This is Joy in Academia, a podcast by Zakia Essanhaji, Onur Sahin, Zehra Colak, Daudi van Veen & Dounia Bourabain.
Inspired by the Black Joy movement, our podcast highlights the ways in which racialized academics have overcome obstacles and found joy in academia. Join us as our guests tell us about the pockets of joy they have discovered along their academic journey.
A special thanks to Nadia Bourabain for the post-production and Qurratul Ain Saeed for the artwork.
Sponsored by Utrecht University, Migration and Societal Change Platform.
The Joy in Academia hosts on the making of the podcast and their own reflections on joy
This bonus episode is a special one! Instead of chatting with guests, we flip the script and our hosts are at the front and center. Listen to Zakia Essanhaji (https://research.vu.nl/en/persons/zakia-essanhaji), Zehra Colak (https://fzehracolak.com/), Daudi van Veen (www.daudivanveen.nl), Dounia Bourabain (https://www.uhasselt.be/en/who-is-who/dounia-bourabain), and Onur Sahin (https://onursahin.nl/) talk about how the podcast came about, a recap of memorable moments from past episodes, and their own reflections on joy.
A special thanks to Hayal Akarsu (https://www.uu.nl/staff/HAkarsu) for moderating the discussion. This episode was recorded during the launch event of the podcast instead of in a podcast studio. Although you may hear some background noise, this episode provides a true “fly on the wall” experience.
9 May 2024
Zuleika Sheik on alternative approaches to collective liberation
In this episode, we talk to Zuleika Sheik (https://www.uu.nl/medewerkers/ZBSheik), an assistant professor at Utrecht University. Zuleika Sheik is a decolonial feminist scholar whose dissertation received the cum laude (https://www.iss.nl/en/news/distinction-zuleika-sheiks-defence-her-phd-thesis) distinction in 2021. Her work centers on a decolonial feminist critique of the modern and colonial knowledge systems. Join us as we chat about her vision for an alternative university and her work towards achieving that goal.
Interviewers: Zehra Colak (http://www.fzehracolak.com) & Zakia Essanhaji (https://research.vu.nl/en/persons/zakia-essanhaji)
2 May 2024
Leila Mouhib on the power of education as an emancipation tool
In this episode, we talk to Leila Mouhib (https://cvchercheurs.ulb.ac.be/Site/Compos/DESC12092UK.php), lecturer at Université de Mons and Université libre de Bruxelles. Leila Mouhib work focuses on anti-racist praxis in higher education. Join us as we talk about education as an emancipation tool, the importance of merging personal and professional identities, and creating spaces for like-minded and racialized academics.
Interviewers: Dounia Bourabain (https://www.uhasselt.be/nl/wie-is-wie/dounia-bourabain) & Onur Sahin (www)
25 Apr 2024
Daphina Misiedjan on making a positive change as a researcher on climate injustice
In this episode, we talk to Daphina Misiedjan (https://www.eur.nl/people/daphina-misiedjan), an assistant professor at Erasmus University. Daphina Misiedjan is a law academic and member of the prestigious Young Academy (KNAW) (https://www.dejongeakademie.nl/leden/leden+dja/2433663.aspx?t=Daphina-Misiedjan). Her work focuses on climate injustice and how this further affects already marginalized groups. Join us as we chat about her academic career that mostly revolves around bridging the gap between science and society and making a positive change for marginalized communities.
Interviewers: Zakia Essanhaji (https://research.vu.nl/en/persons/zakia-essanhaji) & Daudi van Veen (https://daudivanveen.nl/)
18 Apr 2024
Jamila Mascat on building solidarity and joy as a political feeling
In this episode, we talk to Jamila Mascat (https://www.uu.nl/staff/JMascat), an assistant professor at Utrecht University. Jamila Mascat is a philosopher whose work centers political philosophy and postcolonial studies. Join us as we chat about her journey through philosophy, raising awareness for Gaza in university spaces, and joy as a political feeling.
Interviewers: Onur Sahin (https://onursahin.nl/) & Zakia Essanhaji (https://research.vu.nl/en/persons/zakia-essanhaji)
11 Apr 2024
Durwin Lynch on bridging science and community
In this episode, we talk to Durwin Lynch (https://research.vu.nl/en/persons/durwin-lynch), a PhD candidate at Athena Institute (VU) and a researcher in the Representing Europe (https://re-presentingeurope.nl/) project. Join us as we chat about his research on healing from our colonial past, the connection between spirituality and joy, bridging science and community and how these topics relate to his involvement with the grass-roots initiative the “Keti Koti Table (https://www.ketikotitafel.nl/)”.
Interviewers: Zehra Colak (http://www.fzehracolak.com) & Daudi van Veen (http://www.daudivanveen.nl)
4 Apr 2024
Sarah Ahannach and Samira Azabar on being activist scholars
In this episode, we talk to Sarah Ahannach (https://www.uantwerpen.be/nl/personeel/sarah-ahannach_18980/)(UAntwerpen), and Samira Azabar (https://www.ru.nl/personen/azabar-s) (Radboud University), both post-doctoral researchers but from entirely different disciplines. Join us, as we chat about their shared experiences on what it means to be a committed activist scholar, why they find this essential, and how it is perceived in academia.
Interviewers: Dounia Bourabain (https://www.uhasselt.be/nl/wie-is-wie/dounia-bourabain) & Zakia Essanhaji (https://research.vu.nl/en/persons/zakia-essanhaji)
28 Mar 2024
Judi Mesman on community building and public outreach
In this episode, we talked to Judi Mesman (https://www.judimesman.com/), a full professor at Leiden University. Judi Mesman is a developmental scientist and NWO Stevin Prize (https://www.nwo.nl/en/nwo-stevin-prize-2021) winner whose work focuses on social justice themes. Join us as we chat about her academic journey, which increasingly involves community building and public outreach efforts such as described in this Volkskrant (https://www.volkskrant.nl/cultuur-media/onderzoek-naar-leidinggevenden-van-kleur-zonder-empathisch-vermogen-hadden-ze-het-niet-zo-ver-geschopt~b4d117ad/) article.
Interviewers: Daudi van Veen (http://www.daudivanveen.nl) & Onur Sahin (http://www.onursahin.nl)
21 Mar 2024
Nozizwe Dube on bringing your whole self to the university
In this episode, we talk to Nozizwe Dube (https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/nl/n-dube&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1710880704925427&usg=AOvVaw0UqkS9XVA2MqjX6BL0SMAO), a PhD researcher at Maastricht University. Nozizwe Dube studies intersectional discrimination in EU equality law and founded the decolonizing student movement at her former university KU Leuven. Join us as we chat about her experience as a racialized academic in the discipline of law, the importance of representation, and her active role in making that happen.
Interviewers: Dounia Bourabain (https://www.uhasselt.be/nl/wie-is-wie/dounia-bourabain) & Zehra Colak (https://fzehracolak.com/)
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