Room For Us

This might be my favourite album of all time. Let’s get into Britney Spears’ most beloved album, Blackout: the producers who shaped it, the incredible songwriting, how she turned the hardships of 2007 into an unforgettable record, and why it still sounds ahead of its time today.

What if the person who’s supposed to make you feel safe is the reason you can’t trust your own mind?

For today's episode, I talk about Jagged Mind (2023), the queer psychological thriller from director Kelley Kali, starring Maisie Richardson-Sellers and Shannon Woodward. It follows Billie, a woman dealing with blackouts and fractured memories, and the devoted new partner who seems like her safe space. The film is best watched going in blind, so this conversation is spoiler-light.

Grab your tea and settle in, because this one’s a short and sweet catch-up. I’m sharing an update on the Top Host competition and how it’s going, plus a few housekeeping notes.

I’m also floating an idea I’ve been excited about: starting an online book club together (shout-out to Grace!!)

You can vote for me as your next Top Host here: https://tophost.org/2026/persis-abraham

This week, I'm unpacking Khaled Hosseini's devastating 2007 novel A Thousand Splendid Suns, following Mariam and Laila, two women from very different worlds who are forced into the same household and the same marriage as Afghanistan's history collapses around them. This is a full spoiler episode. I cover the complete plot, including the heartbreaking ending.

Content note: This episode discusses domestic violence, suicide, war, and death.

Content note: this episode discusses the war in Gaza and the death of a child.

Room For Us has always been a space for queer voices. Today, I'm widening the lens.

In this episode, I talk about The Voice of Hind Rajab, the Oscar-nominated film by Kaouther Ben Hania built around the real recorded phone calls of a five-year-old girl trapped in a car in Gaza City in January 2024. I explain why the film hit me the way it did, why I think everyone should watch it, and why staying "out of politics" isn't neutral when you have a platform, or even when you don't.

I also talk about privilege, about how none of us choose the situation we're born into, and about what it means for a queer podcast to speak up on human rights beyond our own community. Along the way, I look at the recent controversy over Ed Sheeran's tour and Macklemore's removal, and what it says about who gets to speak.

Watch the film. Listen to her voice. And remember Hind Rajab.

My fiancée and I have been together for nearly four years, and we still hear it all the time: friends, sisters, even MOTHER and DAUGHTER? 😅

In this episode, I talk about how frustrating and isolating these assumptions can be, even when they aren't meant to be malicious. Sometimes the simplest thing is to just ask instead of assuming. Inclusivity always matters.

In this episode, I'm talking about the celebrities who've been vocal about Palestine and why we should continue to lift their voices up. From Kehlani's "Next 2 U" to Dua Lipa's years of consistent advocacy tied to her own family's history of displacement, to Macklemore's powerful speech at Ed Sheeran's concert and more.

I also dig into Melissa Barrera, who was dropped from Scream 7 over her social media posts and has spoken openly about being blacklisted from Hollywood since — and Angelina Jolie, whose two decades of humanitarian work collided with a very public rift with her own father.

This is my personal take on the artists using their platforms for something bigger than themselves, and why I think that takes real courage.

Free Palestine 🇵🇸

Did you know Noah Kahan almost gave up on music? In this quick episode, I’m talking about why it’s so important to keep going with the things you’re passionate about — even when the burnout is real. Sometimes, you have no idea what’s waiting for you just around the corner.

Don't support transphobia! It should be that simple, right?

More news is breaking about who's walking away from the Harry Potter universe: cast shifts on HBO's new series, iconic director Ally Pankiw turning down a directing job — but now, Rupert Grint is returning to Broadway as Ron Weasley in 'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,' despite having stood with trans people after J.K. Rowling's continuous ant-trans remarks.

I'm talking about why it's important to say goodbye to the series, and what your money actually funds when you do support the franchise — including where J.K. Rowling has reportedly put some of her fortune. You can still love and appreciate Harry Potter for what it was, and the nostalgia it gives you, but you don't need to spend one more dollar on it.

In this episode, I’m remembering Hayden Panettiere — the actor and familiar face so many of us grew up watching. From Heroes and Nashville to becoming a mother and navigating postpartum depression, Hayden’s life has unfolded in front of the world. I’m looking back at her career, her rise to fame, motherhood, mental health, and the pressures of growing up in the public eye — while reflecting on why Hayden remains such a memorable part of so many of our childhoods.

Rest peacefully, Hayden. ❤️🪽