Tayyba Kanwal: Identity is what you have, not who you are

Tayyba Kanwal is a Pakistani-American writer from Houston, TX. Her short story collection, Talking with Boys, has been published in January 2026 by Black Lawrence Press. Her award-winning work has appeared in journals such as Wasafiri, Witness, Gulf Coast and Meridian. She holds an MFA from the University of Houston where she was an Inprint C. Glenn Cambor Fellow, and an MS from the University of Oregon. She serves as Literary Director at Inprint, Houston's premier literary arts organization, and Senior Editor at Conjunctions. In this episode, Tayyba reflects on her journey from Pakistan to the US, the role of Urdu and Punjabi in her life, and how these languages influence her storytelling. She also emphasizes the importance of authentic representation in literature and the evolving landscape of literary voices. Finally, Tayyba shares her insights on the intersection of mathematics and storytelling, and the emotional depth captured in her writing, particularly through the concept of 'dardh'.