What happens when you spend over two decades at the forefront of international journalism, only to realize the industry no longer serves the truth the way it should?

In Episode 02 of Shaping Narratives & Culture, host Sue Obeidi sits down with award-winning journalist, host of Al Jazeera's The Take, and storyteller Malika Bilal for an intimate, unflinching look at narrative power, newsroom gatekeeping, and career reinvention.

In this episode, Malika candidly shares a major personal revelation: why she is preparing to step away from broadcast news, the tension between surface-level representation and genuine inclusion, and why narrative culture ultimately changes hearts and minds faster than news panels. From hosting PBS's American Muslims: History Revealed to navigating live TV surprises, balancing twins and a toddler, and redefining Muslim women's historical legacy, Malika unpacks what it takes to own your voice when the stakes are highest.

Key Topics Covered in This Episode:

• The Reality of Newsroom Exclusion: Why news panels discussing marginalized communities almost never feature voices from those communities.
• The Myth of Being the "First": Why breaking glass ceilings means nothing if the door isn't left wide open behind you.
• The Career Crossroads: Moving past the safety of corporate journalism into purpose-driven creative storytelling.
• Unsung Historical Giants: Reclaiming historical trailblazers like Khadija (RA) as models of female leadership, business acumen, and ambition.
• Motherhood and Ambition: The unfiltered reality of raising three young children while managing a demanding global career.

This podcast is presented by MPAC® Hollywood Bureau and Produced & Edited By Demand Brand Studio

Timestamps / Chapter Markers:

• 00:00 - Cold Open & Breaking News
• 00:48 - Uncovering American Muslims: History Revealed
• 05:06 - What Happened to the Dignity of Journalism?
• 07:03 - The Newsroom Exclusion Problem
• 09:39 - Childhood Magazines to War Reporting: Defining Storytelling
• 14:23 - Bearing Witness: Holding Onto Hope Amid Crisis
• 16:51 - Career Crossroads: "I Am Ready to Leave"
• 22:17 - The Myth of Spare Time: Parenting Twins & Reinvention
• 29:12 - Sue Obeidi on Leaving Corporate Banking for MPAC
• 34:06 - Could Malika Bilal Be on The View?
• 39:36 - Being One of the Only Hijabi Anchors: Praise vs. Scrutiny
• 45:08 - Live TV Chaos: The Unpredictable Interview
• 48:22 - Heroes in History: Khadija (RA), Business Acumen & Queens
• 52:14 - Who Is Malika Bilal in the Quiet Moments?
• 54:31 - The Future of Muslim Stories in Hollywood

What does it take to shift culture when public sentiment is stacked against you? In this episode of Shaping Narratives & Culture, host Sue Obeidi speaks with actor, producer, and former Canadian diplomat Zaib Shaikh.

Best known as the star of Little Mosque on the Prairie, Zaib discusses what it was like filming a groundbreaking comedy about Muslim life in a tense post-9/11 landscape, navigating international recognition across 80+ countries, and the deliberate decision to end the show on their own terms after six seasons.

Zaib traces his journey from the stage and screen to public leadership as Toronto’s Film Commissioner and Consul General of Canada, examining why artistic narratives hold more power to shift human perspective than political roundtables. Together, Sue and Zaib discuss the gaps in today's media representation, the vision behind launching The Muslim House at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), and why the future of storytelling requires ambitious, large-scale epics.

Host & Guest Credits:

• Sue Obeidi: Senior Vice President of the MPAC® Hollywood Bureau, consulting with studios, networks, and creators to advance authentic Muslim narratives across entertainment.
• Zaib Shaikh: Renowned actor, director, producer, former City of Toronto Film Commissioner, and former Consul General of Canada.

Media is full of people with something to say. We’re here to talk to them.

No lectures. No scripts. Just honest conversations with the people shaping what we watch, create, and believe.

MPAC’s Hollywood Bureau presents Shaping Narratives & Culture with Sue Obeidi.

Join host Sue Obeidi for candid, in-depth conversations with visionary filmmakers, artists, industry executives, and cultural voices. We’re diving into the craft, the untold career journeys, and the urgent ideas that deserve a platform in today's media landscape.