Shows
The Enlightenment PodcastEp 65 – Malak Mattar (Painting Gaza: Art, Memory, and Palestinian Resistance) “She picked up a paintbrush at fourteen, inside a besieged strip of land the world prefers to see only through rubble and statistics. What emerged instead were explosions of colour—women, nature, memory, and life—painted from inside Gaza itself.”In Episode 65 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Hanan and Shamim are honoured to be joined by Malak Mattar, a young Palestinian artist from Gaza whose work has become one of the most recognisable visual languages of contemporary Palestinian resistance.Born in Gaza in 1999, Malak is a self-taught artist who began painting as a teenager during Israel’s repeated...
2025-12-281h 01
The Enlightenment PodcastEp 64 – Dyab Abou Jahjah (Arresting Impunity: The Hind Rajab Foundation and the Fight for Accountability)“In July 2025, two Israeli soldiers were dancing at a music festival in Belgium. Hours later, they were in handcuffs—being questioned by federal police on war crimes charges. For the first time in 77 years, a European country arrested Israeli soldiers for crimes committed against Palestinians.”In Episode 64 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Hanan and Shamim are joined by Dyab Abou Jahjah, the Lebanese-Belgian activist, writer, and political organiser who is co-founder of the Hind Rajab Foundation—an organisation that is fundamentally reshaping how war crimes against Palestinians are pursued under international law.For...
2025-12-201h 40
The Enlightenment PodcastEp 63 – Frank Barat (Exposing Israeli War Crimes and How Culture Became a Weapon for Palestine)“For six years, he documented Israeli war crimes when most institutions refused to look. Then, in the middle of a genocide the world claimed was ‘too complicated,’ he helped organise something many said was impossible—a sold-out Wembley Arena concert, 12,500 people strong, raising £1.5 million for Palestine.”In Episode 63 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Hanan and Shamim are joined by Frank Barat — documentary filmmaker, activist, organiser, and one of the most important behind-the-scenes figures in the global Palestine solidarity movement.Frank spent six years documenting Israeli war crimes through the Russell Tribunal on Palestine, helping to build one of the most comprehensive...
2025-12-121h 04
The Enlightenment PodcastEp 62 – Dr. Ghassan Abu-Sittah (Medicine Under Fire: Bearing Witness to the Gaza Genocide)“In October 2023, while the world watched Gaza burn from their screens, one man walked into the inferno. A plastic surgeon who could have been earning millions on Harley Street instead chose to operate—43 days straight—under relentless bombardment. Sometimes without anesthesia. Sometimes sleeping on operating tables, wiped down with disinfectant. Today, that surgeon, now Rector of the University of Glasgow, joins us.”His eyewitness testimony helped bring Gaza’s genocide case to the International Court of Justice. Germany banned him. France banned him. Pro-Israel groups attempted to end his medical career. His only ‘crime’: speaking out a...
2025-12-051h 04
The Enlightenment PodcastEp 61 – Dr. Ramzy Baroud (Bearing Witness: Gaza, Journalism, and the Fight for Palestinian Memory)Over 110 family members. That’s how many Dr. Ramzy Baroud has lost in Gaza’s genocide. And he stopped counting a year ago. Among them: his sister, Dr. Soma — the 166th doctor murdered by Israeli forces. And his 11-year-old cousin Lema, an aspiring journalist who hoped to be the voice of her generation, killed alongside her parents and four siblings when Israeli warplanes flattened their shelter. Lema had been documenting the genocide on her phone.In Episode 61 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Hanan and Shamim are joined by Dr. Ramzy Baroud, the Palestinian author, historian, journa...
2025-11-281h 44
The Enlightenment PodcastEp 60 – Professor John Quigley (Britain’s Illegal Rule Over Palestine & the Legal Case for Accountability)For over a century, we’ve all been told that Britain lawfully governed Palestine — that the League of Nations mandated Britain to create a Jewish homeland, and that the international community supported these actions. Professor John Quigley has spent 40 years in legal archives uncovering the truth, and his assertion is that every single one of these claims is a lie.In Episode 57 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Hanan and Shamim are joined by Professor John Quigley, one of the world’s foremost authorities on international law and the legal history of Palestine. For four decades, Profes...
2025-11-211h 18
The Enlightenment PodcastEp 59 – Rolla Selbak (Filmmaking, Identity, and the Power of Palestinian Storytelling)"She’s a Palestinian-American filmmaker who’s breaking boundaries in Hollywood, amplifying Arab and queer voices, and using cinema as a form of resistance.”In Episode 59 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan sit down with Rolla Selbak, the award-winning Palestinian-American filmmaker, activist, and podcaster whose work challenges stereotypes and reclaims the narrative for marginalized communities through the power of storytelling.Rolla first made waves with her debut feature film Three Veils, the first Arab-American lesbian feature film, which she wrote, directed, and produced. The film broke new ground for Mi...
2025-11-141h 15
The Enlightenment PodcastEp 58 – Dr. Mustafa Barghouti (Medicine, Resistance, and the Struggle for a Free Palestine) “He’s treated the wounded under fire, been shot by an Israeli sniper, and spent over five decades fighting for Palestinian liberation through medicine, unity, and nonviolent resistance.”In Episode 58 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan are joined by Dr. Mustafa Barghouti — a Palestinian physician, political leader, and General Secretary of the Palestinian National Initiative (Al-Mubadara) — whose lifelong mission bridges the frontlines of healthcare and the frontlines of freedom.For more than 50 years, Dr. Barghouti has embodied the spirit of steadfastness (sumoud) — healing the injured, documenting Israeli war crimes, and b...
2025-11-071h 26
The Enlightenment PodcastEp 57 – Dr. Victor Kattan (Britain Owes Palestine: The Legal Case for Colonial Accountability)In Episode 57 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan are joined once again by Dr. Victor Kattan, the distinguished British-Palestinian legal scholar and historian whose groundbreaking legal campaign may redefine the world’s understanding of colonial responsibility.In September 2025, Dr. Kattan and a team of leading barristers and scholars filed a 400-page petition to the British government, demanding accountability for Britain’s unlawful occupation of Palestine. This historic initiative — titled Britain Owes Palestine — was the brainchild of Munib Al Masri, the renowned Palestinian industrialist, philanthropist, and lifelong advocate for justice, whose vision has united some of the world’s...
2025-10-311h 00
The Enlightenment PodcastEp 56 – Dr. Abdel Razzaq Takriti (Palestinian Historian on Resistance, Memory & Scholasticide)“He’s been called one of the most important Palestinian historians of his generation — a scholar who not only documents resistance but defends the very right of Palestinians to produce knowledge under siege.”In Episode 56 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan are joined by Dr. Abdel Razzaq Takriti, the leading Palestinian Oxford-trained historian who developed the contemporary definition of scholasticide, a concept that was coined by the renowned Palestinian scholar and Prof Takriti’s old mentor at Oxford Karma Nabulsi. He has also played a key role in disseminating frameworks and campaigns related to this co...
2025-10-101h 52
The Enlightenment PodcastEp 55 – Annemarie Jacir (Palestinian Cinema, Gaza, and the Power of Storytelling as Resistance)“She’s been called a pioneer of Palestinian cinema — the filmmaker who broke barriers, rewrote history, and built a cinematic revolution for her people.”In Episode 55 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan are joined by Annemarie Jacir, the award-winning Palestinian filmmaker and writer whose body of work has not only made history but also given Palestine a lasting voice on the global stage. Together, we explore Annemarie’s artistic journey, the challenges of making films under occupation, and the transformative role of cinema in Palestinian resistance.Annemarie Jacir has writte...
2025-10-031h 30
The Enlightenment PodcastEp 54 – Robert Martin (From Real Estate to Resistance: Awakening, Detention & Palestine’s Struggle)“I've never had an M16 pointed at me before. After just one hour in Bil'in! The Palestinians I met weren't terrorists but human beings — kind, resilient, and oppressed — fighting for the most basic right of all: freedom. What shocked me most was the deep-rooted racism among the majority of Israelis — a society taught to dehumanize Palestinians.” – Robert Martin, Bil'in, West Bank (2014)In Episode 54 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan are joined by Robert Martin, the Australian filmmaker and activist who went from being anti-Palestinian to risking detention and psychological torture for breaking the Gaza blockade. Together, we explore R...
2025-09-261h 20
The Enlightenment PodcastEp 53 – Aaron Maté (Fearless Journalism, Propaganda, and the Struggle for Liberation)“He’s been called ‘one of the most self-hating Jews on earth,’ faced death threats from fellow Jews, and in November 2023, Senator Chris Coons had him removed from an Amtrak train by police after he confronted him about opposing a Gaza ceasefire...”In Episode 53 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan are joined by Aaron Maté, the award-winning Jewish-Canadian journalist who has become one of the most fearless voices exposing Israeli genocide and apartheid. Together, we discuss Aaron’s journey into journalism, his relentless work debunking Israeli propaganda, and the moral imperative of standing for Palestini...
2025-09-191h 16
The Enlightenment PodcastEp 52 – Huwaida Arraf (International Solidarity and the Fight Against Apartheid)In Episode 52 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan are joined by Huwaida Arraf, the Palestinian-American human rights attorney, activist, and co-founder of the International Solidarity Movement (ISM). Huwaida has dedicated her life to building international solidarity networks that confront Israeli apartheid and injustice.Huwaida co-founded ISM, which brought over 10,000 international witnesses to Palestine, challenging Israel’s impunity on the ground. She is also a survivor of the 2010 Gaza Freedom Flotilla, when Israeli commandos violently attacked humanitarian ships attempting to break the blockade on Gaza. Beyond her activism, Huwaida ran for U.S. Congress in Michigan, continuing her fight fo...
2025-09-121h 30
The Enlightenment PodcastEp 51 – Vivien Sansour (Seeds, Stories, and Resistance: Preserving Palestine Through Heritage)In Episode 51 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan are joined by Vivien Sansour, the Palestinian artist, conservationist, and visionary founder of the Palestine Heirloom Seed Library. Through her groundbreaking work, Vivien is preserving endangered Palestinian seed varieties and ensuring that stories of land, food, and heritage remain alive—one harvest at a time.Vivien established the Palestine Heirloom Seed Library in Battir in 2014, creating a living repository of seeds at risk of extinction. Beyond conservation, she founded the Traveling Kitchen to reconnect farms and kitchens, bringing food, culture, and community together. Her work has been featured at...
2025-09-051h 21
The Enlightenment PodcastEp 50 – Bob Suberi (From Zionist to Freedom Flotilla: Breaking the Blockade & Speaking Truth on Zionism)In Episode 50 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan are joined by Bob Suberi, a Yemeni-American Jew, Vietnam veteran, and activist who was recently arrested by Israeli forces while attempting to break the Gaza blockade aboard the Freedom Flotilla. Bob joins us to share his remarkable journey, his fight for justice in Palestine, and his work dismantling Zionist propaganda.Bob is a 77-year-old former St. Louis restaurant owner who spent nearly six decades as a committed Zionist—until a profound awakening during his 2019 visit to the West Bank changed the course of his life. Si...
2025-08-291h 18
The Enlightenment PodcastEp 49 – Omar El Akkad (Award-Winning Author on Writing, Resistance & Justice for Palestine)In Episode 49 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan are joined by Omar El-Akkad, the award-winning Egyptian-Canadian journalist and novelist whose viral tweet about Gaza later became the title of his explosive nonfiction debut—now a New York Times bestselling book.Omar is an award-winning journalist who spent over a decade covering conflicts from Afghanistan to Guantánamo Bay for The Globe and Mail. He is the acclaimed author of the novel American War, praised by the BBC, and the Scotiabank Giller Prize-winning novel What Strange Paradise. His latest work, the explosive nonfiction debut One Day, Everyone Wil...
2025-08-221h 09
The Enlightenment PodcastEp 48 – Prof. Omer Bartov (From IDF Soldier to Calling Gaza a Genocide in Scholarly Clarity)In Episode 48 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan are joined by Professor Omer Bartov, one of the world’s foremost Holocaust and genocide scholars, whose moral clarity and scholarly rigor have led him to unequivocally describe Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide—a position he reached through a deeply personal and professional journey.Professor Bartov is the Dean's Professor of Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Brown University and has been described by the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum as one of the world’s leading specialists in genocide. Born in Israel, he served in the Israeli...
2025-08-151h 47
The Enlightenment PodcastEp 47 – Ahed Tamimi (National Symbol of Resistance on Liberation, Law & Living Under Occupation)In Episode 47 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan are joined by Ahed Tamimi, the iconic Palestinian girl, national hero, freedom fighter, and symbol of resistance whose unwavering defiance in the face of Israeli military occupation has inspired people around the world.As a teenager, Ahed became internationally known when videos of her confronting heavily armed Israeli soldiers in her village of Nabi Saleh went viral. Her courage and dignity in those moments made her a global symbol of Palestinian resistance—described by many as “the face of Palestinian defiance.”Now in her early twenties, Ahed c...
2025-08-0858 min
The Enlightenment PodcastEp 46 – Heather Masoud & Catherine Pawson (Zaytoun on Food, Resistance & Solidarity)In Episode 46 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan are joined by Heather Masoud and Catherine Pawson, the visionary co-founders of Zaytoun, a pioneering social enterprise that launched the world’s first Fairtrade certified olive oil in 2009. For over two decades, Zaytoun has supported Palestinian farmers through ethical trade and solidarity, while celebrating the deep cultural heritage of Palestinian food. Zaytoun is more than a brand—it’s a movement grounded in economic resistance. Through direct partnerships with suppliers in Palestine, they’ve offered high-quality Palestinian products to the UK market, helping to sustain communities living un...
2025-08-011h 19
The Enlightenment PodcastEp 45 – Dr. Raz Segal (Holocaust Scholar on Gaza, Genocide & Speaking Truth as an Israeli Jew)In Episode 45 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan are joined by Dr. Raz Segal, an Israeli-American Holocaust and genocide scholar who made headlines for courageously stating that what is unfolding in Gaza is a “textbook case of genocide”—just days after October 7th.Dr. Segal is an associate professor of Holocaust and genocide studies and an endowed professor in the study of modern genocide at Stockton University, where he also directs the Master of Arts in Holocaust and Genocide Studies program. With a background rooted in both Israeli and American academia, his work critically examines how system...
2025-07-251h 15
The Enlightenment PodcastEp 44 – Gregory Khalil (Telos Group on Evangelicals, Justice & the Israel-Palestine Conflict)In Episode 44 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan sit down with Gregory Khalil, a Palestinian-American lawyer, peacemaker, and co-founder of the Telos Group, to explore the complexities of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and the role of American evangelical engagement in shaping public discourse and policy.Greg is a Yale-trained lawyer who previously advised Palestinian leadership on peace negotiations. Born in San Diego, his roots trace back to Beit Sahour, a town near Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank. Through his work with the Telos Group, Gregory focuses on transforming how U.S. Christians—particularly evangelicals—understand justice, peacemaking, and the...
2025-07-181h 30
The Enlightenment PodcastEp 43 – Laith Marouf (Founder of Free Palestine TV on Zionism, Media Bias & Palestinian Resistance)In Episode 43 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan engage in a powerful conversation with Laith Marouf, a Palestinian-Syrian award-winning journalist, media analyst, and activist, to explore Zionism, the politics of journalism, and the struggle for Palestinian justice and liberation.Laith is the founder of Free Palestine TV, an independent platform dedicated to amplifying Palestinian voices and countering mainstream media narratives. His work is deeply informed by his own history—his mother’s family, the Al-Kilani, lived in Haifa in 1948, and his father’s side, the al-Kilanis, hail from Nablus, Iraq, and ultimately Mecca. His lineage traces ba...
2025-07-131h 10
The Enlightenment PodcastEp 43 – Laith Marouf (Founder of Free Palestine TV on Zionism, Media Bias & Palestinian Resistance)In Episode 43 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan engage in a powerful conversation with Laith Marouf, a Palestinian-Syrian award-winning journalist, media analyst, and activist, to explore Zionism, the politics of journalism, and the struggle for Palestinian justice and liberation.Laith is the founder of Free Palestine TV, an independent platform dedicated to amplifying Palestinian voices and countering mainstream media narratives. His work is deeply informed by his own history—his mother’s family, the Al-Kilani, lived in Haifa in 1948, and his father’s side, the al-Kilanis, hail from Nablus, Iraq, and ultimately Mecca. His lineage traces back t...
2025-07-111h 14
The Enlightenment PodcastEp 42 – Dr. Azzam Tamimi (Author & Scholar on Political Islam, Hamas & Western Misreadings)In Episode 42 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan engage in a compelling conversation with Dr. Azzam Tamimi, a Palestinian academic, political theorist, and author based in the UK, to examine the intellectual foundations of political Islam, the framing of Islamic resistance movements, and the struggle for Palestinian liberation.Dr. Tamimi is the former director of the Institute of Islamic Political Thought and the author of Hamas: Unwritten Chapters, Islam and Secularism in the Middle East, and a biography of Rachid Ghannouchi. Through his academic work and public commentary, he has challenged dominant Western narratives about Islamism and offered...
2025-06-271h 06
The Enlightenment PodcastEp 41 – Sharmine Narwani (Journalist & Editor at The Cradle on Zionism, Media & Palestinian Justice)In Episode 41 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan engage in a powerful conversation with Sharmine Narwani, a Beirut-based geopolitical analyst and journalist, to unpack the ongoing struggle for justice in Palestine, the historical roots of Zionism, and the failures of Western media narratives.Sharmine is the Editor-in-Chief of The Cradle, a news outlet focused on West Asian geopolitics. Over the past two decades, she has reported extensively from conflict zones including Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and Gaza, offering rare on-the-ground insights often omitted by mainstream Western outlets. Her work has appeared in a wide range of publications...
2025-06-201h 15
The Enlightenment PodcastEp 40 – Chris Doyle (Director of Caabu on UK Policy, Zionism & Justice for Palestine)In Episode 40 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan engage in a compelling conversation with Chris Doyle, Director of the Council for Arab-British Understanding (Caabu), where he has led advocacy and education efforts on Palestine and the wider Arab world for over two decades.Chris is a leading voice on UK foreign policy in the Middle East, and a trusted advisor to parliamentary groups on Arab affairs. As a frequent commentator on UK media—including The Guardian, Al Jazeera, and the BBC—he works to challenge misinformation, amplify Palestinian voices, and hold British institutions accountable for their hist...
2025-06-131h 14
The Enlightenment PodcastEp 39 – Dr. Marwan Muasher (Jordan’s First Ambassador to Israel on Reform, Peace & Pluralism)In Episode 39 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan engage in a compelling conversation with Dr. Marwan Muasher, a distinguished Jordanian diplomat and scholar whose career has centered on advocating for democratic reform, inclusive governance, and justice in the Arab world.Dr. Muasher has played a pivotal role in shaping Jordan’s foreign and domestic policy. He served as Jordan’s first ambassador to Israel following the 1994 peace treaty, and later held the roles of foreign minister, deputy prime minister of Jordan, and ambassador to the United States.Currently, he is Vice President for Studies at t...
2025-06-061h 12
The Enlightenment PodcastEp 38 – Mouin Rabbani (Palestinian Analyst & Oslo Accords Critic on Zionism, Occupation & Resistance)In Episode 38 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan engage in a profound conversation with Mouin Rabbani, a Dutch-Palestinian analyst and writer renowned for his incisive commentary on Palestinian politics, international law, and Middle Eastern geopolitics.Rabbani has dedicated his career to analyzing the Arab-Israeli conflict and Palestinian affairs. He has held significant positions, including Senior Analyst and Special Adviser on Israel-Palestine with the International Crisis Group, and Principal Political Affairs Officer with the United Nations Office of the Special Envoy for Syria. Currently, he serves as a nonresident senior fellow at the Middle East C...
2025-05-301h 09
The Enlightenment PodcastEp 37 - Haim Bresheeth-Žabner (Anti-Zionist Jewish Scholar & Author of An Army Like No Other)In Episode 37 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan speak with Professor Haim Bresheeth-Žabner, a British-Israeli academic, filmmaker, and author, whose life has been marked by a profound personal and political transformation.Born in a refugee camp to Holocaust survivors, Haim was raised in Israel under Zionist ideology — an ideology he would later reject entirely. His scholarship and activism over the past several decades have exposed the militarization of Israeli society and the foundational role of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in building and maintaining a settler-colonial state.Haim is the aut...
2025-05-231h 37
The Enlightenment PodcastEp 36 - Thomas Suárez (Historian, Violinist & Author of Palestine Hijacked on Zionism & Colonialism)In Episode 36 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan speak with Thomas Suárez — a London-based historical researcher, acclaimed author, and professional violinist — about Zionism, colonial violence, and the ongoing pursuit of justice for Palestine.His work as a meticulous researcher and author has made him one of the most fearless voices confronting the violent history of Zionism and its impact on Palestine.Thomas is the author of Palestine Hijacked: How Zionism Forged an Apartheid State from River to Sea, State of Terror: How Terrorism Created Modern Israel, and Writings on the Wall: Palestinian Oral Histo...
2025-05-161h 26
The Enlightenment PodcastEp 35 - Mohammad Nawajhaa (Palestinian Activist Fighting Erasure in Susya Village & Masafer Yatta)In Episode 35 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan speak with Mohammad Nawajhaa — a Palestinian activist from the village of Susya in the South Hebron Hills.Mohammad became involved in activism at a young age. At just 13, he traveled with a youth delegation to South Africa — a formative experience that opened his eyes to the deep parallels between apartheid there and the occupation in Palestine. Inspired and outraged by the settler violence, demolitions, and military restrictions surrounding his village, Muhammad began dedicating his life to resistance and advocacy.He has worked extensively with international activists and human rights organizations to s...
2025-05-0943 min
The Enlightenment PodcastEp 34 - Diana Buttu (Palestinian Lawyer, Former PLO Advisor & Human Rights Advocate)In Episode 34 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan speak with Diana Buttu — a Palestinian-Canadian lawyer, political analyst, and former legal advisor to the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). Diana played a pivotal role in the early 2000s as a spokesperson and negotiator for the PLO’s Negotiations Support Unit — one of the few women at the table during peace talks between Israeli and Palestinian representatives.She holds degrees from the University of Toronto, Queen’s University, Stanford Law School, and an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management . Diana has also been affiliated with Stanf...
2025-05-021h 13
The Enlightenment PodcastEp 33 – Chef Joudie Kalla (Award-Winning Author of Palestine on a Plate & Baladi)In Episode 33 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan speak with Joudie Kalla — a Palestinian-British chef, food writer, artist, and passionate activist for Palestinian rights.Joudie is the author of the critically acclaimed cookbooks Palestine on a Plate and Baladi, which showcase her deep connection to Palestinian culture through food — and stories passed down from her family’s history in Palestine.After completing her master’s degree at the Sorbonne in Paris, Joudie trained at the prestigious Leith’s School of Food and Wine in London. She went on to hone her culinary skills at renowned r...
2025-04-251h 35
The Enlightenment PodcastEp 32 – Anna Lippman (Jewish Canadian Scholar & Anti-Zionist Activist for Palestinian Liberation)In Episode 32 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan speak with Anna Lippman — a Canadian Jewish activist, scholar, and outspoken anti-Zionist. Anna is currently pursuing a PhD in Sociology at York University in Toronto, where her research and activism intersect around justice, solidarity, and decolonization. Raised in Canada in a family deeply rooted in Jewish tradition — as the granddaughter of an Auschwitz survivor — Anna was initially enmeshed in mainstream Jewish institutions and Zionist ideology, believing it to be inseparable from her Jewish identity. Her journey into Palestinian solidarity activism began at the age of 19 when she volu...
2025-04-161h 39
The Enlightenment PodcastEp 31 - Ronnie Barkan (Jewish Israeli Dissident & Anti-Zionist Human Rights Activist)In Episode 31 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan speak with Ronnie Barkan — a Jewish Israeli dissident, human rights activist, and outspoken anti-Zionist.Ronnie is the co-founder of Boycott from Within, a group of Israeli and Palestinian citizens (from 1948 territories) who support the Palestinian-led BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) movement. His activism is rooted in a principled stance against apartheid, colonialism, and all forms of racial supremacy. He describes the Israeli state as a racial supremacist entity founded on ethnic cleansing and apartheid.Since refusing to serve in the Israeli military as a conscientious objector in 1997, Ro...
2025-04-112h 16
The Enlightenment PodcastEp 30 - Dr. As’ad Abu Khalil (The Voice Behind the Angry Arab News Service)In Episode 30 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan sit down with Dr. As’ad Abu Khalil, a political scientist, author, and prominent commentator on Middle Eastern affairs.Dr. As’ad Abu Khalil, is best known for his critical perspective on U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East and his outspoken critiques of Zionism. He gained a wide following through his long-running blog, the Angry Arab News Service—a blog that has been a key platform for critical analysis of regional politics—and has since transitioned much of his commentary to Twitter/X, where he continues to chall...
2025-04-041h 15
The Enlightenment PodcastEp 29 - Dr. Sara Husseini (Director of British Palestinian Committee)In Episode 29 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan sit down with Dr. Sara Husseini, a political strategist and advocate for Palestinian representation.Dr. Husseini is the Director of the British Palestinian Committee, an independent, diaspora-led organization dedicated to political and strategic advocacy in the UK. She also serves on the boards of the Britain-Palestine Centre and the Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy (PIPD), working to elevate Palestinian voices in policymaking and international relations.With a distinguished career in diplomacy, Dr. Husseini has advised senior Palestinian officials across multiple offices, including the Secretary-General of the...
2025-03-281h 09
The Enlightenment PodcastEp 28 - Susan Asfari (The Palestinian-Lebanese Producer Behind Award-Winning Films)In Episode 28 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan sit down with Sawsan Asfari, a Palestinian-Lebanese film producer, philanthropist, and human rights advocate.Sawsan holds a degree in Political Science and Journalism and has dedicated her career to supporting Palestinian communities through education, cultural initiatives, and storytelling. She is the Executive Director of the Galilee Foundation, an organization that empowers Palestinian youth in Israel through education. She is also the co-founder and trustee of the Asfari Foundation, which provides educational opportunities and leadership development programs across the Middle East.In addition to her philanthropic work...
2025-03-2158 min
The Enlightenment PodcastEp 27 - Farah Nabulsi (Oscar Nominated & BAFTA Award Winning Filmmaker)In Episode 27 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan sit down with Farah Nabulsi, an Oscar-nominated and BAFTA award-winning filmmaker and human rights advocate.After a successful career in finance, Farah pivoted to filmmaking following her first visit to Palestine in 2013. Since then, she has dedicated her work to highlighting the Palestinian experience through cinema.She has written, directed, and produced several impactful films, including:🎬 Oceans of Injustice – Her first short film, an adaptation of her writing, offering a deeply personal and autobiographical look at Palestinian struggles.🎬 They Took My Son – A harrowin...
2025-03-141h 25
The Enlightenment PodcastEp 26 - Dr. Ghada Karmi (Palestinian Writer & Activist on Exile, Identity & the One-State Future)In Episode 26 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan sit down with Dr. Ghada Karmi, a Palestinian-born academic, physician, prolific author, and activist.Dr. Karmi has held numerous prestigious positions, including Associate Fellow at the Royal Institute of International Affairs in London and Research Fellow at the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies, University of Exeter. She has also served as Vice Chair of the Council for Arab-British Understanding (CAABU), a leading organization advocating for stronger UK-Arab relations.As an outspoken advocate for Palestinian rights, Dr. Karmi has written extensively on the Palestinian struggle, displacement...
2025-03-071h 01
The Enlightenment PodcastEp 25 - Dr. Lena El-Malak (Palestinian Lawyer & Author of Stolen Nation on Reparations & Justice)In Episode 25 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan engage in a compelling conversation with Dr. Lena El-Malak, a Palestinian technology and data privacy attorney with profound expertise in public international law and refugee law. Dr. El-Malak earned her doctoral degree in public international law from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London.She is the author of Stolen Nation: The Right to Reparation of Palestinian Refugees, a comprehensive legal analysis addressing the destruction and expropriation of Palestinian property during the Nakba. This work advocates for a law-based approach to enforce the right...
2025-02-281h 32
The Enlightenment PodcastEp 24 - Raja Shehadeh (Palestinian Lawyer, Human Rights Activist, and Award Winning Writer)In Episode 24 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan sit down with Raja Shehadeh, a distinguished Palestinian lawyer, human rights activist, and prolific, award-winning writer. In 1979, he co-founded Al-Haq, a pioneering Palestinian human rights organization that continues to do remarkable work in the field. Shehadeh's literary contributions have garnered significant acclaim. His book Palestinian Walks: Forays into a Vanishing Landscape won the Orwell Prize, a prestigious British award for political writing, in 2008.More recently, his memoir We Could Have Been Friends, My Father and I was a finalist for the 2023 National Book Award for Nonfiction. ...
2025-02-2157 min
The Enlightenment PodcastEp 23 - Miko Peled (Founder and President of Palestine House of Freedom)In Episode 23 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan sit down with Miko Peled, an author and human rights activist born in Jerusalem. He is renowned for his influential books, including The General's Son: Journey of an Israeli in Palestine and Injustice: The Story of the Holy Land Foundation Five.Miko is the founder and president of the Palestine House of Freedom (Dar Alhurriya), a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit organization dedicated to ending Israeli apartheid and establishing a free Palestine with equal rights for all.In this episode, they discuss Miko's personal journey, his...
2025-02-141h 16
The Enlightenment PodcastEp 22 - Ahmed Shihab-Eldin (Palestinian Journalist on Human Rights, Queer Egypt & Middle East Media)In Episode 22 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan sit down with Ahmed Eldin, an Emmy-nominated journalist, producer, actor, and activist of Palestinian descent. Ahmed has built an impressive media career, including roles with The Huffington Post, VICE, and AJ+.His work includes the Emmy-nominated project Defining Middle Ground: The Next Generation of Muslim New Yorkers, and he has received various accolades, including a Webby Award. His documentary Queer Egypt Under Attack won multiple awards, including the Amnesty International UK Media Award for Digital Creativity and the British Journalism Award for Social Affairs, Diversity & Inclusion i...
2025-02-071h 21
The Enlightenment PodcastEp 21 - Professor Avi Shlaim (Israeli Historian on Zionism, Arab-Jews & Decolonizing History)In Episode 21 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan welcome their first Israeli guest, Professor Avi Shlaim, an Israeli-British historian of Iraqi Jewish descent. As an Emeritus Professor of International Relations at the University of Oxford, Professor Shlaim is renowned for his critical perspectives on the history of Zionism and Israel, being a prominent figure among Israel's "New Historians."Born in Baghdad in 1945, Professor Shlaim and his family relocated to Israel in 1950. He pursued his education in history at Jesus College, Cambridge, and later obtained an M.Sc. in International Relations from the London School of Economics.
2025-01-311h 04
The Enlightenment PodcastEp 20 - Atef Alshaer (Palestinian Professor & Poet on Poetry, Nakba & Literature as Resistance)In Episode 20 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan sit down with Atef Alshaer, a Professor in Arabic and Cultural Studies at the University of Westminster. With a career dedicated to exploring the intersections of literature, culture, and politics, Atef brings profound insights into Palestinian identity and resistance through poetry and storytelling.With a BA in English Language and Literature from Birzeit University in Palestine and a Master’s and PhD from the University of London, Atef has authored numerous works, including Poetry and Politics in the Modern Arab World, A Map of Absence: An Anthology of Pa...
2025-01-2459 min
The Enlightenment PodcastEp 19 - Amal Ghandour (Author of This Arab Life on Arab Identity, Lebanon & Storytelling Power)In Episode 19 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan sit down with Amal Ghandour, a Lebanese-Jordanian author and blogger behind This Arab Life. With over three decades of experience in research and community development, Amal offers deep reflections on Arab identity, generational silence, and storytelling.She is the author of two books: About This Man Called Ali and her latest, This Arab Life: A Generation’s Journey into Silence, released in October 2022. Amal holds an MS in International Policy from Stanford University and a BS from Georgetown, and her writings have appeared in Le Mo...
2025-01-171h 37
The Enlightenment PodcastEp 18 - Omar Dajani (Palestinian Professor & Peace Advisor on Two-State Solutions & Confederation)We were privileged to sit down with Omar Dajani, Carol Olson Professor of International Law at McGeorge School of Law and a key figure in the Middle East peace process. With roots in Jaffa, Syria, and France, Omar brings a rich cultural perspective to his work. A Yale graduate, he served as legal advisor to the Palestinian negotiating team during pivotal peace talks, including the Camp David Summit, and worked with the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process in Jerusalem. As co-chair of A Land for All, a movement advocating for a tw...
2025-01-101h 40
The Enlightenment PodcastEp 17 - Sandra Watfa (Palestinian Artist on Nakba, Gaza & Telling Stories Through Art & Poetry)We were honored to interview Palestinian artist Sandra Watfa, whose work powerfully highlights themes of displacement, resilience, and Palestinian rights.Born in Lebanon to a family displaced during the Nakba, Sandra’s art captures the grief and strength of the Palestinian experience. Her evocative collection Nakba: Palestinians' Ongoing Dispossession combines art and poetry to tell these enduring stories.In this episode, we feature some of Sandra’s impactful work and a moving recording she wrote in November 2023, reflecting on the ongoing genocide in Gaza."Nakb...
2025-01-021h 03
The Enlightenment PodcastEp 16 - Fadi Kattan (Palestinian Chef & Cookbook Author on Food, Culture & Bethlehem’s Heritage)🎄 Happy Holidays from Bethlehem! 🎄We were thrilled to interview Palestinian chef and restaurateur Fadi Kattan, (Hanan's cousin), joining us from the heart of Bethlehem during this festive season. Fadi is the chef-owner of Fawda in Bethlehem and co-owner of Akub in London, known for their modern takes on Palestinian cuisine. His cookbook Bethlehem: A Celebration of Palestinian Food showcases the culinary richness of his hometown, blending tradition with innovation. In this episode, Fadi takes us on a journey through Palestinian food, culture, and his mission to preserve heritage and spread peace through cuisine.M...
2024-12-261h 27
The Enlightenment PodcastEp 15 - Susan Abulhawa (An award-winning Palestinian-American Writer and Activist)On our latest podcast episode, we were delighted to interview Susan Abulhawa. Susan is a Palestinian-American human rights activist, founder of the NGO Playgrounds for Palestine, a biomedical scientist, a poet, and an award-winning author of three incredible novels.Her debut novel, Mornings in Jenin, sold over a million copies, was translated into 32 languages and established Susan as the most widely read Palestinian author of all time. Her second novel, The Blue Between Sky & Water, was sold in 19 languages, while her third, Against the Loveless World, also received critical acclaim.In addition to her literary...
2024-12-191h 00
The Enlightenment PodcastEp 14 - Munir Atalla (Palestinian Producer & Watermelon Pictures Exec on Film, Identity & Stories)Munir is Head of Production & Acquisitions at Watermelon Pictures, which promotes movies that reflect the perspectives and experiences of Palestinians as well as other marginalised groups around the world. Munir has a rich background as a Palestinian and within the entertainment industry - join us for a wide-ranging discussion about films, representation and much more...https://www.watermelonpictures.comhttp://muniratalla.com
2024-12-1445 min
The Enlightenment PodcastEp 13 - Samia Halaby (Palestinian Artist & Yale Professor on Art, Memory & Resistance Through Art)Samia Halaby is considered a trailblazer in contemporary abstract art internationally. Displaced from Palestine in 1948 with her family when she was eleven, Halaby was educated in the U.S. Halaby is collected by many museums such as the Guggenheim Museum; Institut du Monde Arabe; and Birzeit University (Ramallah). Her works are part of the current Tate Modern exhibition 'Electric Dreams'. We hope you enjoy this wide-ranging conversation with an iconic artist who is also Hanan's aunt on her Mum's side!
2024-12-071h 08The Enlightenment PodcastEp 12 - Shamim Sarif & Hanan Kattan (The International World Order)In Episode 12 of the Enlightenment Podcast, we delve into the concept of justice in the context of Palestine and the international world order. 🌍We explore whether international law has been applied fairly and discuss these complex issues from a humanist perspective. Please note, we are not legal experts, but rather engage in a thoughtful conversation based on research and our own opinions, aiming to foster meaningful dialogue.
2024-12-0126 minThe Enlightenment PodcastEp 11 - Shamim Sarif & Hanan Kattan (ICC Warrants & Palestine Before 1948)We discuss the recent arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court against Israeli leaders, and also debunk the idea that Palestine was an empty land with no people before Zionists took over with a look back at culture, arts and commerce in Palestine in the early 20th century.
2024-11-2437 minThe Enlightenment PodcastEp 10 - Shamim Sarif & Hanan Kattan ( A History of Persecution in Palestine)As Gaza undergoes ethnic cleansing, we look back at a history around the mass persecutions of Palestinians that have been well-documented but often overlooked or buried.
2024-11-1721 minThe Enlightenment PodcastEp 9 - Dr. Victor Kattan (International Law Professor on Occupation, Palestine & UN Legal Framework)Today our guest is Dr Victor Kattan - Assistant Professor in Public International Law at the University of Nottingham School of Law. Dr Kattan’s scholarship has been cited by the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Judges of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), by states and by international organisations in advisory proceedings before the ICJ, Special Rapporteurs to the UN Human Rights Council, and leading academics. We'll look at the legalities of the occupation, the U.N.'s right to give away Palestine and a host of other questions around this topic! For more ab...
2024-11-0948 minThe Enlightenment PodcastEp 8 - Shamim Sarif & Hanan Kattan (What’s Really Happening in Gaza?)Not many people realise Gaza has been under severe blockade for 18 years. We take a look at the recent history of Gaza and how it relates to what's happening there today.
2024-11-0333 minThe Enlightenment PodcastEp 7 - Shamim Sarif & Hanan Kattan (Apartheid Under Zionism)Is there apartheid in Israel and how is it implemented? A look at the current state of play for Palestinians living within Israel and in the occupied territories. With Shamim Sarif and Hanan Katan of The Enlightenment Podcast.
2024-10-2824 minThe Enlightenment PodcastEp 6 - Shamim Sarif & Hanan Kattan (What Were the Two Intifadas?)🌍 Welcome to Episode 6 of the Enlightenment Podcast, where we explore critical discussions about humanity and current global issues. This episode delves into the historical context and significance of the First Intifada (1987-1993) and the Second Intifada (2000-2005), focusing on the Palestinian struggle against occupation.📚 Join Hanan Kattan and Shamim Sarif as they unpack the events leading to these uprisings, the impact of Zionist policies, and the importance of historical context in understanding the ongoing conflict. We aim to shed light on narratives often overlooked in mainstream media, fostering awareness and dialogue around the Palestinian experi...
2024-10-2441 minThe Enlightenment PodcastEp 5 - Shamim Sarif & Hanan Kattan (From the Nakba to the Naksa)Welcome back to The Enlightenment Podcast! In this episode, we're diving deep into the historical context of Palestine, focusing on the critical periods of the Nakba (1948) and the Naksa (1967). Join us as we explore the long-term plans for the displacement of Palestinians and the impacts of these events on the community.In our discussion, we reflect on the atrocities faced by Palestinians since the 1930s, the myths surrounding the Zionist narrative, and the rich cultural history of Palestine that often goes overlooked. We'll also share inspiring stories of resilience, community support, and the ongoing...
2024-10-1724 minThe Enlightenment PodcastEp 4 - Shamim Sarif & Hanan Kattan (The Nakba)The Enlightenment Podcast-Episode 4Join us for a look at the Nakba (Palestinian catastrophe) of 1948 and the events leading up to it...
2024-10-0929 minThe Enlightenment PodcastEp 3 - Shamim Sarif & Hanan Kattan (The Palestinian Revolt)Hanan and Shamim discuss the uprising of 1936-39, and it's relevance today. 🔍 Topics Discussed:The background of colonial agreements and betrayals from 1915 onwards.The impact of the Balfour Declaration and the British mandate on Palestinian identity and land ownership.Key figures and events that fueled the 1936 general strike and subsequent revolts.The role of British and Zionist militias in suppressing Palestinian resistance.Parallels between historical events and contemporary struggles faced by Palestinians today.🎙️ Join the Conversation: This podcast aims to build awareness and fost...
2024-10-0816 minThe Enlightenment PodcastEp 2 - Shamim Sarif & Hanan Kattan (Zionism Explained)A brief look at the origins and goals of Zionism and how they affect Palestine today. With Shamim Sarif and Hanan Katan of The Enlightenment Podcast. Join us on the Enlightenment Podcast as we dive deep into the complexities of Zionism with Hanan Kattan. Together, we’ll explore its origins, relationship with Judaism, and impact on today's world. Tune in for a dialogue aimed at fostering understanding and awareness about Palestine.
2024-10-0718 min
The Enlightenment PodcastEp 1 - Shamim Sarif and Hanan Kattan (The Enlightenment Podcast)In our opening episode, we discuss Hanan's family background and bust a few mainstream myths about Palestine :)Topics Covered:Hanan's background as a Palestinian and her family's historyMisconceptions about Palestinian identity and cultureThe historical context of Palestine from ancient times to modern-dayThe significance of family contributions to Palestinian heritageUpcoming discussions on key topics like ZionismOur goal is to create an open dialogue and build awareness about Palestine, sharing stories that often go unheard.
2024-09-1512 min
LOTL: Queer ConversationPolarized: A Film That Shows There is More Than One Way to Be PalestinianPolarized is a British-Canadian drama film that premiered in 2023 at the BFI Flare Festival. It tells the story of Lisa, a young farm girl from rural Manitoba who falls in love with Dalia, a manager at an urban farm, despite their differences in race, religion, and sexuality. The film explores the themes of racism, intolerance, identity, and authenticity in a small-town setting. #lgbtmovies #queermovies #shamimsarif http://tinyurl.com/2t3cwvmdSupport the showCheck out more content on www.lotl.com
2024-02-2118 min
Misfits Makin' It: Oddballs Doing Cool Stuff on Radio MisfitsMisfits Makin’ It – Making Films That Count w/ Shamim Sarif (Sort Of)Misfits Makin’ It is the podcast component of the misfit comedy shows produced by Lauren LoGiudice. Show dates and info at www.laurenlogiudice.com
In this episode of Misfits Makin’ It, Lauren interviews writer and director Shamim Sarif. They discuss Shamim’s new film “Polarized,” and her journey to becoming a filmmaker and television director.
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2024-02-0745 min