Meet Shehla Faizi | Podcast Producer and Host

We had the good fortune of connecting with Shehla Faizi and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shehla, what’s the most important lesson your business/career has taught you?
Being a podcaster and interviewing so many people, it never ceases to amaze me that how much you can learn from the perspective of other people, if you just open your heart to it.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My podcast, “I’m A Muslim (And That’s Okay!)”, was started as a promise to a friend. My friend, Amanda, was a physical trainer for disabled people and in early 2020 (just before the Pandemic hit U.S. shores) she had posted on Facebook that she wanted to start a podcast about what she does but she was hesitating because she thought her voice sounded strange. But I was not going to let her back out of the idea because what she did for the disabled community was important and I made her a promise that if she started her podcast I would start a podcast with her!

The truth of the matter was, I had no idea what I was getting myself into and I did not listen to podcasts either but I was determined to keep my promise to Amanda. The second problem was that I really had no expertise like Amanda, that I could base my podcast on. So, I thought about it for a bit and figured the only thing I really knew much about was being Muslim in America, so I just ran with that! And to inject a little humor into it I decided to call my podcast “I’m A Muslim (And That’s Okay!)

So, with the name and purpose for the podcast set, I bought a lavalier mic, plugged it into my phone and recorded my first podcast episode inside my walk-in closet (my kids were pretty little then, and random, kid noises are still a problem in my house!). And with those first few episodes narrating my story of growing up in Pakistan and then moving to the U.S. after marriage, I discovered that I really loved the story-telling process that came with podcasting.

But, I needed something more than just my own story to keep the content of the podcast fresh, so I decided to create a goal for my podcast where I would create a counter-narrative for how Muslims were often represented in popular media. In a sense to show our humanity in a sense, that we are just everyday people living our lives. So, I added segments to my podcast, like, “Ask A Muslim” (where I would take everyday questions from non-Muslims and answer them), “The Whole Muslim”, where I would feature Muslims doing extraordinary things or with fascinating careers, and the “Gift of the Gab” segment, in which I would interview guests on difficult socio-political topics that impacted Muslims and non-Muslims, alike.

These three years podcasting have been a whirlwind for me and I have learned and grown so much through podcasting, and connected with so many great individuals in the process. But make no mistakes, being an Indie podcaster is A LOT of work, it isn’t just about recording and throwing it out into the world. I had to acquire a whole new set of skills to maintain this podcast. I am a freelance graphic designer, so creating promotional material came easy for me, but then I had to teach myself audio editing, and eventually video editing, so that I could upload a quality podcast for my audience. And I’m not even gonna get into the investment into the sound equipment and cameras that I have made! Not to mention the hours it takes to track down guests, book them for interviews, prep for the interview, record, edit, create promos and THEN release an episode! But I would not have it any other way.

Podcasting is a passion for me in which I bring different perspectives to my audience in hopes to open minds and hearts, because honest discourse is so important. My podcast is out there to help people see more than just what’s on the surface of any issue. And as long as I can help people see that, I’ll keep podcasting!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Between you and me, Muslims have a thing for food! So, my friend is gonna get one heck of a culinary tour! Me and my family love Asian food, we LOVE Wave Bowl and their awesome blend of Halal Korean-Fusion food. Also, Plano has such a huge selection of a variety of Halal restaurants, for Pakistani food there are few better than Mai Colachi and my favorite fried chicken spot is Angel’s Chicken Kitchen, so both of those are a must to visit.

Anime and Japanese culture are a passion for me so I would definitely take them to Kinokuniya, even if it is just for the cute stationery.

Also, for the scenic experience there is no better place than the Arboretum, so a definite picnic day there. And I’m a biking buff so we might rent some bikes and just bike the River Legacy Trails.

And there is no better way to end the tour than a visit the Fort Worth Modern Art Museum to check out an exhibition there.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My shoutout to all my online mom-friends who supported me as I began my podcasting journey and still to this day are my most ardent supporters! Also, my utmost gratitude to all my guests who trusted me and my podcast with their stories and perspectives, I would not be here this long without them!

Website: www.imamuslimpodcast.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imamuslimpodcast/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shehla-faizi/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamatopodcast

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/imamuslimpodcast