Shows / This Being Human
This Being Human
This Being Human is the Aga Khan Museum’s video podcast that explores conversations about Muslim art, cultural exchange, and the stories that connect us. Hosted by Mai Habib, the series brings together artists, thinkers, and cultural leaders to explore how creativity opens doors—sparking curiosity, encouraging collaboration, and deepening understanding across time and place. Each episode reflects on the ways art shapes our lives, connects communities, and reveals the threads we share.
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Episodes
This Being HumanModesty in Full Colour: Samia Benchaou on Fashion and Faith
For Samia Benchaou, modesty has never meant blending in. The Moroccan-Danish stylist has built a global audience with bold colour, unexpected layers and an…
This Being HumanBuilding From Within: Kareem Ibrahim’s Vision for Esna
What does it take to bring new life to a city without erasing what made it special in the first place? In Esna, a historic city along the Nile, architect…
This Being HumanSeeing Islam Through Art with Christiane Gruber
What ties an 8th-century mosaic in the Dome of the Rock to a contemporary abstract carpet? For Islamic art historian Christiane Gruber, that question has…
This Being HumanCreating Space for Muslim Women in Sport with Amreen Kadwa
Amreen Kadwa didn't set out to build a nonprofit. She set out to find people like her: Muslim women who played sports and understood what it felt like to walk…
This Being HumanMusic: A Language We All Speak with Mekaal Hasan
"I don't want perfect. Perfect is boring.” In this episode of This Being Human, host Mai Habib chats with Mekaal Hasan, a renowned Pakistani musician to…
This Being HumanThe Shape of Culture: Arabic Typography with Dr. Huda Smitshuijzen AbiFarès
When Dr. Huda Smitshuijzen AbiFarès moved from Beirut to study in the United States, she found herself doing something she'd never had to do before: explaining…
This Being HumanDreaming Your Own Museum with Ohida Khandakar
Some museums you visit. Others, you dream. In this episode of This Being Human, host Mai Habib sits down with artist and filmmaker Ohida Khandakar to discuss…
This Being HumanManifesting Light: Designing the Aga Khan Museum
Before the Aga Khan Museum became a landmark in Toronto, it started with a letter about light. In this episode of This Being Human, host Mai Habib sits down…
This Being HumanSeason 5 Teaser
New host. New format. Now on video. Welcome to the relaunch of This Being Human, the Aga Khan Museum’s podcast about Muslim art, global cultures and how we’re…
This Being HumanBeyond Boundaries with Pakistani Artist Yousuf Bashir Qureshi
In this episode, we sit down with Yousuf Bashir Qureshi, known to many as YBQ, a visionary artist whose work blends music, culture, and storytelling to craft a…
This Being HumanHisham Matar on Friendship and Writing from the Margins
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Hisham Matar joins This Being Human to discuss his latest novel, My Friends. He reflects on themes of friendship, exile, and the…
This Being HumanKrista Tippett on Wisdom, Love, and the Art of Deep Listening
In this episode of This Being Human, host Abdul-Rehman Malik sits down with Krista Tippett, the celebrated creator of On Being. Known for her gift of drawing…
This Being HumanStories That Shape Us: Saima Hussain on Libraries, Identity, and Heritage
In this episode, we sit down with writer, editor, and librarian Saima Hussain. From her book The Arab World Thought of It: Inventions, Innovations and Amazing…
This Being HumanFinding Joy and Connection in Storytelling with Marguerite Richards
In this episode, we sit down with Marguerite Richards, editor of The Ordinary Chaos of Being Human, an anthology of personal stories from around the world…
This Being HumanThe Legacy of Qawwali with Bilal Chishty
Join us as we journey into the heart of Qawwali with Bilal Chishty, a descendent of the great Chishti Sufi lineage and a musician devoted to preserving this…
This Being HumanGardens of the Soul: Emma Clark on the Sacred Art of Islamic Gardens
In this episode of This Being Human we sit down with Emma Clark, an expert in Islamic garden design, to explore her journey from a childhood surrounded by…
This Being HumanArt Fazil's Revival of the Folk Music of Nusantara
Join us for a captivating conversation with Art Fazil, as we explore his journey through the rich cultural tapestry of Nusantara. Celebrating 30 years of his…
This Being HumanKazem Abdullah: Conducting Change in Classical Music
In this episode, we delve into the life and career of Kazem Abdullah, exploring his path from a clarinetist to a prominent conductor. We will discuss his…
This Being HumanNasir Sirikhan’s Philosophy of Dance
Nasir Sirikhan and Abdul-Rehman Malik discuss Nasir's viral wedding dance video and the joy and connection it brought to millions of viewers. They talk about…
This Being HumanFaig Ahmed Melts Tradition with His Mind-Bending Rugs
In this episode we sit down with renowned contemporary artist Faig Ahmed, celebrated for his revolutionary approach to traditional Azerbaijani carpet weaving…
This Being HumanAanchal Malhotra Collects Stories of Partition
In this episode of This Being Human, Abdul-Rehman Malik sits down with Aanchal Malhotra, author and oral historian, to explore the emotional legacies of the…
This Being HumanHow Deeyah Khan Faces Hate With Humanity (Live!)
In this episode of "This Being Human," we sit down with Deeyah Khan, an acclaimed filmmaker and activist renowned for her transformative documentaries. Deeyah…
This Being Humandina Amin's Treasure Trove of Trash
In this episode of This Being Human we sit down with dina Amin, an innovative stop motion artist from Cairo, Egypt. dina shares her unique journey from…
This Being HumanData Dreams: The Artistic Universe of Refik Anadol
In this episode we delve into the artistic universe of Refik Anadol, a Turkish-American new media artist renowned for his innovative use of data-driven machine…
This Being HumanAlia Syed's Career In Experimental Filmmaking
On this episode of This Being Human, we speak with Alia Syed, a British experimental filmmaker whose work has been shown all around the art world for the last…
This Being HumanThe Sci-Fi Sufism of Saks Afridi
Saks Afridi is an artist who refers to his work as ,scfi-fi sufism., His pieces include prayer rugs depicting UFOs, visual art that blends images of circuitry…
This Being HumanAmir Sulaiman's Journey From Poet to Screenwriter
In this episode of This Being Human we delve deep into the profound significance of poetry in modernity through the lens of renowned poet and artist, Amir…
This Being HumanKiran Ahluwalia on blending cultures and making music
Kiran Ahluwalia is a true innovator-her songs blend the music of India with influences from Mali and western blues, rock, R&B and jazz to create a sound unlike…
This Being HumanJude Chehab Made A Beautiful Film about her Mother
Meet Jude Chehab, the rising-star filmmaker whose debut documentary “Q” is making waves in the industry! Named one of Vogue Magazine’s top documentaries of…
This Being HumanHaroon Siddiqui's Love Letter to Canada
Haroon Siddiqui has had many titles. Reporter, columnist, editor... the list goes on. He can now add author to his resume with the release of his memoir "My…
This Being HumanSeason 4 Teaser
A new season of This Being Human is almost here! We'll be back soon with more fascinating conversations with amazing people whose lives, ideas, and art have…
This Being HumanSandra Saenz on the art of makeup
Sandra Saenz joins us to talk about the art of makeup, navigating the world of beauty as a Mexican Muslim, and her first video art exhibition. She is the first…
This Being HumanHassan Hajjaj on his Iconic Photography
Photographer Hassan Hajjaj has an iconic style that blends elements of pop art, hip hop culture and North African fashion. It spans series like Kesh Angels…
This Being HumanWael Shawky Doesn't Believe in History
Egyptian artist Wael Shawky explores the connections between history and myth. His work includes installations and sculpture, as well as films like Cabaret…
This Being HumanShezad Dawood's Virtual Garden of Love
Shezad Dawood is a multidisciplinary artist whose work blends stories, reality and symbolism to engage with big questions about humanity, and explore…
This Being HumanBest of: Marina Tabassum
Marina Tabassum is a Bangladeshi architect whose work includes Bangladesh's underground Museum of Independence and the award-winning Bait Ur Rouf mosque. She…
This Being HumanKameelah Janan Rasheed isn't interested in being legible
Kameelah Janan Rasheed is an artist whose work focuses on Black knowledge production, re-shaping history, and unlearning the things we think we know. Her…
This Being HumanA.R. interviews his sister, Toronto Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik
Ausma Malik was the first woman in a hijab to be elected to public office in Canada, and the first Muslim-identifying, hijab-wearing woman on Toronto city…
This Being HumanYasmeen Lari on Rethinking the Values of Architecture
As Pakistan's first female architect, Yasmeen Lari left a major imprint on the country's visual identity, with modern buildings like the Finance and Trade…
This Being HumanEpisode 13 - Mokhtar Alkhanshali
Mokhtar Alkhanshali is a coffee historian, entrepreneur, and innovator. After several years as a community organizer working on civil rights issues affecting…
This Being HumanEpisode 12 - Humaira Abid
Humaira Abid gathers ordinary objects from everyday life and transforms them into something extraordinary. Her wood sculpture and paintings — known for their…
This Being HumanEpisode 11 - Jamaluddin Aram
Jamaluddin Aram is a documentary filmmaker, producer, and writer from Kabul, Afghanistan. He is the associate producer of the Academy Award-nominated film…
This Being HumanEpisode 10 - Shahjehan Khan
Shahjehan is a voice-over artist, actor, and musician based in Boston. He is the current host of the award-winning King of the World Podcast, where he explores…
This Being HumanEpisode 9 - Zakir Hussain
Zakir Hussain’s name is practically synonymous with the tablas. His work ranges from classical Indian compositions to Hollywood film scores to collaborations…
This Being HumanEpisode 8 - Deqo Mohamed
Dr. Deqo Mohamed spent her teen years coordinating with NGOs, teaching, and arranging breakfast for thousands of displaced people. That’s because her mother…
This Being HumanEpisode 7 - Nazeem Hussain
Nazeem Hussain has fast become one of the biggest stars of Australian comedy, and a much-loved television and radio personality. He is the creator and star of…
This Being HumanEpisode 6 - Noor Tagouri
Noor is an award-winning journalist and producer, a touring speaker for over 10 years, and has told stories in every medium, from radio and print to…
This Being HumanEpisode 5 - Murad Subay
Murad Subay is a street artist from Yemen. His campaigns such as “Faces of War,” “Ruin” and “Color the Walls of Your Street” reflect his experiences living…
This Being HumanEpisode 4 - Voice of Baceprot
The heavy metal band Voice of Baceprot was formed by three middle schoolers in a small town in Indonesia. Over the years, they built an international following…
This Being HumanEpisode 3 - Coleman Barks
Coleman Barks is an American poet and translator whose translations brought Jalaluddin Rumi, the 13th-Century Persian mystic, to mass contemporary audiences…
This Being HumanEpisode 2 - Abbas Rattani
Abbas Rattani is an academic, entertainer, and founder of MIPSTERZ. He is a strong advocate for individuality and self-expression in minority communities…
This Being HumanNajwa Zebian, the Oracle of Instagram
Najwa Zebian is a bestselling writer of poetry and inspirational books, including Mind Platter and Welcome Home: A Guide to Building a Home for Your Soul. She…
This Being HumanSeason 3 Teaser
This Being Human is coming back with more conversations from incredible people all over the world whose life, ideas and art are shaped by Muslim culture. Take…
This Being HumanEpisode 21 - Leah Vernon
Leah V made her name as a Black, Muslim, plus-size model. She has worked on major campaigns for companies like Dove and Fitbit, while also being outspoken…
This Being HumanEpisode 20 - Shanaaz Majiet
Shanaaz Majiet is a disability rights advocate. Struck by a bullet at 17 years of age, she eventually returned to her studies, then went on to become National…
This Being HumanEpisode 19 - Mariam Ghani
Mariam Ghani is an artist, writer, and filmmaker. Her work looks at places, spaces and moments where social, political and cultural structures take on visible…
This Being HumanEpisode 18 - EAST Architecture Studio
Charles Kettaneh and Nicolas Fayad are the founders of EAST Architecture Studio, an architectural design and research collective based in Beirut. They have…
This Being HumanEpisode 17 - Anida Yoeu Ali
Anida Yoeu Ali’s art mixes humour, public confrontation, and science fiction to explore issues of identity. As a Muslim Khmer woman, Anida is a minority…
This Being HumanEpisode 16 - Soumik Datta
Soumik Datta is an award-winning musician, composer and television presenter. He plays the 19 stringed sarod and connects his Indian classical roots with…
This Being HumanEpisode 15 - Malak Mattar
Malak Mattar is an artist from the Gaza Strip. She paints expressionist faces, figures and semi-abstract designs. Malak started painting at the age of…