She’s half Irish. She’s half Palestinian. And she’s done pretending that doesn’t matter.In this episode, Sarah Alami talks about breaking into Hollywood, booking major roles, joining SAG… and then watching doors slowly close once she started speaking openly about Palestine. We get into what it’s like growing up between Catholic school and Muslim identity, being told you don’t belong, and then trying to survive in an industry that wants you marketable, not honest.We talk about propaganda, BrownFace, losing representation, organizing inside SAG for a ceasefire, and why staying quiet was never an option. This isn’t a polished PR story. It’s about identity, grief, faith, family, and the price of telling the truth when it’s inconvenient.If you’ve ever felt split between worlds or punished for saying what you believe...this conversation will hit.

Season 3 Premiere: Habibi House x Lauren JaureguiFifth Harmony’s Lauren Jauregui joins Habibi House for a raw, soul-baring season premiere. From pop machine survivor to independent rebel, Lauren opens up about reclaiming her voice, navigating an industry that rewards silence, and creating art that speaks truth without apology.We dive deep into:Her Cuban-American identity and global activismBreaking out of the Fifth Harmony boxHow Dancing with the Stars reintroduced her to the worldHer powerful new single “Ego” and the vulnerability behind itThe price of integrity in the music industryIf you’ve ever felt boxed in by expectations or silenced by systems, this episode is for you.Stream “Ego” everywhere.Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more radical storytelling.Sponsored by Stitch4Pali — Free Palestine streetwear made with heart. Get yours at stitch4pali.com with promo code HABIBIHOUSE0:00 – Emotional opening and Lauren’s arrival1:17 – Fifth Harmony, pop stardom & “the machine”2:04 – Stitch for Pali sponsor segment3:28 – Dancing with the Stars & public reinvention12:09 – Going independent & industry censorship13:00 – “Integrity isn’t rewarded”14:00 – Being a Black sheep in pop culture40:00 – New era, new sound: “Ego”44:00 – Live acoustic performance of “Ego”46:00 – Gift unboxing & Stitch for Pali shoutout47:13 – Free Palestine moment

Rania Khalek joins Habibi House for one of the most powerful, unapologetic deep dives we’ve ever had...covering U.S. imperialism, Israel’s global influence, media manipulation, and the rise of independent Arab voices in journalism.From her recent spinal surgery recovery to her fearless commentary on Gaza, Syria, and the American political divide, Rania opens up about her life, her career, and the contradictions of power that define the modern world.Topics Covered:The right-wing fracture over Israel and U.S. politicsHow Israel and the U.S. share imperialist interestsThe myth of “progressive except for Palestine”The media’s complicity in global oppressionArab representation in independent journalismWomen in liberation movementsFitness, discipline, and resilience as political actsAbout the Guest:Rania Khalek is a Lebanese-American journalist and host at BreakThrough News, known for her fearless reporting on Palestine, U.S. foreign policy, and global imperialism. Her work has appeared in The Electronic Intifada and BreakThrough News, where she hosts Dispatches.About Habibi House:Habibi House is the unapologetic voice of the Arab & MENA diaspora in global media — where culture, politics, and art collide. We’ve hosted guests like Cenk Uygur, Maz Jobrani, Abby Martin, and Ana Kasparian.YouTube: @BreakThroughNews Instagram: @raniakhalekTwitter: @RaniaKhalekListen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all platforms:https://linktr.ee/habibihousepodcastSupport Independent Arab Media. Subscribe, share, and comment to help us grow.Hashtags#RaniaKhalek #HabibiHouse #Palestine #Syria #Gaza #IndependentMedia #USImperialism #Lebanon #ArabVoices #BreakthroughNews #MENA #Politics #Podcast #LeftistMediaTimestamps00:00 – Rania Khalek joins Habibi House00:15 – Recovering from spinal surgery like a superhero02:00 – Has Israel lost the American right?04:00 – The media war and control over public opinion05:00 – U.S. capitalism, fascism, and media monopoly06:00 – “Palestine as a laboratory” — how oppression is tested and exported08:00 – Tucker Carlson, the MAGA split, and anti-imperialist contradictions09:00 – The Democratic Party’s collapse and corporate capture13:00 – The symbiotic relationship between U.S. empire and Israel17:00 – Dual citizenship and U.S.-Israel power networks19:00 – White supremacy and imperial ideology in the West27:00 – American imperialism, sanctions, and global mafia politics29:00 – The Arab Spring, Syria, and Western intervention35:00 – Being labeled an “Assadist” for anti-intervention views37:00 – Western double standards on democracy in the Middle East42:00 – Women in media and liberation movements45:00 – Representation and resilience as an Arab woman journalist48:00 – Independent media, fitness, and leftist strength51:00 – Closing thoughts: outlive RFK and Zionism