Hyphenated

Episode 21

Hyphen Europe commissioning editor Phoebe Greenwood, author and government climate advisor Dr Imad Ahmed, and Dr Omar Khan, the CEO of TASO, a charity working to improve equality in higher education, discuss the aftermath of devastating natural disasters in Morocco and Libya, lessons to be learnt about UK race relations from the online reaction to a confrontation in a Peckham shop that went viral, and reflect on Scotland’s First Minister Humza Yousaf being included in Time magazine‘s annual list of 100 emerging world leaders.

Host Reya El-Salahi chats to film critic and podcaster Leila Latif about the must-see Muslim talent to look out for at the BFI London Film Festival 2023.

Plus, journalist Stefania D’Ignoti finds out why Rome’s best pizza is Egyptian.

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Episode 20

This week, Hyphen Editor Burhan Wazir, equalities campaigner and She Speaks We Hear founder Akeela Ahmed, and journalist Remona Aly join host Reya El-Salahi to discuss anti-Muslim violence in India following the G20 summit, the wider impact of France’s abaya ban, and Thailand’s plan to become a top Muslim-friendly holiday destination. From inedible food to anxiety-inducing airport security, our panel shares their most memorable trips abroad.

Plus, Hyphen journalist Hussein Kesvani investigates the big bidet takeover.

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Episode 19

Hyphen reporter Aisha Rimi, author and advertising exec Shelina Janmohamed and ITV News political correspondent Shehab Khan discuss the issues facing Rishi Sunak’s government as MPs return to parliament after the summer recess, the legacy of former Harrods and Fulham FC owner, Mohamed Al-Fayed, following his death, and whether it’s still accurate to describe Britain as a Christian country.

Host Reya El-Salahi chats to tech leader Arfah Farooq about the lucky accident of her career path, helping Muslims level up through the Muslamic Makers community and why diversity is key to mitigating the risks of AI.

Plus, journalist Faisal Ali meets the Muslim junior doctors leaving the NHS.

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Episode 18

Hyphen commissioning editor Samir Jeraj, foreign correspondent and Hyphen contributor Shamim Chowdhury, and social commentator and digital marketing professional Aliya Zaidi discuss the British government’s seemingly shambolic plan to house asylum seekers on the Bibby Stockholm barge, First Minister of Scotland Humza Yousaf’s straight-talking advice for dealing with bigots and the significance of the first hijabi-wearing footballer in the Women’s World Cup.

Host Reya El-Salahi talks to the poet and playwright Inua Ellams about the role his multi-faith upbringing plays in his award-winning work, why accepting an MBE was a bruising decision and how his legal battles to stay in the UK inspired his latest show An Evening With an Immigrant.

Plus, Javaria Akbar explores the challenges of getting fit in a multigenerational household.

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Episode 17

Should freedom of speech extend to burning books? One of Denmark’s first Muslim politicians, Özlem Cekic, talks to host Reya El-Salahi on this week’s podcast about how this stern test of liberal democratic ideals is playing out against a backdrop of angry condemnation across the Muslim world.

Comedians Mustafa Algiyadi, Sharlin Jahan, Harun Musho’d and Leila Navabi join a special Edinburgh 2023 panel to discuss the highs and lows of performing at the world’s biggest arts festival, and whether posting crying selfies online is the best way to market a show.

Plus, Hussein Kesvani meets the Muslim Redditors doomscrolling their way to a spiritual crisis.

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Episode 16

Hyphen assistant editor Hussein Kesvani, Dr Laura Jones of the University of Wales Trinity Saint David and the author and government climate advisor Dr Imad Ahmed discuss how London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone is reshaping politics. We also pay tribute to Sinéad O’Connor and explore how Muslim converts are represented in the media.

Host Reya El-Salahi talks to Dr Shabna Begum about her book From Sylhet to Spitalfields, and gives her tips for the best food in Banglatown.

Plus, Hafsa Lodi on how young Muslims became sneakerheads.

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Episode 15

This week, Hyphen’s Europe commissioning editor Phoebe Greenwood, academic and journalist Mohammad Zaheer and journalist Shafi Musaddique discuss Europe’s heatwave, a new report by Tell MAMA detailing a decade of anti-Muslim hate. Plus, how new films Barbie and Oppenheimer reignited our love of cinema.

Host Reya El-Salahi talks to Sabah Ahmedi about being one of Britain’s youngest Imams and his mission to challenge misconceptions about Islam on social media. 

Plus, Hyphen writer Jessica Bateman on how one man took on anti-mosque campaigners in Harrogate and won.

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Episode 14

This week, Hyphen writer Taj Ali, the first Muslim general secretary of the Welsh TUC Shavanah Taj, and journalist and host of ‘She Speaks We Hear’ podcast Sharmeen Ziauddin discuss what the public sector pay deal means for Britain’s striking workers, Qur’an burning in Sweden and what’s fuelling the rise in racist abuse targeting London Mayor Sadiq Khan. Plus the growing popularity of Neza bazi in the UK inspires our panel to share their thrill seeking secrets.

Host Reya El-Salahi talks to author Dr Rakib Ehsan about his Luton upbringing, being the go-to Muslim commentator for Britain’s right-leaning media and his new book ‘Beyond Grievance: What the Left Gets Wrong about Ethnic Minorities’.

Plus, Hyphen writer Heather Galloway visits the Spanish town terrorised by Neo-Nazis.

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Episode 13

This week, Hyphen commissioning editor Samir Jeraj, comedian Ola Labib, and broadcaster Fahima Mahomed discuss Labour’s plan to make speaking skills a core part of England’s education system and whether Mark Zuckerberg’s “Twitter killer” new social media app is worth the hype.

Host Reya El-Salahi talks to British Kurdish comedian Kae Kurd about Rosie Jones and cancel culture, and why you won’t find any members of his family attending his upcoming Kurd Immunity tour.

Plus, Hyphen journalist Saman Javed explains how the cost of living crisis is affecting British Muslim weddings.

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Episode 12

This week, Hyphen editor Burhan Wazir, The Runnymede Trust CEO Dr Halima Begum and anti-racism campaigner Shaista Aziz discuss the British government’s unlawful plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda, explore what the unrest in France says about the country’s relationship with its Muslim population and share must-read books for the summer holidays. 

Host Reya El-Salahi also talks to football writer and author Nooruddean Choudry about his new book Inshallah United: A story of faith and football.

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Episode 11

This week, Hyphen assistant editor Hussein Kesvani, post-doctoral researcher on the Digital British Islam project at The University of Wales Trinity Saint David Dr Laura Jones and The People founder Kian Bakhtiari join host Reya El-Salahi to discuss the ongoing cost of living crisis, and how festivals like Glastonbury could do more to attract Muslim music lovers.

Plus, Hyphen journalist Samir Jeraj introduces his latest article examining Muslim tattooing.

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Episode 10

This week, Hyphen columnist Sunder Katwala, political commentator Bushra Shaikh and the journalist Shafi Musaddique discuss the possible end of Boris Johnson’s political career, the sixth anniversary of the Grenfell tragedy, and London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s plan to encourage cycling in the city.

Host Reya El-Salahi talks to filmmaker Asim Abbasi about his new British Muslim sitcom ‘Count Abdulla’.

Plus, Hyphen journalist Dion Fanning introduces his latest article telling the story of The Muslim Sisters of Eire.

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Episode 9

This week, Hyphen journalist and foreign correspondent Shamim Chowdhury, academic Dr Aurelien Mondon and Sisters in Business founder Jennifer Ogunyemi discuss a perceived double standard in British politics towards Islamophobia, the coverage of an horrific knife attack on children in the French Alps and new research into British Muslims charitable tendencies.

Host Reya El-Salahi talks to Nimco Ali OBE about feminism, family and how being a secular Muslim informs her activism. 

Plus, Hyphen journalist Taj Ali previews his latest article exploring the modern day lessons of Malcolm X’s visit to the Midlands in 1965.

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Episode 8

This week, Hyphen journalist Nylah Salam, the academic Mohammad Zaheer and co-founder of The Salam Project Ismael Lea South discuss the controversial social media influencer Andrew Tate, an upcoming independent review into Muslim and Hindu community relations in Britain. Plus, we take a deep dive into London’s little known Muslim history.

Plus, host Reya El-Salahi chats to author Anna Lekas Miller about her new book Love Across Borders: Passports, Papers and Romance in a Divided World.

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Episode 7

On this week’s episode, Hyphen Europe commissioning editor Phoebe Greenwood, freelance journalist Alex Tiffin and writer and commentator Rabina Khan discuss elections in Turkey, the UK’s latest migration numbers and whether the social media outrage over the TikTok prankster Mizzy is justified.

Plus, host Reya El-Salahi interviews comedian Ava Vidal about her conversion to Islam after falling out of love with stand-up.