We Are the Ones Who Live Here

About We Are the Ones Who Live Here

“We Are the Ones Who Live Here” is an English-language podcast program about contemporary life in Lebanon, and all of our contributors are emerging Lebanese journalists, writers, storytellers and theatre artists. This podcast is made of our voices, voices from all over this country, Lebanese, Palestinian, Syrian, immigrant and refugee voices, new voices telling stories about life in our country, life beyond the headlines, beyond the cliches. Season One of “We Are the Ones Who Live Here” (2023) contains the work of 10 contributing writers, storytellers and journalists, 9 voice actors, and 17 people we interviewed about their lives. We’ve created a mix of interviews, monologues, reporting and poetry, backed by original music and field recordings. The five episodes of Season One are hosted by five women who live here. Season Two (2026) is wiser and psychologically deeper exploration of life during wartime. Co-Producer Farrah Khatib hosts each of the five episodes, which feature dynamic audio essays by 5 Lebanese writers and artists about what the last few years have been like. Featuring music by Raffi Feghali (TsaTsa) and sound production by Wilson Vediner. Co-Produced by Ben Moorad. This is a joint American-Lebanese production. Visit welebanonpod.com for more information. Season 2 was made with the crucial support of our Season 2 Hero, Aysha Ghazoul, and our Season 2 Sponsors, J. Schuberth, Stephanie Barr and Michele Moorad. These other wonderful people all supported the production of Season 2: Andrea Osborn Ginder, Andy Silver, Anya Filena Anián, Becca Evans, Bob Hazen, Cristin Pearson, Dagmar, Dawn Jones Redstone, Elana Seplow, Eric Evans, Erin Moorad, Gordon Haber, Jane and Joe Barr, Joaquin Lopez, John Lafayette, Johnny Stallings, Jonathan Walters, Kathy Kniep, Kristin Steele, Kristy Nicholas, Lisa Moorad, Lora Lafayette, Mary Potter, Melissa Masini, Meredith Miller Hodgkinson, Mic Crenshaw, Miriam Feuerle, Monica Beemer, Paul Honeyman-Colvin, Paul Lipscomb, Robyn Steely, Ralph, Sara Guest, Siobhan Gray, Suzanne Geary, Suzanne Potter Padilla and Tanya Barham. Thank you all! This podcast was also made possible with the support of the Center for American Studies and Research (CASAR) at the American University of Beirut.

Publisher

Ben Moorad & Farrah Khatib

Category

society & culture · society & culture · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

13 Apr 2023

Latest episode

28 Apr 2026

Latest episodes

12 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   28 Apr 2026

   My Mother Country

   “When I was young, I saw Lebanon as vibrant and vast, a safe land that was full of adventure. I saw my mother, Georgette, as the sun, radiating warmth and light. Her heart was like a river that never runs dry. I loved her, and I loved Lebanon, my mother country…” Elias Demerdjian charts the decline and fall of Lebanon as it ran in parallel with, and influenced, his mother’s declining health. Follow us on Instagram at welebanonpod.com (http://welebanonpod.com), and follow Elias at instagram.com/thespianed_ (https://www.instagram.com/thespianed_/). Email us at welebanonpod@gmail.com (mailto:welebanonpod@gmail.com) with your thoughts on the show or with your own stories of life in Lebanon.

2. 

   21 Apr 2026

   The Eternity of Bread

   “The cheese melts softly in the bread, and when I crunch on the first bite, I taste love and the strong musky smell from my grandfather's hands that stuck to the crust as he made it…” This lyrical meditation from Lyne Jradi examines how grief and love echo through the simple acts of making and eating bread… and how displacement and war can distort them. Follow us on Instagram at welebanonpod.com (http://welebanonpod.com), and follow Lyne at instagram.com/solitarywords_ (http://instagram.com/solitarywords_). Email us at welebanonpod@gmail.com (mailto:welebanonpod@gmail.com) with your thoughts on the show or with your own stories of life in Lebanon.

3. 

   14 Apr 2026

   Olive Branch

   “Israel now bombs the olive groves, and trees that are a hundred years old and have given us their sustenance and warmth for a hundred years now burn to ash.” Farrah Khatib looks at how generations of one family have seen the ritual of the annual olive harvest change through cycles of Israeli attacks and occupation. Follow us on Instagram at welebanonpod.com (http://welebanonpod.com), and follow Farrah at instagram.com/farrah.khatib (http://instagram.com/farrah.khatib). Email us at welebanonpod@gmail.com (mailto:welebanonpod@gmail.com) with your thoughts on the show or with your own stories of life in Lebanon.

4. 

   7 Apr 2026

   The Truest Form

   “Love isn’t constant. It changes with war, with silence, with the weight of memory. It builds and it ruins, and somehow, it still finds a way to return in gentler forms.” Rita Mhanna looks at the intersection of love, mental illness, family and war in this deeply moving essay. Follow us on Instagram at welebanonpod.com (http://welebanonpod.com), and follow Rita at instagram.com/ritamhanna77 (http://instagram.com/ritamhanna77). Email us at welebanonpod@gmail.com (mailto:welebanonpod@gmail.com) with your thoughts on the show or with your own stories of life in Lebanon.

5. 

   31 Mar 2026

   Two Years Later

   “Life here has always been relatively absurd. But the absurdity has now heightened and had a manic break, and we’re now living in the strange aftermath.” In our Season 2 premiere, Farrah Khatib, Lyne Jradi and Rana Baghdadi explore why it’s taken us two years longer than we thought it would to make this season and what life has been like for us here. Follow us on Instagram at welebanonpod.com.

6. 

   28 Mar 2026

   Intro to Season 2

   "In this season we explore in depth what it’s like to live in a land broken by war, while still maintaining our human capacity for grief love and wonder." Hello! We are proud to launch Season 2 of our podcast next week. We finished the 5 episodes of this season about a month ago. Since then, of course, the so-called "cease fire" with Israel had turned - once again - into an all-out war on our country. This seems to change everything and nothing... as the 5 audio essays were all made under the shadow of aerial bombardment and occupation. We invite you to listen to these new stories of life in Lebanon. Produced by Ben Moorad & Farrah Khatib.

7. 

   31 May 2023

   Afghan Iftar in Beirut

   “My life now has meaning, I give my heart to love, and this is how I function better...” In our season finale, we join a small community of Afghan women in Beirut who gather for a feast to break the fast. At different points in the tides of conversation, three of the women turn inward and reflect upon their lives. Nasrin Azizy thinks about her mother and the life she’s lived. Fatema Rezaie reflects upon her struggles and how Lebanon has become her home. And Roya Maliky finds the meaning of her life. This episode is hosted by Roya Maliky. *** To support this show, please visit welebanonpod.com/support-season-2

8. 

   24 May 2023

   Love and Despair

   “Many of us have a deeply dysfunctional relationship with Lebanon, an often punishing mix of love and despair. Lebanon can really break your heart…” Laetithia Harb shares her aunt’s story of leaving Lebanon and being pulled back against her will. (Dina Saleem performs the English translation of Aunt Liliane’s words.) Jennifer Nasrallah explains why she wants to stay in Lebanon and build a future for herself here. Fatima Rezaie shares a poem about how she’s found her true home in Beirut. This episode is hosted by Farrah Khatib. *** To support this show, please visit welebanonpod.com/support-season-2

9. 

   17 May 2023

   Eternity and the Necklace

   “Have you ever touched the skies? Have you ever touched the clouds? Have you ever reached the moment where time and space disappear? Where you meet emptiness? I mean, there, up above, have you ever touched it?” Rita Mhanna shares with us a childhood memory of her uncle, before and after his time at war. Jennifer Nasrallah performs a monologue composed of the remembrances of three Syrian women who live here now. (This piece was compiled by Abdul-Raouf Mohammed.) This episode is hosted by Dunia Fakih. *** To support this show, please visit welebanonpod.com/support-season-2

10. 

    10 May 2023

    In a Cage

    “You feel like you’re in a cage. You want to get out of it, but you can’t. Like we’re stuck…” Farrah Khatib and Rola Soboh lead us on an exploration of how the residents of the Ain el Helwe Refugee Camp see the checkpoint that separates them from the rest of Lebanon. (Voice actors include Myra Shaaban, Rana Baghdadi, Nour Al Halabi, Dima Akel, Elias Demardjian and Charles Semaan.) Tanya Shehab gives us a personal look at what it means to have anxiety in Lebanon. *** To support this show, please visit welebanonpod.com/support-season-2

11. 

    3 May 2023

    Don't Go Pale Into Dusk

    “We want to find beauty, belonging and a sense of purpose in this troubled, strange and still beautiful country of ours…” Nour Al Halabi brings us the story of Maryam, the fisherwoman of the Manara in Beirut who is the Mother of All. (Feyrouz Abou Hasson performs the English translation of Maryam’s words.) We end with a poem to Beirut in the midst of chaos by Rita Mhanna. (This poem was translated to English by Ben Moorad and Rita Mhanna.) *** To support this show, please visit welebanonpod.com/support-season-2

12. 

    13 Apr 2023

    Season 1 preview

    Please join us on this journey! Season One launches on 3 May. Please subscribe to make sure you always get each episode as soon as it's available, and follow us on Instagram at welebanonpod (https://www.instagram.com/welebanonpod/).

Reach and audience

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

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

6 ratings

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Guest appearances

Books guests

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