The Diverse Bookshelf
Welcome to The Diverse Bookshelf. I’m Samia Aziz, celebrating the power of literature and the voices of authors and change makers from the global majority. Join me as we explore the stories that inspire, connect, and transform our world. Each week I interview an inspiring guest about a whole host of themes and issues while focusing on diverse literature.
Let’s uncover the stories that truly matter—together.
Episodes
93 episodes
Fatin Abbas on Sudan, objectivity & unrecognised history
Fatin Abbas was born in Khartoum, Sudan, but her parents were forced to leave Sudan when the military seized power there in 1989, when Fatin was just 8 years old. The family settled in New York. She earned a BA in English literature from the Un...
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Season 1
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Episode 93
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54:34
Ep92: Wiz Wharton on untold stories, sisters, belonging and feelings of shame & guilt
This week I’m speaking to the wonderful Wharton, who is of Chinese and white European heritage. Wiz’s debut nove, Ghost Girl, Bana...
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Season 1
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Episode 92
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56:22
Ep91: Mahvish Ahmed on home, authenticity, mental health & identity
On the show this week, I’m joined by Mahvish Ahmed, talking about her beautiful and poignant memoir, On My Way, which has been one of my favourite recent reads. Mahvish has had a super interesting life so far, full of love, empowerment, change,...
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Season 1
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Episode 91
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1:10:19
Ep90: Mahmoud Muna on stories from Gaza, hope & the future
Today marks one year since the most recent escalation of violence and aggression against Gaza, and the genocide that has unfolded before us. This episode was recorded prior to recent bombardments of Lebanon. On this week’s episode,...
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Season 1
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Episode 90
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1:00:00
Ep89: Pragya Agarwal on motherhood, infertility & being a woman
On this week’s episode, I’m speaking to Dr. Pragya Agarwal all about motherhood, gender-based stereotypes and biases, infertility and so much more. In her book, Motherhood – on the choices of being a woman – Pragya shares her own journey of bec...
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Season 1
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Episode 89
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47:00
Ep88: Payzee Mahmod on finding her purpose, child marriage & loss
This week on the show, I’m speaking to activist and all-round incredible human being, Payzee Mahmod. I learned of the amazing work Payzee is doing, and her story after learning about the devastating brutal killing of Payzee’s older sister, Bana...
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Season 1
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Episode 88
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1:15:56
Ep87: Jamaica Kincaid on her life, writing & our Earth
On this week's episode, I'm speaking to the incredible Jamaica Kincaid, and I am absolutely thrilled! Jamaica has been writing for decades, and is often considered a classical author of our time, bringing us work that is timeless, impor...
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Season 1
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Episode 87
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1:05:45
Ep86: Tasneem Abdur-Rashid on writing romance, female friendships & family dynamics
If you’re looking for a book that’s wholesome, hilarious, real, authentic and based on finding love, this week’s episode is definitely for you. On the show today, I’m joined by Tasneem Abdur-Rashid, author of the newly published Thirty Before T...
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Season 1
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Episode 86
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1:04:29
Ep85: Ilan Pappé on the 1948 Nakba, speaking out & the future of Palestine
On this week’s episode, I’m speaking to Israeli, anti-zionist historian and academic, Professor Ilan Pappé . Professor Pappé has dedicated dedcades of his life to writing and speaking about the Nakba of 1948, shedding light on what actual...
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Season 1
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Episode 85
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56:00
Ep84: Safia Elhillo on poetry, language, friendship & Sudan
This week, my guest on the show is the incredibly talented, Safia Elhillo. Safia’s work always leaves me mesmerised and craving for more. In her beautiful poetry, she explores themes of belonging, identity, home, friendship, love, pain, sufferi...
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Season 1
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Episode 84
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1:32:16
Ep83: Taiba Bajar on rewiring the brain and unlocking autism
On the show this week, I'm talking to researcher, brain health trainer and parent coach, Taiba Bajar about her book, Unlock Autism. Taiba has developed a unique seven-step action plan to helping unlock a child's potential within 12 months. Taib...
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Season 1
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Episode 83
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55:33
Ep82: Saima Mir on strong women, crime, vengeance & morality
On this week’s episode, I’m speaking to Saima Mir, journalist and crime novelist, author of The Khan, and its sequel, Vengeance.In her books, Saima introduces us to Jia Khan. A successful lawyer, her London life is a long way from the gr...
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Season 1
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Episode 82
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49:06
Ep81: Susan Muaddi Darraj on loss of home, belonging & Palestinian Christian communities
On this week’s episode, I’m speaking to Susan Muaddi Darraj about her new novel, behind you is the sea, s set in Baltimore and follows the stories of a Palestinian American immigrant community. It is a tender, sweeping novel of a family grappli...
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Season 1
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Episode 81
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50:00
Ep80: Vanessa Chan on the Japanese occupation of Malaysia, big families & characters with agency
On this week’s episode, I’m talking to Vanessa Chan about her debut novel, an absolutely mesmerising story set across two timelines: 1930s and 1945 in Malaya – what Malaysia was called before independence. It is a story with four different pers...
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Season 1
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Episode 80
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1:00:58
Ep79: Ishi Robinson on Jamaica, colonial legacies, race & class
This week, I'm talking to Ishi Robinson, author of the delightful novel, Sweetness In the Skin. In this book, we meet the absolutely wonderful character of Pumpkin, a teenage girl trying to make her way in the world and be true to who she reall...
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Season 1
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Episode 79
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56:27
Ep78: Jassa Ahluwalia on mixed heritage & embracing who you are
This week on the show, I’m talking to Jassa Ahluwalia about his book and memoir, Both Not Half. Both Not Half is a poignant exploration of Jassa’s own heritage – Punjabi and English – and other forms of identity including faith, class, gender a...
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Season 1
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Episode 78
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1:13:47
Ep77: Reem Gaafar on Sudan, motherhood & loss
On the show this week, I'm speaking with Reem Gaafar, author of the novel, A Mouthful of Salt. This book is a really stunning, powerful story of a community in the north of Sudan, struck by calamity and loss. The book opens with a devastating s...
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Season 1
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Episode 77
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55:43
Ep76: Shaimaa Abulebda on life in Gaza
This episode is a special bonus episode with scholar, writer and translator, Shaimaa Abulebda, from within Rafah, in Gaza.Shaymaa’s family home in east Khan Younis brings together her 8 married siblings, and for her nieces and nephews, i...
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Season 1
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Episode 76
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44:26
Ep75: Nigar Alam on Partition, childhood friendships and displacement
On the show this week, I spoke to Nigar Alam about her stunning debut Novel, Under the Tamarind Tree, which I absolutely love. In this episode we talk all about Partition voices an d stories, Pakistan, class, identity, friendships, displacement...
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Season 1
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Episode 75
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1:00:51
Ep74: Ela Lee on privilege, children of immigrants & identity
On this week’s show, I’m speaking to Ela Lee, author of the debut novel, Jaded. Now, I absolutely loved Jaded. I cried several times while reading it, and found a sense of commoradory, validation and being seen that I didn’t even know was missi...
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Season 1
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Episode 74
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54:43
Ep73: Dana Dajani on poetry, Palestine & storytelling
On this week’s episode, I’m talking to the incredible Dana Dajani, Palestinian spoken word-artist, singer, actress and activist. We’re talking about the incredible power of storytelling and poetry in preserving history, connecting us to our anc...
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Season 1
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Episode 73
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57:57
Ep72: Sofia Rehman on translation, dialogue & Aisha (ra)
This week on the podcast, I’m welcoming back my friend, the incredibly insightful and thoughtful, Dr. Sofia Rehman. Sofia now has a second book out in the world, called Gendering the Hadith: Recentering the Authority of Aisha, Mother of the Bel...
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Season 1
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Episode 72
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1:21:56
Ep71: Matthew Robinson on storytelling, film-making and the charity sector
On this week’s episode, I’m talking to Matthew Robinson, humanitarian filmmaker about his work and debut book, 104 In the Shade: Travels of a Humanitarian Filmmaker. I speak to Matthew about his experiences, what he’s learnt, and how we can do ...
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Season 1
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Episode 71
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1:17:01
Ep70: Sarah Joseph on justice, slowing down & hope
I really hope this week’s episode helps you feel empowered, uplifted and inspired. Today, my guest is the powerhouse, Sarah Joseph, who has been working in media for decades. Sarah Joseph came to Islam at the age of just 16, having moved away f...
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Season 1
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Episode 70
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1:08:36
Ep69: Aliyah Umm Raiyaan on the power of du'a
We are now in the sacred month of Ramadan, where millions of Muslims around the world will be fasting – abstaining from food and drink, from dawn to dusk every day for 30 days. It is a time of heightened spirituality and worship, and so I think...
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Season 1
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Episode 69
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1:02:39