Isa and Maznah join us to discuss the final two episodes and the entire first season of the MCU's Ms. Marvel. How well did the show do at portraying Kamala's family, culture, and religion? What do we think of the Clandestines and the overall handling of them in the show? What do we make of *that* twist at the end, and what it means for Kamala Khan going forward in the MCU? We discuss all that and more in our wide-ranging discussion of the entire show, give our recommendations, and much more!     Spoilers for all of Ms. Marvel Season 1 throughout.     Follow Isa on Twitter @EvilCleverDog, on Instagram @EvilCleverDog and her YouTube channel EvilCleverDog.     Follow Maznah on Twitter @MaznahShz, check out her Den of Geek interview with series director Shameen Obaid-Chinoy here, and her  Spotify Playlist of Pakistani Hits.     Swara's  io9 review of the finale     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     Subscribe to The Middle Geeks on Hard NOC Media   Please support us on Patreon!

Isa and Maznah join us to discuss the final two episodes and the entire first season of the MCU's Ms. Marvel. How well did the show do at portraying Kamala's family, culture, and religion? What do we think of the Clandestines and the overall handling of them in the show? What do we make of *that* twist at the end, and what it means for Kamala Khan going forward in the MCU? We discuss all that and more in our wide-ranging discussion of the entire show, give our recommendations, and much more! Spoilers for all of Ms. Marvel Season 1 throughout. Follow Isa on Twitter <a href="https://Twitter.com/EvilCleverDog" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@EvilCleverDog</a>, on Instagram <a href="http://EvilCleverDog" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@EvilCleverDog</a> and her YouTube channel <a href="http://YouTube.com/EvilCleverDog" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">EvilCleverDog</a>. Follow Maznah on Twitter <a href="http://twitter.com/MaznahShz" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@MaznahShz</a>, check out her Den of Geek interview with series director Shameen Obaid-Chinoy <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1WoGUngTWA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>, and her <a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7nJ34lsCqkOe8EZ6uj7xBF?si=QV5nZghIRnm8DCfodcNwWw&amp;nd=1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Spotify Playlist of Pakistani Hits</a>. Swara's <a href="https://gizmodo.com/disney-plus-ms-marvel-season-finale-recap-x-men-mutants-1849173449" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> io9 review of the finale</a> Our music is composed by Ashley Hefnawy. You can find more of her music <a href="https://soundcloud.com/myyuh/makhe-x-tabla-edit" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>. We are a proud member of the <a href="https://hardnocmedia.com/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Hard NOC podcast family</a>. Follow us on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/TheMiddleGeeks" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@TheMiddleGeeks</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/MaeAbdu" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@MaeAbdu</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/swarzseawalker" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@spiderswarz</a> Subscribe to The Middle Geeks on <a href="https://hardnocmedia.com/themiddlegeeks" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Hard NOC Media</a> Please <a href="https://www.patreon.com/themiddlegeeks" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">support us on Patreon</a>!

Episode 41: ‘Ms. Marvel’ Episodes 5-6 and Season Review

Ms. Marvel is ramping up in its plot, and we're joined by writer and longtime Ms. Marvel fan Maryam Ahmad to discuss episodes 3-4. How good is the series doing at portraying Pakistani, South Asian, and Muslim cultures? How good are the family scenes? What do we think of the villains and the constant twists and turns with them and Kamala's powers? Why was the wedding so amazing? What do we think the show could do better at this point with only two episodes left? We also give our recommendations and much more in this wide ranging conversation.     Spoilers for the episodes 3 and 4 of Ms. Marvel throughout.     Check out Maryam's coverage of Ms. Marvel and other topics for Nerdist here!     Swara's explanation of Djinn for Polygon     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     Subscribe to The Middle Geeks on Hard NOC Media     Please support us on Patreon!

Ms. Marvel is ramping up in its plot, and we're joined by writer and longtime Ms. Marvel fan Maryam Ahmad to discuss episodes 3-4. How good is the series doing at portraying Pakistani, South Asian, and Muslim cultures? How good are the family scenes? What do we think of the villains and the constant twists and turns with them and Kamala's powers? Why was the wedding so amazing? What do we think the show could do better at this point with only two episodes left? We also give our recommendations and much more in this wide ranging conversation. Spoilers for the episodes 3 and 4 of Ms. Marvel throughout. Check out Maryam's coverage of Ms. Marvel and other topics for Nerdist <a href="https://nerdist.com/author/maryam-ahmad/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>! Swara's <a href="https://www.polygon.com/23189742/ms-marvel-djinn-explainer" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">explanation of Djinn for Polygon</a> Our music is composed by Ashley Hefnawy. You can find more of her music <a href="https://soundcloud.com/myyuh/makhe-x-tabla-edit" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>. We are a proud member of the <a href="https://hardnocmedia.com/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Hard NOC podcast family</a>. Follow us on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/TheMiddleGeeks" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@TheMiddleGeeks</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/MaeAbdu" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@MaeAbdu</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/swarzseawalker" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@spiderswarz</a> Subscribe to The Middle Geeks on <a href="https://hardnocmedia.com/themiddlegeeks" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Hard NOC Media</a> Please <a href="https://www.patreon.com/themiddlegeeks" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">support us on Patreon</a>!

Episode 40: ‘Ms. Marvel’ Episodes 3-4 Review

Ms. Marvel is here! We discuss the first two episodes of the series, discussing how wonderful Iman Vellani is in the main role, how well the series does at portraying Kamala and her family and friends, how well it does on portraying Islam, and where it can do better in certain fronts. We also discuss the exciting news that Abubakr Ali is starring in Billy Porter's Anything's Possible for Amazon Prime, give our recommendations, and much more!     Donate to  our fundraiser for Palestine and join us June 25th on the Nerds of Color Twitch Channel for our all day livestream!     Spoilers for the first two episodes of Ms. Marvel throughout.     Mae's review of the first two episodes for ScreenRant     Swara's  review of the first episode for io9   Swara's  review of the second episode for io9     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     Subscribe to The Middle Geeks on Hard NOC Media     Please support us on Patreon!

Ms. Marvel is here! We discuss the first two episodes of the series, discussing how wonderful Iman Vellani is in the main role, how well the series does at portraying Kamala and her family and friends, how well it does on portraying Islam, and where it can do better in certain fronts. We also discuss the exciting news that Abubakr Ali is starring in Billy Porter's <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20WlagB4vFU" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Anything's Possible</a> for Amazon Prime, give our recommendations, and much more! Donate to <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vRhMKTrB8Fyqj75rMKiR3uEepnME0RqiJTY-fdkYi_hAcVCZq-F7deEw6ozRuTqIpcUxwI4hEvoilA6/pub" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> our fundraiser for Palestine</a> and join us June 25th on the <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/thenerdsofcolor" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nerds of Color Twitch Channel</a> for our all day livestream! Spoilers for the first two episodes of Ms. Marvel throughout. Mae's <a href="https://screenrant.com/ms-marvel-2022-tv-reviews/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">review of the first two episodes for ScreenRant</a> Swara's <a href="https://gizmodo.com/ms-marvel-episode-1-recap-generation-why-1849034614?utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_medium=SocialMarketing&amp;utm_campaign=dlvrit&amp;utm_content=io9" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> review of the first episode for io9</a> Swara's <a href="https://gizmodo.com/disney-marvel-studios-ms-marvel-episode-2-recap-crushed-1849066141?utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_medium=SocialMarketing&amp;utm_campaign=dlvrit&amp;utm_content=io9" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> review of the second episode for io9</a> Our music is composed by Ashley Hefnawy. You can find more of her music <a href="https://soundcloud.com/myyuh/makhe-x-tabla-edit" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>. We are a proud member of the <a href="https://hardnocmedia.com/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Hard NOC podcast family</a>. Follow us on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/TheMiddleGeeks" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@TheMiddleGeeks</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/MaeAbdu" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@MaeAbdu</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/swarzseawalker" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@spiderswarz</a> Subscribe to The Middle Geeks on <a href="https://hardnocmedia.com/themiddlegeeks" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Hard NOC Media</a> Please <a href="https://www.patreon.com/themiddlegeeks" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">support us on Patreon</a>!

Episode 39: ‘Ms. Marvel’ Episodes 1-2 Review

We are delighted to welcome on Kuwaiti-American author Chelsea Abdullah who has just made her debut with the mesmerizing Arab fantasy novel The Stardust Thief! Chelsea tells us all on the origin of her debut novel and how she put herself into these wonderful characters and story. We also discuss the landscape for Arab and SWANA authors and creators, what more can happen, and delve into what stories Chelsea loves as well!     Buy The Stardust Thief from your local bookstore!     Follow Chelsea on Twitter @chelsabdullah     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     Subscribe to The Middle Geeks on Hard NOC Media     Please support us on Patreon!

We are delighted to welcome on Kuwaiti-American author Chelsea Abdullah who has just made her debut with the mesmerizing Arab fantasy novel The Stardust Thief! Chelsea tells us all on the origin of her debut novel and how she put herself into these wonderful characters and story. We also discuss the landscape for Arab and SWANA authors and creators, what more can happen, and delve into what stories Chelsea loves as well! Buy The Stardust Thief from <a href="https://bookshop.org/books/the-stardust-thief/9780316368766" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">your local bookstore</a>! Follow Chelsea on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/chelsabdullah" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@chelsabdullah</a> Our music is composed by Ashley Hefnawy. You can find more of her music <a href="https://soundcloud.com/myyuh/makhe-x-tabla-edit" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>. We are a proud member of the <a href="https://hardnocmedia.com/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Hard NOC podcast family</a>. Follow us on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/TheMiddleGeeks" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@TheMiddleGeeks</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/MaeAbdu" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@MaeAbdu</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/swarzseawalker" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@spiderswarz</a> Subscribe to The Middle Geeks on <a href="https://hardnocmedia.com/themiddlegeeks" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Hard NOC Media</a> Please <a href="https://www.patreon.com/themiddlegeeks" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">support us on Patreon</a>!

Interview: Chelsea Abdullah, Author of 'The Stardust Thief'

We're at the end of our Moon Knight discussion! Hanna Flint joins us once again to talk about the breakthroughs in SWANA representation with this series, how we've enjoyed the show overall, and how the landscape for representation is changing across popular media. We also compare Moon Knight with other Marvel and DC properties, give our recommendations, and much more!     Spoilers for Moon Knight and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness throughout.   Jason's article on Jewish representation in Moon Knight     Follow Hanna on Twitter @HannaFlint.     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     Subscribe to The Middle Geeks on Hard NOC Media     Please support us on Patreon!

We're at the end of our Moon Knight discussion! Hanna Flint joins us once again to talk about the breakthroughs in SWANA representation with this series, how we've enjoyed the show overall, and how the landscape for representation is changing across popular media. We also compare Moon Knight with other Marvel and DC properties, give our recommendations, and much more! Spoilers for Moon Knight and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness throughout. Jason's <a href="https://butwhythopodcast.com/2022/04/27/its-yom-hashoah-and-moon-knight-failed-its-jewish-audience/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">article</a> on Jewish representation in Moon Knight Follow Hanna on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/HannaFlint" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@HannaFlint</a>. Our music is composed by Ashley Hefnawy. You can find more of her music <a href="https://soundcloud.com/myyuh/makhe-x-tabla-edit" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>. We are a proud member of the <a href="https://hardnocmedia.com/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Hard NOC podcast family</a>. Follow us on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/TheMiddleGeeks" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@TheMiddleGeeks</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/MaeAbdu" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@MaeAbdu</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/swarzseawalker" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@spiderswarz</a> Subscribe to The Middle Geeks on <a href="https://hardnocmedia.com/themiddlegeeks" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Hard NOC Media</a> Please <a href="https://www.patreon.com/themiddlegeeks" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">support us on Patreon</a>!

Episode 38: ‘Moon Knight’ Episodes 5-6

We discuss episodes 3-4 of the new MCU Disney+ series Moon Knight starring Oscar Isaac, May Calamawy, and Ethan Hawke, joined by Egyptian writer and podcaster, Nadia Osman!   After we dive into Nadia's career, we dive into the latest two episodes of Moon Knight! How well is this series doing at portraying Egypt and its people? Is there anything we'd like to see more of? Why is May Calamawy so amazing as Layla? How well is Oscar Isaac doing at portraying someone with multiple personalities, and how is the portrayal of mental health? Why do we insist that Marvel and Disney #KeepMoonKnightWeird going into the finale? We also give our recommendations and much more!     Follow Nadia on Twitter @msnadiaosman.     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     Subscribe to The Middle Geeks on Hard NOC Media     Please support us on Patreon!

We discuss episodes 3-4 of the new MCU Disney+ series Moon Knight starring Oscar Isaac, May Calamawy, and Ethan Hawke, joined by Egyptian writer and podcaster, Nadia Osman! After we dive into Nadia's career, we dive into the latest two episodes of Moon Knight! How well is this series doing at portraying Egypt and its people? Is there anything we'd like to see more of? Why is May Calamawy so amazing as Layla? How well is Oscar Isaac doing at portraying someone with multiple personalities, and how is the portrayal of mental health? Why do we insist that Marvel and Disney #KeepMoonKnightWeird going into the finale? We also give our recommendations and much more! Follow Nadia on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/msnadiaosman" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@msnadiaosman</a>. Our music is composed by Ashley Hefnawy. You can find more of her music <a href="https://soundcloud.com/myyuh/makhe-x-tabla-edit" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>. We are a proud member of the <a href="https://hardnocmedia.com/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Hard NOC podcast family</a>. Follow us on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/TheMiddleGeeks" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@TheMiddleGeeks</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/MaeAbdu" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@MaeAbdu</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/swarzseawalker" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@spiderswarz</a> Subscribe to The Middle Geeks on <a href="https://hardnocmedia.com/themiddlegeeks" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Hard NOC Media</a> Please <a href="https://www.patreon.com/themiddlegeeks" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">support us on Patreon</a>!

Episode 37: ‘Moon Knight’ Episodes 3-4

We discuss episodes 1-2 of the new MCU Disney+ series 'Moon Knight' starring Oscar Isaac, May Calamawy, and Ethan Hawke. What did we enjoy about this series? What did head director Mohamed Diab (who's actually Egyptian!) bring to the story? Why is Layla the best character? Where could it be better? We also discuss the unfortunate news of the plagiarism accusations against Iranian director Asghar Farhadi for 'A Hero", give our recommendations, and much more!   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   Subscribe to The Middle Geeks on Hard NOC Media

We discuss episodes 1-2 of the new MCU Disney+ series 'Moon Knight' starring Oscar Isaac, May Calamawy, and Ethan Hawke. What did we enjoy about this series? What did head director Mohamed Diab (who's actually Egyptian!) bring to the story? Why is Layla the best character? Where could it be better? We also discuss the unfortunate news of the plagiarism accusations against Iranian director Asghar Farhadi for 'A Hero", give our recommendations, and much more! Our music is composed by Ashley Hefnawy. You can find more of her music <a href="https://soundcloud.com/myyuh/makhe-x-tabla-edit" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>. We are a proud member of the <a href="https://hardnocmedia.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Hard NOC podcast family</a>. Follow us on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/TheMiddleGeeks" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@TheMiddleGeeks</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/MaeAbdu" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@MaeAbdu</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/swarzseawalker" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@spiderswarz</a> Subscribe to The Middle Geeks on <a href="https://hardnocmedia.com/themiddlegeeks" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Hard NOC Media</a>

Episode 36: 'Moon Knight' Episodes 1-2

We are delighted to speak with Legends of Tomorrow cast member Shayan Sobhian and his writing partner and director Max Mooney on their new film "Does Bigfoot Dream of Flowers?". What inspired them to do this project? How is this depiction of Bigfoot similar and different from those we've seen before? We also hear from Shayan on his role as Behrad on Legends of Tomorrow, and where the show might go from their recent Season 7 finale.    Our music is composed by Ashley Hefnawy. You can find more of her music here.     Please support us on Patreon!     We are a proud member of the Hard NOC podcast family.     Follow Shayan on Instagram @shayansobhian     Follow Max on Instagram @maxmooney5     Follow us on Twitter: @TheMiddleGeeks, @MaeAbdu, @spiderswarz     Subscribe to The Middle Geeks on Hard NOC Media

We are delighted to speak with Legends of Tomorrow cast member Shayan Sobhian and his writing partner and director Max Mooney on their new film "Does Bigfoot Dream of Flowers?". What inspired them to do this project? How is this depiction of Bigfoot similar and different from those we've seen before? We also hear from Shayan on his role as Behrad on Legends of Tomorrow, and where the show might go from their recent Season 7 finale. Our music is composed by Ashley Hefnawy. You can find more of her music <a href="https://soundcloud.com/myyuh/makhe-x-tabla-edit" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>. Please <a href="https://www.patreon.com/themiddlegeeks" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">support us on Patreon!</a> We are a proud member of the <a href="https://hardnocmedia.com/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Hard NOC podcast family</a>. Follow Shayan on Instagram<a href="https://twitter.com/Donna_Farvard" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> </a><a href="https://www.instagram.com/shayansobhian/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@shayansobhian</a> Follow Max on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/maxmooney5/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@maxmooney5</a> Follow us on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/TheMiddleGeeks" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@TheMiddleGeeks</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/MaeAbdu" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@MaeAbdu</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/swarzseawalker" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@spiderswarz</a> Subscribe to The Middle Geeks on <a href="https://hardnocmedia.com/themiddlegeeks" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Hard NOC Media</a>

Interview: Legends of Tomorrow Star Shayan Sobhian and Max Mooney on "Does Bigfoot Dream of Flowers?"

We discuss Netflix's new horror series Archive 81, which headlines two SWANA stars with Mamoudou Athie and Dina Shihabi! What did we enjoy about this creepy series? Would it have been better if Mamoudou and Dina's characters were SWANA coded? What do we want from a Season 2? We also discuss the exciting news that Kuwaiti-American author Chelsea Abdullah will have her book debut with The Stardust Thief, give our recommendations, and much more.      Links to help Ukrainians in need     Our music is composed by Ashley Hefnawy. You can find more of her music here.     Please support us on Patreon!     We are a proud member of the Hard NOC podcast family.     Follow us on Twitter: @TheMiddleGeeks, @MaeAbdu, @spiderswarz     Subscribe to The Middle Geeks on Hard NOC Media

We discuss Netflix's new horror series Archive 81, which headlines two SWANA stars with Mamoudou Athie and Dina Shihabi! What did we enjoy about this creepy series? Would it have been better if Mamoudou and Dina's characters were SWANA coded? What do we want from a Season 2? We also discuss the exciting news that Kuwaiti-American author Chelsea Abdullah will have her book debut with The Stardust Thief, give our recommendations, and much more. <a href="https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/ways-to-help-ukraine-conflict/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Links to help Ukrainians in need</a> Our music is composed by Ashley Hefnawy. You can find more of her music <a href="https://soundcloud.com/myyuh/makhe-x-tabla-edit" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>. Please <a href="https://www.patreon.com/themiddlegeeks" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">support us on Patreon!</a> We are a proud member of the <a href="https://hardnocmedia.com/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Hard NOC podcast family</a>. Follow us on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/TheMiddleGeeks" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@TheMiddleGeeks</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/MaeAbdu" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@MaeAbdu</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/swarzseawalker" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@spiderswarz</a> Subscribe to The Middle Geeks on <a href="https://hardnocmedia.com/themiddlegeeks" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Hard NOC Media</a>

Episode 35: "Archive 81" Review

We are joined by the Organizing Director of the National Iranian American Council (NIAC), Donna Farvard, and our friend and Vulture critic Roxana Hadadi to discuss acclaimed Iranian director Asghar Farhadi's latest film and award-buzzed film, "A Hero." How does this film give insight into Iranian society and systems of reputation? What is Farhadi saying about how we hold each other in esteem, and how quickly that can fade away? We also discuss the Moon Knight trailer and the news that Egyptian director Mohamed Diab will be directing four out of its six episodes, Archive 81 on Netflix, Mena Massoud's new Netflix rom-com, give our recommendations, and much more!    Our music is composed by Ashley Hefnawy. You can find more of her music here.     Dr. Assal Rad's report: "Othering Iran: How Dehumanization of Iranians Undermines Rights at Home"   Please support us on Patreon!    We are a proud member of the Hard NOC podcast family.     Follow Donna on Twitter @Donna_Farvard     Follow Rocky on Twitter @roxana_hadadi     Follow us on Twitter: @TheMiddleGeeks, @MaeAbdu, @spiderswarz     Subscribe to The Middle Geeks on Hard NOC Media

We are joined by the Organizing Director of the National Iranian American Council (NIAC), Donna Farvard, and our friend and Vulture critic Roxana Hadadi to discuss acclaimed Iranian director Asghar Farhadi's latest film and award-buzzed film, "A Hero." How does this film give insight into Iranian society and systems of reputation? What is Farhadi saying about how we hold each other in esteem, and how quickly that can fade away? We also discuss the Moon Knight trailer and the news that Egyptian director Mohamed Diab will be directing four out of its six episodes, Archive 81 on Netflix, Mena Massoud's new Netflix rom-com, give our recommendations, and much more! Our music is composed by Ashley Hefnawy. You can find more of her music <a href="https://soundcloud.com/myyuh/makhe-x-tabla-edit" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>. Dr. Assal Rad's report: "<a href="https://www.niacouncil.org/news/othering-iran/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Othering Iran: How Dehumanization of Iranians Undermines Rights at Home</a>" Please <a href="https://www.patreon.com/themiddlegeeks" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">support us on Patreon!</a> We are a proud member of the <a href="https://hardnocmedia.com/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Hard NOC podcast family</a>. Follow Donna on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/Donna_Farvard" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@Donna_Farvard</a> Follow Rocky on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/roxana_hadadi" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@roxana_hadadi</a> Follow us on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/TheMiddleGeeks" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@TheMiddleGeeks</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/MaeAbdu" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@MaeAbdu</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/swarzseawalker" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@spiderswarz</a> Subscribe to The Middle Geeks on <a href="https://hardnocmedia.com/themiddlegeeks" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Hard NOC Media</a>

Episode 34: ‘A Hero’ Review and Reputation

Mae and Swara are two geeks of West Asian (IE Middle Eastern) descent who discuss all things Southwest Asian and North African (SWANA) representation each month, along with other nerdy topics. Come join us as we highlight positive depictions of SWANA people in popular media, review the latest popular releases, and just have a fun time nerding out.Follow us @TheMiddleGeeks, @MaeAbdu, @spiderswarz

 Even though there's not a lot to be merry about, we count our blessings and make it merry! We also discuss the wonderful 2020 film "Gaza Mon Amour" by director brothers Tarzan and Arab Nasser, which shows old love in the middle of Gaza, starring our fave Hiam Abbass. We also discuss the exciting news of "We Are Lady Parts" Season 2 renewal, Mena Massoud's new Netflix rom-com coming out soon, and much more!  Our music is composed by Ashley Hefnawy. You can find more of her music here. Links to help Palestine and learn about the situation: Decolonize Palestine Palestine Children's Relief Fund Free Palestine Card Link with various resources to donate to those in need and learn We are a proud member of the Hard NOC podcast family.

Even though there's not a lot to be merry about, we count our blessings and make it merry! We also discuss the wonderful 2020 film "Gaza Mon Amour" by director brothers Tarzan and Arab Nasser, which shows old love in the middle of Gaza, starring our fave Hiam Abbass. We also discuss the exciting news of "We Are Lady Parts" Season 2 renewal, Mena Massoud's new Netflix rom-com coming out soon, and much more! Our music is composed by Ashley Hefnawy. You can find more of her music <a href="https://soundcloud.com/myyuh/makhe-x-tabla-edit" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>. Links to help Palestine and learn about the situation: <a href="https://decolonizepalestine.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Decolonize Palestine</a> <a href="https://www.pcrf.net/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Palestine Children's Relief Fund</a> <a href="https://savepalestine.carrd.co/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Free Palestine Card Link</a> with various resources to donate to those in need and learn We are a proud member of the <a href="https://hardnocmedia.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Hard NOC podcast family</a>.

Episode 33: "Gaza Mon Amour" Review and Holiday Edition

We're excited to have Meg Humphrey of Rogue Podron on to discuss Star Wars: Visions, the new anime anthology on Disney+ that breathes fresh life into this franchise with Japanese creators, crafting stories in a universe that was *heavily* inspired by their own culture. Why is it so important for the Star Wars franchise to have this, and why is it crucial that it continues to do so with other Japanese and API creators? How did Star Wars appropriate, and continue to appropriate, cultural elements from East Asian and MENA cultures, and play into Orientalism? How does Visions stand as an example of why this franchise should incorporate Japanese creators in this universe? We also discuss the exciting news that our fave  Tala Ashe is going to be starring in Iranian-American Sanaz Toossi's play "English" in New York, give our recommendations, and much more!   We are a proud member of the Hard NOC podcast family.   Follow Meg on Twitter: @tspofnutmeg   Follow us on Twitter: @TheMiddleGeeks, @MaeAbdu, @spiderswarz   Subscribe to The Middle Geeks on Hard NOC Media

We're excited to have Meg Humphrey of <a href="https://roguepodron.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rogue Podron</a> on to discuss Star Wars: Visions, the new anime anthology on Disney+ that breathes fresh life into this franchise with Japanese creators, crafting stories in a universe that was *heavily* inspired by their own culture. Why is it so important for the Star Wars franchise to have this, and why is it crucial that it continues to do so with other Japanese and API creators? How did Star Wars appropriate, and continue to appropriate, cultural elements from East Asian and MENA cultures, and play into Orientalism? How does Visions stand as an example of why this franchise should incorporate Japanese creators in this universe? We also discuss the exciting news that our fave <a href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/off-broadway/article/Atlantic-Theater-Company-Announces-Casting-for-the-World-Premiere-of-ENGLISH-20211116" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Tala Ashe is going to be starring in Iranian-American Sanaz Toossi's play "English" in New York</a>, give our recommendations, and much more! We are a proud member of the <a href="https://hardnocmedia.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Hard NOC podcast family</a>. Follow Meg on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/tspofnutmeg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@tspofnutmeg</a> Follow us on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/TheMiddleGeeks" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@TheMiddleGeeks</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/MaeAbdu" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@MaeAbdu</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/spiderswarz" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@spiderswarz</a> Subscribe to The Middle Geeks on <a href="https://hardnocmedia.com/themiddlegeeks" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Hard NOC Media</a>

Episode 32: The Promise of "Star Wars: Visions"

We are delighted to welcome Abubakr Ali on the podcast,  who will be playing the titular role in Netflix's Grendel, making him the FIRST Arab and Muslim actor to headline a comic adaptation in TV/Film! We discuss what got him into acting, his career so far, what his favorite superhero and other media are, and much more. Enjoy the conversation!     We are a proud member of the Hard NOC podcast family.    Follow Abubakr on Twitter @theAbubakrAli.     Follow us on Twitter: @TheMiddleGeeks, @MaeAbdu, @spiderswarz     Subscribe to The Middle Geeks on Hard NOC Media     Please support us on our Patreon!     Our brand new theme music is by Ashley Hefnawy. Find more of her music here.

We are delighted to welcome Abubakr Ali on the podcast, <a href="https://thenerdsofcolor.org/2021/09/14/abubakr-ali-cast-as-titular-anti-hero-for-netflixs-grendel/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> who will be playing the titular role in Netflix's Grendel</a>, making him the FIRST Arab and Muslim actor to headline a comic adaptation in TV/Film! We discuss what got him into acting, his career so far, what his favorite superhero and other media are, and much more. Enjoy the conversation! We are a proud member of the <a href="https://hardnocmedia.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Hard NOC podcast family</a>. Follow Abubakr on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/theAbubakrAli" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@theAbubakrAli</a>. Follow us on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/TheMiddleGeeks" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@TheMiddleGeeks</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/MaeAbdu" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@MaeAbdu</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/spiderswarz" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@spiderswarz</a> Subscribe to The Middle Geeks on <a href="https://hardnocmedia.com/themiddlegeeks" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Hard NOC Media</a> Please support us on our <a href="https://www.patreon.com/themiddlegeeks?fan_landing=true" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Patreon</a>! Our brand new theme music is by Ashley Hefnawy. Find more of her music <a href="https://soundcloud.com/myyuh" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>.

Interview: Abubakr Ali of Netflix's "Grendel"

Denis Villeneuve's Dune adaptation, based on a book that was explicitly and heavily influenced by Middle East and North African (MENA) and Islamic cultures, is out, and we are joined by our friends and fellow MENA critics Hanna Flint and Roxana Hadadi to review it. Why were there no direct MENA and Muslim creators or actors starring (barring our fave David Dastmalchian in a small villainous role) in the film? How well did this film work at adapting Herbert's work? How did the original work and the film play into systemic Orientalism? We also discuss the news that Aladdin (2019) star Mena Massoud is opening his own production company, give our recommendations, and much more!      Mae's Dune Review for Screenrant  Rocky's Dune Review for Polygon  Hanna's Dune Review for The New Arab List of Arabic terms used in Dune    We are a proud member of the Hard NOC podcast family.   Follow Hanna on Twitter @HannaFlint   Follow Rocky on Twitter @roxana_hadadi   Follow us on Twitter: @TheMiddleGeeks, @MaeAbdu, @spiderswarz   Subscribe to The Middle Geeks on Hard NOC Media

Denis Villeneuve's Dune adaptation, based on a book that was explicitly and heavily influenced by Middle East and North African (MENA) and Islamic cultures, is out, and we are joined by our friends and fellow MENA critics Hanna Flint and Roxana Hadadi to review it. Why were there no direct MENA and Muslim creators or actors starring (barring our fave David Dastmalchian in a small villainous role) in the film? How well did this film work at adapting Herbert's work? How did the original work and the film play into systemic Orientalism? We also discuss the news that Aladdin (2019) star Mena Massoud is opening his own production company, give our recommendations, and much more! <ul> <li><a href="https://screenrant.com/dune-2021-movie-reviews/?utm_content=bufferd221a&amp;utm_medium=Social-Distribution&amp;utm_source=SR-TW&amp;utm_campaign=SR-TW" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Mae's Dune Review for Screenrant</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.polygon.com/reviews/22733349/dune-review-denis-villeneuve-timothee-chalamet" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Rocky's Dune Review for Polygon</a></li> <li><a href="https://english.alaraby.co.uk/features/dune-escaping-realm-cinematic-arab-subversion" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Hanna's Dune Review for The New Arab</a></li> <li><a href="https://baheyeldin.com/literature/arabic-and-islamic-themes-in-frank-herberts-dune.html" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">List of Arabic terms used in Dune</a></li> </ul> We are a proud member of the <a href="https://hardnocmedia.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Hard NOC podcast family</a>. Follow Hanna on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/HannaFlint" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@HannaFlint</a> Follow Rocky on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/roxana_hadadi" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@roxana_hadadi</a> Follow us on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/TheMiddleGeeks" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@TheMiddleGeeks</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/MaeAbdu" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@MaeAbdu</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/spiderswarz" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@spiderswarz</a> Subscribe to The Middle Geeks on <a href="https://hardnocmedia.com/themiddlegeeks" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Hard NOC Media</a>

The Middle Geeks Episode 31: "Dune" Review

Created by Jordanian creator Tima Shomali, AlRawabi School for Girls is a devastatingly excellent series on Netflix exploring the dynamics of a Jordanian high school. What causes these girls to escalate their psychological wars on each other? How does this series do at exploring some of the systemic patriarchal problems in Middle Eastern societies? We discuss all of that and why we love this series. We also have the VERY exciting news that Abubakr Ali will be playing the titular role in Netflix's Grendel, thus the FIRST Arab Muslim to headline a comic adaptation in TV/Film!!! Mabrouk Abubakr!!! We also discuss the new release of the excellent graphic novel "Ms. Marvel: Stretched Thin" by Nadia Shammas and Nabi H. Ali, and some rumors on some changes for Kamala Khan in the MCU Ms. Marvel series coming out in February. Enjoy!     Spoiler discussion for AlRawabi School for Girls from 37:43-1:10:01   We are a proud member of the Hard NOC podcast family.    Follow us on Twitter: @TheMiddleGeeks, @MaeAbdu, @spiderswarz     Subscribe to The Middle Geeks on Hard NOC Media     Please support us on our Patreon!

Created by Jordanian creator Tima Shomali, AlRawabi School for Girls is a devastatingly excellent series on Netflix exploring the dynamics of a Jordanian high school. What causes these girls to escalate their psychological wars on each other? How does this series do at exploring some of the systemic patriarchal problems in Middle Eastern societies? We discuss all of that and why we love this series. We also have the VERY exciting news that Abubakr Ali will be playing the titular role in Netflix's Grendel, thus the FIRST Arab Muslim to headline a comic adaptation in TV/Film!!! Mabrouk Abubakr!!! We also discuss the new release of the excellent graphic novel "Ms. Marvel: Stretched Thin" by Nadia Shammas and Nabi H. Ali, and some rumors on some changes for Kamala Khan in the MCU Ms. Marvel series coming out in February. Enjoy! Spoiler discussion for AlRawabi School for Girls from 37:43-1:10:01 We are a proud member of the <a href="https://hardnocmedia.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Hard NOC podcast family</a>. Follow us on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/TheMiddleGeeks" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@TheMiddleGeeks</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/MaeAbdu" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@MaeAbdu</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/spiderswarz" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@spiderswarz</a> Subscribe to The Middle Geeks on <a href="https://hardnocmedia.com/themiddlegeeks" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Hard NOC Media</a> Please support us on our <a href="https://www.patreon.com/themiddlegeeks?fan_landing=true" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Patreon</a>!

Episode 30: 'AlRawabi School for Girls' Makes 'Mean Girls' Look Like Cotton Candy

Ferdosa joins us to discuss the Netflix documentary "Lift Like a Girl"! How well did this documentary do at showcasing the weightlifting journey of Asmaa and her team, and the depiction of everyday Egyptians? What could it have done better? We also discuss the exciting news that Black Palestinian writer and actor Yassir Lester will be the head writer of the upcoming MCU series "Armor Wars," and speculate on what that might mean for the MCU's penchant for military propaganda. Enjoy listening!   We are a proud member of the Hard NOC podcast family.    Follow Ferdosa on Twitter @atomicwick     Follow us on Twitter: @TheMiddleGeeks, @MaeAbdu, @spiderswarz     Subscribe to The Middle Geeks on Hard NOC Media     Please support us on our Patreon!

Ferdosa joins us to discuss the Netflix documentary "Lift Like a Girl"! How well did this documentary do at showcasing the weightlifting journey of Asmaa and her team, and the depiction of everyday Egyptians? What could it have done better? We also discuss the exciting news that Black Palestinian writer and actor Yassir Lester will be the head writer of the upcoming MCU series "Armor Wars," and speculate on what that might mean for the MCU's penchant for military propaganda. Enjoy listening! We are a proud member of the <a href="https://hardnocmedia.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Hard NOC podcast family</a>. Follow Ferdosa on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/atomicwick" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@atomicwick</a> Follow us on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/TheMiddleGeeks" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@TheMiddleGeeks</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/MaeAbdu" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@MaeAbdu</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/spiderswarz" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@spiderswarz</a> Subscribe to The Middle Geeks on <a href="https://hardnocmedia.com/themiddlegeeks" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Hard NOC Media</a> Please support us on our <a href="https://www.patreon.com/themiddlegeeks?fan_landing=true" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Patreon</a>!

Episode 29: "Lift Like a Girl" and an MCU Assessment

Palestinian historian and scholar N.A. Mansour joins us to discuss the situation in Palestine, where the situation stands now, how pop culture plays into the dehumanization of Palestinians, and what you can do to help and learn more about Palestinian people and their struggles. We also discuss all of Loki Season 1! What did we like about the series, and what themes resonated with us? Where could it have done better in areas? We also give our recommendations, and much more!    Spoilers for all of Loki Season 1 from 38:23-1:36:32     We are a proud member of the Hard NOC podcast family.    Resources for Palestine     AlHaq:  https://www.alhaq.org/     Shabaka (and they have a podcast available on all platforms or streamed directly from the site): https://al-shabaka.org/en/     Twitter List of Palestinians to follow: https://twitter.com/i/lists/1392206677894696961     Dana Elkurd: https://twitter.com/danaelkurd?s=21   Palestinian media and creators to check out:     Short film- Maradona’s Legs: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13009098/     Larisa Sansour’s Space Exodus: https://youtu.be/lRn2qAN6QqE     Palestine 100: https://commapress.co.uk/books/palestine-100     Iraq 100: https://commapress.co.uk/books/iraq-100     Wafa Hourani: https://www.wafahourani.com/     Nabil Anani:https://zawyeh.net/nabil-anani/     Strange Horizons, Palestine Issue: http://strangehorizons.com/issue/29-march-2021/     Sarah AlFageeh: https://twitter.com/saraalfageeh?s=21     Nadia Shammas: https://twitter.com/nadia_shammas_?s=21     Hajar Press Books: https://www.hajarpress.com/     Follow N.A. on Twitter @NAMansour26     Follow us on Twitter: @TheMiddleGeeks, @MaeAbdu, @spiderswarz     Subscribe to The Middle Geeks on Hard NOC Media     Please support us on our Patreon!

Palestinian historian and scholar N.A. Mansour joins us to discuss the situation in Palestine, where the situation stands now, how pop culture plays into the dehumanization of Palestinians, and what you can do to help and learn more about Palestinian people and their struggles. We also discuss all of Loki Season 1! What did we like about the series, and what themes resonated with us? Where could it have done better in areas? We also give our recommendations, and much more! Spoilers for all of Loki Season 1 from 38:23-1:36:32 We are a proud member of the <a href="https://hardnocmedia.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Hard NOC podcast family</a>. Resources for Palestine AlHaq:  <a href="https://www.alhaq.org/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.alhaq.org/</a> Shabaka (and they have a podcast available on all platforms or streamed directly from the site): <a href="https://al-shabaka.org/en/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://al-shabaka.org/en/</a> Twitter List of Palestinians to follow: <a href="https://twitter.com/i/lists/1392206677894696961" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/i/lists/1392206677894696961</a> Dana Elkurd: <a href="https://twitter.com/danaelkurd?s=21" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/danaelkurd?s=21</a> Palestinian media and creators to check out: Short film- Maradona’s Legs: <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13009098/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13009098/</a> Larisa Sansour’s Space Exodus: <a href="https://youtu.be/lRn2qAN6QqE" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/lRn2qAN6QqE</a> Palestine 100: <a href="https://commapress.co.uk/books/palestine-100" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://commapress.co.uk/books/palestine-100</a> Iraq 100: <a href="https://commapress.co.uk/books/iraq-100" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://commapress.co.uk/books/iraq-100</a> Wafa Hourani: <a href="https://www.wafahourani.com/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.wafahourani.com/</a> Nabil Anani:<a href="https://zawyeh.net/nabil-anani/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://zawyeh.net/nabil-anani/</a> Strange Horizons, Palestine Issue: <a href="http://strangehorizons.com/issue/29-march-2021/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">http://strangehorizons.com/issue/29-march-2021/</a> Sarah AlFageeh: <a href="https://twitter.com/saraalfageeh?s=21" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/saraalfageeh?s=21</a> Nadia Shammas: <a href="https://twitter.com/nadia_shammas_?s=21" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/nadia_shammas_?s=21</a> Hajar Press Books: <a href="https://www.hajarpress.com/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.hajarpress.com/</a> Follow N.A. on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/NAMansour26" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@NAMansour26</a> Follow us on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/TheMiddleGeeks" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@TheMiddleGeeks</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/MaeAbdu" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@MaeAbdu</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/spiderswarz" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@spiderswarz</a> Subscribe to The Middle Geeks on <a href="https://hardnocmedia.com/themiddlegeeks" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Hard NOC Media</a> Please support us on our <a href="https://www.patreon.com/themiddlegeeks?fan_landing=true" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Patreon</a>!

Episode 28: Palestine in Pop Culture and "Loki"

Shayan Sobhian, AKA Behrad Tarazi of  Legends of Tomorrow, joins Swara to discuss his upcoming episode, "This is Gus"! They talk about how Shayan relates to his character, the importance and impact of representation, and how Behrad may be developing this season. Enjoy listening!  This is a podcast form of the interview published here for The Nerds of Color.

Shayan Sobhian, AKA Behrad Tarazi of  Legends of Tomorrow, joins Swara to discuss his upcoming episode, "This is Gus"! They talk about how Shayan relates to his character, the importance and impact of representation, and how Behrad may be developing this season. Enjoy listening!  This is a podcast form of the interview published <a href="https://thenerdsofcolor.org/2021/05/14/noc-interview-tala-ashe-of-dcs-legends-of-tomorrow/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">here</a> for The Nerds of Color.

Interview Shayan Sobhian of 'DC's Legends of Tomorrow'

Amin El Gamal

For Pride Month, we are so excited to have on Amin El Gamal, who plays Sam on the amazing queer Ramadan rom-com Breaking Fast, which is now on Hulu! We dig into what drew Amin to acting, the experience of filming Breaking Fast and working with Mike Mosallam, their thoughts on the current landscape of MENA and queer stories in film and, what he'd love to see more of in the industry, and much more!    Support Black Lives Matter and affiliate causes   We are a proud member of the Hard NOC podcast family.   Follow Amin on Twitter @aminelgamal   Follow us on Twitter: @TheMiddleGeeks, @MaeAbdu, @spiderswarz   Subscribe to The Middle Geeks on Hard NOC Media

For Pride Month, we are so excited to have on Amin El Gamal, who plays Sam on the amazing queer Ramadan rom-com Breaking Fast, which is now on Hulu! We dig into what drew Amin to acting, the experience of filming Breaking Fast and working with Mike Mosallam, their thoughts on the current landscape of MENA and queer stories in film and, what he'd love to see more of in the industry, and much more! <a href="https://linktr.ee/blacklivesmatter" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Support Black Lives Matter and affiliate causes</a> We are a proud member of the <a href="https://hardnocmedia.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Hard NOC podcast family</a>. Follow Amin on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/aminelgamal" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@aminelgamal</a> Follow us on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/TheMiddleGeeks" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@TheMiddleGeeks</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/MaeAbdu" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@MaeAbdu</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/spiderswarz" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@spiderswarz</a> Subscribe to The Middle Geeks on <a href="https://hardnocmedia.com/themiddlegeeks" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Hard NOC Media</a>

Interview: Amin El Gamal of "Breaking Fast"

We are SO excited to discuss Nida Manzoor's We Are Lady Parts, a British series featuring a punk rock band of all Muslim women of color, including MENA women, premiering today on Peacock TV! What did we love particularly about this series, and how well does it handle representation? We also discuss the news of the additional Sandman for Netflix, including the Lebanese Razane Jammal, American Eid debuting on Disney+, and much more!    Links to help with the ongoing situation in Palestine: Decolonize Palestine Palestine Children's Relief Fund Free Palestine Card Link with various resources to donate to those in need and learn    We are a proud member of the Hard NOC podcast family.   Follow us on Twitter: @TheMiddleGeeks, @MaeAbdu, @spiderswarz   Subscribe to The Middle Geeks on Hard NOC Media

We are SO excited to discuss Nida Manzoor's We Are Lady Parts, a British series featuring a punk rock band of all Muslim women of color, including MENA women, premiering today on Peacock TV! What did we love particularly about this series, and how well does it handle representation? We also discuss the news of the additional Sandman for Netflix, including the Lebanese Razane Jammal, American Eid debuting on Disney+, and much more!  Links to help with the ongoing situation in Palestine: <a href="https://decolonizepalestine.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Decolonize Palestine</a> <a href="https://www.pcrf.net/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Palestine Children's Relief Fund</a> <a href="https://savepalestine.carrd.co/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Free Palestine Card Link</a> with various resources to donate to those in need and learn We are a proud member of the <a href="https://hardnocmedia.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Hard NOC podcast family</a>. Follow us on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/TheMiddleGeeks" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@TheMiddleGeeks</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/MaeAbdu" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@MaeAbdu</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/spiderswarz" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@spiderswarz</a> Subscribe to The Middle Geeks on <a href="https://hardnocmedia.com/themiddlegeeks" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Hard NOC Media</a>

Episode 27: ‘We Are Lady Parts’ Review

I am so thrilled to see more Middle Eastern representation and I love listening to the perspectives of Swara and Mae. As a Middle Eastern, Arab-American I am delighted to hear conversations that open up the dialogue of representation and celebration of our culture. A must listen!

Represent!

The Middle Geeks is a great podcast! I love hearing Swara and Mae’s perspective on all things in the entertainment and geekdom worlds!

Great show!

Mae and Swara are two geeks of West Asian (IE Middle Eastern) descent who discuss all things Southwest Asian and North African (SWANA) representation each month, along with other nerdy topics. Come join us as we highlight positive depictions of SWANA people in popular media, review the latest popular releases, and just have a fun time nerding out. Follow us @TheMiddleGeeks, @MaeAbdu, @spiderswarz

The Middle Geeks

This month on The Middle Geeks, we're recording from home, per usual, but it feels different this time as we literally have no other choice of location to do so. It's Quarantine Edition! In the midst of the craziness that is COVID-19, we discuss how the entertainment industry has been affected, with various movie and tv productions have been pushed back, why some celebrities aren't taking this situation so well, and ultimately what is needed on a public policy level to alleviate this crisis. We're keeping up that balance of fun and serious stuff as always! Enjoy!  We are a proud member of the Hard NOC podcast family. Follow us on Twitter: @TheMiddleGeeks, @MaeAbdu, @swarzseawalker Subscribe to The Middle Geeks on Hard NOC Media Clarkisha's article: "Why Celebrities are Losing their Goddamn Minds in the Middle of a Pandemic" 

This month on <a href="https://hardnocmedia.com/themiddlegeeks" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">The Middle Geeks</a>, we're recording from home, per usual, but it feels different this time as we literally have no other choice of location to do so. It's Quarantine Edition! In the midst of the craziness that is COVID-19, we discuss how the entertainment industry has been affected, with various movie and tv productions have been pushed back, why some celebrities aren't taking this situation so well, and ultimately what is needed on a public policy level to alleviate this crisis. We're keeping up that balance of fun and serious stuff as always! Enjoy! We are a proud member of the <a href="https://hardnocmedia.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Hard NOC podcast family</a>. Follow us on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/TheMiddleGeeks" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@TheMiddleGeeks</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/MaeAbdu" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@MaeAbdu</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/swarzseawalker" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@swarzseawalker</a> Subscribe to The Middle Geeks on <a href="https://hardnocmedia.com/themiddlegeeks" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Hard NOC Media</a> Clarkisha's article: "<a href="https://wearyourvoicemag.com/entertainment-culture/why-celebrities-are-losing-their-goddamn-minds-in-the-middle-of-a-pandemic" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Why Celebrities are Losing their Goddamn Minds in the Middle of a Pandemic</a>"

Episode 11: Quarantine Edition

This month on The Middle Geeks, we discuss Waad Al-Kateab's stunning documentary For Sama, which provides visceral insight into the Syrian Civil War and the experiences of citizens under siege. The film has been nominated for numerous accolades, including the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. In much lighter topics, we discuss the upcoming return of Zari (Tala Ashe) on Legends of Tomorrow, and the news that Iranian and other people of color will be leads in Middle Earth on Amazon Prime's Lord of the Rings series!  We are a proud member of the Hard NOC podcast family. Follow us on Twitter: @TheMiddleGeeks, @MaeAbdu, @swarzseawalker Subscribe to The Middle Geeks on Hard NOC Media

This month on <a href="https://hardnocmedia.com/themiddlegeeks" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">The Middle Geeks</a>, we discuss Waad Al-Kateab's stunning documentary For Sama, which provides visceral insight into the Syrian Civil War and the experiences of citizens under siege. The film has been nominated for numerous accolades, including the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. In much lighter topics, we discuss the upcoming return of Zari (Tala Ashe) on Legends of Tomorrow, and the news that Iranian and other people of color will be leads in Middle Earth on Amazon Prime's Lord of the Rings series! We are a proud member of the <a href="https://hardnocmedia.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Hard NOC podcast family</a>. Follow us on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/TheMiddleGeeks" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@TheMiddleGeeks</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/MaeAbdu" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@MaeAbdu</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/swarzseawalker" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@swarzseawalker</a> Subscribe to The Middle Geeks on <a href="https://hardnocmedia.com/themiddlegeeks" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Hard NOC Media</a>

The Middle Geeks Episode 9: For Sama and the Human Cost of War

It's the most wonderful time of the year on The Middle Geeks! Star Wars time! But is it really though, with the latest release of The Rise of Skywalker? Swara and Mae discuss, getting into what they liked about the film, as well as the issues they had with it and the Sequel Trilogy as a whole. Note that this is a SPOILER discussion. But before that, we get into the month of Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) representation highs and lows, from the high of having an Arab-American hero introduced to Marvel Comics to the low of Aladdin star Mena Massoud not getting a single audition due to Hollywood racism, even after his film made a billion dollars. We still have a long way to go!  We are a proud member of the Hard NOC podcast family. Follow us on Twitter: @TheMiddleGeeks, @MaeAbdu, @swarzseawalker Subscribe to The Middle Geeks on Hard NOC Media   Mae and Swara's articles on MENA Representation:  Mena Massoud Couldn't Land An Audition After 'Aladdin,' Hollywood Racism is to Blame  The Abysmal State of MENA Representation and the Path Forward

It's the most wonderful time of the year on <a href="https://hardnocmedia.com/themiddlegeeks" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">The Middle Geeks</a>! Star Wars time! But is it really though, with the latest release of The Rise of Skywalker? Swara and Mae discuss, getting into what they liked about the film, as well as the issues they had with it and the Sequel Trilogy as a whole. Note that this is a SPOILER discussion. But before that, we get into the month of Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) representation highs and lows, from the high of having an Arab-American hero introduced to Marvel Comics to the low of Aladdin star Mena Massoud not getting a single audition due to Hollywood racism, even after his film made a billion dollars. We still have a long way to go! We are a proud member of the <a href="https://hardnocmedia.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Hard NOC podcast family</a>. Follow us on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/TheMiddleGeeks" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@TheMiddleGeeks</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/MaeAbdu" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@MaeAbdu</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/swarzseawalker" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@swarzseawalker</a> Subscribe to The Middle Geeks on <a href="https://hardnocmedia.com/themiddlegeeks" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Hard NOC Media</a> Mae and Swara's articles on MENA Representation: <a href="https://www.pajiba.com/celebrities_are_better_than_you/mena-massoud-couldnt-land-an-audition-after-aladdin-hollywood-racism-is-to-blame.php" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Mena Massoud Couldn't Land An Audition After 'Aladdin,' Hollywood Racism is to Blame</a> <a href="https://butwhythopodcast.com/2019/12/12/the-abysmal-state-of-mena-representation-and-the-path-forward/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> The Abysmal State of MENA Representation and the Path Forward</a>

The Middle Geeks Episode 8: The State of MENA Representation in Hollywood and Star Wars

This month on The Middle Geeks, we discuss Dreamworks' 1998 masterpiece, The Prince of Egypt. Why does this film resonate so much with people, including and besides its religious aspects? We discuss the representation aspects of the film, how it did well at depicting the ancient Middle East, and how the rich character drama and design holds it up today. We also give the deets on the delicious food at our Middle Eastern households during Thanksgiving and give our recommendations! (We start our The Prince of Egypt discussion at the 7:10 mark.)  We are a proud member of the Hard NOC podcast family. Follow us on Twitter: @TheMiddleGeeks, @MaeAbdu, @swarzseawalker Subscribe to The Middle Geeks on Hard NOC Media References for this episode: The Prince of Egypt-A Forgotten Masterpiece  11 Things You Didn’t Know About ‘The Prince of Egypt’

This month on <a href="https://hardnocmedia.com/themiddlegeeks" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">The Middle Geeks</a>, we discuss Dreamworks' 1998 masterpiece, The Prince of Egypt. Why does this film resonate so much with people, including and besides its religious aspects? We discuss the representation aspects of the film, how it did well at depicting the ancient Middle East, and how the rich character drama and design holds it up today. We also give the deets on the delicious food at our Middle Eastern households during Thanksgiving and give our recommendations! (We start our The Prince of Egypt discussion at the 7:10 mark.) We are a proud member of the <a href="https://hardnocmedia.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Hard NOC podcast family</a>. Follow us on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/TheMiddleGeeks" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@TheMiddleGeeks</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/MaeAbdu" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@MaeAbdu</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/swarzseawalker" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@swarzseawalker</a> Subscribe to The Middle Geeks on <a href="https://hardnocmedia.com/themiddlegeeks" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Hard NOC Media</a> References for this episode: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7N6_HTR9y0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Prince of Egypt-A Forgotten Masterpiece</a> <a href="https://www.kveller.com/11-things-you-didnt-know-about-the-prince-of-egypt/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> 11 Things You Didn’t Know About ‘The Prince of Egypt’</a>

The Middle Geeks Episode 7: The Prince of Egypt

It's still Spooky Season here on The Middle Geeks! In our slightly belated Halloween special, we have our first guest! Our friend Roxana joins us to discuss one of her favorite horror films, Babak Anvari's Under the Shadow, which is set during the Iran-Iraq war. Join us as we discuss what we enjoyed about this supernatural horror and drama film, and how Anvari masterfully uses the experience of being Iranian to drive the narrative. We also discuss our thoughts and concerns on what is happening in the Middle East region today and discuss the latest Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker trailer. (We start our Under the Shadow discussion at the 27:41 mark.) We are a proud member of the Hard NOC podcast family. Follow us on Twitter: @TheMiddleGeeks, @MaeAbdu, @swarzseawalker, @roxana_hadadi Subscribe to The Middle Geeks on Hard NOC Media

It's still Spooky Season here on <a href="https://hardnocmedia.com/themiddlegeeks" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">The Middle Geeks</a>! In our slightly belated Halloween special, we have our first guest! Our friend <a href="https://twitter.com/roxana_hadadi" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Roxana</a> joins us to discuss one of her favorite horror films, <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2035118/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Babak Anvari</a>'s Under the Shadow, which is set during the Iran-Iraq war. Join us as we discuss what we enjoyed about this supernatural horror and drama film, and how Anvari masterfully uses the experience of being Iranian to drive the narrative. We also discuss our thoughts and concerns on what is happening in the Middle East region today and discuss the latest Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker trailer. (We start our Under the Shadow discussion at the 27:41 mark.) We are a proud member of the <a href="https://hardnocmedia.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Hard NOC podcast family</a>. Follow us on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/TheMiddleGeeks" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@TheMiddleGeeks</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/MaeAbdu" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@MaeAbdu</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/swarzseawalker" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@swarzseawalker</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/roxana_hadadi" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@roxana_hadadi</a> Subscribe to The Middle Geeks on <a href="https://hardnocmedia.com/themiddlegeeks" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Hard NOC Media</a>

The Middle Geeks Episode 6

In the latest episode of The Middle Geeks, we review Wajib by Palestinian director Annemarie Jacir. Mae and Swara talk about what we enjoyed about the film, and how we thought it offered a realistic portrayal of families dealing with generational oppression and how meaningful it is for Annemarie Jacir to tell an intimate story of her people. We also discuss the great news that the upcoming Obi-Wan Kenobi series for Disney+ will have an Iranian-British writer with Hossein Amini, how we're looking forward to the Arrow spinoff starring the Canaries, and give our recommendations of what to watch. (We start our Wajib discussion at the 21:12 mark.) Follow us on Twitter: @TheMiddleGeeks, @MaeAbdu, @swarzseawalker Subscribe to The Middle Geeks on Hard NOC Media

In the latest episode of <a href="https://hardnocmedia.com/themiddlegeeks" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">The Middle Geeks</a>, we review Wajib by Palestinian director <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1486975/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Annemarie Jacir</a>. Mae and Swara talk about what we enjoyed about the film, and how we thought it offered a realistic portrayal of families dealing with generational oppression and how meaningful it is for Annemarie Jacir to tell an intimate story of her people. We also discuss the great news that the upcoming Obi-Wan Kenobi series for Disney+ will have an Iranian-British writer with Hossein Amini, how we're looking forward to the Arrow spinoff starring the Canaries, and give our recommendations of what to watch. (We start our Wajib discussion at the 21:12 mark.) Follow us on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/TheMiddleGeeks" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@TheMiddleGeeks</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/MaeAbdu" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@MaeAbdu</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/swarzseawalker" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@swarzseawalker</a> Subscribe to The Middle Geeks on <a href="https://hardnocmedia.com/themiddlegeeks" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Hard NOC Media</a>

Episode 5: "Wajib" and When We Get to Tell Our Stories

In the latest installment of The Middle Geeks, we review Nadine Labaki's 2018 heartbreaking masterpiece, Capernaum. Mae and Swara reflect on the state of conflict in the region, how institutions fail children, immigrants, and the most vulnerable, and how generational trauma affects us as Middle Eastern-Americans. It's a hard but necessary set of discussions to have. On much lighter topics, we discuss the slew of news from D23, and express our dismay at a change in DC's Legends of Tomorrow's upcoming season. (We start our Capernaum discussion at the 32:51 mark.)  We are a proud member of the Hard NOC podcast family.

In the latest installment of <a href="https://hardnocmedia.com/themiddlegeeks" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">The Middle Geeks</a>, we review Nadine Labaki's 2018 heartbreaking masterpiece, Capernaum. Mae and Swara reflect on the state of conflict in the region, how institutions fail children, immigrants, and the most vulnerable, and how generational trauma affects us as Middle Eastern-Americans. It's a hard but necessary set of discussions to have. On much lighter topics, we discuss the slew of news from D23, and express our dismay at a change in DC's Legends of Tomorrow's upcoming season. (We start our Capernaum discussion at the 32:51 mark.) We are a proud member of the <a href="https://hardnocmedia.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Hard NOC podcast family</a>.

Episode 4: 'Capernaum' and Facing Hard Truths

In the third episode of The Middle Geeks, we review Hulu's Ramy, an incisive and groundbreaking new series on the Middle Eastern-American experience. Listen to Swara and Mae as we talk about what we loved about the series, how it made us feel about our own identities, and how we think it could have done better. We also break down all the Marvel Cinematic Universe and DCTV news from San Diego Comic-Con and talk about how we're excited about what's coming forward! We are a proud member of the Hard NOC podcast family. Follow us on Twitter: @TheMiddleGeeks, @MaeAbdu, @swarzseawalker Subscribe to The Middle Geeks on Hard NOC Media

In the third episode of <a href="https://hardnocmedia.com/themiddlegeeks" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">The Middle Geeks</a>, we review Hulu's Ramy, an incisive and groundbreaking new series on the Middle Eastern-American experience. Listen to Swara and Mae as we talk about what we loved about the series, how it made us feel about our own identities, and how we think it could have done better. We also break down all the Marvel Cinematic Universe and DCTV news from San Diego Comic-Con and talk about how we're excited about what's coming forward! We are a proud member of the <a href="https://hardnocmedia.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Hard NOC podcast family</a>. Follow us on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/TheMiddleGeeks" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@TheMiddleGeeks</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/MaeAbdu" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@MaeAbdu</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/swarzseawalker" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@swarzseawalker</a> Subscribe to The Middle Geeks on <a href="https://hardnocmedia.com/themiddlegeeks" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Hard NOC Media</a>

Episode 3: 'Ramy' and Navigating Identity

In the second-ever episode of The Middle Geeks, we cover Netflix's new original series Jinn, their first ever Arabic language series! Did we enjoy it? Did it present an authentic Middle Eastern experience? Should we be outraged by teenagers kissing as many in Jordan apparently are? Additionally, we talk about how we've been enjoying DCTV this season on the CW, what we think it could do better, and what we're looking forward to. Enjoy!  Follow us on Twitter:  @TheMiddleGeeks @MaeAbdu @swarzseawalker We are a proud member of the Hard NOC Media podcast family.

In the second-ever episode of The Middle Geeks, we cover Netflix's new original series Jinn, their first ever Arabic language series! Did we enjoy it? Did it present an authentic Middle Eastern experience? Should we be outraged by teenagers kissing as many in Jordan apparently are? Additionally, we talk about how we've been enjoying DCTV this season on the CW, what we think it could do better, and what we're looking forward to. Enjoy!  Follow us on Twitter:  @TheMiddleGeeks @MaeAbdu @swarzseawalker We are a proud member of the <a href="https://hardnocmedia.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Hard NOC Media podcast family</a>.

Episode 2: Jinn and Teenagers Kissing Oh My!

Welcome to The Middle Geeks! In our very first episode, Mae and Swara introduce the podcast and discuss our feelings on Middle East and North African (MENA) representation in popular media. We also review the live action remakes of Aladdin, discussing what we think it did well, how it could have done better, and how the unfortunate Orientalism of the film conveys how Disney and the rest of Hollywood need to do better on Middle Eastern inclusion. We are a proud member of the Hard NOC podcast family.  Follow us Twitter @TheMiddleGeeks, @MaeAbdu, @swarzseawalker  Our reviews of Aladdin Mae: Disney’s Live-Action Remake is Enjoyable, but Lacks Some of the Magic Swara: 'Aladdin’ Live-Action is an Orientalist but Mostly Enjoyable Retelling of the Classic Roxana:  Mena Massoud is Perfect, But Count on Disney to Make 'Aladdin' More Orientalist Than the Animated Classic Already Was

Welcome to The Middle Geeks! In our very first episode, Mae and Swara introduce the podcast and discuss our feelings on Middle East and North African (MENA) representation in popular media. We also review the live action remakes of Aladdin, discussing what we think it did well, how it could have done better, and how the unfortunate Orientalism of the film conveys how Disney and the rest of Hollywood need to do better on Middle Eastern inclusion. We are a proud member of the Hard NOC podcast family.  Follow us Twitter @TheMiddleGeeks, @MaeAbdu, @swarzseawalker  Our reviews of Aladdin Mae: <a href="https://www.theyoungfolks.com/review/133098/aladdin-review-disneys-live-action-remake-is-enjoyable-but-lacks-some-of-the-magic/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Disney’s Live-Action Remake is Enjoyable, but Lacks Some of the Magic</a> Swara: '<a href="https://butwhythopodcast.com/2019/05/22/review-aladdin-2019-an-orientalist-but-mostly-enjoyable-retelling/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Aladdin’ Live-Action is an Orientalist but Mostly Enjoyable Retelling of the Classic</a> Roxana: <a href="http://www.pajiba.com/film_reviews/review-count-on-disney-to-make-aladdin-more-orientalist-than-it-already-was-.php" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Mena Massoud is Perfect, But Count on Disney to Make 'Aladdin' More Orientalist Than the Animated Classic Already Was</a>

Welcome to The Middle Geeks!

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