Best Baktash Ahadi Podcasts (2024)

1
Emmy-Award Winning Director of The Social Dilemma, Jeff Orlowski, on the Invisible Dangers of Social Media 35:31

3y ago35:31

35:31

In one of Netflix’s most highly watched documentaries of all time, The Social Dilemma, Director Jeff Orlowski exposed the disturbing extent to which all of us are being manipulated and controlled through the use of social media. The film was a huge wake-up call for everyone in realizing the insidious implications of social media on our democracy, o…

1
What Almost Dying Can Teach Us About Living, with Emmy-Award Winning Journalist and Cancer Survivor Suleika Jaouad 41:23

3y ago41:23

41:23

Suleika Jaouad’s career aspirations as a war correspondent were cut short when, at age 22, she was diagnosed with leukemia. Faced with slim survival odds, she knew she wanted to find a way to still participate in the world and give back more than she had taken. It started with a daily journal and eventually became “Life, Interrupted,” the Emmy awar…

1
Connecting, Humanizing and Healing Through Music with Esteemed Violinist Vijay Gupta 47:13

3y ago47:13

47:13

Vijay Gupta believes that the work of the artist and citizen is one: to make a daily practice of the connected, creative, and courageous world we long to live in. Hailed by The New Yorker as “a visionary violinist...one of the most radical thinkers in the unradical world of American classical music” Vijay is an esteemed musician, speaker and though…

1
Finding Home Within Yourself: A Journey to Self Love with Najwa Zebian, Author of Welcome Home: A Guide for Building a Home for Your Soul 32:23

3y ago32:23

32:23

Baktash and Najwa Zebian discuss what it means to build a home within yourself, rather than building your home in other people. As someone who spent most of her life aching to be loved and validated by others, Najwa is now able to teach people through her book Welcome Home how to build a strong foundation of self love, self acceptance and self awar…

1
Overcoming Obesity and Anxiety with Mark Metry 30:40

3y ago30:40

30:40

It was another late, sleepless night in his dorm room, and Mark Metry's phone buzzed. It was the campus police, warning students through text message of yet another violent altercation that had occurred blocks away. In what he describes as a trance-like state - one precipitated by a lifelong battle with untreated mental illness - Mark deliberately …

1
Living and Dying on the Migrant Trail with Anthropologist and Author Jason De León 33:48

3y ago33:48

33:48

Jason De León is an anthropologist, author, and activist with a meaningful mission. His work focuses on the global community of migrants who flee their homelands in search of a better life. His latest book, "Land of Open Graves: Life and Death On The Migrant Trail" focuses on the growing rate of migrants fleeing Mexico through the Sonoran Desert - …

1
Learning the Art of Conversation with Communications Expert Misha Glouberman 34:12

3y ago34:12

34:12

Misha Glouberman is a communications expert, educator, author, and public speaker with a knack for helping people to get the most out of their conversations. He discovered his talent at a young age, as early as grade school, where he would intuitively identify misunderstandings between teacher and student. Though he couldn't have known it at the ti…

1
The Art of Preservation with Filmmaker Mariam Ghani 31:46

3y ago31:46

31:46

Mariam Ghani is an artist, filmmaker, writer, and educator, and through this combination of work, she is on a mission to preserve the past, enlighten the present, and provide hope for the future. Born into exile to Afghan and Lebanese parents, Mariam was born and raised in New York City. After her parents tried and failed to return to either of the…

1
Epidemiologist and Author of “Medicare For All: A Citizen’s Guide“ Abdul El-Sayed on Identity, Capacity, and Opportunity 35:44

3+ y ago35:44

35:44

Abdul El-Sayed has been a valedictorian, earned a PhD in public health, run for governorship, and worked as an epidemiologist during the tumultuous year of 2020. He has studied abroad, traveled far and wide, and been on the frontlines of educating the global public on how to handle a pandemic. He has spoken with former President Bill Clinton, who c…

1
Reza Aslan & Mahyad Tousi on Identity, MENA Representation in Media, and the United States of Al 35:47

3+ y ago35:47

35:47

Can you think of a Middle Eastern protagonist who has appeared front and center on American, cable television - past or present? If you cannot, then you are not alone, and the reason is at once obvious and deeply troubling. Since the advent of film and television, and the subsequent rise of popular culture which continues to evolve into today, the …

1
Rolling With The Punchlines: How Comedian Maz Jobrani Took Control Of His Life by Taking The Stage 37:32

3+ y ago37:32

37:32

Maz Jorbani is an Iranian-American comedian, actor, and performer who has been entertaining audiences for over two decades. Though he is a comedian by profession, and his talent for the craft sometimes make his performances look effortless, Maz' decision to pursue his passion on the stage was not spontaneous, and it didn’t come easy. His parents wa…

1
Empathy and the Art of Acting with Hollywood Star, Faran Tahir 36:55

3+ y ago36:55

36:55

Faran Tahir has acted on the stage, on TV, and on the big screen. Starring in major Hollywood blockbusters like Iron Man and Star Trek, as well as countless other acclaimed productions, Faran is as accomplished an actor as they come. But despite all of his success, Faran stills describes himself with a genuine air of humility - a “student” by his o…

1
Virtual/Augmented Reality as the Ultimate Empathy Machine with Filmmaker Gabo Arora 30:53

3+ y ago30:53

30:53

Gabo Arora is on the frontier of a new and exciting artistic medium - one you may not even know exists. He is among the visionaries leveraging virtual and augmented reality, and artificial intelligence, as tools in the art of filmmaking, the efficacy of storytelling, and the progress of positive social change. In this episode of Stories of Transfor…

1
The Potential For Peace With Israeli-born Palestinian Forsan Hussein 38:25

3+ y ago38:25

38:25

As a young boy growing up in the Arab village of Sha’ab in Northern Israel, Forsan Hussein had always found himself surrounded at all sides by a troubling narrative. For his entire life, everyone had told him that the Jewish Israelites living nearby were the picture of evil - a malevolent people bent on violence; the harbingers of atrocity and misf…

1
In Search Of Stories Untold with Iranian Filmmaker Gelareh Kiazand 40:49

3+ y ago40:49

40:49

Gelareh Kiazand is an Iranian filmmaker who is on a mission to revitalize the film and documentary genre. Integrity, education, and companionship are among the fundamental values she considers in her work. She is founder of SeeTô Productions, a media company which aims to "produce high quality productions by grouping talent that transcend borders.”…

1
Moving Forward By Facing The Past — A Conversation With "I'll Meet You There" Filmmaker Iram Parveen Bilal 33:36

3+ y ago33:36

33:36

Iram Parveen Bilal was walking through Thomas Bradley Terminal at LAX, awaiting her mother’s arrival for treatment of a life-threatening condition. Amidst the thoughts already racing through her mind, Iram heard the commotion of a crowd growing louder as she walked - a murmur of a different energy than that normally heard at airports. She tracked t…

1
From the Newsroom to the Battlefield with Journalist and Author Jessica Donati 31:56

3+ y ago31:56

31:56

Jessica Donati never expected to write a book about her experiences in Afghanistan, but then again, she never could have predicted that her journalism career would place her in the middle of some of the fiercest conflicts of the 21st century. In her book, Eagle Down: The Last Special Forces Fighting The Forever War, Jessica describes in powerful, p…

1
Shaharzad Akbar: Leader and Visionary for Human Rights in Afghanistan 41:54

3+ y ago41:54

41:54

Shaharzad Akbar may not appear as someone you’d expect to be leading the charge in one of the world’s harshest environments. But don't let Akbar's quiet demeanor fool you without first hearing her incredible story. Indeed, as chairperson at the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission, fighting for human rights is exactly what Akbar does eve…

1
The Beauty of Arabic Art with Sultan Qassemi 31:07

3+ y ago31:07

31:07

In art as in life, interpretation is unique to each and every individual. What we take from a piece of art is as important as the art itself, and ultimately defines the experience. Art historian and collector Sultan Qassemi chose to dedicate his life’s work to the appreciation of art - particularly works from the Arab region - and educating far and…

1
Building a Better World by Uplifting Afghanistan — Lotfullah Najafizada 31:09

3+ y ago31:09

31:09

Lotlfullah Najafizada holds a unique perspective on Afghanistan. His lifelong experience of living all around the country himself, combined with his award-winning, journalistic career, has granted Najafizada a deep connection with his homeland’s past, present, and future. Najafizada was born in Kabul in the late ‘80s, when Afghanistan was in the mi…

1
How A Young Poetry Champion Found Her Voice — Marjan Naderi 34:18

3+ y ago34:18

34:18

Youth poet laureate Marjan Naderi hadn’t given much thought to poetry until middle school. It was at this critical juncture in her life that a teacher saw something in the precocious student, and encouraged a young Marjan to explore the arts — particularly, spoken word poetry. Her teacher’s inclination turned out to be correct, as Marjan soon devel…

1
How Azita Ghanizada Is Setting The Stage For Equal Representation In Hollywood 40:37

3+ y ago40:37

40:37

From a young age, television and cinema were a powerful force of influence in Azita Ghanizada’s life. Through these mediums, she could escape her difficult life as a young Afghan-American immigrant; she could develop her skills as an English speaker; she could bond with her parents. And through all of these impacts coming together, Azita came to re…

1
Ronnie Malley Believes That Combining Music and A Sense of Global Citizenry Is The Key To A More Harmonious World 33:41

3+ y ago33:41

33:41

Ronnie Malley's range as a multi-instrumentalist is vast. He is a master of percussion and rhythm; a guitarist and oud player; and a keyboardist, to name a few of his skills. He is a versatile songwriter, a composer, an experienced performer, and a recording engineer. His knowledge within the realm of music — and sound itself — is remarkable, and f…

1
Shireen Ghorbani Believes In Healthcare For All, And She’s Taking Political Action To Fix A Broken System 42:24

3+ y ago42:24

42:24

In her lifelong career as a public servant, Shireen Ghorbani has witnessed many first-hand accounts of how healthcare operates in the United States and abroad. Shireen's career began in high school, where she participated in two trips to Antigua to help out on construction sites. Later, she took on the roles of educator, activist, and diplomat for …

1
Omaid Sharifi Is Beautifying War-Torn Afghanistan And Inspiring Generations, One Mural At a Time 33:59

3+ y ago33:59

33:59

Omaid Sharifi is no stranger to political oppression, nor the powerful imagery which often accompanies it. Born in Kabul, Afghanistan just before the end of Soviet occupation there, Omaid was raised amidst the rise of the Taliban, and then came of age during the American invasion and the war on terrorism. After his father was shot and killed in the…

1
Mark Redmond Decided Serving At-Risk Youth Was More Important Than Material Wealth 36:33

3+ y ago36:33

36:33

It was a Friday morning like any other, and Mark Redmond was walking down Madison Avenue, en route to another business meeting. Mark had found himself exactly where he and everyone else had always envisioned: living in New York City, working at a multi-billion-dollar company, with all of the material fulfillment a young man could ask for. But still…

1
Raju Narisetti: Journalist and Champion for Truth in a World of Misinformation 38:49

3+ y ago38:49

38:49

Raju Narisetti has always had a way with words — and it’s no wonder. As a child, if he wasn’t rummaging through his parents’ 10,000 book library, then he was writing letters to the editors of his favorite newspapers. Since then, he has gone on to enjoy a 25-year career in journalism, writing for publications including The Wall Street Journal and Th…

1
Flynn Coleman Wants to Shift The Focus From Distraction to Meaningful Action 40:34

3+ y ago40:34

40:34

In a world growing increasingly dependent upon technology and deliberate distractions, Flynn Coleman wants to bring a more grounded, human perspective back into focus. But her human-centered approach doesn’t mean that she overlooks the myriad of other Earthly ecosystems; in fact, Coleman’s work emphasizes the importance of paying attention to the i…

1
Saad Mohseni Built a Media Company That Transformed Afghanistan 37:26

3+ y ago37:26

37:26

Saad Mohseni has lived all over the world, but no place has made an impact on him quite like his homeland of Afghanistan. So much so, in fact, that despite his transitory upbringing spanning continents, and later, his incredible success as a businessman and media mogul, Saad describes himself, at his core, as an “Afghan family man." Following sever…

1
Indian-American Actress and Author Sheetal Sheth Stays True to Herself to Bring Protagonist Diversity into Mainstream Media 38:46

3+ y ago38:46

38:46

When asked what having cancer has taught her, Sheetal Sheth says that she feels lucky. Cancer is terrible, no doubt about it, but in this conversation, Sheetal brings to light ways in which we can reframe the terrible situations life throws at us. Being a cancer survivor is just one layer of Sheetal. Part of her life’s work has been to demonstrate …

1
How Being a Visual Storyteller in Afghanistan has Transformed Kiana Hayeri and Her Perspective on Life 31:40

3+ y ago31:40

31:40

As an Iranian Canadian, Kiana Hayeri has struggled throughout her life to find a sense of home and belonging. As a teen, she found photography—a medium through which she didn’t have to struggle with language, and could finally connect to a world that doesn’t belong to her. Kiana Hayeri is a visual storyteller, Senior TED Fellow, and a regular contr…

1
Inspiring Social Change Through Art, Food, and Community with Andy Shallal, Founder of Busboys and Poets Restaurant 32:36

3+ y ago32:36

32:36

Andy Shallal is an Iraqi-American artist, activist and entrepreneur. He is best known as the founder/CEO of the Washington, D.C., area restaurant, bookstore, performance venue Busboys and Poets and local philanthropist. He is also known for hiring artists in the D.C. area to paint murals around the city during lockdown to brighten up the streets an…

1
Hammasa Kohestani Stood Up Against Racism and Islamophobia and Became The First Muslim Woman to be Crowned Miss England 38:53

4y ago38:53

38:53

When people asked young Hammasa Kohestani what she wanted to be when she grew up, she responded that she was *going* to be a model, not that she *wanted* to be a model. She had this dream since she was 6 years old, but it started to feel further and further away as she entered her teenage years. That’s because she was born to Afghan parents, spent …

1
Refugee Turned Game Developer Lual Mayen Disrupts the Industry with “Salaam”, A Game Bringing Players into the Life of a Refugee 31:19

4y ago31:19

31:19

Lual Mayen had never seen a computer until he was 17 years old. That’s because he was raised in a refugee camp in Uganda. Now, he is the Founder and CEO of Junub Games, and creator of an innovative video game that brings players into the life of a refugee. Lual’s hope is that the game, called “Salaam”, which means “peace” in Arabic, will help peopl…

1
A Transformative Story of Overcoming Adversity Again and Again with Ed Latimore, Best-Selling Author and Former Professional Heavyweight Boxer 29:53

4y ago29:53

29:53

You can learn to do anything in life, and overcome any adversity, with practice. This is the key lesson Ed Latimore discovered again and again when he became sober, when he beat his pornography addiction, when he worked his way up to a professional boxing career, when he got a Physics degree despite failing in high school, and now as a professional…

1
2018 National Teacher of the Year Mandy Manning on How to Cultivate Diversity and Inclusion in the Classroom 32:29

4y ago32:29

32:29

Hear from 2018 National Teacher of the Year Mandy Manning on what teachers can do in their classrooms to create a positive environment for students of all backgrounds to thrive, and what lessons she learned through her experiences living and teaching in other cultures. Mandy Manning has been teaching for 21 years in countries and cities all across …

1
America’s First Female Muslim Mayor Sadaf Jaffer on Leadership and Resisting Cynicism in Politics 34:46

4y ago34:46

34:46

From holding mock presidential debates as a kid in her living room to becoming the first Muslim woman mayor in America, Sadaf Jaffer is passionate about being a voice for the voiceless, and inspiring young women of color that they too can be in a position of power. Sadaf Jaffer is a scholar, an activist, and an elected official. Dr. Jaffer is a Pos…

1
What the American Dream is Missing with Mia Birdsong, Author of 'How We Show Up: Reclaiming Family, Friendship & Community 24:53

4y ago24:53

24:53

Mia Birdsong is a pathfinder, community curator, and storyteller who steadily engages the leadership and wisdom of people experiencing injustice to chart new visions of American life. She plays an important role in pointing to people’s lived experiences to inform institutional learning and transformation. In How We Show Up, her upcoming book about …

1
Author of 'Sigh, Gone' Phuc Tran Discusses Identity, Racism, and Finding Belonging through Punk Rock 34:21

4y ago34:21

34:21

Phuc Tran and his family fled Saigon, Vietnam when he was 1.5 years old, and landed in a small, predominantly white town called Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Now, he is a high school Latin teacher, tattoo artist, father, husband, and most recently, author of his memoir Sigh, Gone. Phuc’s story is one of identity—understanding who he is between two differ…

1
What Serial Left Out with Rabia Chaudry, Attorney and Author of "Adnan's Story" 36:11

4y ago36:11

36:11

Rabia Chaudry is an attorney, advocate, and author of the New York Times bestselling book "Adnan's Story" and Executive Producer of a four-part HBO documentary "The Case Against Adnan Syed." Rabia is also co-producer and co-host of two podcasts, Undisclosed and The 45th. With nearly 300 million downloads, Undisclosed is the biggest wrongful convict…

1
A Transformational Story of Healing and Forgiveness After Being Sentenced to Life in Prison with Philip Melendez 32:34

4y ago32:34

32:34

Philip Melendez was 19 years old when he committed a double homicide and was sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole by the State of California. Running from the scene of a gunfight, he couldn’t believe what he’d just done, it didn’t feel like it was really him. On the inside, he quickly learned to survive and play by the rules of…

1
Award-Winning War Correspondent Janine di Giovanni on Tragedy, Justice and Healing 36:10

4y ago36:10

36:10

From defending her brother from the bullies as a child, to reporting in the darkest and most dangerous corners of the Earth, Janine di Giovanni has always had a fierce need to fight for justice and stand up for others whose voices cannot be heard. Janine di Giovanni is a multi-award winning war reporter and author who has covered nearly every major…

1
Using Space Technology to Advance Justice on Earth with Danielle Wood, Director of the Space Enabled Research Group at MIT 30:27

4y ago30:27

30:27

While many civic leaders are working towards detangling the complex systems that have sustained injustice from here on Earth, Dr. Danielle Wood is coming at it from a very different angle. Who would have thought the advancement of justice and sustainable development on Earth could be informed by space technology? This is the mission our next guest …

1
Healing the Most Traumatized Members of Our Society with Fritzi Horstman, Founder of the Compassion Prison Project 30:47

4y ago30:47

30:47

Today’s Stories of Transformation guest is Fritzi Horstman. She’s the Founder and Executive Director of the Compassion Prison Project. Before that, she was a Grammy Award Winning producer of projects like HBO’s “The Defiant Ones” as well as dozens of television projects, documentaries, and several films. The mission of the Compassion Prison Project…

1
Racism Starts and Ends with Us, with Poet and Activist Theo Wilson 44:38

4y ago44:38

44:38

A black man steps out onto the street and sees the word “POWERLESS” on a New York City newspaper headline. For most people, they knew it to mean an electrical blackout in the city. To Theo Wilson, the word had a totally different meaning, as it was exactly how he felt having just walked away from nearly being beaten to death by police and stripped …

1
Empathy is the Path to Ending Mass Incarceration with Criminal Justice Reformer Adam J. Foss 31:31

4y ago31:31

31:31

In light of recent events that have further exposed the gross racial injustices and system failures of the American criminal justice system, many of us are searching for answers on what we can do to move racial justice and equality forward. Enter Adam J. Foss, who has dedicated his life to criminal justice reform and reinventing the role of the cri…

1
How George Floyd Changed the World With Minneapolis Civic Leader and Cultural Intelligence Expert, Abdul Omari, Ph.D. 32:34

4y ago32:34

32:34

These past few weeks, many Americans’ eyes have finally been opened to the injustices that have been so deeply ingrained in every system of the “land of the free”. Yet still, so many Americans are left wondering what they can do to help right these wrongs. This week, we brought on Abdul Omari, Ph.D., CEO and Founder of AMO Enterprise, a training in…

1
Remi Adeleke Transformed Himself From Leading a Life of Crime to Becoming a Navy Seal and is Now a Hollywood Actor 27:20

4y ago27:20

27:20

Remi Adeleke shows us what people are capable of achieving when all the odds are stacked against them. His is a story of riches to rags, and then back to riches again. In this interview, he delves into his early life living as Nigerian royalty, to America where he was selling drugs as a teenager in the Bronx to survive, to rising above all statisti…

1
Exploring the World’s Most Extreme Natural Phenomena with Storm Chaser George Kourounis 43:17

4y ago43:17

43:17

George Kourounis is no stranger to fear or uncertainty. In fact, it’s basically his job to live in fear and uncertainty. George Kourounis is a global explorer, adventurer and storm chaser. George has spent years photographing some of Mother Nature's most elusive and dangerous phenomena, such as tornadoes, giant hail, dust storms, hurricanes, avalan…

1
Living a Life of Purpose with Educator and Author Victor Strecher 42:30

4y ago42:30

42:30

Victor Strecher describes his life before and after his young daughter got a heart transplant, as going from black & white to technicolor. Before her first life-saving heart transplant, Victor was going through the motions of life, doing his research, teaching, working towards getting tenure so he can play more golf. But everything changed after re…

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Baktash Ahadi Podcasts

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