Tarwida

Palestinian composer and pianist Rima Nasir Tarazi reflects on her extraordinary life, sharing wisdom shaped by 93 years of personal and political challenges. Despite everything she’s witnessed, or perhaps because of it, Rima still holds a remarkable grit for life. In this episode she reminds us to remain hopeful and shares with us her enduring love for music and how it has served as a powerful vehicle for both self-expression and social activism. 

Aside from her musical career, Rima has also held important leadership and founding roles in several Palestinian institutions including Edward Said National Conservatory of Music, Birzeit University, the YWCA, Inaash Al Usra.  

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 episode was recorded on the 2nd of July, 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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Songs Included by Rima Nasir Tarazi and sung by Tania Tamari Nasir:

• Hania
• Song of the Bird
• Isma'u Yakhwani (My Children's Story)
• Ughufuri Lana Ya Ummah (Forgive us Mother)
• Ila Mata (Until When)

Relevant links and Resources: 

• You can listen to Rima’s music on Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube
• To learn more about Rima and see the photos she generously donated to the Palestinian Archive, check out this link. 
• You can read more about Samiha Khalil  through this link

Creative director, activist, and storyteller Alana Hadid joins us for an in-depth conversation, sharing her earliest memories of growing up in a Palestinian-American family, the influence of her family members, and how she navigates social media algorithms to educate and raise awareness. We also discuss her involvement with Watermelon Pictures as Creative Director and her new podcast, The Seeds FM. From creative resilience to hopes for a freer future, Alana's story is one of passion, courage, and unyielding commitment to her heritage. 

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 episode was recorded on 17th of June, 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: 

• Follow Alana Hadid on Instagram (@lanzybear) and check out her ‘donate’ highlight for more information about the charities she works with all the way from Palestine to Sudan and Congo
• Check out Watermelon Pictures and subscribe to Watermelon +
• Listen to Alana’s new podcast, The Seeds FM (@theseedsfm) on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts
• You can watch Walled Off, directed by Vin Arfuso, on Watermelon+. The trailer can be found through this link
• Check out and support some Palestinian-led brands Alana mentioned, Pali Roots and Wear the Peace

From her ceramic sculptures to her time teaching at Birzeit University, Vera Tamari’s work captures the deep ties between culture, resistance, and rootedness. A trailblazer in the Palestinian art scene, Vera was among the first women to exhibit contemporary art in Palestine and has spent decades mentoring new generations of artists. In this conversation, we reflect on the role of women in art and academia, and what it means to reinvent family archives. 

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 episode was recorded on 26th of May, 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: 

• Read more about Vera Tamari and her work 
• Watch Vera working on Guardians of the Land 
• Tale of a Tree
• Visit Vladimir Tamari’s website
• Buy Tamari’s book Returning
• Learn more about the Palestinian Museum’s new edition of New Visions 
• Explore Birzeit University's collections
• Learn more about Al-Balalin Troupe

Nabil Al Raee, a leader at The Freedom Theater in Jenin, talks about the theater's founding and its role in resisting oppression through storytelling. Despite challenges like funding and political pressure, Nabil highlights global support and hopes for the future of Palestinian art, freedom, and theater. 

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. 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 May 5, 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

If you have been listening to the Tarwida Podcast, we want to know who you are, hear your thoughts and feedback. We welcome any suggestions for next guests or topics!  Help us understand you better by filling this short survey linked below, it won’t take more than 5 minutes. We promise you a coffee next time we see you. Thank you!

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Relevant links and Resources: 

• Learn more about and support The Freedom Theater on their website (https://thefreedomtheatre.org/) and follow them on Instagram (@thefreedomtheater) 
• Follow Nabil Al Raee on Instagram (@alraee.nabil)
• To learn about the history of theater in Palestine you can check out Samer Al-Saber’s book, A Movement’s Promise, and Radi Shehadeh’s book سيرة حكواتي من فلسطين - راضي شحادة
• You can read more about their play, The Siege, here
• Watch Arna’s Children here to learn more about Arna Mer Khamis
• To learn more about one of the founders of The Freedom Theater, Zakaria Zubeidi, you can read this article by the Middle East Eye

Dive into the inspiring journey of Hamza and Badie Ali, the brothers who transformed their passion for film into a mission to reclaim the Palestinian narrative through their production and distribution company, Watermelon Pictures. They delve into their origins, from their grandfather arriving in the U.S. from Palestine in 1935 to the present-day global distribution company they now run. They also speak on their most recent documentary, The Encampments. 

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. 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 April 21, 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

If you have been listening to the Tarwida Podcast, we want to know who you are, hear your thoughts and feedback. We welcome any suggestions for next guests or topics!  Help us understand you better by filling this short survey linked below, it won’t take more than 5 minutes. We promise you a coffee next time we see you. Thank you!

--

Relevant links and Resources: 

Follow Watermelon Pictures (@watermelonpictures) on Instagram and check out their website (watermelonpictures.com)

Subscribe to their new streaming platform, Watermelon Plus  (watch.watermelonpictures.com) 

Watch their new documentary, The Encampments, and support it on Instagram (@theencampments)

Watch the upcoming feature, To a Land Unknown, directed by Mahdi Fleifel 

Check out Jack Shaheen’s study which includes all the mentioned statistics about Arab representation in Hollywood

In this episode of Tarwida, we speak with architects Sandi Hilal and Alessandro Petti, co-founders of DAAR—Decolonizing Architecture Art Residency. From refugee camps to schools and public spaces, Hilal and Petti reimagine space not as a neutral container, but as a political and historical actor. We explore how architecture can be a site of decolonial resistance, of imagination and repair, and what it means to practice architecture in Palestine, beyond the frameworks imposed by occupation. 

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 episode was recorded on April 9, 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: 

• Follow DAAR on instagram @decolonizing.ps
• Visit DAAR’s website
• Listen to Gaza Reconstruction Reality Check with Abed Kittana
• Learn more about Spaciocide- From “Spacio-cide” to Genocide: The War on Gaza and Western Indifference
• Buy Sandi and Alessandro’s book: Architecture After Revolution 
• Read more on The reconstruction of Al-Nada social housing in Gaza
• Learn more about DAAR’s academic course on Encampments

The views and opinions expressed by guests are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the points of view of the Tarwida Podcast, its hosts, or its team. While we value open dialogue and diverse perspectives, these conversations are not an endorsement or representation of our personal opinions.

Join us as we welcome renowned chef Fadi Kattan to Tarwida, diving deep into his rich family heritage and unique culinary journey. Fadi shares fascinating stories of his upbringing, the profound influence of his Teta’s kitchen, and his commitment to celebrating Palestinian cuisine through his acclaimed restaurants and his book Bethlehem, which celebrates Palestinian flavors and highlights the importance of local artisans and producers.

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. 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 March 19, 2025.

Tarwida is a series of conversations that bring Palestinian arts, culture and heritage to the I 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

If you have been listening to the Tarwida Podcast, we want to know who you are, hear your thoughts and feedback. We welcome any suggestions for next guests or topics!  Help us understand you better by filling this short survey linked below, it won’t take more than 5 minutes. We promise you a coffee next time we see you. Thank you!

--

Relevant links and Resources: 

Follow Fadi Kattan (@fadi.f.kattan) on Instagram 

Order his book, Bethlehem (https://geni.us/bethlehem) 

Visit his restaurants! Akub in London (@akub.london) and Louf in Toronto (@louf.toronto)

If you find yourself in Bethlehem be sure to stay at his boutique hotel Kassa (@kassahotel)

Watch his YouTube series, Teta’s Kitchen

What does it mean to create art under a brutal colonial system? To make beauty in the midst of struggle? In this episode, Palestinian visual artist Nabil Anani reflects on the First Intifada and the experimental spirit it sparked. He shares why art must be rooted in its environment, how creativity becomes a political act, and what it means to shape a visual language that holds memory, place, and defiance at its core.

This episode is hosted by Tala Elissa. 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 April 4, 2025 and is conducted in Arabic. You can find the English transcript 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 @tarwidapodcast

If you have been listening to the Tarwida Podcast, we want to know who you are, hear your thoughts and feedback. We welcome any suggestions for next guests or topics!  Help us understand you better by filling this short survey linked below, it won’t take more than 5 minutes. We promise you a coffee next time we see you. Thank you!

--

Relevant links and Resources: 

Follow Nabil Anani on Instagram @na.anani

Check Anani’s artwork on Zayweh

Learn more about the Palestinian Museum’s new edition of New Visions 

Watch Anani working on his latest piece

Buy Anani’s book Palestine, Land and People

Buy Anani’s book The Land and I

Buy Anani’s memoir Emerging to the Light

With each stitch and surface, Naqsh Collective reimagines the boundaries between craft, architecture, and memory. In this episode, we sit with Nisreen, Nermeen and Shireen Abu Dail, the sisters behind the collective, to reflect on what it means to carry Palestinian identity through form and material— exploring the politics of craft, the aesthetics of resistance, and how their embroidered narratives give new life to heritage in diaspora.

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 March 12, 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

If you have been listening to the Tarwida Podcast, we want to know who you are, hear your thoughts and feedback. We welcome any suggestions for next guests or topics!  Help us understand you better by filling this short survey linked below, it won’t take more than 5 minutes. We promise you a coffee next time we see you. Thank you!

--

Relevant links and Resources: 

Follow Naqsh on Instagram @naqshcollective

Visit Naqsh Collective’s website

Learn more about Shawl

Learn more about Jhazek ya Shams bridal chest

Learn more about Akka’s Jump 

New York Times’ article featuring Naqsh: A Panorama of Design

Follow Tiraz on Instagram @tirazcentre

Join Naqsh’s collective work to preserve Palestinian embroidery 

When Dr. Ghassan Abu Sittah left after 43 days of working around the clock under constant bombardment in Gaza’s emergency rooms, filmmakers Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi didn’t think twice before deciding to document his story. In this episode, they discuss A State of Passion, their latest film capturing Dr. Abu Sittah’s harrowing experience. They also reflect on their previous works, Stitching Palestine and Aida Returns. Through their work, Carol and Muna explore the power of film as a tool for advocacy, bearing witness, and preserving Palestinian narratives.

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. 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 February 15, 2025.

Tarwida is a series of conversations that bring Palestinian arts, culture and heritage to the I 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

If you have been listening to the Tarwida Podcast, we want to know who you are, hear your thoughts and feedback. We welcome any suggestions for next guests or topics!  Help us understand you better by filling this short survey linked below, it won’t take more than 5 minutes. We promise you a coffee next time we see you. Thank you!

--

Relevant links and Resources: 

Follow Carol Mansour (@mansourcarol) and Muna Khalidi (@muna_khalidi) on Instagram 

Follow State of Passion (@state.of.passion) on Instagram

Follow Aida Returns on Instagram (@aida_returns) and visit the website

Follow Stitching Palestine (@stitching_palestine)