American Muslim Project

Rami Abushhab discusses his winning script, "Shawarma Inn," which revolves around a family restaurant losing its halal license. The idea sparked when Rami witnessed a humorous incident at a shawarma restaurant. Rami shares his journey from starting in theater to transitioning into stand-up comedy, emphasizing his love for storytelling in the latter. The conversation delves into Rami's experiences in acting, including his roles in independent films and a movie that made it to Sundance. Rami also reflects on the challenges and pride associated with being Palestinian in the entertainment industry. Later in the episode, Rami touches on the current situation in Palestine, expressing his heartbreak and his desire to use his art to change perspectives. The episode concludes with Rami reading a heartfelt letter to his future children, addressing the challenges they might face as Palestinians and expressing his hope for a brighter future.

Find Rami Abushhab on Instagram @ramiabushhab

Find Rami Abushhab's videos on YouTube @RamiAbushhab

Produced by Rifelion Media.

Hosted by Asad Butt

Edited by Ari Mathae

Music by Simon Hutchinson

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In this special episode we share a story from Invisible Hate. Hosts Asad Butt and Saadia Khan explore one of the most egregious acts of Islamophobia and murder to occur in North America in recent years and shed light on the tragic impact of the rise in hate crimes on minority communities and the underreporting and underprosecution of these crimes.

In June 2021, three generations of the Afzaal family went on a stroll after dinner only to be senselessly murdered by a 21-year-old driver in a pickup truck. We investigate the story and how this senseless act of violence happened.

SOURCES

NPR, CBC, CTV, BBC, MacLean's, Al Jazeera

Interview with Sheriff Billy Rowles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsjRAsh7bbY&t=…

BBC news report: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmetUwqtD8g&t=…

CNN interview with Whitney Dow (director of “Two Towns of Jasper”: https://youtu.be/5YVAj2Hk6FU

Invisible Hate is hosted by Saadia Khan and Asad Butt.

Produced by Immigrantly & Rifelion Media.

Contact us: [email protected]

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Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast for free wherever you're listening or by using this link: https://bit.ly/InvisibleHatePod

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Rohi Mirza Pandya, an experienced professional with an impressive career in film and media. Rohi discusses her work with Box Office Guru Media, where she has helped over 500 movie and film campaigns, primarily focusing on South Asian films and their promotion in North America. She highlights the importance of representation in the film industry and how she assists in shaping campaigns, including working on both big and smaller films. Rohi also shares insights into her own creative projects and her commitment to supporting and promoting Muslim American stories.

Find Rohi Mirza Pandya on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohi-mirza-pandya-62171820/

Produced by Rifelion Media.

Hosted by Asad Butt

Edited by Ari Mathae

Music by Simon Hutchinson

For advertising opportunities please email [email protected].   

We wanna make the podcast even better; help us learn how we can: https://bit.ly/2EcYbu4  

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Saad Munir, a real estate expert, discusses the challenges and advice for those looking to buy a house in the current market. He emphasizes the importance of staying active and using real estate apps regularly due to low inventory. Saad also advises potential buyers to keep a long-term perspective despite rising interest rates and mentions the significance of building a team of professionals for support. He shares insights into his journey from a career in tech sales to becoming a realtor and offers advice for Gen Z and Millennials entering the real estate market. The episode ends with Saad discussing his new podcast called "Storii Time," which provides real estate tips and advice from various experts.

Find Saad Munir on Instagram @saadmun1r

Check out Saad Munir's podcast Storii Time at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/storii-time-stories-from-real-estate-experts/id1678139641

Produced by Rifelion Media.

Hosted by Asad Butt

Edited by Ari Mathae

Music by Simon Hutchinson

For advertising opportunities please email [email protected].   

We wanna make the podcast even better; help us learn how we can: https://bit.ly/2EcYbu4  

Privacy Policy: https://www.studio71.com/terms-and-conditions-use/#Privacy%20Policy 

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Kashif Pasta, a Canadian Muslim filmmaker and storyteller, discusses his focus on telling stories of joy, wonder, and social purpose in his filmmaking. Kashif shares his upbringing in a diverse Canadian city, where cultural confidence and representation were prevalent, and how that has influenced his storytelling. He also talks about his short film, "Desi Standard Time Travel," which explores themes of family and immigration and the idea of going back in time to understand one's parents' lives before their children were born. The conversation highlights the importance of centering Muslim and South Asian stories to break free from one-dimensional narratives and the power of joy as an act of resistance and empowerment.

Find Kashif Pasta on Instagram @kashifpasta

Check out Kashif Pasta's website at https://kashifpasta.com/

Request a screening of Desi Standard Time Travel at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScJ4lZZEUwlPqz64zC0jBEUSKUEZYyuvqRHONqdK2DAI6W4lw/viewform

Produced by Rifelion Media.

Hosted by Asad Butt

Edited by Ari Mathae

Music by Simon Hutchinson

For advertising opportunities please email [email protected].   

We wanna make the podcast even better; help us learn how we can: https://bit.ly/2EcYbu4  

Privacy Policy: https://www.studio71.com/terms-and-conditions-use/#Privacy%20Policy 

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Today we revisit an episode from Season 1 with Dr. Maha Nassar. Dr. Maha Nassar, a Palestinian-American professor and expert on Arab cultural and intellectual history, shares her insights on Palestinians.

Naturally, we ask her to address the horrific situation in Israel and the Gaza Strip over the past few weeks. She enlightens us on several key points, including how the conflict is truly an anti-colonialist struggle, how the youngest Palestinians in Israel identify themselves, and how Palestinians have been covered by major U.S. news outlets for the last several decades. [Spoiler alert: Very few articles written about Palestinians are by Palestinians.] Find out why bias in major news outlets may matter less now.

Maha shares the impetus behind her award-winning book, Brothers Apart: Palestinian Citizens of Israel and the Arab World, as well as details from her 2007 trip to Palestine that turned “really icky.” After learning of the de facto segregation in neighborhoods and schools in Israel, we dive into a fascinating if not disturbing comparison to Jim Crow laws. You may also be surprised to hear about Black Lives Matter leaders studying structural suppression and institutional violence in Palestine, and American police forces attending trainings in Israel. How murals of George Floyd can be found across Palestine, where they too hope to translate the present online momentum into real change. Naturally, we finish with Maha’s predictions on how this all ends.

Follow Maha on Twitter @mtnassar and read her unsettling article documenting how opinion pieces about Palestinians in the US mainstream media are overwhelmingly written by non-Palestinians. Check out her first book, Brothers Apart, and upcoming book, The Palestinians: A Global History, on the construction of Palestinian identity under statelessness and transnational dispersal.

American Muslim Project is a production of Rifelion, LLC.

Writer and Researcher: Lindsy Gamble

Show Edited by Mark Annotto, Ari Mathae, and Asad Butt

Hosted by Asad Butt

Music by Simon Hutchinson

For advertising opportunities please email [email protected].   

We wanna make the podcast even better; help us learn how we can: https://bit.ly/2EcYbu4  

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Filmmaker Iman Zawahary discusses her journey as one of the first hijabi American Muslim directors. She highlights the challenges of securing funding, especially as a Muslim woman, and the importance of audience awards over critic accolades. Iman shares her experiences growing up in a small Florida town, navigating racism, and using comedy to cope. The conversation touches on the diverse cast of her film "Americanish" and the film's impact in challenging stereotypes. Iman urges support for the film's theatrical release and emphasizes the need for diverse stories in mainstream media.

Follow Iman on Instagram @imanzawahry

Find ticket and showing information for Americanish at https://www.americanishfilm.com/intheaters

Produced by Rifelion Media.

Hosted by Asad Butt

Edited by Ari Mathae

Music by Simon Hutchinson

For advertising opportunities please email [email protected].   

We wanna make the podcast even better; help us learn how we can: https://bit.ly/2EcYbu4  

Privacy Policy: https://www.studio71.com/terms-and-conditions-use/#Privacy%20Policy 

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Mahnoor Euceph discusses her new short film "Eid Mubarak," which centers around a Pakistani girl's mission to save her pet goat from being sacrificed during Eid. Mahnoor shares insights into the chaotic yet rewarding process of filming with kids and animals. She emphasizes the importance of casting and talks about the inspiration behind the film's vibrant colors, drawing from influences like Wes Anderson and Mughal miniatures. The conversation delves into Mahnoor's personal connection to the story, her upcoming projects, and the broader goal of creating films that encourage self-love and break mental shackles.

Find Mahnoor Euceph on Instagram @euceph

Check out Mahnoor's website at https://www.nooreuceph.com/

Find Eid Mubarak on Instagram @eidmubarakfilm

Produced by Rifelion Media.

Hosted by Asad Butt

Edited by Ari Mathae

Music by Simon Hutchinson

For advertising opportunities please email [email protected].   

We wanna make the podcast even better; help us learn how we can: https://bit.ly/2EcYbu4  

Privacy Policy: https://www.studio71.com/terms-and-conditions-use/#Privacy%20Policy 

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Filmmaker and comedian Aizzah Fatima discusses her film "Americanish," which revolves around the lives of Pakistani Muslim female characters in Queens, New York, as they navigate the challenges of romance, culture, work, and family. Aizzah shares her journey of turning a one-woman play into a feature film, her struggles with fundraising within the Muslim community, and the significance of having authentic representation of American Muslim women in mainstream cinema. The conversation also touches on Aizzah's background growing up in Mississippi, her shift from microbiology to a career in the entertainment industry, and her upcoming project "Muslim Girls DTF," which aims to showcase the diverse voices and experiences of Muslim women.

Find Aizzah Fatima on Instagram @aizzahfatima

Get tickets to see Americanish in theaters: https://www.americanishfilm.com/intheaters

Get tickets to see Muslim Girls DTF: https://citywinery.com/newyork/Online/default.asp?BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::permalink=NYLFT-Muslim-Girls-DTF-11-4-23-930pm&BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::context_id=

Produced by Rifelion Media.

Hosted by Asad Butt

Edited by Ari Mathae

Music by Simon Hutchinson

For advertising opportunities please email [email protected].   

We wanna make the podcast even better; help us learn how we can: https://bit.ly/2EcYbu4  

Privacy Policy: https://www.studio71.com/terms-and-conditions-use/#Privacy%20Policy 

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Shahjahan Khan returns as a guest on American Muslim Project and discusses his earlier podcast King of the World, which delved into his life post-9/11. Shahjahan shares how the recording process was a therapeutic journey, leading to reconnections with childhood friends and a deeper understanding of his identity. The conversation also covers Shahjahan's recent acting stint on "Succession," the launch of his podcast "FannBoy Friday," and his enthusiasm for various creative projects, including upcoming films, acting roles, and his enduring passion for music as he enters his 40s.

Find Shahjehan on Instagram @shahjistan

Produced by Rifelion Media.

Hosted by Asad Butt

Edited by Ari Mathae

Music by Simon Hutchinson

For advertising opportunities please email [email protected].   

We wanna make the podcast even better; help us learn how we can: https://bit.ly/2EcYbu4  

Privacy Policy: https://www.studio71.com/terms-and-conditions-use/#Privacy%20Policy 

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