UNSUGARCOATED with Aalia

In this compelling episode of UNSUGARCOATED with Aalia, we sit down with Jewish American activist Simone Zimmerman, co-founder of IfNotNow and a key figure in the documentary “Israelism.” Simone sheds light on the deeply entrenched issues stemming from Zionist ideology and its devastating impact on both Palestinian and Jewish lives. We explore the ongoing genocide in Palestine, the global systems...

In this episode of UNSUGARCOATED with Aalia, we welcome the multifaceted artist Ali Badshah to discuss his profound connection to Palestine and the ongoing genocide. Ali shares how his passion for activism and truth come into contrast with his acting career and how the suffering in Gaza and the West Bank shape his artistic expressions. Learn the incredible inspiration behind his Amazon Best Sellin...

In Episode 106, Aalia and Dushyanthi Satchi, LCSW, delves into the profound impact of trauma and genocide on individuals and communities, drawing from her personal and professional experiences. As a Sri Lankan Tamil and a licensed clinical psychotherapist, Dushyanthi discusses how growing up in the shadow of genocide shaped her career in trauma counseling. She explores the transformative role of s...

In Episode 105, award-winning actor, filmmaker, and comedian Aizzah Fatima discusses her journey from microbiologist to celebrated artist. Aizzah shares how her acclaimed stage play, "Dirty Paki Lingerie," evolved into the film "Americanish," which challenges stereotypes and showcases the diverse experiences of Muslim American women. Through her work, Aizzah blends acting with activism, using stor...

In this episode titled "Grace Under Fire," we sit down with Belal Nassar, aka Bfendyy, a Palestinian American content creator and actor dedicated to amplifying the voices of the voiceless in Gaza. Belal shares his journey from his upbringing in America to his rise as a digital storyteller, highlighting the profound psychological toll of facing daily aggression and hostility online. We explore the...

In a raw conversation, we meet the Palestinian artist MC Gaza who has raised funds to get his family, including his mother and brother with Down Syndrome, out of Gaza to safety in Egypt. He shares his experience being inspired by legends such as Tupac to use rap as resistance against illegal occupation as well as his heartbreak over the way Israeli forces have destroyed every aspect of life in Gaz...

In the compelling 101st episode of UNSUGARCOATED with Aalia, we get the Lebanese perspective as Lebanese-American award-winning author Dana Dargos takes center stage. She discusses her journey from the Bay Area to literary acclaim with her debut, "Einstein in the Attic." The episode explores Dana's diverse interests, cultural values blending Lebanese heritage with American upbringing, and her impa...

In the 100th episode, UNSUGARCOATED with Aalia welcomes Thomas Madden, the son of a Belgian diplomat, is a filmmaker, journalist, activist and founder of A Mad Production. Having personally documented life in Congo, South Sudan, Nepal, Iraq and Gaza on behalf of UNICEF, Thomas sheds light on how different stakeholders approach global geopolitical and humanitarian crises. Especially calling attenti...

In this limited series and the 99th podcast episode of the show, host Aalia Lanius welcomes Quinn the Eskimo, a full-time digital “slowmad” who has been traveling the world for the last 3 years is now shifting his efforts to travel to Gaza. Quinn discusses his upcoming journey to the region, his collaboration with local organizations, and his commitment to sharing stories from conflict zones to ra...

In this limited series, and the 98th podcast episode of the show, our host, Aalia is joined by Jewish-born, New York-based, Canadian Jess Salomon, to share her remarkable journey from U.N. war crimes lawyer to the spotlight of the comedy stage with her wife, a Palestinian Muslim. In this interview, they explore Salomon’s early experiences with Jewish traditions, her foray into the world of comedy,...

As part of this limited series and 97th episode of UNSUGARCOATED with Aalia, our host welcomes to the conversation United Kingdom based Fitness Trainer and Influencer, Nazia Khatun. After discussing her background and work to empower clients through fitness, neuroscience and trauma healing they dive into their critical perspectives of what “role model” means in a world that wants to cancel those s...

In this compelling podcast episode, our host engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Morani Kornberg, a distinguished Israeli-born Jewish scholar, writer, and poet holding a PhD. The focus of the episode revolves around the intricate history of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and what it would be like to be born Palestinian in contrast to Jewish, aiming to provide listeners with a nuance...

In our final episode of season 11, Aalia is joined by Johannes Bhakdi, the Founder and CEO of Quantgene. Jo brings his expertise in the biotech industry as they discuss the use of AI and genomics in preventative healthcare, to aid in the early detection and prevention of diseases. They also talk about the role emotional intelligence plays in the industry. Jo highlights the potential of genomics an...

In this episode, Aalia is joined by Aaron Michael Sanchez, author, talk show host and business strategist. Are you trying to figure out where to start when launching a business? Aalia and Aaron talk about the challenges and opportunities of starting one in a down economy, and how self-regulation, resilience and emotional intelligence are important qualities for entrepreneurs to possess. Aaron disc...

In this episode, Aalia is joined by Michael Kaye, the Director of Brand & Communications at OkCupid. Michael brings his insights into the online dating world and all things romance! He discusses the importance of emotional intelligence in dating and creating meaningful relationships. Michael and Aalia both share their personal experiences with online dating and relationships. Michael also shar...

In episode 92, Robert Pearl, MD, Forbes healthcare contributor, former CEO of The Permanente Medical Group, and author of two highly acclaimed books, "Mistreated" and "Uncaring," provides our audience with outstanding insight into the current and future state of the healthcare system. This episode delves into Pearl’s personal journey to becoming a healthcare leader, the importance of restructuring...

In this episode, Aalia is joined by Bryan Ruby, the first credited openly gay active professional baseball player and country music artist. Bryan shares his experiences and insights on the importance of representation and inclusion in sports and entertainment, as well as how storytelling and music can play a role in promoting social acceptance and empathy. He also shares the purpose behind his non...

Episode 90 of UNSUGARCOATED with Aalia, features an indepth conversation with Karina Miller, filmmaker with over two decades of producing credits in film, television, and theater. In this episode, Karina shares her thoughts on the role of film in addressing social issues and discusses the behind-the-scenes stories of "Hail Mary," her latest movie that aims to authentically depict the struggles of...

In this episode, Aalia invites Genevieve Thiers, a true disrupter and advocate for women in the tech industry to share her journey of growing female power in workplace, and how she was inspired by her own experiences to make a firm commitment to help women working in the tech industry to find their rightful voices. Stay tuned with Aalia to learn more about the crucial role of emotional intelligenc...

In this episode, Aalia is joined by media mogul Larry Namer. As the co-founder of E! Entertainment Television and true media mogul is a dedicated philanthropist and he continues to be part of incredible projects impacting the world. In this episode, he returns to the show to discuss emotional intelligence, his favorite project to date and how hate is based on ignorance. Like, comment, and subscrib...

In this episode of UNSUGARCOATED with Aalia, we sit down with Steve Longi, an award-winning producer in the film industry. Together, they discuss how he leverages emotional intelligence to establish authentic relationships and cultivate a success mindset on his film sets, as well as listen to him open up about his personal journey of building self-confidence and bouncing back from rejection. Like,...

In this episode, Aalia is joined by Katherine Winter Sellery, founder of the Conscious Parenting Revolution! She highlights that emotional intelligence is about being present and aware in your interactions with your children, rather than being reactive or distracted. It's a must-listen for anyone interested in parenting with intention.

In this episode, Aalia invites Anthony Francisco, a seasoned Illustrator and Creative Director, to explore how emotional intelligence and representation in media are connected, and how his background inspired him to create wonderful designs like Marvel's Baby Groot! Keep up with social good, get new insights, and learn curated aspects of emotional intelligence weekly with UNSUGARCOATED with Aalia!...

In this episode, Aalia invites B Earl, a comic book writer and filmmaker working with Marvel Entertainment, to explore how comic books have the potential to deepen people's emotional intelligence and make the world more empathic, understanding, and connected. Additionally, B Earl will share his predictions on the impact of AI on the development of the comics industry. Like, comment, and subscribe!...

Season 10's season finale features George Khouri, a writer, actor, artist, producer, and songwriter. Some of you may recognize him as the Drake look alike that blew up the internet! Today we get to meet the man behind the infamous face! Aalia and George discuss his enormous success within the entertainment industry and what motivates him. He talks about the projects he is currently working on in b...