See Something Say Something

We're thrilled to introduce a new podcast hosted by friends-of-the-show Bim Adewunmi and Nichole Perkins. In this inaugural episode, they examine the charms of Southern men. With a little help from Nichole's friend Cynthia Harris, they jumpstart the conversation looking at the very juicy André 3000 before sifting through portrayals of the South in film and TV. Plus: a battle for fanfiction suprema...

There's an important conversation about sexual harassment and assault happening across the United States. Things are no different for American Muslims. This fall, at least two major Muslim figures have been accused of abuse of power against women — the response has shown how difficult it can be for women to speak openly about abuse, and that many communities have a long way to go when it comes to...

We're back with another jinn episode! This year, it's all about taking the genie narrative beyond the lamp. First, a conversation with Ms. Marvel writer G. Willow Wilson about why jinn make for such compelling characters, her own experiences with jinn, and, of course, we talk a little Kamala Khan. Then, it's a chill round of Do Better with Abid Anwar, where we tackle the jinn sex scene in "America...

Brother Ali's been on a break from making music — in the five years since his last album, he's travelled the world, studying up with traditional Islamic scholars and deciding whether hip-hop was still his purpose in life. The end product of that was his most recent album, All The Beauty in This Whole Life, his most spiritual work yet. Ali talks to Ahmed about prioritizing beauty, struggling with j...

The show turns one year old this month! We have a lil' party in the stude with all our fave BuzzFeed big sister types — Nabiha Syed, badass lawyer extraordinaire, Bim Adewunmi, thirst queen and BuzzFeed culture writer, and Tracy Clayton, host of Another Round and podcast genius. We talk about how discussions around being Muslim in America have evolved (or not) in the past year, how to be a good al...

This episode, we hear from Shias who are observing Muharram and Ashura — the commemoration of the death of the prophet's grandson Hussein — and we talk about the power of grief to transform and empower. Plus: A conversation about what it's like for Shia students to be in the minority in MSAs and other Muslim communities on college campuses. Follow Ahmed @radbrowndads Follow Zainab @zainabshah Foll...

Trump's immigration policies have mucked up a lot of lives. In this episode, SSSS producer Megan Detrie shares some stories from her reporting in Michigan with the Iraqi Christian community. Specifically, the Chaldean Christian immigrants and community leaders who are dealing with the aftermath of an unexpected ICE raid this summer. Four months later, these folks are still in detention, and their...

Ghee is having a moment right now. People call it a magic food that will melt your fat away. Kourtney Kardashian swears by it. Whole Foods is selling it. And the marketing language always comes back to how "ancient," "pure" and "authentic" it is. And Ahmed can't stop thinking about it. So this week, we're spending the whole episode tackling one question: Why is this happening to ghee? We do a tast...

Abdurrahim Rashada has seen a lot in his life.  He served in the Navy during World War II. He survived and escaped the Jim Crow South. He worked in the GM factories of Michigan and saw their rise and fall. And then, he joined the Nation of Islam, attracted by their message of freedom, justice, and equality for black folks. And later, when the community moved towards Sunnism, he learned to adapt  t...

Umi says shine your light on the world, so in this episode, we explore why for so many Black American Muslims, hip-hop feels like home. Ahmed invites Dr. Su'ad Abdul-Khabeer and musician Salima Ra, into the studio to share one album, one song, and one lyric that they're listening to right now. Then, we talk about Dr. Su'ad's book, "Muslim Cool — Race, Religion, and Hip Hop in the United States." ...

Ahmed has a lot to process in this busy week of Eid Al-Adha and Hajj — he went to a halal butcher and zabiha slaughtered a lamb for the first time, so he calls up friend of the show (and Kominas singer) Basim Usmani to help digest his conflicting feelings. Before that, we catch up with Siraj Datoo, journalist and host of "The Pilgrimage" podcast, right before he rushes out the door for his flight...

Season 3 of See Something Say Something debuts next week, but before that, a little taste of what we've been doing during our summer break — we recently brought all your favorite things to the stage in Dearborn, Michigan: comics, advice to Hollywood execs, and the true beauty of Dearborn restaurants (Hint: always order the platter). Co-presented with the Arab American National Museum, the show fea...

Hey Michiganders, we're headed your way with a great live show — co-presented with the Arab American National Museum — featuring stories and conversation about politics and pop culture. Not in Michigan? Well, listen anyway for a sneak peek at Season 3. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

See Something Say Something is going on a little break to get ready for season 3. We'll be working on new episodes, lots of videos, and even a Michigan live show.  We'll miss you on the podcast, but we'll still be out here on Facebook, on twitter at @seesomething, and in our newsletter! And, if you have any ideas about stories or interviews you want to hear in season 3, tell us! We'd love to hear...

In this last episode of our Ramadan series, we hear from friends of the show about the Night of Power and what it's like to pray all night. Ahmed talks with BuzzFeed's Nabiha Syed and Zainab Shah about imagining God when they were kids, counting prayers, heaven and hell, and what souls are like. Then, Ahmed calls up a special guest. Follow Ahmed at @radbrowndads,  Follow Nabiha at @nabihasyed,   F...

In the fourth episode of the Ramadan series, Ahmed talks to converts about the struggles and joys of finding community in immigrant Muslim masjids. First, we listen to some of the thoughts Chris St. Louis and Cassandra Villarreal recorded throughout the first few weeks of Ramadan. Then, we check in with them about cultural authenticity, losing pork but gaining biryani, and why it's frustrating to...

For the third episode in our Ramadan series, we focus on a community that isn't often centered during Ramadan — black Muslims. First up, Ahmed talks with Sarah Hagi, who writes for Vice, about the glory of  #BlackMuslimRamadan and #BlackoutEid. Then, a longer conversation with Ikhlas Saleem, who co-hosts the Identity Politics podcast, about moving away from, and back to, the black Muslim community...

In the second part of our Ramadan miniseries, Ahmed talks about the mosque and the challenges around building community. He's joined by Hind Makki, creator of Side Entrance, and Margari Aziza, a writer and co-founder of The Muslim Anti-Racism Collaborative, to talk about how the mosque can exclude women and black American Muslims, and why third spaces have popped up to serve communities. Then, Ahm...

Ramadan Mubarak folks! It's that magical 30 days where we're all hungry and sleepy and trying to be a better person. See Something Say Something is celebrating this Ramadan with a mini-series. And this first episode is all about fasting. Ahmed talks to Kamelya Omayma Youssef, who grew up in Dearborn, MI, with parents who didn't fast. At a certain point as a teenager, she had to figure out what she...

Here's a sneak peek at the first episode in our Ramadan series — it's all about fasting, and it's coming out on Monday. In the meantime, we want to know how you're feeling about and getting ready for Ramadan. Let us know at saysomething@buzzfeed.com. And, of course, Ramadan Mubarak! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

[Spoiler Alert] Master of None: Season 2 is out, and we're just as excited as you are. From the romance between Dev and Francesca, to confronting racist Tinder dates (post-sex), the season takes on a lot. So, we wanted to talk about it! Ahmed is joined by BuzzFeed Senior Culture Writer Bim Adewunmi and ‎Senior Social Media Editor Abid Anwar to dissect one of the most talked-about episodes in the s...

The studio is decorated. The corsages are fastened. Someone even came to the episode taping in their high school prom dress. That's right, it's the See Something Say Something senior prom. Prom committee co-chairs Ahmed Ali Akbar and Tabir Akhter read our listener stories about praying Maghrib in the limo and rocking traditional clothing. Then they chat with two whip-smart high school seniors — Ra...

In 2014, things were looking up for Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir. She held scoring records in Massachusetts for basketball and had a successful run in the NCAA which she hoped to turn into a professional career. Then, her dreams were put on hold when she realized that wearing the hijab is banned by FIBA, basketball's international governing body. Since then, she's been fighting to change the rule. This wee...

Ahmed reveals his nerdy side in this special video game themed episode. In Level 1, Ahmed talks to his cousins, siblings Nyle and Basim (of the Kominas!) Usmani, about how video games bring them together and why killing brown folks in Call of Duty makes them feel nauseous. In Level 2, Ahmed calls up Rami Ismail, co-founder of Dutch indie game studio Vlambeer, to get an insider's take on the cultur...

Ahmed talks with Arnesa Buljusmic-Kustura—an analyst, organizer, and author of Letters from Diaspora: Stories of War and its Aftermath— about drinking culture in Bosnian Muslim communities. They talk about that one uncle who would always let you try his beer, the double standard for men and women who drink, and Alcoholism and PTSD. Plus, all of the social pressure to drink or not drink as you get...