How Leyla King Reclaimed Her Palestinian Voice Through Story

She grew up surrounded by love, food, and faith... but no one ever said "Palestine."

In this episode of The Life Shift Podcast, I talk with Leyla King, an Episcopal priest and author of the forthcoming memoir Daughters of Palestine. Leyla shares how a high school film cracked open her understanding of who she truly was—and set her on a journey of reclaiming identity, recording family stories, and speaking truth in a time of global grief.

This is a conversation about silence, belonging, whiteness, faith, and the power of story to change everything. It's tender. It's urgent. And it's full of the kind of hope we need right now.

🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell for more life-changing conversations:
👉 https://www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/185

What You'll Hear:
00:00 – Growing up in a big Arab family in Texas
05:10 – Recording her grandmother’s stories in 2002
12:35 – The Anne Frank film that changed everything
19:45 – Wrestling with whiteness and identity
27:00 – Becoming a “retainer” of generational stories
34:00 – The cost and calling of speaking up
42:00 – Her faith as a source of strength in dark times
47:00 – What storytelling makes possible

More from Leyla:
🌐 Website: http://thankfulpriest.com
📖 Book info: Daughters of Palestine – publishing July 8
✝️ Palestinian Anglicans: http://palestiniananglicans.org
🙏 Small Church Collective: http://smallchurchesbigimpact.org