In this special episode of Quakers Today, we share a conversation from The Seed: Conversations for Radical Hope. Host Dwight Dunston speaks with Dr. Riyam Kafri Abu Laban, an educator, writer, and former principal at Ramallah Friends School. From her home in Ramallah, Dr. Kafri Abu Laban reveals how Palestinian cuisine is deeply tied to identity, history, and resilience. Despite the challenges of forced displacement and cultural appropriation, Palestinian food remains a bridge to the past and a testament to memory, resistance, and celebration. The Seed podcast is a project of Pendle Hill, a Quaker study, retreat, and conference center welcoming all for Spirit-led learning and community.

About Dr. Riyam Kafri Abu Laban: Dr. Kafri Abu Laban is a writer and educator whose work spans essays, poetry, and articles on Palestine, motherhood, and education. Formerly a chemistry professor, she transitioned to educational leadership as a principal and now leads initiatives at AlNayzak Organization. A proud Ramallah Friends School and Earlham College graduate, Quaker values continue to shape her life and faith. Follow her on Instagram and LinkedIn.

Special Music: This episode features “Sada” by the Sada Trio—Ahmad Al Khatib, Pedram Shahlai, and Feras Sharestan—Middle Eastern virtuosos keeping their cultural roots alive in Sweden.

Friends Journal Fiction Issue: Explore Quaker-themed fiction in Friends Journal’s November 2024 issue, including “Bread of Life” by Vicki Winslow and “Penns Spring” by our co-host, Peterson Toscano. Read more at FriendsJournal.org.

Monthly Question: What novel, film, or television series changed your relationship with the world? Share your answer by calling 317-QUAKERS or responding on social media.

Follow Quakers Today on TikTok, Instagram, X, and visit us at QuakersToday.org.

Selected Quotes:

1. “Our cuisine is a direct extension of the land…we hold on to our food because it’s really our identity.” — Dr. Riyam Kafri Abu Laban.
2. “Food is resistance, memory, healing, and celebration for displaced people.” — Dwight Dunston.

Quakers Today is the companion podcast to Friends Journal and other Friends Publishing Corporation (FPC) content online. It is written, hosted, and produced by Peterson Toscano and Miche McCall.

Feel free to send comments, questions, and requests for our new show. Email us at podcast@friendsjournal.org. Call our listener voicemail line: 317-QUAKERS.

Music from this episode comes from Epidemic Sound.

In this special interim episode of Quakers Today, host Peterson Toscano (he/him) talks with Wendy Sanford (she/her,) one of the original creators of the groundbreaking book Our Bodies, Ourselves. Wendy shares her role in writing the first edition and reveals how each subsequent edition reflected the input from diverse voices.

She discusses the importance of addressing issues of race, class, sexuality, and gender identity in the evolving landscape of women’s health and activism. This episode also includes insights from her memoir, These Walls Between Us, a story of friendship across race and class.

Featured Segments:

• Wendy Sanford and the Evolution of Our Bodies, Ourselves Wendy Sanford reflects on the book's origins in the 1970s when it sought to provide trustworthy health information for women. Over the decades, the book has expanded to include voices from diverse communities, addressing issues such as sterilization abuse, prenatal care, and transgender health. Wendy discusses how the book’s evolving content reflects the shifting landscape of feminist health activism.
• Memoir: These Walls Between Us Wendy recently published her memoir These Walls Between Us, which explores her friendship across race and class and the deep personal transformations it sparked. You can find more about Wendy's work on her website.

Quotes:

• "The work is needed as much as ever. The questions are still there: Is it trustworthy information? Is it from a woman’s point of view?" – Wendy Sanford
• "We were a group of white middle-class women. Our book said it was for all women, but the critiques taught us otherwise, and that was a real wake-up call." – Wendy Sanford.
• "Each time we redid the book, we widened the understanding of who ‘we’ meant." – Wendy Sanford.

How to Follow Wendy Sanford: You can learn more about Wendy and her work by visiting her website: wendysanford-thesewallsbetweenus.com. Her memoir These Walls Between Us is available delves into her experiences with race, class, and social justice.

Friends Journal reviewed Wendy Sanford's memoir These Walls Between Us in August 2022, in a double review alongside another book. You can read the review here: These Walls Between Us review.

Friends Journal published a personal essay by Wendy in January 2006. Titled "Musings of a Universalist Friend" in the print edition, the essay reflects on her and her partner’s decision to marry in 1999. It discusses her views on the tie between Christian Scripture and anti-Semitism. You can find it here: January 2006 essay.

Announcing Season Four:

After this special episode, Quakers Today will return with Season Four on December 17, 2024. Expect more inspiring guests and thought-provoking content. Stay tuned for special features and announcements in your podcast feed in October.

Question of the Month:

What novel, film, or television series changed your relationship with the world? Fiction has the power to alter the way we see ourselves and the world around us. What story has shifted your perspective?

Leave a voice memo or text with your answer at 317-QUAKERS (+1 if calling from outside the U.S.), or respond via Instagram, X, or TikTok.

Quakers Today is the companion podcast to Friends Journal and other Friends Publishing Corporation content online. This episode was written, hosted, and produced by Peterson Toscano. This episode’s audio of Wendy Sanford comes from Peterson's personal podcast Bubble&Squeak episode titled Female Body, available wherever you get podcasts.

Feel free to send comments, questions, and requests for our new show. Email us at podcast@friendsjournal.org. You can also call or text our listener voicemail line at 317-QUAKERS.

This episode’s music comes from Epidemic Sound.