In the premiere of Identified Season Two, Nabil Ayers speaks with musician and activist Tom Morello about his extraordinary upbringing and journey toward understanding his identity. Tom shares stories about his trailblazing mother—an adventurous white teacher from a small Illinois town who raised him alone as a Black child in a segregated suburb—and the complex legacy of his absent Kenyan father.

Their conversation traverses generational resilience, the racism Tom faced growing up in Libertyville, Illinois, and the emotional reckoning of meeting his father for the first time at age 30. Tom discusses finding belonging in unexpected places: among childhood friends, through music, and ultimately, with the Kenyan family he never knew he had. He also opens up about being a sperm donor in the '90s—and the surprising family connections that have surfaced in recent years.

This episode explores what it means to define family on your own terms, and how connection can transcend distance, time, and silence.

Host: Nabil Ayers

Guests: Tom Morello

Executive Producer: Kieron Banerji

Production Company and Network: Palm Tree Island

Music: Nouela and Patricia Brennan

Palm Tree Island Team: Sophia Moore & Asli Pehlivanli

In the premiere of Identified Season Two, Nabil Ayers speaks with musician and activist Tom Morello about his extraordinary upbringing and journey toward understanding his identity. Tom shares stories about his trailblazing mother&mdash;an adventurous white teacher from a small Illinois town who raised him alone as a Black child in a segregated suburb&mdash;and the complex legacy of his absent Kenyan father.
Their conversation traverses generational resilience, the racism Tom faced growing up in Libertyville, Illinois, and the emotional reckoning of meeting his father for the first time at age 30. Tom discusses finding belonging in unexpected places: among childhood friends, through music, and ultimately, with the Kenyan family he never knew he had. He also opens up about being a sperm donor in the '90s&mdash;and the surprising family connections that have surfaced in recent years.
This episode explores what it means to define family on your own terms, and how connection can transcend distance, time, and silence.
Host: Nabil Ayers
Guests: Tom Morello
Executive Producer: Kieron Banerji
Production Company and Network: Palm Tree Island
Music: Nouela and Patricia Brennan
Palm Tree Island Team: Sophia Moore &amp; Asli Pehlivanli

Welcome to 'Identified', a podcast hosted by Nabil Ayers, music executive and author of 'My Life in the Sunshine'. This show explores the intricate and often complicated world of family and identity.

In his memoir, Nabil shared his journey of understanding his mixed-race identity, navigating a distant relationship with his father, renowned jazz musician Roy Ayers, and discovering new family connections. 'Identified' continues this exploration, broadening the scope to encompass universal themes of family dynamics.

Join Nabil as he engages in heartfelt conversations that traverse cultural histories, the impact of non-traditional childhoods, and the ways our relationships shape our identities. Through personal stories, the show confronts the challenges of loss and grief, while celebrating the unique bonds that define us. Each episode seeks to answer the profound question: What is family?

Discover remarkable stories from individuals of diverse backgrounds as 'Identified' unravels the complexities that make family so unique.

The executive producer for 'Identified' is Kieron Banerji, and is produced by Palm Tree Island.

Welcome to 'Identified', a podcast hosted by Nabil Ayers, music executive and author of 'My Life in the Sunshine'. This show explores the intricate and often complicated world of family and identity.
In his memoir, Nabil shared his journey of understanding his mixed-race identity, navigating a distant relationship with his father, renowned jazz musician Roy Ayers, and discovering new family connections. 'Identified' continues this exploration, broadening the scope to encompass universal themes of family dynamics.
Join Nabil as he engages in heartfelt conversations that traverse cultural histories, the impact of non-traditional childhoods, and the ways our relationships shape our identities. Through personal stories, the show confronts the challenges of loss and grief, while celebrating the unique bonds that define us. Each episode seeks to answer the profound question: What is family?
Discover remarkable stories from individuals of diverse backgrounds as 'Identified' unravels the complexities that make family so unique.
The executive producer for 'Identified' is Kieron Banerji, and is produced by Palm Tree Island.

Identified with Nabil Ayers

Welcome to 'Identified', a podcast hosted by Nabil Ayers, music executive and author of 'My Life in the Sunshine'. This show explores the intricate and often complicated world of family and identity.
In his memoir, Nabil shared his journey of understanding his mixed-race identity, navigating a distant relationship with his father, renowned jazz musician Roy Ayers, and discovering new family connections. 'Identified' continues this exploration, broadening the scope to encompass universal themes of family dynamics.
Join Nabil as he engages in heartfelt conversations that traverse cultural histories, the impact of non-traditional childhoods, and the ways our relationships shape our identities. Through personal stories, the show confronts the challenges of loss and grief, while celebrating the unique bonds that define us. Each episode seeks to answer the profound question: What is family?
Discover remarkable stories from individuals of diverse backgrounds as 'Identified' unravels the complexities that make family so unique.
The executive producer for 'Identified' is Kieron Banerji, and is produced by Palm Tree Island.

Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello on Race, Roots, and Growing Up in Suburban Illinois.

What if your most formative identity traits come from people you didn’t grow up with?

In this powerful episode of Identified, rapper and queer icon Cakes Da Killa reflects on growing up in Teaneck, New Jersey, raised by his teenage mother and grandmother. He shares openly about the complexities of reconciling with an absent father, discovering inherited traits in unexpected family members, and why — as a queer person — chosen family has always played a central role in his life.

This episode touches on:


Intergenerational strength from women in his family


The slow repair of fractured paternal relationships


The trauma of losing family homes and generational wealth


The nuance of chosen vs. biological family


And why his mother’s strength remains his biggest inspiration

With clarity, wit, and raw honesty, Cakes shows that family — like identity — is something you get to define on your own terms.

What if your most formative identity traits come from people you didn&rsquo;t grow up with?
In this powerful episode of Identified, rapper and queer icon Cakes Da Killa reflects on growing up in Teaneck, New Jersey, raised by his teenage mother and grandmother. He shares openly about the complexities of reconciling with an absent father, discovering inherited traits in unexpected family members, and why &mdash; as a queer person &mdash; chosen family has always played a central role in his life.
This episode touches on:
<ul data-start="963" data-end="1247">
<li data-start="963" data-end="1018">
Intergenerational strength from women in his family
</li>
<li data-start="1019" data-end="1074">
The slow repair of fractured paternal relationships
</li>
<li data-start="1075" data-end="1136">
The trauma of losing family homes and generational wealth
</li>
<li data-start="1137" data-end="1183">
The nuance of chosen vs. biological family
</li>
<li data-start="1184" data-end="1247">
And why his mother&rsquo;s strength remains his biggest inspiration
</li>
</ul>
With clarity, wit, and raw honesty, Cakes shows that family &mdash; like identity &mdash; is something you get to define on your own terms.

Rapper Cakes Da Killa on Growing Up Queer and the Women Who Raised Him

In this episode of Identified, host Nabil Ayers speaks with Bandsplain host Yasi Salek, who shares a moving, honest account of growing up Iranian-American in 1980s Los Angeles. Yasi discusses her family’s immigration story post-Iranian revolution, her experience being the “other” in a predominantly white community, and the identity conflict that shaped her early life — including moments of rebellion in pursuit of American assimilation.

The conversation explores the nuances of Middle Eastern family dynamics, the pressures of cultural tradition, and the value of commitment — both in blood ties and chosen families. Yasi reflects on a formative high school chapter in Singapore, her deep bond with her cousins, and the remarkable legacy of her grandfather: a communist, a vegetarian in the 1920s, and an enduring symbol of independence and personal philosophy.

Guest: Yasi Salek

Host: Nabil Ayers

Executive Producer: Kieron Banerji

 

In this episode of Identified, host Nabil Ayers speaks with&nbsp;Bandsplain host Yasi Salek, who shares a moving, honest account of growing up Iranian-American in 1980s Los Angeles. Yasi discusses her family&rsquo;s immigration story post-Iranian revolution, her experience being the &ldquo;other&rdquo; in a predominantly white community, and the identity conflict that shaped her early life &mdash; including moments of rebellion in pursuit of American assimilation.
The conversation explores the nuances of Middle Eastern family dynamics, the pressures of cultural tradition, and the value of commitment &mdash; both in blood ties and chosen families. Yasi reflects on a formative high school chapter in Singapore, her deep bond with her cousins, and the remarkable legacy of her grandfather: a communist, a vegetarian in the 1920s, and an enduring symbol of independence and personal philosophy.
Guest: Yasi Salek
Host: Nabil Ayers
Executive Producer: Kieron Banerji
&nbsp;

Bandsplain Host Yasi Salek on Defining ‘Home’ Across Cultures

In this episode of Identified, Nabil Ayers speaks with Massima Bell—music producer, model, activist, and co-creator of Transa—about her journey through gender, place, and chosen family.

Massima grew up between two vastly different worlds: a 100-year-old farmhouse in rural Iowa and a life on the move with her mother, a PhD who brought her to urban and suburban spaces from Maryland to Buffalo. Her relationship with place—particularly the tension between the beauty of nature and the discomfort of rural social spaces—forms a backdrop to her story of coming into her identity.

Massima shares how coming out as nonbinary and later as a trans woman shaped her relationships with her parents, especially the profound moment her father responded to her transition with just one word: “Congratulations.” She opens up about estrangement and reconciliation with her mother, the challenges of early transition, and the emotional weight of building a life where her body and spirit could align.

This episode explores themes of gender identity, ancestry, estrangement, reconciliation, rural vs. urban America, and the power of chosen family—especially the trans women she calls her “sisters,” who form the heart of her most meaningful bonds.

Guest: Massima Bell

Host: Nabil Ayers

Executive Producer: Kieron Banerji

Production Company: Palm Tree Island

In this episode of Identified, Nabil Ayers speaks with Massima Bell&mdash;music producer, model, activist, and co-creator of Transa&mdash;about her journey through gender, place, and chosen family.
Massima grew up between two vastly different worlds: a 100-year-old farmhouse in rural Iowa and a life on the move with her mother, a PhD who brought her to urban and suburban spaces from Maryland to Buffalo. Her relationship with place&mdash;particularly the tension between the beauty of nature and the discomfort of rural social spaces&mdash;forms a backdrop to her story of coming into her identity.
Massima shares how coming out as nonbinary and later as a trans woman shaped her relationships with her parents, especially the profound moment her father responded to her transition with just one word: &ldquo;Congratulations.&rdquo; She opens up about estrangement and reconciliation with her mother, the challenges of early transition, and the emotional weight of building a life where her body and spirit could align.
This episode explores themes of gender identity, ancestry, estrangement, reconciliation, rural vs. urban America, and the power of chosen family&mdash;especially the trans women she calls her &ldquo;sisters,&rdquo; who form the heart of her most meaningful bonds.
Guest: Massima Bell
Host: Nabil Ayers
Executive Producer: Kieron Banerji
Production Company: Palm Tree Island

Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello on Race, Roots, and Growing Up in Suburban Illinois.

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