who has experienced grief.

Join Yasmin & Amani's community on instagram to learn more:

www.instagram.com/fight4amani 

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Sairish Hussain was born and brought up in Bradford, West Yorkshire. She studied English Language and Literature at the University of Huddersfield and progressed onto an MA in Creative Writing. Sairish completed her PhD in 2019 after being awarded the university’s Vice-Chancellors Scholarship. Her debut novel, The Family Tree, was shortlisted for the Costa First Novel Award, and longlisted for the Diverse Book Awards and the Authors Club Best First Novel Award. She is now writing her second book.

I absolutely loved speaking with Sairish in this episode. We talk about the importance of good representation, positive role-models, writing and all about the wonderful characters in The Family Tree.

Buy The Family Tree here: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/5890/9780008297480

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Suhaiymah Manzoor-Khan is a writer, poet and educator disrupting understandings of history, race, knowledge and violence. She works to equip herself and others with the tools and faith to resist the unliveable conditions we find ourselves in, and work towards another reality.

In 2019 Suhaiymah’s debut poetry collection Postcolonial Banter was published, featuring eight years worth of poetry including her viral poem This is Not a Humanising Poem which placed her as runner-up of the National Roundhouse Poetry Slam in 2017 and has over two million views online. Postcolonial Banter critiques and troubles narratives about racism, systemic Islamophobia, the function of the nation-state and secularist visions of identity.

Her latest book, Tangled in Terror: Uprooting Islamophobia was published with Pluto Press in 2022. The non-fiction work has been widely endorsed and is described as ‘our book’ by former Guantanamo Bay prisoner, Moazzam Begg, 'courageous' by rapper, Lowkey, 'one of the most exciting voices of her generation' by award-winning channel 4 journalist Fatima Manji, and 'fierce' by feminist activist Lola Olufemi.

In this interview, we talk about moving beyond acknowledging Islamaphobia and towards understanding its impact and doing something to bring it to an end. Suhaiymah talks about the work, research and experiences that have fuelled her recent book, and the importance of conversations like these taking place all over the world.

Buy Tangled in Terror here: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/5890/9780745345413

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Brought up in London, Christy Lefteri is the child of Cypriot refugees. She is a lecturer in creative writing at Brunel University. The Beekeeper of Aleppo was born out of her time working as a volunteer at a Unicef supported refugee centre in Athens. It became a Sunday Times bestseller and the winner of the 2020 Aspen Words Literary Prize. Christy's latest novel, Songbirds, is about the plight of domestic workers in Cyprus.

It was such an honour to speak to Christy, who I find to be intelligent, warm and bright. Having also worked in the charity sector for the last (almost) decade, I was keen to unpack and dive deep into Christy's thoughts and experiences around Beekeeper. 

In this interview, we talk about the power of story-telling, love for writing, inter-generational trauma, human dignity and respect.

Buy Beekeeper of Aleppo here: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/5890/9781838770013
Buy Songbirds here: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/5890/9781786580856

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On today's episode, I’m speaking with the wonderful Preethi Nair—an author, entrepreneur, and storyteller with an incredible journey into publishing.

Preethi left her career as a management consultant to pursue her dream of writing, but after facing multiple rejections from publishers, she took matters into her own hands. She set up her own publishing company, took on a secret identity as a publicist, and successfully got her debut novel Gypsy Masala a whole load of press and attention. Her creative marketing and perseverance led to a three-book deal with HarperCollins, and she has since gone on to inspire countless aspiring writers with her story.

In this episode, we talk about her novel Unravelling, a beautifully written story about family, love, and self-discovery. We also explore the deeper themes of identity, resilience, and the unconventional path she took to bring her books into the world. Unravelling is indepdnently published, and this is a conversation full of warmth, wisdom, and inspiration, and I can’t wait for you to hear it.

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Today’s episode is part of a special mini-series called Ramadan reflections, where I talk to guests about faith, life and Ramadan.

 I’m joined by the incredible Leanne from LC Fitness. Leanne is a passionate personal trainer and fitness coach who helps people build strength, confidence, and a positive relationship with their bodies. She has built a real community, bringing together women to look after themselves and also look after each other. In this episode, we’re diving into a really important conversation about Ramadan, faith, fitness, wellbeing, and mental health. Leanne shares her insights on the connection between health and spirituality, the impact of social media on body image, and the importance of looking after both our physical and mental health. 

I can’t wait for you to hear this conversation—let’s get into it

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Today, I’m thrilled to be joined by the award-winning writer and journalist, Omar El Akkad.

Omar is a journalist and novelist whose work masterfully blurs the lines between fiction and reality, forcing us to confront the most urgent issues of our time. His debut novel, American War, was a haunting and unflinching look at climate change, war, and displacement. His second novel, What Strange Paradise, won the Giller Prize and offered a deeply human perspective on the refugee crisis. And now, with his latest book, One Day Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This, he turns his attention to the genocide in Gaza, power, identity, and the way history remembers—or erases—those who resist.

In this conversation, we talk about the stories behind his stories—the historical and political forces that shape his work, the deeply personal nature of writing about conflict and displacement at the time it’s happening, and how writing can help us make sense of an increasingly fractured world. We also explore themes of belonging, compassion, and what it means to be on the margins of history.

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For this week's episode, I’m super excited to be welcoming back one of my favourite guests – Huda Fahmy.

Huda is a seriously talented writer and artist, using comic style storytelling to explore wider, serious issues pertaining to identity, current affairs, faith, being a visibly Muslim person in the States, growing up and so much more. She explores these issues through comedy and in a light-hearted way, while both resonating with those experiencing them, and offering some insight to those who aren’t.

Huda is back with a hilarious and poignant follow-up book in her Huda F series, Huda F Wants to Know. In this book, Huda's life and worldview are turned upside down when her parents announce they're divorcing and Huda grapples with the change. 

Huda Fahmy is ready for junior year. She’s got a plan to join all the clubs, volunteer everywhere, ace the ACTs, write the most awe-inspiring essay for her scholarship applications. Easy.

But then Mama and Baba announce the most unthinkable news: they’re getting a divorce.

Huda is devastated. She worries about what this will mean for her family, their place in the Muslim community, and her future. Her grades start tanking, she has a big fight with her best friend, and everything feels out of control. Will her life ever feel normal again? Huda F wants to know.

 Huda Fahmy grew up in Dearborn, Michigan, and has loved comics since she was a kid. She attended the University of Michigan where she majored in English. She taught English to middle and high schoolers for eight years before she started writing about her experiences as a visibly Muslim woman in America and was encouraged by her older sister to turn these stories into comics. Huda, her husband, Gehad, and their children reside in Houston, Texas.

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In this episode, I’m joined by writer and editor Salma Ibrahim to discuss her powerful debut novel, Salutation Road. Salma is a British-Somali author whose work explores themes of identity, migration, and belonging. She is also the founder of literary organisation, Literary Natives, which champions writers from underrepresented backgrounds.

In our conversation, we delve into the idea of the other lives we could have lived, the complexities of coming of age, the strength of friendship, and the nuances of the immigrant experience. Salutation Road is a deeply moving novel that navigates family, heritage, and self-discovery, and Salma’s insights are so thought-provoking and inspiring.

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Disclaimer: this episode features mention of suicide, infertility and loss. 

On this week’s episode, I’m joined by the incredible poet, author, and activist Salena Godden. A leading voice in British poetry, Salena is known for her electrifying performances and fearless writing. Her work spans poetry, memoir, fiction, and activism, with themes of love, grief, identity, and justice running through her work. She is the author of Mrs Death Misses Death, With Love, Grief and Fury, and the memoir Springfield Road, and has been widely recognized for her contributions to literature and spoken word.

In our conversation, we explore the deep connections between love and loss, the urgency of caring for our planet, the passage of time, and how memory shapes identity. Salena’s words are raw, powerful, and filled with both tenderness and fire—this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

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I hope you loved listening to this episode and found things that will stay with you. I’d love to hear from you, so please do reach out on social media and don’t forget to like, subscribe and leave a review as it can really help. 

If you're feeling extra generous, please consider buying me a "coffee" so I can keep putting great conversations like this out into the world:

https://ko-fi.com/readwithsamia

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On the show this week, I’m joined by former cricket superstar, Azeem Rafiq. 

When Azeem was a young boy playing cricket near his home in Pakistan, he could never have foreseen that this sport would change his life forever. He fell in love with the game quickly and it wasn't long before the white flannels and green grass felt like home to him. When he moved to England, he became the youngest man to captain a Yorkshire side and the first person of Asian descent to do so. His talent was undeniable, and doors were opening for him.

But there was something Azeem was bottling up and it was about to explode out of him and shake the whole cricket world, and wider society, out of their slumber. It's Not Banter, It's Racism is the never before-told truth behind the racism accusations that shocked a nation, from the moment Azeem spoke up to the resulting events that have altered his world entirely.

Just a disclaimer, this episode mentions feelings and attempts of suicide, miscarriage and the loss of a child. 

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On the show this week, I'm talking to Aube Rey Lescure, author of the mesmerising, sweeping novel, River East, River West. If you’ve been listening to the podcast for a while, you will probably know I love a family drama, inter-generational novel, especially one that has a dual timeline. River East, River West is exactly that as we follow teenager, Alva, navigating her American-Chinese dual heritage identity in modern china while living with her American mother, Sloane, who is adamant she wants to stay. We also meet her step father, Lu Fang who is a man of secrets, complexities and a deep pain and trauma he hides from the world.

Aube Rey Lescure is a French-Chinese-American writer. She grew up between France, northern China, and Shanghai, and graduated from Yale University in 2015. She is the co-author and translator of two books on Chinese politics and economics. Aube’s debut novel, River East, River West has been shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction, the Maya Angelou Book Award, and the Stanfords' Fiction with a Sense of Place Award

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I hope you loved listening to this episode and found things that will stay with you. I’d love to hear from you, so please do reach out on social media and don’t forget to like, subscribe and leave a review as it can really help. 

If you're feeling extra generous, please consider buying me a "coffee" so I can keep putting great conversations like this out into the world:

https://ko-fi.com/readwithsamia

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Today I’m joined joined by Saima Begum, a British-Bangladeshi writer whose voice is courageous, lyrical, and intent on bringing untold histories out of the silence.

Saima Begum lives in London, and though The First Jasmines is her debut novel, she has already made her mark - she won the MFest Short Story Competition in 2021. 

Her novel The First Jasmines (published 31 July 2025 with Hajar Press) is set during the final stages of the Bangladesh Liberation War, in 1971, and follows two sisters, Lucky and Jamila, who are captured by Pakistani soldiers and held in a detention-camp.  Locked in a single room by the river, they see outside a barred window the white jasmines blooming day and night, even as the brutal violence of war rages all around. 

What emerges in The First Jasmines is not just a story of war and the suffering inflicted, but a deeply human account of survival, memory, and the afterlives of violence. Begum explores how women in the detention camp develop inner lives even under extreme oppression: how they talk among themselves, remember their lives before, reflect on motherhood, marriage, beauty, bodily autonomy, and struggle for dignity.  

In Begum’s words, she felt she “didn’t see that reflected in the literature” about Bangladesh and its war - this gap compelled her to write. 

In this episode, we talk about silences, the stories we inherit, womanhood, identity, survival, hope and so much more. I'm honoured to share this conversation with you. 

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Fatin Abbas was born in Khartoum, Sudan, but her parents were forced to leave Sudan when the military seized power there in 1989, when Fatin was just 8 years old. The family settled in New York. She earned a BA in English literature from the University of Cambridge, a PhD in Comparative Literature from Harvard University, and an MFA in Creative Writing from Hunter College, the City University of New York.

Her novel, Ghost Season is an exploration of Sudan’s almost unrecognised history, through five vibrant and interesting characters who find themselves working for an NGO in a border town between north and south Sudan. It is a really powerful story of power dynamics, colonialism, history, love, friendship, identity, belonging, self-acceptance and so much more.

After more than 16 months of war, Sudan has descended into one of the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.

The country is at imminent risk of collapsing after over a year and a half of violent conflict and is on the verge of mass famine with its food supply decimated and young children now starving to death in its cities, villages, and displacement camps. Over 10 million people have been displaced, and every single person in Sudan is affected by this worsening crisis.

I hope this conversations helps us to keep Sudan in our thoughts, hearts, mind, prayers and in our activism always. 

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As always, please do like, subscribe and follow. Connect with me on social media - I'd love to hear from you :)

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This week I’m speaking to the wonderful Wharton, who is of Chinese and white European heritage. Wiz’s debut nove, Ghost Girl, Banana follows Sook-Yin in 1960s England, exiled from Kowloon, and her daughter Lily in 1990s, embarking on a secret pilgrimage to Hong Kong to discover the lost side of her identity, following  a mysterious letter telling her she has inherited a LOT of money from a stranger. It’s no surprise that this sweeping story is being adapted for TV, and it is such a brilliant read.

Wiz Wharton was born in London of Chinese-European heritage. She is a prize-winning graduate of the National Film and Television school, where she studied screenwriting under the filmmakers Mike Leigh, Stephen Frears and Kenith Trodd. Her debut novel Ghost Girl, Banana deals with issues of identity, belonging and familial secrets. 

In 2023, she was named by the Scottish Government Expo Fund as one of the 40 writers predicted to set the literary world alight. I’m so glad she's my guest today. 

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On the show this week, I’m joined by Mahvish Ahmed, talking about her beautiful and poignant memoir, On My Way, which has been one of my favourite recent reads. Mahvish has had a super interesting life so far, full of love, empowerment, change, new adventures, unlearning and re-learning, establishing new boundaries, and challenging those things that no longer serve her. Mahvish was born and grew up in Pakistan, and later lived in the UK for her studies. Her memoir offers us a deep and reflective insight into her life, but also into important themes such as gender roles, motherhood, mental health, love and marriage, and so much more.

Mahvish is a former economist, successful content creator, and now an author. Mahvish’s debut book, On My Way has become an Amazon bestseller, offering reflections on her personal growth and experiences in a new country.

In addition to her writing, Mahvish runs a thriving clothing line and a travel company. Based in Rotterdam, Netherlands, she manages a popular Instagram blog that addresses women-centric issues such as challenging societal norms, advocating self-love, mental health awareness, conscious parenting, and the realities of motherhood.

You can find Mahvish on instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/mahvish.ahmad/

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Today marks one year since the most recent escalation of violence and aggression against Gaza, and the genocide that has unfolded before us. This episode was recorded prior to recent bombardments of Lebanon. 

On this week’s episode, I’m speaking to Mahmoud Muna, who's taking part in this conversation from his bookshop in Jerusalem. Mahmoud Muna, along with co-editor Matthew Teller and with Juliette Touma and Jayyab Abusafia have worked on a stunning and heartbreaking book called Daybreak in Gaza. Daybreak in Gaza is a collection of almost 50 accounts, essays, interviews and diary entry from Palestinians, mainly in Gaza. They share their experiences of life in Gaza over the last year amid genocide, bombardments, raids and immense loss of life. What permeates through the pages of this book is not only courage, but hope, in essence, the day-break in Gaza. 

Mahmoud Muna, born in Jerusalem and raised in a refugee camp (Shu’fat), is a notable Palestinian figure known as the bookseller of Jerusalem. He runs his family’s two renowned bookshops: The Educational Bookshop and the Bookshop at the American Colony Hotel. Muna is a computer science graduate and a trained communicator who has become an influential voice in Palestinian cultural and literary circles. His work extends to writing for local and international cultural magazines and newspapers, and he is deeply involved in various cultural initiatives.

Order Daybreak in Gaza here: https://saqibooks.com/books/saqi/daybreak-in-gaza/

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If you find my podcast helpful, inspiring or thoughtful, please do consider supporting me so I can put out great episodes like this. You can buy me a coffee (or anything really) here:

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On this week’s episode, I’m speaking to Dr. Pragya Agarwal all about motherhood, gender-based stereotypes and biases, infertility and so much more. In her book, Motherhood – on the choices of being a woman – Pragya shares her own journey of becoming a mother at a young age, and then facing years of secondary infertility until her two beautiful twin daughters were born through surrogacy. It’s a pheonomenal book, focusing on intersectionality, offering us a perspective that merges race, class and other elements of identity when talking about motherhood and infertility. 

Pragya Agarwal, Ph.D., is a visiting professor of social inequities and injustice at Loughborough University, writer, speaker, and consultant. Following a Ph.D. from the University of Nottingham, Pragya held the prestigious Leverhulme Fellowship and has held senior academic positions and visiting fellowships at various U.S. and U.K. universities.

Pragya is the author of a number of scholarly articles and four non-fiction books. 

Just a little trigger warning, in this episode, we talk about some difficult topics including infertility, IVF, abortion and baby and pregnancy loss. So if you need to return to this episode at a later date, or skip it altogether, please do. 

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This week on the show, I’m speaking to activist and all-round incredible human being, Payzee Mahmod. I learned of the amazing work Payzee is doing, and her story after learning about the devastating brutal killing of Payzee’s older sister, Banaz Mahmod in a so-called “honour-killing” in 2006.  Banaz was a young woman with a huge appetite for life, laughter and kindness, and her death had far-reaching and long-lasting impacts for all those who knew and loved her, and also for the world at large. 

Payzee Mahmod is a survivor and activist tackling gender based violence. As a British Kurd with lived experience, she is a passionate advocate and campaigner raising awareness about harmful practices including child marriage, female genital mutilation, virginity testing and hymenoplasty.

After being forced into a child marriage aged 16, Payzee lead the 3 year long campaign to change the legal age of marriage from 16 to 18, in England and Wales (Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Bill, 2023).

Payzee now uses her platform to spread awareness on “honour” based abuse, child marriage and promoting the importance of gender inclusion and raising money for good causes.

Just a little trigger warning, in this episode, we talk about some difficult topics including loss of a sibling, abusive relationships and FGM. There is also mention of suicide. So if you need to return to this episode at a later date, or skip it altogether, please do. 

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On this week's episode, I'm speaking to the incredible Jamaica Kincaid, and I am absolutely thrilled!

Jamaica has been writing for decades, and is often considered a classical author of our time, bringing us work that is timeless, important and emotive.

Born in Antigua, Jamaica Kincaid is a Caribbean American writer whose essays, stories, and novels are evocative portrayals of family relationships and her native Antigua.

Kincaid settled in New York City when she left Antigua at age 16. She first worked as an au pair in Manhattan. She later won a photography scholarship in New Hampshire but returned to New York within two years. In 1973 she changed her name to Jamaica Kincaid, from the name she was born with - Elaine Potter Richardson This was (partly because she wished the anonymity for her writing), and the following year she began regularly submitting articles to The New Yorker magazine, where she became a staff writer for twenty years. 

She has won multiple awards over an incredible career, including the Prix Femina Etranger, RSL International Writer and The Paris Review Hadada prize for lifetime achievement.

A keen gardener, she has written several books on the subject, including My Garden (2000) and Among Flowers: A Walk in the Himalaya (2005), a memoir about a seed-gathering trek with three botanist friends.

Her latest book is poetic, illuminating and surprisingly witty. An Encyclopedia of Gardening for Coloured Children is a delightful ABC of the plants that define our world and reveals the often-brutal history behind them. Jamaica’s decolonial investigation of the garden world is supplemented by brilliant illustrations from the great American artist, Kara Walker, resulting in an inventive and sometimes quite practical exploration of the truths of history in our gardens – perfect for all ages. 

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If you’re looking for a book that’s wholesome, hilarious, real, authentic and based on finding love, this week’s episode is definitely for you. On the show today, I’m joined by Tasneem Abdur-Rashid, author of the newly published Thirty Before Thirty List, and her debut, Finding Mr. Perfectly Fine. Tasneem is dedicated to tell authentic stories of British Bengali, Muslim characters as they navigate life and love, presenting the complexities, beauties and challenges that life throws at 20-something year old women trying to build the life they want. I loved the Thirty Before Thirty List, and I laughed my way through, finding such affinity with Maya and all the other characters. 

Tasneem Abdur-Rashid is a British Bengali writer born and raised in London. A mother of two, Tasneem has worked across media, PR and communications both in the UK and in the UAE. Tasneem’s rom-com Finding Mr Perfectly Fine was published by Zaffre/Bonnier in July 2022 and The Thirty Before Thirty List was released in July 2024. She co-hosts the award-winning podcast Not Another Mum Pod and is also a phenomenal home cook.

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On this week’s episode, I’m speaking to Israeli, anti-zionist historian and academic, Professor Ilan Pappé . Professor Pappé  has dedicated dedcades of his life to writing and speaking about the Nakba of 1948, shedding light on what actually happened and what a grave catastrophe it was and continues to be. He calls for a one-state solution and for the right of return of all Palestinians. His books have sought to tackle the myths around Israel and Zionism, providing much needed insight, information, thoughtfulness and nuance reflections. He is one of the major historians of our times writing on Palestine. As the current aggression and genocide in gaza continues well into its tenth month, Ilan encourages us to understand the root of the violence – the illegal occupation of Palestine. 

Ilan Pappé is an Israeli historian and socialist activist. He is a professor with the College of Social Sciences and International Studies at the University of Exeter, director of the university's European Centre for Palestine Studies, and co-director of the Exeter Centre for Ethno-Political Studies. His latest book is Ten Myths About Israel. His books also include The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine and The Idea of Israel: A History of Power and Knowledge. Pappé’s research focuses on the modern Middle East and in particular the history of Israel and Palestine.

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This week, my guest on the show is the incredibly talented, Safia Elhillo. Safia’s work always leaves me mesmerised and craving for more. In her beautiful poetry, she explores themes of belonging, identity, home, friendship, love, pain, suffering, and so much more.  

Safia Elhillo is the author of The January Children (University of Nebraska Press, 2017), which received the the Sillerman First Book Prize for African Poets and an Arab American Book Award, Girls That Never Die (One World/Random House, 2022), and the novel in verse Home Is Not A Country (Make Me A World/Random House, 2021), which was longlisted for the National Book Award and received a Coretta Scott King Book Award Author Honor. 

Sudanese by way of Washington, DC, Safia received the 2015 Brunel International African Poetry Prize, and was listed in Forbes Africa’s 2018 “30 Under 30.” Her work appears in POETRY Magazine, Callaloo, and The Academy of American Poets’ Poem-a-day series, among others

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This week, I'm thrilled to be in conversation with Professor Sunny Singh.

Sunny Singh was born in India and over the years her life has spanned continents and languages.  She earned a BA in English and American Literature at Brandeis University, followed by a master’s in Spanish Literature from Jawaharlal Nehru University, and a PhD from the University of Barcelona. Over time, she has written novels, creative nonfiction, essays, and short stories; she also serves as Professor of Creative Writing and Inclusion in the Arts at London Metropolitan University. 

Beyond her writing, Sunny has been a powerful force for literary equity. In 2017 she launched the Jhalak Prize, a prize for writers of colour in the UK and Ireland, and continues to engage deeply with questions of decolonisation, representation and the literary ecosystem.  In recognition of her contributions to letters, she was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. 

Her new short story collection, Refuge: Stories of War (and Love) (released August 2025) is a striking, ambitious volume that brings into conversation the most urgent and often silenced narratives of conflict, displacement, and resilience.  Over its dozen or so stories, the collection moves across continents and histories - touching on war zones, refugee lives, gendered violence, memory, and the possibility of tenderness even amid devastation. 

What sets Refuge apart is how it refuses easy binaries: perpetrators sometimes carry scars of suffering; survivors negotiate moral compromise and loss; the stories do not dwell on revenge but insist on empathy, nuance, and the endurance of human dignity.  Still, the collection does not shy away from brutality—sexual violence, war crimes, colonial legacies—and the way these violences embed themselves in bodies, histories, homes and memory.  And yet the final gesture of many of these stories is not surrender. They gesture toward renewal, connection, and the redemptive potential in telling the stories we fear.

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On the show this week, I'm talking to researcher, brain health trainer and parent coach, Taiba Bajar about her book, Unlock Autism. Taiba has developed a unique seven-step action plan to helping unlock a child's potential within 12 months. Taiba's son is autistic, and upon receiving his diagnosis, she went on a mission to do everything in her power to help her son, manage his autism and help him to thrive. In this episode, we talk about the treatment of autism in the NHS, rewiring the brain, South Asian experiences and so much more. 

Taiba Bajar is an award-winning researcher and licensed brain health trainer. With a seasoned background as a corporate professional and parent coach, she holds two science degrees from the University of Bristol with a background in neuroscience. 

Taiba founded Autism Brain Empowerment, a successful parent coaching business following her journey as a parent to her autistic son. Drawing from her professional expertise and personal experiences, Taiba equips parents to guide their children in reducing autism symptoms, unlocking their potential, and fostering their leadership in the world.

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On this week’s episode, I’m speaking to Saima Mir, journalist and crime novelist, author of The Khan, and its sequel, Vengeance.

In her books, Saima introduces us to Jia Khan. A successful lawyer, her London life is a long way from the grubby Northern streets she knew as a child, where her father headed up the Pakistani community and ran the local organised crime syndicate. Often his Jirga rule - the old way - was violent and bloody, but it was always justice of a kind.

In her books, Saima explores morality, humanity, family, kinship, community, patriarchy and the unfair expectations placed on women. She explores what people are forced to do to survive, and the grey lines between right and wrong.

Saima Mir is an award-winning journalist and writer. She has written for The Guardian, The Times, The Independent and The Daily Telegraph, and worked for the BBC.

Her work appeared in the anthology, It’s Not About the Burqa in 2019, and The Best Most Awful Job in 2020. Her novel The Khan is being published by Point Blank and is due on in January 2021. The Khan has been optioned by BBC Studios.

Saima is a recipient of The Commonwealth Broadcast Association World View Award, and The K Blundell Trust Award. Saima’s work has been longlisted for The SI Leeds Literary Prize, and The Bath Novel Award.

Her screenplay Ruby & Matt has been optioned by Rendition Films

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On this week’s episode, I’m speaking to Susan Muaddi Darraj about her new novel, behind you is the sea, s set in Baltimore and follows the stories of a Palestinian American immigrant community. It is a tender, sweeping novel of a family grappling with so much – loss of identity, struggling to exist in a country that is so hostile towards them, strained family dynamics, love, difficult marriages, parent-child relationships and so much more. Behind you is the sea is a story of a Palestinian Christian community, and Palestinian Christians face huge erasure and genocide as the war on Gaza continues well into its seventh month. 

Susan Muaddi Darraj is an award-winning writer of books for adults and children. She won an American Book Award, two Arab American Book Awards, and a Maryland State Arts Council Independent Artists Award. In 2018, she was named a USA Artists Ford Fellow.

Susan Muaddi Darraj’s short story collection, A Curious Land: Stories from Home, was named the winner of the AWP Grace Paley Prize for Short Fiction, judged by Jaime Manrique.   It also won the 2016 Arab American Book Award, a 2016 American Book Award, and was shortlisted for a Palestine Book Award. Her previous short story collection, The Inheritance of Exile, was published in 2007 by University of Notre Dame Press. For children, she has written numerous YA biographies, as well as the Farah Rocks chapter book series, the first to feature an Arab American protagonist. 

Her new novel, Behind You Is the Sea . The book was published in the USA in January 2024, and will be releasing in the UK in early June. 

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On this week’s episode, I’m talking to Vanessa Chan about her debut novel, an absolutely mesmerising story set across two timelines: 1930s and 1945 in Malaya – what Malaysia was called before independence. It is a story with four different perspectives, following the decision made by one woman to become a spy for Japan, and the dreadful consequences that befall her family and country, afterwards. 

Vanessa Chan is the Malaysian author of The Storm We Made, a national bestseller, Good Morning America Book Club Pick and BBC Radio 2 Book Club pick. Acquired by international publishers in a flurry of auctions, the novel, her first, will be published in more than twenty languages worldwide. Her other work has been published in Vogue, Esquire, and more. Vanessa grew up in Malaysia and is now based mostly in Brooklyn.

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I'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode, so please do think about leaving a review, and like, subscribe and rate wherever you listen to this show :)
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This week, I'm talking to Ishi Robinson, author of the delightful novel, Sweetness In the Skin. In this book, we meet the absolutely wonderful character of Pumpkin, a teenage girl trying to make her way in the world and be true to who she really is. The story is moving and wholesome, while tackling some darker issues including colourism, classism, abusive and absent parents, strained family relationships and so much more.  

Ishi Robinson is a Jamaican writer living in Berlin. Her first published work was a short story in the national newspaper when she was eleven years old. Since then, she’s written opinion pieces and short stories of fiction for various publications in Kingston, Toronto, Rome, and Berlin. SWEETNESS IN THE SKIN is her first novel.

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I'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode, so please do think about leaving a review, and like, subscribe and rate wherever you listen to this show :)
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This week on the show, I’m talking to Jassa Ahluwalia about his book and memoir, Both Not Half. Both Not Half is a poignant exploration of Jassa’s own heritage – Punjabi and English – and other forms of identity including faith, class, gender and sexuality. Jassa reminds us that we are never fractions of an identity, but always whole, in a myriad of beautiful, overlapping, confusing but empowering ways.

Jassa Ahluwalia is a British actor, writer, filmmaker, and trade unionist. Born in Coventry to a white English mom and a brown Punjabi dad in 1990, he attended school in Leicester and was raised in an extended family environment. He spoke English in the playground and Punjabi with his grandparents and spent various summer holidays in India. He came to prominence as Rocky in the hit BBC Three series Some Girls, followed by starring roles in Unforgotten, Ripper Street, and Peaky Blinders.

Jassa created the hashtag #BothNotHalf to explore mixed identity in light of his own British-Indian heritage. His TEDx talk on “How Language Shapes Identity” has clocked up over 170k views, and his BBC One documentary Am I English? won an Asian Media Award in 2022.

Both Not Half is publishing on 16th May 2024 in the UK. Get your copy here:

https://uk.bookshop.org/a/5890/9781788708319

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I'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode, so please do think about leaving a review, and like, subscribe and rate wherever you listen to this show :)
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On the show this week, I'm speaking with Reem Gaafar, author of the novel, A Mouthful of Salt. This book is a really stunning, powerful story of a community in the north of Sudan, struck by calamity and loss. The book opens with a devastating scene of a boy gone missing and presumed to have drown, and the panic and grief in the wake of his search. Reem explores so much in this novel, including motherhood, the power of education, othering, community structures, tribalism and so much more.

In this episode, we talk about all the themes Reem writes about, and the current war in Sudan, which has, at time of recording been going on for over 1 year. The war has led to millions of people being displaced, with nowhere to escape the violence, and over 18 million people are experiencing extreme hunger. As a trigger warning, we also talk about some sensitive issues including FGM, infertility, death, loss of children and trauma. If you don’t feel comfortable hearing about these issues right now, please do consider listening to another episode again and perhaps revisiting at a time that is better for you.  

Reem Gaafar is a writer, physician and filmmaker. Her writing has appeared in African Arguments, African Feminism, Teakisi Magazine, Andariya and 500 Words Magazine, among others. Her short story ‘Light of the Desert’ was published in I Know Two Sudans (Gipping Press UK, 2014) where it was awarded an Honourable Mention. Her short story ‘Finding Descartes’ was published in Relations: An Anthology of African and Diaspora Voices (HarperVia, 2023). A Mouth Full of Salt is her debut novel and Winner of the Island Prize 2023. Gaafar lives in Canada with her husband and three sons.

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This episode is a special bonus episode with scholar, writer and translator, Shaimaa Abulebda, from within Rafah, in Gaza.

Shaymaa’s family home in east Khan Younis brings together her 8 married siblings, and for her nieces and nephews, it is their grandparents’ house.

Shaimaa has lived through the second intifada, and all the aggressions on Gaza since 2008 until this curren ongoing genocide.With dreams of getting a PhD in literature, Shaimaa looked forwad to a bright future. She was lecturing at the Islamic University of Gaza, which has now been destroyed. 

 Since October 7th, Shaimaa and her parents have been displaced three times and are now living in an over-crowded refugee camp in Rafah, where there is no food, clean water or electricity. 

Shaimaa is currently raising funds so her and her parents can leave Gaza and find safety in Egypt first, before thinking about what could come next.

You can donate and support Shaimaa and her family here:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-evacuate-shaimaa-and-her-parents-from-gaza-o

In her own words, Shaimaa has described the extensive stress, pain and pressure on the people of Gaza, the way in which everyone is losing weight and strength due to forced starvation, how nobody can clean themselves properly, and how Shaymaa’s short term memory is being impacted every single day. 

I invited Shaimaa onto the podcast so she can share her story, and we can hear first-hand what life is like in Gaza, both today but also in the years that Shaimaa grew up.

Due to a lack of strong internet connection and a quiet space, this episode has been put together from separate recordings, and Shaimaa recorded her story during the night from a refugee camp. While listening you might hear some sound disturbances and hear background noise: war planes, drones, and other people. 


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On the show this week, I spoke to Nigar Alam about her stunning debut Novel, Under the Tamarind Tree, which I absolutely love. In this episode we talk all about Partition voices an d stories, Pakistan, class, identity, friendships, displacement and so much more.

Author Nigar Alam was born in Karachi, Pakistan, and spent her childhood in Turkey, Nigeria, Italy, Kenya, Indonesia and the United States. She currently lives in Minnesota and teaches at Anoka-Ramsey Community College.

“Under the Tamarind Tree” is Alam’s debut novel and is set in the seaside city of Karachi. 

The main character, a woman named Rozeena, opens the novel sitting on her veranda near a garden shaded by palm and Ashoka trees, where she receives a call from someone she knew in the past. 

The rest of the book fluctuates between a dual timeline and follows Rozeena and her friends in the decades after the partition of India and Pakistan in 1947.



I'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode, so please do think about leaving a review, and like, subscribe and rate wherever you listen to this show :)
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On this week’s show, I’m speaking to Ela Lee, author of the debut novel, Jaded. Now, I absolutely loved Jaded. I cried several times while reading it, and found a sense of commoradory, validation and being seen that I didn’t even know was missing. Ela writes a multi-layered story of her character, Jade, who is British-Korean-Turkish. Having gone to a prestigious University, Jade is now a 20-something professional lawyer working in a law firm in London. One night, a devastating incident takes place that sparks a huge internal and external unravelling for Jade, and the novel explores themes of identity, privilege, race, patriarchy, corporate success and so much more. 

Ela Lee is a London-based author. She studied Law at the University of Oxford and previously practised as a City lawyer. During the pandemic, Ela decided to focus on her love of writing and began work on her debut novel, Jaded, that explores themes of consent, race, and identity.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode, so please do think about leaving a review, and like, subscribe and rate wherever you listen to this show :)
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For today’s episode, I’m joined by Tasneem Abdur-Rashid for the third time in three years! Tasneem is a communications professional, writer, and author of the powerful new novel Odd Girl Out. Tasneem’s work explores identity, faith, family, and belonging, with characters and stories that speak to experiences rarely seen in mainstream publishing.

Odd Girl Out follows the story of 15-year-old Maariyah who is navigating friendship, love, and the weight of expectations, while also confronting the unspoken challenges of mental health and community pressures. Her life is uprooted following the divorce of her parents, and she leaves behind a life of glitz and glamour in Dubai, for the rather less impressive, London. It’s a novel that is both deeply relatable and refreshingly bold in its honesty.

In our conversation, we talk about the inspiration behind the book, Tasneem’s journey as a writer, divorce and family, and the importance of seeing authentic Muslim representation in literature.

I’m so honoured to share this conversation with you – it’s moving, insightful, and necessary.

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On this week’s episode, I’m talking to the incredible Dana Dajani, Palestinian spoken word-artist, singer, actress and activist. We’re talking about the incredible power of storytelling and poetry in preserving history, connecting us to our ancestors, resistance and activism. I ask Dana about her Palestinian heritage, the life of her beloved grandmother and so much more. 

 Dana Dajani is an award-winning Palestinian writer, performer, and advocate. She lives and works between the Middle East, Europe, and the US.

Dana’s work as an actress, trainer, and consultant has taken her around the world- from performing at the Sydney Opera House and the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, to creating a Drama Therapy Program for children with Autism in the UAE, where she was honored as Emirates Woman “Artist of the Year”, and received the “Young Arab Award for Entertainment” among other recognitions.

Known for her original spoken word poetry, Dana’s background in theatre has informed and influenced writing, and allowed her to create a unique style of solo performance. Part spoken-word, part one-woman show, Dana uses gesture, character, and a simple scarf to transport audiences across various social justice themes through her characters.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode, so please do think about leaving a review, and like, subscribe and rate wherever you listen to this show :)
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This week on the podcast, I’m welcoming back my friend, the incredibly insightful and thoughtful, Dr. Sofia Rehman. Sofia now has a second book out in the world, called Gendering the Hadith: Recentering the Authority of Aisha, Mother of the Believers, which is her Phd thesis published as a book. On the show this week, we dig deep into understanding translations and interpretations, understanding Aisha bint Abu Bakr even better, what we can learn from Aisha and the Prophet (saw) about justice, hope and resilience, and so much more. 

Dr Sofia Rehman is an independent scholar specialising in Islam and Gender. She works as a knowledge building consultant for Musawah Movement, a global organisation committed to the reform of Muslim family law in line with gender egalitarian readings of Islam. As a PhD candidate she was a PG Impact Fellow at the Centre of Religion and Public Life and PRHS Scholar.

She is founder of the Islam and Gender read alongs in which she facilitates readings of academic texts penned by Muslim scholars in conversation with a global virtual audience and has recently been featured by Vogue Arabia, Refinery29 and The Independent. She is the author of a Treasury of Aisha bint Abu Bakr (Kube publishing) and, Gendering the Hadith: Recentering the Authority of Aisha, Mother of the Believers (Oxford University Press). She is a contributor to Mapping Faith: Theologies of Migration edited by Lia Shimada, Cut From the Same Cloth? Edited by Sabeena Akhtar, Violent Phenomena: 21 Essays on Translation (Tilted Axis), and Gathering: Women of Colour on Nature (404Ink). You can connect with her on her Instagram @Sofia_reading where she talks about all things related to books, faith and academia.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode, so please do think about leaving a review, and like, subscribe and rate wherever you listen to this show :)
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Today’s episode was brought to you by Muslim Charity, a faith-based international charity, working around the world to tackle poverty, hunger and thirst. They deliver your Zakat and Sadaqah with honesty and transparency, reaching those in need with impactful projects, all year round. Muslim Charity provide vulnerable communities with life-saving healthcare, clean water, food, livelihood opportunities and education, helping everyone to thrive. 

If you’re looking for a charity you can trust, especially when it comes to your Zakat and Sadaqah, Muslim Charity is the one for you. Visit www.muslimcharity.org.uk/samia to check out some of my favourite, impactful projects. 

www.muslimcharity.org.uk/samia 

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