Chaivory Tower

Zainab and Sidra recorded this episode while fasting, so please excuse the delirium. In this episode, they reflect on spiritual renewal during Ramadan, Online Muslim traditions, and propose some more Whacky Ideas for a Better World. 

Sid and Z share stories about going to the masjid in Ramadan. It's not the holy month without a little bit of chaos in the mosque and honestly we wouldn't have it any other way.

GirlBOSS?? No! Girl, BOX your congressperson! In this episode, Sid and Z talk about shedding the need for perfection, moving through burnout, and trying to find Avan Jogia on Hinge. No Sheryl Sandberg… but we’re leaning into just being curious, chaotic, and okay with making mistakes. We’re reflecting on our journey with this podcast and launching a brand new segment called “Wacky Ideas for a Better World” where Zainab talks about why we should be allowed to fight our representatives, and Sidra proposes a National Stipend for Birthday Spa Days.

This episode we're doing a deep dive into Dev Patel's career and why we love him. We talk Skins, Slumdog Millionaire, and more! Dev Patel please come on our podcast.

Bonus Episode Alert!!! Tune into our new segment "chaivory tower breaking down the news", a possibly recurring series where we read news stories and discuss them without doing any research. Join us as we talk about the ship that was stuck in the Suez Canal and ask the stupidest possible questions about it so that you don't have to. Sidra tries to figure out maps, and Z tries to remember what she learned about in her middle eastern history class ten years ago. It's not drunk history, it's just dumb bitch history. The boat might be free but we're still stuck in the aftermath of the American education system so it's not our fault. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts!

We’re kicking off 2021 with Zainab telling Sidra about her favorite conspiracy theories. 2020 was a wild ride, and we’ve seen the rise of things that are stranger than fiction, so we looked into what makes people believe in conspiracy theories. From croissants, to #FreeBritney, to the royal family, join us as we try to find the truth about some of our favorite conspiracy theories from the internet, whatsapp groups, and the Islamic school rumor mill. 

We’re not Raven-Symoné but we have a vision for the future that’s better than whatever this shit is. We're taking a break from cynicism and despair to talk about hope and imagination! Also, we're sharing some resources on the upcoming election and talking about some candidates that inspire us. What are your visions for the future? Let us know! 

Sidra & Zainab are joined by long-time friend & our number one fan Rabee (@rabeeonline) to talk about Indian Matchmaking and our experiences with Desi marriage culture (aka a discussion on why every Desi needs to go therapy). Unfortunately, it’s Sima Auntie’s world, and we’re just living in it but we try to imagine a different world where we can just vibe, because it doesn’t have to be this way! 

You can get in touch with us by emailing chaivorytower@gmail.com, DMing us on Instagram or Twitter, or calling us at 818-949-8106! No rishtas please.

The rent crisis resulting from the pandemic has brought forth various strategies from tenant activists and organizers: rent freezes, rent strikes, rent forgiveness, eviction moratorium: but what does it all mean?? In this episode, Sidra & Zainab give an overview of these terms and discuss what’s being done by way of legislation and direct action. As always, feel free to send your comments, thoughts, concerns, and praises to chaivorytower@gmail.com. Follow on Twitter & Instagram @chaivorytower for more updates

In this episode famous TV critics Zainab and Sidra discuss what makes TV so appealing, the shows we love, and ~representation~ in television. Listen to us talk about all the shows we’re watching and let us know what you’re watching in between learning guitar, crocheting, baking things (send us some please), and Facetiming everyone you know. Bringing you the social distancing content you deserve!

In this episode we're joined by special guest/friend Will Ellis (again) to discuss the good, the bad, and the humiliating celebrity crushes we have. For those of you with 3+ brain cells still in function, we also discuss "hotness" as a concept and the systems that inform who we find attractive, with citations courtesy of Will and Sidra (3:45 to 8:20). Also, Zainab cries discussing Bad Bunny. 

In this guest episode, Sidra gets to interview her friends and former colleagues Sydney & Nevena, current graduate students at Harvard, about student organizing, the Harvard Graduate Student Union of Auto Workers Strike, and visions for freedom futures. Listen in for a conversation about why graduate student unions are so important in academic institutions, their advice for those considering grad school, and the visions of liberation that keep them going. This episode is so fun because Sidra, Nevena, and Sydney would have these conversations in magical moments to survive grad school, and felt like such a treat to think about this in company. 

This episode we talk labor unions and share some examples of worker organizing that inspire us. Also, as Meghan and Harry take a mental health break from their family (relatable) we try, in vain, to unpack the monarchy and figure out if Canada is technically still a British colony. What is a commonwealth? How can the wealth be common if it's all owned by one person? 

Timestamps: Meghan and Harry honor the legacy of the late (Muslim) Princess Diana by saying fuck all y'all to the Royal Family (4:10). Sidra trying to explain  whether Canada is a British Colony and what is a commonwealth while Zainab has a mental breakdown (07:38). Unions, what led to their decline, and examples of worker organizing (13:00). The women we're crushing on this week (38:15).

In this guest episode Zainab sits down with friend of the podcast, Will Ellis, to discuss the online food sensation Bon Appetit. Listen to them talk about why they love BA so much, the magazine and the culinary industry's commodification of Lebanese/Levantine cuisine (08:40), their top five BA videos (24:00), and their BA test kitchen chef power rankings from best to most cursed (45:30). 

In this guest episode we have an amazing conversation with Sumeera who is a DJ, writer/poet, and curator of Spilled Chai, an online magazine that celebrates the hyphenated identity, and explores nuance and narrative. We talk creativity, grad school, cliches in Desi art, and what inspires us. 

Content warning: discussion of physical and emotional abuse from 23:50 to 30:25.

Find more of Sumeera's work at spilledchai.com or on Instagram (@spilledchai). Cover photo of Sumeera taken by Simrah Farrukh. Find more of Simrah's work at simrahfarrukh.com and on Instagram (@simrahfarrukh)

Welcome to Chaivory Tower, as told by Sidra & Zainab. 

We’re back and we’re done with grad school! We’re talking about surveillance capitalism and the data being collected on us all the time. If you still have a Facebook profile by the end of this episode we will stage an intervention at your house with all your friends and family.

• 1:40 - Intro, reflections on graduating (Z skipped graduation it’s fine), Desi daughter struggles
  
• 10:55- Puerto Ricans ousted their corrupt Governor!!!
  
• 15:15- Pakistani model Zara Abid in blackface and the burning trash fires of colorism and anti-Blackness
  
• 21: 45- Mark Zuckerberg retire bitch, also everyone please stop using facebook!!
  
• 28:11- Surveillance capitalism, our data is the product and companies are making money off of literally every human interaction
  
• 36:20- Lyft and Uber selling rider data and screwing over everyone and all public transit
  
• 45:00- WCW the USWNT and why we should stop paying all men
  

This week we're talking about how we’re back on our same shit in the new year. From You on Netflix to the government shutdown, Sidra and Zainab are back at it!!!

1. It’s AQUARIUS SZN and Sidra made a flyer for her own birthday party (0:30 - 1:30)
   
2. We are burned out by the millennial burnout article (1:45 - 4:00)
   
3. You on Netflix is a shit show you MUST watch (basically all spoilers) (4:16 - 17:14)
   
4. Government shutdown and Sidra yelling about the Space Force (17:19 - 28:21)
   
5. Zainab educates us all about the LA Teachers Strike (28:27 - 32:11)
   
6. Grad school reflections; we have grown a lot and still soliciting sponsorships from literally anyone (32:15 - 52:50)
   
7. POLICY WATCH (52:53 - 57:04)
   
8. WCW - (57:09 - end)
   

This episode Zainab and Amal talk about how many times you have to say "jinn" to get possessed.

Sidra staunchly believes if you talk about jinn, they sit around and listen, and has opted out. AKA the only person in a horror movie to survive.