The Story She Didn’t Know She Inherited

Hi friends,

This week’s conversation left me thinking about all the things we don’t know until we need to know them. And how sometimes, the pieces of who we are sit quietly in the background until the right moment brings them forward.

Leyla King grew up surrounded by family, food, faith, and Sunday gatherings filled with laughter and connection. It was a beautiful life. But she didn’t grow up hearing the word “Palestine.” She didn’t speak Arabic. She had no idea her grandparents had fled their homeland.

Then, a film about Anne Frank in a high school classroom changed everything.

That one moment sparked a return to something much bigger than herself. It led Leyla to record her grandmother’s stories, explore her faith more deeply, and write Daughters of Palestine, a memoir that captures five generations of survival, silence, strength, and voice.

A few things I’m still sitting with:

• Identity isn’t always something we’re told. Sometimes we discover it by asking the right questions

• Being the one who remembers and carries the stories is a sacred role

• Family legacy doesn’t always show up in words. Sometimes it lives in what was left unsaid

• Stories can root us, even when the world feels chaotic

This episode is about what happens when you realize there’s a whole part of yourself you never named. And what becomes possible when you finally do.

🎧 Listen to the full episode here: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/185
📺 Or watch on YouTube: youtube.com/@thelifeshiftpodcast

If this sparked something for you, I’d love to hear it. What story have you carried that’s ready to be told?

—Matt

PS: During a recent long weekend trip, I created a short-form podcast, “It’s Okay If…” Each episode is under three minutes long and provides a permission slip to simply be human. I’d be honored if you subscribed to the show. New episodes are released every Wednesday at noon ET.

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