In this episode of The Seeds, Mona Chalabi—Pulitzer Prize–winning data journalist and artist—joins host Alana Hadid for a warm, funny, and deeply reflective conversation about childhood, being Iraqi, how journalists manufacture consent for genocide, and data in dating. Plus Mona gets Melissa Barrera's seed!

Chapters:
00:00 – Intros, and Who’s More Awkward?
00:22 – Skip Intro
00:38 – Childhood Memories
02:14 – Pulling a Seed
03:37 – Mona's Life Purpose
05:08 – Going into Journalism
09:14 – Being Iraqi
13:11 – School Experiences and Cultural Identity
26:14 – Career Choices and Disillusionment
32:50 – Art, and Data Journalism
34:21 – Speed Round
35:30 – Unhinged Childhood Beliefs
36:42 – Fascinating Statistics
37:01 – Dating and Data!
40:40 – Astrology vs. Data Journalism
42:43 – Real Housewives Tagline
44:14 – Nostalgic Arab Snacks
47:53 – Animation and Representation
53:51 – Pulitzer Prize Speech & Why Iraqi's Deserve and Apology
01:10:42 – Credits

Follow the Show:
📸 Instagram: @theseedsfm
🎥 Presented by Watermelon Pictures
🎙️ Produced by Dustlight Productions

Follow Alana Hadid:
IG: @lanzybear

Follow Mona Chalabi:
IG: @monachalabi

Credits:
Host – Alana Hadid
Showrunner & Executive Producer – Misha Euceph
Executive Producers – Badie Ali, Hamza Ali
Associate Producer – Munir Atalla
Producer & Researcher – Sarah Moawad
Editor, DP, & Sound Engineer – Mike O’Brien
Consulting Director – Mahnoor Euceph
Production Designer – Kendra Bradanini
Art Assistant – Noor Salim
Design – Alicia Tatone
Composer – Andy Clausen
Colorist – Chehade Boulos
Tech – Randy Burgess
Marketing – Kristina Ferris & Daniela Sapkar
Special thanks: Lighthouse Studios, Jack Menzies, Gordy Michie, Isabella Calderon, Sammy Strittmatter, Chrissy Maron, Sara Mengesha, Edwin Henry

Tags:
#TheSeeds #MonaChalabi #AlanaHadid #Iraq #IraqWar #Gaza #Palestine #War #Journalism #ManufacturingConsent #Dating #ArabVoices #PulitzerPrize #DataJournalism ##StorytellingPodcast #Identity #DustlightProductions #WatermelonPictures