MENA PODCAST: Mosaic: Culture, Stories, and Voices

Writing Against the Walls

They can lock the doors. But can they silence the story?

Behind prison walls, a memory becomes a lifeline. A scrap of paper becomes an act of defiance. And a voice the world was never meant to hear finds its way out.

Join Dr. Diana Obeid as she brings listeners into the world of prison writing from Egypt and Syria—stories of fear, friendship, survival, and resistance. Beginning with this first episode, we explore what people hold onto when freedom is taken away—and how their words challenge the power that imprisons them.

Some stories refuse to stay behind bars. Listen. Follow. Hear what comes next.

Part of MENA Podcast: Mosaic—Culture, Stories, and Voices.

Enjoyed this episode? Follow MENA Podcast: Mosaic—Culture, Stories, and Voices on Spotify, and share it with someone who loves a story that stays with them.

Big questions. Fresh perspectives.Conversations that keep you thinking.

Join Dr. Diana Obeid and her CNU students on MENA Podcast: Mosaic—Culture, Stories, and Voices as they explore the Middle East and North Africa through lively conversations about culture, identity, and the stories that shape our world.

Curious? Press play, join the conversation, and discover a new perspective.

 Follow us for more episodes—and share with someone who loves a good conversation!

Enjoyed this episode? Follow MENA Podcast: Mosaic—Culture, Stories, and Voices on Spotify, and share it with someone who loves a story that stays with them.

شهرزاد تنجو من الموت من خلال سرد القصص — لكن ماذا يحدث عندما تستعيد الكاتبات العربيات صوتها ويُعدنه تشكيله بما يناسب العالم المعاصر؟ في هذه الحلقة، تستكشف أندريا وديانا كيف تقوم رموز أدبية مثل هدى بركات، نوال السعداوي، حنان الشيخ وغيرهن بإعادة تخييل شهرزاد كشخصية مقاومة، تحمل هوية نسوية وقوة سردية. وبالتركيز على رواية حارث المياه، تتناولان كيف يصبح السرد وسيلة لتحدي النظام الأبوي، والإرث الاستعماري، والقومية — لا سيما من خلال العلاقة المعقدة بين نقولا وشمسة. استمعوا إلى هذه الحلقة الغنية بالنقاش حول الجندر، والسرد، ومن يمتلك حق رفع الصوت في التقاليد الأدبية العربية.

Scheherazade survives by telling stories—but what happens when Arab women writers take her voice and reshape it for the modern world? In this episode, Andrea and Diana explore how literary icons like Hoda Barakat, Nawal al-Saadawi, Hanan al-Shaykh, and others reimagine Scheherazade as a figure of resistance, identity, and feminist power. Centering on The Tiller of Waters, they unpack how storytelling becomes a tool to challenge patriarchy, colonial legacies, and nationalism—especially through the complex relationship between Niqula and Shamsa. Tune in for a rich conversation on gender, narrative, and who gets to hold the mic in the Arab literary tradition.

في هذه الحلقة، نتناول كتاب الموت عمل شاق: رحلة عائلة سورية لخالد خليفة، وهو استكشاف قوي للواقع المتصدع في سوريا من خلال عيون ثلاثة إخوة في مهمة للوفاء بأمنية والدهم الأخيرة. ما يبدأ كرحلة بسيطة يتحول بسرعة إلى رمز للانهيار المجتمعي الذي يعصف بالبلاد. من خلال صور غنية وسرد مؤثر، يدعونا خليفة لمواجهة واقع الحرب القاسي، بينما يثير نقاشًا حول الأمل، والمثابرة، والأفعال الصغيرة للتمرد التي يمكن أن تشكل مستقبلًا أفضل. استمعوا إلى مناقشة عميقة حول تقاطعات الهوية الشخصية، العائلة، والآلام الوطنية.

In this episode, we delve into Death is a Hard Work: A Syrian Family's Journey by Khaled Khalifa, a powerful exploration of Syria's fractured landscape through the eyes of three siblings on a mission to honor their father's final wish. What begins as a simple journey quickly becomes a metaphor for the societal decay plaguing the nation. Andrea and Diana unpack the tension between individuality and societal conformity, the metaphor of the decaying corpse, and the possibility of resistance in the face of overwhelming adversity. Through rich imagery and poignant storytelling, Khalifa invites us to confront the harsh realities of war, while sparking a conversation about hope, resilience, and the small acts of defiance that can shape a better future. Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion on the intersections of personal identity, family, and national trauma.

In this episode, we delve into Death is a Hard Work: A Syrian Family's Journey by Khaled Khalifa, a powerful exploration of Syria's fractured landscape through the eyes of three siblings on a mission to honor their father's final wish. What begins as a simple journey quickly becomes a metaphor for the societal decay plaguing the nation. Andrea and Diana unpack the tension between individuality and societal conformity, the metaphor of the decaying corpse, and the possibility of resistance in the face of overwhelming adversity. Through rich imagery and poignant storytelling, Khalifa invites us to confront the harsh realities of war, while sparking a conversation about hope, resilience, and the small acts of defiance that can shape a better future. Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion on the intersections of personal identity, family, and national trauma.