Today, I sit down with the insanely talented Nai Barghouti – a Palestinian singer, composer, and flutist who's been compared to legends like Fairouz and Umm Kulthoum. She's not just about music; she’s about making a statement. In this episode, we dive into her journey, her passion for blending music and advocating for Palestine, and what it’s like to represent Palestinian heritage on the global stage. Oh, and we talk about her collab with EDM superstar Skrillex on the hit track “Xena.”Nai...

In this episode, I sit down with Palestinian artist Lina Makoul to talk about life in occupied Palestine, the story behind her powerful song "On Mute," and what it means to be a '48 Palestinian.' Plus, an exclusive live performance and her bold vision for using music to elevate the Palestinian narrative worldwide. In this episode, we talk about the following: (00:00): Intro (1:25) What is it like to be Palestinian living in occupied Palestine (now known as northern state of Israel)?...

"If you really want to know people, you start by looking inside their bedroom". Today, I talk to journalist and author, Shereen El Feki on what goes behind closed doors in the Arab world. We are diving into sensitive topics, such as the sexual evolution in the region, sex in Islam, and the experiences of coming out as queer vs. staying in the closet. Join us for an eye-opening discussion that sheds light on what's really happening in the region. Shereen El Feki is an Egyptian-British...

Get ready to vibe with Shkoon! With the duo themselves, we’re breaking down their coolest tracks, what inspired them, and the meaning behind the music. Tune in for a deep dive into the sounds and stories that make Shkoon so special. Special shoutout to Marsm.ca for their support with this episode.

In this episode, host Hani Dajani talks to music duo, SHKOON, about their journey and how their music has a strong cultural impact, addressing themes of identity, displacement, and hope. We also talk about SHKOON's music incorporates elements of Arabic folk songs, Sufi poetry, and classical music, combined with modern electronic beats. SHKOON is made up of duo Ameen and Thorben. Ameen, originally from Syria, fled to Germany due to the Syrian civil war. He brought with him a deep connection...

Hani Dajani sits down with Lebanese-American Comedian Nataly Aukar. Nataly talks about her upbringing in Lebanon, what it was like moving to New York, the red flags to look for when you make new friends, talks about her career so far and opens up on what rebuilding Lebanon means to her. Nataly Aukar has sold out shows across the world, and performed a long side stand-up comedians such as Hasan Minhaj and Rami Youssef. NOTE: This episode was shot in February 2023. Due to programming changes,...

In this special segment, we talk to former banker turned content creator, William Rossy (also known as Sprouht). Will is a Lebanese-Canadian that began his journey with his self-improvement brand in a way to explore a more meaningful life. Through the brand he built, he has been able to provide tools, experiences, and a community of over 2.5 million people to help them pursue their dream life. This episode goes into Will's story while he discusses the lessons he's learned throughout it...

In this special segment, we dive deep into the lives of Arab content creators in the west. Today, we are joined by 19 year old Khalil Yatim, also known as "Ozikoy" on social media. Khalil tells us what it's like to create content as a teenager, his goals, and why his relationship with his dad/baba is special. Guest: Khalil Yatim https://www.tiktok.com/@ozikoy?lang=en https://www.instagram.com/ozikoy/?hl=en Podcast Host: https://www.instagram.com/hanidajanii/ YALLA! LET'S TALK. YOUTUBE:...

Student encampments...Dr. Phil interviewing Netanyahu..and Eurovision. A lot has happened in the past couple of months. But how do these events change things? And what is the impact on us and the millions of people in Gaza? Helping us answer these questions today is Emmy-Nominated journalist, producer, and Actor - Ahmed Shihab-Eldin. Ahmed is a Columbia university graduate and a former Adjunct Professor at the school. He shares his perspective on the events that took place at Columbia...

In this episode, we are joined by fashion icon, model, and creative director, Alana Hadid. Alana is a daughter of a Nakba survivor, and she shares with us her family's story and her perspectives on how your voice can free Palestine. In this episode, we talk about: (0:00) Intro (02:00) why we need to talk about the Nakba? (03:05) what were the conversations like growing up at the dinner table? (05:15) what happened to the Hadids during the Nakba? (07:55) Khairiah Hadid (11:05) has Alana...

In this episode, I interview Dr. Marc Dagher, an addiction Doctor and expert in treating all kinds of substance addictions. Whether you choose to do drugs or feel like you're addicted to a person, this episode will give you insights on the world of addiction, human behaviour, as well as interesting facts on substances. This episode is important for anyone struggling with an addiction of any kind (be it substances or love addiction) as well as for those with friends or family who they may...

The controversial video of Hayley Bayley's "let them eat cake", followed by her apology, raised the questions: "should celebrities be speaking up on Gaza?" And if not: "should we just block them for their silence?" (And also, "are we in District 12, living real life hunger games right now?") Today, helping us answer these questions, we have with us TV personality: Dom Gabriel. You might have seen him on Netflix Reality TV shows such as, "The Mole" and "The Perfect Match". Dom is a great...

Today's guest is Dr. Yipeng Ge. A Canadian resident Doctor who was suspended from the University of Ottawa for his social media posts (might I add, he was suspended without due process or fair investigation). When the University of Ottawa decided to re-instate him, he chose to decline their offer. Instead, Dr. Yipeng Ge went to Rahaf in Gaza to provide his medical services to those in need. At the time of this episode, more than 44,000 civilians in Gaza have been killed by Israeli occupation...

What is it like to be a Palestinian from Gaza? Was it like to be a Palestinian diaspora, which means you have left your homeland for another country. For us to be better allies, we need to hear people's stories. In this episode, we are joined by Farah Qaddan. Farah is an avid storyteller, published writer and creative that centres her Arab Palestinian identity in everything she does. Episode Breakdown: (0:00) Intro (0:39) growing up in Gaza (14:40) what it's like to be a Palestinian...

Amid protests at Columbia University and other academic institutions, the tensions rising between Israel and Iran, we feel that it's necessary to re-republish this episode in a short-format for viewers to understand the difference between anti-semitism and anti-zionism. Our guest in this episode is Jilian Rogin. Jillian identifies as Anti-Zionist Jewish Canadian. Jilian is an Associate Professor and a criminal defence lawyer. Her research interests include critical race/anti-colonial theory...

In celebration of Arab Heritage Month, we are bringing you an episode that dissects deep into an important part of Arab culture - the language! In this episode of the YLT Podcast, we have Diana Al-Dajani, entrepreneur of the Arabic learning plafrom,  @eduTechnoz  and the app, Loogha. Diana is a momtrepreneur who turned an idea to help her children to learn Arabic into the top edtech company for Arabic education. Diana and I discuss the importance of staying intact with your native language...

In this episode, we dive into a discussion on being your true and authentic self. The conversation is through the lens of culture, religion, parents' expectations, and how to reconcile those forces in order to move forward, heal, and lead an authentic life. The conversation is with our season regular, Najwa Zebian. Najwa is a best-selling author, speaker, and a thought-leader on healing. She recently released her book, "The Only Constant" where she discusses in more-depth the topic of change...

Authenticity and curiosity are some of the most underrated characteristics of leadership. Join the conversation as we discuss entrepreneurship, mindsets, and leadership with Rami Helali, the Co-Founder and CEO of Kotn, a B-Corp on a mission to bring lasting, sustainable products to our community. WHAT WE DISCUSS 00:00 Intro 02:01 what inspired Kotn? 07:21 how to evaluate your business ideas? 12:45 what does connecting the dots even mean? 17:38 how to develop a winning mindset? 21:50 how...

We can't keep talking about Palestine without discussing mental health. First and foremost, we need to distinguish the mental health of those who live in Gaza to those in the rest of the world. This episode starts off by discussing the mental health crisis of the children in Gaza, and then proceeds to discuss the mental health impact of the rest of the world. We discuss vicarious trauma, activism burnout, survivor's guilt and the impact of de-humanizing language on our mental well-being. This...

Everyone seems to want to become a content creator these days. But how do you actually build a sustainable career? In this episode, we sit down with Jessie Jaurji ( @jaurji ) and in this conversation, we learn how you can build a sustainable career as a content creator on social media. Episode Breakdown (00:00:00) - Introduction (00:01:45) - Intro to Jesse - His Story (00:11:10) - How can content creators make money? (00:14:35) - What are the social media platforms that brands...

In this episode, we talk about what dating looks like today. In other words, situationships and mixed signals. We answer questions like, "how to get over someone you haven't really dated?" or "should you be platonic friends after a situationship"? Our guest today is content creator and internet personality Sahar Dahi (also known as saharroo on social media). With millions of subscribers, Sahar creates content that help people navigate real issues, from healthy friendships to ways to treat...

Have you found it very difficult to let go of someone who cheated? Have you dated a narcissist before? And do YOU want to heal and start dating again? Listen to this episode! In first episode of season 2, I had the pleasure to sit down with  @NajwaZebian . Najwa is no stranger to Yalla! Let's Talk., where her previous episode "Buy Yourself Flowers, Trust Your Heart, and Start Healing" was among the top listened episode of our last season. She is a best-selling author ("Welcome Home",...

This week, Israel has arrested (again) Khalida Jarrar, an iconic Palestinian leader, in the occupied West Bank. She was last released from prison in September 2021, after serving two years on charges of belonging to the Popular Front for Liberation of Palestine, a left-wing group in Occupied Palestine. More than 300 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli forces in the West Bank since Oct. 7 in addition to over 3,100 others injured, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.Her...