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The Seeds

The Seeds

By: Watermelon Pictures
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About this listen

 Every story starts with a seed. Alana Hadid is on a mission to dig into the tiny, weird, wonderful moments that shape us — one silly, vulnerable and deep conversation at a time. The Seeds is where artists, activists, and icons open up like you’ve never heard them before. This season, Alana sits down with folks like Hasan Piker (political firestarter), Mona Chalabi (Pulitzer Prize winning data queen), Aja Monet (award-winning poet of your dreams), Kendrick Sampson (activist/heartthrob, Insecure & I’m A Virgo), Melissa Barrera (hello, horror icon), and Poppy Liu (actual magic, Hacks). We get into childhood memories, big feels, late-night thoughts, early crushes, politics, love, art — the real stuff. So pull up a seat. New episodes every Tuesday, starting June 4. Follow on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Watermelon Pictures. Produced by Dustlight Productions.© 2025 Watermelon Pictures. All Rights Reserved. Political Science Politics & Government Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Iraqis Deserve an Apology | Mona Chalabi on the Seeds

    Iraqis Deserve an Apology | Mona Chalabi on the Seeds
    Jul 11 2025
    In this episode of The Seeds, Mona Chalabi—Pulitzer Prize–winning data journalist and artist—joins host Alana Hadid for a warm, funny, and deeply reflective conversation about childhood, being Iraqi, how journalists manufacture consent for genocide, and data in dating. Plus Mona gets Melissa Barrera's seed!Chapters:00:00 – Intros, and Who’s More Awkward?00:22 – Skip Intro00:38 – Childhood Memories02:14 – Pulling a Seed 03:37 – Mona's Life Purpose05:08 – Going into Journalism09:14 – Being Iraqi13:11 – School Experiences and Cultural Identity26:14 – Career Choices and Disillusionment32:50 – Art, and Data Journalism34:21 – Speed Round35:30 – Unhinged Childhood Beliefs36:42 – Fascinating Statistics37:01 – Dating and Data!40:40 – Astrology vs. Data Journalism42:43 – Real Housewives Tagline44:14 – Nostalgic Arab Snacks47:53 – Animation and Representation53:51 – Pulitzer Prize Speech & Why Iraqi's Deserve and Apology01:10:42 – CreditsFollow the Show:📸 Instagram: @theseedsfm🎥 Presented by Watermelon Pictures🎙️ Produced by Dustlight ProductionsFollow Alana Hadid:IG: @lanzybearFollow Mona Chalabi:IG: @monachalabiCredits:Host – Alana HadidShowrunner & Executive Producer – Misha EucephExecutive Producers – Badie Ali, Hamza AliAssociate Producer – Munir AtallaProducer & Researcher – Sarah MoawadEditor, DP, & Sound Engineer – Mike O’BrienConsulting Director – Mahnoor EucephProduction Designer – Kendra BradaniniArt Assistant – Noor SalimDesign – Alicia TatoneComposer – Andy ClausenColorist – Chehade BoulosTech – Randy BurgessMarketing – Kristina Ferris & Daniela SapkarSpecial thanks: Lighthouse Studios, Jack Menzies, Gordy Michie, Isabella Calderon, Sammy Strittmatter, Chrissy Maron, Sara Mengesha, Edwin HenryTags:#TheSeeds #MonaChalabi #AlanaHadid #Iraq #IraqWar #Gaza #Palestine #War #Journalism #ManufacturingConsent #Dating #ArabVoices #PulitzerPrize #DataJournalism ##StorytellingPodcast #Identity #DustlightProductions #WatermelonPictures
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 12 mins
  • Doomscrolling Isn't Solidarity | Aja Monet on The Seeds

    Doomscrolling Isn't Solidarity | Aja Monet on The Seeds
    Jul 4 2025

    In this soul-stirring episode of The Seeds, poet and activist Aja Monet sits down with host, Alana Hadid, to talk about the cost of being online, bearing witness to injustice, and how poetry and faith can heal us.

    From the overwhelm of social media to solidarity with Palestine, Aja opens up about her upbringing, the legacy of her grandparents, and the journey of becoming a poet rooted in resistance, tenderness, and truth. She even shares a live reading of her poem, Los Angeles.

    Chapters:
    00:00 – The Overwhelm of Social Media
    00:22 SKIP INTRO
    00:54 – Offline Community
    01:15 – Harnessing Social Media for Activism
    03:09 – Telling Stories About Palestine
    19:04 – Aja's Story & Inspirations
    22:00 – The Journey of a Poet
    37:07 – The Role of Faith
    38:57 – Aja & Alana's Religious Upbringing
    42:35 – The Influence of Grandparents
    46:39 – Personal and Political Realities of War
    52:25 – The Role of Poetry in Activism
    58:01 – (Live Reading)
    01:01:54 – Reflections on Compassion
    01:07:47 – Knafeh & Goodbye

    Follow the Show:
    📺New episodes every Tuesday
    🎧 Available on YouTube, Apple, Spotify & all podcast platforms
    📸 Instagram: @theseedspod
    🎥 Presented by Watermelon Pictures
    🎙️ Produced by Dustlight Productions

    Follow Alana Hadid:
    IG: @lanzybear

    Follow Aja Monet:
    IG: @ajamonet

    Credits:
    Host – Alana Hadid
    Showrunner & Executive Producer – Misha Euceph
    Executive Producers – Badie Ali, Hamza Ali
    Associate Producer – Munir Atalla
    Producer & Researcher – Sarah Moawad
    Editor, DP, & Sound Engineer – Mike O’Brien
    Consulting Director – Mahnoor Euceph
    Production Designer – Kendra Bradanini
    Art Assistant – Noor Salim
    Design – Alicia Tatone
    Composer – Andy Clausen
    Colorist – Chehade Boulos
    Tech – Randy Burgess
    Marketing – Kristina Ferris & Daniela Sapkar
    Special thanks: Lighthouse Studios, Jack Menzies, Gordy Michie, Isabella Calderon, Sammy Strittmatter, Chrissy Maron, Sara Mengesha, Edwin Henry

    #TheSeeds #AjaMonet #AlanaHadid #PalestinianSolidarity #Poetry #Activism #Faith #religion #SocialMedia #burnout #BlackPoets #poetsofinstagram #Storytelling #DustlightProductions #watermelonpictures #gaza #palestine
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 10 mins
  • From Insecure to Activist: Kendrick Sampson on Art as Resistance | The Seeds with Alana Hadid

    From Insecure to Activist: Kendrick Sampson on Art as Resistance | The Seeds with Alana Hadid
    Jun 27 2025

    Why does Kendrick Sampson have beef with Leos? (We get into that… but this conversation goes way deeper.) Actor, activist, and creative force Kendrick Sampson (Insecure, Miss Juneteenth) joins host, Alana Hadid, for a bold and honest conversation about power, identity, and the lies we've been sold about success. He opens up about growing up as a misfit in Texas, the influence of his radical collaborations with Boots Riley, and how spirituality and community shape everything he does — on screen and off. This episode is about building systems that serve people instead of profits, connecting back to nature, and telling stories that actually shift culture.

    Chapters:

    00:00 Why does Kendrick hate Leos?

    00:22 SKIP INTRO

    02:31 Who is Kendrick Sampson?

    03:28 Childhood and Being a Misfit

    09:22 Boots Riley and Creative Collabs

    13:42 Kendrick’s Seed

    16:26 Reflections on American Delusion

    19:27 Family History and Identity

    29:12 Community

    30:54 Spirituality and Connection to Nature

    31:45 Building Power Through Story

    32:13 Basic Human Needs and Economy

    32:46 Technology and Systemic Barriers

    34:07 Understanding True Power

    40:03 Mental Health and Vulnerability

    45:53 Speed Round

    56:25 Knafeh and Final Thoughts


    *Disclaimer:     The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views, policies, or positions of Dustlight Productions, Watermelon Pictures, or any of their affiliates, employees, officers, or representatives. These companies do not endorse or take responsibility for any statements made during the podcast.

    Follow the Show:
    📸 Instagram: @theseedsfm
    🎥 Presented by Watermelon Pictures
    🎙️ Produced by Dustlight Productions


    Follow Alana Hadid:
     IG: @lanzybear
    TikTok: @alanahadid


    Follow Kendrick Sampson:
     IG: @kendrick38


    Credits:
    Host – Alana Hadid
    Showrunner & Executive Producer – Misha Euceph
    Executive Producers – Badie Ali, Hamza Ali
    Associate Producer – Munir Atalla
    Producer & Researcher – Sarah Moawad
    Editor, DP, & Sound Engineer – Mike O’Brien
    Intro Sequence Director – Mahnoor Euceph
    Production Designer – Kendra Bradanini
    Art Assistant – Noor Salim
    Design – Alicia Tatone
    Composer – Andy Clausen
    Intro Colorist – Chehade Boulos
    Tech – Randy Burgess
    Marketing – Kristina Ferris & Daniela Sapkar
    Special thanks: Lighthouse Studios, Jack Menzies, Gordy Michie, Isabella Calderon, Sammy Strittmatter, Chrissy Maron, Sara Mengesha, Edwin Henry.

    #TheSeeds #KendrickSampson #AlanaHadid #Masculinity #MentalHealth #SlowLiving #BlackCulture #Palestine #Gaza #Texas #Insecure #HBO #IssaRae #BootsRiley #ImAVirgo #Art #Acting #Activism #Power #Community #Nature #Neighbors #Technology #Isolation #Loneliness #Convenience
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 5 mins
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