“We Are the Ones Who Live Here” is a new English-language podcast program about contemporary life in Lebanon, and all of our contributors are emerging Lebanese journalists, writers, storytellers and theatre artists. 

This podcast is made of our voices, voices from all over this country, Lebanese, Palestinian, Syrian, immigrant and refugee voices, new voices telling stories about life in our country, life beyond the headlines, beyond the cliches.

Please join us on this journey. Season One launches on 3 May. Please subscribe to make sure you always get each episode as soon as it's available. Visit welebanonpod.com for more information on this show, and follow us on Instagram at welebanonpod.

Season 1 trailer

“We want to find beauty, belonging and a sense of purpose in this troubled, strange and still beautiful country of ours…”

Nour Al Halabi brings us the story of Maryam, the fisherwoman of the Manara in Beirut who is the Mother of All. (Feyrouz Abou Hasson performs the English translation of Maryam’s words.)

We end with a poem to Beirut in the midst of chaos by Rita Mhanna. (This poem was translated to English by Ben Moorad and Rita Mhanna.)

see welebanonpod.com for show notes and more!

Episode 1 - Don't Go Pale Into Dusk

“You feel like you’re in a cage. You want to get out of it, but you can’t. Like we’re stuck…”

Farrah Khatib and Rola Soboh lead us on an exploration of how the residents of the Ain el Helwe Refugee Camp see the checkpoint that separates them from the rest of Lebanon. (Voice actors include Myra Shaaban, Rana Baghdadi, Nour Al Halabi, Dima Akel, Elias Demardjian and Charles Semaan.) 

Tanya Shehab gives us a personal look at what it means to have anxiety in Lebanon.

***

"we are the ones who live here" explores life in Lebanon through interviews, essays, and poems by emerging Lebanese artists, journalists, and storytellers. Everything you hear was recorded in Lebanon.

"we are the ones who live here" was created by:

Producers – Ben Moorad and Farrah Khatib
Sound producer – Wilson Vediner
Editorial team – Laetithia Harb, Rola Soboh, Roya Maliky, Nasrin Azizy, Fatima Rezaie, 
Cole McCann-Phillips and Dunia Fakih
Music – Raffi Feghali (a.k.a. TsaTsa)
Mastering – Sky Onion Mastering Studio
 
This podcast is a production of Hand2Mouth Theatre and New Room Studios.

Season 1 of this podcast was produced with the generous support of the Public Affairs Section at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut. 

visit welebanonpod.com for more!

Episode 2 - In a Cage

“Have you ever touched the skies? Have you ever touched the clouds? Have you ever reached the moment where time and space disappear? Where you meet emptiness? I mean, there, up above, have you ever touched it?”

Rita Mhanna shares with us a childhood memory of her uncle, before and after his time at war.

Jennifer Nasrallah performs a monologue composed of the remembrances of three Syrian women who live here now. (This piece was compiled by Abdul-Raouf Mohammed.)

This episode is hosted by Dunia Fakih.

***
To support this show, please visit welebanonpod.com/support-season-2

Episode 3 - Eternity And The Necklace

“Many of us have a deeply dysfunctional relationship with Lebanon, an often punishing mix of love and despair. Lebanon can really break your heart…”

Laetithia Harb shares her aunt’s story of leaving Lebanon and being pulled back against her will. (Dina Saleem performs the English translation of Aunt Liliane’s words.)

Jennifer Nasrallah explains why she wants to stay in Lebanon and build a future for herself here.

Fatima Rezaie shares a poem about how she’s found her true home in Beirut.

This episode is hosted by Farrah Khatib.

***
To support this show, please visit welebanonpod.com/support-season-2

Episode 4 - Love And Despair

“My life now has meaning, I give my heart to love...”

In our season finale, we join a small community of Afghan women in Beirut who gather for a feast to break the fast. At different points in the tides of conversation, three of the women turn inward and reflect upon their lives.

Nasrin Azizy thinks about her mother and the life she’s lived. Fatema Rezaie reflects upon her struggles and how Lebanon has become her home. And Roya Maliky finds the meaning of her life.

This episode is hosted by Roya Maliky.

***
To support this show, please visit welebanonpod.com/support-season-2

Episode 4 - Love And Despair

We Are The Ones Who Live Here

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