This Being Human

The Walrus Podcasts

This Being Human is the Aga Khan Museum’s video podcast that explores conversations about Muslim art, cultural exchange, and the stories that connect us. Hosted by Mai Habib, the series brings together artists, thinkers, and cultural leaders to explore how creativity opens doors—sparking curiosity, encouraging collaboration, and deepening understanding across time and place. Each episode reflects on the ways art shapes our lives, connects communities, and reveals the threads we share. Produced by The Walrus Lab. The Museum wishes to thank Nadir and Shabin Mohamed for their founding support of This Being Human. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. Dreaming Your Own Museum with Ohida Khandakar

    1 DAY AGO

    Dreaming Your Own Museum with Ohida Khandakar

    Some museums you visit. Others, you dream. In this episode of This Being Human, host Mai Habib sits down with artist and filmmaker Ohida Khandakar to discuss her award-winning film Dream Your Museum. Ohida reflects on how her Uncle Selim Khandakar’s collection of over 12,000 ordinary—yet utterly extraordinary—objects, acquired over 50 years, became a living museum through imagination and storytelling.  From a mud house to the Victoria and Albert Museum, Dream Your Museum rethinks exhibition spaces, emphasizing dynamic engagement with culture and everyday life as their defining attributes.  Follow along as Ohida shares her experience navigating the arts as a Muslim Indian woman, the process of curating and documenting a museum that comes to life, and why you should dream about the impossible. She also offers up the essentials to dream your own museum: inspiration, creation, and human connection. The Museum wishes to thank Nadir and Shabin Mohamed for their founding support of This Being Human. This was just one example of Muslim art that sparked curiosity and a great conversation. There is so much more to see at the Aga Khan Museum. Support the Museum's vision to impact lives and contribute to more inclusive and peaceful societies. Go to agakhanmuseum.org to plan your visit or make a donation.Visit Ohida Khandakar’s portfolio to see her gallery and more of her artistic background.For more information on Dream Your Museum’s 2025 exhibition at the V&A, check out Jameel Prize: Moving Images.Read more about Jameel Prize winner Khandakar Ohida: ‘Personal stories open universal memories’.Check out more episodes in full video. Key Moments [0:10] Introduction to This Being Human and Ohida Khandakar’s short film Dream Your Museum [1:18] Ohida Khandakar’s background in the arts and artistic interests [1:54] Pursuing a career in visual art as a Muslim Indian woman [5:59] From mud house to the moon: Dream Your Museum’s inspiration and creation [13:00] Curating and caring for the traveling museum [15:46] Collecting curiosities: how decades of artistic ritual became a museum [19:59] Sharing the subtle joys of simple objects [22:08] Living objects: the restorative power of imagination  [23:40] Redefining museum spaces: dreaming, creating, and transforming our surroundings [26:40] Closing remarks on Dream Your Museum Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    28 min
  2. Manifesting Light: Designing the Aga Khan Museum

    28 APR

    Manifesting Light: Designing the Aga Khan Museum

    Before the Aga Khan Museum became a landmark in Toronto, it started with a letter about light. In this episode of This Being Human, host Mai Habib sits down with principal architect Gary Kamemoto, who led the Museum’s design alongside the late Fumihiko Maki. He shares how that single idea—light—shaped everything, from the building’s geometry and materials to the way you move through the space. Along the way, you get a closer look at the thinking behind the Aga Khan Museum’s architecture, and how it draws on Islamic design and ideas of pluralism to create something that feels both timeless and distinctly contemporary. Gary also gets into the details you’d likely miss on a first visit: patterns that shift with the sun, geometry hiding in plain sight, and a subtle architectural tribute woven into the building itself—details that, once you know they’re there, change how you see it. *The Museum wishes to thank Nadir and Shabin Mohamed for their founding support of This Being Human.* Links & Resources: This was just one example of Muslim art that sparked curiosity and a great conversation. There is so much more to see at the Aga Khan Museum. Support the museum's vision to impact lives and contribute to more inclusive and peaceful societies. Go to agakhanmuseum.org to plan your visit or make a donation.Read more from Gary Kamemoto on the partnership between Maki and Associates and the AKDNCheck out this episode in full video. Key Moments [0:10] Introduction to This Being Human and the Aga Khan Museum as an architectural masterpiece [1:16] Gary Kamemoto on his background and navigating identity between cultures [3:46] The origin story: from the Delegation Building to the museum project [6:58] Working with His Highness the Aga Khan as a patron of architecture [8:56] The “letter about light” as an unconventional design brief [11:37] Reimagining the 17-acre site: why the garden—not the building—became central [18:38] Pluralism as process: translating philosophy into physical space [23:20] Designing for discovery: how the museum reveals itself over time [27:42] Hidden details: symbolism, geometry, and the significance of the number seven [31:18] Closing reflections on legacy, collaboration, and the museum’s ongoing life Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    32 min
  3. Season 5 Teaser

    SEASON 5 TRAILER

    Season 5 Teaser

    New host. New format. Now on video. Welcome to the relaunch of This Being Human, the Aga Khan Museum’s podcast about Muslim art, global cultures and how we’re all connected. This season, new host Mai Habib talks with inspiring artists, writers, designers, and creators from across the Muslim world and beyond. Subscribe on YouTube so you don't miss a single video episode. The Museum wishes to thank Nadir and Shabin Mohamed for their founding support of This Being Human. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1 min
  4. Beyond Boundaries with Pakistani Artist Yousuf Bashir Qureshi

    17/12/2024

    Beyond Boundaries with Pakistani Artist Yousuf Bashir Qureshi

    In this episode, we sit down with Yousuf Bashir Qureshi, known to many as YBQ, a visionary artist whose work blends music, culture, and storytelling to craft a truly global sound. From his roots to his rise, YBQ shares his journey of artistic discovery, the influences that shaped his music, and the profound themes of identity, belonging, and transformation that echo through his work. Whether you're a fan of his genre-bending soundscapes or curious about how art can bridge cultural divides, this episode will leave you inspired and enlightened. Tune in for an intimate, reflective conversation that celebrates creativity, resilience, and the power of connection. Learn more about YBQ's work at https://www.ybqds.com. If you enjoyed this episode and want to learn more, go to agakhanmuseum.org/thisbeinghuman. The Museum wishes to thank Nadir and Shabin Mohamed for their founding support of This Being Human. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    41 min
  5. Hisham Matar on Friendship and Writing from the Margins

    03/12/2024

    Hisham Matar on Friendship and Writing from the Margins

    Pulitzer Prize-winning author Hisham Matar joins This Being Human to discuss his latest novel, My Friends. He reflects on themes of friendship, exile, and the complexities of writing from the margins. Matar shares how his work explores life's central question: How might we live? Through meditations on cities, memory, and the human condition, he offers a tender and profound view of what it means to connect with others. To fill out our listener survey, go to agakhanmuseum.org/tbhsurvey. If you enjoyed this episode and want to learn more, go to agakhanmuseum.org/thisbeinghuman. The Museum wishes to thank Nadir and Shabin Mohamed for their founding support of This Being Human.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    36 min
  6. Krista Tippett on Wisdom, Love, and the Art of Deep Listening

    19/11/2024

    Krista Tippett on Wisdom, Love, and the Art of Deep Listening

    In this episode of This Being Human, host Abdul-Rehman Malik sits down with Krista Tippett, the celebrated creator of On Being. Known for her gift of drawing out insights from some of the world's most profound thinkers, Krista reflects on her journey through wisdom, love, and radical listening. She shares what it means to pursue understanding in a time when we are overloaded with information, and how her approach to conversations invites us to open up to life's mystery and grace. Krista also shares the unexpected joy of new love in her life and how it has deepened her sense of connection and presence. Join us for an intimate, timeless conversation with one of today's most trusted voices in exploring what it means to truly be human. Learn more about Krista's work at onbeing.org. To fill out our listener survey, go to agakhanmuseum.org/tbhsurvey. If you enjoyed this episode and want to learn more, go to agakhanmuseum.org/thisbeinghuman. The Museum wishes to thank Nadir and Shabin Mohamed for their founding support of This Being Human.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    43 min
  7. Stories That Shape Us: Saima Hussain on Libraries, Identity, and Heritage

    05/11/2024

    Stories That Shape Us: Saima Hussain on Libraries, Identity, and Heritage

    In this episode, we sit down with writer, editor, and librarian Saima Hussain. From her book The Arab World Thought of It: Inventions, Innovations and Amazing Facts, to the anthology The Muslimah Who Fell to Earth, Saima's work uncovers the forgotten contributions and personal stories of Muslim cultures. She shares her journey from Pakistan to Canada, her reflections on the power of storytelling, and how libraries serve as spaces for connection, learning, and equality. Saima also discusses the importance of oral histories, the complexities of identity, and her mission to make knowledge accessible to everyone, especially through her work with young people in library spaces. To fill out our listener survey, go to agakhanmuseum.org/tbhsurvey. If you enjoyed this episode and want to learn more, go to agakhanmuseum.org/thisbeinghuman. The Museum wishes to thank Nadir and Shabin Mohamed for their founding support of This Being Human. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    34 min
  8. Finding Joy and Connection in Storytelling with Marguerite Richards

    22/10/2024

    Finding Joy and Connection in Storytelling with Marguerite Richards

    In this episode, we sit down with Marguerite Richards, editor of The Ordinary Chaos of Being Human, an anthology of personal stories from around the world. Marguerite opens up about her love for helping writers bring their visions to life, the intimate relationship between editor and author, and the power of memoir in understanding our shared humanity. We also explore themes of identity, home, and connection across cultures. Listen in for an inspiring conversation about storytelling and the human experience. Learn more about Marguerite's work at margueriterichards.com. To fill out our listener survey, go to agakhanmuseum.org/tbhsurvey. If you enjoyed this episode and want to learn more, go to agakhanmuseum.org/thisbeinghuman. The Museum wishes to thank Nadir and Shabin Mohamed for their founding support of This Being Human. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    35 min
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This Being Human is the Aga Khan Museum’s video podcast that explores conversations about Muslim art, cultural exchange, and the stories that connect us. Hosted by Mai Habib, the series brings together artists, thinkers, and cultural leaders to explore how creativity opens doors—sparking curiosity, encouraging collaboration, and deepening understanding across time and place. Each episode reflects on the ways art shapes our lives, connects communities, and reveals the threads we share. Produced by The Walrus Lab. The Museum wishes to thank Nadir and Shabin Mohamed for their founding support of This Being Human. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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