Unapologetic: The Third Narrative

• Harmony in the Midst of Chaos

  From a young age, Mahdi refused to let judgment or limitation define him. Where others saw barriers, he instinctively looked for ways forward, creating solutions in the spaces that needed them most. That same determination drives his work today as Co-founder of Harmony Network, a platform uniting the Arab minority in Israel to cultivate a powerful community of skilled professionals. The network provides opportunities for the roughly 21% of the population who face systemic barriers.Mahdi’s proactive spirit also led to the launch of the Harmony SOS app, developed in a moment of urgency during the recent war with Iran to support and safeguard his community.In this conversation, Mahdi shares how he transformed criticism into determination, why he chose to channel his activism into building networks and tools, and what it means to take action differently in pursuit of long-term change. Tune in for more on his vision, persistence, and belief that strength grows through connection.Follow us on Instagram: @⁠⁠⁠thirdnarrative⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to us on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/ThirdNarrative⁠ ⁠⁠For more info on UTTN, visit ⁠⁠uttn.net⁠⁠ or our ⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠ Disclaimer: This episode was recorded on August 17th, 2025. The facts presented in this episode reflect what was known at the time, but new information may have since come to light. Similarly, the opinions expressed by the hosts were shaped by our perspectives at the time of recording and may have evolved as events unfolded. Please note that engagement with our guests does not imply endorsement, and the views expressed by our guests do not necessarily represent our beliefs, either on or off our platform. What has not changed is our commitment to a just and united future.Credits​Sponsored by: ⁠B8 of Hope⁠ with the support of ⁠Albi World⁠​Hosts / Executive Producers: ⁠Amira Mohammed⁠ & ⁠Ibrahim Abu Ahmad⁠​Associate Producer / Supervising Editor: ⁠Evelyn Uzan⁠​Original Music: ⁠Layan Hawila⁠ – Support her journey as a music therapy student at Berklee​Filming & Editing: ⁠Nissan Film Production⁠​Branding: ⁠Sophie Cooke⁠​Animation: ⁠Santiago Gomez

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• Palestine's Big Sis

  From the hills of Dura to the heart of Gaza, Yara moves with conviction, turning care into action. Shaped by loss and love, she leads by example — creating spaces where children can learn, play, and hold onto hope amid uncertainty. As the Deputy Executive Director of The Gaza Children’s Village and a volunteer with Wallah We Can, she dedicates herself to nurturing the next generation and opening doors, no matter what new challenge presents itself. In this episode, Yara reflects on the moments that shaped her path and the revolution found in education, resilience, and a better future.Follow us on Instagram: @⁠⁠⁠⁠thirdnarrative⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to us on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/ThirdNarrative⁠ ⁠⁠⁠For more info on UTTN, visit ⁠⁠uttn.net⁠⁠ or our ⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Disclaimer: This episode was recorded on September 28th, 2025. The facts presented in this episode reflect what was known at the time, but new information may have since come to light. Similarly, the opinions expressed by the hosts were shaped by our perspectives at the time of recording and may have evolved as events unfolded. Please note that engagement with our guests does not imply endorsement, and the views expressed by our guests do not necessarily represent our beliefs, either on or off our platform. What has not changed is our commitment to a just and united future.Credits​Hosts / Executive Producers: ⁠⁠Amira Mohammed⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠Ibrahim Abu Ahmad⁠⁠​Associate Producer / Supervising Editor: ⁠⁠Evelyn Uzan⁠⁠​Original Music: ⁠⁠Layan Hawila⁠⁠ – Support her journey as a music therapy student at Berklee​Filming & Editing: ⁠⁠Nissan Film Production⁠⁠​Branding: ⁠⁠Sophie Cooke⁠⁠​Animation: ⁠⁠Santiago Gomez

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• From Louisiana to Jerusalem

  In Episode 2, we sit down with Lana Ikelan—Co-Educational Director at Kids4Peace, alum of Tomorrow’s Women, and a speaker with Solutions Not Sides. Lana shares her experiences as an East Jerusalemite and reflects on her complex Palestinian identity, navigating a city full of unseen boundaries and hidden challenges. She opens up about her path into activism, the work she does to empower young people, and the bridges she’s building in a divided world. For in-depth information on the status of Jerusalem, the Reunification Law, and related legal, social, and municipal issues, you can visit a very thorough resource center here. Follow us on Instagram: @⁠⁠⁠thirdnarrative⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to us on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/ThirdNarrative⁠ ⁠⁠For more info on UTTN, visit ⁠⁠uttn.net⁠⁠ or our ⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠ Disclaimer: This episode was recorded on August 24th, 2025. The facts presented in this episode reflect what was known at the time, but new information may have since come to light. Similarly, the opinions expressed by the hosts were shaped by our perspectives at the time of recording and may have evolved as events unfolded. Please note that engagement with our guests does not imply endorsement, and the views expressed by our guests do not necessarily represent our beliefs, either on or off our platform. What has not changed is our commitment to a just and united future.Credits​Sponsored by: ⁠B8 of Hope⁠ with the support of ⁠Albi World⁠​Hosts / Executive Producers: ⁠Amira Mohammed⁠ & ⁠Ibrahim Abu Ahmad⁠​Associate Producer / Supervising Editor: ⁠Evelyn Uzan⁠​Original Music: ⁠Layan Hawila⁠ – Support her journey as a music therapy student at Berklee​Filming & Editing: ⁠Nissan Film Production⁠​Branding: ⁠Sophie Cooke⁠​Animation: ⁠Santiago Gomez

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• Season 2: Action!

  After Season 1 wrapped last November, we didn’t stop. We released a bonus episode in February, hosted four international events, led countless workshops and speaking engagements, recorded three episodes abroad, and sat down with policymakers around the world—all alongside our on-the-ground activism.While we’ve always been Unapologetic: The Third Narrative, we’ve now shortened our name to UTTN—keeping our mission the same while distinguishing ourselves from another entity with a similar name. We’re also building a full website at uttn.net, where you can learn more about who we are, our story, and our values.To bring Season 2 to life, we had to grow: fundraising, spreading the word beyond the podcast, and shifting our focus. Season 1 centered on stories of identity on this land. Season 2, while still engaging with personal identities, spotlights the actions of our incredible guests who are working on the ground to make change.In Episode 1, Amira & Ibrahim dive into the new format, the vision behind the changes, and the heart of UTTN’s work moving forward.We ask you to listen with an open ear and an open heart. The voices you’ll hear this season aren’t just stories—they’re pathways to action, courage, and possibility.Welcome to Season 2. Let’s dive in.Follow us on Instagram: @⁠⁠thirdnarrative⁠⁠ Subscribe to us on Patreon: ⁠⁠Patreon.com/ThirdNarrative⁠ ⁠For more info on UTTN, visit ⁠⁠uttn.net⁠⁠ or our ⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠ Disclaimer: This episode was recorded on August 17th, 2025. The facts presented in this episode reflect what was known at the time, but new information may have since come to light. Similarly, the opinions expressed by the hosts were shaped by our perspectives at the time of recording and may have evolved as events unfolded. Please note that engagement with our guests does not imply endorsement, and the views expressed by our guests do not necessarily represent our beliefs, either on or off our platform. What has not changed is our commitment to a just and united future.Credits​Sponsored by: B8 of Hope with the support of Albi World​Hosts / Executive Producers: Amira Mohammed & Ibrahim Abu Ahmad​Associate Producer / Supervising Editor: Evelyn Uzan​Original Music: Layan Hawila – Support her journey as a music therapy student at Berklee Intro Music Mixed by: Gavi Kutliroff​Filming & Editing: Nissan Film Production​Branding: Sophie Cooke​Animation: Santiago Gomez

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• International Series - MENA Initiative

  In the final episode of our international mini-series, we spotlight the student perspective through a powerful conversation with Reine and Leo—outgoing and incoming board members of the MENA Initiative at the Graduate Institute in Geneva. They share their experiences, the successes of organizing student-led events, and the realities of balancing activism with academic life—perspectives we believe deserve a seat at the table.This episode also reflects on our own journey. Back in Season 1, Episode 19 – “Let’s Talk Protests,” we discussed student-led demonstrations with the limited knowledge we had at the time. Today, we know that 97% of student-led pro-Palestine demonstrations remain peaceful (ACLED report). While we are not journalists, we are individuals with a platform—and when we learn better, we strive to do better.Throughout this series, we’ve explored three entry points into activism and politics:1️⃣ Grassroots organizing2️⃣ Political activism3️⃣ Student initiativesEach offers a unique lens into building a just and inclusive future. We wish this conversation could have been longer, as there was so much more to unpack, but we hope you enjoyed listening.If these discussions make you uncomfortable, we invite you to lean in. Dialogue over debate helps us humanize rather than demonize—even when we disagree. Because at the end of the day, we all deserve better!✨ Stay tuned for Season 2 next month! We’ve got big changes ahead! Join us on Patreon for early access to episodes, community Zoom calls, and exclusive one-on-one sessions with Amira and Ibrahim.Follow us on Instagram: @⁠⁠thirdnarrative⁠⁠ Subscribe to us on Patreon: ⁠⁠Patreon.com/ThirdNarrative⁠ ⁠For more info on Third Narrative, visit our ⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠uttn.net⁠Thank you for supporting this work and community!Disclaimer: This episode was recorded on May 6th, 2025. The facts presented in this episode reflect what was known at the time, but new information may have since come to light. Similarly, the opinions expressed by the hosts were shaped by our perspectives at the time of recording and may have evolved as events unfolded. Please note that engagement with our guests does not imply endorsement, and the views expressed by our guests do not necessarily represent our beliefs, either on or off our platform. What has not changed is our commitment to a just and united future, because we all deserve better.

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