The Art of Preservation with Filmmaker Mariam Ghani

In one of Netflix’s most highly watched documentaries of all time, The Social Dilemma, Director Jeff Orlowski exposed the disturbing extent to which all of us are being manipulated and controlled through the use of social media.

The film was a huge wake-up call for everyone in realizing the insidious implications of social media on our democracy, our culture, and our mental health.

In this episode of Stories of Transformation, we discuss why Jeff wanted to make this film, how exactly social media is a threat to our democracy, how the film has begun to influence policymakers, and what we can do as individuals to protect ourselves and future generations. Jeff also shares how he got into filmmaking, and the struggles of independent filmmaking in the context of his Sundance Award-Winning films, Chasing Ice and Chasing Coral.

Filmmaker Jeff Orlowski served as director, producer, and cinematographer of the Sundance Award-Winning films, Chasing Ice and Chasing Coral. He is a two-time Emmy-Award winning filmmaker, and founder of the award-winning production company Exposure Labs. His latest film, The Social Dilemma, premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival and is now one of the most-watched documentaries streaming on Netflix.

Connect with Jeff Orlowski

Website | Email: info@exposurelabs.com

Resources Mentioned

The Social Dilemma Film

Chasing Coral Film

Chasing Ice Film

Algorithms of Oppression by Safiya Noble

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Production Credits

This podcast is produced and hosted by Baktash Ahadi

Audio Engineering by: Joseph Gangemi

Digital Marketing & Media by: Katherine An and Dana Drahos

Theme Music by: Qais Essar

Artwork by: Masheed Ahadi

Additional Music Credits

"Oceans of Magic" by Jon Gegelman

https://velvetgreenmusic.com/artist/jon-gegelman/ 

"Fortress" by Jonny Hughes

https://jdhmusic.bandcamp.com/

"Spiral" by Alon Peretz

https://alonperetz.com/

Suleika Jaouad’s career aspirations as a war correspondent were cut short when, at age 22, she was diagnosed with leukemia.

Faced with slim survival odds, she knew she wanted to find a way to still participate in the world and give back more than she had taken. It started with a daily journal and eventually became “Life, Interrupted,” the Emmy award-winning New York Times column and video series she wrote from her hospital bed.

In this episode of Stories of Transformation, Suleika recounts the darkest and lightest moments of her four-year battle with leukemia. She shares what important life lessons she learned throughout her journey from diagnosis to remission and beyond on her cross country road trip of healing and self discovery.

Suleika Jaouad is an Emmy-award winning journalist, and author of her memoir Between Two Kingdoms. Her Ted Talk, "What Almost Dying Taught Me About Living", has over 4 million views.

For full show notes: https://www.baktashahadi.com/podcast

Connect with Suleika Jaouad

Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

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Credits

Produced and hosted by: Baktash Ahadi

Audio Engineering by: Joseph Gangemi

Digital Marketing & Media by: Katherine An

Theme Music by: Qais Essar

Artwork by: Masheed Ahadi

Additional Music Credits

Music Credits
"Corals Under The Sun (instrumental version)" by Sivan Talmor

Sivan Talmor . Israeli Singer songwriter

"Wonder" by Tristan Barton

Tristan Barton Music | Australia based composer

"Continuance" by Yehezkel Raz
https://yehezkelraz.com/

"Reflections" by Pete James Johnson
Highway Meditation, by Pete James Johnson

Vijay Gupta believes that the work of the artist and citizen is one: to make a daily practice of the connected, creative, and courageous world we long to live in. Hailed by The New Yorker as “a visionary violinist...one of the most radical thinkers in the unradical world of American classical music” Vijay is an esteemed musician, speaker and thought leader, serving to create spaces of belonging, healing and wholeness through music. He is the Founder of Street Symphony, a non-profit organization that performs free, powerful music events and workshops to Los Angeles communities disenfranchised by homelessness, poverty, and incarceration. 

In this episode, we discuss loneliness and brokenness, and the power of music to be the catalyst for connection and healing. Vijay shares his origin story as a child prodigy attending the world-renowned Juilliard School of Music, and the weight this title put both figuratively on his shoulders, and literally on his body, as he used food to cope with difficult emotions.

Vijay reflects on his first time playing music in homeless shelters in Skid Row, what this experience taught him about humanity, pain, and vulnerability, and how he ultimately ended up founding Street Symphony.

Finally, Vijay discusses how he met and formed a relationship with Nathanial Ayers, another Juilliard musician who dropped out due to schizophrenia and became homeless at Skid Row. The story of Nathanial Ayers is portrayed in a Hollywood feature-film, The Soloist, starring Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey Jr.

For full show notes: https://www.baktashahadi.com/podcast

Connect with Vijay Gupta

Website | Instagram | Street Symphony | Youtube

Follow and Subscribe to Stories of Transformation Podcast

Instagram | Facebook | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher

Credits

Produced and hosted by: Baktash Ahadi

Audio Engineering by: Joseph Gangemi

Digital Marketing & Media by: Katherine An

Theme Music by: Qais Essar

Artwork by: Masheed Ahadi

Additional Music Credits

"Stories from the Sky" by Sid Acharya
"Willow Wood" by Alon Peretz
"When the Violin" by Vijay Gupta

“Mystical Dust” by Mystical Flute

Baktash and Najwa Zebian discuss what it means to build a home within yourself, rather than building your home in other people. As someone who spent most of her life aching to be loved and validated by others, Najwa is now able to teach people through her book Welcome Home how to build a strong foundation of self love, self acceptance and self awareness.

Also discussed is how Najwa's Lebanese-Canadian upbringing shaped how she makes meaning in the world, her decision to no longer wear a hijab and depart from the identity of "the good girl" for the sake of others, the origin story of her book Welcome Home, and her thoughts on the craft of poetry. She even reads a poem from the book for us!

Najwa Zebian is a Lebanese-Canadian activist, author, speaker, and educator. Her search for a home was central to her early years as she struggled to find her place in the world.  She recently launched a digital school, Soul Academy, and a podcast, Stories of the Soul. Her fourth book, Welcome Home: A Guide for Building a Home for Your Soul will be released in June 2021. Her work has been featured in the New York Times, Glamour, Elle Canada, HuffPost, and more. Her TEDx talk “Finding Home Through Poetry” has been viewed over more than 100,000 times.

For full show notes
https://www.baktashahadi.com/podcast

Connect with Najwa Zebian
Website: https://najwazebian.com/
Book: https://www.welcomehomebook.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/najwazebian

Follow/Support Stories of Transformation and Baktash Ahadi

Donate to the production of this podcast https://www.baktashahadi.com/support

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Stories of Transformation

Credits
Produced and hosted by: Baktash Ahadi
https://www.baktashahadi.com

Audio engineering by: Joseph Gangemi
https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-gangemi-audio/

Digital Marketing & Media by: Katherine An
https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherine-a-91081b56/

Theme music by: Qais Essar
www.therabab.com

Artwork by: Masheed Ahadi
https://www.LinkedIn.com/in/masheed

Episode Music Credits
"Be Still" by Doug Kaufman
"Horizon" by Cloud Cover
"Pilgrim" by Some Were At Sea

It was another late, sleepless night in his dorm room, and Mark Metry's phone buzzed. It was the campus police, warning students through text message of yet another violent altercation that had occurred blocks away. In what he describes as a trance-like state - one precipitated by a lifelong battle with untreated mental illness - Mark deliberately walked headlong into the dangerous area that the authorities had just told him to avoid. As he tells it, Mark was hoping that something would happen to him as he walked alone that night. At that rock-bottom moment, he would take any relief he could find from the turmoil that was costing him his health, his happiness, and his life.

It was in the midst of this dark period that Mark finally stopped and looked himself in the mirror - quite literally - and asked himself one simple question: "who are you?". That critical moment would turn out to serve as a catalyst for Mark Metry's story of transformation. From that point on - through reflection and great effort - the downward spiral that Mark had felt his life to be had been replaced by exponential increases in energy. He began feeding his mind through books; he integrated a healthier diet, and introduced exercise and mindfulness habits into his life. By the time he returned to college the following year, his roommates didn't even recognize him when he opened the door.

Before long, Mark Metry's journey would lead him into roles of public speaking, leadership, and coaching. Today, he uses tools such as writing and podcasting - in conjunction with his life's lessons and insights - as a vehicle to help others going through similar challenges that he did. Even at his young age - still in his 20's - Mark has become a role model for million going through any number of challenges - from social anxiety to racism. His courage is an inspirational to all, and today Mark is living the life of his dreams as he continues to better himself, help others to do the same, and make a world a better place.

In this episode of Stories of Transformation, Mark Metry shares the story of how he went from his lowest point of physical and mental health to becoming a role model for those going through similar challenges. Born in 1997, Mark offers a unique perspective into what it was like growing up as a first-generation Egyptian-American going through grade school in the aftermath of 9/11. He shares pivotal moments from his life - the good and the bad - and how all of it has been crucial in transforming him into the man he is today.

For full show notes
https://www.baktashahadi.com/podcast

Connect with Mark Metry
Website: https://www.markmetry.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markmetry/
Twitter: markymetry
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-metry/

Resources
Purchase Mark Metry' s book, Screw Being Shy: Learn How to Manage Social Anxiety and Be Yourself in Front of Anyone
https://amzn.to/2QCm1cz

Listen to Mark Metry's podcast: "Social Anxiety Society"
Social Anxiety Society

Follow/Support Stories of Transformation and Baktash Ahadi

Donate to the production of this podcast https://www.baktashahadi.com/support

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Stories of Transformation

Credits
Hosted by: Baktash Ahadi
https://www.baktashahadi.com

Produced by: Joseph Gangemi
https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-gangemi-audio/

Digital Marketing & Media by: Katherine An
https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherine-a-91081b56/

Theme music by: Qais Essar
www.therabab.com

Artwork by: Masheed Ahadi
https://www.LinkedIn.com/in/masheed

Episode Music Credits
"Reflections" by Pete James Johnson
"Flight of the Inner Bird" by Sivan Talmor
"The River of Hope" by Emmanuel Jacob

Jason De León is an anthropologist, author, and activist with a meaningful mission. His work focuses on the global community of migrants who flee their homelands in search of a better life. His latest book, "Land of Open Graves: Life and Death On The Migrant Trail" focuses on the growing rate of migrants fleeing Mexico through the Sonoran Desert - a territory shared by the United States territories of Arizona and California. Particularly, the book tackles the troubling statute called "prevention through deterrence," which is the United States policy that aims to deter migrants not through walls or border patrol, but through the perceived impasse of the brutal, 70-mile stretch of the desert that stands in the way.

In addition to his literary endeavors, Jason De León is a MacArthur Genius Award Winner who has written academic articles on the topic of undocumented migration. He is an accomplished human rights activist, serving as President for the Colibrí Center for Human Rights. He is also executive director at the "Undocumented Migration Project" - a non-profit, anthropologically-minded organization which hopes to shed light on the phenomenon of clandestine migration of Latin Americans into the United States. Though the current situation is bleak, and the future is not bright in regards to social or circumstantial change, Jason and his colleagues hope that their work can not only magnify the lives and stories of these human beings caught in a difficult situation, but to shed the labels and inspire empathy for them far and wide.

In this episode of Stories of Transformation, we discuss Jason De León's latest book, "Land of Open Graves" - the "culmination of six years of research" by De León to uncover the reality on the ground at the United States-Mexico border. Jason shares some of the countless artifacts that he found in his research mission through the Sonoran Desert. We also discuss the current situation unfolding on the border of Mexico and the United States - the sobering reality of the human trafficking "industry". Finally, Jason shares his outlook on the future of the issue of clandestine migration, and what we can do to help make the world a better, more welcoming place for all.

For full show notes

podcast — Baktash Ahadi

Connect with Jason De León
Website: https://www.jasonpatrickdeleon.com/
Facebook: Jason De León
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason.de.leon/?hl=en
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason_p_deleon/

Resources
Purchase Jason De León's book, "Land of Open Graves: Life and Death Along The Migrant Trail"

The Land of Open Graves: Living and Dying on the Migrant Trail (Volume 36) (California Series in Public Anthropology)

Follow/Support Stories of Transformation and Baktash Ahadi

Donate to the production of this podcast https://www.baktashahadi.com/support

Follow us on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/stories_of_transformation/

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Stories of Transformation

Credits
Hosted by: Baktash Ahadi
Baktash Ahadi

Produced by: Joseph Gangemi
https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-gangemi-audio/

Digital Marketing & Media by: Katherine An
https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherine-a-91081b56/

Theme music by: Qais Essar
www.therabab.com

Artwork by: Masheed Ahadi
https://www.LinkedIn.com/in/masheed

Episode Music Credits
"Finding My Memories" by Sivan Talmor
"Stay" by Yotam Agam
"Early Morning Haze" by Yehezkel Raz

Misha Glouberman is a communications expert, educator, author, and public speaker with a knack for helping people to get the most out of their conversations. He discovered his talent at a young age, as early as grade school, where he would intuitively identify misunderstandings between teacher and student. Though he couldn't have known it at the time, Misha would later take his gift and turn it into a profession, and become an educator himself. Today, Misha uses his expertise to help corporate clients improve their culture by facilitating healthy communication from top to bottom. He also teaches a course, available to the public, which is aptly titled, "How To Talk to People About Things".

In his work, Misha emphasizes the importance of remaining conscious on both sides of a conversation - speaking and listening; as well as removing oneself from their own "story", and opening their minds to the story on the other side. Even in the midst of conflict or argument, Misha says it is essential to practice compassionate, conscious conversation - striving to understand even in the face of disagreement, and working with the other party on proceeding forward by first finding common ground. In today's digital age, Misha says many fundamentals of healthy conversation still apply, and that the advent of digital communication is in fact a boon to the overall landscape of human communication.

In this episode of Stories of Transformation, we take a deep dive into the essence of conversation - how it works; as well as common issues and how to overcome them. Misha provides some practical tips on how to cultivate better conversations - methods to increase efficiency, to maximize productivity, and to strengthen relationships through earnest listening and authenticity. Misha's insights are at once incredibly profound and surprisingly simple, and best of all, many of them are directly applicable to conversations in everyday life - no matter the medium.

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For full show notes
https://www.baktashahadi.com/podcast

Connect with Misha Glouberman
Website: http://www.mishaglouberman.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mishaglouberman?s=20
Facebook: How to Talk to People About Things

Resources
Purchase Misha Glouberman's book, "The Chairs Are Where the People Go: How To Live, Work, and Play in the City"
https://amzn.to/2PUnn1Z

Learn more about Misha's course: "How To Talk to People About Things"
http://www.mishaglouberman.com/negotiation

Follow/Support Stories of Transformation and Baktash Ahadi

Donate to the production of this podcast
https://www.baktashahadi.com/support

Follow us on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/stories_of_transformation/

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Stories of Transformation

Credits
Hosted by: Baktash Ahadi
https://www.baktashahadi.com

Produced by: Joseph Gangemi
https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-gangemi-audio/

Digital Marketing & Media by: Katherine An
https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherine-a-91081b56/

Theme music by: Qais Essar
www.therabab.com

Artwork by: Masheed Ahadi
https://www.LinkedIn.com/in/masheed

Episode Music Credits
"Burst" by Borrtex
"Be Still" by Doug Kaufman
"New World" by Ian Post

Mariam Ghani is an artist, filmmaker, writer, and educator, and through this combination of work, she is on a mission to preserve the past, enlighten the present, and provide hope for the future. Born into exile to Afghan and Lebanese parents, Mariam was born and raised in New York City. After her parents tried and failed to return to either of their respective homelands when she was young, Mariam spent the majority of her life in the United States. Mariam describes her experience of being born into exile as that of an "in-between space" - a pervasive feeling of estrangement that seemed to come from all sides of her identity. A feeling which, from the outside looking in, may seem similar to that of a first-generation immigrant, but the hopeless longing that came with being inherently unable to return to one’s ethnic homeland made Mariam's experience something else entirely. She wouldn't travel to Afghanistan nor Lebanon until she was at least 24.

In the meantime, however, Mariam would be absorbing the stories of her parents - particularly those from her maternal lineage - and dreaming about the unreachable world in which these stories were set. Later, while enrolled at NYU, Mariam would discover her passion for art and filmmaking, and redirect her life towards the pursuit of artful preservation as public service. Mariam's work is unique in the way that it highlights remnants of the past that, in one way or another, no longer exist. Whether this is archival footage from the oft-misunderstood Afghanistan of the early-to-mid-20th century, or her latest work, What We Left Unfinished, which examines "...the relationship between art and politics in times of war, censorship, and repression,” Mariam’s work is exquisite in its presentation, in its purpose, and in its authenticity.

In this episode of Stories of Transformation, we discuss Mariam's unique lived experience of being raised by exiles; how she discovered her passion for filmmaking and redirected her life; and the overarching goal of her work in preservation and the arts. We also discuss the complexity of language, in ways both linguistic and interfamilial; what it's like being the daughter of the current President of Afghanistan; and how public service can mean different things to different people working in different spaces.

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For full show notes
https://www.baktashahadi.com/podcast

Connect with Mariam Ghani
Website: https://www.mariamghani.com/
Twitter: ghanimariam
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mostlywindows/

Resources
Learn more about Mariam Ghani's upcoming film, "What We Left Unfinished", slated for US theatrical release in August, 2021
https://www.whatweleft.com/

Follow/Support Stories of Transformation and Baktash Ahadi

Donate to the production of this podcast
https://www.baktashahadi.com/support

Follow us on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/stories_of_transformation/

Follow us on Facebook
Stories of Transformation

Credits
Hosted by: Baktash Ahadi
https://www.baktashahadi.com

Produced by: Joseph Gangemi
https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-gangemi-audio/

Digital Marketing & Media by: Katherine An
https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherine-a-91081b56/

Theme music by: Qais Essar
www.therabab.com

Artwork by: Masheed Ahadi
https://www.LinkedIn.com/in/masheed

Episode Music Credits
"Take My Hand" by Sid Acharya
"Willow Wood" by Alon Peretz
"The River of Hope" by Emmanual Jacob

Abdul El-Sayed has been a valedictorian, earned a PhD in public health, run for governorship, and worked as an epidemiologist during the tumultuous year of 2020. He has studied abroad, traveled far and wide, and been on the frontlines of educating the global public on how to handle a pandemic. He has spoken with former President Bill Clinton, who commended his public speaking abilities and recommended he consider a career in politics. He has been featured on countless media outlets speaking on topics social, political, and medical in nature. No doubt, the 36-year-old Abdul El-Sayed has already accomplished a lot in his life, and he has no plans of slowing down. In fact, he has his sights on one of the biggest obstacles facing America today: the much-needed reform of the healthcare system.

His latest book, entitled “Medicare For All: A Citizen’s Guide” aims to take a unique approach in exploring the idea of universal healthcare in America. The book attempts to move the conversation from the clutches of conflict-driven, dead-end political argument, and instead apply the concept of healthcare for all to real-world situations which are happening to American citizens everyday. Abdul says that one of the goals of the book is to consider what could happen if we were to reconsider the whole of American politics in the context of meaningful reform, rather than the inverse.

In this episode of Stories of Transformation, we discuss the difference between wisdom and intellect, and how the two can come together to form a deep learning that, in the right hands, has the power to transform the world. We also discuss the difference between ethnic identity and national identity; collectivist and individualist cultures, and the challenges that come with the perception of being an “other.” Finally, we discuss the different types of “normal” and the dangers that come with complacency to the preconditioned sense of “normalcy."

For full show notes
https://www.baktashahadi.com/podcast

Connect with Abdul El-Sayed
Website: http://abdulelsayed.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AbdulElSayed?s=20
Instagram: http://instagram.com/abdulelsayed
Facebook: Abdul El-Sayed

Resources
Purchase Abdul El-Sayed’s latest book, "Medicare For All: The Citizen’s Guide”
https://amzn.to/3mgAJS9

Follow/Support Stories of Transformation and Baktash Ahadi

Donate to the production of this podcast
https://www.baktashahadi.com/support

Follow us on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/stories_of_transformation/

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Stories of Transformation

Credits
Hosted by: Baktash Ahadi
https://www.baktashahadi.com

Produced by: Joseph Gangemi
https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-gangemi-audio/

Digital Marketing & Media by: Katherine An
https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherine-a-91081b56/

Theme music by: Qais Essar
www.therabab.com

Artwork by: Masheed Ahadi
https://www.LinkedIn.com/in/masheed

Episode Music Credits
"Heritage" by Ben Winwood
"Separation" by ANBR
"Città e False Stelle" by Sergio Marchesini

Can you think of a Middle Eastern protagonist who has appeared front and center on American, cable television - past or present? If you cannot, then you are not alone, and the reason is at once obvious and deeply troubling. Since the advent of film and television, and the subsequent rise of popular culture which continues to evolve into today, the facts clearly show that there have been next to no such characters - protagonists or even supporting actors whose bloodlines stem from Greater Middle East, North African, or Central/South Asian countries. Together - after over a decade of effort, trial, and tribulation - Reza Aslan and Mahyad Tousi are combining their artistic talents and unwavering will to challenge the unjust status quo and give America one of its first Middle Eastern protagonists.

Their sitcom, United States of Al - premiering on CBS on April 1, 2021 - has some of television’s biggest names behind it. Chuck Lorre - a man called the “king of sitcoms” and the mastermind behind critically acclaimed series such as 3rd Rock From The Sun and The Big Bang Theory - excitedly took on the role of executive producer. Though Lorre is at the helm of the show’s production, Aslan and Mahyad made clear from the start that they wouldn’t settle for anything less than reasonable representation not just on screen, but behind the camera and in the writers’ room. At long last, Reza Aslan and Mahyad Tousi’s efforts to equalize representation for the Greater Middle East region are coming to fruition.

Tune into this episode of Stories of Transformation to hear more about United States of Al, the groundbreaking sitcom premiering on CBS in April. Learn more about Reza Aslan and Mahyad Tousi’s previous endeavors to represent the people of their region onscreen, and how their paths converged and led to their working together. We also discuss the timeless importance of storytelling, the power of media, and how the culture shift in America towards inclusion and equality has been long precipitated by the disruptive, relentless work of people like Reza Aslan and Mahyad Tousi.

For full show notes
https://www.baktashahadi.com/podcast

Connect with Reza Aslan
Website: http://rezaaslan.com/
Facebook: Reza Aslan
Twitter: rezaaslan

Connect with Mahyad Tousi
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MahyadT?s=20

Resources
Watch the trailer for United States of Al:
United States Of Al | Season 1 Official Trailer | CBS

BoomGen Studios
http://www.boomgenstudios.com/

Follow/Support Stories of Transformation and Baktash Ahadi

Donate to the production of this podcast https://www.baktashahadi.com/support

Follow us on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/stories_of_transformation/

Follow us on Facebook
Stories of Transformation

Credits
Hosted by: Baktash Ahadi
https://www.baktashahadi.com

Produced by: Joseph Gangemi
https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-gangemi-audio/

Digital Marketing & Media by: Katherine An
https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherine-a-91081b56/

Theme music by: Qais Essar
www.therabab.com

Artwork by: Masheed Ahadi
https://www.LinkedIn.com/in/masheed

Episode Music Credits
"Metamorphosis" by The Bows
"New World" by Ian Post
"Landing On The Ground" by Sivan Talmor