Identity Politics

When you’re looking to get deeper in your faith there a lot of options out there from meditation to yoga to spiritual retreats, how do you navigate it all? Reoccurring guest Joshua Abdul Haqq (aka Ikhlas’ husband) comes on the show to talk about his forthcoming podcast, “Three Stations of the Deen,” and why he […]

To mark the halfway point of Ramadan we check in on how we’re doing on those #RamadanGoals and chat with actor, comedian, and writer Ramy Youssef about how his Ramadan has been going in the wake of the release of his new Hulu show Ramy, what his hopes are for show, and the challenges and […]

Ramadan Mubarak! To kick off this year’s series, we reflect on the last decade of summertime fasts and our girl Samira Abderahman joins us to talk about Black Iftar, why she created it and the importance of leaving room for Black joy in Ramadan.   Guest: Samira Abderahman, @SamiraImam_, founder of Black Iftar.

Ikhlas and Makkah chat about how Muslims talk about Muslims, how Hollywood talks about Muslims and have Besheer Mohamed, Senior Researcher at the Pew Research Center, to tell us what the data says about Muslims. What we’re looking to find out: what’s really good for the ummah?   Guest: Besheer Mohamed is a Senior Researcher at […]

What should you expect if you are a Black Muslim woman who is expecting? And how might a doula be able to help? On this episode, we discuss these questions and more with The DC Doula herself, Malika Hook Muhammad. Tune in to learn more about how the medical system fails women of color, how […]

We kick off  season 6 with some life updates–Ikhlas has some big news!  We also talk about the highlights and challenges of podcasting–especially in the changing media landscape–and the importance of taking time for retreat. Tune in to find out what we’ve been up to. What we’ve been up to during the break. Ikhlas has […]

We list our favorite films from 2018 and filmmaker Nijla Mu’min comes back on the show to chat about her debut feature film “Jinn” and we play a game of movie trivia. Guest: Nijla Baseema Mu’min is an award-winning writer and filmmaker from the East Bay Area. Her work is informed by poetry, photography, fiction, […]

We come up short on Friendsgiving invites so we play a game of friends trivia instead. Action item: call a friend you love today.  http://media.blubrry.com/identitypolitics/content.blubrry.com/identitypolitics/42_Episode_42_Friendsgiving.mp3

Is there any reason to still believe in our political system? Mohamed Gula and Aysha Ahmed of Emgage USA join the show to answer this question and more. We discuss our favorite civic engagement commercials, why representation matters, and what fictional characters would have our votes. Guests: Aysha Ahmed is the Programs and Operations Specialist […]

Writer and poet Tariq Touré sits down with us to talk vulnerability, fatherhood and what we owe Black women. Plus we share what’s on our bookshelves, shoutout some of our favorite poets and discuss the role poetry can play in imagining a better world. Guest: Tariq Touré, @TariqToure, is a Muslim writer, husband, father and […]

We’re back with Season 5 and Makkah is in a new city! We talk moving—the good apartments, the bad apartments, what comes, what goes and how to create a home and community. http://media.blubrry.com/identitypolitics/content.blubrry.com/identitypolitics/39_Episode_39_When_It_s_Time_to_Pack_Your_Bags.mp3

For the last episode of the season, Ikhlas and Makkah lament the last year of their 20s. They look back at what went right, what went allll the way left and what’s to come. How do you prepare for the big 3-0? http://media.blubrry.com/identitypolitics/content.blubrry.com/identitypolitics/38_Episode_38_Late_Late_Twenty-Somethings.mp3

While Makkah is on vacation, Ikhlas is joined by guest co-host, Joshua Wilkerson. In honor of their two-year wedding anniversary, Ikhlas and Joshua play a game of 21 questions. http://media.blubrry.com/identitypolitics/content.blubrry.com/identitypolitics/Episode9_21Questions.mp3

Naeem Muhammad of Native Deen joins us to chat about the connection between music and faith. In this episode, we shoutout our favorite songs of summer, try to figure out what gospel music is doing right, and get real about what Black artists have to consider when performing for Muslim audiences.  Guest: Naeem Muhammad, @naeemusic, is […]

In the final episode of our 5 Pillars Series, “Hajj Pro” Shahidah Sharif joins us to discuss what this ritual means to her and how to prepare for the experience of a life time. Guest: Shahidah Sharif is the Program Director of the Faith Institute of the Atlanta Masjid of Al-Islam, and is the co-founder […]

So you’ve just converted to Islam. Now what? On this episode, Palmer Shepherd joins us to discuss how becoming Muslim means trying to be the best you can be, what unique challenges converts face and the importance of community in navigating it all. Guest: Palmer Shepherd, @shadedpalms, is the former Co-Chair of the Muslim Alliance for Sexual […]

How can women get the most out of Ramadan when we are unable to fast? We sit down with Hazel Gomez about female bodies, spiritual development and what it might take to change how we think about our periods. Guest: Hazel Gomez, @Palunquita, is a student of the Islamic sciences with Rabata.org under the tutelage […]

In Part 2 of our “5 Pillars Series” this Ramadan, we discuss praying for candy, struggling to keep up in taraweeh and the potential benefits of being elbowed in the ribs. Plus we chat with Yusufi Vali, Executive Director of the Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center, about inclusive mosques and how to find a […]

In Part 1 of our “5 Pillars Series” this Ramadan, we discuss what zakat means to us, how children’s songs are useful teaching tools and what Islam might be trying to tell us about capitalism. Plus we chat with Amany Killawi, COO and co-founder of LaunchGood, about how her organization helps Muslims put our money […]

Ikhlas and Makkah discuss what it means to be a “Ramadan Muslim” and share how they are prepping for the month spiritually and socially. Plus Makkah’s five year-old nephew Tariq has some great advice for all you first-time fasters out there. We’re doing a series for Ramadan and want to know what’s been your Ramadan […]