Mira and her dad Alaa were having icecream in Hamra, Beirut, Lebanon, when they passed by the Piccadilly Theater, an old deserted theater, or so they thought. They went in, and a man welcomed them and lead them to their seats. They watched a movie projection of an old Lebanese train, but that train came to life, and they suddenly found themselves in a beautiful ride with pretty sceneries around old Lebanon. On their way, they meet Fairuz, the famous Lebanese singer. 

Watch the full story and let us know your thoughts on our website https://dadtimestories.me/en/

This is part of a new series of English stories but with a Lebanese twist, and some Arabic phrases for the young expats to learn.

Subscribe to dadtimestories for more Arabic Lebanese bedtime stories: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgSfj8J8qJ7iEb7wqE14jDw

Dadtime Stories is a podcast in Lebanese Arabic of kids bedtime stories, written for my daughter Mira. I narrate these stories with my voice, and Mira stars as herself in most of them.

To help me continue this project, please support me by becoming a patron on https://patreon.com/dadtimestories

02 – A Movie at a Deserted Theater in Beirut | An English Lebanese Bedtime Story

While checking the attic, Mira finds an old Nintendo game, plugs it into the TV and plays Super Mario. When she reaches Bowser, the Turtle Dragon, she fights him but he manages to melt the screen and escape into real life. How will Mira become Super Mira and save the day?

Listen to it and more stories on our website dadtimestories.me and let us know what you thinkAlso follow us on instagram and share with us your thoughts and stories to inspire future ones. And if you're loving our content and would like us to create more, please support us on patreon | دادتايم ستوريز هو بودكاست شهري لقصص الأطفال بالعربية، اللهجة اللبنانية

Learn Arabic with Dadtimestories, a free monthly podcast of kids stories in Lebanese Arabic and in English with Lebanese Arabic words

03- Super Mira saves the Prince

One night, when Mira's dad, Alaa, was a little kid, he thought he saw a dinosaur. No one believed him, until he grew up and ran into a hidden cave that held a secret for millions of years.

Listen to this story and more on our website https://dadtimestories.me and let us know what you think.

Also follow us on instagram and share with us your thoughts and stories to inspire future ones.And if you're loving our content and would like us to create more, please support us on patreon https://www.patreon.com/dadtimestories | دادتايم ستوريز هو بودكاست شهري لقصص الأطفال بالعربية، اللهجة اللبنانية

Learn Arabic with Dadtimestories, a free monthly podcast of kids stories in Lebanese Arabic and in English with Lebanese Arabic words

04- I saw a Dinosaur | A Lebanese English Story

Last week, we told the story of Sarah, a Lebanese woman who braved family pressure to stop wearing the hijab. This week, we share an interview with Sarah where she talked about the reaction to the story when she published it on Freethought Lebanon, the power of extended family in Lebanese culture, and the future.
Thank you to Amer's cousin Lama for recording this episode with us. Her accent is from Suweida, in the South of Syria.
For transcripts and translation, or to sign up for Arabic classes, go to our website: https://realarabic.weebly.com

Sarah's Story Part II

“Many of us have a deeply dysfunctional relationship with Lebanon, an often punishing mix of love and despair. Lebanon can really break your heart…”Laetithia Harb shares her aunt’s story of leaving Lebanon and being pulled back against her will. (Dina Saleem performs the English translation of Aunt Liliane’s words.)Jennifer Nasrallah explains why she wants to stay in Lebanon and build a future for herself here.
Fatima Rezaie shares a poem about how she’s found her true home in Beirut.
This episode is hosted by Farrah Khatib.
***To support this show, please visit welebanonpod.com/support-season-2

Love and Despair

On Episode 2 of the Nobody’s Famous Podcast, I reached out to my colleague and friend Wafa Maz. Wafa has always been an interesting character and that has a lot to do with her growing up in England and in the UAE. It was intriguing to find out that she “forgot” how to be an Arab and had to relearn Arabic when she came back to Abu Dhabi. Aside from her childhood, Wafa really loves travel and food. Not to mention we interviewed her at a time when she was leaving her job in events and embarking on something completely new for the first time ever in her life.

#2 - Wafa Maz - Forgetting how to be an Arab as a Third Culture Kid

On The Sofa with British Mums brings you the latest on life in Dubai, the chaos and joys of motherhood, and plenty more. This week, we meet Lauren and Jen from the British Mums Team and hear about their journey in Dubai, while getting to know more about the story behind this amazing community. We also talk about going back to school, being new in Dubai and what&apos;s coming up later this month!
Check out our website for details of all our events:
https://britishmums.com/dubai/events/

On the Sofa with British Mums Episode 1 September 2023

“My life now has meaning, I give my heart to love, and this is how I function better...”In our season finale, we join a small community of Afghan women in Beirut who gather for a feast to break the fast. At different points in the tides of conversation, three of the women turn inward and reflect upon their lives.Nasrin Azizy thinks about her mother and the life she’s lived. Fatema Rezaie reflects upon her struggles and how Lebanon has become her home. And Roya Maliky finds the meaning of her life.This episode is hosted by Roya Maliky.
***To support this show, please visit welebanonpod.com/support-season-2

Afghan Iftar in Beirut

Click to watch:
https://youtu.be/MHnUHdz1OQ4
‘Al Wadi’ refers to the Wadi Abu Jmeel neighborhood of downtown Beirut, the city’s old Jewish quarter. This episode brings three Lebanese Jewish voices from different generations together, each sharing their own memory and complex relationship to Lebanon.
‘Al Wadi’ is designed for both the audio and video enthusiast in mind. No need to watch if you prefer to simply listen to the story. And photos / graphics are included on the YouTube version for anyone that prefers to follow visually.
I started working on this episode a few days before Covid-19 became a global pandemic. And I had to make a quick decision whether to postpone altogether or carry on with a new storyline and structure (using Skype audio). I went with the latter, and decided to release this story as Part 1 of a mini-series related to the Lebanese Jewish community. Followup episodes with additional voices will emerge once travel restrictions ease.
I’ve been curious about Wadi Abu Jmeel’s history since I was 12, going across the ‘Green Line’ before Solidere removed large swathes of what was left of downtown Beirut’s war-torn yet majestic architecture. By the time I began my Masters degree at AUB I started writing research assignments on the Lebanese Jewish community, and fortunately got to speak with members abroad and several still in Lebanon. I also befriended the last Lebanese Jew that remained in Wadi Abu Jmeel, Liza Nahmoud, and met her regularly before her passing in 2012. I deliberately included Beirut’s former Jewish quarter in my WalkBeirut tour, and made sure we’d reach the gates of Magen Avraham synagogue every time.
Please watch or listen to the entire episode. I know it’s 90 minutes long, but I guarantee it’s worth your time.
And kindly share on social media with your friends, family and fans, or anyone you think would be interested in the story. The podcast audience keeps growing, and it’s all thanks to you spreading the word. The more listeners and viewers, the better.
Regional wars forced identities on all of us. But it tore Lebanese Jews from their homes, and guaranteed they’d never return. Even if it’s left to history texts and the like, I hope we collectively recognize our 18th sect as a missing part of Lebanon - and Lebanese - through and through.
Wadi Abu Jmeel is empty. Magen Avraham is locked and without service. But Lebanese Jewish memory, abroad and slowly vanishing, is worth preserving.
Special thanks to Marc Codsi for composing the podcast’s music, and to Maryline Hayek for her endless Photoshop skills.
If you’re enjoying The Beirut Banyan, please consider a contribution via Patreon or Paypal (links in the details box).
And as always…thanks for listening. And thanks for watching.

Ep.170 (Video): Al Wadi

Recommended Episodes

S02E03 - Time Traveled to Play with Baby Dad

Play and download S02E03 - Time Traveled to Play with Baby Dad from S02E03 - Time Traveled to Play with Baby Dad 

S02E03 - Time Traveled to Play with Baby Dad · Episode · 2022