Riz Ahmed on Gaza, Hollywood, Protests, and Storytelling

Mehdi is joined by Oscar-winning actor and producer Riz Ahmed for a high school reunion (yes, they went to school together back in London in the 1990s!) and catch up on life, work, and how the world has changed for brown folks since their childhood. They talk about Riz’s journey as an actor - from playing stereotypical roles to now creating his own work and championing the work of up-and-coming filmmakers.
“Representation within a broken system doesn't necessarily get us anywhere.” Riz tells Mehdi. “We need to build our own systems.”
They also discuss Riz’s decision to speak out against Israel’s war on Gaza early on in the conflict, and how much things have changed - or not! - from 9/11 to Oct. 7. Finally, Riz asks Mehdi to co-write his next rap song…
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CREDITS:
Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan
Guest Host: Riz Ahmed
Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi
Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello
Music: Andy Clausen
Design: Alicia Tatone
Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera
Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali

[@jennifermackinnon6982]

Absolutely wonderful interview. I love Riz Ahmed. He is such a talented actor but it's also so intelligent and sensitive and I love hearing his thoughts on life. Now this interview couples with mehdi Hassan it's just great because he's one of my favorite journalists. Love watching him interview somebody and not letting them get away with not answering the questions LOL love these two brown guys!!

[@hitreset0291]

Good comment. Addendum; Just remember everyone is the same skin colour when the lights are out.

[@jennifermackinnon6982]

​@@hitreset0291I was joking! Been a big fan of both for many years

[@gxqx797]

​​@@jennifermackinnon6982as a brown guy i wouldnt take offence to being called a brown guy but everyone is different and internalises the 'trauma' of being a different skin tone to the majority of folks in the UK. I definitely have been made to feel different and 'other' countless times in my life but my humour is also dark so i can understand even when white people make a brown guy joke it doesnt always = some deep seated hatred/bigotry. Anyway just thought id say this because i didnt want you to feel bad about the joke you made and hopefully u wont hesitate to make a similar joke in the future just because some people decide to take offence to it without knowing your true intentions/feelings towards those people; but also being able to recognise that those who DO take offence also have a story and maybe the topic is so sensitive for them that even a joke loses its inherent funniness

[@Aj_Porsche]

You need to get Sangita Myska on.

[@AJ-bm2kh]

100%

[@oezibanana8664]

Genuinely good guy. Suprising in the abyss, that is our world.

[@AnalyseThat]

Great conversation, guys. Keep up the good work.

[@ziah3935]

I really enjoyed this conversation 👍🏼

[@kamahm717]

Probably Dubai or somewhere is UAE@30.50 mins

[@Football-Locker-Room-Banter]

Great show mehdi 👊🏽

[@beggersu]

Saw Rizs’ “The Long Goodbye “ about five or six years ago and then the 2024 far right race rights happened. Man has got vision. Had the Tories been in power I think even the police would have had some sort of callaboration with the racists.

[@maazkalim]

Wait! You watched it *BEFORE* it was uploaded on this platform?

[@FreshMountain_Snow]

Well done Mehdi and thank you

[@bikeboi821]

Riz Ahmed should do a movie about the journey of IMRAN KHAN and play the lead role of Imran Khan....it would be amazing!!!!

[@Autumn74]

No thanks, Imran khan is not a great leader but an ex-playboy. Riz doesn’t need to waste his talent on that!

[@sab-ali]

Yeah Godforbid, you can't make a movie like that.​@@Autumn74

[@RizKhan-v7s]

​@@Autumn74 bekarai ghaddar sala

[@walan31]

I agree with Riz, genocide supporter in power making disgusting decisions is horrific, but I am hopeful because of the world wide opinion shift and grassroot pressure in form of BDS boycott.

[@yashaspriha5636]

So curious about the countries they beeped out! 🫠

[@unsaturatedfats5323]

Riz said Toronto, Mehdi said Dubai lol

[@EnnAye]

@@unsaturatedfats5323 How do you know that? Why Toronto?

[@lubnahassan7932]

Huge fan of both of you ! I’ve lived through and am living in a province in Pakistan which has been ripped apart by other countries agenda ! So rings a bell . Stay blessed!!! PS I’m a 71yr. Young gynaecologist in khyberpukhtun khwa , Peshawar , Pakistan.

[@reez1728]

What has ripped apart KP is its religious extremism and toxic elements of pashtunwali. Stop bachabaazi and live in the 21st century.

[@FlywithjetL.G-nh4bj]

Other countries agenda? 😂 Your Pakistan is known puppet that destroyed its neighbouring nations just to make dollars through U.S and Brits. 🤦🏽‍♂️

[@BrookT786]

May Allah bless you for your amazing work as a doctor

[@umarzilla]

Amazing work and pleased to see the profession growing there!

[@Thefloristgang4pf]

Thank you for all you do❤

[@simianbarcode3011]

Major respect to you both. I'm still learning to expand my consciousness about race, culture, religion, class, etc. I think these more casual conversations are a great approach to reaching a broader audience. This is how we bridge gaps and clear understandings and build up a stronger and more pluralistic society.

[@DanielKoroma-p3o]

Mehdi please don't stop speaking for Palestinians because you are the only neutral journalist they believe in now . And also please upload the video between you and Elon levy debate .

[@maazkalim]

This "channel" doesn't own the rights to that.

[@AaronSmith-x6o]

He's a fraud. He's a dnc puppet. Look how he treats Jill stein the only pro Palestine candidate vs how he treats the dnc. He's a clown.

[@elkapitan75]

We ALL need to speak out against gncd. Doesn't matter how people "feel".

[@EvonywithRamboo]

100% this guys is legit

[@HaggardPillockHD]

What Elon levy debate?

[@MK-wk6yx]

Such an enlightened talk by two intelligent ppl .. thanks for being upfront about the Palestinian issue ... loved listening to you .. keep going strong Mehdi ❤

[@allisojo]

Riz Ahmed...4 Lions...amazing film..

[@lordvadertheleftie9703]

Should have gone Chicken Cottage. Bargain bucket. Proper Halal. £6.99

[@maazkalim]

Find some new reference, bro.

[@NeidlichesSchwert]

Full of low-IQ jokes. Try Sound of Metal.

[@neothe0ne]

“I’m a marta you’re jus tomataz” 😅

[@andrewdarowski1975]

I can't hear "Dancing in the Moonlight" without thinking of Four Lions.

[@sihr07]

I NEED this show EVERY WEEK at the very least to survive these weird, heartbreaking times

[@rubayaofficial3235]

Wow. I felt at home with this conversation. As an Asian Female Muslim Artist the struggles and the responsive work just resonated. Zeteo Rocks!

[@DrG79]

I have been a fan since I first saw Riz in Britz and I still remember the incredible piece he wrote for The Guardian in 2016 ‘Typecast as a terrorist’ which I highly recommend.

[@rohanxdavis]

We definitely need more of this

[@PauloAdriano-zo2ng]

I know I could use a lot more rizz...😅

[@NidoZizi]

where is Bassem Youssef ?? i hope you still doing the show with him !!!!!

[@PauloAdriano-zo2ng]

Bassem Youssef is based in Los Angeles. These two are in London. That's like 11 hours apart by Airbus. Avoid flying on Boeing airplanes.

[@brownenerdygurl]

I am a long time fan of both of you. I've listened to Riz for years. It's was great to hear Mehdi say that the freedoms that POC immigrants enjoy were paved by Black Americans. Some South Asians forget or don't know that and have teamed with right-wingers to undo the Black Civil rights gains. This is always to their detriment. For example: Those students who sued Harvard and got Affirmative Action overturned, because they thought that Black students were somehow inferior to them and undeserving of their placements, have now learned that they were beneficiaries of the very program they dismantled. Harvard was never going to add more POC. The placements they thought they would win went to white students. Black and Asian percentages stayed the same. All AA did was require Harvard to take a look at and recruit the best underrepresented students; white women, disabled students, and racial minorities of all kinds. Now, they don't have to. They can ignore them...and it looks like, based on admission data, they have. So, it was refreshing to hear Mehdi acknowledge history because it rarely is acknowledged.

[@marianahuzoor25]

Wonderful to hear you and Shaykh Omer Suleiman, Riz Ahmed in conversation. This is new ground.

[@HaHaLooLoo]

Great episode plz have Riz on more. The comparisons between UK and USA life is very true. Spot on. 2 great minds

[@notoriouslopez1]

🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸

[@SamAhad-qx2nn]

The 'capital' of the schemes and scams is IsraHELL and it’s good to know your “capital” of the world and also the captain of all NaZionester followers so what is the next step IsraHELL? Media empire finally dig themselves lots of graves hooray and we will see this in history so be it! In the other hand we do hope people will investigate to make sure the same devils that has ruined society with media will not be allowed to run social media platforms again because they will be no turning back for society so be it! British E descendants hypocrisy always, would you all like explanation, examples of what these evils devils have done, or are still doing to the people & world hundreds of years ago to date and where shall we start and do we have enough time to lay-out A to Z in each alphabet order and each have about 100 series before the world end?

[@overzealouseuthanasiast9731]

Love Riz Ahmed's work from early beginnings to the international stage of modern days, wonderful to see him fighting the good fights, and great to see this team up of inspiring people here! Mogul Mowgli a recommend watch too 👌

[@faridamazhar5114]

Bravo to you both for standing up for Muslims!

[@bhaimazaq6968]

Two words BEST and BRILLIANT conversation to date..Riz rocked 🙌

[@Nerdnp22]

This was so interesting. Thank you Mehdi and Riz!!

[@umzimo]

Please bring Hasan Minhaj!! Love your show👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽

[@bravestone8933]

Noticed how South Asian or Middle Eastern are so charming and related in many ways.

[@mdncthetruth2556]

Not all but these guys definitely are that

[@rehan3600]

I agree that South Asian and Middle Eastern people are definitely very similar.

[@kadirs377]

Neither of them are middle eastern …

[@aziza000]

Both are Pakistanis, and Middle Eastern people look down on us all the time lol. We are not the same at all.

[@samlatooni]

​@@aziza000 Just say " yes! U are right", don't waste your breath.

[@aneebaba06]

This was a great conversation guys! Lots of ma'sha'allah. Thanks to you both for what you do!

[@Nashema1]

Build our own systems, exactly!

[@nsagoogle9581]

We are the immovable force.

[@samysam645]

What a great conversation! Really enjoyed this. Both amazing people mashallah.

[@dalehargreaves966]

Thx Medhi and Riz 🌿 🇳🇿🇦🇺

[@yazzjustheretocomment]

"catch me in Ambala, Ealing Rd, EVERY EID, and I'm looking for you!" YES RIZ AHMED

[@marjybzzz2381]

They may feel like they did not follow their family with an academic career but they both went to Oxford University, one of the hardest University to get into.

[@HaggardPillockHD]

More of a conservative uni than Cambridge or UCL

[@maazkalim]

You meant RW, "@@HaggardPillockHD"? And hey.. Here we 'meet', a-gain...!

[@johnmckiernan2176]

They both went to Merchant Taylors School, one of the most exclusive schools in the UK. School fees at the school are £26,766 for the school year 2024-25, They're posh boys, not clever boys.

[@Nishful5]

⁠@@johnmckiernan2176 Riz got into Merchant Taylors on a scholarship, so clever not posh.

[@geekylove3603]

​@johnmckiernan2176 How can you be certain either of them is not clever?

[@jhonshephard921]

this is the first time I have seen Medhi speak Urdu

[@maazkalim]

Or Hindi? Regardless.. Please spell his name right.

[@caldepen372]

There is too much hate and ignorance out there with corporations all to eager to capitalize on it. Not sure what the solution is, find a quiet valley somewhere and hope the wolves stay away.

[@jmafeef]

I loved this conversation. Thank you!

[@philquota7405]

Died FBI ignores their own FBI anti-piracy warning. Wishing to find y'all working with Jon Stewart and SNL/alum

[@TheBoneruner]

Great show

[@SamAhad-qx2nn]

The 'capital' of the schemes and scams is IsraHELL and it’s good to know your “capital” of the world and also the captain of all NaZionester followers so what is the next step IsraHELL? Media empire finally dig themselves lots of graves hooray and we will see this in history so be it! In the other hand we do hope people will investigate to make sure the same devils that has ruined society with media will not be allowed to run social media platforms again because they will be no turning back for society so be it! British E descendants hypocrisy always, would you all like explanation, examples of what these evils devils have done, or are still doing to the people & world hundreds of years ago to date and where shall we start and do we have enough time to lay-out A to Z in each alphabet order and each have about 100 series before the world end?

[@sumairafriscic]

this is like watching a big cousin, school the younger "fresh" cousin

[@walan31]

UK institutional racism, classism, and bureaucracy are insidious and brutal in a way the US is not. US are more honest and forthcoming with their faults in a way I see less often in UK.

[@daftgowk1]

England is not the UK, but they do vote for all of those things, repeatedly and against the warnings of the rest of the UK.

[@meiqbalcpm]

Lovely to watch these Brown People... and Hello Riz... You're so cool ...

[@sumairafriscic]

i love how Riz, takes the p#$$ out of mehdi

[@taniascreations]

Lol at one point he said 65 I think 😅

[@AnsheelKhan]

Big up mehdi and Riz representing MashAllah

[@aamirrazak3467]

Awesome seeing Riz on the show, great episode as always Mehdi!

[@felipetam]

I think it's amazing how the South Asian community in London carved their own space into media and culture, how much they've been able to keep their culture and also break into the old traditional (colonial?) spaces bringing a modern and new viewpoint. I kinda feel "jealous" of it as someone from the East Asian diaspora when I watch my own community of Hong Kong immigrants whose culture was also molded by British Colonialism still keeping so insular and marginal or being forced to erase their own identities to somehow be "accepted". The success of South Asians making themselves seen and unapologizingly breaking into modern British culture is aspirational for me. I sincerely hope for a day when people from the Chinese diaspora who were subjected to colonial rule will have their voices and experiences be recognized and accepted as part of modern Britain.

[@Travel-oq3bc]

Watched one of his movies last night.Great actor

[@thamaratarek2272]

One of the favourite interviews on Zeteo

[@Coffeelover55]

Plssss have Ramy youssef on the show

[@staticcouch135]

Mehdi just vote Green because you can move back to England. You have choices. Palestinians have no other options and the Dems have not left any room for them especially after accepting endorsements from Cheney. Siding with them is not moral and you would be ethically responsible for what they are contributing to in the ME and around the world.

[@maazkalim]

Pardon? Where's voting preference mentioned?

[@RC-jr4in]

Dems are just as bad as Republlicans but they hide their bigotry just a smidge more. Killer Kamala is the new Cheney.

[@Nishful5]

@@maazkalim Mehdi’s a huge Dem/Kamala Harris supporter in general.

[@hanaaabed3662]

We need brown kids to get the score higher. The best statement ever

[@PauloAdriano-zo2ng]

😬🤪🤣

[@houdiniwho]

It is true…education is the most important thing within the Arab community, especially within Islam. But as a Christian Arab, I know my Dad made sure all of his daughters went to college.

[@Nishful5]

@@houdiniwho I know there’s a stereotype of Muslims not valuing female education but I think they’re a minority. Considering Mehdi’s Mom was Riz’s GP/family physician, there’s a lot of Muslims who do make sure their daughters go to uni/college too. Btw, my mother is also an Indian-Muslim GP and, as her daughter, I also became a GP.

[@xxGuItArGiRLxx89]

More female Egyptian doctors than all US doctors.

[@houdiniwho]

@@Nishful5 Trust me I know that stereotype as well. I like to tell my friends, my Muslim female friends make Gloria Steinem seem like Tammy Wynette (Gloria is supposed to be a feminist and Tammy sings a song that implies women should be subjugated by men)

[@EmaryTegan]

have loved him ever since the The Night Of

[@fanfayer]

I wish they just be honest they had privileges privately educated, and many people, white or black, never had.There parents wanted them to become part of the middle class.

[@maazkalim]

Their* There! FIFY You referring to grammar schools?

[@michelleamatulle6378]

True. They’re overlooking that they both grew up RICH

[@farrahirrgauss2599]

Hehdi is SOARING HIGH with his multifarious talent: glad he left the fascist media house;MSNBC

[@jaat52]

yo wtf guys you left us hanging on what were both your plan Bs!! geez.

[@ӨмірбекСмағұл]

Proud of your voice Mehdi. It may be beneficial to host Hala Rharrit, the ex-arabic language spokesperson for the US Dept of State. She could shine light on the growing crisis as someone from the “belly of the beast”. Appreciate all the work you’re doing.

[@maazkalim]

Not relevant to this podcast, though.

[@bashash6013]

London isn't the UK it's just the capital city. Just as Islamabad is not Pakistan. As soon as you step outside London there's plenty of segregation especially between the English and Asian Muslim communities. Also Islamophobia isn't hidden in the UK compared to the US. We've literally just had riots across the country that were mainly driven by Islamophobia and racism.

[@lostparadise9366]

WHEN SOMEONE TALK FOR THE VICTIMS , FOR THE TRUTH ,FOR THE SAKE OF HUMANITY ... YOUR VOICE BECOMES THE LIGHT INTO THE DARK ,WHICH ENLIGHTS AND EVADED ALL THE DARKNESS ALONG With THEIR WICKEDNESS....

[@prowest6715]

I have huge respect for Mehdi Hassan. He has not cowered or pandered to those around him and has stood proud as a Muslim and in presenting the counter perspective (which I see as closer to the truth). He faces some very hostile crowds at times and represents his point of view very well. I think most of us would like to be able to present our views in the way Mehdi does. Generally speaking, in the West, the only 'Muslim' celebs that get celebrated as those who pander reformist liberal viewpoints about Islam, or who announce they are fighting against traditional established normative Islam. There are one or two exceptions. So people like Hanif Qureshi will be warmly celebrated, and when it suits him he will give 'Muslim perspectives' in his writing, even though his background and environment he was brought up in, and the lifestyle and views he expresses both personally and in his work are unlike anything that the broad spectrum of Muslims would identify with. One is also reminded of that line in the semi-autobiographical book "They" by Sarfraz Mansoor in which his brother says to him "You're only Muslim when you are paid to write about it". I have never seen 'Muslim representation' in movies that depict what I could call the average conservative (someone with a deeper affinity with Islam) Muslim truthfully. What we get instead is things like Citizen Khan, Lady Parts, Ramy, that Marvel thing to name just a few that instead of representation , pander to those who want to promote values that go against Islam itself. It feels as though what gets the 'green light' are those stories that chime with the non-Muslim producers in the industry, who either want to double-down with their right wing perspective, or want to re-paint Muslimness through a leftist liberal prism. The worse ones I saw were "My Son The Fanatic" (really Hanif, is that the best you came up with after your "visiting the mosques and talking to Muzzlims about their views") and the Reluctant Fundamentalist (Mohsin Hamid - another one who writes caricatures rather than characters). I don't know Riz, but I do note that in his support for 'subversive' movies like Joyland which was championed by very niche and specific sectors of Pakistani liberal society, and was (it is suspected) given recognition internationally only because it was deemed subversive by normative Muslims is another example of what you have to do and what sort of movies you have to make to get international plaudits. The guy who directed Joyland has had his latest production banned in Pakistan. I mention this because it highlights how Muslims feel misrepresented even by people from Muslim background behind the camera. Going back to this discussion, which I enjoyed overall, I wanted to hear about the differences they've discerned between the general Muslim population in UK compared to US. My experience is UK Muslims tend to be more resolute in preserving and adhering to normative Islam, and are prepared to speak out against perceived or real pushes against their boundaries, whereas in the US there is a far stronger force that urges conformity. Maybe partly to do with the fact that in the UK the British culture is one of irreverence towards authority - even the Queen/King are not spared from satire and cynicism.

[@khawlahilweh6793]

Total respect love watching you Mahdi ❤

[@bilalshafi5619]

Riz is a muslim who lived his entire life in England, visited Pakistan a few time and still visits his country once in a while, speaks up for his kind and calls himself a muslim. Kumail on the other hand was born in Pakistan. Lived his entire childhood in Pakistan and moved to the US when he was 18 and didn’t ever visited his country again, left his religion, mocks his culture most of the times and never speaks up for his kind. So maybe the difference is that Riz always lived in the UK among the diaspora with his family while Kumail lived in a satanic world alone without his family.

[@7mkhan9]

wonderful enlightened talk by two intelligent ppl .. thanks for being upfront about the Palestinian issue, We definitely need more of this, great work

[@devak45167]

“I’m the news version of The Beatles” - Mehdi Hasan

[@SconnerStudios]

Riz REALLY needs to start making Swet Shop Boys music again. That stuff was way too good to be a little side project. Macklemore can't carry this issue all by himself.

[@maazkalim]

Hah! You also remember? When did you become aware of them, BTW?

[@SconnerStudios]

@@maazkalim I can't remember exactly, but I remember when they were on Colbert and got big for a moment.

[@fmkhan213]

I guess you have completely missed Lowkey

[@rl12186]

Why are these episodes so short... I could have listened to this for additional hour

[@PauloAdriano-zo2ng]

Some folks always gotta complain about something...😅

[@maazkalim]

At least this one is compliment, Mr "@@PauloAdriano-zo2ng".

[@AC-vp8hi]

It is nice seeing this side of Mehdi :). Two Muslim brothers who are doing well msA and bringing sense to this crazy world

[@FarehaMir]

I am a fan ofthe both of you, but Mehdi today you seemed to cut Riz a little bit, may be because you guys are friends, overall a good talk. BTW my guess is Canada.

[@maazkalim]

You do realise that this podcast is not your signature Mehdi Hasan interview thingy? So.. “Cut” him in what way?

[@FarehaMir]

@@maazkalim by cut I meant spoke over him, without letting him finish his sentence

[@maazkalim]

Ahh... My bad! Thought you meant he didn't ask him tough questions. 😉

[@saadalizeb]

I loved this conversation. Thank you.

[@fasman170]

Zabardast

[@anasalmzed1685]

🇸🇩🇸🇩🇵🇸🇵🇸

[@SamAhad-qx2nn]

The 'capital' of the schemes and scams is IsraHELL and it’s good to know your “capital” of the world and also the captain of all NaZionester followers so what is the next step IsraHELL? Media empire finally dig themselves lots of graves hooray and we will see this in history so be it! In the other hand we do hope people will investigate to make sure the same devils that has ruined society with media will not be allowed to run social media platforms again because they will be no turning back for society so be it! British E descendants hypocrisy always, would you all like explanation, examples of what these evils devils have done, or are still doing to the people & world hundreds of years ago to date and where shall we start and do we have enough time to lay-out A to Z in each alphabet order and each have about 100 series before the world end?

[@hhhgj-wd1iy]

I didn't know mehndi hasan had indian roots.

[@MrElmedicineman]

Huge fan of both these legends - being of a similar age :)

[@dadmezz4024]

I learn so much listening to your discussions.

[@eoinc9511]

Great sit down ❤

[@Aronshmuli665]

great coverage thank you very much

[@yildizstopford7176]

Wow, you are both speaking in my language. It's so great to hear your honest, raw and open discussion as a brown people. I agree it's better not to fit into the mainstream white expectations as we will lose. Better we focus on doing what is right for us. Keep up the great work you are both doing in educating people

[@ms1498]

Riz said it...excelling in your own space in your own creation not in another system or world

[@BlessedYakub]

Two of my fav ppl

[@Nishful5]

Thanks guys for this interview! An interview I didn’t realize how much I needed!

[@umarzilla]

Two A-Listers in their respective fields just having a casual conversation nbd!

[@hanaaabed3662]

Free Palestine

[@EvonywithRamboo]

This was Epic.......May Allah bless them both. Mehdi pla continue the coverage for Palestinians, you are the true journalist on this subject

[@ameetdatta2281]

Outstanding episode. Loved the bit about the utility of the "chip on the shoulder" and limitations!

[@zakm9180]

Thanks lads. That was awesome. ‘We’ don’t have enough representation in the media universe. Glad you guys exist.

[@MaimoonaSyeda-wv8hs]

This was a very powerful conversation about Muslim identity, representation and success. You both dived deep into the root causes of the issues Muslims and people of colour face and it felt inspiring to listen. Thank you for this!

[@taraz6786]

I loved this, time flew by watching this. It also reminded me that the true meaning of courage and bravery is choosing to do what’s right in spite of the fallout. Melissa Barrera still has my utmost respect for risking and ultimately sacrificing somewhat, her lucrative career. It’s mind boggling to me that she is in the minority, rather than the majority, but I am an avid fan of her now, not only because of her talent, but also due to her intelligence and integrity, as with Riz and Mehdi. I’m glad the collective consciousness is slowly waking up and fighting against institutionalized bigotry, slow as it may seem.

[@Nishful5]

Riz, love your perfect American accent in “Venom” and “the Night of”. As an American-born Muslim of Indian-descent and Mehdi’s age actually 😎, I feel like there’s a subtle ABCD accent that a White American would mistake for White but a Desi could hear the subtle difference. I can’t tell you exactly what it is but you sound exactly like us in those movies. I think there’s certain slightly off pronunciations or melody of the voice or we accidentally say “close the lights” like our parents instead of “turn off the lights”. There’s a tinge or nuance in the otherwise 99.8% American accent of ABCD’s and you got it spot on!

[@Ilovemyboj]

Hahah you guys are great! I'm watching on my phone with earbuds but I'm waking my husband by laughing so hard. It's great!

[@raalaa121]

Great podcast, two talented individuals that I follow and inspire me !

[@unstopable50]

This was a beautiful discussion. Roasting one another, serious topics, personal experiences, etc. Thank you for a quality episode. Looking forward to more high quality content from Mehdi, as always.

[@YakoKose]

❤🇱🇧🇵🇸🙏

[@TheNakster85]

Not to be that guy… but Ealing Road Ambala closed a few years ago Riz 😬😅

[@staticcouch135]

Please also bring on Susan Sarandon and Macklemore

[@maazkalim]

Fuck... Yeah!

[@tanglingheadphones]

Nooo, dying of curiosity to know where Plan B is. Haven't finished watching yet, but amazing interview. Love the casual dynamic between you two, and there were several moments that were downright adorable.

[@maazkalim]

Ahh... The grime rapper?.! Thought of the very same.

[@taniascreations]

Keep them guessing 😅

[@zaheer01-abbas]

I am absolutely delighted you guys did this. I can't believe how close you both are 2 people I genuinely have huge respect for

[@hamzahassan6726]

thank you both, when I see you, I see my unapologetic muslim self