More Than Meets The Eye

A new episode has arrived after a short summer break!

We’re continuing with the series of interviews I recorded during the 2026 Taiwan International Documentary Festival (TIDF) in May, where it featured a program titled, Pa1estine and Its Archiveless Archive. In this episode, you’ll hear from Pa1estinian filmmaker Mahasen Nasser-Eldin. Mahasen’s work focuses on reusing audiovisual archives to reconstruct displaced women’s histories through film.

Mahasen showcased 2 films at the Festival: Restored Pictures (2012), and The Silent Protest: 1929 Jerusalem. In Restored Pictures (2012), we get to learn about Karimeh Abbud (born in Bethlehem in 1893), the first Pa1estinian woman photographer in Pa1estine and possibility in the region. The Silent Protest: 1929 Jerusalem, is set in 1929, where around 300 women from across Pa1estine organised a silent demonstration in Al-Quds (Jerusalem), to protest the British High Commissioner’s bias during the Buraq Uprising. 

In this conversation, Mahasen shares with us how the 2 films negate the orientalist and Zi0nist narratives about pre-Nakba (1948)  Pa1estine and its people. Mahasen also shares with us what it is like trying to access the archives of the 0ccupier in search of your own people’s history, and how she refuses the Western, Colonial approach in her archival and documentary work. Towards the end, Mahasen also shares with us how the absence of a Pa1estinian film archive could become an illuminating moment that instigates one’s  imagination and activates the relationship between the past and the present. 

Cover photo: credit to Taiwan International Documentary Festival

Restored Pictures at TIDF: https://www.tidf.org.tw/en/films/157570

The Silent Protest: 1929 Jerusalem at TIDF: https://www.tidf.org.tw/en/films/157571

Reach out to Mahasen: [email protected]

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In this episode, you’ll hear from Saeed Taji Farouky. Saeed is a Pa1estinian-Egyptian filmmaker and educator based in The UK. He is the co-founder of Radical Film School, a free program that encourages politically-engaged, human rights and social justice filmmaking. Saeed and I recorded this episode during the Taiwan International Documentary Festival in May, 2026. This interview is one of several I did during this year’s Taiwan International Documentary Festival, where it featured a program titled, Pa1estine and Its Archiveless Archive. I had the pleasure to talk to several Pa1estinian filmmakers during their time in Taiwan, and Saeed’s interview is the first one of this series. 

If you were at the opening events during the festival, I bet you remember Saeed’s incredible opening performance, Death Is Certain but Not Final vol. 4. I was moved to tears many times during Saeed’s lecture performance. In this conversation, Saeed shares with us how he found his way to filmmaking, and what it was like for him putting together such a lecture performance. Saeed also talks about his experience diving into his own family history after his family was forcibly displaced from Pa1estine in 1948, how art can be an effective form of dissent, and what resistance means to him as a filmmaker. 

Radical Film School: https://www.radicalfilmschool.org/

Taiwan International Documentary Festival: https://www.tidf.org.tw/en

Cover photo: credit to Taiwan International Documentary Festival

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In this episode, we’re going to nerd out about the show, Heated Rivalry, with a good friend of mine, Iago. Iago and I both think that Heated Rivalry is such an incredible show. We’ll talk about its cinematography, usage of symbolism in colors, light and dark in filming, soundtrack, acting, and so much more. Let's dive in.

This episode contains spoilers of the show. Giving you a headsup.

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In this episode, you’ll hear from Sharaf DarZaid. Sharaf DarZaid is a Pa1estinian dancer and choreographer based in Ramallah. Sharaf is a dancer and choreographer for the El-Funoun Palestinian Popular Dance Troupe, founded in 1979. In addition, Sharaf also coordinates programs at the Popular Art Center in Ramallah. 

Through Sharaf, we’ll learn about Pa1estinian Dabke, a Pa1estinian traditional folkloric dance that embodies the Palestinian people’s deep connection to the land and has become an important symbol of Pa1estinian resistance and liberation. We’ll learn about the history, the steps, and the kinds of instruments often involved when it comes to music for Dabke. Sharaf will also highlight several productions by El-Funoun Pa1estinian Popular Dance Troupe, as well as the obstacles the dance troupe has to endure under 1sraeli occupation. 

Sharaf also shares with us the stories behind his solo performance, Love in the Time of Apartheid, which deeply reflects the everyday struggles of Pa1estinians living under occupation. Towards the end, Sharaf talks about what resistance means to him as a Pa1estinian artist. 

Follow El-Funoun Pa1estinian Popular Dance Troupe: https://www.el-funoun.org/
Instagram: @elfunoun_troupe
Follow The Popular Art Centre (PAC) in Ramallah: https://www.popularartcentre.org/
Instagram: @pac.artcentre
Follow Sharaf DarZaid on Instagram: @sharaf_darzaid 
Cover photo: Sharaf in his solo performance Love in the Time of Apartheid in London

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My guest for this episode is the Pa1estinian poet, Marwan Makhoul. Marwan Makhoul was invited to the 2025 Taipei Poetry Festival, where he gave a powerful recital of his poem "New Gaza" at the opening ceremony. I had the honor to sit down and chat with Marwan on a sunny morning in Taipei, on October seventh, 2025.

Marwan Makhoul is a Pa1estinian poet, born in 1979, of Pa1estinian and Lebanese heritage. Marwan’s work is well-loved and celebrated around the world, and his poems have been translated into more than 24 languages. Besides poetry, Marwan has also published works in prose and drama. 

In this episode, Marwan shares with us how he found his way to poetry and the important truths about Pa1estine inside his poems such as “New Gaza” – What is the historical significance behind words like “twice exiled” and “seventy-five years too late”? What about the year 1948? We will learn more with Marwan. Towards the end, Marwan also shares with us his time together with the celebrated, legendary Pa1estinian poet, Mahmoud Darwish, who was like a father to him. 

This interview is in English and Arabic, where you would hear me asking questions in English, Marwan answering in Arabic, and our two-way interpreter Yahya doing consecutive interpreting. Don’t forget to check out video highlights of this episode on Instagram @sharonlin_human

Audio at the beginning (Provided by Marwan Makhoul): It’s the live recording of Marwan Makhoul reciting "New Gaza" at the open event of the 2025 Taipei Poetry Festival, with live music performed live by Mia Hsieh and Scott Prairie (Co directors of A Moving Sound). 

Interpretor: Yahya Namiq Pshdari

Follow Marwan’s work:
Instagram: @marwan_makhoul
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@marwanmakhool?si=Xg7gh-Tv3urB5DEn
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1WMTmwfz4m/?mibextid=wwXIfr
X: https://x.com/marwanmakhoul?s=11
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@marwan.makhoul1?_r=1&_t=ZS-92676xiudJo


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This interview has been a long time coming. The guest of this episode is the one and only, the Pa1estinian professional basketball player, Sani Sakakini. Sani and I recorded this in person in Taipei in late September, 2025. 

Sani played for the Pa1estinian National Basketball Team from 2006-2021, and is considered the first and most important professional basketball player from Pa1estine. Sani’s professional career has taken him around the world, including to Jordan, China, Venezuela, Lebanon, and now Taiwan. Sani continues to make history. How did Sani find the path to basketball? What was it like being the first, having to create the opportunities you hoped to have as a young Pa1estinian athlete? What was the basketball scene like in the West Bank? 

Sani also shares with us the reality of life for Pa1estinians living under 1sraeli occupation, with his personal experiences growing up during the Second 1ntifada. When Sani was just a teenager, an experience at the Container Checkpoint really stood out to him…

Currently, Sani is playing for another season with the New Taipei Kings in Taiwan. Last year, the New Taipei Kings won the championship of the Taiwan Professional Basketball League. What was that moment like for Sani? What does he look forward to for this season in Taiwan? You’ll hear it from himself. 

Towards the end, Sani also shares some words, especially to the people in Taiwan, and what he hopes for– for his homeland, Pa1estine.  

[This interview was recorded in late September, 2025. Sani Sakakini was speaking in his individual capacity.]

Follow Sani on Instagram: @beastsakakini
Check out @sharonlin_human for video highlights of this interview


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In this episode, you’ll hear from Nader Ihmoud. Nader is a Pa1estinian journalist based in Chicago. He’s the founder and editor of Pa1estine in America and the English media liaison for Pa1estine’s Baseball & Softball Federation. (and also a dear friend of mine) 

Nader shares with us the foundation story of Pa1estine in America, what life really is like in the West Bank from his family stories and personal experiences, as well as the latest updates of the Pa1estine National Baseball Team. 

We dive into the latest Encampment Edition of Pa1estine in America, looking at why the US government is trying so hard to crack down on student-led movements for Pa1estine. Nader also shares with us what safeguarding Pa1estinian traditional food and culture is like in the diaspora, stemming from the Deluxe Food Edition of Pa1estine in America. 

As all eyes are on Gaza, we shed the light on what life is like for Pa1estinians in the West Bank. When did Nader and his family realize the kind of system Pa1estinians are living under? What is it like to drive with a Pa1estinian license plate, going through checkpoints in the West Bank, while enduring violent Israeli settler attacks on a daily basis? 
 
Towards the end, Nader also shares with us what keeps him hopeful.

Follow Pa1estine in America: https://www.palestineinamerica.com/
Instagram: @palestineinamerica

Download codes for Pa1estine in America: 
Baseball Edition 2023: PALESTINE9
Journalism Edition 2024: PRESS24
Deluxe Food Edition 2024: OLIVES24
Encampment Edition 2025: TENTS


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In this episode, you’ll hear from award-winning author, Joseph Bauer. Joseph Bauer writes novels from Charleston, South Carolina and Cleveland, Ohio. Joseph used to be an attorney for most of his adult life, before starting his voyage as a full time writer. In today’s show, we talked about his latest novel, Sailing for Grace. What inspired Joseph to write the book? How did Joseph’s career as a lawyer inform his role as a novelist? You’ll hear about it soon.

An important topic Joseph and I talked about, also a central theme in Sailing for Grace, is the controversial immigration strategy- the family separation policy under the first Trump administration, which is commonly associated with the term “zero tolerance” approach. With the U.S. currently under the 2nd Trump administration, many have seen harrowing videos of all the ICE raids happening right now in different parts of the United States. From the history of slavery, Japanese-American Internment, Native American boarding schools, to the U.S. government’s complicity in the current and on-going genocide in Gaza, how could one stay hopeful? What role could art, literature, and storytelling play? Joseph shared some of his thoughts with us through this episode. 

Ok, you might be thinking, what a heavy, gloomy introduction this is, but I promise you, what you’ll hear is nothing but a heart-warming conversation between 2 people, Joseph and I, coming from different backgrounds, while sharing a similar aspiration-to inspire hope through what we do. Without further ado, let’s welcome Joseph Bauer. 
(This interview was recorded in March, 2025.)

Follow Joseph Bauer’s work:
Website: authorjosephbauer.com
Contact: [email protected]
Facebook: @JosephBauerNovelist


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"If you build a country or a culture on deception, it’s like building a house on shifting sand. And sooner or later, that house is going to fall."
The quote is from the guest featured in this episode, Rev. Alex Awad. Rev. Alex Awad was born in 1946 in Jerusalem, Pa1estine, under the British Mandate. This interview was recorded earlier in March during his visit to Taiwan. 

In this episode, Rev. Awad shares with us his memory of the Nakba in 1948, and how his mother’s love and teaching led him to the path of becoming a Reverend. In our conversation, Rev. Awad talks about the severe suffering of the Pa1estinians, both Christians and Muslims, under the long-standing Israeli occupation, and calls out the double standard of the world. Rev. Awad also shares insights on the influence of Christian Zi0nism, how it keeps people from seeing the brutality of the 1sraeli occupation and apartheid. Is the "1srael" mentioned in the Bible the same as the current state of 1srael founded in 1948? 

Later on, Rev. Awad also shares with us what the Christian community is like in Pa1estine with stories from his many years at Bethlehem Bible College in Bethlehem. Towards the end, Rev. Awad shares a message of justice and love to the Christian community in Taiwan and around the world, on how people could relate to the true reality of Pa1estinians and stand in solidarity with the people of Gaza.

This episode is filled with moving personal stories and insight from Rev. Alex Awad. You have to listen to the full episode. Let’s welcome, Rev. Alex Awad.

There would also be video highlights of this interview on Instagram @sharonlin_human with Mandarin Chinese subtitles available. 

Link to the talk Rev. Awad gave in 2010, at the conference Christ at the Checkpoint https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMwEu_CQP2U
If you’d like to learn more about Rev. Awad’s story and that of his late mother, check out the book Pa1estinian Memories–The Story of a Pa1estinian Mother and her People, which is also translated to Mandarin Chinese. 
Link:https://www.books.com.tw/products/E050252241?srsltid=AfmBOorqyVsm6qG26Y_mOMubrqkw6QkCavT8V81wC86W2NBQCQniElCy

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Did you know that Pa1estine has its own national baseball team? If you didn’t, now you know. In this episode, we’re going to talk about the Pa1estine National Baseball Team. You’ll hear from the team’s catcher, Tariq Suboh, and pitcher and outfielder, Yunis Halim. Who founded the Pa1estine National Baseball Team? How did it all start? (Ps. It all started in Gaza!) What are some of the biggest challenges for the team so far, especially amid a genocidal oppression and occupation by the state of 1srael? What does it feel like wearing the jersey, stepping on the field, and representing the homeland? You’ll get to hear of these behind-the-scenes and important stories of the team.

And of course we talked about some of the exciting games the team has played in recent years, such as the 2023 Asian Baseball Championship which took place in Taiwan, and the first ever Baseball United Arab Classic in 2024 in Dubai. What's next for the Palestine National Baseball Team? 

Towards the end, we'll also get to know a little bit more of other members on the team with a game of rapid fire questions. 

Head to my Instagram @sharonlin_human for video highlights of this interview. 

Follow the Palestine National Baseball Team on Instagram: @baseballpalestine
For media inquiries, reach out to Nader Ihmoud on instagram @naderihmoud or @baseballpalestine
Cover photo: The team at the 2023 Asian Baseball Championship in Taiwan. Photo credit: Nader Ihmoud, Palestine in America


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