Culture Study

You might know Dena Takruri for her role as a senior presenter and producer at AJ Plus, Al-Jazeera’s Digital News platform. The videos she produces/hosts often garner millions of views on Facebook, YouTube, and other social platforms. And for good reason.

*Dena has reported internationally on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, tensions on the Korean Peninsula, and on Europe’s refugee crisis, where she was one of the first journalists to ever broadcast using Facebook Live. Among the domestic stories she’s covered are the 2016 presidential race, Flint’s water crisis, the fight against the Dakota Access Pipeline at Standing Rock, and ICE’s crackdown on undocumented people under Trump. She has extensively covered the #BlackLivesMatter movement and issues related to Arab and Muslim communities in the U.S.*

So in other words, Dena is an amazing human being with a talent for storytelling. While you’re able to watch Dena tell stories online, you may not have heard about Dena’s backstory - and that’s what we discuss in this episode of Culture Study. She’s a first-generation American with strong Palestinian roots, and she touches on her constant search for balance between those two cultures. We talk about everything from the negative depiction of Arabs in Hollywood and the mainstream media to the horrific attacks on September 11th, 2001 and how that terrible moment in history has put a target on the backs of the American-Muslim community to this day. She also discusses her journey as a woman of color and how she navigated from her college days at UC Berkeley to her present-day role at AJ Plus.

Dena really embodies the Tailored Heritage motto that we are “More Alike Than Different” and she’s on the front lines of the fight for equality and justice for all. She often uses her platforms to give a voice to those who are unheard, and she has a relentless commitment to “speaking truth to those in Power”.

So with all of this being said, I hope you enjoy this episode of Culture Study. If you enjoy this episode, please do me a huge favor and share it with one other person who would enjoy it as well. My only hope is to use this platform to inspire people to pursue their dreams by hearing about the amazing journeys of people such as Dena.

*via denatakruri.com

Bilal (Bill) Hamid is a professional soccer player born and raised in the Washington Metropolitan Area. He is a star goalkeeper for the United States Men's National Team and a recent addition to Danish Superliga side FC Midtjylland. Signing his first professional contract at the age of 18, Bill worked his way up from DC United's youth academy to cement a place in MLS history as an all-time legend, winning the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Award in 2014.

While soccer has been a constant in Bill's life since he was 5 years old, he manages to stay balanced by focusing on two other factors that define him - faith and family. Bill is a proud Muslim who prays before every match and does his best to fast during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. He's also very proud of his Sierra-Leonean roots. He shares stories of his experience as a first-generation American growing up in a strict immigrant household, where staying connected to his roots was of the utmost importance.

At 27 years old, it seems like Bill has everything figured out. He has an unrelenting commitment to leave a legacy of greatness in this world, and it can be felt with every word he speaks.

Tune into this episode of Culture Study to hear Bill share his life journey, one that expands way beyond the soccer pitch.

When the idea to start a podcast for Tailored Heritage first came about, we knew exactly who was going to be our first guest on the show - and his name is Adrian Octavius Walker.

Adrian is an extremely well-respected photographer and mixed-media artist who we’ve grown close to since he moved to Oakland in 2016. In this episode, Adrian gives us an intimate look at his journey, beginning with his upbringing in St. Louis. He shares personal memories with us, many of which are tied to his everlasting connection to his late mother, who passed away when he was only 10 years of age. He also shares moments from his career as a professional photographer - like his first big break as the tour photographer for Lupe Fiasco and Stalley. Follow along as we hear Adrian share moments that have shaped his life - both personally and professionally.

A long-form conversation hosted by Umar Issa of Tailored Heritage. This podcast connects us with influential figures shaping culture on local and global scales. Guests range from independent artists and photographers to athletes, musicians, non-profit founders and company executives. Topics include diversity, culture, style, self-purpose, and the arts.