We’re thrilled to announce that Kerning Cultures Network is growing by a show we’ve been impressed with since its inception: Faslah | فاصلة .
This is a big step for us as a network, as we have been quite protective of our content and team. Narrative-driven podcasts are still an uncommon style of podcasting in the Arab world, where most regional creators tend towards talkshow-style productions. We’ve dedicated the past 6 years to honing our craft of powerful storytelling, and we were excited when Faslah | فاصلة emerged on the scene as a show after our own hearts. Founded by Bahraini creator Mohamed Jaafar in May 2020, Faslah | فاصلة is an Arabic-language, narrative-driven podcast about life-changing, pivotal moments. As creatives, we’re perfectly aligned: like KC, Faslah values authenticity and simplicity in storytelling. We both believe in highlighting untold stories from our communities: the everyday heroes whose stories will make us laugh, cry, ruminate, and bring us a little closer together.
Existing Faslah listeners can expect a deepening of the beautiful storytelling they’re used to, with season 2 showcasing guests from across the region in addition to Bahraini stories.
Acquiring Faslah | فاصلة is one of the many moves we’ve made towards our vision of building the largest podcast network in MENA. In recent months, we’ve doubled our team and are on our way to doubling our show offerings. With Faslah | فاصلة , we currently have 12 (incredible, we may add), Arabic and English shows in our network.
Listen to Faslah | فاصلة wherever you get your podcasts.
About Kerning Cultures Network
Kerning Cultures Network is an independent podcast company, raising the bar for audio storytelling and journalism in the Middle East and North Africa. We produce chart-topping podcasts in Arabic and English. Our shows have won a Webby Honoree in Diversity and Inclusion, been recognized as Apple Podcasts’ Show of the Year, Deezer’s Best of the Year, and Bello Collective’s Best 100 of 2020 and 2019. We’ve also had the honor of collaborating with Radiolab, 99% Invisible, NPR, Gimlet Media, and Anghami. We’re backed by 500 Startups, Podfund, and IFG.vc. We’re a small (but mighty) team, working across the globe.
About Faslah | فاصلة
Faslah started as an idea when host and founder, Mohamed Jaafar, was in the United States as an exchange student. In his second day there, in the middle of Minnesota under a -27 degrees Celsius snowstorm, he broke his ankle and underwent surgery (one of his pivot points), and in the midst of his recovery solitude in a foreign country, Faslah was born.
Faslah Team Members (based in Bahrain)
- Mohamed Jaafar | Founder & Storyteller-in-chief/Host, with a professional background in Information Technology with a sense of a multidisciplinary notion in the creative realm, from photography to copywriting, content creating & experience design.
- Zain Al Bastaki | Lead Editor, with a professional background in Media: Radio & Television and a scriptwriting, copywriting & research creative skillset.
- Hajer Al Dughaimi | Visual Designer, with a professional background in Media: Multimedia and a creative skillset in all design aspects.
- Kawthar Mustafa | Composer, with a professional background in Mathematics. IB Coordinator & Mathematics teacher and a pianist.