The Final Blog Post: Introducing Aries Media Project
I have some exciting news! It’s been a long time in the making, but I can finally share the launch of Aries Media Project, a network committed to accelerating media and entertainment startups in emerging markets. Aries acts as a bridge
Now Playing: Afghan Electronica Artist, Qardash
Disclosure: At the time of writing this, I manage both Qardash and his band, Kabul Dreams About ten years ago, in 2012, I worked in marketing for a company called Roshan, the leading telecom company in Afghanistan. I worked in
Journalism Programs Committed to Improving Newsroom Diversity
This is the first in a series of posts that will summarize diversity programs that are available in different sectors of the media and entertainment industry. In the research I’ve done, I’ve realized how difficult it is to learn about
African Content Shaping Global Entertainment
In recent years, streamers like Netflix and Disney+ have taken on a steep interest in Africa, investing heavily in content across the continent. Relative to the rest of the world, streaming in Sub-Saharan Africa still has a ton of untapped
The Most Important Films at Sundance 2022
For more than 20 years, Sundance Film Festival has been a fixture in the annual festival circuit. The festival has been known for jumpstarting the careers of American filmmakers like Quentin Tarantino and the Coen brothers, and normally hosts around
Year in Review: The Social Impact of Media and Entertainment in 2021
It’s that time of year again. Can you believe it? We’re already on the cusp of a new year. It seems like just yesterday that we were binge-watching Tiger King, pulling weeds in Animal Crossing, logging onto Zoom happy hours,
Why I Left Gaming to Bet on Experiences
If you follow me on LinkedIn, you probably know by now that I made a pretty big career move recently. Last week, I officially left my role at Activision Blizzard to take on a new position at Pollen, a high-growth
Afghan Creatives Driving the Anti-Taliban Resistance
The Taliban took control of their first province in Afghanistan on August 6, 2021, despite the agreement they signed with the U.S. Less than 10 days later, Taliban fighters entered Kabul, the Afghan president fled the country, and the U.S.
Gossip Girl Explores the Paradox of Inclusive Classism
As someone who grew up with the original Gossip Girl, I’ll admit I was pretty excited to hear that a reboot was going to kick off. When the early press and promotional images were released, however, the thing that struck
How Aziz Maraka Used Music to Shape Israeli Geo-Politics
If you’ve been following the news at all over the last few weeks, you’ll know all about the escalation of the Israel-Palestine conflict. Tensions started to simmer early on in May with protests against the expulsion of four Palestinian families
Another Historic Year for the Oscars
The 93rd Academy Awards were off to a historic start last weekend. Not only was it the most diverse year ever for the Oscars, but it was also a look back at the profound impact that the COVID-19 pandemic had
What Seaspiracy Gets Right About Environmental Advocacy
Scandal, slavery, murder – is this a The God Father, or an environmental documentary? In Seaspiracy, Ali Tabrizi shines a light on the corruption running rampant in the global fishing industry. The issues that are surfaced are particularly shocking because
Frameworks for Analyzing the Social Impact of Content
About a year and a half ago, I traveled to Tampere, Finland to speak on a panel at the Worldwide Music Expo, where I met a professor who taught a class about the intersection of music and societies. Yesterday, this
History, Environmentalism and Folklore in Wolfwalkers
Even on the surface, it’s easy to tell that Wolfwalkers isn’t an average kids movie. The hand-sketched artwork is just too highbrow for that. The first time I noticed this film and its artwork was when I was walking past
Social Themes in This Year’s Super Bowl Ads
The Super Bowl is one of the greatest television events in the world. Year after year, avid football fans and casual viewers alike tune in to watch their favorite players alongside iconic advertisements, making it a mainstay for consumer brands.
How to Diversify On-Screen Talent for TV and Film
Let’s kick this off by defining diversity. When I think about “diversity,” I really mean it in the most inclusive sense of the word. Women, visible minorities, the LGBTQ community, people with disabilities, and the list goes on and on.
Podcasting for Social Change as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, are both tremendously influential in their own right. With their followership, they have a huge opportunity to impact the world in a meaningful way. Not only do they have
Looking Forward: Stories That Need to Be Told in 2021
The new year is about setting intentions and establishing the tone for the year to come. I think we can all agree that it’s taken some time to process everything that has happened, and now that we’ve done that, there
Year in Review: The Social Impact of Media and Entertainment in 2020
Alright, folks. It’s been a crazy year, and it’s not even over yet. Remember last December when we anticipated the ’20s with so much optimism? Remember back in January or February, where we may have been off to a rocky
The Role that System of a Down Played in the Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict
You know I’m a big believer in media and entertainment as a platform for social advocacy. Most of the time when I say “social advocacy,” I mean it in an indirect way, where it’s kind of like advocacy in disguise.
Mogul Mowgli is a Poetic Reflection of the South Asian Muslim Diasporic Experience
A few weeks ago, I wrote a post about everything that happened at the BFI London Film Festival. Admittedly, that post sort of turned into a laundry list of the 139 films that screened at the festival. I was in
Everything That Happened at the BFI London Film Festival
When I started working in London, one of the things I most looked forward to was getting involved in the arts scene. Think: concerts, fashion weeks, film festivals, and the like. I didn’t get a chance to do much of
AOC Inspires Voting Through Video Games
Disclaimer: at the time of writing this, I work for the video game company Activision Blizzard. All views in this post are my own, not my employer’s. Earlier this week, Twitch fans around the world witnessed a remarkable intersection of
Zac Efron Wants You to Start Caring About the Planet
Travel blogs are usually a great way to get some exciting ideas for your next vacation. While Down to Earth does some of that by highlighting adventurous experiences and incredible restaurants, its real achievement comes from pushing a generation of
Calling Diverse Writers: Applications are Open for the CAPE New Writers Fellowship
Are you an aspiring writer? Are you passionate about diversity in storytelling? Well if so, then you’re in luck. The Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment (CAPE) offers an annual fellowship for new, emerging writers, and submissions are open for
Moving from London to Los Angeles (and Everything Else I’ve Done Since August)
I realize I haven’t written anything for 10 weeks, but trust me when I say it’s been an eventful couple of months. Let me give you a quick run-down. I moved away from London My assignment in London came to
Communities and Movie Theaters in the Age of Coronavirus
Do you remember what life was like before lockdown? It feels so recent, and yet so long ago. Back in March, I remember returning to London from a trip to D.C., only to find out upon landing that the entire
What Netflix’s Disclosure Teaches Us About Trans Representation in the Media
I’ve always enjoyed an informative documentary, and Disclosure on Netflix is just that, and then some. Executive produced by actress and advocate Laverne Cox, the documentary takes an in-depth look at Hollywood’s depiction of transgender people, and the impact that
How to Launch a Video Game in the Middle East
Disclaimer: at the time of writing this, I work for the video game company Activision Blizzard. All views in this post are my own, not my employer’s. If you were to think about burgeoning video game markets, markets like China,
Now Playing: Belgian Rapper Hamza Saucegod
The other day, I was listening to my Discover Weekly playlist on Spotify, just like I do every week. Before I knew it, I stumbled into a track that I couldn’t get out of my head: Love Break, a collaboration
6 Great Examples of Character Diversity in Pokémon Sword and Shield
The Pokémon Company has had an interesting couple of weeks. First, Pokémon Sword and Shield released their first DLC, The Isle of Armor, to luke-warm reviews. Some have called out the expansion’s surface-level content, while others applauded the broad and
This Year’s Peabody Award Winners for Compelling and Empowering Storytelling
The Peabody Awards are my favorite industry awards to keep tabs on, by a longshot. The award recognizes the power of storytelling, honoring programs for their cultural impact and significance in society. It’s impressive how the award routinely manages to
5 Powerful Songs to Blast at Your Next #BlackLivesMatter Protest
I think it’s safe to say that it’s been a really long couple of weeks. What’s incredible, though, is the radical amount of change that has taken place so quickly as a direct result of the George Floyd protests: Minneapolis
How the Media Has Undermined the Black Lives Matter Movement
I need to preface this by stating I normally don’t share my personal views on sensitive political topics. I suppose I’ve been afraid of getting into contentious debates with friends and colleagues, or ultimately landing on the wrong side of
The Cultural Implications of COVID-19 and its Impact on Live Music
Dang, we’re really coming out of the gate with a heavy one, eh? This is something I’ve actually been thinking about for a while now. As someone who worked professionally in live music for years, and as the artist manager
Who the Heck is Alykhan Kaba, and Why is He Writing at Me?
Amazing, you’ve arrived at my first blog post. That means I must have done something right to get you here, and/or I didn’t chicken out before making this post go live. If you already know me, thanks for showing up.