Journey Tellers

Join M Hadi and Ali as they sit down with Azfar Khan, a content creator with over a billion views across Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Learn how he reinvented Desi and Muslim cultural humor to appeal to younger generations, and the tricks he used to continuously grow his audience.

Join us as we dive into the journey of Irfan Rydhan, founder of HalalFest in the Bay Area. From architectural design to organizing some of the most significant Muslim community events, Irfan shares how his passion for media and community service evolved into a successful venture. Discover the challenges and triumphs that shaped his path, and learn why getting involved in your community can make all the difference.#halal #muslim #halalfest

Learn more about Muslim Unity Day 2024, brought to you by HalalFest and Muslim Unity Foundation, at https://muslimunity.us/ #ad

🔗 Find Us

• Available on all major podcast platforms: https://journeytellers.org/

• Muhammad Hadi Yusufali: https://mhadi.co/

• Ali Almathkur: https://youtube.com/@alialmathkur/

👀 Follow Irfan's Journey

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/irydhan/

• HalalFest: https://www.instagram.com/halalfest/

• The Artistic Foodies Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@artisticfoodies

🙌 Credits

• Hosted by Muhammad Hadi Yusufali and Ali Almathkur

• Featuring Irfan Rydhan

• Filmed in Kisa Studios

⏰ Chapters

0:00 Introduction

2:18 Early Life and Architectural Background

6:30 Challenges in Education & Career Shifts

10:02 Transition to Media Work & Documentary Filmmaking

14:48 A Special Message About Muslim Unity Day

15:30 Post-9/11 Community Outreach and Media Committee

21:50 Involvement in Organizing Eid Festivals

27:22 Birth of Muslim Unity Day

31:52 Inspiration Behind HalalFest

36:00 Growth and Challenges of HalalFest

42:40 Importance of Community Involvement

49:04 Rapid Fire Questions

51:55 Advice on Community Involvement

Join Hisham Abdelfattah, owner and executive chef of El Halal Amigos and partner at Willow Street Pizza, as he shares his incredible journey from a young dishwasher to a renowned chef. This episode explores the challenges, triumphs, and inspirations behind his unique approach to making Halal Mexican food and beyond.

🔗 Find Us

• Available on all major podcast platforms: https://journeytellers.org/

• Muhammad Hadi Yusufali: https://mhadi.co/

• Ali Almathkur: https://youtube.com/@alialmathkur/

👀 Follow Hisham's Journey

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chef__hisham/

• El Halal Amigos: https://www.instagram.com/elhalalamigos/

🙌 Credits

• Hosted by ​⁠Muhammad Hadi Yusufali and ​Ali Almathkur

• Featuring Hisham Abdelfattah

• Filmed in Kisa Studios

⏰ Chapters

0:00 Introduction

2:06 Background and Beginnings

6:43 Experience with Mexican Culture

10:52 Journey to Islam

15:02 Schooling and Path to Culinary Academy

17:38 Pursuing Your Passion

21:43 Motivation

22:29 Creating the Restaurant and Struggles of Covid

29:18. Opening the Restaurant

33:06 Importance of Philanthropy

37:38 Challenges of Halal

41:51 Benefits of Halal

44:30 Willow Street Pizza

50:19 Hiring Staff

54:07 Making Halal Fun

56:37 Behind the Name El Halal Amigos

58:46 Cooking Shows and Fame

1:00:43 Persistence and Following Dreams

1:02:50 Understanding Struggle

1:06:13 Social Media Presence

1:11:09 Palestine and Coming Together as Muslims

1:26:48 Rapid Fire Questions

1:31:25 Key Points and Takeaway

Join M Hadi and Hasan as they sit down with Fatima Ali, who shares her fascinating journey from growing up in the Bay Area to becoming a software engineer with internships at Google, Apple, and Twitter; and now making her mark at a startup called Tome. This episode is a testament to the impact of mentorship, perseverance, and the role of identity in shaping a fulfilling career in technology.

Join M Hadi and Ali as they dive into Zain Zaidi's journey from electrical engineering to launching a groundbreaking startup. Discover how Zain's passion for technology and finance drove him to innovate in the fintech space, aiming to make data verification accessible and empowering individuals with control over their own information. This episode explores the challenges and triumphs of entrepreneurship, the importance of discipline, and Zain's vision for leveraging technology for global impact.

In this episode, join Naseem Rangwala, an internal medicine resident at UCSF, as she shares her unique journey from public health at Berkeley to medical school at UCLA, and now to her residency. Naseem discusses the challenges of merging her medical career with her commitment to public health and community outreach, the impact of COVID-19 on her education, and how she navigated personal and professional obstacles.

🤝 CREDITS

• Hosted by M Hadi and Ali Almathkur

• Featuring Naseem Rangwala

• Filmed in Kisa Studios

🔗 LINKS

• Available on all major podcast platforms: http://jtpodcast.com/

• M Hadi: https://instagram.com/mhadimedia

• Ali Almathkur: https://instagram.com/alialmathkur

• Naseem Rangwala: https://www.linkedin.com/in/naseem-rangwala-9b0338138/

Join M Hadi and Ali as they sit down with Br. Jawad Almamori and discuss escaping Iraq, surviving a refugee camp for four years, and building a life in America.

For more details on ABSA, its initiatives, and how you can get involved, visit https://www.absanetwork.com/

🤝 CREDITS

• Hosted by M Hadi and Ali

• Featuring Jawad Almamori

• Filmed in Kisa Studios

🔗 LINKS

• Available on all major podcast platforms: https://jtpodcast.com/

• M Hadi: https://instagram.com/mhadimedia

• Ali Almathkur: https://instagram.com/alialmathkur

• Jawad Almamori: https://twitter.com/jalmamori?lang=en

Join M Hadi, Ali, and Raza, as they discuss important topics including the best and worst of education, a Stanford internship, community service, lowering the stakes, and the power of the word "yet". Be prepared to be entertained and educated through this episode of the Journey Tellers podcast, brought to you by ABSA Network.

For more details on ABSA, its initiatives, and how you can get involved, visit https://www.absanetwork.com/

🤝 CREDITS

• Hosted by M Hadi and Ali Almathkur

• Featuring Raza Ali

• Filmed in Kisa Studios

🔗 LINKS

• Available on all major podcast platforms: https://jtpodcast.com/

• M Hadi: https://instagram.com/mhadimedia

• Ali Almathkur: https://instagram.com/alialmathkur

• Raza Ali: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raza-ali-premed/

Join M Hadi and Ali as they speak with Eman Abdul-Razzak, who's the lighting technical director at Pixar, and learn the behind the scenes of what goes into making a Pixar film special.

🤝 CREDITS

• Hosted by M Hadi and Ali Almathkur

🔗 LINKS

• Eman Abdul-Razzak: https://emanrazzak.wordpress.com/

Join us as we speak with Muzaffer Khan who was one of the original founders of SABA Islamic Center, 43 years ago. We speak about living in Iran during the revolution, moving to the US, founding SABA, leaving the board, starting a bookstore, and so much more.

🤝 CREDITS

• Hosted by M Hadi and Ali Almathkur

• Featuring Muzaffer Ali Khan

• Filmed in Kisa Studios

• Special thanks to Al-Kisa Foundation, Aalyan Aamir, and Fatima Hadi

🔗 LINKS

• SABA Islamic Center: https://saba-igc.org/

• Available on all major podcast platforms: https://jtpodcast.com/

• Help support the podcast to help bring better content: https://buymeacoffee.com/journeytellers