Siti's Stories: An Archive of Palestinian Voices

In this episode of Siti’s Stories , Laila sits down with Deanna Othman;  a writer, journalist, educator, and community advocate and organizer.  In this conversation, she reflects on the realities of working within media and the moment she realized that pursuing mainstream journalism would come at the cost of her values. From there, she made a different choice. One rooted in integrity, in education...

In this episode of Siti’s Stories , we sit down with Dr. Nina Shoman-Dajani,  Executive Director of the Chicago Palestine Film Festival and Assistant Dean of Learning Enrichment at a local college for a conversation about community leadership, Palestinian cinema, and the power of representation. Through both education and the arts, Nina has devoted her career to creating spaces where Palestinian v...

What does it mean to farm under occupation? In this episode of Siti’s Stories , I sit down with Lana Mustafa the Executive Director of Montclair Community Farms and founder of Roots of Resilience. Lana’s work directly supports Palestinian farmers  the very people on the front lines of occupation. We talk about how land, seeds, water, and agriculture in Palestine are used of tools of control. From...

In this episode of Siti’s Stories , Laila sits with Wafa Ghnaim an art and dress historian, embroiderer, educator, and founder of the Tatreez Institute for a conversation about tatreez as inherited knowledge and preservation.  Wafa shares how tatreez entered her life as an intergenerational skill passed through the women around her, and how stitching became something she returned to again and agai...

In this episode, I sit down with Najla Khass, a Palestinian-American activist and refugee resettlement manager. Born in Gaza, Najla fled with her family at eight years old during the First Intifada, part of a long history of displacement that traces back to the 1948 Nakba. In this episode, we talk about: Growing up in Gaza with fear and restriction but also so much love and the ways her parents tr...

Filmmaker Cherien Dabis joins Siti’s Stories for an honest, layered conversation about representation, intergenerational trauma, and why film became her way of telling stories with care and truth. In this episode, you’ll hear: What it was like growing up Arab in small-town America after the Gulf War feeling invisible and hyper-visible at the same time Why stories carry real power and how film beca...

In this episode, we sit down with multidisciplinary artist and urban planner Dana Barqawi to explore the power of art as resistance, storytelling, and truth-telling. Dana’s work challenges colonial narratives, honors Indigenous identity, and reflects the interconnectedness of womanhood, history, and community. Her creative process begins with deep research and writing; transforming emotion and liv...

In this tender and deeply grounding episode, we sit with Mai Khader Kakish; storyteller, recipe-keeper, and the heart behind Almond & Fig. 🌿 Mai shares how Almond & Fig began as a way to feel closer to home while her family remained in Palestine;  a place to preserve her teta’s recipes and document the stories, wisdom, and traditions woven into every dish. For Mai, food is not just nouris...

What does it mean to stitch memory into fabric and to turn thread into a language of home, resistance, and love? ✨ In this week’s episode of Siti’s Stories, I sit with Bayan the founder of Badan Collective a design house and learning space dedicated to preserving Palestinian embroidery, memory, and storytelling. She is also a writer, poet, and a social worker.   In this episode, you’ll hear:  • T...

What happens when a teacher brings her whole self- her culture, her story, her heritage into the classroom? In this week’s episode of Siti’s Stories, I sit with Abeer Ramadan-Shinnawi, an educator, consultant, and advocate with over 20 years of experience supporting Arab and Muslim youth. Abeer shares her journey from growing up between America and Palestine to founding Altair Consulting, where sh...

In this episode of Siti’s Stories, I sit with Nida AbuBaker, daughter of Shukri AbuBaker, co-founder of the Holy Land Foundation. Nida shares her journey of navigating life after her father’s wrongful conviction; as a daughter, a single mother, a writer, and an advocate for those who have been silenced. Through faith, art, and poetry, she shows us what it means to turn pain into purpose, and to ke...

Season Two of Siti’s Stories is almost here! This season is rooted in Palestinian memory, heritage, and the quiet stories we carry through everyday life. We’re returning to the voices of our Sitis and Sedos and gathering new stories from elders, artists, educators, chefs, and activists from across the Palestinian diaspora and beyond.  ✨ Season Two officially begins on November 25th, with new epis...

For our final episode of Season 1, we’re closing with love. Voicemails to Siti is a moving compilation of listener-submitted stories, memories, and reflections about the Palestinian women who shaped us. From tender traditions to hilarious voicemails, these messages are full of heart and a beautiful reminder of the legacy our Sitis leave behind. I want to take a moment to thank each of you for bein...

 In this powerful and deeply personal episode of Siti’s Stories , I share the incredible life of my grandmother, Halema Salamah Gaber. Her story is a testament to the spirit of resilience, determination, and boundless generosity. Highlights from the Episode: A Journey Across Oceans: Halema's family's journey to America began with a twist of fate at Ellis Island, leading her father to mil...

In this powerful episode of Siti’s Stories , I sit down with Palestinian storyteller, advocate, and now author Jenan Matari, whose work amplifies Indigenous voices and fights for the preservation of cultural heritage. Jenan is a beacon of storytelling resistance, using her platform to bring awareness to the struggles of marginalized communities—especially Palestinians. We dive deep into: Navigatin...

In this episode of Siti’s Stories , host Laila sits down with Lina — a Palestinian-Panamanian creative, founder of Llinas thobe, and co-host of the podcast Tatreez Talk.  Lina’s work is rooted in tatreez but she’s reimagining it through her own lens. From starting a business that helps others make their own thobes, to designing motifs that reflect her dual heritage, Lina is reshaping tradition int...

In this authentic and heartfelt episode of Siti’s Stories, host Laila sits down with educator, author, and literacy advocate Deema Al Alami, whose work is transforming Arabic children’s literature and reclaiming Arab narratives through storytelling. 🌿📚 Deema opens up about growing up as a half-Palestinian, half-Iraqi woman in Jordan, and how her multicultural upbringing shaped her identity. She...

In this episode of Siti’s Stories , we sit down with Linda—the visionary behind The Haleemah Project , an initiative born out of love for her Siti Haleemah, a Nakba survivor. Linda embroiders Palestinian motifs onto upcycled clothing—transforming everyday items into powerful symbols of heritage and resistance. But this project goes beyond stitching. At its heart, The Haleemah Project is a mission...

In this powerful episode of Siti’s Stories , we speak with Dr. Sawsan Jaber — award-winning educator, scholar activist, and daughter of Palestinian refugees — about reclaiming identity through education and the legacy of resistance carried through generations of Palestinian women. Sawsan’s story begins with her great-grandmother, a fierce woman who fought in the Battle of Deir Yassin, and continue...

In this powerful episode of Siti’s Stories , we sit down with Nada, founder of Teta’s Legacy, to explore the cultural significance and enduring beauty of Palestinian thobes and tatreez embroidery. Nada shares how these traditional garments are more than clothing — they are woven archives of memory, identity, and resistance. We discuss the history embedded in every stitch, the regional variations o...

For the season finale of Siti’s Stories , we’re creating something truly special—a heartfelt tribute to our Sitis, told in your own voices. We want to hear about your   Siti—her strength, her story, and the ways she shaped your world. Tell us about the balad she called home, and if her life carried the weight of migration or exile. Your submission doesn’t have to be long. It could be a beloved mem...

This episode is different. It’s just me—no guest—sharing something I haven’t before mine and my siti’s stories.  As the host of Siti’s Stories , I’ve spent this season highlighting the voices and stories of others. But I realized I hadn’t taken the time to share where this project truly comes from—my own Sitis. In this special bonus episode, I reflect on the two women who shaped me- my grandmother...

In this heartfelt episode of Siti’s Stories , Rawida shares her inspiring journey as a mother, advocate, and leader in the Muslim community. After giving birth to her daughter with special needs 26 years ago, she saw a lack of resources for Muslim families navigating disabilities. This experience led her to co-found AMAANA, Louisiana’s first Muslim community and resource center dedicated to accept...

What is your greater purpose in life? How can you create real impact in the world? In this episode of Siti’s Stories, we sit down with Noora Sharrab—co-founder of Sitti Soaps Enterprise and founder of Hopes for Women in Education—to talk about purpose, empowerment, and making conscious choices. As a Palestinian-Canadian with roots in Gaza, Noora shares her inspiring journey of uplifting refugee co...

Meet Lubna, a Brazilian-Palestinian entrepreneur, single mother, and two-time cancer survivor who turned her passion for Palestinian cuisine and culture into a thriving business. Her journey is one of resilience, faith, and determination, proving that challenges can lead to purpose. 🎙️ In this episode, Lubna shares: 💪 How she built a business as a single mom on her own terms. 🎗️ Her battle with c...