Writing
I cover travel, entrepreneurship, and representation in media for publications like Insider, The Seattle Times, Joysauce, and more. With my stories, I focus on bringing in BIPOC experts and making folks feel seen.
Finding a career in storytelling and story-listening
My name is Aleenah Ansari (she/her), and I have 10+ years of writing and content strategy experience across editorial content, video production, and social content. My work regularly appears in Business Insider, The Seattle Times, Seattle Magazine, Joysauce, and more, and I’ve also been published in Popsugar, TripAdvisor, Eater Seattle, and more. With every story, my goal is to amplify BIPOC experts and their non-linear paths, tell the story behind the story, and inspire the next generation of changemakers and creatives. If I’m making my 8-year-old self proud and ensuring that people get the chance to tell their story on their own terms, I’m doing something right.
I’m available for short and long-term writing (interview-based articles, personal essays, and more), editing, and marketing projects. Topics of interest include the non-linear paths of BIPOC creatives, entrepreneurs, and authors (with a particular focus on memoir, cookbooks, and romance), the ways identity shapes how people build businesses and move through the world, and food and travel stories in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. If you’d like to work together, reach out to me at aleenahansari (at) gmail (dot) com.
Q&As with authors (memoir, travel, romance, and cookbooks)
The poetry collection “Time Is a Mother” continues to be a special part of Ocean Vuong’s career, one where he bridges grief and humor. We talked about the power of embracing both grief and humor, what guidance he’d provide to someone rediscovering poetry, and what time has given him. | Read the Q&A
Tessa Hulls’s debut graphic memoir, Feeding Ghosts, was born out of stories that the ghosts of her ancestors demanded to be told, but the particulars of it coming together were a longer process. | Read the Q&A
Author Sujin Witherspoon talks about how she draws inspiration from reality television shows in “Seyoon and Den, Unscripted,” the way Seyoon and Dean discover what they want outside of their parents’ expectations, and why humor bodes well in romance novels. | Read the Q&A
Co-authors Sana Kadri and Asha Loupy share how their cookbook came to be, the process for adapting the recipes they learned at the partner farms they visited, and why it’s important to recognize how women push cuisine forward in and out of the kitchen. | Read the Q&A
In his work, Nathan Vass turns ordinary bus rides into something extraordinary — an opportunity for connection in a city known for folks who keep to themselves. I interviewed him about “Deciding to See: The View from Nathan’s Bus,” a collection of stories from his time as a bus driver, with a focus on finding joy and hope in difficult times. | Read the story
Charles Yu discusses what it means to Asian American in his book “Interior Chinatown.” | Read the story
Putsata Reang discusses queerness, her Cambodian roots, and what you own your family in her memoir, Ma and Me. | Read the story
Q&A with creatives, authors, and entrepreneurs
A chat with beauty brand Tower 28's founder and CEO on developing good, clean, and fun products, and how she learned to trust her intuition. | Read the Q&A
Indian American standup comedian Aparna Nancherla takes you inside the mind of an introvert and invites you to stay for a while. I sat down with her to talk about finding her unique perspective, evolving alongside her comedy, giving weight to the topics that matter most to her, and her latest special, Hopeful Potato. | Read the story
A chemistry alum and Vietnamese coffee shop owner Bảo Nguyễn reflects on what it means to build a business according to your values. | Read the story
E-Commerce
Ayurvedic skin care and hair care products are becoming increasingly popular, with product descriptions highlighting key ingredients like ashwagandha, amla, neem, and more. But how do we know if these skin care products are actually applying the principles of Ayurveda, which takes a holistic approach to physical, mental, and emotional health? | Read the story
Food can often be a love language, especially in the ways that we share it with our community. This gift guide highlights products from AA+PI-owned businesses, all of which are perfect for the foodie in your life. | Read the story
If you’re serious about self-care, only the best ice roller will do. After spending hours testing the most popular ice rollers from six brands, we found some top contenders—including Kitsch, Sacheu, StackedSkincare, and more—for all your ice-rolling needs | Read the story
Travel
Bookstores often reflect their communities’ interests, location, and history, and many in Seattle are accessible by ferry. Use this story as a guide to visiting some local favorites, including romance bookstores. | Read the story
While the number of Vietnamese coffee shops in Seattle has risen in the past few years, the beverage itself is not a new phenomenon in the region. Learn more about the history of Vietnamese coffee in the city, and how businesses are making it their own. | Read the story
In September, I went on a two-week trek to Everest base camp in Nepal, which sits at an altitude of 17,598 feet. Here’s what I packed | Read the story
If you have 24 hours to explore Seattle, use this itinerary to make most of your time! | Read the story
Here’s a short list of some of the best places to get matcha in the Seattle area (plus one in Tacoma). These spots specialize in matcha and pair it with flavors ranging from ube and pandan to marshmallow and lavender. | Read the story
Use this guide to plan a car-free trip to Victoria, where you’ll discover indie bookstores and museums, explore local flora and fauna in gardens and parks, and grab some good eats. | Read the story
As a Seattleite, quick road trips across the border to Vancouver are always a staple in my summer schedule. Here’s how I’d spend the perfect day in the city | Read the story
If you’re visiting Seattle for the first time (or the first time in a while), you might be asking yourself: Where can I get an authentic Seattle experience in a short period of time? Here are my recommendations. | Read the story
This 1.2-mile walk features 7 murals in the U-District neighborhood of Seattle that highlight community joy and resilience. | Read the story
Financial Wellness
I interviewed a lawyer about what queer couples should consider when deciding if a prenup is right for them, and how they can define fairness on their own terms. | Read the story
My partner and I got married in O’ahu, and we used an Alaska Airlines credit card to maximize our savings and points. | Read the story
After three years of running my business, I have six tools that have been the most valuable. One of them is even free — but they're all an essential part of my budget. | Read the story
Writing what I should have been able to read: Personal essays on identity, representation, and queerness
Living in a city where I have access to relatively reliable public transportation has been a privilege. Not owning a car has allowed me to use the money I've saved for investments, travel, and my mortgage. | Read the story
There are a lot of conversations about why it’s important to go to therapy, from benefits such as increased self-awareness and better communication skills. But how do we know when we’re ready to move on from therapy, even if just temporarily? | Read the story
I reflect on the importance of salary negotiation and consult expert Kim Tran for tips on how to advocate for yourself in the workplace and beyond | Read the story
The people behind the products: Journalistic writing about technology
When telling stories in tech, my goal is to make complex things simple, highlight the experts behind the technology, and share lessons learned and tips that could be helpful for a current or prospective customers.
Creating a company ready for the age of AI requires one often-overlooked foundation: A strong culture of learning and growth for employees. | Read the story
Salesforce offers vast self-serve resources on IT support and HR benefits, but finding the right info can be time-consuming. I wrote about how Agentforce automates the process, delivering instant answers to employees. | Read the story
Microsoft researchers worked with employees in Microsoft Digital to extend the network connectivity of the company’s underwater datacenter. | Read the story
Microsoft has created a guide for running inclusive and effective meetings using research-based practices and features in Microsoft Teams, which is especially important during this age of remote and hybrid work. | Read the story
If you’d like to work together on a story, editorial project, or anything in between, reach out to me at aleenahansari [at] gmail [dot] com.