<![CDATA[SHAPING NARRATIVES & CULTURE PODCAST]]>Entertainment and digital media dictate how billions of people perceive culture, faith, and identity. Shaping Narratives & Culture with Sue Obeidi takes you behind the screen and past the industry gatekeepers to uncover who controls the stories we consume - and how those stories translate into real-world cultural power.

Hosted by Sue Obeidi, head of the MPAC Hollywood Bureau, this show delivers raw, unfiltered, long-form conversations with the architects of modern storytelling. From Hollywood studio executives, showrunners, writers, and actors to high-impact digital creators and influencers, Sue sits down with the insiders redefining entertainment from the studio lot to the algorithmic feed.

What to expect each episode:

  • The Script vs. The Algorithm: How narrative structure evolves when moving from traditional writers’ rooms to fast-paced digital platforms.
  • The Business of Inclusion: Why authentic representation drives box-office revenue, platform reach, and genuine audience loyalty.
  • Bypassing the Gatekeepers: Firsthand breakdowns of how creators navigate systemic barriers, build independent authority, and bring vital stories to life.

Whether you are a filmmaker, writer, digital creator, or simply fascinated by how media shapes public perception and personal belief, hit follow and join the conversation every week.

]]>mpachollywoodbureau.orgRiverside.fm (https://riverside.com)Fri, 11 Sep 2026 16:00:46 GMTThu, 03 Sep 2026 19:19:44 GMT60MPAC® Hollywood Bureau<p>Entertainment and digital media dictate how billions of people perceive culture, faith, and identity. <b>Shaping Narratives &amp; Culture with Sue Obeidi</b> takes you behind the screen and past the industry gatekeepers to uncover who controls the stories we consume - and how those stories translate into real-world cultural power.</p><p></p><p>Hosted by Sue Obeidi, head of the MPAC Hollywood Bureau, this show delivers raw, unfiltered, long-form conversations with the architects of modern storytelling. From Hollywood studio executives, showrunners, writers, and actors to high-impact digital creators and influencers, Sue sits down with the insiders redefining entertainment from the studio lot to the algorithmic feed.</p><p></p><p><b>What to expect each episode:</b></p><p></p><ul><li><b>The Script vs. The Algorithm:</b> How narrative structure evolves when moving from traditional writers’ rooms to fast-paced digital platforms.</li><li><b>The Business of Inclusion:</b> Why authentic representation drives box-office revenue, platform reach, and genuine audience loyalty.</li><li><b>Bypassing the Gatekeepers:</b> Firsthand breakdowns of how creators navigate systemic barriers, build independent authority, and bring vital stories to life.<p></p></li></ul><p>Whether you are a filmmaker, writer, digital creator, or simply fascinated by how media shapes public perception and personal belief, hit follow and join the conversation every week.</p>episodicMPAC® Hollywood Bureaumknight@demandbrand.studiono<![CDATA[Why Representation Without Power Fails: Zaib Shaikh | Episode #001]]>What does it take to shift culture when public sentiment is stacked against you? In this episode of Shaping Narratives & Culture, host Sue Obeidi speaks with actor, producer, and former Canadian diplomat Zaib Shaikh.

Best known as the star of Little Mosque on the Prairie, Zaib discusses what it was like filming a groundbreaking comedy about Muslim life in a tense post-9/11 landscape, navigating international recognition across 80+ countries, and the deliberate decision to end the show on their own terms after six seasons.

Zaib traces his journey from the stage and screen to public leadership as Toronto’s Film Commissioner and Consul General of Canada, examining why artistic narratives hold more power to shift human perspective than political roundtables. Together, Sue and Zaib discuss the gaps in today's media representation, the vision behind launching The Muslim House at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), and why the future of storytelling requires ambitious, large-scale epics.

Host & Guest Credits:

  • Sue Obeidi: Senior Vice President of the MPAC® Hollywood Bureau, consulting with studios, networks, and creators to advance authentic Muslim narratives across entertainment.
  • Zaib Shaikh: Renowned actor, director, producer, former City of Toronto Film Commissioner, and former Consul General of Canada.
]]>2ff95173-23ae-43be-8d51-3495c358d9e6Thu, 10 Sep 2026 19:30:00 GMT<p>What does it take to shift culture when public sentiment is stacked against you? In this episode of <i>Shaping Narratives &amp; Culture</i>, host Sue Obeidi speaks with actor, producer, and former Canadian diplomat Zaib Shaikh.</p><p></p><p>Best known as the star of <i>Little Mosque on the Prairie</i>, Zaib discusses what it was like filming a groundbreaking comedy about Muslim life in a tense post-9/11 landscape, navigating international recognition across 80+ countries, and the deliberate decision to end the show on their own terms after six seasons.</p><p></p><p>Zaib traces his journey from the stage and screen to public leadership as Toronto’s Film Commissioner and Consul General of Canada, examining why artistic narratives hold more power to shift human perspective than political roundtables. Together, Sue and Zaib discuss the gaps in today's media representation, the vision behind launching The Muslim House at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), and why the future of storytelling requires ambitious, large-scale epics.</p><p></p><p><b>Host &amp; Guest Credits:</b></p><ul><li><b>Sue Obeidi:</b> Senior Vice President of the MPAC® Hollywood Bureau, consulting with studios, networks, and creators to advance authentic Muslim narratives across entertainment.</li><li><b>Zaib Shaikh:</b> Renowned actor, director, producer, former City of Toronto Film Commissioner, and former Consul General of Canada.</li></ul>no00:58:1811Why Representation Without Power Fails: Zaib Shaikh | Episode #001full<![CDATA[Shaping Narratives & Culture with Sue Obeidi | Official Teaser]]>Media is full of people with something to say. We’re here to talk to them.

No lectures. No scripts. Just honest conversations with the people shaping what we watch, create, and believe.

MPAC’s Hollywood Bureau presents Shaping Narratives & Culture with Sue Obeidi.

Join host Sue Obeidi for candid, in-depth conversations with visionary filmmakers, artists, industry executives, and cultural voices. We’re diving into the craft, the untold career journeys, and the urgent ideas that deserve a platform in today's media landscape.

]]>651aab00-73c3-4306-9b03-5099c9f1c06eThu, 03 Sep 2026 19:22:18 GMT<p>Media is full of people with something to say. We’re here to talk to them.<br /><br />No lectures. No scripts. Just honest conversations with the people shaping what we watch, create, and believe.<br /><br />MPAC’s Hollywood Bureau presents Shaping Narratives &amp; Culture with Sue Obeidi.<br /><br />Join host Sue Obeidi for candid, in-depth conversations with visionary filmmakers, artists, industry executives, and cultural voices. We’re diving into the craft, the untold career journeys, and the urgent ideas that deserve a platform in today's media landscape.</p>no00:00:5111Shaping Narratives & Culture with Sue Obeidi | Official Teaserfull