Stories with my muslim mom

#27 Mom talks to her Daughter Basma

Tue, 25 Jan 2022 19:06:05 +0000

This week we have a fun and warm episode with our guest my sister, Basma Mahdi. We talk about her upbringing and the one time she thought Grandma was her mom.

#26 Waleed Mahdi part 2

Thu, 13 Jan 2022 04:47:46 +0000

We are back after a break due to mom getting COVID. We talk to my brother in law Waleed Mahdi about defining moments in his life, Yemen Politics and more!

#25 Arab American's in Film with Professor Waleed Mahdi

Thu, 23 Dec 2021 20:23:30 +0000

Mom and I talk to Waleed Mahdi and answer your questions. Waleed F. Mahdi is assistant professor of US-Arab cultural politics at the University of Oklahoma. He conducts research at the intersection of area studies and ethnic studies as he explores issues of cultural representation and identity politics in American, Arab, and Arab American contexts. Waleed is a recipient of several national and international awards, and his peer-reviewed work appears in various venues including American Quarterly, Journal of Cinema and Media Studies, International Journal of Cultural Studies, and Mashriq and Mahjar.

#24 Ali Survives a Tornado

Fri, 17 Dec 2021 05:29:23 +0000

Ali talks about how he was close to death by Tornado. Mom shares the final part of her journey to Yemen and more!!

#23 Mom Goes Back To Yemen Part 2

Thu, 09 Dec 2021 04:51:26 +0000

We continue talking about mom's recent visit to Yemen and she dives into how dangerous it was plus we answer all of your questions you asked!

#22 Mom Goes Back to Yemen

Wed, 01 Dec 2021 06:00:00 +0000

We are finally back! Mom and I catch up on what we have been doing since the Pandemic and finally discuss her recent trip to Yemen without our knowledge. Thank you for listening.

#21 Poet Sagirah Shahid and special performance by Hassan Sagirah

Thu, 17 Oct 2019 17:27:40 +0000

Sagirah Shahid is a writer, and poet. An African American Muslim Feminist, Sagirah has utilized her spoken word and literary works to build community and to advocate for positive social change. Her talented brother Hassan Shahid also joined us and shared a beautiful song dedicated to mothers.

#20 Fringe Festival Executive Director and Inspirational. Mother: Dawn Bentley

Thu, 01 Aug 2019 16:30:04 +0000

For our season two finale we are going out with a big bang with Fringe Executive Director Dawn Bentley. Dawn is also an award-winning body builder, marathon runner, biologist, and violin player. Dawn tells her incredible story of changing career paths at 40, her love for The Fringe Festival and the importance of paying attention to the now. Please enjoy share this meaningful and inspirational conversation.

#19 Mom gets the honor to be the voice of MN Fringe Festival

Wed, 17 Jul 2019 22:16:11 +0000

Mom talks about her long journey back to buying a home after losing her home to foreclosure and how she is honored to be selected as the voice for Mn Fringe Festival.

#18 Mother and Immigrant Zinet Abdella

Mon, 08 Jul 2019 23:19:19 +0000

This week we talked to Zinet Abdella and learned her incredible story of immigrating while pregnant to Minnesota when she won the DV lottery. She arrived with her husband with almost no network and managed to make it through and find success and happiness. Her persistent, work ethic, and positivity is something we all can learn from.

#17 Comedian and Mother Sally Johnson

Wed, 19 Jun 2019 17:46:16 +0000

This was one of two episodes recorded by Fox 9. Sally inspired the idea of having mothers on the show and it was a pleasure to have her share her perspective on motherhood and connect with my mom at a deep level. This episode was truly inspiring.

#16 We argue about mom's plans to go back to Yemen

Sat, 11 May 2019 16:20:13 +0000

This is one of our favorite episodes. We had a lot of laughs and meaningful conversations. We talk about how mom shows her concerns in terrifying ways, her favorite Ramadan food, her youngest going to college, and her inevitable plan to go back go Yemen.

#15 First Day of Ramadan Is Hard

Fri, 10 May 2019 19:37:30 +0000

Mom and I learn what a Burkini is and talk first day of Ramadan, her newborn granddaughter and she tells me about hoe she hand delivered breech babies. We talk about bad doctors who don’t prepare women for proper birth and how scared she was about her daughter having a C section. Most importantly she tells about she never wants to be called “grandma.”

#14 🇵🇭Philippine with Comedian Shawn Nafstad

Wed, 20 Mar 2019 18:24:42 +0000

We talk to my friend Shawn Nafstad. Shawn talks about opening the only Filipino restaurant in Minnesota with his family recipes, seeing a dead body at an early age and thinking it was his fault, and how he missed on a cool last name. Shawn also shares some heartwarming words about his mother going through the process of moving to America, challenges she faced and how she is the reason they have a restaurant.

#13 🇬🇹 Guatemala with Educator Andrea Lechuga

Fri, 08 Mar 2019 06:27:20 +0000

Andrea Lechuga shares the extraordinary journey of her parents escaping the a civil war in Guatemala and starting a new life in America. Andrea gives us a great insight into Guatemala and how oppression and outside influences caused many people to flee. She also made us smile with stories of her parents learning English by watching Sesame Street and relying on one other to make it in America. This is a must listen!

#12 🇵🇰 Pakistan with Comedian Moe Yaqub

Tue, 26 Feb 2019 16:28:07 +0000

Moe is a great friend and funny comedian who is up and coming in the Minneapolis scene. We had a great chat full of laughs. Moe remembers days of glorifying his first sight of snow before quickly getting over it. He talks about the advantages of living in America vs Pakistan and what he misses about Pakistan.

#11 🇸🇴 Somalia with Comedian Ahmed Khalaf

Fri, 15 Feb 2019 07:14:15 +0000

Season Two starts with Mom and I interviewing our first guest comedian Ahmed Khalaf. Ahmed talks about his early memories of immigrating from Somalia as a child and how he was kidnapped and left there for two years at the age of 17.

#10 Moms First Halloween

Fri, 21 Dec 2018 17:20:29 +0000

Mona and Ali get jealous of Christmas and think about starting a Ramadan Tree. Mona talks about her first Halloween and Pinata experience. Ali talks about how white guilt made his friends eat dirt on Thanksgiving and shares his favorite holiday memories as a kid.

#9 Mom's first few months in American and Ramadan

Fri, 21 Dec 2018 17:15:36 +0000

Ali finds out he has been doing Ramadan wrong. Mona opens up about her first 2 months in America and how she made it through when she was left without a home, job, and support.

#8 Mom talks warm memories of Eid and Ramadan in Yemen

Fri, 21 Dec 2018 17:10:51 +0000

We talk about Ramadan and both Eids and the similarities with Christmas and Easter. We share warm memories of holidays of childhood and traditions.

#7 Mom fights for her rights against authorities

Fri, 30 Nov 2018 23:10:26 +0000

Mom tells an amazing story of how she stood up for herself when she dealt with a racist immigration officer and had her way by standing strong. "If he saw weakness he would have not let me in the country. You have to be strong."

#6 Mom talks about racism in Yemen

Tue, 20 Nov 2018 23:28:57 +0000

Mona and Ali share stories and their struggle of being biracial and open up about a sore subject.

#5 Mom talks about why she wears a Hajib and hates ISIS

Tue, 23 Oct 2018 05:44:47 +0000

Mom talks about why she wears a hajib, what it means to her go be a good muslim, and how she feels about those who represent her religion.

#4 Mom talks about how Ali got Kidnapped

Wed, 10 Oct 2018 16:54:49 +0000

Mom shares a story about how Ali was kidnapped by his father. Big sister calls in and confirms the story.

#3 Mom talks about dad's mental illness

Tue, 02 Oct 2018 05:06:28 +0000

Mona tells Ali about her marriage with his father and what went wrong and how mental illness is a huge stigma in Yemen.

#2 Mom talks about why she moved to America

Mon, 10 Sep 2018 02:56:41 +0000

On this second Episode Mona tells Ali why she decided on moving to America, surviving the war in Yemen and more!

#1 Mom talks about fighting the stigma of being divorced

Wed, 29 Aug 2018 06:05:54 +0000

Comedian Ali Sultan and his mother Mona explore their amazing journey as immigrants throughout the world and learn about one another. On this debut episode, they talk about how Mona overcame the stigma of being divorced in Yemen, the hardship of immigrating to the U.S., and what the current travel ban means for them.