The Enlightenment Podcast

In Episode 75 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan are joined by Dr. Ahmed Massoud, a Palestinian consultant pediatrician, endocrinologist, and chairman of the Hanoon Foundation, a British charity that has spent nearly three decades supporting Palestinian healthcare and medical education.

Through the Hanoon Foundation’s work, Palestinian doctors, nurses, and medical students have received vital training, educational opportunities, and support despite the immense pressures created by occupation, siege, and repeated attacks on Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure.

Dr. Massoud has dedicated his career not only to treating children, but also to strengthening the future of Palestinian medicine itself—helping ensure that expertise, education, and care continue even under conditions designed to break them.

This is a conversation about resilience, responsibility, and the long struggle to protect life under impossible conditions.

Dr. Ahmed Massoud’s Work:

The Hanoon Foundation → https://hanoon.org/ 

The Enlightenment Podcast Social Media:

feedlinks.link/enlightenmentpodcast

#TheEnlightenmentPodcast #AhmedMassoud #HanoonFoundation #PalestinianHealthcare #MedicineInGaza #FreePalestine #MedicalEducation #Gaza #HealthcareUnderAttacK #DoctorsForPalestine #PalestinianChildren #EndTheOccupation

In Episode 74 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan are joined by Professor Nick Maynard, Consultant Upper GI Surgeon at Oxford University Hospitals, and one of the most important medical voices speaking out on Gaza today.

Professor Maynard is the Chairman of the International Medical Education Trust (IMET2000) and Chair of the Board of Trustees for Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP). He is also the author of a widely read Guardian article documenting the deliberate starvation of children in Gaza, based on his firsthand experience working under siege conditions. In recognition of his humanitarian work, he was awarded the UK Humanitarian Medal by King Charles in February.

Having worked directly inside Gaza’s collapsing healthcare system, Professor Maynard brings urgent, eyewitness testimony to what is happening on the ground—testimony that challenges official narratives and demands global attention.

Professor Nick Maynard’s Work:

The Guardian Article → theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jul/22/gaza-israel-deliberate-starvation-ceasefire-aid 

IMET2000 → imet2000.org 

Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) → map.org.uk

Professor Nick Maynard’s Social Media:

Instagram → instagram.com/nickmaynard.surgeon 

X (Twitter) → x.com/maynard_nick

The Enlightenment Podcast Social Media:

feedlinks.link/enlightenmentpodcast

#TheEnlightenmentPodcast #NickMaynard #Gaza #GazaGenocide #MedicalAidForPalestinians #MAP #HealthcareUnderAttack #DoctorsInGaza #HumanitarianCrisis #FreePalestine #EndTheOccupation #WarCrimes #TruthToPower #MedicalWitness

In Episode 73 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan are joined by Professor Ilan Pappé, one of the world’s most important and controversial Israeli historians, whose work has fundamentally reshaped global understanding of the history of Palestine.

Professor Pappé is the author of numerous groundbreaking books, including The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine, Lobbying for Zionism on Both Sides of the Atlantic, and his latest work, Israel on the Brink (2025). He is also the current Chairman of the Nakba Memorial Foundation, continuing his commitment to preserving historical truth and Palestinian memory.

Through meticulous research in Israeli state archives, he has exposed the systematic policies of displacement, dispossession, and narrative control that underpin the creation of Israel—work that has led to fierce backlash, including condemnation by the Israeli parliament.

Now based in the UK, Professor Pappé continues to challenge dominant narratives and speak out on Palestine, despite decades of political pressure, professional attacks, and attempts to silence his scholarship.

Prof. Ilan Pappé’s Work:The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine → bit.ly/482bImH Lobbying for Zionism on Both Sides of the Atlantic → bit.ly/4dMQ35D Israel on the Brink (2025) → bit.ly/4erpVNU 

Nakba Memorial Foundation → nakbamf.org/ The Enlightenment Podcast Social Media:

feedlinks.link/enlightenmentpodcast

#TheEnlightenmentPodcast #IlanPappe #EthnicCleansingOfPalestine #PalestineHistory #FreePalestine #Zionism #IsraelPalestine #Nakba #DecolonizePalestine #HistoricalTruth #EndTheOccupation #Gaza #AcademicFreedom #TruthToPower

In Episode 72 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan are joined by Jamal Kanj, a Palestinian-American author, political commentator, and one of the most widely read columnists writing today on Palestinian liberation, identity, and the narratives used to justify dispossession.

Jamal is the author of several influential books, including Children of Catastrophe: Journey from a Palestinian Refugee Camp to America, a deeply personal and political account of exile, survival, and identity. Through his writing and commentary, he has consistently challenged dominant Western narratives, exposing the myths and distortions that underpin the ongoing displacement of Palestinians.

His work has been featured in leading international outlets, where he writes on Middle East politics, Palestinian rights, cultural erasure, and historical memory, bringing clarity and urgency to issues often misrepresented in mainstream discourse.

Jamal Kanj’s Work:

Children of Catastrophe: Journey from a Palestinian Refugee Camp to America  → amazon.com/Children-Catastrophe-Journey-Palestinian-Refugee-ebook/ 

Jamal Kanj’s Social Media:Facebook → facebook.com/jamal.kanj

Instagram → www.instagram.com/instajamalk

Website → jamalkanj.com

The Enlightenment Podcast Social Media:

feedlinks.link/enlightenmentpodcast

#TheEnlightenmentPodcast #JamalKanj #PalestinianHistory #FreePalestine #PalestinianStories #EndTheOccupation #Gaza #Palestine #DigitalResistance

In Episode 71 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan are delighted to be joined by Billy Howle, the acclaimed British actor whose work spans film, television, and theatre. 

Audiences know Billy from projects such as On Chesil Beach, Dunkirk, The Serpent, and The Perfect Couple. Most recently, he appears in Anne-Marie Jacir’s powerful new film Palestine 36, where he plays Thomas Hopkins, a British civil servant caught up in the historic events of the 1936 Palestinian Revolt against British colonial rule.

Beyond his work on screen, Billy has also been an outspoken supporter of Palestinian human rights, publicly calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and supporting Artists for Palestine UK, joining a growing number of cultural figures using their platforms to challenge silence and censorship.

Billy Howle’s Work:

Palestine ‘36 → palestine36film.com/buy-tickets

Palestine ’36 theatrical run in North America: 

📍 New York City – March 20📍 Select cities – March 27📍 Nationwide expansion – April

Artists4Palestine UK → artistsforpalestine.org.uk 

The Enlightenment Podcast Social Media:

feedlinks.link/enlightenmentpodcast

#TheEnlightenmentPodcast #BillyHowle #Palestine36 #PalestinianHistory #1936Revolt #FreePalestine #ArtistsForPalestine #CinemaAsResistance #AnneMarieJacir #Dunkirk #OnChesilBeach #PalestinianStories #EndTheOccupation #Gaza

In Episode 70 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan are joined by Peter Oborne, one of Britain’s most respected political journalists and the author of Complicit: Britain’s Role in the Destruction of Gaza.

Peter is a veteran journalist who spent years at the heart of the British media establishment before taking the extraordinary step of resigning from the Daily Telegraph over what he described as the paper’s failure to report honestly on powerful interests. Since then, he has become one of the most prominent voices exposing media bias, political complicity, and the role of Western governments in enabling Israeli violence against Palestinians.

Today, Peter writes as an associate editor at Middle East Eye, and as a columnist for Byline Times and Declassified UK, where he continues to investigate the intersection of politics, media power, and foreign policy.

In this episode, we discuss Britain’s historical and political role in the Gaza catastrophe, the failure of Western media to report truthfully on Palestine, and why honest journalism has become one of the most powerful forms of resistance.

Peter Oborne’s Work:

📰 Middle East Eye → middleeasteye.net

📰 Byline Times → bylinetimes.com

📰 Declassified UK → www.declassifieduk.org 

Complicit: Britain's Role in the Destruction of Gaza  → bit.ly/4rOupC3 

Fate of Abraham → bit.ly/4b2RAkT 

Peter Oborne’s Social Media:

X (Twitter) → x.com/OborneTweets 

The Enlightenment Podcast Social Media:

feedlinks.link/enlightenmentpodcast

#TheEnlightenmentPodcast #PeterOborne #ComplicitBook7 #Gaza #GazaGenocide #FreePalestine  #BritishMedia #MediaBias #JournalismAndTruth #MiddleEastEye #DeclassifiedUK #BylineTimes #Palestine #EndTheOccupation #TruthToPower

“From Palestinian independent cinema to Hollywood blockbusters, she has carried Palestine with her onto every screen—never compromising, never erasing who she is.”

In Episode 69 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan are honored to be joined by Hiam Abbass, the award-winning Palestinian actress whose extraordinary career spans some of the most important films and television series of our time.

Hiam Abbass has appeared in landmark Palestinian films such as Paradise Now and The Lemon Tree, while also breaking barriers in global cinema and television with roles in Blade Runner 2049, Succession, and many more. Most recently, she stars in Anne-Marie Jacir’s powerful new film Palestine 36, continuing her lifelong commitment to telling Palestinian stories with integrity and courage.

This conversation is about art as resistance, visibility without compromise, and the power of Palestinian voices in spaces that were never designed to include them.

Hiam Abbass’ Work:

Palestine ‘36 → watermelonpictures.com/films/palestine-36

Bye Bye Tiberias → imdb.com/title/tt22857256/

Hiam Abbass’ Social Media:

Facebook → facebook.com/HiamAbbassActress/ 

X (Twitter) → x.com/Hiam_Abbass 

The Enlightenment Podcast Social Media:

feedlinks.link/enlightenmentpodcast

#TheEnlightenmentPodcast #HiamAbbass #PalestinianCinema #PalestinianActors#Palestine36 #FreePalestine #EndTheOccupation #Gaza#ArtAsResistance #PalestinianCulture #ArabCinema#Succession #BladeRunner2049 #ParadiseNow #TruthInFilm

“She’s known to many as the co-founder of The Enlightenment Podcast, but Hanan Kattan is so much more—a visionary entrepreneur, award-winning film producer, and cultural advocate reclaiming Palestinian identity through art, cuisine, and now literature.”

In Episode 68 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim sits down with Hanan Kattan, the podcast’s founder and co-host, to discuss her brilliant new book, Palestine Revealed, which uncovers hidden histories and challenges mainstream narratives about Palestine.

Hanan’s career spans multiple creative and cultural industries. She is an award-winning film producer whose projects—including Despite the Falling Snow (starring Rebecca Ferguson and Charles Dance)—have won over 50 international awards. She is also the creator of Tabun Kitchen, a modern Palestinian restaurant in London’s Soho, which sought to reclaim Palestinian culinary heritage from cultural appropriation while earning accolades like Lots Magazine’s Restaurant Award and a nomination for one of London’s best new casual dining concepts.

This is a deeply personal and illuminating conversation about Palestinian identity, heritage, and liberation, offering insight that is missing from mainstream narratives.

Hanan Kattan’s Work:

Palestine Revealed → palestinerevealed.com

Produced Films → enlightenment-productions.com

Hanan Kattan’s Social Media:

Facebook → facebook.com/hananfkattan 

Instagram → instagram.com/hananfkattan

X (Twitter) → x.com/HananFKattan 

Palestine Revealed Social Media:

linktr.ee/palestinerevealedbook 

The Enlightenment Podcast Social Media:

feedlinks.link/enlightenmentpodcast

#TheEnlightenmentPodcast #HananKattan #PalestineRevealed #PalestinianHeritage #FreePalestine #PalestinianCulture #CulturalResistance #PalestineHistory #Gaza #EndIsraeliOccupation #PalestinianEntrepreneurs #ArtAndActivism #PalestinianCuisine #PalestinianStories

In Episode 67 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Hanan and Shamim are honored to be joined by Cherien Dabis, the Emmy-nominated Palestinian-American filmmaker, writer, and actress whose work has reshaped how Palestinian stories are told on screen.

Cherien’s latest film, All That’s Left of You, shortlisted for Best International Feature Film at the Oscars, is being hailed as a definitive cinematic chronicle of Palestinian dispossession, memory, and survival. The film confronts the realities of loss, exile, and endurance with rare emotional honesty and artistic power.

Her debut feature Amreeka won the FIPRESCI International Critics Prize at Cannes and became the most screened Arab-directed film in U.S. cinema history. Since then, Cherien has built a remarkable career bridging independent Palestinian cinema and mainstream Hollywood, directing episodes of major television series including Ramy, Only Murders in the Building, and Ozark.

This is a vital conversation about storytelling, erasure, and why Palestinian narratives matter now more than ever.

Cherien Dabis’ Work:

All That’s Left of You → watermelonpictures.com/films/all-thats-left-of-you 

Amreeka → amazon.com/Amreeka-Yussuf-Abu-Warda/dp/B002T921C0 

Cherien Dabis’ Social Media:

Facebook → facebook.com/cheriendabis

Instagram → instagram.com/cheriendabis

X (Twitter) → x.com/CherienDabis 

The Enlightenment Podcast Social Media:

feedlinks.link/enlightenmentpodcast

#TheEnlightenmentPodcast #CherienDabis #PalestinianCinema #AllThatsLeftOfYou #Amreeka #FreePalestine #Gaza #PalestinianStories #EndTheOccupation #CinemaAsResistance #ArtAndJustice #Palestine #IsraelGaza #OscarShortlisted

“She helped run one of the most transformative political campaigns in modern U.S. history—and then turned her attention to a different battlefield: culture. From Capitol Hill to Hollywood, she is helping reshape how Palestine is seen, heard, and defended.”

In Episode 66 of The Enlightenment Podcast, hosts Hanan and Shamim are honoured to be joined by Rania Batrice, a Palestinian-American political strategist, organiser, and cultural advocate who went from serving as Deputy Campaign Manager for Bernie Sanders to mobilising Hollywood’s most influential artists and cultural workers for Palestine.

Rania played a key role in one of the most significant progressive political movements in U.S. history. Since then, she has redirected her strategic expertise toward cultural organising, working behind the scenes to help actors, filmmakers, musicians, and public figures speak out against Israel’s genocide in Gaza, despite intense censorship, intimidation, and career threats.

In this episode, we explore how art, politics, and advocacy intersect, and why culture has become one of the most powerful battlegrounds in the global struggle for Palestinian liberation. Rania explains how narrative control shapes public opinion, why Hollywood matters politically, and what it takes to build effective solidarity in an era of mass repression of pro-Palestinian voices.

This episode is about power, storytelling, and resistance—and how movements grow when political strategy, culture, and moral clarity come together. At a time when Gaza is under genocide and truth is under attack, Rania Batrice’s work shows how culture can become a tool for liberation rather than complicity.

Rania Batrice’s Work:

Website → batrice.associates/rania 

Palestine Children Relief Fund (PCRF)  → pcrf.net/donate 

Rania Batrice’s Social Media:

Facebook → facebook.com/raniabatricepage 

Instagram → instagram.com/rbatrice 

X (Twitter) → x.com/RaniaBatrice 

The Enlightenment Podcast Social Media:

feedlinks.link/enlightenmentpodcast

#TheEnlightenmentPodcast #RaniaBatrice #FreePalestine #GazaGenocide #PalestineSolidarity #HollywoodForPalestine #ArtAsResistance #CulturalActivism #EndIsraeliApartheid  #CeasefireNow #PoliticalStrategy #BernieSanders #TruthToPower #PalestinianLiberation