If you find yourself grappling with thirst or hunger with three hours until iftar, a thought-provoking podcast serves as the best distraction. Instead of fixating on the clock and mentally willing time to go faster, why not treat yourself to some food for thought to appease your fasting cravings and stimulate your mind? To help you, we’ve curated a selection of podcasts spanning a variety of topics and themes to enrich your evenings. Ranging from a large variety of topics and themes, be it finding answers to the question “Is capitalism your religion?” in an incredibly enlightening conversation with Islamic historian Dr. Butchware, a conversation about pinkwashing, propaganda, and resistance in white America with Sarde After Dinner, or seeking the answer to why it’s always you, these five podcasts will feed your soul.
‘Noor’s Podcast’
From her exploration of diverse themes, ranging from the experiences of a queer hijabi and delving into the photography of Sarah Bahbah, to even addressing the pressing issue of the climate crisis, Noor’s Podcast by Libyan-American journalist Noor Tagouri offers a spectrum of thought-provoking insights and perspectives. Each episode leaves listeners with a profound sense of enlightenment and fresh outlooks. One particularly noteworthy episode features her engaging conversation with the esteemed Dr. Butch Ware, a historian specializing in West African Studies at UC Santa Barbara.
Dr. Ware’s scholarly focus encompasses Islamic thought and the anti-slavery movements within West Africa and the African Diaspora. As the author of The Walking Qur’an: Islamic Education, Embodied Knowledge, and History in West Africa, his expertise lends depth to the spiritually charged dialogue between him and Tagouri. They delve into various topics, including the distinction between the mind and the heart, advocating for the engagement of the heart as a thinking organ. They also explore how many individuals who profess adherence to a specific religious or faith tradition may inadvertently prioritize capitalist ideologies.
They discuss the importance of discovering one’s spiritual guides and pose thought-provoking questions such as, “Who do you think the Devil really is?” Dr. Ware sheds light on the concept of the devil, emphasizing its symbolic representation and societal implications. He elucidates on the misuse of religious doctrine as a tool for control, highlighting how some parents weaponize God to enforce obedience among children.
Dr. Ware challenges conventional categorizations by asserting that there are no inherently “Muslim children” or children of any specific faith tradition. This message within this podcast carries significant weight, offering potential for profound healing and understanding. The exchange between the host and Dr. Ware is one to listen to, as it will surely open up your brain and heart.
.‘Sarde After Dinner’
In the heart of Beirut, podcast hosts Médéa Azouri and Mouin Jaber discuss a wide range of topics (usually) held behind closed doors with guests from all walks of life. “Sarde” comes from a colloquial term used in the Middle East to describe the act of letting go and kicking off a stream of consciousness. The duo have hosted a roster of thought-provoking individuals ranging from intellectuals, musicians, and artists, to comedians and plenty more. Tune into their episode, “How Media Controls YOUR Opinion” where their guest was Ralph Baydoun, a Lebanese a strategic communication specialist who monitors the Lebanese information system looking for patterns, misinformation, and hate speech.
He also debunks the tactics applied by mainstream media that serve as propaganda tools for ideological extremism. Specific to Lebanon, the episode delves into how public opinion is formed in Lebanon, phenomena of selective exposure and cognitive bias, the echo chambers that lead to a narrow-world view and much more.
‘28ish Days Later’
Ladies (and gentlemen, if you are interested), if we really sit and think about it, what do we really know about our cycle? Apart from the fact that it is a looming monthly occurrence that causes unbearable cramping and bizarre cravings, there is so much more to it, and this podcast gets down to the nitty gritty of it all. This award-winning podcast journalist India Rakusen explores the whole bloody story, discovering facts about the cycles that could potentially alter your opinion on it entirely, taking through all 28 days and what they mean to your body.
‘Omar Suleiman: Why Me?’
For those who are looking for a spiritually inducing series to tune into, Omar Suleiman’s Ramadan series is perfect for anyone trying to understand their qadar, or who constantly asks the question why? If you are experiencing a glimpse of existentialism and are unable to find the answers, this is a good place to start. With an episode dropping everyday, the host delves into questions that many of us have— like, “where was I before I was born?,” “why is this my family?,” “why am I rich or poor?,” “will I ever find true love?”— and do not know where to go to find the answers.
‘Afikra’
The Afikra podcast is the ultimate destination for anyone looking to truly stimulate their brain and nerd out of any given topic. And what makes it all the better is that it solely centers around topics within the MENA region. This flagship series features experts from academia, art, media, and beyond, who are helping document and/or shape the histories and cultures of the Arab world through their work. There is no doubt that you will walk away after listening to an Afikra episode with a new found curiosity and maybe some good recommendations about new nerdy rabbit holes to dive into head first. Some of their episodes include, “Why Is Islam So Misunderstood?” and “Where Media In The Arab World Stands Today,” among others.
