This week, I bring you a special end of year episode! My husband, Malik Wasim, took to the interviewer's seat, and hosted a Q&A, asking me all about the show, books and bookstagram. I put a post out on Instagram asking friends and followers for their questions, so I hope this episode is fun and helpful :)
2023 has been a great year for the show. I moved to weekly episodes this year, and have had so many incredible, powerful and moving conversations. I'm so proud of, and grateful for this space, where we're holding important conversations, talking about things that really matter and sharing our stories.
Please continue listening to the show in 2024, where I hope to be giving much more of the same, interviewing inspiring guests and talking all about books.
As always, I'd love to hear from you. Please do subscribe to The Diverse Bookshelf on your podcast platform of choice, and connect with me on social media:
www.instagram.com/readwithsamia
If you'd like to support the show, please consider subscribing to my Patreon, here: https://www.patreon.com/TheDiverseBookshelfPodcast
Or, if you'd prefer, please consider buying me a metaphorical coffee:
https://ko-fi.com/readwithsamia
This week, I bring you a special end of year episode! My husband, Malik Wasim, took to the interviewer's seat, and hosted a Q&A, asking me all about the show, books and bookstagram. I put a post out on Instagram asking friends and followers for their questions, so I hope this episode is fun and helpful :)
2023 has been a great year for the show. I moved to weekly episodes this year, and have had so many incredible, powerful and moving conversations. I'm so proud of, and grateful for this space, where we're holding important conversations, talking about things that really matter and sharing our stories.
Please continue listening to the show in 2024, where I hope to be giving much more of the same, interviewing inspiring guests and talking all about books.
As always, I'd love to hear from you. Please do subscribe to The Diverse Bookshelf on your podcast platform of choice, and connect with me on social media:
www.instagram.com/readwithsamia
If you'd like to support the show, please consider subscribing to my Patreon, here: https://www.patreon.com/TheDiverseBookshelfPodcast
Or, if you'd prefer, please consider buying me a metaphorical coffee:
https://ko-fi.com/readwithsamia
Hello, and welcome to The Diverse Bookshelf with me, Samia Aziz. On this show, I interview incredible authors doing a deep dive into important themes and issues, while talking all things books. This week's episode is a special end of year Wrap Up Show where I'm going to move into the seat of being interviewed, rather than interviewing somebody. I've asked my husband, Malik Wasm, to come on the show and interview me all about this very podcast. I put a post out on Instagram. So people have got in touch with their burning questions, all about running your own podcast, about this specific show, and about books. So I'm going to hand it over to Wasim who's now going to take the host seat and interview me for today's episode.
Malik Wasim:Thank you, Samia. First of all, let me ask you, how are you feeling about this whole experience being on the other side?
Samia Aziz:I'm feeling really nervous. And now I'm thinking about what my guests must be feeling when I interview them. It feels certainly more intimidating than being the interviewer for sure.
Malik Wasim:Yeah, I can imagine that. And especially I know that when this idea came not long ago, probably a couple of days ago. And then you decided, yes, this is something you should be doing. And I really think like, that was a great idea. And actually, I'm excited looking at the list of questions I have in front of me, I'm sure I'm gonna go and ask and people will listen. But before that, it would be great to hear from you. Especially I think I have been looking at, you know, working on this project, while now what do you feel like? What is your major highlight or takeaway? Let me put it this way: what are your key key takeaways, being a minority group in this country and then leading on something like this being a woman?
Samia Aziz:That's a really good question, and a really big question. So the podcast itself is aimed at promoting and supporting people from minority communities. And I think it goes one step further, because, as you said, like I myself, a person of a minority community, within another minority community, and maybe even another.I think it can be really daunting. When you see how many successful podcasts, there are, and out of those, how many of those tend to be by people who are from, like the majority, especially in the West. But I'm really proud of the space that I am creating. And we are creating as a community with this show. I'm really pleased that I'm able to learn and grow so much from this. And I think my voice really matters, I think that's the biggest thing that I've learned is that this space really matters. And my voice really matters. And I think it's such a privilege and an honour for me to be in the position that I am in.
Malik Wasim:Great. I think it's great to hear like, you feel like your voice matters. This made me think, to ask you this question like what, what was your motivation? What was that moment when you decided, okay, this is something you're going to do?
Samia Aziz:So as you know, that I am an avid reader, like our house, there are books in every corner.
Malik Wasim:Oh, yeah, I can say that for sure.
Samia Aziz:And I have always loved reading, from just a few
Malik Wasim:That's really interesting to hear, like as a years old, I started reading really young and I've always had a book in my hand or book in my bag. And I think increasingly, I have felt like the publishing industry more generally tends to promote certain authors - certain already very privileged already with exposure and with platforms, authors are getting the space to talk about their work. But there are so many incredible books and so many incredible authors that just don't get the same space. And I have felt like these are really like hidden gems and treasures that are getting missed out on but that these people have really important things to say. And I felt that I really wanted to help create that space. But also, I think, as a reader, you can read a book, depending on reader that benefits you to read and then share with others how quick your reading speed speed is, within a few hours, or a few days, or a few weeks. But often authors are spending years and years working on this piece of work. And I think we're missing out by not hearing from them. And so I really wanted to bridge that gap between the reading community and the authors. but also then providing that space to those authors who are not getting that kind of Limelight or even some sort of recognition to be asked, like, what was the experience like being an author? So it's great. I'm not a good reader. But I feel like if you are a reader, don't you think that the natural step would be becoming an author rather than a podcaster?
Samia Aziz:I mean, becoming an author is not everybody's life trajectory. It's not necessarily what everybody wants to do. Also, as you know, I do, write. And maybe one day, that is something that I will do more of. I would love to become a published author one day, but right now, I think the thing that I want to do is I want to create conversation, and I want to build community. And right now, this is what I want to focus on. And this is what I think is really important.
Malik Wasim:Sure, thank you very much. Well, I think we should head towards the questions, which I can say broadly are in three categories. So we can start with the first one. And then I think we will continue with our discussions as well. So the first question I have, the set of questions is basically on the podcast reflections. The second one is more kind of technicalities around the podcast and your equipment and stuff like that. And the last one is more about books. So starting with the first one, the first question I have is, What is your vision for the diverse bookshelf?
Samia Aziz:I mean, we've spoken a little bit about this already so far. But really, the vision for the show is to have a place, a community, where we're having conversations about some of life's huge questions and themes and issues, and speaking to authors that are writing about these, but the authors are from minority backgrounds. So it's about giving a voice to some authors that are not promoted as much as they should be ordered to encourage people to read more widely, and to also encourage people to think about some really big themes and issues. So on the show, we talk a lot about identity and belonging, about migrant and refugee experiences. We talk about current affairs and politics, about faith and about community more generally.
Malik Wasim:Okay. So do you think when you started your podcast, at that point, whatever you were thinking as a vision for this podcast, or kept on evolving as well like, or is it like something you kept in your mind from the beginning? And that's what you're heading towards? Or is it something like, the more you interview people and author, the more you come to know about the challenges and opportunities that it is like something keeps on evolving?
Samia Aziz:Ah, that's a really interesting question. Because I think generally, my vision for the podcast has always been the same. I think what's happening with time, is I feel that the need for this space, and the need for us to sort of all i for me to claim or reclaim my own identity, and to promote our stories and share our voices. I feel the need for that is growing. And maybe because it feels more important, it might be fueling it almost in some ways. But I think largely, it's always been there.
Malik Wasim:Okay, cool. I think this nicely leads us to the next question, which is what have been some of the highlights of the show?
Samia Aziz:I mean, the show is all about interviewing authors, which as an avid reader, feels like my dream. It is really incredible. Some of the conversations that have happened on the show, in fact, I'd say all of them have been absolutely amazing. I got to interview Huda Fahmy, who is an illustrator and writer, and Huda is somebody that I have been following, and have enjoyed her cartoons and her work for absolute years. Even as a teenager, when I was growing up, I found a lot of comfort in her cartoons, which explore Muslim identity in the West. And I think that was one of the most special interviews because of how long I have admired her. And also because it was just so funny, like at the end of the show, my jaw was aching because of how much we had been laughing. And so I think that's definitely a highlight. I think as well, when I hear from from authors during during the recording and afterwards and reflections, just about how much they appreciate the space and how comfortable they feel in speaking to me, I think it's just it makes me feel so empowered, but also just so grateful to be able to do this.
Malik Wasim:That's interesting. Would it be a difficult question, if I asked who was the best author you have interviewed? Or rather, you would go and give me a diplomatic answer. Honestly, feel free to just pass.
Samia Aziz:Yeah, I can't answer that question, it feels a very impossible question. It's like asking a parent who their favourite child is. I can't. I will say with full certainty that like, every episode because every episode is so different as well, every episode has been an absolute pleasure to record so far. It's been really fun, but such an education for me as well. I don't think I have a favourite.
Malik Wasim:Okay, that's absolutely fine. Well, as we know, like, whatever we do, there are ups and downs, whether it's like related to your family or profession, and especially something completely new when you don't have huge experience of doing something which you are trying to start to first time that can even become more challenging and bring a lot of uncertainties. So my next question is, what are some of the things that have not gone so? Well?
Samia Aziz:Yeah, I mean, whenever you start something, there are lessons that you learn, there are things that don't go so well. Thankfully, I haven't had any huge disasters with the show. I think you would know if I if I did, but I haven't had any huge issues. I think it takes a while when you're doing something like starting a podcast, to get into the flow of understanding what it is that you need, what it is that you needmfrom your guests, how clear you have to be in communication. Sometimes there's been a couple of things that have have not gone so well and have kind of continued to haunt me. I had one guest, whose name I will not mention, that came on the show. And I had been speaking to this person's publicist and agent for months, literally for like six months, I think. I was trying to get this person on the show, because I really wanted to interview them. I loved their work. And the guest turned up and logged into the show, and they were at the gym. And it was the most uncomfortable situation, because I didn't know how to handle it. And I was trying to tell them that maybe we should reschedule but they seemed adamant that they wanted to go on. But obviously, I couldn't record with them being in the gym, like the sound was awful. It was just terrible. We ended up continuing with the recording, but this person then went to their car, which helped from a sound perspective. But it left such a bitter taste in my mouth. And I think as a reader has impacted my relationship with this author.
Malik Wasim:Honestly, I'm thinking like, I remember you mentioning once, or maybe more than once, like, there was somebody who didn't show up. And then when you reminded they were like, oh, completely forgot? Is this the same one? Or was it a different?
Samia Aziz:No, this is a this is a different one?
Malik Wasim:Ah, so you've had quite a few challenges when it comes to you know, getting hold of people as well.
Samia Aziz:Yeah, I think sometimes. I mean, there have been a couple of instances where, as you said, where people haven't turned up because they've forgotten or they've gotten confused, or they've not found the link in time. And I think that can happen with remote recording, because it seems sometimes that it can get more messy. If if somebody knows that they're going to meet you in person in the studio in London, for example. I think it's a little bit more, maybe straightforward, or in a little bit more clear on arrangements. But online, I think sometimes it can get a little bit lost. It's happened a couple of times. And there was one author that just didn't turn up. And it has now been like six months later, and I still haven't heard from them. It doesn't happen that often. I'm very pleased to say, but it did happen once and I just I don't have any idea - I don't know what happened. I contacted the publisher who said that they also haven't heard from from that author. I think the thing to do in that case, is to be able to pick yourself up and not taking it personally. I think sometimes life just gets too busy and people do forget, I don't think there is anything different I could have done. I did really worry with the with the author that turned up from the gym. I really worried if it was because they weren't taking me seriously enough. And that really, as you know, I was actually really upset about it, because I felt like they just think this is a joke. They think I'm a joke. Because at the time as well, it was really early on in the show. So there had only been a few episodes. And I didn't really haven't much to show for the show at that point. And I felt like they just think that I'm nobody and that this is a joke. And that was really difficult to sort of step out of that and just let it go and not take it personally and just think that no actually this this person messed up.
Malik Wasim:Okay, cool. I mean, I have two follow up questions before we move on to the next one. How demotivating it could be, if you had a commitment with an author and the author didn't turn up? I'm just thinking from a new like somebody new who is thinking to start a podcast. What advice you will give? I know you said you would not take it personally, but how demotivating it could be, and what is the best way to get out of that?
Samia Aziz:I think especially if it's, a.) somebody that you've a been really looking forward to interviewing, and b.) if it's an interview that you've really spent a lot of time preparing for, it can really upset you if tit doesn't happen; if they don't turn up, because to you, this is a form of work, regardless of whether or not there's any money involved, this is a project you're working on. And so to have somebody not turn up can be really difficult to deal with. I think one of the easy ways, is to try and speak to them and find out what happened. In my experience, a lot of the time, it's a very innocent mistake. And usually the author will be very apologetic, and they will reschedule very quickly, and they will show that they're really interested in speaking to you still. So then you very quickly let it go. Because it was just a mistake. If, as I have been in that situation, where you just don't hear back from the author that can be really difficult, like very, very confusing. But also, if that does happen, I guess that is an indication as to maybe the priorities that that author is having, or maybe what they're dealing with in their personal life, because it's important to remember that this is also a person at the at the other end of the line. But sometimes, you know, doing a podcast interview is not that important. It's not the thing that they're focusing on, or that they want to give a lot of attention to when we have to accept that as well.
Malik Wasim:Sure makes sense. And the second follow on question on that one, was there a time like, for example, if you were interviewing somebody, and during the interview, you felt like, it's not going as you thought or it like, if you got a reflection from the author like they might not be enjoying the interview, how difficult that situation could be if you have ever experienced?
Samia Aziz:That is a really tough position to be in. I haven't had an author tell me that they are uncomfortable with me or that they're not happy with the way that the interview is going. I've had two occasions: I've had one occasion where the author themselves felt like they were not performing very well. I thought that actually they were doing great, but they thought that they were just not happy with the way that they were answering questions, etc. So I worked with them. We did attempt a rerecord. But also, I worked with them in terms of the edit and I think we recorded an extra question or two. And that was completely fine. And I think that's okay, if the author is not comfortable, if they didn't think that they were doing very well, that's fine. And then I have had one interview that I recorded that just didn't go very well, I felt like I just wasn't getting much, much from the person I was interviewing. And it was really sad to be in that position. Because unfortunately, I haven't released that episode. Because when I think about my listeners, I think they won't enjoy it. And I've had to have a difficult conversation in telling the publicist that I don't feel comfortable with putting the show out. But I think it's important, I think it's important to remember that this is also something that people will be listening to, and that I hope that they will take something away from And fundamentally, it's my show, and I'm able to make that decision, and to stand firm in that as well.
Malik Wasim:Sure makes sense. So the next question, and honestly, some of this question we have already covered, but feel free to bring in any other highlights. So the question is, uh, tell me about some of the lessons you have learned?
Samia Aziz:Oh, I do like this question! I think I've learned some really big things. I've learned a lot. I mean, I've learned a lot from every episode in terms of sort of knowledge and information, for sure. But the podcast has also taught me about bravery. It's taught me about the need to really go for something and really just shoot your shot. And it has taught me this, that there are circumstances where the worst thing that can happen is somebody will say no. I have really wanted desperately to interview authors. And I've thought like, oh, there's no way this person is going to want to come on my show. Like, I'm just you know, the podcast is really small. And then I've sent the email and they've turned around and they've said within 24 hours, they've said, Absolutely, yes. And I've just been blown away by how receptive people are. And so I've really learnt that you literally have nothing to lose, but you have so much to gain from just trying.
Malik Wasim:So sometimes it's important to try even it could be just a mental barrier you you might be thinking, no, there's no way that this author is going to even look at your email. So I think that's that's a very important one especially for the new people like people who might be considering this, you know, side of things, that things might look difficult or even sometimes impossible. Until unless you give it a chance. So I completely agree and from my own experiences from different matters of my life, I can relate with it. Well, okay, what else?
Samia Aziz:I think the other thing I've learned is that you really don't know how much people will take away from something. And what I mean is that I have received some really, really heartfelt messages from people who've been listening to the show. And I've just been blown away by how much of an impact you can have on somebody. And I think it's really important to remember that more broadly.
Malik Wasim:Is it the people who you are interviewing or the listeners?
Samia Aziz:The listeners. I think it's really important to remember that what may seem like something fairly small to you, or small in terms of like, how much of an impact do you think it may have actually can be so big, like, I've had people that have said, you know, I've changed my mind about about an issue, I've changed my mind about a book or two in my mind about an author, you know, this, this episode has really helped me, I found it really healing, like, these are really big things. And I think it's important to remember that we can all have such a big impact on other people.
Malik Wasim:Okay, so just one while you were saying this, and I was thinking, like, from my own experience, I know, sometimes people who write books on various topics, but then at the same time, you see them not taking a position on a matter which they might have, you know, spoke about or wrote about in their book. It could be anything related to, you know, inclusion, or it could be related to any political situation in the country. They don't take that kind of a very clear stance. Have you experienced that and how difficult it is to comprehend?
Samia Aziz:Yeah, this is actually an issue that has been plaguing me over the last few month. At the time that we're recording this episode, Israel has been attacking Gaza for almost three months, two and a half months, I think, now almost 80 days, and it is clearly a genocide. There have been words to describe it, like an onslaught, an attack, a war. But I think the thing that is most fitting is genocide. And we are seeing the impact of a colonial project on the state that is nothing other than genocide. And unfortunately, I think one of the most difficult thing has been seeing authors that have written their books about the British Empire and written books about decolonization, on refugees and wars in other countries that have not spoken out about what's going on in Palestine. I have seen it many times at the moment. And I think generally, there has been a lot of silence from the publishing industry, a lot of silence from authors that for whatever reason, are taking either a very neutral stance or a very harmful stance or just silent. And we know that in, in crisis and in in genocide and conflict and war, if you are silent, you are enabling the oppressor. And unfortunately, that has played out a lot in recent months. So yeah, I've seen it and it's made me think very deeply about which authors I want to be supporting and who I want to be reading going forwards.
Malik Wasim:Okay, that makes sense. Thanks. Thanks for sharing that experience. I'm conscious about the time as well, because I can see some of the very good questions which might be very helpful for the listeners. But before moving to the second category of the questions. My last question is, is there anything or maybe more than a thing you wish you knew before you started your own podcast? Does it feel like a common question?
Samia Aziz:I mean, that is quite a generic question. I would actually say, I don't really I think I did. I did a fair amount of research before starting the show. I have enjoyed the learning the things that I didn't know. And I think that the podcast space is continually evolving. Yeah, I'd say that's pretty much it. I don't think I that I've learned anything that I really wish that I knew this before. Because I think the other thing to remember is that in live spaces like podcasts, it's very easy to fix any mistakes, in the sense that if you don't know something for your first episode, but if you know it going forwards, it's very easy to implement things into change. So yeah, that's what I'd say on that question.
Malik Wasim:Okay. Thank you very much. So moving towards the next category, which is more around the technicalities of the podcast. The first really specific question, how do you approach authors? I think I feel like it's the most difficult thing, when you think about starting a podcast. Like, how are you going to, you know, bring those authors on board?
Samia Aziz:I actually bring guests on the show in a variety of ways. The easiest way to approach an author is to approach the publisher. So if you know that this book published by the author is published by say, HarperCollins, or Penguin, let's use penguin as an example, you need to find the contact at Penguin, usually on their website, they will have like a press and media or marketing contact email address, even if it's a generic one, the first point of call is to contact that email address. And to express your interest and explain what's going on, they will usually put you in contact with the author's publicist, or agent, and then take it from there. I have a lot of contacts in publishing already, from before the show, because I have my Bookstagram account Read with Samia. So I have a lot of contacts. So I found it quite easy to find the right contact publishers. The other way to do it is to contact an author directly using social media, sometimes they will then tell you to email them or to email their publicist. So that also works. One of the things that is happening with me, which I'm really grateful for is that authors and publishers are now approaching me directly. And they have been for quite a few months now, where they will say we're working on this book, would you consider interviewing the author on your show? And I will usually say that I'm interested, but I'm not going to commit until I read the book. So send me the book or, you know, we'll have a conversation to that's usually how it's how it works at the moment.
Malik Wasim:Okay, so just a follow on question on that one, to put this into perspective, like, if you're approaching, say, 10 publishers, what's the likelihood notice how many of them would respond? And out of that those 10? Whoever, whichever number is responding, how many you will end up interviewing?
Samia Aziz:That's, that's a very good question.
Malik Wasim:Just trying to, you know, look at the success rate. Thank you. Thank you. That's helpful. Okay, so
Samia Aziz:Yeah, I'd say, I'd say it's like, generally, I haven't had a huge number of authors that have said, no. There have been a few, that have said that they're not interested or that they're not doing podcast interviews at the moment, especially some of the bigger ones. Like the more successful authors, for example, I really wanted to interview Rebecca Kwang, who wrote Babel and yellow face, but her publicist has told me several times that she started taking on podcast interviews, which is fine. Usually the communication is is quite good in that they do get back to me, I have found that I'm often chasing though, I'm having to follow up. And that's because, you know, people are usually very busy. And I think that's quite a normal thing. That happens, especially when authors are travelling, or authors are not based in the UK. It's not their fault. And first, they'll say like, oh, we just haven't heard back. So I've had I'd say fairly few instances where people have not been interested, which is really the next question is a bit long. I think the way we should do it, good, because it can be it can feel quite demotivating. And that, you know, sometimes it's not possible, sometimes I'm just not hearing back and I will then need to change tactics. And I either need to like, send a message to to the Instagram page, or ask for another contact or contact one of my books to call my friends. And I asked them if they have another contact at the same publisher. And I'll try and try and find another way to get through to them. But yeah, that's what I'd say. probably, I'm going to read the whole case at first. And then I'm happy to, you know, go and read the bits of it, and you can respond that way. Does that sound okay? So, has starting the podcast had an impact on your reading life? That's the first part of the question. And it goes, do you read more critically? Or do you still get caught up in the story knowing you will get to ask the author questions about how they came to this piece of work? I really liked this question. And this is really good question. My reading has been impacted by the podcast, I will not lie. I wish I could just say like, No, it hasn't. But it has a not so much in terms of how I consume books. But I think a lot before even picking up a book about whether or not this could be a potential for the show. I am more inclined to read books based on the fact that I want to interview the author, or that I want to consider to interview the author. I'm going to read a book if a publisher has contacted me and asked me if I will consider that consider interviewing the author for sure. So there is that as well in terms of whether I read more critically, I don't think the actual reading experience has changed for me personally. And that's because I think I am always a critical reader. I think I've always been the type to have questions when I'm reading, I always tend to remember the book for quite a while afterwards, as well. And remember details as well. I think what has changed, though, is that I have a deadline, often, if I need to read a book by a certain time, which can change my relationship with the book. It can feel a little bit more pressured, which is not what I want. But it does happen sometimes. But I'm in a really fortunate position in that I am really interested in making sure that I'm not just interviewing authors with new releases. I'm really interested in interviewing authors more generally. So sometimes I'm interviewing an author whose books I read years ago or months ago, in which case, my preparation is quite different. And so in that case, sometimes I'm not rereading the book again, at all, but I'm thinking about it and remembering it. Maybe I'm rereading certain parts of it. And that I find really enjoyable in being able to interview somebody who's works whose work I read years ago.
Malik Wasim:Okay. Yeah, that makes sense. And while you were answering, and I was just thinking, like, what this position change, if you happen to you know, publish a book yourself and then being in this position, but that's fine. You don't need to answer that. Moving on to the next question. Interesting question. What equipment has made the biggest difference? Does the size of the microphone matter?
Samia Aziz:Okay, so I'm gonna be very honest, in that I don't know too much about technical things and equipment, like microphones. But I have learned that I don't think it's the size of the microphone, per se, like, I don't think it matters hugely if it's a big one or a large one. But it is important to have a look at how how good a microphone is in terms of its the way that it gets rid of background noise and echo how good it is, in terms of how like, how far out it picks up noise, whether you record from the side or from the top, I think these things matter most. I think having a good microphone like is definitely in proved the quality of sound on my end, the problem I have is that I record the podcast remotely. And most of my guests are not even in the same country as me as let alone in the same city as me. And so I have very limited limited control over the quality of sound on their side at the moment. Unfortunately, I can't do anything about it. I mean, I was speaking to one of my friends who has a podcast and she says that the requirement of guests coming on her show is that they have their own microphone. Now I personally don't feel like I can either I want to introduce that limitation, because I know not not everybody will be in a position to buy their own microphone, I also don't want to be I don't want to be sending people or giving people microphones in order to interview them. So at the moment, I can't do much about it. I don't know if that would change if I change to an in person setup in the studio at some point later. But at the moment, that's sort of where I am with that.
Malik Wasim:So on the last bit of your response, so if author don't have like a good quality mic, you would still interview them rather than making them probably, I think I can say that digitally excluded from that part.
Samia Aziz:For sure, I think even laptops have fairly okay speakers and microphones at the moment. I think that they pick up sound depending on your recording facility. That is okay. It may not be professional. But I think for me, what is the most important thing is the content of the conversation. And I think my listeners generally understand that too.
Malik Wasim:Sure. A follow up question from my own side, actually. And I think I know the answer, but I think it will be good for the listeners. Where did you buy this mic?
Samia Aziz:This one? Oh my gosh. Well, you do know because you bought this mic for me! This mic we actually got from Cash Converters. So you know, we are real avid second hand shoppers, we really care about sustainability and the environment. And so yeah, this microphone, I'm using a Blue Yeti. We got it from Cash Converters for I think like 50 or 60 pounds. A new one is sort of in the hundreds. So I think we got an absolute bargain. And I would actually suggest people to look for secondhand microphones because usually they're in pretty good condition. But there's also shops and businesses, I don't know any names off the top of my head, but they sell either they sell secondhand goods and equipment, but they also sell what is like, when you go to a shop and there's model model stock out, then they will sell that at a reduced price. I think that those are really good ways of getting good quality products, but at a reduced cost.
Malik Wasim:Sure, and I think I would like to link this response to your previous risk questions response that, I think there shouldn't be an excuse, like, if your content is strong and good, then equipment probably can be, there could be still kind of a chance that you can get along. I know, I completely agree, like equipment doesn't matter. It has a big role. Imagine like, if you have very fancy expensive equipment, but your content is not great. I don't think so that thing gonna work as compared to vice versa. So I think sometimes, for example, I do caught up with like these things, like if I don't have like everything in order, like all the things in order, I might not, you know, initiate on whatever I'm thinking about. But I'm glad to hear like you what you said like it's more about, you know, content, and then probably to look at Focus. Have you focused on the content?
Samia Aziz:Yeah, I'd really say, if you are somebody that is thinking about starting your own podcast, please don't let a lack of equipment or money in that regard, hold you back. I think, you know, as your show grows, and as you evolve as, as a podcast host or whatever it may be, your circumstances around your equipment will change for sure. But don't let it hold you back. Because you will just get stuck.
Malik Wasim:Makes sense. Okay, cool. So the last question from this category. How much time do you spend on the show?
Samia Aziz:Oh my gosh, that's a very big question. Because I spend a lot of time working on the show.
Malik Wasim:Right, because it's not just that when you're interviewing the author. So maybe think about how much time you spent in preparation, like the pre interview, and then post interview.
Samia Aziz:Yeah, so it, it varies definitely, but sometimes I can be emailing with an agent back and forth for months, which is not just the time, but the frustration and energy that goes into that. So that is definitely a thing. Sometimes it can take a lot of time to set up an interview. And then the preparation takes time. So if I factor in the time it takes me to read a book, it takes me probably I'd say maybe altogether, maybe like 12 hours or so to read a book. If I spread that over across a week, that's like two or three hours a day sometimes. And if I don't have that time, it can take me weeks, I try, I don't want to like skim read or read very fast. So it does take me about 12 hours, I would say on average, because obviously it depends on the length of the book. And then comes the preparation for the actual interview. I don't tend to make notes while I'm reading because I find it really distracting. And I find that I can get in my head and I can get distracted and just go off on a tangent. So I prefer to read in one go. And then I will do like a brain dump. I will write down things that I'm thinking things that I'm feeling, and it will help me write questions. But I will also read I will also read articles that the author has written, I may listen to other podcasts interviews, I may read other interviews that they've done. Because sometimes it's important to understand the style of an author before you think about what you're going to ask them and how. So it can take me, I don't want to really give it like a monetary thing. But it can probably take me altogether, I'd say maybe like two full days of work, or like two full days or three full days to prepare for one episode.
Malik Wasim:That's including the reading.
Samia Aziz:Yes.
Malik Wasim:So if I have to ask, let's take out the reading. Because different people can have different, you know, speed when it comes to reading than what one show would mean in terms of the time commitment, if you take out the reading.
Samia Aziz:So, I'd say a full day of preparation. So if we took like a 24 hour window, I'd say full day of preparation. If you gave me two full days of preparation, I would love that I would love to be able to do that. The more time I have to prepare, it would be better. But obviously I have work commitments and life commitments. So I can't do everything. So I'd say a full day of commitment. Then there's an editing process. And in that also, I'd say it's probably another full day. So we're looking at about two full days. That's probably spread out across a week. So yeah, I'd say that's probably roughly how much an episode each is taking me at the moment. Sometimes I take less depending on how familiar I am with the author. But yeah, it's about two days I'd say.
Malik Wasim:Great, thank you hope it would be helpful for the listeners as well. And with that, too, Being towards the last bit of interview, which is around books. And as we know, like we are approaching the end of this year, which is full of experiences, for every person that could be different experiences, when it comes to the year end, they might have had very good number of good times and then some downtimes and maybe different in other cases. So, as we are discussing the book section here now, in the last last category, not the section, first question is about what is your book of the year 2023?
Samia Aziz:You know, I almost when this question came in,
Malik Wasim:Is it as difficult as answering Yeah, obviously, you will be answering then best author, in this case.
Samia Aziz:Yeah, I almost told this person that sent me in this question that I wasn't gonna answer the question, because I don't like this question. I don't have a book of 2023 unfortunately, because I just can't, I feel like it's sometimes really difficult to compare books as well. But I will take this time actually to talk about some of the things that I have loved reading this year 2023. I read some authors for the first time that I hadn't read, I read RF Kwang. I read Babel and Yellow Facw for the first time, which I loved both of them very different from one another, but amazing books, both of them. I also actually read Isabella Hammad, for the first time this year, I read both of The Parisian, and Enter Ghost, which I also really enjoyed. I think she is an insanely talented writer. She's British Palestinian, and the stories that she is telling us so important, especially now with everything going on in the region. I think that my reading has been overshadowed a lot since October, because of everything happening in Palestine. But I have enjoyed being able to educate and inform myself even further, in the sense that I kind of felt like it was more important for me to make sure that I was reading Palestinian voices at the moment. So I have been reading a lot more around Palestine. I read Rashid Khalidi's,Tthe 100 year War on Palestine recently, which I found such an education and so informative. I also read Minor Detail. And as I said, I've been reading Isabella Hamid, I've been reading a lot of Ilan Pappe as well. So yeah, that's probably what I would say in response to that question. I know it's not an answer of the question, although actually I will talk about one highlight is that I had an early copy of Sairish Hussain's Hidden Fires, which is coming out in February of 2024. And I think we are so lucky to have a second book by her because she's absolutely incredible. I loved that book, and I cannot wait for it to come out next year.
Malik Wasim:Okay, moving to the next question. Is there a character in one ofthe books you have read that you would like to meet?
Samia Aziz:Yes. Oh, I really love this question. And, yeah, I mean, whenever I read a book, like a fiction story, the characters always feel so real. So I often leave feeling leave a book feeling as though I really wish I could read I can meet these people. Sairish Hussain, again, actually, her debut novel is called The Family Tree. And those characters, Sahil, and Ehsan, and Zara, like, they are so wonderful, and Amjad, I would really love to meet them, just as people I had, you know, I think you'll be so grateful if we'd have them around for tea one day, like, I just think they're so wonderful. Also, I recently read Enter Ghost by Isabella Hamid, and that the protagonist, Sonya is so interesting, I would also really like to meet her. And there's another character in that book called Maryam, who is like, sort of very creative and really activity. Really strong, independent woman, I'd also really like to meet her. But if I think outside of what I've read recently, I think I'd love to read to me any of the characters and anything that Toni Morrison has written. Because all of Toni Morrison's characters are so raw and powerful and imperfect. I would love to meet them. Hafsa Zayyan has written a book called We Are All birds of Uganda, and Hassan the grandfather. I think I would also like to meet him.
Malik Wasim:Okay, great. So, before I asked the last question, are you feeling nervous now? I know you you were feeling a little bit nervous at the beginning.
Samia Aziz:I'm not feeling nervous now. Okay. I'm feeling quite relaxed.
Malik Wasim:I hope I did justice so far. I don't know like, obviously this is not my thing, but maybe listeners can give you feedback. How did I interview you? I didn't had any chance to prepare. I do have a list of questions in front of me. But whatever follow up questions I've been asking. That's just like what I could think about. So the last question is, what are some of the books you are looking forward to in 2024, which is literally in a few days.
Samia Aziz:I mean, I think I already I already spoke about Sairish Hussain's, newest book, Hidden Fires, which is coming out I think, in January. Now, normally at this point, I'm really good with knowing exactly what's coming out next year, and I've had a bunch of proofs come through the door. And I know what I'm going to be reading and what's coming out. Unfortunately, I have had some books arrive for next year. But I have not been in the headspace to really think about it. In terms of what books are coming out next year. However, I will say that I do know that some of my favourite authors are coming back with more books next year. But I will talk about the hopes I have for publishing. And I hope that publishing is just more open next year, I hope that we see some real thought about some of the books that are coming out. I hope that more of auth more authors from minority and underrepresented communities, get their voices out and get their stories told, I really hope that we do justice to the stories that are being told, and that there is a greater emphasis on sort of sensitivity, reading and thinking really deeply about representation. I hope as a Muslim woman, that I started to see more Muslim women that defy the tropes and stereotypes that that we seem to be saturated with. So that's really my hopes for 2024. I will on Instagram, I will start shortly, paying more attention to votes from 2014 to 24. So if you are interested in you know, please keep an eye out.
Malik Wasim:Great, so this is the end of the questions. But I think I just want to I'm wondering like if you have any sort of a message for your listeners, or the people who you have as part of your, you know, your family on Instagram.
Samia Aziz:I mean, my huge message to anyone that's been listening to the show, is thank you. Thank you for listening. Thank you for the feedback. And I really hope that you stick around, I really hope that that the show is helping in some way. I hope that it is inspiring and interesting. I hope that it that you find some kind of like healing and support and empowerment in it because I think the best podcasts I listened to. I feel like I'm sat in a room with friends. So I hope that you to feel like you're sat in a room with your friends.
Malik Wasim:Okay, cool. Apologies that I said like that's the end of the questions. And thanks to you, Samia, that pointing on the screen with the last question. So I have a few more questions before we end the show, which we are about to now the last question I have is from someone is what can we expect from the show in 2024?
Samia Aziz:Largely, you can expect more of the same I hope, interesting conversations, diverse authors. But I am hoping in 2024 that we open up a little bit. So I'm hoping to invite on book lovers more generally. So I'm hoping that we interview public speakers and activists, creatives, people working in publishing and book bloggers a whole other sort of realm of people, because I think authors are amazing. And I will continue to interview authors. But the conversations are around books. So I hope that we have more interesting and inspiring conversations.
Malik Wasim:That sounds exciting. And by the way, congratulations for hitting the 50k downloads on podcast. I'm proud of you.
Samia Aziz:Thank you, thank you, that was a real achievement. So the diverse bookshelf podcast last week hit 50,000 downloads. So which is which feels really huge. Because I think relatively the show is still new, it's still quite small. As you know, it's like a one woman show. And so it really like it feels amazing that so many people have been listening to so many episodes.
Malik Wasim:That's great. And by the way, guys, this is totally off script. This is not written and she didn't ask me to ask to mention this. I'm genuinely glad that obviously I do look at Samia like making effort reading books, even sometimes in bed, when it's time to turn off the light, but I can I can her still wanting to read. One last question. I know you have a very nice bookshelf and I'm sure you must have posted a wall of pictures As of that, there are books in the kitchen, there are books upstairs in the bedroom. Do you have any kind of idea how how you're going to organise them in 2024?
Samia Aziz:Oh my gosh,
Malik Wasim:I got this is again off the script. I was not meant to ask, but I thought it's a good opportunity for me ask and make her to make a commitment. There will be a better way to manage books.
Samia Aziz:I mean, there is one way that we could do it is if you buy me another bookshelf. If you do we have space to me another space in the house for my book. That was our problem. No, but seriously, this is a genuine problem, in that my book collection is growing at a faster at a faster speed than I'm reading. And I'm very pleased to say that I'm not spending very much money on books I, if I buy I tend to buy secondhand, but you know, because of the podcasts and other things, a lot of books are still finding their way to me. And also, because everybody in my life knows that I'm a reader. So I gifted her books as well from people that that like me, but it is a problem. I'm hoping that I have another clear out at some point soon and just sort of reduced the collection overall so that it doesn't overflow the bookshelf. But I can't make any commitments I'm afraid.
Malik Wasim:Okay, that's fine. I think as long as the circle keeps on going. So as you said like you do give away. I think that's good. That's the end of questions really from my side. I don't know if there is anything else you want to say at the end.
Samia Aziz:No, well, thank you, Wasim, for interviewing me today. But as always, guys, if you have enjoyed this episode, please follow and subscribe to the diverse bookshelf on your podcast platform of choice and connect with me on social media. Also, it would be really great if you could leave a review as it helps more people find the show.
Malik Wasim:Thank you very much. Thanks everyone. Bye