Our Stories Matter

Our Stories Matter Podcast
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Personal Journals
  • Updated weekly

Brought to you by Trauma Informed Learning Alliance, Our Stories Matter is a podcast celebrating the complex lived experiences of activists and healers by sharing their inspiring stories. Our Stories Matter centers on healing through activism, art, poetry, film, music, breath, movement, and more. Each guest brings a unique story, but one with the global theme of community healing and liberation through storytelling. As journalist Lauren Gilger profoundly states, “the power of the story will save us all.” Follow @TraumaInformedLA on Instagram for updates! 

  1. 5 days ago

    Beyond the Binary: Standing Together A Muslim–Jewish Alliance Against Hate

    🚨 What happens when college campuses stop being places for open dialogue, civil discourse, and student safety? In this episode of Campus Voices: Civil Engagement in an Era of Division from Our Stories Matter, Dr. Ayal Feinberg, Director of the Center for Holocaust Studies and Human Rights at Gratz College and Associate Professor of Political Science & Antisemitism Studies, and Anila Ali, Pakistani Muslim American peace leader and Holocaust education advocate, discuss rising antisemitism, campus radicalization, free speech, student safety, and the growing challenges facing higher education. This conversation explores: • Antisemitism on college campuses • Campus radicalization and political polarization • Holocaust education and human rights • Student safety and freedom of expression • Civil discourse in higher education • Muslim-Jewish dialogue and bridge-building • Hate speech, extremism, and institutional response • The role of universities in protecting open dialogue Dr. Feinberg examines research and data connecting global conflict to rising local hate incidents while addressing how universities are responding to antisemitism and discrimination on campus. Anila Ali shares her perspective as a Pakistani Muslim American advocate for peacebuilding and Holocaust education, emphasizing the importance of real human connection, empathy, and face-to-face dialogue in divided communities. ✨ This episode asks an urgent question: What responsibility do universities have when students no longer feel safe expressing who they are? If you care about higher education, antisemitism awareness, free speech, campus culture, civil engagement, human rights, or difficult conversations across differences, this episode is for you. 🎧 Watch the full episode on YouTube or listen on your favorite podcast platform. ❓If campuses can’t protect open dialogue and student safety… what are they becoming? #CampusVoices #OurStoriesMatter #AntisemitismAwareness #HigherEducation #CampusSafety #CivilDiscourse #HolocaustEducation #StudentVoices

    33 min

  2. 24 May

    Beyond the Binary: Identity Without Permission An Iranian-Jewish Story of Defying Groupthink

    Our Stories Matter

    39 min

  3. 17 May

    Beyond the Binary: Sisters Across the Divide : A Jewish–Palestinian friendship that defies the conflict

    Can people with deeply different identities and perspectives still stay connected through dialogue? In this powerful season premiere of Our Stories Matter: Campus Voices – Civil Engagement in an Era of Division, Heidi Basch-Harod and Nada Higuera share an intimate conversation about identity, grief, and the possibility of understanding across one of the most difficult global divides. Heidi, the daughter of Israel and granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, and Nada, the daughter of Palestine, reflect on how their unlikely friendship began in the aftermath of October 7th—and how it has been shaped by honesty, emotional vulnerability, and a commitment to listening without erasing difference. Rather than trying to win arguments, they focus on staying in relationship, even when the conversations are uncomfortable. In this episode, we explore:  • Civil engagement on college campuses  • Israel–Palestine dialogue across difference  • Difficult conversations and emotional regulation  • Empathy, listening, and perspective-taking  • Friendship across political and cultural divides  • The role of higher education in public discourse This conversation challenges the idea that agreement is required for connection. Instead, it highlights what becomes possible when people choose curiosity, accountability, and humanity over polarization. If you care about civil discourse, conflict resolution, education, or bridge-building, this episode offers a deeply human example of what dialogue can look like in practice. 🎧 Listen now and join the conversation.

    54 min

  4. 15/07/2025

    UNDERCOVER: The Changing Face of Terrorism in the US

    In this riveting episode, we sit down with Lara Burns, a former FBI counterterrorism expert, for a deep dive into the evolution of terrorism—from the attacks of September 11, 2001, to the emerging threats we see on today’s college campuses. With decades of experience tracking radicalization and confronting violent extremism, Lara brings a sharp, informed lens to the disturbing parallels between global terror tactics and the ideological warfare now playing out in academic institutions. Together, we trace the shifting landscape of terrorism, explore how misinformation and propaganda fuel hate movements, and discuss the impact of geopolitical trauma—like the events of October 7—on students, particularly Jewish and  Israeli, that increasingly face intimidation and silencing. Lara’s insights offer a wake-up call: the front lines of extremism are no longer just abroad—they’re here, where the next generation is being shaped. This episode challenges listeners to examine what safety, free speech, and moral responsibility mean in today’s educational spaces.

    57 min

  5. Season 6, Episode 8 Trailer

    UNDERCOVER: The Changing Face of Terrorism in the US | Trailer

    Former FBI counterterrorism expert Lara Burns reveals how the radicalization she once tracked overseas is now taking root on America’s college campuses. Full episode premieres on June 26th.

    3 min

  6. 19/06/2025

    A Mother's Fight for Freedom

    Yasmine Mohammed, author of Unveiled: How Western Liberals Empower Radical Islam, shares her harrowing story of escaping religious fundamentalism and an arranged marriage to an Al-Qaeda terrorist. In this episode, Yasmine opens up about risking everything for the safety of her daughter, the emotional toll of living in hiding, and her ongoing fight for human rights. She draws powerful parallels between the extremism she fled and the rising hatred seen on college campuses today. Through her organization, Free Hearts Free Minds, Yasmine supports ex-Muslims facing persecution and advocates for freedom of thought. This conversation explores resilience, liberation, and the urgent need to challenge radicalization in all its forms.

    1hr 1min

  7. Season 6, Episode 5 Trailer

    A Mother's Fight for Freedom | Trailer

    Yasmine Mohammed escaped religious extremism and now fights for human rights. In this preview, she reflects on the cost of freedom and why her story resonates on today’s campuses. Full episode drops Thursday, June 19th.

    3 min

  8. 12/06/2025

    Silenced for her Identity

    Shoval Tshuva, an Israeli filmmaker, shares her powerful story of resilience, creativity, and the painful reality of being silenced. In this episode, Shoval opens up about her short film Funky, which addresses sexual assault and was gaining recognition at film festivals—until she was abruptly canceled for being Israeli following October 7th. She discusses the disturbing erasure of Jewish and Israeli women’s experiences of sexual violence, despite mounting evidence and survivor testimonies. Shoval reflects on the broader implications of this silencing, particularly on college campuses, where survivors are often met with skepticism or denial. Her story sheds light on the double standards in advocacy, and the urgent need for truth, justice, and the unwavering belief in every survivor’s voice.

    45 min
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Trailers

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Brought to you by Trauma Informed Learning Alliance, Our Stories Matter is a podcast celebrating the complex lived experiences of activists and healers by sharing their inspiring stories. Our Stories Matter centers on healing through activism, art, poetry, film, music, breath, movement, and more. Each guest brings a unique story, but one with the global theme of community healing and liberation through storytelling. As journalist Lauren Gilger profoundly states, “the power of the story will save us all.” Follow @TraumaInformedLA on Instagram for updates! 

Information

  • Creator
    Our Stories Matter Podcast
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    94
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Our Stories Matter
  • Show Website
    Our Stories Matter

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