In her debut novel, The Jinn Daughter, Syrian-American author Rania Hanna weaves together a family tale based in stories of oral tradition across the Arab world. In telling stories with the Jinn, she seeks to tell a fundamentally human story. We discuss Rania's foray into the book world, how she aimed to tell stories on her own terms, and what she hopes to achieve with her novels. We also discuss the continuing tragic events in Palestine, and pinpoint where we can find hope.

Buy The Jinn Daughter from your local bookstore!

Decolonize Palestine

Support the Palestinian American Medical Association (PAMA) and families in Gaza

Six ways you can support Palestinians in Gaza

Islamic Relief USA: Support Families in Palestine

Our music is composed by Ashley Hefnawy. You can find more of her music here.

We are a proud member of the Hard NOC podcast family.

Follow us on Twitter: @TheMiddleGeeks, @MaeAbdu, @spiderswarz

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Joined by our friends Darya Bajestani, Roxana Hadadi, Ali Nasser, and Zaina Ujayli (while sadly missing Mae!), we're live at D.C.'s premier comic-con, Awesome Con! In this panel of SWANA writers, scholars, artists, and actors, we will discuss how we grew up feeling or not feeling represented, how Hollywood has constantly Orientalized our peoples, excluded us, and appropriated our cultures, where we see signs of improvement, our favorite examples of SWANA representation and SWANA creators in pop culture today, and what Hollywood needs to do to have our peoples represented more broadly and positively across pop culture.

Check out the panel on The Nerds of Color YouTube channel

Rocky's analysis of Dune 2 for Vulture

Decolonize Palestine

Support UNRWA

Support the Palestinian American Medical Association (PAMA) and families in Gaza

Six ways you can support Palestinians in Gaza

Islamic Relief USA: Support Families in Palestine

Follow Rocky on Twitter @roxana_hadadi

Follow Ali on social media @TheAliNasser

Follow Darya on social media @rorvkk

Follow Zaina on social media @zainaujayli

Follow us on social media: @TheMiddleGeeks

Subscribe to The Middle Geeks on Hard NOC Media

Our music is composed by Ashley Hefnawy. You can find more of her music here.

We are a proud member of the Hard NOC podcast family.

Please support us on Patreon!

Roxana Hadadi joins us once again to review the Dune franchise, now with Dune: Part Two in theaters. In a franchise that appropriates so much from SWANA and Muslim cultures, does the second installment improve on that regard, or does it continue to appropriate and Orientalize? But even beyond that, does Denis Villeneuve effectively convey the meaning of Frank Herbert's original text, and its warning against hero worship? Or have audiences taken the wrong message with this latest installment? We discuss all of those aspects, talk about what you can do to help Palestine, give our recommendations, and much more.

Rocky's analysis of Dune 2 for Vulture.

Come join us at our panel at Awesome Con in Washington, DC, 'The State of SWANA Representation in Pop Culture,' March 9, 2:30-3:15 at the Walter E. Convention Center!

Decolonize Palestine

Support UNRWA

Support the Palestinian American Medical Association (PAMA) and families in Gaza

Six ways you can support Palestinians in Gaza

Islamic Relief USA: Support Families in Palestine

Follow Rocky on Twitter @roxana_hadadi

Follow us on social media: @TheMiddleGeeks

Subscribe to The Middle Geeks on Hard NOC Media

Our music is composed by Ashley Hefnawy. You can find more of her music here.

We are a proud member of the Hard NOC podcast family.