Shows
Chatting With Slava The Jordanian#35 The Effect of Displacement on Immigrant Family DynamicsSend us a textIn this season finale, we explore The Effect of Displacement on Immigrant Family Dynamics with special guest Gisselle Alvarez. Immigrant families often carry the weight of international conflict, cultural misunderstandings, and the stress of adapting to new environments while navigating complex legal systems. But beneath the surface, these struggles impact far more than daily routines—they shape identity, relationships, and future generations.Together with Gisselle, we unpack:The challenges immigrants face with mental health, emotional well-being, and family cohesion during assimilation.How immigrant parents reassess their belief systems an...
2025-09-241h 02
Chatting With Slava The Jordanian#31 The Discovery of the Pulsars and the QuranSend us a textIn this thought-provoking episode of Chatting with Slava the Jordanian, Dr. Slava Abdelrehim is joined by her co-hosts, JD Yusef and Dr. Ihab, for a powerful conversation linking science to scripture. Together, they explore the discovery of pulsars and how these cosmic phenomena mirror the profound wisdom found in the Quran. The panel unpacks the significance of letters and verses in the Quran, the way scripture presents knowledge, and how science and faith intersect to reveal deeper truths. With their unique perspectives, the hosts highlight how unity in diversity and the overlapping of...
2025-08-271h 02
Chatting With Slava The Jordanian#30 – "Finding a Path in Dentistry as a Female Immigrant”Send us a textIn this inspiring episode, Driany Cruz shares her journey of resilience, determination, and transformation as a female immigrant in the United States. From working odd jobs to entering the dental field as an assistant, Driany carved her path forward with persistence and vision—eventually rising to become a coach for dental practices.She reflects on the sacrifices her parents made to ensure she received an education, the importance of embracing bilingualism and multicultural competency as a mother of two, and the ways her belief system has evolved throughout her life. Driany’s st...
2025-08-2058 min
Chatting With Slava The Jordanian#29 Elizabeth & Dalal Shahid: Two Sisters, Two Worlds, One StorySend us a textIn this heartfelt conversation, sisters Elizabeth and Dalal Shahid share their deeply personal journey as second-generation Lebanese-Palestinian American women navigating life between two worlds. Raised in Alabama, they reflect on their grandparents’ courageous decision to leave their homeland in the early 1960s, the cultural richness they carried with them, and the challenges of reconciling traditional Arab gender role expectations with modern American life.As licensed marriage and family therapists, Elizabeth and Dalal discuss how their professional paths were shaped by their cultural heritage, the power of education, and their grandmother’s unwa...
2025-08-131h 02
Chatting With Slava The Jordanian#27 Robotics, Roots, and Relief: A Conversation with Tarek Abu-JabarahSend us a textIn this powerful episode of Chatting with Slava the Jordanian, we’re joined by Tarek Abu-Jabarah, an electrical engineer by trade and a community organizer by heart. With over two decades of experience in robotics and automation — from building assembly lines for Ford and GM to leading programs at Motorola, Amazon, Google, and Symbotic — Tarek’s career is as impressive as his passion for people.But beyond the engineering world, Tarek is committed to humanitarian impact. As the current president of the Boston chapter of PCRF (Palestine Children’s Relief Fund), he leads e...
2025-07-301h 01
Chatting With Slava The Jordanian#25 The Legacy of Healing: Bimaristan & the Golden Age of Islamic MedicineSend us a textIn this enlightening episode of Chatting with Slava the Jordanian, Dr. Slava is joined by co-hosts JD Yusef and Dr. Ihab Abdelrehim to take us on a historical journey through the origins of the world’s first hospitals—the Bimaristan—born from the medical brilliance of the Islamic Golden Age.Far beyond mere places of rest, these institutions were groundbreaking centers of healing, innovation, and compassionate care. Together, the panel explores how these early Islamic medical centers laid the groundwork for many modern medical practices still used today.This episod...
2025-07-161h 03
Chatting With Slava The Jordanian#24 Naomi’s Story: Love, Motherhood & BecomingSend us a textIn this heartfelt episode of Chatting with Slava the Jordanian, we sit down with Naomi—a proud first-generation Dominican American—who opens up about her powerful journey of resilience, love, and transformation. Becoming a mother at just 16, Naomi shares how she navigated early motherhood while pursuing her education, chasing her dreams, and eventually finding a career she loves.Naomi reflects on what brought her family to the United States, how her circumstances impacted family dynamics and health, and the pivotal figure who became her mentor and source of strength. Through it all...
2025-07-101h 03
Chatting With Slava The Jordanian#21 Rooted in Resilience: Dr. Nour Alzubaidi’s Journey from Jordan to South BostonSend us a textIn this inspiring episode of Chatting with Slava the Jordanian, Dr. Slava sits down with Palestinian American dentist Dr. Nour Alzubaidi, a remarkable woman whose journey bridges continents, cultures, and callings.Born and raised in Jordan, Dr. Nour brought with her a strong sense of community and purpose when she moved to the United States to pursue her dental career. Now based in South Boston, she shares how she navigated cultural adaptation, language barriers, and professional pressures while remaining deeply grounded in her heritage.This conversation explores...
2025-06-1858 min
Chatting With Slava The JordanianDiscovering Palestinian Intellects: From Refugee Camps to Global ImpactSend us a text"My name is Nada Abukishk, and this is my story…"In this powerful and deeply personal episode, Dr. Slava Abdelrehim sits down with Palestinian Jordanian American epidemiologist Nada Abukishk, a global health scholar with a remarkable story of resilience, intellect, and global impact.Nada reflects on her earliest memories as a child growing up in a refugee camp in the 1980s, and the defining moment when she realized she wanted her life to be about creating change. Through courage, education, and grit, she went on to earn de...
2025-05-281h 00
Chatting With Slava The JordanianMental Health, Culture & Connection: Navigating Emotional Well-Being as Arab ImmigrantsSend us a textIn Episode #16 of Chatting with Slava the Jordanian, host Dr. Slava Abdelrehim invites listeners into a heartfelt and necessary conversation about mental well-being within the Arab immigrant experience. Joined by her cohost JD Yusef and special guest co-host Dr. Ihab Abdelrehim, the trio dives into how emotional health is shaped—and often silenced—by cultural norms, spiritual foundations, and traditional belief systems.Together, they explore:How mental health was (or wasn’t) part of their upbringing.The tension between emotional vulnerability and cultural expectations.How spi...
2025-05-141h 02
Chatting With Slava The JordanianFrom Brooklyn to Breakthroughs: Gisselle Alvarez on Culture, Motherhood, and the Power of MindsetSend us a textIn Episode 15 of Chatting with Slava the Jordanian, host Dr. Slava Abdelrehim sits down with Gisselle Alvarez, a certified phlebotomist, content creator, and proud first-generation Dominican American, to share a heartfelt journey of identity, migration, and personal evolution.Gisselle opens up about her family’s move from Brooklyn, NY to Lawrence, MA, and eventually to New Hampshire, weaving together a powerful narrative that explores the beauty and struggle of growing up between cultures. Now a wife and mother, Gisselle reflects on the emotional sh...
2025-05-071h 05
Chatting With Slava The JordanianNavigating Higher Education as Arab American ImmigrantsSend us a textIn this insightful episode, Dr. Slava Abdelrehim hosts a powerful conversation with JD Yusef and Dr. Ihab, as they share their personal journeys through higher education as Arab American immigrants. Tune in to discover the practical tools and mindset shifts they utilized to manage stress and anxiety while overcoming social stigmas. Packed with heartfelt stories, candid reflections, and valuable advice, this discussion offers essential guidance for young Arab Americans considering the path to higher education.Join us to learn, grow, and be inspired by experiences that highlight resilience, determination, and the...
2025-04-301h 04
Chatting With Slava The Jordanian"Legacy of Love: Honoring Um-Ihab, the Heart of an Immigrant’s Journey"Send us a textIn Episode 13 of Chatting with Slava the Jordanian, Dr. Slava Abdelrehim sits down with her husband, Dr. Ihab, to celebrate the life and legacy of his mother—an extraordinary Egyptian American female immigrant entrepreneur known affectionately as Um-Ihab or Tiny Ekram.Although she never completed high school, Um-Ihab possessed an intuitive wisdom and a radiant spirit that deeply impacted every young woman fortunate enough to know her. Dr. Slava describes her mother-in-law as her best friend and maternal mentor—an unwavering support system who helped her navigate the complexities of adjusting to a...
2025-04-231h 02
Chatting With Slava The JordanianDiscovering Palestinian Intellects: Dr. Maher Massis on Legacy, Education, and the Immigrant MindsetSend us a textPart of the Discovering Palestinian Intellects SeriesIn this powerful and thought-provoking episode of Chatting with Slava the Jordanian, Dr. Slava launches her special series “Discovering Palestinian Intellects” by welcoming the brilliant Dr. Maher Massis—a Palestinian-American scholar, entrepreneur, author, and advocate whose life story is as inspiring as his mission.Born in Dahran, Saudi Arabia to Palestinian diaspora parents, Dr. Massis shares the footsteps of his immigration journey—from high school to earning his Ph.D. in International Relations in the United States. He reflects...
2025-04-1658 min
Chatting With Slava The JordanianFrom Egypt with Love—A Story of Triumph & Resilience 🇪🇬Send us a textAt just two years old, Dr. Ihab M. Abdelrehim embarked on a life-changing journey when his parents left everything they knew in Egypt to build a future in the United States. Their sacrifice set the foundation for a story filled with struggle, perseverance, and success.In this powerful episode of Chatting with Slava the Jordanian, Dr. Slava sits down with Dr. Ihab to explore:✅ The cultural struggles, discrimination, and prejudice he faced growing up✅ How he turned ad...
2025-03-051h 05