Today, our guest is Kayra Naz, a Turkmen and Zaza Kurd teenager living in Turkey.  We had a very productive and civil conversation. We discussed some of the existential challenges surrounding the Turkmen communities and how these obstacles can not impede their progress. I realized how intertwined our cultures are with that of Turkmen. We shared very interesting anecdotes about each other's cultures and delved into the wonders of Anatolian tapestry. She mentioned an intriguing and inspiring family tradition passed down for centuries. I really admired her determination to preserve her family traditions and her commitment to celebrating her unique identity. I believe that she is an excellent example of a young culture advocate.

Today, my guest is Adiva, a Sephardic Jew from Turkey. My guest today cherishes her dual heritage both from Turkey and the USA. She spoke Ladino at home, a language that intertwined Spanish, Hebrew, and Turkish in the bustling streets of her city. But life was not always easy for Adiva. The remnants of past prejudices lingered, and she often faced discrimination. We exchanged ideas on the complicated situation in Palestine. We conveyed our sentiments about existential crises worldwide and the apathy to combat the issues that matter to human life the most. We tried not to evaluate global incidents from religious, ethnocultural, or emotional perspectives but rather remained politically and emotionally neutral as much as possible.

Our guest is Alaa, an Egyptian woman living in Turkey. As a final-year medical student studying in Turkey, she described the various challenges she faced as a hijabi woman in Turkey. She said that although Turkey is a predominantly Muslim country, she has encountered some people who called her “Syrian” and harassed her physically and verbally just because of her appearance. We discussed Turks' tendency to confuse every Arab with Syrians and associate them with terrorism and threats. We touched upon the hardships of accepting everyone as they are and not discriminating against someone just because of their race or ethnicity. She is a role model for those who have been oppressed in Turkey just because of their religious views.

Our guest is Jirayir, an Armenian-Turk living in Turkey. He was born in Turkey and his family has been living in Turkey for three generations. His grandfather was a victim of the Armenian Genocide of 1915. They escaped death by taking refuge in the western side of Anatolia. He said that when he was a child, he was afraid of speaking Armenian, and his father also did not let him speak Armenian in public. In his business life, he was discriminated against multiple times by Turkish nationalists, and he was also verbally harassed by government officials in many instances. He commented on the debate over the Armenian Genocide of 1915 and offered his perspective on the discussion.

Our guest today was Kayra, a half-Zaza Kurd and half-Turkmen teenager living in Turkey. We discussed some of the prevalent issues facing the Zaza Kurds in Turkey. She mentioned that Zaza Kurds face both political and cultural restrictions for their identities and would like greater freedom in Turkish society. We had an insightful conversation about the role of Zaza Kurds in Turkish culture and society and how their cultural characteristics have evolved over the years. She believes that her minority community must be upheld and respected. She also mentioned some ongoing policies in action to protect and preserve this invaluable community in Turkey.

Today, my guest was Esma Efendi. She is a Turkish-born Syrian Anchorwoman working at TRT Arabic. Her mother is Turkish and from Izmir, while her father is Syrian. Her background spans two completely disparate cultures and identities. She was at the clash of the East and West all from the beginning. She is extremely knowledgeable about The Syrian civil war and its political, social, and economic ramifications. She has experienced many incidents of discrimination and structural segregation. She has tried to preserve and protect many forgotten traditions of the Syrian culture that are overlooked in Turkey. We discussed some difficult topics regarding the massive influx of migrants and the ongoing state of instability in both Turkey and Syria. We hope our two countries can set aside their differences and find a common ground for peace.

Today, our guest was Muhammed, an Egyptian living in Turkey. This wasn't a typical Alienated Voices episode, as we mainly discussed the recent sociopolitical events dominating the fabric of our country. We saw racist and xenophobic protests arising towards the Syrians and immigrants in many parts of the country. We discussed why the anti-immigration sentiment emerged in many countries like Turkey in the first place. He shared his experiences with the Turkish people and how he navigated this society. We uphold the view that if we embrace each other's differences, we could build a more inclusive and comprehensive country.

In this powerful episode of Alienated Voices, Talha shares his family’s harrowing journey as Bosnian refugees who fled the war and genocide of the 1990s. While they have found success in Turkey, running a thriving textile business, their displacement was not a choice—it was a means of survival. Talha reflects on how xenophobia and Islamophobia ignited the conflict and how his family carries the trauma of torture and loss. He also highlights the ongoing displacement of people worldwide, emphasizing that no one should be forced to leave their homeland to escape violence and persecution. The episode urges listeners to recognize that while refugees may succeed, the cost of losing their home and culture is immense, and speaking out against injustice is essential to ensuring “never again” truly means something.

Our guest was Deni, an Armenian teenager living in Turkey. He gave specific examples of discrimination and exclusion he experienced in Turkish society. He emphasized the need to uphold minorities and offer them the opportunity to voice themselves. He cherishes his multicultural and ethnic identity and celebrates the diverse hub of Istanbul. Deni believes Istanbul is the epitome of the intersection of multiple ethnicities, cultures, and opinions and serves as a testament to the power of unity and mutual respect. His insights are invaluable in paving the way for a more progressive and inclusive society in Turkey.

My guest was Melody, an Iranian teenager living in Turkey. We mainly talked about how her bicultural background affects her appreciation of both cultures, languages, and societies. She said that she regrets not learning more about the history and culture of Iran and urges young Iranian teenagers not to lose touch with their native society. She also mentioned how speaking multiple languages is extremely challenging as she feels like she is not adept in either of them. She finds synonyms for a word in different languages, which makes her communication even more difficult. She hasn’t faced any major discrimination or structural bias in her education and social life, although she is struggling with adapting to the Turkish language in her school.