In this episode of Tarwida, we sit down with Palestinian comedian Alaa Abu Diab for a sharp, poignant, and darkly witty conversation. We talk stand-up comedy as a craft: how jokes are built, why cities develop different humors, and what it means to laugh from inside catastrophe- not as escape, but as confrontation.

Alaa also shares insights about his latest shows, including “Virtual Reality”, which is currently touring across Europe and the Arab region. He reflects on how live performance creates an intimate space for collective reflection and release.

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This episode is hosted and produced by Tala Elissa. Our executive producer is Zina Jardaneh. Our associate producer is Zeena Shehadeh. Social media by Leen Karadsheh. Research and copywriting by Dima Sharif. Branding by Sara Sukhun. Theme music includes excerpts from Clarissa Bitar, The Popular Art Centre - مركز الفن الشعبي & Rim Banna. 

This conversation was conducted in Arabic and recorded on November 30, 2025. You can watch it with English subtitles on YouTube through this link. 

Tarwida is a series of conversations that bring Palestinian arts, culture, and heritage to the forefront. We hear from artists, including writers, filmmakers, musicians, architects, culinary practitioners, and more, about their very own Palestine.  

In a nutshell, if you want to know more about (Creative) Palestine, this is the place to be. 

Follow us on socials @tarwidapodcast

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Relevant links and Resources: 

• Follow Alaa Abu Diab on Instagram (@alaabudiab)
• Book your tickets to Alaa’s upcoming shows
• Learn more about Ghassan Kanafani
• Follow Palestinian comedians:
• Ayman Nahhas 
• Hanna Shammas

Relevant Tarwida Episodes:

Listen to our episode with Maysoon Zayid 

When six-year-old Hind Rajab reached out to the Red Cross for help in January 2024, the ambulance car was 8 minutes away from her. She could have been saved, but instead, the Israeli army murdered her and two of the rescuers in cold blood. Her voice went on to haunt millions around the world, standing as a chilling testament to the brutality and impunity with which Israel continues to commit genocide.

In an attempt to document and remember Hind, Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania felt compelled to create The Voice of Hind Rajab; an Oscar short-listed film that documents the devastating story.

In our conversation, Ben Hania reflects on the ethical and artistic choices behind the film, the responsibilities filmmakers carry when the violence they address has not ended, and the role of cinema as an act of listening. 

This episode is hosted and produced by Tala Elissa. Our executive producer is Zina Jardaneh. Our associate producer is Zeena Shehadeh. Social media by Leen Karadsheh. Research and copywriting by Dima Sharif. Branding by Sara Sukhun. Theme music includes excerpts from Clarissa Bitar, The Popular Art Centre - مركز الفن الشعبي & Rim Banna. 

This conversation was recorded on December 21, 2025. You can watch it on YouTube, here. 

Tarwida is a series of conversations that bring Palestinian arts, culture, and heritage to the forefront. We hear from artists, including writers, filmmakers, musicians, architects, culinary practitioners and more about their very own Palestine.  

In a nutshell, if you want to know more about (Creative) Palestine, this is the place to be. 

Follow us on socials @tarwidapodcast

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Relevant links and Resources: 

• Follow Kaouther Ben Hania on Instagram (@kaoutharbenhania)
• Read Forensic Architecture’s investigation on the killing of Hind Rajab. 
• Watch Al Jazeera’s documentary on the killing of Hind Rajab. 

Watch the trailers of Kaouther Ben Hania’s films:  

• The Voice of Hind Rajab (2025)
• Four Daughters (Banat Ulfa) (2023)
• The Man who Sold his Skin (2020)
• Beauty and the Dogs (2017)

During the 1990 Gulf War, Palestinian filmmaker, writer, and actress Cherien Dabis experienced racism for the first time while living in the United States. These experiences shaped her path toward filmmaking and commitment to Palestinian storytelling. 

In this episode, we hear more from her about her beginnings and delve into her latest Oscar short-listed feature film, All That’s Left of You, which traces a Palestinian family’s journey from the Nakba of 1948 to 2022, examining intergenerational trauma and life under occupation. Cherien explores

In addition to that, we spotlight her other notable works, including Amreeka, Ramy, and Mo, and discuss how comedy and TV have brought the Palestinian story to the American mainstream. 

This episode is hosted and produced by Tala Elissa. Our executive producer is Zina Jardaneh. Our associate producer is Zeena Shehadeh. Social media by Leen Karadsheh. Research and copywriting by Dima Sharif. Branding by Sara Sukhun. Theme music includes excerpts from Clarissa Bitar, The Popular Art Centre - مركز الفن الشعبي & Rim Banna. 

This conversation was recorded on November 26, 2025. You can watch it on YouTube, here. 

Tarwida is a series of conversations that bring Palestinian arts, culture, and heritage to the forefront. We hear from artists, including writers, filmmakers, musicians, architects, culinary practitioners and more about their very own Palestine.  

In a nutshell, if you want to know more about (Creative) Palestine, this is the place to be. 

Follow us on socials @tarwidapodcast

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Relevant links and Resources: 

• Follow Cherien Dabis on Instagram (@cheriendabis)
• Get tickets to see Cherien’s new film, All That’s Left of You
• Watch Cherien’s first feature film, Amreeka (2009)
• Watch Cherien’s second feature film, May in the Summer (2013)
• Watch Mo on Netflix 
• Learn more about Palestinian author Hala Alyan
• Learn more about up-and-coming director, Sarah Mokh
• Learn more about Suad Amiry and her novel, Sharon and My Mother-in-Law (2003)

​​In this episode of Tarwida, we take you on a virtual tour of SILA, a collaborative exhibition, that brings together artists and artisans to explore how Tatreez (Palestinian embroidery) has evolved from a traditional craft into a powerful language of identity and resistance.

Showing at Maraya Art Centre in Sharjah from September 2025 to January 2026, SILA presents contemporary interpretations of Tatreez across a wide range of mediums, including ceramics, pottery, fashion, design, installation, and even sound.

The founder of SILA, Rula Alami, joins us to discuss how the Inaash Association has worked for decades in Palestinian refugee camps across Lebanon, preserving and evolving the heritage of Tatreez while creating sustainable livelihoods for women artisans.

The episode also features a conversation with SILA curators Cima Azzam and Noor Suhail, who share insights into the curatorial process. They reflect on the central role of women artisans in preserving collective memory, how Tatreez has transformed from village craft into a cultural language, and how the exhibition engages with themes of identity, memory, resistance, and continuity.

We close with interviews with three of the twenty-five participating artists — Zaid Farouki, Areen Hassan, and Samar Hejazi — who reflect on their individual works and creative approaches to Tatreez.

Whether you’re drawn to Palestinian culture, contemporary art, textile practices, or stories of resilience, this episode offers a rare, layered perspective on how creativity becomes a form of endurance.

Our guest host is Dana Alhanbali. The episode is produced by Tala Elissa. Our executive producer is Zina Jardaneh. Our associate producer is Zeena Shehadeh. Social media by Leen Karadsheh. Research and copywriting by Dima Sharif. Branding by Sara Sukhun. Theme music includes excerpts from Clarissa Bitar, The Popular Art Centre - مركز الفن الشعبي & Rim Banna. 

These conversations were recorded in November of 2025.

Tarwida is a series of conversations that bring Palestinian arts, culture and heritage to the forefront. We hear from artists, including writers, filmmakers, musicians, architects, culinary practitioners and more about their very own Palestine.  

In a nutshell, if you want to know more about (Creative) Palestine, this is the place to be. 

Follow us on @tarwidapodcast

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Relevant links and Resources: 

• To learn more about SILA, visit their website here
• To learn more about The Inaash Association and their artisans, visit their website here
• Follow Rula Alami (@kiyanart) and visit her website here
• Learn more about Cima Azzam and the Maraya Art Center here
• Learn more about Noor Suhail and the 1971-Design Art Space here
• Follow Zaid Farouki (@zaidfarouki) and visit his website here
• Follow Samar Hejazi (@samarhejazi) and visit her website here
• Follow Areen Hassan (@by_areen) and visit her website here

See below to learn more about the mentioned artists and their work:

• Hazem Harb, Visual Artist 
• Ghassan Kanafani, Author 
• Huguette Caland, Artist and Founder of the Inaash Association 
• Liane Al Ghusain, Artist and Writer 
• Naima Almajdobah, Multidisciplinary Designer 
• Wafa Ghnaim, Historian and Author 
• Amer Shomali, Interdisciplinary Visual Artist 

Participating SILA artists:

Amer Shomali – Abdel Rahman Katanani – Areen Hassan – Aya Haidar – Bokja – Cristiana de Marchi – Dahouk Chamsi-Pasha – Farah Behbehani – Hazem Harb – Katya Traboulsi – Joanna Barakat – Leila Jabre Jureidini – Liane Al Ghusain – Maysaloun Faraj – Nada Debs – Naima Almajdobah – Naqsh Collective – Nour Hage – Omarvis – Sama Alshaibi – Samar Hejazi – Samia Halaby – Tala Hammoud Atrouni – Steve Sabella – Zaid Farouki

Nai Barghouti - Palestinian singer, flutist and composer discovered the power of her voice at age four, when the occupation forces moved into her building during the Second Intifada. Since then, Nai uses music as a form of defiance and identity. 

In this episode, she shares how legendary artists like Umm Kulthum, Fairuz and Ziad Rahbani shaped her sound and how she re-imagines Palestinian folklore through a unique fusion of jazz, blues and tarab styles. 

She explains her signature vocal technique, “Naistrumentation,” a style where the voice itself becomes an instrument — blending scat-inspired jazz vocalization, Arabic ornamentation, and Palestinian heritage. Expect discussion of her journey, creative collaborations, cultural roots and how music becomes resistance.

This episode is hosted and produced by Tala Elissa. Our executive producer is Zina Jardaneh. Our associate producer is Zeena Shehadeh. Social media by Leen Karadsheh. Research and copywriting by Dima Sharif. Branding by Sara Sukhun. Theme music includes excerpts from Clarissa Bitar, The Popular Art Centre - مركز الفن الشعبي & Rim Banna. 

This conversation was recorded on November 24, 2025. You can watch it on Youtube here. 

Tarwida is a series of conversations that bring Palestinian arts, culture and heritage to the forefront. We hear from artists, including writers, filmmakers, musicians, architects, culinary practitioners and more about their very own Palestine.  

In a nutshell, if you want to know more about (Creative) Palestine, this is the place to be. 

Follow us on @tarwidapodcast

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Relevant links and Resources: 

• Follow Nai Barghouti on Instagram (@naibarghoutiofficial)
• Listen to more of Nai’s music (Spotify, YouTube, Apple)
• Read more about the connection between Islamic music and the blues here
• Listen to Nai on Curious Ears
• Learn more about Ziad Rahbani 
• Buy tickets for Together for Palestine on December 9th, 2025 in Paris

Music included:

• قَلْبي يُحَدِّثُني - ناي البرغوثي | Qalbi Yuhadithuni 
• Li Fairuz 
• Xena 
• If I Must Die - Poem by Refaat Alareer, music by Nai Barghouti
• Steps
• Athem of the Land 
• Inta Omry, originally by Umm Kulthum, performed by Nai Barghouti
• Sallimli Aleih, originally sung by Fairuz and composed by Ziad Rahbani, performed by Nai Barghouti
• “Badri Aleina” - written and composed by Jalal Nader from Palestine. Children choirs from Gaza, directed by Fouad Khader and Jaber Thabet - trained in part at the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music (ESNCM) by Sheryn Zeidan.

When filmmaker Annemarie Jacir began searching for her next film, she found herself returning to a moment many prefer to forget, the 1936 revolt, when Palestinians rose together against the British colonial rule, long before today's occupation took shape. This film, Palestine36, eventually became a 9-year journey into archives, historic villages, and the ways history leaves its mark. In this episode, she reflects on how the film came to life, and we also dive into her three other feature films, all of which were submitted to the Oscars. 

Raised between Saudi Arabia and Bethlehem, and now living in Haifa, Annemarie has always existed between worlds. We delve deeper into how this has shaped her and how she and other Palestinian filmmakers manage to make creation possible under impossible conditions.

This episode is hosted and produced by Tala Elissa. Our executive producer is Zina Jardaneh. Our associate producer is Zeena Shehadeh. Social media by Leen Karadsheh. Research and copywriting by Dima Sharif. Branding by Sara Sukhun. Theme music includes excerpts from Clarissa Bitar, The Popular Art Centre - مركز الفن الشعبي & Rim Banna. 

This conversation was recorded on November 5, 2025. You can watch it on YouTube, here. 

Tarwida is a series of conversations that bring Palestinian arts, culture, and heritage to the forefront. We hear from artists, including writers, filmmakers, musicians, architects, culinary practitioners and more about their very own Palestine.  

In a nutshell, if you want to know more about (Creative) Palestine, this is the place to be. 

Follow us on socials @tarwidapodcast

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Relevant links and Resources: 

• Follow Annemarie Jacir on Instagram (@annamariajacir)
• Find where to watch her newest film Palestine36, here
• Learn more about Farkha Village, here
• You can read Rashid Khalidi’s book, Palestinian Identity (1997), here, and The Hundred Years War on Palestine (2020), here

Watch Annemarie’s films below:

• Salt of this Sea (2008)
• When I Saw You (2012)
• Wajib (2017)

Mentioned Tarwida Episodes:

• Saleem Al Beik

When Suad Amiry’s father tried to return to his home in Jaffa after 1948, he found that an Israeli family had moved in. They refused to let him enter. And when he returned to their home in Amman, it was the first time Suad had ever seen him cry. Years later, Suad would build a career on remembering what others tried to erase. 

Palestinian architect and writer, Suad Amiry, shares how her parents’ strength, wit, and belief in her became the foundation of her own confidence and sense of humor. She reflects on a life lived as both an architect and storyteller, exploring the absurdities of daily life under occupation, the coexistence of heartbreak and humor, and the defiant power of laughter. 

From founding the Riwaq Centre for Architectural Conservation in 1991 to writing her book Sharon and My Mother-in-Law in 2003, and many since, Suad Amiry has dedicated her life to preserving Palestine, its culture, and its stories. 

This episode is hosted by Afaf Shawwa Bibi. Tarwida’s lead producer is Tala Elissa. Our executive producer is Zina Jardaneh. Our associate producer is Zeena Shehadeh. Social media by Leen Karadsheh. Research and copywriting by Dima Sharif. Branding by Sara Sukhun. Theme music includes excerpts from Clarissa Bitar, The Popular Art Centre - مركز الفن الشعبي & Rim Banna. 

This conversation was recorded on September 10, 2025. You can watch it on YouTube, here. 

Tarwida is a series of conversations that bring Palestinian arts, culture and heritage to the forefront. We hear from artists, including writers, filmmakers, musicians, architects, culinary practitioners and more about their very own Palestine.  

In a nutshell, if you want to know more about (Creative) Palestine, this is the place to be. 

Follow us on socials @tarwidapodcast

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Relevant links and Resources: 

• Follow Suad Amiry on Instagram (@suad.amiry)
• Learn more about the Riwaq Centre for Architectural Conservation
• See below to learn more about the books mentioned:
  • Mother of Strangers
  • Golda Slept Here
  • Murad Murad
  • Sharon and My Mother-in-Law
  • My Damascus

In this episode, we sit with Palestinian musician Samir Joubran, one of the three brothers behind Le Trio Joubran - a family of oud players and master luthiers who have carried the craft and soul of the instrument across generations.

We explore with him what it means to revive the oud today and how to make music that speaks without words. We also trace the deep intersection between music and poetry, guided by the legacy of renowned poet Mahmoud Darwish, whose words have long influenced Joubrans’ music.

Through reflecting on craft, heritage, and the spaces between sound and silence, this conversation is an invitation to listen differently. 

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This episode is hosted and produced by Tala Elissa. Our executive producer is Zina Jardaneh. Our associate producer is Zeena Shehadeh. Social media by Leen Karadsheh. Research and copywriting by Dima Sharif. Branding by Sara Sukhun. Theme music includes excerpts from Clarissa Bitar, The Popular Art Centre - مركز الفن الشعبي & Rim Banna. 

This conversation was conducted in Arabic and recorded on October 11, 2025. You can watch it with English subtitles on YouTube through this link. 

Tarwida is a series of conversations that bring Palestinian arts, culture, and heritage to the forefront. We hear from artists, including writers, filmmakers, musicians, architects, culinary practitioners, and more, about their very own Palestine.  

In a nutshell, if you want to know more about (Creative) Palestine, this is the place to be. 

Follow us on socials @tarwidapodcast

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Relevant links and Resources: 

• Follow Samir Joubran on Instagram (@samir_joubran)
• Follow Le Trio Joubran on Instagram (@triojoubran)
• Book your tickets to attend Le Trio Joubrans’ upcoming concerts
• Listen to Le Trio Joubran’s latest album

Mentioned Tarwida Episodes: 

• Listen to our episode with Joudie Kalla 
• Listen to our episode with Rola Azar

Born in Damascus, raised in London, and rooted in Palestine, chef, author, and activist Joudie Kalla speaks openly about living between worlds. Never fully belonging, yet finding a home through flavors, memories, and family stories. 

Known for her celebrated books Palestine on a Plate and Baladi, Joudie reflects on how cooking has always been a way to ground herself and celebrate Palestinian culture. She also reflects on how food is never separate from politics or empathy. 

This episode is hosted and produced by Tala Elissa. Our executive producer is Zina Jardaneh. Our associate producer is Zeena Shehadeh. Social media by Leen Karadsheh. Research and copywriting by Dima Sharif. Branding by Sara Sukhun. Theme music includes excerpts from Clarissa Bitar, The Popular Art Centre - مركز الفن الشعبي & Rim Banna. 

This conversation was recorded on September 21, 2025. You can watch it on YouTube, here.

Tarwida is a series of conversations that bring Palestinian arts, culture, and heritage to the forefront. We hear from artists, including writers, filmmakers, musicians, architects, culinary practitioners, and more, about their very own Palestine.  

In a nutshell, if you want to know more about (Creative) Palestine, this is the place to be. 

Follow us on socials @tarwidapodcast

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Relevant links and Resources: 

• Follow Joudie on Instagram (@palestineonaplate) 
• Support Joudie and The House of Friendship by buying her cookbooks, Baladi and Palestine on a Plate 
• You can also attend Joudie’s supper clubs, where all profits go to charity, by signing up here
• Remember and learn more about Refaat Alareer and read more of his work in Gaza Writes Back
• Learn more about Mahmoud Darwish and read his poetry here
• Listen to the full version of Fairuz’s song, Ana Indi Haneen

Mentioned Tarwida Episodes: 

• Listen to our episode with Fadi Kattan
• Listen to our episode with Rola Azar

From the suburbs of Chicago to representing Palestine on a global stage, Olympic swimmer Valerie Tarazi 

carries Palestine in everything she does. Our first glimpse of her as a representative for Palestine was at the 2023 Arab Games in Algeria and then at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she held the Palestinian flag high. Beyond the pool, Valerie’s dedication to Palestine shines through her advocacy work, where she champions grassroots sports programs and opens doors for the next generation, with a special focus on empowering women to step into the world of athletics. Through her sport and advocacy, Valerie continues to fight for sport as a basic human right. 

This episode is hosted by Afaf Shawwa Bibi. Tarwida’s lead producer is Tala Elissa. Our executive producer is Zina Jardaneh. Our associate producer is Zeena Shehadeh. Social media by Leen Karadsheh. Research and copywriting by Dima Sharif. Branding by Sara Sukhun. Theme music includes excerpts from Clarissa Bitar, The Popular Art Centre - مركز الفن الشعبي & Rim Banna. 

This conversation was recorded on September 10, 2025. You can watch the full video on YouTube, here. 

Tarwida is a series of conversations that bring Palestinian arts, culture and heritage to the forefront. We hear from artists including writers, filmmakers, musicians, architects, culinary practitioners and more about their very own Palestine.  

In a nutshell, if you want to know more about (Creative) Palestine, this is the place to be. 

Follow us on @tarwidapodcast

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Relevant links and Resources: 

• Follow Valerie on Instagram (@vswimt)
• Learn more about the Palestinian Olympic Committee
• 800 Palestinian athletes have been murdered by the Israeli Occupation since October 7. Keep their memory alive by learning their names and their stories.
• Learn more about the Olympic Council of Asia’s Gender Equity Committee
• Learn more about the International Olympic Committee’s Commission on Gender Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion