In this unforgettable episode of Against the Grain, Nathaniel Buzolic (aka Nate Buzz) sits down with Sameer, a Yazidi survivor with one of the most powerful testimonies ever shared on the show. Sameer opens up about growing up as a Yazidi boy in northern Iraq—a life marked by hardship, limited freedom, and persecution. At a young age, he was forced to take on the responsibilities of adulthood, shepherding in harsh conditions and living under the shadow of being part of a misunderstood and heavily oppressed religious minority. But things took a dark turn when ISIS swept through his region in 2014. Sameer shares his chilling first-hand experience of being captured, tortured, and held prisoner. He talks about the trauma of seeing his people enslaved, r*ped, and sold. He speaks about enduring pain, losing his family, and fighting to stay alive while clinging to hope. This episode goes beyond survival. Nate and Sameer explore questions of faith, evil, and God's presence in suffering. If you’ve ever wrestled with the question “Where is God in our pain?” this conversation is for you. Against The Grain all links: https://linktr.ee/AgainstTheGrainthePodcast SoulShop all links: https://linktr.ee/soulshop_studios Nate’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natebuzz/ Nate’s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@natebuzz 🎧 Listen Now: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/against-the-grain/id1776655570 📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AgainstTheGrainThePod 🎙 Stream on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3uTDixBYxzD7cFA7wO8t5Q?si=f7c1d1f760e84332 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices