UNSUGARCOATED with Aalia

UNSUGARCOATED with Aalia

Nominated for Best Use of Podcast (2020 Shorty Social Good Awards) this seasonal social good podcast is a compilation of thought-provoking and inspirational discussions between Executive Producer and award-winning novelist, Aalia Lanius, and her intriguing guests, which includes media moguls, celebrities, rising stars, thought leaders, award-winning artists, entrepreneurs, athletes, filmmakers, and social good organizations. From heavy to light-hearted, the perspectives are authentic and bring value to all, especially survivors of trauma. Lanius brings it “UNSUGARCOATED” so that listeners can feel educated, entertained and truly empowered by the end of each episode. Connect with your host on IG: @aalia_unsugarcoated Presented by UNSUGARCOATED Media, a 501c3 media enterprise.

Episodes

E108 Breaking Myths: Simone Zimmerman on Palestine and Israelism

September 6, 2024 • 34 mins
In this compelling episode of UNSUGARCOATED with Aalia, we sit down with Jewish American activist Simone Zimmerman, co-founder of IfNotNow and a key figure in the documentary “Israelism.” Simone sheds light on the deeply entrenched issues stemming from Zionist ideology and its devastating impact on both Palestinian and Jewish lives. We explore the ongoing genocide in Palestine, the global systems that profit from war, and the moral...
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E107 Resilience, Advocacy, and Healing - with Ali Badshah

September 5, 2024 • 36 mins
In this episode of UNSUGARCOATED with Aalia, we welcome the multifaceted artist Ali Badshah to discuss his profound connection to Palestine and the ongoing genocide. Ali shares how his passion for activism and truth come into contrast with his acting career and how the suffering in Gaza and the West Bank shape his artistic expressions. Learn the incredible inspiration behind his Amazon Best Selling Book of poetry, “Ghost Flowers.” ...
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E106 Trauma, Genocide, and Christian Zionism - with Dushyanthi Satchi, LCSW

July 25, 2024 • 26 mins
In Episode 106, Aalia and Dushyanthi Satchi, LCSW, delves into the profound impact of trauma and genocide on individuals and communities, drawing from her personal and professional experiences. As a Sri Lankan Tamil and a licensed clinical psychotherapist, Dushyanthi discusses how growing up in the shadow of genocide shaped her career in trauma counseling. She explores the transformative role of social media in real-time reporting ...
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E105 Muslim, American, and Unapologetic – with Aizzah Fatima

July 3, 2024 • 37 mins
In Episode 105, award-winning actor, filmmaker, and comedian Aizzah Fatima discusses her journey from microbiologist to celebrated artist. Aizzah shares how her acclaimed stage play, "Dirty Paki Lingerie," evolved into the film "Americanish," which challenges stereotypes and showcases the diverse experiences of Muslim American women. Through her work, Aizzah blends acting with activism, using storytelling to foster understanding an...
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E104 Grace Under Fire – with Bfendyy

June 21, 2024 • 32 mins
In this episode titled "Grace Under Fire," we sit down with Belal Nassar, aka Bfendyy, a Palestinian American content creator and actor dedicated to amplifying the voices of the voiceless in Gaza. Belal shares his journey from his upbringing in America to his rise as a digital storyteller, highlighting the profound psychological toll of facing daily aggression and hostility online. We explore the intersection of activism and art, t...
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E103 Artistic Resistance: MC Gaza's Battle Against Genocide

June 14, 2024 • 34 mins
In a raw conversation, we meet the Palestinian artist MC Gaza who has raised funds to get his family, including his mother and brother with Down Syndrome, out of Gaza to safety in Egypt. He shares his experience being inspired by legends such as Tupac to use rap as resistance against illegal occupation as well as his heartbreak over the way Israeli forces have destroyed every aspect of life in Gaza and the amount of innocent lives ...
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EP 101 LIMITED SERIES: From Los Angeles to Gaza: A Plea for Humanity -with Dana Dargos

December 12, 2023 • 38 mins
In the compelling 101st episode of UNSUGARCOATED with Aalia, we get the Lebanese perspective as Lebanese-American award-winning author Dana Dargos takes center stage. She discusses her journey from the Bay Area to literary acclaim with her debut, "Einstein in the Attic." The episode explores Dana's diverse interests, cultural values blending Lebanese heritage with American upbringing, and her impactful storytelling. Listeners are i...
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EP 100 LIMITED SERIES: From Los Angeles to Gaza: A Plea for Humanity -with Thomas Maddens

December 1, 2023 • 46 mins
In the 100th episode, UNSUGARCOATED with Aalia welcomes Thomas Madden, the son of a Belgian diplomat, is a filmmaker, journalist, activist and founder of A Mad Production. Having personally documented life in Congo, South Sudan, Nepal, Iraq and Gaza on behalf of UNICEF, Thomas sheds light on how different stakeholders approach global geopolitical and humanitarian crises. Especially calling attention to the atrocities, oppression, a...
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EP 99 LIMITED SERIES: From Los Angeles to Gaza: A Plea for Humanity -with Quinn the Eskimo

November 20, 2023 • 38 mins
In this limited series and the 99th podcast episode of the show, host Aalia Lanius welcomes Quinn the Eskimo, a full-time digital “slowmad” who has been traveling the world for the last 3 years is now shifting his efforts to travel to Gaza. Quinn discusses his upcoming journey to the region, his collaboration with local organizations, and his commitment to sharing stories from conflict zones to raise awareness and inspire action.

Qu...
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EP 98 LIMITED SERIES: From Los Angeles to Gaza: A Plea for Humanity -with Jess Salomon

November 16, 2023 • 44 mins
In this limited series, and the 98th podcast episode of the show, our host, Aalia is joined by Jewish-born, New York-based, Canadian Jess Salomon, to share her remarkable journey from U.N. war crimes lawyer to the spotlight of the comedy stage with her wife, a Palestinian Muslim.
In this interview, they explore Salomon’s early experiences with Jewish traditions, her foray into the world of comedy, and the unique perspective she bri...
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EP 97 LIMITED SERIES: From Los Angeles to Gaza: A Plea for Humanity -with Nazia Khatun

November 13, 2023 • 47 mins
As part of this limited series and 97th episode of UNSUGARCOATED with Aalia, our host welcomes to the conversation United Kingdom based Fitness Trainer and Influencer, Nazia Khatun. After discussing her background and work to empower clients through fitness, neuroscience and trauma healing they dive into their critical perspectives of what “role model” means in a world that wants to cancel those speaking up for Palestinians sufferi...
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EP 96 LIMITED SERIES: From Los Angeles to Gaza: A Plea for Humanity -with Morani Kornberg, PhD

November 10, 2023 • 49 mins
In this compelling podcast episode, our host engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Morani Kornberg, a distinguished Israeli-born Jewish scholar, writer, and poet holding a PhD. The focus of the episode revolves around the intricate history of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and what it would be like to be born Palestinian in contrast to Jewish, aiming to provide listeners with a nuanced understanding of the region's com...
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E95 Want to Live Long? Get Tech About It!

May 19, 2023 • 35 mins
In our final episode of season 11, Aalia is joined by Johannes Bhakdi, the Founder and CEO of Quantgene. Jo brings his expertise in the biotech industry as they discuss the use of AI and genomics in preventative healthcare, to aid in the early detection and prevention of diseases. They also talk about the role emotional intelligence plays in the industry. Jo highlights the potential of genomics and AI in developing personalized tre...
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E94 Starting a Business in a Down Economy?

May 12, 2023 • 37 mins
In this episode, Aalia is joined by Aaron Michael Sanchez, author, talk show host and business strategist. Are you trying to figure out where to start when launching a business? Aalia and Aaron talk about the challenges and opportunities of starting one in a down economy, and how self-regulation, resilience and emotional intelligence are important qualities for entrepreneurs to possess. Aaron discusses his co-authored book "How to ...
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E93 Dating with Emotional Intelligence

May 5, 2023 • 32 mins
In this episode, Aalia is joined by Michael Kaye, the Director of Brand & Communications at OkCupid. Michael brings his insights into the online dating world and all things romance! He discusses the importance of emotional intelligence in dating and creating meaningful relationships. Michael and Aalia both share their personal experiences with online dating and relationships. Michael also shares about OkCupid’s efforts to conne...
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E92 Revolutionize Healthcare with Emotional Intelligence

April 28, 2023 • 43 mins
In episode 92, Robert Pearl, MD, Forbes healthcare contributor, former CEO of The Permanente Medical Group, and author of two highly acclaimed books, "Mistreated" and "Uncaring," provides our audience with outstanding insight into the current and future state of the healthcare system. This episode delves into Pearl’s personal journey to becoming a healthcare leader, the importance of restructuring and repairing inadequacies within ...
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E91 Sports: Does LGBTQ+ Representation Matter?

April 21, 2023 • 42 mins
In this episode, Aalia is joined by Bryan Ruby, the first credited openly gay active professional baseball player and country music artist. Bryan shares his experiences and insights on the importance of representation and inclusion in sports and entertainment, as well as how storytelling and music can play a role in promoting social acceptance and empathy. He also shares the purpose behind his non-profit organization, Proud To Be I...
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E90 Women in Film: Controversial for Good

April 14, 2023 • 40 mins
Episode 90 of UNSUGARCOATED with Aalia, features an indepth conversation with Karina Miller, filmmaker with over two decades of producing credits in film, television, and theater. In this episode, Karina shares her thoughts on the role of film in addressing social issues and discusses the behind-the-scenes stories of "Hail Mary," her latest movie that aims to authentically depict the struggles of undocumented immigrants. Through he...
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E89 Women in Tech: What You Need to Succeed

April 7, 2023 • 29 mins
In this episode, Aalia invites Genevieve Thiers, a true disrupter and advocate for women in the tech industry to share her journey of growing female power in workplace, and how she was inspired by her own experiences to make a firm commitment to help women working in the tech industry to find their rightful voices. Stay tuned with Aalia to learn more about the crucial role of emotional intelligence in empowering women to represent ...
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E88 Emotional Intelligence: Hate is Based on Ignorance

March 31, 2023 • 34 mins
In this episode, Aalia is joined by media mogul Larry Namer. As the co-founder of E! Entertainment Television and true media mogul is a dedicated philanthropist and he continues to be part of incredible projects impacting the world. In this episode, he returns to the show to discuss emotional intelligence, his favorite project to date and how hate is based on ignorance. Like, comment, and subscribe! Stay connected with your host on...
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