Random Mena Podcasts

“My two sons’ godmother, who is a first-generation Dominican in New York City, was having a really, really hard time getting through to her mother about taking extra precautions during the start of the COVID pandemic,” says Juleyka Lantigua, host and creator of How to Talk to [Mamí & Papí] about Anything, Apple Podcasts’ Spotlight show for January 2023. “It was like they were speaking to each other in two different languages. The cultural and generational differences between them seemed to push them further apart as their conversations progressed. I realized they represented millions of children and parents enmeshed in a drag-out white-knuckle fight because those of us who are ‘Americanized’ see the world—and most importantly, live in the world—very differently from our immigrant parents.” Lantigua, who is a veteran reporter and founder and CEO of the digital audio and production company LWC Studios, launched How to Talk to [Mamí & Papí] about Anything in 2020. She found out quickly that many listeners could relate to the experiences discussed on the show. “It was a grand experiment, and we were nervous and excited,” she says. “And then the emails started pouring in from listeners who never knew they needed these conversations or those who wished they’d had the show growing up 20,30, 50 years ago!” Each episode features a listener with a problem that can range from navigating relationships with parents who disapprove of their spouse to maintaining a relationship with a difficult parent for the sake of the grandchildren. An expert on the episode’s topic joins Lantigua on the show to offer professional advice and analyze the generational and cultural dynamics at play. “So many of us straddle that hyphen of being American and something else. So many of us are trying to honor our parents’ ways while making our own way in the world,” Lantigua says. “This is a place to find solace and really good advice.” After nearly 150 episodes, Lantigua is taking the plunge into extending the brand with a sister show, How to Talk to [High Achievers] about Anything. And her hope is that there’s more where that came from. “My vision is that the “How to Talk to” franchise continues to grow and serve the rising-majority audience in the US for years to come.”

Categories: Education, Kids & Family, Society & Culture

Tags: 519788, adulting, Black People, brown people, children of immigrants, Desi, First Generation, Hispanic, hyphenated, Immigrants, Latinos, mena, new americans, parenting, poc, second generation, woc

Al Burda Podcast, powered by afikra, is a series of long-form conversations with some of the leading and prominent figures from the Al Burda 2021 Festival – the festival from the UAE Ministry of Culture and Youth, dedicated to celebrating diverse facets of Islamic arts and culture. Al Burda is a multidisciplinary platform run by the UAE Ministry of Culture and Youth, dedicated to celebrating diverse facets of Islamic arts and culture, through promoting creativity and experimentation in Islamic art practices and fostering critical discourse between experts, institutions, and communities on the past, present and future of Islamic culture.

Categories: Arts, Education, Society & Culture

Tags: afikra, alburda, arab, arabs, Arts, burda, islam, mena, middleeast, UAE

Afikra Matbakh is a podcast series that focuses on the food and drink of the Arab world. It is co-hosted by Selma Serry, Tony Tahan, and Mikey Muhanna. Matbakh features conversations with food practitioners who study how food and the kitchen have evolved over time in the Arab world. The guests discuss the history of food, its cultural and social significance, and its future possibilities. The podcast is informative and engaging, as it explores topics such as Mediterranean cookbooks, coffee culture, street food, culinary diplomacy, and more. The podcast also showcases the diversity and richness of Arab cuisine, as well as its connections to other regions and traditions. The afikra Matbakh podcast is a series of conversations with inspiring people who are passionate about food and culture in the Arab world. Some of the guests who have shared their stories and insights on the podcast are: – Nadir Nahdi, a food-lover, creator, and founder of BENI, a platform for underrepresented voices. – Anissa Helou, iconic chef, cookbook author, and food historian who has explored the cuisines of the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and North Africa. – Kamal Mouzawak, a Lebanese social entrepreneur and activist who created Souk el Tayeb, the first farmers’ market in Beirut, and Tawlet, a network of restaurants that celebrate regional diversity and heritage. – Sami Tamimi, a Palestinian chef and co-founder of Ottolenghi, a group of restaurants and delis in London that offer innovative dishes with influences from the Levant, North Africa, and Asia. – Claudia Roden, a Egyptian-British food writer and scholar who has written seminal books on the cuisines of the Middle East, Spain, Italy, and Jewish communities around the world. – Tala Bashmi, a Bahraini chef and entrepreneur who specializes in fusions of traditional Gulf dishes with international flavors and techniques. – Nasser Jaber, a Palestinian-American chef and co-founder of The Migrant Kitchen, a social enterprise that employs and empowers immigrants and refugees through food. If you are interested in learning more about these amazing people and their culinary journeys, you can listen to the afikra Matbakh podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Categories: Arts, History, Society & Culture

Tags: afikra, arab, arabian, arabs, arabworld, community, cooking, Culture, Food, History, mena, menaregion, middleeast, spices