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Episode 190: Where Do Flat Earthers Think the Edge Is?


Photo attribution:
Trekky0623, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Just the hosts this week here with an unedited personal catch-up episode (Do y’all like these? Let us know!) 

Ellie talks about getting COVID (finally) and lots of things wrong with the world: from the overturning of Roe v. Wade to Mohammed Bin Salman’s continued financial takeover of the video game industry (this leads to a conversation about which countries are the best at glossing over shit, and we wonder if we’re all in a Dubai-based replica of our lives). 

Nadia talks about their time in Turkey and Lebanon, and how time functions differently off the New York grid. They also talk about previous projects they were working on, including immortal jellyfish, “Gawd” as a middle manager, and dabke at pride.

Alia discusses leaving a “queer” orchestra group due to transphobia and unchecked white privilege among leadership, and finding other music opportunities. She also talks about her trip to London following a death in the family. 

We all talk about being deeply burnt out – which is one reason we’re not publishing as much lately – but it is good to be back!

(By the way, just a cute little update: 3 days after recording this, Alia tested positive for COVID.)

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Episode 188 [in English]: Bashar Murad

Bashar Murad is a Palestinian singer, lyricist, director and composer based in Sheikh Jarrah, Jerusalem. Bashar uses pop music and art as a vehicle to challenge stereotypes, normativity and to highlight social issues facing young generations of urban Palestinians. 

We were so excited to have Bashar on the pod to discuss his recent work, including his latest EP Maskhara, a remix EP (coming soon), and covering Nina Simone’s I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free for the upcoming film A Gaza Weekend.

Bashar explains the creation process for both his music and his visually striking music videos, including various collaborations with other Palestinian artists and designers. We also talk about themes of escapism present in his lyrics and aesthetics and how taking mental breaks from activism can feel both essential and guilt-inducing. 

We also talk about the double edged sword of social media: how it allows us to build community despite geographic barriers and travel restrictions, yet places these connections in the hands of flawed and unreliable platforms.

Watch the Maskhara music video here

Visit Bashar’s website 

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