The RizTest Podcast

The RizTest Podcast

The RizTest Podcast - a monthly (or so) podcast discussing the protrayal of Muslims on Film, TV and the arts. #riztest

Episodes

May 14, 2020 49 mins

Ramadan Mubarak! Ramadan Kareem! 🕋

We geek out and level up this week with the amazingly talented Osama Dorias and discuss the topic of representation of Muslims in Video Games🕹. 

Osama is Lead Games Designer at Warner Brother Games Canada, authored the Independent Video Games programme at Dawson College (Qubec) , founded the Montreal Independent Games Awards and is President of the Muslim In Games Special Interest Group for...

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It’s been a long time in the making but here we are with our Bollywood special. 

We sit down (in our own homes) with the talented Mr Asim Burney, host and producer of the Khandaan podcast to talk about Muslim Representation in Bollywood.

Shownotes below:

· The Khandaan Podcast

· Who is Bollywood for?

· Sense of cultural betrayal – when did Bollywood start demonising Muslims?

· Perspectives on Bollywood from Muslims in the US, ...

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Hey hey Mary J ✊🏽

We’re back after a hiatus working on personal projects (both of us dabbling in a bit of writing on the forthcoming book, I Refuse To Condemn – edited by the talented Asim Qureshi) with a brand new episode. We’re chuffed to bits to be able to finally sit down (virtually) in this new socially isolated world with our guest Daniel York Loh. We discuss his start in the theatre, writing productions such as The Fu Manch...

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Sup homeslice! ✊🏽 This episode we spend the day on set of Channel 4 comedy/drama Home Season 2 and have a chat with the wonderful Youssef Kerkour (who plays the lead, Sami) and Shibbir Ahmed (DIT on Home Season 1&2). After spending the day behind the scenes, we have a conversation with Youssef and Shibbir in the warmth of Youssef’s trailer discussing the importance of being seen on screen, the challenges of authentically represent...
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We’re back with Season 2!💥✊🏽

Did you miss us? We’re back with an amazing deep dive into Iranian cinema with the wonderful Dr. Zahra Khosroshahi, friend of the RizTest and scholar at the University of East Anglia. We talk about post revolutionary feminist representation in Iranian cinema, creativity with the backdrop of censorship and why Iranian Cinema is so much more than Persepolis.

Intro trailer: A Girl Walks Home Alone at Nig...

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TEN!✊🏽

Sadia and Shaf catch up on what has been going on in the world of representation, what we've been up to in the little break we've had and what we have planned in the coming weeks.

Notes:

  • Bradford Literature Festival Controversy
  • Bradford in Our Own Words Event
  • Hussein Kesvani's book Follow Me, Akhi
  • Collaborations with Riz Ahmed at the CAA Amplify conference
  • Youssef Kerkour and Channel 4 show, Home
  • Francis Agno...
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Nine!✊🏽

We meet with long time supporter and ally of the RizTest, Nina Bhagwat to discuss the nuances and importance of Off Screen Diversity. Nina is an accomplished TV professional having established, commissioned and championed a host of diversity initiatives. Nina is how Head of Diversity and Inclusion at the Warner Music Group and Chair of the Steering Committee at the Creative Industries Alliance. We double down on Off Screen...

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June 9, 2019 69 mins

Eid Mubarak! 🌙🎉

We link up with the hilarious Tez Ilyas who is currently living his best life co-starring in the second season of Man Like Mobeen (recommissioned for a third - boom!) and smashing it on all fronts. We drink tea, eat fruit and discuss Tez’s origin story, current projects and exciting projects on the horizon. 

Sadia and Shaf also catch up after Eid for a long overdue news round up, discuss the absolute state of...

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This Ep is *next* level 💯

We are huge super-fans of our guest, Professor Evelyn Alsultany who is an Associate Professor in the Department of American Studies and Ethnicity at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. 

We speak to the good prof and delve deep into her experience researching Anti-Arab and Anti-Muslim representations in film and the media.

Show notes:

  • Professor Evelyn's background and...
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It’s Ramadan 🌙 and this episode is ALL about the hit Hulu show Ramy, devised by and starring Ramy Youssef.

💥Spoiler Alert💥

Shaf and Sadia are honoured to be joined by Sahar Jahani, one of the writers from the show who shares amazing behind the scenes insights into what goes into writing a show like Ramy and representing authentic Muslim experiences.

We discuss with Sahar:

  • The reception of the Ramy show so far
  • Who is the s...
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This episode is sick.

Sadia and Shaf kick off by catching up about holidaying in Bosnia, Aziz Ansari's new live show and the problematic Fatwa podcast on BBC Sounds.

We are deeeelighted to introduce a Riz Test first - we have the honour of discussing film & #riztest pass Eaten by Lions with reviewer Rana (@rararana) but also writer/ director Jason Wingard (@jmbmedia) & star of the film Antonio Aakeel (@Ant...

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New episode who dis?

Sadia (@educ_research) and Shaf (@shaftag) are delighted to be joined by the super talented New York Times culture & NBA writer, hilarious Stand Up Comedian and former CBS journalist covering the Trump presidential campaign - Sopan Deb (@sopandeb). 

This episode is all about representation of Muslims and minorities in comedy - we talk through Sopan's origin story, covering the Trump campaign, the inter...

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It's April and this episode we're all about Korean Dramas (KDrama)

We're so excited to present a collaboration with the KDrama experts - the amazing Dramas Over Flowers Podcast (@dramasoverflow). We're joined by talented Anisa (@anisakhalifa_) and Saya (@notnowsaya) in a fascinating discussion around representation of Muslims in Korean Dramas and Variety Shows.

In our many tangents we discuss everything from the history of migratio...

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March 18, 2019 43 mins

It’s March! Sadia and Shaf kickoff the podcast with a news roundup; New Zealand, CBBC and the Living with the Lams controversy and the latest updates from the RizTest. We’re Joined by Naeem Ibn Farooq (@IFNaeem - we totally get his name wrong) with a deep dive into Muslim representation in the world of Anime. 

Here’s a list of the Anime we discuss in this episode: 

  • Cowboy Bebop
  • Akira
  • Death Note
  • Your name
  • A Sile...
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Introducing The RizTest. Founders Shaf (@shaftag) and Sadia (@educ_research) talk through how the project came about, what our goals are and what we've been up to over the last few months. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram on @theriztest. For reviews, enquiries and just to say hi, then hit us up on hello@riztest.com. #riztest

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