Ep 21: Your War, Our Lives - The Stories Behind the Headlines with Mina Sharif

Accomplished writer, advocate, and global bridge-builder Mina Sharif takes listeners on a powerful journey in this deeply moving conversation about identity, storytelling, and challenging dominant narratives.

Her new book, Your War, Our Lives: Short Stories of the Afghan Experience, wasn’t born from a publishing plan but from a deeply personal desire to preserve memories and offer counter-narratives to the conflict-driven images of Afghanistan so often portrayed in Western media.

“What I saw missing was what everyday life in Afghanistan looks and feels like,” Sharif shares, explaining how her writing began as cathartic journaling reflecting on her 14 years of living in Kabul. 

After the fall of Afghanistan in 2021, she was invited to speak at countless events — but instead of being asked about her lived experiences, she was met with geopolitical questions rooted in stereotypes. Frustrated, she made it her mission to use storytelling, writing, and art as tools to move beyond the black-and-white narrative of Afghanistan, highlighting its nuance and complexity through lived experiences and everyday stories — not just politics or headlines.

Sharif reflects on how returning to her homeland in 2005 profoundly shaped her understanding of belonging. With disarming honesty, she realized that “avoidance isn’t an option” when it comes to cultural identity — but you do have the autonomy to choose how you explore and engage with it. 

In this episode, we explore the idea of coexistence and Sharif’s experience of “straddling two worlds” — feeling “so Canadian” in Afghanistan, then returning to find herself changed by her years abroad. She offers powerful insights for anyone navigating dual identities: “Maybe it doesn’t mean that I’m without a home,” she reflects. “Maybe it means I have more than one.”

Sharif is also the founder of Sisters 4 Sisters, a nationwide mentorship program for Afghan women and girls that grew out of grassroots community action. 

A prominent voice in the Afghan diaspora, she uses her platform to bridge cultural gaps and deepen understanding of Afghan life. She co-authored The Diaspora Journal, writes The Hyphenated Blog, and has been featured across major publications, TV, podcasts, and radio. Her work continues to shape conversations on conflict-affected communities, women’s rights, and uplifting marginalized voices.

For Mina Sharif, advocacy starts with storytelling. She believes emotional connection leaves a deeper, lasting impact than facts alone — and that everyone’s story deserves to be told.

Listen now to learn why she calls community collaboration “a cheat code” for finding your voice.

Learn more about Mina Sharif and her work here:

https://minasharif.com/ 

https://minasharif.com/your-war-our-lives 

Original illustrations by ArtLords: https://artlords.co/