This week, Turkish-American new media artist and designer Refik Anadol joins host Abdul-Rehman Malik for a compelling conversation about his journey, inspirations, and the impact of his groundbreaking work on the global art scene. Anadol's projects consist of data-driven machine learning algorithms that create abstract, colourful environments. They  discuss his cultural collaborations and the impact of his work on global art narratives, all while contemplating the evolving role of artists in our technology-driven world.

On this episode of This Being Human, AR chats with British experimental filmmaker, Alia Syed. Born in Swansea to a Welsh mother and Indian father, Alia’s work explores themes of culture, diaspora, and personal identity, inviting viewers to contemplate the complexities of the human experience. Her films have been shown at prestigious institutions worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Tate Modern in London, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

Saks Afridi is an artist who refers to his work as “sci-fi sufism.” His pieces include prayer rugs depicting UFOs, visual art that blends images of circuitry with classic Islamic design, and an extensive, multi-disciplinary project based on a mythological world that he calls SpaceMosque. On this episode, Saks talks about blending the spiritual with the speculative, why the idea of prayer factors into so much of his work, and how his day job in advertising informs his art practice.

This week on the podcast, AR sits down with Grammy nominated poet and recording artist, Amir Sulaiman. Hailing from Rochester, New York, Amir's poetic journey has traversed continents, resonating with audiences globally. Amir helped write and produce the second and third season of the award-winning series Ramy on Hulu, collaborated on albums with Dave Chappelle and Robert Glasper, and is now a writer for Marvel’s upcoming Black Panther series, Ironheart. In this episode, they discuss the amazing turns Amir’s career has taken, and his unique perspective on poetry and the role of the poet in society. 

This week on the podcast, AR sits down with musician and two-time JUNO winner, Kiran Ahluwalia. Kiran 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 any other artist. Over the last two decades, Kiran has studied under masters of classical Indian music and collaborated with iconic North African artists, most notably the iconic desert blues group Tinariwen. On this episode, she talks about her new single, Pancake, her decision to leave her career in Canada to study music in India, and her family’s experience of the partition of India.

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 2023, "Q" paints a mesmerizing portrait of her mother's relationship to an all-female religious group in Lebanon. It has won multiple awards including Best New Documentary Director at the Tribeca Film Festival, a Cinema Eye Honor, and earned Jude her spot on DOCNYC's '40 under 40' list. This week on the podcast, Jude tells us how she learned to weave a story that retains some level of mystery, but is grounded in humanity, as she learned from one of her film teachers, the legendary Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami.

The wait is over…. Season 4 of This Being Human is finally here! We are so excited for another season filled with captivating stories and insightful discussions with an extraordinary lineup of guests. On our first episode, AR sits down with his long-time family-friend, author and former columnist for the Toronto Star, Haroon Siddiqui. They speak about Haroon’s love for Canada, how he got his start in journalism, and his latest book, My Name is Not Harry: A Memoir, a defiant and proud assertion of his Muslim identity in the face of Islamophobia.