Whether it’s food or music, Issa Dababneh of Jolly Man Food Company in Amman, Jordan, loves to produce. When the COVID-19 pandemic temporarily closed the doors of his restaurant and factory, Issa turned to his first production love—music—and Pandemic Beats was born.

Stories of Our City

213: Meats & Beats

Dance plays a vital role in preserving Circassian culture and customs, as this indigenous people from the North Caucasus have been scattered abroad due to genocide and war in the 19th century. The Highlanders, the dance troupe of the International Circassian Cultural Academy of Amman, Jordan, aims to do just this: preserve its people's rich folklore through fancy footwork.

212: Footwork & Folklore

One of two things likely comes to mind when you hear the word heroin: the infamous narcotic or a woman admired for her courage and bravery. This week's story is one that encompasses both.   Gretchen Courting first started using cocaine when she was only 15 years old. Later, followed a nearly decade-long battle with heroin addiction. Refusing to sugarcoat the many difficulties she faced along the way, Gretchen describes those years in her 20's as being filled with homelessness and self-destruction. But her story is not void of redemption. Listen as Gretchen shares the story of her transformation from heroin addict to a heroine of sorts who seeks to share her story in hopes of helping anyone caught in the dreadful throes of addiction. Please note: the following story contains detailed descriptions of substance addiction. Listener discretion is advised.

211: From Heroin to Heroine

When 14-year-old artist Zeina, of Amman, Jordan, was confined inside the walls of her house during the beginning of the global COVID-19 pandemic, she decided to expand her creative canvas by painting on the outdoor walls of her parents’ villa to share her art with passersby and spread positive messages for all to see.

210: These Walls Can Talk

As the world’s second-largest religion, and fastest-growing major religion to boot, Islam and the people who adhere to its tenets are still largely misunderstood worldwide. Sara AlZyoud, a Jordanian university student, relates some of her experiences traveling as a Muslim and some commonly-held stereotypes against her people and region that she encountered along the way. May you be enlightened as Sara sheds light on the broader picture of Islam and the varied nature of the Arab world.

209: I Ride Camels

For many worldwide, the Islamic month of Ramadan is associated only with fasting. But for Sara AlZyoud and other Muslims, this holy month is about intentionally connecting with God and their communities in various ways. Listen as Sara relates how Ramadan is “the epitome of family values” and serves for her as a vehicle for gratitude and sacrifice, as well as a way to keep her grounded in the faith she shares with her family and culture.

208: Opening a Door to Heaven

Hannah Walker was only five years old when she was first introduced to horseback riding at summer camp. And she immediately fell head over heels for horses. But when a tragic horseback accident occurred, Hannah hit rock bottom, not knowing if she’d ever get back in the saddle again.

207: Back in the Saddle

British native Christine Brisley is a self-proclaimed painting addict who can't imagine a life without painting. She considers herself very blessed by a God-given talent which became her livelihood and took her around London, throughout England, and across the world. When tragedy struck, Christine came to America on a month-long walkabout, or visit, with only 400 dollars. Never intending to stay, she returned to the U.S. for good just months later, settling in Texas where she continues to create a colorful life she loves.

206: The Walking Paintbrush

The global coronavirus pandemic that began in 2019 has taken a lot away from many worldwide. And it continues to ravage and shake the world. But for Katie Norregaard, COVID-19 also provided a once-in-a-lifetime chance to break free from routine, affording her the opportunity to combine her passions for children, music, and social change into one online music education platform for kids: Miss Katie Sings.

205: Singing for a Change

In episode 198 from last season, Jocette (jō-set), an American expat living in Turkey, talked about her life there and her cross-cultural marriage to Salih (sä-lee). She is back again and this time dives into her lifelong love affair with food—a  passion so deep that she even studied the subject at the graduate level. For Jocette, food is more than just the taste. It’s the people and the culture behind it, and most importantly the folks whom it brings around the table. Through her blog Hasat Günü, which means the day of harvest,  Jocette seeks to help people “see the beauty of Turkey and then have a slice of it for themselves.” Listen as she shares about her passion for food and people and then check out Hasat Günü for yourself at hasatco.com.

204: Around the Table

Lance G. Newman II, aka Mr. SpreadLove, of Louisville, Ky., is a self-described renaissance man—and he has the quality, diversified artistic product to back up that assessment. But as his moniker indicates, Mr. SpreadLove is committed to more than simply dispersing his art among the masses; he is devoted to passing on a living legacy of spreading positivity and love through poetry (as well as other art forms), education, and the nurture of the next generation—all in the hope of affecting lasting change.

203: Spreading Love

The long-inhabited city of Amman boasts many historical and cultural gems of the Middle East, one being the famed citadel. But hidden within the mainly monotone cast of this desert cityscape lie many modern, colorful gems from the emerging generations imprinted on the city’s winding walls. Alaeddin Rahmeh, a member of the local hip hop community and founder of Underground Amman Tour, makes it his aim to raise awareness about Amman’s colorful hip hop and street art scene. Come along for the tour!

202: Tales From the Underground

Mili and her husband, Deep, are passionate about traveling, new cuisine, and culture. Their shared love of travel is in fact one of the things that brought them together and helps keep their love alive. In this episode, as Mili recounts their latest adventure of an international move, it’s obvious she never forgets to pack her sense of humor. Mili’s contagious laughter reminds us that if we will let it, traveling can provide new perspectives, time to connect with loved ones, and a repertoire of stories to share.

201: Mili in Paris

Stories of our City was started in August 2009 in Beirut and has grown to include real stories from real people in 38 cities and towns on four continents from around the world. We do this in an effort to cultivate community and understanding cross-culturally. This current episode is extra special as it marks our 200th episode. But instead of simply sharing the story of how Stories of Our City was founded, we wanted to highlight the substance of this organization—the stories themselves. So, as is our custom, for this special episode we wanted to let the subjects themselves do the talking by sharing excerpts of four of our most popular stories through the years.

200: 200 Stories

Though the country of Jordan may not be internationally known for its environmental initiatives and green living, one citizen is doing all he can to turn the tide. What began as a one-off project for Therwah Abdelhaq to transform a glass bottle into a piece of art for a contest turned into an ongoing green initiative called T Bottle, which has redeemed an estimated 20,000 bottles from the landfill—upcycling them into works of aesthetic and functional art.

199: Bottled Up

Stories of Our City is a worldwide project to cultivate community and understanding by sharing real stories from real people around the globe. We produce these stories to reveal that our everyday experiences with family, love, religion, and culture are often similar to those of others living in cities and villages across the globe. We believe that when we share and celebrate a common humanity we can begin to erase the boundaries and labels that divide us. When we take the time to listen, we can begin to recognize the “other” as the same as us, giving us the foundation for global community.

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