Samira Ahmed

Samira Ahmed discusses the 10 July 1964 issue of New Musical Express with Chris Shaw. To read along with Samira and Chris visit https://iamtheeggpod.com

My guest today is the writer, broadcaster and journalist, Samira Ahmed, who joins me to discuss her BFI Film Classics book on The Beatles first film, 'A Hard Day's Night'. Drawing on her own experience of first discovering the film as a child and going on to work in the television industry, Samira shines a spotlight on the craft behind the film's enduring appeal. What makes this film still so thrilling and vital? What made it stand out from most of the pop films that had been made previously?

Send us Fan Mail Tim is joined by journalist, writer and broadcaster Samira Ahmed to explore Rubber Soul's 'You Won’t See Me'. The conversation explores the song’s double meanings, its portrayal of relationship tension, and McCartney’s ability to transform personal experience into art. They also discuss the evolving depiction of women in Beatles songs, the broader social changes of the 1960s, and how Rubber Soul captures a band (and a culture) in transition. Musically, they highlight the track’s rich harmonies, inventive structure, and standout bass line, as well as its subtle sophistication beneath an apparently simple surface. Along the way, Samira shares insights from her new BFI Film Classics book on A Hard Day’s Night. Guest links BFI Film Classics: A Hard Day's Night, by Samira Ahmed: https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/hard-days-night-9781839029394/ Samira's website: https://samiraahmed.blog Samira's podcast: https://squarewindow.co.uk Samira on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/samiraahmeduk.bsky.social Samira on X.com: https://x.com/SamiraAhmedUK Follow My Favourite Beatles Song Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/myfavebeatles.bsky.social X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/myfavebeatles Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MyFavouriteBeatlesSong Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myfavouritebeatlessong Original music by Joe Kane Logo design by Mark Cunningham

Journalist, writer and broadcaster Samira Ahmed is a busy woman. Through the Square Window , her new(ish) podcast with Graham Kibble-White guides listeners through UK TV of decades gone by. It’s nostalgia with a keen critical eye, examining what TV reflected about and indeed brought to British culture. With telly very much still at the forefront, Samira’s also penned the forthcoming BFI Film Classics volume on 1964 Beatles’ movie A Hard Day’s Night . She chats to Mick about TV, its role in our daily life, how her mum taught men to cook, and what the telly can tell us about a social moment. And of course, the Fab Four’s first film and what makes it such a great ride. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Samira Ahmed and Graham Kibble-White present a special extra episode for March 2026. Our previous instalment looked at shows from March 1979, including Thames TV's The Kenny Everett Video Show . Writer, comedian and actor Barry Cryer, who passed away in 2022, was a key contributor to that series and in 2019, Samira visited Barry at his home to record an interview with him about the programme, intended to run in a future edition of TV Years magazine. That future edition never transpired, and so we're presenting their conversation for the very first time. If you would like to contact the podcast, please drop us a line on email@squarewindow.co.uk Our website is: www.squarewindow.co.uk This is a Square Window production, with music by Local Teenagers. Podcast logo by Stuart Manning.

Send us Fan Mail New York Times bestselling author Samira Ahmed joins us for an eye-opening episode that challenges the status quo of the publishing world. As a Muslim author writing about critical themes such as Islamophobia, Samira offers a unique perspective on the hurdles faced by marginalized writers. She discusses her unorthodox journey from education and activism to literature, shedding light on the systemic barriers within the industry and advocating for bookshelves that truly reflect our diverse society. We turn our focus to the contentious issue of book banning, discussing its detrimental impact on intellectual freedom. In a world where preemptive censorship is alarmingly common, Samira and I draw parallels to historical regimes that have used book bans as tools of oppression. We emphasize the vital role of community efforts in resisting these acts, inspired by Toni Morrison's rallying cry for authors to wield their stories as weapons of defiance against bigotry and authoritarianism. Finally, we explore actionable ways to support diverse voices and combat censorship on a local level. From attending school board meetings to engaging with initiatives like We Need Diverse Books, we discuss how community activism can make a tangible difference. Samira and I urge listeners to champion marginalized authors and advocate for curricula that embrace diversity. By staying informed and involved, we can ensure literature remains a powerful force for truth and inclusivity. https://www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener-affiliate.html?fpr=craftchat Support the show 🎙️ Craft Chat Chronicles with J.D. Myall Candid conversations on writing, publishing, and creative life — featuring bestselling authors, MFA students, and writers at every stage of the journey. About J.D. Myall J.D. Myall is the co-chair of Drexel University’s MFA Alumni Association and a publishing and library professional. She is the creator and host of Craft Chat Chronicles , where she interviews authors, agents, and industry insiders about the art and business of writing. Her work has appeared in Ms. Magazine , Writer’s Digest , and HuffPost . Her debut novel, Heart’s Gambit , releases with Wednesday Books/Macmillan in February 2026. When she’s not conjuring magic, murder, and mayhem on the page, J.D. mentors emerging writers through workshops and alumni programs, fostering community among aspiring and published authors alike. 💜 Connect with J.D. Myall 📸 Instagram 🌐 Website & Media Kit 💌 Newsletter 🔗 Linktree Watch episodes on YouTube as well. 💜 Level up your writing process with Scrivener — the ...

And so this is Christmas... In their first-ever feature-length festive spectacular, Samira Ahmed and Graham Kibble-White are joined by special guest Mark Gatiss , as all three nominate their favourite and least-favourite Christmas specials. They are... 6:58 - Samira's least-favourite: The Star Wars Holiday Special 13:31 - Samira's favourite: The Goodies : 'Earthanasia' 26: 38 - Graham's least-favourite: Russell Harty Goes... Upstairs, Downstairs 35:36 - Graham's favourite: Minder on the Orient Express 51:52 - Mark Gatiss joins us to talk about his A Ghost Story for Christmas for 2025, The Room in the Tower , which airs on BBC2 on Christmas Eve. And then... 55:57 - Mark's least-favourite: The 'wrong' film at Christmas 1:01:11 - Mark's favourite: The Ghosts of Motley Hall : 'The Christmas Spirit' Plus, listeners' emails, and a salute to the magic of Woolworth's Christmas adverts. And you can find Steve Berry's Woolies YouTube playlist here . If you would like to contact the podcast, please drop us a line on email@squarewindow.co.uk Our website is: www.squarewindow.co.uk This is a Square Window production, with music by Local Teenagers. Podcast logo by Stuart Manning.

I suspected we might be listening to The Beatles in this episode. Instead I got Blondie and The Monkees, neither of which were expected… both of which put a big smile on my face! Welcome to another episode of All About The Music, where I’m joined by Samira Ahmed — broadcaster, journalist and author – whose interest in music is every bit as great and varied as you’d expect from a presenter of BBC Radio 4’s Front Row. From her first album – Blondie’s Parallel Lines – via piano lessons and Claude Debussy, to the bizarre brilliance of William Shatner covering Pulp’s Common People, Samira and I chat our way through many times in her life and find music at the heart of all of them. I absolutely loved picking apart the simple poetic magic of Nick Drake with someone who adores his work. And it’s always a pleasure to discuss how much better The Monkees are than many people assume! Follow Samira Ahmed: https://twitter.com/SamiraAhmedUK Find the Spotify playlist of all Samira’s selections here. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1zesdmdIW0rheIt2Jkm96q Featured artists & tracks: Blondie , “One Way or Another”, “Heart of Glass” Nick Drake , “At the Chime of a City Clock”, “Parasite” Claude Debussy , “Arabesque No.1” The Monkees , “The Girl I Knew Somewhere” Frank Sinatra & Betty Garrett , “Come Up To My Place” Pulp , “Babies” William Shatner , “Common People” Connect With Us Stay in tune with All About The Music and join the conversation wherever you are: Website: allaboutthemusicpod.com — explore episodes, guest playlists, and behind-the-scenes stories. Instagram: @allaboutthemusic.pod — discover new episodes, reels, and the songs that shaped our guests. Facebook: facebook.com/allaboutthemusicpod — follow for updates, clips, and listener discussions. TikTok: @allaboutthemusicpod — enjoy bite-sized musical moments and highlights from the show. Follow Neil: @neil.brand.9 — for performances, live appearances, and my personal reflections on music. Share with your friends: Listen to All About The Music Because wherever you listen, it’s all about the music. Somersault Studio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In their first-ever episode, Samira Ahmed and Graham Kibble-White investigate a selection of UK TV shows that were also launching this month, albeit 50 years ago: The BBC1 hospital drama, Angels ; Thames Television's spooky anthology series for children, Shadows (plus a look at BBC2's similarly occult-themed Leap in the Dark ); BBC2 comedies Fawlty Towers and The Growing Pains Of PC Penrose ; Samira's favourite, Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's Space:1999 ; and Graham's favourite, Yorkshire Television's glam rock-infused Animal Kwackers . If you would like to contact the podcast, please drop us a line on email@squarewindow.co.uk This is a Square Window production, with music by Local Teenagers. Podcast logo by Stuart Manning.

In part two of our conversation with author Samira Ahmed, we deep dive into the genre of Internment —is it dystopian, speculative, or realistic fiction?—and why that label matters in the classroom. What starts as a conversation about shelving quickly becomes an exploration of how genre influences student thinking, how we can break down subject silos in education, and why teaching through inquiry is more critical than ever. Samira shares insights on the emotional toll of teaching today, the urgency of connecting past and present injustices, and her belief that “teaching is a revolutionary act.” This episode is a reminder of the impact educators have and the power of stories to spark resistance, reflection, and change. Resources: Camp BNT Internment , by Samira Ahmed The Grace Year, by Kim Liggett Prophet Song , by Paul Lynch Related Episodes: Episode 155, Powerful Female Voices in YA Lit: An Interview with Yamile Saied Mendez Episode 171, New Dystopian Texts & Supplements for Your ELA Classroom Episode 230, Building Trong Writers: An Interview with Author Christina Schnider of The Daring English Teacher Episode 260, Samira Ahmed: A Conversation About Internment Part 1 SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode261 "Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!" Head to bravenewteaching.com/waitlist to become a beta tester for BNT University! Support the show 📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩‍💻 Join Happy Hour! Curriculum Rehab Down with the Reading Quiz Shop the BNT Resource Library Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching Subscribe to our YouTube Channel

Camp BNT is back for year three, and we’re kicking things off with bestselling author (and former high school English teacher!) Samira Ahmed. In this episode, Samira shares how her time in the classroom shaped her writing, the inspiration behind Internment , and how educators can use essential questions to spark powerful conversations. Plus, get a sneak peek at her upcoming projects—and hear why she’s so passionate about writing for teens. This is part one of a two-part conversation you won’t want to miss! Resources: Sign up for Camp BNT Summer Reading Rescue Internment , by Samira Ahmed Love, Hate & Other Filters , by Samira Ahmed Connect with Samira: Website Instagram: @sam_aye_ahm Samira’s books Related Episodes: Episode 155, Powerful Female Voices in YA Lit: An Interview with Yamile Saied Mendez Episode 157, Modern Folktales and Monsters: An Interview with Diana Lopez Episode 166, Lesson Plan Inspiration with Elizabeth Acevedo: An Interview Debrief SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode260 "Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!" Head to bravenewteaching.com/waitlist to become a beta tester for BNT University! Support the show 📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩‍💻 Join Happy Hour! Curriculum Rehab Down with the Reading Quiz Shop the BNT Resource Library Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching Subscribe to our YouTube Channel

In this episode, Folarin is joined by influencer Samira Ahmed and she discusses her time growing up between Georgia, Ohio and Minnesota, and beginning to first post content on Twitter. She tells the story of getting her first brand deal, moving to NYC, and signing with a management company. She recaps some of her highlights thus far, from working with Chanel to meeting Bella Hadid, and being on a Time Square billboard. She speaks to some of the difficulties that come with influencing, imposter syndrome, and much more!! TIME STAMPS: Start - 5:52 Samira background 5:52-10:57 Initially posting content online 10:57-19:00 First brand deal, subsequent partnerships 19:00-30:21 Moving to NY full time, signing w/ a management agency 30:21-42:49 Some of the difficulties of influencing 42:49-56:40 Career highlights / imposter syndrome 56:40-1:00:00 Advice / staying grounded 1:00:00-1:03:34 Lightning Round 1:03:34-End Music identity segment CREDITS: Hosted by Folarin Okulaja Produced by Folarin Okulaja Engineered by Folarin Okulaja Subscribe to Go With the Flo on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeheP4nl7aAFDmC8QgV-LUQ https://open.spotify.com/show/0TCIEfodZuvVgnOVsho4lj?si=N3Pvw2hpR7u4979mwAZ5lQ&dl_branch=1 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/go-with-the-flo/id1551569516