A show that dives into behind-the-scenes, lesser known stories of people, places, the arts, and more. For those who hold stories that are often deemed too vulnerable, too raw, too precious, too real, or too nerdy to be shared, may this be a space for you. We are all more than meets the eye. Follow @sharonlin_human on Instagram for video highlights and more! Collaborations: mtmte.sharon@gmail.com 歡迎追蹤Instagram @sharonlin_human 合作邀約：mtmte.sharon@gmail.com - Music: Chillhop Beat "Thousand Miles" by [Music_Unlimited] via Pixabay
Podcast
14 episodes
2026-03-15
Palestinian Dabke-resistance, liberation, and hope ft. Sharaf DarZaid
In this episode, you’ll hear from Sharaf DarZaid. Sharaf DarZaid is a Pa1estinian dancer and choreographer based in Ramallah. Sharaf is a dancer and choreographer for the El-Funoun Palestinian Popular Dance Troupe, founded in 1979. In addition, Sharaf also coordinates programs at the Popular Art Center in Ramallah. Through Sharaf, we’ll learn about Pa1estinian Dabke, a Pa1estinian traditional folkloric dance that embodies the Palestinian people’s deep connection to the land and has become an important symbol of Pa1estinian resistance and liberation. We’ll learn about the history, the steps, and the kinds of instruments often involved when it comes to music for Dabke. Sharaf will also highlight several productions by El-Funoun Palestinian Popular Dance Troupe, as well as the obstacles the dance troupe has to endure under 1sraeli occupation. Sharaf also shares with us the stories behind his solo performance, Love in the Time of Apartheid, which deeply reflects the everyday struggles of Pa1estinians living under occupation. Towards the end, Sharaf talks about what resistance means to him as a Pa1estinian artist. Follow El-Funoun Palestinian Popular Dance Troupe: https://www.el-funoun.org/ Instagram: @elfunoun_troupe Follow The Popular Art Centre (PAC) in Ramallah: https://www.popularartcentre.org/ Instagram: @pac.artcentre Follow Sharaf DarZaid on Instagram: @sharaf_darzaid Cover photo: Sharaf in his solo performance Love in the Time of Apartheid in London Leave a comment and share your thoughts:
2025-12-14
“Hope will not die.” ft. Marwan Makhoul
My guest for this episode is the Palestinian poet, Marwan Makhoul. Marwan Makhoul was invited to the 2025 Taipei Poetry Festival, where he gave a powerful recital of his poem "New Gaza" at the opening ceremony. I had the honor to sit down and chat with Marwan on a sunny morning in Taipei, on October seventh, 2025. Marwan Makhoul is a Palestinian poet, born in 1979, of both Palestinian and Lebanese heritage. Marwan’s work is well-loved and celebrated around the world, and his poems have been translated into more than 24 languages. Besides poetry, Marwan has also published works in prose and drama. In this episode, Marwan shares with us how he found his way to poetry and the important truths about Palestine inside his poems such as “New Gaza” – What is the historical significance behind words like “twice exiled” and “seventy five years too late”? What about the year 1948? We will learn more with Marwan. Towards the end, Marwan also shares with us his time together with the celebrated, legendary Palestinian poet, Mahmoud Darwish, who was like a father to him. This interview is in English and Arabic, where you would hear me asking questions in English, Marwan answering in Arabic, and our two-way interpreter Yahya doing consecutive interpreting. Don’t forget to check out video highlights of this episode on Instagram @sharonlin_human Audio at the beginning (Provided by Marwan Makhoul): It’s the live recording of Marwan Makhoul reciting "New Gaza" at the open event of the 2025 Taipei Poetry Festival, with live music performed live by Mia Hsieh and Scott Prairie (Co directors of A Moving Sound). Interpretor: Yahya Namiq Pshdari Follow Marwan’s work: Instagram: @marwan_makhoul YouTube: https://youtube.com/@marwanmakhool?si=Xg7gh-Tv3urB5DEn Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1WMTmwfz4m/?mibextid=wwXIfr X: https://x.com/marwanmakhoul?s=11 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@marwan.makhoul1?_r=1&_t=ZS-92676xiudJo Leave a comment and share your thoughts: https://open.firstory.me/user/cm2ebvejd0gjh01srcqsb2so3/comments
2025-11-09
Playing basketball, representing Palestine is resistance ft. Sani Sakakini
This interview has been a long time coming. The guest of this episode is the one and only, the Palestinian professional basketball player, Sani Sakakini. Sani and I recorded this in person in Taipei in late September, 2025. Sani played for the Palestinian National Basketball Team from 2006-2021, and is considered the first and most important professional basketball player from Palestine. Sani’s professional career has taken him around the world, including to Jordan, China, Venezuela, Lebanon, and now Taiwan. Sani continues to make history. How did Sani find the path to basketball? What was it like being the first, having to create the opportunities you hoped to have as a young Palestinian athlete? What was the basketball scene like in the West Bank? Sani also shares with us the reality of life for Palestinians living under Israeli occupation, with his personal experiences growing up during the Second Intifada. When Sani was just a teenager, an experience at the Container Checkpoint really stood out to him… Currently, Sani is playing for another season with the New Taipei Kings in Taiwan. Last year, the New Taipei Kings won the championship of the Taiwan Professional Basketball League. What was that moment like for Sani? What does he look forward to for this season in Taiwan? You’ll hear it from himself. Towards the end, Sani also shares some words, especially to the people in Taiwan, and what he hopes for– for his homeland, Palestine. [This interview was recorded in late September, 2025. Sani Sakakini was speaking in his individual capacity.] Follow Sani on Instagram: @beastsakakini Check out @sharonlin_human for video highlights of this interview Leave a comment and share your thoughts: https://open.firstory.me/user/cm2ebvejd0gjh01srcqsb2so3/comments
2026-03-15
Palestinian Dabke-resistance, liberation, and hope ft. Sharaf DarZaid
In this episode, you’ll hear from Sharaf DarZaid. Sharaf DarZaid is a Pa1estinian dancer and choreographer based in Ramallah. Sharaf is a dancer and choreographer for the El-Funoun Palestinian Popular Dance Troupe, founded in 1979. In addition, Sharaf also coordinates programs at the Popular Art Center in Ramallah. Through Sharaf, we’ll learn about Pa1estinian Dabke, a Pa1estinian traditional folkloric dance that embodies the Palestinian people’s deep connection to the land and has become an important symbol of Pa1estinian resistance and liberation. We’ll learn about the history, the steps, and the kinds of instruments often involved when it comes to music for Dabke. Sharaf will also highlight several productions by El-Funoun Palestinian Popular Dance Troupe, as well as the obstacles the dance troupe has to endure under 1sraeli occupation. Sharaf also shares with us the stories behind his solo performance, Love in the Time of Apartheid, which deeply reflects the everyday struggles of Pa1estinians living under occupation. Towards the end, Sharaf talks about what resistance means to him as a Pa1estinian artist. Follow El-Funoun Palestinian Popular Dance Troupe: https://www.el-funoun.org/ Instagram: @elfunoun_troupe Follow The Popular Art Centre (PAC) in Ramallah: https://www.popularartcentre.org/ Instagram: @pac.artcentre Follow Sharaf DarZaid on Instagram: @sharaf_darzaid Cover photo: Sharaf in his solo performance Love in the Time of Apartheid in London Leave a comment and share your thoughts:
2025-12-14
“Hope will not die.” ft. Marwan Makhoul
My guest for this episode is the Palestinian poet, Marwan Makhoul. Marwan Makhoul was invited to the 2025 Taipei Poetry Festival, where he gave a powerful recital of his poem "New Gaza" at the opening ceremony. I had the honor to sit down and chat with Marwan on a sunny morning in Taipei, on October seventh, 2025. Marwan Makhoul is a Palestinian poet, born in 1979, of both Palestinian and Lebanese heritage. Marwan’s work is well-loved and celebrated around the world, and his poems have been translated into more than 24 languages. Besides poetry, Marwan has also published works in prose and drama. In this episode, Marwan shares with us how he found his way to poetry and the important truths about Palestine inside his poems such as “New Gaza” – What is the historical significance behind words like “twice exiled” and “seventy five years too late”? What about the year 1948? We will learn more with Marwan. Towards the end, Marwan also shares with us his time together with the celebrated, legendary Palestinian poet, Mahmoud Darwish, who was like a father to him. This interview is in English and Arabic, where you would hear me asking questions in English, Marwan answering in Arabic, and our two-way interpreter Yahya doing consecutive interpreting. Don’t forget to check out video highlights of this episode on Instagram @sharonlin_human Audio at the beginning (Provided by Marwan Makhoul): It’s the live recording of Marwan Makhoul reciting "New Gaza" at the open event of the 2025 Taipei Poetry Festival, with live music performed live by Mia Hsieh and Scott Prairie (Co directors of A Moving Sound). Interpretor: Yahya Namiq Pshdari Follow Marwan’s work: Instagram: @marwan_makhoul YouTube: https://youtube.com/@marwanmakhool?si=Xg7gh-Tv3urB5DEn Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1WMTmwfz4m/?mibextid=wwXIfr X: https://x.com/marwanmakhoul?s=11 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@marwan.makhoul1?_r=1&_t=ZS-92676xiudJo Leave a comment and share your thoughts: https://open.firstory.me/user/cm2ebvejd0gjh01srcqsb2so3/comments
2025-11-09
Playing basketball, representing Palestine is resistance ft. Sani Sakakini
This interview has been a long time coming. The guest of this episode is the one and only, the Palestinian professional basketball player, Sani Sakakini. Sani and I recorded this in person in Taipei in late September, 2025. Sani played for the Palestinian National Basketball Team from 2006-2021, and is considered the first and most important professional basketball player from Palestine. Sani’s professional career has taken him around the world, including to Jordan, China, Venezuela, Lebanon, and now Taiwan. Sani continues to make history. How did Sani find the path to basketball? What was it like being the first, having to create the opportunities you hoped to have as a young Palestinian athlete? What was the basketball scene like in the West Bank? Sani also shares with us the reality of life for Palestinians living under Israeli occupation, with his personal experiences growing up during the Second Intifada. When Sani was just a teenager, an experience at the Container Checkpoint really stood out to him… Currently, Sani is playing for another season with the New Taipei Kings in Taiwan. Last year, the New Taipei Kings won the championship of the Taiwan Professional Basketball League. What was that moment like for Sani? What does he look forward to for this season in Taiwan? You’ll hear it from himself. Towards the end, Sani also shares some words, especially to the people in Taiwan, and what he hopes for– for his homeland, Palestine. [This interview was recorded in late September, 2025. Sani Sakakini was speaking in his individual capacity.] Follow Sani on Instagram: @beastsakakini Check out @sharonlin_human for video highlights of this interview Leave a comment and share your thoughts: https://open.firstory.me/user/cm2ebvejd0gjh01srcqsb2so3/comments