‘The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist’ is a Rousing Call for Humanity to Take Action

March 26, 2026March 26, 2026 Swara Salih

Artificial Intelligence, or “AI,” is an intentionally misrepresented term. A vast collection of machine learning algorithms using vast quantities of human-made data for predictive analytics, it is ultimately more simple than we’re led to believe. Mainly this is the design of the capitalist tech CEOs who insist that towering and complicated AI simply must be part of our daily lives when in most ways we have no practical use for it and we can get by.

Conventions, Podcasts

The Middle Geeks Episode 77: LIVE at Awesome Con 2026 in Washington D.C.!

March 20, 2026 Swara Salih

We’re live once again at Awesome Con in Washington D.C. discussing SWANA representation in Fantasy & Sci-Fi!

Streaming, Television1 Comment

Anjana Vasan and Sarah Kameela Impey on the Second Season of ‘We Are Lady Parts’

May 30, 2024May 30, 2024 Swara Salih

We interview the frontwoman (Saira played by Sarah Kameela Impey) and lead guitarist (Amina played by Anjana Vasan) of our favorited Muslim women punk band, Lady Parts.

Conventions, Podcasts

The Middle Geeks Episode 64: Live at Awesome Con in Washington D.C.

March 11, 2024November 25, 2024 Swara Salih

The Middle Geeks are LIVE at Awesome Con, discussing all things SWANA/MENA Representation!

Movies, Podcasts1 Comment

The Middle Geeks Episode 63: ‘Dune: Part Two’ Review

March 7, 2024March 7, 2024 Swara Salih

The second installment in Denis Villeneuve’s adaptation of Dune has arrived to theaters, but has it gotten any better in its display of SWANA cultures beyond appropriation? Roxana joins us once again to discuss.

DC Comics, Hard N.O.C. Life, Movies

Hard NOC Life 317: Is ‘The Flash’ Better Than Ezra?

June 19, 2023June 26, 2023 Hard NOC Media

A couple weeks ago, we brought you a non-spoiler review of The Flash on our YouTube channel. Now that the movie is out, Keith and Swara dig into all of the spoilers and top secret cameos they couldn’t divulge before on this week’s Hard NOC Life!

DC Comics, Reviews4 Comments

Yeah… ‘The Flash’ is a Great ‘Batman’ Film

June 6, 2023August 29, 2023 Keith Chow

The Flash is nearly here, and I was joined by Swara on our YouTube channel to discuss our initial, spoiler-free thoughts on the film. Subscribe to the podcast at hardnocmedia.com for the full spoiler-filled review when it drops on June 19!

Hard N.O.C. Life, Trailers

Hard NOC Life 310: ‘The Flash’ Get Nuts + Emma Thompson Loves The NOC

May 1, 2023 Hard NOC Media

Keith welcomes Swara back to the podcast to dish on his recent interview with the legendary Emma Thompson and her new movie, What’s Love Got to Do With It. They also break down the latest Flash and Transformers trailers, plus the nightmare fuel that is The Little Mermaid’s “live action” animals.

Hard N.O.C. Life, Marvel, Star Wars

Hard NOC Life 272: Qui-Gon Djinn

June 27, 2022June 27, 2022 Hard NOC Media

Keith and Dominic are off this week, so Britney has invited her former Black Lightning Podcast co-host Vanessa Shark to discuss the finale of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Swara returns once again to discuss the latest Ms. Marvel.

Hard N.O.C. Life, Streaming

Hard NOC Life 261: SWANASA Excellence (Feat. Swara Salih and Simone Ashley)

April 11, 2022April 8, 2022 Hard NOC Media

Dominic and Britney are joined by our very own Swara to break down episode two of Disney+’s Moon Knight and continue the debate over Kamala Khan’s power set in the latest Ms. Marvel promo. Then, newest NOC Lyra interviews Bridgerton star Simone Ashley about representing on the popular Netflix series before the crew speculates about what Ezra Miller’s predicament means for the future of The Flash in the DCEU.

Horror, Podcasts

The Middle Geeks Episode 35: ‘Archive 81’ Review

February 25, 2022February 25, 2022 Swara Salih

We discuss Netflix’s new horror series Archive 81, which headlines two SWANA stars with Mamoudou Athie and Dina Shihabi! What did we enjoy about this creepy series? Would it have been better if Mamoudou and Dina’s characters were SWANA coded? What do we want from a Season 2?

DC Comics, Interview, Television

Nicole Kang on Stepping into the Role of Poison Ivy in ‘Batwoman’

January 12, 2022January 13, 2022 Swara Salih

Batwoman fans were shocked, yet excited, when the beloved Mary Hamilton, heart of the Bat-team, found herself transformed into the newest version of Poison Ivy. Before the season hiatus, Mary went Thelma and Louise with her step-sister Alice to evade the rest of the Bat-Team, but now as the season has returned, she’s stepping back into Gotham with bolder intentions to assert her power and never feel vulnerable again.

Comics, Interview, Marvel

Samira Ahmed Talks about Writing ‘Ms. Marvel: Beyond the Limit’

December 27, 2021December 29, 2021 Swara Salih

Ms. Marvel has a new comic series out! In the five-issue Beyond the Limit, Kamala must deal with unexpected multiverse shenanigans as she visits her cousin Razia in Chicago. Writing her in this series is author Samira Ahmed, who is the first Desi Muslim to write Ms. Marvel!

Movies, Podcasts

The Middle Geeks Episode 33: ‘Gaza Mon Amour’ Review and Holiday Edition

December 23, 2021December 26, 2021 Swara Salih

Even though there’s not a lot to be merry about, we count our blessings and make it merry! We also discuss the wonderful 2020 film Gaza Mon Amour by director brothers Tarzan and Arab Nasser, which shows old love in the middle of Gaza, starring our fave Hiam Abbass. We also discuss the exciting news of We Are Lady Parts Season 2 renewal, Mena Massoud’s new Netflix rom-com coming out soon, and much more!

Continue reading “The Middle Geeks Episode 33: ‘Gaza Mon Amour’ Review and Holiday Edition”

Interview, Star Trek

‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Director and Executive Producer Olatunde Osunsanmi Discusses Season 4

December 17, 2021December 17, 2021 Swara Salih

Star Trek: Discovery has returned to our streaming screens for another spectacular season as the Discovery crew and the Federation of the future must deal with a galaxy-threatening anomaly. It’s unlike anything the Discovery crew has faced before, and resultingly Captain Burnham and her crew and loved ones are pushed to the brink in so many ways. What goes into making such a spectacular adventure that we watch every week?

Anime, Podcasts, Star Wars

The Middle Geeks Episode 32: The Promise of ‘Star Wars: Visions’

November 18, 2021November 18, 2021 Swara Salih

We’re excited to have Meg Humphrey of Rogue Podron on to discuss Star Wars: Visions, the new anime anthology on Disney+ that breathes fresh life into this franchise with Japanese creators, crafting stories in a universe that was *heavily* inspired by their own culture.

DC Comics, Interview, Television1 Comment

NOC Interview: Showrunner Eric Wallace Discusses the Return of ‘The Flash’

November 12, 2021November 12, 2021 Swara Salih

“Armageddon,” the five-part special event that will see Barry Allen/The Flash, and his wife Iris and their friends face a threat unlike any they’ve faced before, one that will put them even more strenuously through the wringer. But they have help with heroes coming to their aid from across the Arrowverse! But will that be enough?

Comics, Podcasts, Streaming

The Middle Geeks Interview: Abubakr Ali of Netflix’s ‘Grendel’

November 10, 2021November 12, 2021 Swara Salih

We are delighted to welcome Abubakr Ali on the podcast, who will be playing the titular role in Netflix’s Grendel, making him the FIRST Arab and Muslim actor to headline a comic adaptation in TV/Film! We discuss what got him into acting, his career so far, what his favorite superhero and other media are, and much more. Enjoy the conversation!

Animation, DC Comics, Interview

‘Young Justice’ Creators Greg Weisman and Brandon Vietti Discuss the New Season

November 8, 2021November 9, 2021 Swara Salih

After the long wait since the conclusion of its third season, Outsiders, the critically acclaimed series Young Justice is back streaming on HBO Max with Phantoms. Praised for its writing, deep characterizations, diversity, action, and thrilling storytelling, Young Justice is one of the best DC onscreen projects that has retained a cherished place with numerous fans. Five episodes into the new season, so much has already happened, and the Team will have to deal with unforeseen threats at every turn.

Movies, News, Podcasts1 Comment

The Middle Geeks Episode 31: ‘Dune’ Review

October 25, 2021October 25, 2021 Swara Salih

Denis Villeneuve’s Dune adaptation, based on a book that was explicitly and heavily influenced by Middle East and North African (MENA) and Islamic cultures, is out, and we are joined by our friends and fellow MENA critics Hanna Flint and Roxana Hadadi to review it.

DC Comics, Interview, Television1 Comment

Showrunner Keto Shimizu Discusses Season 7 of ‘DC’s Legends of Tomorrow’

October 7, 2021November 8, 2021 Swara Salih

Slight setup spoilers for DC’s Legends of Tomorrow Season 7 follow below:

DC’s Legends of Tomorrow is coming back already! After closing Season 6 last month! In the Season 6 finale, just as our time-traveling superheroes celebrated their victory over alien invaders in 1925 Texas, their time-travel ship, the Waverider, was blown up by another Waverider that just came and left! This is where we see them at the beginning of Season 7, and there’s going to be no easy way for them to get out of this one.

Marvel, Podcasts, Streaming

The Middle Geeks 30: ‘AlRawabi School for Girls’ Makes ‘Mean Girls’ Look Like Cotton Candy

September 30, 2021September 30, 2021 Swara Salih

Created by Jordanian creator Tima Shomali, AlRawabi School for Girls is a devastatingly excellent series on Netflix exploring the dynamics of a Jordanian high school. What causes these girls to escalate their psychological wars on each other? How does this series do at exploring some of the systemic patriarchal problems in Middle Eastern societies? We discuss all of that and why we love this series.

DC Comics, Television

‘The Flash’ Returns This November with Five-Part “Armageddon” Premiere

August 25, 2021August 25, 2021 Swara Salih

Even though The Flash only ended this July with a wonderfully splendid renewal of the WestAllen vows and a family team-up against an army of Godspeeds, fans won’t have to wait long for the Season 8 premiere! And it’s going to be an action-packed doozy.