Jenan Matari | Everything Grows: Storytelling, Identity & Rooted Resistance

In the latest episode of Well Rooted, we sit down with Jenan Matari — award-winning author, publicist, activist, and creator — to explore the deeply personal and political themes woven through her upcoming children's book, Everything Grows in Jiddo's Garden. Jenan shares how reclaiming and preserving her Palestinian heritage shapes her storytelling, and what it means to raise children with a strong connection to their roots — especially in a world that often challenges indigenous and diasporic identities. We discuss the sacred relationship indigenous people have with the land, and how honoring that connection becomes an act of resistance and reclamation. We also dive into Jenan's groundbreaking work beyond the page: from founding the trailblazing Muslim women's lifestyle platform MISSMUSLIM, to her innovative PR agency ZAYTOUN Publicity, which centers and uplifts native, Arab, and Muslim voices in powerful, authentic ways. This conversation is a celebration of identity, motherhood, land, and the transformative power of native storytelling in today's dichotomous world.   To Pre-Order "Everything Grows in Jiddo's Garden," click HERE. To learn more about working with ZAYTOUN Publicity, click HERE. To follow Jenan on Instagram, click HERE. To follow Jenan on TikTok, click HERE. To follow Well Rooted on Instagram, click HERE. To learn more about how Jarrar and Associates can help your business goals, click HERE.