1 00:00:05,240 --> 00:00:08,039 Speaker 1: Hey, this is Annie and Samantha and welcome to Stephane. 2 00:00:08,119 --> 00:00:19,439 Speaker 1: Never told you a protection of iHeart radio. Annie. I 3 00:00:19,520 --> 00:00:22,239 Speaker 1: have a question because we've talked about poetry a lot, 4 00:00:22,320 --> 00:00:26,280 Speaker 1: but have you ever won an award or actually published 5 00:00:26,560 --> 00:00:30,600 Speaker 1: a poem. I have won an award, but not for poetry. 6 00:00:30,680 --> 00:00:33,479 Speaker 1: But I did win one for I was known as 7 00:00:33,520 --> 00:00:37,640 Speaker 1: like the essay Queen, and I won the state Essay Championship, 8 00:00:38,520 --> 00:00:40,280 Speaker 1: which I felt like a lot of poet who was 9 00:00:40,320 --> 00:00:43,960 Speaker 1: in there I was writing about like it was a 10 00:00:44,080 --> 00:00:48,920 Speaker 1: very metaphorical piece about hurricanes and change and all this stuff. 11 00:00:50,080 --> 00:00:54,600 Speaker 1: I wanna I wanna medal for that. Okay, uh my phone. 12 00:00:55,080 --> 00:01:00,040 Speaker 1: My poetry was published in our local school paper. It 13 00:01:00,320 --> 00:01:04,440 Speaker 1: does not mean much, but it was published there. Oh 14 00:01:04,480 --> 00:01:06,480 Speaker 1: my god, now that you said that, I remember we 15 00:01:06,520 --> 00:01:11,840 Speaker 1: had like paper bound like every year school year had 16 00:01:11,880 --> 00:01:14,320 Speaker 1: a book of their own. It was published in our 17 00:01:14,360 --> 00:01:17,360 Speaker 1: schools and we would all buy it. Oh my god. Yes, 18 00:01:18,600 --> 00:01:20,560 Speaker 1: I think it mind burned because our house burned down 19 00:01:21,319 --> 00:01:22,960 Speaker 1: several copies. But now that you said that, I think 20 00:01:22,959 --> 00:01:27,640 Speaker 1: I had poems. I'm putting decent quotes published in that too. 21 00:01:27,840 --> 00:01:29,759 Speaker 1: Forgot about that, but yeah, I try to get one 22 00:01:29,760 --> 00:01:35,000 Speaker 1: of my poems published in in online publication did not win. 23 00:01:36,520 --> 00:01:39,400 Speaker 1: I don't even think they responded, it's okay, it's okay, 24 00:01:39,440 --> 00:01:42,839 Speaker 1: I'm okay. I did win a short story, fictional story 25 00:01:43,400 --> 00:01:46,800 Speaker 1: for my school. Never beyond that, I guess I'm not 26 00:01:46,840 --> 00:01:48,640 Speaker 1: really a great writer, now that I think about it. 27 00:01:48,840 --> 00:01:52,360 Speaker 1: Even though I thought I was pretty good. Apparently I'm not. Oh, 28 00:01:52,440 --> 00:01:55,560 Speaker 1: I don't know about that. Today we are talking about 29 00:01:55,640 --> 00:02:00,080 Speaker 1: someone who was amazing, specifically of put with poetry and 30 00:02:00,120 --> 00:02:03,680 Speaker 1: about their beautiful works as well as their amazing activism 31 00:02:03,760 --> 00:02:07,920 Speaker 1: into thought. Mahmud or Emmy Mahmud for her supporters and 32 00:02:08,000 --> 00:02:11,640 Speaker 1: those who know her, um And she is a world 33 00:02:11,680 --> 00:02:15,600 Speaker 1: renowned and world champion poet who has been using her 34 00:02:15,680 --> 00:02:18,960 Speaker 1: voice and her pen to advocate for her community and 35 00:02:19,000 --> 00:02:22,600 Speaker 1: for her country, for her people and just people. Uh. 36 00:02:22,800 --> 00:02:25,720 Speaker 1: She wrote her first poem at the age of ten, 37 00:02:26,160 --> 00:02:30,000 Speaker 1: and it was titled War in Darfur, referencing the violence 38 00:02:30,080 --> 00:02:33,880 Speaker 1: and genocide occurring in her home country of Sudan. Um 39 00:02:33,919 --> 00:02:37,560 Speaker 1: And she is not stopped using her power of words 40 00:02:37,639 --> 00:02:40,760 Speaker 1: to fight for so many who continue to be affected 41 00:02:40,800 --> 00:02:43,800 Speaker 1: by war and displacement. Uh and My Mood was born 42 00:02:43,840 --> 00:02:47,160 Speaker 1: in Cartoon Sudan in nineteen but later moved to the 43 00:02:47,240 --> 00:02:49,880 Speaker 1: US with her mother and father, and she is gone 44 00:02:49,960 --> 00:02:53,320 Speaker 1: back to Sudan often with her family. Doll help continue 45 00:02:53,360 --> 00:02:56,600 Speaker 1: to protest and advocate for her community and her people. 46 00:02:56,720 --> 00:02:59,240 Speaker 1: And it's obvious that her love and her passion for 47 00:02:59,320 --> 00:03:02,240 Speaker 1: her people have only grown as she has grown in 48 00:03:02,280 --> 00:03:06,480 Speaker 1: her talent and her wisdom and her activism. Yes, and 49 00:03:06,560 --> 00:03:09,720 Speaker 1: in her interview with Bizarre, Mahmoud says about poetry and 50 00:03:09,800 --> 00:03:12,200 Speaker 1: her work, for me, it was a fact of life 51 00:03:12,200 --> 00:03:14,120 Speaker 1: that if you know what the cost of violence is, 52 00:03:14,320 --> 00:03:16,040 Speaker 1: you must speak up about it and try to get 53 00:03:16,080 --> 00:03:19,480 Speaker 1: as many people to understand as possible. Poetry in itself 54 00:03:19,600 --> 00:03:22,680 Speaker 1: is very powerful, and she's by nature of expressing ourselves 55 00:03:22,680 --> 00:03:26,320 Speaker 1: through this form, we're seizing that agency we might not 56 00:03:26,400 --> 00:03:30,240 Speaker 1: have had before, and she has done exactly that. In seventeen, 57 00:03:30,280 --> 00:03:32,760 Speaker 1: Mahmoud was able to set up the first peace talks 58 00:03:32,840 --> 00:03:37,120 Speaker 1: including civilians in Sudan in the form of poetry town halls, 59 00:03:37,640 --> 00:03:41,360 Speaker 1: and went on a one thousand kilometer peace walk from 60 00:03:41,400 --> 00:03:44,800 Speaker 1: the fort to Khartoum in thirty days the following year, 61 00:03:44,840 --> 00:03:47,920 Speaker 1: with thousands of people joining her along the way. Yeah, 62 00:03:48,040 --> 00:03:50,400 Speaker 1: this was part of her initiative that she took to 63 00:03:50,520 --> 00:03:54,280 Speaker 1: Sedan in trying to bring up the mini controversies that 64 00:03:54,400 --> 00:03:57,880 Speaker 1: she's been advocating for and against in essentially advocating for 65 00:03:57,920 --> 00:04:02,839 Speaker 1: the refugees that's been this placed throughout. It's amazing when 66 00:04:02,840 --> 00:04:05,760 Speaker 1: you whenever I read about people like her, I always 67 00:04:05,760 --> 00:04:07,800 Speaker 1: just sit back and you're like, man, I'm not doing 68 00:04:08,160 --> 00:04:13,640 Speaker 1: with my life, especially saying how long she's been doing this. 69 00:04:14,000 --> 00:04:18,400 Speaker 1: In twenty fifteen, Mamod won the Individual Poetry Slam Championship 70 00:04:18,440 --> 00:04:20,960 Speaker 1: in Washington, d C. With the poem she had written 71 00:04:21,200 --> 00:04:24,479 Speaker 1: shortly after the death of her grandmother, titled Mama, which 72 00:04:24,520 --> 00:04:26,880 Speaker 1: she stated was quote almost like a send off for 73 00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:29,560 Speaker 1: my grandmother. It was hectic, it was painful, it was 74 00:04:29,680 --> 00:04:32,240 Speaker 1: relief maybe all of the stages of grief at once 75 00:04:32,279 --> 00:04:35,320 Speaker 1: in a poem. And in that same year she was 76 00:04:35,440 --> 00:04:39,400 Speaker 1: named BBC's one Most Inspirational Women and then continued on 77 00:04:39,680 --> 00:04:42,880 Speaker 1: in the following year the Women of the World co 78 00:04:43,120 --> 00:04:46,720 Speaker 1: Champion and with those wins that she broke three world 79 00:04:46,839 --> 00:04:50,800 Speaker 1: records in quote contemporary poetry as the youngest recipient of 80 00:04:50,920 --> 00:04:55,320 Speaker 1: each prize and first poet to hold both titles concurrently, 81 00:04:55,600 --> 00:04:59,200 Speaker 1: so breaking records on top of that, and yeah, she 82 00:04:59,240 --> 00:05:01,719 Speaker 1: has since gradual awaited from Yale with the studies from 83 00:05:01,760 --> 00:05:06,919 Speaker 1: anthropology and molecular cellular developmental biology and was awarded a 84 00:05:06,920 --> 00:05:10,360 Speaker 1: certificate in Global health. And yeah, she double majored uh 85 00:05:10,400 --> 00:05:13,560 Speaker 1: and created her own double major because she says she 86 00:05:13,640 --> 00:05:16,560 Speaker 1: wanted to know the history, the ins and outs of 87 00:05:16,640 --> 00:05:20,040 Speaker 1: man so she could solve all the medical problems as well. 88 00:05:20,040 --> 00:05:22,839 Speaker 1: I'm sure like it's amazing. And she is the co 89 00:05:22,960 --> 00:05:26,760 Speaker 1: founder of Sickle Cell Nepal, which is a quote grassroots 90 00:05:26,839 --> 00:05:30,279 Speaker 1: research initiative that combats sickle cell disease on the ground 91 00:05:30,400 --> 00:05:34,440 Speaker 1: in Katmandu and Nepal Gunge Nepaul, reaching over three hundred 92 00:05:34,440 --> 00:05:39,000 Speaker 1: patients since fourteen. And with all of that, Mahmud has 93 00:05:39,040 --> 00:05:42,760 Speaker 1: not stopped writing and inspiring with her poetry. She has 94 00:05:42,800 --> 00:05:45,880 Speaker 1: been working with the u N h c R, which 95 00:05:45,920 --> 00:05:48,920 Speaker 1: is the U n Refugee Agency and was appointed as 96 00:05:48,920 --> 00:05:52,400 Speaker 1: a Goodwill Ambassador in eighteen after performing at the first 97 00:05:52,440 --> 00:05:55,440 Speaker 1: ever ted X event held in a refugee camp, ted 98 00:05:55,640 --> 00:05:59,240 Speaker 1: X Kakuma Camp. She has been performing and speaking all 99 00:05:59,240 --> 00:06:02,200 Speaker 1: over the world and including music festivals, conferences, you and 100 00:06:02,360 --> 00:06:06,480 Speaker 1: general assemblies and just recently she spoke on the impacts 101 00:06:06,480 --> 00:06:10,719 Speaker 1: of climate change on refugees titled die balladna I hope 102 00:06:10,760 --> 00:06:13,960 Speaker 1: I'm not butchering that meaning our Land in Arabic, which 103 00:06:14,000 --> 00:06:16,440 Speaker 1: has been published globally and you can find it on 104 00:06:16,520 --> 00:06:19,160 Speaker 1: her site and you should definitely check it out right 105 00:06:19,400 --> 00:06:22,320 Speaker 1: and of her experiences, she told Hyper's bizarre quote, being 106 00:06:22,320 --> 00:06:25,760 Speaker 1: a black woman, being a former refugee, being a Muslim woman, 107 00:06:26,000 --> 00:06:28,560 Speaker 1: being young, a poet, all these different things can be 108 00:06:28,600 --> 00:06:31,880 Speaker 1: a little bit disarming because people will constantly underestimate you, 109 00:06:32,320 --> 00:06:35,200 Speaker 1: and in those moments you're able to surprise them in 110 00:06:35,240 --> 00:06:38,000 Speaker 1: a really good way. And I love that take because 111 00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:40,760 Speaker 1: she talked about all the many events that she's she's 112 00:06:40,760 --> 00:06:43,520 Speaker 1: been in present for, including events with Obama and sitting 113 00:06:43,520 --> 00:06:47,680 Speaker 1: down with Obama and talking about different issues for the 114 00:06:47,760 --> 00:06:50,720 Speaker 1: Muslim people as well as refugees and has been a 115 00:06:50,760 --> 00:06:54,400 Speaker 1: giant advocate. So just talking about how she's underestimated in 116 00:06:54,560 --> 00:06:58,000 Speaker 1: just essentially blowing people away with our poetry. And if 117 00:06:58,000 --> 00:06:59,960 Speaker 1: you do get a chance, you should definitely go look 118 00:07:00,000 --> 00:07:02,320 Speaker 1: at her site. It's Amy dash Mott mood dot com 119 00:07:02,600 --> 00:07:05,360 Speaker 1: um and you can find a lot of videos that's 120 00:07:05,360 --> 00:07:08,760 Speaker 1: been published for her, her performing and her just speaking 121 00:07:08,920 --> 00:07:13,560 Speaker 1: at different conferences. But before we close here, we did 122 00:07:13,680 --> 00:07:16,600 Speaker 1: want to try and speak one of our poems because 123 00:07:16,640 --> 00:07:20,080 Speaker 1: it is so beautiful. So sorry. We love poetry that 124 00:07:20,120 --> 00:07:23,240 Speaker 1: we're going to try our best to perform it. And 125 00:07:23,320 --> 00:07:26,880 Speaker 1: I say, just speak it essentially. And this is from 126 00:07:26,960 --> 00:07:30,880 Speaker 1: her published works, Sister's Entrance, which you should absolutely go 127 00:07:31,000 --> 00:07:33,480 Speaker 1: check out. I'm about to get a copy and it's 128 00:07:33,480 --> 00:07:38,200 Speaker 1: titled Millennial. I think that's very on point. I want 129 00:07:38,200 --> 00:07:41,640 Speaker 1: to be owed something for all this virtue, this righteousness, 130 00:07:41,640 --> 00:07:45,520 Speaker 1: satisfaction for sacrifice. But that's not the usual way of things. 131 00:07:45,680 --> 00:07:48,440 Speaker 1: So I joined a group for young Muslims. We hear 132 00:07:48,480 --> 00:07:51,200 Speaker 1: the insides of our own thoughts from the mouths of 133 00:07:51,240 --> 00:07:55,040 Speaker 1: one another. There's sorrow here, and in that sorrow solace. 134 00:07:55,480 --> 00:07:59,880 Speaker 1: There's joy here, and in that joy abandoned such arrogance 135 00:08:00,200 --> 00:08:02,720 Speaker 1: was to have ever felt that I was the only 136 00:08:02,720 --> 00:08:10,400 Speaker 1: one of anything. I really loved it. It's beautiful poetry. Yeah, 137 00:08:10,440 --> 00:08:12,520 Speaker 1: and you should definitely go check out. Like I said, 138 00:08:12,520 --> 00:08:15,000 Speaker 1: her works. Um, you can find it on YouTube. Just 139 00:08:15,040 --> 00:08:18,760 Speaker 1: google her name. She is phenomenal. Obviously, she has been 140 00:08:18,800 --> 00:08:22,680 Speaker 1: doing this work for so long and has been a 141 00:08:22,720 --> 00:08:26,760 Speaker 1: part of such a giant conversation and as in fact 142 00:08:27,000 --> 00:08:31,320 Speaker 1: that poem our Land, she talked about how she went 143 00:08:31,320 --> 00:08:35,040 Speaker 1: through the different refugee camps and spoke to individuals and 144 00:08:35,559 --> 00:08:38,320 Speaker 1: was tesked by them tell them these words, and she 145 00:08:38,400 --> 00:08:41,800 Speaker 1: took a lot of what they said and in her 146 00:08:41,840 --> 00:08:45,080 Speaker 1: interviews with them and put it in her poetry. Um, 147 00:08:45,120 --> 00:08:47,240 Speaker 1: and you can hear it. It's it's beautiful and it's 148 00:08:47,240 --> 00:08:51,319 Speaker 1: heart shattering and heart pounding in every way. But she 149 00:08:51,480 --> 00:08:54,280 Speaker 1: does an amazing job in what she does and the 150 00:08:54,320 --> 00:08:57,240 Speaker 1: power of words, and just go and beyond that doing 151 00:08:58,320 --> 00:09:02,680 Speaker 1: amazing things of her education as well, like it is phenomenal, 152 00:09:02,840 --> 00:09:05,240 Speaker 1: and she has been in the US and she is 153 00:09:05,280 --> 00:09:08,800 Speaker 1: an asset to the US as well as UH for 154 00:09:08,960 --> 00:09:12,200 Speaker 1: refugees all over the world. So hats off and thank 155 00:09:12,200 --> 00:09:15,120 Speaker 1: you for what you're doing. Yes, yes, thank you so much, 156 00:09:15,600 --> 00:09:18,920 Speaker 1: And listeners go go look up her work because it 157 00:09:19,040 --> 00:09:21,240 Speaker 1: is it is amazing. And as always, if you have 158 00:09:21,280 --> 00:09:24,559 Speaker 1: any suggestions for someone we should cover on this segment, 159 00:09:24,640 --> 00:09:27,160 Speaker 1: or any suggestions at all, you can email us at 160 00:09:27,160 --> 00:09:29,280 Speaker 1: Steffanie mom Stuff at iHeart media dot com. You can 161 00:09:29,280 --> 00:09:31,800 Speaker 1: find us on Twitter at mom Stuff podcast or on 162 00:09:31,840 --> 00:09:34,040 Speaker 1: Instagram and stuff. I've never told you. Thanks as always 163 00:09:34,040 --> 00:09:37,120 Speaker 1: to our sup producer Christina, thank you, and thanks to 164 00:09:37,160 --> 00:09:39,360 Speaker 1: you for listening. Steff I've Never told you. Production of 165 00:09:39,400 --> 00:09:41,840 Speaker 1: I Heart Radio. For more podcast my Heart Radio visited 166 00:09:41,920 --> 00:09:44,160 Speaker 1: at her radio app, Apple Podcast. Wherever you listen to 167 00:09:44,200 --> 00:09:45,079 Speaker 1: your favorite shifts