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The Stories of Ourselves

by Tina Al-khersan

Join me on a journey in discovering and documenting our histories. I’ll begin with my own family’s story before I ask other migrants (a broad category I envision to include immigrants, refugees, and people still on the move) to discover parts of their lost histories. Together, we will discover one of the most important stories – the stories of ourselves.

From the show's RSS feed, refreshed Apr 11, 2025. Source feed.

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Episodes

  1. Episode 6: The Future Will Be Better - Mama, Part 3

    In today's episode, my mom walks us through what it was like to immigrate to Northern Michigan and live there for almost seven years - all while watching the occupation of Iraq from afar. We talk about whether she thought she would get to visit her homeland again, and, later, we look back at her...

  2. Episode 5: It's Like A Dream - Mama, Part 2

    In today's episode, my mom shares more about her journey out of Iraq to New Zealand and ultimately to Michigan. She walks us through the many goodbyes she had to say and what kept her going when she was forced to leave her loved ones behind.

  3. Episode 4: By the Light of the Candle - Mama, Part 1

    In today's episode, we get to hear a different side of the same story as we sit down with my mom. We start with her early life in Baghdad, including where she grew up, how she chose her career path, and if she ever expected to leave the country permanently. We also get to compare her account of...

  4. Episode 3: Finding A Way - Baba, Part 3

    In this final episode with my Baba, he tells us more about what ultimately drove him to uproot his family just three short years after settling in New Zealand. He also walks us through his experiences navigating xenophobia in both New Zealand and the United States, what it was like to live in…

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  5. Episode 2: Open to the Unknown - Baba, Part 2

    When we last heard from my Baba, he was walking us through his decision to leave Iraq. Today, we finally learn how it happened. Throughout this episode, my Baba shares how and why he finally left Iraq, detailing his risky (and lengthy) journey to Jordan and then ultimately New Zealand.

  6. Episode 1: A Tree Without Roots Doesn't Grow - Baba, Part 1

    In today's conversation, Baba shares his backstory, including what it was like growing up in Iraq and how he met my mother while working in a hospital. Over the course of the episode, he shares shares how the demise of safety and security in Iraq forced him to rethink his place in the country -...

  7. Trailer: The Stories of Ourselves

    Join me on a journey in discovering and documenting our histories. I’ll begin with my own family’s story before I ask other migrants (a broad category I envision to include immigrants, refugees, and people still on the move) to join me in discovering parts of their lost histories so that…

    more

About this show

Join me on a journey in discovering and documenting our histories. I’ll begin with my own family’s story before I ask other migrants (a broad category I envision to include immigrants, refugees, and people still on the move) to discover parts of their lost histories. Together, we will discover one of the most important stories – the stories of ourselves.

Hosted by

Tina Al-khersan

Frequently asked questions

How many episodes does The Stories of Ourselves have?

The Stories of Ourselves has 7 episodes on PodParley. The most recent episode was published on April 11, 2025.

What is The Stories of Ourselves about?

Join me on a journey in discovering and documenting our histories. I’ll begin with my own family’s story before I ask other migrants (a broad category I envision to include immigrants, refugees, and people still on the move) to discover parts of their lost histories. Together, we will discover one...

How often does The Stories of Ourselves release new episodes?

The Stories of Ourselves publishes about every 60 days, based on its 7 episodes since April 2024.

Who hosts The Stories of Ourselves?

The Stories of Ourselves is created and hosted by Tina Al-khersan.
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