Hashem is back this month with the ever-inspiring Rami Al Ali. Together, they explore the evolution of Arab couture, from breaking stereotypes to redefining luxury on a global stage. Listen in as they swap stories about navigating tradition and modernity, and that unforgettable moment Rami realized the world was ready for a new wave of Arab designers.
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 2025
“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
Sep 2023
Preserving the Past, Enriching the Future: A Conversation with Ahmed Obaid Al Mansoori
On this week's episode, we chat with Ahmed Obaid Al Mansoori, founder of the Crossroads of Civilizations Museum (CCM) in Dubai. We unpack the importance of preserving the Arab narrative through art, history, enlightenment, and meticulous documentation. The museum aims to promote ... Show More
23m 19s
Jul 2025
Maknana at DAF: Glossary of New Media Art From the Arab World | Ala Younis & Haytham Nawar
<p>Live from Diriyah Art Futures in Riyadh, we're joined by Haytham Nawar, the director of Diriyah Art Futures, and Ala Younis who co-curated its latest exhibition, which delves into the New Media Art scene in the Arab world. They explore the lack of recognition for Arab names in ... Show More
1h 2m
Oct 2024
Making Arabic Art Great Again | Gaith Abdulla, UAE / Lebanon
Discover the vibrant world of Arab art with Gaith Abdulla, co-founder of Bayt Al Mamzar, an independent gallery and art residency in Dubai. In this captivating episode, Gaith shares his journey from art enthusiast to gallery owner, offering invaluable insights on how anyone can s ... Show More
50m 31s
May 2024
Hala Auji et al., "The Arab Nahda as Popular Entertainment: Mass Culture and Modernity in the Middle East" (I. B. Tauris, 2023)
What was popular entertainment like for everyday Arab societies in Middle Eastern cities during the long nineteenth century? In what ways did café culture, theatre, illustrated periodicals, cinema, cabarets, and festivals serve as key forms of popular entertainment for Arabic-spe ... Show More
41m 24s
Feb 2021
Arabic Music and Linguistics | Taoufik Ben Amor
<p>We talked to Taoufik Ben Amor about Arabic language and linguistics, language and identity, Arab music, and music in Sufism.<br />This event was hosted in collaboration with Columbia Global Centers | Tunis.</p><p>Created by: Mikey Muhanna, afikra </p><p>Hosted by: Mikey: <a h ... Show More
54m 39s
Aug 2022
Souk El Tayeb | Kamal Mouzawak
In this Matbakh event, we talked to Kamal Mouzawak about how he founded the first farmers market in Lebanon, leading a social and environmental change and transformation. Kamal, through Souk El Tayeb, had the vision of celebrating food and traditions that unite communities and pr ... Show More
28m 53s
May 2025
Blending Saudi history, fashion, and business with Qormuz founder Abdulrahman Alabed
In this episode, Abdulrahman Al-Abed, founder and creative director of Qormuz, joins us to discuss how he fuses Saudi Arabia’s rich history and culture with contemporary fashion and lifestyle design. He shares his journey from law graduate to fashion designer, the inspiration beh ... Show More
49m 41s