Best Sowt Podcasts (2025)

1
A Young Poet in Gaza, Writing in the Shadow of Death 47:42

1M ago47:42

47:42

Batool Abu Akleen is a poet and translator in Gaza, Palestine. Her home in Gaza City and her university have been bombed and she has been displaced multiple times. We talked to her about refusing to write and then choosing to write through the genocide; about the importance of mentors; and about creating a community of literary translators in Gaza.…

1
SOWTS 57: RELIGON AND RAINBOWS 52:57

1M ago52:57

52:57

This week, my friend Johnny is back again for another episode, where we are opening up a real, unfiltered conversation about the often complicated relationship between religion and the LGBTQIA+ community. We explore where things clash, where they connect, and what it means to navigate faith and identity in today’s world. From personal stories to ho…

1
Looking In the Mirror: Arab Women’s Memoirs with Khaled Mansour 58:53

2M ago58:53

58:53

Author, commentator and human rights advocate Khaled Mansour joins us to talk about how reading Arab women’s memoirs can help one gain a new understanding of the region’s collective history. After he worked with Egyptian psychoanalyst and feminist Afaf Mahfouz to write her autobiography, Mansour began a journey through Arab women’s memoirs set to c…

1
SOWTS 56: EVERYONE SHOULD GET A LITTLE THERAPY 49:45

3M ago49:45

49:45

This week, I sit down with my therapist, Denielle, for an open and honest conversation about therapy—why it matters, how it helps, and the misconceptions around it. We dive into the importance of mental health, personal growth, and how therapy can be a game-changer in everyday life. Whether you’ve been in therapy before or are just curious about it…

1
SOWTS 55: KNOW YOUR WORTH, QUEENS! 42:47

4M ago42:47

42:47

In this empowering episode, Davon and his guest, Johnny, dive into the importance of self-worth and self-confidence. Enjoy, think, and share with a friend! ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/davon_newbolt?utm_source=linktree_admin_share

1
‘One Day,’ with Omar El Akkad 53:34

4M ago53:34

53:34

Journalist, novelist, and memoirist Omar El Akkad talks about his latest book, One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This – a blend of memoir, social criticism, and moral philosophy. The book creates and shares space for everyone who is full of grief and rage, who cannot be at home in institutions that support or ignore genocide. We discu…

1
Listening to Syria with Alia Malek 53:51

5M ago53:51

53:51

Journalist, author and editor Alia Malek tells us about her recent visit to Damascus and about the anthology of Syrian writing she edited for McSweeneys. Aftershocks was released in December 2024, just days after Bashar al-Assad fled Syria and the country's political prisons began to crack open. The collection brings together work by sixteen Syrian…

1
SOWTS 54: THE WICKED IMPACT 1:01:38

5M ago1:01:38

1:01:38

Join us in this enchanting episode as my cousin and I dive into the highly anticipated film adaptation of the beloved musical "Wicked." We explore the captivating story of Elphaba and Glinda, dissect the performances of the star-studded cast, and discuss the film's visual spectacle and musical arrangements. Whether you're a die-hard fan of the stag…

1
SOWTS EP 53: SLAYING INTO 2025 27:11

6M ago27:11

27:11

This week's episode is all about coming into the new year! Happy New Year, and buckle up for what 2025 has to bring us. Enjoy, think, and share with a friend! https://linktr.ee/davon_newbolt?utm_source=linktree_admin_share

1
Inside The World of Lebanese Comics with Rawand Issa 1:00:31

6M ago1:00:31

1:00:31

Comics artist Rawand Issa joins us to talk about her book Inside the Giant Fish (trans. Amy Chiniara, Maamoul Press); her path from journalism to graphic art; artist groups and collectives across the region; the “new school of Arab comics,” and the challenges of making a living as a comics artist. We also talk about a few other Lebanese graphic nov…

1
SOWTS EP 52: LETTING GO IN THE YEAR 2024-CATCHING UP 26:34

6M ago26:34

26:34

This is the welcome back we have all been waiting for. We are just having a conversation on the topic of letting go and catching up on what we've been up to. Enjoy, think, and share with a friend.

1
Give and Take 1:00:40

7M ago1:00:40

1:00:40

In this episode, we talk through some literary news from Algeria and France, discuss two big translations out this fall from towering authors, as well as a new favorite by Maya Abu al-Hayyat. Then we turn to Read Palestine Week and the new collection focused on writers in Gaza, And Still We Write, before a discussion on refusing to work with Israel…

1
“The thing that makes podcasting great is that it’s audio first.” James Cridland on the state of the podcast industry 38:52

7M ago38:52

38:52

On a special bonus episode, James talks to me about the state of the podcast industry, the audio versus video conversation, and his thoughts on its future. Links: The Vergecast: They’re called “Podcasts” Podnews: Why is all the podcasting money in the US by Will Page The decentralized nature of podcasts is its best feature (Dubai Podfest 2023) The …

1
Podnews: James Cridland 31:31

7M ago31:31

31:31

Pull up a chair and join my conversation with James Cridland, founder & editor of Podnews.net James tells me about their growth from scratch to 32,000 subscribers, and the importance of owning your tech stack and workflow. We also talk about their acquisition of the Podcast Business Journal last year as a key expansion strategy. On a special bonus …

1
Trailer: James Cridland on building the platform that powers podcast industry reporting 1:24

7M ago1:24

1:24

On a special episode coming this week, I’m sitting down with James Cridland, founder & editor of Podnews.net, *the* place to get all your podcast news, and then some. Over two episodes, we’ll get into the genesis of the platform and get James’ insights on the latest shifts in the podcast industry. So pull up a chair & join the conversation! Learn m…

1
Arabic culture and literature in Spain 39:19

8M ago39:19

39:19

Today’s guest, Irene Lozano, is the director of a Spanish cultural institution, Casa Arabe. It received the 2024 Sheikh Zayed Book Award for Cultural Personality of the Year. As we’ll discuss, Casa Arabe is a center of learning, discussion and exchange between Spain and Arab countries. It offers Arabic language classes and a myriad of cultural init…

1
Flash Fiction Winner Karima Ahdad 47:07

8M ago47:07

47:07

Moroccan author Karima Ahdad was the winner of this year’s Arabic Flash Fiction contest run by ArabLit and Komet Kashakeel, which saw more than 900 entries from around the world. We read her award-winning story in Katherine Van de Vate’s discussion and discuss patriarchy, story creation, and what it means to write “feminist” work. Show Notes: Karim…

1
Reem Bassiouney: Writing Historical Fiction is like “Stringing Pearls” 42:08

9M ago42:08

42:08

An epic historical novel set in Fatimid Cairo, Reem Bassiouney’s The Halva-Maker trilogy won the Sheikh Zayed Book Award and is forthcoming in English. The book explores the founding of Cairo, by a Shia dynasty and a set of generals and rulers who all hailed from elsewhere. We talked to Bassiouney about balancing research and imagination; shining a…

1
Deena Mohamed’s Graphic Novel Asks: What If Your Wish Came True? 1:02:35

10M ago1:02:35

1:02:35

We recorded this interview with Deen in January 2022, just as her debut urban-fantasy trilogy Shubeik Lubeik (“Your Wish is My Command”) was coming out in English. This original and beautifully illustrated story imagines that wishes of varying quality can be bought and sold in contemporary Cairo, with unpredictable and poignant results. It has been…

1
Etel Adnan: “I Write What I See, Paint What I Am” 1:07:13

12M ago1:07:13

1:07:13

Art critic and journalist Kaelen Wilson-Goldie joins us for a sweeping look at the life, writing, and art of singular Lebanese author-artist Etel Adnan (1925-2021). Kaelin Wilson-Goldie’s Etel Adnan is available from Lund Humphries. Adnan’s Time, translated by Sarah Riggs, is available from Nightboat Books. The Beauty of Light, a collection of inte…

1
Bonus: Ramsey Tesdell on gaps in the MENA podcast landscape 11:07

1y ago11:07

11:07

Ramsey Tesdell shares his thoughts on some of the challenges and opportunities for the podcast landscape in the region. This episode is a continuation of my conversation with Ramsey, where he shared his entrepreneurial journey and some of Sowt’s growth plans, including their acquisitions of Finyal Media & Rising Giants Network. Learn more about you…

1
Sowt: Ramsey Tesdell 35:25

1y ago35:25

35:25

How do you go from social network to podcast powerhouse? Pull up a chair and join the conversation with Ramsey Tesdell, co-founder and CEO of Sowt. Ramsey tells me about his entrepreneurial journey, why he’s an unintentional leader & lessons from their recent podcast acquisitions of Finyal Media in 2022 & Rising Giants Network last year. On a speci…

1
This Moment 40:57

1y ago40:57

40:57

Majalla 28 is a literary magazine out of Gaza co-producing an issue with ArabLit. We talk about the work by co-editors Mahmoud al-Shaer and Mohamed al-Zaqzouq and read excerpts from that issue. After that, we talk about a particular kind of Palestinian literature – by writers serving life sentences. Find out more about the Gaza issue at arablit.org…

1
Trailer: Ramsey Tesdell on building podcast powerhouse, Sowt 1:14

1y ago1:14

1:14

Pull up a chair & join the conversation with Ramsey Tesdell, co-founder and CEO of podcasting powerhouse, Sowt. Available in your podcast apps May 7. If you subscribe now, you’ll also get a bonus episode on the state of the podcast landscape before everyone else! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

1
Ghassan Kanafani: Defiance on Every Page 1:08:04

1+ y ago1:08:04

1:08:04

Ghassan Kanafani is best known for his famous novellas, but he was many things besides a talented writer: a prolific journalist, an insightful critic and editor, a heterodox Marxist, a spokesman for the militant Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. He wrote and lived like he had no time to waste (which turned out to be true: he was assass…

1
WITH GAZA 1:08:37

1+ y ago1:08:37

1:08:37

This episode features writing from and about Gaza, and explores the imperative to write, between hope and hopelessness, at a time when words both seem to count enormously and to not be enough. Show Notes This episode’s cover art is by Chema Peral @chema_peral Letter from Gaza by Ghassan Kanafani was written in 1956. Mahmoud Darwish’s Silence for th…

1
On Translating Arabic Literature with Robin Moger 53:14

1+ y ago53:14

53:14

We talk to Robin Moger about how he became a translator from Arabic and about what has changed in recent years in the field of Arabic literature and translation and what has stayed the same. Moger’s first book-length literary translation was Hamdi Abu Golayyel’s 2008 novel الفاعل, which became A Dog with No Tail. His most recent is a translation of…

1
A Crime at the End of the Sahara 46:54

2y ago46:54

46:54

Said Khatibi’s detective novel نهاية الصحراء (End of the Sahara) is set in a remote desert city in Algeria in the Fall of 1988, when the country’s October Riots are about to break out place. The book is one of the winners of this year’s Sheikh Zayed Book Award. Khatibi explained how his writing is also a way of exploring larger historical crimes. S…

1
SOWTS 51: RELATIONSHIP GOALS WITH CAITLIN AND DAVON-PART 2 37:43

2y ago37:43

37:43

Caitlin joins this podcast episode for another epic time. They dive into the aftermath of part 1's episode, discuss friendship, and go into some questions as well. Enjoy, think, and share with a friend. ⁠https://thesaltsa.wixsite.com/mysite

1
Remembering Hamdi Abu Golayyel 1:19:27

2y ago1:19:27

1:19:27

Egyptian novelist Hamdi Abu Golayyel died last month at the age of 56. In this episode, we remember Hamdi and his one-of-a-kind literary career, telling the story of Egypt’s laborers, Bedouin, and migrants. Show Notes: Egyptian Novelist Hamdi Abu Golayyel Dies at 56: ‘There Was No One Like Him’ A Special Section at ArabLit on Abu Golayyel, Bedouin …

1
SOWTS 50: THIRTY FUN 43:56

2y ago43:56

43:56

Davon shares the latest updates and events in his list. He also gives what he's received and learned during this time. Enjoy, think, and share with a friend. ⁠https://thesaltsa.wixsite.com/mysite

1
SOWTS 49: RELATIONSHIP GOALS WITH CAITLIN AND DAVON 58:22

2y ago58:22

58:22

Davon invites one of his best friends Caitlin to talk about their relationship's evolution. From where it was to where it is today. They discuss their fondest memories and even enjoy some laughs at the differences in the recollection of their stories. Take a listen and have some fun with us going on this journey of the highly anticipated podcast ep…

1
Sawad Hussain’s Translation Advice 58:06

2y ago58:06

58:06

Translator Sawad Hussain joins us to talk about the challenges of making a living as a translator, the art of co-translation, her focus on Arabic literature from Africa and the Gulf, and the advice she gives to her translation mentees. We also highlight three of Sawad’s recent and forthcoming translations: Haji Jaber’s Black Foam, Bushra al-Maqtari…

1
Looking Back From Iraq 56:35

2y ago56:35

56:35

Twenty years after the disastrous and mendacious US invasion of Iraq, we take a look at writing from Iraq: memoirs, poems and blog posts. Shalash the Iraqi is a collection of such posts – a satirical, surreal, and affecting panorama in life in a Shia suburb of Baghdad in the early years of the occupation. Show Notes: An excerpt from Gaith Abdul-aha…

1
Love and its Discontents 1:07:15

2+ y ago1:07:15

1:07:15

We wandered through Arabic poetry and prose to talk about many different forms of literary love: regretful love, unreciprocated love, bad love, vengeful love, liberating love, married love. We read this poem by Núra al-Hawshán: “O eyes, pour me the clearest, freshest tears And when the fresh part’s over, pour me the dregs. O eyes, gaze at his harve…

1
Should You Turn Down That Literary Award? 58:28

2+ y ago58:28

58:28

It’s literary prize season! When the Sawiris Cultural Awards were announced at the start of 2023, novelist Shady Lewis Botros turned his novel award down, launching a storm of criticism, defense, and discussion. Is it bad manners or good politics to turn down a prize? How do different prizes affect the literary landscape? How is the 2023 prize seas…

1
Getting Your Wish 1:02:35

2+ y ago1:02:35

1:02:35

Egyptian graphic novelist Deena Mohamed talks about her debut urban-fantasy trilogy Shubeik Lubeik (“Your Wish is My Command”). A product of playful self-translation, it’s coming to English as a single volume. It will be unbottled by Pantheon (US) and Granta (UK) on January 10, 2023. Show Notes: While the US edition keeps the title “Shubeik Lubeik,…

1
SOWTS 48: REASONS WHY I LEFT-PART 2 59:23

2+ y ago59:23

59:23

The highly anticipated part 2 and conclusion to Reasons Why I Left. We continue right after the last resignation of 2019. With 2020 bringing an uncertain future Davon takes about the rollercoaster of that year and how he navigated through that time up to now. Enjoy, think, and share with a friend. https://thesaltsa.wixsite.com/mysite…

1
Yasmin El-Rifae’s Radius 1:10:53

2+ y ago1:10:53

1:10:53

El-Rifae’s book Radius: A Story of Feminist Revolution tells the story of a movement that mobilized in Egypt to protect female protesters from mob sexual attacks in 2012 and 2013. Based on interviews with friends and comrades, the book explores memory, truth, gender, violence, political organizing, trauma, and possible futures. Show Notes You can o…

1
SOWTS 47: REASONS WHY I LEFT-PART 1 54:24

2+ y ago54:24

54:24

With the release of season 2 of SOWTS and the new episode Welcome Back 2022, we dive into the anticipated conversation of why I left my church of 27 years. After years of being faithful and loyal to this organization, I had made the decision that it was time to step away and start on a new path. Although there were a lot of things that happened tha…

1
1001 Nights: A Never Ending Story 50:15

2+ y ago50:15

50:15

In this sponsored episode, we talk to Sheikh Zayed Book Award winner Dr. Muhsin Al-Musawi about his life-long scholarship on the 1001 Nights. Show Notes: This podcast is produced in collaboration with the Sheikh Zayed Book Award. The Sheikh Zayed Book Award is one of the Arab world’s most prestigious literary prizes, showcasing the stimulating and …

1
SOWTS 46: WELCOME BACK 2022 41:02

3y ago41:02

41:02

This week's episode will cover where we have been and what we have been up to the past year. We also let the listeners in on what's to come for our website The Salt and podcast Showing Out With The Salt. Enjoy!

1
End of Summer Reading 46:20

3y ago46:20

46:20

We’re back to talk about books we read over the summer and books we’re looking forward to this fall. Including poetry from Iman Mersal, Hadiya Hussein’s novel about looking for a lover disappeared in Saddam’s Iraq, and Mohamed Alnaas’ novel about the pressure to be a certain type of Libyan man. Show Notes: Iman Mersal’s The Threshold, trans. Robyn …

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