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
105 episodes
Ibtisam Azem on what would happen if Palestinians disappeared
This week, I’m speaking with the brilliant Ibtisam Azem—novelist, journalist, and storyteller—about her powerful and thought-provoking book, The Book of Disappearance.Set across 1948 Palestine, in Jaffa and also Tel Aviv, this...
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Season 1
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Episode 105
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1:07:37
Elif Shafak on the connectedness of our world, water & the power of literature and storytelling
For this week's episode, I have the immense honour of speaking with Elif Shafak — an internationally acclaimed and award-winning author whose work has been translated into more than 55 languages. With 21 published books to her name, including 1...
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Season 1
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Episode 104
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1:07:42
Ramadan Reflections: Imrana Mahmood on creativity, faith & representation
Today’s episode is part of a special mini-series called Ramadan reflections, where I talk to guests about faith, life and Ramadan. I’m thrilled to be joined by poet and creative producer, Imrana Mahmood for a conversation about ...
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Season 1
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Episode 103
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1:00:14
Ramadan Reflections: Yasmin Stannard on faith, grief and Amani's legacy
Today’s episode is part of a special mini-series called Ramadan reflections, where I talk to guests about faith, life and Ramadan.I’m honoured to be speaking with Yasmin Stannard, a mother, advocate, and campaigner, who has been raising ...
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Season 1
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Episode 102
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1:03:04
Preethi Nair on carving your own path, aging and unravelling
On today's episode, I’m speaking with the wonderful Preethi Nair—an author, entrepreneur, and storyteller with an incredible journey into publishing.Preethi left her career as a management consultant to pursue her dream of writing, but a...
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Season 1
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Episode 101
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1:01:35
Ramadan Reflections: Lianne on faith, fitness & body image
Today’s episode is part of a special mini-series called Ramadan reflections, where I talk to guests about faith, life and Ramadan. I’m joined by the incredible Leanne from LC Fitness. Leanne is a passionate personal trainer and fitn...
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Season 1
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Episode 100
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51:06
Omar El Akkad on Gaza, genocide, privilege, and historical amnesia
Today, I’m thrilled to be joined by the award-winning writer and journalist, Omar El Akkad.Omar is a journalist and novelist whose work masterfully blurs the lines between fiction and reality, forcing us to confront the most urgent issue...
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Season 1
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Episode 99
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1:01:13
Huda Fahmy on growing up, divorce, mental health & friendship
For this week's episode, I’m super excited to be welcoming back one of my favourite guests – Huda Fahmy.Huda is a seriously talented writer and artist, using comic style storytelling to explore wider, serious issues pertaining to identit...
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Season 1
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Episode 98
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1:01:33
Salma Ibrahim on the lives we could have lived, friendship, and identity
In this episode, I’m joined by writer and editor Salma Ibrahim to discuss her powerful debut novel, Salutation Road. Salma is a British-Somali author whose work explores themes of identity, migration, and belonging. She is also the fou...
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Season 1
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Episode 97
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52:13
Salena Godden on love, grief, memory and identity
Disclaimer: this episode features mention of suicide, infertility and loss. On this week’s episode, I’m joined by the incredible poet, author, and activist Salena Godden. A leading voice in British poetry, Salena is known...
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Season 1
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Episode 96
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52:48
Azeem Rafiq on racism in cricket, grief and mental health
On the show this week, I’m joined by former cricket superstar, Azeem Rafiq. When Azeem was a young boy playing cricket near his home in Pakistan, he could never have foreseen that this sport would change his life forever. He fell in...
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Season 1
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Episode 95
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51:13
Aube Rey Lescure on Shanghai's privileged expat world, language and identity
On the show this week, I'm talking to Aube Rey Lescure, author of the mesmerising, sweeping novel, River East, River West. If you’ve been listening to the podcast for a while, you will probably know I love a family drama, inter-generational nov...
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Season 1
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Episode 94
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1:06:01
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