In our first episode since Ramadan break, Hashem is joined by Manal Ataya who, as the Director General of Sharjah Museum Authority, sits at the helm of 16 museums documenting and consolidating the cultural heritage of the region. They discuss the “inner workings” of a museum director and why Manal finds curiosity and hunger for knowledge so essential to succ ... Show More
Jun 4
“I observe. I document. And more recently, I speak my mind.” Hani AlMalki on Dubai’s F&B reset, credibility over clout, and a restaurant career built without a restaurant.
Hani AlMalki — aka Bedouinfoodie — returns to podcast for a second sit-down, and it lands nothing like the first. When war hit the region, he started writing: a daily diary on his Instagram Stories that became required reading for Dubai’s food community, built on the one thing m ... Show More
56m 43s
Apr 1
“If you tell me we're not going to build, then probably replace me. There is no need for having me.” Karim Awad on leading EFG Hermes mid-revolution, a decade of building, and why legacy is measured by what remains after you leave
Karim Awad walked into EFG Hermes at one of the most turbulent moments in Egypt's recent history — a company caught mid-revolution, a bruised brand, and a region that wasn't sure it wanted to stabilise. What he did next is what this conversation is about. Karim and Hashem talke ... Show More
53m 4s
Feb 2026
Nicolas Bellavance-Lecompte on the Soul of Space and Collectible Design
“I really wanted to slow things down… to create an experience where people take their time, build relationships, and connect with design in a more human way.” Nicolas Bellavance-Lecompte has spent fifteen years living out of a suitcase, experiencing the quiet palazzos of Venice ... Show More
50m 47s
May 2019
The Page Turner with Manal Ataya (14.05.2019)
Sally is joined by special guest HE Manal Ataya, Director General of Sharjah Museums, as she shares her picks of her favourite reads. She talks harnessing the power of anxiety with Sarah Wilson’s 'First, We Make the Beast Beautiful', Mark Haddon’s brilliant breakout novel 'The Cu ... Show More
44m 43s
Dec 2023
Zeina Arida and Local Art
A series of conversations with Al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and people who have been part of Qatar’s architecture & culture development journey. In this episode, Her Excellency is joined by Zeina Arida, the Director of MATHAF: Arab Museum of Modern Art, in Doha. Zei ... Show More
39m 27s
Oct 2025
Listen Again: What Lies Beyond Anxiety?
In this special “Listen Again” episode of The Gathering Room, I dive into the big themes of my most recent book, Beyond Anxiety: Curiosity, Creativity, and Finding Your Life's Purpose, and share how my ongoing research, writing, and real-life experience have given me deeper insig ... Show More
33m 45s