Project E Podcast

Introducing a new 6-Part series in collaboration with A Minute Marvel, an online platform for artists and creators that tells marvelous stories one minute at a time. In the final chapter, my guest is Luma Adnani. Born and raised in the UAE, she studied in an international school and did not learn or speak a lot of Arabic as a kid. She moved to Amman at 11 years old and struggled as a result. Everyone spoke Arabic as their main language, and Luma's international accent was foreign to locals.  Fast forward to 2014 luma's son Adam speaks his first words in English. A shocking moment for her, she did not want Adam to go through her experience. And that's when the idea for Adam Wa Mishmish was born. Adam Wa Mishmish is an edutainment company that creates Arabic content that helps children learn Arabic through music, play, and fun activities.  Find out all you need to know on the website and the social channels: Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/adamwamishmish Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AdamWaMishmish/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/adamwamishmish Website: https://adamwamishmish.com/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/adamwamishmish This episode is brought to you by A Minute Marvel, a platform for dreamers and creators telling marvelous stories one minute at a time. https://www.instagram.com/aminutemarvel/

Introducing a new 6-Part series in collaboration with A Minute Marvel, an online platform for artists and creators that tells marvelous stories one minute at a time. In the 5th chapter, my guest is Aida Murad - start-up and philanthropic strategies and partnerships advisor, entrepreneur coach focused on founder wellbeing,  an artist, and community builder.  Aida Murad’s single purpose is to unlock human potential. Due to today's global mental health crisis that could be a global opportunity for transformation, she is dedicating her work fully towards systems change and opportunities in mental health. Additionally today, Aida is a board member for Masawa Fund, the first mental health fund, writer for Thrive Global, Contributor for the Never Alone Summit, a global mental health summit; and serves as Co-Director for NEXUS MENA & Arab Diasporas and NEXUS’s Mental Health Coalition bringing impact investors, philanthropists and social innovators together. She has worked for over a decade building social enterprises in the education, fashion, food, health, and technology industries as well as supporting the management of $300 million in governmental and development funds for the public and private sectors, negotiating over $2 billion in the MENA region alone. She built one of the first e-commerce platforms in Jordan at the age of 20 to empower women in the region with financial independence. She continued to embark on a journey of empowerment through all her work including being on the founding team of One Journey Festival, the first festival in the US celebrating refugees' talents in the creative industries. Aida is the recipient of the 2017 FHI 360 Impact Award for Woman Leadership, 2017 Most Voted RAW Artist, 2017 Inaugural artist for GoARTful, and 2016 FHI Emerging Leaders. Most importantly, Aida is a lifelong learner and believes love is the single most powerful and beautiful force in the world. Find out more on the website: http://www.aidamurad.com Connect with Aida on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/muradaida Connect with Aida on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aida.murad Books:  The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*CK: https://www.amazon.com/Subtle-Art-Not-Giving-Counterintuitive/dp/0062457713/ref=sr_1_1?crid=7M1S9EEWHO3O&dchild=1&keywords=the+subtle+art+of+not+giving+a+fck&qid=1607597317&s=books&sprefix=subtle+%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C331&sr=1-1 Give and Take, Helping Others: https://www.amazon.com/Give-Take-Helping-Others-Success/dp/0143124986 This episode is brought to you by A Minute Marvel, a platform for dreamers and creators telling marvelous stories one minute at a time. https://www.instagram.com/aminutemarvel/ 

Introducing a new 6-Part series in collaboration with A Minute Marvel, an online platform for artists and creators that tells marvelous stories one minute at a time. In the 4th chapter, my guest is Raya Khatib founder of Qamar Wa Shams, a holistic brand offering curated candles, aroma, and incense products infused with healing elements of smoke, fire, and medicinal essential oils.  But Raya didn't always know she was going to be doing this as a career. After leaving business school to pursue acting and filmmaking - she believed she had finally figured out her purpose. Facing challenges with supply and demand in the local market, it was quickly clear that it was time to move on.  She took a trip to Peru in pursuit of an expanded sense of spirituality and the following events would eventually lead to founding Qamar wa Shams.  Find out more on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/qamarwashams/  This episode is brought to you by A Minute Marvel, a platform for dreamers and creators telling marvelous stories one minute at a time. https://www.instagram.com/aminutemarvel/

Introducing a new 6-Part series in collaboration with A Minute Marvel, an online platform for artists and creators that tells marvelous stories one minute at a time. In the 3rd chapter, my guest is Zein Salti - a certified Hatha & Ashtanga yoga instructor. A Yogini saluting the sun through movement, breath, & prana, Zein has a great passion and love for hiking high-altitude mountains such as Everest Basecamp, Kilimanjaro & Machu Picchu which she visited.  Zein is now the creator of 'Zenergie.' Zenergie focuses on wild, colourful, organic, raw, plant-based food. Such as fresh cold-pressed juices and smoothies & more! In this episode, Zein shares her insight into mindfulness, yoga, meditation, relationships, and nature.  Follow Zein and connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zenergie/ The Sun and her Flowers: https://www.amazon.com/Sun-Her-Flowers-Rupi-Kaur/dp/1449486797

Introducing a new 6-Part series in collaboration with A Minute Marvel, an online platform for artists and creators that tells marvelous stories one minute at a time. In the 2nd chapter, my guest is Lina Khalifeh the Founder of SheFighter, which was the first women-only self-defense studio in Jordan, and expanded to 6 countries globally. SheFighter is designed to empower women physically, mentally, and emotionally through Self-Defense training. The studio was founded in 2012 and has trained more than 18 thousand women and certified 550 Instructors all over the globe. Lina was mentioned in President Barack Obama's speech at the White House in 2015. She was awarded the Stuart Scott Humanitarian ENSPIRE award presented by ESPN and UFC 2019 in Los Angeles, California. Lina was also awarded “The economic empowerment Leadership” award by Hillary Clinton and Vital Voices in Washington D.C. in 2018. Lina also spoke at the World Economic Forum 2019 in Davos. Her latest book "SheFighter: From Trouble Maker to Global Change Maker" is available on Amazon. Lina is very passionate about her work and is working to spread SheFighter globally and her mission is to certify 10 thousand instructors by 2030 so they can start 5000 Studios Globally. Check the website for more information: www.shefighter.com For more of Lina’s Speaking engagements, check out: www.linakhalifeh.org

Introducing a new 6-Part series in collaboration with A Minute Marvel, an online platform for artists and creators that tells marvelous stories one minute at a time.  In the first chapter, I sit down with Zaid Souqi, founder of The Orenda Tribe.  The Orenda Tribe is a Jordanian lifestyle brand that was founded in 2016 by Zaid to empower youth across the world through art and story-telling. After a life-changing experience in Johannesburg, while serving with a foundation that cares for orphans and vulnerable children living in rural communities, Zaid quit his corporate career and started The Orenda Tribe in pursuit of a purposeful life. Zaid's vision is to create a world where youth are empowered to make a positive change in their own communities. Find out more about The Orenda Tribe here: https://www.theorendatribe.com Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theorendatribe/ Connect with Zaid on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zaidsouqi/ This episode is brought to you by A Minute Marvel - Marvelous stories one minute at a time. Find out more on https://aminutemarvel.com/

Roy Koyess is the founder of Freakin' Healhy®, the largest local healthy snacking brand in the MENA region by assortment on a mission to revolutionize the way we eat snacks. By introducing a functional healthy snacking system based on healthy, wholesome, and clean ingredients, Freakin' Healhy® is able to cater to the needs of the millennials for living a healthier and balanced lifestyle.   With over 45 SKUs under its belt, Freakin' Healhy® is pushing forward with its mission to cater to everyone looking to improve their diet. The latest innovation by the company is Root'd, a one-of-a-kind plant-based meal plan program that caters to a growing demand for plant-based and wholesome foods.  Visit https://freakinhealthy.com/ to find out more about the brand, and shop healthy snacks, and visit https://freakinhealthy.com/rootd/ to subscribe to Plant-Based, Vegan meal plans designed to help you get closer to your health, fitness, and wellness goals.  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freakinhealthyme/, Connect with Roy on https://www.instagram.com/roykoyess/, and on https://www.linkedin.com/in/roy-koyess-88470b1/

My guest today is Haya Bishouty, host of the weekly Hayas Kitchen Palestinian supper club. After meeting Haya at the Step 2020 startup conference in February in Dubai, I knew there was a captivating story behind her passion for food. I wanted to find out what it was, and I am excited to share it with you today. Everything served up on the table is homemade, and handmade thus making it the only Palestinian Supper club in town staying true to the Palestinian way of cooking.  You can find out more details on the Supper Club and book your slots here on the website https://hayaskitchen.com/, and follow the Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/hayasktchn/ for more details. 

This week's episode of Project E features Michele Johnson aka "Pizza Queen" Co-Founder of Pitfire, one of the most popular pizza joints in Dubai. Pitfire Pizza is known for its delicious handcrafted pizza along with pasta, salads, and desserts. The story behind this truly local-centric business will blow you away! Pitfire is a business 10+ years in the making and has seen its fair share of ups and downs that provide many valuable lessons for upcoming and established entrepreneurs alike.  Michele takes us through her journey of setting up the business alongside her husband Bill, who is the true mastermind behind Pitfire. What does it take to set up a successful restaurant business in Dubai? Find out on today's episode with Michele. Follow Pitfire Pizza on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pitfire.pizza.dubai/ Learn more about PitFire on the website: https://www.pitfiredubai.ae/ Support your local business! If you enjoyed the episode, please leave us 5-stars on Apple Podcasts and share the episode with someone who needs to hear this!  This episode was brought to you by Haya's Kitchen, founded by Haya Bishouty host of Haya's Kitchen Supper Club. Learn more on https://www.instagram.com/hayasktchn/, and visit the website https://hayaskitchen.com/ for more! 

On today's podcast, I sit with Ayman Ghanam Founder of Projeto Acai, one of the most successful Acai spots in the UAE with 4 branches and counting. Voted as the top healthy restaurant by Lovin Dubai, just this week Projeto Acai successfully expanded into Abu Dhabi. Projeto Açaí started and continues to be driven by the dream of sharing the magical taste and nutritional benefits of Açaí from the Amazon and directly contributing back to the local communities who harvest the berries in the Pará region of Brazil.  Today, Ayman shares with the audience how he discovered Acai, how he decided to launch, and sheds light on some of the challenges he faced when he left the corporate career to launch the project, a truly inspiring story. Follow Projeto Acai on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/projeto.acai/, and connect with Ayman on https://www.instagram.com/aymanefc/ If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and help share Ayman's story! https://podcasts.apple.com/ae/podcast/project-e-podcast/id1499552082