The Thinking Youth

In this episode of The Thinking Youth, we sit down with Palestinian activist Nerdeen Kiswani following reports of an alleged attempted assassination plot against her. Nerdeen reflects on becoming a target, the events that unfolded, and the wider questions they raise about political activism, public safety, and accountability. The conversation also explores Betar's activities in New York, community...

Is the Sunni–Shia Debate… FINALLY Over? Sectarian divisions have long shaped Muslim discourse. But in an age of global crises and unprecedented pressure on the Ummah, the real question is this: how do Muslims today, and especially Muslim youth, navigate these differences while facing the realities of the modern world? In this unflinching conversation, Imam Tom joins us to confront the questions th...

Palestinian MMA fighter and activist Al-Baraa “Abu Ayoub” Atmeh joins us to talk about Islamic masculinity, the men of Gaza, and how the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ redefined what it means to be a man. In a world obsessed with Andrew Tate and “alpha-male” culture, Al-Baraa reminds us that real rajoolah true manhood in Islam s built on mercy, discipline, and care for the Ummah. As a fighter, husband, busine...

Today on The Thinking Youth we are joined by Aber Kawasor a wide-ranging conversation on faith, politics, organizing, and the future of progressive movements in America. Aber Kawas is a community organizer, democratic socialist, and candidate for the New York State Senate. In this episode, we discuss what motivates her political work, the role of Muslim ethics in public service, the impact of the...

In today’s episode of Thinking Youth, we are joined by political commentator and global affairs analyst Sami Hamdi for a personal and reflective discussion on the challenges and inspirations shaping the Muslim world today. Together, we explore whether the Ummah has truly been fragmented over the past century, the importance of studying contemporary Islamic thinkers and influential Muslim voices, a...

In this episode of The Thinking Youth, we sit down with Mahfuz Talukder for a deep and wide-ranging conversation on the changing global order, the decline of unipolar Western dominance, and the emergence of China as a civilisational and geopolitical superpower. As the balance of power shifts eastward, we explore what this transformation could mean for the Muslim world politically, economically, an...

In this thought-provoking episode, The Thinking Youth sits down with Dr. Khalid El-Awaisi for a deep and reflective conversation recorded in Ireland on Al Aqsa Mosque and the Ummah. The discussion covers some of the most pressing political and moral questions facing the Muslim world today, while also reflecting on broader global dynamics, responsibility, and the role of young people in shaping mea...

In this episode of Thinking Youth, we are joined by Sami Hamdi to dive into some of the most pressing emotional and spiritual challenges facing young Muslims today. We begin with a powerful introduction before addressing the reality of open hatred and Islamophobia, including how to respond when individuals like Valentina Gomez and others publicly express hostility toward Muslims. This segment focu...

Only 1,400 votes could decide the future of the UK. And This Election Directly Impacts the World and Ummah. In this powerful episode, Dr. Wajid Akhter breaks down how a small number of voters can shape the outcome of the 2025 UK elections and what it means for communities across the country. With the rise of Reform UK and growing political tension, this conversation goes beyond headlines and into...

The Middle East and the Muslim world is shifting, and most of the conversation around it still misses what actually matters. In this episode, we sit down with Mahfuz Talukder, known as NewsBaba, a fast rising geopolitical analyst with nearly 500,000 followers on TikTok and hundreds of millions of views, to break down what is really going on behind the headlines. We look at the Strait of Hormuz, US...

What do Kashmir, Iran, and the growing relationship between India and Israel actually have in common? In this episode, we speak with Dr. Muzzamil Ayyub Thakur about the deeper connections behind today’s biggest geopolitical flashpoints. From Kashmir to Iran, this is not a set of isolated conflicts. It is one system playing out across different regions. We discuss the situation in Kashmir, rising t...

Iran on the BRINK of a US Ground Invasion (Date of Recording: March 7th) In this episode of Thinking Youth Podcast, we speak with Sharghzadeh about the escalating conflict surrounding Iran, the human cost of war, and the intense divisions within the Iranian diaspora. While global media focuses on geopolitics, sanctions, and military strategy, ordinary people inside Iran are living through drone st...

What is the connection between Sudan and Palestine? In this episode, Ahmad Ibsais joins us to unpack the deeper links between the war in Sudan and the crisis in Gaza. Ahmad is a first generation Palestinian American, a law student, and a poet who writes the newsletter State of Siege, where he analyzes politics, identity, and power in the modern Middle East. For years, many have treated Sudan and P...

In this episode of The Thinking Youth Podcast, we sit down with journalist Mohammed Saleh to examine one of the most debated geopolitical developments shaping the Muslim world today. How organic is the rise of Emirati influencers online? Is state sponsored influence new in the UAE? And how have connections formed between the UAE, Israel, and segments of the Western Far Right? This conversation exp...

Can ordinary people really weaken Zionism? In this episode of The Thinking Youth Podcast, we move beyond protest chants and emotional outburst to ask a harder, more strategic question: what does it actually take to dismantle Zionism as a political project? From the global isolation of Israel and shifting public opinion, to supply chains, corporate pressure, and strategic organizing, this conversat...

In this episode of Thinking Youth, we sit down with attorney and activist Musab Abdali, who works with the Oak Cliff Empowerment Center serving one of Texas’ most underprivileged communities. Together, we explore the challenges and opportunities facing Islam in America - from the role of dawah in inner-city neighborhoods to the impact of class, capitalism, and community-building on our faith and s...

In this follow-up conversation with Dr. Daanish Mahmood, the discussion moves beyond productivity and into something deeper: how we learn, how we live, and what we risk forgetting along the way. We begin by unpacking how modern education often confuses memorisation with understanding. Drawing on Bloom’s Taxonomy, Dr. Daanish explains the difference between teaching and learning, why asking how and...

In this episode of The Thinking Youth Podcast, we speak with Dr. Daanish Mahmood about productivity, procrastination, addiction, discipline, and faith. We start by diagnosing why so many people feel lazy, unmotivated, and constantly behind despite knowing exactly what they need to do. Dr. Daanish explains how procrastination is rooted in fear, how modern apps are deliberately designed to hijack at...

Does marriage stop Activism? In this episode, we explore one of the most debated questions in Muslim communities today. Does getting married slow down meaningful activism or can it actually strengthen it? Is this even the right way to frame the question? This conversation challenges the idea that Muslim women must choose between marriage and public work. We unpack the pressure to compromise values...

Are Muslims losing agency over their own identity? Who defines what is anti-Islam? Today we are seeing the system label and choose who it considers a "good Muslim" and who it considers a "bad Muslim" in a way that strips agency from Muslims. We are very good at identifying confrontational Islamphobia, but are we identifying the silent secularization of Islamophobia? This discourse happens as New Y...

What happens when someone who once absorbed Islamophobic narratives is forced to confront history honestly? In this episode of the Youth Show, Pablo opens up about his journey from accepting media-driven stereotypes about Islam to critically questioning them. Through a raw and thoughtful conversation, we unpack why Islamic history is often dismissed as “boring,” how it’s been taught without contex...

Usama Ghanem is a 22 year old student at King’s College London. In just a few days, the university intends to revoke his visa and remove him from the country. His “crime” is simple. He spoke out against the genocide in Gaza and criticised his university’s financial ties to companies enabling it. For this, he was doxxed, targeted, beaten by security during a peaceful protest, and is now facing depo...

This episode is a wild mix of humour, stereotypes, and real talk about the differences between UK and US Muslims. It starts with explosive one-liners and playful accusations about liberalism, sectarianism, SuhoorFest culture, aggression, halal food, free mixing, and even whether women can pray in certain masajid. The jokes are sharp, the reactions are chaotic, and nothing is off the table. But und...

Watch this when you’re sad, when you’re hurt, when you’re worried, when your heart feels heavy. Learn how to start the journey of being strong when you’re heartbroken, how to find peace again, and how to build true resilience through faith. In this powerful and emotional episode, Imam AbdulRahman Khattab shares how to reconnect with Allah when life feels unbearable, how to trust His plan when ever...

Has anyone ever told you “don’t speak up about politics?” Has anyone told you “don’t bring religion into this?” Is secularism compatible with Islam? Can a Muslim truly separate their faith from politics? In this episode of The Thinking Youth Podcast, Imam Tom Facchine explores where the secular mindset comes from, how it reshaped Muslim identity, and why many Muslims today feel pressured to keep I...