For the very first time, Bisan sits down for a podcast to share what is really happening on the ground in Gaza.

We talk about Israel's plan to "take over" Gaza, the journalists that have been killed, and the resilience of a civilization that existed in the world for more than 6000 years in Gaza.

Her message to the world is simple: Freedom for Palestinians and all the oppressed people in the world. As she puts it: "Time in Gaza is not measured by days....it's measured by blood".

This episode is about music — but also about something deeper: identity, belonging, and being seen. I sat down with Danny Hajjar, a brilliant music journalist and the Editor-in-Chief of Rolling Stone MENA, who’s been amplifying the voices of Arab artists across the Middle East, North Africa, and the global diaspora. He’s written for The New York Times, Rolling Stone, and GQ Middle East, and is the co-host the Shik Shak Shook Ones podcast on the Afikra network. We talk about the rise of Arabic music, what it really means to represent a culture, and why sometimes, telling your story is the most powerful thing you can do.

00:00 Intro

01:43 Danny Hajjar’s Hot Takes: Speed Round

07:55 How to Get a Music Journalist’s Attention

10:18 Why Now Is the Moment for Arabic Music

22:03 Arabic Music: What’s Working vs What’s Not

25:40 Mohamed Ramadan, Coachella, and Using Your Platform to Speak Up

33:30 When Identity Becomes the Story: Is That Enough?

35:45 Star Academy, Arabic Dialects, and Remembering Massari

45:43 Underrated Arabic Artists You Need to Hear 🎧

49:25 Advice for Artists

I sat down with journalist Samira Mohyeddin to talk about how Western media straight-up lies — not just about Iran, but about the entire Middle East, from Palestine to Iraq. We get into the "playbook": how narratives are crafted, who benefits, and why “freedom” is only allowed when it fits their agenda. From Zionist Iranians to foreign interference, Samira breaks down why true liberation for Iranians won’t come from the West — it has to come from within.

****Our guest today***Samira Mohyeddin is an award-winning Iranian-Canadian journalist, radio producer, and one of the most fearless voices challenging mainstream narratives on the Middle East. Samira is also the founder of On The Line Media,.