About This Episode

Join host Aransas Savas in a powerful conversation with Hala Alyan, a Palestinian-American poet, writer, clinical psychologist, and mother, as they explore the intersections of identity, motherhood, creativity, and social engagement.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Navigating multiple identities as a Palestinian-American
• The role of motherhood in understanding personal and collective experiences
• Creative writing and storytelling as forms of witness and resistance
• Accountability, personal growth, and social responsibility

Timestamps

00:00 - Introduction to Hala Alyan

01:09 - Exploring Personal Identities

03:20 - The Complexity of Cultural Identity

12:35 - Motherhood and Storytelling

25:32 - Raising a Child with Awareness and Compassion

34:05 - The Power of Mundane Moments

40:10 - Building Supportive Relationships

42:11 - Creative Pursuits and Learning

About Hala Alyan

Hala Alyan is a Palestinian-American poet, writer, clinical psychologist, and mother based in Brooklyn. She is the author of a memoir and continues to explore themes of identity, displacement, and resilience through her writing and creative work.

The Uplifter Thread

Did you know that every woman on the Uplifters podcast is nominated by a former guest or audience member? This means you and I get to chat with the most inspiring women -- the ones who inspire the women who inspire us!

Our current thread:

Julie Fleischer → Susan Jaramillo→Kate Tellers from The Moth→Cleyvis Natera→ Deesha Philyaw → Mahogany Brown → Hala Alyan → who nominates Sahar Delijani and describes her as, “A remarkable human and artist, a beautiful writer, a fearless advocate for Iranian human rights.”

Lift Her Up:

Support Hala’s Work:

• Buy or borrow I’ll Tell You When I’m Home from your local bookstore or library
• Attend KAN YAMA KAN if you’re in NYC—it’s a beautiful reading series that combines poetry, fiction, memoir, and music while raising funds for monthly mutual aid causes. You can learn more about it by following Hala’s IG.
• Share her work with book clubs, writing groups, or friends who appreciate literature that grapples with identity, displacement, and belonging

• Hala emphasizes that witnessing and being moved by what you see is transformative—educate yourself about what’s happening in Palestine
• Support mutual aid organizations working on the ground

Support the Podcast

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