In this episode of Stories of Transformation, host Baktash Ahadi sits down with actress and activist Azida Ghanizada to discuss her journey from wartime Afghanistan to the film and television industry in Hollywood, California. Azita talks about her work with the MENA Arts Advocacy Coalition, an organization she founded herself which aims to balance the representation of Mid-East, North-African, and South-Asian performers in film and TV media.

In this episode of Stories of Transformation, host Baktash Ahadi and guest Omaid Sharifi discuss what it’s like to grow up in a place where war, poverty, and defiance are everyday realities; the power of art in opening minds and promoting positive change; finding the courage, and the creativity, to stand up to those in power who refuse to listen; and how kindness as a catalyst is the best way to make a lasting impact.

In this episode of Stories of Transformation, we discuss the difference between happiness and fulfillment; the nature of trauma and how it lives in the body; the importance of homeless shelters and recovery centers, and the scope of services that they offer; and how seemingly small acts of kindness can change a life.