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Grab your tea and settle in, because this one’s a short and sweet catch-up. I’m sharing an update on the Top Host competition and how it’s going, plus a few housekeeping notes. I’m also floating an idea I’ve been excited about: starting an online book club together (shout-out to Grace!!) You can vote for me as your next Top Host here: https://tophost.org/2026/persis-abraham Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week, I'm unpacking Khaled Hosseini's devastating 2007 novel A Thousand Splendid Suns, following Mariam and Laila, two women from very different worlds who are forced into the same household and the same marriage as Afghanistan's history collapses around them. This is a full spoiler episode. I cover the complete plot, including the heartbreaking ending. Content note: This episode discusses domestic violence, suicide, war, and death. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Content note: this episode discusses the war in Gaza and the death of a child. Room For Us has always been a space for queer voices. Today, I'm widening the lens. In this episode, I talk about The Voice of Hind Rajab, the Oscar-nominated film by Kaouther Ben Hania built around the real recorded phone calls of a five-year-old girl trapped in a car in Gaza City in January 2024. I explain why the film hit me the way it did, why I think everyone should watch it, and why staying "out of politics" isn't neutral when you have a platform, or even when you don't. I also talk about privilege, about how none of us choose the situation we're born into, and about what it means for a queer podcast to speak up on human rights beyond our own community. Along the way, I look at the recent controversy over Ed Sheeran's tour and Macklemore's removal, and what it says about who gets to speak. Watch the film. Listen to her voice. And remember Hind Rajab. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

My fiancée and I have been together for nearly four years, and we still hear it all the time: friends, sisters, even MOTHER and DAUGHTER? 😅 In this episode, I talk about how frustrating and isolating these assumptions can be, even when they aren't meant to be malicious. Sometimes the simplest thing is to just ask instead of assuming. Inclusivity always matters. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode, I'm talking about the celebrities who've been vocal about Palestine and why we should continue to lift their voices up. From Kehlani's "Next 2 U" to Dua Lipa's years of consistent advocacy tied to her own family's history of displacement, to Macklemore's powerful speech at Ed Sheeran's concert and more. I also dig into Melissa Barrera, who was dropped from Scream 7 over her social media posts and has spoken openly about being blacklisted from Hollywood since — and Angelina Jolie, whose two decades of humanitarian work collided with a very public rift with her own father. This is my personal take on the artists using their platforms for something bigger than themselves, and why I think that takes real courage. Free Palestine 🇵🇸 Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Did you know Noah Kahan almost gave up on music? In this quick episode, I’m talking about why it’s so important to keep going with the things you’re passionate about — even when the burnout is real. Sometimes, you have no idea what’s waiting for you just around the corner. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Don't support transphobia! It should be that simple, right? More news is breaking about who's walking away from the Harry Potter universe: cast shifts on HBO's new series, iconic director Ally Pankiw turning down a directing job — but now, Rupert Grint is returning to Broadway as Ron Weasley in 'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,' despite having stood with trans people after J.K. Rowling's continuous ant-trans remarks. I'm talking about why it's important to say goodbye to the series, and what your money actually funds when you do support the franchise — including where J.K. Rowling has reportedly put some of her fortune. You can still love and appreciate Harry Potter for what it was, and the nostalgia it gives you, but you don't need to spend one more dollar on it. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode, I’m remembering Hayden Panettiere — the actor and familiar face so many of us grew up watching. From Heroes and Nashville to becoming a mother and navigating postpartum depression, Hayden’s life has unfolded in front of the world. I’m looking back at her career, her rise to fame, motherhood, mental health, and the pressures of growing up in the public eye — while reflecting on why Hayden remains such a memorable part of so many of our childhoods. Rest peacefully, Hayden. ❤️🪽 Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

It sounds like a stereotype, but there’s actually a fascinating history behind the connection between queer women and their feline besties. In this episode, I’m diving into how cats became symbols of independence and femininity, but also the heartbreaking story of how one man, religion, and centuries of superstition changed the way society saw them. Grab you kitty, a cup of tea, and let's get into it xo Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

I have been listening Charli xcx's album on REPEAT. Here is my honest take! I hope you enjoy xx Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Talking, laughing, living...The L Word It was revolutionary, messy, controversial, and incredibly important to queer representation. I truly want to thank Ilene Chaiken for creating a world filled with beautiful, complicated, deeply flawed characters who gave so many of us a chance to see ourselves on screen — even when they didn’t always get it right. Let's discuss xx Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

It's been an eventful couple of months! Get ready for a little story time xo Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

I am absolutely gushing over Girls Like Girls, the film co-written and directed by Lesbian Jesus herself, Hayley Kiyoko. In this episode, I'm diving into the movie scene by scene, sharing the moments that hit me the hardest and why this story resonated so deeply with me. As a millennial, I saw so much of my younger self in Coley (Maya Da Costa) and her relationship with Sonya (Myra Molloy). Their story brought back so many memories of what it felt like to navigate first love, identity, and growing up queer. This film made me feel joyful, seen, nostalgic, and, at times, incredibly emotional. If you haven't watched Girls Like Girls yet, I highly recommend seeing it first—then come back and join me as we unpack every moment together. Content warning: This episode includes discussion of the film's depiction of suicide and mental health. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Oh, my heart. Let's talk about the beautiful Gia Carangi, who was widely considered by many to be the world's first supermodel. Gia captivated the fashion world with her striking androgynous beauty and charisma. As an openly queer woman navigating the fashion industry in the late 1970s, she challenged beauty standards and left a lasting impact on generations of models who followed. Despite her quick rise to fame, Gia was struggling internally with trauma, addiction, and ultimately the AIDS epidemic which tragically took her life on November 18, 1986. I highly recommend watching HBO film Gia, starring Angelina Jolie. The movie talks about her influence on queer visibility, and the tragic circumstances that led to her death at just 26 years old. Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of sexual abuse, addiction, drug use, HIV/AIDS, mental health struggles, and death.  Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Okay, so I had a full throwback moment listening to Believe by Justin Bieber and realized I was absolutely obsessed with JB in high school. Which got me thinking—is the Belieber-to-lesbian pipeline actually a thing? I mean, obviously Biebs is insanely talented, but after his recent Coachella performance… tell me why the gays have Bieber fever all over again? I had to go into full investigator mode to figure out why. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy