Burqas and Beer Podcast

What if I told you the reason Mariah Carey is blastin' in ya ear is because of my ancestors? That's right, ancient winter solstice celebrations in the LAND OF MY PEOPLE eventually influenced what we now celebrate as Christmas! Join me in today's episode as I tell Kyna the story of Shab-e Yalda, which marks the winter solstice - the longest night of the year. Yalda reminds us that darkn...

Trump’s bizarre meeting with Zohran Mamdani at the White House, the death of Dick Cheney - a man whose policies reshaped and destroyed entire regions, including our homeland - and what it means to watch history loop on itself. Madina opens up about the revelations she’s been having about her own upbringing, how that childhood shaped her adult relationships, and why the holidays can crack open old...

How did Pakistan create the monster it now battles, and what happens when a proxy terrorist group bites the hand that feeds it? In this episode, we break down the uncomfortable truth behind Afghanistan–Pakistan relations: the Taliban didn’t appear out of nowhere. They were engineered, trained, sheltered, and strategically deployed by the Pakistani state for decades - and today that same monster is...

In this episode, we spoke with filmmaker Ankita Kumar about her documentary Far From Home, which follows the lives of Afghan refugees in India. For Afghans in India, “refuge” often means being trapped in limbo - denied basic rights, barred from citizenship, and facing daily hostility. Because they are Muslim, Afghan refugees are excluded from the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), leaving them with...

In this episode, Madina & Kyna discussed the weird feelings that came up as the Charlie Kirk assassination happened one day before 9/11. As always, Madina cries at some point. Anyone going to CDMX soon? Check out Madina's travel suggestions for beautiful Mexico City. But don't be a gentrifying gringo! Orale.

In a world where the news cycle is filled with grief, war, and injustice, friendship becomes sacred. It may be the only place we feel safe. In this episode, we explore how community & friendship protect our mental health, help us co-regulate during times of collective trauma, and provide a lifeline when the world feels unbearable. If you’ve ever felt let down by silence - or held by friendship...

EXTRA! EXTRA! Read all about it! Burqas & Beer DOESN'T hate Afghan men?! In this episode, Madina shares snippets from her workshop, "Deconstructing Afghan Masculinity: Power, Trauma, Possibility" that was presented at the 2025 Afghan American Conference. Using a trauma-informed framework, Madina & Kyna discuss how imperialism, trauma, orientalism and cultural expectations com...

Sit down with Kyna & Madina in the B&B walk-in closet studio as they unpack Zohran "mmmDaddy" Mamdani's win and Israeli aggression against Iran. Oh, and if you listen long enough - Madina cries! (It's Cancer szn, DUH)

I.C.E. raids, DTLA protests, social worker rants & Madina doesn’t know how to use American colloquialisms.