More Than Meets The Eye

Sharon Lin
  • 0.0 (0)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE

A show that dives into behind-the-scenes, lesser known stories of people, places, the arts, and more. For those who hold stories that are often deemed too vulnerable, too raw, too precious, too real, or too nerdy to be shared, may this be a space for you. We are all more than meets the eye. Follow @sharonlin_human on Instagram for video highlights and more! Collaborations: mtmte.sharon@gmail.com 歡迎追蹤Instagram @sharonlin_human 合作邀約：mtmte.sharon@gmail.com - Music: Chillhop Beat "Thousand Miles" by [Music_Unlimited] via Pixabay Powered by Firstory Hosting

  1. “Hope will not die.” ft. Marwan Makhoul

    12/14/2025

    “Hope will not die.” ft. Marwan Makhoul

    My guest for this episode is the Palestinian poet, Marwan Makhoul. Marwan Makhoul was invited to the 2025 Taipei Poetry Festival, where he gave a powerful recital of his poem "New Gaza" at the opening ceremony. I had the honor to sit down and chat with Marwan on a sunny morning in Taipei, on October seventh, 2025. Marwan Makhoul is a Palestinian poet, born in 1979, of both Palestinian and Lebanese heritage. Marwan’s work is well-loved and celebrated around the world, and his poems have been translated into more than 24 languages. Besides poetry, Marwan has also published works in prose and drama.  In this episode, Marwan shares with us how he found his way to poetry and the important truths about Palestine inside his poems such as “New Gaza” – What is the historical significance behind words like “twice exiled” and “seventy five years too late”? What about the year 1948? We will learn more with Marwan. Towards the end, Marwan also shares with us his time together with the celebrated, legendary Palestinian poet, Mahmoud Darwish, who was like a father to him.  This interview is in English and Arabic, where you would hear me asking questions in English, Marwan answering in Arabic, and our two-way interpreter Yahya doing consecutive interpreting. Don’t forget to check out video highlights of this episode on Instagram @sharonlin_human Audio at the beginning (Provided by Marwan Makhoul): It’s the live recording of Marwan Makhoul reciting "New Gaza" at the open event of the 2025 Taipei Poetry Festival, with live music performed live by Mia Hsieh and Scott Prairie (Co directors of A Moving Sound).  Interpretor: Yahya Namiq Pshdari Follow Marwan’s work: Instagram: @marwan_makhoul YouTube: https://youtube.com/@marwanmakhool?si=Xg7gh-Tv3urB5DEn Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1WMTmwfz4m/?mibextid=wwXIfr X: https://x.com/marwanmakhoul?s=11 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@marwan.makhoul1?_r=1&_t=ZS-92676xiudJo Leave a comment and share your thoughts: https://open.firstory.me/user/cm2ebvejd0gjh01srcqsb2so3/comments Powered by Firstory Hosting

    31 min
  2. Playing basketball, representing Palestine is resistance ft. Sani Sakakini

    11/09/2025

    Playing basketball, representing Palestine is resistance ft. Sani Sakakini

    This interview has been a long time coming. The guest of this episode is the one and only, the Palestinian professional basketball player, Sani Sakakini. Sani and I recorded this in person in Taipei in late September, 2025.  Sani played for the Palestinian National Basketball Team from 2006-2021, and is considered the first and most important professional basketball player from Palestine. Sani’s professional career has taken him around the world, including to Jordan, China, Venezuela, Lebanon, and now Taiwan. Sani continues to make history. How did Sani find the path to basketball? What was it like being the first, having to create the opportunities you hoped to have as a young Palestinian athlete? What was the basketball scene like in the West Bank?  Sani also shares with us the reality of life for Palestinians living under Israeli occupation, with his personal experiences growing up during the Second Intifada. When Sani was just a teenager, an experience at the Container Checkpoint really stood out to him… Currently, Sani is playing for another season with the New Taipei Kings in Taiwan. Last year, the New Taipei Kings won the championship of the Taiwan Professional Basketball League. What was that moment like for Sani? What does he look forward to for this season in Taiwan? You’ll hear it from himself.  Towards the end, Sani also shares some words, especially to the people in Taiwan, and what he hopes for– for his homeland, Palestine.   [This interview was recorded in late September, 2025. Sani Sakakini was speaking in his individual capacity.] Follow Sani on Instagram: @beastsakakini Check out @sharonlin_human for video highlights of this interview Leave a comment and share your thoughts: https://open.firstory.me/user/cm2ebvejd0gjh01srcqsb2so3/comments Powered by Firstory Hosting

    1 hr
  3. On press freedom for Palestine and reality of life in the West Bank ft. Nader Ihmoud

    10/05/2025

    On press freedom for Palestine and reality of life in the West Bank ft. Nader Ihmoud

    In this episode, you’ll hear from Nader Ihmoud. Nader is a Palestinian journalist based in Chicago. He’s the founder and editor of Palestine in America and the English media liaison for Palestine’s Baseball & Softball Federation. (and also a dear friend of mine)  Nader shares with us the foundation story of Palestine in America, what life really is like in the West Bank from his family stories and personal experiences, as well as the latest updates of the Palestine National Baseball Team.  We dive into the latest Encampment Edition of Palestine in America, looking at why the US government is trying so hard to crack down on student-led movements for Palestine. Nader also shares with us what safeguarding Palestinian traditional food and culture is like in the diaspora, stemming from the Deluxe Food Edition of Palestine in America.  As all eyes are on Gaza, we shed the light on what life is like for Palestinians in the West Bank. When did Nader and his family realize the kind of system Palestinians are living under? What is it like to drive with a Palestinian license plate, going through checkpoints in the West Bank, while enduring violent Israeli settler attacks on a daily basis?    Towards the end, Nader also shares with us what keeps him hopeful.  Follow Palestine in America: https://www.palestineinamerica.com/ Instagram: @palestineinamerica Download codes for Palestine in America:  Baseball Edition 2023: PALESTINE9 Journalism Edition 2024: PRESS24 Deluxe Food Edition 2024: OLIVES24 Encampment Edition 2025: TENTS Leave a comment and share your thoughts: https://open.firstory.me/user/cm2ebvejd0gjh01srcqsb2so3/comments Powered by Firstory Hosting

    1h 39m
  4. “The DNA of the American soul is strong enough to eventually not tolerate tyranny.” ft. Joseph Bauer

    08/21/2025

    “The DNA of the American soul is strong enough to eventually not tolerate tyranny.” ft. Joseph Bauer

    In this episode, you’ll hear from award-winning author, Joseph Bauer. Joseph Bauer writes novels from Charleston, South Carolina and Cleveland, Ohio. Joseph used to be an attorney for most of his adult life, before starting his voyage as a full time writer. In today’s show, we talked about his latest novel, Sailing for Grace. What inspired Joseph to write the book? How did Joseph’s career as a lawyer inform his role as a novelist? You’ll hear about it soon. An important topic Joseph and I talked about, also a central theme in Sailing for Grace, is the controversial immigration strategy- the family separation policy under the first Trump administration, which is commonly associated with the term “zero tolerance” approach. With the U.S. currently under the 2nd Trump administration, many have seen harrowing videos of all the ICE raids happening right now in different parts of the United States. From the history of slavery, Japanese-American Internment, Native American boarding schools, to the U.S. government’s complicity in the current and on-going genocide in Gaza, how could one stay hopeful? What role could art, literature, and storytelling play? Joseph shared some of his thoughts with us through this episode.  Ok, you might be thinking, what a heavy, gloomy introduction this is, but I promise you, what you’ll hear is nothing but a heart-warming conversation between 2 people, Joseph and I, coming from different backgrounds, while sharing a similar aspiration-to inspire hope through what we do. Without further ado, let’s welcome Joseph Bauer.  (This interview was recorded in March, 2025.) Follow Joseph Bauer’s work: Website: authorjosephbauer.com Contact: publicist@authorjosephbauer.com Facebook: @JosephBauerNovelist Leave a comment and share your thoughts: https://open.firstory.me/user/cm2ebvejd0gjh01srcqsb2so3/comments Powered by Firstory Hosting

    1h 4m
  5. Getting to know the history and reality of Palestinian Christians ft. Rev. Alex Awad

    06/29/2025

    Getting to know the history and reality of Palestinian Christians ft. Rev. Alex Awad

    "If you build a country or a culture on deception, it’s like building a house on shifting sand. And sooner or later, that house is going to fall." The quote is from the guest featured in this episode, Rev. Alex Awad. Rev. Alex Awad was born in 1946 in Jerusalem, Palestine, under the British Mandate. This interview was recorded earlier in March during his visit to Taiwan.  In this episode, Rev. Awad shares with us his memory of the Nakba in 1948, and how his mother’s love and teaching led him to the path of becoming a Reverend. In our conversation, Rev. Awad talks about the severe suffering of the Palestinians, both Christians and Muslims, under the long-standing Israeli occupation, and calls out the double standard of the world. Rev. Awad also shares insights on the influence of Christian Zionism, how it keeps people from seeing the brutality of the Israeli occupation and apartheid. Is the "Israel" mentioned in the Bible the same as the current state of Israel founded in 1948?  Later on, Rev. Awad also shares with us what the Christian community is like in Palestine with stories from his many years at Bethlehem Bible College in Bethlehem. Towards the end, Rev. Awad shares a message of justice and love to the Christian community in Taiwan and around the world, on how people could relate to the true reality of Palestinians and stand in solidarity with the people of Gaza. This episode is filled with moving personal stories and insight from Rev. Alex Awad. You have to listen to the full episode. Let’s welcome, Rev. Alex Awad. There would also be video highlights of this interview on Instagram @sharonlin_human with Mandarin Chinese subtitles available.  Link to the talk Rev. Awad gave in 2010, at the conference Christ at the Checkpoint https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMwEu_CQP2U If you’d like to learn more about Rev. Awad’s story and that of his late mother, check out the book Palestinian Memories–The Story of a Palestinian Mother and her People, which is also translated to Mandarin Chinese.  Link:https://www.books.com.tw/products/E050252241?srsltid=AfmBOorqyVsm6qG26Y_mOMubrqkw6QkCavT8V81wC86W2NBQCQniElCy Leave a comment and share your thoughts: https://open.firstory.me/user/cm2ebvejd0gjh01srcqsb2so3/comments Powered by Firstory Hosting

    1h 5m
  6. The Palestine National Baseball Team is here to stay ft. Tariq Suboh and Yunis Halim

    05/09/2025

    The Palestine National Baseball Team is here to stay ft. Tariq Suboh and Yunis Halim

    Did you know that Palestine has its own national baseball team? If you didn’t, now you know. In this episode, we’re going to talk about the Palestine National Baseball Team. You’ll hear from the team’s catcher, Tariq Suboh, and pitcher and outfielder, Yunis Halim. Who founded the Palestine National Baseball Team? How did it all start? (Ps. It all started in Gaza!) What are some of the biggest challenges for the team so far, especially amid a genocidal oppression and occupation by the state of Israel? What does it feel like wearing the jersey, stepping on the field, and representing the homeland? You’ll get to hear of these behind-the-scenes and important stories of the team. And of course we talked about some of the exciting games the team has played in recent years, such as the 2023 Asian Baseball Championship which took place in Taiwan, and the first ever Baseball United Arab Classic in 2024 in Dubai. What's next for the Palestine National Baseball Team?  Towards the end, we'll also get to know a little bit more of other members on the team with a game of rapid fire questions.  Head to my Instagram @sharonlin_human for video highlights of this interview.  Follow the Palestine National Baseball Team on Instagram: @baseballpalestine For media inquiries, reach out to Nader Ihmoud on instagram @naderihmoud or @baseballpalestine Cover photo: The team at the 2023 Asian Baseball Championship in Taiwan. Photo credit: Nader Ihmoud, Palestine in America Leave a comment and share your thoughts: https://open.firstory.me/user/cm2ebvejd0gjh01srcqsb2so3/comments Powered by Firstory Hosting

    1h 15m
  7. Diving into the world of coral reefs and algae, from the Indo-Pacific to the Mediterranean ft. Dr. Aziz J Mulla

    04/04/2025

    Diving into the world of coral reefs and algae, from the Indo-Pacific to the Mediterranean ft. Dr. Aziz J Mulla

    In this episode, you’ll hear from marine biologist, Dr. Aziz J Mulla. Aziz is currently a postdoc at the Université Côte d'Azur in Nice, France. Previously, he has also worked in Taiwan for around 8 years, especially on coral reef ecology. Aziz has worked at National Taiwan University and Academia Sinica. In this episode, Aziz shares with us what led him to becoming a marine biologist, his work on coral reef ecology, and fascinating stories of scientific diving. What is it like diving into a pitch dark ocean?  We also dived into a manuscript published in by Aziz along with 5 other researchers, Denis, Lin, Fong, Shiu, and Nozawa in 2024 in the Ecological Society of America titled “Natural coral recovery despite negative population growth.” The image from the research was also selected as the cover image of the journal. Guess who took that photo? Towards the end, Aziz also shares with us his current research on algae and invasive species in the Mediterranean. Let’s dive in with Dr. Aziz J Mulla. Feel free to head to @sharonlin_human on Instagram for video highlights of this interview. (This episode was recorded in December, 2024.) - Follow Aziz’s work: Instagram: @aseas_mulla Instagram: @niceseaforests  Bluesky: azizjmulla.bsky.social  Link to the article "Natural coral recovery despite negative population growth" https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ecy.4368 Leave a comment and share your thoughts: https://open.firstory.me/user/cm2ebvejd0gjh01srcqsb2so3/comments Powered by Firstory Hosting

    1h 5m
  8. The effect of long term oppression on mental health, and the Palestinian spirit of “sumud” ft. Dr. Amel Eid

    03/13/2025

    The effect of long term oppression on mental health, and the Palestinian spirit of “sumud” ft. Dr. Amel Eid

    Imagine you live under an oppressive system of occupation, and are constantly faced with threats of displacement while hearing the sound of military drones pretty much 24/7. That’s the reality for many Palestinians. Such trauma is also passed down through generations… In this episode, you’ll hear from Dr. Amel Eid. Dr. Amel Eid is a Palestinian-Algerian psychologist/therapist and has worked with diverse communities, including illegal immigrants in Algeria and Palestinian refugees. Amel shares with us how long term oppression, forced displacement, and the ongoing gen0cide affect the mental state of Palestinians. In addition, Amel also points out how Western understanding of Psychology and its double standards fail to address the situation for Palestinians.  Recently, Dr. Amel Eid published alongside Dr. Ilan Pappé, journalist Gideon Levy, Dr. Alan Brossat, and more on the current situation in Gaza.  Link: https://www.editions-harmattan.fr/catalogue/livre/gaza/75908 Amel also touches on how sensational headlines and dehumanization of Palestinians in mainstream media affect people’s perception of Palestinians.  Towards the end, Amel shares with us the Palestinian Arabic word, sumud, and its beautiful, powerful meaning. Let’s hear from Dr. Amel Eid.  Here’s the link to the article we mentioned in the interview, which was published by Dr. Amel Eid in January 2024 titled “Identité sous oppression. Est-ce que cela s’applique aux Palestiniens de Gaza?” https://ici-et-ailleurs.org/contributions/actualite/article/identite-sous-oppression-est?fbclid=IwY2xjawGqEhFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHazIgLQefcPzSqBDpXslPzibfGS0jTKar2GD09El2h_cfpCKHSBMvxCaVw_aem_nZz79YrH6ziW5Y_fIV3tjA Leave a comment and share your thoughts: https://open.firstory.me/user/cm2ebvejd0gjh01srcqsb2so3/comments Powered by Firstory Hosting

    27 min
See All (13)

About

A show that dives into behind-the-scenes, lesser known stories of people, places, the arts, and more. For those who hold stories that are often deemed too vulnerable, too raw, too precious, too real, or too nerdy to be shared, may this be a space for you. We are all more than meets the eye. Follow @sharonlin_human on Instagram for video highlights and more! Collaborations: mtmte.sharon@gmail.com 歡迎追蹤Instagram @sharonlin_human 合作邀約：mtmte.sharon@gmail.com - Music: Chillhop Beat "Thousand Miles" by [Music_Unlimited] via Pixabay Powered by Firstory Hosting

Information

  • Creator
    Sharon Lin
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Sharon Lin
  • Show Website
    More Than Meets The Eye