In this moving episode of The Slow Dive, host Farida Rafique sits down with the creative team behind Water Angel, writer/director Nijla Baseema Mu’min and producer Maegan L. Philmore for a robust conversation on storytelling, advocacy, and maternal health justice.

Together, they explore systemic inequities in maternal healthcare, particularly the disproportionate risks faced by Black women, unpacking the roots of medical racism and the emotional weight of bringing such an urgent story to the screen. They reflect on the film’s reception, the role of community screenings, and how true impact is measured through empathy, connection, and the conversations a film sparks.

The conversation also widens to their creative journeys, collaboration in the film industry, and the importance of grounding, mental health, and  ...