Amplifying Voices: How the Sumud Podcast Champions Palestinian Stories
In a world where narratives are often shaped by external forces, the Sumud Podcast stands as a beacon of authenticity and resilience. The Sumud Podcast was born from the vision of Dr Ed Hasan, a Palestinian-American academic and advocate committed to platforming marginalised voices. This precept established the unbending will to cultural presence and identity, regardless of profession.
Dr.Hasan's personal experiences have been transformed from helplessness to building a place for voices historically oppressed, bringing the Sumud Podcast to life. It is a podcast, certainly, but so much more: it's a sanctuary and a haven that is single-mindedly dedicated to uplifting, empowering, and amplifying Palestinians, Arabs, Muslims, and all oppressed individuals and their allies.
Tags: brand storytelling, podcast marketing, narrative strategy, digital communications, social impact branding, community engagement.
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Discovering the Heart of Sumud Podcast
Defeating Challenges with Determination
Developing a Strategy Centered on Authenticity
To counter these challenges, a three-pronged strategy was adopted based on authenticity, community engagement, and inclusivity. The Sumud Podcast positioned itself as one of the central platforms for Palestinian narratives, with a focus on delivering significant and often muted narratives. Content development is targeted at making shows emotionally connect with audiences, hosting varied guests such as campaigners, creatives, and academics who provide their individual opinions. Social media marketing campaigns were aimed at achieving maximum visibility and interaction, utilising platforms of popularity among younger generations to create a global community. Olives & Heather contributed to these efforts by crafting social media campaigns that resonated with younger audiences across diverse platforms like Spotify and YouTube, ensuring the podcast’s message reached a broader and more engaged audience.
The Sumud Podcast's release was a difficult undertaking fraught with difficulties. First and foremost, it was imperative to end the widespread dominance of narratives in traditional media that typically silenced or misrepresented Palestinian voices. Dr. Hasan had a clear vision that a platform was required to provide Palestinian voices and stories credibly. It was also necessary to consider how to reach a wider audience without compromising the veracity of the stories that were told. Although a significant amount of resources was invested into the podcast, like many startups, we still faced limitations that made producing high-quality content incredibly demanding in terms of time, effort, and capacity.
Implementing Initiatives for Global Coverage
Some of the major projects included curating a rich variety of guests, streamlining messaging for maximum impact and clarity, and orchestrating media placements to extend reach. These efforts were intended to position the Sumud Podcast as a credible, reliable, and influential voice in global discourse around Palestine. The Sumud's production team, including technical director Dr. Ehab J., social media directors Olives & Heather, music director Waheeb Nasan, and research lead Dr. Jacquelyn V., collaborated to bring this vision to being.
Celebrating Milestones and a Peek into the Future
The impact of these efforts was massive. The Sumud Podcast experienced tremendous growth in audience engagement, reaching listeners in over 30 nations worldwide. Media mentions and features in prominent outlets further amplified the podcast's message, solidifying its role as a beacon of hope and resilience. In 2024, the Sumud Podcast achieved remarkable success, ranking in over 50 countries and securing top placements in documentary charts in the U.S. and the UAE. Dr. Hasan’s vision continues to inspire action and solidarity, fostering a deeper understanding of Palestinian experiences. Looking forward, the Sumud Podcast plans to expand into written content and additional thematic podcasts, aiming to continue fostering connections with Palestinian communities worldwide and creating more opportunities for storytelling.
Olives & Heather will continue to support the podcast in expanding its reach and solidifying its role as a global platform for Palestinian voices.
Together, we uplift, empower, and amplify voices that matter
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