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 be introduced as a convert. Then, Ahmed talks to poet Kima Jones about converting when she was full ...
Jun 15, 2017•45 min
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 she grew up in. Plus — why she joined the international students association in college despite bein...
Jun 08, 2017•39 min
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, Ahmed calls El-Farouk Khaki, the founder and Imam of the Toronto Unity Mosque, to hear about radical ta...
Jun 01, 2017•41 min
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 wanted to do. Then, Ahmed is joined by comedian Aman Ali to talk about how he drove across the coun...
May 30, 2017•46 min
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
May 25, 2017•3 min
[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 series, "Religion." They dig into why Navid's sudden pork addiction isn't believable, moments that re...
May 18, 2017•45 min
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 — Rahat Huda and Noshin Chowdhury — about choreographed promposals, negotiating with parents, and why pr...
May 11, 2017•36 min
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 week, FIBA finally decided to overturn the ban and players can now wear hijab. Earlier in the week, bef...
May 04, 2017•48 min
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 cultural insensitivity of first-person shooter games set in the Middle East and how being Muslim affects t...
Apr 27, 2017•37 min
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 older. Follow Ahmed at @radbrowndads, Follow Arnesa at @Rrrrnessa, You can pick up a copy of Letters...
Apr 23, 2017•29 min
"Muslims don't drink" — how many times have you heard that before? In the first of a series of episodes about intoxicants, Ahmed invites Barnard Professor of Religion, Najam Haider, to provide some context about the role of alcohol in Islam. They talk about intoxicated Sufi mystics, coffee addiction, and why tiramisu can tear a relationship apart. And be sure to stay tuned for more episodes on American Muslims' relationship to alcohol and weed! Follow Ahmed at @radbrowndads Follow the show at @s...
Apr 20, 2017•29 min
Colonialism! Hip-hop! Appropriation! It's a bit of all of the above in this episode . Ahmed talks to Mona Haydar about the video for her song Hijabi , what it means for a Syrian-American to rap, and dealing with microaggressions. Then, Ahmed plays a game of "Did the English Steal This Word From Your People?" with real-life meme, college freshman, and artist of bitterness Kiren Rizvi. Follow Mona @mona_haydar Follow Kiren @gothistani Follow Ahmed at @radbrowndads Watch Mona's video here: https://...
Apr 13, 2017•45 min
Do you ever wish you could reimagine badly-written Muslim characters on TV and in movies? This week, Ahmed and BuzzFeed's Abid Anwar come up with some corrective fan fiction for an episode of a beloved 90s sitcom with a problematic character. Then, BuzzFeed UK writer and DJ Khaled expert Gena-mour Barrett joins Ahmed to discuss their favorite Asahd memes. Follow Ahmed at @radbrowndads . Follow Abid at @Abid_ism. Follow Gena at @SmileGena. And read about how she lived according to DJ Khaled's Sna...
Apr 06, 2017•38 min
Arabic is a part of pretty much every Muslim's life, whether it's in the salaams they share with their family, in their name, or it's the language they speak at home. In this episode, Ahmed talks with Kamelya Omayma Youssef and Amy D. about what it's like to grow up Arab versus growing up non-Arab, and the different ways of learning the language—from the Qur'an to "lughat al-Net" (language of the internet). And, they talk about how the sacred-sounding "wallahi" (I swear to god) came to be used t...
Mar 30, 2017•42 min
Remember the Arab Spring? Bassem Youssef does! Ahmed talks to "Egypt's Jon Stewart" to see what lessons Americans can learn from his time in revolution. They talk about the Trump administration's electronics ban, the differences between American and Arab humor, and representation of women and people of color in media. Then, Ahmed collects your terrible pick-up lines from last week and reads them out loud to BuzzFeed's Zainab Shah. Spoiler alert: She does not like them very much. Follow Ahmed at ...
Mar 23, 2017•40 min
Ahmed talks to three attractive, intelligent, and charming guests about the SINGLE life. Sara Farizan, Hady Barry, and Ahmed Hozain discuss Minder, dating, and how tedious it is to text people. Then, Ahmed calls up his dad to ask about his relationship history. Plus: Everyone plays a special, dating-themed edition of Halal or Not. Follow Ahmed Ali Akbar at @radbrowndads. Follow Sara @SaraFarizan. Listen to Hady's podcast "Love in the Age of Minder" here . Follow the show at @seesomething and fac...
Mar 16, 2017•57 min
Ahmed talks with BuzzFeed News' legal genius Nabiha Syed about what to do if a Customs and Border Protection officer asks for your phone—and other ways to legally resist at the border. Plus, Nabiha gives us advice about talking to white men and mixing patterns. Then, a conversation with Bim Adewunmi about Mahershala Ali's historic Oscar win, and what it means for a black man and member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community to be the first Muslim actor to win an Academy Award. Follow Ahmed @RadBrownD...
Mar 09, 2017•47 min
For the third episode in our Banned Together series, we sit down to process what it feels like to be a Muslim in America right now, or to hold a passport from one of the countries targeted by the President's immigration and travel ban. Ahmed talks with Moustafa Bayoumi, an author and associate professor of English at Brooklyn College, and Elamin Abdelmahmoud, News Curation Editor at BuzzFeed. They talk about the history of the Asian Exclusion Act, the Quebec mosque shooting, and family abroad. P...
Feb 02, 2017•39 min
Can the courts overturn President Trump's executive order? This episode, Ahmed talks with law professor Muneer Ahmad, who filed a lawsuit over the weekend challenging the immigration and travel ban. They talk about the details of the lawsuit, why a federal judge issued a stay to halt deportations, and what the legal path forward is for overturning the ban. Follow Ahmed at @radbrowndads , Follow the show at @seesomething and facebook.com/seesomethingpodcast , Find more episodes at buzzfeed.com/se...
Feb 01, 2017•38 min
Annnd we're back! The previous episode (our live show) was supposed to be the end of Season 1. Then, President Trump issued an executive order blocking refugees, immigrants and travelers from seven Muslim-majority countries: Libya, Sudan, Somalia, Yemen, Syria, Iraq, and Iran. We have to talk about this, and we'll be posting a few short episodes to keep you up-to-date this week. First up, Ahmed talks with Zahra Billoo and Ramzi Kassem about what to do if you or someone you know is detained at an...
Jan 31, 2017•40 min
With Trump's Muslim ban looming, we throw all your favorite things into one episode: Halal or Not! Khutbahs! Politics! Memes! Thirst! Ahmed's Abu! All this and more for See Something Say Something's first ever Facebook live show at WNYC's The Greene Space. Plus: The Kominas are the chillest house band ever. Featuring guests Rais Bhuiyan, Moustafa Bayoumi and Laila Alawa, as well as See Something favorites Tabir Akhter, Abid Anwar, Sara Yasin, Bim Adewunmi, and Dr. Waheed Akbar. See Something Say...
Jan 27, 2017•1 hr 19 min
Donald Trump's inAGGHHHHHguration is this Friday, so Ahmed invites guests to talk about coping strategies. We check in with BuzzFeed's Zainab Shah and Reeda Saleem, talk therapy and self-care with mental health professionals Kameelah Rashad and Bisma Anwar, and make a call to BuzzFeed's UK office to laugh at some memes. Send us your favorite memes and self-care strategies! We're on Twitter at @seesomething . Also: If you've been the victim of a hate crime or discrimination, consider submitting t...
Jan 20, 2017•51 min
Rapper and activist Heems stops by the BuzzFeed offices to talk about movies, identity, and Swet Shop Boys, his collaboration with Riz Ahmed and Redinho. Ahmed and Heems ask important questions like: What does it mean for a non-Muslim brown man to write Muslim characters? Is La La Land just a Bollywood movie? What do you do before the inevitable airport stop? Plus, Ahmed introduces a new segment with his dad: What Does Abu Think? Our January live show is sold out, but you can still catch the liv...
Jan 13, 2017•45 min
This week, Ahmed talks immigration, work, and movies with two Rad Brown Dads: Jamil Ali, who has worked in the taxi industry since the '80s, and Dr. Waheed Akbar, Ahmed's dad. Plus: Ahmed tries to speak Urdu and it is very bad. Please do not drag him on Twitter. For more adventures with Jamil Ali, follow our search for the best $1 chai in NYC . Follow Ahmed at @radbrowndads . Follow the show at @seesomething and facebook.com/seesomethingpodcast Find more episodes at buzzfeed.com/seesomethingsays...
Jan 06, 2017•33 min
Happy New Year! On this mini episode, Ahmed invites a real-life meme into the studio. You've probably seen Daniya Sayed's hilarious photo from prom on your Tumblr or Twitter dashboard. Ahmed talks to Daniya about her rise to virality, how memes can change perceptions of Muslims, and why she's so SHOOK to be in the studio. Follow Daniya at @daniyasaur. Follow Ahmed at @radbrowndads . Follow the show at @seesomething and facebook.com/seesomethingpodcast Find more episodes at buzzfeed.com/seesometh...
Dec 30, 2016•20 min
It's the most hegemonic time of the year and Ahmed wants to complain about it. But Christmas deserves a fair shake too, so he brings Eid Elfs Tanzila "Taz" Ahmed and Salimah Fatimah Mohamed to explain why they love the holiday season. They play some games, discuss the differences between Christmas and Eid, and talk about Christmas music. Plus: we're gonna have a liveshow! Follow Salimah at @salimahfm Follow Taz at @TazzyStar. Get Taz's Christmas mixtape here . Follow Ahmed at @radbrowndads . Fol...
Dec 23, 2016•43 min
This week Ahmed brings on BuzzFeed news editor Sara Yasin as cohost to talk about Zayn Malik, pop icon. They're joined by Zayn Malik scholar Fariha Roisin and twitter badass Farwa Zaidi to talk about Zayn's zolo career, what it means to them to have a brown Muslim sex symbol, and the significance of power couple Zayn and Gigi. Plus, Sara brings Ahmed a special surprise. Follow Sara at @missyasin Follow Fariha at @fariharoisin Follow Farwa at @farwzz Follow Ahmed at @radbrowndads . Follow the sho...
Dec 16, 2016•46 min
Youth Lit authors Hena Khan and Sara Farizan talk about writing young Pakistani and Iranian characters, and wonder why every single book set in South Asia includes samosas. Plus, they give Ahmed some writing advice and read from their own work. Hena shares an excerpt from her forthcoming novel "Amina's Voice," and Sara reads from "Tell Me Again How a Crush Should Feel". Follow Hena at @henakhanbooks Follow Sara at @SaraFarizan Find a list of books recommended by Hena and Sara here . Follow Ahmed...
Dec 09, 2016•50 min
Reza Aslan no longer wants to go on cable news and have to answer questions like "Does Islam promote violence?" Instead, he wants to focus on making a new sitcom for ABC, among other things. Hear why he thinks pop culture and storytelling is the real key to helping change American minds about Muslims. Follow Reza at @rezaaslan. Check out Secret Life of Muslims here . Follow Ahmed at @radbrowndads . Follow the show at @seesomething and facebook.com/seesomethingpodcast Find more episodes at buzzfe...
Dec 02, 2016•42 min
NYU freshmen Romaissaa Benzizoune and Zainab Babikir talk about what it feels like for them to be visibly Muslim on a college campus right now. Plus, Tabir really wants to know what cool things teens like. Follow Tabir at @tabir. Follow Zainab at @freethelioness. Read Romaissaa's writing: " I'm Muslim, but My Roommate Supports Trump " " At the Beach in My Burkini " Follow Ahmed at @radbrowndads . Follow the show at @seesomething and facebook.com/seesomethingpodcast Find more episodes at buzzfeed...
Nov 25, 2016•38 min
