Podcasts by The Middle Geeks
Mae and Swara are two writers and geeks of West Asian (IE Middle Eastern) descent who discuss and review all things Southwest Asian and North African (SWANA, ie "MENA") representation each month, along with other entertainment topics. Come join us as we highlight positive depictions of SWANA people in popular media, review the latest popular releases, and just have a fun time nerding out.
Follow us @TheMiddleGeeks, @MaeAbdu, @spiderswarz
Further podcasts by Hard NOC Media
Podcast on the topic TV und Film
All episodes
Episode 60: "Squire" Through the lens of Palestine with Nadia Shammas from 2023-11-20T15:17
We welcome back Palestinian-American Harvey award winning comic and video games writer, Nadia Shammas, to discuss their critically acclaimed graphic novel Squire...
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Episode 59: "The Marvels" Review from 2023-11-10T12:30
The Marvels is here, bringing our favorite superhero Kamala Khan (Listen
Episode 58: Free Palestine, with Hannah Moushabeck from 2023-11-03T13:49
In the midst of Israel's ongoing bombardment and genocide of Palestinians in Gaza, with current...
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Episode 57: Maryam Keshavarz on Telling "The Persian Version" from 2023-10-28T14:25
Before anything else, we would like listeners to know we have an episode on Palestine coming soon. In the meantime we're sharing donation links as we have done before.
As writer-director ...
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Episode 56: 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3' Review, Tragic News in Morocco, Libya, and Artsakh, and One Year of Iran Protests from 2023-09-15T10:00
It's a week of heavy and tragic news across the SWANA region, from a 6.8 earthquake in Morocco, devastating floods in Libya, another Armenian genocide underway in Ar...
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Episode 55: Indiana Jones Dials Up the CGI and Orientalism from 2023-07-03T10:00
With Indiana Jones and The Dial of Destiny's release, and taking place in Morocco, we simply have to review it. Our friends Nadia Osman and Zaina Ujayli joi...
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Episode 54: The Palestinian Ingenuity of Nadia Shammas from 2023-05-11T13:23
Nadia Shammas is a Palestinian-American Harvey award winning comic writer for their incredible groundbreaking graphic novel Squire, created with Jordanian-A...
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Episode 53: 'Polite Society' Review with Roxana Hadadi from 2023-05-02T10:00
Rocky joins us once again to discuss Nida Manzoor's debut feature film, Polite Society. What did we love about this film and Nida's creative vision? How did...
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Episode 52: Senzel Ahmady on Playing Princess Jasmine in Disney's 'Aladdin' from 2023-04-27T15:20
Senzel Ahmady has made history as the first actress of SWANA/MENA descent to play Princess Jasmine in a major Aladdin production in North America, starring in Listen
Episode 51: Indiana Jones and The Nexus of Orientalism from 2023-04-02T10:00
With Indiana Jones and The Dial of Destiny coming out soon, we discuss the long and torrid history of the franchise's use of Orientalism and racism against ...
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Episode 50: 'Blue Caftan' Review, the Earthquake, and an Update on Palestine from 2023-02-28T15:14
In our 50th (!) episode, we review Moroccan director Maryam Touzani's beautiful film Cannes-award winning film"Blue Caftan," which is a nuanced and heartfelt display...
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Episode 49: 'Farha' Review and the Resistance of Palestine from 2023-01-31T15:15
In our first episode of 2023, we finally review Palestinian and Jordanian filmmaker Darin J. Sallam's visceral masterpiece Listen
Episode 48: Tala Ashe on Her Career and the Situation in Iran from 2022-12-31T17:21
Like us, you know her, you love her as Zari Tarazi on Legends of Tomorrow, it's Tala Ashe on the podcast! Mae has a riveting conversation with Tala on her l...
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Episode 47: 'The Swimmers' Review with Zaina Ujayli from 2022-11-30T16:02
We welcome Zaina onto the podcast for us to review The Swimmers! Listen
Episode 46: Kathreen Khavari on Her Career and the Iran Protests from 2022-11-02T14:40
We welcome Iranian-American actress Kathreen Khavari on the podcast! Kathreen is an esteemed actress and voice actress whose roles include Ms. Marvel/Kamala Khan in ...
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Episode 45: 'Black Adam' Review with Hanna Flint from 2022-10-26T13:19
We welcome Hanna back on the podcast for us to review Black Adam together! The Rock has finally arrived as Black Adam in the DCU. But does he reall...
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Episode 44: "Strong Female Character" With Author Hanna Flint from 2022-10-11T15:47
We welcome Hanna back on the podcast to discuss her new debut book "Strong Female Character"! We discuss Hanna's process of writing her autobiography through the len...
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Episode 43: 'Ramy' Season 3 Review from 2022-09-30T20:57
Tariq Raouf joins us once again to review the third season of Ramy, out on Hulu now! Where do we find Ramy Hassan (Ramy Youssef) this season after the terri...
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Episode 42: "Mo" Review from 2022-08-25T13:44:43
We review the first season of Neflix's first ever Palestinian original series, Mo! Co-created by Palestinian-American actor and comedian Mo Amer and Ramy Yo...
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Episode 41: ‘Ms. Marvel’ Episodes 5-6 and Season Review from 2022-07-15T12:53
Isa and Maznah join us to discuss the final two episodes and the entire first season of the MCU's Ms. Marvel. How well did the show do at portrayin...
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Episode 40: ‘Ms. Marvel’ Episodes 3-4 Review from 2022-07-03T15:03:08
Ms. Marvel is ramping up in its plot, and we're joined by writer and longtime Ms. Marvel fan Maryam Ahmad to discuss episodes 3-4. How goo...
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Episode 39: ‘Ms. Marvel’ Episodes 1-2 Review from 2022-06-15T10:00:35
Ms. Marvel is here! We discuss the first two episodes of the series, discussing how wonderful Iman Vellani is in the main role, how well the series...
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Interview: Chelsea Abdullah, Author of 'The Stardust Thief' from 2022-05-26T16:06:10
We are delighted to welcome on Kuwaiti-American author Chelsea Abdullah who has just made her debut with the mesmerizing Arab fantasy novel The Stardust Thief Listen
Episode 38: ‘Moon Knight’ Episodes 5-6 from 2022-05-10T13:14:26
We're at the end of our Moon Knight discussion! Hanna Flint joins us once again to talk about the breakthroughs in SWANA representation with this series, ho...
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Episode 37: ‘Moon Knight’ Episodes 3-4 from 2022-04-22T13:05:05
We discuss episodes 3-4 of the new MCU Disney+ series Moon Knight starring Oscar Isaac, May Calamawy, and Ethan Hawke, joined by Egyptian writer and podcast...
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Episode 36: 'Moon Knight' Episodes 1-2 from 2022-04-07T12:53:33
We discuss episodes 1-2 of the new MCU Disney+ series 'Moon Knight' starring Oscar Isaac, May Calamawy, and Ethan Hawke. What did we enjoy about this series? What did head director Mohamed Diab ...
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Interview: Legends of Tomorrow Star Shayan Sobhian and Max Mooney on "Does Bigfoot Dream of Flowers?" from 2022-03-03T17:22:35
We are delighted to speak with Legends of Tomorrow cast member Shayan Sobhian and his writing partner and director Max Mooney on their new film "Does Bigfoot Dream of Flowers?". What inspired th...
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Episode 35: "Archive 81" Review from 2022-02-25T16:56:14
We discuss Netflix's new horror series Archive 81, which headlines two SWANA stars with Mamoudou Athie and Dina Shihabi! What did we enjoy about this creepy...
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Episode 34: ‘A Hero’ Review and Reputation from 2022-01-31T11:00
We are joined by the Organizing Director of the National Iranian American Council (NIAC), Donna Farvard, and our friend and Vulture critic Roxana Hadadi to discuss acclaimed Iranian director Asg...
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Episode 33: "Gaza Mon Amour" Review and Holiday Edition from 2021-12-23T16:55:28
Even though there's not a lot to be merry about, we count our blessings and make it...
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Episode 32: The Promise of "Star Wars: Visions" from 2021-11-18T15:52:04
We're excited to have Meg Humphrey of Rogue Podron on to discuss Star Wars: Visions, the new anime anthology on Disney+ that breathes fresh life ...
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Interview: Abubakr Ali of Netflix's "Grendel" from 2021-11-10T11:00
We are delighted to welcome Abubakr Ali on the podcast, Listen
The Middle Geeks Episode 31: "Dune" Review from 2021-10-25T10:00
Denis Villeneuve's Dune adaptation, based on a book that was explicitly and heavily influenced by Middle East and North African (MENA) and Islamic cultures, is out, and we are joined by...
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Episode 30: 'AlRawabi School for Girls' Makes 'Mean Girls' Look Like Cotton Candy from 2021-09-30T14:15:51
Created by Jordanian creator Tima Shomali, AlRawabi School for Girls is a devastatingly excellent series on Netflix exploring the dynamics of a Jordanian hi...
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Episode 29: "Lift Like a Girl" and an MCU Assessment from 2021-08-25T14:44:05
Ferdosa joins us to discuss the Netflix documentary "Lift Like a Girl"! How well did this documentary do at showcasing the weightlifting journey of Asmaa and her team, and the depiction of every...
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Episode 28: Palestine in Pop Culture and "Loki" from 2021-07-19T14:35:32
Palestinian historian and scholar N.A. Mansour joins us to discuss the situation in Palestine, where the situation stands now, how pop culture plays into the dehumanization of Palestinians, and ...
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Interview Shayan Sobhian of 'DC's Legends of Tomorrow' from 2021-07-09T14:04:23
Shayan Sobhian, AKA Behrad Tarazi of Legends of Tomorrow, joins Swara to discuss his upcoming episode, "This is Gus"! They talk about how Shayan relates to his character, the importanc...
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Interview: Amin El Gamal of "Breaking Fast" from 2021-06-23T16:52
For Pride Month, we are so excited to have on Amin El Gamal, who plays Sam on the amazing queer Ramadan rom-com Breaking Fast, which is now on Hulu! We dig into what drew Amin to acting...
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Episode 27: ‘We Are Lady Parts’ Review from 2021-06-03T10:00
We are SO excited to discuss Nida Manzoor's We Are Lady Parts, a British series featuring a punk rock band of all Muslim women of color, including MENA women, premiering today on Peacoc...
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Episode 26: "The Present" in Palestine from 2021-05-17T11:00
We discuss the most recent IDF and Israeli brutalization and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in Gaza and East Jerusalem and discuss what the world and the US need to do to help those affected a...
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Interview: Tala Ashe of DC's Legends of Tomorrow from 2021-05-14T13:57:40
Tala Ashe, who plays our favorite superhero on tv Zari Tarazi, joins Swara for a discussion of the next Legends of Tomorrow episode, "The Ex-Factor"! They talk about the importance of Iranian, M...
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Interview: Reem Faruqi and Fahmida Azim of "Amira's Picture Day" from 2021-04-30T15:32:17
In the second of our interview series, author Reem Faruqi and artist Fahmida Azim join us to discuss their new book, Amira's Picture Day, out now! We discuss the impetus for this deligh...
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Episode 25: The Falcon, The Winter Soldier, and...Chad from 2021-04-27T16:43:48
This month, we're reviewing not one, but TWO series, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier on Disney+, and Nasim Pedrad's Chad on TBS! What did we think of the overall series and f...
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Episode 24: WandaVision Review from 2021-03-08T11:00
We're joined once again by the wonderful Arezou to discuss and review the entirety of Marvel's WandaVision on Disney+! What did we think the series did well, and what were areas it could have im...
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Episode 23: ‘I Still Find Time to Smoke’ and a Plethora of MENA News from 2021-02-27T14:31:21
We're joined by Mae's sister Sonia to discuss the inaugural film of Algerian director Rayhana Obermeyer, "I Still Hide to Smoke." How well does this film convey the experiences of living as a wo...
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Episode 22: "Breaking Fast" Review from 2021-01-18T16:41:38
We are joined by our friend Tariq Raouf to discuss the upcoming film Breaking Fast, which features a gay Arab-American Muslim as its protagonist! We discuss what we enjoyed about the fi...
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Episode 21: "Wonder Woman 1984" Review and its MENA Issues from 2020-12-28T12:00
We are joined by the wonderful Hanna Flint to discuss Wonder Woman 1984 in this special bonus episode! We discuss the various ups and downs of the film, how well we thought the actors d...
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Episode 20: Moon Knight, Ms. Marvel, and Mosul from 2020-12-21T16:38:35
We're back with a LOT to discuss. Joining us is a prolific cosplayer, streamer, and friend, Jasmin! We discuss Jasmin's cosplaying and how the cosplay community has been doing in quarantine. We ...
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Episode 19: "Paranormal" Activity in Egypt from 2020-11-27T14:45:20
This month we're joined by filmmaker Shahab Zargari to discuss Netflix's new supernatural series "Paranormal," a supernatural drama...
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Episode 18: DC's Arabian Sights Festival and DC's MENA Heroes from 2020-10-25T12:56
This month we're discussing films we watched as part of Washington DC's Arabian Sights Film festival. With films from Palestine, Lebanon, Tunisia, and more, this festival conveys the array of wo...
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Episode 17: MENA in the Stars and Middle Earth from 2020-09-25T17:43:29
We're excited to have on TV writer, blogger, and Star Wars fan Arezou Amin on to discuss the long history of us MENA people being excluded from Science Fiction and Fantasy media. Why are we cons...
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Episode 16: "A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night" Review and DC FanDome from 2020-08-28T11:00
We're starting spooky season a bit early this year with a review of Iranian-American film director Ana Lily Amirpour's 2014 horror classic "A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night." What makes this fil...
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Episode 15: "The Old Guard" Review and "Cancel Culture" from 2020-07-25T11:00
We have a PACKED episode this month. After discussing some excellent and exciting MENA entertainment news, Mae and Swara review Netflix's The Old Guard, which is directed by the incredi...
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Interview: Faly Rakotohavana of Disney+'s The Secret Society of Second Born Royals from 2020-07-09T11:00
In the first of our interview series, we're joined by Faly Rakotohavana of the upcoming Disney+ film The Secret Society of Second Born ...
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Episode 14: Addressing Anti-Black Racism in MENA Communities from 2020-06-20T13:13:43
In this episode, we discuss systemic racism, how it crops up in MENA communities, and how we should address it. We discuss why and how Anti-Blackness is pervasive...
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Episode 13: Ramy Season 2 Review from 2020-05-28T16:59:45
In the latest episode of The Middle Geeks, we review Hulu's Ramy Season 2, dropping on Hu...
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Episode 12: The Perils and Implications of Excluding MENA People from "Dune" from 2020-04-27T11:00
The internet was abuzz a few weeks ago when the first photos for Denis Villeneuve's Dune 2020 adaptation came out, but where were all the MENA people who should have been cast in a work...
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Episode 11: Quarantine Edition from 2020-03-31T11:00
This month on The Middle Geeks, we're recording from home, per usual, but it feels different this ...
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Episode 10: Character Spotlight: Zari of Legends of Tomorrow from 2020-02-26T12:00
This month on The Middle Geeks, we're joined by our friend and fellow DCTV fan Andy Behbakht to di...
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The Middle Geeks Episode 9: For Sama and the Human Cost of War from 2020-01-31T14:06:57
This month on The Middle Geeks, we discuss Waad Al-Kateab's stunning documentary For Sama, Listen
The Middle Geeks Episode 8: The State of MENA Representation in Hollywood and Star Wars from 2019-12-26T12:02:14
It's the most wonderful time of the year on The Middle Geeks! Star Wars time! But is it r...
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The Middle Geeks Episode 7: The Prince of Egypt from 2019-11-30T14:32:21
This month on The Middle Geeks, we discuss Dreamworks' 1998 masterpiece, The Prince of Egypt. Listen
The Middle Geeks Episode 6 from 2019-11-04T02:07:23
It's still Spooky Season here on The Middle Geeks! In our slightly belated Halloween special, we h...
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Episode 5: "Wajib" and When We Get to Tell Our Stories from 2019-09-30T15:11:04
In the latest episode of The Middle Geeks, we review Wajib by Palestinian director Listen
Episode 4: 'Capernaum' and Facing Hard Truths from 2019-08-29T13:14:05
In the latest installment of The Middle Geeks, we review Nadine Labaki's 2018 heartbreaking master...
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Episode 3: 'Ramy' and Navigating Identity from 2019-07-31T14:16:51
In the third episode of The Middle Geeks, we review Hulu's Ramy, an incisive and groundbr...
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Episode 2: Jinn and Teenagers Kissing Oh My! from 2019-06-25T13:52:19
In the second-ever episode of The Middle Geeks, we cover Netflix's new original series Jinn, their first ever Arabic language series! Did we enjoy it? Did it present an authentic Middle...
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Welcome to The Middle Geeks! from 2019-05-28T14:32:44
Welcome to The Middle Geeks! In our very first episode, Mae and Swara introduce the podcast and discuss our feelings on Middle East and North African (MENA) representation in popular media. We a...
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