logo
episode-header-image
Feb 2025
7m 14s

A new novel follows the love lives of th...

NPR
About this episode
tail spinning
Up next
Yesterday
'Body Beautiful' and 'My One-of-a-Kind Body' aim to cultivate kids’ body positivity
Body image can be a tricky subject to navigate for those of all ages – including kids. In today’s episode, we’re highlighting two kids’ books that encourage body positivity and spark curiosity about our outsides and insides. First, NPR’s Scott Detrow talks to author Susan Verde a ... Show More
17 m
Jan 15
'Freedom on the Sea' is a biography of Robert Smalls – by his great-great-grandson
Robert Smalls’ dynamic life story – his daring escape from slavery, his pivotal role in the Civil War, and the political career that ensued – was almost lost to history. But now there are plans to preserve and celebrate him. A new monument honoring Smalls is set to be unveiled ou ... Show More
10m 50s
Jan 14
The novel 'These Days' fictionalizes a lesser-known chapter in the history of Belfast
In the spring of 1941, Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland, braced for incoming attacks from German bombers. Over April and May, four German air raids killed thousands of Belfast residents. Lucy Caldwell’s novel These Days is set during this time. In today’s episode, she spe ... Show More
8m 7s
Recommended Episodes
Feb 2025
Palestinian Writing From the Diaspora | Sahar Mustafah Interviews Susan Muaddi Darraj
In this episode of Ehkili, Sahar Mustafah welcomes author and editor Susan Muaddi Darraj to discuss her recent anthology, "Ask the Night for a Dream: Palestinian Writing From the Diaspora." The conversation highlights the significance of amplifying Palestinian literary voices, th ... Show More
50m 4s
May 2025
Author Selma Dabbagh | We Wrote In Symbols: Love and Lust By Arab Women Writers
In this episode of Ehkili, Palestinian writer Selma Dabbagh discusses the influence of her legal background on her storytelling and explores the complexities of her Palestinian identity, particularly in the context of political engagement and activism. The conversation also delve ... Show More
59m 30s
Sep 2024
Isabella Hammad : Recognizing the Stranger : On Palestine and Narrative
<p>Today’s conversation with Isabella Hammad is truly like no other on the show in its fourteen year history. The main text of her book is the speech she delivered for the Edward Said Memorial Lecture in September of 2023. A remarkable speech called “Recognizing the Stranger” whi ... Show More
1h 56m
Sep 2025
The Hollow Half: a Memoir of Bodies and Borders | Sarah Aziza
The author discussed her multigenerational Palestinian family memoir "The Hollow Half: A Memoir of Bodies and Borders," which spans from mandate Palestine to the present day. Sarah Aziza reflects on her relationship with her Palestinian identity, the complexities of being "half" ... Show More
1h 1m
Jul 2023
Isabella Hammad : Enter Ghost
<p>Isabella Hammad’s latest book Enter Ghost is about a Palestinian theater group attempting to put on a production of Hamlet in the West Bank. The actors come from many different Palestinian experiences, one to the next. Some have Israeli citizenship. Others live in refugee camp ... Show More
1h 45m
Mar 2025
This Palestinian American's debut novel may not be political — but her existence is
To be a Palestinian American writer right now can lead to a lot of expectation to focus on identity and devastation, but in her debut novel, <em>Too Soon</em>, Betty Shamieh shares the story of three generations of Palestinian women trying to find love, purpose and liberation.<br ... Show More
32m 26s
Jan 2025
How Award-Winning TV Writer & Novelist Georgia Jeffries Writes
Award-winning TV writer/producer turned novelist Georgia Jeffries spoke with me about why Cagney and Lacey was her film school, teaching screenwriting at USC, and the ghosts, grief, and grievance in her debut novel THE YOUNGER GIRL. Georgia Jeffries is the Emmy-nominated TV write ... Show More
47m 48s
Sep 2024
Redefining Palestinian Identity with Jenan Matari
Today, we have the honor of introducing Jenan Matari, a dedicated advocate and storyteller whose journey encapsulates the struggles and triumphs of embracing one's identity. Born into a first-generation Arab American household, Jenan's family history is deeply rooted in the Pales ... Show More
1s
May 2025
Interview | Money, Iranian-American Identity, and Romance: Chelsea Fagan on Building a Business and Writing a Political Love Story
In this episode of Growing Up Irooni, Leyla sits down with Chelsea Fagan—founder of The Financial Diet and author of the new novel High Dive. Known for blending personal finance with cultural critique, Chelsea joins Leyla for a wide-ranging conversation that covers:Why she wrote ... Show More
45m 49s