UNSUGARCOATED with Aalia UBNGO

In a raw conversation, we meet the Palestinian artist MC Gaza who has raised funds to get his family, including his mother and brother with Down Syndrome, out of Gaza to safety in Egypt. He shares his experience being inspired by legends such as Tupac to use rap as resistance against illegal occupation as well as his heartbreak over the way Israeli forces have destroyed every aspect of life in Gaza and the amount of innocent lives lost.

In the compelling 101st episode of UNSUGARCOATED with Aalia, we get the Lebanese perspective as Lebanese-American award-winning author Dana Dargos takes center stage. She discusses her journey from the Bay Area to literary acclaim with her debut, "Einstein in the Attic." The episode explores Dana's diverse interests, cultural values blending Lebanese heritage with American upbringing, and her impactful storytelling. Listeners are immersed in Lebanon's rich history, the struggles of its people, and Dana's humanitarian work. The conversation delves into Dana's commitment to activism, highlighting her efforts to raise awareness about the Palestinian cause globally. Throughout, Dana's experiences, challenges, and hopes create a heartfelt plea for humanity, urging listeners to stand against racism, genocide, and injustice. Aalia and Dana navigate the complexities of history, culture, and the call to action that defines Dana's inspiring journey as a humanitarian, activist, and impactful author.

In the 100th episode, UNSUGARCOATED with Aalia welcomes Thomas Madden, the son of a Belgian diplomat, is a filmmaker, journalist, activist and founder of A Mad Production. Having personally documented life in Congo, South Sudan, Nepal, Iraq and Gaza on behalf of UNICEF, Thomas sheds light on how different stakeholders approach global geopolitical and humanitarian crises. Especially calling attention to the atrocities, oppression, and genocide taking place right now, he urges Western media to convey the reality and break the systematic oppression towards Palestinian people.

In this limited series and the 99th podcast episode of the show, host Aalia Lanius welcomes Quinn the Eskimo, a full-time digital “slowmad” who has been traveling the world for the last 3 years is now shifting his efforts to travel to Gaza. Quinn discusses his upcoming journey to the region, his collaboration with local organizations, and his commitment to sharing stories from conflict zones to raise awareness and inspire action.

Quinn, as a white male, talks on dispelling ignorance as they explore the complexities of the Gaza conflict, emphasizing the importance of humanizing those affected and recognizing commonalities across cultural and political divides. The episode underscores the power of individual action in addressing global humanitarian crises and encouraging listeners to engage empathetically with these critical issues.

In this limited series, and the 98th podcast episode of the show, our host, Aalia is joined by Jewish-born, New York-based, Canadian Jess Salomon, to share her remarkable journey from U.N. war crimes lawyer to the spotlight of the comedy stage with her wife, a Palestinian Muslim.
In this interview, they explore Salomon’s early experiences with Jewish traditions, her foray into the world of comedy, and the unique perspective she brings to the stage. Beyond the laughter, they talk about weighty topics, including her experiences with family and her understanding of Israel as a safe haven, the complexities surrounding Zionism, and the narratives surrounding Palestinians.

As part of this limited series and 97th episode of UNSUGARCOATED with Aalia, our host welcomes to the conversation United Kingdom based Fitness Trainer and Influencer, Nazia Khatun. After discussing her background and work to empower clients through fitness, neuroscience and trauma healing they dive into their critical perspectives of what “role model” means in a world that wants to cancel those speaking up for Palestinians suffering genocide as part of what is being dubbed the second Nakba, of “Catastrophe” since October 7th, 2023.