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“ What A Relief Podcast ” 84: Award Winning Artists Khalil Ismail and Umm Zakiyyah Perform and Discuss Their Creative Journey

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“What A Relief Podcast” 84: Award Winning Artists Khalil Ismail and Umm Zakiyyah Perform and Discuss Their Creative JourneyB.C. Dodge is joined by award winning artists Khalil Ismail and Umm Zakiyyah for this episode of “What a Relief!” — IRUSA’s official podcast.

This week’s podcast our host B.C.plays the Trumpet and does Bob Dylan covers a cappella!
Well, he doesn’t do any of that, at least not in the presence of IRUSA staff – however we would probably pay good money for him to do it!

However! We do have a lineup of awesome entertainment and insight for you!

World renowned musician and budding media aficionado Khalil Ismail decided to stop by along with Best-selling Author Umm Zakiyyah to be our featured guests. It was anything but the usual What A Relief podcast. Ismail brought in his band and played song after song about gratefulness, hope, and believing in a better tomorrow.

Umm Zakiyyah, who has been regarded as the “Pioneer of Muslim Fiction” discussed her path to becoming a giant of the Islamic literary world. “When I was writing there wasn’t a genre for what I was trying to do… Initially I was writing books about Muslim issues. I was trying to find a publisher but then I couldn’t. So I just decided to start doing everything on my own” Zakiyyah remarked.

Both Khalil Ismail and Umm Zakiyyah are responsible for the co-production of debut movie, “His Other Wife” available at www.enspirednation.com.

**Reach out to us at our email address: warp@irusa.org!**
“What a Relief!” is the official podcast of Islamic Relief USA. by social media specialist B.C. Dodge, IRUSA’s “What a Relief!” puts a human face on what’s going on in the world and how you can enact positive change in it. New episodes every week!

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“What A Relief Podcast” 83: A Life Well Spent – 25 Years of Service and Hope

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“What A Relief” Podcast 83: A Life Well Spent: 25 Years of Service and HopeB.C. Dodge is joined by Anwar Khan, IRUSA President, for this episode of “What a Relief!” — IRUSA’s official podcast.

This podcast episode kicks off a very special year for Islamic Relief USA—its 25th anniversary! This feature begins to unearth what turns out to be an epically inspiring history. The guest of honor just happens to have been there since day one.

Anwar Khan, current President of IRUSA, looks back on his 25 years of service to the organization. Just this past year, he had the opportunity to perform Hajj, and it was the perfect catalyst to his reflection.

“It’s amazing. I was on pilgrimage, and when you go on pilgrimage, on Hajj, you’re meant to come back like a newborn baby. It’s a time to think,” he says.

And the main question he has pondered has been: Was my life spent well?

He takes us back in time to a younger Anwar, fresh out of university, who (like so many new graduates) had a dream of changing the world. When asked what he would tell his younger self today, he responded, “Calm down. But not too much.” He added, “I wouldn’t change that much. Because even the failures were character building.”

Tune in to take an emotional trip with Anwar down memory lane. Hear about his trip to Sarajevo when it was under siege, and what sparked the beginning of IRUSA.

“I spent the last 25 years of my life going to war zones and trying to help orphans. No matter what I’ve done, I have benefitted from being around some amazing people. In the darkest days of humanity, you also see some amazing light,” he reflects.

Find out what we can learn from a legacy of service and sacrifice, years of heartache, and hope that has guided the way.

“Your tears are nutrition for your soul. Get those tears to go down your cheeks and get to your soul and let the flower of love and faith inspire you.”

**Reach out to us at our email address: warp@irusa.org!**
“What a Relief!” is the official podcast of Islamic Relief USA. by social media specialist B.C. Dodge, IRUSA’s “What a Relief!” puts a human face on what’s going on in the world and how you can enact positive change in it. New episodes every week!

LISTEN. SHARE. REPEAT.

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“What A Relief Podcast” 82: Behind the Scenes in Halalywood

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“What A Relief” Podcast 82: Behind the Scenes in HalalywoodB.C. Dodge & R. Mordant Mahon talk to Omar Regan in this episode of “What a Relief!” — IRUSA’s official podcast.

This week’s episode is another flashback to the 2016 24-hour Giving Tuesday podcast. They welcome a very special guest, internationally acclaimed African-American Muslim entertainer Omar Regan. Head of Halalywood Entertainment, he joins the podcast to talk about Muslims, entertainment, and more.

Halalywood is a production company responsible for representing Muslims in mainstream film. It offers a unique avenue for Muslims to explore the arts without compromising their faith.

“There are a lot of Muslim writers, actors, directors, and producers who would love to go into this field but want to hold onto their morals, their dignity, their integrity, and they want to hold onto their modesty at the same time. But it’s very difficult to do that in Hollywood,” he says.

In this episode, he talks about the challenges that Muslim artists face and how he tries to make their dreams come true. He also shares his experience directing the feature film American Sharia. The first ever feature film of its kind, it uses comedy to address serious social issues.

Tune in to get a glimpse inside the brilliant mind behind Halalywood, American Sharia, and more. Find out what motivates him, and how he tries to use art to connect us all.

“We put these walls up. We don’t allow ourselves to say hi and be friendly. We don’t connect. I want to build that. Hopefully that will encourage others to get to know each other, and that’s what the Qur’an teaches us: you’re different just to get to know each other. And we want to get back to that.”

**Reach out to us at our email address: warp@irusa.org!**
“What a Relief!” is the official podcast of Islamic Relief USA. Co-hosted by social media specialist B.C. Dodge & Mordant Mahon, IRUSA’s “What a Relief!” puts a human face on what’s going on in the world and how you can enact positive change in it. New episodes every week!

LISTEN. SHARE. REPEAT.

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“What A Relief Podcast” 81: Shared Humanity – Stories from the Field

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“What A Relief” Podcast 81: Shared Humanity - Stories from the FieldB.C. Dodge & R. Mordant Mahon are joined by Reem in this episode of “What a Relief!” — IRUSA’s official podcast.

This week’s episode is a throwback to that one time last year when B.C. & Mordant stayed up for 24 hours interviewing folks for Giving Tuesday. They welcome Reem, Marketing Manager at IRUSA.

She joins the podcast to talk about various exciting aspects of her role, including a look at the successful Promise for Palestine tour with Mohammed Assaf and Linda Sarsour.

She also gives an inside look at her job, the travels to the field she has been a part of, and some of the programs that inspire her. She shares information about a psychosocial program in Lebanon that helps children deal with the war trauma they have faced.

“One thing I’ve seen no matter what country I’ve been in, what city I’ve been in, regardless of race, ethnicity, creed, whatever it may be, children are children.” she says. “They just want to have fun. It’s great to see opportunities like that given to them.”

Tune in to this episode to hear more about her experiences in the field, and be reminded of our shared humanity.

“You’re not just a listener, you’re a participant, you’re an advocate, you’re somebody who is active. Whether it’s prayer, volunteering, donating, or spreading the word, whatever you can do to help someone in need, please do.”

**Reach out to us at our email address: warp@irusa.org!**
“What a Relief!” is the official podcast of Islamic Relief USA. Co-hosted by social media specialist B.C. Dodge & Mordant Mahon, IRUSA’s “What a Relief!” puts a human face on what’s going on in the world and how you can enact positive change in it. New episodes every week!

LISTEN. SHARE. REPEAT.

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“What A Relief Podcast” 80: Changing the Discourse in the Muslim Community

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“What A Relief” Podcast 80: Changing the Discourse in the Muslim CommunityB.C. Dodge & R. Mordant Mahon talk to Dalia Mogahed in this episode of “What a Relief!” — IRUSA’s official podcast.

B.C. & Mordant welcome back a favorite guest, Dalia Mogahed, to the podcast this week. Dalia directs research at the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU), the only think tank in the United States focused entirely on the Muslim community.

She joins the podcast this week to talk about her exciting work there. In this episode, she delves into the developmental challenges of the community and the social forces and public policy issues that impact the community.

At ISPU, they look at things like legislation that impacts the community. Perhaps one of the most beneficial contributions they offer is a forum for healthy debate—something that has been sorely lacking in the Muslim community. She says they aim to “give space for respectful debate.”

“The skill of critical thinking and looking at both sides of the issue has been rare in recent discourse,” she says.

Tune in to learn about important projects she is working on, such as Muslims for American Progress, and an upcoming empirical study of hate crimes and terrorism, including a look at the use and misuse of such terms.

Despite so many examples of enormous contributions, what are the things that hold us back as a community?

“We’ve spent 15 years telling people what we are against,” she says, “and we haven’t had the time or the air space to show them what we’re for and what we contribute.”

 

**Reach out to us at our email address: warp@irusa.org!**
“What a Relief!” is the official podcast of Islamic Relief USA. Co-hosted by social media specialist B.C. Dodge & Mordant Mahon, IRUSA’s “What a Relief!” puts a human face on what’s going on in the world and how you can enact positive change in it. New episodes every week!

LISTEN. SHARE. REPEAT.

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“What A Relief Podcast” 79: Information for Humanitarian Impact

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“What A Relief Podcast” 79: Information for Humanitarian ImpactB.C. Dodge & R. Mordant Mahon talk to Sepna Singh from Market Xcel in this episode of “What a Relief!” — IRUSA’s official podcast.

How do NGOs like Islamic Relief know that the work they’re carrying out day-after-day, year-after-year is impactful? Who helps them decipher the mountains of feedback, be it negative or positive, that comes down the pipeline everyday from every direction? Our stellar hosts B.C. Dodge and Mordant find out how we know what we know and how the company Market Xcel keeps NGOs in the know.

Sepna has been on staff at Market Xcel for 10 years and she hardly thought that the position would hold her passion this long. She reminds our hosts that given the right mixture of mission and dedicated personnel a company that dabbles mostly is cold data can play its part to heal the world. “My focus here is helping the organizations we work with go through with their interventions the right way and not make decisions at times based solely on profit” Sepna remarked.

Market Xcel works in several sectors that intersect with IRUSA’s history of projects, Education, Health, and Women’s issues. Their aim is to continue to provide data-based context. NGOs, are complimented greatly by the evidence that their interventions are appropriate for their targets.

 

**Reach out to us at our email address: warp@irusa.org!**
“What a Relief!” is the official podcast of Islamic Relief USA. Co-hosted by social media specialist B.C. Dodge & Mordant Mahon, IRUSA’s “What a Relief!” puts a human face on what’s going on in the world and how you can enact positive change in it. New episodes every week!

LISTEN. SHARE. REPEAT.