Seen Jeem

In this episode of the Seen Jeem Podcast, Khaled Mattawa talks to Matthew Jaber Stiffler about his newest collection of poetry, Fugitive Atlas (2020), his history as a leading figure in the development of Arab American literature, and his arts work in Libya. To watch a recording of Khaled's reading, visit https://seenjeempodcast.org/episodes/episode-13-khaled-mattawa

Mohja Kahf discusses two of her books of poetry with Sally Howell. Hagar Poems was released in 2016 and My Lover Brings Me Grapefruit came out in 2020. Listen to this episode to hear about what inspires Kahf's poetry, which often challenges patriarchal dynamics while advancing discussions on religion, race, women's empowerment and love. She read several poems for us: More than One Way to Break a Fast, Ramadan Godsend, Wet Chastity and more. To watch her readings visit www.seenjeempodcast.org/episodes/episode12-mohja-kahf

In today's episode, Susan Muaddi Darraj discusses her book series Farah Rocks Fifth Grade, which is the first chapter book series to feature Arab American characters. She describes the process of writing for children, the representation of people of color in children’s literature, challenging the publishing industry’s stereotypes of Arab Americans, and dramatizing an Arab American identity and community, among other topics. To watch a recording of Susan's reading, visit https://seenjeempodcast.org/episodes/episode-11-susan-muaddi-darraj

In this episode of the Seen Jeem podcast, Arab American National Museum (AANM) Director Diana Abouali chats with award-winning author Massoud Hayoun about his book, When We Were Arabs: A Jewish Family's Forgotten History. In this decolonial memoir, Massoud explores his grandparent's remarkable story as Jewish Arabs whose experiences were shaped by colonial ambitions in North Africa. Listen to this episode to hear from Massoud about his investigation of regional politics and how it helped him uncover his incredible family history. To watch a recording of Massoud's reading visit https://seenjeempodcast.org/episodes/episode-10-massoud-hayoun

In today's episode, award-winning author Zaina Arafat sits down with Matthew Jaber Stiffler to share what inspired her 2020 debut novel You Exist Too Much. Zaina also shares her writing journey and experiences growing up as one of the only Arab Americans in her community. To view recordings of Zaina's reading, visit https://seenjeempodcast.org/episodes/episode-09-zaina-arafat

In this episode, Iraqi American poet and educator Alise Alousi discusses her poetry and her work for the Detroit-based literary arts organization InsideOut with Sally Howell. She also reads several of her poems for us: “Capture the Flag,” “The Man Who Painted My Father's Eye,” “Imitation Spring - a Ghazal,” and “What Every Driver Must Know.” To view recordings of Alise's readings visit https://seenjeempodcast.org/episodes/episode-08-alise-alousi

In this episode, acclaimed poet Naomi Shihab Nye discusses her collection of poems, The Tiny Journalist (2019), with Diana Abouali, director of the Arab American National Museum. The “tiny journalist” refers to Janna Jihad Ayyad, the Palestinian citizen journalist who has been documenting and reporting Israel’s colonization of her homeland since she was a young girl. Recorded a few weeks after the 2021 Israel attacks on Gaza, Shihab Nye reflects on her identity as a Palestinian-American as well as the resilience of Palestinians in the face of ongoing adversity. For video recordings of her reading, visit https://seenjeempodcast.org/episodes/episode-07-naomi-shihab-nye

In today's episode of the Seen Jeem podcast, Sahar Mustafah discusses her debut and award-winning novel The Beauty of Your Face. Mustafah goes into detail about the writing of her book, which includes employing an episodic narrative structure and dramatizing the horror of a school shooting at an Islamic school for girls located in the Chicago suburbs. She talks about the representation of Arab American and Muslim American women in her fiction, and how her representations challenge the publishing industry’s stereotypes of such women. For video recordings of her readings, visit https://seenjeempodcast.org/episodes/episode6-sahar-mustafah

Author and professor Diana Abu-Jaber joins us to chat about her new young adult fantasy novel, Silverworld (2020), which she reads a short passage from! She shares with us her trajectory as a writer who often focuses on food and identity. 

Hayan Charara joins us today on the Seen Jeem podcast to discuss his latest book of poetry, These Trees, Those Leaves, This Flower, That Fruit, a "lushly transcendental and companionable" work according to Diane Seuss. Charara shares this new work with host Sally Howell and they also discuss the many ways in which Detroit and Dearborn are represented in his poetry as windows onto memory, family, community, and empathy. Charara provides several readings, including "Terrorism," "Neighbors," and a passage from "The Prize." 

You can pre-order These Trees, Those Leaves, This Flower, That Fruit here: https://milkweed.org/book/these-trees-those-leaves-this-flower-that-fruit

Watch recordings of Hayan's readings here: https://seenjeempodcast.org/episodes/episode-04-hayan-charara