Finding Her Palestinian Identity Through Generations of Silence | Leyla King

What if the moment you learned who you really are changed everything?

Leyla King grew up in a vibrant family surrounded by food, faith, and love, but she did not have the language or clarity to name her Palestinian identity. In this episode, Leyla shares how a high school film screening shifted everything, leading her to reclaim her heritage, record her grandmother’s stories, and write Daughters of Palestine: A Memoir in Five Generations.

This conversation explores the power of generational storytelling, the intersection of faith and culture, and the deep responsibility of telling stories that were nearly lost.

You’ll hear about:

• Discovering her Palestinian identity as a teenager

• Recording her grandmother’s oral history in 2002

• How passing as white shaped her understanding of privilege

• The role of faith in survival, resilience, and storytelling

• Why she’s sharing her family’s truth with the world now

Guest Bio:

Leyla K. King is a Palestinian American Episcopal priest and the author of Daughters of Palestine. She’s a founding member of Palestinian Anglicans and Clergy Allies and serves as the Canon for Mission in Small Congregations for the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas.

More from Leyla:

Website: thankfulpriest.com

Book info & essays: thankfulpriest.com

Groups: palestiniananglicans.org, smallchurchesbigimpact.org

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The Life Shift Podcast shares real, honest conversations about the pivotal moments that transform lives. Host Matt Gilhooly invites guests to explore the life-changing events, unexpected challenges, and personal awakenings that have shaped who they are today. 

Through candid storytelling, listeners discover powerful journeys of identity, resilience, grief, healing, and growth. If you’re drawn to personal growth stories, inspired by how people rebuild after loss, or fascinated by the quiet moments that spark profound change, The Life Shift offers heartfelt insight and inspiration. New episodes every Tuesday.

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