Twice Displaced

About Twice Displaced

When queer Arab musician Lem Zakharia arrived in Sydney heartbroken with two weeks of clothes, a Christmas visit became an asylum journey. This 4-part collective memoir features her ex-girlfriend, family, and friends sharing raw accounts of the same pivotal moments. From almost getting caught by police in Jordan to Arabs Got Talent, from heartbreak to unexpected love - this is the messy reality of being displaced twice.

Publisher

Lem Zakharia

Category

society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

30 Jun 2025

Latest episode

29 Jul 2025

Latest episodes

4 of 4 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   29 Jul 2025TRANSCRIPT

   U-Hauls, Kids, and My Mum Still Praying I’m Straight

   In the final episode of Twice Displaced, I take you through what happened after I got my permanent residency in Australia: I moved in with my girlfriend… and her two kids. Classic lesbian behaviour, I know. But this episode is about more than U-Hauling — it’s about what family really means when you’re queer, displaced, and carrying generational trauma. You’ll hear from my partner, her kids (yes, they insisted on being recorded), and my mum opening up -for the very first time - about her experience living with schizoaffective disorder. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to build a home when home has never really existed, this one’s for you. Trigger Warning: This episode contains references to mental illness, homophobia, and family conflict. Huge thanks to: Kristina, Rose, Edward, my mum, Zeid, Meemo, Lara, Lina, Ramz, and Hanna. Follow me on Instagram: @lemzakharia (https://www.instagram.com/lemzakharia)Follow me on TikTok: @twicedisplacedFind out more about my business, Bedou

2. 

   29 Jul 2025TRANSCRIPT

   My Whore Era, My Refugee Era

   What happens when you arrive in a new country with a broken heart, two weeks’ worth of clothes, and no plan except “don’t fall apart”? In this episode, I take you through the heartbreak that led me to Australia, how I ended up applying for asylum on the basis of being queer, and what it means to rebuild your life from scratch: Legally, emotionally, and sexually. You’ll hear from my brother (who lent me his credit card and a dining room to live in), my refugee lawyer friend, my ex-housemate, and—wait for it—my current partner’s ex-boyfriend, who hired me, mentored me, and then got his heart broken by both of us. Trigger Warning: This episode contains references to heartbreak, sexual content, and the refugee experience. Huge thanks to everyone who contributed their voices to this episode: Zaid, Didi, Sushi, Hannah, Giddy, Jenna, and Marty. And of course, Kristina — whose impact on this story is undeniable. Follow me on Instagram: @lemzakharia (https://www.instagram.com/lemzakharia)Follow me on TikTok: @twicedisplacedFind out more about my business, Bedou

3. 

   29 Jul 2025TRANSCRIPT

   We Got Caught. In Jordan. By the Police

   In my early twenties, I was living a secret life. By day, I was a rising radio host on a commercial radio station in Jordan. By night, I was sneaking around with my girlfriend, afraid someone might catch us holding hands. In this episode, I go into what it means to build a public persona while hiding who you are. I talk about living in fear of being outed, getting pulled over by police with my closeted girlfriend, and the surreal experience of getting "cancelled" for defending jamīd (yes, the fermented yoghurt). Trigger Warning: Mentions of homophobia, police harassment, and emotional distress. Thank you to: my mum, Fash, Ramz, and Kristina — who helped bring this one to life (and reminded me how far I’ve come). Follow me on Instagram: ⁠@lemzakharia⁠Follow me on TikTok: ⁠@twicedisplaced⁠Learn more about my business, ⁠Bedou⁠.

4. 

   30 Jun 2025TRANSCRIPT

   I Was Never A Barbie Girl

   It took me 2 years and dozens of calls from all around the world with friends and family to make this happen. Oh, and my wife nagging me to get off my ass and release it already! So this is a 4-part series. In this first episode, I take you back to my childhood in Amman, Jordan where I was a tomboy (much to my mother's dismay), my teenage years where society's expectations of womanhood confused the hell out of me, how I got dragged to a plastic surgery appointment at 16 to "fix" my boobs, and how when I moved to Lebanon, I realised I'd much rather be with women than men. Think of it as a collective memoir - highlights of my life told through the eyes of those who know me best. And a Trigger Warning: This episode contains themes of sexual harrasment and homophobia. Thank you to all who have recorded this episode with me: My mum, my brothers Zeid and Costy, Lina, Fash, Sushi, Ramz, Lara, Sara, and to my beautiful wife Kristina who helped me produce this. Follow me on Instagram: @lemzakharia (https://www.instagram.com/lemzakharia/?hl=en) Follow me on TikTok: @twicedisplaced (https://www.tiktok.com/@twicedisplaced) Find out more about my business, Bedou (https://linktr.ee/servicesbybedou).

Inside a recent episode

U-Hauls, Kids, and My Mum Still Praying I’m Straight

Published 29 Jul 2025 · Transcript excerpt

[…] Like, were you a couple in Jordan? How does that work? I get that question all the time. We couldn't be too loud about our relationship, of course. Well, we weren't like overtly queer. I think one time you held my hand underneath a coat on the bus. But that was about as far as we went in public. […]

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

3 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 44 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

74

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

32

Contact Twice Displaced

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.