Best Rifelion Media Podcasts (2024)

1
Changemaking With Muslim Counterpublics Lab & Community with “Hudson, America” Documentary 33:05

6M ago33:05

33:05

Asad discusses the recent act of protest by Aaron Bushnell. Later filmmaker Geoffery Hug and documentary subject Jahed Miah discuss “Hudson, America” (2022), and Dr. Maha Hilal discusses The Muslim Counterpublics Lab. Learn more about “Hudson, America” here: https://hudsonamerica.org/ Learn more about Muslim Counterpublics Lab here: https://www.mus…

1
Muslim Filmmakers on Sundance 26:48

6M ago26:48

26:48

Asad interviews two filmmakers from the Islamic Scholarship Fund’s cohort attending the Sundance Film Festival. Learn more about Samia Khan’s work here: https://railbedproductions.com/about Connect with Akram Shibly on X here: https://twitter.com/akramshibly?lang=en Produced by Rifelion Media. Hosted by Asad Butt. Edited by Ari Mathae Music by Simo…

1
The Audacity of Gen Z, Muslims on Screen, and Neebz Cancelled 29:12

6M ago29:12

29:12

Israel launches attacks on Rafah, the last “safe zone” in Gaza. The stabbing of a Palestinian-American in Austin meets the definition of a hate crime according to the police. The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times post some questionable (Islamophobic) opinion pieces. And Selma Blair posts Islamophobic and xenophobic comments on Instagram. S…

1
Grassroots Campaigning with Qasim Rashid & Searching for Muslim Representation at the Emmys 30:52

7M ago30:52

30:52

Qasim Rashid discusses his congressional campaign, representation to reflect reality, and his fundraising without corporate donations. Dr. Uzma Jafri and co-founder Zaiba Hasan talk about their organization, the HAWA Collective, and their mission to help prevent podfade in women independent podcasters. Finally, contributor Maryam delivers her analy…

1
Insights on ICJ Gaza Ruling, Michigan Muslims Reject Biden & Ramadan Celebrations With M.O. Yuksel 29:17

7M ago29:17

29:17

The news today: International Court of Justice orders Israel to prevent genocide, Michigan Muslims cancel on Biden, while Canadian Muslims and Arabs push back on PM Trudeau and the Canadian government’s response to the ICJ ruling. Muslim foster homes are needed in Michigan while a Canadian woman’s court case challenges the country’s ban on adoption…

1
Threats against Muslims on Social Media, Real World Hate Speech by Obama Official & Free Speech on Campus with Eman Abdelhadi 35:53

7M ago35:53

35:53

The news today: Jews, Muslims and Arabs face threats of violence over social media, pro-Palestinian protesters attacked, Palestinian-American shooting survivors speak up, ex-Obama official gets out of hate crime charges, Florida Marriott cancels Muslim conference, UChicago faculty members form chapter of Faculty for Justice in Palestine, Film Worke…

1
Presidential Hopeful Speaks Up for Gaza, Candidate Faces Islamophobia, and Mosquers Opening Credits 41:08

7M ago41:08

41:08

Siblings Asad and Nadia Butt delve into a range of topics from global protests in support of Palestine and Cornel West's Martin Luther King Jr. Day solidarity speech, Trump’s big election polling updates, bias faced by presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy, and controversial actions by a Texas GOP activist. They also discuss CAIR’s efforts in a poli…

1
Ceasefire Protests Disrupt Biden; Ramy Youssef at Golden Globes; Combating Workplace, School Islamophobia, Antisemitism 52:15

8M ago52:15

52:15

In this new season kick-off of the American Muslim Project, host Asad Butt and his guest/sister Nadia Butt discuss important issues facing the American Muslim community today. Asad and Nadia dig deep into critical topics such as the impact of the war on Gaza on American Muslims, political inclinations in the upcoming elections and the potential eff…

1
Journalist Johana Bhuiyan with FannBoy Friday 23:54

9M ago23:54

23:54

Asad introduces a new website, Fann, a hub for celebrating Muslim creativity across various fields such as TV, film, books, music, and more. He also introduces a new podcast series in collaboration with the website called FannBoy Friday. Today's episode brings an interview from FannBoy Friday in which Johana Bhuiyan, a senior tech reporter and edit…

1
Winning Muslim Screenplay Writers 46:55

9M ago46:55

46:55

Asad explores the journies of three Muslim screenplay writers Sarwat Siddiqui, Faroukh Virani, and Halimah Iman as they shed light on creating authentic Muslim narratives, their processes, experiences, and the importance of Muslim representation in media. Highlighting the interplay between personal experiences and their writing, they share insights…

1
Navigating Identity and Comedy in the Palestinian Diaspora with Rami Abushhab 34:09

9M ago34:09

34:09

Rami Abushhab discusses his winning script, "Shawarma Inn," which revolves around a family restaurant losing its halal license. The idea sparked when Rami witnessed a humorous incident at a shawarma restaurant. Rami shares his journey from starting in theater to transitioning into stand-up comedy, emphasizing his love for storytelling in the latter…

1
Invisible Hate: A Family Killed in a Truck Attack 40:41

10M ago40:41

40:41

In this special episode we share a story from Invisible Hate. Hosts Asad Butt and Saadia Khan explore one of the most egregious acts of Islamophobia and murder to occur in North America in recent years and shed light on the tragic impact of the rise in hate crimes on minority communities and the underreporting and underprosecution of these crimes. …

1
Empowering South Asian Voices in Film with Rohi Mirza Pandya 28:39

10M ago28:39

28:39

Rohi Mirza Pandya, an experienced professional with an impressive career in film and media. Rohi discusses her work with Box Office Guru Media, where she has helped over 500 movie and film campaigns, primarily focusing on South Asian films and their promotion in North America. She highlights the importance of representation in the film industry and…

1
Navigating the Estate Market With Saad Munir 29:17

10M ago29:17

29:17

Saad Munir, a real estate expert, discusses the challenges and advice for those looking to buy a house in the current market. He emphasizes the importance of staying active and using real estate apps regularly due to low inventory. Saad also advises potential buyers to keep a long-term perspective despite rising interest rates and mentions the sign…

1
Centering Desi and Muslim Joy with Kashif Pasta 34:55

10M ago34:55

34:55

Kashif Pasta, a Canadian Muslim filmmaker and storyteller, discusses his focus on telling stories of joy, wonder, and social purpose in his filmmaking. Kashif shares his upbringing in a diverse Canadian city, where cultural confidence and representation were prevalent, and how that has influenced his storytelling. He also talks about his short film…

1
A Focus on Palestinians with Dr. Maha Nassar - Remastered 42:55

11M ago42:55

42:55

Today we revisit an episode from Season 1 with Dr. Maha Nassar. Dr. Maha Nassar, a Palestinian-American professor and expert on Arab cultural and intellectual history, shares her insights on Palestinians. Naturally, we ask her to address the horrific situation in Israel and the Gaza Strip over the past few weeks. She enlightens us on several key po…

1
Iman Zawahary, Creating Social Change Through Film 28:37

11M ago28:37

28:37

Filmmaker Iman Zawahary discusses her journey as one of the first hijabi American Muslim directors. She highlights the challenges of securing funding, especially as a Muslim woman, and the importance of audience awards over critic accolades. Iman shares her experiences growing up in a small Florida town, navigating racism, and using comedy to cope.…

1
Decolonizing Minds through Filmmaking with Mahnoor Euceph 29:26

11M ago29:26

29:26

Mahnoor Euceph discusses her new short film "Eid Mubarak," which centers around a Pakistani girl's mission to save her pet goat from being sacrificed during Eid. Mahnoor shares insights into the chaotic yet rewarding process of filming with kids and animals. She emphasizes the importance of casting and talks about the inspiration behind the film's …

1
Challenging Stereotypes Through Comedy with Aizzah Fatima 27:25

11M ago27:25

27:25

Filmmaker and comedian Aizzah Fatima discusses her film "Americanish," which revolves around the lives of Pakistani Muslim female characters in Queens, New York, as they navigate the challenges of romance, culture, work, and family. Aizzah shares her journey of turning a one-woman play into a feature film, her struggles with fundraising within the …

1
Navigating Identity and Resilience with Shahjahan Khan 23:01

12M ago23:01

23:01

Shahjahan Khan returns as a guest on American Muslim Project and discusses his earlier podcast King of the World, which delved into his life post-9/11. Shahjahan shares how the recording process was a therapeutic journey, leading to reconnections with childhood friends and a deeper understanding of his identity. The conversation also covers Shahjah…

1
Exploring Workplace Inclusion with Nadia Butt 24:02

12M ago24:02

24:02

Nadia Butt, a specialist in diversity, equity, and inclusion in the business world, discusses her doctoral research on the experiences of Muslim professionals in the workplace regarding DE&I efforts. She shares insights from her qualitative study, emphasizing the significance of understanding these experiences and the impact of diversity management…

1
Bonus: "We Do It For The Culture" by Tanzila Ahmed 11:08

3y ago11:08

11:08

Bonus Episode: Tanzila Ahmed, an artist writer, political activist, and co-host of the good Muslim bad Muslim podcast, shares her reflections on 20 years since 9/11. Follow Taz on Twitter, read her articles on Substack, and visit her website. Listeners of King of the World can share their own experiences post 9/11 and what the series means to them.…

1
Bonus: Listener Calls 11:11

3y ago11:11

11:11

Bonus Episode: Listeners of King of the World share their own experiences post 9/11 and what the series means to them. Check out the Rifelion blog. Also visit podinbox.com/kingoftheworld to send us an audio message, some of which will play on future episodes. For more information on King of the World, visit our website. Learn more about your ad cho…

1
Episode 7: The Improbable Now—Mental Health, Wellness, Wholeness 1:09:45

3y ago1:09:45

1:09:45

Shahjehan starts touring the East Coast as an actor in a troupe for people in long-term recovery, and meets an unanticipated fan. We wrap up the “anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim, racial, racist, white supremacist kind of mindset” that took hold during Trump’s presidency and its trickle-down effects, while also examining its function as a catalyst for t…

1
Episode 6: Recovery, Rebirth, and Resilience: Trump USA 59:53

3y ago59:53

59:53

Shahjehan takes us along on The Kominas international tour, where a career pinnacle at the BBC coincides with a critical relapse into substance abuse. The consequences are dire but lead to a sincere shot at recovery with a lovable sponsor. After the Boston Marathon bombing and targeted expletives cast from a carful of dude bros, Shahjehan speaks ou…

1
Episode 5: Watch Us, Listen to Us—Surveillance 59:52

3y ago59:52

59:52

It’s 2008 and Shahjehan has just booked a one-way ticket to Pakistan. He moves in with his best friend and Kominas bandmate in Lahore, where new musical and social highs are interwoven with drug relapses, encounters at gunpoint, and Al-Faida conspiracy theorists. News from his hometown mosque in Wayland reveals that a childhood friend has been conv…

1
Episode 4: Muslims and The Media 57:09

3y ago57:09

57:09

Shahjehan and guests walk us through the history of Brown representation in Hollywood, politics, and American pop culture. From swarthy villains and caricatures with funny accents to slightly more nuanced and uncensored depictions in the early 2000s, Muslim actors move beyond making their bread by portraying terrorists as Muslim politicians and mus…

1
Episode 3: Islamophobia 55:53

3y ago55:53

55:53

Shahjehan introduces us to two American Muslims profiled after 9/11 in very different ways: one’s arrival in his “dream country” nearly costs him his life as the other’s family trip becomes an interrogation. Everyone seems to be on high Muslim alert, and the American Muslim community comes out in droves to publicly denounce any and all terrorist or…

1
Episode 2: Terrifying Wars 1:00:03

3y ago1:00:03

1:00:03

The United States initiates the War on Terror in response to 9/11, starting with Afghanistan and then moving seamlessly into Iraq, despite the disconnect. Historian Dr. Huma Gupta helps us understand Afghanistan’s relationship with the U.S. pre-9/11 and its history of being a World Power staging ground. We meet Bashir Ahmad, who shares his experien…

1
Episode 1: 9/11 53:42

3y ago53:42

53:42

Host Shahjehan Khan acquaints us with his family—a fivesome in a predominantly white suburb of Boston by way of Pakistan—and his conflicted identity. Despite his name literally meaning “king of the world,” young Shahjehan feels increasingly powerless. We learn three of his favorite things: a shiny red Fender Strat, weed, and figure skating. Septemb…

1
Campaigning to End the Uyghur Genocide with Babur Ilchi 37:04

3y ago37:04

37:04

This week we’re joined by Babur Ilchi, program director at Campaign for Uyghurs, which works to promote and advocate for the human rights and democratic freedoms of the Uyghurs and other Turkic people in East Turkistan. Born in Hotan, China, and now living in Canada, Babur is unable to visit the grave of his grandfather, who died shortly after bein…

1
Mommying and Podcasting with Uzma Jafri 36:11

3y ago36:11

36:11

This week we chat with Uzma Jafri, unapologetically Muslim podcaster, physician, and mother of four. Hosted by Uzma and her "second-generation friend," Zaiba, with the fellow first-born problem of having a lot to say, Mommying While Muslim is a weekly podcast about the challenges and opportunities encountered by Muslims raising kids in the United S…

1
Introducing King of the World - Official Trailer 1:38

3y ago1:38

1:38

Rifelion Media presents King of the World, a seven-part podcast series about a Pakistani American Muslim teenager who comes of age post-9/11 and, twenty years later, tries to figure out what the hell happened to him and to us. Hosted by Shahjehan Khan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices…

1
Creating Nuanced Muslim Film Characters with Iram Parveen Bilal 35:00

3y ago35:00

35:00

This week we’re joined by filmmaker and activist Iram Parveen Bilal. Her first feature film, a mystery thriller called Josh: Independence Through Unity, was Pakistan's first movie to be on Netflix. Her latest, I'll Meet You There, is a drama set in Chicago that covers intergenerational family conflict, the post-9/11 American Muslim experience, and …

1
Changing the Disability Narrative with Sara Minkara 39:09

3y ago39:09

39:09

Sara Minkara shares her remarkable journey a champion for disability inclusion. Imagine that the first time you meet someone, you’re in total darkness. Would you be more comfortable expressing yourself? Now turn the lights back on and think of a moment you’ve disempowered someone, intentionally or not. Learn why by asking yourself what identities y…

1
A Muslim-Specific Streaming Service with Mir Ali 34:47

3y ago34:47

34:47

This week we are joined by Executive Vice President Mir Ali of USHUB TV, a forthcoming streaming service explicitly for Muslim content in the United States. Growing up in the bubble of Southern California, Mir interacted with his predominantly non-Muslim community the only way he knew how—by showing that he was a friendly, typical, hard-working Ame…

1
Navigating Entrepreneurship with Afreen Allam 34:27

3y ago34:27

34:27

This week we invite founder and CEO of SiNON Therapeutics, Afreen Allam, to discuss the business world and her biotech start-up that's designing one pivotal particle. At 17, Afreen found herself publishing her first DNA sequence, and at 20, applying for her first patent—no big deal. We talk about how her passion was rooted in her 7.5-year stint as …

1
Evolution, Aliens, and Ancient Horoscopes with Salman Hameed 39:16

3y ago39:16

39:16

Salman Hameed, teacher, host, gung ho astronomer, founder, and contagiously curious intellectual, is the type of refreshing science professor we wish we’d had in undergrad. He joins AMP to talk about religion versus science, astrology, and aliens. As a Hampshire College professor of integrated science and humanities and director of the Center for t…

1
Drawing the Blueprint For Muslim Inclusion with Kashif Shaikh 39:14

3y ago39:14

39:14

This week we speak with Kashif Shaikh, co-founder and president of Pillars Fund, a nonprofit investing in American Muslim organizations, leaders, and artists to advance equity and inclusion. Pillars, founded in 2010, aims to take tangible actions to benefit American Muslim initiatives. But rather than supporting, say, mosques or overseas work, thei…

1
Recommendations 29:25

3y ago29:25

29:25

This week’s special episode includes recommendations (and previously unreleased audio) from six past guests about who and what you should be following, listening to, watching, and reading. From episode 13’s Dr. Shaista Khilji, Pakistani-born George Washington University professor, prolific writer, and cofounder of the Humanizing InitiativeShaista’s…

1
Demystifying Sharia with Sumbul Ali-Karamali 37:48

3y ago37:48

37:48

This week we are joined by author, former lawyer, and expert on Islamic law, Sumbul Ali-Karamali, to discuss the decidedly unscary Sharia law. Sharia is essentially a mass of religious guidelines, meaning the path to the watering place literally and the path to righteousness religiously. Essentially, early Muslims interpreted their holy text, the Q…

1
Building a World without Hate with Rais Bhuiyan 36:13

3y ago36:13

36:13

Rais Bhuiyan is a Bangladeshi American who was shot by a white supremacist as retaliation for the attacks of September 11th, four months after arriving in the United States. He joins us on this episode of American Muslim Project to share his remarkable story and mission to promote empathy and compassion. Rais was thrilled to start his own American …

1
Fighting State-Sponsored Spying and Discrimination with Amira Al-Subaey 35:57

3y ago35:57

35:57

During the Obama administration (or was it in 1984?), a campaign known as countering violent extremism (CVE, and a profusion of other acronyms since) was initiated by intelligence and federal law enforcement agencies to identify and dissuade those prone to radicalization. The Muslim Justice League was founded in 2014 by Muslim women of one CVE pilo…

1
A Focus on Palestinians with Dr. Maha Nassar 41:21

3y ago41:21

41:21

Dr. Maha Nassar, a Palestinian American professor and expert on Arab cultural and intellectual history, shares her insights on Palestinians. Naturally, we ask her to address the horrific situation in Israel and the Gaza Strip over the past few weeks. She enlightens us on several key points, including how the conflict is truly an anti-colonialist st…

1
Improving Your COVID IQ with Dr. Mohammed Reza 37:35

3+ y ago37:35

37:35

This week we spoke with Dr. Mohammed Reza, a Bangladeshi-American infectious disease doctor in north Florida, where COVID variants and vaccine reluctance both run rampant. During this pandemic, Dr. Mo (as his patients call him) has been thrust into the local limelight as an unwitting community educator. Despite his schooling, credibility, and exper…

1
Telling Our Own Story with Qasim Rashid 35:43

3+ y ago35:43

35:43

Qasim Rashid has held many roles—human rights lawyer, prolific writer, media consultant, political candidate, volunteer prison chaplain, avid Tweeter—one of which his wife convinced him to pursue. He joins us on American Muslim Project to discuss his newest book, how he got to where he is today, and advocating for a more compassionate tomorrow. We …

1
Food and Finding the Spice of Life with Saba Wahid Duffy 36:48

3+ y ago36:48

36:48

This week we are joined by Saba Wahid Duffy: chef, media personality, culinary educator, and very recent *Chopped* champion. As an American Muslim raised in a suburb of Boston, she grew up eating Pakistani food nearly exclusively, which left her hankering for any cuisine but. Despite her strong interest in cooking from a young age, Saba’s tradition…

1
Bringing People Together through Art with Salma Arastu 36:25

3+ y ago36:25

36:25

This week we speak with Salma Arastu, an artist born in Rajasthan, India, to Sindhi Hindu Pakistani refugees. Introduced to Arabic calligraphy in Iran, she found herself mesmerized before able to even read it. By the 1980s, the merging of traditional calligraphy and modern art that she’d embarked upon had a name: the Hurufiyya Movement. It was only…

1
Shedding Stereotypes in Hollywood with Serena Rasoul 36:21

3+ y ago36:21

36:21

Serena Rasoul’s humble upbringing in rural Virginia left her feeling like a leper to both white neighbors and other Arab Americans from afar. Her childhood defense mechanism? Resorting to funny accents and impressions. Serena joins AMP to discuss her diverse career, founding the first casting agency focused on Muslim talent, and the real story of H…

1
Changing the Dialogue around Women and Business with Tasneem Dohadwala 34:53

3+ y ago34:53

34:53

As a first-generation American Muslim businesswoman, Tasneem Dohadwala has lived a life of being a threefold minority: in race, gender, and career. She experienced a traditional South Asian Muslim upbringing, short one pivotal detail—her mom worked, and loved it. Tasneem speaks to being a woman in the world of investments on this episode of AMP. Cu…

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