Echo Of The Unheard: The Podcast

Senada Sokollu
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Politics
  • Updated Monthly

Journalist Senada Sokollu interviews experts and minority voices from war and crisis areas to dive into the complex challenges facing minorities worldwide.

Episodes

  1. Apr 2

    Choosing Peace After Loss: Palestinian Activist & Author Aziz Abu Sarah

    In this episode, host Senada Sokollu speaks with Palestinian peace activist and author Aziz Abu Sarah. Raised in East Jerusalem as the youngest of seven children in a religious Muslim family, Aziz’s life was shaped early on by the realities of conflict. At just ten years old, he lost his brother after he was tortured in Israeli detention—an experience that left him with deep anger, grief, and a desire for revenge. But instead of staying in that place, Aziz chose a different path. In this conversation, he speaks openly about what that shift required: the long journey from anger to agency, why forgiveness is not about the other side but about reclaiming control, and how trauma—both personal and generational—lives in the body. Aziz is also the co-author of The Future Is Peace: A Shared Journey Across the Holy Land, written together with Israeli peace activist Maoz Inon, who lost both of his parents on October 7. The two have since become close collaborators in peacebuilding, meeting global leaders—including Pope Francis, who was the first to call them “brothers”—and carrying a shared message to audiences around the world. This episode is not about easy answers or idealistic hope. It’s about what peace actually costs. What it asks of you—emotionally, politically, and personally. And what it means to choose it anyway.

    51 min

  2. 12/12/2025

    Surviving ISIS: From Stolen Childhood to Unbreakable Spirit - Jihan Alomar

    In this episode, host Senada Sokollu sits down with Jihan Alomar, a 21-year-old Yazidi activist and survivor of ISIS captivity. Jihan shares her harrowing experiences of being kidnapped and held by ISIS for 10 months along with her family, their miraculous escape to Germany, and how she has transformed her suffering into powerful activism. Now a prominent voice in the fight for Yazidi justice, Jihan revisits memories of her childhood and the impact the captivity has had on her and her family. This deeply moving conversation, conducted in German will be published with English subtitles on YouTube. It sheds light on the Yazidi culture, the generational trauma endured, and the ongoing struggle for recognition and support. Tune in for an inspiring story of resilience, courage, and advocacy.

    54 min

  3. 11/25/2025

    The First Survivor: Serkan Yildirim against the far-right terror (NSU)

    In this episode, host Senada Sokollu sits down with Serkan Yildirim — the first victim to survive the far-right terrorist group NSU. At just 18 years old, a bomb disguised as a flashlight exploded in his hands inside a Nuremberg bar. For years, he wasn’t recognized as a victim of terror — but treated with suspicion, left to fight for truth and dignity on his own. Today, Serkan speaks under his real name to reclaim his identity — and to make sure his story, and the stories of others targeted by racist violence in Germany, are finally heard. In the second half of the episode, Senada is joined by Serkan’s lawyer, Engin Sanli, to discuss the ongoing legal struggle for justice — and the many unanswered questions that remain in the NSU complex. This conversation is more urgent than ever: Beate Zschäpe — convicted for her key role in the NSU murders — could already be eligible for early release in 2026 after entering a deradicalization program. The interview is conducted in German, and available on YouTube with English subtitles. Listen now — because the story isn’t over. And remembering is a form of justice.

    1h 10m

  4. 10/23/2025

    Maoz Inon lost his parents to Hamas. He chose peace.

    In this moving episode, Senada speaks with Maoz Inon — Israeli peace activist and entrepreneur whose parents were killed by Hamas in the October 7 terror attacks. Instead of choosing hatred, Maoz answered with something far more radical: a commitment to peace. Since then, he has met with Pope Francis, spoken on TED, and traveled across the world to share a bold vision: that peace is not naive — it’s necessary. Maoz opens up about his childhood, the moment his world shattered, and why he believes forgiveness is not weakness but strength and strategy. He gives a powerful glimpse into his upcoming book, The Future Is Peace, co-authored with Palestinian peacebuilder Aziz Abu Sarah — a shared journey based on grief, courage, and a vision about what imagination can create. An episode about loss — and the possibility of transformation. Tune in to witness what it means to fight for peace when war is all around you.

    50 min

  5. 08/05/2025

    Being Queer and Muslim in Russia: Kamil Safin’s Fight for Identity

    In this emotionally charged episode of Echo of the Unheard,host Senada Sokollu speaks with Kamil Safin, a queer and Muslim individual who courageously left Russia to live in Germany. Kamil shares his survival tactics growing up in a hostile environment, the struggles with internalizedhomophobia, and the cultural complexities of balancing multiple identities. Active with Munich Kyiv Queer, Kamil discusses his work helping LGBTQ+ refugees and reflects on his ongoing journey toward self-acceptance and advocacy. Thispoignant conversation sheds light on issues of safety, trust, and the resilience needed to navigate life as a queer person in a repressive society.

    1h 7m

  6. 07/25/2025

    From Aleppo to the Oscars — Waad Al-Kateab’s Unforgettable Journey

    In this powerful episode, host Senada Sokollu sits down with award-winning filmmaker and activist Waad Al-Kateab for an intimate conversation about war, home, identity—and the dreams that refuse to die. Waad opens up about her emotional return to Syria after eight years living in the UK, the legacy of her Oscar-nominated documentary For Sama, and the message behind the Arabic words embroidered on her Oscars dress: “We Dare to Dream. And We Won’t Regret Dignity.” She also shares the story behind her latest film We Dare to Dream—a moving portrait of the Olympic refugee team—executive produced by Angelina Jolie and John Legend. This episode is about more than filmmaking. It’s about survival, defiance, and the fight for a future where refugees and displaced people are seen, heard, and empowered.

    48 min

  7. 07/08/2025

    30 Years After Srebrenica: Picking Mushrooms, Planting Hope

    In this episode, I sit down with Irvin Mujčić—a survivor of the 1995 Srebrenica genocide—who has transformed unimaginable trauma into a mission of healing, reconciliation, and renewal. Forced to flee Bosnia as a child, Irvin returned decades later to the very land that once symbolized loss and built something extraordinary: an eco-village and peace project called Srebrenica: City of Hope. You’ll hear Irvin’s powerful story of survival, the painful memory of losing his father, and his courageous effort to breathe life back into a community scarred by history. His journey is a living testament to resilience, reminding us that even in the shadow of atrocity, it’s possible to plant the seeds of hope and rebuild—one step, one story, one act at a time.

    51 min

  8. 06/28/2025

    Reid Maki: Child Labor in the US - An Urgent Crisis

    Today on the podcast, I am joined by Reid Maki, the Child Labor Advocacy at the Child Labor Coalition in Washington, DC. As child and teen labor violations in the US reach alarming levels, Reid draws on his decades of experience fighting against child labor. He offers valuable insights into recent legal changes, the current state of child labor in the US, and the ongoing efforts to address this crisis under the new administration.

    36 min

  9. 05/14/2025

    Bosnia's Fragile Peace: A Conversation with Jasmin Mujanović

    In this episode, I am delving into the complex and fragile state of Bosnia and Herzegovina almost 30 years after the Bosnian War. I am joined by Jasmin Mujanović, an American-Canadian political scientist and author who brings both personal experience and deep expertise on the Balkans. Jasmin fled the Bosnian war in 1992 and eventually made it to the US. He wrote two books and together we explore the ongoing political tensions in Bosnia and Herzegowina, the rising nationalist rhetoric, and the role of international actors. Jasmin shares his thoughts on the potential for conflict, grassroots movements, and the future of Bosnia. We also discuss the role of the diaspora and what meaningful change could look like in the region.

    49 min

  10. 04/15/2025

    After Assad: What’s Next for Christians in Syria?

    Today on the podcast, I’m joined by Father Firas Lutfi, a Franciscan priest based in Damascus. We delve into the changing landscape of post-Assad Syria, a nation scarred by 14 years of war and now under the rule of a new and controversial leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa. What does this mean for Syria’s shrinking Christian population? Father Lutfi offers powerful reflections on faith, fear, and the uncertain future facing Christians in this new era.

    28 min
  • 10 Episodes

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About

Journalist Senada Sokollu interviews experts and minority voices from war and crisis areas to dive into the complex challenges facing minorities worldwide.

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