Shows
Produced By with TommenMerging Universes: Data Science, Sci-Fi, and Life’s Bigger Questions | #65: Kion AhadiDr. Kion Ahadi is a dynamic C-Level Executive and Board-Level Leader with a stellar track record in driving strategic insights and data science excellence. With 15 years of senior experience, Kion has spearheaded data-driven transformations in high-profile organisations, such as The National Lottery Heritage Fund and The Law Society. His expertise spans data architecture, governance, and advanced analytics, consistently leveraging these skills to enhance decision-making, product development, and continuous improvement.
Beyond his professional achievements, Kion is an accomplished sci-fi author and content creator, known for his bestselling novel "Exit Darkness, Enter Light." Holding a PhD i...2024-08-121h 00
MRS Bulletin Materials News PodcastEpisode 6: Superconductor robust against magnetic fieldIn this podcast episode, MRS Bulletin’s Sophia Chen interviews Kaveh Ahadi from The Ohio State University about a material his group developed that maintains superconductivity in a magnetic field. The researchers grew a film of lanthanum manganite on a crystal of potassium tantalate. When lowered to the temperature of 2 Kelvin, the material is a superconductor. When Ahadi’s group applied 25 Teslas of magnetic field, the material stayed superconducting. Even though the material is not of practical use, Ahadi says that studying this material will help researchers better understand the mechanisms that lead to superconductivity. This work was published in N...2024-03-0504 min
The matcha talkFolge 17 - Beauty-Wahn und Schönheitseingriffe mit Dr. Nilüfer AhadiIn dieser Folge geht es um das umstrittene Thema: Schönheit. Was ist schön und wie entsteht ein Schönheitsbild? Mit unserem Gast Dr. Nilüfer Ahadi von FACEHYPE Konstanz.
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Dilek Pacacioglu (Influencerin und Content Creatorin) und Duygu Candan (Unternehmerin und Social Media Expertin) sprechen über die Themen Business, Lifestyle und allem, was dazugehört bei einer Tasse leckerem Matcha Latte. Sie erkunden die neuesten Trends, teilen Geheimnisse des Erfolgs, bieten praktische Ratschläge und dabei gehen sie über das bloße Geschäftsleben hinaus und nehmen dich mit auf eine besondere Reise, in dem sie Themen wie Gesundheit...2023-10-1957 min
Global Reentry Presents: Jobs with JodiBaktash Ahadi: Documentary Filmmaker and Human Rights ActivistJodi speaks with Baktash Ahadi (RPCV Mozambique), an award-winning documentary filmmaker, motivational speaker, trainer, and human rights activist. Baktash shares how his Peace Corps experience coupled with his cultural life experiences as a refugee has influenced his passion for storytelling. He speaks on how activism and awareness is his foci in his multiple documentaries.Featured Guest:Baktash Ahadi is an award-winning documentary filmmaker, speaker, facilitator, and human rights activist.He specializes in strategic communication, leadership development, narrative storytelling, conflict resolution, and cultural diversity to help leaders make a positive impact in their...2023-04-0631 min
Ahadi Collab (African Voices in the Energy Space)Episode 7: Challenges & Opportunities of Just Energy Transition in South AfricaPresident Cyril Ramaphosa recently greenlit the just transition framework, which under the Presidential climate commission sets out policy measures and undertakings by different social partners to minimize the social and economic impact of the shift away from fossil fuels.The framework underpins an agreement between South Africa the UK, US Germany, France, and the EU grant access to an $8.5 billion investment in a shift away from fossil fuels, as we can see their efforts to transform the South African economy into a greener economy.
In this episode our host Melisizwe Tyiso and guest speaker Sakhile Ngcongwane discuss...2022-12-161h 00
Gumzo na MwanaspotiChakula bado ni cha Vibandani: Angela Okutoyi | Gumzo na Mwanaspoti PodcastLicha ya kutamba katika mashindano ya tenisi, Angela Okutoyi bado anapitia maisha magumu. Katika mahojiano na Mhariri wa Michezo, Ali Hassan Kauleni, mshindi huyo wa taji la Wimbledon anasimulia masaibu ambayo amepitia katika safari yake ya mchezo wa tenisi. Mchezaji huyo mwenye umri wa miaka kumi na minane anasema bado analazimika kukula vibandani licha ya ahadi kutoka kwa maafisa wa serikali ya kumsaidia.2022-11-1426 min
Ascend Into Your PowerSolar Eclipse Light Language Activation w/ Shiba AhadiShiba and I channeled light language and light codes to help you with your solar plexus chakra ++ overall confidence and personal strength. We recorded this on the Solar Eclipse 10/26/22. The energy between us was so powerful that it caused glitching in the feed. I couldn't really edit the audio because of it but didn't want you guys to miss out! So, definitely tune into the youtube to get the full effect! Please feel free to reach out to us, to let us know how these codes made you feel :)
Find Shiba Here:
I...2022-11-0533 minAscend Into Your PowerEp 11: Psilocybin + Taking Back Your Power w/ Shiba AhadiIn this episode, Shiba and I speak on what it means to own who you are. We talk about how people in the spiritual community have often found this need to people please others and in the turn end up abandoning yourself in the process. Shiba and I talk about bullying and how that can affect your personal confidence. We also speak on how the outside voices are just that on the outside. How we can transmute all of those thoughts that are brought upon us, to return to the heart to remember who we are. We talk about...2022-11-051h 34
Make Life Less DifficultBaktash Ahadi: From Afghanistan to America, Telling Stories that MatterMy guest today is Baktash Ahadi.Baktash is a communications strategist, executive leadership & transformational coach, facilitator, and multidisciplinary storyteller who helps leaders, companies, and organizations solve their most complex human-centric problems.He specializes in strategic communication, leadership development, narrative storytelling, conflict resolution, and cultural diversity to help leaders make a positive impact in their organization and on society.The recipient of numerous awards for public service and documentary storytelling, Baktash has worked on race relations in communities across the United States and on the peace process in Afghanistan. Baktash is particularly...2022-10-181h 10
Siasa na GumzoGumzo la GMO; Azimio yamkosoa Hasla | Gumzo la Wiki PodcastGMO imezua gumzo, Azimio wakipinga. Kalonzo naye anasema Rais Ruto analenga kuangamiza kilimo cha mimea ya kiasili. Mbali na hayo, unadhani kwamba Kalonzo anatoshea viatu vya Odinga katika upinzani?
Baba naye angali anamlaumu Chebukati na mataifa ya kigeni, kwamba yaliingilia uchaguzi wa Kenya! Unasemaje? Si hayo tu, Azimio inasema Ruto amekuwa kiguu na njia, bila kwanza kutimiza ahadi kwa Wakenya. Nawe unatathmini vipi utendakazi wa Ruto ndani ya siku 30 tangu kuapishwa?
Wanahabari wetu William Omasire wa Nyamira, Edwin Mbugua wa Nyeri, Clinton Ambujo wa Kisumu na Martin Ndiema wa Trans Nzoia wanasema na wananchi.2022-10-1415 minAhadi Collab (African Voices in the Energy Space)Episode 6: Eskom social compact VS Eskom Transformed - Achieving A Just Transition for South Africa.The energy sector is a highly politicised section of the South African economy. As such, in South Africa, you cannot talk about energy without also talking about Eskom. With the State-owned company approaching its 100th year, Eskom continues to play a pivotal role in national and regional development.
In this episode our host Brian Kamanzi and guest speaker Lungile Mashele discuss South Africa’s push for a Just Energy Transition; exploring views on how we got here, + our potential next steps as a nation.2022-09-2839 min
Siasa na GumzoGumzo na Siasa Podcast; Manifesto za Ruto na WajackoyahMgombea urais wa UDA, William Ruto amezindua manifesto yake akiangazia nguzo sita; kupunguza gharama ya maisha, kumaliza uhaba wa walimu, matibabu bila malipo, kujenga nyumba elfu 250 kila mwaka, kukuza biashara na kuimarisha kilimo. Ahadi hizi zinatekeleka?
Upande mwingine Wajackoyah ameweka wazi manifesto yake akijumuisha mambo ya kiajabu. Mara atahamisha jiji la Nairobi hadi Isiolo, sijui kufuga nyoka, kuvunja sekta ya bodaboda na kuwaajiri wahudumu hao katika mashamba ya bangi na mengine mengi ya kushangaza.
Ni manifesto gani ni nzuri?
Halafu Kenya Kwanza inasema bandari ya Mombasa imeuzwa huku serikali ikikana.
Kadhalika Baba ameanza vita dhidi ya Chebukati. Anasema manual register...2022-07-0212 min
Ahadi Collab (African Voices in the Energy Space)Episode 5: Presidential Climate Commission (PCC)To date the PCC has provided us with a just transition framework made a commitment to achieve a just transition and has committed to focus support on resourcing and climate finance, as stipulated by commitments in South Africa's NDCs at COP 26.
In this episode our host Bongiwe Matsoha and guest Happy Khambule share their thoughts and experiences of the conference as well as a broader look at the PCC since its inception, and also its role moving forward.
Host: Bongiwe Matsoha
Guest: Happy Khambule
Featuring: Creative Communication Strategist...2022-06-091h 08Ahadi Collab (African Voices in the Energy Space)Episode 4: IPCC VS why is there nothing coming from the global SouthWhat is the IPCC report? How was the IPCC initiated and by whom?
Thando Lukuko and Thandile Chinyavanhu answer all the questions related to IPCC in this episode.
Host: Thando Lukuko
Guest: Thandile Chinyavanhu
Featuring: Creative Communication Strategist - Lerato Ngakane2022-04-2626 min
Life Junkyard PodcastEP 15. AHADI NI DENIThe crew discusses everything about promises those worth keeping and those not and there experiences2022-03-1621 min
Ahadi Collab (African Voices in the Energy Space)Episode 3: Africa's biggest polluter (How did we get here?)In 2016, A report by Dr M Holland titled "Health impacts of coal fired power plants in South Africa" demonstrates that air pollution has a broad spectrum of effects on health, including mortality and cardiovascular and respiratory illness.
Episode 3 is about how we became Africa's biggest polluter.
Host: Happy Khambule
Guest: Tasneem Essop
Featuring: Creative Communication Strategist - Lerato Ngakane2022-02-041h 09
Ahadi Collab (African Voices in the Energy Space)Episode 2: Water and Energy (Who do we prioritize?)Researcher (Melisizwe Tyiso) chats to Activist (Ferrial Adam). Together, they discuss Water and Energy security issues that South Africa faces as a country.
Featuring: Creative Communication Strategist - Lerato Ngakane2022-02-0435 min
Ahadi Collab (African Voices in the Energy Space)Episode 1 (pt 3): Energy Poverty (Decentralised Energy Generation)Part 3 of Episode 1: Researcher (Siwe Kuse) chats to Project Manager (Bathandwa Vazi). Together, they discuss Decentralised Energy Generation.
Featuring: Creative Communication Strategist - Lerato Ngakane2022-02-0413 min
Ahadi Collab (African Voices in the Energy Space)Episode 1 (pt 2): Energy Poverty (The role of government policies in reducing energy poverty)Part 2 of Episode 1: Researcher (Siwe Kuse) chats to Project Manager (Bathandwa Vazi). Together, they discuss the role of government policies in reducing energy poverty.
Featuring: Creative Communication Strategist - Lerato Ngakane
2022-02-0415 min
Ahadi Collab (African Voices in the Energy Space)Episode 1 (pt 1): Energy Poverty (Who has access to energy in South Africa?)Welcome to our very first episode of African Voices in the Energy Space.
To kick off Season 1, Researcher (Siwe Kuse) chats to Project Manager (Bathandwa Vazi). Together, they discuss the multifaceted issue of energy poverty in South Africa + burdensome inequality, role of spatial planning in energy access and the role government policies in reducing energy poverty.
Featuring: Creative Communication Strategist - Lerato Ngakane
Find us at:
Instagram: @ahadi.collab_podcast
Twitter: @ahadi_collab
2022-02-0420 min
Siasa na GumzoGumzo la Wiki Podcast: Waiguru ahamia UDA; OKA yapinga kugawikaGavana wa Kirinyaga, Ann Waiguru aigura Jubilee na kujiunga na UDA. Je, Ruto atamchagua kuwa mgombea mwenza?
Je, ataweza kumenyana na Purity Ngurici na Martha Karua?
Vilevile, Wakenya wamkumbusha Kenyatta ahadi ya kutoa mwanga zaidi kuhusu ufichuzi wa Pandora Papers.
Aidha, Mudavadi na Kalonzo watakiwa kuweka wazi misimamo yao kuhusu kinyang'anyiro cha urais mwaka ujao. Watakwenda hadi debeni au la?
Wanahabari wetu, John Mbuthia wa Nyeri, Moses Kiraise wa Pokot Magharibi na Martin Ndiema wa Trans Nzoia wameshirika gumzo na Wakenya kuhusu masuala haya.2021-10-3114 min
Siasa na GumzoGumzo la Wiki Podcast; Kafyu na vicheko vya UhuRuto; maoni ya WakenyaKuondolewa kwa marufuku ya kuwa nje kwashabikiwa na Wakenya. Aidha, Mt. Kenya yasubiri ahadi ya Uhuru kuhusu kilichomkosanisha yeye na Ruto. Huko Kisii, hulka ya kuwateketeza wazee kwa madai ya kushukiwa kuwa wachawi yazua ghadhabu na kauli kinzani. Wanahabari wetu, John Mbuthia, William Omasire na Martin Ndiema wamewashirikisha wananchi kuhusu haya.2021-10-2410 min
SepetukoSepetuko Podcast; Ahadi kwa mjane wa Dedan Kimathi na Mau MauBABA amecheza mchezo wa siasa kwa kupiga magoti mbele ya mjane wa shujaa Dedan Kimathi kupokea baraka. Ametoa ahadi ya kuwafadhili kwa namna wakereketwa wa Mau Mau. Ahadi kwa wakereketwa hao zisiwe ahadi za kawaida za wanasiasa kama ilivyokuwa ahadi za viwanja vya michezo ambazo Jubilee ilizotoa 2013.2021-10-1905 min
SiasaSiasa Podcast; Ahadi za Raila na Ruto; watatekeleza? Maoni ya WakenyaWakenya wanatoa maoni kuhusu ahadi za Raila Odinga na William Ruto. Baadhi wanasema ahadi zao ni ndoto tu huku wengine wakiwa na matumaini kwamba watatekeleza.
Aidha, Wakenya wameshabikia kuharamishwa kwa mpango wa Huduma Namba. Je, rufaa ya serikali itafaulu? Wanahabari wetu wameshiriki gumzo na Wakenya kuhusu masuala haya.2021-10-1620 min
Hoja za WahaririHoja za Wahariri Podcast: Ahadi za wanasiasa; watatekeleza?Wagombea mbalimbali wa urais nchini Kenya wanazidi kutoa ahadi wanazosema watatekeleza endapo watashinda uchaguzi wa 2022. Katika podcast hii, wahariri Geoffrey Mung'ou, Roselyne Obala na mwanahabari mwandamizi, Mike Nyagwoka wanajadili iwapo ahadi zenyewe zinatekelezeka au la kwa kuweka kwenye mizani ahadi za sasa na za awali.2021-10-1612 min
SepetukoSepetuko Podcast; Ondoa utumbili kwanza, jenga uadilifu nchini KenyaNi msimu wa wanasiasa wakuu kutangaza ajenda zao kwa taifa ili kuwavutia wapiga kura kwa ajili ya uchaguzi mkuu wa Mwaka 2022. Lakini ni vigumu ahadi hizo kutekelezwa kwa sababu ya ukosefu wa uadilifu kwenye daraja mbalimbali za kisiasa na kwenye utumishi wa umma.2021-10-1205 min
SepetukoSepetuko Podcast; Uhuru ameamua ni Raila - kuondoa chuki za kihistoriaUhuru Kenyatta amefanya kikao kilichowaleta pamoja Raila Odinga na viongozi wa One Kenya Alliance, OKA. Uhuru aliwashawishi kumuunga mkono Raila, akisema ndiye wa pekee mwenye ushawishi wa kisiasa. Japo haijasemwa, Uhuru analenga kuondoa siasa za chuki za kihistoria na kuchimbana...za tangu miaka ya 60. Pia analenga kuondoa propaganda dhidi ya familia ya Jaramogi ila kumtenga Ruto au kutotimiza ahadi ambazo Uhuru alimpa kuhusu kumuunga mkono 2022 ni kutobadili kitu; ni kuendeleza uadui wa kisiasa nchini.2021-08-1305 min
Stories of TransformationEmmy-Award Winning Director of The Social Dilemma, Jeff Orlowski, on the Invisible Dangers of Social MediaIn 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, our culture, and our mental health.In this episode of Stories of Transformation, we discuss why Jeff wanted to make this film, how exactly social media is a threat to our democracy, how the film has begun to...2021-07-2735 min
Stories of TransformationWhat Almost Dying Can Teach Us About Living, with Emmy-Award Winning Journalist and Cancer Survivor Suleika JaouadSuleika 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 award-winning New York Times column and video series she wrote from her hospital bed.In this episode of Stories of Transformation, Suleika recounts the darkest and lightest moments of her four-year battle with leukemia. She shares...2021-07-1341 min
Stories of TransformationConnecting, Humanizing and Healing Through Music with Esteemed Violinist Vijay GuptaVijay 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 thought leader, serving to create spaces of belonging, healing and wholeness through music. He is the Founder of Street Symphony, a non-profit organization that performs free, powerful music events and workshops to Los Angeles communities disenfranchised by homelessness, poverty, and...2021-06-2947 min
Stories of TransformationFinding Home Within Yourself: A Journey to Self Love with Najwa Zebian, Author of Welcome Home: A Guide for Building a Home for Your SoulBak 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 awareness.Also discussed is how Najwa's Lebanese-Canadian upbringing shaped how she makes meaning in the world, her decision to no longer wear a hijab and depart from the identity of "the good girl" for...2021-06-1532 min
Stories of TransformationOvercoming Obesity and Anxiety with Mark MetryIt 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 walked headlong into the dangerous area that the authorities had just told him to avoid. As he tells it, Mark was hoping that something would happen to him as he walked alone that night. At that rock-bottom moment, he would take any...2021-06-0130 min
Stories of TransformationLiving and Dying on the Migrant Trail with Anthropologist and Author Jason De LeónJason 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 - a territory shared by the United States territories of Arizona and California. Particularly, the book tackles the troubling statute called "prevention through deterrence," which is the United States policy that aims to deter migrants not through walls or b...2021-05-1133 min
Stories of TransformationLearning the Art of Conversation with Communications Expert Misha GloubermanMisha 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 time, Misha would later take his gift and turn it into a profession, and become an educator himself. Today, Misha uses his expertise to help corporate clients improve their culture by facilitating healthy communication from top to bottom. He also teaches a course...2021-04-2734 min
What's Your Why?Baktash Ahadi: Cultural Identity and the Immigrant ExperienceThe tragic events of 9/11 set Baktash on a path of examining why people do what they do. Upon graduation from college, he decided to serve in the Peace Corps as an educator in a rural village in Mozambique. His father learned English from a Peace Corps Volunteer in Kandahar in the 1960s and that experience was the inspiration for his family to come to the United States. After completing his service in the Peace Corps, Baktash went back to Afghanistan, the country of his birth, to serve as a combat interpreter and cultural advisor for three years supporting military and r...2021-04-2240 min
Kisa ChanguKisa Changu Podcast: Wasichana pacha, Mevis na Melon kuhusu ugumu wa maishaPacha wawili, Mevis na Melon waliotenganishwa wakati wa kuzaliwa, wanapitia hali ngumu ya maisha. Punde baada ya kuangaziwa katika vyombo vya habari, wengi walijitokeza na ahadi za kuwasaidia. Lakini tangu hapo wameachwa wakihangaika; chakula ni kwa shinda, karo ni kwa shida...wamesalia ombaomba. Faith Kutere amezungumza nao.2021-04-2124 min
Stories of TransformationThe Art of Preservation with Filmmaker Mariam GhaniMariam 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 their respective homelands when she was young, Mariam spent the majority of her life in the United States. Mariam describes her experience of being born into exile as that of an "in-between space" - a pervasive feeling of...2021-04-2031 min
Stories of TransformationEpidemiologist and Author of “Medicare For All: A Citizen’s Guide“ Abdul El-Sayed on Identity, Capacity, and OpportunityAbdul 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 commended his public speaking abilities and recommended he consider a career in politics. He has been featured on countless media outlets speaking on topics social, political, and medical in nature. No doubt, the 36-year-old Abdul El-Sayed has already accomplished a lot...2021-04-0635 min
Stories of TransformationReza Aslan & Mahyad Tousi on Identity, MENA Representation in Media, and the United States of AlCan 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 facts clearly show that there have been next to no such characters - protagonists or even supporting actors whose bloodlines stem from Greater Middle East, North African, or Central/South Asian countries. Together - after over a decade...2021-03-3035 min
Stories of TransformationRolling With The Punchlines: How Comedian Maz Jobrani Took Control Of His Life by Taking The StageMaz 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 wanted him to take a more traditional route towards success, to choose a more stable career. It wasn’t until a culmination of events and encouragement that Maz decided to actually take to the stage to try his hand at the art of s...2021-03-2337 min
Stories of TransformationEmpathy and the Art of Acting with Hollywood Star, Faran TahirFaran 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 own account - always eager to learn and improve, not just in his craft but in the art of being human. Faran’s true character - off the stage, that is - speaks for itself when he shares...2021-03-1636 min
Stories of TransformationVirtual/Augmented Reality as the Ultimate Empathy Machine with Filmmaker Gabo AroraGabo 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 Transformation, hear Gabo’s story of going from a boots-on-the-ground humanitarian, working in conflict zones around the world and documenting his experiences, to founding the creative arts studio LIGHTSHED, whose mission is to combine immersive reality with real-world change.In...2021-03-0930 min
Stories of TransformationThe Potential For Peace With Israeli-born Palestinian Forsan HusseinAs 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 misfortune which had befallen Forsan’s Arab-Palestinian village in the past.For young Forsan, it was all he knew. Everyone in his world had always said the same thing: Arabs and Jews did not, and would neve...2021-03-0238 min
Stories of TransformationIn Search Of Stories Untold with Iranian Filmmaker Gelareh KiazandGelareh 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.” Indeed, Kiazand and her crew serve as a collective conduit through which the stories of underrepresented people and places can be brought to light.Gelareh takes pride in her authentic storytelling - at once offering fresh perspectives while being sure to remain subjective, giv...2021-02-2340 min
Stories of TransformationMoving Forward By Facing The Past — A Conversation With "I'll Meet You There" Filmmaker Iram Parveen BilalIram 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 the uproar until it revealed itself: a group of protestors voicing their disapproval towards the Muslim ban which had just been enacted.Iram had long-feared the reaction of America - particularly its majority - in the hypothetical event of political ac...2021-02-1633 min
South Orange Village: Our VoicesBonus Episode | Inclusion, Individuality, and Independence: People with Disabilities in the Black Family: TiaIn this podcast episode of Inclusion, Individuality, and Independence: People with Disabilities in the Black Family, we speak to Dr. Ahadi Bugg-Levine and her mother Mrs. Jacqueline Murphy. Ahadi Bugg-Levine is currently Board President for JESPY House and part of our Black History Month Planning Committee. We were excited to ask Ahadi and her mother to share the memories of Tiamoya "Tia" Bugg their sister and daughter, respectively. Tia loved living in South Orange. She enjoyed walking around downtown and was a regular at her favorites spots such as Dunkin Donuts, the Village Diner, Rite Aid (now Wa...2021-02-1144 min
Stories of TransformationFrom the Newsroom to the Battlefield with Journalist and Author Jessica DonatiJessica 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, personal detail the scenes on the ground from her time spent following US and Afghan special forces as they fought to stabilize Afghanistan.Describing herself as someone “guided by curiosity,” Jessica Donati is a person driven to unde...2021-02-0931 min
South Orange Village: Our VoicesInclusion, Individuality, and Independence: People with Disabilities in the Black Family | Part 1 of 2In this two-part episode, Brandon Hayes, interviews Aliyah, Arthur, and Myles as they provide a first-hand account on navigating through school, sports, and COVID while not allowing their disability to stop them from getting ahead. Ms. Dawn (Aliyah's Mom) and Ms. Nedra (Myles Mom) discuss what methods they use to ensure that their child is included and has a sense of normalcy in places where they might not feel included. In part 2 of this episode, Dr. Ahadi Bugg Levine, Board President of Jespy House provides a glimpse into her life with her sister Tia while her mom provides parents w...2021-02-0843 min
Stories of TransformationShaharzad Akbar: Leader and Visionary for Human Rights in AfghanistanShaharzad 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 everyday. Specifically, she fights on behalf of her fellow Afghan citizens' access to the full range of human rights. Her responsibility includes dissecting, criticizing, and reforming a broken system which has rendered human rights as more of a privilege than a precedent.Bo...2021-02-0241 min
Stories of TransformationThe Beauty of Arabic Art with Sultan QassemiIn 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 wide on art’s crucial role in the telling of history.Perhaps more important than the art itself, Qassemi aims to use his influence to further equity of Arab and greater Middle-East artists. Indeed, Qass...2021-01-2631 min
Stories of TransformationBuilding a Better World by Uplifting Afghanistan — Lotfullah NajafizadaLotlfullah 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 midst of Russian occupation. Later, he lived through the internal conflicts resulting from Taliban-controlled government, and the subsequent US occupation. Lotfullah and his family were constantly on the move during this time, struggling to survive and traveling all over Afghanistan to avoid the conflict as best...2021-01-1931 min
Stories of TransformationHow A Young Poetry Champion Found Her Voice — Marjan NaderiYouth 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 developed a voracious appetite for the craft and began writing poems of her own.Notably, it was the work of spoken word artist Mohamed Tall that spoke to Marjan; she was intrigued by the way Tall could seemingly distill an ent...2020-12-2234 min
Stories of TransformationHow Azita Ghanizada Is Setting The Stage For Equal Representation In HollywoodFrom 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 realize that she, too, wanted to someday be on the other side of the screen. She wanted to help people to escape their difficult realities like others had done for her, and she instinctually knew that she could channel the agony an...2020-12-1540 min
Stories of TransformationRonnie Malley Believes That Combining Music and A Sense of Global Citizenry Is The Key To A More Harmonious WorldRonnie 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 founded on principles of both art and science.Ronnie's musicality runs in his Palestinian family. His father, an immigrant to America and accomplished musician himself, encouraged his sons' interest in music from an early age. Ronnie says his father alwa...2020-12-0833 min
Stories of TransformationShireen Ghorbani Believes In Healthcare For All, And She’s Taking Political Action To Fix A Broken SystemIn 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 the Peace Corps working in Moldova. Today, she serves on the city council for Salt Lake County, Utah. Her primary political focus is improving healthcare systems by making health services accessible to as many people as possible.When her mother...2020-12-0142 min
Stories of TransformationOmaid Sharifi Is Beautifying War-Torn Afghanistan And Inspiring Generations, One Mural At a TimeOmaid 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 line of duty as a police officer when he was barely a teenager, Omaid knew it was his responsibility to step up and help provide for his mother and five younger sisters. He worked out of a small stand...2020-11-2433 min
Stories of TransformationMark Redmond Decided Serving At-Risk Youth Was More Important Than Material WealthIt 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, he wasn't fulfilled.As he sat at the roundtable to discuss business finances, Mark could almost see his entire life flashing before his eyes. He would advance professionally, make more money, meet someone, get married, grow old, and...2020-11-1736 min
Stories of TransformationRaju Narisetti: Journalist and Champion for Truth in a World of MisinformationRaju 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 The Washington Post.After his journalism career, Raju embraced the role as a media business executive and educator. He held a tenure as a professor of journalism at Columbia University, fulfilled the role of CEO for the medi...2020-11-1038 min
Stories of TransformationFlynn Coleman Wants to Shift The Focus From Distraction to Meaningful ActionIn 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 interwoven threads which tie everything together.In her book, “The Human Algorithm: How Artificial Intelligence is Redefining Who We Are”, Coleman explores — in equal parts — both cutting-edge technology and the age-old question of what it means to be human. She tackles the impact that technology...2020-11-0340 min
Stories of TransformationSaad Mohseni Built a Media Company That Transformed AfghanistanSaad 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 several decades of turbulence in Afghanistan - wrought with war, strife, and extremism - Saad Mohseni returned to his native country in 2002 with a business plan to inspire the nation by reinvigorating its struggling economy. More specifically, he wanted to...2020-10-2737 min
Stories of TransformationIndian-American Actress and Author Sheetal Sheth Stays True to Herself to Bring Protagonist Diversity into Mainstream MediaWhen 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 how multidimensional we all are and that we cannot be put in a box with one label. Just one of the ways Sheetal has brought this to life is through her children’s book seri...2020-10-2038 min
Stories of TransformationHow Being a Visual Storyteller in Afghanistan has Transformed Kiana Hayeri and Her Perspective on LifeAs 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 contributor to The New York Times. Her work has appeared in Harper's Magazine, Foreign Policy, Washington Post, NPR, Monocle Magazine, Wall Street Journal, Le Monde, The Globe, and Mail, among others. Her passion for visually telling...2020-10-1331 min
Stories of TransformationInspiring Social Change Through Art, Food, and Community with Andy Shallal, Founder of Busboys and Poets RestaurantAndy 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 and make people smile.Busboys and Poets is a community where racial and cultural connections are consciously uplifted… a place to take a deliberate pause and feed your mind, body and soul… a space for art, culture and politics to intenti...2020-10-0632 min
Nothing But Julie PodcastThree Minute Thursday - Interview With Baktash Ahadi - Installment #2Today's interview is with Baktash Ahadi, host of the podcast Stories of Transformation.2020-10-0110 min
Nothing But JulieThree Minute Thursday - Interview With Baktash Ahadi - Installment #2Today's interview is with Baktash Ahadi, host of the podcast Stories of Transformation.2020-10-0110 min