Audio Stories
Vying for the same office: Muslim candidates for City Council
Oct 8, 2015
Cambridge, MA was hot recently in a historic election where incumbents and new candidates competed for one of the seats on city council in Cambridge. But among them was a young Muslim named Nadeem Mazen. In this audio documentary, the journey follows Nadeem as first time ever candidate competing for one of these offices, and competing, as well, against another Muslim too.
Between War and Controversy
Mar 3, 2015
Rima Fakih is most known for winning Miss USA in 2010 as the first Arab and first Muslim to do so. But most people know that surrounding that was a great deal of controversy regarding a Muslim woman in a swimsuit competition. What has been untold, until now, are the experiences she has had facing war, violence and fear of losing someone close to her throughout the whole of her life. This is the first time she is sharing her story. Published for theislamicmonthly.com for a podcast series titled That’s Some American Muslim Life.
A Pioneer in Hollywood: Being Muslim and not playing the terrorist
Jun 13, 2014
This is a life story about how Faran Tahir, a well known Hollywood actor from Iron Man, Star Trek, Jinn and other notable films was inspired to become a Hollywood actor, and shatter stereotypes in the process. The story takes one through his upbringing, an in to early and current years in Hollywood. Although he was always surrounded by the arts, he was never free from negative stereotypes and racial discrimination throughout his life–and this story demonstrates how he not only overcame these obstacles but applied it to a positive, forward thinking view of acting.
A young man’s epic spiritual journey in 1960 America
Apr 4, 2014
Ira Friedlander, a notable author and photographer was a young boy growing up in New York in the mid 1900’s. At the age of 9, he read a poem that struck at this heart. He would spend the rest of his life in an out of this world mystical journey meeting artists, poets and spiritual gurus that were descending on American soil during the hippie movements of the 1960’s and on, all while trying to search for the meaning of the poem and its origin. This story is a personal narrative giving interesting insights into a man who was at the forefront of the new faces of spiritual changes happening in America in the mid century.
The grocery store trip that would turn one American immigrant into $400 million dollars
Nov 1, 2013
Listen to this rare story of how one man immigrated to America at 12 and turned one trip to the grocery store into a $400 million dollar, and growing, business. The story shares an interesting insight into the immigrant experience and trying to make a new life while maintaining cultural values from ‘back at home.’ This is an inspiring story about success and values.
Two brothers
Sep 24, 2013
This is a story about two brothers who spent every moment together since childhood, never attending school or work. Several stressful circumstances in their lives, including experiencing a war, may have developed difficult mental conditions that their family had to learn how to handle. But the relationship between the two brothers would lead to one life changing event that disrupt the entire family.
Saudi Man Speaks Out
Jul 3, 2013
Immediately after the bombings on marathon monday in Boston, media reported that a Saudi man was being being questioned by authorities. Some stated him as a suspect, others as just a person of interest. 24 hours later, the media stated that he was a witness and an injured person, and not a part of the bombings. But media continued to speculate about him. Now the media-shy Saudi man speaks out for the first time.
The 16 year Old Muslim Girl Who Inspired One Woman’s Boston Marathon
Apr 26, 2013
A 16-year-old Muslim girl inspires her neighbor, Helene Newberg, to run in this year’s marathon. And like every marathoner who ran and was interrupted by the horrific bombings, Helene will never forget what happened. Hear the touching story about how this marathoner remained determined to give back to her community, and to her Muslim neighbors in particular.
The quick escape!
Mar 15, 2013
Listen to the nail-biting story of a young American political strategist working in Malaysia for a once successful, then jailed, now resurgent politician working hard to become the next Prime Minister. This brilliant political strategist created a genius system to overcome a media blackout enacted against his boss, only to one day find himself in a potentially dangerous situation.
The ghost that came between them
Jan 7, 2013
Who would think that a White American girl raised in the South as a door to door Jesus proselytizer would find love in the strangest of places, and become the “good Muslim housewife”. Except this love story had a strange thing come between her and her husband…this is Deonna’s story.
The Olympian Who Could Have Been
Aug 11, 2012
Said Ahmed was a successful, record breaking track athlete, who competed in the 2008 Beijing Olympics as part of team USA in the 1500 meter race. But, too much happened before his run in the Beijing Olympics then an interesting turn of events derailed his track career completely; preventing him from competing in the 2012 Olympics in London.
Grandpa Jack
Aug 1, 2012
Listen to the story of Jack, an 80-something-year-old-man who served as a train conductor in India and Pakistan during the years of partition in the 1940s. Jack’s life would quickly unravel after those years. But when he was trying to start a fresh life in America in the 1950s, it would be a deep secret from his home country that would haunt him the rest of his life.