Exploring big ideas through personal human stories

Hi, Salaam, and Peace

I’m Taqwa, a multi-award-winning Storyteller, Producer, and Presenter specialising in documentary, narrative, journalistic, branded/commercial and creative storytelling in podcasts and radio.

I have a proven track-record of leading teams to produce high-quality podcasts end-to-end, from developing an initial idea through to final delivery and launch. I was recently selected for the prestigious UK Audio Academy’s 30 under 30.

As well as making audio-content, I have experience in video-first content as I am a trained self-shooting documentary filmmaker.

I am based in London, England.

More about me

My background is in Middle Eastern Studies (BA Hons, First, University of Cambridge) and Ethnographic and Documentary Filmmaking (MA, Distinction, UCL), and this interdisciplinary worldview often informs my storytelling practice.

Whilst living in and travelling around the Middle East, I realised the power of storytelling through audio and film to translate complex ideas across cultures and help us understand each other’s worlds. I am interested in telling stories about alternative economics, optimistic projects to make our world a better place, decolonisation, art and architecture, religion and tradition, migration, land and environmentalism, grief, and social justice issues across the world, and especially in the UK, Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia.

I enjoy collaborating with people to tell their stories in ways that authentically reflect their vision and pride myself on building trust and lasting relationships with collaborators and contributors. I am a native English speaker, and also speak Arabic and Farsi (Persian).

Work with me

  • I love collaborating with fellow storytellers, audio-makers and organisations to bring your ideas to life and explore ways to improve existing projects.

    I offer consultancy for short and long-term inputing on projects at different stages.

    Options include:

    • Development consultancy for original and new ideas (concept & strategy)

    • Authentic and ethical storytelling consultancy

    • Consultant editing on scripts and shows in progress

  • I offer end-to-end full service podcast production, from developing initial concepts to final delivery and launch, for a range of clients. This includes brands, public sector, non-profits, charities and commercial organisations.

    Services available: development, research, pitching, producing, reporting, scripting, editing and sound design.

    For more detail about what this might look like for you, please say hi using the form below!

  • I’m often told I have a voice made for radio. If you’d like me to present or narrate a documentary, radio programme, podcast, or video content please reach out using the form below.

    Samples of work available

Contact

If you’d like to work together or say hello, please get in touch using the form below.

CV and testimonials available on request