Sarah Bahbah is a Palestinian visual artist and director whose work has reached hundreds of millions around the world. Her signature style blends film photography with raw, confessional text capturing the thoughts people feel but rarely say out loud.In this episode, we sit down with Sarah to talk about healing, identity, and what it means to turn pain into something powerful. We get into growing up between cultures, navigating shame, reclaiming her voice, and how her art became both survival and transformation.She breaks down her creative process, from writing intrusive thoughts in her notes to building cinematic worlds that allow her (and others) to process trauma. We also dive into her independent journey, walking away from the traditional art system, and building a model that made her work accessible while reaching tens of thousands globally.This conversation goes deep into emotional regulation, relationships, spirituality, and what it really means to heal not just as an artist, but as a person.Subscribe for more conversations like this.

What is the “Epstein Class”?In this episode of Habibi House, Rolla joins the conversation to unpack one of the most controversial ideas circulating today... the existence of an interconnected global network of powerful figures across finance, media, politics, tech, and entertainment.The discussion explores how elite power networks operate, how information flows are controlled, and how modern technology, including AI and media platforms, shapes public perception and political narratives.We also dive into the broader cultural impact of propaganda, the role of Hollywood in shaping geopolitical narratives, and how independent platforms may be opening space for alternative perspectives.Topics covered include:• The idea of a “ruling class” operating across industries• Why elite power networks protect each other• Media influence and cultural narrative shaping• The impact of AI on information and critical thinking• Hollywood’s role in shaping political narratives• Why independent media platforms are becoming importantThe conversation also touches on how power, culture, and storytelling intersect... particularly for Arab and Palestinian creators trying to reclaim their narratives in media.As Rolla explains during the episode, one of the biggest concerns today is how easily centralized platforms can shape what people believe and how they interpret events. 0:00 Intro & studio setup2:10 Palestinian diaspora and identity5:30 Watermelon Pictures and independent film9:00 Palestinian folklore and storytelling12:40 AI, media technology and creativity17:00 AI and the future of information control23:00 The Epstein files and elite power networks27:40 The idea of a “ruling class” across industries33:00 Media narratives and propaganda systems39:30 Secret societies and historical power networks44:00 Gaza, media exposure and global reaction50:00 Hollywood narratives and Arab representation56:00 Final thoughts: reclaiming our storiesepstein classelite power networkshabibi house podcastmedia power structuresglobal elitesindependent mediaAI and mediapalestinian diasporaarab representation hollywoodpower and propagandapolitics and mediaelite influence

In this gem of an episode at the Habibi House, we break down the idea of a “No State Solution” and why the future of Palestine may lie beyond both the one-state and two-state frameworks.Our guest Charles McBryde returns after traveling to the West Bank, Lebanon, Ramallah, Nablus, T*l Av*v, and Bethlehem while finishing his upcoming documentary on UNRWA and the war on Palestinian identity. From collapsing in the Church of the Nativity to navigating the West Bank hospital system, he shares firsthand experiences inside occupied Palestine and why he believes the war on Gaza and the war on UNRWA are part of the same political project.We go deep into:• Why the two-state solution is collapsing• The rise of Israel’s far-right political generation• UNRWA and the erasure of Palestinian refugee identity• The difference between supporting a government and supporting a people• Ukraine vs Russia and the geopolitics of resistance• NATO, imperialism, and mineral politics• Borders, sovereignty, and the limits of the nation-state• AI, tech monopolies, and the future of digital powerThis conversation challenges mainstream narratives about Israel, Palestine, Gaza, Zionism, imperial power, and global conflict. If you’re looking for nuance beyond slogans... this is it.Resistance, sovereignty, and identity are not simple binaries. We unpack the gray areas.Subscribe for long-form conversations on Palestine, the MENA diaspora, geopolitics, media, and cultural power.—#Palestine #Gaza #UNRWA #Israel #Ukraine #Zionism #TwoStateSolution #MiddleEast #Geopolitics #HabibiHouse