Jan 12
“Going into a new market requires humility. You don’t know the market well, and you have to accept that.”
In this year-in-review episode, Hashem looks back on 2025 and what it actually took to open two restaurants in Riyadh in one year. It’s a conversation about going up the learning curve fast, staying humble, and why consistency always outlasts hype. Chapters: 0:00 Coming up... ... Show More
44m 43s
Oct 17
“The day I stopped being a ‘Googler in Dubai’ and started being ‘Lynn, who happens to work at Google,’ everything changed.”
Lynn Hazim, founder of Middle Child and creator of popular food blog @nosoupforyou, shares her journey from corporate life at Google to building her own restaurant in Dubai. The episode explores her early love for food, the roots of her inspiration, and her bold pivot to entrepre ... Show More
42m 47s
Sep 2025
“It’s not enough to just have good taste.” Rajat Malhotra on building the last major independent festival in the GCC
Raj Malhotra, co-founder of Sole DXB, shares the story behind building one of the GCC’s last major independent festivals — a cultural platform born from minimal capital yet lots of passion and grit. The episode traces his journey to meeting co-founders Hussain Moloobhoy and Joshu ... Show More
39m 16s
Dec 2022
GANZEER | Graphic Novels, making art during Arab Spring and more | Conversations
<p>Ganzeer talked about his work as a muralist and street artist and how the Egyptian Revolution was a turning point in his career.</p><p>Described as a “chameleon” by Carlo McCormick in the <i>New York Times</i>, Ganzeer operates seamlessly between art, design, and storytelling, ... Show More
58m 56s
Feb 2022
FUTURE OF ARCHIVING | Liwan x Tasmeem - afikra Talks
<p>Hussein Alazaat talked about archiving processes in light of his work in archiving and preserving books at The Beautiful Books Trove.</p><p><strong>Hussein Alazaat</strong> is a multi-disciplinary designer, instructor, Arabic calligraphy artist, and typography enthusiast from ... Show More
25m 5s
Nov 2021
Lamia Joreige's Artistic Journey | Navigating Uncertain Times Through Memory & Archives
<p>In this Conversation, we talked to Lamia Joreige about her career in art and film and how she portrays history through narration. Lamia, rooted in her country’s experience, explores the possibilities of representing the Lebanese wars and their aftermath.</p><p>Created & Hosted ... Show More
28m 40s
In our first live conversation at The Lighthouse since launching the podcast, HE Minister of State Zaki Nusseibeh shares personal anecdotes from his childhood in Jerusalem, the early days of the UAE when he worked as a translator for HH Sheikh Zayed and the development of its arts and culture scene. While sharing snapshots from his various life experiences w ... Show More
