Happy June, my friends.

This week, as a treat for paid subscribers, I wanted to bring you my recently published essay in WAYF journal. You can purchase a digital copy of the whole journal here if you are interested. It’s full of beautiful poems and pieces, including a stunning one by Ambata Kazi.

I’ve been eagerly awaiting publication so I could share this piece with you. It’s a segmented essay that explores themes I come back to again and again in my writing: belonging, faith, the immigrant experience, but all through the lens of Names and what they say about us and who we are.

Instead of simply sharing the essay with you, I decided to try something fun and read it for you on video. (A short excerpt is available below for free subscribers.)

Let me know how you like it, and what your own feelings are about your names. Are they complicated? Do you feel as though your name fits you?

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nohabeshir.substack.com/subscribe

Episode ID: 1000723756320

GUID: substack:post:164961177

Release Date: 03/06/2025, 16:01:24