EP36: Eating Big Macs in Qatar (with Omar El Akkad)

10/04/17 • 72 min

Zahir interviews Omar El Akkad, author of the critically acclaimed novel "American War," at an Egyptian shawarma stand in Portland, Oregon where they talk about sci-fi literature, what Ramadan means in a time of Islamophobia, and why McDonald's was such a huge hit in Doha. They also touch on what it is like to be a person of color in Portland and why writers of color should work against the impulse (and pressure) to write only for white readers.

This episode was made possible by our guest producer by Eric Klein

This episode was made possible by our guest producer by Eric Klein

Previous Episode

EP35: Puchica in the Midwest (w/ Victor Interiano & Sita Kuratomi Bhaumik)

Soleil and Zahir meet in the Midwest—sort of. They catch up on their adventures as Soleil prepares to depart to Mexico once again.

In this episode, we speak with Victor Interiano, creator of Dichos de un bicho, a blog centered on issues that concern Central Americans and Latinidad. Interiano is also the creator of a left-of-center charismatic cartoon cat named Puchica Puchin.

We also run a story on Sita Kuratomi Bhaumik that was previously published on Raw Material an arts and culture podcast by SFMOMA. Sita Kuratomi Bhaumik is a conceptual artist working with craft and food to tell the stories of migration that is based in Oakland, California.

Produced by Juan Ramirez. Music by AF the Naysayer and Blue Dot Sessions. additional production is by the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and Geraldine Ah-Sue with music from Podington Bear (source: free music archive)

LINKS DU JOUR

Dichos de un bicho
People's Kitchen Collective
In the light of the Mexican earthquake consider donating here

Next Episode

EP37: Minnesota Nice (w/ Amalia Nicholson, Aubry, and Kale Walch)

How much do you know about Minnesota? In this episode, Soleil digs into the state, going both on and off the beaten path.

She talks with Amalia Nicholson, lifelong Minnesotan, and host of the Borrowed Interest podcast, about punk rock brunch and Garrison Keillor; dives into the Minnesota State Fair in search of pickle-flavored beer; and interviews Aubry and Kale Walch, the sibling owners of The Herbivorous Butcher, the world’s first vegan butcher shop—which happens to be in Minneapolis.

Produced by Soleil Ho with lots of help from Juan Ramirez and Chris Farstad. Additional music by Johnny Cash and Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra

LINKS DU JOUR

Borrowed Interest podcast, on being black women in the advertising business

The Herbivorous Butcher

Twin Cities Businesses Ask Why Professionals of Color Leave (via the Star Tribune)