Gaza Guy

In this episode I talked Areej Kaoud.

Areej Kaoud is a Palestinian visual artist and writer raised in Sharjah, UAE and Gaza, Palestine. Her practice draws on her interest in disastrous scenarios and creating narratives. Kaoud’s practice incorporates text, sound, performance, painting and installation to comment on emergency psychology, diaspora and their enactment.

Why can't I be free is a poem by Mohammed Moussa. You can order Mohammed's new book 'Flamingo' by  emailing gazapoetssociety@gmail.com. 

I was born in Gaza is a poem, from the recent poetry collection by Mohammed Moussa. 

Music by: Andre lefebvre.

In this episode I answered questions I was asked by my listeners on Instagram. Also, I included in this episode clips from the interviews which I conducted months ago about Gaza, life here, how this place battling Covid-19, and more. 

Hello everybody,

Welcome to Gaza Guy podcast,

Today is the 1st episode in 2021: I know everyone might be asking how is it going in Gaza, nowadays, also its clear that Gaza is old news right now, seeing the world is still battling the furious pandemic, despite of our high hopes for the new year, the actual state in Gaza might
further deteriorate honestly, the situation is the same, nothing will change, I can’t believe its 2021, here in Gaza it feels like 2008 right now, continuous buzzing of the drones day and night, and in case you are wondering about the sound of the drones, if you are not familiar with it , it's like the sound of lawn mower. Re the Freedom of Movement, the two crossing are still closed, Rafah crossing has been closed for two months right now, can you imagine this! I know some of the listeners might be familiar with travelling through crossing, it's like airports, but what if your airport is closed and it's not your government who is closing it, imagine this too! Can you! As a young man things are getting tough and baffling for me here, like I don’t know how to spend my time, what else I can do, where else I can go, so somedays I just spend my whole day at home doing nothing,  what can I do, the reality is harsh here, the streets of Gaza are suffocating, should I go to the sea, but I'm tired of the sea, tired f the faces I see every day, it’s been 14 years of siege here, come on, if this would be a movie I wouldn’t even believe this.

Good news, there is a fall in the cases here, we are still going through the two days lockdown and night lockdown at 8 pm every day, so lockdown within a lockdown here, what the people see here is unspeakable and inexpressible, if misery would be replaced with one word i'd replace it with Gaza.

Describing my recent thoughts on what it feels like living in a place like Gaza. 

Flo is a Palestinian-Jordanian poet and storyteller based in UAE we talked about: luck, poetry, Inspiration in poetry, and many more, enjoy listening.

In this episode, Me and FLO, who is mental health specialist, we conversed about how mental health is still considered  a stigma in the Middle-East and how we can change that. 

I talked to FLO who is a mental health first specialist based in the UAE  about; bullying, mental health, different types of bullying, and how acceptance takes us to growth in life. 

F.L.O is a Palestinian-Jordanian poet and storyteller that has been writing for UK-based publishing house Soulful Group, since October 2018.

F.L.O is a Palestinian-Jordanian poet and storyteller that has been writing for UK-based publishing house Soulful Group, since October 2018.

In today's episode, I was joined by Diana Nabulsi, and we talked about many topics related to home, life, growth, happiness. In this final part, we discussed how communication is so important to have a successful relationship, also Diana shared her personal experience on this matter, then we mentioned the word fearless and what it means. 

In this Episode, Me and Diana Nabulsi, talked about: growing up as a Palestinian girl in  a very american environment, and about gender rules in Palestine, then about life goals, and life changes, we also brought up youth empowerment in Palestine, Education, and unemployment. 

This is part two from my conversation with FLO ( Palestinian-Jordanian Poet), we talked about the misconceptions Arab women facing nowadays, self-love, and Why poetry.

F.L.O is a Palestinian-Jordanian poet and storyteller that has been writing for UK-based publishing house Soulful Group, since October 2018.

I was joined by the talented and aspiring Palestinian singer, Zach Matari who released his hit 'Yala' song. Zach Matari, the “New” Jersey Boy, is a Pop/R&B singer/songwriter & musician born and raised in North Jersey. We talked about music, life, his upcoming releases, what home means to him, how he defines love, what is gratitude, and more. 

Diana Nabulsi is a recent graduate of Columbia University's School of Public and International Affairs. She received her Master's degree in International Affairs, concentrating in Human Rights and Humanitarian Policy and specializing in International Conflict Resolution with a focus on the Arabic language. While enrolled as a student, she took on the role of President of the Palestine Working Group and Communications Chair of the Migration Working Group within my SIPA community. Along with her fervor for human rights and social justice, she loves learning new languages and exploring conflict resolution further.

Nadine Alaloul is a passionate writer & performer. She is a world traveler & loves to write & dance. She is inspired by life experiences of injustice both her own & the worlds. Nadine Alaloul uses writing as a form of expression, healing, & growth.

Nadine was born in the USA but lived an early childhood in Palestine & most of her life in Canada. Both Palestine & Canada are home to her & she always looks forward to visiting the homeland. Nadine is a recent graduate of an Honors specialization in Criminology at Western University. She has always used her voice to speak up about injustices around the world & the plight of the Palestinians on & off campus. She uses art as a medium to spread awareness on social justice issues & as a medium of her own healing journey. She is a former Settlement Worker in Schools & helped in the integration of refugees into Canadian society. Nadine is currently focusing on her writing career & working on her manuscript. She wants to follow her passions & live a life that is surrounded by what she loves. Nadine is an active participant in the spoken word scene in London Ontario & Toronto, performing at both the London & Toronto poetry slam events. She has been performing for years at coffee houses, open mics, & student club events. Nadine’s poetry has been published on several online magazines, journals & zines worldwide. She has recently launched her Instagram as a platform to share her poetry with other poets & lovers of poetry around the world. She hopes to inspire people through her resilience, healing journey, & the lessons she has learned along the way.

 Aysha is a Palestinian, US-based poet. Known as Eesh. She writes mainly from the influence of current thought or ideas. Normally, her writing is based around love and regular life events, but she decided to take her craft into new spaces she is not such a fan of.

Excerpts from a beautiful collection named a Bird is Not a Stone - reading by Moe Moussa

Last of the Century; Excerpt from a Bird is Not a Stone - Reading by: Moe Moussa

This Poem, ' a woman in the garden' is an excerpt from a bird is not stone book. 

Flamenco : An Excerpt from a Bird is Not a Stone - Reading by: Moe Moussa 

For her Eyes is an Excerpt from a Bird is Not a Stone book, I love this poem and I recorded it in 2018.

In this episode, I was joined by my friend; 'Pippa Marriot,' from Devon-UK. Pippa is  Poet, Script-Writer, and Teacher. We conversed about, writing poetry, finding inspiration -  and handling writer's block. 

Listen to the full convo with Sarah on Gaza Guy Podcast. 

Leen is a 27 year old Palestinian/Jordanian based in Amman. Working as a consultant at Microsoft but her passions and interests are many. She has always been told to focus more and find “one” thing but a friend of hers recently introduced her to the word “Polymath” which means a person of wide knowledge and learning. There are generalists and there are specialists and she found herself better and thriving when doing one or more thing. She is into music and singing, business, stock market and Technology. She believes that people should follow their interests and not narrow themselves to one area as innovation comes from exploring.

I talked to Farah Hanoun who is the first female MMA journalist from the Middle-East .  Farah; who is working for MMAJunkie talked about her experience as a MMA reporter from a region where the MMA scene is very poor and how she made it to the big screen - after she traveled to fight island and interviewed UFC fighters and Dana White, where she spent six weeks in Yas Island.

 We also mentioned her passion and hard work as the main reasons behind her eagerness to grow as a reporter.

She founded in 2014 UFC News Alerts ,an IG page which helped her to build a momentum before working with big websites and TVs in US and Abu Dhabi. 

This is my final part from my conversation with Rosa Rad. We talked about growing us as an Iranian-American Muslim after 9/11, the treatment of minorities in the US; in Trump's Era. We also, chatted about religion, and being identified as a Muslim even if you weren't practicing Islam, and how the Muslim community there reacts to this, and what is the role of religion in our lives. 

In this part Me and Rosa Rad talked about how mentally exhausting living in a lock down is, especially for couples, we brought up the late lockdown in Gaza, and the American elections and how the Americans see it while they have to choose between a rock and a hard place.

Rosa Rad is an Iranian-American living in the Washington, D.C. area. She has worked in both the legal field as well as the non-profit sector throughout her career, but her main interests involve racial justice, dismantling the patriarchy, and immigrants' rights. Her hobbies include playing/watching soccer, reading, studying other languages, and traveling.

In this episode i talked to Nadai Askar who is a Palestinian yoga instructor born and raised in the US about her upbringing, healthy habits that could improve her life, humility, meditation, and the impact of 2014 war on Gaza. 

I talked to 'Raisa Abdeen' who is a Palestinian-American dancer and poet about; her most memorable visits to Gaza, limitation of freedoms in Gaza, why  it is necessary to pay attention to what is going on in Gaza  at this time, and how sharing the beautiful aspect of Gaza on social media can be a sign of support. 

I talked to Raisa Abdeen who is a dancer and a poet about the role of art in Gaza, the most popular dance here, how art became something that defines the Gazan Community, also we talked about the struggles of arts and artists in the times of Corona, and how difficult it is to teach dance virtually. 

I talked to Raisa Abdeen who is a Palestinian-American dancer and poet about; What has been her biggest challenge, such as moving to the US after 9\11. Also, about big life situation that inspired her, What art does she most identify with - When she is happiest, and What makes her angry.

 Palestinian-American poet and dancer  -  her passion is art and creativity and building community.  She loves to dance and write poetry and she used to teach dance classes before the pandemic.

A beautiful, moving, and touching poem by the 18-year-old Palestinian-Swedish Poet Deema.

In this Episode, I talked to Nadia Askar who is a Yoga Instructor about the Craziest Move in Yoga and the Hardest Move to practice; moreover, about writing as an outlet.