Stories of Our City
95 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 2 months ago - ★★★★★ - 12 ratingsStories of Our City is a worldwide project to cultivate community and understanding by sharing real stories from real people around the globe. We produce these stories to reveal that our everyday experiences with family, love, religion, and culture are often similar to those of others living in cities and villages across the globe. We believe that when we share and celebrate a common humanity we can begin to erase the boundaries and labels that divide us. When we take the time to listen, we can begin to recognize the “other” as the same as us, giving us the foundation for global community.
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Episodes
232: A Bright Idea
March 04, 2024 14:07 - 2 minutes - 110 MB VideoIt is said that necessity is the mother of invention. Zidane Mitoubssi (Zee-dan Mit-wub-see) was a newly graduated college student entering a workplace for which he found himself somewhat unprepared. And then he and a friend had a bright idea.
231: Out of the Ruin
November 29, 2023 13:07 - 4 minutes - 214 MB VideoBeauty is worship, according to Kamal Aldeen Abu Halaweh. And ruin is just an ingredient for making something beautiful.
230: A New Life Cycle
September 20, 2023 13:36 - 4 minutes - 149 MB VideoFor Radwan Hashem, cycling is more than a sport—it’s a lifestyle. After undergoing a series of knee surgeries, the bike became a lifeline for him—as well as a teacher.
229: Holy Dagger
September 07, 2023 13:23 - 3 minutes - 141 MB VideoAs an essential part of their culture, the dagger is sacred among the Bedouin (nomadic) people, according to craftsman Nayif Abu Muhaysin, whose family has been making daggers for four generations. As such, he aims to help continue preserving traditional Bedouin heritage for future generations through his traditional, handmade daggers.
228: Small World
July 19, 2023 12:09 - 3 minutes - 238 MB VideoAhmad Adnan Al-Eriqsousi’s love for the historic version of his hometown inspired him to begin to immortalize it through three-dimensional miniature models during his retirement.
227: Renaissance Girl
April 05, 2023 13:03 - 4 minutes - 231 MB VideoEven at the young age of fourteen, Ghazal Al-Madadha already has quite an extensive acting résumé and began reciting poetry as young as six years old. As a Jordanian national arts ambassador, she aims to empower other girls to make headway in Arab society and culture through the arts and beyond.
226: Restored: From Corporate to Creative
February 22, 2023 14:33 - 15 minutes - 21 MBAs a self-proclaimed small town kid who grew up on her grandfather’s farm, Aubrey learned the value and joy of hands-on labor from observing and working alongside her family. During a successful run in the corporate world, various factors—including impending burnout—led Aubrey to begin seeking a creative outlet to combat and manage stress. A chance encounter with a scrapped piece of furniture at the apartment dumpster during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic led her into the world of furni...
225: 1,001 Signs
February 01, 2023 13:20 - 2 minutes - 206 MB VideoWhen Gazi Khattab began practicing Arabic calligraphy as a child, he would go downtown to study the plethora of shop signage and advertisements on display for guidance and inspiration. This exposure to the environmental street décor of Jordan’s capital city eventually led him to begin collecting and preserving old signs—some of which are now on display in his Old Signs of Amman Museum in the heart of the city.
224: A Cowboy Fantasy
December 14, 2022 11:41 - 3 minutes - 202 MB VideoWhen Sanad Albokhari was a child, he had two recurring dreams. One was seeing the ocean. The other was living a rustic life—like a cowboy.
223: El Camino (The Way)
November 23, 2022 10:56 - 19 minutes - 26.5 MBJavier was only five years old when he was separated from his mother and older sister as they tried to cross into the United States from Mexico. His family made it. But he was sent back. After two further failed immigration attempts with a protective stranger, little Javier made a solo attempt in hopes of finally being reunited with his family. Could he find the way? Listen as Javier shares the details of his harrowing journey.
222: Sticks & Stones
October 19, 2022 10:00 - 3 minutes - 225 MB VideoOsama Al-Issawi first learned how to work with stone from his father, who was a grouter, during summer breaks in middle school. His craftiness and respect for the environment eventually led Osama to seek to turn other people’s trash into treasure by upcycling various objects—namely cardboard—into works of art and décor.
221: Hope Floats
September 07, 2022 15:59 - 14 minutes - 19.6 MBWelcome to a new season of Stories of Our City—real stories from real people around the globe. This week's story comes from Lima, Peru. The daughter of Mexican immigrants to the United States who was born during the Great Depression, Gloria Aguilera Nichtawitz (Nēsh-ta-vitz) has a can-do spirit that perseveres. Coming from a line of honest, hardworking people, she found a way through various obstacles and challenges to realize her dream of helping others around the world through nursing.
220: The New Skool
April 20, 2022 10:32 - 16 minutes - 22.9 MBHip-hop is more than a genre of popular music; it’s a global culture and lifestyle. Having left its mark across the globe in the last several decades, no place has been untouched—not even the farthest islands. Ireland is no exception. Irish native Stevie G, both a music and radio DJ and one of the many worldwide influenced by this global phenomenon, has taken up the mantle of passing the history and culture of hip-hop on to the next generation. Listen as he shares his passion for sharing the...
219: Music to My Eyes
March 30, 2022 10:00 - 3 minutes - 246 MB VideoFor fine artist Muhammad Abu Aziz, music and art—particularly that of Arabic calligraphy—share an intimate relationship. The Arabic calligrapher’s pen itself is made from the same material as that of the flute. And, so, the role of calligraphy in Muhammad’s eyes ultimately becomes “making rhythms on its own like music.”
218: Lone Star Love
March 09, 2022 13:21 - 10 minutes - 14.5 MBAlthough her collegiate studies initially brought Begum, a native of Turkey, to the United States, love is what ultimately brought her back. As one of only a handful of Turks in a small Texas city, this holistic nutritionist and expectant mother found that breaking out of her comfort zone was eventually the way to home sweet home.
217: Culture Chameleon
February 23, 2022 22:14 - 12 minutes - 17.5 MBLucy Waja is a self-described multicultural cocktail who is a big fan of elephants. As a half Indian, half Sudanese native of the cosmopolitan capital of Jordan, a predominantly Arab country, Lucy naturally developed a love for other cultures and a knack for effectively navigating between several of them on a daily basis, being the daughter of a triple citizen of India, Sri Lanka, and Jordan. Listen as she shares her colorful journey of cultural and self-discovery.
216: Frame by Frame
January 26, 2022 11:00 - 3 minutes - 260 MB VideoFor Ribal Jafari, a multi-talented twenty-something living in Amman, Jordan, story is everything. As an aspiring filmmaker, Ribal is looking to make his mark in the world by getting his interpretation of the cosmopolitan culture and story of the Middle East onto the big screen. Ultimately, he’s seeking to expand the world’s perspective toward Arabs through the art form of film—one frame at a time.
215: Soaking Up the Sponge
November 17, 2021 11:00 - 1 minute - 147 MB VideoMany across the Arab world use the fully ripened fruit of the luffa genus of vegetables, of the cucumber family, as a soap sponge. But more than a decade ago, retired copywriter and editor Ibrahim Alfar, of Amman, Jordan, began exploring the application of luffa in other ways.
214: Broadcasting Knowledge
November 03, 2021 10:00 - 2 minutes - 80.1 MB VideoWhen Abood Aladham began beatboxing more than a decade ago, he had little knowledge about music in general and the local music scene in Amman, Jordan. Fast-forward 12 years, he's now the host of an Arabic podcast called Wallah Miaow (والله مياو), which currently seeks to spread knowledge about the Arab music world, its artists, and music and art in general.
213: Meats & Beats
October 20, 2021 11:19 - 2 minutes - 105 MB VideoWhether it’s food or music, Issa Dababneh of Jolly Man Food Company in Amman, Jordan, loves to produce. When the COVID-19 pandemic temporarily closed the doors of his restaurant and factory, Issa turned to his first production love—music—and Pandemic Beats was born.
212: Footwork & Folklore
October 06, 2021 10:00 - 2 minutes - 76.3 MB VideoDance plays a vital role in preserving Circassian culture and customs, as this indigenous people from the North Caucasus have been scattered abroad due to genocide and war in the 19th century. The Highlanders, the dance troupe of the International Circassian Cultural Academy of Amman, Jordan, aims to do just this: preserve its people's rich folklore through fancy footwork.
211: From Heroin to Heroine
September 22, 2021 10:00 - 17 minutes - 24.2 MBOne of two things likely comes to mind when you hear the word heroin: the infamous narcotic or a woman admired for her courage and bravery. This week's story is one that encompasses both. Gretchen Courting first started using cocaine when she was only 15 years old. Later, followed a nearly decade-long battle with heroin addiction. Refusing to sugarcoat the many difficulties she faced along the way, Gretchen describes those years in her 20's as being filled with homelessness and self-dest...
210: These Walls Can Talk
September 08, 2021 10:00 - 2 minutes - 184 MB VideoWhen 14-year-old artist Zeina, of Amman, Jordan, was confined inside the walls of her house during the beginning of the global COVID-19 pandemic, she decided to expand her creative canvas by painting on the outdoor walls of her parents’ villa to share her art with passersby and spread positive messages for all to see.
209: I Ride Camels
May 12, 2021 10:00 - 12 minutes - 17 MBAs the world’s second-largest religion, and fastest-growing major religion to boot, Islam and the people who adhere to its tenets are still largely misunderstood worldwide. Sara AlZyoud, a Jordanian university student, relates some of her experiences traveling as a Muslim and some commonly-held stereotypes against her people and region that she encountered along the way. May you be enlightened as Sara sheds light on the broader picture of Islam and the varied nature of the Arab world.
208: Opening a Door to Heaven
April 28, 2021 11:02 - 8 minutes - 11.7 MBFor many worldwide, the Islamic month of Ramadan is associated only with fasting. But for Sara AlZyoud and other Muslims, this holy month is about intentionally connecting with God and their communities in various ways. Listen as Sara relates how Ramadan is “the epitome of family values” and serves for her as a vehicle for gratitude and sacrifice, as well as a way to keep her grounded in the faith she shares with her family and culture.
207: Back in the Saddle
April 14, 2021 10:00 - 16 minutes - 22.5 MBHannah Walker was only five years old when she was first introduced to horseback riding at summer camp. And she immediately fell head over heels for horses. But when a tragic horseback accident occurred, Hannah hit rock bottom, not knowing if she’d ever get back in the saddle again.
206: The Walking Paintbrush
March 31, 2021 10:00 - 15 minutes - 21.2 MBBritish native Christine Brisley is a self-proclaimed painting addict who can't imagine a life without painting. She considers herself very blessed by a God-given talent which became her livelihood and took her around London, throughout England, and across the world. When tragedy struck, Christine came to America on a month-long walkabout, or visit, with only 400 dollars. Never intending to stay, she returned to the U.S. for good just months later, settling in Texas where she continues to cr...
205: Singing for a Change
March 17, 2021 10:00 - 16 minutes - 22.2 MBThe global coronavirus pandemic that began in 2019 has taken a lot away from many worldwide. And it continues to ravage and shake the world. But for Katie Norregaard, COVID-19 also provided a once-in-a-lifetime chance to break free from routine, affording her the opportunity to combine her passions for children, music, and social change into one online music education platform for kids: Miss Katie Sings.
204: Around the Table
March 03, 2021 11:00 - 13 minutes - 18.6 MBIn episode 198 from last season, Jocette (jō-set), an American expat living in Turkey, talked about her life there and her cross-cultural marriage to Salih (sä-lee). She is back again and this time dives into her lifelong love affair with food—a passion so deep that she even studied the subject at the graduate level. For Jocette, food is more than just the taste. It’s the people and the culture behind it, and most importantly the folks whom it brings around the table. Through her blog Has...
203: Spreading Love
February 17, 2021 16:00 - 16 minutes - 22.7 MBLance G. Newman II, aka Mr. SpreadLove, of Louisville, Ky., is a self-described renaissance man—and he has the quality, diversified artistic product to back up that assessment. But as his moniker indicates, Mr. SpreadLove is committed to more than simply dispersing his art among the masses; he is devoted to passing on a living legacy of spreading positivity and love through poetry (as well as other art forms), education, and the nurture of the next generation—all in the hope of affecting las...
202: Tales From the Underground
February 03, 2021 11:00 - 1 minute - 185 MB VideoThe long-inhabited city of Amman boasts many historical and cultural gems of the Middle East, one being the famed citadel. But hidden within the mainly monotone cast of this desert cityscape lie many modern, colorful gems from the emerging generations imprinted on the city’s winding walls. Alaeddin Rahmeh, a member of the local hip hop community and founder of Underground Amman Tour, makes it his aim to raise awareness about Amman’s colorful hip hop and street art scene. Come along for the t...
201: Mili in Paris
December 09, 2020 11:00 - 10 minutes - 14.8 MBMili and her husband, Deep, are passionate about traveling, new cuisine, and culture. Their shared love of travel is in fact one of the things that brought them together and helps keep their love alive. In this episode, as Mili recounts their latest adventure of an international move, it’s obvious she never forgets to pack her sense of humor. Mili’s contagious laughter reminds us that if we will let it, traveling can provide new perspectives, time to connect with loved ones, and a repertoire...
200: 200 Stories
November 25, 2020 10:56 - 15 minutes - 21.7 MBStories of our City was started in August 2009 in Beirut and has grown to include real stories from real people in 38 cities and towns on four continents from around the world. We do this in an effort to cultivate community and understanding cross-culturally. This current episode is extra special as it marks our 200th episode. But instead of simply sharing the story of how Stories of Our City was founded, we wanted to highlight the substance of this organization—the stories themselves. So,...
199: Bottled Up
November 11, 2020 11:00 - 2 minutes - 198 MB VideoThough the country of Jordan may not be internationally known for its environmental initiatives and green living, one citizen is doing all he can to turn the tide. What began as a one-off project for Therwah Abdelhaq to transform a glass bottle into a piece of art for a contest turned into an ongoing green initiative called T Bottle, which has redeemed an estimated 20,000 bottles from the landfill—upcycling them into works of aesthetic and functional art.
198: Love Without Borders
October 21, 2020 10:00 - 9 minutes - 13.1 MBWelcome to Stories of Our City! This week's story comes from Izmir, Turkey. Jocette's (jō-set) story is a story that crosses continents and cultures and reminds us of the beautiful work and gift that marriage can be. Listen as Jocette, an American expat in Turkey, shares the challenges of a cross-cultural marriage with her husband, Salih (sä-lee), as well as the joy of creating a new culture together as a couple—a home and family life that suit them and display their personalities and v...
197: 15 Minutes with Fate
October 07, 2020 10:00 - 11 minutes - 16.4 MBHave you ever had an identity crisis? Or a crisis of faith? For Harriet Dodea, her journey to find answers started with a move to a foreign country and a subsequent chance encounter with a stranger on the way to the bus station one day. This life-changing experience challenged her to wrestle through some deep heart questions and discover herself and her true identity. Now a few years later, having created a sisterhood community through social media, Harriet launched a Warrior Princess Challe...
196: The Lone Luthier
September 23, 2020 10:00 - 3 minutes - 212 MB VideoIn the early 90s, guitars were hard to come by in Jordan’s capital of Amman. But instead of bemoaning the problem, local music aficionado Muhammad Khaier Al-Kukhun decided to be part of the solution—he made his own. Now nearly 30 years later, as the only known luthier, or guitar maker, in all of Jordan and one of merely a known few in the Middle East at large, Muhammad seeks to establish in his MKK Instruments a reputable Arab guitar brand made in the Middle East.
195: Everyday Fashion
September 09, 2020 10:00 - 12 minutes - 16.8 MBFrom growing up in a small town where entering the world of fashion wasn’t even on her radar screen to becoming a fashion designer in one of the largest cities in the world, Canadian-born Megan Mummery is living proof that dreams can come true—even dreams you didn’t even know you had! With her OhSevenDays women’s wear brand based in Istanbul, Megan seeks to make unique everyday staple wear that is as fashionable as fast fashion, while being ethically sourced and made. Listen as Megan shares ...
194: Painting Perception
August 26, 2020 10:00 - 3 minutes - 218 MB VideoWelcome back! The first story of this year's fall season comes from Irbid, Jordan. The street is Laila Ajjawi’s canvas. A self-described activist graffiti artist from Irbid, Jordan, Laila sees the mural as a platform for a message that transcends self, given its vast public visibility. For that reason, she pursues her craft with great responsibility by using the walls to raise awareness about local and regional issues and to inspire and help empower women.
193: From A to Boutique
June 10, 2020 11:00 - 4 minutes - 233 MB VideoSince she was a little girl, Rasha Mubideen, of Amman, Jordan, always dreamed of being a fashion designer. But as she grew up and began to pursue her dream, she faced a culture that wasn’t yet as forward-thinking as she was. So, she did what any passionate creative would do: blaze her own trail forward—from A to Boutique.
192: Home Is Where the Bookstore Is
March 18, 2020 12:01 - 2 minutes - 163 MB VideoPreviously, we shared the story of Gaith, a street librarian who sold books from his classic Mercedes to spread reading culture in his native Jordan and to raise money for the first bookstore in his hometown of Madaba. Now, he’s finally fulfilling his dream of living in a bookshop.
191: Making Music that Feeds the Soul
February 13, 2020 15:29 - 10 minutes - 14.2 MBIt’s hard to deny the power of music. Many refer to it as the universal language that builds bridges between diverse peoples and cultures. Music has the power to connect us, move us, take us back, and propel us forward. In this week’s episode, Texas singer/songwriter Melissa Briseno shares how the magic of music has impacted her life and how she hopes her music will have the same powerful impact on others as she seeks to sing songs that feed the soul. May Melissa’s passion for her craft insp...
190: Mindset Matters/Forsaking Fast Fashion
September 12, 2019 16:00 - 10 minutes - 14.8 MBThis week’s episode is part two of a two-part series. If you haven’t had the chance to listen to the first part of Elles’ story, check it out in Episode 189! In the first half of her story, Elles shared about her start and life as a model. This week, she shares some of her other passions and achievements—touching on a multitude of topics such as mindset change, gaining courage to give her first TED talk, changing direction in her career, fast fashion, small steps toward living a more susta...
189: Model Behavior: Life on the Runway
August 23, 2019 21:41 - 10 minutes - 14.7 MBAs a lover of fashion from a young age, Stories of Our City producer Jessica Spann spent her childhood cutting out photos from magazines of gorgeous models wearing brilliant outfits. Now living in a large city, on any given day on her commute she will likely see and admire fashion trends on a billboard or in an advertisement with a model posing for a brand wearing their latest products. One day, Jessica had the chance to meet one of these billboard models. Elles (pronounced “Ellis”) has be...
188: Freed from Fighting
August 10, 2019 02:02 - 9 minutes - 55.9 MB VideoAround the turn of the century, Joseph Kony’s Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), a rebel group, wreaked havoc in northern Uganda, murdering many and kidnapping tens of thousands of children. JR (not his real name) is one of these thousands. Listen as he shares his story of lost youth, sacrifice, forgiveness, and redemption. Editor’s Note: Due to the sensitive nature of this story, the subject's name has been changed and specific locations have been removed from the recording.
187: Breaking Out
May 30, 2019 14:30 - 4 minutes - 207 MB VideoAlaeddin—yes, like the famed movie character, though pronounced correctly—sprang up from the poverty-stricken streets of Amman, Jordan, to become a successful civil engineer. But something wasn’t right. Though he had a good job, he was thoroughly dissatisfied with the standard nine-to-five lifestyle. So, he turned to the only thing he knew and loved: hip hop.
186: Young Turks: An Unconventional Love Story
April 26, 2019 08:18 - 8 minutes - 11.8 MBWe never know when—or even if—and where love will find us. It happened to find Nazife Uner of Izmir, Turkey, as she travelled home from high school in the early 1960s. At that time in Turkey most marriages were arranged by family members, but the mysterious stranger of fate seemed to have orchestrated Nazife and Mustafa’s relationship as their eyes met on a ferryboat one afternoon 57 years ago. One could call it love at first sight, but sometimes a simple, silent glance speaks powerfully. Af...
185: Pass a Dollar
April 11, 2019 22:52 - 12 minutes - 17.8 MBAt eleven years old and suddenly an orphan, Sandy found himself without a home and on his own. All he had was a friend with a plan for how they could make it rich. But as Sandy and his friend set off on their adventure, events quickly took a turn, and Sandy found himself even further from home and now even more alone. From collecting scrap metal to make a buck to sneaking into a church to catch some shut eye, learn how perseverance, helping hands, and encouraging hearts propelled Sandy alo...
184: Eighty Days Around the World
March 14, 2019 17:50 - 14 minutes - 20.2 MBIt had just started to drizzle again. My family and I were headed to Richmond, Virginia, via Interstate 64, confronting a bit of rain along the way. We had just taken a timed family selfie at the Virginia is For Lovers sign outside the state welcome center, when a man on what I thought was a motorcycle pulled up—camouflage jacket drenched with rain. He asked if I would take a photo of him. I obliged, taking his cellphone, thinking that if he’d arrived a minute earlier we wouldn’t have had to...
183: Steppin' Up
January 31, 2019 14:53 - 4 minutes - 175 MB VideoTechnical project manager by day. Folk dancer by night. This is the life of Rima Sliat, of Amman, Jordan, a practitioner and teacher of dabke—a type of Levantine Arab folk dance. Aside from traversing between the worlds of Information Technology and dabke on a weekly basis, Rima also works at bridging the gap between the historical roots of dabke and its more modern manifestations which sometimes challenge prevailing gender stereotypes and the status quo.